NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Sunday, January 11, 2026

Episode Date: January 12, 2026

500+ killed as Iran cracks down on protesters & issues threat to U.S.; Trump weighs military options in Iran amid escalating government crackdown; Trump administration vows to send more federal officers to Minneapolis; 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.

Breaking tonight, NBC News, learning the U.S. is weighing military options as Iran escalates a deadly crap down on protesters. Hundreds of thousands in the streets of Tehran as government forces mobilized to try to crush the uprising. Local morgues filling up. And now sources tell NBC News President Trump's considering military plans, including possible strikes. Here at home, tensions spiking in Minneapolis after that deadly ice shooting with the top Trump officials saying hundreds of More federal officers are set to begin arriving today with rallies spreading across the country. New tonight, the suspect arrested in the murder of an Ohio dentist and his wife set to make a court appearance. What we're learning about why he allegedly targeted his ex-wife as family and friends

gather for the couple's funerals. Mississippi's largest synagogue nearly destroyed by fire overnight, the FBI investigation and the suspect now under arrest. Crisis as flu cases climb, school nationwide dealing with a shortage of nurses. Our inside look at how some districts are making sure kids get the care they need. This is NBC Nightly News with Hallie Jackson. Good evening. We begin tonight with an escalating crackdown on protesters overseas and new reporting from NBC News today that President Trump is considering possible military action in Iran with the Middle East on edge. You can see what it looks like in Tehran tonight, hundreds of thousands of people in the streets. Buildings in flames, cars on fire, you see it there. Human rights activists now say more

than 500 people have been killed. But with an internet blackout, it's tough to know what the real number may be. One grim indicator? Videos like these. Dozens of body bags lined up outside a morgue. And new tonight, President Trump looking at options including possible military strikes, according to our sources. We've got team coverage tonight, starting with Ralph Sanchez. Tonight in Iran, the death toll surgeon as the Islamic Republic tries to crush the spreading protests. But crowds in the hundreds of thousands are refusing to surrender the streets. Human rights activists say around 500 people have been killed since the protests erupted two weeks ago. Iran does not release official numbers.

But these videos smuggled out of the country despite a government-imposed internet blackout and verified by NBC News showed death. dozens of bodies outside a morgue in Tehran. The faces of the dead flashed on a screen as anxious families search for their missing loved ones. Prizes of grief and the seemingly endless rows of bodies hinting at the scale of the bloodshed. President Trump has threatened strikes if Iran uses violence against protesters. You better not start shooting because we'll start shooting too. Members of Iran's parliament responding with defiant chance. their speaker warning, Iran would hit back.

And all U.S. military bases in the region would be legitimate targets. More than 10,000 people have been arrested so far, activists say, as authorities try to hold back a tidal wave of public fury, initially sparked by a spiraling economic crisis, but now turning into calls for the overthrow of the regime that has ruled Iran since 1979 and the toppling of its 86-year-old Supreme Leader. Iranian officials blaming the U.S. and Israel for the protests, claiming without evidence that foreign agents are inciting the crowds, as they try to explain away the explosive anger of their own people.

Raf is joining us now with more. And Raf, the Iranian regime is now trying to organize demonstrations of their own. That's right, Halley. They're calling for a nationwide pro-government rally tomorrow, condemning both the U.S. and Israel. we'll see how big that stage demonstration is, but every indication is that those massive anti-government protests will continue. Halie? Ralph Sanchez, thank you. Here at home, new reaction tonight to the possibility of U.S. military action in Iran. Julie Serkin has that reporting.

Tonight, President Trump weighing a range of options in Iran. After declaring the U.S. stands ready to help, Iranians who are flooding the streets, protesting the government. Three U.S. officials with knowledge of conversations tell NBC News the president has been presented with preliminary plans, from potential strikes to other options that would not include military action. So far, the Pentagon has not moved major assets to the region. President Trump would first need to make a difficult decision, though he ruled out putting boots on the ground. Whatever action we're going to take, Mr. President, needs to embolden the protesters and scare the hell out of the regime. If I were you, Mr. President, I would kill the leadership that are killing the people. But not everyone is on board for a military move in Iran.

But I don't know that bombing Iran will have the effect that is intended. The top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Panel, also warning U.S. intervention in Iran, could backfire. I think when we mess with the internal dynamics of a country like Iran, which is extraordinarily complex, we ought to do that carefully. After striking Venezuela one week ago, President Trump has also threatened. threatened military action in Colombia and Mexico, and overnight urged Cuba to make a deal before it is too late. And he's eyeing Greenland as his next target, warning of a U.S. takeover, instructing his top officials to meet with Danish counterparts in the coming days. It would be the end of NATO, right? I mean, NATO would have an obligation to defend Greenland.

And as Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's former regime leader, sits in a New York City jail cell, President Trump is pushing oil executives for a $100 billion investment and is gearing up to meet face to face with opposition leader Maria Karina Machado, expected in Washington this week. Hallie, the Senate is expected to decide this week whether to limit the Trump administration's future actions in Venezuela. It would still need to pass the House. But I'm told President Trump is not happy about it, placing calls to the five Republicans

who support it, even screaming at one. Hallie? Julie Serkin, thank you. Thank you. A top Trump official now says hundreds more federal officers will be arriving in Minneapolis today and tomorrow after that deadly ice shooting. Maggie Vespa is there. Tonight, dramatic new video of Minneapolis residents confronting federal immigration officers in neighborhoods. Make cold. Make cold. Make cold. Make cold. Make cold. As they appear to make more arrests. Get off the street. Let us clear out. Get off the street. This, as the Trump administration vows to send hundreds more immigration officers to Minneapolis.

We're sending more officers today and tomorrow. They'll arrive. That's fine, dude. I'm not mad. It comes days after ICE officer Jonathan Ross was caught on multiple cameras shooting and killing 37-year-old Renee Goode behind the wheel of her SUV. Protests continuing outside the local ICE headquarters today and across the country from New York to Atlanta. To Atlanta to California. Back in Minnesota, this exchange going viral. You should get a real job.

Shame on you. Listen. Have y'all not learned from the past couple of days? Have you not learned? Learned what? What's our lesson here? What do you want us to learn? Following federal agents?

Give me my phone back. No, you can't take my son. We've asked DHS for comment on this. Today, borders are Tom Holman telling NBC's Kristen Welker, on Meet the Press, Ross fired in self-defense. I truly believe this officer in his mind thought his life was in danger, which allows him to use lethal force. Minnesota's Democratic Senator Tina Smith accusing the Trump administration of lying about

what videos of the shooting show. I think what we are seeing here is the federal government, Christy Knoam, Vice President Vance, Donald Trump, attempting to cover up what happened here in the Twin Cities. And I don't think that people here and around the country are believing it. Meanwhile, Minneapolis mourns. How exhausted is Minneapolis by grief and by tragedy right now? I don't know how much more we can take. I mean, is that his breaking point.

Maggie is joining us live from St. Paul at one of those protests. So Maggie, what else do we know about the additional federal personnel heading to Minneapolis, apparently as we speak? Yeah, Hallie, exactly. According to the administration, they're coming because of situations like this. You can see we have all these protesters here across from the local ICE headquarters. And over here is where ICE officers and employees have been driving in and out. There have been multiple clashes, officers pushing people back on foot. And Secretary Nome saying those extra officers are coming here now to help ICE do their jobs, quote, safely. Hally.

Maggie Vespah, thank you. We are learning more tonight about the suspect arrested in the investigation into the murder of an Ohio dentist and his wife who was once married to the man now in police custody. Here's Aaron McLaughlin. Tonight we're learning more about the man charged with murdering his ex-wife, Monique Tempe and her husband Spencer. Michael David McKee, a Chicago-based vascular surgeon, was arrested without incident on Saturday. According to police, 10 days after the Teppies were found shot dead in their Columbus, Ohio home.

He appears dead. According to police, investigators located three shell cases. at the scene. The Tepe's two children, ages four and one, were also found unharmed inside the house. I can hear kids inside. Days after the double homicide police released this footage of a so-called person of interest, seen in the area of the tepe's home around the time of the murders. According to court documents, investigators tracked a suspect to a vehicle which arrived prior to the homicide and left shortly after the homicide, adding they later located the vehicle in Rockford, Illinois and linked it to Michael McKee.

Video shot today by a resident shows a police officer guarding the door to McKee's luxury apartment in Chicago. A neighbor tells NBC News, McKee moved into the building over the summer and kept a low profile. He seemed like a very nice guy, just a normal person. He wasn't nervous. He wasn't jittering. He wasn't looking every which way he looked me straight in the face and smiled and we were talking. Court records show McKee and Monique Teppie divorced in 2017.

after roughly two years of marriage. Monique left the marriage and did not look back. Phyllis Williams' close friends with Monique's mom. Today, she was among the loved ones attending the Tempe's funeral. The couple remembered as warm, generous, and kind. Monique was a very beautiful soul. She and Spencer loved each other dearly, and they were soulmates. As for McKee, his extradition hearing is scheduled for tomorrow here in Rockford,

with an arraignment to follow in Ohio. It's unclear if he has legal representation at this time. Hallie? Erin McLaughlin, thank you. Tonight, the FBI is investigating and an arrest has been made in a Mississippi synagogue fire. You see the damage here to the Beth Israel Synagogue in Jackson happened early Saturday morning.

The same synagogue was bombed by the KKK back in 1967. With flu cases spiking as some schools struggle with a shortage of nurses and moves to get students the care they need next. With a surge in flu cases, some schools are now navigating another health care hurdle, not enough nurses. Here's Valerie Castro. Hey, Tyson, tell me what's going on today. A trip to see the school nurse looks a little different these days in Greensboro, North Carolina. A nurse practitioner dials in remotely and works with an on-site certified medical assistant to check out an earache.

Or other student complaints at Bessemer Elementary School. Take it out. Thank you. Thank you. The Cohn Telehealth Program helping expand student access to health care as school nurses nationwide are spread thin. A recent survey from the National Association of School Nurses found only about 65% of public schools in the U.S. have a full-time nurse. We're seeing a lot of school nurses leave the profession because of the working conditions, because of the burnout they're experiencing and the stress in the school setting. School nurses also reported the lowest median salary of all nursing specialties. Okay, did a tooth come out?

Beth Ashworth splits her time between two schools, but Bessemer has telehealth all week. We're just going to talk a little bit while we're waiting. Telehealth is available to see the acute child with the acute problem. For example, I've cut my finger, I need a Band-Aid. I am freer as the public health nurse to then concentrate on one of the priorities, asthma, seizures, diabetes, type 1. and sickle cell are a few examples of the types of kids that I would manage in terms of their care. The dual approach ensuring students are sufficiently treated.

Before telehealth was in place, what would it look like when a student needed care? What that looked like on a daily basis for the most part is teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, stepping in to fill the gaps. Former principal Jonathan Brooks says in many cases it meant just sending students home. All right. At schools where telehealth is offered, students had better attendance, improved math scores, and higher reading proficiency, according to the county for the 2023-24 school year. CMA Kiata James says she sees the results every day.

It's the smiles in the hallways. It's all those things that kind of let you know that you've done something to make that child or that student have a better day. Perfect. Good job. Technology working hand in hand with compassionate care. Valerie Castro, NBC News, Greensboro, North Carolina. That is nightly news for this Sunday. Stick around for Sunday night football up next with the Chargers at the Patriots this wildcard weekend. I'm Hallie Jackson.

For all of us at NBC, thanks for watching and have a great week.