NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Sunday, August 2, 2026

Episode Date: August 2, 2026

Dangerous wildfires in Washington burn thousands of acres; New video shows moment hero fires at shooter at Idaho In-and-Out; Fragile ceasefire between U.S. and 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.

This is NBC Nightly News with Hallie Jackson. Good evening. We begin tonight with the race against time to contain the dangerous wildfires, forcing much of one city to evacuate with hundreds of buildings burned up in the Pacific Northwest. Look, you can see it here in Spokane, Washington today. Neighborhoods like this one, swallowed by the fire, flames, and smoke everywhere you look. Right now, 4,000 firefighters are working around the clock to try to get things under control. But you see, from this video, look, from behind. behind the wheel. This is why thousands of people have been forced to grab what they can and get out fast.

With nearly this whole street, look at that, wiped out. And tonight, a new and urgent danger. The wind is starting to shift. And Spokane's mayor warns that could make getting a handle on these fires even more difficult. With at least 600 buildings destroyed already. Camila Bernal starts us off. Tonight, raging flames in Washington State. thick billowing smoke seen here covering the sky. A passenger recording the smoke as they landed in Spokane today. The threat forcing thousands to evacuate. It was scary.

The wind was blowing and it was blowing the smoke back of the forest. Oh, Jesus. Oh, my God, dude. Holy. In Spokane County, homes like these reduced to ash. Officials say at least 600 structures have been destroyed. Can't even believe everything to happen. How many people had to evacuate?

Gone. As more than a dozen major fires tear across the state, scorching over 250,000 acres. From the air to the ground, firefighters battling the blaze. These fires are still very active. they are still posing an extreme fire danger. Fires also raging in other states across the West this weekend. In Europe, several wildfires also breaking out in Greece. West of Athens video shows the moment two firefighting helicopters collided mid-air today.

One immediately catching fire and plummeting. Two people died, two survived, according to fire officials. Back in the U.S., 48 million remain under heat alerts. from parts of California to the Dakotas. It feels like there's just endless days near 100 degrees. Camila's joining us now from L.A. where folks are not catching a break from all that heat, Camila. They're not, Hallie.

The heat, the extreme heat will remain here in California through tonight. And in many parts of the southwest, including Arizona, we could continue to possibly see record-breaking temperatures through Monday. Hallie. Camilla Brunall, thank you. Thank you. Also, tonight, new images of the moment an armed bystander, credited with saving lives, tried to stop an attacker during a deadly mass shooting in Idaho as we learn more tonight about the chaotic moments at that In-N-Out Burger where it happened. Dana Griffin is there. Tonight, new video showing the moments a man stepped in to stop a shooter who opened fire outside this Idaho In-N-Out Burger Saturday afternoon, sending people running for their lives. What's happening? What's happening? What's happening? Shoot, shoot. Shoot. Go. Just go. Go, go, go, go.

You see a gunman with an AR-style rifle unleashing several rounds in the drive-through of the popular fast food chain, which opened just days ago in Twin Falls. Another man then returns fire. Lane Cohen witnessed the shooting from his car. Is he a hero? Yeah, I would say he definitely distracted the shooter from shooting more people. The shooter is solely focused on him and it allowed us to get out. I mean, the car directly ahead of me was getting shot. Police crediting that man and an off-duty state trooper who also returned fire with helping save lives.

Officials say three people were killed and at least seven others injured. The president and owner of in and out confirming one of her employees was killed. I could see an employee trying to carry another person out. She had a gunshot wound through the chest. He was just screaming her name. Tell her, wake up, you know, wake up. Taxi driver Terry Dudley was shot while charging his car. His son Michael says his father is now intubated in the hospital.

He's in pretty rough shape. I haven't been able to talk to him. Tonight, officials say the gunmen identified as 24-year-old Chad Williams died from a self-inflicted gunshot. His motive still unclear. Dana is joining us now from Twin Falls. And late tonight, Dana, we heard from police praising those who jumped into action to try to stop this attacker.

That's right, Halley, tonight police commending the heroic actions of that off-duty state trooper and citizen saying they most certainly saved lives here. We're also learning new information about the survivors. Five remain hospitalized. Two of them listed in critical condition. Hallie. Dana Griffin, thank you. New developments now in the war against Iran with President Trump just moments ago,

saying new peace talks with Iran will begin tomorrow as he pledges to pause strikes for now. Kier Simmons reports from Doha. Tonight, talks between Iran and the U.S. have reportedly begun again for a deal that could end the war and reopen the Strait of Homoos. President Trump announcing last night he'd instructed to hold off any attack in that he wrote the perimeter of a deal has been agreed to. I have agreed to cancel the attack subject to being able to rapidly make a deal. The president saying he will order American forces to hold off

for massive new strikes against Iran. There's a deal on Hormuz and then it will be a deal on the nuclear, or you might call it the denuclearization of Iran. Hours earlier, U.S. embassies signaled a major escalation was close, recommending Americans consider leaving the region. President Trump called it levels of military terror, strength and power, not seen since World War II. But there are mixed messages. On Saturday, Iran hit a vessel near the Strait of Hormuz,

setting its engine room on fire, and tonight, Iranian officials again insisting the Strait of Hormuz will not return to pre-war conditions. Trump's new ceasefire, the culmination of days of strikes by the US against Iran, a flurry of phone calls, including from Saudi Arabia's crown prince to President Trump and urgent negotiations by countries like Qatar, persuading Trump to again hold off an attack. The backchannel diplomacy worked really hard to convince President Trump to give a chance for diplomacy again. What's your prediction of how likely is that this ceasefire sticks?

It's very hard. Let's be honest. But tonight, it's not clear how long President Trump is prepared to wait, writing get to work, everybody, and get it done. Kyr is with us now from Doha. And Kier, as we heard President Trump say talks will pick up tomorrow. What are we hearing now from the Iranian side? Well, highly, the Iranian foreign minister, seeming to echo President Trump saying negotiations are on the path to being finally. But tonight, Hali, we're just hearing from a monitoring group that looks at the strait of Hormuz that there has been an explosion near a vessel there. Hally?

Lots to watch. Kier Simmons, thank you. Here at home, a Republican congressman denying serious domestic abuse allegations against him is now defying calls to drop out of his race, including from his own former father-in-law, a sitting senator. Here's Julie Sirkin. Tonight, Republican Congressman Max Miller doubling down on his reelection bid and defending himself, against claims of abuse by his ex-wife. I'm not getting out of this race. As his former father-in-law, Republican senator,

who is close to President Trump, says he is not fit to serve. Let me begin with the most painful accusation of all. I have never abused our daughter. I categorically deny abusing my former wife. And after a lengthy live video on X, the two-term Ohio congressman posting a Dropbox folder, he says contains the keys to his innocent,

months into a bitter custody dispute between him and his former partner Emily Moreno, the daughter of Senator Bernie Moreno. She accuses Miller of throwing hot water on her and holding a gun to her head, according to police reports. In February, police also investigated after their daughter suffered a broken collarbone and bruising. The cause of those injuries is disputed. Miller denies all allegations and has not faced criminal charges. If I had assaulted her, would she had offered a cook meat dinner six days later? Senator Moreno writing in response today that Miller's behavior is, quote, erratic and dangerous, making it impossible to keep this matter private, and calling on Miller to leave the House of Representatives. Miller shot back, accusing Moreno of speaking out now for political reasons.

A person close to Senator Moreno tells NBC News he paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees on behalf. of his daughter, and that this has been painful for the senator, who is concerned for his grandchild, too. The president weighing in late tonight. Well, I'm going to look at it. I've been so far it's accusations. I'll be looking at it. Earlier this year, House Speaker Mike Johnson said Miller has...

You've got to work that out. And tonight, a spokesperson for Emily Moreno says Miller can lie and spin on X, but he cannot do so under oath in a court of law. Julie is with us now traveling with the president. And Julie, talk us through the timeline here for Miller's political re-election. Hallie, there are major political implications here, too. Miller has until Wednesday to drop out of the race or he becomes the nominee. A source familiar with direct conversations says there are concerns among Republicans

about unnecessary attention so close to the midterms. Democrats, Halley, are watching this race closely. Hallie? Julie Sarkin, thank you. Still ahead for us tonight, a daring rescue. The tense moments as officers Russian guns drawn. to save a toddler kidnapped and a stolen car. Plus, scary new video of this crash during a traffic stop.

Next. New video tonight of this wild moment during a highway traffic stop. Look at this here. A police officer in Texas stopping a car on a busy highway, and then the moment of impact here, another car smashes into it. Police say the other driver was distracted. The officer and the first driver were both hurt, but thankfully they are both expected to be okay.

Also, tonight's southern Italy rattled by the strongest earthquake that region has seen in decades of 4.7 magnitude earthquake Friday night near Naples, triggering rock slides along with buildings crumpled and cars crushed. Two dozen people were hurt, five of them taken to hospitals. Here at home, a dramatic rescue caught on camera. Police stepping in to stop a carjacker who allegedly stole a car with a toddler inside. Here's Ryan Chandler. Tonight, a daring rescue.

Jazz, run the tag back. Atlanta police rushing to save a two-year-old girl from a carjacker. Hands up. Yo, don't move. Mom, making a frantic 911 call on Thursday. You said your daughter's inside the vehicle? Yes, my two-year-old daughter. Police scanning the city streets with license plate readers, tracking the car down three miles away in under 15 minutes.

Hands on the window now! Watch the moment officers approach the car with guns drawn, arresting. 21-year-old Selim Martin. Get out the car. Slow. Martin now facing six charges, including kidnapping and cruelty to children. It's okay, baby. It's okay.

It's okay, baby. Officers calming the crying toddler. Mom and child finally reunited as a parent's worst nightmare came to an end. Ryan Chandler, NBC News. We are back with much more in a moment. Back now with. superstar Ariana Grande stepping back from the public eye when her tour wraps up next month,

according to what a rep for the singer tells People magazine. She's pulling out of a musical set to open in London as well. Her team citing what they call endless ongoing public scrutiny as a reason for the move. And that is nightly news for this Sunday. Sunday night baseball is up next with the Red Sox at the Dodgers. I'm Hallie Jackson. For all of us here at NBC, thanks for watching and have a great week.