Top Story with Tom Llamas - Friday, April 12, 2024

Episode Date: April 13, 2024

Tonight's Top Story has the latest breaking news, political headlines, news from overseas and the best NBC News reporting from across the country and around the world.

Tonight, a man in custody after plowing a stolen 18-wheeler into a Texas state government office. The violent crash leaving one person dead and more than a dozen others injured. The suspect backing up and ramming into the office more than once, trapping people inside. Police saying the suspect was denied a commercial driver's license just the day before, the chaotic moments leading up to this deadly crash. Also tonight, House of Trump, former President Trump speaking side by side with House Speaker Mike Johnson at Mar-a-Lago. Johnson hoping his alliance with Trump will be a lifeline as he faces challenges from within his own party. Trump's saying he's absolutely willing to testify in his hush money trial set to start Monday

and his new comments on abortion as the battle over reproductive rights ramps up. Lose the war? the dire warning from Ukraine's president saying, without the U.S.'s help, the country faces the possibility of defeat against Russia, their front lines in danger of collapsing, Russia closing in and ramping up attacks on Ukraine's energy grid, the new drastic measures the country is taking as it runs out of ammunition and men. Argentina's chainsaw politics, President Javier Miele, who campaigned with a chainsaw, cutting thousands of jobs, and slashing government. spending, inflaming tensions in Buenos Aires.

Violent clashes as police blast demonstrators with water cannons. The president making his rounds in the U.S., meeting with Elon Musk as the country slides deeper into economic crisis. Rescue from above a dramatic helicopter mission in California, rescuers hoisting a woman to safety as they dangle from the bottom of a chopper. The crash that landed the woman 200 feet down a California hillside. New Rat City, the Big Apple's clever new method to tackle the pest infestation, or is it? Officials hoping birth control, which they claim taste better than pizza, will take a bite out of the problem.

Yes, they're considering giving birth control to rats. And the long game, a new film based on a true story of young Mexican-American caddies that became high school golf champions. Actors Cheech Marin and Jay Hernandez joined me in studio. their drive to be a part of the inspiring film going well beyond the 18 holes on the course. Top story starts right now. And good evening. Tonight, one person is dead and several others injured after a man stole a semi-truck and rammed it right into a government building in Texas.

Take a look at this. Authorities painting a very chaotic picture of the moments before and after this crash, saying the suspect stole this 18-wheeler you see, right here, then took police on a pursuit before ultimately crashing the truck into the Department of Public Safety Building. Police calling for all hands on deck. That great emergency will be in multiple truck. This is a good intentional action. You heard it right there. Apparently this was all on purpose. Officials saying the man was denied a commercial driver's license there just the day before. This is all happening

in the city of Brenham, Texas, around 70 miles outside of Houston. And that's where we find NBC's Priscilla Thompson, who starts us off tonight. Deadly moments in Texas. DPS, turns the DPS is crashing the DPS. After officials say this stolen semi-truck plowed into a Department of Public Safety Building in Brenham, tearing through an entire brick wall. There is an entrapment in the building. Six people were rushed to the hospital.

One died and two are in critical condition. We're starting to peek wall through these windows. Great emergency will be multiple trucks. The suspect, Clennerd Parker, is now. in custody authorities say and no further threat exists. Parker did come to the DPS Brenham office yesterday at approximately 3 or 4 p.m., where he was denied his commercial driver license. Maroon 18-wheeler, they left it running and it was just stolen.

The crash occurred Friday afternoon after dispatchers say the truck was stolen. This is going to be the intentional act. You see, yes, sir. Investigators say it appears the crash was deliberate. The law enforcement were behind this. 18-wheeler. It was reported stolen. When they saw the vehicle, a stolen 18-wheeler, took a hard right turn, and went into the DPS Brenham office. The suspect was backing the vehicle up and with the intent of going into it again. Our fire chief mentioned that if he had bearded

a little bit to the left the second time, there would have been a collapse of that building. Priscilla, Thompson, joins us now from the scene of that crash. Priscilla, where exactly does the investigation stand tonight? Yeah, well, Tom, investigators are still on the scene here being led by the Texas Rangers. As tonight, the suspect remains in custody facing multiple felony charges. And a short while ago, two tow trucks actually arrived. And so it does appear that they're going to begin trying to tow that 18-wheeler away, likely continuing to investigate that truck along with what remains of this building.

Tom. A scary time for the people there in Texas. All right, Priscilla, we thank you for that. We now want to go to that meeting at Mar-Lago late today. House Speaker Mike Johnson facing a threat to remove him from that job, appearing with former President Donald Trump in an effort to win over support and keep his post. But Trump, making his own headline at the news conference saying he's going to testify in his hush money trial involving adult film star Stormy Daniels. Gabe Gutierrez asked him about that case and has this report.

Tonight, on the eve of his Manhattan Hush Money trial, former President Trump defiant, saying he's willing to testify in his own defense in a case he slams as a partisan prosecution by a Democratic DA. Mr. President, do you plan to testify? Yeah, I would testify, absolutely. It's a scam. It's a scam. That's not a trial. That's not a trial. That's a scam. What they have done is incredible.

It's election interference, and it's got to stop. It's a third world country. Mr. Trump facing the first criminal. prosecution of a former president. He's charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records, a low-level felony related to alleged hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. Isn't it risky for you to testify? I'm testifying. I tell the truth. I mean, all I can do is tell the truth. And the truth is that there's no case. They have no case. Jury selection set to start Monday.

You know, jury selection is largely luck. It depends who you get. It comes as the former president is throwing a political lifeline to House Speaker Mike Johnson. We're getting along very well with the speaker. Pair sharing the microphone at Mar-a-Lago. Their first public event since Johnson was elected speaker last October. He has a razor-thin Republican majority and faces a threat from a top Trump ally, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green, trying to oust him. I think he's doing a very good job.

He's doing about as good as you're going to do. And I'm sure that Marjorie understands that. I know she has a lot of respect for the speaker. The yeas are 273. But today, a victory for the speaker. of the House passing the reauthorization of a surveillance bill that includes a controversial spying program over the objections of Mr. Trump. And then there's aid to Ukraine, which still has not passed the House. Ukraine's President Zelensky this week saying without it, Ukraine could lose the war.

We're looking at it right now and they're talking about it and we're thinking about making it in the form of a loan instead of just a gift. Much more importantly to me is the fact that Europe has to step up and they have to give money. And late today, the judge in New York denied former President Trump's motion to delay the hush money case. due to pretrial publicity. So as and now, jury selection is still set to begin on Monday. Tom? All right. Gabe Gutierrez from Mar-a-Lago. Now to that abortion battle-taking center stage in Arizona, Vice President Kamala Harris on the ground there today, addressing the state's Supreme Court's bombshell ruling that in 1864 law that bans nearly all abortions in the state is now enforceable. The VP slamming former President Trump calling him the cause of this health care crisis.

NBC's Dana Griffin is in Tucson, following it all for us. Tonight, Vice President Kamala Harris at a rally in Tucson slamming the Arizona Supreme Court ruling that enforces a civil war-era law bending nearly all abortions. Here in Arizona, they have turned back the clock to the 1800s to take away a woman's most fundamental right, the right to make decisions about her own body. adding that former president Donald Trump is partly to blame. During his campaign in 2016, Donald Trump said women should be punished for seeking an abortion. And as much harm as he has already caused, a second Trump term would be even worse. Today on truth social, Trump writing, the Supreme Court in Arizona went too far. And we must ideally have the three exceptions for rape,

incest and life of the mother. But the issue of abortion access goes beyond politics for women. Disbelieve, anger. And doctors. We have the most vulnerable patients, and they're the ones who are going to pay the price. The women who have five kids or four kids and are keeping a job or in abusive relationships, and I can go on and on and on. At this Phoenix planned parenthood.

They were asking me, doctor, am I actually going to be able to have this abortion today? Dr. Jill Gibson says patients were shocked and confused. Many calling the office for answers. I had friends calling me saying, was it still safe for their friends who were pregnant who were out of state to travel to Arizona to visit them? This is the atmosphere of fear that we have in the state for people who are trying to seek any form of reproductive health care.

The 1864 law, which only makes exceptions for the life of the mother and makes performing abortions punishable by up to five years in prison, was decided Tuesday in a bombshell ruling by the state Supreme Court. It's a society's duty to protect human life in every situation. Dr. Eric Hazelrig is the OBGYN who opened the door for that court's ruling after he petitioned for the case to be reviewed. Do you think women should have the right to choose what to do with their own bodies? I think that women should have the right to choose what they do with their own bodies within a certain context and with certain limitations. Some people in the state now galvanized to make their vote count in November when they will likely weigh in on an.

an expected ballot measure to codify reproductive rights in the state's constitution. We want everyone to have a choice about their own bodies, about their own family planning. It's not a politician's choice. All right, Dana Griffin joins us tonight from Tucson. So, Dana, the Attorney General has made it clear that she will not prosecute any doctors who perform abortions when this goes into effect. How are doctors responding and what are they doing to calm patients' fears? Well, Tom, the doctors I spoke would say they are not going to perform abortions until it is legal again. They tell me in the meantime, they are telling their patients they've got within two months to make their decisions.

And one doctor tells me that he's actually opening this weekend because so many of his patients moved up their appointments because of this ruling and the confusion surrounding it. They say they're also going to work with neighboring states like California to get the women in Arizona, Tom, the health care. that they need. All right, Dana Griffin for us from Arizona again. Dana, thank you for that. We want to head overseas now to the latest on the war in Ukraine. As Russia ramps up its attacks on critical infrastructure, top American and Ukrainian generals, now warning Ukraine will lose this war

if the U.S. does not send critical aid. NBC foreign correspondent Matt Bradley reports. More than two years since its invasion, Russia launching a new offensive that could cost Ukraine the war, according to top U.S. and Ukrainian military leaders. Ukrainians on the front lines are running out of ammunition, men, and resources. The situation is extremely serious. And without vital U.S. support, top generals warn the situation will only get worse.

A $61 billion aid package stuck in Congress for months, leaving Ukrainians exposed on the battlefield. If we do not continue to support Ukraine, Ukraine will run out of artillery shells and will run out of... out of air defense interceptors in fairly short order. General Christopher Cavoli leads the U.S. European command and oversees the multinational effort to train Ukrainian forces on battle tanks, F-16 fighter jets, and artillery. But General Kavoli says that as Russia steps up their attacks, the situation in Ukraine becomes more dire. Russia is currently firing five artillery shells for every one fired by Ukrainian forces,

a disparity that could increase in the coming weeks to 10 to 1, according to Kavoli. Based on my experience in 37-plus years in the U.S. military, if one side can shoot and the other side can't shoot back, the side that can't shoot back loses. Top generals in Ukraine also sounding the alarm as Russian forces outnumber Ukrainian troops seven to 10 times in the east. We're holding the defenses to the last breath, said this Ukrainian general. These remarks coming after Parliament just passed a controversial new law to boost conscription, lowering the draft eligible age from 27 to 25.

Sparking outrage and protests across the country. Our boys and girls in the service are very tired to this local resident. They've been fighting for two years, and no one is planning to replace them. As the need for America's continued support only grows more pressing by the minute. Their ability to defend their terrain that they currently, hold and their airspace would fade rapidly, will fade rapidly without the supplemental, without continued U.S. support. Matt Bradley joins us tonight from London.

So Matt, as Ukraine is desperately asking for more weapons from the U.S., Russia is actually getting some foreign support as well? Yeah, I mean, Tom, when we're talking about all of those problems that Ukraine has in terms of supplies and weapons, Russia has all those same problems, too. and has for quite a long time, but Russia's Vladimir Putin has a friend in China's Xi Jinping. Russia has been going to China asking for more weapons and help. And now NBC News is told by a senior American official that the People's Republic of China has been providing a material to the Russians, not necessarily a lot of hard weapons,

but things like technology transfers, microelectronics, other technology that is helping in its industrial base, not necessarily providing weapons itself, but helping Russia improve its industrial defense capacity, crucial to sustaining its now more than two-year-long war effort in Ukraine. Tom. Matt Bradley, from London tonight. Now to the fears of escalation in the Middle East. Israel bracing tonight for a potential direct attack from Iran. President Biden warning that attack could come soon as the U.S. military moves fighter jets

and warships into defensive positions. NBC's Hale Garani has a late. latest from Israel tonight. Tonight, the Pentagon repositioning assets, including fighter jets and ships in the mid-east, in preparation for a potential Iranian attack against Israel. As President Biden is warning, a strike could happen soon. My expectation sooner or later. Mr. President, what is your message to Iran in this moment?

Don't. A U.S. intelligence assessment warns an Iranian attack could include a swarm of drones or land-attack missiles hitting Israeli diplomatic or consular facilities to U.S. officials, tell NBC News. All of it, almost two weeks after Iran vowed to retaliate for a bombing on its embassy compound in Syria that it blames on Israel, where several top Iranian military officials were killed. Iran is a topbacker of Hamas and Hezbollah, and Iran's supreme leader has warned Israel, quote, will be punished. President Biden, vowed. supporting support if a strike happens.

We will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed. The question now, as the region braces for a possible retaliatory attack by Iran, is when and how will Tehran choose to act? It would be a major escalation. All right. Halegrani. Still ahead tonight, the deadly shootout, police in Memphis finding themselves in a gun battle with suspects inside of a car.

At least one officer killed. The late details just coming in. Plus, crews descending 200 feet into a ravine in San Francisco the moment they rescued a driver who accidentally drove off the highway. And you may have seen the videos on social media rats taking over New York City, on streets, on subway platforms, even in restaurants, how city officials now hope to use birth control to try and prevent the estimated 3 million rats from multiplying even more. Stay with us. All right, we're back now with that storm system, bringing record rainfall and dangerous flash flooding to the Northeast. The National Weather Service issuing a flash flood emergency for the city of Oakdale, Pennsylvania.

That's just outside of Pittsburgh, which received a daily record of 2.7 inches of rain yesterday. Some residents strained it overnight. You see it here in the floodwaters. County officials telling us they've conducted more than two dozen water rescues. Tracking the storm system for us, of course, is NBC News meteorologist Bill Carrance, who joins us. studio, Bill, a big rainmaker there with that storm. What's happening tonight? Yeah, this storm was responsible for four flash flood emergencies on its path through Texas, including New Orleans, Tallahassee, and then late last night, just outside of Pittsburgh.

And it's still cranking in southern Quebec, and it's nasty. I mean, Detroit to Cleveland, Toledo, Erie, Pittsburgh, it's raining, it is cold, it's snowing in Canada. And we even have a winter weather advisory for Western New York. It's going to snow 4 to 8 inches tonight in Western New York in the middle of April. So as we go through tomorrow at noon, snowing in the Catskills, snowing in the Adirondacks, it's going to be cool, it's going to be windy, and then this will finally blow out by the time we get through Saturday night. Sunday starts out great in the Northeast, but then quickly some showers and thunderstorms

are going to roll through Pennsylvania and also in New York City to Connecticut as we go through Sunday evening. Keep that in mind. Sunday starts great. Doesn't end that way. Middle of the country, you are fantastic. What a spring weekend, 80s and 90s. The next storm of concern comes into California.

Tonight will be with us throughout Saturday. Sunday, it begins on the move. And by the time we get to Monday, this storm is going to be a problem in the middle of the country. We have the potential for a severe weather outbreak and maybe even a tornado outbreak. And it's that I-35 quarter from Wichita to Oklahoma City down here towards the Dallas-Fort Worth area. And then by Tuesday, that severe weather threat continues into the Midwest. That'll be serious concerns as we go into the beginning of next week, Tom. All right, Bill.

We're going to be watching that on Monday. Next tonight, New York City's rats are not taking the bait anymore, quite literally. The rodent population exploding and poison isn't doing the trick. So now city officials are considering rat birth control. You heard me right. Rat birth control. Stephen Romo has a story and a heads up. Some of these videos you're about to see will make your stomach turn.

New York City without rats seems hard to imagine. What in the hell? But recent viral videos show us. city overwhelmed with rodents. You got the pizza. They're seen taking over sidewalks, living on subway platforms, and even scurrying around a very bright and populated Times Square. I mean, they're everywhere. I feel like you see them like running through the garbage piles. It's ridiculous. It's a bad infestation. It's disgusting.

I saw a mom and a baby rat yesterday. And New Yorkers are not just imagining it. A 12, A 2023 study by a pest control company estimated that the rat population jumped from 2.3 million in 2020 to nearly 3 million in just two years. A jump, the study attributes to outdoor dining and sanitation budget cuts. Now the latest proposed fix, rat birth control. If it is a war on rats, clearly the rats are winning. The New York City Council considering a measure to deploy contraceptive food. around the city that would work on both male and female rats, since a pair of the rodents can produce 15,000 offspring in just one year.

There are better ways of handling this rat crisis and is not poisoning our way out of it because it simply doesn't work. Rat poison can be harmful to humans if accidentally ingested and harmful to wildlife that may prey on the rats. Like New York's beloved Flacco, the owl who died in February, testing showed he had rat poison in his system. Dispatch, deprive, disturb. There have been other citywide efforts

to target rats, something New York Mayor Eric Adams made a priority. Last year, he named a rat czar to try to fight that problem. What they can do to be part of the rat pack and start fighting rats. Businesses are also now required to put garbage in covered bins instead of bags on sidewalks,

which rats can easily tear open and feast upon. As for rat birth control, City Hall saying they remain focused on this problem and are reviewing that newest legislation. May I help? While totally eradicating these furry friends is unlikely. Limiting their numbers could be a big win, decades in the making. Rats do run the city, 100%. That and pigeons, but that's another subject for another time, I guess.

Yeah, that's another top story segment. All right, Stephen Rombo joins us now in studio. We're laughing, but there's really nothing. to laugh about. This is so gross. So they're going to give birth control to these rats. Is this the first time they've tried something like this? They've actually tried it about 10 years ago. When I was looking, actually back in the 60s, they tried this as well with contraceptive for rats. Both of those times, though, it only affected female rats. This current time, it should go after male and female rats if this is approved. They think it could end up working better that way.

We'll, of course, have to wait and see if it actually works. And just to go back to a point, because it's just, it's freaked me out. Two rats together. can end up producing 15,000 rats through their kids and they keep breeding. But out of two rats, you can get 15,000 in one year? Shocking numbers, right? Just to imagine all those generations of rats. I don't know how many that is for one year, but that is a whole lot of rats. They're worse than rabbits.

Yeah, all right. Thanks for that, Stephen Romo. When we come back, outrage in Argentina, we're going to switch gears here. Protesters taking to the streets as an inflation crisis worsens. But the country's president on his third U.S. trip in just four months, The meeting he had today with tech billionaire Elon Musk. Stay with us. All right, we are back now with Top Stories News Feed,

and we begin with a deadly shootout in Memphis, Tennessee. Authorities say officers were responding to a call about a suspicious car when the people inside started shooting and officers fired back. One officer and one 18-year-old suspect were killed in the shootout. Two more officers were hit, but our officers were hit, but are expected to be okay, another teenage suspect is also in critical condition. A former U.S. diplomat who spied for Cuba, sentenced to 15 years in prison. 73-year-old Victor Manuel Rochao, who served as a U.S. ambassador to Bolivia in the early aughts,

pleading guilty to charges he worked as a foreign agent for Cuba's intelligence agency for more than 40 years. The plea deal also includes a $500,000 fine. Prosecutors call this case one of the biggest betrayals. in the history of the U.S. Foreign Service. And a dramatic helicopter rescue in Northern California caught on camera. Video showing crews descending 200 feet into a ravine in the San Francisco Bay after reports that a car had gone off the highway. First responders addressed the, sorry, assess the driver's injuries at the scene

before Cruz airlifted her out of the forest and delivered her to a nearby ambulance. No word yet, though, on her current condition. And we want to turn now to the Americas. where in Argentina, economic hardship and rampant inflation have sparked outrage on the streets. Protesters clashing with police. But Argentina's president actually not even there. He's here in the U.S. for meetings.

And today he met with Tesla's CEO Elon Musk. NBC's Marissa Para. That's the details. Argentina's president, Javier Malay, on a whirlwind U.S. trip. Today, a meeting with tech billionaire Elon Musk at his Tesla factory in Austin, Texas. But his third U.S. visit in just four months coming as protests erupt in Argentina amid financial turmoil. Police clashing with anti-government protesters earlier this week, firing a water cannon

to disperse the crowd. Demonstrators say recent measures taken by President Javier Malay to reduce government spending and curb rampant inflation have instead forced families to go hungry. On Thursday, hundreds of the university students took to the streets of Buenos Aires to protest budget cuts in education by Mille's administration. Students say they have faced steep price hikes and transportation, rent and school utilities as their university's budgets get depleted without government assistance. The students, we can't get to end of the month, where we have to pay a lot of money to be able to come to coursing

for more of that Argentina has an education that is public, that it's supposed to be gratuitous and quality, is of quality. It's just the latest in protests and strikes that have gripped the South American country. Struggling to rain in, it's stunning 276% inflation rate. The highest in the world by over 130 percentage points, up more than 100 percentage points,

since the country's election in October. Argentina's economy has been battered with high inflation rates for months before Malay took office. He ran and won on a promise to rain in inflation, but warned his supporters of a shock adjustment that would make the economy worse before it got better. Now Argentina's minister of the economy says, quote, inflation is slowing down sharply, But residents aren't so sure. No, there's a back in the U.S., Millais seemed sitting down with financial leaders, like President of the Inter-American Development Bank.

Just days after the banking giant, HSBC announced they were selling their Argentina business at a $1 billion loss, attributing a move in part because it had, quote, limited connectivity to the rest of our international network. For now, residents trying to carry on with their normal lives as their current. country grapples with economic woes. All right. With that, Marissa Parra joins us from our studios in Miami. Marissa, do we know anything more about the meeting between President Milay and Elon Musk? Hey, Tom. Well, it's actually interesting. The Argentinian government's official account put

out a statement on, of course, Elon Musk's social media platform X, where else? And they laid out some of the talking points that they allegedly talked about today, things like population size, things like freer markets. But they also discussed some of the things of the things that they had collaborated on. One thing specifically, they said they'd agreed together to hold an event in Argentina soon to, quote, promote the ideas of freedom. Now, it's worth pointing out and worth noting that Argentina is rich in lithium resources. And lithium would be a resource of interest to someone like Elon Musk who founded a company like Tesla, which, you know, it runs and needs lithium. And we know that Musk has previously discussed and called lithium the new

oil. So listen, today's meeting was a long time coming for several reasons. Milay and Musk have long publicly supported each other on social media. So meeting face-to-face officially today. All right, Marissa Paro, thanks for breaking all that down for us. Coming up after the break, top story spotlight. And in our spotlight interview tonight, actors Cheech Marin and Jay Hernandez, they join us here in studio to talk about their new movie The Long Game and the incredible true story about Mexican-American caddies with big dreams. that inspired this film. Stay with us. You boys built all this.

Yes, Mr. Mitchell. Sorry, boys. When we spoke on the phone, I assumed you were American. Well, you assumed right. Now, these teams, they've had access to a lot of things you boys have. But the best golfer isn't the one with the fanciest clubs. It's the one who can summon the will to keep swinging when things get tough. And that's you, boys.

And that was a clip from the new film, The Long Game, based on an inspiring true story of five young Mexican-American caddies and their journey to learn how to play golf and ultimately compete in the Texas State High School Golf Championship. And tonight, in our spotlight interview, we are so fortunate to be joined by two of the film stars, Comedic actor and performer Cheech Marin, who has been making people laugh since the 70s as one half of the iconic Cheech and Chong duo, plus big roles in Desperado, the TV show Nash Bridges and the Spy Kids movie.

And Jay Hernandez is known for his role as Diablo in the movie Suicide Squad, as well as the star of Magnum Pia. He's also a producer on this film. And Jay, I'm going to start with you since you're a producer. I'm watching this film, and it reminds me of The Outsiders meets The Legend of Bagger Vance, meet stand and deliver. When you were presented with this project, I mean, what did you think? It was such an early stage.

It was a really early stage of development. And I just felt like the movies you rattled off right now, I feel like Hollywood doesn't make enough of those films. And it's a real great underdog story. It's a true story. And plus, you know, we have the opportunity to have a lot of cast members be filled with Latin actors. I'm sorry, it's been a long day, and the coffee's just kicking in.

But, you know, it was a real opportunity for us to tell our story. And I think it's just we need more of that, you know. Cheech, I got to think you've read thousands of scripts. When you read this one and you have a really amazing role in this film, what did you think? I don't know if I read the script before. You just show up. How many days to you, I can do that. No, it was a good story.

story I read it but it's like I should have read it more carefully yeah because he wears a cage yeah basically through the whole film so I I wouldn't look at it a scant if I had seen it but no it was a lot of fun because it was they crammed all my scenes in the in the one you know compact days and it was fun being with the crew and and Jay and everybody that was in Dennis yeah and it's a true story, which is great. We have a clip we want to play right now from the movie. It shows a moment between the two of you. Let's take a look. You kids today all act like the world

owes you something. I got news for you. This country is not your mama's petio. I'm not looking for pity. Oh? And I'll tell you something else. I serve my country. Oh, that was you? Yeah. Yeah. It's like

everybody else. I guess the only difference is when we came back there wasn't parades or fireworks or invitations to the White House there's no thanks for our service it's like

we fought for someone else's country you know like I don't know like we didn't count oh oh boy are you right my heart it's such a sad story

forget it come how do you keep a straight face with this guy It was difficult, man. I had to work really hard. You were cracking me up with my salty tears killing the grass. It was late. It was late. But it's funny, that line, I tell them, you know, when we came back from the war,

we didn't get parades or invitations to the White House. And we got an invitation to the White House. Yeah, yeah. And I want to ask you about that in a moment. Jay, there was a line in the film that just, it stopped me in my tracks. It's when I started really paying attention to the film. It's when you're in the country club and you're the superintendent and you want to join this country club.

And the country club manager tells you, quote, they are not used to seeing a Mexican on a golf course. I mean, you know, I think we're around the same age. We have the privilege to live in America at a much different time than when Cheech grew up than when my parents grew up. We can still experience that, but not at that maybe at the level in the 50s and 60s and 70s.

What was it like to sort of get into that headspace of this was a reality for Mexicans? I mean, I know it still is in a lot of ways, but back then it definitely was what every Mexican was feeling. Yeah, it was like more overt, and there was an intention with the segregation and the racism, and they wanted you to feel it, and they knew you had to know your place, right? And there were boundaries, social boundaries, physical boundaries that you shouldn't cross. And, yeah, I grew up in a very multicultural city.

I grew up in Los Angeles, and I was exposed to every, right. Literally everybody is here in Los Angeles. So I didn't really have that sensibility, and I didn't feel racism to that extent. But I think, you know, you've got to tell these types of stories. And American history is complex. And this is not that long ago. But this is part of our collective story. And I just feel like it's important to be able to have those conversations and tell those stories and touch elements of history that are uncomfortable.

But it's just that's how you make progress, right? Cheech, when your agent was telling you about this film, I mean, there have been films made about Hispanic baseball players, soccer players, boxers. Hollywood has sort of done that genre, but Hispanics and golf has never been done. I mean, what did you think when you heard this? I think it's about time, but, you know, no, it was going to be an interesting period of a period film, but that's what was happening in the time. When my father was a kid, he grew up in L.A., too, and he wasn't allowed to go to the public pool. We're not allowed to go to the pub. Were they going to leave a ring around the pool?

I don't know what it was, but he went on. He served in World War II. It was a policeman for 30 years, and, you know, none of that counted. You know, we've had John Leguizamo on the show before I was telling you guys that he's fought very hard. He's been very vocal about making movies that are about Hispanics, with Hispanics in them. I mean, you guys really did that with this project. What was it like to sort of have all those actors from similar backgrounds? and you guys are from two different generations, right?

And sort of mentoring the younger cats and learning from the older cats. I mean, for me, sitting here next to Cheech, doing the film with him, as a young kid, I saw myself reflected in cinema on film, and he broke so many boundaries. And he also transcended, you know, just the Latin community.

If you went across the country, this guy was like touring shows in strange parts of the country where you wouldn't necessarily accept. or expect it, but, yeah, I think it's one of those things where the way I looked at him, there's a following generation looking at us and the things we're doing. And, Sheech, you mentioned how your dad experienced, you know, a type of racism where he was even allowed to go to a public pool, and you went and you showed this movie in the White House? Yeah.

Tell me that story. Oh, that was great. You know, I had coincidentally been at the White House like about six months before that. Because one of the artists from Riverside, who have a museum, won a national award. It was for a given out, so we were invited to the White House to receive that. So it was pretty cool, you know. And it's really white, you know. The house is white.

Right, I guess. But it was prestigious, you know. And you were able to watch it with someone that the film's about, right? Sitting right next to us. Yeah. How cool was that? It was very good. He plays golf every day, you know.

Still? Still. Still. He was it 82? Is that one? in his 80s. 85. What was the reaction from him when he saw the film? Very, very silent, but very proud, you know. He was in the Marines for 30 years after that, you know, in his country. And he was, and he actually lives next door to us, or not next to

but in the next town, next, in the desert in L.A. in Joshua Tree. And so we got plans to maybe go out again. Oh, nice. That's great. Jay, have you already sort of have gotten the feeling like the chills from people in your community talking to you about this film. And maybe they don't have to be a Spanish, but just telling you like, wow, man, this is amazing. Like, great job, great film. And you produced it, too. That's amazing. It kind of crosses over demographics, right?

But I remember when the trailer first came out, my phone started lighting up. And a lot of people, whether it's family members or friends, it's just like, why am I, why do I feel emotional when I see this trailer? Yeah, yeah, it has a really strong impact. And, you know,

obviously sports stories have been told, but I think it's, you know, this lack of representation and seeing yourself in a positive light in your community in a positive light is something we don't have enough of. And it's a beautiful story. Yeah, yeah, it's hopeful, it's a true story, it's a positive message. So it's got all those elements, you know. All right. Jay and Cheech, I want to thank you so much for joining us here on Top Story.

You guys are amazing. The film opens tonight, right? Yes. It's in theaters, and then if you can't catch it in theaters, it's going to stream as well. It's going to be on streaming platforms. But you want to watch in the theater, right? That's where you, it's cinematic. Come on.

It's a really good-looking film. It's a great-looking film, and you get the ticket sales, and then you got everything else. Maybe you got a couple points on your contract. I don't know. Maybe it's who knows. Jay and Cheech, thanks for being here. We appreciate it. Thank you so much.

All right, we have much more movies to check out in Bingeworthy. Up Next, the spy action film Argyle, which is now available to stream, plus the new documentary about fashion brand Brandy Melville, using store owners of racism and misogyny. And new music tonight by Sabrina Carpenter. Some say it is the song of the summer. You'll hear it right after this. Welcome back, as we just mentioned, it is Friday, which means it's time for binge-worthy.

And that what you were just listening to was a taste of Sabrina Carpenter's latest single, possibly the song of summer. We're going to talk about it more later in the show. but let's get on with Bingeworthy, the best things to look and watch and listen to this weekend. I'm joined now by Entertainment Journalist and friend of Top Story, Andrew Freund. Andrew, Andrew, so great to see you again. Thank you, Tom. Back in from L.A. Back in from L.A.?

You know, there's no place I'd rather be on a Friday night than here with you. I love that, Andrew. That's why you'll keep being on Binge, Rilly. We're going to start with a show that a lot of people are talking about. It's the hottest release of the week, Fallout. It's on Prime Video, and this one's in an adaptation of the wildly popular video game franchise. and it follows a group of survivors after a nuclear disaster. Let's take a look.

I've had a rough week. Practically every person I've met up here was trying to kill me. I'm simply going to harvest your own. You need to go home. You come from a world of rules of laws. You should not be alone. All right, sometimes these shows, based on video games, like The Last of Us, are amazing, and they have great runs. Is this going to be one of them?

Yeah, you know, I really, really like it. I guess we're just obsessed with the post-apocalypse, Tom. I love it. We want to know. But this is an interesting twist, because basically what happens is, you know, there's a nuclear war, and people have to go inside these shelters. Okay. However, they're in these shelters for, like, 200 years. This girl's dad goes missing, so she has to go up to the surface and see what Earth.

Earth is like 200 years, you know, being raised in this fallout shuttle the whole time. And guess what? Earth does not look the same. Post-apocalyptic L.A. does not look the same as it once did. You were watching this before you came. You've been, you've been, is this something you definitely want to binge it's on the prime video? Yeah, yeah. I would definitely binge it because it's like the Last of Us. I don't know if you saw Last With, but you just can't stop watching. And she encounters so many interesting characters on the surface that you're just, it's very compelling. Maybe even more sci-fi than The Last of Us? feels like a little bit. Yeah, a little bit.

Westworld vibes, too? Okay. Westworld, because it's the same producers. Oh, okay. There you go. I know I had a little bit of talent. All right, Andy, thanks for that. Next up, we got another television adaptation.

This time it's The Sympathizer, a mini-series streaming on Max based on the 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name about a North Vietnamese spy who infiltrates a community of South Vietnamese refugees living here in the U.S. Here's a clip. Saigon, 1975. I was a man of two faces. You are the only one I can trust. The war was ending.

No! And I awaited my new assignment. My protege. Jesus. So where are we going? To next harbor on your CIA voyage. America. All right, we saw him there.

Robert Downey Jr. This looks a little bit more up my alley. Tell us more about it. So it's a Vietnam-era war kind of a spy thriller series. Robert Downey Jr. is also the producer. He and his wife produced it, obviously based off the book. But we get to see Robert Downey Jr. in multiple characters, multiple disguises. And we basically follow this spy who goes to Los Angeles.

But it's interesting because in the book, the time jumps very sporadically. And we get to see this guy give confessions of his life. But we jump from the beginning of his life to the end of his life, to the middle of his life. So it's all kind of encompassing. very complex, Tom. So you just kind of have to watch it and study it. It's out on Mac's first episode drops this Sunday. Next up, our first movie suggestion tonight. And we're going to stick with the spy game genre. We've got the action comedy, Argyle. But if you're going to search for this, it's Argyle with two L's. It's on Apple TV Plus. It starts a whole host of celebrities

like Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, do a leapa. Here's a look at that one. Who are these people? Real life spies. Why would they care about me? Because you're a goddamn fortune teller, Ellie. What you wrote in your new book actually happened, and you kicked a hornet's test you didn't even know existed. I'm in some really big trouble, Mom. Oh, so now you're experimenting with drugs.

I want all assets on them now. I need her to write the next chapter. Brian Cranston, John Cena, I mean, a million stars in this. Sometimes, sometimes these films can be a letdown. Is it a letdown or is it enjoyable? It's fine. I would say watch it on an airplane. Okay.

When you can't escape and go anywhere, I get that. It's funny because I downloaded it to watch it on my flight back to L.A. All right. But like you said, it's star-studded. It's a spy action comedy. And basically, Bryce Dallas Howard plays an author, and she writes these spy thrillers. But she's starting to write these spy thrillers, and they're starting to come to life. Okay.

I like that. I mean, that sounds like a great plot. True. And Henry Cavill's also in it. He's great cast. Star-studded, Tom. Apple TV. You can watch it. Next up, this got a lot of buzz with the top story staff.

We were talking about this one. It's a peek behind the curtain into the world of fast fashion. This one's an HBO original documentary called Brandy Hellville and the cult of fast fashion. It takes a look at the brand Brandy Melville, which makes one size fits all clothing. And in the documentary, the company faces accusations of racism and misogyny. Here's a clip. Brandy Melville was part of fast fashion, and how fast fashion was impacting our environment. Everywhere you walk is fabric.

He's going to shock you. Once you see entering in how what is, I need to be worried. We're all being exploited by the same system. Best fashion brands convince you to buy so much because they convince you that you are not enough. Brandy Melville taps into the worst impulses of being a teenage girl. Finally, someone's talking about it. This is the first time I've seen this trailer.

I've got to tell you, I'm hooked. It looks like it's going to be. pretty interesting. Explain to our viewers first, though, what is fast fashion? So fast fashion is basically cheaper clothing that people basically discard, but you're like... They wear it a couple times they throw it away. Right, like stuff from H&M, stuff like Brandy Melville, and you're like, where does that stuff go? Guess what? It goes to places that people like you and I never see, but it can pollute the oceans, it can pollute landfills. It's really, really bad. And what I was fascinated by this is I have two young nieces who are obsessed with Brandy Melville. As are some

staffers at Top Story. And I had no idea the backstory about this company, the misogyny, the racism. Is it fair? Are those accusations fair? I mean, the documentary makes it pretty compelling. The CEO is not a good guy. I'll just go out and say it. I mean, he's not a good dude. I would not

support this company, especially after watching this film. Okay, it's on Max. It sounds like it's a winner. We may be watching it in our house. Next up, the last movie on the docket tonight. It's the greatest hits, a romantic fantasy film on Hulu about a woman who discovers certain songs

can actually transport her back in time. Literally, here's a look at that. Two years ago, my boyfriend Max passed away. I can't seem to pull myself back together. Ever since the accident, certain songs literally haul me back into the past. I'm going to do today. All of it. Okay, I'm a little lost. I like the idea, but I'm a little lost. Explain. Okay, so Lucy Boyton, the female lead, plays a character. She's dating David Corn Sweat, who, incidentally, is the new Superman. Okay. He's going to be the new Superman. He passes away. She finds out that if she listens to certain songs, she can go back in time. So she keeps going back in time to revisit her past love. However, in present time, she meets another guy, and she develops a relationship.

it begs the question, do you go back and change time, Tom? Can you change time? Would you want to change time? What are your thoughts on that, Tom? I'm still lost, but it's okay. I'm sure a lot of people are going to like that one. That was on Hulu. Next up is music, and it's a former One Direction member. See if you can recognize him, who's out with a new song and actually performing a long time. Let's take a look. That is a new single, Alienated by Zane. So this is kind of a big deal, because people haven't heard from him in a while, right? Yeah, it's a big deal.

He's been working on this album for six years. You know, the guy started when he was 17 years old for One Direction. Huge. He's now 31. So in this new record that comes out in May, the single's out now, but it's more introspective. He's bearing his soul, Tom. He's more soulful. are poetic, that kind of vibe.

All right, we'll definitely give it a spin. Next up, a young woman who we hear about a lot in our household, Sabrina Carpenter. She's got a new song. Some people say, some people, that it's going to be the song of summer. Here's a list. Take a list. Now he's thinking about me

and I know that's sweet a soul. See, you can't sleep, but you know that means for soul. Move it up down, I've droiddle. Switch it up like Nintendo. And Sabrina's performing at Coachella this weekend? Why, I didn't know Coachella was her?

This weekend. I'm not with Coachella, Tom. I'm here. This is her sixth album. Talk to me about the song. Yeah, so the song is a beach vibe. Clearly, she is making a play for the song in the summer. Super catchy.

You're going to hear it everywhere. She released it today, of course, because she's going to perform it this weekend. So a lot of times these artists before, they have big performances like at Coachella. They released the song before, so you kind of know it if you go and hear the song. Obviously, she was on tour with Taylor Swift. She's riding high, Tom. You know, she can do no wrong right now. Okay, it's good.

It's catchy. I kept singing it when I was listening to PrEP today. There you go. Andrew, so great to have you. Safe travels back home, but thanks for being here. And we thank you for watching Top Story tonight. I'm Tom Yamis, New York. Stay right there.

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