Top Story with Tom Llamas - Friday, June 30, 2023

Episode Date: July 1, 2023

Severe weather looms as 43 million people are expected to travel over the holiday weekend. More than 800 protesters are arrested in violent demonstrations across France after the deadly police shooting of a teenager during a traffic stop. A top Russian general is missing after the Wagner Group's mutiny. A murder suspect once featured on ‘America’s Most Wanted’ is found after almost 40 years on the run. George Santos appears in court again on a slew of federal charges. And a growing number of cities are replacing Fourth of July fireworks with drone shows over wildfire and air quality concerns.

Tonight, buckle up the potentially record-breaking holiday travel rush. More than 50 million Americans expected to hit the road and the skies over July 4th weekend. But severe weather causing a nightmare at airports nationwide. 40,000 flights delayed just this week, so will airlines be able to bounce back in time or could more extreme weather and smoke from those Canadian wildfires ground even more flights? We're tracking it all. Also, breaking tonight, the Supreme Court dealing a major blow to President Biden, striking down his plan to erase federal student loan debt for about 20 million Americans.

The High Court's conservative majority also siding with a Colorado website designer who refuses to work with same-sex couples. The reactions tonight pouring in from the president and former President Trump who ceded three of those justices. Paris burning a construction site for the 2024 Olympics set ablaze as riots over the police shooting of a teenager intensify there. Protesters shooting fireworks at officers and looting stores. 800 people so far arrested. France right now deploying 45,000 officers across the country and suspending all public transportation to try and regain control. Back here at home, explosion lawsuit. The shocking moment that a tank erupts at a welding shop, sending an employee flying into the air. What his family claims was inside that made the tank a, quote, ticking time

bomb. Plus the murder suspect who once appeared on America's most wanted, arrested and extradited back to Florida, where authorities found him hiding in plain sight. And no more fireworks? Several U.S. cities are now switching to drone shows this July 4th. So what's leading the change? And could it be the new normal? Top story starts right now. I'm good evening. I'm Sam Brock. In for Tom Yamis. Tonight, the holiday travel rush is in full swing at the moment with millions of Americans, already heading to their July 4 destinations. Here's a live look from Los Angeles. Traffic nearly at a standstill on the 405.

That does not look pleasant. Now, according to AAA, a record 43.2 million people are expected to drive to their destination this weekend, and about 4.2 million Americans will travel by plane. 2.8 million are expected to pass through TSA checkpoints, and that figure is just today, which would represent a single-day record. But air travel has been anything but smooth in recent days. thousands of flights to late or canceled this week with United Airlines bearing the brunt of those disruptions. And those travel woes may continue with severe weather staying with us in the

forecast. This funnel cloud, speaking of which, touching down outside of Denver, as storms move through the area again, look at that. Also smoke from those Canadian wildfires still causing hazy conditions at airports all over the northeast. We're going to have a forecast in just a few minutes. But first, we begin with NBC's Tom Costello. call it a national stress test from east to west record volume canadian smoke and weather are slowing the great escape of 2023 denver again leads the country and flight delays and cancellations as hail and heavy rain roll across the state the eastern plains they're under the gun for severe weather denver's biggest airline united says its reliability continues to improve though today it canceled another eight percent of its flights after scrubbing 20 to 30 percent nearly every day this week. Here's the big number. 31% of all flights on all airlines have been delayed since Sunday, nearly 40,000 flights.

Brenda Rivera has been stuck in Newark since Monday. I don't know what we're going to do because I cannot get a one-way rental. Airline veterans warns summer travel is just getting started. Summer peak is every day up until Labor Day. It's not just isolated July 4th. After a week of flight cancellations and rental cars, NBC's Maggie's Maggie. Vespa is today in California. Three flights and counting canceled this week. The latest was this morning's Chicago to Denver. It was the first leg of my trip. I am now in San Francisco and getting ready to drive at least six, seven hours. She's got company, a record 43 million Americans

are driving, with gas averaging 354 a gallon, a dollar 30 cheaper than a year ago. On I-35 in Texas, the Hill family is headed to Austin to float in the San Marcos River. We want to make sure that our kids have a great summer. Don't let the prices scare you. You only get these memories once. It is summertime, even if the living isn't always easy. And Tom Costello joining us now live from Reagan National Airport, Tom, aside from the sheer volume of people that are going through TSA, there's another issue that's popping up that agents are also reporting delays to what people are trying to pack into their carry-ons? Absolutely. This continues to be a problem for the TSA. People bringing guns.

through checkpoints in their carry-on luggage. They simply forget that they've got a handgun, and 93% of the time those are loaded. They're confiscating 17 guns a day right now, Sam, and they're saying to people, listen, if you're going to take your gun somewhere, whether it's a handgun or a rifle, you've got to check it, first of all,

in an approved hard case that is locked and certified by the TSA and the airlines. More information on that on the TSA's website. This continues to be a problem. When they confiscate a gun, it slows down the entire checkpoint. Yeah, that's a little unnerving. Tom Costello, thank you so much. And as we've mentioned, that major travel nightmare due in part to the extreme weather

we've been experiencing all week, record-breaking heat, and dangerous air quality, now putting millions of Americans at risk. Here's NBC's Emily Akata. An unrelenting week of severe weather, pressing on into the holiday weekend. While the country's midsection is cleaning up from a barrage of hurricane force winds, tornadoes and hail. Fast-moving floodwaters racing through Denver. Oh my God. And more than 200,000 without power in Illinois and Indiana. Those sweeping storms as tens of millions continue to bake in a record-breaking heat wave, now spreading westward. The stifling temperatures have killed more

than a dozen people in Texas in Louisiana, including Tina Patrick's mom, Tina Parrott. She didn't want to leave her house. I feel like if I would have argued with Mama a little bit more, that she might have still been here. This week felt like Death Valley in parts of Louisiana, as the heat index topped a crippling 120 degrees. Atlanta closing the zoo early today. While in Houston, animals are finding relief with icy treats. And tonight, a third of Americans up against another lingering threat.

You don't want to get that stuff in your lungs. Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C., recorded some of the worst air quality in the world at one point today. The hovering haze obscuring the Empire State Building, as smoke funnels down from a record-breaking start to Canada's wildfire season. We were hoping it would be a little bit better today. A trifecta of smoke, storms, and heat, leaving Americans this holiday weekend reeling. All right, and Emily Akata joining us now live from Weehawk in New Jersey. Emily, I know this probably feels a little bit like deja vu for you.

We can see that smoky New York City skyline behind you. When can people start to expect some relief? Sam, that's right. Unfortunately, it's a familiar feeling in our reporting over the last couple. of weeks. New York City right now actually has the third worst air quality for major cities in the entire world. The state of New York continues to be under an air quality alert and advisory. That's why we continue to see officials handing out high quality masks to protect people from these kinds of high level of pollutants. The good news is there is a light at the

end of the tunnel. We're already seeing wind patterns change. And so that's funneling less smoke down from those Canadian wildfires. The other factor at play here is, while we're We do see those forecasted storms for this weekend that will likely disrupt some July 4th celebrations. They are good news for what we're breathing and will help disperse some of the smoke hovering over cityscapes like the one behind me. But bottom line, we'll continue to see the smoke levels fluctuate over the next couple of days. So it's important to stay in touch with apps like air now and watch those air quality levels, Sam. All right. Hopefully better for the holidays.

Emily, thank you so much for that. And for more on the air quality situation at large in the holiday weekend, 4th. Let's get right to meteorologist Angie Lastman. Angie, look, to start the day, there were more than 100 million under an air quality alert. I think your old stomping grounds of Florida here in Miami, we might be the only place that didn't see that. What are we going to see any relief from these hazy conditions? You know, we are, Sam. We're finally going to see a bit of some relief in parts of the Northeast and the Midwest, where for days and days they've been dealing with that air quality that Emily touched on.

And you can see some spots are still dealing with the unhealthy levels. Buffalo coming in at 173, New York, 168, Washington, D.C., unhealthiness. healthy right now for sensitive groups. The bottom line is Emily hit the nail on the head when she said those wind patterns, they're going to change. We're going to see the wind switch. And this is going to be something that will improve the air quality for us here as we go into the next couple of days. And we also have some showers and thunderstorms on the way. That's going to help us too. All right. But the wind is the key. And also, of course, it's an important weekend here for families coming up. Walk us through what you're watching for tonight and also for the holiday

weekend. Yeah. So I mentioned some of those thunderstorms and they're disrupting plans likely for folks that are stretching into parts of the Ohio Valley and back towards the Rockies. We have some severe thunderstorm watches that are in effect through the rest of the evening hours well into the nighttime past sunset. So just be aware of that. We could see some of these stronger storms developing. We still have 22 million people at risk for this through the evening hours. It does include these major cities, such as Kansas City, St. Louis, Nashville, through the next couple of hours. We could see some large hail, some damaging winds. That'll be something that we watch closely. But look what happens as we get into tomorrow. That area, parts of the Rocky, starts to clear

up, but we see the severe risk shift a little farther to the east. We will see the rain start to work its way into parts of the mid-Atlantic. And of course, the hot and humid conditions will last in parts of the south and the southwest. That'll be something we deal with through the long haul, Sam. And we'll continue to see the showers and thunderstorm potentially interrupting plans and even fireworks in the northeast here as we get into 4th of July. Man, it has been quite the week. Angie Laskin, following all the developments for us. Thank you so much. Well, we move now to the major defeat for Democrats of the nation's highest Court, the conservative Supreme Court majority striking down President Biden's executive action

who was trying to wipe out hundreds of billions of student loan debt. Now, that same majority, also siding with a web designer who doesn't want to work on same-sex wedding sites in a blow to LGBTQ rights. NBC's senior legal correspondent, Laura Jarrett, brings us the very latest. Tonight, the Supreme Court dealing a major defeat to President Biden, striking down his plan to erase more than $400 billion in federal student loan debt. Chief Justice John Roberts in a 6-3 decision, writing for the conservative majority that federal law provides no authorization for the administration to wipe out so much debt. The question here is not whether something should be done.

It is who has the authority to do it, Roberts wrote, saying that the administration needed explicit authorization from Congress. It is our duty to win. The Biden plan would have left roughly 20 million people debt-free, but legally it was always a gamble. with even some Democrats previously sounding skeptical. The president can't do it. So that's not even a discussion. Today, the High Court said the administration doesn't get to rewrite federal law from the ground up. But the court's three liberals dissenting with Justice Kagan writing, the majority reaches out to decide a matter it has no business deciding.

First in her family to go to college, Maggie Bell has over $30,000 in federal student loan debt. She calls the ruling crushing. It's hard for me to save now. It's hard for me to plan to buy a house. It's hard for me to get out of renting. I feel stuck. But to speak a rob, son of a taxi driver, praised the decision, saying he never took out federal loans, and the Biden plan was unfair.

What's going to lead to it is people relying on the government to bail out, bail them out when they are in debt. The ruling comes as the court closes out yet another consequential term. With key decisions on major social issues, the justices have been sharply divided when it comes to affirmative action and yet surprising many by upholding voting rights and in another ruling today pitting the right to free speech against the right to be free from discrimination. The court ruling in favor of a graphic designer Lori Smith who says she wants to make wedding websites but not for gay couples. Whether you share my beliefs or completely disagree with them,

free speech is for everyone. The six conservative justices concluding Colorado's state law prohibiting businesses from discriminating against customers would force Smith to create speech. She does not believe. Drawing a line between what the state conceded was Smith's artistic expression and a more basic business like a restaurant opened all. The state blasting the decision. This decision is not what our Constitution, what our Democratic Republic stands for. Our work to protect equality and to limit the damage from the decision will start today. Mayor for the second time this week, reading her dissent from the bench for nearly 20 minutes, calling the decision profoundly wrong, saying the effect is to mark LGBTQ citizens as second-class status.

And Laura Jared, joining us now live. Laura, it's also worth noting just sort of the confrontational nature of this language, how sharp the dissents have been in calling out the majority with the justices essentially going after one another? It's truly remarkable. It's quite unusual to see this. You know, you think about things that are going on behind the scenes, obviously, a lot of strong words on such sharply divided social issues, but this is playing out in full display for everyone, sometimes even buried in footnotes, but the justice is really going after each other, especially in the affirmative action case, Justice Thomas, Justice Jackson, Justice Kagan, all of them really with some strong words for each other. And it just shows you, again, how divided they are on some of the biggest social issues, culture war issues that society at large. struggling with. It's rare times. And so as long as we're talking about defying norms, let's talk about President Biden's relationship with the court. He had some very pointed and rare attacks for a sitting president. He did, but this is also a court that has had a significant hand in taking down some of his key agenda items. Of course, the student loan case today, but you also

think back to his vaccine mandates, the Supreme Court knocking down one of those at the height of COVID, one of obviously a signature priority for him. And so the president's, I think, in sort of an interesting position here, especially as we come upon on an election year, with a court that is going after certain things that he cares deeply about, like the student loan program, and wanting to position himself as defending something that's popular. Laura Jarrett, thank you very much for that report. And we now go on to another angle of the Supreme Court situation here, which has dashed the Biden administration's hopes for student debt relief, the president today announcing a new approach. This as Republicans praised the ruling

for, quote, making wrongs right. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports from the White House. After the High Court rejected his policy and the reach of his executive power on loan forgiveness, I believe the court's decision to strike down my student debt relief program as a mistake was wrong. Tonight, President Biden is forced to completely retool his plan. Today's decision has closed one path. Now we're going to pursue another. Instead of citing the COVID emergency to grant relief, the Department of Education will use authority from a different law. But details about how much debt and who could qualify must be worked out, taking more time. Unable to pass legislation to provide loan relief, the president reacted sharply when asked if he had given false hope. I didn't

give Boris false hope, but the Republicans snatched away the hope that they were given. financial relief helped the president court younger voters. Last August, before announcing his student loan forgiveness, the president's approval rating was just 36% among voters under 35. This month, his job approval with that generation is 51%. For Republicans, today's decision marks another victory shaped by the legacy of three Trump appointments to the high court. GOP candidate Nikki Haley praised the court. Can I just say God bless the Supreme Court. They are making a lot of wrongs right. House Speaker McCarthy writing, the 87% of Americans without student loans are no longer forced to pay for the 13% who do. And this video from Senator Tim Scott.

Joe Biden wants you to pay off the student loans of lawyers and professors. I want to strengthen vocational education and apprenticeships. And Kelly O'Donnell joins us now. Kelly, we know there's millions of students who have applied for relief. So is there any action the president can now take on student loans? There are a couple of things, Sam, and he talked about that today.

He wants his administration to immediately reduce the required payments to no more than 5% of a borrower's disposable income and create a 12-month grace period to protect borrowers from penalties if they miss a payment. That's important because it's been a few years with no payments during the COVID pause. and they have to begin making those payments again this fall. Sam? All right, easing those borrowers back into the situation. Kelly, thank you. Here in Florida, a new strict immigration law we've been following

set to go into effect tomorrow. Here's some of what it includes. Harsher penalties for those transporting undocumented migrants, including your relatives, a requirement that some hospitals have to ask patients their immigration status before offering treatment, and it forces larger employers to use E-Verify to check the legal status of workers.

It also sets aside some $12 million to send migrants out of the Sunshine State and invalidates driver's licenses of people who cannot prove their legal status. Communities already seeing the ripple effects of this. I spoke to one restaurant owner in West Palm Beach that was earlier this month whose restaurant was already seeing impacts from this bill. I'm looking around your restaurant right now. It's empty. Empty.

Why? Because we're trying to support all the immigrants. Are you saying you've already lost employees? permanently because they're worried about this law? Yeah. They've already left the job. Yeah. They're already.

What are they worried about? About the law. Everything is about the law. They're moving for another state. They moved to another state. Yeah. All right, NBC's Gwad Vanegas joining us now from here in Miami. Guad, a lot to unpack in this legislation.

I know you've been speaking to people on the ground. What are you hearing from both? Latino community and also local business owners. Well, Sam, I think when we look at the undocumented community here in Florida, you know, the Pew Research Institute, they calculate about $775,000. That was the last thing day around the numbers in 2019. That was a number of unauthorized or undocumented migrants in Florida. So you have two different types, right?

You have people that arrived in the last few years that haven't settled, that maybe haven't gotten married and they don't have kids. those are the ones that are choosing to move to another state because they're looking for work. But you also have a very large number of undocumented workers in Florida who have been here for decades, who have families, who have settled, some have even purchased homes, some have established credit in the United States as undocumented workers. These are the ones that say they want to stay, they want to see how this is going to play out. To be clear, they have been working in the state illegally, as many others as millions do,

all over the country. so they don't know how the state is going to be able to enforce these new laws. And the businesses, well, some of the business owners in Homestead, for example, which is an immigrant community, say they have seen less customers come by their businesses. We went to an area today where a lot of day laborers were usually showing up every morning to find someone to hire them. The people at that area told me they've seen less workers. So we've seen a change, but it's been minor.

We have to wait and see how things play out after this law goes into it. effect, Sam. Right, how it's actually going to work. I'm glad you said, I know, we talked at the top of the segment about the laws banning the transportation of undocumented migrants, even by family members across state lines. Enforcement, how is that going to work just through routine traffic stops, or do we have a sense of how that will be implemented? Well, Sam, there's a few things to look at, by the way, when they wrote the law, legislators wanted to make it illegal for anyone to transport, anyone who's undocumented inside the state. You can imagine a family where perhaps the parents are undocumented and their kids are not.

If the kids were driving the car, they would be breaking the law by having their parents in the car. That was, of course, change. And now the law says if they transport someone into the state. Now, we also get into the local law enforcement angle here. So with this new law, there's going to be more opportunities for local law enforcement agencies. These are police departments.

These are sheriff departments or state troopers to work with federal immigration officers to enforce immigration laws. We're going to have to wait and see how that will take care. place. Do you think of somebody coming across state line? Well, they would have to stop them and prove that they came across state line. But, you know, there's many more details we would have to learn to see how this would take place, Sam. Yeah, such a great point about how the enforcement could even be varying in terms of which county we're talking about and how much they're cooperating with the state. Thank you so much, Quad. Moving overseas now, the violent

protests continuing at this hour to erupt throughout France. The nationwide outrage was triggered after a police officer there shot and killed a teenage boy during a traffic stop. Matt Bradley has the very latest. Tonight, France is a country on the edge as another wave of violent protest erupts across the nation. Demonstrators outraged following the death of 17-year-old Nail, who was shot by a police officer during a traffic stop. Over 900 people were arrested on the third night of protests, according to France's interior ministry. As tens of thousands of riot police descend on cities and towns throughout the country. French towns were set ablaze, thousands of buses and cars burned, fireworks launched

at police. Some stores in central Paris looted. The construction site of the 2024 Olympic pool also engulfed in flames. Nail's mother led a march in their hometown with scores of people chanting justice for Nail. Out in an interview on French TV, she said, I don't blame the police. I blame one person, the one who took my son's life. That officer charged with homicide, and he's currently in custody. The French government attempting to regain control by suspending all public transportation

today in anticipation of more riots. France's president, Emmanuel Macron, calling on parents to help stop the chaos, saying a third of those arrested last night were young people, sometimes very young. the parents' responsibility to keep them at home. Macron blaming social media for fueling the frenzy, but he's also facing backlash online after attending an Elton John concert amid the nationwide unrest. French officials desperate to quell the violence, but bracing for another night of destruction as the nation continues in turmoil.

Yeah, Sam, and President Macron is really trying to put an end to these violent protests. He called an emergency meeting today of government ministers and police officials trying to discuss strategies. And one thing he proposed is that social media companies work with the government to try to get rid of some of the inflammatory content on social media networks that he blames for fueling this violence. Sam? Either way, a stunning number of arrests there. Matt, thank you so much. Staying overseas now to the mounting questions on the fate of a top Russian general. The Kremlin right now refusing to comment. He is just one of a few high-profile Russian figures missing since the Wagner Group Rebellion.

Raf Sanchez has the very latest from Ukraine. Tonight, one week after the mercenary rebellion that shook Vladimir Putin's grip on Russia, growing questions over the disappearance of one of the country's top commanders. The Associated Press reporting that General Sir He Sorovkin was detained by Russia's security services in the wake of the revolt. The Kremlin refusing to comment on reports of his arrest, which NBC News has not independently verified. Sarovkin was once Putin's leading general in Ukraine.

But hasn't been seen since this video from the early hours of Saturday. Holding a gun, but apparently reading from a script, he pleads with Wagner mercenaries to end their uprising. Sorovkin fought alongside Wagner chief Evgeny Progogsian in Ukraine. And the New York Times citing U.S. officials says he knew about the mercenary plot before it happened. As part of the deal to end the rebellion, Progoshin agreed to go into exile in neighboring Belarus.

And now, days after Belarus's president offered to house Progoshan's fighters at an abandoned army base, these new satellite images appear to show activity at a military facility outside the capital. That's causing growing alarm in Ukraine, where President Zelensky today ordered his officials to strengthen defensive positions along the 600-mile-longed. border with Belarus. Thank you very much for making the time. We know you're busy.

One of those officials, the governor of the Chernihiv region. We're constantly strengthening our defenses on the border, he says. We don't care who's on the other side. We headed north to the border to see the situation for ourselves. This abandoned guardposts now the only reminder that Ukraine and Belarus were once, friendly neighbors. That all ended when Putin used Belarus as a launch person. for invasion.

Ukrainian troops destroyed this bridge on the first morning of the war to stop Russian tanks coming across, and now somewhere over this border in Belarus, Prigozian and his mercenaries are in exile, and they're plotting their next move. Ukrainian border guards like Andreihe are now the first line of defense against a potential Wagner attack from Belarus. What's your message to Pogosian and his mercenaries if they try to cross the border here? He tells us, Ukrainian forces here are building new defenses and training on advanced weaponry,

keeping the watch on a lonely bridge to nowhere. And adding to NATO's concerns about Belarus, Vladimir Putin says he plans to move tactical nuclear weapons into the country. The United States has called that irresponsible, but said so far it sees no need to adjust its own nuclear posture. Back to you. Raff, thank you for a really unique look at what's going on there on the front lines. Still ahead tonight, fugitive capture the murder suspect on the run for decades, even featured on America's Most Wanted multiple times, where authorities found him hiding in plain sight. Plus, the explosion at a welding shop sending an employee to the hospital, why his family says this dangerous scene you're looking at right there was completely preventable. In Fox News, settling a lawsuit with a former producer who claimed the Tucker Carlson Show was an abusive place to work.

How much the company will now have to pay up? Stay with us. Back now with a manhood of a murder suspect coming to an end after almost 40 years. That fugitive appearing on America's most wanted multiple times found living on the other side of the country under another name in California, essentially hiding in the open. Our Kathy Park has more. Tonight, the long arm of the law, finally catching up to a murder suspect on, the run for nearly four decades. 65-year-old Donald Santini appeared several times on the TV show

America's Most Wanted. Now authorities say he's in jail and facing a first-degree murder charge for the killing of Cynthia Wood. After all these years, U.S. Marshals were able to arrest Santini in San Diego County, where he was living under an alias and on a local waterboard, often appearing at public meetings according to the AP. And this week, he was extradited to Tampa. shows him being booked in the Orient Road jail. Florida detectives say their investigation stretched into Texas, California, and even as far away as Thailand, but had no luck until now. NBC affiliate WFLA cover the 1984 murder. Authorities say Wood was 25 years old, going through a divorce and that she allegedly was last seen

alive with Santini. Her body was found in a ditch. I happen to look down and see the feet first and then just looked up and you could tell the body was According to the AP, his arrest warrant states she was strangled to death, and the medical examiner found Santini's fingerprints on her body. Years after the murder, WFLA interviewed a woman who said she rented out a room to Santini. When he talked about violence and crime, he got an actual happy feeling out of it. The Hillsborough County Clerk of Courts telling NBC News, Santini has not been assigned a public defender yet to comment on the case. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office telling NBC News in a statement, the arrest of Donald Santini brings closure to a longstanding cold case and provides justice for the victim and her family after nearly four decades of waiting. The outcome also stunning former reporter Lance Williams, who covered the story.

I still can't believe it. I just love the fact that somebody didn't give up. That perseverance now ending a decades-long manhood. Hunt. Kathy Park, NBC News. And we turn now to New York Congressman George Santos back in federal court today, defending himself against a number of charges. This now, as both Republicans and Democrats are speaking out against him. Rahim Ellis reports tonight from outside the courthouse. Tonight embattled Congressman George Santos appearing in a Long Island court once again,

facing a slew of federal charges. Prosecutors alleging, the New York. Republican stole money from his own campaign, embezzled taxpayer funds meant for COVID unemployment benefits, misled donors, and told Congress he was a millionaire in financial disclosure forms when he wasn't. George Santos is an imposter. He has never represented the will of the people of New York 03. The hearing in court today lasting just a few minutes, prosecutors saying they've handed over 80,000

pages of discovery to the defense. Santos leaving court without comment, handed an American flag by a supporter who later told NBC News she does not live in his district. A small group of protesters heckled him. Santos pled not guilty to the charges and could face 20 years in prison if convicted. He has previously called the charges a witch hunt. One of the Democrats who ran for his seat in Congress, telling us today Santos should step down. I think it's incumbent upon us now to show up, to stand firm and let him know and let our community know and let the public know and our country know that we are not going to be fooled again.

Santos now coming under fire from both sides of the aisle, a Republican-led House Ethics Committee investigating Santos, saying last week they've issued more than 30 subpoenas as they look into numerous allegations of wrongdoing, including campaign finance crimes and sexual misconduct. The leader of Santos's conference, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, on Fox News this week. George Santos, are you a part of his re-election campaign? No, I have not. Right.

No, he shouldn't run for re-election. And on the steps of the Capitol last month, this moment, Democratic New York Congressman Jamal Bowman yelling at Santos while he spoke with reporters. Like I said, if I could understand, You'll send you over my colleague screaming here. Santos has a history of lying about elements of his past, even admitting to deceiving voters. I've been a terrible liar on those subjects.

The question tonight, did some of Santos's lies break the law? And Sam, despite calls from both parties for him to resign, Santos says quite the contrary. He plans on running for re-election next year. His next court appearance here on Long Island will be in September. Sam? And that story far from over. Rahima Alice, thank you so much.

When we come back, high seas drug bust, members of the Mexican Navy, dropping from a helicopter onto a submarine off the coast of Baja, California, what they found on board. That story coming up next. And back now with Top Stories News Feed. with the lawsuit over an explosion at a Texas welding shop that was all captured on camera. Surveillance video capturing the moment that a tank exploded in March. Look at that, sending a worker airborne at the time.

He was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Thankfully, he did survive. The victim's family says the company who needed the tank repaired was supposed to deliver it empty. Instead, though, it had flammable materials inside of it. Fox News has reached a $12 million settlement with a former producer that's Abby Grossberg, who worked for Tucker Carlson's show, alleging that she was harassed, retaliated against, and set up to take the fall for Dominion Voting Systems' defamation lawsuit against the network. She also claims that she was later fired for going public with her allegations.

And the major drug bust on the high seas, new video showing a high-speed chase between a Mexican Navy helicopter and a so-called narco submarine just off the coast of Baja, California. Officers you'll see dropping down to the top of the sub and taking five people into custody Authorities say that more than three tons of suspected cocaine was found inside. They believe the drugs were headed to the U.S., but no word on where they came from. Well, next tonight, we are remembering the life and legacy of actor Alan Arkin, who died at the age of 89, the Oscar winner, leaving a legacy of unforgettable roles. NBC's Ann Thompson has a look back. Great, I'll call it.

Alan Arkin disappeared into a role. If I'm doing a fake movie, it's going to be a fake hit. You believed he was a fast-talking Hollywood executive in Argo. You're worried about the Ayatollah? Try the WGA. And the hearing-impaired emotional center of the Heart is a Lonely Hunter. Born in Brooklyn, Arkin was first part of a folk group called the Terriers. Then joined Chicago's Comedy Mecca Second City. He went to Broadway.

I just thought it was stage first. coming to me for the first time in my life and earned a tony in enter laughing four years later in the russians are coming the russians are coming emergency everybody to get from free he got his first of four oscar nominations jesus i'm tired eventually he won as the cantankerous but caring grandfather in little miss sunshine you are the most beautiful girl in the whole world inside despite just 14 minutes of screen time. An author and director as well over a seven-decade career. So talented, Alan Arkin, never seemed to be acting. Ann Thompson, NBC News. Well, coming up next, July 4th may look a little bit different this year. Several U.S. cities are swapping out traditional fireworks

for drone shows. So what's behind the change? We're going to tell you when we come back. Well, there's obviously tradition. But with the holiday weekend here, can you imagine a 4th of July with no fireworks? Well, more and more cities are replacing them with drone shows. NBC's Valerie Castro tells us why. It's an independent state tradition. The nation's capital over the Washington Mall. As American as apple pie.

People watch the sparkling spectacle from their windows, rooftops, and both sides of the East River. Fireworks historically drawing thousands of Americans every 4th of July. But this year, the pyrotechnic flashes and bangs could be replaced by drone light displays. The high-tech, high-flying theatrics have become elaborate eye-catching shows. Quite frankly, some of them are more creative and more innovative than the fireworks that we see. Air pollution, a big factor in making the switch in Imperial Beach, California last year. No smoke? There's no particles falling in the ocean. I'd rather have this because I love the fireworks, but, you know, we need the environment very, very badly.

Experts say all those exploding chemicals and in some cases heavy metals can carry health risks in skies already hazy with toxic smoke from Canadian wildfires. The short-term health effects are some respiratory system problems caused by these higher concentrations of particulate matter in the air. Speaking of wildfires, they're another reason for extinguishing the sparks. The community of Angel Fire, New Mexico, forced to evacuate last spring as a wildfire scorched hundreds of thousands of acres nearby, taking no chances and opting for a fireless show this fourth, using drones to create quite the spectacle, all without the actual fire. Salt Lake City following suit to be conscientious of both our air quality and the potential for wildfires. communities in Colorado also lighting up with the LEDs. I have previewed our show, and I'm really excited. It's going to be put to patriotic music.

A drone company there says they've been flooded with hundreds of requests for patriotic displays nationwide. We were booked for the 4th of July, you know, four months ago. Macy's, though, still the largest fireworks show in the country. 25 minutes of non-stop pyrotechnics that are going to dance across the sky. That dazzling, flashing grand finale. going dark anytime soon. We've lived here for my entire life and every year it gets bigger and brighter. And Valerie Castro, joining us now from Top Story Studio at 30 Rock. Valerie, given the safety concerns here, what's the reality with fireworks? Are those sales starting to slow down? Well, Sam,

those drone companies say they're actually seeing increased demand for their shows every year, especially from Western states where fire danger is the real concern. But the American Pyro-Technics Association says revenue for fireworks displays has steadily increased since 2020. Last year, topping $400 million, nearly double from the year before. But keep in mind, supply chain issues and inflation have also contributed to those costs. Sam? Sure, but from a business side, they're still booming, I guess. Valerie, thank you so much. Coming up next, a look at what you can binge watch and listen to this weekend. The hit series Jack Ryan is back for its fourth and final season.

Plus, a new way to watch the hit musical Hamilton this Independence Day, seems appropriate, and the fallout boy cover that is stirring up some controversy. And we're back now with Bingeworthy. Our look at the best things to watch and listen to this weekend. And we are joined by Jacqueline Coley, awards editor at Rodden Tomatoes and host of the Rodden Tomatoes' Wrong podcast. Jacqueline, thanks so much for joining us on Top Story.

It feels like we have a really action-packed drama-heavy weekend to get looking at. Definitely. I'm so excited to chat about all the movies we have this weekend and TV shows and what you can listen to. A little bit of everything. So let's get started right now, Jacqueline, with the return of a popular series on Amazon Prime. Jack Ryan is back for its fourth and final season. Two days ago, a strike team assassinated President Udo.

And yet, you cannot prove that we weren't involved. Doesn't that concern you? No, sir. It terrifies me. You need to manage this, Jack. Yes, sir. What are you going to tell him? This corruption goes way higher than the CIA. Hey, buddy.

Say welcome. I figured we could use the help. Wish me luck. So Jacqueline, a little bit of a change in dynamic this season. Jack is now the boss. He's the deputy CIA director. What should fans expect from the end of the series? Yeah, what's so interesting about this, we've seen Ben Affleck play Jack Ryan,

we've seen Chris Pine, obviously Harrison Ford. But with the John Cresensky version on this television show, it goes much more in depth. is the first time we're really seeing Jack Ryan in that CIA role that he sort of played in the later iterations of the Tom Clancy novel. So this is a very different Jack Ryan character. We've really followed him, like it says, from analyst slash, you know, barely passed intern to now leading the entire CIA operation. So his role is very different in the series, but it's still something that critics are liking. It's currently rated 85% for this

fourth and final season. And I think it's a show that maybe a lot of people miss through very different iterations with starts and stops in the pandemic, but it is a great John Krasinski performance. Also, Wendell Pierce, who's also on the show, is incredible in it. Let's talk about the psychological component here. Now, in a different way, we have a thriller on Netflix starring Sarah Snook. It's called Run Rabbit Run. Let's have a look at that. I had a sister. Her name was Alice. What was she like? She liked animals. She'd find wild rabbits and bring them home. I love you.

She went missing when she was only seven. I'm seven. So there's clearly a supernatural quality to this. Tell me about the new movie. Yeah, so this one stars Sarah Snook from Succession's fame, and it's a very different look from her. This is a starring vehicle for her. But in it, she plays a fertility expert who is sort of haunted

by the fact that her young daughter is experiencing things that she doesn't believe could happen at her age. She's essentially acting out a previous person from the character Snarek Snook's life. And so what really ends up happening is another one of these films very similar to the Babadug, whereas an allegory for a larger trauma that's being affected by the central female character, but the children and sort of the dark demons that surround her is what allows her to live out these very psychological moments. I will say it's not one that critics are particularly loving with it being 36% on the tomato meter.

But like Bird Box that starred Sandra Bullock, it's one of those. This is a perfect Friday night if you're not leaving to, like, get off to a beach somewhere. You turn this on, you pop some popcorn, and you will absolutely be right at home with this very schlucky, campy, very broad performance psychological thriller. I'm pretty sure I didn't sleep for like a couple of days after watching Birdbox. So for better or for worse, it definitely is going to give you some food for thought. Let's move on right now. We have a new documentary about the life and legacy of one of Hollywood. Hollywood's biggest movie stars ever, Rock Hudson.

It's called All That Heaven Aloud. It's now on HBO Max. Let's check out a look at that clip. Actor Rock Hudson has acquired immune deficiency syndrome. It was everything kind of wrapped up in one. It was Hollywood and the closet and the fact that Rock had lived his life not able to express who he was. And it had come to that. When he died, longtime friend Elizabeth Taylor prayed that he had not died in vain.

He was seen as the All-American boy. Jacqueline, this seems fascinating, just the complexity of the life that was Rock Hudson's. What are we learning about this new documentary? Well, actually a lot. What was so interesting with Rock Hudson is this is a man who is most closely defined by his last chapter, being one of the first major famous figures to be diagnosed with AIDS at the very beginning of the AIDS crisis to be a closeted gay man in Hollywood. By the time this was all revealed, it all kind of got wrapped.

in it to where not a lot of people took the time to investigate the man before this. And this documentary really shows who he is from private conversations with people, the sort of unpublished chapters of Rod Huxen get to have their moment outside of his tragic end, which I think is really interesting because there's an idea of we never really knew who he was. And by the time we figured out who he was, he was gone, I think this documentary gives folks a chance to get to know him outside of the headlines. No question about it.

And last on our list, Jacqueline, Disney Plus, has released a new sing-along version of Hamilton just in time for the 4th of July holiday. Take a look. There's nothing like summer in the city. Summer in the rush next to someone looking pretty. Excuse me, miss, I know what's not funny, but your perfume smells like your daddy's got money. Why you're slumming in the city in your fancy hills. You searching for an urchin who can give you ideals.

Burr, you disgust me. So you disgust me. I'm a trust fund, baby. Trust me. I'm just reading common sense, but I'm pain. So men say that I'm intense, I'm insane. All right, the lyrics are catchy. There's no question about this.

Now, this new version comes three years after the live stage recording was released also on Disney Plus. For those of us that didn't spend hundreds to see it in person, how immersive is this experience, Jacqueline? I will say this. Disney knows about the bops, and so they know about the sing-alongs. I think a thousand karaoke songs are inspired by everything that Disney does. Hamilton is no different.

Limanwell Miranda is a huge Disney head. And I think he made a musical that was intended to be sung and wrapped along with. It is very much a rousing performance. And so for Disney now to give us the sing-along version, which very much caters to the idea of the fact that people are already singing along at home, I mean, they've been obsessed with the Hamilton cast album since it came out. I think this is just a perfect marriage of that. And it feels very Disney.

It feels very, again, something that you can do with the family, with your, like, Hamilton-themed menu, you know, you can get, you know, the Reynolds pamphlet, pigs in the blanket, and sing-along at home. And the sing-along aspect of this is perfect for our next part of this segment because we're going to talk a little music as well. We have a new song from Olivia Rodrigo. It's called Vampire. Let's take a listen.

Saw me for parts. You suck your teeth into me. I'm glad. Sucker fame. Bleeding me dry like a goddamn vampire. You hear sort of the crescendo quality in this? Tell me Jacqueline about Rodrigo's first song since her wildly popular debut. This is now the lead song, or first song, I should say, out of the sophomore album.

What do you think of this one? One thing I will say is I don't know a ton about Olivia Rodriguez, but I really like this girl with a broken heart. She's got catchy tunes when she's on the other side of heartbreak. I think this is like if the first one was, I can't believe this happened, how heartbroken. This is her Carrie Underwood, like I'm coming for revenge. Let me tell you how I really feel very, very that. And I dig this on Olivia and Rodrigo, just like a vampire.

We've all had those vampire relationships. We have, by the way, Taylor Swift has also used that formula to mark success. Now, finally, tonight, we have a cover of a classic. This one's interesting. It's kind of controversial. Fallout Boy has released their version of Billy Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire with some updated lyrics. Take a listen. Trump gets impeached, twice, polar bears got no ice, fire fest, Black Parade, Michael Phelps, Y2K,

Forrest Johnson, Brexit, Kanye West and Tennis, with Stranger Things, Tiger King ever given to it. We didn't stop the fire. It was always burning since the world was turning. We didn't stop the fire. Now, Jacqueline, what did you make of this? Because Billy Joel's original version was chronological. This one is not and brings new events from 1984 to, I believe, 2023. There is controversy surrounding it.

What did you think? I don't want to make judgments on it. I'm more of like, I'll put it to this. I know where this idea comes from, which is that there's a lot of marriage between old. songs and new artists. I think of the Elton John, Britney Spears collaboration. I look at the way that bands like Abba and Fleetwood Mac and even Kate Bush have become part of the like TikTok consciousness where people are doing their own cover versions of that. I think this song is

trying to play into that, how successful it is. I think I'll leave to maybe musical critics to decide. I do think maybe some songs are too iconic to recreate so I could get why people are upset with this one. But I like the idea of what they're going. into of marrying old and new. Yeah, that's always sort of the risk there, but it is interesting to hear, you know, Michael Jackson and Tesla and Trump being mentioned or used in a Billy Joel cover. Absolutely provocative. Yeah, I see what people have said.

Yeah, exactly. Right, case in point. Jacqueline Coley from Rotten Tomatoes, thank you so much. And thanks for watching Top Story. For Tom Yamis, I'm Sam Brock here in Miami this evening. Stay right there because we have more news on the way right now. Thank you.