Top Story with Tom Llamas - Friday, April 19, 2024

Episode Date: April 20, 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.

Breaking tonight, my one-on-one interview with Iran's foreign minister. He tells me Iran will not escalate its battle with Israel, describing last night's retaliation strike as a joke. Explosions erupting overnight near a key nuclear facility in central Iran. Sources telling NBC News, Israel fired three ballistic missiles, targeting an Iranian air base in response to that massive drone and missile attack by Iran last weekend. I sat down with the man who leads Iran's foreign policy, the diplomat downplaying last night's strike as nothing but child's play and propaganda.

He tells me Iran has no plans to strike back for now, but says any further action by Israel will be met with a response at, quote, the maximum level. Another big question, how does the U.S. play in all of this? The White House mostly silent today about this latest strike, but Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the U.S. was not involved in any offensive operations. This has pressure mounts on Biden to do more for the Palestinians in Gaza as the war there rages on and widespread famine worsens. Also tonight, a man setting himself on fire outside the New York courthouse where Trump's hush money trial was taking place. The horrifying scene just moments after six alternate jurors

were selected, completing that jury. What Trump told reporters about his plans to testify. deadly scam, an 81-year-old shooting and killing an innocent Uber driver after she was requested through the app to pick up a package at his home. But it turns out they were both caught up in the same phone scam, how this all unfolded and the new video showing the moment police arrived on the scene. Plus the salmonella outbreak linked to fresh basil sold at Trader Joe's, at least a dozen people across seven states now infected, what consumers need to know. And world record skydive, the incredible moment, three men jumped from the Earth's stratosphere to the North Pole. Their two-plus minute free fall before parachuting down, why this record-setting fee could help bring much-needed

communication technology to the Arctic. Top story starts right now. And good evening. We are coming on the air with breaking news. In an interview that I just wrapped moments ago, the Iranian foreign minister telling me Iran won't. strike back after Israel's apparent retaliatory strike last night. It was his first interview since Israel's air assault. The foreign minister refusing to confirm Israel was behind that attack, downplaying it, even liking the strike to toys children play with. I asked him point blank if Iran might attack in the future.

He responded that if there was any escalation by Israel, their attack would be immediate and, quote, at maximum levels. This interview coming just hours after Israel struck Iran, NBC News Learning, Israel fired three ballistic missiles, all of which were shot down, the strike targeting Isfahan just 200 miles south of the capital of Tehran, home to a large military airbase and nuclear site. Though there was no damage reported to any nuclear facilities, Iran warned it would make changes to its nuclear policies if Israel continued to threaten attacks on its sites. Tensions between Israel and Iran reaching a flashpoint nearly three weeks ago, right? That's when Israel bombed an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria, killing two top generals. Iran leaving much of the world on edge as it vowed to retaliate.

And last weekend, it did just that, carrying out an unprecedented attack, launching more than 300 drones and missiles into Israel in a first ever direct assault on that country. Israel pledged a counterattack amid heightened pressure from world leaders to show restraint and avoid a wider regional war. The country seemingly listening to carrying out that limited strike. And hostilities between Iran and Israel, it's nothing new. The countries have engaged in shadow warfare for decades. Iran's military reach in the region extended through proxy groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iraqi rebels. We have full coverage tonight.

Richard Engel and Israel with reaction there and Gabe Gutierrez at the White House with how the U.S. is responding. But first, the Iranian foreign minister and where the volatile situation stands, as both sides appear, to back down for now. and Iran tonight playing down the apparent Israeli retaliatory strike inside Iranian territory. Video showing only glimpses this morning of anti-aircraft systems firing around the city of Isfahan. Israel fired three air-launched ballistic missiles into Iran last night, targeting an Iranian air base, according to officials familiar with the operation. Iran did not strike back as threatened. Instead, local media, controlled by the state, downplayed the attack and showed life in Isfahan as normal. The nuclear facility nearby, unaffected.

Tonight, Iran telling NBC news they will not escalate their conflict with Israel, describing last night's attack as child's play. Is Iran done for right now sending any more missiles or attacking Israel? You pass the message to the United States. In that message, we said that Iran doesn't want to escalate. We said that we have given a proportionate response in a limited way to Israel. And in that message, we announced that if Israel retaliates and it comes up with a new adventurism, then we will respond. But if not, then we are done. We are concluded.

So tonight, that is the clear position of Iran. You have no desire to escalate. As long as there is no adventuism, new adventurism by Israel against our interest, then we are not going to have any new reaction. Iran's foreign minister, Hussein, Amir, Adoliyan, would not even acknowledge an attack by Israel. Speaking through an Iranian government interpreter, he said they quickly down the drones flying over Isfahan. They took up from inside Iran, and they just said they did. They flew for like a few hundred meters, and then they were downed and struck by our air defense.

And it has not been proven to us that there is a connection between these and Israel. When you attacked Israel, you telegraphed that attack. You let other Arab nations know this was happening. Did anyone, any other country, tell Iran last night this attack was coming? What happened last night was not a strike. But did any other country tell you something was happening, and they were going to invade your airspace and attack possibly when your bases? Two or three, they're more like toys that our children play with, not drones. It was not worth telling us before it happened.

In your opinion, that was not an attack by Israel last night, even though we've seen explosions on video? We are investigating this in the matter, the claim that is made in the media current information. It's not accurate, and Israel is trying to, after propaganda. The foreign minister warned if Israel struck again, Iran would respond with force. If Israel wants to do another adventurism and acts against the interests of Iran, and our next response will be immediate and will be at the maximum level. A source familiar with the matter tells NBC News, Israel told the U.S. ahead of time about the strike.

Israel attacked Iran's embassy compound in Syria earlier this month, and Iran responded firing more than 300 drones and missiles. Nearly all of them shot down by Israel with considerable help from the United States and other allies. Israel, it seems, doesn't want to escalate the shooting war with Iran either, making no public comments about it, no public reaction from President Biden either, only this from Secretary of State. I'm not going to speak to anything other than say we were not involved in any offensive operations. So for more on our sit-down interview, I want to get right over to Richard Engle, who joins us tonight from Jerusalem live here on Top Story, for the latest on the interview and the strikes.

Richard, first up, one of the big takeaways from the interview with the foreign minister was him saying that Iran will not strike back for now. How much credence can we give that? Well, I think so far we haven't seen Iran strike back, and I think he's giving the official Iranian position, and the Israelis are taking it seriously because all day, today, there were no restrictions placed on people here. The military didn't give any guidance here in Jerusalem. People were out. Tel Aviv, the joggers were out. So this country is not bracing at the moment for a retaliation. So they are banking on what the Iranians are saying now that they are done at this stage. Richard, you know that entire region so well, including Iran. Explain to

our viewers, why would the foreign minister downplay Israel's attack last night? So he wasn't just downplaying, and I think what he told you is actually quite important. He wasn't just downplaying it. He was dismissing it outright. You reported that there were three airborne or air-launched ballistic missiles fired at this military base inside Iran, and he said, no, that didn't happen at all. Instead, it was just some tiny drones, some small drones, like children's toys, that they were immediately shot down and that they weren't even weren't even worth talking about. Now, that dismissal is actually quite good because it is allowing Iran to show victory. It's allowing Iran to show strength. And it's the same message

that we've been hearing from Iranian officials on Iranian state television all day. They've been saying that because of Iran's strike last weekend, that Israel was so... so intimidated, so afraid, because Iran demonstrated so much power that Israel was too frightened to do anything more than just this puny attack, which may not have even been Israel after all. That's good. That's much better than them making new threats. It allows Iran to claim victory. And Israel is also claiming a kind of victory here because Israel carried out its strike.

It carried out a strike inside Iranian territory. the missiles evaded any Iranian air defenses. So Israel is able to show that it can attack Iranian territory when and how it pleases. And when you have both sides able to claim victory, you can pull back from a crisis. And Mitch, I think you answered the next question here, which was more... It wasn't just being dismissive. Yeah, and I think you answered the next question I had for you, which is why Israel had such a limited response. Essentially, they did send a message, but they didn't go overboard.

They didn't cross a red line with Iran. There were three attacks, and you outlined them in your story here. And you have to remember all three that there weren't just two. So first, on April 1st, there was the attack by Israel against the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus. And that was a deadly attack. At least 12 people were killed. That's what started this particular crisis wherein the direct combat between Iran and Israel. said that Israel crossed a red line with that attack. Iran vowed to respond, and Iran did respond

firing more than 300 missiles and drones, and we saw them lighting up the skies over Jerusalem as the air defenses were activated, and nearly all of those, 99% of those drones and missiles were shot down. That's when President Biden said to Israel, take the win, leave it there. You carried out your attack. Iran responded. response was thwarted. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu didn't accept that. His war cabinet met, and Israel wanted to get one more attack in, last licks, so that it could show deterrence. And that's what we saw last night. It was a limited attack. Israel said it was trying to calibrate its response, so it wouldn't trigger a regional war. And now both sides are saying that they're

done and are trying to walk away. With Iran saying that its attack, the middle attack, the that lit up the skies here, was so powerful that it intimidated Israel, and Israel not talking about it at all, but allowing people to live their lives, clearly trying to move on from this crisis, at least for now. Richard Engel for us live from Jerusalem, Richard, we always love your analysis and you're reporting from there. For more on the response from the White House to Israel's military strikes against Iran,

let's bring an NBC new senior White House correspondent, Gabe Gutierrez. Gabe, you just heard me and Richard speaking about President Biden there. The White House, though, tonight. They've been tight-lipped on the response to the strikes last night. What are your sources saying about their take on what happened between Israel and Iran last night? Well, Tom, this has been a truly remarkable day here at the White House. Remarkable, not for what was said, but what wasn't. Across the Biden administration, there's been a concerted effort to stay quiet today.

You just played the very limited response from the Secretary of State. Well, at today's White House briefing, Press Secretary Karin Jean-Pierre dodged the question at least 11 times. She wouldn't even confirm publicly that there had been an Israeli strike. Here's one of her responses. You said that you didn't want to speculate, but we're not asking for speculation. We're asking for an official response. And given that U.S. taxpayers give more than $3 billion each year from military defense systems to Israel, shouldn't Americans have a response from this administration more than 12 hours after this attack?

I appreciate the question, and I understand the importance of the American people who, you are correct. they are taxpayers. And I want to be incredibly mindful here. And I understand the interest here. And I am going to continue to say, I'm not going to speak to this or speculate about the reports out there. That's not going to change. And I'm just going to be super mindful. So, it appears that the White House really wanted to let Israel control the messaging on this first and was waiting to hear Iran's response. Would you just go? And then, Gabe, in my interview with the foreign minister, he pointed out to me and he criticized, President Biden for talking about de-escalation while the U.S. is weighing a more than one billion

dollar package in new arms for Israel. What is the Biden administration doing to combat this concern internationally that the U.S. is sending a mixed message when it comes to that stance? Well, Tom, you're right. At this point, the White House's priority is de-escalation, it says. And G7 leaders today in Italy, including the U.S., warned of new sanctions against Iran for its drone and missile attack on Israel last weekend. And that comes after the U.S. yesterday slapped sanctions on 16 people and two entities associated with Iran's drone program. As far as the White House is concerned, Tom, there is no mixed messaging, at least according to them. They're standing by Israel publicly, but behind the scenes, they are urging restraint.

It'll be very interesting to see whether we hear from the president over the weekend, now that Iran's foreign minister has basically dismissed the strike as child's play, which could be considered a positive development. We're going to have to wait and see. All right, Gabe. We always appreciate your reporting from the White House. For more on the fallout from these Israeli strikes, let's bring in three people who know this region very well.

Hagar Chimali, former National Security Council Director for Syria and Lebanon during the Obama administration and the host of Oh My World Podcast. Valley Nassar, former senior advisor to the Obama administration, and retired four-star general Barry McCaffrey, who served as a Gulf War division commander and is now an NBC News military analyst. We thank you all for being here. And I'm going to start with Barry McCaffrey tonight because he's the man who's been in these situations day and day out during combat. Barry, you know, General, I have to ask you, do you take Iran for its word?

Do you believe what the foreign minister told me that they're not going to escalate anymore unless Israel strikes again? Well, that was a fascinating and important interview. You know, we were waiting to see if the foreign minister would walk back his comments of yesterday, essentially, saying that any Israeli strike would be met by maximum response. He didn't walk back his comments. He just didn't take them into account. So it's a very positive outcome. The Israelis were able to make a modest statement that they could penetrate at will

Iranian airspace. They chose a target that was appropriate. It wasn't the nuclear plant, but it was close by. So I think we escaped a regional war by the skin of our teeth. At the end of the day, though, we've got to recognize that there's a new norm here. The Iranians with 3,000 some odd ballistic missiles have an immense capacity to attack Israel, and Israel at will can penetrate Iranian airspace with F-35 stealth fighters and go after strategic targets. So what remains is Israel at peril and the belligerents having changed the rules of the game.

Hagar, Iran can say what they want. Our sources are telling us that Israel fired three ballistic missiles into Iran last night. If you were talking to Iran right now, and you were working in the State Department, is today a good day? Did Israel listen to the U.S. and the rest of the world and not go overboard with their strike on Iran? Well, it's a good day in general. On the Israeli side, there was an argument to be made on both sides, in my opinion, about whether Israel should respond and how it should respond.

Obviously, the Biden administration had its goal in not wanting to escalate things further, telling Netanyahu to take the win. But deterrence is what guides Israeli military strategy. And the fact is that the assault that Iranians pursued was significant, was unprecedented. And unlike what a lot of pundits are saying, in my view, having worked on wars, was not designed to be intercepted. It was massive. And Israel feels that it cannot not respond because dictatorships like Iran, Syria, they do the same thing.

they're trying to push the red line. They're trying to see where is that red line. So Israel feels it needs to respond. So the fact that Israel respond in such a restrained way, and by the way, relatively proportionate to the damage they had, that's the damage they caused, it seems, in Iran. And so that proportionate, that way, that is interesting and that is good news in general. But Iran's response in particular, I do think is what makes it good news because it's very clear. Iran is very quick to blame Israel. And this time they weren't. And it's because they're sending a message of, we don't want a full-scale war. We wanted the last word.

You got the last word, but maybe we should walk things back now. Vali, I want to play you in exchange for my conversation with the Iranian foreign minister about the possibility of the release of those hostages still being held in Gaza. Because, again, this all started with that attack by Hamas and the war now in Gaza. Let's take a listen. Will you call on Hamas to release all civilians that they've taken hostage? We have been in contact with Hamas since. some time ago, about three weeks ago.

Mr. Esmail Hanye, the political leader of Hamas, was in Tehran. He had very high-level discussions. They are ready to go ahead with the release of the prisoners within the format of a humanitarian and political package, encompassing everything. I think now is a good time. There is a good chance for this, and the Secretary General of the United Nations can become more active. and to come up with a package of a deal within which one of the components is the release of prisoners. So, Bali, how truthful do you think he's been about this actually being a possibility?

No, I think it is a serious possibility. A deal is on the table. They're not too far from it. And I think what he was basically saying to you is that he's not going to be negotiating for Hamas, that they're going to do their own negotiation. if they arrive at an agreement via the Qataris and the Egyptians, that Iran would support that agreement. You know, General McCaffrey, I think the world did learn something in this exchange, right? They did learn that Iran has a ton of weapons, and they have those ballistic missiles that I was reading

can get to Israel within 15 minutes. Granted, a lot of their strikes were drones and they were cruise missiles as well, but those ballistic missiles can cause some serious damage. And in some ways, it was a wake-up call to the world, wasn't it? wasn't it? Oh, no question. Look, those ballistic missiles, more than 120 with a flight time, as you mentioned, of 12 to 15 minutes, would do horrendous damage to targets when they get through.

One of the craters I watched, it must have been 20 feet across and 20 feet deep. So this attack was massive and designed to wreck the F-35 stealth fighter fleet out in the the Negev Desert and to attack military targets and cause catastrophic losses. The power of the defense surprises most of us. Now, the U.S. Navy and U.S. air power were part of it. The Jordanians assisted. Allegedly, the Saudis did also, UK, France, but the defense was one in a million odds that no one except one poor young girl would be injured.

So the Israelis are on notice now. More importantly, to the north, the Hezbollah threat is just enormous. 150,000 rockets and missiles, maybe 100,000 or more fighters. If Iran triggers Hezbollah in the north, Israel will be in a fight for their existence. And also, Hamas remains essentially in control of Gaza. Sixty percent of the infrastructure has been wrecked or damaged. massive loss of civilian life. We've got to figure out what happens when the shooting stops. Hagar, does this give any momentum to a ceasefire, to a hostage swap? Could that happen now that

tensions have sort of calmed in Israel and Iran? I believe it does, because while it might have been on hold for a little bit when you had the strike against the consulate building in Damascus, when you had the Iranian assault in response, it was, it was, that's significant. And it put a lot of people in an alarmist mode. I am not an alarmist. I have worked on the Middle East for years. There is a lot that I feel doesn't escalate to a concerning level. And when I saw the Iranian assault against Israel, I thought it was extremely concerning, because Israel could respond in a way that was, that could escalate further, and they are surrounded by enemies. And so when you are walking back from the brink like that, it makes things very real. And I do think those talks

continue anyway, and I do believe that there's renewed pressure to really get to some kind of deal. out in Iran. As I pointed out to the foreign minister, it's the 45th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution there. In that time, the Iranian people now say they are not happy with the government. They're not happy with the economy there. The UN has cited Iran over and over again for human rights abuses. What happens in Iran now after this? Does it have any infect on how Iran moves forward in the future? No, I think this issue is not relevant to the domestic politics of Iran. And many Iranians also are looking at this, the way,

any population in a situation of war does. I think, you know, Iranians are actually feeling fairly good, the government and the people, because the issue is not how many missiles got through. I think both Iran and Israel established the fact that they're willing to hit. I think that was the most important message that is the will to actually act. I think what General McCaffrey says, you have to consider that the Iranians are saying that the missiles that were used against Israel were ones that had been deployed about a decade ago into their fleet.

These are not even their most advanced missiles, and that Iran could be much more dangerous. And also, I think the Iranians are now more satisfied that the international community got involved in a very big way, and is likely to be monitoring this very closely going forward. When Israel hit the Iranian consulate, it did not even inform the United States until its jets were in the air already. It didn't see the necessity. That's not going to happen again. time the United States was all over the response to Israelis gave.

They may not want to talk about it, but every step of the way they have been involved in knowing exactly what Israel is going to do, when it's going to do, and what to expect of it. And those are things that Iran sees as a win. In other words, that there are certain limitations now on how this will escalate going further, and that Iran's will to attack Israel is not serious, regardless of how many missiles actually got through. Vali, I also had a chance to ask the foreign minister, since we have an election coming up,

who the Iranians would rather negotiate with President Biden or former President Trump. And he told me, and I want to ask you if you think he was being truthful, that it doesn't matter. He said that even though former President Trump has a different style, what they've seen from the Biden administration so far doesn't give them any hope. Is that fair? Yes, because I think their view is that President Biden, when he came in, actually followed on President Trump's strategies all along. All of the sanctions that President Trump put on Iran are still there, and there was no deal, and in a sense, they don't see any change in U.S. policy towards Iran under the Biden administration.

So for them, there's no difference, essentially. Vali Nasser, General Barry McCaffrey, Hagar, Chimali, always a pleasure to see all of you. We thank you for joining Top Story tonight on this very important news night. Still ahead tonight, the other major headline we're following the disturbing scene outside of the Trump-Hush Money trial, a man from Florida, setting himself on fire outside the courthouse, Meanwhile, inside six alternate jurors selected what former President Trump told reporters about testifying as we prepare for opening statements.

Plus, Basil from Trader Joe's now linked to Samanella Outbreak in seven states, the product now being recalled in more than two dozen states. And a fire breaking out at the hotel made famous from the classic horror film, The Shining, what we're hearing about any damage. Stay with us. All right, we're back now with our other major headline tonight.

A man setting himself on fire outside the courthouse where former President Trump is standing trial in that hush money case. Witnesses describing the horrifying moments. In the trial, the full jury now sworn in, who will sit in judgment of the former president? Laura Jared is outside that courthouse with the latest. Tonight, the full jury of 12 people in six alternates officially sworn in to hear the hush money trial of former President Trump. But it was a chaotic and disturbing scene just across the street from the courthouse steps, putting everyone on edge. Video capturing a man setting himself on fire in the park area reserved for protesters, bright orange flames engulfing his body shortly after 1.30. I heard someone scream. He's going to set himself on fire. I turned around and I saw a man dump liquid on himself on his face and he immediately

lit himself with a lighter or something. And everyone was screaming. There were some frantic moments as police looked for a fire extinguisher. Police managing to extinguish the blaze after several minutes before an ambulance arrived to take him to the hospital in critical condition. His exact motivation tonight unclear. But police say they see no connection between the incident and the trial of Mr. Trump. We do not believe he is, this was targeting any particular person or any particular group. We just, right now, labeling it as a sort of a conspiracy theorist, and we're going from there. Authorities say he threw pamphlets in the air before lighting himself on fire.

The pamphlets seem to be propaganda-based, almost like a conspiracy theory type of pamphlet, some information in regards to Ponzi schemes. While back inside, much of the day consumed with picking alternate jurors to step in the shoes of regular jurors if needed. Several prospective jurors growing emotional. One asking to be dismissed, saying she has anxiety and worried she couldn't be impartial. Another sobbing. This is so much more stressful than I thought it would be. Two jurors already dismissed this week less than two days after being seated. The additional alternates picked today four women in one man, including an audio engineer and an estimator for a construction company.

This is a rigged case, and this is a case that was put in very strongly because of politics. Prosecutors accused Mr. Trump of falsifying business records to cover up his alleged role in silencing adult film stars Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election. He denies any relationship with her and has pleaded not guilty to all charges, saying again late today, he'll testify. President Trump are going to testify? Yes. And court will pick up Brighton Hurley here at 9.30 with the prosecution expected to start their opening statements, followed by the defense side. And the prosecutor agreeing for the first time today to turn over the first name of the first witness they plan to call over to the defense side on Sunday evening, saying, if Mr. Trump says anything about that person on social media, it will be the last time they give them that courtesy. Tom?

It's going to be a big week next week. All right, Laura Jarrett for us. Laura, Laura, thank you. when we come back, a deadly shooting in Ohio linked to a phone scam, an Ohio man pulling a gun on an Uber driver who was called to his house to pick up a package. But police say both the shooter and his victim were tricked by a scammer. We'll explain what happened and show you body camera video just released. That's next. Now at Top Stories News Feed, and we begin with the five teenagers shot during a senior skip day

event in Maryland. Authorities say 500 students were gathered at the park when the gunfire erupted. The five male victims aged 16 to 18 were taken to the hospital. At least one is in critical condition tonight. Police saying the shooter fled with the crowd. A fire breaking out at the hotel made famous from Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. Photosho fire crews putting out flames at the Timberland Lodge in Oregon. The historic hotel served as the exterior for the Overlook Hotel in the iconic 1980 horror film. Authorities saying the fire is under control and was confined to the attic, luckily no one was hurt. San Francisco is suing its neighboring city, Oakland, over a proposed airport name change.

Oakland announcing it would rename its airport San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport to highlight its prime location. The airport is equally as far away from downtown San Francisco as San Francisco International Airport. Well, San Francisco alleging in the lawsuit that the new name is a trademark violation, creating unfair competition. and confusing travelers. We're going to have to wait and see what happens there. And Trader Joe's recalling herbs due to a multi-state salmonella outbreak. Federal officials linked to the grocery chain's organic basil product to at least a dozen salmonella cases across seven states.

At least one person has been hospitalized. The news follows another Trader Joe's recall last month, you may remember, over salmonella concerns related to the store's cashew products. Okay, we're back now after this news feed with a disturbing story out of Ohio. driver shot and killed by an 81-year-old man in his driveway, the horrifying scene captured on the driver's dash cam. Now police releasing body cam footage of the moments they responded to the scene, saying both the shooter and the woman he shot were caught up in a phone scam. NBC Stephen Romo explains. Newly released body camera video shows officers confronting this Ohio homeowner

who allegedly shot and killed an innocent Uber driver after getting caught up in a phone scam. After a thud money. Eighty-one-year-old William Brock appearing exasperated and confused, as he explained a threatening phone call, he says he got earlier that day from a man demanding $12,000. It's got his name and phone number and what the ransom was. But the Clark County Sheriff's Office says that phone call was a scam, one that Uber driver Lilletha Hall was unknowingly wrapped up in when she was requested through the app to pick up a package at Brock's home. Chilling video from that Uber's dash cam capturing Brock, pointing

a handgun at Hall as she backs away in terror. Brock told investigators he thought Hall was working with the caller demanding money from him. Investigators say Brock took Hall's phone and stopped her from leaving before shooting her three times, pausing and talking to her between each shot. Officers on the scene calling that scam phone number back. May I ask you I'm talking to? Yeah, this is the officer speaking. Okay, what officer? Yes. No, I need you know what officer, sir.

You're going to be in trouble. Brock was arrested two weeks after the March 25th shooting and has pleaded not guilty to felony murder. NBC News attempts to reach Brock or an attorney were unsuccessful. Uber releasing a statement saying in part, this is a horrific tragedy, and our hearts continue to be with Loletha's loved ones as they grieve. We have been in contact with law enforcement

and remain committed to supporting their investigation. Adding the account used to request Hall has been banned. Tonight, Hall being remembered as a loving sister, mother, and friend. All right, Stephen, Stephen, Stephen, this story is just so sad on every front. We know the shooter, who was elderly, was arrested. What about the person behind the phone scam? Yeah, a lot of people want to know about that person who sort of started all of this. The scammers have not been publicly identified, and no arrests have been announced on that.

front whatsoever for the scam. The FBI saying that they are aware of this happening, but they're not able to say, per policy, whether or not they're involved in the investigation, but Clark County, Ohio, the sheriff's office there does have something on their website, warning residents that this is going on, that there are phone skims going on in the area. Of course, it's not likely what the scammers were intended to happen, but definitely people want them caught. We report on phone scams all the time. I've never seen one escalate like this one. It's terrible. All right, Stephen, we thank you. When we come back, the record-setting. skydive. Look at this three men jumping from the Earth's stratosphere to the North Pole,

why this incredible feat wasn't just for the cool video, but could actually also help advance communication with the Arctic. We'll explain. All right, we're back now. We want to head overseas to India, where the world's largest ever general election is underway. Nearly one billion people expected to head to the polls over the next six weeks as Prime Minister Modi seeks a third term, with fears a massive heat could create dangerous conditions for voters waiting hours in lines. In line, Janice Mackey-Frayer has this one. In this consequential year for elections around the world, few can rival what's underway

in India. Nearly a billion registered voters, 470 million of them women. Electronic voting from the highest peaks to the most remote corners of the country. The scale of it all so huge, voting is a marathon spread over six. weeks. Narendra Modi is seeking a rare third consecutive term as Prime Minister, and he's widely expected to get an easy win. His right-wing, BJP, is looking for an outright majority. India's rising global stature, backed by its economy, is routinely hailed as one of Modi's key achievements, with companies like Apple and Samsung shifting manufacturing there away from China.

Modi wants India to host the Olympics and land an astronaut on the moon. India will be... In an interview last year, the former chief election commissioner told me there is a belief this is India's century. The fact that India has developed economically and its size, its population has become an asset rather than a liability. The century belongs to India. Yet critics of Modi and the BJP,

accused them of misusing tools of the state to go after or even jail opponents, allegations the government denies. For Indian voters, the issues run wide and deep, from inadequate housing and poor nutrition to women's rights and a chronic shortage of jobs for young people. Half the country is under the age of 25. Why? What worries you? What worries me is if we don't take advantage of this window of opportunity and create jobs for our young people, educate them, empower them, and then we have a jobless growth. And India cannot afford that. The cost of this election and its monumental campaign events could top an estimate. estimated $16 billion. A lot of spending has gone into video ads and the use of AI to spread

messaging. Disinformation is now so rife. X announced it will block posts in India involving political speech to comply with a government order. The outcome of India's election will have a global impact as countries like the U.S. look for closer ties as a counterbalance to China. Already, Indian political opponents are complaining the process isn't fair. The result However predictable, will be declared on June 4th. And the world will be watching. All right, Janice McEugh-Frayer for us. Not a top story's global watch in the terrifying scene

outside of the Iranian consulate in Paris. Authorities say a man threatened to blow up the embassy armed with what appeared to be a grenade and explosive vest, that according to officials. They were both replicas, though, and no real explosives were found. The man who authorities say was born in Iran in the 1960s was taken into custody.

Dozens of people heard after a fair. crash, a popular port in Italy. The ferry packed with tourists was returning from the island of Capri when it crashed into a quarry at the Naples port. Nearly 30 people were hurt, but they are all expected to be okay. Officials say workers were trying to secure the vessel

on the dock amid high winds when that crash occurred. And a world record skydive caught on camera. Take a look at this. Incredible footage from a GoPro cam capturing three Russian daredevils parachuting from the Earth's stratosphere to the North Pole. They jump from about 34,000 feet, spending two and a half minutes in a free fall before opening those shoots.

Despite wearing heated gear, they did suffer frostbite but are okay. Now, why they did this? Well, they set a world record. They also tested a prototype for a communication system that could be used in the Arctic. All right, go to them. When we come back, look at what you can binge watch and listen to this weekend, the new crime series, starring Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone, plus Conan O'Brien? What? Back on TV. And the highly anticipated new music from, you guessed it, Taylor Swift,

the one and only, Brian Balthazar, maybe even bigger than Taylor Swift. He's covering it all. He joins us tonight live for a special edition of Bingeworthy on Top Story. Stay with us. Welcome back. It is Friday, which means it is time for Bingeworthy. Our look at the best things to watch and listen to this weekend. I want to bring in entertainment journalists and pop culture expert, top story Hall of Famer, a binge-worthy original, one of the greatest minds

in all of entertainment. Brian Balthazar, welcome to the show. Brian, how are you, buddy? Very good to be here. Happy Friday to you. Good to see you. Okay, let's get right into it tonight. We're going to start with a true crime series

starring Oscar nominee, Lily Gladstone. It is on Hulu. We have a clip. Let's take a look. This girl, Renovert. She's been missing for three days. That name I saw something What happened under the bridge

Can you keep a secret? You don't step foot in Victoria in ten years I'm just show up in the middle of my homicide investigation I'm writing a book People will tell me things they're not going to tell you Brian I'm already scared It's intense, it's the real, it's the scripted version of a true story of a murder that took place in 1997

seven teenagers, six of them young girls, attacked a 14-year-old girl, Rina Verk. And she was missing for eight days before they figured out what happened. Well, before they found her, and then the subsequent discovery of what happened, it is shocking, it is disturbing. I don't want to give any more away than that, but Lily Glassstone... I don't know why someone want to binge this, but is it, if you love true crime, if you're a true crime fan, it's compelling? This is the Lent Series, incredible performances, and a compelling story. It just will leave you with more questions than answers, but it's...

I'm going to have a nightmare. Yeah. Okay, next up, let's turn over to a documentary. If you remember the Jinks. Now there's the Jinks Part 2. And this is nine years after that first docu-series. This one's on Max. Of course, it follows.

The notorious killer, Robert Durst, was also a notorious millionaire. Let's watch. Turns out, when you have a whole lot of money, people are willing to do things for you because they think some of that money might go their way. Everybody.

He's going to work together to get me out of here. You don't kill three people over 30 years and get away with it in a vacuum. What do you do when your best friend kills your other best friend? All right, the jinx, the first one was so great. It was also so detailed. I'm shocked there's enough for a whole new series. Well, what's interesting, in the last scene of part one, which, as you said, was several years ago. He went to the bathroom.

Robert just went to the bathroom with a hot mic on, and he was talking to him. himself and he said, I killed them all with a hot mic on. They didn't have any video. They just heard the audio, so they didn't even discover that until the edit room. And then so that's where it all started to fall apart. And so the process, the things that happened after that hot mic moment led to some justice being done, makes this just as compelling, if not more. Is it good? Oh, yeah. Yeah. It's good. Okay, I'm going to definitely watch that one this weekend. Okay, our next pick, this is a really weird one, right? Yeah. It's sort of experimental. It takes place at a jail in Arkansas, and the idea is giving inmates more freedom and privileges.

It's called Unlock the Jail Experiment. It's on Netflix. Let's take a look. The detainees will have six weeks to prove that they can act more like people and not criminals. It could end helping somebody to be free and stay free. Man, come on, it's a pod full of balance. We run the pod now. Okay, so look, there's a lot of people in jail who have been in prison who've been rehabilitated. Right. There's people who didn't commit very serious crimes.

But there's also serial killers. So who's being let out in this experiment? Right. Well, part of this experiment, which is Little Rock, Arkansas, is that they get reduced less direct supervision. And they were all told, this is on you to figure out if you can make this work. Do you want to have certain levels of freedom? And in doing so, you have to behave, or there will be consequences, and you'll go back to spending up to 20 hours a day in a cell. So there's motivation for them.

It's an interesting experiment, and it was actually well received. The experiment itself was deemed a success, but how it happened was really controversial. It's interesting. I think I'll watch it, and this brings me to our next one, which is connected to it. It's a travel show, including Conan O'Brien. Right, so connected. He's a segue right there. If you're binging both these things, you have a lot going on.

But Conan O'Brien, he's back. He's got a new show. People say it's hysterical. Let's take a look. This is a travel show I'm doing. Where I visit my fans. from around the world. We must embrace the way people do in this country,

which is I'm supposed to kiss you, right? You're making it so weird. That's what I do. That is my gift. You can't buy that kind of propaganda. What's your first impression when I come up to you? I don't want to lie. Try this.

Not bad. So Conan O'Brien, I'm going to tell you, I'm a huge fan. I watched him since he started because he was so different. He was hysterical. He was of our generation. He was the late-night guy, sort of counterculture. I've loved his podcast, but I have missed him on TV. For people like me, will we get our Conan Phil with this, the show?

Well, yes and no, because it's that signature self-deprecation. But there's only four episodes. Right. So, and he also, you know, we've seen travel shows before. I was going to say there's something cliche about all of this. Does he make fun of that? Yes, he makes fun of the genre itself in a way that only Conan can, really well-received. But it's going to be just a taste.

It may leave you wanting more. But if you love Conan, you're going to love this. some travel shows when he had his late-night show that were very funny. When he went out, he went to various countries, and I know they were very well-received. I wonder if that was sort of a little bit of a catalyst for this, and they said he could probably do this. Yeah.

And also, I know his podcast was so popular. He made so much money off that. Absolutely, and he does meet some of the people fans of the podcast along the way here. Okay, cool. So we'll definitely check out. That sounds great. Last on our watch list, this one is on Peacock, the Mother ship. Always got to plug her. Bravo is cracking

open the vault and adding dozens of iconic Bravo shows that you can now stream. Let's take a look at some of those iconic moments. Oh, what I'm in to my trap! Get your motherfuckin' teeth, how about that? They're done. They're done. And you came in in your Herman Munster shoes.

They're Louis Vuitton shoes, you know? Well, even Louis Vuitton makes mistakes. Good, look. No, no, no. Hold on. Hold on. It's not. Yes.

How dare you? How do you know what's good for me? That's my opinion! Bravo, Bravo. Don't check me, boo. Remember that one from the Atlanta? There's so many iconic moments. It makes you want to throw something.

I mean, and it's also, they're bringing back some other classics. Well, the repeats of Rachel Zoe Project, Tabitha Salon, takeover, so many favorites. You can just dip right into the Peacock app and watch some of those classics. Brian, besides being a massive television on-air talent, you're also behind the scenes, massive producer. Do some reality. Not this genre, a different type of reality. What is it about the Real Housewives that America love? Because I know they put the Real Housewives of Miami back on Peacock.

They brought it back, and it did bonkers numbers. It did very well. Like, what is it about the Real Housewives? I just think it's this generation soap opera. You know, we had our mothers and our grandparents that watched their stories in the afternoon. And the drama of prime time is so much more. I think you want to watch with this kind of like one eye open, one eye close. And it's just train wrecking.

I like to say Train Rec TV, but it's incredibly entertained. I think Andy Cohen, to his credit, was able to sort of always won up the ante. Right. Right, it kept getting crazier and crazier and crazier. And these women in these shows, they know that the more they do, the more the camera is going to be on them. And they want that camera time. Everyone's freaking out because we got to get to the new Taylor Swift album. Who's that?

I'm sorry. Who? Taylor Swift. How is it? Is it any good? Do we have a clip? Can we go to the clip? Yeah, we have a clip.

Okay. Let's play it. For a fortnight there we were together running to you sometimes. Come and tongue. My sweater. Now you're at the mailbox. Okay, so talk to me about the new. I've been so busy today.

I haven't had a chance to listen to it. I heard a little bit of the first song released. I think it was that when it was on the radio already. A little more mellow, but great. How's the album received? It is mellow, thoughtful, raw lyrics. And I think in like three minutes, she was releasing the music video for Fortnite. Oh, wow.

If you look at the iTunes charts, 50 out of the 100 are Taylor Swift songs. Right now? She released a double album. So, there are 30 new songs, more than two. hours of music, she left to no lyric or stone unheard. We have less than a minute. Explain the drama with Kim Kardashian on this album. Okay, so there's a song called Thank You, Amy. And if you take the words, thank you, Amy, and capitalize the K, the I and the M in there,

that's a very clear Kim reference. And then the lyrics, if you read between those tea leaves, are a little bit, there's a bit of a slight to someone who may or may not be Kim. This is the part that fans love to do is read the tea leaves, read into the lyrics. I mean, you have to really uncover that one. It sounds like there might be something there. Oh, yeah, she's not a fan. Amy is the new Karen. Does that become like the new Karen?

Do you know, it may be now. You don't want to be an Amy? I mean, Taylor Swift is the birther of memes and trends. We're going to have to wait and see Brian Valazar. Yeah, I don't know. All right, Brian, we thank you as always, man. Always such a pleasure. And we thank you for watching Top Story tonight and all week.

I'm Tom Yamison, New York. Stay right there. Much more news on the way. Thank you.