Top Story with Tom Llamas - Friday, March 21, 2025

Episode Date: March 22, 2025

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

Tonight, the global travel chaos after a fire shuts down one of the busiest airports in the world. Hundreds of thousands of passengers impacted, many Americans stranded overseas. New details on the fire that knocked out power to the entire airport, the rush to get it back online, and the investigation into what may have caused it. New videos of Tesla's being trashed. Owners speaking out about threats they've received and why President Trump says these attacks, attacks are worse than January 6th. Parents speak out.

The emotional interview with the parents whose child died of measles and the shocking revelation why they are still telling other parents not to vaccinate their kids. 40 million at risk, the brush fire closing down roads near Miami. The new threats today were tracking who should be on alert. Kidnapping hoax fallout. Sherry Pupini convicted of faking her own kidnapping back in court today. The true crime documentary about her that she doesn't want her children to see. Back on Earth, new videos of those astronauts left in space now finally home, how their families say they're doing.

And the legend of Oricon, the basketball team manager going viral with his own Cinderella story. Plus, Democrats under fire, how it's not just Republicans being challenged at town halls. Top story starts right now. Good evening. I'm Ellison Barber in for Tom Yamis, and we begin with the fire in London that ruined vacations and stranded travelers around the world. London's Heathrow Airport scrambling to recover tonight after that fire caused the entire transportation hub to shut down. A tower of flames erupting at a nearby electricity substation around 8 o'clock last night, lighting up the London night sky and filling the air with thick black smoke. The blaze causing widespread power outages that hit Heathrow Airport, leaving passengers and workers completely in the dark. And the ripple effects were severe.

This was an all too common scene for travelers at airports around the world, left stranded with the next flight, maybe not for days. The closure of London's international hub leading to more than 1,300 flight cancellations and 200,000 passengers impacted. We want to get right to NBC's Raf Sanchez, who leads us off tonight from London. Tonight, a trickle of flights beginning to land at London Heathrow. After this towering blaze forced a total shutdown of one of the world's busiest airports and unleashed a global wave of travel chaos. We don't know what to do. We have a group of 12 of us from the United States. The airport CEO apologizing for the mess.

This is unprecedented. It's never happened before. I hope people appreciate that we do not close down the airport unless we have severe safety concerns. Heathrow usually sees 1,300 daily takeoffs and landings. But for much of the day, its runways were a parking lot, leaving passengers stranded and travel plans upended. If we don't get one today, should we assume that we'll get one tomorrow? Tomorrow after tomorrow. So you don't know. Blair Butler was supposed to fly home to Austin from Rome via London.

We don't know. If we're getting out today, probably not. There's no flights. What we've been told is there's no flights available. The fire erupted at a power station, knocking out he throws electricity, Plunging passengers into darkness and paralyzing escalators in silent terminals. I feel like I've been picked up and dropped by aliens. Police say there's no evidence of foul play, but an investigation now underway by counterterrorism officers.

The approach to Heathrow is normally the spot of some of the heaviest traffic in London, but you can see today the roads are closed and empty. More than 100 flights were mid-air en route to Heathrow when it was abruptly shut. of them diverted to Washington Dulles, another five to New York JFK. Jeff Ayland was supposed to fly home to London last night. His new plan? Yeah, so it's Atlanta to Detroit, which would be good. And then Detroit to Amsterdam Skip Hall, which is an airport I know very well.

And then Amsterdam skip to all to Birmingham, England. And then I have to get a vehicle to transfer me from Birmingham back to London Heathrow. One journey in a snarl of global air travel that'll take days to unrunded. unravel. And Raf joins us now from outside Heathrow Airport. Raf, what is the status at the airport right now? So, Alison, the power has been restored over the last couple of hours. We've seen a limited number of flights taking off and landing, most of them British airways, some of them international carriers. But this is just a partial service. Heathrow says it will not be fully operational until at least tomorrow. And even once it's running at first,

speed, there is still going to be a massive backlog left to clear. The airport is stressing. Stressing passengers should not come here unless they have been specifically told to do so by their airlines. And the advice from travel experts, check with your airlines. We are hearing from most of the major American carriers tonight that they will waive change fees that the folks will need to travel within the next week or so. Alison. Ralph Sanchez in London. Thank you. At the Pentagon today, a visit by Elon Musk is stoking controversy. President Trump pushing back on a report that the world's richest man and one of his top confidants was going to be briefed on secret plans related to a possible war with China. The billionaire has

many business interests in that country. Senior White House correspondent Garrett Haake has this report. Top Trump ally Elon Musk from the president's Department of Government Efficiency visiting the Pentagon today. The New York Times reported Musk was to be briefed on the, quote, U.S. military's plan for any war that might break out with China, according to two U.S. officials. President Trump slamming the story as false when he was asked about the war plans. I don't want to show it to anybody. You know, you're talking about a potential war with China. I don't want to show that to anybody, but certainly you wouldn't show it to a businessman who is helping us so much. Elon has businesses in China, and he would be susceptible perhaps to that. But it was such a fake story.

We welcomed him today to the Pentagon to talk about Doge, to talk about efficiencies. There was no Chinese war plans. There was no secret plans. Two defense officials told NBC News, Musk, who has a security clearance, was expected to receive an unclassified briefing on China. Musk's business interests in China include this massive Tesla gigafactory in Shanghai, which produces nearly one million cars per year. He's there for Doge, not there for China. And if you ever mentioned China, I think he'd walk. out of the room.

It comes as a federal judge held another hearing today demanding answers on those deportation flights of alleged gang members to El Salvador. The judge paused the flight Saturday, raising questions over the president's invocation of the 18th century Alien Enemies Act to justify them. The president was asked about family members who say some were not gang members. Well, I was told that they went through a very strong vetting process and that that will also be continuing in El Salvador. We don't want to make that kind of a mistake.

Inventing frustration at the judge's order to pause the flights. They're bad people. We don't want them in our country. We can't let a judge say that he wants him. He didn't run for president. He didn't get much more than 80 million votes. And Garrett joins us now from the White House. Garrett, we are just learning about the Trump administration gutting the Civil Rights Department

of yet another agency. What can you tell us? Yeah, Alison, these latest mass firings coming at the Department of Homeland Security, where the Civil Rights Division is responsible for investigating allegations of civil rights abuses against citizens and migrants alike. The department's saying in a statement that these people were, rather than supporting law enforcement efforts, they say the staffers were internal adversaries that slowed down their operations. They believe they'll be able to move faster, more in line with President Trump's mission without these staffers present. But it's also just that many fewer eyes watching exactly what's going on at CB.

and at ICE very much in the public spotlight right now. Ellison. Garrett Hake, thank you. Backlash to Musk's expanding role in the federal government increasingly being felt at Tesla, the billionaire CEO admitting to employees that it feels like, quote, Armageddon, with Tesla's torched and vandalized across the country. But Musk urging those employees to hang on to their stock, even as the value plummets. NBC's Liz Croyd's reports.

tonight more turmoil for Tesla CEO Elon Musk live streaming and all hands meeting Thursday trying to reassure his employees as Tesla stock tumbles admitted Tesla takedown protest movement against the company if you read the news it feels like you know amygdine I understand if you don't want to buy our product but you don't have to burn it down that's a but unreasonable you know still being psycho the company that helped make must the wealthiest person in the world now a target seen by some is a way to demonstrate against must politics and growing role in the Trump administration. How are you feeling right now in this moment as a Tesla owner? Embarrassed. I love the cars and I really wish I could keep them, but I just can't be associated with that brand anymore. Edward Sanchez says he's looking to sell his Tesla after also just dumping all 150 shares of his Tesla stock. And he's not alone. Data from car shopping website Edmonds reporting that this month has seen the highest ever share

of Tesla owners trading in their vehicles. Why do you think going after Tesla is the way to really get at and go at Elon Musk? It's my only way, right? It's the only thing I have. You just want to distance yourself. But some taking the protest even further. Nationwide and even in Canada, multiple reports of Tesla's being vandalized. Some lit on fire. In Syracuse, this video showing a mass person defacing Sean Freed's Tesla, writing on it, this car supports Nazis. Protesting is a right that we all have, but destroying other people's property is not. President Trump today warning there will be no leniency and no pardons for those behind

these attacks, suggesting it's worse than the January 6th Capitol riot. These are terrorists. You didn't have that on January 6th, I can tell you. You didn't have anything like that on January 6th. Liz Kreutz joins us now. Liz, President Trump and Elon Musk have suggested these attacks on Teslas are coordinated. Is there any evidence of that? Yeah, you know, Alison, NBC News has spoken to law enforcement officials and also domestic extremism experts, and they tell us that there is no evidence right now that these attacks are coordinated. There are these organized protest efforts, but those groups have disavowed vandalism and violence, Alison. Liz Kreutz, thank you. Heading overseas now to the escalating

protests in Turkey. Demonstrations erupting for a third straight day over the detainment of a prominent opposition leader. The government now cracking down on the dissent. NBC's Matt Bradley has the latest. Tonight, protests in Turkey reaching a boiling point. Street demonstrators clashing violently with police after the main political rival of the nation's president, Tayyip Erdogan, was detained. Turkish police blasting crowd with water cannons in Izmir. and using tear gas to break up protests in the capital city of Ankara.

Despite a ban on demonstrations, thousands also flooding the streets in Istanbul over what they call the undemocratic detention of Istanbul's mayor, Ekram Imamolu, who was set to be announced as a presidential candidate this weekend and leads President Erdogan in some polls. This 70-year-old protesters saying, as long as they don't release Imamulu, we're not leaving. On Wednesday, Imamolu posting a video,

saying police were at his door prior to an early dawn raid. He faces charges that include graft and aiding a terrorist group. Imamolu denies all allegations against him. His Republican People's Party condemns the move as politically motivated and say other prominent opposition figures were also taken into custody. Very often, there is no rule of law in Erdogan's Turkey, and currently Turkey's jails are full of Erdogan's political opponents. Turkish constitution has a very vague terrorism.

concept. So he uses that in order to attack his opponents. Turkey's government denies claims of targeting its political rivals. But on Friday, Erdogan warning against illegal calls from the opposition for protests, saying we will not give in to vandalism or street terrorism. Turkey's interior minister confirming dozens of protesters have been arrested. And posting on X that at least 37 social media users were also detained for sharing posts inciting public hatred or crime. Some residents now worried about the crackdown.

This woman's saying, anyone who raises their voice is thrown in jail. Matt Bradley, NBC News. And in this country, we're tracking growing wildfire danger nationwide. Red flag warnings in effect for 40 million Americans across the plains, Midwest, and southeast. In Miami-Dade, Florida, this brush fire burning for the fourth straight day, swelling to 24,000 acres in size and only about 30% contained. Low humidity and gusty winds fueling those fires.

NBC News meteorologist Bill Karens joins us now in studio. Bill, what is the latest on those firefighting conditions as we head into the weekend? Yeah, typically, I'll say, if I'm like, yeah, it's going to be a pretty dry, it's going to be sunny, it's going to be a warm weekend,

a little breezy. Everyone would be like, that's great, sign me up for it. But we've had so many fires in different areas around the country that we just need the rain. I mean, we don't want it on the weekend, but we just desperately need it.

So it's still windy, afternoon this evening in areas of the central U.S., the fire danger's highest for the rest of today in areas of Missouri especially. I know we've had some thunderstorms and a couple storms and a lot of tornadoes, but we just haven't had a lot of rain with it. That's why we have the 46 million people in the red flag warning. Some people are in fire weather watches. So we'll continue to watch St. Louis to Kansas City. And then this area from Atlanta to Charlotte tomorrow, including all of South Carolina, which desperately needs rain. We're in drought conditions here. We'll have to watch for any new fire starts there. And then tomorrow afternoon, the winds will pick up

again from El Paso to Midland. We could have another dust storm. We've already had two major ones in the last week, so we could deal with that again tomorrow. So here's kind of how the weekend forecast shapes up. The thing you'll notice is not a lot of green in the map. There's not a lot of rain. There's very little snow from coast to coast. So just that mild and breezy is nice, as long as we don't have to deal with fires and smoke. By the time we get to Sunday, we do get some rain in the Ohio Valley, but we don't get it in the plains where we need it, and we don't get it in the southeast where we need it either, and even the mid-Atlantic. We could have some isolated, severe storms to deal with, but it's just not enough rain. And anywhere in

the green here on Sunday is only a quarter inch to a half into tell us in. So we'll talk more about fire danger right through next week until we can start getting some soaking big rainstorms and they're just not in the cards yet. All right, Bill Cairns, thank you. We appreciate it. Still ahead tonight, that growing measles outbreak out west. The parents of a child who died from the infection breaking their silence, while they are standing by their decision to not vaccinate their child. Plus, Sherry Papini, the California mother who faked her own kidnapping back in court, the new legal battle with her ex-husband, and Columbia University agreeing to the Trump administration's demands, the changes coming to campus, including officers who can arrest students. Stay with us.

Back now with the latest on the measles outbreak in the U.S. The number of confirmed cases rising to 394 across 17 states with one confirmed death in Texas. That six-year-old child who died coming from a conservative Christian community known as Mennonites. Mennonites often opt out of vaccinating their children. The parents of that child speaking to an anti-vaccine nonprofit group founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called Children's Health Defense. Here's what the couple had to say about their child's illness. Her fear didn't want to go away. She was having the fever still and getting higher and higher and fever yeah and then she just i just noticed one morning that she was saying she was getting very tired and i was just noticing her breathing wasn't

normal and that's when we just decided to go to the emergency and get checked out it wasn't anything bad like very very bad the couple says their other four unvaccinated children also got measles but recovered after a few days of alternative treatments including cod liver cod liver oil vitamin A, and an inhaled steroid. When asked whether other parents should consider the vaccine for themselves or their children, this is what the mother had to say. We would absolutely not take the MMR. Like, the measles wasn't that bad, and they got over it pretty quickly.

NBC News medical reporter Erica Edwards has been to the region reporting on this outbreak and joins us now. Erica, let's start with what we heard from the parents there and some of the details we went through. Can you just backcheck for us their claims that the other children were essentially okay because of these alternative treatments? Is there any credible data

to suggest alternative treatments like cod liver are more effective than the MMR vaccine when it comes to preventing serious harm or death from the measles? Absolutely not. There is no evidence that treating measles with anything like vitamin A supplements or cod liver oil, which happens to be high in vitamin A,

can do anything to treat or measles or lessen the effect. Now, fortunately, most kids, most people infected with measles will recover on their own time. But, you know, it can definitely be deadly as those parents sadly witnessed. And, you know, let's talk about this minute in that community for a second. There's lots of different groups. Some are very conservative. Some are very liberal. So it's not sort of an all one size fits all.

kind of approach here. And while some do cite the religion for not wanting to vaccinate, many folks in this area actually stopped vaccinating about 20 years ago. That was when a paper came out, suggesting that maybe there was a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. It was quickly retracted, widely debunked, but it also coincided with the rise of smartphones and social media. And of course, as we all know, once something goes viral, it's very hard. to rein that in. So this outbreak seems to be less about religion in this case, more about those outside influences. Erica, now that we are seeing these numbers grow in Texas, particularly, you already touched on this, but just to be very clear on it, is this an issue that is just

happening inside this particular Mennonite community in Texas, or has this outbreak spread beyond that? Yeah, so this outbreak has now grown to at least three states. neighboring New Mexico and Oklahoma to Texas is north. This is a community that's very social. They travel a lot. They tend to not have their vaccines. So whenever you have measles entering a community with low vaccination rates, that virus is going to find those people who are vulnerable and will infect them.

And public health officials are very concerned. This is only going to get worse. as that virus spreads in different communities across the country. Now, it's not just this outbreak. There are other measles cases around the country. The CDC says linked to international travel. If those cases also spread into unvaccinated communities, that could pose a real problem. Fascinating stuff.

Erica Edwards, thank you so much. We appreciate it. Sherry Pippini, the California mother who staged her own kidnapping, returning to court today, this time, to face her ex-husband. The couple who divorced after the hoax came to light fighting over custody of their two children. Papani also arguing the kids should not be allowed to watch a popular docu-series that chronicles her elaborate crime. NBC's Morgan Chesky has more.

Do you have anything to say on Keith? Sherry Papani, the California woman notorious for faking her own abduction in 2016, back in court today, now facing her ex-husband in a custody battle over their children. In 2022, the 42-year-old was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after she pled guilty to lying to federal agents in a kidnapping hoax that grabbed national headlines. Have you accepted responsibility for what happened? And became the subject of a Hulu documentary series. I just got home from work and my wife wasn't there. Do you guys believe that she was kidnapped?

The mom of two went missing for 22 days in 2016, ultimately turning up on the side of a freeway. A lady on the side of the road needing help. Please, please. At the time, Papani claimed she had been taken by two Hispanic women. But a lengthy investigation uncovered the entire ordeal, including bruises and branding on her body, was fabricated. Something Pupini ultimately confessed to under oath. After authorities found a former boyfriend's DNA on Papani's clothing, that man admitted Pippini had been staying with him while she was missing and had staged the injuries at his home.

He passed a polygraph test. that said, it's not an abduction. She asked me to come to give her. No. I rented a car. I drove up and picked her up. Why did I do that? We're trying to understand why you did that too. Pupini, who was released from prison in 2023, now seeking visitation rights with the two children she shares with ex-husband, Keith Popini. Keith taking the stand today, arguing Sherry is unfit for visitation. In a pre-court filing, obtained by local media, Sherry, writing, I have done my best to stay private to focus on my children in healing from the events that transpired. My children have always been my primary focus. No motive and vague details. She does tend to be a little dramatic. Sherry also asking the judge

to prevent Keith from showing their children that 24 Hulu documentary series, which she also participated in. The way she looked at me in that moment, I felt like she was lying. writing that her ex-husband is reopening old wounds rather than focusing on moving forward at the expense of our children and morgan chesky joins us now from los angeles morgan this hearing went on for several hours today was there a resolution reached yeah ellison not today and we did have a chance to see inside the courtroom because the video is obtained by local media and it was very telling you could see sherry papini sitting there listening to her ex-husband's testimony at one point breaking down into tears, shaking her head repeatedly. And what was also very interesting is that when asked by the judge, Ellison, if Keith, her ex-husband, would abide by court orders, should they order him to reunite the children with their mother? He said not at this time. Now, again, the proceedings with her custody hearings are still ongoing, and we did reach out to both attorneys for Sherry Papini and ex-husband Keith, although neither had anything to say at the state.

Time. Alison. Morgan Chesky, thank you. Still ahead tonight, Democrats under fire. Many lawmakers on the left now facing growing outrage at their own town halls. What's causing the anger and how the party is responding tonight. Stay with us. We're back with Top Stories News Feed, starting with the tree landing on a New Jersey school bus. Large wind gusts toppled the tree onto a bus carrying 10 students. The students and the bus driver were hospitalized with minor injuries. Late today, Columbia University agreeing to sweeping demands from the Trump administration to restore $400 million in federal funding. Among the changes listed in a new memo, the university will hire 36 special officers who will be allowed to remove and arrest students.

Face masks or coverings will be mostly banned and a new senior provost will be appointed. to a department focusing on Middle East studies. A Southern California couple facing serious federal charges after allegedly having their children harvest and consume magic mushrooms. Police say the couple told a lot of people about it, customers as well as friends, and admitted to giving their kids ages 11 and 9 the drug. Randall and Rebecca Vance face a host of charges

and could face up to 40 years behind bars. And after nine months in space, Butch Wilmore and Sonny Williams have returned to Houston. Video posted by NASA shows the two astronauts greeted by colleagues as they arrived at Ellington Field. They returned to Houston just one day after splashing down off the coast of Florida. They are both said to be doing well after 286 days in space. Wilmer's daughter is on TikTok and she said there that her dad is still adjusting to gravity. At town halls across the country, some Democratic lawmakers are facing outrage

from constituents, furious that they are not doing more to oppose President Trump. It comes as the party's struggles to coordinate a response in the early days of the Trump administration. NBC News congressional correspondent Julie Serkin has this report. For the first time since President Trump took office, all lawmakers are out of Washington and back home, where they are getting an earful. Hey, we're not going to do it this way. Democrats facing outreach from their constituents at town halls who think they're not doing enough to slow down the Trump agenda.

We are not interested in hearing that you are in the minority. We know that. We want you to show some of the back-vote and strategic brilliant and this is what's going to happen to do this. Republican legislators have also been feeling the heat. You guys are going to have a heart attack if you don't calm down. I'm sorry. Your hysteria is just really more of the top. But for them, it was at least expected after some members held rowdy town halls in red districts

that got so out of hand. They were told to stop doing them by House Speaker Mike Johnson, who suggested without evidence the attendees are... They're professional protesters. So why would we give them a forum to do that right now? Democrats decided to take advantage, scheduling town halls in GOP health districts throughout the country. Maybe it's time we start getting a little bit dirtier with our messaging because...

But now the tables have turned after Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer voted with most Republicans to keep the government open. The bottom line is a government shutdown works like this. All government spending is stopped, all. And then the executive branch, Trump, Musk, Doge. They could cut off anything they want simply by saying it's not essential. Now calls for new leadership and a new direction. As the party struggles to find its footing encountering Trump's fast-paced second term. I'm of the school that you have to fight every day.

And that if you don't, people aren't going to think that it's a red alert moment. New Jersey freshman Senator Andy Kim holding his first town hall since the election in Republican districts. They want to make sure that we are feeling that same sense of urgency. But not calling on a change in leadership just yet. Do you have confidence in Leader Schumer's ability to lead the party where it needs to go? See, I did not vote along with how Leader Schumer voted. I disagreed, as did a lot of Democrats. So this isn't a situation where one person makes to play and sets that in course.

Other Democrats are trying to appeal to the other side, like California Governor Gavin Newsom, launching a new podcast featuring big-name conservatives. Don't be giving Tara Stinkie. I don't want to start off with you getting it stink eye. and offering a major concession on trans athletes in women's sports, breaking from Senate Democrats after they blocked a GOP bill on the same issue. I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness. So it's deeply unfair.

And Julie Circon joins us now from outside that town hall with Senator Kim in Branchburg, New Jersey. Julie, there's a lot of anger at town halls across the country right now. How have things been there in New Jersey where you are? Well, we're in northwestern New Jersey. This is an area held by a Republican representative. This is why Senator Andy Kim came here. He told the crowd gathered here. You're not going to maybe hear from your elected representative, but I am your representative,

too. You are my constituents, too. There are 300 to 400 people here on a Friday night at 5 p.m., some people here talking about how they're worried about their entitlements being cut. Others, we heard, for example, a young gentleman ask about party leadership in Washington, trying to understand why Democrats kept the government open, didn't fight back as hard as they could have when they had that first opportunity last week. Kim told him, as he told me in our interview, that it's up to every single Democrat, no matter if you're in leadership or you're

a freshman senator like Andy Kim is, to be on the offense, to come up with a plan to counter Republicans and counter the fast-moving Trump administration as well. Alison. Julie Serkin, thank you. Let's get to Top Story's Global Watch. Israel ordering troops to permanently sees parts of the Gaza Strip if Hamas does not hand over the remaining hostages. The announcement from Israel's defense minister comes after Israel restarted airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza. 600 Palestinians have been killed in the days since. Israel's prime minister has vowed to intensify operations until all 59 hostages, living or dead, are returned to Israel.

An American man held captive by the Taliban has been freed after more than two years. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming George Glezman has left Afghanistan as part of a deal brokered by Qatar. Glezman was on a personal trip to Afghanistan back in December of 2022 when he was taken by the Taliban. U.S. officials say his release was not part of a prisoner swap. And a coastal town in Italy sounding the alarm over a bug invasion, millions of midges, tiny bugs that look a lot like mosquitoes, are swarming the town of Ortebello, forcing people to stay indoors and herding businesses there that rely on tourism. Residents of the Tuscan Beach enclave say officials need to declare a state of emergency to deal with the issue. Fishermen there say a mass die off of fryfish last year is to blame because fryfish eat midge larva. And back here at home, in Arizona,

a search underway for a family of three from South Korea who went missing after getting caught in a winter storm as they were leaving the Grand Canyon last week. Now, the Korean consulate is getting involved, sending an officer to try and help local. them. NBC's Dana Griffin explains. Tonight, the search intensifying for a missing family of three not seen since this 22 car pile up on an Arizona highway more than a week ago. According to authorities, the South Korean family had rented a BMW that last pinged on March 13th, just a mile from that deadly crash site. The Kim family was headed from Grand Canyon National Park to Las Vegas, the sheriff's department now desperately searching. What do you think happened to this family?

Well, that's the mystery right now. Investigators say they are looking into several theories, including GPS, rerouting them around the crash and onto a Forest Service Road. Are those fire roads so remote that someone could be lost for an entire week? So it was obviously inclement weather, but we didn't have any pings on those roads either. Family in South Korea contacted the consulate when the Kim's never made their flight home. The consulate telling NBC News, they've sent an official to work with local police to locate the family. Have they used credit cards, their cell phones, any indication they're still alive? We haven't had any hits on the phones or the credit cards.

Leading investigators back to search that March 13th crash. You've got to imagine just a very hot fire burning for many, many hours, melting metal and plastic. The cars are just unrecognizable. So it's going to take a lot of work. Ellison, that search could take days, if not weeks. Right now, they are going through every vehicle looking for VIN numbers, and they may have to do DNA testing on what's left to try to determine if anyone is in that pile up. Ellison? Dana Griffin, thank you. Coming up, the new face of March Madness, the team manager for

McNeese State going viral, raking in endorsements from popular brands and even appearing on the socks of cheerleaders. He joins Top Story next to talk about his team and his own Cinderella story. We are back now with the men's March Madden. tournament, and this year, an emphasis on the madness. Yesterday, 12-seed McNeece State powering pass fifth-seated Clemson Tigers, the surprising upset, busting brackets and positioning the Cowboys for a Cinderella run if they could get past number four-seed Purdue tomorrow. After the team's underdog win, the squad from Lake Charles, Louisiana, celebrating with

their unlikely superstar, student manager, Amir Khan. The 22-year-old skyrocketing to fame when this video posted by the team's social media director went absolutely viral. In it, Khan hyping up the team before a game with a Bluetooth boom box draped over his shoulder, rapping along to one of his favorite songs. Now he is the first known student basketball manager to receive an NIL deal, raking in endorsements from Buffalo Wild Wings, Tick Pick Pick, and Insomnia Cookies. He's even got his own tops trading card. and Amir Khan joins us now. Amir, we are so excited to talk to you here. What a run you and your team have had so far. I mean, huge congratulations to all of you on that win yesterday. It was the first ranked win in their program's history. How did it feel to be a part of that moment?

Yeah, it means the road to me. You know, McNeese is the hometown school, you know, lived in Lake Charles my whole life. So to see us, you know, get a win on the biggest stage, get our first win. In school history, it means a lot to me. I mean, I don't have to tell you this, but the internet is wildly in love with you, with your energy. I mean, they are calling you a mere or a con. You have NIL deals, right? You're getting interviewed after the game. What has it been like for you to become kind of one of the faces

of this March Madness tournament? I mean, your face is literally on the socks of cheerleaders and even players. That's crazy. Yeah, no, it's crazy to think. You know, my whole life I've watched March Madness, I've been a big fan, and, you know, to be a part of it. And, you know, not only be a part of it, to be able to get a win, it means a lot to me. And, you know, to be, you know, getting this much attention, I never would have thought this would be true. But, yeah, I just want to, you know, I feel like the player and the coaches, they deserve all the attention because they're the ones who are handling it on the court, you know, I'm just there clapping them on.

When did you start doing all of this? Like, when did you get the idea to get the boom box to kind of sort of be like the team's official, like, walkout guy, sort of? When did you decide that this was something that was worth doing? Yeah, so last year, when I started working as a student manager, Ardobo, Nick Flory, he was kind of telling us what we had to do, you know, our duties for the game. And he said, before they walk out, one of you all has to carry a speaker. and let them get hype as they walk out to a song of their choice. So I grabbed it, and that's kind of how that started and how it's been going. Do you think the vibe that you helped create in that tunnel carries over to the court?

You know, I'm not sure because I believe, you know, I have full faith in the coach, staff, and the players. So I believe those handle business regardless, but, you know, as a manager, I don't dictate a lot of what happens on the court. So I'm going to try my best to, you know, get the players. hype before they walk out for the last time. What is your hope after college? Are you hoping to move into coaching? What do you want to do? Yeah, I think the next step is to, you know, be a grad assistant for a college basketball

team and, you know, keep moving my way up and hopefully one day be a head coach. And how are you feeling about the game against Purdue? Do you think you and the team, do you think your guys can pull off another upset? Yeah. I have full fake in this team, and I always will. So, you know, I know Purdue's one hell of a team, but I feel like when we step on that court, we're going to believe we're going to win.

If you guys win, I got to ask, is it Buffalo Wild Wings for the team? Or you're going for Insomnia Cookies? It feels like you're picking up the tab from now on. Yeah, you know, if it was my choice, it probably would be one of them. But, yeah, you know, I'm not in charge of the meal and stuff, but definitely.

Buffalo would probably be my choice. All right. We are excited to watch the game, and we love getting to see you on our social media feeds. Thank you so much for being here tonight. Amir, we love your energy and spirit. Thanks. We appreciate it. Thank you so much for having me. All right. When we come back, a look at what you can binge watch and listen to this weekend. Ellen Pompeo returns to streaming with a new series on Hulu.

Plus, Dennis Quaid, plays the happy-faced serial killer in a show for true crime fans. And there is new music from Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco. We are back now with bingeworthy or look at the best things to watch and listen to this weekend. Let's bring in Chris Witherspoon, NBC News Entertainment contributor. Chris, so good to see you as always. TGIF. And up first, we have a big return for maybe everyone's favorite surgeon, Ellen Pompeo. She's got her first big role since leaving Grey's Anatomy.

This is Good American Family. family, and it's airing on who. Do you have her school records? That's her birth certificate. This one's not even in English. Why is this bothering you? They let her in, right? You're supposed to be on the same team.

Don't know that we are on the same team. Something is off. She has adult teeth. There are signs of puberty. Michael? I don't think she's a little girl. Oh, that's what the music comes. Or actually, after episode one is, and then they're like,

come back next time. What's this about? This is so good. You know, Ellen Pompeo, 19 seasons on Grace Anatomy. Now, she's doing another TV series, but she plays a mom that adopts this young girl who's eight years old. Her and her husband think that she's eight years old, but they find out that she might not be her actual age. She has dwarfism, so looks very younger, but she might not be her age. Her suspect does that.

This is a drama. It's based on a true story. This young lady Natalie Grace last year made headlines. She's actually 21 years old now, and is standing 10 toes down, and that was her real age when she was adopt it, but it's Ellen Pompeo's, I think, best work since Grey's Anatomy. I believe she'll be nominated for an Emmy Award. It's that good. Two episodes out now, and you can stream more every Friday. Okay, and is this limited series, or do we expect maybe...

I think limited. There's a beginning, middle, and end. I don't imagine more after this. Okay. All right. Next one that we have is a Netflix series by Shonda Rhymes, who of Grey's Anatomy fame coming full circle already. It's a murder mystery that is actually set in the White House. This is The Residence. There are 200 people down there, including the president of the United States. Did anything unusual happen? Other than my boss dying? Other than that, yes.

That's Cornelia Cull. She is the best detective in the world. Where's the body? Oh, I see feet. Mr. President, this house needs to be treated like a crime scene. There may be a murderer out there. I'm actually not totally sure what that's about. Is it wrong me to murder, but is it like the vibe?

is she's investigating this. Yeah, so she plays this detective named Cordelia Cup at the White House, and there's a murdered that happened. A butler has killed Jean-Carlo Esposito's character. She's trying to discover what happens. It's kind of a who-done-it, but she's so brilliant. Uzo Aduba shot to fame on Orange's New Black Back in, like, 2013. Now we're seeing her back on Netflix in the leading lady role.

Just a really great cast. Also, Susan Kalichi Wasey from This Is Us is also in it. But I think this, again, is Uzo's probably her best work since she played Crazy Eyes. back on Netflix and kind of got them in the scripted game. Yes, that's true, actually. That really is what propelled them. And she's extraordinary, and at the range she has, is amazing. With that show, that was the first binge show.

Oh, my God, that feels so long ago. I feel, we're not, what? Yeah, that's a long time ago. I know, 2013. That's insane. Okay, this next one I am very excited about, because one, I'm a little crazy, and I like true crime. This one is true crime.

It's a crime drama that's inspired by a true story, a true story, so not quite true crime. It is on Paramount Plus, and it's called Happy Face. When I confessed in 95, I held one back. What's this victim's name? I'll only tell it to Melissa in person. My kids don't know. No one does.

He said he killed another woman. This story is bigger than just you. He wasn't always a monster. He became one. Before that, he was just... My dad. I mean, this... Are you scared?

Yes, I am. I am. And I looked at all the real photos of who's who in it, and I'm like, they really cast it. It seems very well. And Dennis Quaid, it's his first time playing a lead role in a TV series, really ever. We've never seen this before.

But it's about a young woman who gets a call from her father, who's a serial killer, who is the happy-faced killer. He's behind bars. But she's a producer in TV, kind of like this world, gets this phone call that he's trying to tell her

of another murder that someone's up for. So she's trying to trace the steps. It kind of brings them closer. But as Dennis Quaid, it's Annalie Ashford. They're both brilliant. And it's kind of one of those creepy shows because it's based on something that really happened. You said you googled it.

Immediately. And it's brilliant casting. Based on the real killer and the real daughter. And it's interesting that it starts with him in prison. So it's not about how they caught him, but it's about sort of the ripple impacts. Have you watched Fons of the Lambs? It's kind of like that.

That scares me. Hannibal Lecter and Claire Reese, who's out on the outside, but he's on the inside giving clues to a murder that he did. Okay, I also like, this is a win for me because I recently also just found out I subscribed to Paramount Plus, which I did not know,

and I thought someone had stolen my card, and the only thing they put on it was Paramount Plus subscription. I get your passport. You can't actually. It's carryover from when I tried to watch the Super Bowl. I was like, oops! But I will keep it longer to watch this. Okay, so our last to watch to binge

is another Hulu production. It's a movie. It's not a series. It's a movie on Hulu. It stars Sadie Sink, who you probably know from Stranger Things. This one is called Odessa, and it's about one girl's journey to recover a family heirloom in a post-apocalyptic future. Take a look. Praise people to Tynovich on high.

Anyone who speaks out against him just gets shipped off where he tortures them in the name of entertainment. We have to do something. This wild is cruel, Odessa. Maybe it doesn't have to be. It's giving hunger gangs, but no redeeming qualities of the bad people. It's even strange. You mentioned Sadie Singh from Strader's thing. This is very strange.

It's a post-apocalyptic musical drama. It's like a rock opera. That's a lot of things in one. So there is singing. Sadie Sink said that she was so nervous for this role because she never has sang before on camera in a film or a TV show. But she kills it. Again, it's a really weird storyline. This farm girl who goes searching for an heirloom, it takes place in the future.

but if you're into this sort of thing, and a lot of folks who's a huge sci-fi community out there in the streets. Okay, people will love this. And Hulu doesn't really do movies that often. So this is actually kind of their four-way into doing more movies.

All right. Interesting. I love Sadie. She can do it wrong to me. I love Sadie, and I love sci-fi, and I love musicals. I don't know how I feel about sci-fi musicals together, but perhaps... Who knows? Maybe it's a thing I need in my life

and I didn't know until right now. It's possible. Okay, so next we have some music to get to because Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco, they have a new album, And they released a new video for the song I Said, I Love You First. Take a listen. of being a teen star. The whole video is young tweens

who are like wearing crowns and get ready to go do things. And she's like eating food and chopping and just like kind of giving them their grace, but also just telling the layer back on how hard it is to be a teen star. But she's made it to the other side. And I love that she's kind of giving us all the feels. Yeah.

And this is kind of daring her and her fiancé doing an album together. It's kind of cool. I said I love you first. It's out right now. People are loving it. Little bit racy, some of the tracks. But I heard you saw Benny last week.

I did. He's been all of us on Today's show this morning. They were on it together. So tons of stuff. And he's an extraordinary music producer on his own. You can work with your partner. I love that. That's just a win.

That's great. If you can do it and survive, good for you. That's amazing. Give me key code. Yes. Okay. Jack Harlow, by the way, and Doja Cat. They have a new song collab.

This one is called Just Us. Listen. Like macaroni, I know it's sound like Zach and Cody, this life sweet I mean high key Yeah, two hands on my fro staring into my soul I love those. I didn't know I needed this like I'm like this is the collab that nobody knew that they need it The video is so random you have John Mayer and also Matt Damon who he collaborated with in a film with last year really random but it's a great bop this album from 2023 Jackman is the gift that keeps on giving

all right I know get it we love a singles yes go off by the way if you've never seen Jack Harlow's chicken shop date interview. It's hilarious, and I highly recommend it. I have homework. All right, Chris Wetherspoon, thank you for being here and thank you at home so much for watching Top Story. For Tom Yamis, I'm Ellison Barber in New York. Stay right there. More news is on the way.