Top Story with Tom Llamas - Friday, June 6, 2025

Episode Date: June 6, 2025

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

Breaking news tonight, the ex-police chief convicted of murder who had escaped prison just captured. The photos just coming into our newsroom of the murderer known as the Devil of the Ozarks, who was featured in multiple true crime documentaries, finally captured after 12 days on the run. Coming back to America to face charges the man at the center of the immigration debate, Kilmar Abrago Garcia, returning from El Salvador, but facing accusations of human smuggling here. prosecutors say catches him in the act. So what happens if he's convicted here? Mass shooting plot thwarted the students accused of planning to open fire on a Michigan graduation ceremony. The guns found hidden under cars, how their plan was discovered. 50 million Americans at risk,

the tornado ripping across Texas, watch as it whips up dirt and dust. The destruction today after a twister tore apart homes in Arkansas and the severe threat this weekend. We are tracking it at all. exclusive are one-on-one with the Secretary of Education. Washi says the administration's assault on elite universities is working. Terrifying video of a bounce house going airborne with children trapped inside, two of them tumbling out and plummeting down, how the adults were able to save them. And Stolen Heart, the rock band Heart, famous for songs like Barracuda and Crazy on You, pleading for help after their music instruments were swiped.

Will this video of one of the alleged thieves get that? closer to it. Plus, bend it like Sir Beckham, the new honor expected for soccer royalty David Beckham and what his wife, Victoria, will now be called. Top story. Starts right now. And good evening. We are coming on the air with breaking news on this Friday. An escape murderer known as the devil in the Ozarks captured after nearly two weeks on the run. Arkansas law enforcement officers announcing that Grant Hardin, a former police chief, serving a decades-long prison sentence, is back in custody. Take a look at these, just-released pictures of when Hardin was found. You see him there hiding out in the woods, surrounded by law enforcement. This is the image

of the moment Hardin escaped from prison on Sunday, May 25th, disguised. You see him there as a law enforcement officer. The escape triggering a massive manhunt in northern Arkansas, officials saying he was discovered just a mile and a half west of the prison he was being held there. The question tonight, how was he able to evade police for so long? NBC's George Solis joins us tonight with the breaking details. George, walk us through this. Yeah, Tom, so this, as you mentioned, ends a two-week search for Hardin. The man known as the Devil of the Ozarks was captured this afternoon by Arkansas law enforcement

and with the help of U.S. border near Mococococke in Isard County, Arkansas. This is roughly a mile and a half from the facility had initially escaped from in Calico, Arkansas back on May 25th, officials telling us his identity was confirmed by fingerprint analysis. Now, according to authorities, tracking dogs were able to pick up Hardin's scent, and ultimately Hardin himself. His capture ends nearly a two-week manhunt that included hundreds of local state and federal agencies. Authorities say Hardin, who was a former Arkansas police chief who was convicted of past rape and murder, had walked out of that facility after he disguised himself in that makeshift law enforcement uniform. Now, an image of him in that

outfit pushing that wheeled cart was that last known sighting before the escape. Now, law enforcement officials acknowledging his background in law enforcement had made the search much more difficult, but tonight, Tom, he is back in custody. And George, I understand you have a bit of new reporting that's just in Arkansas's governor, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, just released a statement about the arrest. Yeah, that's right, Tom. I have it here in front of me in that statement. She says, thanks to the great work of local state and federal law enforcement, Arkansas can breathe a sigh of relief, and I can confirm that violent criminal Grant Hardin is back in custody. She goes on to say, I am grateful for all the law enforcement have contributed to his capture,

even giving a nod to the Trump administration and Secretary Christine Ome for providing those U.S. Marshals and aiding with that search. Tom? George Solis, with the breaking news, the devil of the Ozarks has been captured. All right, George, we thank you for that. We want to turn to the other breaking news we're following tonight. The man who had become the face of President Trump's mass deportation efforts, Kilmar-Breggo Garcia, is back on U.S. soil.

and facing charges. The stunning announcement coming after a month-long legal battle, his case quickly became a flashpoint in the immigration debate after the Trump administration admitted to mistakenly deporting him to El Salvador. Abrago Garcia was deported back in March to an El Salvador mega-prison, you may remember, among hundreds of deportees after the president invoked the Alien Enemies Act. The Supreme Court, later ruling his deportation, was illegal. But tonight, a federal grand jury inditing him for allegedly transporting undocumented immigrants in the Supreme Court. the U.S. charging him with conspiracy to transport aliens and unlawful transportation of aliens. Attorney General Pam Bondi saying he would be deported after completing his sentence

if convicted. The criminal investigation stemming from this traffic stop back in 2022 when Abrego was pulled over for speeding in Tennessee. Officers suspecting human trafficking because there were eight passengers in the car traveling without luggage. He was not charged with the crime at the time. There's a lot to get here tonight. Gabe Gutierrez has this one. Tonight, Kilmore Abrego-Garcia, the man who became a flashpoint in the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration, is back in the U.S. to face new criminal charges. That over the past nine years, Abrago-Garcia has played a significant role in an alien smuggling ring. The allegations stemmed from this Tennessee traffic stop in 2022, where Abrago-Garcia was driving a car with nine passengers. Where are you working at?

Where? Where? San Luis, Missouri. He's now accused of conspiring to smuggle undocumented immigrants, including MS-13 gang members from Central and South America through Mexico to the U.S. The federal grand jury indictment alleges he routinely transported between six and ten undocumented aliens per trip to maximize efficiency and profits. The defendant abused undocumented alien females, according to co-conspirators,

who were under his control. The 29-year-old undocumented immigrant and father of three was living in Maryland when he was suddenly deported in March to a mega prison in El Salvador. The Justice Department initially said that was a mistake, though the White House later disputed that.

The Supreme Court eventually ordered the administration to facilitate his return. The president's use of the Alien Enemies Act to remove him soon led to a fierce legal battle. I could see a decision being made, bring him back, show everybody how horrible this guy. is. Democrats travel to El Salvador pleading for due process. I think it is the first step

to ultimately bringing him home as the Constitution requires. While L' Abrego Garcia's wife called for his release. My family can't be robbed from another day without seeing Kilmar. She previously had accused him of domestic violence. My sister called the police because he hit me in front of my sister. Later saying they were not in a good place and denying allegations of human smoking. saying he worked in construction and sometimes transported groups of workers between job sites. Tomar will finally get his day in court. And so in that sense, I think we have to understand it as a step forward. All right, Gabe, so many questions to ask, right. So what is the timeline in this? He's going to go to trial here in the U.S.? Yeah, that's right, Tom. And actually, he has his first appearance tonight. And today, the attorney general said that he will be prosecuted in the U.S.

If he's convicted, he will serve his sentence here, and then he's expected to head back to El Salvador, to be deported back there. And as we talk about mass deportations, I know there's some clashes happening right now in Los Angeles with protesters and ICE agents. Yeah, that's right. Some dramatic clashes. It really happened this afternoon, as we were learning the breaking news. In L.A., there were some ICE enforcement operations, and apparently some protesters tried to block officers from conducting these raids. There were some objects thrown at the officers. clashes there. So far, we do not have word of any injuries or any arrest. But it's still an unfolding situation out there, Tom. All right, big story. Gabe, we thank you for that. For more on all this political fallout, Tara Palmeri joins us now. She's a political journalist

and host of the Tara Palmieri show, as well as the author of the Red Letter Substack and, of course, a friend to top story. Tara, so great to see you once again. A big picture here on Kilmar-Abrego-Garcia. He's now back on U.S. soil. We know people like Stephen Miller, one of the assistant chief of staff there has been tweeting about this pretty profusely. What does this mean for the Trump administration? I mean, they brought back, Alberto, they lost this race. You know, it's obvious that this was illegal. He had to come back into the country, and they have to go through the technicality

and the administrative process of actually prosecuting him and indicting him and going through immigration court. But he's not the most sympathetic of character. And I think that the Democratic Party, they chose him as the person, a number of Democrats, went to go see him abroad and stand behind him. But now that, you know, some of the charges have been made public. And you can hear and see that he, according to some of these videos, was transporting migrants, human trafficking possibly. That's what he's been accused of doing. I mean, he's not exactly the most sympathetic character. And he's back on U.S. soil.

And I think most people expect him to be indicted and prosecuted. And in the end, in this sort of political war, probably the Republicans will say that they won this one. Tara, let's move on to something that maybe you have more of a specialty in which you've been covering, I'm sure, in your substack and your podcast. What do you make of this Trump-Musk breakup, right? It's been one of the biggest breakup so far in the second Trump administration. And you have the world's most powerful man, the world's most richest man. Yeah, I mean, it's something that a lot of people in the Trump administration that I had been speaking to over the week, because you could see it sort of bubbling up, obviously, with the tweets against the big, beautiful bill and the provocations. But I don't think anyone expected the blow up to be this nuclear this quickly.

A lot of the people I spoke to said that it would happen probably in August. And there were a lot of frantic phone calls to Musk's political advisor trying to figure out what does this all mean. Is he going to start backing, you know, primary challengers to incumbent Republicans? Is he going to try to start his own political parties? Steve Bannon, who I spoke to, said he thinks he's going to go left to try to help save Tesla and say that, you know, he was up close and saw President Trump. He doesn't care about the earth. It's all drill, baby drill. He's seen the light, and now he wants to create environmentally friendly cars.

I personally don't think that the left will take him back after a number of racist comments he makes. But, you know, it's sort of a wild card right now what someone with so much power can do in the U.S. political. game. But as we know, Elon Musk doesn't really have great political instincts and money can't always buy you wins. I mean, just look at what happened in Wisconsin. He spent $25 million on a judicial race and they still lost. Do you think that he makes up with Trump, though? You know, we've seen this a lot during the Trump story, first administration throughout his life, really, people that they have these meltdowns with the president, but then they make up and they get back together. Yeah, I think for Trump, he kind of loves like a convert. He kind of loves the reconciliation

story as long as that person comes back to him and is groveling. That's a key part of it. Because I think for Trump to completely discard a person, it's a reflection of him and the people that he brings around him. And if those people come back and are repentant, he'd be perfectly happy to

take him back as long as he kissed the ring. But I do think that going towards the Epstein route and saying, you know, Trump is in the Epstein files, implying that he was involved in this pedophilia. I mean, that really is the third rail. I think he'd have to completely disown that and disavow what he said, and maybe then he could come back in. But I think as long

as there is a complete turnaround, a complete reconciliation, Trump would probably take him back. Plus, it makes Trump's judgment look bad for keeping him around for so long. $275 million, somewhere around that, a quarter of a billion dollars. He spent to help Republicans, help win Pennsylvania. When you pull that type of money out of the Republican Party, do Republicans need Elon Musk to win elections, especially in the upcoming midterms? You know, I've always sort of wondered if Elon Musk really had that much of an impact on the last election, to be honest. I mean, like, he did invest in a lot. Tara, what? That's a huge amount of money.

I'm sorry, Tara. Tara, I got to stop you there. I mean, he's not only like, he's not only the world's richest man. He's also one of the world's most popular man, right? And he was on all the podcasts. He was popular then. Yeah. He was popular then.

And his rallies were popular. I do think that that helped. But ultimately, I think when you still put up president's, Trump against the former vice president, Kamala Harris. People were still going to choose President Trump, the ones that chose him. And the ground operation that he invested in, if you remember, was a complete disaster. Really, what was probably more powerful was just having his endorsement and having him out there when Elon Musk was at the height of his popularity with the bros, right? Right now, I don't think that really matters. And money

can really only take you so far in politics. Right now, Trump has about $500 million that he's sitting on for the midterm. So that's a pretty healthy pot of money. And as you know, I mean, the Democrats spent over a billion dollars and substantially more than President Trump did, and they still lost. So I always, I'm always sort of questioning how much money, what money can really do. I mean, Ron DeSantis is another example, someone that spent $200 million in a primary and couldn't make it past Iowa. Now, he's obviously flirting with Elon Musk now. He sent out an email supporting him as he was attacking Donald Trump online. And clearly he's looking at Elon Musk, as someone who can put some money behind him when he wants to run in 2028. But even if you put $200

million behind Ron DeSantis, does that mean he's going to do any better? He just wasn't a great candidate. It's a valid point. It's a valid point. Terra Paul Mayer, always so great to have you on. We turn out in Michigan where authorities are revealing chilling details about a potential mass shooting at a high school graduation. This one is crazy. They say it was stopped after officers originally dispatched to break up a fight, uncovered the larger plot and loaded weapons at the scene. NBC's Adrian Broadus in Pontiac for us with the story tonight. Tonight, these are the fully loaded weapons with high-capacity magazines.

Authorities discovered when they say they averted a potential mass shooting at a high school graduation ceremony outside Detroit. Each weapon had a 40-round magazine. Just those two weapons without changing magazines had 80 rounds of potential fire. air power. Shooting into a graduation, you can only imagine the outcome of that. Investigators have arrested two men accused of fleeing after what initially appeared to be a fight at this sports complex on Tuesday. They were not students in the class, but friends and relatives and apparently ongoing disputes

with individuals in the community. After arriving on scene, investigators uncovered a threat on Snapchat to shoot up the event. And the two weapons authorities say the suspects hid under cars. an AR-style pistol and a Glock handgun. Christina Somerville was at the graduation ceremony. It is frightening and it's traumatizes to think what could have happened. It was plenty of children there, babies, pregnant women, elderly, because we were all there to celebrate.

The sheriff says he believes law enforcement's response kept a graduation from becoming a crime scene. Otherwise this room potentially would be filled with national press again about a mass shooting. And thankfully, that's not what happened. But it could have very easily been the case. The sheriff says someone here at the graduation led them to that Snapchat threat. So far, no charges have been filed. Tom? Okay, Adrian Broad is for us. Adrian, we thank you. Now to the severe weather threat in the South. Take a look at this, a massive tornado in Morton, Texas. Look how big that sucker is, tearing across the horizon. It's one of at least 20 reported twisters to hit the state

In the last 24 hours, it has been active there in Texas. Heavy rainfall, flash flooding, also slamming the city of Lubbock, roads turned into rivers there. And in Van Buren, Arkansas, a radar-confirmed tornado ripping apart homes and destroying over 50 structures. There's still a dangerous weekend of storms ahead. I want to get right over to NBC News meteorologist, Angie Lassman. Angie, great to have you here on a Friday night and a busy Friday night. Always good to be with you, Tom, a busy Friday night. Indeed, we've got multiple tornado watches that are in effect in a couple of spots.

one of those across parts of the Tennessee Valley, and then we've got them across parts of the Western Plains. Those are lasting through the evening hours. So we've got a couple more hours where we're going to see the busy kind of forecast of some strong and even potentially severe storms. We've still got 36 million people included in this, specifically across parts of the plains and stretching into parts of the southeast, Nashville, Oklahoma City, Wichita Falls, all included in that. We've got the damaging hail and a couple of tornadoes possible. That's through tonight. But tomorrow we've got another round of this. The system moves to the east, and we bring heavy rain across parts of the Midwest. We'll get a good dose of rain for folks there.

But it's specifically Texas to the southeast coast that we'll see that, again, potential for severe weather across this region. This is a look at tomorrow. Fifty-four million people included in this. Specifically, Tupelo is going to be one of the spots where we have that enhanced risk, but a big chunk of the country, the southeast back to parts of the southern plains. Some of those same areas that are dealing with the threat today are once again going to deal with it tomorrow and all the same threats are on the table. We've got the strong wind gusts, the and a couple of tornadoes possible as we get through tomorrow. Sunday repeat performance for some. Still a good chunk of the country included in the severe risk and parts of the planes stretching

up to the Midwest, St. Louis, Tom, parts of Amarillo, Dallas, and Wilmington all included in that as we wrap up our week. Thirty-three million impact. It might be a dangerous weekend for so many. Okay, Angie, again, great to have you. We want to turn out of the jurors in the Sean Diddy Combs trial hearing a second day of emotional testimony from his former girlfriend. She told the court about how the music mogul asked her to transport drugs, how she felt obligated to perform for him with so-called entertainers from other states. Here's Aaron McLaughlin. Through Sobs, the woman identified simply as Jane described her relationship with Sean Diddy Combs in graphic detail, including the drug and sex-filled hotel nights, where she says she felt obligated to have sex

with multiple entertainers at Combs's direction. She said some of those entertainers were brought in from other states, even meeting them on a trip to Turks and Caicos. Jane said the longest session lasted up to three and a half days, describing how drugs, including ecstasy, Molly, Xanax, and Coke were provided by his assistance and how Combs directed her to bring drugs from L.A. to Miami. Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The prosecution today pointed to multiple texts in which she told the music mogul, she wanted the hotel nights to end.

One reading, I don't want to play this role in your life anymore. It's dark, sleazy, and makes me feel disgusted with myself. It's the only reason you have me around and why you pay for my house. Today, she testified, Combs is still paying her rent. Jane broke down as she told the court how her birthday in 2023 turned into yet another hotel night, where Combs watched as she had sex with three different men. I just accepted it, sobbing, she added, I just know what my partner likes to see. Those are incredibly stunning allegations.

Since Aaron McLaughlin joins us tonight from outside the courthouse in downtown Manhattan, and Aaron, the woman we were just talking about there, there are concerns of her identity being revealed? Yeah, that's right, Tom. We know this trial is being heavily scrutinized, heavily covered by media from across the country. They are allowing journalists inside the courtroom. They're also allowing journalists into a spillover room. That's where I was today. There was a live video feed.

And on that live video feed, you could quite clearly see. Jane's face. Now, during the trial, Jane's lawyer raising concerns with the judge that some of the media could be pursuing to expose her identity. The judge taking that concern extremely seriously, going to so far as to threaten a gag order, it is worth noting that she is expected back on the stand on Monday for her third day of testimony. She has yet to be cross-examined. Tom. Okay. We thank you for that. We're back in just six. 60 seconds with college photos hacked. The former student speaking out after a university football coach broke into her private

photos and there are thousands more of victims just like her. The bounce house horror, a gust launching this bounce house into the air, the moment two children fell out, adults forming a human landing pad to save them. And closing in the striped zebra spotted in Tennessee. Our authorities are now closing in on Zeke the zebra after days on the run. Stay with us. We're back now with a disturbing story involving a former football coach at the University of Michigan. The Justice Department filing charges against the man, they say hacked into the private data of thousands of college athletes, many of them young women, obtaining access to intimate photos and videos over the course of nearly a decade.

Tonight, Arles Croyd speaks to one of the victims taking part in a class action lawsuit as questions on how this all unfolded remain. He spent years on the sidelines of some of the most storied football programs in the country, most recently as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan. Now, the Department of Justice says Matt Weiss was the mastermind of a massive data breach, mostly targeting female college athletes. This is the second email that I got. A few months ago, former Cal State San Bernardino volleyball player Ali Torline started getting letters and emails from the DOJ, telling her she may have had sensitive photos and information.

stolen by Weiss, a man she says she's never met. It's really hard to find the words to explain what a violation it was. According to an indictment between 2015 and 2023, Weiss illegally accessed the personal accounts of more than 3,300 people, obtaining private photographs and videos never intended to be shared beyond intimate partners. The indictment says he did it in part by hacking into a system that maintains databases that store the personal information. of athletes for more than 100 colleges and universities. He then downloaded the data of more than

150,000 people and used it to crack passwords for email, social media, and cloud accounts. The DOJ says he kept notes on his victims commenting on their bodies and their sexual preferences. For him to take his position, basically a position of power and fully abuse it. I mean, it's gross. What, if anything, were you told about what Matt Weiss obtained from you? The most information I got was that it was personally identifiable. So not knowing what's out there is definitely something that is intimidating. Now 30, Allie is part of a class action lawsuit, alleging negligence in the handling of student data. We see this as a form of sexual assault. We do not want this happening to young adults ever again. Weiss, who was fired from the University of Michigan in

23 has pled not guilty to multiple counts, including aggravated identity theft. His attorney did not respond to NBC News's multiple requests for comment. Ali's University says it is no record of any contracts or payments to the third-party system named in the indictment. She now coaches high school volleyball and worries about her own students. The institutions have to do a better job of protecting student athletes, especially female student athletes. Liz Krois joins us tonight from Los Angeles. Liz, you know, you mentioned they're the victim now 30 years old.

They've been dealing this with this for a few years. What's next for the man accused in this case, that coach, Weiss? Yeah, well, Tom, they're currently in the discovery phase right now. Trying to figure out exactly what databases Weiss was able to access because Alley's own university says they have no contract with the database that's currently named in the indictment. So it's still actually unclear exactly how Weiss was able to access Alley's information and photos, and she's one of many victims who still have no idea exactly what Weiss was even able to get from them. Weiss, for his part, is currently out on $10,000 bond. He has declined to

plea deal, so the next step could be trial, Tom. Okay, Liz Kroitz on that investigation list. Thank you. Up next, on Top Story, a legendary band rocked as they kicked off their tour. Part signature guitar stolen from the stage. The band's appeal to the public to get them back. And he bent it like Beckham. Now he may be bending the knee and rising as a night. The soccer legend and cultural icon now reportedly getting a new title. But first, top stories moment tonight, an emotional triumph for one college grad who defied the odds and shocked the crowd at her graduation. Take a look. Brave woman right there is Samantha Lewis, a student who graduated from George Mason University,

surprising the whole crowd at graduation, getting out of her wheelchair, walking across that stage. This was so remarkable because less than six months ago, she was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder, essentially paralyzing her from the waist down, but she trained and she fought for this moment, and the crowd gave her a standing ovation to celebrate it. All right, stay with us. We are going to be back in just a moment. We are back now with Top Stories News Feed and Russia launching one of the biggest air attacks of the war today, killing multiple people. The overnight assault lasted several hours and hit six Ukrainian territories. Officials in Ukraine say at least four people were killed, 50 others injured.

The attack happened after President Putin vowed to respond to Ukraine's attack on Russian military. airfields. Unbelievable video out of South Africa showing a bouncy bounce house going airborne with two kids inside. We do want to warn you the video is distressing. You can see the bounce house take off and then you see one child fallout followed by the second. This is terrifying if you're a parent. It happened during a school fundraiser. According to local media reports, some parents below formed a human crash pad to soften the landing, but both the kids were injured. A statement from the school says the kids have been released from the hospital. That's the good news. Six boats in an early morning fire today just north of Miami Beach.

Look at this. Cruise arrived. They found one yacht fully engulfed in flames. The fire quickly spreading to other boats nearby. Think about that fiberglass. Firefighters say these types of high-end vessels are typically made from materials like that that can just light up. No injuries were reported, though.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. And an update on a story we brought you earlier this week, the zebra that escaped from its owner outside Nashville has now been spotted. The sheriff's office releasing this video showing the zebra. running through a field, now a local celebrity. The zebra has been on the run for six days now. It escaped from its owner the day after it arrived from a Texas breeding facility. Deputies are now using a drone to try and track the zebra

and are keeping a vet on scene as they work to capture. If you're wondering, his name is Zeke. All right. Now to an NBC News exclusive, Arvonne Hilliard is sitting down with the education secretary Linda McMahon as the Trump administration ramps up its attacks on colleges and universities. How she says the schools have responded to White House demands and the new Supreme Court battle over her efforts to gut her own department's workforce. Tonight, the Secretary of Education saying the administration's targeting of elite universities is in their view working. I think we really started to see a lot of their actions once we were taking action.

That action from universities, she says, includes cracking down on anti-Semitism and extremism on campus. Have you seen progress at the universities? Have you seen progress at Columbia? I have seen progress at Columbia. Have you seen progress at Harvard? And you know why? I think we're seeing progress because we are putting these measures in place and we're saying we're putting teeth behind what we're looking at.

And you have to sit down with us because... And they are sitting down. And they are because we have stopped their federal funding. Despite their efforts, the White House further ratcheting up pressure, now seeking to potentially bar all international students from attending Harvard. I'm very happy that we're going to continue to scrutinize these students who are coming in. A move Harvard's president says hurts all students. There is so much that they contribute to our environment, and they enable everyone else to open their minds.

What have your experiences on campus been like? I have not been on Harvard's campus, but I did go to Columbia and talk to the president there. So you did not visit Harvard's campus to have this conversation. I did not. I spoke with him over the phone. At Columbia University, the Department of Education this spring determined that it had failed to meaningfully protect Jewish students against severe and pervasive harassment on Columbia's campus. Have they not worked in good faith with your administration to address anti-Semitism on campus? We have been working with Colombia in good faith.

But despite that good faith effort, the White House this week pushing for Columbia to lose its accreditation, which would effectively block it from receiving federal funding. McMahon's department has launched investigations into 58 other universities on the same grounds of alleged civil rights investigations. The White House's next moves unclear as it scrutinizes universities' admissions, faculty, DEI programs, and endowments. There's a question of whether this administration is seeking to cut off federal funding to Columbia, Harvard, other universities, and using anti-Semitism as a justification for trying

to end multiculturalism on campus and cut off higher education funding to specific universities. What do you tell folks that are skeptical of this administration's administration's education? efforts. I can tell you that I think the American citizens who look at what's going on at our higher ed universities and realize that their tax dollars are going to fund a lot of these anti-Semitism activities that are being on campus. They've pushed back on that. Vaughn Hillier joins us tonight from Washington, fresh off that exclusive interview with the education secretary today. And Vaughn, the Trump administration is now asking the Supreme Court to intervene on another part of its education reform. Right, Tom, just as we were sitting down

for this interview, the Trump administration, going to the Supreme Court, asking them to lift an injunction from a lower court, would stop the Department of Education from mass firings. We're looking at the Department of Education that Secretary McMahon even said herself to us, that she was told by President Trump that she will have done a successful job as secretary if she will have effectively dismantled the Department of Education. She had water glasses on her desk that said, shut it down. And next week, the department was set to go forward with a reduction of force of up to 50%.

There are questions here of whether the courts will continue to stop the department from effectively bringing the Department of Education to an end. One other note, the Office of Civil Rights is one of the offices within the department that is also facing these cuts. And the budget presented to Congress Justice Week tom by Secretary McMahon, they are seeking to cut the Office of Civil Rights, which is the one that invented. investigates discrimination complaints in educational institutions around the country, including anti-Semitism, the proposal would cut that budget from $141 million to $90 million. So there is a lot on the plate of the secretary here, but clearly this administration continues to go forward in its efforts against Harvard and at least Columbia at this point in time. All right, Vaughn Hillier, great big exclusive. We thank you for bringing it to us. Now to the hunt for two irreplaceable instruments. This is a big turn here, but it's an interesting story.

to the rock band Heart on the eve of their new tour, someone snatching a guitar and a mandolin from the hard rock in Atlantic City. NBC's Ellis and Barber on the band's plea to get them back tonight. Come on home, girl, they said with a smile. Formed in Seattle, Washington in 1973, the rock band Heart has had fans begging for more ever since. But tonight, it's the band on their knees begging for help, speaking with Philadelphia Station, WPDI.

We're just hoping that whoever has them now will reach into their kindest, deepest place in their heart. After two prized instruments were stolen from a stage area inside the hard rock live in Atlantic City, where the group launched their tour just last week. If we continue looking and we have to find that they're absolutely going to be serious criminal charges. So I would urge whoever has them that didn't know what they were getting, turn in this piece of history. Police say they already made one arrest. Garfield Bennett was charged with burglary and theft after police say they caught him on surveillance footage wandering around

Atlantic City, allegedly trying to sell the stolen instruments. If you've got the guitars, bring them back. Turn them in. No questions asked. But according to police, they haven't been able to find those instruments. A purple, sparkle baritone telecaster with a hand-painted headstock and in 1966 Gibson EM-50 mandolin. In a statement post said on social media, singer and guitarist Nancy Wilson writing, quote, these instruments are more than just tools of our trade, their extensions of our musical souls. For now, the band making their plea to the public, hoping the beloved instruments. How do I get you alone?

Won't end up alone. All right, Ellison Barber joins us now. Alison, really interesting story. What could the suspect be facing? So in court, a judge told the man they have in custody that he has charged with burglary and theft in the third degree, and that means that he could face up to five years behind bars if convicted as well as a $15,000 fine. He said that is on each of those charges.

Additionally, the place where this all happened at, Hard Rock Atlantic City, they told NBC News, in part, quote, we are fully cooperating with law enforcement, adding, at this time, we are unable to comment further due to the active nature of the investigation. Police are saying, look, if you have these instruments, give them to us now. If not, we will probably charge you with theft. You're good at finding stolen items. You found your iPhone that was stolen. I mean, on the case. Are you starting?

Take the case. Alison, thank you so much. When Top Story returns from soccer royalty to the real thing, David Beckham reportedly taking on a brand new title, Night of the Royal Victorian Order. And those ice plunges so popular with athletes on TikTok and Instagram, do they really work or put your health in peril? What a new study is telling us.

Welcome back. Soccer fans are buzzing tonight over British media reports that David Beckham will be knighted by King Charles. NBC Stephen Romo has this look at his path from soccer star to sir. From the pitch to the palace, footballer, businessman, and British cultural icon David Beckham could soon be adding another title to the list. Multiple UK media reports say Bex will soon be knighted by King Charles as Sir David Beckham. The potential knighthood, something that's been a long time in the making.

Beckham's been a household name for nearly 30 years. David Beckham scores the goal. His star catapulting in 2001 with this last-minute kick, taking England to the World Cup. Give that man a knighthood. Unbelievable arcing goals like that one, even inspiring the 2003 hit movie, Bend It Like Beckham. Your sister's getting engaged and you're sitting here watching this skinhead boy. The heartthrob becoming one half of England's poshous couple when he married Spice Girl Victoria Adams, aka Posh Spice. Now better known as Victoria Beckham and soon Lady Victoria.

We're very working, working class. Be honest. I am being honest. What car? What did you get your dental drugs? It depends. No, no, no, no. Okay, in the 80s my dad had a Rolls Royce.

The pair giving fans a rare glimpse into their private life in their 2023 Netflix docus series. The most important thing to me is, what we've what we've got. Beckham's also made major deals representing brands like Pepsi, Armani, Adidas, and more, along with his many charitable efforts. He's been a UNICEF Goodwill ambassador for 20 years now. But the road to knighthood wasn't without complications.

In 2017, UK tabloids reported on alleged leaked emails from 2013, in which Beckham allegedly expressed frustration about not being knighted. His team telling the BBC the emails were doctored and private. But Beckham, making multiple appearances at events with the King and Queen in recent months, a sign that ultimate goal of knighthood could be within reach. This is really cool for the Beckham's. I'm sure they're so excited. So when could we see Sir David Beckham?

Yeah, so we know the knighthoods they are given out at the beginning of the year and then mid-June for the King's birthday celebrations. We're expecting the formal announcement to come next Friday. And then this weekend, the next weekend, we could actually see Sir David Beckham and Lady Victoria. All right. Great news for them. We thank you for that. We're going to stay with sports now because they are all the rage with pro and college athletes

and athletic influencers really, really cold plunges where you immerse your limbs into icy water following a workout or playing sports. Stephen Romo is listening to this right next to me. Now a new study first highlighted in the Washington Post is throwing cold water on that popular practice. What? Revealing those plunges may actually reduce the benefits of a workout. Adding that dip in ice water may interfere with muscle recovery and growth. For more on this, sports medicine physician, Dr. Jordan Metzl from the hospital for special surgery joins Top Story tonight. Dr. Metzl, thanks so much for being here. I'm going to hit you with the tough questions, right?

Because I know so many people that have bought these cold plunges. I've jumped into a cold plunge after a great workout. and you've seen professional athletes for years and decades always go into those cold tubs. So they're all wrong? I wouldn't say they're wrong. I think the question is, why are you cold plunging? This kind of falls in the broad category of can't hurt you medicine. If you like it, if it makes you feel better, if it makes your joints and muscles less achy,

that's great. But what this study and others like it have looked at is, does cold plunging after lifting weights lead to an inhibition of your muscle development, meaning are your muscles smaller if you're looking to get muscle bulk after working out, if you cold plunge. And surprisingly, the answer is it seems like it does. So if you want to make your achy knees and back feel better and gold plunging is something you like, get in there and do it. If you're looking to build bulk, it may not be for you. So why does it help NFL athletes, NBA players who after four quarters of their game jump into a cold plunge to sort of chill out afterwards? Well, that's exactly

what they're doing, chilling out. That's using ice as an anti-inflammatory remedy, and that's great. It's safer than Advil or Motrin or, you know, any of the things ibuprofen that are anti-inflammatory. This is nature's anti-inflammatory. But if you're looking to build muscle bulk, this is a different story. Got it. And then what about, you know, there's a lot of theories out there. I don't know if they're true or not, but somebody like Tony Robbins, who's a motivational speaker, swears that he jumps into a cold river or a cold plunge every morning to change his mood because his argument is that your body sort of releases certain chemicals because it thinks it's in a panic state, but it actually ends up changing your mood.

Any truth to that, or is that sort of junk science? I don't know as junk science, but if you like it, you're certainly not hurting anybody. If it makes you feel better, go jump in a lake, absolutely. It's certainly not going to cause any problems. But in terms of, does it work for everybody? It's something you have to be doing? I don't think we can say that. So if I want to get bigger than Stephen Romo, if I want to look bigger than him,

our reporter was just here, you're saying don't do the cold plunge. Lift weights, don't do the cold plunge. Got it. Doctor, so great to have you here. Thanks for explaining all this. This was a lot of fun. When Top Story returns, Owen Wilson out with a new feel-good sports comedy. Isn't the next Ted Lassow?

Plus, new music from Grammy-nominated artist Teddy Swims, all in tonight's Bingeworthy. Stay with us. We are back now with Bingeworthy. Our look at the best things to watch and listen to this weekend. And tonight, we are. joined by Chris Witherspoon, also known as The Spoon. He's an NBC News Entertainment contributor and CEO of pop viewers, so don't sleep on the spoon.

Also, All the Famer. I don't like that. For bingeworthy. How about this new set? I love this set. It's incredible. Congratulations. It's a great job.

Thank you. I appreciate all of that. Keep going. No. First up, we're going to talk about your favorite show. You say this is it. This is the one to watch. This is the one to watch.

All right. It's on Apple TV. It's called Stick. Here's a little clip. The question you got to ask yourself is, what's next? That was your wrapped on? That's all I got. Your cup and your wrist a little bit.

Did you hear that? I can barely hear you. Wait right here, Mrs. Nussmom, I'll be right back. I found a kid who swims a golf club like a dream. What's your name? I'm not into other guys, but I'm flattered. Hey, get out of here. Who coached him?

His dad? Why'd he stop playing? His dad? I'd like to try to qualify him for the U.S. Amateur Championship. I think he could win it all. All right, one of my favorites, Owen Wilson. You got a sports series here. series here, comedy, Mark Barron as well, so it's great.

Yeah, I mean, Alan Wilson is back and he's bringing us some golf clubs with him. You know, Owen's known for film mostly, but he was in this Disney Plus series, low-key a couple years ago, but hasn't done much to me, but he plays this legendary golfer named Price, who basically loses everything, loses his championship, his job, going through divorce. Yeah, he's, like, struggling, he's slumming. He meets this young kid, and he becomes his coach and trainer. So it's kind of like karate kid in a lot of ways, but it's a golf setting, but Owen Wilson.

Listen, the timing around the comedy is brilliant. It's, like, the best thing, I think, on Apple right now. All right, you're a Ted Lassow. Yeah, no, that's what I'm hearing. Ted Lassau vibes, and people love it. Next up is Ginny and Georgia. This one's on Netflix, a very popular series, season three. People love the show.

I've never seen it. Let's watch a clip, I know. My mom's awaiting your murder trial, and everyone at school is looking at me like I'm in the circus. It's fun. Your college essay writes, it's up. First, we murder his life without the possibility of all. Life.

You will be on house arrest, monitored with an ankle bracelet until trial. Why is it beeping? I'm not running away. I'm in my house. It needs to be charged. Oh. All right, I'm being shamed right now because I've not watched the show. I know how it's a cult following. Why is it so great? I mean, Tom, it came out during COVID the first season. It's about a mom named Georgia who had her kid when she was a teenager, and now her daughter is a teen.

but the mom's a hot mess. She got married last season. There was a murder at the wedding. So now she is on trial for murder. Kind of like that whole true crime thing. Okay. The scripted drama. It's just messy.

It's chaotic. The best one-liners. And we've kind of watched this young girl grow up in this show. Yeah. Rates always huge for Netflix. No, yeah. I know. Clearly it's popular.

You got homework. I got a lot of homework. I got to watch season one and two. I'm going to quiz you. Speaking of true crime or just crime in general, Netflix, the survivors. People are talking about this one as well. It's about a murder mystery set in a small town.

Let's watch a clip. Hi. Bronte, she's dead. If anyone knows anything about what happened to my daughter, please tell us. Do you think there's a connection between what happened to Bronte and Gabby? I think I should know. We need to protect you dead. This town has a history of overlooking dead girls.

You keep your stupid mouth shut. We know a few things about it, beautifully shot. So say that out of Australia. Based on a book? Yes. Yeah, so it's based on a popular YA series. It's Australian. Young adult.

Yes, young adult series. About this young girl who gets killed and 15 years later, her murder is like the subject of everyone in the town. Everyone's talking about it. It's beautifully. shot, as you said. But it also kind of gives you big little lies vibes

with Australian waves. You know what I'm saying? It's like it's, come on I worked on that for you. Okay, I worked on that, that's money in the bank, okay? But it's on Netflix, you can binge the whole thing right now. All right, sounds good. Next up, the mothership peacock has got one of the most popular shows

out there. This show is crazy. This show is crazy. I didn't even know what it was about until our great producer of this segment, Aaron Cutch, told me about it. Oh, yeah, it's a dick thing. But real quick, before we run the clip, just do the premise, people They're put together in a bedroom? No, they're put together on this, on this, like, beautiful, like, villa, and you have to couple up with someone or you get voted off. You kiss first, then you go to the bedroom.

You got to find love. But they have, like, 33 couples and over, like, 30 episodes. So normally you've got, like, 10 to 15 episodes, but this one is super long, and fans vote also for folks that have to leave. But, like, they get rid of sort of the courting phase. It goes straight to the hookup phase. Okay, here's the clip. That's the setup. Here's the clip.

How about we get you guys coupled up? This year, things are gonna be a little bit different. Time to let your lips do the talking. Okay. Oh, shit. Ooh. We have our first five official couples of Love Island USA 2025.

Glad this is on streaming. This is a true story. Today, before I was coming to work, my nine-year-old daughter had this up. Are you kidding? yet, but it was on the shelf, and she was clearly not in her character on Netflix. She was mine or my wife's. And she's like, oh, it looks funny. And I'm like, it probably isn't funny. It's a little funny. Actually, it's a little funny, but it's not, it's not for

kids. No, obviously, it's not for kids. Why do people love it so much? Some of the hottest bodies, like they cast people. It is literally like eye candy. If there's somewhere right now, I can do a push-up. I need to do it right now after watching that trailer. But again, you can vote live as to interactive. It has been a ratings juggernaut for Peacock. It's it rates every week that it's on. Yeah, no. Air is like, more. than once throughout the week. But again, so many different couples revolved throughout the show. Yeah, it's got a huge following too, and you're right. There's a lot of episodes all throughout the week. It's like Cipatient Island Who? Yeah, no. All you need to do is. We like this.

Speaking of love, Teddy Swims has got a new song out that is very hot. It's the new single just release off his new album, Out June 27th. Let's listen to it. Your eyes every color in the sky Don't come close to you Yeah, I made for you I pray for you I swear that God went crazy when he painted you God went crazy when he painted you.

Come on, right? And what a voice. I normally have the good one liners, but he has that one. He's got it. It's coming off of his... This is a third iteration of this album called I've tried everything but therapy. By the way, I love therapy.

Yeah. But he's not tried that. So they put off the first album in 2020 The first part of this album, second album two years later, and now we're getting the complete rendition with five new tracks. But I'm still up on that song, Hard Fought, Hallelujah. Yeah. Remember that song here?

All of the songs are great. I love this guy's voice, so distinct. We're running out time here. Cynthia Revo, best for me. She's got an awesome song out. Make sure to listen to it. And Sabrina Carpenter, Manchild. I will say this.

The video is not for children either. It is PG-13, maybe R. It's super funny, but little risque. No, very risque. Great video. but she put this album out or this song out a year after, literally a year after that song, please, please, please. Is it going to be the song of the summer or not?

I'm telling me people are calling it that already. Already? She has the kids on lock, Tom. You heard it here first. Again, binge-worthy, breaking a lot of news. Spoon, Chris, are so amazing. I know I do. I got to watch the highlight and everything else.

Thanks so much for being here. We appreciate it as always. We thank you for watching Top Story. I'm Tom Yamis in New York. Stay right there because you know there is more news on the way. Thank you.