NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Saturday, June 7, 2025

Episode Date: June 8, 2025

Tensions 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.

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.