NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Saturday, April 11, 2026

Episode Date: April 12, 2026

Artemis II crew reflects on historic mission after return to Earth; 3 people slashed by machete-wielding man at New York’s Grand Central Station; Vice President Vance leads high-stakes peace talks between U.S. & Iran; and more on tonight’s broadcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tonight, the high-stakes peace talks to potentially end the war with Iran. Vice President J.D. Vance meeting with Iranian officials face-to-face for the first time today. This, as the U.S. says, Navy destroyers safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and as Israel continues its deadly attacks inside Lebanon, is a peace deal in reach, or Kier Simmons is on the ground. Developing now, a terrifying machete attack in the heart of New York City. Three people stabbed. The suspect shot and killed by police. the latest on the investigation.

Just in tonight, Congressman Eric Swalwell accused of sexual assault by a former staffer, now under investigation by New York prosecutors. His defiant video denying the allegations as he faces growing calls to drop out of the California governor's race. Extreme weather across the country. New video of boulders tumbling down onto a highway in Hawaii. Severe weather in the planes triggering flash floods and the fire danger in the northeast. The Artemis two astronauts speaking to the media for the first time since their return to Earth. What they're saying about what they saw and what's next for the Artemis mission.

Inside, the search to find a missing mom in the Bahamas. How searchers are trying to track her down as police keep her husband behind bars. The dramatic spike in car repossessions and why this could be an early warning sign of trouble in the economy. And there's good news tonight about the life-changing moments these high school. seniors have been waiting for. This is NBC Nightly News with Jose Diaz Ballard. Good evening. We begin tonight with the four astronauts from the historic Artemis II mission. They're back on Earth. And they're speaking to the media for the first time about their experience.

Ryan Chandler has more. And there go the first series of parachutes. After a triumphant homecoming from the farthest journey in human history. Splashdown confirmed. With the four astronauts of Artemis 2 landing safely in the Pacific Ocean late Friday. Tonight, Commander Reed Weissman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Cook and Jeremy Hanson are back in Houston, grateful to all who made their mission a success. Planet Earth, you are a crew. Speaking at the Johnson Space Center, at times making light of those close quarters on their 10-day mission around the far side of the moon.

This is the furthest I've been away from Reed in a long time. But also reflecting on the momentous nature of their mission. I have not processed what we just did, and I'm afraid to start even trying. We are bonded forever, and no one down here is ever going to know what the four of us just went through. And it was the most special thing that will ever happen in my life. Artemis II's successful mission, a step toward NASA's plans to return to the moon. NASA says it will soon announce the crew of Artemis 3 ahead of its launch scheduled for next year. That crew's mission to orbit the Earth and test equipment for a lunar landing, paving the way for Artemis 4 to take humans back to the lunar surface in 2028.

Tonight, the crew of Artemis 2, happy to be back on Earth and with their loved ones. Ryan Chandler, NBC News. In New York City, police are investigating a horrifying machete attack on a subway platform near Grand Central Station. Valerie Castro has a latest. Tonight, New York City's Grand Central Terminal, the scene of a bloody attack. Police say a man armed with this machete randomly slashed three people on two separate subway platform Saturday morning. Police already at the station, then confronted the man. It was behaving erratically, repeatedly stating that he was Lucifer.

The individual refused to comply with at least 20 orders to drop the knife. When he began to walk towards the officers still armed, one officer shot him twice, according to the NYPD. Officers attempted to resuscitate the suspect, but he was later taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani saying in a statement, the three victims were taken to the hospital and are thankfully in stable condition. The suspect identified as 44-year-old Anthony Griffin, who police say, They had three prior arrests, though they did not disclose for what crimes. It's just one of several shocking incidents on the transit system in recent years,

from a man shoved in front of a moving train to a sleeping rider set on fire. But the NYPD says major crime is actually down 5% citywide for the first three months of the year, including the fewest murders in recorded history. This comes roughly 100 days into Mayor Maldani's term, even as he pledges future policing reforms. And Valerie Castro joins us from the station. Valerie, what's the very latest on that? Well, Jose, we know there is video of both the shooting and the moments leading up to it.

It was captured by police body-worn camera. That video will be released within 30 days per department policy. That's part of a joint directive between the NYPD and the mayor to increase police transparency. Jose? Valerie Castro in New York, thank you. Overseas now, where we are monitoring the historic talks between U.S. Iranian officials to end the war, Vice President J.D. Vance, leading the American team, marking the highest-level talks between the U.S. and the Islamic Republic in 47 years.

The big sticking point? The critical strait of Hormuz closed since the start of the war, choking off the flow of oil and natural gas in the region. Today, the U.S. announced that two Navy destroyers safely passed through the strait, while Iran's sake media denied that any U.S. ships passed through. Markier Simmons has a very latest from Pakistan. Tonight, Vice President J.D. Vance, making history in a high-stakes face-to-face meeting with Iranian leaders, the highest level talks ever between the U.S. and Iran's Islamic Republic. Joining the negotiations in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, President Trump's special envoy,

Steve Wickhoff, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Representing Iran, the country's foreign minister and parliamentary speaker, leaders in Pakistan, playing host to the trilateral in-person talks. President Trump tonight saying the negotiations are deep, but it's unclear what will come of them. Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me. There's been tension over freeing the strait of Hormuz from Iranian control. Iran has been charging ships to use the critical waterway

crucial to the movement of oil and natural gas. US Central Command today saying its forces began setting conditions, for clearing mines placed by Iran in the strait with two US Navy-guided missile destroyers passing through the channel to establish and share a safe pathway. But Iranian state media angrily denying that tonight, reporting that a US destroyer nearing the strait was stopped after the Iranians warned negotiators that the ship would be targeted. And while Israel is not part of the talks in Pakistan,

Israeli actions inside Lebanon are. Iran insisting the attacks on Lebanon must stop. Israel's prime minister in a televised address tonight, saying we still have more to do. Kira Simmons joins me now from Islamabad. Kier, where do we talk go from here? Well, if the early hours of the morning here, Jose, and they are still locked in rooms negotiating.

There have been multiple rounds, including a working dinner. These are now marathon talks. Jose. Kyr Simmons, in Islam about Pakistan. Thank you. Let's go now to Julie Sirkens. She's at the White House tonight. Julie, you spoke with President Trump just a little while ago about the Strait of Hormuz as he was about to board Marine 1. What did he have to say? I did, Jose. Notably, the president didn't say that Iran has reopened the street. The key to this fragile ceasefire.

Instead, he said, quote, we win no matter what. But, Jose, it is clear that on the president's mind are the ramifications of the war. war here at home. Based on his comments and his posts online, he's assuring Americans that the critical passageway will be open soon, seemingly by force. Since the war began in February, gas prices have surged more than 38 percent driving inflation last month to the highest level in nearly two years. The president tonight in Miami for a UFC fight is eager to end the conflict, insisting the economic pain is temporary, even as voters prepared to head to the polls in a matter of months. Jose?

Julie Serkin at the White House, thank you. As the U.S. holds talks with Iran, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been holding direct talks with members of the Castro family about the future of Cuba. In an exclusive interview with NBC's Kristen Welker, Cuban leader Miguel Diaz Canal, who tells Kristen he has never spoken with Rubio, talked about his outlook on the ongoing negotiations with the U.S. Do you think it is possible to get a deal with President Trump? I think we can have an approach in terms of what is possible and what is difficult. I think dialogue and deals with the U.S. government are possible, but they're difficult. Where does the possibility lie? Cuba has always stood by its commitments, and the United States have not fulfilled its part of the deal. In the present, the U.S. has been engaged in talk to other countries, And while these negotiations are not their way, they have attacked those countries.

And all of this creates a lot of distrust. You can see much more of Kristen's exclusive interview on Meet the Press tomorrow morning right here on NBC. Also tonight, Congressman Eric Swalwell, who is facing accusations of sexual assault by a former staffer, is now under investigation tonight by prosecutors in Manhattan. Liz Croyd has the latest. Tonight, the Manhattan District Attorney announcing an investigation involving involving Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell after multiple women have come forward alleging sexual misconduct by the California gubernatorial candidate, including one allegation of rape

in a New York hotel room. Swalwell is denying the accusations, calling them absolutely false in this video he posted late Friday night. I do not suggest to you in any way that I'm perfect or that I'm a saint. I have certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past, but those mistakes are between me and my wife. Swalwell is accused by several women of varying degrees of sexual misconduct, detailed in reports in both the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN. The outlets corroborating the allegations through interviews with people the women confided in and reviewing text messages and medical records from the time. His former staffer says her relationship with Swalwell consisted of sharing nude images and photos on the messaging app Snapchat, a sexual encounter in a car,

and two instances where she says she was sexually assaulted after. after a night of drinking with the congressman, leaving her too intoxicated to consent. Her attorney declined to comment or issue any statement to NBC News. NBC News has confirmed she did work for Swalwell. The accusations have led to a swell of Democrats and key labor unions to drop their endorsements of the 47-year-old, many urging him to end his campaign for governor,

though notably not saying he should quit Congress. But on the GOP side, rep Anna Paulina Luna says she plans to introduce a motion to expel Swalwell. It is unacceptable for him to just index. his campaign for governor in California, but still sit in the House of Representatives. And Liz Kroits joins us from Los Angeles. Liz, we're hearing now from some of Swalwell's staff. Yeah, Jose, that's right. This evening, members of his senior staff released a statement calling Swalwell's behavior abhorrent and saying that they stand with their former colleague and the other accusers. NBC News has reached out to Swalwell. We've not heard back. But in that video, he says he plans to fight

the accusations with every thing. thing he has. Jose. Liz Kreutz, thank you. We are tracking severe weather across the country tonight, and take a look at this. More heavy rain in Hawaii, sending these boulders tumbling onto a highway near Honolulu.

There was heavy rain in the plains as well, prompting flash floods like these in Kansas. While in southern New Jersey, a brush fire sent thick smoke billowing in the air as the northeast faces a higher risk for fires over the next few days. Sillahead tonight. Our team goes inside the urgent search to find a missing mom who went overboard in the Bahamas.

We're on the ground. Next. It has been one week since authorities believe an American woman disappeared in the Bahamas. And tonight, the search is intensifying. Jesse Kirsch reports. While they investigate American Lynette Hooker's disappearance, tonight Bahamian police have more time to detain her husband, according to his attorney. But Brian Hooker's lawyer, Terrell Butler, says by Monday night,

investigators will need to either charge the 58-year-old or set him free. That new deadline comes with the search for Lynette Hooker, now a recovery operation. Brian Hooker's lawyer says police interviewed him for hours on Friday. You think they are looking at him for possibly being charged with murder? Right. Based on the fact that they're saying that they believe he caused her harm that resulted in her death. that suggests murder to me. He definitely denies causing her dead,

and he's still asking about her and is hopeful that she will be recovered. Tonight, no comment from police about Friday's interview. Hooker says his wife Lynette fell from the couple's small dingy, and he appears to describe the aftermath in a recorded phone call with friends. I threw her a flotation cushion

that we used to sit on the dingy, you know, right after she went in. But I didn't, I couldn't, I couldn't tell if she got it or not. NBC News cannot verify the audio's authenticity. Brian Hooker's attorney says she cannot either, as this Caribbean mystery continues. Jesse Kirsch, NBC News, Freeport, the Bahamas.

We're back in a moment with a warning sign for the economy as car repossessions see a dramatic surge. There are growing concerns about the impact the war in Iran is having on the nation's economy. And a surge in car repossessions could be a warning sign. Sergio Flores from our NBC San Diego station has more. Time is of the essence. In San Diego, Alex Alvarez from Active Recovery Services

has located a car that's on his repo list for lack of payment. It's in the parking lot of a shopping center. It takes them less than five minutes to hook, lift, and tow the car out of the parking lot, and it's gone just like that. It has to be fast. People want to get in the vehicle before we hook it up. Alex says he takes no pleasure in leaving people without a car, but that's the job he's hired to do.

Well, I'm buying work boots to start work on Monday, and all of a sudden I just started seeing a tow truck. Encyclio Rodriguez was driving the car that Alex just picked up. He says it belongs to his girlfriend, and she let him borrow it while she traveled out of the country on a family emergency. Now they have to figure out a way to get it back and soon. Because I started at 4 in the morning,

there's no MTS at that time. An Uber right now is very expensive. According to the Federal Reserve, 3.88% of auto loans fell into delinquency in the third quarter of 2025, the highest since March 2010. And the trend continued through the end of the year. And those with the lowest credit scores

are being impacted the most. The report shows, almost 16% of borrowers with subprime credit are late on their payments. Still, experts say there are some steps you can take to make sure your car doesn't get repossessed. Changing your car payment from being $600 a month to $450 a month can make it a lot more affordable and a lot easier to pay. Simon Goodall is the CEO of Caribou, an online auto loan refinance company. He says one way to lower your monthly payments is to refinance. If they bought a car and their credit wasn't great, but they've made a payment consistently,

oftentimes their credit score is improved and they might not even know it. Another option is extending your loan. And he said, that doesn't necessarily mean you'll pay more in interest. If you want an 84-month loan to begin with so you have a lower required payment, but you want to pay more than the minimum, you'll pay your car off faster. So it's complete flexibility. He also told us people refinancing at 84 months are saving about $179 a month. If you're already behind on your payments, the first thing to do is to contact your lender.

You might be surprised how flexible they are to help you keep your car and keep the loan going. Sergio Flores, NBC News, San Diego, California. When we come back, there's good news tonight about moving forward and the life-changing moments these students will never forget. There's good news tonight. So often the good news doesn't get as much attention as the bad. So every Saturday, we highlight the many people who's... spread joy and love, and this week got a closer look at life-changing moments for high school students across the country.

When you finally achieve your biggest dreams, this is what it sounds like. After years of hard work, these high school seniors across the country celebrating after getting accepted into college. After years of waiting, Audrey Schrader couldn't hold back the tears after finding out she got into Columbia University. It's been my dream school since I was eight years old. So being able to finally say, I'm going to Columbia, like, it was, gosh, just thinking about it makes me emotional. Camden Wallace knew he couldn't open the letter from his dream school alone. His mother jumping for joy as her son was accepted to more. House College. It meant everything to me. It was not just a dream and true for me, but it was an

answered prayer. Brianna Zhang overcome with emotion as she opened her acceptance letter from Harvard. And for her parents who left their homes to make their children's dreams possible, they couldn't believe their eyes. They just felt so proud of their journey. I felt so proud of my parents for all their support enabling me to get to this position. So, it meant so much to our whole entire family. In Texas, Azealia Zak at her mom, Janine, are about to get life-changing news. You can see the pure excitement and joy on their faces after finding out that Azealia got accepted to attend UCLA. I was already crying, like, before I even opened my acceptance letter, so I knew I was going to cry no matter what.

And then I opened in, I got in. I was so happy. The fact that you weren't alone made it, I guess, even more special. Oh, yes. My mom's like my biggest supporter. So for being there for me opening my acceptance letter was, like, amazing. And from Mom Janine, this next chapter for Azilia means just as much for her. How lucky are we to be able to see our children fulfilling their dream?

I'm so thankful to God, really, for this opportunity. And also, you know, to be reminded that our world is really a small village where people are rooting for you and want you to do well. And I have every confidence that Azealia is ready to take on the next generation. It makes me feel happy and positive about our future. Does me as well. That's NBC Now The News for this Saturday. The great Halley Jackson will be here tomorrow night. I'm Jose Diaz-Balert.

Thank you. for the privilege of your time, and good night.