NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Thursday, January 29, 2026

Episode Date: January 30, 2026

Minnesota man’s plot to break Luigi Mangione out of jail; New dangerous winter storm threat; Border czar says there could be a drawdown of federal agents in Minneapolis. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Breaking news tonight, the shocking attempt to bust Luigi Mangione out of jail. The new details just in about the man trying to spring the alleged CEO killer from behind bars. A man posing as an FBI agent in an attempt to break Mangione out. The bizarre items discovered on him, including a pizza cutter, how prison workers realized something was wrong. New winter alerts just issued as a powerful Northeaster threatens millions. A snowplow colliding with the van carrying a hockey team. The urgent rescue after a helicopter crashed in icy waters and this building collapsing under piles of snow.

Power lines still coated in thick ice as hundreds of thousands spent another night without electricity. Also tonight borders our Tom Homan acknowledging mistakes were made in Minneapolis and raising the possibility for officers to withdraw. Plus the startling new image of that five-year-old boy in ICE custody. Plus the new development on the government shut down the deadline tomorrow night. The husband accused of killing his wife so he could be with their au pair on the stand, detailing the morning of the murder.

The lie, prosecutors say they caught him in. Startling video of a driver repeatedly ramming a Jewish center in New York City, the charges just announced. A Waymo car hitting a child near an elementary, school, the new questions over how safe these robotaxies really are. Melania Trump's big screen moment, the First Lady's documentary premiering tonight, and the reason some say Amazon is bankrolling the whole thing. The popular snacks recalled after the products at a warehouse were exposed to rodent waste. And there's good news tonight,

a lesson in love, the students getting in on this sweet surprise proposal for their teacher. Nightly News. Starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. And good evening. We come on the air tonight with the shocking attempt to break accused CEO killer Luigi Mangione out of jail. The detail still coming into our newsroom at this hour of a man allegedly pretending to be an FBI agent with a court order for Mangione's release. That imposter now arrested as Mangione sits in federal prison awaiting both a state and federal trial for the murder of former United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. There is no evidence as of now Mangione was working with this suspect. Mangione, though, has inspired a passionate fan base since he was captured more than a

year ago. Our Emily Aketa has covered it all for us tonight. Tonight, Luigi Mangione, the target of a Minnesota man's bizarre plot to break him out of a federal jail in Brooklyn. 36-year-old Mark Anderson is charged with impersonating an FBI special agent after he showed up to the Metropolitan Detention Center Wednesday, according to a complaint, claiming he was an FBI agent in possession of paperwork signed by a judge authorizing the release of a specific inmate. A law enforcement source telling NBC news that inmate was Mangione, who is one of MDC's highest profile inmates, along with Venezuela's former autocratic leader, Nicolas Maduro. Court documents also show when asked for credentials, Anderson displayed his Minnesota driver's license and then claimed to be in possession of

weapons. In Anderson's backpack, Bureau of Prison Officials found this barbecue-type fork and round steel blade that resembled a pizza cutter. Anderson had been working at a pizzeria after a job opportunity he traveled to New York for didn't work out, according to a law enforcement source. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to federal and state charges for allegedly gunning down United Healthcare's CEO. What's your man? Before fleeing to Pennsylvania, where he was arrested following a five-day manhunt. The attempted jailbreak playing out just ahead of Mangione's return to court tomorrow. Let's pick it up right there. Emily Aketa joins us now in studio. So, Emily, what could we learn at this hearing tomorrow?

Yeah, so this hearing is in federal court where we could learn whether evidence found in Mangioni's backpack, including a gun, will be suppressed or will be allowed to be included. The judge could also rule on whether this is a death penalty case moving. forward so a lot to watch for. All right, Emily, we thank you for that. We are tracking another major winter storm tonight. A state of emergency just declared in North Carolina, and hundreds of thousands are still without power after that last storm. Kathy Park is on the ground in hard hit Mississippi. Tonight, the race to restore power turning urgent by the hour for communities still in crisis across the south. The snow, ice, and bitter cold, a dangerous combination with at least 81 deaths. We believe that the helicopter went out in the river. The extreme weather making for a

daring rescue in Missouri, where officials say a helicopter crashed into the Merrimack River. Multiple people rushed to the hospital. The cause? Now under investigation. In Colorado, a deadly accident. A plow crashing with a sprinter van carrying a hockey team. Meanwhile, ice storms across Tennessee and Mississippi paralyzed communities for days. The condition is so severe, the Ole Miss campus is closed the rest of the week. The mayor of Oxford, Mississippi, says they're still in an emergency. How bad is situation right now in Oxford? Well, you know, it is, it is so shocking to me every time I go down a different street. I mean, this ice storm has just crippled us, honestly. It's like a tornado went down every street in our community. We still have people

five days later who are without power, without water. It was more snow than ice in Arkansas. Watch the roof of this building collapse. And the snow-packed roads in Mississippi, stranding drivers for days. It's so cold in New York, the harbor is frozen over. The Coast Guard seen here chipping away at the ice. We've been without power since Friday night. Back in hard-hit Oxford, Jerry Payton is entering another day without power, turning to his gas stove just to stay warm.

Just keep the faith. No means raw. Kathy, those images you and your team are capturing simply stunning. Talk to us about where the cleanup goes from here. Well, Tom, there's certainly still a lot of cleanup ahead here in Oxford, Mississippi. A lot of the ice and snow melted with temps in the 40s today, revealing the scope of the damage. You can see here this large tree limb crushing this car. Meanwhile, we're tracking another massive system.

Record lows tomorrow in the mid-east and east coast. Meanwhile, heavy snow in the Carolina is expected this weekend. Tom? That big storm crawling up. All right, we thank you, Kathy. We're hearing for the first time tonight from the man now in charge of immigration enforcement in Minneapolis. Tom Holman saying the operation will continue, but that a drawdown of federal agents there is possible. Camila Bernal reports tonight from Minneapolis.

Tonight, borders are Tom Holman says there will be changes to the federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota, including a drawdown of federal agents, if stated. and local leaders cooperate and protests remain peaceful. The drawdown is going to happen based on these agreements, but the drawdown can happen even more if the hateful rhetoric in the impeachment and interference will stop. Following days of protest, President Trump sent home into Minneapolis earlier this week to take over from Border Patrol commander, Gryfe Bovino. I'm not here because the federal government has carried his mission out perfectly.

Mayor Jacob Frye reiterated local police. will not assist with immigration enforcement, but said he's hopeful about the prospect of a drawdown. Do I expect the conduct to immediately change? That is my expectation. That is what we are insisting upon. But again, I'll believe it when I see it. And tonight, new angles are emerging, showing a confrontation between Alex Prattie and federal agents, less than two weeks before he was fatally shot. In this video, you see Prattie approach agents and shouting at them. This video from news movement shows him kicking the taillight before officers wrestle him to the ground. His family confirming that's Prattie in the video and they were aware of the altercation, saying he posed no threat.

President Trump shared the video along with another user's post calling Prattie a domestic terrorist. While in Texas, there have been tense clashes outside a detention center where five-year-old Liam and his father are being held. Congressman Joaquin Castro posting this photo of the two who were detained by immigration authorities in Minneapolis last week. His father said that Liam has been very depressed since he's been at Dilley, that he hasn't been eating well. Camila Bernal joins us now live and Camila there's a national protest plan for tomorrow. That's right, Tom, activists asking people to strike and protest both tomorrow and Saturday. but the governor here begging people not to boycott local businesses that have been hurting for weeks. Tom.

Camila, thank you. We're also tracking some breaking news out of Washington tonight. A deal just reached to avoid a government shutdown. Peter Alexander is at the White House tonight. Peter, where do things stand? Tom, President Trump just announced that lawmakers from both parties have reached a deal to avoid another extended shutdown of most of the government. The showdown here is largely focused on Democrats demanding reforms to DHS, including ending

roving ice patrols and requiring all federal immigration agents to wear body cams and not to wear masks. While they try to sort that out, the Senate appears likely to keep DHS open for several more weeks and to fund other major departments for another year. Meanwhile, President Trump is threatening new military strikes against Iran, Tom, calling on the regime to negotiate a deal to end its nuclear program and warning, quote, time is running out. The Iranians have been publicly trying to de-escalate the threat of war, meeting with U.S. partners in the region. Tom. Peter Alexander, two big headlines out of the White House.

We thank you. Dramatic moments in a Virginia courtroom today when the man accused of murdering his wife to continue an affair with their opair was cross-examined. Stephanie Gosk has a story. Brendan Banfield on the stand again today. I don't know that I've ever been more panicked in my life. Telling a Virginia courtroom, he didn't kill his wife, Christine Banfield. he tried to save her after discovering a man, Joseph Ryan, with a knife in the couple's bedroom.

Why did you shoot John Ryan on February 24th? He was attacking Christine. He was stabbing her. Banfield testifying that the family's au pair, who Banfield admits he was having an affair with, fired a second shot at Ryan using a different gun. The former IRS agent told the jury he did what he could to stop the bleeding on Christine's neck. Christine told me that she was bleeding out and that she was sorry and that she loved me. Christine was stabbed seven times, according to the medical examiner, who testified earlier

in the trial that she would have died quickly. There are all rapidly fatal injuries. Today, during the cross-examination, the prosecutor casting doubt on Christine's ability to speak following the attack. She's chatting with you with these wounds in her neck, correct? Yes. Banfield is charged with murder, the au pair pleading guilty to manslaughter in exchange for telling a very different story, that Banfield conspired to lure Ryan to the home using a fake profile on a fetish website as part of a scheme to murder his wife. This is what the prosecution says happened in that bedroom.

Brendan enters the bedroom first, shooting Joe in the head, picks up the knife that Joe had brought, and stabs Christine. repeatedly in the neck. Now the jury will have to decide which version of the story they believe. All right, Stephanie Goss joins us in studio. It is also graphic. Do we know why he took the stand in his own defense? He had the chance to tell his own story, but that meant the prosecution had the chance to poke holes in it. Closing arguments are expected tomorrow, Tom. All right, Stephanie Goss, we thank you for that. Tonight, terrifying moments when a man rammed his car into a Jewish center in Brooklyn multiple times. He's being charged with 20 counts, including several hate crimes. NBC Sam Brock explains what happened.

In the frigid cold and even more chilling sight. Video capturing a man repeatedly smashing his car into the global headquarters of the Jewish Habad movement, where thousands of people were celebrating. The NYPD quickly arriving and arresting 36-year-old Dan Sohail. Amazingly, no one was injured. We all got scared because y'all know what happened in Sydney. We all know that Jews are targeted. Just because they're Jews. A rabbi here telling us earlier in the day, the suspect asked rabbinical students when the event was taking place.

We were facing probably in my life than the worst challenge to the safety of Jews. Three law enforcement sources telling NBC, New York, the suspect appears to have a history of emotional or mental issues. Two sources say he previously tried to convert to Judaism, even visiting this very center before. He's now being charged with several hate crimes nationwide. There's been a skyrocketed. level of anti-Semitism for years. We've seen nearly a 900% increase in the last nine years alone, and the state where the most incidents happened is New York, and the city where the most incidents happened is New York City.

Sam Brock, NBC News, New York. We're also following a new accident involving those driverless Waymo cars. A child in California struck by one outside of school. Dana Griffin has the latest from Santa Monica. Tonight, an NTSB investigation underway into a Waymo vehicle hitting a child outside a Santa Monica, California elementary school. No one was behind the wheel. A neighbor's ring camera capturing a police SUV pulling up near the Waymo after the incident. Waymo says the child suddenly entered the roadway from behind a tall SUV directly in front of the vehicle's path, which was traveling at 17 miles per hour.

According to police, that child was outside of the crosswalk running. towards school, Waymo says that driverless vehicle reduced its speed to under six miles per hour before it made contact and says a human driver would have made impact at more than double that speed. Police say no injuries were reported after the child was evaluated by firefighters. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also opening a separate investigation into whether the automated vehicle exercised appropriate caution given, among other things, its proximity to the elementary school during drop-off hours. Oh my God.

It comes on the heels of other notable incidents. This tense seen in Los Angeles as a Waymo drives right past an active police stop. Somebody playing a joke on me? This passenger in Phoenix stuck inside a driverless car as it goes for an unwanted spin. This car is just going in circles. In this latest incident, Waymo says it plans to fully cooperate with the federal investigation, and it remains committed to road safety. Dana Griffin, NBC News, Santa Monica, California.

We're back at 60 seconds with the First Lady Melania Trump's movie debut, the controversial director, and the massive deal with Amazon that's already sparking some questions. That's next. Tonight, the Trumps are at the Kennedy Center for a screening of Melania, a documentary produced by the First Lady that's raising some questions about its funding. Halle Jackson has more. Here we go again. A first lady first tonight. So here it is. Melania Trump's new documentary, premiering at the Kennedy Center, which her husband is trying to rename,

for the typically lower profile first lady, a moment that's anything but. I'm very private person and a very selective person, what I do, what I don't do, when I talk, when I don't talk. Mrs. Trump said to be deeply involved in what appears to be a careful, curated chronicling of the days leading up to her husband's second inauguration. With early word, she'd be making $28 million for the film with its high-profile launch and high-powered backers. President Trump hosting a glitzy White House screening and Amazon, led by Jeff Bezos, which acquired the dock and a related series, for $40 million after the president's re-election, set to roll it out on 1,500 screens with a $35 million marketing push, 10 times what's been spent on other high-profile docs, with custom popcorn buckets, ads on the velds. Vegas sphere and during NFL playoffs.

Amazon is doing this for two reasons. One, they want to curry favor with the administration. And two, they want to get your attention. Amazon has said it licensed the dock for one reason and one reason only, because we think customers are going to love it. Already, backlash before the first frame has dropped. Posters vandalized in L.A., theater screenshots online, fueling speculation the film could flop.

Its director? Controversial. Brett Ratner, sidelined for years by allegations of sexual. misconduct, which he denies. Still, analysts say the movie could be on track to make $5 million opening weekend. For Melania Trump, maybe a marquee moment. Hally Jackson, NBC News, Washington. We're back in a moment with the major new development in the fight to return that Olympic medal to gymnast Jordan Childs and the massive recall tonight, thousands of popular items from Cheerios to Heinz catch-up over unsanitary conditions at a distributor. That's next.

We are back now with former sheriff's deputy sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of Sonia Massey. You might remember this terrifying moment caught on camera when Massey was shot and killed her own home after she called 911. Sean Grayson was convicted of second-degree murder over that incident in October. Also tonight, thousands of popular items including products like Pringles, Cheerios, and Tokis were recalled over unsanitary conditions at a Minneapolis distributor. The FDA saying they found. rodent waste and bird droppings at facilities belonging to Gold Star Distribution. The products were sent to more than 50 grocery stores throughout Minnesota and Indiana. And a huge win for Olympic gymnast Jordan Child.

She's now one step closer to reclaiming that bronze medal after she was handed a legal victory by Switzerland's highest court. A lower court ordered her to order them to rehear the case. It comes more than a year after she was stripped of a medal she appeared to rightfully win during the Paris Games. All right, when we come back tonight here in the broadcast, there's good news. A teacher gets a surprise of a lifetime with her students in on a secret proposal. That's next.

Finally, our good news tonight has a special ring to it, a group of middle school students helping out with a major surprise for their teacher. When Andrew Pellegrino decided he wanted to ask Julia Alexander to marry him, he was a little nervous. But he knew just who to call to help him out. The students at Hernando Middle School in northern Mississippi. Julia teaches sixth grade there. Her students lining the hallways, ready with letters, spelling out, will you marry me? And when Julia walked in, her smile and emotion said it all.

In front of her class, Andrew, dropping down onto one knee. I knew I was ready to do it, but that moment waiting until she walked down the hallway. I was nerve-wracking. Aw, sweet. I knew Julia was passionate about teaching and loved her kids, and I thought any way I can incorporate that into the proposal would be great. So it was a winner. With the ring on her finger, her students coming in for a hug,

celebrating the answer to one of life's biggest questions. It had always kind of been like a secret dream and hope of mine that he would do it at school. It was very special, very heartwarming, definitely the surprise. of a lifetime. A lifetime, they're ready to spend together. I love Julia's passion for teaching and everything she does. She lights on my day every day. She said yes, that's nightly news for this Thursday. I'm Tom Yamas. Thanks so much for watching tonight and always. We're here for you. Good night.