Top Story with Tom Llamas - Friday, October 23, 2026

Episode Date: October 24, 2026

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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tonight, the states of emergency across the west has catastrophic flash floods force evacuations. Around the clock rescues in Arizona, passengers rescued by helicopter as floodwaters rushed through the southwest. Mandatory evacuations now in southern Colorado after these dangerous waters powered through. This neighborhood in southern Utah totally caked in mud. Now there are more storms on the way. The hero dad is speaking out about how he took down that Oregon school shooter and how it teacher distracted the gunman for him, plus his message to the victim's families. Massive school bus fire flames shooting out how a quick-thinking bus driver got the kids out

just in time. The terrifying building collapse caught on camera, people running for their lives in Kenya, and now the race to save those trapped inside. Deadly violence erupting in the West Bank, Israeli forces taking down two Palestinian gunmen accused of killing IDF soldiers the military now preparing for a full closure of the territory. Police in Florida unveiling the first flying cop car that they say can carry an officer to a crime scene when it could hit the skies. Plus, lines wrapping around Apple stores as fans try to get their hands on the iPhone duo, the company's first foldable phone, while some are flipping out while others have mixed reviews.

Plus, who will be the next James Bond? We'll tell you the actors on the short list reportedly screen testing in London. Top story starts right now. And good evening, right now the southwest grip by a dangerous flash flood emergency. More than a million people under alert at this hour with many communities order to evacuate. Rivers in southern Colorado, you see it right here, overflowing. A disaster emergency has been declared for Pagosa Springs with the San Juan River cresting over 15 feet. Authorities in New Mexico also urging people to get out and get out now as fast-moving floodwaters move in.

It comes after days of destructive flash floods across the region. Dozens of homes destroyed in Utah. The current so strong it carried the shipping container away. You see it right there. Catastrophic scenes in Arizona roads completely washed away. Violent mudslides tearing through neighborhoods and people stranded on the roof of their cars. Forcing chopper rescues like the one you're seen in front of your screen. Also in Arizona, golf ball-sized hail battering Navajo County as the National Weather Service investigates a likely tornado that touched

down there. Our Bill Cairns, as you know, every night standing by for us, but we want to begin with Steve Patterson on the threat out west. Tonight, fast-moving floodwaters surging across the southwest. In southern Colorado, the south fork of the Rio Grande swelling to major flood stage. Southwest of there, a disaster emergency declared for the town of Pagosa Springs. The San Juan River cresting there this morning over 15 feet. In northern New Mexico, authorities urging people to evacuate when asked. This is a terrible 9% one coming right now. And you've seen all over the county rescues, people trapped on their roofs. We've been doing buckets for like an hour and a half. This is

families in southern Utah are cleaning up from catastrophic flooding there. You can see the water line on these houses, especially over here and over here. The mud line is just insane. Some 80 homes affected in the city of Hurricane. Watch this current so strong it carried the shipping container down the street. And in Arizona, south of Sedona, four rescued by helicopter from the roof of a vehicle Thursday swept downstream by fast-moving currents. While in Navajo County, residents running for cover from the storm packing golf ball-sized hail, high winds, and heavy rain. A days-long bout of violent weather tearing through the west. Some incredible images. there. Steve Patterson joins us live from Los Angeles. So Steve, last night, we saw authorities

racing to prevent the coastline from eroding and that sand berm where you're at tonight. It's getting larger? You're absolutely right, Tom. The sand berm is getting larger. In fact, it's increased by about 500 feet just today. Meanwhile, for those families living in the southwest, there is a new severe thunderstorm watch for most of New Mexico and a big part of Texas as the risk for more heavy rain now moves east over the weekend. Okay, Steve Patterson, leading us off. I want to bring a meteorologist Bill Karens. Bill, so how long does the threat that we're watching here? Those are some incredible images. How long does that last out west?

Tonight and then through portions of tomorrow, we get a break by the time we get through Sunday. Yeah, but this imagery has been incredible. Just seeing the sights of thunderstorms this powerful in this portion of the country just doesn't happen all that often. And the biggest problem right now is the San Juan River. So that's this red outline here, starting in southern Utah. A little clip here near Colorado. This is the area we just showed you the really bad flood. And that still has to crest as it goes throughout Navajo Nation here in northern portions of New Mexico. That's the one river that we still have record flooding on. A lot of the other ones are beginning to come down. The flood watchers are still up for a little over a million people. We do have new flash flood warnings not far outside of Albuquerque and a few new thunderstorms

in portions of southern New Mexico. The severe thunderstorm watch will be up until 9 p.m. And we do have a few really strong storms. I did see one severe thunderstorm morning where they're saying it contains ping pong ball-sized hail. So that's enough to crack your windshield and put some dead. in your hood. This is just to the areas to the west of La Cruz and then just south of Hatch. It looks like this storm's going to come right over the top of Hatch here. So be prepared on social media, you'll see more pictures of that amazing hail throughout this region. And then finally,

Tom, tomorrow, El Paso. We get West Texas involved in this, back up to Albuquerque once again, New Mexico. It hasn't seen a stretch of weather like this in a long, long time. Yeah, that's right. Okay, Bill, thanks for being here for us. We also want to talk about Florida because we know some nasty weather is headed there as well. Yeah, so the King, Every year we get this setup where we have the high tide and also when we get the oceans a little higher than normal. And we're expecting coastal flooding to be pretty significant. All the east coast and at the same time we have an onshore wind and we're going to have some heavy rain occasionally. The recipe is going to be flooding on areas that are not supposed to have water.

You'll see pictures of roads that are flooded at times of high tide. And this will continue through Saturday and even into Sunday here. All of the East Coast beaches really a nasty beach weekend. The rest of the country looks pretty good between Florida and New Mexico. or everyone else should have a really good weekend. Bill Cairns, first. Bill, again, we thank you. All right, tonight to the hero dad who raced into an Oregon elementary school and stopped a deadly shooting, speaking out for the first time,

detailing the moment he rushed in to take that teenage shooter down. Tonight's saying his only regret is that he couldn't get to the shooter himself. Liz Croyd says more. That's when I opened my center console and I just said, no, no, no, no, no. Tonight, for the first time, we're hearing directly from Caleb Giamonko, the heroic father of two who jumped in to stop the 16-year-old gun. gunmen who killed three children and a teacher last week at Silver Rail Elementary. I called my mom. It's like, Mom, I just had to take the life of what I think might be a child because he went into my daughter's school with a gun.

In an interview with Oregon Public Broadcasting, the 36-year-old carpenter says he was on his way home for lunch when he saw the shooter going into the school. He says he grabbed the gun in his car and ran after him. I started hearing children pleading for their lives. and then I started hearing gunfire, and I just started army crawling faster and faster. Giamonko says he then peered into a window of the special needs classroom and saw a teacher wrestling with the gunman, which he says gave him the opportunity to move in. I knew that he did not know that I was there. And so at that point, I swung the door out and open, and I stepped in and I fired. Moments later, police arrived.

The gunman was declared dead. Giamonko says he called his mom in a panic. And, you know, she was just like, okay, baby, calm down. You know, you did the right thing. You're a hero. Giamonko says the hero in his mind is that brave, unarmed teacher who confronted the shooter. He says he hopes to meet her one day, along with the families of the young victims. I want to apologize for not saving their babies.

That's probably the biggest thing for me right now because of the gratitude for saving people's children is awesome. But there was the ones that I didn't save. I do feel like I failed. them, but I do want to meet them. Incredibly to hear that hero in his own words. Liz Kreutz joins us now. Liz, any updates on how the survivors and the victims' families are doing tonight? Well, Tom, our understanding is that the teacher and that eight-year-old child that were injured,

that were shot by the gunmen, they're recovering. We did hear from the teacher this week in a statement. She said that she was shot by the gunman and she was trying to lock the door. She was that unable to move, so she described having to play dead while all. of this unfolded. There's also that little five-year-old boy, the five-year-old that was killed, Rome's summer. His family has now retained a legal team to launch an independent investigation to try to determine if there were any failures that led to this. That five-year-old is the youngest school shooting victim in U.S. history, which is hard to wrap your head around Tom.

As for the investigation into the shooter, investigators are still trying to figure out a motive. They're looking at his electronic devices, his social media profiles, law enforcement sources tell NBC. They're also looking into whether or not he may have viewed extremist material online, Tom. Okay, Liz Kreutz for us, Liz. Now to President Trump's controversial new move just ahead of the midterms, directing the DOJ to try to stop the certification of Alaska Senate results if the Republican loses. Gabe Gutierrez reports from the White House. Tonight, the fight over the midterms is already going to court.

Eleven days before the election, President Trump now says he told his administration to file a lawsuit to block certification of the Senate race in deep red Alaska. If Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses, because another candidate named Dan Sullivan is also on the ballot. The GOP calls the second Sullivan a Democratic plant, which he denies. It's cheating like hell, and it's very confusing to people. Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola calling the lawsuit corruption. Meanwhile, the president is playing defense on his home turf,

rallying Republicans in Florida, a state he last won by 30. 13 points, but where the governor's race between Republican Byron Donald's and Democrat David Jolly is among those tighter than expected. Because I've never seen a midterm election with this kind of action. The president's midterm blitz over the next week includes Ohio with that controversial ad in the gubernatorial race. She's lied her entire life. The ad launched by Republican Vivek Ramoswamy's campaign and called despicable by Democrat Amy Acton features Acton's estranged mother. A mother is saying, don't put my daughter there because she's a terrible person and she's a liar.

Why shouldn't somebody use that? But do the sexual abuse allegations mean nothing to you, sir? NBC's Monica Alba pressing the president about acting stepfather being arrested and charged with sexually abusing the candidate as a child. I don't know anything about stepfathers for many, many years ago. Gabe Gutierrez joins us tonight from the White House. Gabe, you have some new reporting on the president rolling back some Canadian tariffs. Yeah, we actually got that announcement late today, Tom. With the president rolling back those tariffs on some Canadian products, it was actually announced by Senator Susan Collins of Maine and that some of the products with exemptions are not plastic boxes, crates, packing materials, refrigeration equipment.

The reason this is so interesting, Tom, that it comes amid increasing pressure from some Republicans over those tariffs, those Canadian tariffs. It wasn't just Susan Collins, but Mike Rogers in Michigan. I know you were there just several days ago. They've been also criticizing the president over some increased prices because of that trade war with Canada. Now, the White House says that it's merely refining the scope of those tariffs, and it's replacing some tariffs on that list. But still, this is being seen as an acknowledgement that some of these Republicans in these tight races wanted to see those tariffs roll back to. And Gabe, all we have you there, do we have any updates on how many Americans have voted so far early in this election? Well, so far, according to NBC News tracking, more than 20 million Americans have already cast ballots.

And we actually learned just today, Tom. The President Trump, he's saying that he will vote early tomorrow in Florida, along with the First Lady. Tom. Gabe Gutier is at the White House on duty tonight. Thank you. And you can dive deeper into the midterms with NBC's polling page, early vote data, expert analysis, and more subscriber-only content. Scan the QR code on your screen to subscribe now. Now we had to Ukraine where hope could be on the horizon for a small front line town.

Residents there starving, stranded in a so-called kill zone, but now a surprising figure, First Lady Melania Trump stepping into help. Richard Engel explains. Relief is coming to the few starving civilians left in one of the most isolated, bombed-down villages on the front line in the war in Ukraine. Both Russia and Ukraine tonight say First Lady Melania Trump played a key role. in negotiating the evacuation of civilians, mostly elderly and around 50 children, who were trapped in the Russian-occupied village of Oleshki.

Oleshki is inside the so-called kill zone, too dangerous to resupply. Next week, according to the New Deal, Ukrainian and Russian forces will pause fighting to allow civilians to leave. The kill zone is so dangerous, Ukrainian forces, for the first time in the war, had to airlift a wounded soldier by drone. The Ukrainian soldier, Constantine Vlenko, who had to amputate his own foot to survive, spoke today. It sounded like a helicopter was landing, a loud rumbling. It'll stay with me for the rest of my life, he said. President Zelensky said today, Elon Musk's Star Shield system, which Ukraine relies on to fight and defend the country,

still isn't fully up and running. The speed has not been restored. But he says Secretary of State Marco Rubio told him it will be restored soon. Zelensky said he felt betrayed by the Trump administration after the satellite system was downgraded without warning or a clear explanation. Richard Engel, NBC News. Now, the escalating violence in the Middle East, Israel ordering a full lockdown of the West Bank after two IDF soldiers were killed.

There are alleged Palestinian attackers also shot and killed, and in nearby Jordan, gunmen opening fire on a church there. Matt Bradley has fallen at all tonight's for us, and a warning some of the video you're about to see. It is disturbing. Tonight, twin attacks striking a Middle East on edge. This helmet camera video released by the IDF shows soldiers in hot pursuit of two Palestinian gunmen who had just fired on Israeli soldiers in the West Bank town of Hebron. killing two and injuring three others. Both attackers were shot dead, the IDF said. The gunman, one seen here during the attack,

used a handgun and an M-16 rifle, Israel's military said. But they came in a car that was laden with ammunition, the IDF said, possibly in preparation for a larger attack. Hours later, two gunmen attacked a funeral procession at a church in neighboring Jordan less than 50 miles away, killing at least seven people and injury many more. This security camera footage shows the assailants opening fire. Police are still pursuing the suspects.

There's no indication the attacks are related, but they both come as tension grips the region. Israeli authorities have locked down the city of Hebron and the West Bank blocking anyone from entering or exiting. The attack comes at a delicate political moment with elections only four days away that could unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who visited the scene of today's attack.

We will go house to house. We will also confiscate the weapons there. He said all terrorist infrastructures will be dealt with and destroyed. And he vowed to launch a sweeping offensive in the West Bank that he said would happen shortly. Well, no one has claimed responsibility for either attack. But for the one in the West Bank, Hamas and Hezbollah, two militant groups who are backed by Iran. They both congratulated the attackers. Tom?

All right. We thank you for that. Here at home, a frightening scene in Indiana school bus carrying students bursting into flames. The driver being held the hero for rushing them to safety. George Solis has a video and the story. A terrifying ride to school in Indiana. Watch as flames erupt from the front of the school bus in Evansville. You can see fire shooting from beneath the hood as black smoke billows.

The driver getting all of the students off the bus safely moments earlier. School bus for limbo. The startling scene unfolding Thursday around seven in the morning. School District officials say the driver noticed smoke and immediately stopped the bus. Erica Sharp and her husband ran outside to help. How intense were the flames? They were very intense. In fact, I think the house that it was closest to, I think the sighting started to melt.

My heart stopped thinking that the kids could still be on the bus and how are we going to get them off. The school district praising the bus driver's quick thinking in a moment of crisis. The students all made it to school on time. An investigation into what caused the fire is now underway. All right, George Solis is going to join us now live from Miami. George, the exact situation is one that these drivers prepare for, which is sort of wild. Yeah, that's exactly right, Tom. So by law in Indiana, school bus drivers have to perform an evacuation drill within the first 45 days of the school year.

An exact situation that played out for that bus driver and those six students that were on board. And needless to say, it obviously worked out. Tom. George Solis for us, George, we thank you. We're back in a moment with the high-rise building collapse in Kenya. People seem running for their lives, the desperate search for the missing at this hour. Plus, NFL Hall of Famer Marshall Fault revealing he's been diagnosed with Parkinson's, what he's now sharing about his condition.

And Apple fans celebrating the first foldable iPhone as the duo hit stores will have more on the steep cost and the early reviews. That's ahead on Top Story. Story is coming to you live from Juarez, Mexico. Reporting over the skies of Mahina. Every weeknight, it's your news playlist. Top story with Tom Yamas, streaming weeknights at 7 on NBC News Now. We're back now with the frenzy over Apple's new foldable iPhone.

People all over the world are bending over backwards to get the duo. But does it live up to the height? Brian Chung has this one. From Beijing to London. To New York, iPhone fans around the world queued up to be the first to score the brand new iPhone duo. After all those hours of waiting, you finally have it. How does it feel? It's so happy. It's always fun to be the first to get things. Apple's first foldable had consumers flipping out last week when the first pre-orders sold out within minutes. I'm getting it in January of 2027.

Not November, not December, January. How is that a pre-order? That's after the release date. It's the most dramatic change to the iPhone yet. The idea that you can have a tablet that folds up right into your pocket. And also a critical moment for John Turner. who replaced Tim Cook as Apple CEO last month. I hope you're as excited as I am. At $2,000, the phone is Apple's most expensive ever, with the highest spec model reaching $3,200. You have four phones there.

That's at least $8,000. That's a lot of money. Feelings is better than money. Feelings is better than money. Yeah. Early reviews highlighted concerns over the weaker cameras, as well as kinks in the almost eight-inch inner screen. Not having the telephoto camera lens was a big drawback.

for me and I think that's something that I will miss with this phone. But for those lucky enough to score their iPhone duos today, the excitement is over something brand new. My life is on my phone. I want to interact with my content differently and that's what the duo is going to do. So I'm excited. As Apple hinges its future on the duo. The iPhone duo is a big bet for Apple, which is already late to the game on the smartphone market for foldable. Samsung as well as Google are multiple generations into selling in this market a foldable phone that in some cases has the same dimensions as the iPhone duo. And it's also an uphill battle in terms of uptake for these types of products. Right now, the estimate, according to Counterpoint Research, is that just 2% of overall smartphones in the market are foldable phones.

But Apple hoping they can ride the wave as that number gets larger and larger. The question is whether or not a $2,000 price point is going to be a barrier for people to dip in. Tom? All right. Still ahead on top story. the great American changing the game for sports photography. We'll show you the woman, normally behind the lens,

now paving the way for the next generation of athletes and photographers. Plus, the first flying cop car just unveiled, how soon you could see the flashing red and blue lights in the sky? But first, top story's top moment and the heartwarming surprise for one Texas grandpa. When 24-year-old Caroline got her hands on a pair of F-1 tickets, there was only one person she had in mind to join her, Papa Joe, who's a lifelong fan.

but has never seen a race in person. Well, Papa Joe, I want to know if you wanted to come to F1 with me. Holy crap. Oh, my gosh. That is awesome. This is so exciting. This is the best present I've ever had. Oh, that's great.

What a special moment. They'll be at Austin Circuit of the Americas this weekend. We hope they have a great time. All right, more top story on the way. Stay with us. We're back now with a shocking moment of multi-story building collapsed in Kenya. Rescuers frantically searching for survivors. As authorities fear, people could be trapped beneath the rubble.

Valerie Castro reports. The stunning collapse captured on video. Dust clouds soaring into the air. As an 18-story high-rise under construction crumbles in the middle of the day in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. People down on the street scrambling for safety when the building falls to the ground, first responders looking for survivors. The police commissioner reporting at least one woman was rescued seen in this video. Officials reporting dozens of construction workers who were on the site were all accounted for.

There were 67 workers and one got injured and 66 escaped and hurt. But tonight word others could still be missing. This man in video posted to social media says he was on the sixth floor, that he made it out, but others were not at. able to. Tonight, the cause of collapse still under investigation with the urgent race to find survivors underway. Valerie Castro, NBC News. All right, now to Top Story's news feed. And tonight, the officer who fatally shot a toddler while responding to a shoplifting call Mississippi has resigned. Body cam footage released this week by Dark Horse Media shows Officer Hunter opening fire on a car carrying one-year-old

Cohen Wiley back in June. Foster's lawyer says he resigned for the good of the good the city but says he did not know a child was in the car when he opened fire. And two-time NFL MVP and Hall of Famer Marshall Falk kept revealing he's been diagnosed with Parkinson's. A long time running back for the Rams and the Colts and the current coach of Southern. His football team says he's experienced some hand rigidity and tremors but says he's doing well because the disease was caught early. Falk, who is 15 years old, 52 years old, sorry, is just the latest former NFL star to be diagnosed with the disease. And in Florida police are taking the skies with The first of its kind flying electric cop car.

Look at this. The Florida Polytechnic University Police Department says the vehicle called Astro can carry a single officer with their gear for about 20 minutes. They say it will help them access hard to reach areas and could aid in storm recovery. They expect to get final FAA approval in the coming months. And who will be the next Bond? James Bond, of course. Multiple outlets reporting final screen tests are happening this weekend in London on the short list. British actor, Callum Turner, who you may know from the Fantastic Beast series, and Slow Horses and Dunkirk star Jack Loudam.

The clock is ticking with production of the next Bond film set to begin before the end of this year. And we're going to take a turn now to talk about one woman's battle to get her cancer care covered. Studies show that firefighters are at a higher risk of getting sick because of toxins they're exposed to on the job. But while many forms of cancer are covered under workers' comp plans, some specific to women are not. Dallas Bar has more. Yeah, that's not. Other chores. Suzanne and Sarah LaFalette live by a simple rule one day at a time.

We definitely embrace that approach to life. It helps when raising teenagers, juggling schedules. Oh, I've got to go pick up meds. And fighting cancer. We talked about exactly how I'm supposed to say this. Stage four uterine terminal. There's been a lot of laughter in the years since Suzanne's diet. Terminal cancer in her uterus and just as many tears.

Never knowing exactly when I'm going to be okay and when I'm not. And that's really hard. A huge adjustment for this Austin, Texas firefighter used to counting on her body in her 20 years on the job. And Lieutenant LaFalette faced another battle for the workers' comp benefits the city of Austin initially denied. This job caused my cancer and could be. taking my life and for them to deny helping me out with that. It's absolutely heartbreaking.

Part of the challenge while prostate and testicular cancer are among the 11 cancers, the state of Texas presumes, were caused by a firefighter's job. There are no female reproductive cancers on the list. Just a huge blind spot in determining who's going to be taking care of and who is not. Just 25 states directly reference either breast or any female reproductive system cancers in their laws on firefighters and workers' comp. Fifteen more include all cancers or those tied to a carcinogen. That's according to data from the International Association of Firefighters, which is pushing for change. We have stood up by our own female health and safety committee to spearhead this effort. issues like how bunk again PPE fits a female body.

Even with state laws, male firefighters face frequent denials, too, despite years of research that firefighting exposures cause cancer. But women who make up about 9% of the fire service have been studied less. And losing out on workers' comp means being stuck with hefty, out-of-pocket costs. It really starts to stack up. After months of paperwork, precious time and energy, and fellow firefighter backup, Lieutenant LaFollett won her appeal, securing workers' comp coverage for her treatment while hoping she can help pave the way. For other women to have the same benefits that their male counterparts do. As this public servant looks for purpose in her remaining time with the odds of remission.

Really low. I mean, it does happen. there's magic happens all the time, right? For now, she's finding magic in the moments with family. This is one of my favorites. And taking what comes one day at a time. Alice Barr, NBC News. In a statement, the city of Austin said it was grateful to Lieutenant LaFollett for her years of service to the community, noting that a neutral third party had reviewed her case and that once she won,

the city gave her line of duty illness leave with full pay through May of next year. Okay, we turn now to our series Great Americans, where we speak to those who have achieved so much about their life and this country. Tonight, the photographer capturing America's pastime, bringing the love of baseball to children around the nation. Our great American this week, sports photographer, Gene Fruth. What I love most about being an American is the freedom to dream. Gene Fruth's path started on the diamond at her son Simon's games. My first sports photography professional job was working for five newspapers shooting every sport, youth sports, high school sports, college sports, and then eventually professional sports for them. The sports photographer and documentarian has shot America's game on beaches and farm fields, traveling from Little League games to the pros and World Series showdowns in Boston, the Bronx, Washington, and Wrigley.

Baseball connects generations. The memories that they share with baseball. It's America's past time. Through her lens, Fruth has captured pivotal moments that she says show how impactful sports can be, especially for young people. Kids who play sports, they have better outcomes with their health than all the lessons that a team sport teaches you. It's what's inspired her to start grassroots baseball, a nonprofit with a mission to grow the game in underserved communities. Seven years ago, she set off along America's highway, Route 66, with an art. RV full of gear, hosting clinics with the likes of baseball legends George Brett, Goose Gossage, and Johnny Bench. We had clinics for kids and Hall of Famers taught them how to throw a ball, catch a ball.

It's really just the pure love of the game. Along the way, Fruth capturing this key moment when she photographed her first all-girls baseball game. Now it wasn't, oh, you know, there's the girl. Now they're just all playing. And they're playing at a high level. It was an incredible moment for me. That experience inspiring her most recent project, see her, be her.

Truth profiling seven elite female players from around the world with a simple goal in mind. Giving these women visibility. Visibility leads to more opportunities. A camera and a calling, capturing the stories of a sport that means so much. Baseball has an incredible ability to bring people.

together. I mean, there's so many things in the world that divide us right now. Sports becomes very important to find these places where we can find common ground. When we come back, an exclusive NBC News sit down with the CEO of Goldman Sachs, why he says the economy is strong, even though the majority of Americans feel differently. And the new supercar from Porsche making waves in the car world, how soon it could hit the market and the staggering price tag attached? That's next. News is more than a headline. It informs, it inspires, and it still matters.

To cover it, you have to be in it. And that's what we're going to do. Every night, we take you to the front lines of the story, where it's actually happening. With NBC News Journalists on the ground from all over the world, we cover what you need to know and bring your news feed to life. In primetime and streaming live, it's your news playlist every night. Top Story with Tom Yamas, weeknights at 7 on NBC News Now.

We're back now with our series Business in America. The latest NBC News poll shows more than 70% of Americans think the country is on the wrong track. Yet the CEO of Goldman Sachs, one of the largest investment banks in the world, says the economy is doing well. He's out now exclusively with our Christine Romans. If you look at the economy, the economy is doing well because average Americans are spending. Employment's been pretty good. Wage growth has been pretty good. You know, negativism sells.

Optimism is a harder sell. I think $6.5 for a gallon. It's really tough. It's not me. It's not me being negative on TV. That really is hard. $6.5 for a gallon of diesel is a real headwind. It's in the supply chains and it ultimately passes through.

We have to work through that. And I understand the headwinds and I understand why people are frustrated with that. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon is bullish on the U.S. economy and sees AI driving it to new heights. Whose responsibility is it to help the worker if tech companies and investors are benefiting in the near term from AI? Because there's so much money being able to help the worker. made, but workers feel like they just don't have a piece of that yet. Well, we're all responsible in some way, shape, or form. I truly believe if this is going at a pace where it's creating more disruption than

the labor force, then government, the public sector and the private sector have a responsibility to work together to create policy that smooths that out or provides support during transition periods. Do you agree with the president that government should keep its hands off AI and this should be self-regulated? The companies should regulate themselves? I don't think it's as binary at choice. I think we have to allow innovation, but we also have to take responsibility for that innovation.

And I think you can do both at the same time. But are you confident there are grownups in the room that are going to make sure that AI is helping solve problems and cure cancer and not causing some doomsday scenario? I think that there are lots of grownups in the world. That doesn't mean that everybody's a grown up. Responsible people have the obligation to work to figure this out. And that comes from both the public sector and the private sector. He says he's most excited for what AI will mean for our health and lifespans. How are people going to afford to live longer?

What is the solution? Do people have to work longer? There is, well, I think people are going to work longer. One of the realities of life is if you're healthy, most people work. Of course, people work for an income, but people also work because it gives them purpose. A recent NBC news poll shows just 18% of Americans said they were in a better financial situation today than a year ago. But Solomon remains optimistic.

February, the economy looked like it was going to be really strong. Inflation was coming down, and then you had this Iran war. How damaging has that been to the economic outlook? It's definitely been a headwind, but there's no question. The economy is actually still doing quite well. It's a headwind for sure. You talk about it in gas. You talk about it in transportation costs in supply chains.

That's been a headwind, but the economy's been relatively resilient. Christine Romans, NBC News, New York. And a reminder, you can access more exclusive NBC News extended interviews and more subscriber-only content by scanning the QR code on your screen and subscribing now. Now to an inside look at the future of Porsche, the iconic car brand driving into its next chapter, unveiling a brand new supercar as they lean even further into luxury. Brian Chung had a chance to check it all out. Steve McQueen drove a 9-11S.

Tom Cruise in the 356 speedster in Top Gun, in Bad Boys, a 964 turbo. Even Disney giving Porsche the animated treatment. Porsches have been a classic representation of high-performance sports cars. And this is their vision of the future. Porsche's CEO Dr. Michael Leiders explains. The mission is a combination of a new design language and a super sports car with a mid-engine architecture. The mission asks a forthcoming mid-engine supercar that will be among its highest power and likely most expensive offerings when it does make it to production. What engine will be in here and when can we buy this car?

So the engine is still a secret. The mission S is a concept car, meaning it's not ready for production quite yet. But Porsche says when it is released, it will be slated above their legendary 9-11, which already stands. starts at $135,000. High-end brands like Porsche, leaning deeper into luxury, as car affordability broadly gets more out of reach, with the new average car costing over $50,000 now near an all-time high. But Porsche finds the clientele for a supercar super attractive. These segments are very attractive, good profit pools, very stable.

There's no reason why a Porsche shouldn't be there. That strategy helping to blunt the impact of higher costs from tariffs. The company already raised prices by about 7%. We can't base our plans on hope that the terrorists will go away. Obviously, also, the customers understood that it's a difficult situation for us. But at the end, that is the only thing you can do. Portia's moved to unveil the Mission S in New York signals their focus on the U.S. market. The same spot they photographed their 550 spider in 1953.

Over 70 years later, Portia now looking to lean back into its performance pedigree. You have to love sports cars. and then you will be enthusiastic and appealed by this car. Stick shift. Perhaps. As Porsche accelerates into the next chapter. Brian Chung, NBC News, New York. When we come back, the best things to binge watch and listen to this weekend.

Heated rivalry star Hudson Williams takes a dramatic turn in a new supernatural thriller, plus a controversial reality series recreating the Stanford Prison Experiment. Stay with us. Welcome back. It is Friday, which means it's time for bingeworthy. Our look at the best things to watch and listen to this weekend. And joining us tonight is our good friend, entertainment journalist and CEO of pop viewers, Chris Witherspoon. And if I can ask our great director, thank you for the wide shot.

Can we do what the young people call a fit check here, Chris? It's looking good. Give me the fit check. It's Friday, man, this little red top, these pants, guess what I got them from? You're not going to believe it. I don't know where. TikTok shop. You bought?

I am shopping on TikTok. The algorithm is making me find clothes. It's got like a matador kind of feel in the red stuff. red shirt, the bull going after you, maybe, maybe not. I just show up for Tom Yalmus America. It looks good, man. And it looks good for the fall on Friday. I appreciate it.

Okay, first up, I'm excited about this. It ends, no, actually, it's not that. It's nobody wants this. Yeah. On Netflix. And it's so good. Back for a third season. Back for a third season.

The first two were so popular. Everybody wants this now. Have you, have you seen it? Have you seen it? I've seen it. I've been so. Is it great? It's incredible.

New stakes, new drama, new romance. I don't know what this season's about, but I think I do. Can we watch a clip and give the viewers a little taste? I love you. Welcome to intro to Judaism. I'm Rabbi Eden. I will be leading you through this process.

I heard about you. You know, the hot rabbi blew up his life to be with you. Our story is a little bit more nuanced and much more romantic than that. Kristen Bell, Adam Brody. It's been such a great show, such a great soundtrack. I love everything about it. but sometimes, and we've talked about this before, when a series goes too many seasons,

can it still withhold that great content? Folks are saying, Tom, this might be the last season. People are saying, people are saying red is the color, but besides that, go, what are the streets are talking? There's something big happens at the end of this season that make you believe it might not keep going. But the whole storyline is they're finally moving in together

and their lives are kind of like colliding in a more real way. But you got some guest stars like Sarah Silverman, who plays a rabbi. It's good. Andrew Reynolds and Sadie Sink, Adam Sandler's daughter. Oh, okay. She's killing it right now for Netflix and so many different things.

She's in this, too, as like a psychic, this weird little role she has. She plays a psychic role? That's good. That's kind of odd. That's kind of cool. Okay, we will definitely be streaming that one in the Yama's household.

Next up, Olivia Wilde's indie comedy, the invite. It was a sleeper hit at the box office this summer. Now it's on HBO Max. Here's a clip. There's something I'll be wanting to talk to you about? We also have something we wanted to talk to

to you about. We feel a very strong connection with you guys. That is so nice. Thank you. I'll say thank you, Joe. Thank you. Very flattering. This looks so good.

It reminds me of a movie I came out several years ago called The Overnight, which was kind of a farce. It was really funny. I got to watch that now. Adam Scott's in it. Yeah, it was really good. Jason Schwartzman. But this looks like a little deeper,

and I know I think it's a play on a Spanish film, right? It's based on a 2020 Spanish film called The People Upstairs. This looks good. You can kind of get what this is about. Does it hold? I mean, that's what's about. It's about this couple upstairs. So Olivia Wilde and Seth Brogan are married. She directs this, by the way. They're married. Their marriage is kind of hanging on by a thin thread. And the couple upstairs comes down for dinner at Norton and Ponelley Cruz. And they kind of realize their marriage really isn't that bad.

This couple upstairs they thought was perfect. It's creepy and odd. There's some sexual innuendos for the adults to watch. Okay. Not for the little guys, yeah. But really great. Olivia Wilde to me is just like, she's that girl. Wow, okay. Okay, we'll talk more about that later. Next up, a series about a teen, convinced that his mother is an imposter. How could that happen?

Here's how it happens. You think that your mom has been swapped out with a different woman? Did you do something different of their hair? No. Can't go home. I can't go to school. If that's not your mom, what do you think she is? Full disclosure wasn't into this.

now I'm kind of into it. Again, it's called phony. It's about a kid who goes into a coma, wakes up, thinks the woman who's supposed to be his mom is not his mom. Kind of reminds me a little bit of the movie overboard, if you remember that. Way, way back in the day.

What a throwback, come on, go on. Yeah, but this is not funny. That was Kurt Russell. But you know what? It's not funny, but there are some comedy moments in here, but Connie Britton plays his mom, who, by the way, she's brilliant. And this guy, Sam Nicola,

folks might not recall, he was in White Lotus Season 3. She was in White Lotus Season 1. So it's like a White Lotus matchup which is kind of cool for us to love that show. But it's a really creepy concept, and there's kind of a lot happening right now with like this scary mom trope in Hollywood.

Explain this to me. You were telling me about this. Another mommy was out just now with Jessica Chastain. Yes. This will be maw. Like, there's been a bunch of like kind of takes on creepy moms. It kind of is a nightmare scenario. An evil mom.

An evil mom. I mean, you're stuck at home. And she's there. I know. That sounds kind of crazy. All right. Next up, we got something on AMC Plus. Which I didn't even know it was a thing, but apparently it is.

And there's a show a lot of people are talking about called Yaga. Let's take a look. Catch me up on the case, partner. Henry Park, reported missing. You got speakers. I just have a few questions about a student in yours. What did you guys talk about? Eating bones and the witch name, Baba Yaga.

She lives in a chicken hut and eats kids. I'll leave there very, very naughty. So, Chris, we were just talking. It's something you said. I don't think I've ever heard you say this. Slavic folklore. That's an interesting genre. So tell us more about this. I'm so like I'm a historian right now. But if you watch the show True Detective, this last season of it, season four, that was Arctic folklore, where it was kind of like attached to the murders. This is Slavic folklore and this

idea of Baba Yaga is like this witch. It is a very creepy concept. It's a witch, Baba Yaga. So this college student goes missing. And we think it's a creepy professor, but there's this layer of Slavic folklore. It's horror. It's creepy. It's weird. Not my speed, but AMC folks love this kind of like sci-fi drama. Next up, the new Stanford Prison Experiment. You may know a little bit about this from way back in the day. Netflix is a new reality TV show. It's gotten a lot of criticism.

It's got a lot of coverage. People are writing about it a lot. Let's take a look and then we'll come up with our own opinions, right? Let's look first. In the early 70s, an infamous psychological experiment was conducting, the Stanford Prison Experiment. It had 24 college students as participants. Half of them were assigned as guards.

The other half. Inmates. What would happen if we reran this experiment? Okay, this is interesting. So kind of filled in the blanks here. So basically this experiment happened in Stanford, you know, back 50 years ago. Right. It didn't last beyond like three days.

It was supposed to go for two weeks. But it was shocking what it uncovered and what people did. been discussed in college classes for decades. Now, Netflix is doing this series. They're bringing 30 everyday people, men and women, diverse cast, to come together and be in this prison. They make some people prison guards and some of the prisoners. And the idea is, like, what happens...

How much can you push people? Well, also does power corrupt people. That was the original experiment. And that's what this is about. I think it's a little bit weird. It's kind of like a modern squid game in some ways. No, I know what you're talking about. Is it interesting?

Do you want to binge it? Definitely. And my boy, Tremaine Lee, is in this. He's a correspondent. He's great. So I'm like, if he's into it, I'm going to watch it. All right. Love that. Next up, Chris Evans and Anya Taylor, Joy, are starring in a thriller. It's called Sacrifice. It keeps getting recommended.

I know on my shelf. This is on Netflix. Let's watch a clip. Can Dance heal the world? Is part of it? No. All right, a lot of heavy hitters in this one. Is it worth it, Chris? You know what it's worth it?

Because I think Chris Evan is just that guy. He's like Captain America. This is a really weird concept. He's at a gala. He gets kidnapped. And basically, he has to go to this volcanic area to be sacrificed to prevent a catastrophic event from happening. Very weird sort of concept, but they shot it at an active volcano. That's kind of cool.

That's kind of cool. Maybe we'll give it a shot. Next up, new music, the song everyone's talking about right now, Crown. Let's take a listen. There's much more to the song, because we kind of heard the refrain there a little bit. But if you like this, you're definitely going to like Crown. And that video is a play on the movie Stepbrothers, which is kind of cool. But Anderson, Pat Corday, they're both hip-hop artists.

They're coming together for a 10-track album, a collaboration. And Anderson, he's kind of killing it. He was in a film over this year as an actor. But no, Anderson's great. But I always feel like Anderson's with somebody. He's always going to collapse, right? But I kind of like that. No, you're right.

He realizes the collective is greater than being an independent solo star. Next up, if you like John Mayer, Tom and Jerry, new song let's take a listen John Mayer makes great music He has an incredible guy trying to hit me from afar now if you ever come through

which I doubt you'll do John Mayer makes great music big watch collector he has an incredible watch collection he's been touring with the Grateful Dead super talented guy I like the song very chill very John Mayer I would say When I was in college John Mayer

was all you heard at the bars and I feel like we need more John Meyer first album in five years I was going to say, I felt like it's been a long time since we heard new music from him. He's been busy. In a minute. Okay. All good.

All right. Chris, always a pleasure to have you on here. I appreciate you. Appreciate your style. You can borrow it. I'm jealous. That's why I'm going to borrow it. We thank you for watching Top Story every night, especially tonight.

Stay right there. More news on the way.