NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Thursday, January 15, 2026

Episode Date: January 16, 2026

Violent clashes in Minneapolis over ICE operations; Dangerous winter blast impacts millions; Machado presents her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump; 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 the most violent night of clashes in Minnesota yet and now fears it will get even worse. As President Trump threatens to deploy the military to that state, scenes of chaos breaking out, tear gas and flashbangs unleashed after an ice officer shot a man in the leg. Federal officers' cars destroyed our reporter again at the scene as new clashes break out today. Dangerous winter weather on the move. the massive 30 vehicle pile up, a school bus hit head on, officers rescuing drivers trapped in the snow, millions tonight under new alerts, and the bitter Arctic blast on the way. U.S. forces heading to the Middle East at this hour as President Trump weighs military action in Iran.

U.S. forces seizing a sixth oil tanker as Venezuela's opposition leader presents her Nobel Peace Prize to President Trump. Did he accept it? Zoo Inferno, first responders rushing in to try and save the animals as their exhibit is completely engulfed in flames. Armed robbers storming a Pokemon card shop in New York City, drawing guns on terrified customers, how they got away with $100,000 in cards. And there's good news tonight, why this hug meant so much to this fourth grader. Nightly news starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yomas. And good evening. The city of Minneapolis has been at a boiling point since the deadly confrontation between an ICE officer and Renee Good. Last night, it boiled over once again. These were the scenes in the streets, fierce clashes between protesters and law enforcement,

demonstrators throwing objects at police as they fire back with flashbangs and tear gas. Some demonstrators even destroying federal officers' cars. You see that right here. The violence afterwards spread of an ICE officer shooting and wounding a Venezuelan man in the city. This is the scene that happened after that. The Department of Homeland Security says the officer was ambushed with that man and others jumping him. Now, President Trump is threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act, which would allow the U.S. military to operate inside the city, prompting fierce pushback from the mayor and governor. We begin tonight with Shaquille Brewster on the ground in Minneapolis.

Minneapolis. Tonight, growing tensions outside of federal facility in Minnesota. This is a scene that we've seen all day long, the line of police officers and right across the street protesters, a scene that's repeatedly turned into clashes. And overnight, chaos erupted, anti-ice protesters throwing objects at officers, who then use flashbanks and tear gas to disperse crowds. Law enforcement cars also destroyed. The crowd is engaging in unlawful acts.

They have thrown fireworks at police officers. All as DHS revealed more details about that new shooting involving an ICE officer. DHS saying he fired in self-defense while he was being beaten, saying the officer was trying to arrest Julio Caesar Sosa-Selis, who came to the U.S. illegally three years ago when the suspect began to resist and violently assault the officer. DHS says two other men from Venezuela, both here illegally, then ran up and began to hit the officer with a shovel and broomstick. So the officer fired hitting Sosa-A-Lis in the leg.

Our agent is beat up, and we're thankful that he made it out alive. President Trump now threatening to use the Insurrection Act. If Democratic leaders don't, quote, obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the patriots of ICE, the Minneapolis mayor overnight. For those that have peacefully protested, I applaud you. For those that are taking the bait, you are not helping, and you are not helping the undocumented immigrants in our state.

While in California, an anti-ice protester appears to be hit in the face by a projectile while moving toward an officer. As Minnesota's governor blast ICE enforcement operations. It's a campaign of organized brutality against the people of Minnesota by our own federal government. But the White House defending ICE saying they've arrested suspects with convictions including rape, assault, and murder. These are all illegal alien criminals. This is all ICE is trying to do. They are trying to remove people like this from Governor Walses' state. Shaq Brewster is outside that federal facility once again tonight. And Shaq, we now know how many federal officers are there in the Twin Cities?

That's right, Tom. A federal law enforcement official telling NBC News there are roughly 3,000 federal immigration officers in the Minneapolis area. That's roughly five times the size of the city's police department and clearly not stopping the protests like the one you see behind me. All right, Shaq, thank you. A dangerous snowstorm is ripping across the northeast today, causing whiteout conditions and pile-ups on highways. And if you're not getting the snow, you may be in store for a brutal deep freeze. Emily Aketa has a story. Tonight, a parade of snowstorms pounding northern parts of the country and turning travel treacherous near whiteout conditions in Indiana,

making it difficult to navigate intersections and toll booths. They said 12 inches. This looks like two feet to me. Police in South Bend responding to hundreds of calls from drivers trapped in snow. A 30 vehicle pile up sent tractor trailers careening off the road Wednesday. A similar tangled mess seen on I-90 in Pennsylvania today, prompting a massive EMS response. You can see the aftermath of a head-on collision in a snowy Chicago suburb between a bus carrying 10 kids and a car. Police who have not said what caused the crash say the driver of the car died.

Residents in Niles, Michigan, I have never in my life, seen this much snow, are now digging out for more than 16 inches of snow, totally obscuring sidewalks and roads. We haven't seen snow like this in a while. Visibility was not good. People were driving slow if they were out at all. The winter wall of closed schools in Buffalo today.

This is what you end for. While in nearby Toronto, there was a ground stop as crews worked to clear the snowy airfield. Watch as this plane lands in December. blustery conditions at this New York airport. For the eastern third of the U.S., a bitter cold is now taking hold. Temperatures plunged more than 20 degrees since yesterday in places like Chicago, Cleveland, and Nashville. In New York City, officials tonight are urging people to limit time outdoors in this brutal blast of winter. Emily, it kind of joins us tonight from a frigid New York City.

Emily, we know the feels like is around 17 degrees tonight. More snow on the way? Oh, wait, just not. Yeah, Tom, that's right. Temps will keep dropping. And for some, snow will keep falling, especially near the Great Lakes, which could see another foot of snow by the end of the weekend. Some of that snowfall is anticipated to impact Sunday night football, too. All right, Emily Kedat, get inside. Tonight, the U.S. says all options are still on the table with Iran, and we have new reporting on U.S. forces heading into the region.

Courtney QB covers the Pentagon for us. And, Courtney, what do we know tonight? Yeah, Tom, the U.S. military. is now beginning to send more forces to the region that could help fight from air, land, and sea, including an aircraft carrier strike group with thousands of service members, ships, and additional air defense systems, according to a U.S. official. They're preparing in case President Trump orders strikes in Iran, but also for the possibility that Iran lashes out in retaliation. While the U.S. can conduct strikes without a carrier strike group, having one nearby brings additional firepower, fighter jets,

and even search and rescue. And then, Courtney, to be clear with our viewers here, the carrier is heading that way, but you also have some new reporting about pressure not to take any military action from other countries. Yeah, that's right, Tom. Israeli officials and Gulf allies are urging President Trump not to act now because they don't believe the Iranian government is weak enough for military strikes to actually topple the regime. People familiar with the discussions say President Trump has told his national security team he wants strikes to be decisive.

Tom? Courtney Cuby with that new reporting. Courtney, thank you. Now to that dramatic moment inside the White House. Venezuela's opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Maria Carina Machado, saying she presented her prize to President Trump. So did he accept it? Here's Gabe Gutierrez. Tonight, the U.S. seizing another oil tanker near Venezuela, the six so far.

U.S. forces repelling from a helicopter onto the deck of the vessel known as the Veronica, a seizure approved by a federal judge. DHS saying it was illegally bypassing U.S. sanctions. It comes as Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Karina Machado arrived in Washington, greeting supporters and lawmakers following her high-stakes meeting with President Trump. She's previously dedicated her peace prize to him for supporting democracy in Venezuela, and President Trump has argued he deserves the Nobel. Machado today. I presented the president of the United States, the medal of the priest. Nobel Peace Prize. As a record leased for his unique commitment with our freedom.

After the dramatic capture of Venezuela's authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro to stand trial in the U.S., President Trump dismissed Machado as a likely replacement. She doesn't have the support within or the respect within the country. Meanwhile, Venezuela's new interim leader, Delci Rodriguez, has warmed up to the Trump administration, despite being a Maduro loyalist who has cracked down on dissent within the country. She's a terrific person. I mean, she's somebody that we've worked with very well. The White House pointing to the regime recently releasing political prisoners, including Americans, and a $500 million oil deal with the U.S.

Does the president trust the remaining members of the Maduro regime? There have been extremely cooperative. They have thus far met all of the demands and requests of the United States and of the president. Back to Machado's Nobel Peace Prize as she presented to the president, And at late today, a White House official tells NBC News that President Trump physically has the medal and has decided to keep it, although it's unclear what he plans to do with it. For its part, the Nobel Institute says the award is non-transferable in that, quote, the decision is final and stands for all time.

Tom. All right, Gabe, we thank you for that. We're back in a moment with a dramatic body camera, first responders busting down doors to rescue animals inside a zoo engulfed in flames. And splash down, astronauts' spectacular return to Earth after that urgent medical evacuation. That's next. Welcome back. We have some dramatic video to show you. Deputies in Panama City Beach braving a massive fire at Zoo World in Florida.

The exhibit completely engulfed, as you can see, officers had to bust through doors to try and save animals. The zoo blamed an electrical fire. Now, the deputies did manage to save many of those animals, but six lemurs died of sorts. smoke inhalation. And take a look at this armed robbery at a New York City shop specializing in Pokemon parts. Thieves used hammers to break displays as you saw there, even waving a gun at customers. The store's owner told our New York station that the thieves got away with more than $100,000 in merchandise. The suspects are still at March tonight. And their return was as spectacular as it was rushed. Crew 11 streaking across the night sky and splashing down into the

Pacific. It was the dramatic conclusion of an urgent medical evacuation, the first in space station's history. We still don't know which astronaut was sick, but the crew is being checked out before heading to Houston. When we come back tonight, the powerful reunion for these two fourth graders, why this hug you see here meant so much. Finally, there's good news tonight for best friends, a pair of fourth grade friends reuniting after months apart. The video reminded you. us all how meaningful it can be to show up for the people who matter most. When Miles Jones saw his best friend, Rory Prodan, standing in his kitchen, he couldn't hide his emotion. The Cleveland area of fourth graders had been inseparable for years.

Miles just has a heart that's as big as this room. Rory is certainly one of the most loyal friends. But a few months ago, Rory's family moved away to town. Texas. And I, like, cried in my room. I thought I wouldn't see him again. That's when their moms hatched a plan. Rory's family coming back to town for a week ready to reunite the boys.

I said, I cannot tell Miles ahead of time. It just has to be a complete surprise. Get to the kitchen. And a surprise, it was. Best friends back together. Oh, my God. Even the dogs jumping up in on the excitement. Some people think that, like, when you share your emotions like that, they say, oh, that's so cringe and stuff.

But it's actually, like, really good to share that. You don't feel like you have to hold it in anymore. An unbreakable bond, even distance can't diminish. Because when you're around your friends, you're never afraid to hide your emotion. Miles and Rory, that is true friendship right there. That's nightly news for this Thursday. I'm Tom Yamas. so much for watching tonight and always we're here for you good night