NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Episode Date: July 17, 2025

Tornado rips through western Wisconsin; Trump slams some supporters over Epstein files; 21 children, many from surrogate moms, taken into custody amid child abuse investigation; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the major tornado threat in the Midwest, the giant twister tearing across parts of Wisconsin drone footage showing a massive funnel cloud forming and sending debris flying through the air. The growing threat tonight, plus the dangerous storm system sweeping towards the Gulf and this just in a tsunami alert for Alaska, Al Roker tracking it all in Washington, President Trump taking on his own supporters, calling them, quote, stupid for demanding the release of DOJ files on Jeffrey Epstein, the president dismissing it as a, quote, hoax as more Republicans call for transparency.

Also tonight, a man arrested on Capitol Hill found with guns, knives, a bow and arrow, and a sword as political violence is keeping lawmakers across the country on high alert. The urgent call from air traffic control. Officers on the runway with guns drawn after a suspect stole a plane and refused to land. The disturbing child abuse investigation. Police say 21 children, all living in the same home, many birthed by surrogate mothers, a California couple under arrest. We speak to one woman fighting to get her baby back. The iconic piece of Star Wars history

heading to auction. How much it could go for. And finally, message in a bottle that launched a love story now connecting two couples across an ocean 13 years later. Nightly News starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. And good evening. As we come on the air, dangerous tornadoes are developing in parts of the Midwest. Already at least five have been reported in Wisconsin. This view from the air showing a massive funnel cloud forming in a neighborhood debris there swirling right over that home. And this picks up as the twister takes off through that neighborhood on a busy road as

well. This video shot from inside a car showing a massive twister ripping across multiple lanes of traffic. This stretch of severe summer weather isn't slowing down. Al Roker is with us tonight tracking it all but we start with Shaquille Brewster on the ground in Wisconsin where those tornadoes are developing. With sirens blaring in western Wisconsin late this afternoon, multiple reported tornadoes touching down. Warning warnings going out to anyone in the area. If you are in Sauk City or Prairie du Sac you better be in your basement right

now or your safe spot because there was a confirmed tornado. And despite the warnings people out in fields capturing Mother Nature's power firsthand footage captured by drones showing the funnel clouds formation debris swirling in the air and the storms path moving along a residential area. Oh my guys in the house further north in Wisconsin a twister appearing to move right across the road a man inside the car stunned tornado right in front of me tornado right in front of me, tornado right in front of me, right here, right here. We're right north of Wisconsin Dells, tornado on the ground, tornado on the ground. We got a tornado.

And tornadoes are not the only risk in the region. Torrential rain and severe storms also pounding the Midwest. 28 million people are under flood watches tonight, on alert from Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Virginia to Louisiana. pounding the Midwest. 28 million people are under flood watches tonight on alert from Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Virginia to Louisiana. Where states along the Gulf Coast gear up for an increasing storm threat near Lafayette, Louisiana today, preparations already underway for the possibility of a tropical depression. And after deadly flooding and record

setting rainfall earlier this week in the northeast, sweltering temperatures are now taking over. Tens of millions across 23 states facing heat alerts today, temperatures breaking 90 degrees in Chicago, St. Louis and Little Rock, Arkansas. Just trying to cool off and get the kids out of the house. And with that, Shaq joins us now live. Shaq, on top of it all, thunderstorms are creating a travel headache tonight. Absolutely, Tom, and we've already seen ground stops at major

hubs across the country from Denver to New York, even Chicago where there was a wind gust measured at 67 miles an hour across the country tonight. We're monitoring more than 6000 delays more than 500 cancellations. Tom. All right, check. Thank you. Joining me now is Al Roker Al a lot of extreme weather across the country, but talk to us about this tsunami danger. That's right Well, the good news is there's been no reports of damage or injuries, but a tsunami around 1230 1238

Alaska time a 7.3 magnitude about nine miles beneath the ocean surface No problems. We think we're out of the woods there, but what we are watching is more severe weather coming across parts of Wisconsin. Tornado watch is still in effect there. Chicago on into parts of Michigan and Indiana. We've got severe thunderstorm watches and we've got extreme heat. We're talking about temperatures with wind chill, I should say with heat indexes, well

over 100 heading right into the weekend cooling off in the Northeast. And we've also got this tropical disturbance 93 L here's the development zone from central Louisiana into the panhandle of Florida. We don't have the path yet. However, whatever happens it is going to dump anywhere Tom from 6 to 10 inches of rain from New Iberia to New Orleans and that is going to cause big problems. All right Al we thank you to Washington now and President Trump going after some of his own supporters for demanding the release of DOJ files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

The president calling them weaklings saying they're falling for a Democratic distraction. Garrett Hake is at the White House. Tonight President Trump lashing out at his own supporters amid the ongoing Republican outcry over his administration's decision not to release Justice Department files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. I lost a lot of faith in certain people,

and yeah, I lost, because they got duped by the Democrats. The president dismissing the interest by some in the MAGA world in Epstein as a Democratic distraction and chastising those supporters as, quote, weaklings. It's all been a big hoax. It's perpetrated by the Democrats. And some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans

fall into the net, and so they try and do the Democrats' work. They're wasting their time with a guy who obviously had some very serious problems, who died three, four years ago. I'd rather talk about the success we have with the economy, the best we've ever had, and all of the things we've done, including the Middle East. But the demands for public disclosure of Epstein-related evidence originated with some of the president's

most outspoken supporters, some now serving in his administration, like FBI Director Cash Patel two years ago. Put on your big boy pants and let us know who the pedophiles are. This from the president's son. How is it that my father can be convicted of 34 crimes, but no one on Epstein's list has even been brought to light and this was the president during the campaign. Would you declassify the Epstein files.

Yeah, yeah, I guess I would I think that less so because you know you don't know it you don't want to affect people's lives of its only stuff and that because it's a lot of phony stuff with that whole world. But I think I would. But last week the Justice Department and FBI released a memo saying they had a lot of phony stuff with that whole world. But I think I would. But last week, the Justice Department and FBI released a memo saying they had found no incriminating client list of Epstein's and no credible evidence Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals and that they would make no further disclosure. Tonight, multiple federal law enforcement officials tell NBC News that memo accurately

describes the findings of law enforcement in the Epstein investigation. The president saying it's up to Attorney General Pam Bondi whether to release the material. If she finds any more credible information, she'll give that to. What more can she do than that? I mean, honestly, what more can she do? And we do have bigger problems. We pressed him late today. Your attorney general wasn't here, your FBI leadership, do you still have confidence in

that team, sir? Totally. Now some top Republicans are downplaying any GOP divide. I have confidence in the president, his team. But after an array of outspoken trump allies demanded the files be made public tonight, there are more calls for the government information to be released. They have seen files need to be released. I would say make it make it all public.

Garrett President Trump also making another major headline tonight saying it's unlikely he'll fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell despite his frequent criticism of him. The president has made his anger with Powell well known but said today it's still highly unlikely he'll fire him. Late today a top advisor said the White House counsel hasn't even determined yet if the president has the legal authority to do so. The president blames Powell for the Fed's refusal to lower interest rates, which Trump says would help homebuyers.

Tom? All right, Garrett Hick first. Garrett, we thank you. Now to an alarming scene near the U.S. Capitol. A man arrested after police say they found weapons, ammunition, even a sword in his car. Gabe Gutierrez is on the scene now. Gabe, what are we learning? Tom, this all started just a sword in his car. Gabe Gutierrez is on the scene now. Gabe, what are we learning? Tom, this all started just a few yards from me

when Capitol Police noticed a station wagon parked in an area reserved for congressional staff. After searching the vehicle, officers found a rifle, a handgun, knives, a sword, as well as a bow and arrow. Police identifying the driver as a 23-year-old from Oregon. He's now facing multiple charges, including carrying a rifle without a license.

This all comes as authorities have been on high alert across the country amid mounting threats to public officials, including the murder of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband, and we're just past the one-year anniversary of that attempted assassination of President Trump. But tonight, Capitol Police here say that this suspect did not appear to be targeting Congress.

Tom? All right, Gabe Gutierrez. We're also tracking a shocking case unfolding in Southern California. Police say 21 children are now in protective custody after being removed from the home and care of one couple. Police say their parents have been arrested for child endangerment and neglect. Many of those children born by surrogates. Here are the details from Emily Akeda.

Tonight, new details in an alarming child abuse investigation that led officers to discover 21 young children who lived inside this Southern California home. Many of 65-year-old Guo Jun Xuan and 38 38 year-old Sylvia Jones children have been born via surrogates according to Arcadia police. This was my first first experience being a surrogate Kayla and Elliott thought she was helping a couple have a second child. What was your reaction when you learns they had 21 children.

I was a little bit hysterical to say the least you just don't expect that you're going to hand the baby over to their parents and then all of a sudden find out that there was abuse and neglect going on. It all unraveled in May after a hospital contacted Arcadia police to investigate the case of a 2 month old who arrived with head injuries, prompting

detectives to pull surveillance video cell phones and hard drives from the home. We believe that the other children. We're also subject to physical and emotional abuse and the nannies were the ones who were committing the physical emotional abuse, however, the parents were well aware of what was going on. Well police are still searching for the nanny allegedly seen on camera shaking the hospitalized infant, the parents were arrested for felony child endangerment and neglect. They have since

been released and have not responded to our requests for comment. As investigators zero win on the agency tied to their address, Mark surrogacy with the help of the FBI, according to Arcadia police. Kelly fell is with the Center for bioethics and culture network. It's not illegal to have 20 children, it's not illegal to hire surrogate mothers, but certainly they should open up our eyes to the fact that we are allowing an industry to to just do what it pleases.

Police say all of the children have been placed in protective custody and while public records show the business license for Mark's surrogacy was recently terminated, a pregnant surrogate tells me the agency continues to contact her. Tom. Emily Aketa for us.

Now to a heartbreaking story in Arizona. The husband of a popular TikTok influencer could be facing a child abuse charge after their three-year-old son drowned in the pool. Camila Bernal reports. I love you. I love you. It's a tragedy followed by millions that could soon be a criminal case.

Social media influencer Emily Kaiser's son drowned in the family pool back in May. And this is Trig. Trig was just three years old, Emily often posting about him. trade game. Like I love h Chandler Arizona say thei child abuse charge against Brady Kaiser. At the time wasn't home according to

obtained by our phoenix af told police that after dinner, he saw Trigg in the backyard playing near the pool. He said he was distracted by his infant son and added that he lost sight of Trigg for approximately three to five minutes. The documents say the dad immediately jumped in trying to save him and called 911. Trigg died at the hospital a few days later. It rises to the level of criminal charges under the law when it's a negligent act, meaning that the parents are careless and they should have done something to prevent the death of their child. Brady

Kaiser could not be reached for comment, and Emily's attorney did not respond to her request for comment, but in a lawsuit attempting to seal the records related to Triggs death, her attorney called it a heartbreaking accidental drowning. Adding Emily is going through a parent's worst nightmare and the Maricopa County's attorney's office says they are reviewing this case, but told me there is no timeline for a charging decision. Tom. Incredibly sad. Okay, Camila.

When we come back, stunning moments at a Canadian airport. Authorities pursuing a suspect who hijacked a plane. The details in 60 seconds. Tonight, police in Vancouver are investigating what they call a hijacking after a suspect allegedly stole a small private plane disrupting air traffic at a critical Canadian airport. Here's NBC's Tom Costello. On the runway at Vancouver International Airport a small Cessna pursued by a line of police cars. Moments later Royal Canadian Mounted Police trained their

guns on and took into custody the pilot, the only one on board, who police say had hijacked the plane forcing air traffic at this major West Coast airport to shut down. We do have an aircraft that has been hijacked. It's in the vicinity of the airport overflight. For 40 minutes, commercial flights were forced to hold or circle. Nine diverted to other airports, including Seattle. He came on and said, oh, there's no airspace, the airspace has been closed because of a ultralight plane that is not communicating with the tower.

The plane was allegedly stolen from a flying club at nearby Victoria, then flew low altitude circles over Vancouver airport. The Canadian press says an air traffic control conversation suggests the suspect may have been motivated by some type of protest. In a statement, police say the plane landed safely at Vancouver and Richmond RCMP officers arrested the suspect without incident. What the hell? In 2018, a Seattle airport employee stole an empty passenger plane performing aerobatics

despite little pilot training. I've played video games before so I know what I'm doing a little bit. Richard Russell died after crashing the plane into a nearby island. Tonight, no word on what charges the Canadian suspect might face. Tom Costello joins us now. Tom, you track aviation for us, and we know Homeland Security Secretary Christine Noem is talking about relaxing the TSA's liquids and gels rule? Yeah, that's right. Secretary Noem wants to make it easier on passengers if the technology allows it. The TSA's three-ounce liquid rule came after an attempt to blow up a plane using liquid

explosives. But many security experts are very concerned about relaxing any TSA regulation, saying detection technology is not yet in place and terrorists remain focused on attacking the U.S., Tom. All right, Tom Costello for us. When we come back, the iconic piece of Star Wars history that could be yours for a price. Stay with us.

We're back now with a massive fire breaking out at one of the most popular music festivals in the world. Tomorrowland is set to begin in Belgium. But videos show the elaborately decorated main stage up in flames today. A spokesperson said no one was injured. Plan B quickly being worked on as they are expecting

nearly half a million concert goers. Terrifying footage released by police in St. Augustine. Look at this. A woman screaming as a man appears to force her into his pickup truck. Police say he has robbed a local business and grabbed an employee on his way out. The woman fought back and eventually freed herself.

A witness called 911 and the man was caught and charged with robbery, kidnapping and grand theft auto. He is one of the greatest villains in movie history. Darth Vader and soon an iconic piece of Star Wars history could be yours. Darth Vader's lightsaber from two of the original films will be up for auction, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Get this, the prop is estimated to be worth up to $3 million. Alright, when we come back, the message in a bottle found 13 years and thousands of miles away from its origin. We speak to the couple whose love remains intact through it all.

Stay with us. Finally, there is good news tonight. The message in the bottle found thousands of miles away and 13 years after it was thrown into the ocean. Tonight, we meet the couple who wrote that note and the love story that followed. John and Kate Gay were walking along their local beach on the west coast of Ireland with their dog when they found a wine bottle. Kate went and picked it up and then I said, well, there's a message in there.

The bottle, still in good condition, the paper inside, damp. But with this message, Anita and Brad's day trip to Belle Island. Today we enjoyed dinner, this bottle of wine and each other on the edge of the island. If you find this, please call us. The date was September 14, 2012. What's so lovely is it's such a happy story. The bottle captured a happy moment and it's arrived on our shores after going through so many storms and challenges along the way. At first, no one answered the number from that message in the bottle, so they put a call out on Facebook.

Within hours, they managed to find the Anita and Brad. We just didn't think anyone was going to find it. Thought let's put my parents landline on it and that's what they were trying to reach out to the Canadian couple were on a date when they got the idea. I found a little piece of paper in the car and just scribbled a note that we thought would be, you know, just like a private little special moment for us. And we put it in the bottle and sealed it up very tightly. And Brad threw it. Yeah, just threw it into the ocean. Never did they imagine that it would

cross the Atlantic thousands of miles away. They would go on to marry and raise three children 13 years later, still very much in love. Oh, we have a family. Beautiful family and a nice life. We're still in love. I like each other. The love story continues. 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.