NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Wednesday, February 25, 2026

Episode Date: February 26, 2026

Cuba kills four on Florida boat; Deep snow impacts response to Massachusetts house explosion; Trump focuses on economy in State of Union speech; 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 news tonight, the deadly shootout in Cuban waters. Cuba's government saying at least four people on a Florida-based speedboat were killed. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio now weighing in. The alarming clash off the coast, Cuba's government saying people on the boat opened fire first on border guards who fired back. The questions over who was on board and what set off the confrontation, will this raise tensions between the two countries even more. Also tonight a new round of snow on top of those blizzard snow totals. Firefighters struggling to dig out hydrants after this house explosion.

A nun and a child nearly struck by this tree. Communities completely frozen over. The neighbors forced to shovel their own street when the plows never did. Missing Epstein files, the documents that may involve accusations against President Trump being withheld, how the White House is now responding. The FBI raiding the House of the Los Angeles school superintendent, agents removing box after box, what are they looking for? Massive law enforcement presence at Nancy Guthrie's home today what were learning as investigators vet new tips. Life saving catch a child dropped from the second floor into the arms of an officer, how they caught the dog as well as their home burned. sucked into a sinkhole, a road opening up, swallowing cars at an intersection, the bystanders rushing in to help.

This driver forced to crawl across his own windshield. And there's good news tonight how a group of fourth graders brought tears of joy to a student who was feeling down, covering her desk in uplifting notes. Nightly News starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. And good evening. We begin tonight with a potential international crisis. We're following news of a deadly confrontation between Cuban forces and several people on a speedboat registered out of Florida. Cuban officials say that four people were killed and six others injured on that boat. The Cubans claimed the people on board started firing at their border guard troops. The Secretary of State just moments ago saying the U.S. government is working quickly to find out exactly what happened here. It all went down, according to the Cubans, about a mile off the Cuban coast, not far from

the Bahamas. You can see it right here on the map. All of it happening as Cuba faces a dire humanitarian crisis running critically low on essentials like food and fuel. And as President Trump puts new pressure on Cuba's communist government to embrace human rights and stop working with America's enemies. We start things off tonight with Jose Diaz-Balart, who has the latest. Tonight with tensions soaring between the U.S. and Cuba, new things.

fears of an escalation. ...honoring, hopefully, it's not as bad as we fear it could be, but I can't say more because I just don't know more. The Cuban Interior Ministry saying four people were shot and killed, and six others injured after Cuba's border patrol intercepted a speedboat in Cuban waters. They say the speedboat was registered in Florida, and that all of this happened off Cayo Falconez on the island's northwest coast, where Cuban officials, say, passengers in the speedboat opened fire on Cuba's border patrol as they approached.

and Cuban officers fired back. The Cuban regime claimed on TV tonight that a Border Patrol commander was injured and that Cuba will protect its territorial waters. Particularly in that region of the world was just like a powder cake, right? Could blow up at any time. Like tonight, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had this to say.

It is highly unusual to see shootouts in open sea like that. But we're going to find out. We're not going to base our conclusions on what they've told us. All of it, as President Trump is amping up pressure on Cuba's communist regime, blocking virtually all oil shipments to the island. President Trump has been telling the Cuban regime to make a deal. Cuba is right now a failed nation, and they don't even have jet fuel to get for airplanes to take off. Jose joins us live now.

At this point, Jose, we're only hearing from the Cuban side here, and we still don't even know if Americans were among the victims? That's right, Tom. Secretary Rubio says there were no U.S. government personnel involved in this, but we still don't know who was on that speedboat or where that speedboat was allegedly intercepted. The secretary saying the U.S. will not rely on Cuba's version of events there working to independently get the facts and determine how to respond. Jose Diaz-Belard on that breaking news for tonight. Jose, we thank you. The Northeast hit with yet another blast of snow today, even as nearly 150,000 are without power.

in the cold from this week's historic blizzard. And in Massachusetts, the snow complicating rescue efforts after a house exploded there. Emily Aketa tonight with that video. Tonight, fire and ice in Massachusetts after a house explosion sparked this massive blaze, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky. It looks like we have a total house explosion, heavy fire.

Authorities in Taunton, who are investigating the cause, say a mother and young child were seriously. injured. Our understanding is the mother went back in the retrieved the child. That's how she got burned. Authorities had to dig through the deep snow to reach fire hydrants and turn off gas lines. The police didn't help. The snow on the road and roads are narrowed and these trucks are big. So it was tough getting hit. The dangerous aftermath of this week's historic blizzard captured on camera. Watches tree branches suddenly snap in New York City, a nun shielding a small child. And the roof of this Ice rank in North Jersey collapsing today.

In Massachusetts, images of down power lines showing why today more than 145,000 remained in the dark. In Rhode Island, where snow-covered cars lined streets, the blizzard proving deadly. Police say this college student died from carbon monoxide poisoning after charging his phone in a car buried in snow. Another round of snow today, complicating cleanup efforts across the region. These neighbors in Newport joined together trying to clear their street. How would you describe your street? Terrible. Edward Becker says his neighbors on Staten Island had to clear their own road.

The plow tried to come up here yesterday. He got stuck. He was half hour, 45 minutes. He took off the course street. He tried to shovel him out. He had to end up back and all the way down. So many struggling in this winter. Emily joins us now live from Northern New Jersey.

And Emily, we can see those massive. snow mounts behind you, and the work really is endless for the crews out there. Yeah, Tom, that's right. This is the heart of snow clearing efforts for parts of North Jersey, truck after truck, picking up snow from streets and bringing it here to this parking lot. Officials say the warmer temperatures help, but the snow could linger on the streets for weeks, Tom. Emily, we thank you for that. We have new reporting we want to get to on what's missing from the Epstein files. Our team finding the Justice Department has not released some interviews with a woman who alleges she was assaulted by both Jeffrey Epstein and President Trump.

Here's Hallie Jackson. The spotlight tonight on what's not in the millions of Epstein files released by the DOJ. Summaries and notes from three separate interviews the FBI conducted with a Jeffrey Epstein accuser who also made sex abuse allegations against President Trump in 2019. Materials withheld, according to an NBC news analysis, and information provided by a source familiar with the Epstein investigation. The evidence is pointing to these documents are missing. It's a survivor who has made serious allegations of the president, and that needs to be investigated.

The Justice Department has said it produced all responsive documents, adding tonight it's reviewing files. And if any were improperly withheld, the department will publish it consistent with the law. Asked for comment, the White House pointed to the DOJ's previous statement that some documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump, submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. The president has not been charged with wrongdoing related to Epstein, but the controversy has shadowed his administration, including at the state of the union, which some Epstein abuse survivors attended, invited by Democrats. We're here because we want accountability. The files illustrating Epstein's web of connections to some of society's most powerful physicist Stephen Hawking, flanked by women in bikinis, and new fallout today. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers announcing plans to resign from Harvard.

billionaire Bill Gates now apologizing to the Gates Foundation in a town hall this week, calling it a huge mistake to spend time with the convicted sex offender, according to a recording obtained by the Wall Street Journal, which says the Microsoft co-founder acknowledged that he had two affairs with Russian women that Epstein later discovered, but that they didn't involve Epstein's victims. Gates saying, I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit. The Gates Foundation telling NBC, Gates spoke candidly,

adding he took responsibility for his actions. None of these men has been charged with wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. Hally joins us now live. And Hally, there are also some high profile depositions related to Epstein this week. Those will begin tomorrow, Tom, when members of the House Oversight Committee are set to travel to New York to question the Clintons who have not been charged with wrongdoing related to Epstein. Tom. All right, Hallie, thank you. Now to President Trump's high-stake state of the union speech, the longest ever, the president zeroing in on the economy and going after Democrats who are firing back tonight. Here's a game.

Tonight, with the first midterm primaries less than a week away, the Trump administration is looking to build on the longest state of the union address ever. We inherited a mess. Our ask to the American people is let us continue to fix this mess, make your life better. The first half of President Trump's nearly two-hour speech focusing on the economy. Their policies created, the high prices. Our policies are rapidly ending them. The president touting lower inflation and falling mortgage rates, calling on Congress to pass a ban on corporations buying single-family homes,

and saying he wants to give workers without 401K's access to retirement plans, like those of federal employees. The state of our union is strong. But many of the policies he referenced were not new or lacked specifics. This was not America's state. the union. This was Donald Trump's state of delusion. He's in a bubble. The president repeatedly slamming Democrats for not standing up. Look, nobody stands up. These people are crazy. Including this moment about immigration. If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support. The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not

illegal aliens. Isn't that a shame? You should be ashamed. of yourself, not standing up. Those comments prompting Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and Rashida Talib to hackle the president. Various penalties for public officials. Today, the president calling them low IQ, posting we should send them back from where they came as fast as possible. Talib was born in Detroit. But there was some bipartisanship, including when the president welcomed these special guests to the gallery. The men's gold medal Olympic hockey team.

Come on in. And Gabe, the president, also making headlines in that speech about Iran ahead of some crucial nuclear talks tomorrow? Yes, Tom. The president says Iran is working towards building ballistic missiles that could reach the U.S., but it is not clear that he's seen any new evidence of how soon that could happen. The president says he prefers diplomacy, but that he will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. Tom. All right, Gabe Gutierrez at the White House. We are tracking two major FBI raids of homes belonging to one of the most powerful education officials

in this country, the head of the Los Angeles public school system. The question now is why? Camila Bernal reports from L.A. Agents in San Pedro, California, raiding this residence, serving search warrants at the home of Alberto Carvalo, the superintendent of Los Angeles Unified, the nation's second largest school district. Bags in a suitcase were carried out of the home. I was with my wife for having a cup of coffee, and we heard the sirens going on. The FBI also searching Carvallo's office at the district's headquarters and combing through a property in Florida, federal officials tell NBC News is tied to the investigation.

Carvallo served as a superintendent of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools for 14 years prior to taking the role in Los Angeles in 2022. He's known for speaking out against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Separately, federal prosecutors have an ongoing fraud case against the CEO of, a tech startup with a multi-million dollar deal with L-AUSD to develop an AI chatbot according to court records. Carvalo is not named in the case and the reason for today's raid is still unclear. The FBI saying in a statement that the affidavit in support of the warrant has been sealed by the court and we therefore have no further comment. LASD writing the district is cooperating with the investigation and we do not have further information. No arrest were

made in the operation. Camila Bernal, NBC News, Los Angeles. And when we return in 60 seconds, the search for Nancy Guthrie and the massive FBI presence at her house tonight, what we're learning about the investigation. That's next. We're back now with the latest on the investigation and the abduction of Nancy Guthrie. Today there was a flurry of law enforcement activity at her home. Our Liz Kreutz is there. Tonight, several investigators back at Nancy Guthrie's property, Some standing in that doorway where the masked man showed up, others in the backyard, taking photos and appearing to analyze something on the sliding glass door. The FBI did not say what prompted this activity, but two law enforcement sources say officials are working on handing the home back over to the family. It comes a day after Savannah posted that heartbreaking video offering a $1 million reward for any information that leads to the recovery of her mother.

In the 12 hours after, a senior law enforcement official says the FBI received more than 750 new tin. But experts say it's now about quality over quantity. It's that one tip from the public, maybe as a result of the reward or maybe as a result of somebody stepping up and doing the right thing or a combination of both that usually breaks the case. Outside Nancy's home, signs of hope. This memorial here continues to grow. In addition to the yellow flowers, there's a number of hand-painted signs and even back

here these mahjong tiles. That's one of Nancy's favorite hobbies. Amid the outpouring of love, the intense public interest in this case has at times led to false accusations. Early on, without evidence, many internet slews deemed Dominic Evans, a local teacher and bandmate of Nancy's son-in-law, a suspect. Evans and his wife tonight speaking out to the New York Times, saying they've been scared numb, forced to hide out in their home. I feel like someone's taken my name. There are innocent people that get hurt. And Tom, the sheriff told the Times he wishes he could defend every person who's been falsely accused. He says Evans could consider legal action and sue for libel.

Tom? Liz Kreutz for us. Now to that unbelievable video, I have Nebraska, cars sucked into a sinkhole as the ground opens up below them at an Omaha intersection. Good Samaritan's rushing to pull the victims out. Steve Patterson with the video and the story. A surreal-sighted an Omaha stoplight quickly crumbles into panic as the road beneath two vehicles gives way to a sinkhole swallowing the car's hole. And we just heard a loud noise and I ended up just looking back and seeing two cars in a sinkhole. Bystanders stunned it first, then rush into action. The driver of that silver pickup pulls himself out of the passenger window before sprawling out onto the roof, while the group of Good Samaritans work to haul the person in that red SUV out of the hole.

Just hoping that everybody was safe and just praying for them in any way I can. Officials say the cause, likely an underground pressurized water leak. Based on the size and condition of the void, it's evident that a pressurized water source has been scouring soil from beneath the pavement and ended the storm. her for some time. The incident, similar to a slew of recent sinkhole disasters, from a car swallowed in Pennsylvania, to this massive road collapse in China. This time, no one was hurt, thanks in part to the power of lending a hand, even as the ground itself gave way. Steve Patterson, NBC News. Great, they rescued everyone. All right, we are back at a moment with the massive wildfires tearing across Florida tonight. Plus, a life-saving catch looked closely how officers rescued a child

even a dog from a burning apartment. That's next. We're back with the massive brush fires ripping across southwest Florida, fueled by dry conditions and gusty winds. Right now, crews are battling the biggest wildfire in the Everglades right now that scorched 24,000 acres. The smoke and the poor visibility, as you see here, from that fire, is for several lane closures on I-75. Now to Colorado and an urgent rescue in a rollover crash, a deputy finding this SUV for flipped on its roof. They had to break the window to get the driver trapped inside. You see it here. Several deputies working together, freeing the man, helping him out of the car, and finally eventually, look at that, bringing him to safety. All right, in California, another big rescue. This one

happening just in time. Police arrived at a burning apartment. You see the officer there in full sprint mode. This happened just outside of San Francisco. What happened next is incredible. The body can, you see it there. That is a child falling down. But luckily, the officer rescues the girl. You see it in slow-mo here from the officer's perspective. One officer extending his arm just before the child drops, helping guide her into the arms of the officer. And guess what happens next? That's right. They caught the family dog, a corgi as well that survived and made it out okay.

All right, when we come back, the words of wisdom for a fourth grader when she really needed them. The colorful sticky notes moving her to tears, encourage her to keep going. That's next. Finally, there's good. News tonight, you're about to see a giant gesture of love from a fourth grade class for one of their own. Tonight, the power of a Post-it note. It was a moment Central Florida fourth grader Sophia Campbell will never forget. She had been struggling with reading, and she was feeling down.

I feel like I'm not that smart. I'm not good enough. But fellow student, Ashton Miller, had an idea to look. Lift her spirits. Using sticky notes, putting them all over Sophia's desk with compliments on them. The class filling up the brightly colored squares with motivating and inspiring words, like, keep going, hard worker. You are a ray of sunshine. Her desk and chair totally covered with kindness. You're smart, you're kind. I was so surprised. Words are very powerful and something as simple as some post.

positive words on a sticky note have caused such a positive reaction. Kindness spreads kindness. And I think that's what's happened here, right? It totally happened here. A noteworthy reminder from a class that cares, showing us all how far simple gestures can go. I am happy. Great way to end the show tonight. All right, that's nightly news for this Wednesday.

I'm Tom Yamas. so much for watching tonight and always we're here for you good night