NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Episode Date: January 8, 2026

Driver shot in deadly ICE encounter; Investigators to look at key moments in deadly ICE shooting video; U.S. seizes two tankers off Venezuela, including one with Russian flag; 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 deadly clash in Minneapolis, an ICE officer shooting a woman in her car. The government claiming self-defense during the Trump administration's biggest immigration crackdown yet. The fatal shooting captured from multiple angles. Officers approaching the SUV shots fired as the car moves forward. The government says she was driving at the officer. We break down the video frame by frame. Chaos erupting protesters standing off with ice. Some officers pelted with snow, President Trump defending the shooting as the Minneapolis mayor tells agents to get out of his city.

U.S. forces seize two Venezuelan oil tankers, the Coast Guard repelling onto a vessel, another flying a Russian flag, fears of an escalation with that country now. The major change to food recommendations. The Trump administration now urging Americans to eat more protein and full-fat dairy, including butter. The killer still at large a week after an Ohio couple was murdered when a family member is now saying about a 911 call from the home months before. The surprise shake up to Nick Reiner's defense, why the star defense lawyer suddenly removed himself from the case. Terrifying tire blowout on a plane landing at the nation's busiest airport, what went wrong? And life-saving catch the moment a desperate mom had to drop her children from the second floor as her house was. burned and the neighbor who was there to catch them. Nightly News starts right now.

This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. And good evening. We begin tonight with a city on edge. Protest growing in the streets and a nation once again divided over an officer involved shooting. There are protests erupt in Minneapolis where it all went down. Demonstrators you see them here clashing with police, some crowding law enforcement vehicles. pelting them with snowballs. You see it there. It all started during the largest ice operation yet, which led to this moment. Police say a driver blocking federal officers when one of them opened fire. The incident caught on camera from multiple angles. Many who view the videos see the driver accelerating towards the officer, putting his life in danger as he appears

to open fire on the driver. Others see officers aggressively swarming the vehicle as she was trying to flee. The president of the U.S. calling the shooting fully justified. The Democratic mayor of the city forcefully disputing that, we're going to break down the video for you frame by frame. We begin tonight with Maggie Vespa at the scene in Minneapolis. And Maggie, we're calling this a city on edge and you're seeing it with your own eyes. Yeah, Tom, for sure. You can see this massive crowd behind me. We're talking hundreds of people at the scene where this incident happened earlier today. A lot of anger at ice in that crowd and people have been chanting the name of the driver killed in this deadly shooting.

The deadly incident captured from multiple angles and sparking deeply divided opinions. The video starts with a driver who police say had been blocking the street. You see the driver gesturing at ice officers. And they start approaching that dark colored SUV, one going to the driver's side door, another officer steps in front of the vehicle. Then the driver accelerates. shots are fired. It continues to move, then collides with a parked car. In slow motion, you can see that officer again approaching grabbing the door handle of the SUV. The driver first reverses, then accelerates, appearing to turn. That officer in front of the SUV, then opens fire. The incident also shown from a higher reverse angle. Zooming in, you can see the ice officer standing in front of the car when the driver accelerates and the officer opens fire.

Tonight, police say the 37-year-old driver was killed. This woman was in her car, and it appears then blocking the street because of the presence of federal law enforcement. This video showing a woman who appears to be a passenger. Hey, was you riding with her? Now, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reporting the driver's mother identified her as Renee Nicole Good, saying, quote, That's so stupid she was killed and that she was probably terrified. Tonight, sharp divisions over what happened. The Department of Homeland Security defending the officer,

hosting the driver weaponized her vehicle by accelerating, and that an ice officer, fearing for his life, fired defensive shots. It was an act of domestic terrorism. A woman attacked them and those surrounding them and attempted to run them over and ram them with her vehicle. An officer of ours acted quickly and defensively shot. to protect himself and the people around him. But Minneapolis's Democratic mayor slamming that explanation.

They are already trying to spin this as an action of self-defense. Having seen the video of myself, I want to tell everybody directly. That is b-h-h-h. This was an agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying. Later, chaos, officers using tear gas to disperse crowds who were also seen throwing snow at officers. We're scared in a way that, you know, what do we do? How do we respond to this? The mayor now demanding ICE stop enforcing immigration law in the city. Do ICE get the fuck out of Minneapolis?

We do not want you here. As ICE says, it's facing a 1,300 percent surge in assaults on its officers. This goes to show the assaults that our ICE officers and our law enforcement are under every single day. Maggie, let's go back to that shooting that happened there. The videos of the shooting have been seen all over the country. What are people saying who live where it happened? Well, Tom, people in this crowd tell us they don't agree with the Trump administration's characterization of what happened here earlier today. And to that end, the president weighing in posting that the driver, quote, viciously ran over an ice officer who's

seems to have shot her in self-defense. Tom. Maggie Vesb at the center of the demonstrations tonight. We want to now take a closer look at the videos we just saw of the shooting incident. And joining us now to highlight some key points, investigators will be looking at is NBC's Tom Winter. He covers law enforcement for us. So Tom, we're going to start the video here, and we're going to stop it pretty quickly because there's stuff we were learning from the get-go. Again, the police chief saying this vehicle was blocking the federal agents right there.

That's right, Tom. And a big caveat, we don't know what happened before this, but they're definitely going to look at the fact this is an unmarked vehicle, but the lights are on. These are clearly members of law enforcement. So that's at least known to this driver. Let's play the video because something else happens right here. Those officers approach the vehicle. They try to open the door. I'll stop it here. How will this help the investigators? Whatever is said here, what these officers say, if the driver said anything or not, could really help them understand whether or not they thought there was some sort of an imminent threat. Was this person trying to listen to them? Were they scared? Or was this person trying to listen to them? Were they scared? Or was this going to be a problem. And then, of course, what the driver does next. Let's play that video, trying to leave there. One of the officers felt like they were forced to fire, and they do. We want to show another angle, a reverse angle of the same incident here. We're going to freeze it. This is that same angle here. And what does this show us, Tom? Well, this appears to show an officer

right in front of the vehicle. That in between the way that the vehicle was moving and the timeline of that, how was the officer responding in that split second going to be critical for investigators. Finally, one more piece of evidence we want to talk about here. And it is the bullet hole in the front of the windshield. What will this tell investigators? You look at this. You look at ballistics. You look at witness statements. You look at other video. All going to be part of this investigation. But Tom, it's going to take some time. All right, Tom, Winifers. Tom, we thank you for that. We do want to turn out to the other big story we're following today. The U.S. seizing two more sanctioned oil tankers, one of them

sailing under a Russian flag. It comes amid new questions of just how much control the U.S. will exert over Venezuela's new regime. Kelly O'Donnell reports tonight from the White House. The Trump administration taking new, bold, enforcement actions in the dark of night and at sea. Seizing vessels as part of President Trump's claim he is in charge of Venezuela and its oil, sparking a potential clash between President Trump and Russian President Putin. Two oil tankers, two overnight, were seized by the United States of America, stateless or sanctioned. These edited government videos show the Coast Guard repelling to the deck of one of those ships. The seizure approved by a federal judge. One of the tankers had eluded

them for weeks and had flown a false Russian flag. The White House said today the move should not provoke Russia. This was a Venezuelan shadow fleet vessel that has transported sanctioned oil, and the United States of America under this president is not going to tolerate that. All of it, after President Trump approved the high-risk U.S. military mission to arrest Venezuela's authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro that brought him to stand trial in the U.S., leaving behind a Maduro loyalist as interim leader. Today, Secretary of State Rubio telling lawmakers the U.S. blockade is intended to pressure that regime, to change its conduct, including handing sanctioned oil to the U.S. We are going to take between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil.

We're going to sell it in the marketplace. We will control how it is dispersed in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people, not corruption, not the regime. But Democrats unsuade. I mean, this is an insane plan. They are talking about stealing the Venezuelan oil at gunpoint for a period of time undefined as leverage to micromanage the country. All right, Kelly joins us live now. And Kelly, tonight the president is saying there is a new deal with the Venezuelan regime.

The president posted tonight that he has. has been informed that Venezuela will buy what he claims will be only American goods with the proceeds from the sale of its oil that the U.S. will take to market. However, the U.S. has not outlined how that process will work or be enforced. Tom. Kelly O'Donnell at the White House for us. Kelly, thank you. Tonight, there are new dietary guidelines for Americans pushing more meat and full-fat dairy and warnings against ultra-processed foods. Ann Thompson has this one. The Trump administration making over America's food pyramid.

with meat, cheese, and dairy now on top. Eat real food. The new dietary guidelines double the recommended portion of daily protein. Encourage full-fat dairy items instead of low-fat. Avoid ultra-processed foods, including some cookies, crackers, and chips. On alcohol, Americans should limit consumption instead of previous guidance of no more than two drinks a day for men, one for women. In the best case scenario, I don't think you should drink alcohol. Many in the health community praise the avoidance of ultra-processed foods, but worry about the increase in protein.

Are you at all concerned that Americans will see that recommendation and think I can eat more red meat? I think there's two big concerns with this focus on higher protein. You know, one is that people will immediately translate protein to meat and eat more red meat, thinking that's, you know, the most helpful choice when there are other healthier choices. And two, that all of these highly processed foods, that are right now adding protein isolates, energy bars, and water and cereals are going to get a big boost. As for those ultra-processed foods, I asked Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., if government should do more.

Should ultra-processed foods be regulated? Well, you know, our approach is not to tell people what they can and cannot eat. It's to give them good information and let them make their own choices. democracy. If you want to drink a Coca-Cola and eat a donut, you ought to be able to do that. But it is costing our country money, and it is destroying public health. Anne joins us now live in studio. And let's stick with Secretary Kennedy there. He said previous administrations have been beholden to the food industry. Was he right? Well, he was right. But what's interesting is in the White House report tonight, Tom,

It reveals that four out of the seven outside experts that they used in this report have financial ties to the meat and dairy industry. Oh, interesting. Okay. Anne, we thank you for that. Okay. Moving on now to Los Angeles. Today marks one year since the Palisades and Eaton fires devastated L.A., killing 31 people and leveling 16,000 homes and businesses. Many say the recovery has been frustratingly slow, including some of the families we first met in the fire's aftermath. Here's Liz Kreutz. In the burn scars of the L.A. fires, the rubble is now cleared, some construction underway. But tonight, as these communities mark one year since the deadly palisades and eaten fires, and you deserve the truth. Many survivors, like the Andonian family, tell us what they're still waiting for, our answers. It's getting harder and harder facing the reality.

Marina and Haraj, who we first met just days after losing their home in Pacific Palisades, say they were hoping by now they'd have broken ground on their new home. But like so many, have been held up by insurance, rising costs, and red tape. Across all of L.A., construction is underway on around 900 homes, just a fraction of the 16,000 structures destroyed. Why did they let it happen? What is on the Andonian's empty lot, a clear view of the reservoir, the one that was empty and unable to be used to fight the fire that burned down this seaside neighborhood. You believe this was 100% preventable? Yes, 100% I believe that.

And that's what makes me upset. No one has taken responsibility accountability. The couple are now among thousands suing the state, other agencies and utilities alleging their collective failures led to the widespread destruction of the Palisades fire. The governor's office saying the suit against the state is baseless. Intense scrutiny now focusing on how the New Year's Day Lockman fire smoldered underground for nearly a week and then reignited on January 7th. The images are impossible to forget.

So I've never seen anything like what's happening in L.A. right now. This area of Altadena has become an absolute wasteland. This was the apocalyptic scene driving along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. You can see what it looks like today. It is still empty plot. After empty plot, there's a lot of for sale signs. Only about two dozen building permits have been issued and approved for construction out of the hundreds of homes that burned in this area.

This is amazing. Yes, it is. It is. It's coming along. In Altadena, we reconnected with the Edwards family, one of the few who have made real progress. Are you concerned about this neighborhood changing? Oh, yeah. Yeah. A lot of people, if they could, they would probably stay, and they just don't have the resources. And it's heartbreaking. But they say it's their faith that's carrying them through.

We've covered home with scriptures. It means the Lord has helped us. Symbols of resilience forever embedded in the bones of their new home. Liz Croyd's NBC News, Los Angeles. All right, we're back in 60 seconds with the search for clues in the murder mystery of that Ohio couple. Tonight, did a 911 call come from their house months before? You'll hear it. That's next. We're back now with another twist in the case of the Ohio dentist and his wife found dead inside of their home last week.

NBC News obtaining an emotional 911 call made by an unlawful. unknown woman traced to that same address months before the couple was killed. Here's Aaron McLaughlin. Tonight, new questions around a mysterious 911 call traced to the Ohio home of Spencer and Monique Tempe. Dispatch records show the call involving an unknown woman happened eight months before the couple was found murdered at the same address. Hi, there's 911. We just got a hang-up call. Is everything okay?

Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm okay. NBC News obtained this audio recording from the call. The family says it's Clearly not Monique's voice. Okay, well, it sounds like you're crying. Do you need police, fire, medics or anything? No, no, no, I'm okay. I promise, I'm just, I'm just emotional. I'm not good.

I don't mean nothing. Well, can... Columbus, police declined a comment, but police records show the call took place at 2.45 in the morning in April of last year. Can I ask, what had you called 911 in the first place? Like, were you having an argument with somebody? Because me and my being got into it, but I'm okay, I promise.

Did anything ever get physical? No. The couple was found shot dead in their home on December 30th. Friends found their two young children and dog inside and unharmed. Police have been looking for this person of interest in the double homicide, who they say was seen walking near the Tempe's home around the time of the shooting. While tonight, the couple's stunned community remembers them as happy and in love. They were very nice and welcoming, you know.

They loved their children. tremendously. Aaron McLaughlin, NBC News. All right, we're back in a moment with the major legal shakeup in Nick Reiner's murder case. We'll explain. Plus, the arrest in the burglary of NFL standout, Shador Sanders, after the suspects made off with $200,000 worth of his property. We're back now with a shakeup in the legal team for Nick Reiner, who's accused of fatally stabbing his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner, and his wife, Michelle. Alan Jackson, the high-profile profile lawyer for Nick Reiner said he's stepping down from the case just before an arraignment hearing, but he insisted Reiner was not guilty. Reiner is now being represented by a public defender.

Moving on to the scary scenes at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson Airport overnight. The landing gear collapsing. You can even see the shredded tires. Look at that. Of an arriving Latam Airlines flight from Peru, the landing was so hard it broke a bathroom door. The airline says all passengers, though, and crew disembarked without incident. Cleveland Brown's quarterback, Shadour Sanders, had $200,000 in property stolen in a high-profile burglary this November. Now, the local sheriff's office says three suspects have been arrested with a fourth still at large. We expect more details on who they are and the case tomorrow. All right. And in West Virginia, a bridge collapsing and wheeling, injuring three workers.

Officials say the incident happened while the bridge was being prepared for demolition. First responders rushed to rescue the workers from the water. When we come back tonight, the man who caught not one, but two children as they were dropped out of a building on fire. You're going to see that video. That's next. Finally, there's good news tonight about a dramatic rescue of a mother and her two children from a house fire and the community that jumped in to save them. Our George Solis has this one. The heart-pounding moments caught on doorbell camera in a suburb just outside Baltimore. Watch as two children are dropped by their mom from a second floor window to neighbors below

as fire erupted from their home early Tuesday. The cause of the fire under investigation. The caller is a housing house on fire. She's upstairs with two children. Ashley Guburnet was able to call 911 but says she was trapped with her two boys, nine-year-old Wyatt and five-year-old Weston. And my son was just screaming, help me, help me. Her neighbors responded immediately.

And I remember looking up and I saw him running out the house. I was like, thank God. I got somebody's attention that can help. That's Stephen Angelini running over. I wasn't going to let them perish in that house. And I said to her, I said, I promise you, I got him. I got him dropping. Ashley dropped both children from the window.

I had two choices. We were dying in that house or we were jumping out the window. And that was it. A heroic catch made by her name. neighbors, Ashley later escaping by ladder, the family tonight grateful and recovering. I cannot thank this community more if I tried ever. George Solis, NBC News. Some brave neighbors there.

All right, that's nightly news for this Wednesday. I'm Tom Yamas. Thanks so much for watching tonight and always. We're here for you. Good night.