NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Episode Date: March 19, 2026

Oil prices surge after attacks on energy sites; Trump’s DHS nominee grilled by Senate as travelers face long TSA lines; Potentially record-setting heat wave scorches western United States; 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 price of oil, now the highest in years after new attacks on energy sites across the Middle East, with top intelligence leaders under fire on Capitol Hill. A devastating strike setting an Iranian oil field on fire as the U.S. launches a new wave of attacks on Iran. President Trump telling our reporter Iran is going down as they launch new strikes on Saudi Arabia. Our correspondent is there. Look at that as that capital is hit. Plus, the nation's intelligence leaders peppered by senators, Was Iran an imminent threat to the U.S.? The controversial answers.

Airport breaking point, passengers waiting hours, lines weaving around baggage carousals, and the urgent warning tonight, could some airports be forced to shut down? The unprecedented heat wave out west, dramatic rescues on hiking trails, as temperatures soar to triple digits in March. Explosive new reporting on civil rights icon Caesar Chavez, disturbing allegations of abuse against women and women in the United States. and girls after decades of silence. One accuser? A 95-year-old activist who says he secretly fathered two children with her. The deadly crash in the Alps, terrifying video of a gondola in free fall down the

mountain. You see it there. What went wrong? Train car pile up, the accident in Texas, dozens of cars off the rails, hazmat teams now called in. A family's desperate search, an American college student vanishing after a night out in Spain. So how did his phone end up at the police? station while he's still missing. The threat to the world's most famous hippo, Moudang, the viral sensations standoff with someone who broke into her enclosure. And there's good news tonight. A bride to be turns to her students for marriage advice. The hilarious and surprisingly wise secrets to a happy life from a room full of second graders. Nightly News starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas.

Good evening. I'm Hallie Jackson in for Tom, and we begin tonight with escalations in the Iran War, pushing oil and gas prices even higher. And tonight, new strikes from both sides on key energy infrastructure. Look at this, a huge fire at an Iranian gas field after it was hit. And across the Gulf states, a relentless Iranian barrage, missiles and drones, apparently targeting energy sites. Look at these two huge fireballs seen earlier in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. And here in Washington, the focus today on the rationale for the U.S. to launch this war in the first place, with top intel officials facing tough questions about just how imminent the threat from Iran actually was. And the war now ramping up in Lebanon,

images from Beirut showing this building collapsing. You see it there after an Israeli strike. Israel had issued an evacuation order before the attack. We've got it all covered from DC to the Middle East, starting with Gabe Gutierrez at the White House. Tonight, the devastating wave of U.S. air strikes in Iran. The Pentagon saying nearly 8,000 regime target struck so far. More than 120 Iranian vessel sunk. In a phone call with NBC News,

President Trump dismissing Iranian retaliation against Israel overnight. Telling me the attack was nothing compared to what happened to them. They're going down. They're losing big. Meanwhile, a strike on an Iranian gas field, which Iran is blaming on Israel, and an Iranian attack on oil facilities in Qatar causing oil prices to spike. Vice President Vance today calling those rising prices a temporary blip. We're going to take care of business. We're going to come back home. And when that happens, you're going to see energy prices come back down to reality.

All is Israel overnight killed Iran's intelligence minister, who helped launch that recent brutal crackdown on Iranian protesters. As of this moment, the regime maintains power within Iran, even though they are vastly degraded on almost every front. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Radcliffe testifying on Capitol Hill describing the threat from Iran before U.S. airstrikes. If left unimpeded, yes, Senator, they would have the ability to range missiles to the continental U.S. As former high-ranking counterterrorism official Joe Kent, who resigned in protest over the war with Iran,

arguing there had been no imminent threat to the U.S. appeared with supporter Tucker Carlson. Was Iran on the verge of getting a nuclear weapon? No, they weren't, you know, three weeks ago when this started. But the CIA director is slamming Kent's accusation. In fact, intelligence reflects the contrary. So you disagree with Mr. Kent? I do. Iran has been a constant threat to the United States for an extended period of time

and posed an immediate threat at this time. Later, Democrats pressing Gabbard, who'd previously been a skeptic of U.S. intervention abroad. Was it the assessment of the intelligence community that there was a, quote, imminent nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime? Yes or no? Senator, the only person who can determine what is and is not an imminent threat is the president. You're evading a question because to provide a candid response to the committee would contradict a statement from the White House. Gabe is joining us now from the White House. Gabe, there's also a focus on that critical straight of Hormuz, getting it back open. And you have some new reporting on that tonight?

Yes, Haley, a U.S. official tells NBC News, the military dropped four, five thousand pound depenetrating bombs, often called bunker busters, that slammed into facilities holding Iran's anti-ship cruise missiles along the Strait of Hormuz. But they did not wipe out the entire inventory yet. This is the first known time the U.S. military has used these in combat. Haleigh. Gabe Gutierrez, thank you to those new Iranian attacks on its neighbors. Kier Simmons is in Saudi Arabia tonight. And Kier, Iran is targeting. the Saudi capital, even with foreign ministers holding a key meeting there. That's right, Halley. Tonight we witnessed the most intense bombardment of the Saudi capital

yet. Take a look at these pictures. As Saudi authorities say they intercepted every missile, but debris was caused to fall. Halie, as we flew into Saudi Arabia today, our plane had to circle, hold for 90 minutes until the capital's airport could be reopened. When we did get here, we witnessed boom after boom, even as regional. foreign ministers gathered together for an emergency meeting. The Saudi foreign minister saying he is trying to de-escalate, Halley, but many of the countries here are furious, Hali. Tonight we are hearing Qatar is saying it is expelling Iranian diplomats. Hali. A dramatic scene there. Kyr Simmons in Saudi Arabia, thanks. Also tonight with spring break in

full swing, some of the worst TSA lines we've seen yet during this Homeland Security shutdown. And the man picked to lead that department next, facing heat on Capitol Hill. Here's Tom Costella. Five weeks into the partial government shutdown and some of the longest TSA lines we've seen yet, hours long lines in Miami. We always get here like three hours early, but some of these people are really screwed. Same in Atlanta, the line weaving around the luggage carousels. If you have a flight out of Atlanta today in the next couple of hours, get here as soon as possible. And New York, LaGuardia.

Get here about three hours before your flight. Making matters worse, an airport ground stop and power failure in Denver. The TSA says nearly 10% of its entire workforce called out Tuesday. Also working without pay, the Coast Guard, FEMA, and U.S. cybersecurity. Democrats and Republicans both insist they want to fund Homeland Security. Why are we not funding these agencies that protect Americans? We have put on the floor bills to fully fully fund. fund TSA. And my Republican colleagues have objected. But Republicans object to Democratic demands

to include ICE policing reforms. Part of a contentious confirmation hearing for Senator Mark Wayne Mullen to replace outgoing DHS secretary, Christy Nome. Today, Mullen refused to apologize for calling Senator Rand Paul a snake and saying he understood why Senator Paul's neighbor attacked him in 2017, causing serious injuries. I just wonder. if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force? As far as me saying that I invoke violence, I don't. Mullen softened his position on some immigration policies while defending federal officers who shot and killed two Americans in Minneapolis, though he said he regrets making statements

blaming Alex Prattie for his own death. I went out there too fast. I was responding immediately without the facts. That's my fault. That won't happen as Secretary. Would you want to apologize to the family of Alex Pready? Well, sir, I just said I regret those statements. Is that the same as an apology? I haven't seen the investigation. We'll let the investigation go through. And if I'm proven wrong, then I will absolutely. Tom is joining us here in Washington.

And Tom, when you talk about those long lines, the TSA now says it could stop operations at some airports if this funding fight keeps up. Right. Bottom line is we're already seeing some airports with 30, 40, 50 percent fewer staff than they need. And we've already seen Philadelphia, for example, consolidating TSA positions. TSA says if this goes on, if people aren't getting paid and they keep calling out sick, TSA may have to close down some airport operations, TSA operations at smaller airports. Plenty to watch, Tom. Thank you. On the West Coast, a heat wave making history, sending temperatures past 100, and it's not even spring yet. Liz Croyd's reports from a

sweltering Los Angeles. Across the West tonight, a scorching March heat wave making winter feel more like the height of summer. From California to New Mexico, 38 million people under heat alerts. Cities like Tucson and Phoenix bracing for triple-digit temps. Neither have ever before seen a 100-degree day in winter. Those are June. Those are July temperatures. The Phoenix Fire Department says already this week they've had to make at least two heat-related rescues on their hiking trails, which the city is now closing during the day through Sunday. Multiple spring training games in the area are also moving to evening hours. Take breaks every 45 minutes. Get in the cooler environment and cool yourself down. In L.A., the blazing sun beating down on these construction workers in

Altadena. If it comes about 1 or 2 o'clock, we are dying out here. I mean, it is hot. We rolled up yesterday at 2.30 because it was so hot. We drank four Gatorades each, four water. It was like, you can't get enough fluids. Some ski resorts now forced to close for the season early. These images from Vale, Colorado, show parts of the slopes so melted you can see the grass. And in Nebraska, the warm, dry, and windy conditions continue to fuel those massive wildfires that have now turned deadly, claiming the life of 86-year-old Rose White, a grandmother who died trying to escape. Liz is joining us now live from Altadena, and Liz, not much heat relief in sight anytime soon. Yeah, Holly, that's right. This heat wave is expected through at least

Sunday and we can feel it right now. We're well into the 90s here. You can see these incredible construction workers are still out here working. And just to the east of us in Palm Springs, they might break a record by the end of this week of 109 degrees. That would be the highest temperature ever recorded in the U.S. in the month of March. Hallie. Liz Kreutz, thank you. To the disturbing new accusations tonight against a civil rights icon, Caesar Chavez, considered a hero of the labor movement in the 70s. But now, years after his death, allegations emerging that he sexually abused women and young girls. Now, some are calling for his name to be removed from the schools and streets named after him. Camila Brunall reports. I think that it is a fair contract.

Tonight, shocking allegations that Latino labor rights icon Caesar Chavez, whose name is on schools and monuments across the country, sexually abused women and girls. Decades after his death, Dolores Werta, now 95, who co-founded the United Farm Workers Union with Chavez, revealed in a statement he sexually assaulted her twice. The first time I was manipulated and pressured into having sex with him. The second time I was forced against my will and in an environment where I felt trapped.

Huerta says the encounters resulted in two children with Chavez. I chose to keep my pregnancy secret and after the children were born, I arranged for them to be raised by other families that could give them stable lives. Her statement came after the New York Times published an investigation detailing Werta's account, along with two other women who say Chavez, sexually abused them beginning when they were 12 and 13 years old. NBC News has not spoken with the women.

One, Anna Morgia, is seen here next to Chavez during a March in 1975. The Times said it found extensive evidence to support the two women's claims through interviews with more than 60 people, union records, and confidential documents. Neither the paper nor NBC News have been able to corroborate WERTA's claims, which she said she kept secret for 60 years. Chavez, together with WERTA, led a movement widely credited with transforming farm labor in the United States. It is a pleading for social change for social justice. Guaranteeing union protections, health, safety, and social services. Tonight, his family acknowledging the allegations, calling them deep.

painful, adding they wish peace and healing to the survivors and commend their courage to come forward. Anuerta says the farm workers' movement has always been bigger and more important than any one individual. This, as the union he helped found, says it won't participate in any upcoming annual remembrance events for Chavez's birthday. Hally? Camila Brunal, thank you. To Switzerland now and the terrifying video of a deadly gondola crash at a ski resort. Danielle Hamamjan has that story. This is the terrifying moment a gondola comes crashing down a mountainside.

Video capturing the cable car, overturning multiple times at this ski resort in Engelberg, Switzerland, after it detached from the cable and plunged down the mountain. The winds blowing at more than 50 miles an hour as a helicopter was dispatched to the scene and people rushed to help. Police confirming only one person was on board, a 61-year-old local woman who later died of her injuries. Police saying, as a result of the accident, operations had to be suspended and passengers had to be evacuated. The fatal crash, coming after a particularly difficult season in the Alps. The new year began with a fire in a club that killed more than 40 people, many of them teenagers. Then weeks later, a series of deadly avalanches.

Back in central Switzerland, the cause of this gondola crash still under investigation. Danielle Hammamjian, NBC News, London. When we return in 60 seconds, an American college student missing in Spain, his face on flyers across Barcelona. His family's desperate plea for help to find him. And police in hot pursuit on... paddle boards, how they caught a suspect who tried to make it downriver. Tonight, the urgent plea from the family of a University of Alabama student gone missing on spring break in Spain. Maggie Vespos reports.

These are the missing person flyers blanketing Barcelona tonight, where American college students are frantically searching for 20-year-old Jimmy Gracie, the Chicago area native and University of Alabama Jr., who mysteriously vanished from. from this beachfront nightclub. Last seen around 3 a.m. Tuesday, this is a photo of Jimmy taken that night. It's overwhelming, right? It's one of those things you think isn't going to happen to your family, especially a country you don't speak the language.

Jimmy's aunt, who says they're working with Spanish authorities and the U.S. State Department tells us Jimmy was on spring break visiting Theta Kai fraternity brothers studying abroad. Chapter President Kevin McLeigh is also visiting. He wasn't with the group Monday night, but learned what happened the next morning. My heart sank to my stomach. Immediately invoked some pretty scary thoughts. McLeigh says the brothers had shared locations and quickly tracked Jimmy's phone. This location was at that police department, and that's how we came to find his phone was there.

Neither police nor family are saying how officers recovered Jimmy's phone, and tonight there's no trace of him. He's a great kid. He's responsible. He typically makes very good decisions, and that's really why we're really worried about him right now. Now, the families heard there might be surveillance video of Jimmy outside that nightclub, but that's not confirmed. His dad has already made his way to Spain while his mom and four younger siblings cling to hope here in the Chicago area. Hallie. Maggie Vespa, thank you. We are back in a moment with a huge train crash out of Texas. Hasmat teams now called in. Plus, face to face with Moudang. What happened when somebody busted into the world famous hippos zoo enclosure?

Next. Back now with the big train crash out of Texas. 26 cars derailing. Look at that. You see them there scattered across the tracks with some leaking ethanol. Hasmat teams had to shut down several crossings in the city and the NTSB will investigate. In Florida, an unexpected turn for a police pursuit. Watch this. Volusia County deputies hopping on, yes, paddle boards to chase a suspect who escaped into the river. So they're there. They paddle fast enough to catch up. They capture the they bring them into shore. That suspect's now charged with loitering, prowling, and resisting arrest. And in Thailand, a close call for Mu Dang, that adorable pygmy hippo with millions of fans. Somebody's now facing charges for jumping into her zoo enclosure outside Bangkok. It happened when

somebody was making the evening rounds. Mou Dang fortunately wasn't hurt, but we are told she may have been slightly alarmed by the encounter. When we come back, would you ask second graders for marriage advice? One teacher did. their words of wisdom before her big day. Finally, there is good news tonight, a second grade teacher turning to some unexpected experts before her wedding, her students. For second grade teacher, Clarissa Trevino,

her most personal class assignment yet. I love my students. I absolutely love them. They're the funniest kids. I just wanted to have them involved with something with the wedding. When her boyfriend Omar proposed, Trevino immediately started thinking about how to include the class, so she turned to them for marriage tips.

The marriage advice I give my teacher is care for each other and love her to give her flowers. Get her Starbucks every day. Not eating each other's snacks. That one's very important, too. Now, happily on their honeymoon, the couple says they've already started putting the advice to good use. To take her on a date and go to it. five-star restaurant. Yeah, like he's going places.

He knows. And I did just that when we got to Vegas where we had our wedding, I went ahead and got the corner table at the Eiffel Tower. Trevino posting the words of wisdom on TikTok where it now has half a million views. The marriage advice I give my teacher

is to be kind and from each other. You know, these are seven and eight-year-olds talking about, you know, love is kind, you know, So it was really nice to kind of see how they thought. You know, kids are amazing. And that is good advice for all of us. That's nightly news for this Wednesday. I'm Hallie Jackson for all of us at NBC.

Thanks so much for watching and have a great night.