Top Story with Tom Llamas - Friday, July 4, 2025

Episode Date: July 5, 2025

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, breaking news as we come on the air. President Trump signing his big, beautiful bill and the flash flood heart unfolding in Texas. First, the stunning images, flood waters washing away cars and this home. A daring, apparent rescue dangling from a helicopter. Flash flood striking in the night, the Guadalupe River rising nearly 30 feet in just one hour. Authorities say more than a dozen people are dead. At least 20 girls missing. missing from an all-girls summer camp. Ryan Chandler on the ground for us

and Bill Cairns on the continued flood threat. Also breaking tonight, signing day at the White House with the stroke of a pen, President Trump turning his big, beautiful bill into law. The elaborate White House ceremony complete with a flyover by the B-2 bomber. Plus, wildfire fury blazes exploding in multiple states at this hour.

North of Los Angeles, 70,000 acres burned and counting. emergency crews fighting the flames from the ground and the sky. Inside a notorious Iranian prison are Richard Engel with exclusive access inside one of that country's jails that once housed political prisoners, and what we found when we returned to that infamous former U.S. Embassy from the Iranian hostage crisis. The dictator's daughter, the child of Kim Jong-un, who could become the first woman to lead North Korea, why South Korean intelligence believes she's likely being groomed. for her father's job.

Plus, concert chaos, a growing number of superstars experiencing mishaps on stage and in the air. Katie Perry and Beyonce rescued from their own set pieces while on tour. And on this July 4th, the king of the hot dog eating contest, Joey Chestnut, reclaims his crown. Top story starts right now. Good evening and happy forth. I'm Ellison Barber in for Tom Yamis. We're coming on the air at the start of this holiday weekend with breaking news on multiple fronts. President Trump signing that mega bill into law. We'll get to that in just a few moments, but we're going to begin with the flooding disaster ongoing in Texas at this hour. The horrifying images out of the lone star state tonight. This home washed away by the floodwaters, cars lifted off the ground scent floating away. This video appearing to capture a daring helicopter rescue. Officials confirming tonight at least 400 emergency workers have been searching for those stranded. Officials say at least 13 people have been killed after flash floods struck in the dark of the night. The waters of the Guadalupe River rising nearly 30 feet in just an hour.

Multiple summer camps in the area hit by the floods head on at Camp Mystic. In old girls summer camp, more than 20 girls are still missing. The floods leaving devastation in their wake, cars thrown like toys, roofs left hanging on. off the sides of homes. All of this as another possible wave of heavy rains could be on the way. Bill Cairns live in studio to explain just how this happened and the potential dangers ahead.

But we're going to begin tonight with Ryan Chandler in the flood zone as the waters continue to rise. In central Texas tonight, a catastrophic flood emergency. At least 13 people are dead, according to authorities, including children. And at least 20 kids are missing from a summer camp. after a sudden surge along the Guadalupe River north of San Antonio. It's going to be a mass casualty event.

Authorities saying 14 helicopters are in the air. One rescuer dangling from a chopper appearing to help someone up in a tree as flooding rages below. Cars lifting off the ground swept away by the powerful waters. These steps leading to a house that's no longer there. This is our house right now. Another pushed down the road. The water started to rise very rapidly. Along the river, a series of summer camps, the Lahunta camp for boys posting that everyone is safe. But some girls at Camp Mystic trapped.

Now there are 20-some that aren't accounted for. We're praying for all of those missing to be found alive. You can feel the anxiety here as parents are waiting to hear word about their child. We're told that these children are being transported by helicopter the only way out of the camp. As parents wait to hear, they've returned safely. The county judge pressed on why the camps weren't evacuated. We knew there was going to be a problem. Why weren't these camps evacuated?

I can't answer that. I don't know. These camps were in harm's way. We knew this flood was coming. We didn't know this flood was coming. Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming. The tight-knit Texas towns across Kerr County are popular recreation areas. Len Clendenin and Rory Higgins were camping, asleep in their cabin when the water started running.

rushing in. Everything happened so terribly fast. There was mobile homes, travel trailers, cabins, vehicles, people in the water. It was devastating. They took this video showing a building from the campground washing away. Their beloved Border Collie Ripper is still missing. Flood threats were in place overnight. Because drenching rain flooded the riverhead, massive amounts of water got pushed downstream.

One point today, National Weather Service data showing the water rising nearly 30 feet in one hour. This region near the Guadalupe River is no stranger to floods. And in 1987, rapidly rising water killed 10 people. Buses stalled out and the water was starting to, it was real deep, so we were going to try to get out and get to the road. Went too far back and it started washing people away. Today's storm means one area park that normally looks like this. is instead underwater. It is set to host 4th of July fireworks tonight.

What was supposed to be a holiday celebration is now a nightmare. This came at night when people were sleeping in bed. Please pray. For our commute. And Ryan Chandler joins us now from Curval, Texas. Ryan, we can't imagine what those parents are going through with at least 20 girls missing from that summer camp. I understand the parents have been told not to come to that area right now.

Talk to us about the search and rescue efforts. How do they look at this hour? Yeah, it's still a very active search and rescue mission, Allison. Resources pouring in from all across the state. All afternoon, we've seen helicopters through this town surveying the land, but also helping to rescue those very young girls from the summer camp, the only way they could get out. We also know that drones and dive teams have been deployed.

to try and find those who may still be alive or to recover those who aren't. And Ellison, we're expecting to hear more later tonight when the governor, Greg Abbott, who was out of state this morning, is holding a presser coming back to the state tonight. That'll be at 9 o'clock local where we expect to hear more about the efforts that are still ongoing to help this community heal, Allison. NBC's Ryan Chandler, thank you. For more on how much longer this catastrophic flooding will last. Let's go to NBC News, meteorologist Bill Cairns.

Bill, talk to us about how we got here. How did this get so bad so quickly? It seems like some people really weren't expecting to see it to this scale. Yeah, with so many fatalities, and then, you know, 20 girls missing from a camp, the questions are being asked, why weren't these people evacuated beforehand? Why didn't they get out of the way? And this is just the definition of how deadly and destructive a flash flood can be. And a lot of times it can be isolated and not widespread.

When everyone went to bed in this area, they knew that. they had thunderstorms in the forecast, but no one was thinking a river could go from three feet deep to 29 feet deep in one hour. I mean, that's unheard of. And so it all happened because we got about two to three months' worth of rain in this area in about six to 12 hours last night. I mean, it was just an incredible amount of rain in the same areas in the hills. The hills collect in the valleys. The valleys have the streams, and then they all connected to the Guadalupe River. And these were some of the rainfall total. I mean, Mason, Texas, 17. San Angelo, Texas, 14.2.8. This is like the amount of rains you'd see with like a horrific tropical storm that stalls out over some areas.

And river flood warnings do continue. We are going to see this water cresting. It's still flowing. We still have a wall of water going down here towards Canyon Lake. And that will be one of the issues. And Hallie, I mean, we just, that one hour, 29 feet, that's a stat that just no one can believe. Bill, New Jersey also experienced deadly weather yesterday. What other areas should Americans or where, Where else should Americans be on alert? Yeah, so we still have a couple dangers out there, and the biggest one is likely going to be off the southeast coast. We have a tropical depression that the hurricane center is now tracking. We have tropical storm warnings that erupt from Charleston up to the Wilmington area.

So this is not going to be a big, huge hurricane. It's not going to be devastating, but it's going to ruin a lot of people's holiday weekend. It is going to be drifting here towards the South Carolina coast. And it's not going to be a so-called landfall because it's going to be a weaker storm, but it could become a tropical storm as we go throughout the next. 24 hours. It's going to bring rough surf, waves, and rip currents. So that's going to be the biggest fear if we're going to have any lives lost with this system. People stay off the beaches and listen to your lifeguards. Bill Cairns, thank you. Our other major headline tonight,

President Trump officially signing his so-called big, beautiful bill into law. The president holding a lavish signing ceremony at the White House, including one with a B-2 bomber flyover. It comes as anti-Trump demonstrations break out across the country on independent. day. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell has more on what's in the bill and how it could impact Americans. Merging patriotism and politics at the White House tonight. Happy 4th of July. The 4th of July festivities serving as a backdrop for President Trump to showcase his actions. The one big, beautiful bill. With a flourish and a Sharpie, he signed into law the massive bill that sweeps up his biggest policy objectives, supported by only Republicans.

That includes tax cuts, funding border security, while making cuts to safety net programs like Medicaid and food assistance. It's really promises made, promises kept. Adding to the stagecraft, a salute in the sky, to the June military operation that delivered strikes an Iran's nuclear program. The president said pilots and mechanics from that mission and their families are invited to this celebration. The president started what the administration considers a victory lap in Iowa last night. Just as I promised we're making the Trump tax cuts permanent and delivering no tax on tips, no tax on overtime.

There are restrictions. Under the new law, workers who qualify can deduct up to $25,000 in tips from their taxable income. Susanna Castillo waits tables at butcher bar in New York and says this will help her save and spend on her family. It's going to be amazing. It's going to be a big positive. However, the new law is a new rallying cry for Democrats. The largest cut to Medicaid in American history. Who will argue to voters that Republicans chose to boost the rich while cutting food assistance and health care for millions. Heather Payne lives in Georgia. Georgia and says she did not qualify for Medicaid after a series of strokes because she could not meet state work requirements like those that will be implemented nationwide. I think it is immoral and unethical to deny people medical care so that they can sicken and die.

That's the way I feel about it. And Kelly O'Donnell joins us now from the North Lawn of the White House. Kelly, you mentioned the president visiting Iowa last night, selling the country on this bill. Is this the first stop of a tour that we could see expand moving forward? Well, very often when there's a big piece of legislation, the president does travel to battleground states to sell it. We don't know of any plans for that at this time. One of the things the president is touting is his plans for what to do for the 250th anniversary of the country's founding. That's today, next year.

and one of his ideas is to have a UFC fight on a, you know, with a ring and spectators on the South Lawn as part of the celebration. The discussion of what's in the bill and how it plays will certainly be a part of the midterm campaign trail, and Democrats will be dealing with that, and Republicans will have to answer when there are concerns about some elements of the bill. Alison. Kelly O'Donnell, thank you. And we're following breaking news in California, where authorities are still searching for seven people, people after a warehouse filled with fireworks exploded this Tuesday. And that's not all. In the run-up to July 4th, there have been multiple incidents of accidental

firework explosions. NBC's Camilla Bernal has this story. Heartbreak deepens after days of anguish. Authorities tonight confirming human remains have been found at the site of that massive explosion just outside of Sacramento. The victims not yet identified. I wanted to see their clothes or anything that I know I will recognize it and said this was my son. According to county officials, the company devastating pyrotechnics did not have a permit to store fireworks.

The company did not respond to NBC News's request for comment. It's just one of several chaotic incidents involving fireworks around the country. In Nevada, officials say several people were hurt after fireworks were accidentally. detonated on a mountain. In California, San Fernando Valley, a man killed in a fire caused by fireworks according to authorities. And another deadly explosion in Ventura County. The house fully shook. Everything was moving. My TV was moving. To prevent these types of incidents, the Riverside Police Department deploying drones to detect illegal fireworks. It means we can respond to incidents faster and allocate our resources more effectively.

Back in Asparto, families begging for closure. My chest is heavy. It's so heavy. And the Ramos family, they have been here every day since that explosion. They say it's just as miserable to be home as it is to be here. But they're hoping that being here will eventually lead to some answers. The mom telling me that she already went to the sheriff's office to give a DNA sample but says she still has not heard anything back from authorities.

Ellison. Camila Bernal, thank you. Staying in California now, a massive wildfire is spreading north of Los Angeles, forcing evacuations and threatening dozens of structures. The Madre fire, as it's called, has now scorched nearly 80,000 acres, making it the state's biggest wildfire of this year so far, and hot and dry conditions are not making things any easier. NBC's Morgan Chesky reporting on the ground for us tonight.

In Southern California, windwit flames carving a brutal path. The Madre fire exploding over the past 24 hours, scorching a massive area, two hours north of Los Angeles. Air tankers doing their best to corral the flames that have now burned more than 70,000 acres. Crews working 24-7, this water drop, saving at least 100. home amid ongoing evacuations. What really fueled this fire spread over the last day or so? The type of vegetation, the terrain that you're looking at, and when it's steep, those drainages go up like a candle. They heat both sides of the hill. It's going to run up a hill

rather quickly. Across the country, 90 large fires are burning, 31 of them uncontained. The majority of them are in the western United States. And this holiday, more than 7,300 firefighters and support personnel are battling the fires. In Alaska, red flag conditions prompting evacuation orders near Fairbanks, where two large fires are burning at zero percent containment. While in Utah, the Forsyth fire is nearly contained after scorching more than 13,000 acres. And tonight, back out here in California, as the Madre fire now becomes the largest statewide fire so far this year, its cause remains unknown and under investigation. We'll send it back to you. Morgan Chesky, Overnight, Russia launched its deadliest aerial attack on Ukraine since the start of the war.

The attack coming less than a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected the prospect of a ceasefire and a phone call with President Trump. NBC's Ralph Sanchez has this one. This is the sound of diplomacy going nowhere. Kiev rocked by what Ukraine says is the largest Russian aerial assault of the entire war. 550 drones and missiles pounding the Capitol. Families spending the night huddled in bomb shelters. The attack began just after President Trump spoke to Vladimir Putin yesterday, but said he'd made no progress towards a ceasefire. I'm very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin because I don't think he's there.

The Kremlin responding that it would achieve its war aims, either by diplomacy or force. Today, the president speaking with Volodymyr Zelensky, who said they'd agreed to work together to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses. But no public mention from him of the U.S. pausing some weapons shipments to Ukraine, including Patriot Interceptor missiles, needed to fend off Russian strikes. The Pentagon says it's prioritizing America's own military stockpiles. But three U.S. officials tell NBC News, senior military officers found the aid to, Ukraine would not jeopardize ammunition supplies for U.S. troops.

While Kiev residents surveyed the damage, it felt like something was flying in every minute, this woman says, and brace for more attacks to come. And there are new concerns tonight about the Zaporica nuclear power plant in Ukraine. It is the largest nuclear plant in Europe. And the U.N. says it lost power for about three hours earlier today. electricity was eventually restored, which is critical for keeping the reactor cool. But the U.N. says this underscores the danger of intense fighting in a country where there is so much nuclear infrastructure. Elison.

Raph Sanchez. Thank you. Still ahead tonight on Top Story. Richard Engel reports exclusively from inside Iran's notorious Evan Prison, the first Western journalist to go inside that prison since the U.S. airstrikes that killed dozens. Plus, mid-air malfunctions from Beyonce. to Katie Perry, the troubling trend of high-flying concert acts going terribly wrong and growing questions about tour safety. And millions of Americans on the hunt for Fourth of July shopping deals. Are they in for some ticker shock thanks to the U.S. tariff awards? We're back tonight with Money Talks and a warning for consumers. This holiday weekend,

of deals, you might notice price hikes and impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs. Those increases already hitting major U.S. department store chains like Macy's, Nordstroms, and Dillards. So what more should you know about these hikes and what they could lead to next? Let's bring in Retail Insights expert for Retail Me Not, Stephanie Carls for more. Stephanie, thank you for joining Top Story, especially on a holiday. Happy fourth to you. Let's talk about this because holiday weekends for so many of us, they are known as, being a time where if you're looking to get something, you can probably score a really great deal,

right? But tariffs, they are impacting some of those traditional savings consumers have grown to expect, right? That's correct. And we're seeing the price hikes quietly stack up in places that people are shopping every single day. So especially on shoes, bags, apparel. And with the back-to-school shopping starting, this is where families are truly going to be hit the hardest. Data Weave, which is a price tracking analytic system, they've been tracking major retailers in this trend of price hike since the tariffs went into effect, right? I want to show a chart that we have of monthly price changes in apparel at U.S. retailers. We can see there the increases from DSW, Macy's, as well as Nordstrom's. How are you seeing this impact the way people shop at some of these enormous department stores?

Well, these retailers like Macy's and Nordstrom are, making these targeted adjustments. They're raising, they're raising the prices on some of the private label items that refresh more often. We are also seeing that Nike is expecting to absorb up to a billion dollars in extra cost, but most companies aren't able to do that across the board. And so people are trying to make those small and smart shifts. So Retail Me Not, we're actually seeing that 60% of people have said that they've already started their holiday shopping. And This is just going to be one way that they can stay ahead of these rising prices. Talk to us about in the coming days where people should be, or even today, where people should be looking to try and find deals,

if they should maybe stock up ahead of birthdays or holidays or if they're just looking for the traditional July 4th sale. Well, these prices are rising in these specific categories like we've been talking about, but shoppers, they still have options. And I think the smartest thing to know right now is that this isn't about panic or those big changes that they need to do. This is about being more precise and they're planning ahead. They can stack savings where they can. So those could be cashback options. Of course, going in and enjoying these different sales that are happening, but also adding in those cashback options, loyalty rewards and promo codes.

And this is going to help you be more selective also about what you, you buy and also where you buy it. So this is how people are staying more in control, even as these costs are going up. Stephanie Carles, thank you. Thank you. Let's turn to a special 4th of July celebration in Nebraska, 50 years in the making. One city unearthed one of the world's biggest time capsules today. NBC's Maya Eaglin was there, and she tells us tonight what she found inside. in America's official July 4th, Small Town. Small Town, USA, 4th of July City. The world's biggest time capsule, according to the World Record Academy, a classic roadside

attraction for 50 years. They found it. I can't believe they found it. Finally unsealed, revealing a treasure trove of Americana. Half a century ago today, the town came together to freeze a moment in time. Pet rocks, a teal colored leisure suit, very, very much 1975. even an almost perfectly preserved Chevy Vega. It took three days to crack open this 45-ton portal to the past.

They even had to use a crane, and then it was a race against time to bring thousands of items up and out. But it was some of the smaller items that got the biggest response. This is clearly my mom's handwriting. Chris Galen, reuniting with this note. I hope you had a good education, a happy, successful life. That moment is what capsule creator Harold Davidson would have wanted. I thought my dad was crazy. I think you need to be pushing 45 to understand how fast time goes, how little time you have to make memories with those you love, and that was what he was trying to do.

The thing I'm thinking about is I think about the time capsule is it's not about what's inside of it, it's about what's inside of us, and who we were back in 75 and who we are today. Honoring the past and the present on a day of celebration. Maya Eaglin, NBC News, Sward Nebraska. Next on top story, a gas station explodes in Rome, injuring dozens of people, including at least 10 first responders, huge plumes of smoke seen billowing into the air and the terrifying accounts from the ground. Plus, like father, like daughter, the young girl making public appearances alongside Kim Jong-un and the growing sign she might be the heir to a dictatorship. But first, top story's top moment, the champion is back.

Of course, we're talking about Joey Jaws chestnut. He reclaimed his title today in the annual Nathan's hot dog eating contest. He ate a total of 70 and a half hot dogs in just 10 minutes, beating out 14 other hot dog fanatics. Take a look at those last couple of seconds. Nobody has done it with greater consumption. Nobody's stomach has lasted as long as Joey's. It's a dirty dozen. for chestnut number 12 at nathens the champion of the world joey chestnut falling short of his 77

hot dog record that he set back in 2021 about seven hot dogs from his record that 2021 record his win coming after he did not participate in the competition last year because of a contract dispute over his deal with a competing brand our thoughts go out to chestnut and his stomach for the next couple of days it's not for me i'm not going to going to do it. I will never do it. But we will be right back, so stay with us. We'll be right back. across a picket line. The mayor posting that she spoke with him and respects his decision and says he is always welcome.

The union, which is the largest blue collar workers union in Philly, has been on strike since July 1st. And in Rome, a huge explosion at a gas station left at least 40 people hurt, including 10 first responders. You can see it here, the large plumes of smoke, dark smoke, while firefighters were attempting to put out the flames. 10 police officers and one firefighter were among the injured. Officials say they were responding to a possible leak, but they are still investigating the cause of the explosion.

And an air traffic controller strike in France has causing chaos in one of the busiest airports. More than 40% of flights heading in and out of Paris were canceled today as a result of the strike. The workers are protesting for better working conditions, but the transportation minister is calling their demands unacceptable. Officials are warning travelers to expect long delays at airports across the country. Staying overseas now to an NBC news exclusive. Are Richard Engel gaining access to a prison in Iran that once housed political prisoners? The jail hit by a recent Israeli airstrike. Officials there say dozens were killed and what Richard and his team found inside

when they returned to the site of the Iranian hostage crisis. In Tehran's Grand Mos today, the preacher denounced the United States and Israel and called their military strikes against Iran a crime. The preacher just said President Trump wants Iranians to surrender, and their response is very clear. No and death to America. Iran is trying to show strength. But for 12 days, the U.S. and Israel attacked this country relentlessly, targeting much more

than its nuclear sites. And we've just been given this extraordinary access to a place that was completely all. limits. The Avine prison held political prisoners. We were able to see what's left of this notorious jail after Israeli airstrikes destroyed the gates, administrative buildings, and a health clinic. And there is something of a date stamp to this attack. The guards who are showing us around here who don't want to be filmed on camera say the

Israeli strike happened right around noon, right before noon, and that is when this clock stopped at 10 minutes to 12. And you can see on the wall here. There's some blood streaks that clearly look like they were made by somebody's hand. Iranian officials say nearly 80 people were killed here, including civilians. For Iranians, this latest war has revived tensions with the U.S. that go back decades. And here in the center of Tehran is the former U.S. embassy where American diplomats were held hostage, and the walls are covered with anti-American murals and propaganda.

But inside the old U.S. Embassy compound, there's now a cafe. Thank you very much. Where you can order an Americano. Things when you're in a country are often very different than they appear from the outside. Yes, the U.S. and Iran have major problems. But people to people. On an individual level, you don't feel the hatred. At the end of the day, people are just people.

Iranians tell us they'll fight back if attacked again, but don't want another war. Richard Engle, NBC News, Tehran. In North Korea, dictator Kim Jong-un has been making more public appearances with the person many believe will succeed him as supreme leader, his daughter, Kim Joe A. Although little is really known about her, some experts say she's being groomed to one day become the first female ruler of North Korea. Here once again is Raf Sanchez. At first, it looks like a typical scene of North Korean propaganda.

The country's leader, Kim Jong-un, greeted by wild applause. Some weepen as he kneels by the coffins of North Korean troops killed fighting alongside Russia against Ukraine. But look a little closer. You'll notice the teenage girl at his side. Her name is Kim Chu-A. She's the daughter of the dictator. And, according to South Korean intelligence, she's likely being groomed to her.

one day become the first female ruler of North Korea. Ever since the country's founding in 1948, it's been ruled by the men of the Kim family, power passing from father to son for three generations. Kim Jong-un and his wife are believed to have three children, but only Zhu A has ever been seen publicly. We know very little about her. What we've learned has largely come through the effort to propagandize her in pictures and footage.

She's obviously never given any interviews. So it's a bit of a mystery. That's because the North is as secretive as it is repressive. Even Juey's exact age is unknown, but she's thought to be around 13 years old. The world only learned her name when former NBA star Dennis Rodman

visited North Korea in 2013 and said he held her as a small baby. Her first official appearance was in 2022, two, baby-faced beside her father at the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile with the range to hit the U.S. But over the last year, she's appeared constantly at Kim's side, joining him at everything from the official launch of a prized new battleship to the surreal grand opening of this North Korean water park, father and daughter watching their subjects surfing and shooting down elaborate water slides. Kim Ju-e is so young. Why?

is she being presented to the public now? It's a good question. I think on the one hand, the North Korean leader wants to demonstrate continuity that there is a future after him. On the other hand, he also doesn't want to present anything that is threatening to him. And so having a young girl as his potential successor removes any threats, it's not like there are going to be clicks forming around a 13-year-old girl. Juet's hair and makeup seemed designed to make her look older than she really is. The style similar to that of her mother, First Lady Reesolju, a former singer.

While North Korea has never had a female leader, and its top military and political officials are overwhelmingly man. There is at least one powerful woman inside the regime, the leader's younger sister, Kim Yo-Jong. At her brother's side here during a meeting with the president of South Korea. Her fiery condemnations of the U.S. are often read out on state television. And while the Kim's decades-long grip on their country continues, other Korean families have been divided for generations by the militarized border that splits north from south, as we found during a visit three years ago. Many South Koreans still have family in the North people.

They haven't seen in decades in some cases, and so they come here and they leave ribbons with their hopes of one day being reunited. This one just says, Dad, I miss you. Those longed-for reunions still likely many years away as the ruling family's next generation prepares for power. Raff Sanchez, NBC News. When we come back, the London neighborhood painting it black, tourists and influencers flocking the Notting Hill

to take the perfect pictures in front of the brightly painted homes. The residents there are now fighting back with a new coat of paint. And from Beyonce to Katie Perry, the stars getting stuck in the sky as they pull out all the stops to try and impress fans. The scary moments on stage. Next. We're back now with a growing issue across the pond. Tourist flocking to the beautiful Notting Hill neighborhood in London, a spot made famous by the Julia Roberts movie of the 90s. The colorfully painted pastel homes provide Instagram-worthy backdrops for influencers. But some residents are getting so fed up with that constant stream of people.

They're repainting their homes in darker colors. NBC's Danielle Hammam Jim has this one. It's a sunny day in one of the most popular neighborhoods in London. With some of the most Instagram streets in the world. Welcome to Lancaster Road and Notting Hill, where those colorful homes are a feast for the eyes. At every hour, every minute, every single. second of the day just ask Julie Amanda and Dana flew in from New Jersey this morning

when you think of Notting Hill what comes to mind um probably the movie in like probably this iconic street Notting Hill featuring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant a signature film of the 90s I'm also just a girl standing in front of a boy asking him to love her But in 2025, they're just influencers and tourists standing and relentlessly posing in front of these Notting Hill properties, asking for the best angle, often for a like on the gram. Residents are so fed up with the constant stream of tourists that some of these quirky, bright, colored homes have faded to black. So what do you think of their decision to paint their house as black? I don't blame them because every day, every, even my no cluck, still some tourists aren't here. Bold, dark, and yet still, they keep snapping.

These Spanish tourists are undeterred, posing on the doorstep, seemingly making themselves at home. Do you know why they've painted their house is black? Yes. They don't want people on their doorstep. It's a similar scene unfolding every day. outside 66 Perry Street in New York. Known to fans around the world as Carrie Bradshaw's one-bedroom apartment

in the show Sex and the City. This chain has done little to deter tourists, and the owner has had enough. So has the real resident of the Breaking Bad House in Albuquerque. Yeah, get them, Joanne. Who was recently filmed using a water hose to keep the public away. Back in Notting Hill, the door event.

eventually opens and those Spanish tourists come face to face with the owner. He's polite, but equally annoyed. Everyone is asked to leave until the next group shows up. Danielle Hammamjian, NBC News, London. Next tonight to the recent string of scary moments for some of the biggest performers in the world. Katie Perry clinging to a massive sphere floating above the stage after it started to go sideways. It comes just days after Beyonce had a similar. scare on her Cowboy Carter tour.

NBC's Priscilla Thompson has this look at those incidents and why some performers say they feel a growing pressure to keep raising the stakes. They're the concert mishaps grabbing headlines and going viral on social media. In Houston, Beyonce's flying red plush convertible, the show-stopping finale on her cowboy Carter tour started tilting dramatically to one side.

Stop, stop, stop, stop. The singer stopping the show as the crew brought her safely back to the stage. In Australia, Katie Perry's giant sphere. Appearing to experience a similar sudden loss of balance while preparing to fly over crowds. Perry's team suspending the performance as she was rescued. That was the singer's second tough break in Australia this year after a concert attendee managed to charge the stage and grab her in Sydney just last month. And back here in the U.S., another concert mishap for Post Malone.

The star reaching out to toast a fan and a piece of the stage suddenly appearing to give out, plunging him to the ground. A similar shock for singer Olivia Rodrigo, who back in October dropped into a hole through what appeared to be an open trap door on stage. Oh, my God, that was fun. I'm okay. Experts say these traveling tours for big stars are increasingly trying to pull off bigger and better acts to fill massive stadiums. With the expense of concerts these days, especially by superstar artists, with the size of the space they have to fill, there's

constant pressure to do something amazing every time. Making airborne accidents like Beyonce's and Katie Perry's much more common. I've seen so many artists fly across the audience at arena shows that it's amazing. It doesn't happen more. It is rare that people get hurt. But it's not always, weighs the high budget, flashy airborne props that cause problems. It can be flying objects of many other kinds, too. In this 2015 concert, Enrique Iglesias was performing into a drone camera when he attempted to grab it as part of the show, but touched a rotor instead, slicing his hand, which he reportedly needed surgery to fix. And BB Rexa appearing to be struck in the face by a phone thrown from the audience in 2023. The star later sharing this picture, saying she needed

stitches. But even with the risks, performers often eager to get back in front of the crowd. In that most recent Katie Perry incident, the pop icon offering an emotional farewell after the sphere malfunction to cap off the final leg of her Australian tour. Wrapping up the night with a big smile. Priscilla Thompson, NBC News. When we come back, even more shows and movies to watch. binge watch, rather, this holiday weekend. We are talking about the new short competition on Netflix

and the new music from the one and only Kesha. Don't go away. Benjeworthy is next. And we're back now with bingeworthy. Our look at the best things to watch and listen to this weekend.

And it's a long weekend. So we're throwing a couple extra options in today. We are joined by friend of the program, Ralphiaversa, host and producer of USA Today's Entertain This. Sophie, thank you so much for being with us. So big weekend, a lot of options for people, right? We're going to start.

This one is an action movie. It is on Prime Video. It stars Idris Elba as the UK Prime Minister, and then John Sina as President of the United States. This is Heads of State. Take a look. What is it with you walking around thinking you're better than everybody else? You are the commander-in-chief.

You know, some DJ in Vegas. All right, I get it. You don't like my movies. I've never seen your movies. but the universe keeps telling me I look cool with a gun in my hand what's the difference between me a toy gun what's that that calm be good I mean it's got a lot of action it looks like yeah it does have a lot of action it's got a little bit of a buddy cop feel to it as well

it's about two hours long so if you got that time this weekend then there you go hop on over to prime video and you can see mr. Sina as the president slash movie star and then Idris, what a great line there. You're not some DJ in Vegas, of course, he's DJs as well. What? He guys? Oh, yeah. He's got like a DJ career as well. I didn't know that. We'll Google it afterwards. Yeah. Priyanka Chopra Jonas in this as well, it's pretty good, actually. All right. That one. Okay. So, we're at the watch if you just want a fun, watch some booms and maybe laugh along the way. Yes, exactly. Okay. So the next one that we have is for reality TV fans, dramatic season two of the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. There's a reunion that is out. It is on Hulu. Take a look.

I twisted my narrative to benefit her situation. Would your husbands be okay if you were doing that? Demi says, Jen, how dare you accuse me? I'm a victim. She knew that I was going to confront her about Italy. I have receipts. We are exposing it all. She twisted my narrative to benefit her situation.

Would your husbands be okay if you were doing? I mean, sometimes you gotta watch a weird reunion to be like, my life's not that bad. Nobody did that. Alison, you took the words out of my mouth. You know, it's Fourth of July. You're getting together with the family. Maybe politics are being discussed.

discussed and maybe you just think, you know what, I need somebody else's drama in my life, not mine. Boom. Reunion here for the Mormon wives. A big announcement as well in this reunion. It's already made some headlines. I won't spoil it for you now. It involves two of the cast members as well. And congrats to Jen, too. I believe she just welcomed a child. So, yeah, a lot going on here as always. It leaves you wondering, though, who is the queen of Mom Talk? Because there are some claims. I don't know. I'll leave it up to break your minds. You don't want to dabble. You don't want to dabble in the debate.

You don't want to get canceled? No, I'd rather not. I'd rather not. Fine. This one time we'll let you pass on this one. Let's do Netflix, though, because there's a Spanish drama that is out. It's called Olympio. It's a fictional series that's about young athletes training at a high-performance sports center.

Watch this clip. I think they've given to give patrocinios. Just to nothing, three. Well, if you want to You want to You have to do more than the rest, no? In Steakar

never is sufficient, no? That is a tard and put to all. That's in an Olimpo. Olimpo, I added in EEO because it sound more fun, but LIMPO also fun. I mean, that looks really,

first of all, fascinating, and it looks like they have a lot of different characters and dramatic plot points going on in addition to the sports as well. Yes, exactly.

You hit the nail right on the head. Eight episodes, about 45. five minutes each. Maybe if you got a little more time this weekend, that's what you're going to Olympo. And it threw me for a loop at first because the lips of the actors and actresses weren't matching up to the audio that I was hearing. And I didn't realize it. Yes, it was in fact a Spanish drama that and I was listening to the overdubs. I didn't even realize. Were the overdubs bad or manageable? No, they were so manageable. Okay, good. So manageable. And there's a little bit of drama

in here too regarding these athletes along with some love mixed in. So you got a little bit of everything over these eight episodes. Okay, that one sounds fun. I also did that when I watched Squid Games. It took me a minute to be like, I'm not watching the real thing. And then I was like, I felt bad. I was like, quick, put the subtitles on. Like, I don't want to be that uncultured, but here we are. Okay, this is also on Netflix, and I am very excited about this, because Shark Week, coming up soon, this is called All the Sharks. It's actually a reality competition where shark experts compete to find the most elusive shark species. Look at this. The respect I have for sharks is huge.

We've got determination, and we're not going to quit. I'm a marine biologist, and so that's got to give us competitive advantage. It's not going to be easy. I'm seeing a lot, fish. Yeah, but fish does a good point. Come on, sharky. These waters will push your skills to the absolute limit. I mean, shout out to that host beard, first of all.

That was an intense. I love that. But I am someone who I'm fascinated with sharks. I love watching people dive and look at sharks. somewhere in my head, I'm like, I don't know science, I don't know math, but I could probably do that. But it's such a cool job. Yeah, it is a very cool job. But if you're fascinated with sharks, this is right up your alley because you're going to learn about so many different types of sharks.

These sharks that they're trying to photograph, there's obviously a lot more than just a hammerhead shark, for example, which they try to photograph here. And also, the landscapes are beautiful. I mean, you're talking about the waters off of Japan and South Africa and all these other different places. So, yeah, this one is definitely some eye candy in addition to a reality competition and gearing us up for Shark Week, with Tom Bergeron's going to be hosting later this month, I think. I love Sharma. So, yeah, who doesn't, right? Exactly. So a little primer for it on Netflix.

So there will be like a winner crowned at the end of it. Yes. Who decides, do people get to vote, or are they going to have actual other experts weighing in? I didn't get that far yet. Okay, we don't need a spoiler. Thank you. We'll all ride along with it and we'll see what happens. Okay, the next one that we have is a documentary. It's called Train Rack, the Cult of American Apparel. It's about the rise, decline, and controversy surrounding that brand. This one is on Netflix. My phone rang and it was Dove, the head of the whole company. He didn't say anything other than just, I hate you. And then he just hung up.

That was like a regular day at American Apparel. One of the big appeals was it's antithesis to other brands. Everything was made in America. Nobody else was doing that. I run American Apparel in an instinctive manner. I try to break down all kinds of barriers. Actually, one of the slogans was, if you see someone shoplifting, know we're hiring.

Netflix has been serving me this on the algorithm like crazy. Is it worth a watch? Yes, because it's only an hour long, so it's not like three, four different parts. And Dov Charney, I mean, wow, what a character, the things he's accused of, the way that he was able to build up this empire with American Apparel, and then it's downfall. It's all covered over this hour-long documentary. Okay, so we wanted to give a little guide of where to stream some of my favorites if I was going to pick, like, you know, Fourth of July movies, if that's a thing.

But we decided it was. So legally blonde, two, red, white, and blonde. That one, as well as Jaws, a classic. Those are on Peacock. And you can also stream Independence Day, which I think of as a Fourth of July holiday movie, starring Will Smith on Hulu. So we have to ask Ralphie,

do you have, like, July 4th go-toes if you were going to pick a July 4th holiday movie? Well, you know, I know we're going to talk about music in a second. I really don't have a big holiday movie per se. I have some songs, though. A lot of Bruce, a lot of John Mellencamp. Bruce is good. I mean, not just born in the USA, Glory Days, and maybe some of the other artists that we're about to talk about, too.

Okay, well, let's do that then, because Kesha, a classic if you grew up in the early odds, a millennial like myself. I feel like that was kind of the soundtrack to my college days in some way. So she's out with a new album, and this is one of the songs. I love a red flag. Red flag. I mean, that is a bop. It totally is. And this is kind of a return to that Kesha that we came to know when she had all of these big pop hits.

She's kind of reclaiming that for herself. Her first album in two years. Love red flag and certainly love this album as well. It's receiving rape reviews. Before we go, we got to mention Bad Bunny because he is out with a new music video. That is also kind of a political statement. He's using in it a recording that mimics President Trump's voice. This is called Nuevillon.

Listen. I made a mistake. I want to apologize to the immigrants in America. I'm in the United States. I know America is the whole continent. I want to say that this country is nothing without the immigrants. This country is nothing without Mexicans, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Colombians, Venezuelans, So again, just to reiterate, that is not something President Trump said or has ever said that's in AI recording, mimicking his voice, saying something that he hadn't said in the past.

But look, Bad Bunny has been political before. He had that song where he touched on blackouts that were happening in Puerto Rico and had released like an eight-minute video, I think, with it. What do you make of this and what has the reaction been? Well, the reaction to pretty much anything Bad Bunny is usually positive. The song that this album was on came out earlier this year. It was his fourth number one album on the Billboard 200. And so the video, I believe, was just released today. The timing, obviously, with what's happening in our nation's capital

and, of course, it being the 4th of July. So we'll wait to see some more feedback for now. But certainly, people like the song and love the album. Bad Bunny just really rarely misses. He's one of the biggest in the world. Ralphie Alversa, thank you. We appreciate you being also one of the biggest in the world. Thank you.

And thank you at home so very much for watching Top Story. have a happy and safe 4th of July weekend. For Tommy Amos, I'm Ellison Barber in New York. Stay right there. More news is on the way.