NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Saturday, June 7, 2025
Episode Date: June 8, 2025Tensions grow in L.A. amid protests over immigration operations; Trump: Elon Musk will face 'very serious consequences' if he funds Democratic candidates; Tens of millions of people at risk for severe... weather; and more on tonight’s broadcast.
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Breaking tonight, growing tensions in Los Angeles as protesters clash with
authorities. Dozens of federal agents and riot gear with gas masks, batons, flash
bangs and tear gas confronting crowds protesting mass deportation. The latest
from the ground. Also tonight, President Trump ramping up his feud with Elon
Musk. The president telling Kristen Welker Musk will face, quote,
very serious consequences if he funds Democratic candidates
as Musk blasts the president's spending bill and goes after Republicans.
Severe weather battering millions across the country.
Heavy rains bringing zero visibility in Alabama.
In Oklahoma, a tornado turning this town to pieces. We are tracking it all.
New details tonight about the fugitive ex-police chief convicted of murder known as the devil of
the Ozarks. What led to his capture? This is NBC Nightly News with Jose Diaz-Balart.
Good evening. We begin tonight with growing tensions over mass deportations in Los Angeles.
This was a scene in Paramount, California today when officers responded to a huge gathering
as protesters took to the streets to demonstrate against federal immigration operations.
Border Patrol says several arrests were made and the White House says it is monitoring
the situation. At least 30 officers wearing House says it is monitoring the situation.
At least 30 officers wearing riot gear lined up against the protesters.
It isn't immediately clear which agency these officers work for.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says ICE will quote, continue to follow the law.
And it wasn't just LA.
We also saw another standoff between protesters and authorities in New York City.
Arrests were made there as well.
Today's news comes one day after dozens of people were taken into custody across at least
three locations in LA.
Steve Patterson is in Paramount, California for us.
Steve, good evening.
What are you seeing there now?
Jose, this all started this morning apparently across the street
from a home depot but the tension continues to this very moment. I'll step
off and show you behind me you can see L. A county sheriff's department in full
riot gear. We've seen flash bangs be deployed. We know tear gas canisters
have gone off. We've seen debris in the streets. We know the FBI says they are
looking for several people that they say through rocks and vehicles
conducting operations
This of course follows that day of tension raids across LA and LA County specifically dozens of arrests being made
We don't know how many arrests or injuries in this police action, but obviously the tension not dying down anytime soon. How's that?
Steve Patterson in Paramount, California
Thank you and now to politics and Kristen Welker's brand new phone interview with President Trump,
the president now escalating his feud with his former ally, Elon Musk.
Kelly O'Donnell has more.
A blow up beyond repair.
Tonight, President Trump says his partnership with Elon Musk is over.
I have no intention of speaking to him.
The president said in a phone interview with Kristen Welker, moderator of Meet the Press,
He's a great patriot.
For months, the world's richest man was seemingly everywhere around Mr. Trump.
But the fallout from Thursday's social media brawl includes more threats. Centered on politics, if Musk acts on his threats to stop the president's budget bill
or shifts his fortune to backing Democrats, the president said he'll have to pay very
serious consequences if he does that, but would not provide specifics.
He continued, Elon was very disrespectful to the office of the president.
I think it's a very bad thing.
The president also distanced himself from the sudden return to the U.S. of a Salvadoran
man deported and detained in a notorious prison in El Salvador, Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
That wasn't my decision, the president said.
The Department of Justice decided to do it that way, and that's fine.
The president went further to say he did not personally intervene or speak to President
Bukele of El Salvador, but rendered judgment on the coming prosecution.
It should be a very easy case, Mr. Trump said.
Abrego Garcia is being held on two federal counts related to transporting migrants.
One of his lawyers said the administration is trying everything it can to win a political war. He has another court appearance next week.
Jose?
Kelly O'Donnell, thank you. And Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker joins me for more
on her phone call with the president. Kristen, could Musk in fact sink that big, beautiful
bill?
Well, Jose, while the feud could embolden some of those who are opposed
to the bill at this point in time, there's just no evidence that Musk's
winning over lawmakers from the yes column to the no column. Now, having
said that, it certainly allows the discord to fester. And if the Senate
makes big changes to the bill, it could make it harder for the House to pass.
The open question is, could Musk give cover to some Republicans who've been on the fence
and who may in fact want to vote no on the bill?
Still, Mr. Trump's popularity exceeds Musk's nationally and within the Republican Party.
In fact, a recent Economist YouGov poll finds that 87 percent of Republicans view the president
favorably versus 76 percent for Musk, underscoring this is still President Trump's party.
Jose.
Kristen Welker in Washington, thank you so much.
And don't miss Meet the Press tomorrow
when she interviews Senators James Langford
and Cory Booker along with actress Olivia Munn
who opens up about her battle with breast cancer.
That's tomorrow morning right here on NBC.
Tens of millions of people are at risk for severe
weather tonight with even more expected tomorrow. Parts of the south battered by heavy storms today.
Ryan Chandler is tracking it all from Oklahoma. Tonight more severe weather pummeling cities
across the country. This weekend heavy rain and strong winds battering communities across the eastern half of the U. S.
In central Alabama, blustery winds and heavy downpours causing near zero
visibility torrential rain soaking the Atlanta metro area in Oklahoma vehicles
stuck in high water crews racing to reopen this highway here in McAllister neighbors woke
up to tornado warnings after taking
cover and emerging from their shelters.
They found some of their
historic downtown in pieces.
It's been a rough day.
This is what is left of Shelby
Tatum's family antique store.
Their 100 year old building
left mangled by a storm.
They say sounded like a train.
What does it mean now that it's destroyed? It's rough. We're hoping that it's visible.
Meanwhile, up north, an ongoing threat from Canadian wildfire smoke, causing
hazy conditions in places like Chicago, the risk for severe weather continuing
for 44 million people tomorrow, with Oklahoma and Texas possibly seeing 100
mile per hour winds.
And the Mississippi governor announcing on social media one person has died
after a tree fell on a car there. Over 20,000 people in Mississippi are without
power. Jose? Ryan Chandler, thank you. We are learning new details tonight about
the so-called devil in the Ozarks, a former police chief convicted
of murder who was just captured nearly two weeks after a brazen escape from jail.
Aaron Gilchrist has the latest.
Escaped Arkansas inmate Grant Harden, surrounded by law enforcement in the woods Friday afternoon,
found less than two miles from the prison he escaped on May 25th, tracking dogs picking
up his scent and leading
search teams right to him.
Next thing we know, they're hauling Grant Harden out from back here.
Harden was convicted in the 2017 murder of James Appleton, a Gateway, Arkansas city worker
who Harden shot in the face in broad daylight.
I just want to thank God for answering prayers. I spoke to a family
member of Appleton. We agreed not to show their face because they still fear
for their safety. The relief is that he is captured, but we all know that when
you're in confinement, you still have connections outside. Harden escaped from
a state prison wearing an outfit made to look like a corrections officer's. The disguise good enough that according to
court documents a real officer opened a gate and let Harden walk away from the
prison. Hundreds of law enforcement officers spent 13 days scouring Izard
County for Harden, ultimately finding him near a creek with high water, which
officials now believe also kept Harden from running any farther.
Him being recaptured is a huge sigh of relief for him.
Nathan Smith prosecuted Harden twice, and he says Harden's escape put a sociopath on
the loose.
We did not believe he was redeemable.
We believed that he needed to spend the rest of his life in prison.
Harden was serving two consecutive prison sentences, 30 years for the Appleton murder
and 50 for the 1997 rape of a school teacher. Documentaries about Harden's crimes earned the
former police chief the moniker Devil in the Ozarks. Harden now back behind bars,
this time in a supermax prison. Aaron Gilchrist, NBC News.
Still ahead, the major egg recall across several states after dozens of people got sick.
What you need to know next.
We are back with a major egg recall sparked by a Salmonella outbreak.
The August Egg Company now recalling nearly two million cartons of brown eggs after dozens
of people became sick across several states.
The eggs sold mostly in Safeway and Walmart stores
in nine states.
When we come back, there's good news tonight
about two baseball super fans and the act of kindness
that brought them closer together.
Now this is how you get the crowd going.
That's Steven Lie Lee, University of Arizona baseball super fan, spreading joy and getting down. His story was shared by our NBC affiliate station in Tucson.
It got some attention from Rich Greaser, a fellow season ticket holder who realized they shared a connection.
I'm part of the game. I know who you are. I want to share some stuff with you.
Get this, Rich's late father was actually Steven's high school baseball coach back
when he was the student manager. And I want you to have this so that you will
remember always where you got that love of the game.
So after a game, Rich gave Steven a special gift to remember a special time in his life.
Those items that you can see over my shoulder here,
I'm sure they'd be a watch to the Greaser family.
I don't have the words to say it.
And a note of gratitude from one baseball fan to another.
My father touched the hearts of so many.
I wanted to share some of him with you.
Oh my God, that's my ring.
It took me a long time.
This is the sound of relief.
I just called you.
Yes, sir.
That South Carolina diver, Jeremy Robinson, returning a lost engagement ring to its rightful
owner. When Jeremy got the call that Ashley's was lost he don't need to action searching for hours with a
metal detector he finally found and called Ashley and her
fiance Matt to share the news.
Hopefully I could keep going and then keep people happy this
enough just just seeing the joy.
And this was the moment high school grad Laura Wiley have
been waiting for.
Laura was hospitalized for a sudden illness. Yeah, the mess
of graduation in Boswell high school in Texas.
Laura's care team brought the celebration to her, spending all
night decorating for this graduation which included her
assistant principal Hillary White.
For Laura's mom Brandi it meant the world.
The kindness of others changes stories.
I don't know how they managed to get that many amazing human beings in one hospital.
Miracle workers?
Miracle workers, for sure.
Laura overwhelmed with gratitude as she prepares for her next chapter.
Laura, when you look at it on balance, you have probably one of the most unusual and coolest
Graduations ever I did it was a reminder to me how there are some amazing people out there
Stages we don't even know you will do the best they can to make you feel like you're important
to make you feel like you're important. Congratulations Laura on her graduation and all those folks that chipped in.
That's NBC Nightly News for this Saturday.
Hallie Jackson will be here tomorrow night.
I'm Jose Diaz-Ballart. Thank you for the privilege of your time.
And good night.