Top Story with Tom Llamas - Friday, June 19, 2026

Episode Date: June 20, 2026

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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Breaking news tonight, the explosive wildfire shutting down one of the biggest highways in the country. Massive flames towering over Florida's turnpike, parts of Miami, coated in thick smoke, the urgent efforts to get the upper hand. Plus historic flash floods swamping neighborhoods across the south. Animals caught in the current were tracking it all. Also breaking tonight, Israel and Hezbollah agreed to renew a ceasefire after the vice president suddenly called. off his trip to negotiate with Iran. Caribbean Resort Inferno. Tourists running for their lives as flames consume the popular beach hotel.

We speak with a mother on vacation when that fire broke out. Train crash horror. Two trains colliding, sending passengers flying. At least one person killed. The massive emergency response. The family speaking out after their son was killed in a horse carriage accident. What they're saying, as Central Park halts the converse. controversial tourist attraction.

Team USA's World Cup showdown, why the star player of Team USA was sidelined in the big match against Australia. And rowing robots, the wild video as humanoid bots take on the seas. Plus this June 10th, the new NBC News poll out on the state of race relations. What Americans are saying about the current reality. Top story starts right now. And good evening. I'm Ellison Barber in for talk.

We begin tonight with millions under that severe weather threat. Wildfires raging out of control in Florida, closing major stretches of the turnpike there as that deadly flood emergency grips the south. These are the huge flames engulfing parts of Miami-Dade County. More than 20,000 acres burned as firefighters battled the fires in extreme heat. The sky there completely blanketed in thick plumes of smoke. Hundreds of residents forced to evacuate. Other parts of the south underwater. After Tropical storm, Arthur. Entire neighborhoods in Mississippi submerged, cars ditched in the raging floodwaters. Rescue crews dispatched to those hardest-hit areas bringing people and their pets to safety. This scary scene in Mobile, Alabama, water pouring onto the causeway threatening to wash the key roadway out entirely. We've got our team spread out tonight covering the fires and the floods. Bill Carrens is standing by to time it all out, but we begin tonight in Florida. NBC's Jesse Kirsch is live from the fire zone. Jesse, the images are just stunning.

The fire shutting down the highway. Where do things stand now? Are firefighters any closer to getting them contained? Yeah, Alison, what I can tell you visually is the situation appears to have improved dramatically in the last hour or so. Earlier, we had thick black smoke shooting up pretty much right over my shoulder along the highway back there. That plume of smoke has now gone. There were also massive areas with gray smoke that were emanating from that same broad area. That has all seemingly dissipated.

There are still some stretches across the sky. But by and large, visually, it looks much better than it did earlier today. And you can see how bad those images looked earlier. Online, what we're still seeing from officials is the same containment number, 60% for one fire, 80% for the other. And we have also not had any update about the shutdowns. of roadways, at least at one point today, about six exits of Florida's turnpike were shut down in one direction, a major highway here in the Miami area. So they've been trying to keep, and that's because the fires, as you can see from some of these images, were so close to the

roadway itself. About 200 people were told, have been asked to evacuate in the midst of all this, which has been a days-long situation out here. And again, we're still trying to get some clarity on where things stand from a containment perspective, but I can tell you visually at least, it looks a lot calmer. And for someone who is driving through the area now versus earlier this afternoon, they would probably have a lot lower level of alarm in their mind because it does look substantially better than it did earlier, Ellison. All right. Hopefully that progress could maybe continue. Jesse Kirsch, thank you so much. We appreciate it.

Out of that dangerous flood threat in the wake of tropical storm, Arthur. Tonight, neighborhood's completely underwater and the threat is not over yet. Let's get right to NBC's Priscilla Thompson, who is just outside of New Orleans. Priscilla residents there bracing for more rain as we get new video of the destruction that's been left behind. Yeah, Ellison, folks here have spent the day trying to clean up, getting those blue tarps up to cover and save what they can before more rain begins to move in here. We just saw flashes of lightning and are hearing some thunder in the skies here now. But there are other parts of the South that are completely underwater right now in Louisiana and also in Mississippi. You're looking at Kill Mississippi there where those homes are just inundated with those floodwaters.

We've also seen vehicles and the floodwaters just rushing past cars, really devastating images that are coming out of the south. More than 180 homes in Louisiana believed to be flooded according to the National Weather Service. We've seen people trudging through this chest high water. in some areas trying to get what they can. We run a neighborhood in Mississippi where they were doing water rescues trying to get people out, the sheriff going door to door, telling people to evacuate. And so that is some of what people are dealing with. We know that at least one person has died, a county road worker in Mississippi who died while trying to clean up. And there's also concerns about some of the dams in Mississippi, two of the dams, the Swan Lake Dam in Harrison County and the Anchor Lake Dam in Pearl River.

County. And in fact, yesterday they issued a warning saying that that dam could fail. They were evacuating people, urging people to seek higher ground. We now know that they do expect that dam to hold, but this is not over yet. We're continuing to see rain. Rivers are continuing to crest. And so officials are urging people to continue to be weather aware because we're not quite out of the woods just yet here. All right. NBC's Priscilla Thompson. Thank you. Let's bring in NBC News meteorologist Bill Karens now for more on what to expect this weekend. I mean, A lot going on. Let's start with this timing out this severe weather threat. Yeah, we have a lot of water we still have to get rid of. And it'd be nice if it would actually

stop raining where Priscilla was located not too far away from there. Some pretty powerful thunderstorms that they're going to be dealing with. So as far as the maps go, today we have not had the concentration of widespread heavy rain. It's been more concentrated. And we've really been focusing on southern Alabama. We do have scattered thunderstorms everywhere. But this area here where you see this maroon box. This is a flash flood warning for a good chunk. of southern Alabama. This is where another three to six inches of rain fell today on top of the three to six inches they got yesterday. We still can see isolated flash flooding as we go throughout the rest of the day. One of those areas that Priscilla was just mentioning, here's New Orleans,

and you see all the lightning strikes and very heavy rain. It's not really moving much, so it wouldn't surprise me if we start getting a flash flood warning here on the northeast side of New Orleans. Downtown looks okay, up by the lakefront knows you head across the bridge. That's where the worst of that storm is. And there was a tornado warning for that, but that's the, is now expired, so we're not concerned with that. Additional rainfall in the south, especially in areas around Houston, could possibly get another one to two inches over the weekend. It's not going to rain the entire weekend, but you will get some storms. As far as severe weather goes, watch out areas of Kansas and Nebraska, isolated strong storms with large hail, damaging wind,

and even a few tornadoes. Then on Father's Day, from areas of Kansas, much of Missouri, southern Illinois, into areas of northern Arkansas, isolated strong storms, not as made tornadoes, but wind damage will be a big threat as we head through Father's Day. Not what we want, Alison, for anyone outdoor plans. Yeah, Bill, Jesse mentioned that it seemed like conditions were maybe starting to improve in Florida in terms of that fire. What are you seeing in terms of conditions there? Yeah, this is so unusual because Florida doesn't typically have fires this time of year.

Early in the spring, yes. But then the rainy season usually begins at the end of May, definitely in June. But you notice the radar today, just a few strong storms in the interior. nothing from Miami. The fire is located right about here, and they haven't had much rain in the last two weeks. Forecast over the next two days, less than a half an inch of rain. So the firefighting efforts are going to continue. We really need just to get a big soaking rain, and that's not in the cards. And this is Florida in the summer. Look at these temperatures as we go throughout the weekend all into next week. Temperatures in the low 90s, mid-90s. Heat index is going to be high. It's going to be a while. This is a very unusual start to our summer season.

on Sunday. All right. Bill Cairns, thank you. Turning now to another massive fire we're tracking, this one torching part of a popular resort in the Dominican Republic. Firefighters racing to the scene as flames engulfed part of the beachside property. NBC's George Solis has the video. Tonight, terrifying scenes in the Dominican Republic, a massive fire tearing through the Viva Dominicus Beach Resort, popular with tourists on the country's southeastern coast, flames ripping

through the roof, firefighters rushing to respond. The fire appearing to engulf a significant portion of the resort, thick smoke pouring into the air near the country's iconic white sand beaches and turquoise water. One local man sending NBC news these images taken from a boat showing the scale of the massive blaze. Yeah, it's definitely frightening to see. Canadian Nicole Andrewsition is on vacation at the resort next door, capturing several videos of the dramatic incident. A helicopter did come and start scooping water out of the ocean and was dropping it on the fire. And it took a long time it felt like to get it sort of contained.

NBC News reached out to Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham and was connected to a reservation department representative who confirmed a fire on the property broke out around 11 a.m. Today this video appearing to show the charred out aftermath near the resort's front entrance. A major blaze burning through a vacation. Paradise. And George Solis joins us now with more. I mean, George, the images are so dramatic. Is the fire still burning at this hour? Yeah, Allison, fire seems to have been contained. Nicole, who you heard from there told us that it does seem that the worst of it is over. She's not seeing much of the smoke, obviously. Still some questions remain. And also lingering questions tonight about any

fatalities or injuries. We also reached out to Wyndham's corporate office tonight, but did not hear back. Alison. George Salis, thank you. To the UK now where at least one person was killed and dozens more seriously injured when two passenger trains collided. Sky News correspondent Shaman Freeman Powell is at the scene. Well, a major incident has been declared here in Bedfordshire. The emergency response is still well underway after that collision involving two London-bound trains, one traveling from Nottingham, the other travelling from Corby.

Now, Sky News understands that one of the trains was stationary when it was hit from behind by the second train, causing multiple people to suffer serious injuries. And sadly, one person we now understand has died. Now, all patients with the most serious injuries were taken to nearby hospitals. And we know that those that experienced minor injuries were treated at this scene. been a heavy emergency service response here in this area. I've counted more than a dozen fire and rescue trucks, as well as dozens of ambulances and police vehicles too, all responding to the scene and asking for people not to make their way here. Of course, their immediate focus is to ensure that all passengers that were on the train were able to get off of those trains safe and

sound. That's also been a priority from our Prime Minister to Kirstama, who shared on social media a statement. He commented on the hugely concerning incident, is how he described it, that took place today, saying that his thoughts are with the family of the person who has sadly lost their life and with those who have been seriously injured. Shaman Freeman Powell, thank you. To an update now on that shaky ceasefire in the Middle East, Israel and Lebanon agreeing to pause strikes after a new round of fighting threatened U.S. talks with Iran. President Trump telling NBC News he asked Israel to agree to this new ceasefire, calling it positive. It comes after intense Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon that killed dozens of people.

And after Vice President J.D. Vance abruptly canceled his trip to Switzerland, where he was set to meet with Iranian leaders. Our Gabe Gutierrez is following it all from the White House. And Gabe, you spoke to the president this afternoon. What more can you tell us about why the vice president? president's trip was canceled. And in terms of negotiations, when could those resume? Well, Alison, there were a lot of fast-moving developments on this overnight. The vice president, as you said, was supposed to head to Switzerland, and that was abruptly called off. Now, when I spoke

with the president, he said that he still expected Vice President J.D. Vance to head to Switzerland to take part in those talks, but he wasn't sure when and that likely his special envoy, Steve Woodcoff, would go first. Again, though, all those details are still up in the air. But the president did tell me, that he had spoken with Israel earlier today and asked Israel to enter into that new ceasefire with Hezbollah. He declined to specify whether he had spoken directly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But Allison, this all comes amid a lot of questions about the future of this tentative peace agreement, this memorandum of understanding.

Its first paragraph actually stated that military operations would cease in Lebanon. As you know, Alison, Israel is not a part of this memorandum of understanding. It's not a party to it. There were always huge questions about how this would play out, whether Israel would refrain from attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon. For its part, the IDF says that it only fired during this latest round because four Israeli soldiers were killed. And certainly, this all raises a lot of questions about where this goes from here.

As of now, though, that ceasefire that was struck earlier today appears. to be holding, but it is very fragile, Allison. And Gabe, also today the president unveiled a new Air Force One. What can you tell us there? That's right. The president was at Joint Base Andrews. He headed to Camp David today. But first, he unveiled this new Air Force One.

It's something he's been talking about now for quite some time. It was very controversially a gift from the Qatari royal family, estimated to be about $400 million, or at least to be worth that. And we just got word from the poolers, the pool reporters that went inside that plane today. No video or still pictures were allowed, but they did report and had that new car smell. Still, though, a lot of controversy about this. And whether retrofitting it could be even more expensive. Aviation experts said that it would likely cost more than $400 million to retrofit it for all the security measures that are needed.

But the president said that this is necessary, that the previous planes that they used for Air Force One were used since the early 90s, and that he wanted something to represent the United States around the world. Now, this plane is significantly larger. It's painted red, white, and blue and a dark blue, as opposed to the previous one, who as we know, which, as we know, was that light blue. But it's expected to be used by President Trump throughout his administration. and then, as we understand it, it would then be given to President Trump's Presidential Library Foundation to be used then. But the President, again, saying that this was necessary and that this new plane would be used for a ceremonial flyover on the 250th anniversary on July 4th to celebrate America. Alison. Gabe Gutierrez, thank you. Turning now to the World Cup and the stunning U.S. victory over Australia just a few hours ago.

The U.S. men's national team has now secured a spot in the knockout stage at the tournament, the second team to make it into the round of 32 after co-host Mexico. Damien Trujillo from our NBC Bay Area affiliate is in Seattle tonight for all of the action. So Damien, talk to us about that game. The U.S. is star player out with an injury, but it didn't stop them from winning. What moments stood out to you? Well, there were several. But, you know, as Gabe mentioned, we're celebrating America here in Seattle.

You know, whenever a goal was scored, whether it was at the own goal or the goal by Team USA, you heard the thunderous crowd from here across the way from Seattle Stadium. Just so much excitement there. The teams, they battled it out. A lot of yellow cards were issued. It was a very physical game. But without their star player, it seems like Team USA kind of put a chip on her shoulder and said, we're going to unite and win this for him.

And it was quite a match. proves to a lot of these other competitors, a lot of these other countries what Team USA can do when, in fact, they do not have one of their star players. So when he's back, watch out because they're going to show the world, I think, what Team USA is all about. Ellison. And Damien, looking ahead, what are the other big matches we should be watching this weekend? Well, if you enjoy sports, you're going to feel like a kid in a candy store this weekend. There are eight critical matches this weekend. One is being called the all-European blockbuster between Sweden and the Netherlands.

That's on Saturday. We can't forget also on Sunday about Spain. They play Saudi Arabia. And then Iran is also playing on Sunday. We know what kind of controversy they've stirred here. They play Belgium. So that should be kind of a significant match. And then you can't forget about Cape Verdi.

They also play on Sunday. They inspired the world with their 40-year-old goalie and what he was able to do. His mom arrived in the U.S. today. It took a congressional, an act of Congress, basically, to give his mom a visa. And so she will be at Sunday's match. Should be spectacular. Again, if you love sports, if you love soccer, you're going to love this weekend. Damian Trujillo, thank you so much.

And a reminder for everyone you can watch every match of the 2026 People World Cup in Spanish exclusively on Telemundo and Peacock. Still ahead tonight, the heartbreaking interview with the family of the 18th. year old killed after falling from a horse carriage in Central Park, what they told us about his final moments. Plus new trouble for President Trump's reflecting pool project, paint peeling away, and now algae coming back, what our reporters saw when he went there. And we've seen them dance, we've seen them speak, now robots are gliding across the water. All that is ahead on top story. Back now with an update on that deadly horse-drawn carriage ride in Central Park. Tonight,

the family of the teen victim is speaking. out as we learn more about the temporary suspension of all those rides. NBC Stephen Romo has this one. Oh, oh, aye, aye. Tonight, the family of the teen killed after being thrown from a carriage in Central Park is speaking out. My son, Romance, Marjan, was a brilliant, obedient guy. And it's a big loss to our whole family. The tragic accident happened Wednesday afternoon. This photo of the family who were visiting from India taken just minutes before the crash. So we never knew that this is the last year of his life. Video shows the runaway horse carriage with the family of four on board crashing into another

horse. Oh! The carriage toppling over onto its side. That's crazy. The family of 18-year-old Romach Mahajan telling NBC news he leapt out to help his mother, but fell hitting his head on the ground. The last word out of his mouths were mom. Like mama, so what you mean in Hindi is like mama and then mom in English.

According to the carriage driver's union, the driver got out to take a photo of the family breaking one of its rules. Carriage rides now temporarily suspended in Central Park until Tuesday as the union looks at retraining its drivers. Whatever that looks like, we have to define that and then that becomes a mode of the training. Although extremely unfortunate and sad, a springboard to make the industry safer. The carriages have long been an iconic site in Central Park. The tragedy, renewing calls to ban them. Stephen Romo, NBC News, New York. Now to Washington, D.C. in the latest snag in President Trump's multi-million dollar effort

to renovate the Lincoln Memorial's reflecting pool and make it American flag blue. Just days after it was refilled, algae has turned the pool green once again. You can see the comparison from last week to yesterday. The Interior Department now using vacuums to remove the green algae from the bottom. of the pool. Though over the past few days, our NBC news team has spotted chunks of blue paint peeling away and floating to the top. NBC's Gary Grumbach is at the National Mall for us tonight to take a closer look. Gary? Hey there, Allison. Most people are coming to the National Mall here in Washington, D.C. to see some of the historic sites. But today, they're here to see the historic

levels of algae that has grown in the reflecting pool. You see this all started because President Trump wanted to paint the bottom of this reflecting pool. American flag blue, that was his term. Instead, what he got here is a little bit of algae green instead. The algae has grown over the past couple of days because of the hot weather here in D.C. And workers are cleaning it up. They're vacuuming it up, as you can see. They poured some hydrogen peroxide into the water. They're using advanced nano-bubbbler technology, it's called, sort of get rid of the algae.

But what that has led to is this, and I want to show you this here, into the water. You've seen some of the ground over the reflecting pool actually peeling up because of some of the cleaning products that have been used to, try to get rid of this algae to some of this American flag blue peeling up off the ground of the reflecting board. So instead of American flag blue, what you really got is algae green. Gary Grumbach, thank you. And coming up next year on Top Story, the felony charges against popular comedian Carlos Menzia, the financial crimes he's accused of. But first, top story's top moment. And the feathered FIFA fan becoming the unofficial mascot of the World Cup in Mexico. His name is Merlin the Duck, and he's quickly waddled his way into soccer stardom.

Merlin's owner, Carla, is a street vendor and says this is actually a normal workday for them. But thanks to his Mexico jersey, he is now a viral sensation with eager fans lining up to get selfies with him. Stay with us, more Top Story right after this. We're back now with Top Stories news feed, starting in Japan, where students had to be evacuated after a fire at a elementary school. Videos show the young students standing alongside the outside of the school's fourth floor to escape the smoke. Over 300 students and staff were inside. Japanese media reported some students suffered smoke inhalation. And sad news out of the entertainment world today, Hollywood director and producer James Burroughs has passed away. Burroughs was known for his work in

television as the co-creator of the NBC comedy, Cheers. He also worked extensively on other iconic NBC sitcoms like Friends, Taxi, and the Mary Tyler Moore Show, where he got his start. He won 11 primetime Emmys. James Burroughs was 85 years old. Comedian Carlos Mencia facing 12 felony charges for failing to pay taxes on more than $8 million in earnings. The comedian was arrested on Thursday in Los Angeles. Monsea allegedly owes $300,000 in state taxes on income of $8.7 million. He's being held on bail and has yet to enter a plea.

Mincea is expected in court on Monday and if convicted, faces more than 11 years in prison. And take a look at this. Robots rowing alongside human athletes to humanoid robots paddling alongside humans in the dragon boat race in southwestern China. The event was a preview for the 26th World Humanoid Robot Games coming to Beijing in August. And back here at home, today's celebrations are taking place all across the country in honor of Juneteenth. The federal holiday commemorates the end of slum. in the United States and serves as a time to reflect on the progress toward unity. But a new NBC News poll is giving us a fresh look at how Americans see that progress today.

Respondents were mostly split when asked about race relations in this country with a slim majority saying it's very or fairly bad. For more on the Juneteenth holiday, I want to bring in NBC news correspondent Shaquille Brewster. He joins us now from Chicago. Shaq, you are at the nation's oldest independent Black History Museum. Talk to us about what you're seeing and how people are celebrating this day. Hi there, Ellison. Well, people are celebrating in so many ways, just here in the city of Chicago. Even outside of this event, for example, at the Obama Presidential Center, you're seeing a Juneteen celebration as they celebrate their opening. But here at this event, you're seeing it in a different way.

This is family-friendly event. You see the double dutch that's going on behind me all around this complex. You see music, there's food, there's vendors, celebrating black-owned businesses, there's food. on the other side right behind me you see some of the vendors that are behind me and some people are just using it as a time to have a day in the park and I'll tell you Ellison as I've been talking to some of the folks here people are saying it's one a day of celebration but also a day to reflect reflect on the progress this country has made but also where they want to see it go in the future I want you to listen to some of those conversations everybody is doing something

around the world for Juneteen so I think the racial part of it is kind of And everybody is coming together to celebrate it. Well, there's been a lot of progress over the decades. The fact of the matter is we still got a ways to go. Sixty years, hence, from this time, we got, you know, the Voting Rights Act signed and stuff like that. And now, 60 years later, that whole process is being removed. And in talking with folks, there's a distinction and differences in how people have celebrated

Juneteenth in the past. Some people saying that they say that they say that they've been. grew up celebrating this holiday, that this has been something their family has been able to celebrate really for years now. Others saying that because it became a federal holiday about five years ago, that is why they are now leaning into it now. I think bottom line, you see it all around me, is people want to celebrate community, even as they use it to reflect on the racial relations in this country. Shaq, talk to us a little bit about that new NBC news poll we mentioned earlier. Break down what those results are showing.

Yeah, I think the bottom line here is that it shows that when you ask people about how they feel about racial relations in this country, you get a split result. You have 48% of adults saying that they feel that race relations are either very good or slightly good. You have 50% saying that they are bad at this point. But this is where you get even more interesting. When you ask black adults how they feel about race relations, you see two out of every three. 67% say that they are very bad or slightly bad or fairly bad in the polling language. I think the important context to see here, Ellison, is that these are actually improved numbers over the past couple of years.

You haven't seen a number that low, even though it's high, since 2014. I think that's reflective of the conversations I've been having here, folks saying that they feel like things are moving in the right direction, but they know that there's still a lot of progress left to be made, Alison. Shaquille Brewster, excellent reporting as always. Thank you. We appreciate it. And when we come back, our Craig Melvin sits down with former President Barack Obama as he opens his presidential center in Chicago.

What he told us about President Trump's decision to go to war with Iran and his hopes for the future of America. Welcome back. Today in Chicago, the Obama Presidential Center officially opening to the public. And ahead of that opening, our Craig Melvin sat down with the forefront. former president to talk about the 11 years it took to get that center open and the $850 million in private funding, including a donation from Comcast, the parent company of NBC News. Here's some of their conversation. When the Obama presidential center opens, those first ticket holders who come into this space,

what are you going to be feeling in that moment? So I feel a lot of gratitude, the degree to which people invested in Michelle and me and what we were trying to do. But I really am hoping that it's less. an act of nostalgia and that it's more an inspiration for us moving forward. To get a sense of, all right, this was a small chapter in America's ongoing journey to perfect his union. The Obama Presidential Center sprawls across Jackson Park on Chicago's south side, just blocks from where Michelle Obama grew up in the city where Barack Obama's political career was born.

It features a 225-foot-tall tower housing the Obama-Presidential. a presidential museum, a public form, a vegetable garden, plus green spaces, and a branch of the Chicago public library where we spoke. I've walked the property, walked the space in six or seven stories, like 19 acres outside of Chicago, more than $800 million. They're presidential libraries, and then there's this. I didn't want to build, I didn't want to build a mausoleum. I'm too young for that. I really did want to think of this as a center, a hub, for the next generation being inspired, motivated, but also getting help and getting resources to carry that baton further.

The new museum traces Obama's rise and time in office. It highlights his accomplishments, but also documents where the former president feels his administration fell short. There's even a section dedicated to his work on the Iran nuclear deal, a deal recently scrapped and replaced with a new one by President Trump. What do you make of what we know about the deal so far? I am very happy to see a ceasefire, and I'm hopeful that it holds. But in terms of what was the original rationale for this war, which was there was a deal in place in which Iran had agreed not to develop nuclear weapons, This administration, or a prior version of this administration, pulled out of it, which caused then Iran to develop more nuclear capacity.

We've now fought a war spent billions and billions of dollars, put an enormous strain in our military. A lot of people have died, and it feels like we're back where we were before we start the war, except maybe a little bit worse awfully. give you a couple headlines. The Obama Center opens as a time warp to an old political order. With his new museum, Obama offers a trip to a parallel America. What do you make of that sentiment, that this is a reminder of what America was? Well, I think it's true and I think it's a reminder of what America is. I, there's no doubt that we are going through a period right now of disruption, polarization. That's caused, I think, people to feel as if our democracy, our civic habits and virtues, our shared understanding of how we treat each other, has started to crumble.

On the other hand, when I travel across the country today, not just when I was president, you still see that sense of decency with people. You still see folks helping each other and looking out for their neighbors. I'm glad that this center and this library and the museum, this entire campus, reminds people not of the past, but reminds people of what's inside all of us. We all have the capacity for looking out for each other. We all have the capacity to feel a civic responsibility to make sure our government works. we all play a part in assuring that our elected officials are accountable. That's not something that I think we can afford to suggest is behind us. Do you think in the current climate that someone like you with your background and your story? Do you think that you could break through now the same way you did back in 0708?

I do think it's harder because of the nature of your background. business, the media. It's more splintered. When I gave that speech at the convention, there is not a liberal America and a conservative America. There is the United States of America. Suddenly I'm a national figure because all the networks covered it. And the challenge we now have is that the media is so splintered that people who are doing excellent work, people who are just as gifted, or in some cases more gifted than I am to communicate. communicate people's aspirations, hopes and dreams, who are really doing great work at state and local levels.

It's harder for them to break through. I think we're in a transition period where there are a lot of Barack and Michelle Obama's out there doing cool stuff, but our politics hasn't quite given them the platform yet. Media hasn't shined a spotlight on them yet. At his side through eight years in office and everything else, former First Lady Michelle Obama. Her touch felt throughout the center.

From the gowns to the garden, to that sledding hill that she didn't have when she was a little girl. Michelle Obama's fingerprints are all over this place. What do you want folks who come here to take away with regard to her legacy? That she was a full partner, that her journey is just, as improbable as mine. She grew up, like I said, 10 blocks from here in her aunt's house because her parents didn't own the house. And that little girl, Michelle Obama,

ended up being the first lady of the United States and was as powerful an ambassador for America and occupied that office with as much warmth and class and dignity and beauty as... as anybody could. Something else near and dear to the former president's heart, sports. One of his favorite exhibits includes the unique memorabilia he's collected over the years. He actually had custom hot tops that he wore while he played basketball at the White House.

Known to shoot a few hoops himself during his time in office, his center even includes an NBA regulation-sized basketball court. So it was no surprise to hear he was glued to the recent NBA finals. But, Mr. President, all those years in office, you were talking about hope and change. And who knew that you were talking about the New York Knicks? Listen, my first real basketball hero was Walt Clyde Frazier. And I loved those 70s Nicks. And I've got a lot of friends from New York.

And I know a lot of long-suffering fans. Yes. that I could not be happier for. So kudos to them. What an incredible run. Captain Brunson put him on their shoulders. But perhaps the most meaningful part of the center is an exhibit that focuses on the letters

Obama received from the public while in office. I understand that one of your favorite parts is this multimedia display, and it shows letters. Some of the letters every night that you would send. Ten letters a day. Ten letters a day. Yeah.

Out of the 40,000 we were getting. There was one in particular that caught my attention. There's a seven-year-old girl. Her name's Emily. And when she wrote the letter, she was the same age as Sasha. She lost her mom to cancer. She said that before her mom died, she was able to go in her wheelchair and vote for you in 2008.

And you wrote her back, of course, and you said that you wrote about losing your mom, too, in an early age and how that shaped you. She heard that her letter was featured here in the library. And she wanted to send a message. I feel a lot of emotions right now, mainly peace and pride, knowing that my mother's legacy continues to live on not only through myself,

but now at the Obama Presidential Center. I also feel very grateful to be able to report back 17 years later, and I'm happy to say that I was able to graduate college with a BSN and have since become a registered nurse. I would like to take this opportunity also to thank President Barack Obama for everything he has done, as well as always reminding me to dream big dreams. Oh, well, all right, so like I can tell you were, that's a setup, but that's, I appreciate it.

What a wonderful message. You know, those letters, those letters would come every night. And what they, what they helped me do was to just remind me that I used to tell my staff, you run elections and get elected. But the end point is, are you delivering something to make the lives of folks a little bit better who sent you? And those letters reminded me of that. Some of my favorite letters were from Republicans who would say, I didn't vote for you. I don't agree with anything you're doing. But you seem like a good dad, and I appreciate that. Yeah.

And what that video that you just showed me speaks to. I hope when people come here, they're not just fixated on some speech I'm given, not just fixated on Michelle's dresses. More than anything, as you've seen in these exhibits, you'll hear the voices of the American people. And that, I think, will give you encouragement. That makes you feel that the idea of America, as a multiracial,

multi-ethnic, multi-religious, raucous, noisy democracy, that that can work. I think their voices are what makes you feel confident in the future. Our thanks to Craig Melvin for that. Still ahead, everything you can binge watch and listen to this weekend. HBO's House of the Dragon back for its highly anticipated final season.

A new reality TV show follows the nannies of the ultra-relixtapes, rich and 90s bands sublime out with their first album in three decades. Stay with us. We are back now with binge-worthy or look at the best things to watch and listen to this weekend. Joining us tonight is USA Today's Senior Entertainment correspondent, Ralphie Aversa. Ralphie, thank you so much for being here. Allison, here we go. We got a range of stuff that we can. Really do. You really brought us options for everyone. Any mood, any scenario, we got you covered.

You got the whole family. Okay, first one I'm excited about, HBO, House of the Dragon, which I always am like House of Dragons, the Dragons ones, the Game of Thrones prequel. I love it, season three, final season, and there's a civil war and a battle over the Iron Throne. Let's take a look. My enemies have been allowed to muster their strength.

She'll certainly fail. Do we raise our own throne? In a wall, all suffer. I like historically do the frugal, poor person, frugal person thing where I'll be like, subscribe, unsubscribe for this for Game of Thrones and for House of the Dragon. I am so excited. What are you hearing about the last season? Okay, so hearing a few things.

Obviously, season two ended in a very explosive manner, And what the showrunner for season three is saying is that this first episode, the Battle of the Gollet, is well, he's calling it, not maybe. He's saying it is probably one of the most craziest episodes of television ever created. That is quite the quote. Yes. So if you're really going to put that behind this episode, well, I can't wait to see what happens on Sunday. And we'll get weekly episodes until the finale in August. Okay.

It's going to be good. I am excited. The next one we have is on Netflix. And it is called I Will Find You. It's a series, but it's a thriller. It's about a father who's imprisoned for his son's murder, but turns out maybe there's evidence that his son is actually alive. Take a look.

If Matthew is still alive, someone else is behind everything, and they're still up there. Who has my son? Don't ask questions that you don't want the answers to. The past never changes. He needs to know the truth. Until one day. This is based off of a best-selling novel, too, right?

It sure is. Harlan Coben, of course, who's done a number of these adaptations with Netflix. However, this is his first with Netflix, where the show is actually originating in the U.S. He told me that it's a very American story. It's also a story about fathers and sons. And that theme, by the way, if you're familiar with Harlan's work, it really seeps into a lot of things that he writes, in part because he lost his father when he was 26 years old. So I know a bit melancholy here as we head into Father's Day weekend.

eight episodes all streaming right now on Netflix. Sam Worthington stars in it, along with Britt Lauer, who of course is in Severance. She's fantastic in that and in this, a lot of people already talking about this series. Okay, so the next one we have also on Netflix. It is called voicemails for Isabel. Basically, you have this character, Zoe Deutsch's, right?

This is who is starring in it, where she is leaving voicemails for her sister who died and ends up falling in love with the guy who's been receiving them. Look at this. Wait, how does she not know that her sister changed her number. I'm gonna see what's happening.

Hey guys, I'm just calling you to ask how am I supposed to do this without you? Better place. I'm always slurping face with Heath Ledger as we speak, huh? But I miss you. What do you make of this one? It's a cute film. It's a really cute film. This is the exact opposite of what we did.

But also kind of sad. If you want thriller, I will find you. There you go. Yeah, so a little sad as well. but obviously a lot of on-screen chemistry as well as we eventually see between Nick Robinson and Zoe Deutsch as well in this one. Runs about two hours streaming now on Netflix. Awesome. Okay, the next one we have is a reality TV series on Hulu. You're excited. I have so many questions. I have so many questions. Part of me doesn't want to see the clip.

I just want to imagine 20 variations in my head, but it is called Million Dollar Nannies. And it is about nannies, rich kids, and Ibiza. The island of Abiza is the ultimate playground for the world's 1%. But when They come here to play the most important person. It's their nanny. I'm Leah. I'm a high-profile celebrity nanny. My mission is to bring together the best talent of nanny. Who can handle the demands for the most high-net-worth families in the world.

I mean, I've never been to Abiza. I don't say Abiza, but I know rich people from the UK do, so it felt fun. What is this reality show? I can't believe like they're able to do this. Yeah, it's really, it's interesting. I mean, you know what I think of immediately? Look, I have a three-year-old, as I've told you. We have somebody who helps out a few days a week.

And I know the community of nannies on Long Island and maybe some of the drama that may not be there. This is just a whole other level with these celebrity nannies, these elite nannies, as they call themselves. They go to a visa. They kind of set up this agency, and we kind of see all of the drama and everything else unfold. First two episodes streaming right now on Hulu.

We'll get weeklies through July. It also looks like we see them partying. I don't have children, but I wouldn't want to see the people taking care of my children partying. Same. Yeah, same. Thankfully, I don't have to worry about that on Long Island. But, yeah. Anyways. Okay, on Peacock, an award show, a spoof award show that people are obsessed with.

Bow and Matt are not going to be happy if you call this a spoof award show. I'm telling you that right now. You know what? I agree. It is a real award show. And Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers are doing wonders for the entire entertainment industry. Amen. Take a look at this clip.

And Culture Award is everything to me. I mean, La Culturista's Culture Awards is the official title of this extraordinary award ceremony. I have seen so many clips already every year it's so much fun. And they really have like packed it out. Like it is every A-lister, it feels like, at this show. Yeah, because they're just, they're having so much fun. I mean, you're right. They are kind of spoofing like what we know about an award show.

But they're still like keeping some of the temple. and having so much fun with it. My favorite are the categories and the way and the nominees and the categories. We're going to give you one real quick here. This is outstanding contribution to a dinner party. Chilled rosé, a general knowledge of most media, an empty, clear intestine, a fire extinguisher. You don't know what they're equipped with at the home. An epipendish air.

Oh, yeah. That right there, that category, those nominees, what you could expect if you're going to stream this this weekend on DECD. What's your prediction for winning that category? I mean, look, I'm going to talk more about my family. I have a brother-in-law who's got a severe nut allergy, so I would go with epipen on that. I was going to say I would go with the epipen to you never know. Weird allergies really surface, especially when you hit your 30s. You're like, don't take any risk. So I don't take any risk. Let's play it safe. Have a lovely time. Good food. Let's go home. Exactly. Okay. Should we do music? Let's try.

Olivia Rodriguez, you may have heard, has a new album out. This is a song called Stupid Song. Take a listen. I mean, her album is called You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love. So a lot of the songs are dealing with layers of love and emotions and heartbreak. What do you make of it? Well, this song in particular, I actually was listening to it a lot last night before I even knew that we were going to feature it on bingeworthy. And kind of the juxtaposition of hearing this song where Olivia is clearly sad in New York City with all of the jubines that's been happening in New York City.

I'm like, this doesn't kind of run up. But obviously it certainly fits into her album as well. And then Tyler Peck, who's a principal dancer of New York City Ballet, a long time, was behind this video as well that you see right here with some of the ballet dancers. So really good stuff from Ms. Rodriguez. We have huge news before we go for the 90s kids. I mean, everybody else, Sublime has a new album out. This is their first studio album in 30 years.

Take listen to one of the songs. The song is called FTR. It's dealing with the lead singers. perspective views after he'd lost his dad. But for anybody who loves Sublime, anybody who loves the 90s, this is just the most exciting thing ever, right? Because people didn't know this was coming, did they?

Yeah, the fact that they're back, the fact that Jacob is kind of picking up the torch from his dad, this is going to be their final album as a band, but they're going to do some live shows as well. And yeah, I think people are definitely in their fields a little bit this weekend weekend that they have some new Sublime music to jam out to this summer. Rafael Verza, thank you for being here and helping us start our weekend, right?

We appreciate you. Thank you. And thank you at home so much for watching Top Story. For Tom Yamis, I'm Ellison Barber in New York. Stay right there. More news is on the way.