Top Story with Tom Llamas - Friday, May 23, 2025

Episode Date: May 24, 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, prayers for the piano man, the devastating diagnosis for Billy Joel, the legendary singer canceling all of his tour dates, revealing he's battling a brain disorder, how it's impacting his hearing, vision, and balance, and what he's saying about returning to the stage. Targeting Apple, President Trump threatening a huge tariff on iPhones if they're not produced in America. The price tag, if they were, estimated to be $3,500 each. What the president now says about hitting other smartphones. Holiday travel crunch, this Memorial Day weekend, set to smash records. Even as much of the country faces a soggy start to summer, we're tracking the storms. New arrest in the manhunt for those New Orleans fugitives as yet another prisoner in Louisiana breaks free. This one, an accused killer who'd escaped before.

Cause of the crash, the airport systems that weren't working when a small plane crashed into a San Diego neighborhood as we learn about how neighbors came together to help each other get to safety. Firing off, a wild scene at a packed Florida beach in Army Rangers shooting blanks into the air without warning civilian beachgoers, the punishment for the 18 soldiers involved. And justice for Kim, the eight people convicted today for tying up and robbing Kim Kardashian in Paris, what she says about the court's decision. Plus, the dog who shot to fame after fighting off a pack of coyotes getting his forever home. Top story starts right now.

Good evening. I'm Ellison Barber in for Tom Yamis. Tonight, the piano man forced to step away from the keys. Billy Joel canceling the rest of his tour due to a brain disorder diagnosis. The Grammy Award-winning artist making the shocking announcement on social media today adding that doctors advised him to refrain from performing at this time. It comes months after a scare during his concert in Connecticut. You can see the legendary star throwing his mic stand at the crowd, losing his balance and falling on his side.

Joel was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus or in pH. It is a brain disorder involving abnormal fluid in or, or around the brain that impacts memory as well as mobility. The piano man just turning 76 two weeks ago, his eldest daughter, Alexa, posting this touching tribute. We have not heard from his family since he made the announcement, but after decades of tours, including

a 10-year-long residency at Madison Square Garden, the big question tonight, will we see the music legend return to the stage. We speak with a doctor in just a moment about the troubling diagnosis, but first, we start with NBC's Ann Thompson. The entertainer Billy Joel stands off stage tonight. Sidelined by a brain condition called normal pressure hydrocephalus. Known as MPH, it is a build-up of fluid in or around the brain caused by a blockage. Dr. Gaiatri Devi is a neurologist.

Is it treatable? Yes, actually. It's one of the treatable causes of cognitive impairment. It's a very simple procedure. What's called a ventricular shunt is put in. It takes just a short time in the operating room, and that allows the fluid to drain without blockage. Joel's Instagram account says the condition was exacerbated by recent

concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance. This past February, fans were alarmed when after throwing the mic stand while performing in Connecticut, Joel fell. Then in March, he postponed eight concerts after a recent surgery for what was then described as a medical condition. He was set to return to the stage this July. It's unclear if that surgery was related to today's announcement. NPAH is a rare condition that affects mostly people over 65. Just 0.2% of adults between 70 and 80 have it. Joel turned 76 this month.

I know you're not treating Billy Joel, but do you think he can perform again? Absolutely. I think that earlier the diagnosis, patients have a great prognosis, and about 80% of patients improve. Joel is undergoing specific physical therapy and says he is sincerely sorry to disappoint his audience. Sing us a song, you're the piano man, who are always in the mood for a melody. And Anne Thompson joins us now. So Ann, Billy Joel has canceled tour dates throughout this year, a little bit into next year.

Yeah, a lot into next year, actually, Ellison. And many of these tour dates, he was going to do some of them with Stevie Nix, a Fleetwood Mac fame, with Sting. with Rod Stewart, and now that has all been put on hold, if you will, at least Billy Joel's part of it, until well into 2026. Now, the thing is that this condition, he can recover from it. That's what I'm told by doctors, and it can take up to a year to recover from it. And in fact, I talked to one doctor who went and saw Billy Joel in Madison Square Garden, and she said she's got her fingers crossed that he can recover from it. A lot of other people do as well. Ann Thompson, thank you. Joining us now is NBC medical analyst, Dr. Ven Gupta. Dr. Gupta, this disease has a very

scary sounding name and anything that impairs vision, hearing, and balance. It can certainly be debilitating. How serious is this? Alison, it's serious if left untreated. And usually the key here is early diagnosis to enable early treatment. So key symptoms to be on the lookout for, especially if you're 70 years of age and older, this incidence increases as we get older, but still pretty rare, gait imbalance that's new, urinary incontinence, you just can't control your bladder. And if the new onset confusion, that consolation of symptoms and somebody that's older should prompt at least I thought that this might be happened. What is the treatment typically? And what are the chances that Billy Joel, who obviously

don't treat, but speculating here, but what are the chances that someone like him could make a full recovery and then carry on with what they were doing in the past, in his case, returned to the stage. The treatment is usually, it's, in Ellison, it's called a shunt. And so we actually just physically, it's our way of removing the fluid around the brain that's in an enclosed space surrounded by the skull, basically just out of it. And so there's a way to do that in a pretty standardized way across the country. It can be curative in the sense of it can at least treat the symptoms here.

If there's an underlying cause for this developing in the first place, like an infection, bleeding, some cases a tumor, that's what we really want to target is the why did this happen in the first place. But to treat the acute symptoms, this is a tried and true approach, a shunt being placed, and I'm sure that's what's going to happen. In terms of recovery, again, it's about what the underlying cause is, but I suspect if the treatment is rendered as soon as possible, you know, in the case of Billy Joel, he should be able to regain full recovery, functional recovery. How common is this disease? Is this something that impacts a lot of Americans and maybe just some of us hadn't heard of it until today? I don't blame anybody for not having heard of it because it is, you know, it's a wordful, definitely a mouthful for just me as a doc, but I would say that this is not common amongst

seven-year-olds, it's less than a percent in terms of incidents, and amongst those 80 years of Asian older, it's about 5 percent in terms of incidents. And so this does increase over time, but again, just things to look out for if you're worried about a loved one of yourself is gate imbalance, ladder control, and worsening confusion, altered mental status that happens in a pretty acute window. NBC's Dr. Van Gupta, thank you. We appreciate it. Thank you. Now to Washington, where President Trump is ramping up his trade war once again, threatening new tariffs against the European Union, but also specifically targeting an American company, Apple. His threats sending shockwaves through the markets today. Here's NBC's Peter Alexander with the latest.

President Trump tonight is threatening to escalate his trade war, targeting some of America's closest allies and one of its biggest brands, Apple. The iPhone, if they're going to sell it in America, I want it to be built in the United States. If not, the president warns he'll slap a 25% tariff on Apple's most popular product. That same import tax, he says, would apply to all other smartphones built over. overseas. The president revealing his conversation with Apple's CEO Tim Cook, who he met with days ago. He said he's going to India to build plants. I said, that's okay to go to India, but you're not going to sell into you without tariff. President Trump's announcement today briefly interrupted. Okay, it's only a congressman. His own iPhone ringing twice.

The president also warning he would impose a 50% tariff on products from the European Union beginning June 1st because trade talks, he says, are going nowhere. It's time that we play the game the way I know how to play the game. You know, nobody, they've taken advantage of other people representing this country, and they're not going to do that any longer. The threats injecting new chaos into America's trade relationships. Analysts warn an iPhone made in the U.S. could cost consumers up to $3,500, arguing it's unrealistic that production moves stateside anytime soon.

It's a fairy tale that Apple will be able to produce iPhones in the U.S. in the next three to four years. As for that other tariff threat in Kansas City, Trent Austin sells tubas, trombones, and trumpets. A third of his instruments come from the EU. What impact do the threat of these tariffs have on someone like you? I think they paralyze our future planning. We cannot plan for the future until something is set in stone.

Austin says he supports the idea of Trump's tariffs, if it means more goods are produced here, but warns in the near term, Americans are going to pay more. There's no way we can get around this. Everything's going to cost more. That is the absolute certainty. Peter Alexander joins us now, along with NBC's business and data correspondent Brian Chung. Peter, let's start with you because Trump seemed to be very focused on Apple today.

Do we know why? Why Apple or why today? Well, we don't know why today. We do know that he had a recent conversation with the CEO, Tim Cook. said to have taken place in the last week or so. So clearly Apple has been on his mind as he communicated there. He said to Tim Cook, if you guys are going to build these things, it's going to have to be built. If you're going to sell these things in the U.S., they're going to have to be built in the U.S. The bottom line, though, as you heard, is fundamentally it would take a long time to sort of re-shore all of Apple's production

and also would take tens of billions of dollars. So very unlikely that happens, if at all, anytime soon. Brian, let's talk about the potential impact on consumers. And to that end, two questions for you. tell us how much an iPhone would cost if they were made overseas and then they are also hit with these tariffs and then talk to us about what the price would look like

if an iPhone was entirely made in the U.S. Yeah, well, there's a group of Consumer Technology Association that modeled out what the impact would be of adding a 25% tariff on smartphones and they estimate that it could be as much as $250 to the cost of an average phone. And by the way, it might not just cover an iPhone because the president clarified in the Oval Office

that essentially a tariff that would be structured that way would also have to include products like those from Samsung and other electronic makers as well. And because we don't make them here in the United States, that would likely increase cost. Now, Dan Ives, who is in Peter's piece, has also projected that if they made an iPhone in the United States to the second half of your question, it would cost $3,500. Compare that to where it is right now, $12 to $1,300, depending on what model. That is a lot more expensive for consumers? And Peter touched on this, Brian, but is there any world where Apple could move its operations over to the United States and entirely make iPhones here.

Yeah, well, context that I've been speaking with in the industry, I've said anything is possible in theory. However, the problem is how quickly could you do it? The fastest estimates would be something like five to ten years, which, of course, covers the period after this presidential administration. And, Peter, before we go, I have to ask you about where things stand in terms of ongoing negotiations related to trade and tariffs. Any progress or anything we should watch this weekend? It's a good question. You'll remember the president promised dozens of deals in 90 days back in April. Now we're at about the halfway point. There isn't a lot to show for it with the United Kingdom. We know that both sides have lowered tariffs, so there is an agreement there,

but across the board, there's been very little else to show. And it also demonstrates just how complex, how challenging these trade deals are right now. And what it means is, as they reach the end of this 90-day pause that the president had announced back in April, it's July 9th. The president, and some of his aides have acknowledged they may just have to set a new tariff when those reciprocal tariff, basically, we're supposed to go back into place. Thanks for making us smarter. Great to have you both here on set. Peter Alexander, Brian Chung, thank you. Tonight, the summer travel season unofficially begins.

Millions are set to hit the roads and skies in record numbers for the holiday weekend. But cold temperatures and severe storms are threatening to slow travel and maybe disrupt some outdoor plans. NBC meteorologist Bill Cairns is standing by to time out the storms for us. But first, Aaron McLaughlin reports on the Great Holiday Getaway. More than 45 million people, an all-time record, are expected to travel 50 miles or more this holiday weekend, according to AAA. It's just awful for accidents already that I passed today. What's happening out there?

I don't know, bumper to bumper. It's very scary stuff. Despite the rainy roads and chillier than average temps in the Northeast. It is 53 degrees and raining at the end of May. I didn't want to see this jacket again until December. With TSA expecting to screen 18 million passengers around the holiday, all lies on the troubled Newark Airport after a recent series of disturbing communication outages. United Airlines today reported immediate improvement in arrival delays after the FAA cut back the number of flights per hour. In Dallas, long lines greeted passengers this morning, some delayed by a suspicious item that brought out the bomb squad.

On top of the rush of the nation's largest airports. I made it with like five minutes of spell to get on the plane. Yeah. So I was rushing and it was ridiculous. New requirements for travels. TSA says the real ID rollout has been successful. Ninety-three percent of passengers are presenting a real ID or another acceptable form of ID. And if you don't have one, encourage you just to come a little early because we're giving extra screening. The record number of travelers, including me. On my way from New York City to New Jersey and it's bumper to bumper. This Memorial Day weekend, nearly nine out of ten travelers are driving. Thirty-nine point four,

million in total a million more than last year helping move the drivers along gas prices at three dollars and twenty cents a gallon on average well below this time last year and for folks out west stunning cliffside views just in time for memorial day the fame pacific coast highway now open months after the devastating fires and aaron mclaughlin joins us now from saccaucas new jersey erin for those already at their weekend destinations what's the guidance for the best time to travel home. Well, Allison, AAA says your best shot of avoiding traffic like this is to travel in the morning. And if you are heading home on Monday, they suggest taking off by 2 p.m. with peak congestion expected between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Allison,

Aaron McLaughlin, thank you. Let's bring in Bill Karens now for your holiday forecast. Bill, what should we expect? Listen, I'd love to tell everyone it's going to be perfect all weekend long. It's just not the way it works in the lower 48. We are going to have some serious weather concerns for some people, especially towards Sunday and Monday. As of now, we're getting rid of this really ugly Northeaster. Temperatures are still in the 40s, and, you know, there was even snow at the high elevations of Maine and New Hampshire last night.

Pretty wild for this time of year. But airports are doing okay. Just 30-minute delays in New York, and, you know, that's not bad compared yesterday. It was much worse than that. So the forecast, as we get to Saturday, we're going to have cool air to the north. It's going to keep you kind of sunny and dry, at least, from Chicago to Minneapolis. And then very hot along the southern half of the country. With these two air masses meet, that's where all the problems are going to be.

That's why we're going to have day after day of thunderstorms, periods, a very heavy rain. And flash flooding is going to become a big problem, especially near the Ozarks, Southern Missouri, Northern Arkansas, pretty much a little sliver there of Oklahoma, too. And eventually, by the time we get to Memorial Day, if you have your picnic and your parade plans, keep an eye on this forecast, especially from the Dallas-Fort Worth area over to Shreveport, severe weather, and the chance of flash flooding. Sunday, the most dangerous period, is this moderate risk from Tulsa to Streetport, Joplin, southwards, down to Fort Smith, including Fayetteville, Arkansas.

That's going to be the area of greatest concern for significant flooding in, you know, small streams, even some of the larger rivers, too. And we're saying it could get five inches of rain in Fort Smith in the mountainous area. Someone's going to get close to 10 inches of rain. That's a lot of water problems as we head through the upcoming weekend. So, Allison, I didn't mention much about the West Coast or the East Coast. Both of those are looking pretty nice and improving conditions throughout the weekend. We love that for them.

Bill Cairns, thank you. We are learning new information tonight about the suspect and the killing of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, D.C. Federal prosecutors detailing how they say the 31-year-old carried out the murders before tossing his gun and calmly joining the party inside the Jewish Museum. NBC's Aaron Gilcrest has more. Tonight, more details are emerging in the deadly shooting outside Washington's Capitol Jewish Museum, where Israeli embassy staffers Sarah Milgram and Yaron Lashinsky were killed Wednesday night after leaving a young diplomats event.

Investigators alleging in court documents that surveillance cameras captured Elias Rodriguez walking past the victims before pulling a gun from his waistband and firing several shots. The documents say Rodriguez then stood over them, appearing to reload and firing several more rounds before tossing the gun and going into the museum. I go up to him and they say, are you okay? And he goes, I call the police. the police, I'm okay. Paige Siegel attended the event and says she became suspicious and continued to question Rodriguez before he became agitated and grabbed his backpack as police approached. He's screaming free Palestine, free Palestine. Free, free Palestine! Free! Free Palestine! I start screaming, get him out, get him out. And I'm like screaming to the police, like,

check his bag, check his bag. Investigators have interviewed Rodriguez and say they're still piecing together his life, trying to talk to people who knew him. Back at the museum a growing memorial outside to honor the shooting victims a close friend remembering Sarah as being full of joy and compassion these were two beautiful souls that worked for peace and that worked to build our community day in and day out and so to have them being taken away from us in this horrific manner it just makes no sense NBC's Aaron Gilchrest joins us now from DC Aaron the Sabbath begins at sundown or began at sundown

Are officials worried about the possibility of copycats? Will there be extra security at high-profile Jewish sites? Well, there's definitely a stepped-up police presence at sites here in Washington and in other cities, for that matter. We know New York City, for example, stepped up their law enforcement presence around houses of worship, synagogues, churches, around schools and community centers as well. I can tell you, we did see a steady D.C. police presence parked outside the museum here. We were down at the Jewish Community Center a little bit earlier today. There were police cruisers parked out there as well,

really trying to create a sense of safety and security for members of these communities going forward. We know, as we've spoken to several members of the Jewish community here, that they have been shaken by what happened here on Wednesday night. At the same time, they want to show some resilience. They don't want to live in fear. They are standing up, and there are people, friends, and other parts of the community that are gathering around them in solidarity, all trying to move forward from this tragedy, Ellison.

NBC's Aaron Gilcrest. Thank you. We are back in a moment with courage under fire. The neighbors who banded together to save each other after that plane crashed right into their homes. Another prison break, also in Louisiana, the surveillance footage of a man connected to a deadly home invasion breaking loose, how he got out.

And close call. Take a look at this, the homeowner who woke up to a giant ship grounded right outside his door. We're learning new details tonight about that deadly plane crash in San Diego, including how neighbors rushed in to help each other as homes and cars burned. Video showing the moments of family whose house was hit by the plane made it to safety. NBC's Liz Croix has their story.

Come on, your kids are over here. Tonight, incredible stories emerging after that fiery plane crash in San Diego. I have to say, I think it was a miracle. Surrender Goode rushing to the neighborhood to help her friends, Ben and Strudanah McCarty, escape. It really looked like a war zone. The smoke, the fire, there was debris in the road. The McCarty's home took a direct hit, the plane slamming into their living room. I woke up to an explosion.

Orange, it looked like orange light everywhere, orange glow. the heat. The heat's the first thing that really hit me. I was like, we got to get out. We got to get out. What a terrifying way to be jolted awake. 13 years in the military. I've seen a lot of scary things. It's the scariest thing that I think I'll ever experience. Come on. Let's go. Let's go. Go! Go! The couple grabbed their two young children, narrowly getting out through their backyard with the help of neighbors. Turn the ladder. Turn the letter. I can't, bro. They got a step ladder. We sent the kids up first, and then I jumped over after that. Landed pretty hard and then he sent the dogs over. Throughout the neighborhood of military housing,

similar harrowing stories. Everybody was running around going crazy and there was nothing but flames. People were out there with their water hoses and trying to help with, you know, the flames and everything. And the jet fuel had made a line all the way down every single car on the street on the right side. And literally they were all just blowing up one after the other. The accident even impacting pets. San Diego Humane Society workers jumped in to help clean these puppies covered in jet fuel and other evacuated animals. Authorities say the plane clipped a power line before crashing early Thursday. Tributes now pouring in for the victims believed to be on board, including music agent Dave Shapiro and heavy metal drummer Daniel Williams, who had posted shots from

the cockpit shortly before takeoff. The NTSB still trying to piece together the cause. The airplane was not equipped with a flight data recorder. We are trying to determine at this time if the airplane was equipped with a cockpit voice recorder. Tonight doesn't still displace, but authorities and neighbors saying it could have been much worse. Someone asked me earlier, like, am I happy that we were in a military neighborhood? And I would say yes, because the training I know those people have and the quick response, I think that definitely did a lot for us and helped us. get out of there and everyone get out of there safe and Liz Kreutz joins us now from los

Angeles Liz the NTSB is now saying two critical systems were actually inoperable at the airport prior to this crash what more do we know yeah so according to the NTSB they've now confirmed that the weather operating system that basically it's an automated system that alerts pilots to the weather conditions at the airport that was out of service and separately and unrelated at the same time there was a lighting outage at the airport. So the runway was not illuminated when this pilot was trying to land. All of this happening with dense, foggy conditions making it very challenging. And this is all part of the investigation right now. They have not given a cause. They're going to be looking into the flight history, the plane, what the pilot, how many

hours the pilot has. And because there is not a flight data recorder on this plane, they say video and witness testimony is going to be key, Alison. NBC's Liz Kreutz. Thank you. And when Top Story returns, the Kardashian robbery verdict, the sentences handed down today for the men and woman who tied up and robbed Kim Kardashian. Her reaction tonight and caught on camera the moment in Army soldiers started firing off blanks at a crowded Florida beach, how those beachgoers reacted. Back now with Top Stories news feed, the Department of Justice and Boeing reaching a deal that allows the aircraft maker to avoid prosecution in two deadly 737 max crashes. The decision means Boeing won't face trial related to two crashes that killed 346 people. The airline will have to pay or invest more than $1.1 billion. Boeing did not comment on the agreement, but a family member of

one of the victims saying it sends a message that, quote, big companies are above the law, even when they kill. An update in the rush shooting case, the film's armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, released today from a New Mexico prison. The New Mexico Corrections Department says she was let out early this morning on dual supervision in Arizona. That is where she will be on parole for one year and probation. In April of last year, she was sentenced to 18 months in prison,

but received more than three months of credit for good behavior, to the corrections department. She was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of cinematographer Helena Hutchins on the Rust film set in 2021. Wild surveillance footage showing the moment a car flew out of a New Jersey parking garage landing just steps from a daycare.

Look at this. The car is seen going airborne and flipping upside down, landing in bushes, scattering bricks and debris on the sidewalk below. It happened this morning in Jersey City. The driver was not seriously injured. and was able to get out of the car on her own. She was checked out by paramedics and then taken to a local hospital.

She meant to reverse and instead drove forward and off of the second floor, according to a spokesperson for the mayor's office. And some happy news for a stray dog in Southern California captured on video facing off with a pack of coyotes. Duke, a German Shepherd lab mix, was captured on surveillance video earlier this month, battling at least five coyotes for 45 minutes outside a home in Orange County. After that claim to fame, Duke was brought to a local shelter and adopted. We turn now to Louisiana, where yet another inmate has escaped from a New Orleans area jail.

This latest jail break coming as five other inmates remain at large as authorities continue to arrest friends as well as family for allegedly aiding in their escape. George Solis is in New Orleans with the details. Tonight, yet another brazen breakout from a jail just outside New Orleans. Orleans. Authorities say this video shows 22-year-old Trevon Johnson scaling offense with a boost from another inmate, then making a run for it. He took advantage of a vulnerable moment and seized it. It was a comedy of errors. 22-year-old Johnson is facing homicide and other charges. The sheriff said he escaped after inmates flooded a cell with water and a back door was open. My message to Mr. Trevon Johnson is that we will find you. And my

best advice to you is to turn yourself in. Meanwhile, five inmates are still on the loose after last week's jail break in New Orleans. Authorities announcing three more arrests of people they say aided the inmates, one of fellow inmate. While on the outside, Casey Smith admitted helping transport two inmates to multiple locations after they broke out, according to police. And authorities say Connie Whedon was in contact with inmate Germain Donald before and after his escape and gave him cash via a phone app. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrell says a network of family and friends may be helping the men avoid capture. We've looked at those kinds of connections and connection with all of the people from the

very beginning to try and trace down those people that they might reach out to and rely on for help. George Solis joins us now from New Orleans. George, we just learned of yet another accomplice being arrested. Yeah, that's right, Allison. New Orleans police putting out a video of another arrest of a man this time. they say was an accomplice to helping the initial 10 inmates escape. He's been charged with accessory after the fact.

No other details at this point. But again, this now brings the number of people on the outside who authorities say have helped some of these inmates to six. Majority of the women, this is the first male outside of that inmate. They accused of helping as well. George Solis, thank you. Moving overseas now into the latest in Gaza, where food security experts warn 93% of the population

is facing acute food shortages. This, as the latest Israeli strikes, claim dozens of lives across the region and international leaders call for more aid to be brought in. NBC's Matt Bradley joins us now from Tel Aviv. Matt, with the Israeli offensive escalating, how severe is the humanitarian crisis in Gaza right now? Yeah, Alison, we're seeing Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip,

but they say are targeting Hamas increasing day after day with this expansive new offensive, 60 people have been killed in just the past 24 hours, according to Palestinian health authorities in the Gaza Strip, which is ruled by Hamas. Now, this comes just a couple of days after Israel ever so slightly loosened its 11-week-long blockade of the Gaza Strip, allowing in what they said were more than 400 truckloads of aid into Gaza. But the United Nations and Palestinian officials have said that only a little more than 100 have actually gotten through and are now being distributed to the public who are in desperate need. Antonio Gutierrez, the Secretary General of the United Nations, said that so far no aid has gotten to the north of the Gaza Strip where a lot of the fighting is happening. He said that there are about 160,000 pallets of aid waiting to enter the Gaza Strip, enough

to fill 9,000 trucks, but they haven't been able to enter. Now, one of the challenges is security. The World Food Program said that about a dozen of its trucks had been looted by armed gunmen, and this is a measure of the desperation that we've been seeing after this 11 week-long blockade. Another measure of that desperation, and the need is that about two dozen people or more have been killed by malnutrition-related illnesses. And this, according to the Palestinian health authorities in Gaza. Now, we heard, again, from the U.N. Secretary General, also from the head of UNRWA, they said that we needed about 500 to 600 truckloads of food

and aid every single day in order to meet the need. And they said that when there was a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. That amount was getting in and it wasn't getting looted. So they're calling on more security and more access to the Gaza Strip in order to meet the incredible need of the more than 2 million people there. Ellison. Matt Bradley. Thank you. And staying overseas with Top Story's Global Watch. At least 17 people are injured, four in critical condition after a knife attack at one of Germany's busiest train stations in Hamburg. According to the local fire department, Police are saying that they arrested a 39-year-old woman while their investigation is still underway. A police spokesperson says they believe she acted alone, and right now there is no immediate indication of a political motive.

This is the second major knife attack in Germany this week. And new videos seeming to show the moment the wife of Ocean Gate CEO Stockton Rush heard the Titan sub imploding with her husband on board. You can hear there what sounds like a door slamming. Then she asks, what was that bang? The United States Coast Guard says it believes that noise was the sound of the implosion reaching the water's surface. The Ocean Gate underwater vessel, known as the Titan, was on a deep-sea mission to the Titanic when it imploded in 2023, killing all five on board.

And imagine this. You wake up to a container ship outside of a container ship outside of your home just missing your bedroom and your neighbor is the one to warn you. That was the reality for a man in Norway. He found the 442 foot long ship outside his house early yesterday. He told local media it was just a few feet further south. If it was just a few feet further south, it would have actually entered into his bedroom. He says he actually slept through the entire thing and only woke up when his neighbor started ringing his doorbell. Police are investigating what caused the ship to go off course and run around, and they say they have one suspect in custody.

A guilty verdict handed down today for eight people, including the mastermind in the armed robbery of Kim Kardashian and Paris. Three judges and six jurors coming to the decision nearly a decade after a group that was nicknamed the grandpa robbers were charged in the 2016 heist. They were accused of stealing $9 million worth of jewelry from Kardashian inside her Paris apartment. NBC's Danielle Hammamden joins us now from London. Danielle, there were a total of 10 people involved in this crime, right? But not all of them, or allegedly involved, I should say, because not all of them were found guilty. Could you walk us through what went down in that courtroom today?

And what happens next? Yeah, well, what a day for Kim Kardashian, nearly a decade after this all happened. Two of the 10 had actually admitted taking part in this ordeal. not to the extent claimed by the prosecution. But at the end, eight out of the ten were found guilty. And the sentences range from fines to prison sentences. But in the end, no one will go to prison given time already served before the trial.

Among them, you mentioned Ellison, the ringleader, old Omar, is his nicknamed. He is found guilty of theft with a weapon and kidnapping without voluntary liberation. He is known as a veteran of the Paris criminal underworld. His DNA had been found in the zip ties used on Kim Kardashian. Earlier today, before the verdict, he said in court that I beg a thousand pardons. Another of the defendants found guilty had went on to write a book entitled, I kidnapped Kim Kardashian. He too begged for forgiveness. Most of them were in their 60s and 70s, which is why the French media.

dubbed them the grandpa robbers papi braker in French but as I say given time served before the trial none of them will actually go to prison after today so did now have we heard anything from Kim Kardashian since these verdicts came back we did we heard from her in a statement that came out shortly after the verdict was handed down and I'll read it to you she said I am deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice in this case the crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family. While I'll never forget

what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all. I remain committed to advocating for justice and promoting a fair legal system. And just yesterday, Kim Kardashian posting pictures of herself graduating from a law program. She committed six years of her life too, and she's finally graduated. So quite a week for Kim Kardashian, Ellison. to say the least. Danielle Hammamden, thank you. We are back in just a moment with the Army soldier firestorm over this wild scene in Florida, one of them firing off blanks at a crowded beach. We'll tell you why. We're back now with an alarming scene off the coast of Florida. A soldier caught on camera in uniform appearing to, appearing rather to shoot a gun into the air from inside of a boat

at a crowded public beach. His battalion in town for a pirate festival involving fake skirmishes, but authorities say this was not part of the act. NBC's Jesse Kirsch has this one. The video showing apparent uniformed American soldier pointing a rifle to the sky and opening fire in the Florida panhandles crowded waters. The incident happened last Friday just near Crab Island, but now these videos are circulating widely.

And tonight the U.S. Army says those guns, shots appear to be blanks, but the consequences for the soldiers are real. A military spokesman confirming to NBC News that 18 soldiers with the Six Ranger Training Battalion were temporarily decertified as instructors after they allegedly fired blank rounds from their weapons at a public beach. My group was freaks, and they were freaked out. Charterboat Captain Cameron Ellsworth says he witnessed the bizarre incident with several passengers. When you see what appear to be U.S. Army soldiers in broad daylight, surrounded by the public, firing rifles into the air. What's going through your mind when you see that?

I mean, I'm hoping that we're not going to have an incident here. I'm thinking, am I in the middle of what's about to be a famous incident? Is this going to be a mass shooting? Is this some kind of a terrorist attack? Ellsworth also says he took this photo, which he says shows some soldiers chugging beers. Is there any explanation that could justify that behavior? No.

I mean, you could go out there and have a good time in your uniforms without shooting assault rifles into the air. The incident coincided with the annual Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival, a four-day event that included soldiers from the Six Ranger Training Battalion engaging in a mock sea battle, which included soldiers firing blanks from their weapons. according to the city of Fort Walton Beach. But the city says the incident now under scrutiny was not part of the Billy Bowlegs

Pirate Festival and was not approved by the city or organizers. All of this playing out near a U.S. Air Force Base. Some of these guys might have PTSD and here you go triggering that. So it's not a respectful, honorable thing to do. Jesse Kirst joins us now from Miami. Jesse, in your report, you said these soldiers are temporarily decertified as instructors. Do we know what they're doing right now? We don't, Ellison, and we've asked the military about that specifically.

Of course, I think something that comes to mind as a parallel is when there are police officers involved in incidents involving a firearm being discharged, and then we hear something like desk duty or administrative duty. So we've been looking for some kind of comparison in the military realm on this, but we don't have clarity fully on from the military on this point for the time being. We also have explicitly asked the military if this group of soldiers during this investigation is still allowed to carry a firearm in the course of whatever duties they are carrying out. And the spokesperson for the military who spoke with our producer, Mora, said that he did not know definitively whether or not they are prohibited from carrying firearms for the time being.

Really interesting report. Jesse Kirsch, thank you. And when Top Story returns the Brett Fav documentary topping the charts on Netflix, what it revealed about the controversial NFL legend. We are back now with binge-worthy. Our look at the best things to watch and listen to this weekend. I'm joined now by Chris Witherspoon, NBC News Entertainment contributor

and CEO of pop viewers. Chris, always so good to have you here. We have a lot to watch this weekend, right? Good stuff. So much good. And we have a long weekend. So we've got time to get it in. You're right.

So we really have the time. Okay, so let's jump in because the first thing that we're going to talk about is a popular series that is actually returning for season two. It stars Nicole Kidman. She's back leading a new group of strangers seeking psychedelic therapy in Nine Perfect Strangers. You can watch this one on Hulu. Let's take a look. I invited you all here because sometimes you shouldn't deal with pain gently. Wait, this is not a spa? She's going to bleach our brains, darling. It is a cleansing of the mind to recharge, to rediscover inspiration. Oh, God. Are we actually supposed to drink this? I didn't see this, but I also did see the documentary on Jonestown, and it feels like parallels.

We don't drink the Kool-Aid. I don't like Nicole Kidman tells me to drink, I'm going to drink. You are? But basically, she plays this cult leader, this Russian cult leader, who is kind of like a wellness guru, but that brings these folks, these locations to kind of try to help them embrace them. psychedelics. It's very odd, very wig, very weird. But this season, she's a new wig, new wig, and a new cast, and a new cast, Annie Murphy from Schitt's Creek is in it this season. Also, Christine Baransky, who I love, Henry Golding, and is set in the Swiss Alps this time.

But Nicole Kidman partnered with David E. Kelly on Big Little Lives, that's her partner on this series as well. Okay, so if you like Big Little Lies, you probably could get into this. And also kind of White Lotus as well, because each season now there's a new cast. So it's kind of doing what White Lotus does. Oh, okay, I like that. She's the kind of, you know, remaining force. She's the one anchor that stays with it. I mean, you can't go wrong with her.

I mean, you can't lose Nicole Kidman. Once you have her, you keep her. My part. Okay. So the next one that we have is on Netflix. It's Sirens. It is a comedic drama series, comedic drama series about a woman worried

about her sister's too close relationship with her billionaire boss. Here's a clip. This is my sister. I didn't know you existed. Trust me. Simone and I were very close. And why didn't she tell me about you?

Where are your tattoos? I removed them. Our matching sister tattoo? Kiki said it was trashy. My sister seems to really worship your wife. Yeah, Kiki has that effect on people. Breath? 10 out of 10.

I hear you love this one. I just heard 10 out of 10. Can I stand up at this y'all? This one is my favorite show. I would say so far of the year. I'm going to go there. I'm going to say it. It is that good.

I mean, Julianne Moore coming to Netflix is huge. We love her. But she plays this billionaire who's very odd, very quirky. It takes place in this place called Based on Lloyd Harbor, which is in the north point of Long Island, but not like where the Hamptons are, a different part. But she has this incredible cast. Megan Fahy, who is in White Lotus Season 2,

is incredible. And then Millie Alcock from House of Dragons. So good. Those two are the stars, and then Julianne Moore is icing on the cake. And Kevin Bacon, who plays her husband. Yes, I saw it. Is this all, is it available to binge in entirety? So there's five episodes, limited series,

but I promise you it is the best thing on TV right now, y'all. It's a little vulgar, little crass, but it's like it's good. And Megan, Megan's getting an Emmy Award. You heard it here for 100%. Chris Withers' favorite show of the year. She's getting an Emmy Award, Mark it down, and we'll bet on it, yeah? Sirens. Right, Sirens.

Bring the siren. Okay. The next one that we have is actually a movie, and you can stream this one on Apple TV Plus. It stars Natalie Portman and John. Krasensky it's called Fountain of Youth look one story five continents dozens of cultures there were thousands of years and which genius will explain to me why iron hair keep the cat in the bag until I release it yeah great we're

looking for the fountain of youth oh please No. What did I just say about the cat in the bag? Cat wasn't happy in the bag. I feel like everybody was like, what if we actually set everything not in the U.S. and we do a cool place? I mean, those pyramids look gorgeous. You think about Memorial Day weekend, the box office, and like all the big films out.

This is something you can watch at home on TV. It's like Box Office Who, you know, from Alzheimer's TV. But it really is them trying to show themselves as a big contender in this space with big budget films. It's from Guy Ritchie, directed by Guy Ritchie. You got Natalie Portman, John Cresensi. They're going across the world globetrotting for the Fountain of Youth if they find it. Holla at your boy. But there's all this like this treasure huns.

There's like a lot of different like little clues around national history or world history. So it's kind of giving Carmen San Diego as well. Remember that show? Oh, do I remember it? Are you kidding? I live for it. I could sing the song if y'all need it right now. Let me know.

Stay tuned. We might. But for now, though, there is also a documentary that is out. I love documentary. So we've got to always throw in a documentary when we can. This one is about the career and controversies of former NFL quarterback Brett Farb. You can watch it on Netflix.

It's called Untold The Fall of Farv. Look. Brett Farb was a cult-like, iconic figure. People say he was a football god. There are a lot of reasons why you might question Brett Farv's inner goodness. Allegations that he sent lewd texts and photos to a New York Jet employee.

Brett Farv ultimately destroyed my life. I feel like there are so many layers that I actually really did not know about. No, it's called Untold. And to me, I'm like, I didn't know a lot about what was just told to me when I watched this documentary. It's only an hour long, but I learned so much. I mean, I knew of Brett, you know, three-time MVP,

NSL. I got that right. Three-time NFL MVP. Come on, Sporty. Yeah, I mean. Yeah. But I also learned, like, how so much wasn't covered in the media around what he did. You know, the sexting with Jennifer Sturger,

the sports reporter who lost her job while he stayed in. I didn't know about that either. They brought all the receipts out, and she's in the documentary, but also the millions of dollars in this Mississippi scandal, misappropriated funds as scandalous. That one was wild, and there was so much extraordinary local journalism that uncovered that, and I remember following it and being like it reads like a story. He's still not been charged, I don't think.

So it's also kind of like going to, I think, resurface some of that. Yeah, really interesting to see how that will play out moving forward. Let's do music before we let you go. I was going to say it earlier. Yeah, actually, this is your window. You take it when you feel it, Chris, you let it. We feel inspired. You go for it.

Renee Rapp, she has a new song. It's called Leave Me Alone. Listen. That is catchy. Yeah, yeah. She's throwing in some little bleeps in there. Yeah, it's really catchy. But it's her, this is her sophomore album.

August 1st. This is the first single from that album called Bite Me. This is her Bite Me era. She is throwing shade. She throws shade at the sex life of college girls as signing NDAs. It's messy, but I love her. And her first album did so well. We even had anything from like three years. Yeah, I mean, it's exciting and it sounds so great. Before we go, though, Joe Jonas, by the way, got to mention. He's back. He has his second solo album out that is out today. One of the songs on it is called Heart by Heart.

I've been working high till the middle of the night. Losing sleep and catching flights. I've been on darling. I've been tired, darling. Is he spilling some divorce to her? I love to you think this is for Sophie. Yeah. Just divorced.

But 35 years old, and I love that Joe is finally talking about real stuff. Like what grown people are going through breakups and makeups. This is the story of falling in love and breaking up. So it might be for Sophie. excited to listen to it all and watch it all. Chris Witherspoon, thank you for being here. We did. Happy holidays and thank you at home for watching Top Story. I'm Ellison

Barber in New York for Tom Yamis. Stay right there. More news is on the way. Thank you.