NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Episode Date: April 1, 2026

Trump suggests war with Iran will end within two weeks; American journalist kidnapped in Iraq; Judge halts construction on White House ballroom; 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, the major shift from the president just moments ago that the U.S. will leave Iran very soon. The new timeline he just announced. The massive explosion inside of Iran destroying an ammo depot, as the president says the U.S. doesn't need to deal with Iran to end the war. His new push to get allies to open the Strait of Hormuz, plus gas prices soaring across America, topping $4 a gallon for the first time in years. How high will they go? Kidnapped in broad daylight the moment an American was abducted in Iraq, caught on camera, what were learning about the kidnappers' possible ties to Iran. The major setback for President Trump and his new White House ballroom,

a judge ruling construction, needs to be stopped, despite the East Wing already being demolished. The announcement from Tiger Woods just moments ago that he's stepping away to seek help as new details about his DUI arrest and the pills he had on him are made public. Countdown to America's return to the moon, the astronauts making their final preparations are Tom Costello inside the capsule simulator before the engines fire up tomorrow. One wife's mission to honor the memory of her husband so others won't have the same battle with insurance companies like he did, the major change she just got signed into law tonight. A beer run in Indiana ending in a violent.

crash after a stolen bud light truck, clows head on into a deputy's vehicle. Escape artist, the wild video of a handcuffed woman, wriggling through the back window of a police cruiser, and bolting away. Collision at sea, the stunning moment of windsurfer crashes right into a whale in the San Francisco Bay. And there's good news tonight,

the 11-year-old boy who just beat cancer and the unforgettable surprise waiting for him at school. Nightly news starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. And good evening. We begin tonight with a major update. The president just moments ago laying the groundwork for potentially ending the war with Iran, telling reporters that the war will end in his words very soon,

even without a deal to open the strait of her moves. The latest comments as the war is taking a greater and greater economic toll. Take a look at these images. A Kuwaiti oil tank are apparently attacked by Iran with a whole, blasted through its hall. A tax like that sending gas prices above $4 on average, breaking that barrier for the first time in four years. But even as gas prices surge, Wall Street sees an end to the war on the horizon which sent markets skyrocketing today. This, as the U.S. continues to pound Iran, Trump posted video showing a strike creating a humongous explosion.

And we're learning that an Iran-back group has kidnapped an American journalist inside of Iraq. We've got this covered from all the angles tonight, and we start with Garrett Hake at the White House. Tonight, the massive explosions seen in Iran as the U.S. strikes an ammunition depot, which the Pentagon says is just the latest sign of U.S. dominance in the war, with 11,000 Iranian regime targets hit in the last four weeks. The upcoming days will be decisive. Iran knows that, and there's almost nothing they can militarily do about it. And late tonight, the president suggesting he'll end U.S. airstrikes soon. We'll be leaving very soon, I think within maybe two weeks, maybe a couple of days longer to do the job, but we want to knock out every single thing there. While praising Iranian regime officials with whom he says the U.S. is now negotiating. We've had regime change.

We're dealing with people that are much more rational. But here at home, the national average for a gallon of gas has crossed over $4 a gallon for the first time in four years. It's pretty crazy. and it's every gas station, you know, and it's like there's no cheap gas anywhere, really, I feel like. The president tonight insisting those prices will come down when the war ends. We're $4, yeah, and we have a country that's not going to be throwing a nuclear weapon at us in six months. All I have to do is leave Iran, and we'll be doing that very soon, and they'll become tumbling down. Those stocks today surge, the Dow soaring more than 1,100 points, with President Trump suggesting U.S. airstrikes will end soon. and then it won't depend on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

What happens to the strait, we're not going to have anything to do with, because these countries, China, China will go up and they'll fuel up their beautiful ships and they'll leave and they'll take care of themselves. There's no reason for us to do it. Still, the American military buildup in the region continues, with the George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier group leaving port in Virginia today, bound for the Middle East, with potential U.S. ground troops still on the table. We're not going to foreclose any option.

Our adversary right now thinks there are 15 different ways we could come at them with boots on the ground. And guess what? There are. Garrett joins us now live from the White House. Garrett, President Trump is suggesting the war will end in two weeks. But you have new reporting Gulf countries are urging him to keep strikes going? That's right, Tom. Some allies, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have encouraged the White House to keep up the strikes to make sure Iran can no longer threaten the region with ballistic missiles or drones.

Their message to the White House, finish the job. Tom. Garrett Hake, leading us off. We want to go back to the Mideast and the race to find an American journalist who has been kidnapped by a pro-Iran militia in Iraq. Her alarming abduction caught on video. Here's Ralph Sanchez. Tonight, this video is showing the moment American journalist Shelley Kittleson is kidnapped in Baghdad by suspected Iranian-backed militants. Iraq's interior ministry tells us this silver car pulled up as Kittleson. was waiting on the side of the road.

Two men bundle her into the backseat, and seconds later, it drives off. Authorities say security forces chase the kidnapper's vehicle, which crashed and was badly damaged. But some of the men escaped with Kittleson. One suspect arrested. The State Department says they have ties to Kittep Hezbollah, a militia, supported by Iran. Efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the kidnapped journalist, Iraq's government says. Kittleson has extensive experience reporting in the Middle East. You need to develop that gut feeling and you need to follow it.

The Al Monitor website, which she writes for, saying we call for her safe in immediate release. Ketabazbullah has a long history of kidnappings, holding Princeton researcher Elizabeth Zerkhov for 903 days before the Trump administration negotiated her release last year. And the State Department says they warned the judge. and a list about threats made against her while she was in Iraq, and the FBI is now involved in the case. Tom. Okay, Raf, thank you. There was a major setback for President Trump's ballroom project at the White House. A federal judge ruling today work must stop unless Congress approves it. Here's Kelly O'Donnell. A new stop work order from a federal court on President Trump's passion project, the White House ballroom. That order halts construction unless Congress approves the

plans. The administration quickly appealed. The president clearly frustrated. Basically, he's saying I need congressional approval. And he's so wrong. Judge Richard Leon had granted the request of a preservation group with a pointed message for the builder-in-chief. The president of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of first families. He is not, however, the owner. The ballroom is never far from the president's mind. publicly balancing his wartime duties and construction management. I'm so busy that I don't have time to do this, but I'm fighting wars and other things.

But this is very important. His vision, gigantic, with seating capacity for up to 1,000 guests. The cost swelling to $400 million, privately funded, he says. Buried below... The military is building a big complex under the ballroom. This new legal fight spurred by that October surprise. The destruction of the East Wing and its century of history. Reckage without the typical oversight.

The federal judge writes the president went too far. No statute comes close to giving the president the authority he claims to have. And Kelly O'Donnell also live at the White House tonight. For us, Kelly, construction continued today, though? The judge does allow that they can finish up projects so that they don't leave the site. unsafe. Well, the president said the entire project is about safety, and he suggested they can keep going. Tom? All right, Kelly, thank you. We have new details tonight about Tiger Woods's DUI arrest. Deputies found opioid pills in Woods's pocket at the scene and described his eyes

as bloodshot and glassy. Jesse Kirsch now with the legendary golfer and how he's pleading tonight. Tiger Woods had two hydrocodone pills in his pocket when he was arrested for driving under the influence, According to a newly released affidavit, the opioid is used to treat severe pain. New documents also revealing more details about the star golfers alleged condition Friday afternoon. His eyes were bloodshot and glassy. His pupils extremely dilated. His movement described as lethargic and slow. And his speech?

Thick-tonged, according to the documents, which also say Woods had the hiccups and was sweating profusely, even while seated in a vehicle with cool air flowing. But the arresting officer also writes Woods was extremely alert and talkative. Woods has pleaded not guilty. The affidavit says Tiger Woods told investigators while he was driving along this road Friday afternoon, he looked down at his phone and changed the radio station. He did not notice the pickup truck slowing down in front of him. The sheriff says Woods rear-ended that truck's trailer.

Woods's SUV wound up on its side, but no one was injured. Our DUI investigators came to the scene here, and Mr. Woods did exemplify signs of impairment. Woods agreed to perform field sobriety tests, but struggled at times, according to the affidavit. He was limping and stumbling to the right, telling the deputy he's had seven back surgeries and over 20 operations on his leg. According to the arresting officer, Wood said he did not consume any alcohol that day. But when asked about consuming prescription medication, he stated, I take a few for high blood pressure and cholesterol, along with ibuprofen and Vicodin. Wood said he took his prescription.

medication earlier in the morning and said he had not taken any illegal substances. And Tiger Woods just spoke out for the first time since this arrest. On social media, he acknowledges the seriousness of this situation, writing in part, quote, I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. Tom. Jesse Kerch, Jesse, we thank you. Tonight, the countdown is on. NASA says it is still on track to launch four astronauts on a historic mission around the moon less than 24 hours from now. Tom Costello is at the Kennedy Space Center for us tonight. Standing on LaunchPan 39B, Artemis, is tonight poised for liftoff, the crew in quarantine with their families. Commander Reeve Weissman posting this photo with his daughters.

NASA chief Jared Isaacman says they represent a new generation. What does it mean in the in terms of America's place and space history? It means we're about to make our return. to the moon and this time to stay. Artemis 2 is the opening act. The next 24 hours will be critical for launch. At 7.34 a.m. ground teams will begin fueling the rocket. At 9.45 a.m., the crew already on mission time will wake up, eat breakfast and suit up. At 2 p.m., they'll head to the pad.

At 6.24 p.m., they begin a 10-day mission to the moon. So to achieve this, NASA has built one of the largest and most powerful rocket. ever. This is called SLS, the space launch system. It stands a massive 322 feet tall. That's taller than the Statue of Liberty. It's huge. And it features these four engines at its base, along with those two booster rockets right there. This combined force provides the lifts needed for 7 million pounds getting off the ground and into space. That's the equivalent of 700 elephants. At the very top of the rocket, that's the Orion Space capsule. I think the nation and the world has been waiting a long time to do this again. Mission managers insist, astronaut safety is the highest priority. The key to this is understanding the risk, doing everything you possibly can to drive it to zero. And then at some point, you're going to accept that risk because you're not going to be able to explore the world's beyond ours without taking some risk. And Tom Costello joins us now live. Tom, the U.S. landed on the moon more than 50 years ago.

Explain to our viewers the importance. NASA season trying again. So this is all about building a moon base, getting astronauts on the moon in 2028, building that moon base. China's trying to do the same thing, and then using the moon as a base to move on to Mars someday, Tom. All right, Tom Costello for us. We look forward to it, and we'll cover that launch live tomorrow right here on NBC. When we return tonight on nightly news, the suspect in a stolen bud light truck, how the chase came to a dramatic end. And the cost of the cost of the cost. of denial, one woman's battle to change the law after her husband's death. That's next.

Now to our series, the cost of denial where we investigate the challenges people face with insurance. And an update tonight to a story we brought you last summer and the widow who fought for a change to the law in her husband's honor. Our story tonight is reported in partnership with KFF Health News. Here's Aaron McLaughlin. He loved sitting at the beach at sunset. That was his favorite time. Rebecca Tennant is mourning her late husband, Eric, and wants to make sure what happened to him doesn't happen to anyone else. People should not have to beg to get help, especially for something that they are already paying for. You all right? Yeah, I'm good. We first met the tenants in Bridgeport, West Virginia, almost a year ago. Eric in the midst of a battle with a form

of bile duct cancer. For four agonizing months, what does time mean to you right now? means everything. They'd been fighting repeated insurance denials from P-E-I-A, the insurer for state employees, hoping for a treatment that Eric's oncologists believed, while not a cure, could prolong his life. It seems like a never-ending battle. Never-ending. And yet you're still fighting. Still fighting.

Yep. We're going to fight. That's one thing we're going to do. Ultimately, the approval came. But by then, Eric had run out of time. The tumor had overtaken his liver. He died last summer at home. With everybody around him, knowing that he was loved and cared about.

Becky vowed to continue their fight and partnered with state lawmaker Laura Kimball, pushing for legislation that would allow West Virginia's PIA patients approved for one treatment to automatically qualify for an alternative treatment of equal or lesser cost that their doctor recommends. Did you talk with Eric about this push for change? We talked about it. He just told me not to be scared. We had 93 eyes, zero nays. 33A's zero nays. The legislation passed unanimously, but PIA attached a note,

estimating the bill would cost the state $13 million a year. A final decision falling to West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrissey, who today spoke with reporters at an event promoting state tourism. Do you intend on signing that bill that's on your desk right now, or are you going to exercise your veto power? Well, I will say we're looking closely at the bill, and the first time I heard about this, I knew that we have to make a change.

For Rebecca, just the effort, a tribute to her husband's memory. Do you think he'd be proud of you? Oh, yeah, I think he would. He would just probably be over the moon excited about it and happy, knowing that we've gotten the support that we've gotten. So, yeah. And we have just learned that the governor has,

signed the bill writing in a statement to NBC News. This is about common sense, compassion, and trusting patients and their doctors to make the best decisions for their care. Tom. Aaron McLaughlin, staying on this story and getting a big update tonight. We're back in a moment with wild video of a handcuffed woman escaping from the backseat of a police car. Plus, surprise at sea, look at this. What happened when a windsurfer collided with a whale? That's next. Back now with an update after U.S. Apache helicopters were seen flying over Kid Rock's home near Nashville over the weekend. A U.S. official saying today the Army suspended the air crews of the helicopters involved, but late tonight, Defense Secretary Pete Hedgeseth tweeted the suspension had been lifted.

The incident captured attention after Kid Rock posted videos on social media saluting the choppers overhead. And watch the wild ending to a chase in Indiana body cam video shows a deputy parking is patrol SUV in the road and throwing out rumble strips. Then a suspect accused of stealing a bloodline truck plows right into the patrol car and veers into a field. Deputies surround him and force him out of the cab.

Now to Michigan and an escape caught on camera. This woman in handcuffs, look, she's wriggling her way out the backseat window of a police car in Michigan. Look at that. Within seconds, she swings her legs around and jumps down before just running away. Police say the woman was arrested again today after

finally being found. And check out this wild collision out of California windsurfers speeding through the San Francisco Bay before hitting a whale that surfaces in his path. The man flies off the board and sail, and his sail, you see, collapses into the water while the whale disappears

into the bay. All right, when we come back tonight here on nightly news, the school hallways full of kids who cannot wait to high-five their classmate who just beat cancer. There's good news tonight, and that's next. Finally, there's good news tonight. And 11

year old boy who spent years fighting for his life, beating cancer, and his school turning out to celebrate. Cheers and high fives, filling the halls of Green Elementary in northern Ohio. That's Levi Bucksman, walking through the middle, taking it all in after the fight of his young life. This 11-year-old has Down syndrome and just beat cancer. Diagnosed with leukemia in 2023, his mom says they spent more than 260 nights in the hospital. It was awful. It just felt like time stood still. But he never gave up with his whole school behind him.

He rang this bell, marking the end of his cancer treatment. One of my biggest fears when we had Levi and got his Down syndrome diagnosis was that he wouldn't have friends, that kids would be cruel and he just wouldn't be seen. It warms my heart to see that the kids see him for who he is. This round of applause, a joyful celebration for someone so deserving. You're just happy to be a part of the party, huh? Oh, you love me too, buddy. What a moment.

Our thanks to our affiliate, WKYC, for bringing us that one. That's nightly news for this Tuesday. I'm Tom Yamas. We thank you for watching tonight and always. We're here for you. Thank you.