NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Saturday, August 8, 2026

Episode Date: August 8, 2026

Washington state wildfires rage; Puerto Rico crisis worsens with hundreds of thousands without water; Iran issues new demands over Strait of Hormuz; 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, millions on alert for extreme heat and the new threat from wildfires are team inside the evacuation zone in Washington State. Thousands of firefighters working to get those massive fires under control as temperatures rise and the winds pick up again. We're tracking it all. No water and no relief. Growing frustration in Puerto Rico as a major water crisis grows even worse tonight. Overseas, Iran making new demands before agreeing. to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Will the U.S. go along?

New tonight, Joe Biden's health battle takes a turn for the worst. Hunter Biden now revealing that his father's cancer has spread further. Runway emergency, smoke filling the cabin, emergency shoots deployed the dramatic new video of passengers evacuating a Delta flight. A house set on fire, a dead body found inside.

Tonight, the urgent search for a suspect, the victim's own suspect, who police say is armed and dangerous. Medical emergency, the daring rescue at the bottom of the world. Hero pilots evacuate an American from Antarctica in the middle of winter with temperatures so cold the plane's fuel was in danger of freezing. Jackie the Bald Eagle has captivated millions around the world, and now she's fighting for her life,

while the doctors trying to save her say pressure from fans could impact care. And from trash to treasure, the workers who dug through thousands of pounds of garbage to find two precious rings accidentally thrown away. This is NBC Nightly News with Jose Diaz Ballard. Good evening. We begin tonight with the new threat of wildfires erupting once again in Washington State. This was the scene someone recorded while driving near Sporkan. You can see flames totally engulfing the whole. home. Thousands of firefighters have been working for days to get flames under control. Everywhere you look, homes destroyed. Our team got an inside look at the evacuation zone,

where officials say it is so dangerous that families cannot return home. Ryan Chandler starts us off tonight. Tonight, firefighters taking us inside the evacuation zone for a firsthand look at the destruction in Spokane. Officials say this area is still so dangerous. Many families cannot yet return to their neighborhoods to see what was lost. We saw hundreds of homes burned to ash. Others saved under airdrops of fire retardant. This area was what was called a dirty burn. It didn't consume every single piece of fuel.

This crew showing us the hard work to seek out hot spots still burning under the surface. More than 2,000 firefighters battling over 10,000 burning acres, working 16-hour shifts. Many for 14 days straight. Incident commander Tom Claimo showed us the staggering scale of the fight, a thousand-tent city supporting personnel from across the country. We evacuated over 60,000 people in two hours without injury. That is a testament to personal preparedness to heating the messages. The fires igniting one week ago, spreading at lightning speed.

Almost a thousand structures estimated lost. Investigators blame a serial arsonist for, one of the fires here, the old trails fire, one of the most devastating in Washington history. And tonight, the danger far from over. With red flag warnings across the region, first responders bracing for the possibility that new fires will break out, as some give their lives on the front lines. A pilot and crew member were killed when their firefighting helicopter crashed while battling the wide mouth two fire in Utah. And in Oregon, the Wright Spring fire claiming the life of 47-year-old Jason Ensign. Officials say extreme fire behavior cut off his bulldozer from an

escape route. Ryan Chandler joins us now from Spokane, Washington. Ryan, we know authorities are closely monitoring conditions there. How long are those red flag warnings expected to last? Jose, those warnings are up through Sunday. Firefighting teams tell me here tonight will be a critical test. Meanwhile, across the country, more than 70 million people are facing extreme heat. And here in the West, there are many hot and dry days still ahead. Jose. Ryan Jandler, thank you. To Puerto Rico now where a water crisis is growing even worse tonight. Now people are already taking desperate measures to conserve water during a major drought

with no end in sight. George Solis is on the ground. Tonight, families across Puerto Rico's capital city rushing to take care of basic needs before the next round of water shot-offs takes place. The American Territory, implementing two days on, two days off water rationing measures in San Juan and surrounding municipalities. In old San Juan, we met Elizabeth Torres, working overtime at this laundromat where the orders are piling up before their water is shut off. But, I mean, it's a crisis here. You're going to be without water. Your business is going to be affected. And they say this is going to finish close to December. I hope not. I need the money to come in so I can. you know, pay my bills.

Hundreds of thousands of American citizens here are hurting. How angry are Puerto Ricans over this water rationing plan? Alar. Alar. Like so many on the island, Torres outraged. The drought now amplifying issues with the island's aging water infrastructure. For years, they know about it, but they didn't do nothing. At a nearby business, we met Grisia Nunez.

Do you have water at home right now? In my casa, no. No, she says. She also tells me she has two teenagers. How bad is this problem right now? She says she's lived here all her life, and this is the first time this has happened to this degree. Nearly a decade ago, it was the power grid that got wiped out.

Hurricane Maria causing catastrophic damage. Some residents were without electricity for nearly a year after. George Solis joins us now from outside San Juan in Guadabo, Puerto Rico. George, we see that bare ground. behind you, how dry are things there now? Jose, it's pretty dry. This whole area used to be underwater. You can see it's clearly not anymore.

You can actually see some of the cracks in the earth here. And take a look at this. This used to be a floating dock. That is clearly not the case anymore. Just more proof of the extreme drought conditions impacting so many here in this American territory. Jose. George Solis in Puerto Rico, thank you.

Tonight, Iran is issuing new demand. to the U.S. in order to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Kier is in Dahlia tonight in Kier. What are they now calling for? Well, Jose, these demands are dashing hopes of a breakthrough, even after President Trump said an agreement could be close. Iranian state media issuing this list of demands that says the Strait of Hamoos will not be reopened unless America agrees not to target Iran or even insults Iran again, quote, in any language.

America must remove its forces from around Iran and must lift sanctions and payback assets to Iran. Jose, it was only this week that President Trump was saying that an agreement between Iran and Amman over the strait of Amoos could be happening soon. Now Iran says it wants damages for the war this year and even the war last year that targeted its nuclear program. All this will put pressure on oil and on President Trump. Jose? Kier Simmons, thank you. Michigan Democratic Senate candidate, Abdul El-Sayed, a critic of the war with Iran, will speak with Kristen Welker tomorrow on Meet the Press. Dramatic new video tonight of passengers evacuating a Delta flight shortly after takeoff. You can see smoke filling the cabin there with people going down the emergency slides.

The flight was heading from Atlanta to Orlando when the flight crew declared an emergency and headed back. Delta said the aircraft is now undergoing. maintenance. And now to the urgent manhunt in New York State after a man was found dead inside his burned out home and police saying the suspect is the man's son. Stephen Romo reports. Tonight, an urgent manhunt underway in New York's Hudson Valley. 32-year-old Thomas David Ryan is wanted in connection with a homicide and a fire that destroyed this home in Greenville, New York, some 80 miles outside Manhattan. ranch, fire in the basement, and the first floor. Authorities describing Ryan as armed and dangerous.

Firefighters racing to the home Thursday night and once the flames were out, finding a man's body inside. It's a horrible nightmare that we have feared. It is our greatest fear that has haunted us, and it's happening. Stephanie Correot telling me Thomas Ryan is her brother and that the victim is their father, 70-year-old Robert Ryan. My dad was the definition of unforestation. conditional generosity and unconditional love. Aerial footage showing investigators combing through the burned out house. State police say the death appears to be a homicide that happened before the fire was intentionally set.

It's scary and I just wish we had peace of mind and we don't. State police are working with local law enforcement to find Ryan. They say he lived a transient lifestyle may now be driving his father's gray Toyota Prius and was also known to travel by train. Stephen Romo, NBC News. And now to a daring rescue at the end of the earth that Americans suffering from a medical emergency, evacuated and airlifted from Antarctica. Janice McAfee-Frayer has the details. A rare and daring mission to the bottom of the world, Antarctica, where an American working at the McMurdo Research Station needed urgent medical care,

an Australian air crew doing what few had done before, flying an Airbus A319 into extreme winter conditions and complete dark. for the evacuation. On the way down, it was quite cold. For the pilots, including a husband and wife team, that meant landing in minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit and worrying their fuel might freeze. Where we came to get out of there as soon as possible, just to avoid any extra time on the grounds. The unidentified patient carried 2300 miles to a hospital in New Zealand and the U.S.

National Science Foundation telling the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that they had been admitted in, quote, serious condition. McMurdo is the U.S.'s scientific hub, doing cutting-edge exploration into Antarctica's climate and ecosystems. Dr. Peter Neff has spent time there. And it's a really extreme place where we're not fully in control because Mother Nature and the weather is the ultimate decider in Antarctica. Details of the evacuation carried out over a week ago, emerging only now, of an extraordinary

flight to bring one American to safety. Janice McIrere, NBC News, London. And still ahead tonight, Eagle Care Controversy, why the team trying to save Jackie the Bald Eagle is asking the public to take a step back. We're back with a pretty wild controversy involving a famous Bald Eagle. Jackie, who gained global fame from her viral nest cam,

but tonight she's fighting for her life. And as Camila Bernal reports, her doctors are under pressure too. She makes a home, feeds her eaglets, and shakes off the snow as she keeps them warm. Jackie, a bald eagle in Big Bear, California, is an internet sensation, watched around the clock by millions for about a decade. But tonight, she's fighting for her life and the people supporting her are fighting distractions online. There's just a lot of different ideas that people have, and some of them are a little extreme. and it can interfere with the care of the Jackie's getting.

Last month, Jackie was seen being attacked by other eagles. Duke Blackwood was recording. Jackie's here on the ground, and one of them came and started doing this, and then they tussled. Rescue teams eventually took her to the Ohio Raptor Center, where she is now battling a mysterious illness unrelated to the attack. We wish we had better news to share. But the center says some fans are interrupting care. by demanding more updates repeatedly calling and even making contact at workers' private homes.

Friends of Big Bear Valley, the organization that runs the nest cameras, denouncing the negative fan behavior. Her care is not a conspiracy. She's in the best place that she could be. If you do want to help, the Ohio Raptor Center is encouraging positive cards and messages for Jackie and the team caring for her. Camila Bernal, NBC News. When we come back from trash to treasure, how these sanitation workers went above and beyond to find two priceless air lures. Back now with the Senate confirming Todd Blanche as U.S. Attorney General early this morning. The vote was mostly along party lines. Just two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, joining Democrats in voting against Blanche.

Also tonight's sad news in the world of sports. superstar Leonel Messi's father and lifelong agent, Jorge Messi, dead at the age of 68 after battling a long illness. And to talk about finding a needle in a haystack, these two New York City sanitation workers came to the rescue after someone accidentally threw out two family heirloom rings. Incredibly, the workers were able to find them after sifting through thousands of pounds of garbage. And we've got even more good news tonight. when we come back right after this. There's good news tonight. You know, so often the good news

doesn't get as much attention as the bad. So every Saturday, we highlight the many people who spread joy and love, and these are just some of those stories this week. There is good news, Jose, but tonight, you are the moment, as we mark 10 years since you took over a Saturday anchor of nightly news. It is such a big milestone for someone

who's already accomplished so much and broken so many barriers. With a long career that's worth celebrating, take a look. For more than 40 years, Jose Diaz-Belard has been an icon in English and Spanish-language media. Kate and I are in battleground states tonight. The energy is extraordinary. Reporting from storm zones, the level of destruction is massive. our southern border.

Why? Because I came with my American dream. And during some of the hardest moments, Jose has put people first, earning his reputation as one of the most trusted names in news. What else do we know about the shooter? He's interviewed every president since Ronald Reagan. Is it time to reconsider aid to Mexico based on human rights? And has broken new ground serving multiple audiences every week. Major breaking news tonight.

Jose has spent decades here at NBC News, and for the last 10 years, we've been lucky to have him right here as the anchor for Nightly News Saturday. This is NBC Nightly News with Jose Diaz Belart. We're coming on the air with breaking news from the White House. Whether it's breaking news. Here's good news tonight or the good news.

Jose has brought his own human touch to the broadcast, and encouraged all of us to be kinder and think bigger. What's the bigger message? Of course, there's that signature sign-off every weekend. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for the privilege of your time. But tonight, it's our turn to thank him for the privilege of his time.

Jose, where has the time gone? As you like to say, thank you for the privilege of your time. You've always been a great mentor. Unabrasso. What an honor and a privilege, It is for us to get to work with you. Jose, congrats on 10 years, 10 years of anchoring Nightly News Saturday.

Here's to 50 more, we will never let you retire. You are such a legend. You are an institution, a great friend, and a colleague. And a great role model for all of us. You are a king, a prince, a sheikh, and a mayor, the ruler of NBC. You set the bar incredibly high. You are so caring and kind and downright cool.

You have this rare ability to make everyone feels seen. You have always been the kindest. What has always stood out to me is your generosity. I was blown away by your kindness and your warmth. You have a kind heart both off and on the screen. If anyone ever asks me what JDB is like in person, I would say he is everything you see on television,

but so much better. You are as gracious a colleague in the studio as you are outside of it. You have exemplified not only what it means to be an excellent journalist, but also an amazing colleague and person. It can be seen in the people you've encouraged and the path that you've helped create for those of us who follow. They don't teach optimism and journalism school, but you have always sought out the best of humanity.

Saturdays are often crazy. There's so much breaking news and you have a depth and a range that is just exceptional and rare. Not only are you a world-class journalist, you're also one of the kindest and most gentlest people I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Such an incredible friend, such an incredible professional, but more importantly, such an incredible team player to everyone at this organization. Jose, everything is wonderful. Jose, you are thoughtful, you're caring,

it shows in everything you do. That is the kind of incredible spirit you bring to every relationship you build, including with the viewers of Nightly News. Happy 10 years to you, my legendary JDB. And I think I can say for all of us here at NBC News, Thank you, Jose. Thank you, Jose.

Thank you, Jose. Thank you, Jose. Thank you, Jose. Thank you, Jose. And Jose, our team also crunch the numbers, and get this, since you were officially named anchor of Saturday Nightly, you have anchored 373 broadcast, including this one right now. Not bad for a decade on this show, and cheers to many more.

And on a personal note, I want to thank you for your friendship, for your guidance, and for your dedication to this profession. I know for a fact, I would not be here without you. So Felicides and Jose, back to you. What a surprise I am touched beyond words, Tom, and the entire NBC News family from the bottom of my heart. Thank you. That's NBC Nightly News for this Saturday. I'm Jose Diaz-Balart.

Thank you for the privilege of your time. Good night. Thank you.