Top Story with Tom Llamas - Friday, November 29, 2024

Episode Date: November 30, 2024

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 massive winter storm as millions of Americans prepare to head home after Thanksgiving. Residents in Erie, Pennsylvania battling near whiteout conditions on the roads, plows out in force, with some drivers forced to push their cars through that snow. In Michigan, slick conditions contributing to a 15-car pile-up overnight, a state of emergency declared across parts of New York State, as one city in the Empire state could see 70 inches of snow. So far, 2,000 flights delayed. Angie Lastman is standing by with the holiday weekend forecast.

Also tonight, Thanksgiving threats, multiple Democratic members of Congress receiving bomb threats. The scares coming just days after some of President-elect Trump's cabinet picks were also threatened. We'll have the latest on that investigation. Blackout in Ukraine, Russia unleashing waves of missiles. and drones on civilian infrastructure. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians without power as temperatures there plunge the new threat from Putin tonight. Plus, Miracle Rescue, a missing hiker in British Columbia finally found after more than

seven weeks in the Canadian wilderness, how he survived for so long in such extreme conditions. Pastor fights back, the Bay Area clergyman wrestling a burglar who broke into his church. The martial arts training that helped him keep the intruder pinned down until police could arrive. And Bishop Briggs' big moment. The pop sensation making her debut at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Are Chloe Malas sitting down with The Rising Star to talk about her brand new album and how she was able to write one of her biggest hits in a single day? And on this Black Friday, we will ask the experts where to find the best deals in stores and online

as the holiday shopping season gets underway. Top story starts right now. Good evening. I'm Ellison Barber in for Tom. We begin tonight with the northeast and Midwest feeling the power of that dangerous winter storm. Just hours ago, a state of emergency declared across parts of New York State, where at least one city is forecasted to get up to 70 inches of snow or more. In nearby Pennsylvania, new video shows plows working against that mounting. snowfall. Some drivers pushing their vehicles through piles of powder. Others appearing to lose control completely. This car seen sitting in a ditch along the side of a road in Erie. And Michigan late Thursday night officials say the perilous winter weather helped trigger this

15 car pile up. Multiple injuries reported in one side of the highway completely shut down. The storm hitting as millions of Americans are expected to head home over the next few days from their Turkey Day celebrations. So far today alone, at least 2,000 flights have been delayed. NBC's Angie Lastman is standing by for us with a live look at the forecast, but we're going to begin tonight with NBC News aviation correspondent Tom Costello, who leads us off. In Erie, PA, it's piling up fast.

Lake effect snow from cold Canadian air moving across Lake Erie, blinding snow, trapped drivers, down the power lines, no flights, in or out. Cars at a standstill at the New York, Pennsylvania state line. And police say weather contributed to a 15 car pile up with injuries near Grand Rapids, Michigan late Thursday. Tonight, NBC's George Solis is in Buffalo. New York's governor has declared a state of emergency for communities along Lakes, Ontario and Erie. Because of that massive snowstorm, some areas, just like this one, bracing for up to six feet of snow. The system comes before heavy Thanksgiving return traffic is expected on Sunday.

At airports today, 2,000 plus flight delays after the FAA says it handled a record number of flights Sunday through Thanksgiving. I'd heard about the weather, but it seems like we're getting out ahead of anything that might be a problem. American Captain Phil Spaziri pulling a 737 into JFK. We have lots of 7-3s that are running all the time and airbus and multiple different fleets and they need to be up to speed at all time. So in addition to safety, it's just to keep this airline going. The brunt of the weather will be coming in next hour and lasting through the morning hours. United's meteorologists on full storm watch with airport de-icing operations certain to expand over the coming days. How far in advance of a weather event do you decide to delay or cancel a flight?

Well, we want to have the best information available, so we'll try to make that decision as close to flight time as possible. Meanwhile, after heavy snow in Colorado, a warning of the risk of avalanches large enough to injure or kill you. All of it foreshadowing a potentially dangerous weekend ahead. And Tom Costello joins us now from Reagan National Airport just outside of Washington, D.C. Tom, as far as holiday travel goes, we have yet to see the worst of it. Is that true? Yeah, that's right. I mean, listen, we're going to see on Sunday and Monday, family.

is all rushing back, right? They want to get the kids back at school and parents want to get back to work. And so that's going to be a very busy day on the roads and also in the air. The TSA and the FAA expecting three million passengers on Sunday, maybe even more. Consider this last week, they had a delay rate of only 1.2% across the entire airspace. So we'll see if they can keep it up this weekend with all this weather moving in. Tom Costello, just outside of D.C., Thank you. For more on the weather, let's get to the forecast with NBC meteorologist, Angie Lasman. Angie, break it down for us. What are the troubled spots you're watching this weekend? Simply put Ellis in across the Great Lakes. That's where we're going to be watching for all of that snow to continue piling up. A lot of the same spots that have been dealing with the snow for more than 24 hours now. Here's where the alerts are. 7 million people downwind of those lakes where we're expecting the worst of the accumulations of snow, where in some spots maybe 2 to 4 feet, but in others we're talking more than 70. inches of snow. At this point, we've already seen more than two feet of snow in places like Ohio and Pennsylvania. And of course, we've got a long way to go. This is going to be something

we deal with through the next couple of days. And for a bigger chunk of the country, it's the cold air that's going to get your attention. Waking up tomorrow in Chicago, just 12 degrees, a windchill of one degree. Temperatures as far south as Atlanta, topping out into the 50s, but 30s are on tap right near freezing for folks across the Midwest. Ellison. The FBI tonight is investigating a string of hoax bomb threats. Also, as swatting, the latest targeting several Democratic members of Congress, including nearly all of the members of Connecticut's congressional delegation. Senator Chris Murphy says his home was targeted while he celebrated Thanksgiving and what appears to be a, quote, coordinated effort

involving multiple members of Congress. It all comes just a few days after similar threats were made against President-elect Trump's transition team. NBC News senior White House correspondent Kelly O'Donnell is traveling with the president-elect and joins us now from West Palm Beach, Florida. Kelly, talk to us about these new threats and where the investigation stands. Do we have any idea who is behind this? Do they think it's one individual or one group? We don't have a lead on that yet. The FBI says it is working with state and local authorities. President Biden, for his part, was asked about this today, and he said the FBI is working it hard, trying to get to the bottom of it. What we know is what you described is this sort of range of

incidents that are bomb threats and attempts to try to instill fear, but no actual explosives or devices. Reports that sent police officers across at least three states, if not more, going to the homes of officials who are either an elective office or are selected for potential cabinet positions or advisory roles to President Trump. So some of them were a block of Democrats, including the congressional delegation in Connecticut, also in Rhode Island. And then another group that are all attached to President elect Trump's incoming team. So this is a growing phenomenon of emailed and social media

delivered messages that produce this phony hoax of a report. Swatting is another term for it, where calls are made of an emergency situation or a high-risk situation, and federal or local, typically local, SWAT teams descend on someone's home. That can go sideways, and there have been incidents incidents of that in the past where things get dangerous. None of that here, but as you can get a sense of it, it causes anxiety and a lot of police response. But because of the electronic nature of it, they hope to be able to unwind the source of who is sending these messages.

Ellison? And Kelly, before we let you go, I do want to ask you about some of the other news that we've heard coming out of Washington and the fact that President-elect Trump has announced this plan to enact that blanket, 25 percent tariff on Canada and Mexico. I know President Biden has addressed that. Walk us through what we know about that right now. President Biden has said he hopes that his successor, President-elect Trump, will rethink that. He thinks it's counterproductive. We know that President-elect Trump likes to talk about tariffs. It's been a central part of his economic plan. He has talked about levying those against partners in Mexico and Canada, our closest neighbors, as well as other countries like China. What we don't have

are real specifics, but it certainly prompts a response from other leaders. We've already seen that. And it is something that some of the advisors to President-elect Trump say is about negotiating, to try to get a good position, to try to get a concession, as opposed to it being a specific, clear, determined plan to enact tariffs. He's talking about it. At this point, he's using it as a tool. Alison? Kelly O'Donnell, in Florida, thank you. Moving overseas now to Ukraine and the escalating war. Tonight, the country's power grid under what officials are calling a massive attack. Hundreds of thousands of people left without heat amid freezing temperatures. All of it comes following intense retaliation from Russian President Vladimir Putin in response to Ukraine's use

of American missiles. A barrage of Russian missiles and drones raining down on Ukraine yet again. Plunging more than 700,000 homes and businesses into darkness. and forcing civilians to run for cover. We are fed up with all of it, this woman says. It's not the first time Russia has focused its attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. At the same time, winter is beginning. It was very loud. There was an explosion followed by five other explosions, Irina explains. There was a strong smell as if something was burning.

We were confused, but we could not even come out. Everything was under under rubble. Energy workers are scrambling to repair damaged facilities, working around the clock, even though they know the same facilities will likely be targeted in the days and weeks ahead. He works at a turbine unit, even though there are missiles close. He and his coworkers stay to make sure Ukrainians won't freeze to death without electricity. Russian President Vladimir Putin says the latest strike was a complex. and retaliatory one. A rebuttal, he says, to Ukraine's use of U.S. made missiles inside of Russia.

Ukraine refusing to back down, fired back into Russian territory setting an oil depot ablaze. The Tet for tat strikes not fundamentally changing the course of the war. Ukrainian officials say they are still outmaned and outgunned, and Russia is now making the fastest battlefield gains since the early days of the full-scale invasion. For now, the U.S. still backing Ukraine, but time could be running out, and many Ukrainians are anxiously watching President-elect Donald Trump, who announced retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg as his U.S. envoy to Ukraine and Russia earlier this week. Kellogg has previously proposed plans to force peace talks and in the war by withdrawing

U.S. weapons from Ukraine. When asked about possible end-of-war plans, like giving up some territory in order to join NATO. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy told Sky News this. No one has offered us to be in NATO with just one part or another part of Ukraine. That's for once. The fact is that it is a solution to stop the hot stage of the war because we can just give the NATO membership to the part of Ukraine that is under our control. Now to the Middle East, the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah is growing more fragile, as both sides accuse the other of violating the truce just days after it's gone into effect. The IDF releasing video that it says shows Israeli forces striking a suspected Hezbollah rocket

launcher in southern Lebanon yesterday in response to, quote, terrorist activity from the militant group. But both Hezbollah and the Lebanese army say Israel is the one violating the agreement. It's the first airstrike from either side since the troops went into effect on Wednesday. The deal gives Israel 60 days to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon. But when that withdrawal is expected to start and when people can finally return home is still unclear. Israel issued a new warning today telling citizens not to return to dozens of villages in southern Lebanon. NBC News international correspondent Matt Bradley joins us now from Beirut. Matt, when this truce went into effect, the understanding was,

Troops would still be, Israeli troops would still be in southern Lebanon, but they began pulling back. But in terms of rockets going across the border, that was supposed to stop immediately, right? Has this truce already collapsed? Yeah, and that was a violation of the truce. And the Israelis have said that Hezbollah is violating the truce on their side by bringing people back to some of the military installations that they said. The Israelis said are off limits. So both sides have ammunition, verbal ammunition, saying that the other is violating the truce. And yet, Ellison, despite everything you're seeing, the truth still stands.

We're about a couple of hours away from the 72-hour mark, three days since that truce came into effect, the cease-stopping of fire. And now it looks as though, despite the fact that we're seeing some growing pains, we're seeing some problems and complaints and violations, it looks as though both sides are really determined to keep this intact and to keep peace across that border. The Lebanese military, they're the ones that are really going to be enforcing this ceasefire deal, if that's a fair way to describe it, right, at least making sure that Hezbollah dismantles its military facilities and doesn't rebuild in the South. And as we mentioned before,

making sure that Lebanese civilians don't go home too soon. How confident are Lebanese officials that they can pull this off? And what's Israel had to say about that aspect? Well, despite the fact that the military here is very weak, it has a lot of esteem from the public. The fact is the military will be doing this in cooperation with Unifil, which is the United Nations interim force in Lebanon. They've been policing that border for decades, but neither group, the military nor Unifil, were able to prevent Hezbollah from re-arming after the 2006 war. They weren't able to keep Hezbollah from moving up to the border, which is where they were when all of this started. So they basically, in that, they had that same mission that they

have this time back in 2006, and it didn't work. So there's more skepticism on the Israeli side that the Lebanese military will be able to even hold up a hand against Hezbollah because Hezbollah is just so much stronger than the Lebanese military and that the United Nations force there will even be able to do anything because they also don't have the mandate to use powerful force to stop Hezbollah. And Matt, a lot of people still wondering because Hezbollah started fighting Israel along this border after we saw Israeli troops go into Gaza following the attacks inside of Israel on October 7th. Is there any indication that this ceasefire could impact talks that have

stalled between Israel and Hamas and maybe bring an end to the fighting inside of Gaza? Well, it's a great question, Alison, because you remember it was only a couple of months ago that it was thought to be the other way around. There would be a deal in the Gaza Strip, and that that would then cause Hezbollah to stop fighting, because, as you mentioned, Hezbollah was attacking Israel, as they said, in solidarity with Hamas on October 8th, the day after those October 7th attacks. Well, now, diplomats want to see this done the opposite way. I want to see this deal

done here in Lebanon, secure, and hoping that that could be a blueprint for a deal in the Gaza Strip. And we're already seeing some movements on this. Joe Biden has said he supports it. Even Benjamin Netanyahu has come out and said he supports some kind of peace in the Gaza Strip, though not, he says, an end to the war.

But then at the same time, we've now seen the Egyptians stepping to the fore. They're sending a delegation to Israel, trying to present some sort of security deal. It looks as though there's movement on this, but Ellison, it is shrouded in pessimism, the same pessimism that has beset these negotiations for the past year.

Excellent reporting. Matt Bradley in Beirut. Thank you. Today, a Canadian family is overjoyed by the return of their son. The heiger had been lost in the wilderness for more than 50 days. NBC. Stephanie Gosk has this report. Sam Bonastic flashing thumbs up

in a British Columbia hospital. It is nothing short of miraculous that he ended up there. According to the police, the 20-year-old left on a solo hiking trip in early October. His destination, Redfern-Kiley Provincial Park, deep within the Canadian Rockies. This time of year, the weather is unpredictable, and temperatures often plummet below zero. How difficult is it to survive this time of year in that kind of place? Well, if you don't know how, it would be extremely difficult. The wild terrain home to dangerous predators, black bears, grizzlies, and wolves.

Large packs of wolves with well over 100 wolves in the packs, and they are very active hunters in that area. Benastic was supposed to return October 17th, but he did not. Instead, the outdoor enthusiast found himself in his own version of the popular show alone. Bone chilling cold. Winter's coming. This land is as wild as any in North America. Survivalists are left by themselves in the wilderness to brave the elements and the animals. Grizzly bears.

Oh, my f***ing mountain lion. Some seasons set in Western Canada. Banastic really was alone. Fortunately, Sam had experience in hiking and being in that kind of environment, so he was able to survive. And then he moved into a valley where he built another camp and a shelter in a dried-out creek bed. Eventually wandering out of the woods on a desolate forestry road, seven weeks. weeks later. The police say he was treated for smoke inhalation and frostbite, eventually reunited with his family. Here they are at the Buffalo Inn, where guests are invited to enjoy the

beautiful snowy world of British Columbia from indoors. Stephanie Gosk, NBC News. Still ahead tonight, a holiday tragedy, a Chicago area community experiencing a line of duty death for the first time in decades, what we know about the person accused of killing a detective. the burglar who got way more than he bargained for, why the church pastor who confronted him wasn't going to back down. And dashing for deals, shopping on the menu for millions this Black Friday, but will the Amazon worker strike impact your list? We'll be right back.

We're back now with a group of Native American scientists who are leading a push to solve cold cases. They've launched a forensic team. that's dedicated to solving cases involving missing or murdered indigenous women in Montana. And as Morgan Radford reports, it is already helping families get closure. Growing up here on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in northwest Montana, Haleo Miso watched for years as community members went missing. Their case kind of fell through the cracks of the justice system. So she decided to take matters into her own hands, starting the first indigenous-led forensics team in the

nation called Okami forensics using the latest in forensic technology in the lab at the University of Montana. Basically, we'll be putting our DNA samples into this and combing for clues with her team in the field to help families with missing loved ones find closure. If you weren't doing this now, would anyone else be doing it? I don't think so. We just have so many cases that are unsolved. Cases like Aaron Pepian's, who we first met back in 2021. This is where police believe Arden went in the river. Today, he's still searching. What we're looking for today is evidence to see if there's any bones or, you know, something that we may have missed. Have you ever thought about giving up?

No, not ever. His daughter, three-year-old Arden Pepian, went missing in April of 2021 while she was under the care of an uncle who said she disappeared while he was practicing shooting near this river. He later pleaded guilty to negligent endangerment. I know that if I see her or if there's something there and they find her, I'm not leaving because she's been there for that long alone. Arden is one of more than 4,000 cases of missing or murdered Native Americans that have gone unsolved, which is why Omiso says this is just the first of many searches she and her team planned to do, all no cost to the family. Haley's indigenous and she's from here. Yes. Does that make a difference for you and having someone like that?

her handle this case? A little bit. I'm just glad that we have natives that are out there that are doing this kind of stuff. And I'm proud of them. Does this case have special significance for you? Yeah, for sure. I have an eight-year-old and a three-year-old.

So when I first came out to search for Arden, it hit me pretty hard after that, going home and just being able to hug my son. And knowing that Aaron can do that, When you're searching your own land and being around people that you know, it's harder. You're your people. Yeah. We're natives.

We're here. And we're always going to be here. Morgan Radford, Blackfeet Indian Reservation, NBC News. A dramatic confrontation unfolding at a California church on Thanksgiving, an axe-wielding intruder breaking in only to be met by the church's pastor, who happens to be a skilled martial artist. Jody Hernandez from our NBC Bay Area Station has this one. The windows of Antioch's family first church are boarded up tonight after a scary early morning break in. Church pastor Nick Neves responded to a burglar alarm in the wee hours of the morning, only to come face to face with the intruder who had used an axe to smash his way in.

And I shouted at him to stop and that the police were going to be on the way. And he ran and I grabbed a hold of him. and we ended up wrestling in the parking lot of the church. Little did the burglar know Pastor Neves is trained in martial arts. I like to stay fit, and I've studied in some jiu-jitsu and some kickboxing and have a mixed martial arts background. And so it was very helpful to be able to grapple with this gentleman without having to do much harm to him. After 12 to 15 minutes of wrestling, the burglar ran out of steam until police arrived. So I was able to pin him to the ground.

You know, he got up and tried to get away several times, but basically just trying to wear him out. So I thought I could outlast him. Because it could have gone a totally different direction, and we thank God that it didn't. Jeff Strother is a longtime member of Family First Church. He's incredibly thankful his pastor wasn't hurt. We're very thankful to God that he's our pastor and not our enemy. The 46-year-old pastor says the church primary. itself on helping others. In fact, they just provided groceries for 130 families in need.

He says the intruder didn't need to steal. It was just ironic that if he would have just come a couple of days earlier, he would have been able to be blessed and get some food and be cared for. But he decided instead to smash windows and desecrate property and do something that's going to hurt the ministries. Pastor Nick says he hopes the burglar changes his way and chooses good over evil. In Antioch, Jody Hernandez, NBC Bay Area News. Still ahead tonight, rising from the ashes. Notre Dame Cathedral, one step closer to its grand reopening. Our first look inside, nearly five years after that unthinkable fire. We're back now with Top Stories News Feed, and we begin in Chicago, where an

Oka Park Police detective has died after being shot in a Black Friday incident. Detective Alan Redens was responding to a report of an armed person leaving a bank when he was shot by a suspect and later died at a hospital. The department remembering Redens as a natural leader and devoted father of a 19-year-old son. Overseas renewed violence in Syria as rebels make their way into Aleppo and clash with government troops. Rebels launched a surprise attack on Wednesday, seizing towns near Aleppo and killing dozens of civilians. Civil War has plagued Syria for over a decade under Bashar al-Assad's regime, but this marks the first major offensive since a ceasefire four years ago. And a beloved landmark returning to life. New video showing the

fully restored Notre Dame Cathedral five years after a devastating fire ripped through its iconic fire. Among the brand new furnishings and gleaming white stone are 8,000 organ pipe. French President Emmanuel Macron got a first look this morning and called it a once-in-a-century project. The cathedral opens to the public on December 7th. We're going to turn it now to money talks and what consumers need to know this Black Friday weekend. Shoppers already turning out in record numbers signaling good news for the economy. NBC News Business and Data correspondent Brian Chung has the details. This Black Friday millions headed to the mall and in a number.

throwback even lining up kicking off a Black Friday weekend that's expected to break records over the holiday season shoppers are expected to spend almost a trillion dollars and early indicators show strong spending as shoppers spent over six billion dollars online yesterday on thanksgiving a new record we're one of the first here actually in person it just feels like that nostalgic i want to get out the house too i need to touch grass it points to a resilient american consumer but shoppers are a little choosier these days we've been shopping together for since 2004 I think like Ariela Schafferin and Arlie Klein who were regulars at Westfield Garden State Plaza when we met the mid-trip they said 50

percent off would get them to the register if the deal is right yeah that's our motto if the deal is right but when we followed up there is no door busters you know just the regular 40 percent off you can find that online other Shoppers even empty-handed. You've been here for how long already? I want to say two hours. Two hours and you don't have any bags so far. No, I'm laughing.

Because the sales have just been like bad. Shoppers are also clicking and tapping their way to deals. Amazon broke records in its Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend last year, despite a make-Amazon pay strike that organizers plan to bring back again this year. But initial numbers for this shopping weekend pointing to an economy getting a holiday boost. Thanks to the American consumer. And when it comes to those that are going to be shopping for those deals throughout the weekend and into Cyber Monday, experts tell us that today, Black Friday, is the best deal to score a TV. However, you might want to wait until Cyber Monday to get the deepest discounts on things like electronics and also apparel.

And don't forget to use cashback cards and use price matching policies to make sure you're truly getting the best bang for your buck this weekend. Back to you. Brian Chung, thank you. And for more on the unofficial start to the holiday. shopping season and the best deals to shop this weekend. I want to bring in wire cutters. Anne Marie Conti, she is going to break down all of the deals that are looking good and could be looking good in the days of head. Today, Black Friday, it kind of starts early online, not just for end stores, but Cyber Monday also supposed to be really big. What are some of the early

deals that you're starting to see? Are they panning out? We are seeing so many deals. I think we have over 1,200 deals on our deals page right now, and all of them are completely vetted. We've Really, we price track every day of the year to make sure that we only pick the best deals. And it's just overflowing. And I think the reason for that is really that a lot of the pandemic supply chain has really leveled out. And so we're just seeing great prices on great products. And I do think we will see a little bit of it dip over the weekend and then pop back up on Monday. Okay. So in terms of things to watch for, I've heard people always say,

Cyber Monday is when you want to pay attention if you're trying to get something for a tech relative or if you yourself need to update some sort of gadget. Is that still the rule here? The wisdom's a little bit outdated. We are seeing a lot of tech right now. And I don't think that retailers wait until Monday. I think they want the dollars as soon as possible. So they really pop that now. And then if it doesn't sell out, we'll resupply for Monday. What are some of the best deals you're seeing right now in the tech space? Oh my gosh. I am I am absolutely coveting this Technivorm, Moka Master, Coffee Maker. It is beautiful.

It makes an excellent cup of coffee. It made some of the best coffee in all of our coffee maker testing. And it comes in multiple colors, so it really does look beautiful on your countertop. There's a model that comes with the glass carafe, and there's also one that comes in stainless steel. So whatever works best for you in your kitchen, perfect. And in terms of TVs? Oh, my gosh.

So I know that, like, the door buster, I'm going to run in and grab a TV, and it's going to be a crappy TV, but it'll be 50 cents. That doesn't quite happen anymore, but a little bit counterintuitively, there's a brand called High Sense that may not be known to everybody, but actually makes a really quality TV at a great price. So at the price that we're seeing it now on sale, it's even better deal. And in terms of computers, what are we seeing there? So the MacBook airs, we are seeing multiple deals, multiple specs. You know, when a new, as you know with tech, when a new item comes out, Often the older tech gets discounted, but these MacBook airs are great for most people, so now's a really good time to buy if you're in the market for one. Anything if people are shopping for teens, teen daughters, needing jeans, that sort of thing, clothes that you see?

Oh, we are seeing a lot of great clothing sales, and I think that the gene testing that we do is really to ensure that it fits a variety of people and a variety of sizing. And these page jeans that we are seeing, they have a beautiful amount of stretch. It's a luxury denim. and it's just a great piece for multiple body types. So we're really happy with that. I'm also interested here about like the practical home gadgets that you've seen, which I think air purifiers have maybe been popping off. And then also I keep getting served ads for like fit in your wallet, charge your phone on the go sort of thing.

Those seem to be like a hot stock and stuffer. They definitely are. I bought them from my family last year. And it was my tween's favorite gift was a phone charger. The travel card, it'll fit right in. It'll give you almost a full charge and really just keep you going throughout the day. That's amazing. We had that air purifier up earlier that we can take a look at again that looked like a pretty big drop down.

This is worth the money? It is worth the money. And especially now that we're seeing wildfire season, it's affecting a lot of different areas of the country. It's really important to have in your home for when the air quality issues start to dip a little bit. Good stuff. Wirecutters and Marie Conti. Thank you so much. We appreciate it.

Thank you so much. All right. We're going to be right back. Stay with us because coming up, we have our one-on-one with Bishop Briggs, the pop singer, nearing the top of the charts, and even getting her moment at the Thanksgiving Day Parade. She sat down with our Chloe Malas about what is driving her work. That's next. We're back now with the sit-down interview with a star you may have spotted performing at Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. All pop singer Bishop Briggs, who you might know if you like alternative music from her hits. song River has recently been on a role, winning the mass singer, now getting a prime spot on Netflix's holiday float. Our Chloe Malas talked to Bishop Briggs about the moment she got that

gig and what she hopes is next. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade is a performer's dream that for Bishop Briggs just became a reality. I see a line of cars and they're all played blood. The alternative in electropop singer delivering this brooding rendition of the Rolling Stones paint it black on a float for Netflix's Wednesday. I wish there was a video camera on me when I got the call because I was just screaming. I was so excited. A fittingly moody spin on holiday cheer for a singer who has persevered through ups and downs, including a recent battle to win season nine of the Masked Singer.

Singer and dog rider, Bishop Briggs! Do you get nervous? Of course. Oh, my gosh. The most nervous person ever. She's had years of practice calming those nerves. Briggs, whose real name is Sarah McLaughlin, was born in London, then moved to Japan when she was just four years old

and found her love for singing in an unconventional setting. It was actually at the karaoke bars in Japan. It was like the thing to do after school, which now, in hindsight, It's a little bizarre that I was in a bar at age four, but I would see my dad singing Frank Sinatra, and I just saw this light in his eyes, and I wanted that. She yearned for the bright lights of Hollywood, moving across the world after high school, and it wasn't long before her big break. Her song Wild Horses was featured in Accura's 2016 Super Bowl commercial, and then one of the biggest bands in the world came calling. I got asked to open for Coldplay, so I followed them in a little van. But what was that like to open for cold play for that amount of people?

I mean, I was the best. And to this day, anytime I'm in an airport, I will always have at least one person come up and say, like, that's the first place they saw me. One of the songs she sang to those huge crowds, her breakout hit River. An explosive anthem, which reached the top 10 on multiple Billboard charts. That was actually the first song. I wrote with this stage name. And I remember being in the car with my best friend and playing her this demo of River that I had written that day. And I felt as though I had really made it. But wait, you wrote it in a day? Yeah. What do you mean? Well, that was the first, yeah.

But like, it doesn't take like weeks or months to write a song. No. You're really a vestal for something bigger than you in that moment you know like that's what true inspiration is it's one of her many songs inspired by love and loss several dedicated to her sister and manager kate who passed away three years ago of ovarian cancer at the age of 30 her inspiration now her two-year-old son the song my serotonin is about just how obsessed i am with him in the middle of the night every minute every time All I think about is you. That song off her new album, Tell My Therapists I'm Fine. Briggs is getting ready to hit the road for her spring tour and says there's one more thing on her bucket list.

I'm always scheming, plotting, planning. I would love to play SNL. That would be a huge dream of mine, come true. And maybe someday she will. Chloe Malas, NBC News, New York. Before we go, you might still be in a Thanksgiving, food coma, but there is plenty to feast your eyes on this holiday weekend, including movies that will put you into the spirit of the season. Bingeworthy is up next.

We are back now with Bingeworthy, our look at the best things to watch and listen to this weekend. We're joined now by Darren Carb. She is a pop culture expert, host of the podcast, shaken and disturbed for you true crime lovers, and a Bravo personality. All right, Darren, thanks for joining us. We've got to start with true crime since you're on. This one has been hyped. People have been waiting for it on Netflix. Cold Case, who killed Jean Bonnet Ramsey? It's about the unsolved murder of the six-year-old beauty queen. She was living in Colorado at the time. A closer look at how law enforcement and also the media handled the case. Watch. Some people don't think it's ever going to be solved. Prior to Christmas Day of 1996, we were just a regular family.

And, of course, then that all changed. Someone killed this six-year-old child. Do you mind taking us through the day? It was just unbelievable. You know, this is a story where there has been so many versions of documentaries or... Or whole like time. I mean, forever, that at first I was a little skeptical. I watched this as soon as it came out, and I have to say, I really thought it was well done

and very different than the other ones that have already been out there. Did it change your mind of having a different opinion? It made me more solidified and being convinced in who did not do it. I think it did the opposite. Okay, so it did the opposite for me. So this is a three-part doc that came out. I mean, obviously the Jean-Beney story, it happened when I was eight years old. I feel like it has sort of been a story that if the one case you could solve,

this is what I get all the time, and everyone's always like Jean-Bene. CBS obviously came out with a rather colored view of what happened with Jean-Beney Ramsey about eight years ago. And Rick Ramsey ended up suing for defamation. So this is the first time John Ramsey is actually speaking out. Whenever you have a potential suspect in a case like this speaking out, I already know that I'm kind of going to get a little bit of the other side. John Ramsey wasn't going to be part of anything that accused him of being a part of it.

But it does do a very, very good look. I learned new facts about Jean-Beney I didn't know. And it also shows sort of the darker side to media and how easily media can capitalize on one theory, one time and the whole public kind of goes, and this was before social media. So it was a really good doc, very eye-opening. Not sure it changed my mind about who I think did. That's true. I will say the part where they looked at how the media covered it was really eye-opening. I was shocked at basically just watching it. It was almost like the misinformation you see on Twitter fully on the TV screens. Heralda Rivera having an entire mock trial for the family. I did not

know that happened, and I was just stunned. With people who have no business kind of being on a mock trial? And also, that's just going to have opinions come out there with that alone. And And then there was the cop, the detective Scott Thomas, who came from narcotics, who wasn't a murder investigator, who kept doubling down on the fact that this was Patsy Ramsey, even though he had absolutely no evidence for that, wrote a book on it, got sued for defamation. I mean, that to me was really wrong. Unless you have absolute evidence, don't be saying that. That was why I'm not saying it. That was one of the things that I had seen inconsistently. I'm like, they bungled this investigation, and that is so sad for the daughter, regardless of who maybe was involved or was not.

Right, because she's the victim. Yeah. So really interesting one. Highly recommend people check that one out. But next up, we have a limited series called The Madness. This is about a burnt-out cable news anchor. What? I feel attacks.

And they have to fight to prove his, in a sense, after stumbling upon a murder in the woods. This one is on Netflix, and it's not about anyone we know. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I'm black. I'm on TV. I was there. I'm walking around with a bullseye on my back. They are going to pin all this shit on you.

It's murder of a notorious white man. The man was the Jesse Jackson of white supremacy. Did you do something to him? This ain't no fight or flight. Okay, I do feel attacked and like I'm looking into my future. I'm afraid that it's like worrying me about something. It is. Did you watch it? Tell me what I need to know.

To be fair, Coleman, I'm going to work for CNN. So if he wasn't a peacock anchor, so we're lucky. that but you never know maybe this is like setting us up maybe it'll be a sequel they're dominated the box office but yes Coleman Domingo places please like a very famous CNN anchor news anchor much like yourself and discovers this murder in the Poconos of a white guy racial tensions are kind of at play here he has to prove his innocence as opposed to proving his guilt we were just talking about Jean Bonnet these things can kind of get rigmarole in the media but he has to

prove his innocence he's fighting for it this didn't do as well on the tomato meter as I thought it was gonna get I actually was pretty I thought this was actually a really well-done, really well-done show. But at the same time, I think it was Coleman's performance that really sold it home for me. He has a lot of heart and a lot of warmth in this and plays it really well, whether or not the storylines are something that are unique and we haven't seen before. But I recommend. All right.

I watched To Die for yesterday for the first time, which is the Nicole Kidman owner, where she plays a cable news anchor who then had murder. I mean, it's interesting. But I feel really, yeah, like it's a weird trend happening. And I feel like people are trying to tell me something. But anyways, we're going to turn now to something lighter because this. This is called The Later Dater. It's a new dating show on Netflix that follows six singles trying to rejuvenate their dating lives and find some love.

Look. Six silver singles are about to go on a series of blind dates, but they don't have to go it alone. So do you think your mom's easy to date? I'm going to get this dating coach. Oh, she's here. I'm here to help people become better daters. Okay. Logan Yuri has been On News Now Daily a bunch.

What do you make in the show? Okay, Logan, here he comes in as this dating coach to help these 50, 60, 7-year-olds singles. They're going on blind dates. Honestly, with, like, the success of the Golden Bachelorette, I was sort of like, how is this going to be different than watching maybe 30-to-40-year-olds change? And let me tell you, the confidence that older people have on dating,

I love it. It makes me excited to age. It makes me super, I don't know, just at peace with myself, especially the women. They kind of know what they want. They're going after it, and they're, like, really see the red flags because they've been through all of it. So it's actually, this is a show.

for people who actually want to date, who actually want to find love, who aren't about wanting to be an influencer after the show. I mean, these people are serious about it. Also, this series is executive produced by Michelle Obama. So there's a lot of heart in it. You get to really hear the stories, and you get to hear from the children who are the children of these single daters, which, for better or for worse, I kind of have to hear about their sex lives.

Super fun. In fact, one of my favorite clips from the show was a woman who told this guy that her first husband had passed away. Her second husband was found, like, dead. Does she still want to go on a date with her? And I was like, I love the honesty. Yeah, I mean, like it out there. That's right.

You have to tell people when bad things have happened in the house before you sell it. Why not the same about our lives? I just love it. I just love it's just brutally honest and I think it's fun. Is this like love is blind-esque where it follows them for a couple of months after they picked someone? Or is this only in the initial art? It kind of follows them along the journey to see what works and what doesn't. So it's less love is blind just because they are blind dates, but you do get to see them

in their physical form. Okay. I like that. Very cool. This next one, we're going to go to movies for holidays for Halloween. Spirit-esque. This is the Lindsay Lohan, brand new one, on Netflix. Netflix really popped off this week. It's called Our Little Secret. It's about a woman who visits her boyfriend's family for Christmas, only to realize his sister is dating her ex. Look. Spending the holidays with my boyfriend's family for the first time.

Hi, Mom. This is for you. And look, it's a skirt top. Fast and easy. Here we go. He has a lot of family members. Too many to remember. And his sister, is also bringing someone. I want you to meet Logan. My ex. Will you? No, Logan. I will not marry you.

It's so great to meet you. Yeah. You cannot tell anyone about us. This is funny. The last thing I need is to give that woman ammunition. Do we have an understanding? You are a nightmare. It's going to be fine.

We were just saying this, but I watched this yesterday as well. I watched like five movies yesterday. I did. I thought the past Lindsay Lohan one that I'd seen, maybe it was the one in Ireland. I liked that one a little bit better. better than this. Okay. But I will say in terms of holiday ones so far this year, I love bad ones. This has been the best one on Netflix so far. This is like a bad, good holiday

movie. I mean, like, I feel like holiday movies have their own different category. They do. I'm watching how to Barbie or Oppenheimer or Gladiator or Wicked. Like, we're watching holiday movies to kind of just disconnect and just enjoy the kitchiness of it all. This is what you're going to get with the Liffie Lohan movie. I think you would agree with this. But people are going to watch because it's her. It's her third holiday movie. So she's kind of cementing herself as just like Lori Lofman, you know, Candice Cameron Burr type of just like classic holiday person. You know, it's getting panned a little bit by the critics. But again, you're in, like you're supposed to watch accepting the kitsch. That's what this is. It's fun to put on the

background when you're cooking or the kids are over. That's why we call them the Hallmark style holiday movies. Like, you know, it's not supposed to be art. Exactly. It's not like I have one of my money back if you're like, wow, that was a phenomenal script. Dan, I kind of like the premise of like, you know, you're dating someone and then you find out that their siblings dating your ex. I mean, I thought this only happened in my gay world, but apparently heterosexuals are also having this problem. They are just like us. Welcome. Welcome. Welcome to the holidays of your nightmares. Okay, so the next one on our watch list, it's called Nutcrackers. It is sort of a Christmasy holiday one, but not entirely, right?

It starts Ben Stiller. It's about a workaholic who moves back home during the holidays to take care of his sister's kids after her sudden passing. It's streaming on Hulu. Take a look. Act like normal children. I'm trying to find you a good home, okay? Everybody wants to be their mommies and daddies. Bye, bye, bye, right!

Come quick. The golf cart is destroying itself. He's good. I saved him. I'm dealing with a lot right now. We're talking about four little kids who lost their parents. Do you think I look like my dad?

Very much so. Whoa, whoa, what are you guys doing up? Go back down, no, no, no, go back downstairs. Guys, we're not doing this. I have a bad dream, too. Can you tell them we're not doing this? Okay, this is giving for me family stone of, like, it's holiday adjacent, but it looks like it's more focused about character development and sad stuff.

Yeah, meet the parents. I mean, yes, the premise is sad. Obviously, his sister passes away, and he has to kind of come in to take care of his four nephews while they're finding foster care. I think you can kind of understand what's probably going to happen in the movie just from the premise. You know, he opens his heart to his family from this workaholic, you know, he's home for the holiday season. But I love Ben Stiller. We haven't seen him act in a very long time.

I mean, obviously, meet the Fokers, meet the parents. He's known for Zoolander. He's known for these kind of like crazy characters, very anxious. This is a new play for him, and it's fun to see. I mean, Nutcrackers is sort of the perfect name for it. And they're four nephews who just absolutely terrorize him. So it's funny and it's good for the family. Good for the holidays.

I'm excited to see it. I mean, he's such a great director and producer now. I forgot it. We haven't seen him on camera on a little. Yeah, he settled himself into that. Now he's back to the acting. That's great. I'm happy for it.

Okay, I will add this one to the list. The next one we have, final one, a little bit of music for you. Gwen Stefani is out with a new single song. This one is called Somebody Else's. We like this one, I mean, this song living you see me, my God, look at me wrong song. It's somebody else's Peron, Blum. We like this.

I really like it. It feels, I mean, this song has been out since September. So I have been, this is a song I've listened to, I think probably every day since it came out September 20th. It's obviously about, you know, her exes in her life, who obviously she's had very famous exes. She's with Blake Shelton now. now. There's somebody else's problem right now. So the message is very, it's very

Miley Cyrus Flowers type of song. It's one of women empowerment, very female independent. We were talking before when the, when the video was playing about, she's kind of in her no doubt era. I mean, they just toured at Coachella. It was so fun to watch them be back. She's in it. She's just, this is on her album, Bucay, and I love it. This is an anthem, especially for women. It just has that perfect pop, rock, punk element that I love. I had no idea this is out, and so I'm really glad I know now. You're going to have fun. Thank you for being here and introducing us to all the new things.

We appreciate it. And thank you at home for watching Top Story. I'm Ellison Barber in New York. Stay right there. More news is on the way.