NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Sunday, March 22, 2026

Episode Date: March 23, 2026

Trump admin. to send ICE agents to assist TSA at airports; Iran unswayed by Trump's 48-hour deadline and threats to 'obliterate' energy infrastructure; Historic flood emergency prompts mass rescues in Hawaii; 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, new questions over those ICE agents set to deploy to airports tomorrow to try and help alleviate the long lines from TSA staffing shortages. Lines like this one in Louisiana stretching out of the terminal altogether. Look, all the way outside. So how can ICE help? And where will they be? I'm currently working on the plan now. The fight here in Washington overending that Homeland Security shutdown. So how long will this last?

Major escalations in the Middle East, President Trump threatening to obliterate Iran's energy sites if it doesn't reopen a key waterway. We're live in the region. The world watching surging oil prices with the new numbers just in. The threat to the global economy and what it could mean when the markets open tomorrow. The historic flooding emergency in Hawaii, our team on the ground, hundreds of rescues and thousands of evacuations. Plus, the reaction from superstar Jason Mamoa forced from his home. Just in tonight, devastation in Minnesota, a horrifying house fire, killing four people, an NHL reporter and her three young kids, how she's being remembered tonight.

Police questioning a person of interest after a Chicago college student was shot and killed, seemingly randomly. The Guthrie family's emotional new message asking the Tucson community not to forget their mom Nancy. The meteor that rattled Houston. Whoa! Did you all see that? and crashed into this woman's home.

And there's good news tonight about the coach who couldn't be kept off the court. This is NBC Nightly News with Hallie Jackson. Good evening. We begin tonight with the new plan from the Trump administration to try and alleviate the chaos at airports across the country, deploying ICE to help out the TSA. Starting just hours from now, those agents are set to post up at major airports. We don't know which ones yet. It comes after weeks of TSA staffing shortages, leading to long lines like this one in New Orleans. Look at that. It's stretching all the way back to the parking garage.

That Homeland Security shutdown, leading some TSA workers to walk off the job, with some donations now being accepted to help them out since they missed their last check. All setting the scene for that ice deployment in the thick of spring break travel season. Our Julie Circon has more on the questions and the timeline. hours long wait times at airports across the country tonight. It was four hours to get to the plane. You cannot be serious. Line stretching all the way to the parking garage in New Orleans, a similar scene in New York City, and Philadelphia.

It's why President Trump says that on Monday, ICE agents will be going to airports to help TSA workers who've gone without full paycheck since February. White House borders are Tom Homan today at, admitting they don't have a plan yet. I'm currently working on the plan now of execution. We'll execute tomorrow. NBC News has learned more than 400 TSA officers have quit since the shutdown began.

Thousands more are calling out, many falling behind on their bills. For 37 days, Democrats have blocked funding to the Department of Homeland Security because of the administration's immigration cracked out. It isn't yet clear what travelers will see tomorrow, according to Homan, who is deploying ICE to the busiest. airports, agents would take on TSA responsibilities that don't require specialized training, so you may not see them in the screening lines. I think it's going to make it even more nerve-wracking for people. You think they'll be afraid to fly? I will be.

And as Democrats push Homan for changes to ICE operations in exchange for reopening DHS, there is growing concern from both parties that Trump's new idea will do more harm than good. going to encourage us here to resolve us. It's unfortunate that Republicans have decided that they would rather force TSA agents to work without pay and create chaos at airports throughout the land rather than get ICE agents under control. Julie is joining us now from Fort Lauderdale Airport where we see some of the lines behind you, Julie.

And people may be wondering why Congress doesn't seem to have a lot of urgency around trying to end this Homeland Security shutdown. Yeah, absolutely, Hallie. Look, I fly into this airport often to visit family. I don't remember seeing it like this. Now, I'm told Democrats in the White House are moving in the right direction in terms of negotiations. But one senator telling me, Hallie, why should they get to fly home when Americans are dealing with lines like these? Hallie? Right in the middle of Springburg travel season, Julie Sirkin, thank you. To the Middle East now, and President Trump's deadline approaching after his new threat to Iran, saying the U.S. will obliterate key energy sites if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened. Matt Bradley reports from Tel Aviv. This was a direct hit.

Not far from Israel's main nuclear reactor showing Iran can keep raining missiles across Israel and the Middle East. All while maintaining their almost total blockade on the state. Strait of Hormuz. President Trump told the Iranians last night they have 48 hours to unblock the strait, or he would obliterate their power plants. Iran replied that all energy facilities belonging to the United States will be targeted in response. Only a day earlier, Trump said he was considering winding down his war against Iran. Trump's Treasury Secretary Scott Besson spoke to NBC news's Kristen Welker. Just to put a fine point on this, though, is the president in the process of winding down this war or escalating conflict? Again, they're not mutually exclusive. Sometimes you

have to escalate to de-escalate. There were no reported deaths from Iranian missiles in southern Israel, but Israeli health officials said at least 180 people were injured. Like in this apartment complex in Arad. All of this damage was caused by just one Iranian ballistic missile that managed to evade Israel's formidable air defenses. It was just one impact in a weekend that was uniquely violent for Israelis. It was a very shocking boom. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said the attacks are proof Iran deliberately target civilians. Do you see any military sites or facilities around you?

What they're doing is trying to kill as many civilians as possible. Iranian state TV said the military intended the attacks on southern Israel to hit Israel's nearby nuclear research facility and reactor. Retaliation, it said, for Israeli strikes on its Natanz's nuclear facility, on Saturday. At least 15 people were also injured in Tel Aviv by debris falling from intercepted missiles. And in southern Lebanon, Israel is blowing up this bridge. It's said to keep Hezbollah operatives from moving south.

Can Israelis still have faith in the anti-air defense that Israel is putting up here? Well, we've had great success so far. Over 90%, 92% interception rate. But even the best defense in the world is not perfect. But the best defense is making sure they can't fire these missiles. anymore. Matt is joining us now from Tel Aviv, and Matt, the Iranian military says it is ready to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed for a while if it has to, right?

That's right, Haley. President Trump follows through on his threat to attack those Iranian power stations. The Iranians say they'll keep the Strait of Hormuz shut until those power stations are rebuilt. Hallie? Matt Bradley, thank you. And tonight, new numbers are coming in right now in a snapshot of the oil markets with concerns about gas prices spiking.

Brian Chung is monitoring all of it for us tonight. So Brian, what are we seeing? Halley, things have been moving in just the last few minutes. Pre-market trading saw oil prices rise, then dropped suggesting another day of rocky action tomorrow. This comes after we already headed into the weekend on a fourth straight week of losses on the stock market. After hitting all-time highs in January, the war now has the S&P 500 down 5% since New Year's. This is prices that the pump continue to creep towards a national average of $4 a gallon. Higher prices are also hitting air travel with United CEO warning it's cutting some flights to get around rising jet fuel costs. Now asked about the hit to businesses and consumers.

Treasury Secretary Scott Besson also told Kristen Walker today that higher prices should be, quote, temporary, but with attacks on key facilities in the region potentially taking years to fix, analysts are warning there could be longer term impacts. Ali? Much to watch, Brian Chong. Thank you. In Hawaii, historic flooding is putting thousands at risk after the most rain in nearly a generation is prompting mass rescues and evacuations, with the threat not over yet. Steve Patterson is there.

Tonight, raging floodwaters, sweeping over roads, swelling rivers, destroying homes, a day's long deluge, drenching entire communities in Hawaii. He was beating on my window at 11. All I heard was gammy, gammy, wake up, and it scared me to death. On Oahu, North Shore resident Sherry Hodge says she woke up late Thursday night to the sound of her grandson, Radin, frantically pounding on her door.

You can see Raiden in this video, the 18-year-old helping rescue a man and his dog, hanging on for dear life in chest-deep floodwaters. He says, in all, he and his crew rescued about 60 people. People were on their roofs yelling for help, and we came together, and we loaded them in and made sure everybody was safe. It's crazy. First responders, rescuing more than 200 people during the disaster, but neighbors like Sherry are angry, saying warning sirens and phone alerts came too late. I'm pissed. I'm upset over that. The storm causing Oahu's worst flooding in more than 20

years. Actor Jason Momoa said he had to evacuate from a family home. Hopefully everyone's safe and getting out and get together and figure out how we help and help everyone. And everyone is stepping up. With evacuation orders finally live, shifting here, locals are helping clean up. And this is what community is here in Hawaii, dozens of members of this town coming together to clean up as much as they possibly can after this devastating flood left all this mud and debris behind. Tonight, Maui getting hit hard.

But here, the state's famed spirit of helping, known to Native Hawaiians as its Kokua, remains unbroken. Steve is joining us now live from that disaster zone. And Steve, folks in that state are not out of the woods yet. Halley, we are nowhere near out of the woods. That cleanup will continue like this for at least the next few days. Maui getting hit with that next batch of rain, the governor, estimating at least a billion dollars needed for recovery.

And anytime the ground is this saturated, you're talking about the possibility of mudslides. Very dangerous here. Hallie. It's nonstop work for folks there. Steve, thanks. So just learning tonight that dozens of people have been affected by the extreme heat at an air show in Glendale, Arizona.

part of that brutal heat wave in the west, the fire department telling our station there at least 30 people had to be taken to the hospital. More than 9 million people are under heat alerts throughout the southwest. To the hockey community, shaken after the death of an NHL reporter and her three young children, apparently in a house fire in Minnesota, with new tributes from colleagues and loved ones tonight. A devastating scene outside Minneapolis after a house fire here with four people found dead inside. reporter Jesse Pierce and her three young children. Officials say neighbors called 911 early Saturday morning when they saw flames coming out of the roof. The fire chief saying our

hearts ache for all those involved in this tragedy. Neighbors in shock. They were good kids. Oh, it's sad. Pierce, who was 37, covered the Minnesota Wilde for more than a decade, a fixture at games with the team calling her a dedicated ambassador for the game of hockey and a kind of compassionate person that care deeply about her family and those around her. Hello, good morning. She also hosted a hockey podcast and contributed to NHL.com, which said Pierce's lifelong dream was to become a hockey writer, remembering her as an absolute joy,

occasionally bringing her kids to practice as a young mom, the NHL, sending prayers and deepest condolences to Pierce's loved ones. It's still not clear what caused that house fire, but officials are looking into it. Just into us tonight, a tour bus crash in Wisconsin with more than 50 people on board. This was the scene earlier this afternoon. Early reports from emergency services suggest about 15 to 20 people were hurt,

but that their injuries were not life-threatening. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Also tonight, the Guthrie family, asking people not to forget the case of Nancy Guthrie and thanking Tucson for their support. Seven agonizing weeks after the disappearance of Savannah's mother. Dana Griffin reports. agonizing weeks since Savannah's mom, Nancy Guthrie, was taken in the middle of the night from her Tucson home. Savannah posting today, I believe, a nod to her family's call for renewed

attention in the puzzling case, pleading with Nancy's Tucson neighbors to please consult camera footage, journal notes, text messages, observations, or conversations that in retrospect may hold significance, no detail is too small. The statement airing exclusively in a special report on Nancy's disappearance by our NBC affiliate KVOA News for Tucson. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring from neighbors, friends, and the people of Tucson. The family adding, we hope people search their memories, especially around the key timelines of January 31st and the early morning hours of February 1st, as well as the late evening of January 11th. Please be the light. This investigation has amassed at least 40,000 leads. The biggest clue so far, this chilling video showing an arm

masked man at Nancy's home the night she was abducted. And there were some concerns with what they were seeing at the scene. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has told NBC News they're constantly analyzing evidence. As the family waits for answers, yellow flowers and ribbons dot the desert community, a show of support amid an unthinkable darkness. Savannah and her family saying that without answers, we cannot grieve, we can only ache and wonder. We want to celebrate her beautiful and courageous life, But we cannot do that until she is brought to a final place of rest. Someone in the Southern Arizona community may hold the key that finally brings Nancy home. Dana Griffin, NBC News.

All of us thinking about Savannah and her family tonight. If you have any information, the FBI tip line number is 1-800. Call FBI. Still ahead for us tonight. A person of interest now in custody as police investigate the killing of a college student in Chicago. Plus, the dramatic road rage nightmare caught on. camera, a woman attacking a police officer, a pregnant woman, and an elderly bystander. Next. Back now with a wild scene on the side of the road in Orlando. Look at this. Police are releasing

video of a woman jumping on the hood of a car and then attacking the pregnant driver. She's also accused of going after an elderly person nearby. And in this police body cam video, you can see the suspect biting the officer. Our team has reached out to her attorney, but have not yet heard back. It's not clear what triggered all of this in the first place. Also, it's an A potential break in the investigation into the death of a Chicago college student, shot and killed while out with friends. Valerie Castro has more on the person of interest now in police custody. Tonight in Chicago, police revealing a person of interest is now being questioned in connection with the death of Sheridan Gorman, a Loyola University freshman. We got shot fired.

It was a nailed in a ski mask wearing all black. Gorman was shot and killed early Thursday just minutes from the Chicago campus at a beach along Lake Michigan. The death, a shock to the close-knit campus community. In denial, I don't feel like it's real. In a statement, her family says the 18-year-old was out with friends around 1.30 in the morning near this pier, hoping to catch a glimpse of the northern lights when police say the group was approached by a masked man. The man fired a single shot and Sheridan died at the scene, according to authorities. She was doing something entirely normal, her family writing,

walking with friends close to home in an area where she had every reason to feel safe, adding, our daughter's life was not expendable, she should still be here. Friends placing flowers in the area where she died to commemorate her life. I remember her just as a very, very kind person. She made sure everyone felt special, felt heard, felt understood. Like, that's who she was. Tonight, a community left shattered and a family asking why. Valerie Castro, NBC News.

We are back in a moment with the surprise in the sky that rattled Houston and ripped through the roof of this woman's house. That's next. A story that sounds made up, but it is the real deal, according to a woman who says she's dealing with the aftermath of a meteor crash landing into her house. Jesse Kirsch explains. Whoa! From this highway. Did you all see that? To the baseball diamond, Houston is having a stellar weekend.

It's going to be an explosion. It's a meter hour and missile still out of the sky. Turns out the commotion was caused by a meteor, streaking across the sky Saturday afternoon. NASA says the fireball was three feet wide, weighed about a ton and flew at 35,000 miles per hour. That's where it came in at. Sherry James says she heard a loud boom and found this chunk of rock in her daughter's bedroom. Is that a meteor? I was scared. I didn't know what it was. James says the roughly baseball-sized rock ripped through her route. then the attic before bouncing off the floor.

She called the fire department, which came to check it out. When you look at this piece of rock, it immediately looks like it's from outer space. It just looked like a rock, and ain't no rocks got no business falling out the sky, unless they're immediate. Now James will need to fix up her roof, but she says that's okay. It's a one-in-lifetime kind of thing, so I figured I probably had better chance winning the lottery than a meteor right coming through my house, but the media came first.

Perhaps the lottery is coming next to help her pay for the roof repair. Jesse Kirsch, NBC News. When we come back, there is good news tonight about the coach inspiring kids on and off the court. I want to have spirit. I want to win this game. There is good news tonight about the love of the game and putting in the hard work on the hardwood. Des Scruggs sets the tone for the basketball team he coaches. He motivates.

Let's go! He teaches. And he inspires, doing it all without the ability to see. I got hit with so many basketballs in my face. I lost count. But I never stopped. I never stopped. When he was 14, Des was diagnosed with a rare condition that left him legally blind.

I went home and put my jersey on the bin and just cried for hours. But losing his vision couldn't keep him off the court. It told me I couldn't play. I still did it. That determination, taking him from star player to star coach. For the Pleasant Hill Middle School Panthers in Cincinnati. These are three words of the day. You've got to be focused, all right? Be intentional, be dedicated to what you're doing. Where he leads by example.

How fun, bro. It's just a game, all right? Don't take it too serious. He always takes faith in you. And if you're not confident in yourself, he still wants you to shoot. So I think he believes in us a lot. And now he's teaching the now. next generation, that same determination that kept him in the game. I can make that shot. You can make that shot. If I can run this sprint, you can run that sprint. They told me to quit. They told me I couldn't. They told me I can't. I'm still here. I'm living proof. I'm living flesh. And that kind of grit. Win on me, one on three. One, two, three.

Clear to everyone. We may have different obstacles we have to face in life. We may have different things we have to do to get over those obstacles. But we're all the same. An example for all of us. That's nightly news for this Sunday. Stick around Sunday night. Basketball is up next with the Wolves at Boston. Tom will be back tomorrow. I'm Hallie Jackson.

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