NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Episode Date: June 5, 2025

Flash flood and tornado warnings in St. Louis region; Musk on Trump’s spending plan: ‘Kill the bill’; Judge temporarily blocks deportation of Boulder suspect’s family; and more on tonight’s broadcast. 

Tonight, the new tornado threat rushing in as we come on the air. Funnel clouds forming on the horizon. Storms setting off tornado sirens in St. Louis and the deadly flash flooding in Dallas. A rescue attempt turning dangerous when a first responders boat flipped over. Plus, the code read, air quality alert, as wildfires make air unhealthy to breathe. Our workers standing by tracking this dangerous situation tonight. Elon Musk demanding Congress kill the bill. The president caught off guard.

What's behind the sudden break? Is it because a tax break for electric vehicles was killed from that big, beautiful spending bill? First, the surprise drone strike, then the high stakes phone call. President Trump saying Putin's warning he will respond to Ukraine, likely collapsing peace talks. The take down at JFK, a suspect arrested for allegedly helping in the bombing of that Palm Springs

fertility clinic. His fringe belief that federal officials say may have connected him to the bomber. This just in the raid to take down two men who tried robbing a military base. Investigators saying they found a cache of weapons including a machine gun, silencers, plus Nazi and other white supremacist paraphernalia. The suspects, veterans themselves. So what were they up to? A major vacation alert tonight as summer ramps up. The record-breaking seaweed threat coming to a beach near you. And midnight madness over Switch 2. Why these guys waited in line for weeks,

intense to be the first to get one. Nightly News starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamares. Good evening. Tonight as we come on the air, a second night in a row of severe weather hitting the Midwest. Take a look at this. A funnel cloud captured on camera just outside of St. Louis. Shoppers nearby taking shelter inside of a Trader Joe's. And sirens going off tonight after a deadly tornado just a few weeks ago devastated parts of Saint Louis after sirens weren't activated the region also

facing flash flood warnings plus the code read tonight air quality alerts due to those raging Canadian wildfires our rokers tracking at all but first she killed Brewster reports tonight from Missouri on those dangerous storms. Tonight another round of severe weather and at least one funnel cloud captured on camera threatening the Midwest. A new tornado warning just issued flash flood warnings and tornado sirens blaring in and around ST Louis grocery shoppers sheltering in place and trees toppled over less than three weeks

after an EF3 tornado ripped through the city. Killing five people after the sirens weren't activated. Saint Louis police tonight warning structures damaged in that storm are not safe to seek shelter in the new threat coming after a deadly

night of storms further South Dallas. fire teams say a rescue boat flipped, throwing first responders into fast moving waters as they tried to save a driver overnight. Thankfully, even though they got swept downstream, they were able to make it to safe refuge. After waiting for the water levels to recede, those responders found one man dead inside a vehicle. The flooding was part of a system that brought torrential downpours and two tornadoes to the Kansas City area yesterday. The National Weather Service assessing the trail of fallen trees in towns like Independence,

Missouri. I can say with confidence that we have at least one tornado path, damaged path here through Independence. How serious of a tornado? It's at least a low NDF 1. This new video shows the funnel cloud approaching an engineering building that a tree hit as J. C. Mason was working inside. It was crazy when we heard that crash, it was big. It shook the building a little bit and tonight hazy skies from Wisconsin and Michigan to New York City as smoke

from more than 100 out of control Canadian wildfires billows into the U.S., resulting in a code red air quality alert for swats of the northern Midwest. And Shaq joins us now live from Independence, Missouri. Shaq, talk to us about some of that damage there just behind you. Yeah, Tom, you see behind me the road completely closed off, a tree falling and bringing down with it a power line. You see scenes like this on homes

on top of businesses in the area. But tonight neighbors telling me they are grateful that there were no serious injuries or loss of life here in Missouri. Tom, alright, Shaq Brewster leading us off tonight. Let's get right to Al Roker, who's live in studio tonight and Al.

It's not over yet, right? Absolutely not, Tom. In fact, we've got heavy rain, heavy thunderstorms across Saint Louis into off tonight, let's get right to Al Roker who's live in studio tonight and how it's not over yet right absolutely not Tom in fact we've got heavy rain heavy thunderstorms across Saint Louis into Illinois flooding is come probably going to be a big problem there you can also see heavy showers and thunderstorms with a storm system that's developing along the southeastern Atlantic coast a risk for 6 million people tomorrow from Wichita Oklahoma City down to Midland Texas a

few tornadoes possible upwards upwards of three to four inches along the southeastern coast, three to five in the mid-plains, plus we've got the wildfire smoke tomorrow. We're looking at unhealthy air in the Midwest and in the Northeast due to ozone. And we've also got record-setting temperatures, most likely, Tom, summer comes slamming in, with temperatures in the upper 80s to low 90s

from New York up into Syracuse. A busy start to the summer. All right, Al, we thank you for that. Now to the growing rift between Elon Musk and President Trump. Musk ripping into what the president calls his big, beautiful bill over the amount of spending in it. Musk now demanding lawmakers, quote, kill the bill. Here's Gabe Gutierrez.

Tonight, just days after this soaring sendoff from the Oval Office. I expect to remain a friend and an advisor. Elon Musk is threatening to blow up President Trump's signature legislation, his big, beautiful bill. The tech titan and top Trump ally now posting, call your senator, call your congressman, kill the bill. He's frustrated. I think he believes, my judgment correctly that we're quickly becoming debt slaves. Musk opening a rift among Republicans, urging any lawmaker who supports the bill to be fired. The House speaker stunned.

We were texting one another, you know, happy texts, you know, Monday. 24 hours later, he does a 180 and he comes out and opposed the bill. And it surprised me, frankly. The bill would extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts, eliminate taxes on tips and overtime, and spend billions on border security. Plus, it imposes new work requirements to get Medicaid. I'm not happy about certain aspects of it, but I'm thrilled by other aspects of it. Tremendous amounts of benefit are going to the middle-income people of our country.

But Musk has slammed the bill over its spending. aspects of it. Tremendous amounts of benefit are going to the middle-income people of our country. But Musk has slammed the bill over its spending. I was like disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decrease it, and it reminds the work that the Doge team is doing. The Congressional Budget Office projecting it would increase the budget deficit $2.4 trillion over a decade. But the bill's supporters argue that agency has gotten projections wrong before, and that

must opposition won't sway support in the Senate. I know he's a glamorous sort of celebrity, but he's not big factory. Meanwhile, Democrats are also facing their own deep divisions. Today, former President Biden's press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, announced she was leaving the Democratic Party to register as an independent, promoting her new book, promising a look inside a broken White House, even though she repeatedly defended the administration for years. He is as sharp as ever, as I have known him to be. And this moment is the president leading. The president is the president of the United States and he is leading.

It comes amid new scrutiny of Biden's mental acuity while in office. Now the book will examine the quote betrayal by the democratic party that led to him dropping out of the race. I think we need to stop thinking in boxes and think outside of our boxes and not be so partisan. Big news for Democrats, but Gabe, let's go back to that escalating feud over the and think outside of our boxes and not be so partisan. Big news for Democrats, but Gabe, let's go back to that escalating feud over the president's so-called big, beautiful bill.

The president is getting even more involved in those negotiations? Yes, Tom, just a short time ago, a group of Republican senators met with the president here at the White House to discuss how to muscle this bill through. The stakes are incredibly high for the Trump agenda, and the president knows it.

As the Senate Majority Leader just said, failure is not an option, Tom. All right, Gabe Gutierrez at the White House. Meet the press moderator, Kristen Welker joins us now, live in studio. So great to see you, Kristen. I know you have new reporting tonight for our viewers. Take us into the White House.

What are they saying over what Musk is doing? Well, Tom, a senior White House official What are they saying over what Musk is doing? Well, Thomas, senior White House official says while they were caught off guard, they weren't entirely surprised by Musk's increasing attacks on the so-called Big Beautiful bill. And a source telling me people in the president's orbit are furious about Musk's posts, including where he said lawmakers should be fired

for voting for the bill, calling it a betrayal, saying it suggests Musk is open to funding democratic campaigns, Tom. And Musk calls himself the Dogefather, and the White House believes that this is not personal, it's just business? That's right. Sources say that the White House believes

Musk's motivation is in part business, saying Musk is upset an electric vehicle tax credit was taken out of the bill that would have helped Tesla. Two sources familiar with the matter, saying Musk had personally lobbied to keep it in. One administration source telling us that while Musk speaks for his company, the president speaks for the country. All of this, Tom, could jeopardize the Republican goal of having this passed by July 4th.

Kristen Welker with that fresh reporting tonight. Kristen, great to have you here. All right. We're turning now to President Trump also tonight revealing he spoke to Russian President Putin saying he will retaliate after that astonishing Ukrainian drone attack on Russian bombers. Keir Simmons joins us now and Keir, President Trump also pessimistic about a ceasefire. That's right, Tom.

President Trump tonight describing his one hour, 15 minute call with President Putin as a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace after recently saying repeatedly he thought Putin was ready for peace. He said Putin offered to participate in nuclear talks with Iran, while Trump says Putin also told him quote, very strongly that he would have to respond to Ukraine's drone attack on Russian jets as we got new images today of the damage. Tonight, Ukraine's President Zelensky saying Putin feels impunity, Tom, and Russia is, quote, giving the finger to the entire world. Tom?

A major statement. All right, Keir Simmons, we thank you. We have new developments tonight in that Molotov cocktail and flamethrower attack in Boulder, Colorado. Late today, a federal judge moved to block the deportation of the suspect's family, who are all Egyptian citizens. Here's Morgan Chesky. Tonight, as the investigation into Sunday's fiery attack

in Boulder, Colorado moves forward, a federal judge has temporarily blocked the deportation of terrorist suspect Mohammed Solomon's family. His wife and five children were taken into ICE custody yesterday, according to the Homeland Security Secretary. Today, DHS said the family came to the U.S. in 2022, and Solomon filed for asylum listing his wife and children as dependents.

Their visas ran out in early 2023. This video shared on a pro-Hamas telegram channel shot before Sunday's attack shows Solomon driving his car, speaking in his native Arabic. Solomon stating, God is greater than the Zionists, than America and its weapons. Prosecutors now say 15 people were injured at Sunday's rally calling for the release of Israeli hostages. I feel this huge heat wave on my side. I look to my side and I see this big ball of flames that was involving people.

Nayor Bitten, who was seen Sunday rushing to help those who burned, was there simply by chance, vacationing from Israel to hike Boulder's famous flat irons. I feel extremely grateful for being in the right place at the right time. That suspect, Mohammed Solomon, is due back in court here in Boulder tomorrow. And tonight, the FBI tells me additional search warrants have been executed as this investigation continues. Tom? Now to the shocking raid in Washington state. Two military veterans arrested, now facing charges of robbery, assault, and attempted theft of government property.

And investigators say white supremacist material was found in their home. Courtney Kube joins us now. Courtney, the vets also attempted to steal thousands of dollars worth of military equipment. What was going on here? Yeah, that's right, Tom. Federal charges just released alleging this duo, both military veterans, broke into an Army Ranger building at Joint Base Lewis-McCord last weekend, attempting to steal roughly $14,000 in government property.

When a soldier stumbled upon them during this brazen attempted robbery, they attacked him with a hammer. According to a federal affidavit, the suspects fled, but authorities tracked them down, identifying them as Charles Ethan Fields and Levi Austin Frakes. A raid on their house found Nazi paraphernalia, dozens of firearms, including a machine gun, ballistic helmets, and body armor. According to officials, one of the men claimed the pair had been stealing from the base for about two years to later sell and trade the items Tom Courtney

cubie with those new images Courtney thank you now to the new arrest in that alarming attack on a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California. Tonight authorities saying the suspect who carried out the bombing had help Sam Brock with the latest details. Several weeks after a man detonated a bomb at the Southern California fertility clinic killing himself and injuring for others in what the FBI called an act of terrorism a second person is

now behind bars tonight, 32 year-old Daniel Park detained at JFK airport in New York and accused of providing material support to the bomber guy Edward park is law enforcement learned that Park spent approximately 2 weeks visiting barkers his residence running experiments and bark is his garage. In the criminal complaints, the government says Park shipped approximately 275 pounds of ammonium nitrate and explosive

precursor used to make homemade bombs to bark us and they say they recovered handwritten notes of chemical explosive equations, including one related to the deadly bombing of a federal building 30 years ago. Park was in possession of an explosive recipe that was similar to the Oklahoma City bombing.

Both men police say held twisted anti-life ideology dating back about a decade which may have connected them online they don't believe that people should exist. Police also say Park bought a plane ticket to Poland in cash four days after the bombing and Burn some of his clothing before being picked up by authorities in Warsaw and sent back to the US to face prosecution And Sam is here now and Sam, you know, this is pretty chilling authorities are saying they used AI to build some of these bombs Really scary Tom It's according to the court documents would say that park is in this case did use an AI chat program specifically to try to maximize the lethality of the bomb.

Police also say it's the second time this year a high profile bombing has been linked to searches using publicly available AI. As for Park in court today, he came in with a t-shirt that said, fight like Ukrainians. All right, Sam Brock for us. Up next, it smells, it's ugly, and it could ruin your next vacation. Millions of tons of this seaweed just floating out there in the Caribbean. And soon it could wash up at your resort. How soon? That's next.

We are back now with an alert for anyone headed to the Caribbean for vacation this summer. A record-breaking amount of sticky and smelly seaweed is washing up on shore, and our Marissa Par par reports those blobs of seaweed could be headed for the U.S. The largest seaweed mass ever slamming the coast of the Caribbean scientists from the University of South Florida say nearly 38 million metric tons is washing up on the shores from Puerto Rico to Guyana.

I can assure you that it's not a comfortable feeling. It's called sarcasm algae that floats on the water with tiny air sacks surviving on nothing but sunlight water and nutrients from the ocean and this time it's breaking records. The sheer scale wreaking havoc on wildlife and tourism across the Caribbean. The numbers far surpassed expectations as I got so I go this fisherman in Puerto Rico saying it's a very bad thing because you can't fish properly.

Everything comes out full of sarcasm and the fish leave the area. While near Cancun, this barrier was put in place to protect the resort-lined coast. In 2023, another massive slop of seaweed invaded Florida. Our Sam Brock got an up- enough close look off the coast. No matter which direction we look it's all over here. Satellite images show just how big it's grown in the past 10 years. An individual patch can be as small as a handful or it can be

as big as several football fields across. Scientists now working to understand how to tame it as this ocean giant grows stronger by the day. Now this seaweed right here this is sarcasm but this is not the problem experts say it's the floating mass headed our way that is the problem and that could hit places like Miami Beach sometime by mid-June and that could be a real smelly problem Tom.

Yeah, the timing is terrible okay, Marissa we're back in a moment with elephant onose, the incredible video that shocked people in this grocery store. Also tonight, the U.S. Navy saying it will rename the Harvey Milk Oilership. Milk served in the Navy during the Korean War and became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S. A Pentagon spokesperson says the names of military assets will be, quote, reflective of the commander-in in chief's priorities.

And overseas we've got some pretty wild video of a, look at that, of a very hungry elephant in this grocery store in Thailand. The elephant going after nine bags of sweet rice crackers, a sandwich, and some bananas. A $25 meal. A local park ranger says the elephant is known for breaking into homes for food, but this was his first storm. Alright, when we come back, there's good news tonight. Why so many are smiling after waiting two months outside for a video game console. Work hard to play hard. That's next. Now, finally, there's good news tonight. They are wild, they are wacky, but when it comes to Nintendo, they are all business. Living outside for months just to buy the new Nintendo Switch.

Here's Brian Chong. Tonight, fans are ready to switch it up. Raise your hand and shout if you're excited for the Switch 2. The long awaited Nintendo Switch 2 drops at midnight. We are getting a Nintendo Switch 2 today. I'm so hyped, it looks great. I'm excited to just be a part of that midnight release culture again. It comes with a bigger screen and better graphics.

How excited are you? Absolutely excited. Nintendo fan Jonathan Altenberg says he's been in line since 11 a.m. yesterday. The visuals look awesome, Gameplay looks really fun. Gabe Torres lined up eight years ago too when the first Nintendo switch dropped but tonight he's ready for an upgrade. You stayed overnight? Yep. The whole time? Yep. Slipped in a weather pod right there. I really love this community. I love hanging out with the people that are here. Now Nintendo hasn't released

the numbers on their pre-release yet, but the company sold more than 150 million units of its first Nintendo Switch. To pick it up right at midnight, you had to score a reservation. These superfans expected to be some of the first to get the Switch 2. What does it feel like knowing you're only a few hours away from getting your hands on that console? I think it's real again. Like you know, it's like you know, you hype something up so much in your mind.

It's exciting. It's really, really exciting. Brian Chung, NBC News, Super Mario World. Our teams are everywhere. That's nightly news for this Wednesday. Remember, tonight and always, we're here for you. Thanks so much for watching. I'm Tom Yalmas.

Have a great night.