Top Story with Tom Llamas - Friday, October 27, 2023

Episode Date: October 28, 2023

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, breaking news, the Israeli military blasting Gaza, new explosions lighting up the night sky, what could be the next phase of the war with Hamas. Ground war expands. The Israeli military ramping up its ground operation. Right now, air strikes one after another, raining down on Gaza, targeting Hamas and the sprawling tunnels under Gaza City. Communications and lights are out. Residents cut off, blanketed in darkness. intense bombing campaign of the war. Without a trace, the all-out search for the suspected mass shooter in Maine by land, air, and sea. Helicopters scanning huge swaths of the area. Police out in force, searching homes. Now dive teams turning to the river, unsure if he's dead or alive. Authorities now facing questions about the warning the accused gunman's family gave. Right now, the shelter-in-place order just lifted, but communities,

still unable to hold vigils for the dead. Gone too soon. All 18 victims now identified. Families remembering the loved ones they lost. Joshua Seal, a husband and father of four, and beloved sign language interpreter, killed at the bar. His wife comforting her children, telling them how much they meant to their dad. Santos facing expulsion and battled New York Congressman George Santos remaining defiant, pleading not guilty to new fraud charges, denying allegations. He stole donor's identities. His career on Capitol Hill now in jeopardy. The new resolution filed by his own party to kick him out of Congress. Plus, disaster zone looting. The tourist town desperate after a monster hurricane slammed into Mexico.

Crowds piling into stores, pulling whatever they can from shelves. One told by a Navy officer to steal food and water. The race to get critical. supplies to those who need it. And crash heist, armed thieves ramming a car off the road, then ransacking it on a major L.A. freeway, another driver stopping into help, then catching all of it on camera. Top story starts right now. Good evening. I'm Gabe Gutierrez in for Tom Yamas. We'll have the latest on the manhunt for the suspected mass shooter in Maine in just a few minutes. But we want to get to that breaking news and a possible new phase of the Israel-Hamas war.

A constant stream of airstrikes and explosions in Gaza tonight. Hamas' military wing says it's now fighting Israeli forces on the ground. Earlier today, a senior advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu telling MSNBC, quote, Tonight, we are starting payback. Just after two in the morning on Saturday in Israel, which marks three weeks since the brutal Hamas attack that left more than a thousand people dead. Israel has vowed to wipe Hamas off the map. But a constant bombardment of Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip over the last few weeks has killed more than 7,000 people, including thousands of children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. And before nightfall, a near total blackout hitting Gaza.

Richard Engle has laid to Taos. Israel rained fire on Gaza tonight in the most intense assault so far of its three-week war against Hamas, striking with jets, tanks, and artillery. The attacks shut down communications in Gaza, the Internet and phones cut. The Palestinian Red Crescent says it has lost contact with its staff running ambulances at emergency services. No way to reach our reporting teams. Palestinians were already trapped in Gaza and under attack. Now, they're cut off from the world and each other. Tonight, an Israeli military spokesman says ground forces are expanding their activity.

And this, from a top aide to Israel's prime minister. Tonight we are starting payback. We are beefing up the pressure on Hamas. We're hitting them hard. We'll be hitting them harder. Israel says it's targeting Hamas tunnels, claiming they also run under Gaza's largest hospital, describing it as a command center. Earlier, Israel stormed into Gaza in at least two brief incursions,

with tanks and troops pushing in from the east. And another naval assault from the Mediterranean Sea. Hamas has still been able to launch rockets at Israel, but only a few. One, slipping through the Iron Dome defense system and striking in Tel Aviv. Hamas issued a threat that if Prime Minister Netanyahu decides to enter Gaza, quote, by land tonight, the resistance is ready, and soldiers will be swallowed up by the land of Gaza. Civilians in Gaza are living in a nightmare,

and the White House tonight is urging a pause in the Gaza operation to help push for the release of hostages held by Hamas and to get in more humanitarian aid. And all you can see of Gaza now is that black strip. The power is almost completely gone, and there are still hostages held inside. We know that Israel and Hamas had been talking through mediators, and an Israeli official said that this intensified campaign

is designed in part to pressure Hamas to free the hostages, but the negotiators themselves say, what's needed is a ceasefire. Richard Engel, thank you. And Alison Barber has also been on the ground in Israel for nearly three weeks covering all of this for us, and she's now live at the Israel-Ghasa border tonight. Alison, what are you seeing and hearing on the ground tonight? Gabe, we have been in this section of the border just north of Gaza almost for the entire

time that we have been here over two weeks, and what we have heard tonight is by far the heaviest and most sustained bombardment into Gaza to date. We have heard just the constant sound of booms in the area behind us. Gaza is that dark area just behind me for about three hours now. At different points, you'll see the sky light up, a red, orangish color from inside of Gaza. As you heard in Richards reporting there, according to the Israeli military, a spokesperson, it was about 8.15 local time. It's now 2 a.m. when they announced that.

that they were expanding their ground operations into Gaza at about 8.30 local time. That's when we started hearing reports from telecommunication providers inside of Gaza, saying they had entirely lost communications, lost all-coms. Palestinians Red Crescent has said that this is particularly challenging for them because they say it also means the primary emergency number 101 is not working and that ambulances are having difficulty responding to assist injured. people, injured individuals. Remember, for weeks now, the IDF has been telling civilians in the northern part of Gaza to evacuate south past the river, but a question that has been posed in

recent days by people associated with the UN who focus on working inside of Gaza is what choice really do people have. There are still airstrikes that have been going on in the south. There have been bombings along the main highway that leads to the south. They say people are being told to leave their homes. They're not sure it is safe to go south to drive that way. They're not sure it is safe once they get there. There is no option to leave the Gaza Strip entirely, and they aren't sure when they will be able to come back home.

They say civilians have been left with an impossible choice inside of Gaza. And tonight, according to the Hamas's military wing, they say they are engaging with Israeli forces on the ground near the city of Bethanoun. We're just a few miles from that here. and you could probably hear a little overhead, some sort of military jet in the air. We have constantly heard that tonight, military jets, military helicopters,

and drones in addition to those massive bombardments inside of Gaza. Gabe. Allison Barber, thank you to you and your crew, and please stay safe out there. Now, for more on this, I want to bring in retired Army Colonel Steve Warren. He's a former Pentagon spokesman

for campaigns in the fight against ISIS. Colonel, thank you so much for joining us here on top story. And Colonel, so Israel announced they're expanding their ground operation in Gaza, which is something that they've been preparing for weeks. There's a question, though, does it look like this might be the full-scale ground invasion that we're seeing tonight? Right. No, that's exactly the right question to ask. And it's too soon to tell, is the early answer. We know that there is going to be a much larger ground invasion or incursion. But what We don't know yet and what the Israelis won't say, appropriately they won't say it, is what that will look like. Will it look like what we remember when we think invasion of Iraq or invasion against Iraq and Kuwait in the 90s or in, you know, 2003? Or will it look like what we've already started to see, which is quicker raids, smaller incursions in that slowly build and sort of eat up ground? So we don't know yet.

that yet. But, Colonel, if you talk about cutting off communication, it does seem like there is an escalation that Israelis carefully chose their words, saying that they're going to be expanding their ground operations and trying to get more intelligence over the last couple of days. What indication, when would you start to think that, yes, this is a full-scale ground invasion? I mean, we could learn over the next several hours if that's the case, but what would indicate to you that that is underway? The next several hours are going to be very telling.

And the fact that two things happen, number one, the large scale cutoff of power on Internet, number two, the increased pace of bombing, and then number three, the already sort of raids that we've already seen. So these three things indicate to me that there is going to be a much larger incursion. What we don't know yet is how they're seeking to do it. What the indicators will be, simply will be, are we going to see large, numbers and columns of tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, moving across the line into Gaza. That's what we'll know that this invasion is on. What we might end up seeing is smaller movements

of troops slowly eating away at Gaza. So it's still, like I said, it remains to be seen what the actual military strategy that the Israelis choose to implement here. And, Colonel, the Israeli military says that it's been trying to take out the Hamas tunnels underneath Gaza, but those tunnels seem to be a lot more fortified than there were years ago. Talk to us about that challenge that we're seeing. Extraordinary challenge. It truly is an extraordinary challenge. These are buried tunnels, and they're hardened with concrete and most likely steel-reinforced concrete. So destroying these tunnels from the air is going to be a very difficult test. And in fact, I don't believe that

they will be able to destroy all of these tunnels from the air. Unfortunately, and I mean that this is very unfortunate. The Israeli troops will most likely have to enter those tunnels, clear them, and then destroy them from within. And, Colonel, Israel has called up thousands of reservists who, you know, hasn't, they haven't fought in years. How much, if this ground incursion does happen, how much of a challenge would that be? Gabe, don't sell reservists short, it would be my advice to every one of your listeners. You know, in the United States of America, the American Reserve Forces, bring very specific and unique skills to the table, for example, law enforcement, firefighting, et cetera.

I believe it's going to be the same in the Israeli forces. All of the Israeli forces have served some active time. They are now in reserves, and I think they will quickly ramp up, quickly accommodate themselves to the rigors of the battlefield and be prepared. Remember, the Israeli army is without any question, the Israeli military is without any question the most trained, the most well-equipped, and frankly the most experienced military in the entire Middle East. Colonel Steve Warren, thank you so much for joining us here on Top Story. We do want to move on now to the other major headline we're following back here at home, the manhunt for an alleged mass murderer expanding after a gunman went on the deadliest shooting rampage of the year. Police conducting a widespread search, now deploying dive teams, near where the suspect's car was abandoned, looking above and below the surface, unsure whether he's still on the run or dead. The accused gunman, 40-year-old Army reservist Robert Card, authorities now being asked if the warnings his family gave about his mental health problems were missed. The shelter and place order dialed back in most places, but streets, downtowns, and schools are empty as families stay indoors. Communities once teeming with life, now ghost towns, unable to gather for vigils.

Police now identifying all 18 victims, the youngest, a 14-year-old bowler, the oldest, a 76-year-old youth coach. One of the victims, 56-year-old Joe Walker, a manager at the bar, the scene of the second attack, shot twice while charging the gunman with a butcher knife, dying while fighting to save others. His family in mourning tonight, like 17 other. in southern Maine. Their stories connected by unimaginable loss while the killer is still on the loose. NBC Sam Brock reports. Police tonight have fanned out across the area of Wednesday night's mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, the search for suspect Robert Carr taking place from the air, on the ground, and in the water. We don't have him located at this point. We don't have him in custody.

And authorities acknowledge they don't even know if Card is alive or dead. Divers scouring the Andrescoggan River for evidence or a body. I'm not seer saying that the suspect, we know the suspect is in the water and this is what we're doing. What I'm telling you is you're going to see a lot of activity here. Police also searching homes and dense woods throughout the region worried their suspect could be hiding out. The longtime Army reservist is the sole suspect in Wednesday night shootings that left 18 people dead and more than a dozen others injured. The first at a bowling alley where officials say police were on scene within 90 seconds of receiving a 911 call. The second at a bar and grill where they say police responded within

five minutes. Diana Getchell watched hell unfold at the bowling alley. Maybe 30, 35 seconds over so before the first shot and the second shot. And after the second shot, it was a third shot. And as we're running down, the fourth and fifth. Gatchel and her son, Chad, narrowly escaping the massacre with their lives, as she says Chad ushered people out. It was just terrifying. Terrifying. I've Never been so scared of my life. I was afraid to look back. I was afraid he was going to be behind us, to shoot on us.

It was just so awful. And my son was, I swear, he saved my life. Authorities say they've received more than 530 tips and interviewed 70 witnesses the first night, but there was no answer to questions about Card's family statement. to NBC News that they raised concerns about his mental health to both police and military. Which agencies received those warnings? And did you think at any point that it might warrant a yellow flag person? Well, I'm heavily involved in the yellow flag conversation overall. But the

reality for today is I'm not going to talk specifically about who knew what and when. There will be a time. Do you confirm warnings or issues? I cannot. I cannot confirm that point. City Council Linda Scott has lived here all her life. I had people reach out to me last night that wanted to do a vigil last night. We can't. Our priority right now is the safety of our community. It's also a community coping with a still deepening investigation, where we've now learned authorities are looking at the possibility that the suspect didn't randomly target Schmenge's bar, but believed a female acquaintance may have been there, according to law enforcement sources. Police also saying

card cell phone was found at his house and may have been left there during the shooting. And that a note he left behind listed his financial records. Angela Additon lives right down the street from one of the shootings. She's confident card will be captured and is grateful tonight to be alive. At any point does it go through your head that could have been me if this were a different night? Oh, absolutely, that could have been anybody that was people that our kids could have been there. And Sam Brock joins us now from Maine. Sam, that's shelter and place order was just lifted. Why? Are they still searching those areas? So that's a great question. The search continues in all four of those towns right now,

Gabe, that were under shelter in place. They still are, actually, until tomorrow morning. And I asked the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety here in Maine, so why did you lift them? And he said, they have to make this calculation pluses and minuses. The families need to get their kids to school. Certainly people have to get to doctor's appointments, go to jobs, and be able to earn money. And so they have this sort of risk calculation and decided that the elevated risk had come down enough in terms of finding card in this area. They wanted people to be able to resume some semblance of their regular life. Gabe. Sam Brock, live for us. in Maine. Another long night there. And for more on this ongoing manhunt, I want to bring in Jim

Kavanaugh. He's an NBC News terrorism analyst and former ATF special agent in charge. Jim, this is a sprawling search. Law enforcement dealing not only with these dense woods, but now a river too. So walk me through what obstacles they're facing as we head into the third night of this manhunt. Yeah, well, Gabe, they don't have any technology to track him. He ditched cell phone. You know, they certainly have the wooded area to deal with on foot. That's always a challenge, the water. They'll search that water. You know, I doubt they'll find them in there. Sam's package there was just chock full of information. So much information in there that was in those few minutes. Look, that witness he interviewed, it tells you how he's doing his shooting.

He's aiming at the people. He's taking careful aim. He has a scope on the rifle. And you heard the witness say, you know, I heard a shot and it was felt like 30 seconds later until there was another shot and more time and another shot. This guy is not going in there spraying bullets. He's got that rifle up. He's got the scope and he's killing the people. That's why the carnage is so high. That's why he's got 18 dead because he's taking careful aim. And that witness tells you how he's doing it. We knew what he did. But now that we kind of get the method, and I'm sure they have that on the video at the bowling alley. The second The second thing gave out a note about the note, and Sam reported on the note, and there was

reporting that he might have been after his ex-wife. This is critical information. When a killer goes out like this and he goes to two locations, he's on a mission. He has a reason, a motive, a reason for what he's doing. And if that reason was to kill his ex-wife, which could very well be, I mean, I was the deputy commander in a D.C. sniper. and Mohammed's motive was to kill his ex-wife. That's why he came to Rockville, Maryland,

and killed all 11 people over there. So if that was his mission to kill his ex-wife, I would expect that he is not deceased, that he's still alive, because he hasn't completed his mission, and killers feel that way. And with this guy, that's even more exacerbated, because he's a military man.

And a military person is very mission-focused. And when they have a mission, they're going to complete it. So I think, you know, he could be dead, certainly, but I think, you know, it's a 50-50, but I would say it's a 51, maybe he really is still alive because he hadn't completed his mission. And if he had done that, if he had killed his ex-wife, if that is the mission, which were getting some reporting on that, then maybe he would have killed himself after that. But so he could have planned well, and he could be bunkered down somewhere. Hasn't completed the mission.

An ominous thought there, Jim. So his family has stated that he had a mental. breakdown and was tormented by voices in his head. How made that factor into the situation here? Well, he should have been stopped. I mean, when he made statements that he was going to shoot up the National Guard Armory, I mean, this is America's failure. We should have a federal law says you threaten a mass shooting. You get charged. It can be a misdemeanor. But that misdemeanor then prohibits you from possessing guns or buying guns or doing anything with guns. And we would have had time to do that. But we failed as a society because we won't pass that basic

law. You know, the FBI study says 77% of mass killers leaked their intent prior. Well, we can target those 77% of killers and try to stop a good percentage of them if we just passed the law to do it. So that's the biggest failure in my view is the guy was known to say he wanted to do a mass killing, and we didn't stop him. So, you know, this is what happens. Jim, Kavanaugh, thank you. And tonight, like we mentioned, officials in Maine are confirming the names of the 18 victims. NBC's Emily Aketa spoke with a family who lost a husband and father. 18 lives gone too soon. Their family and friends now facing the unfathomable. Elizabeth Seal lost her husband, Josh. First and foremost, he was amazing dad to his four kids. We spoke to the family

through a friend and ASL interpreter. What do you want people to know about your husband? I think those people who already know my husband, they were lucky. He was amazing. For those who didn't know him, they lost out. He was such a fierce advocate for the deaf community and for kids. The 36-year-old was a prominent ASL interpreter working for the state throughout the pandemic. Josh was playing in a cornhole tournament at Shemenji's bar when the gumman burst in Wednesday night. When the shooting started, my husband got down and was army crawling, trying to hide under one of the cornhole boards just for some sort of protection.

Three other members of the deaf community, Steve Azela, Brian McFarlane and Billy Brackett were also killed at the bar while playing cornhole. He was, and it's so hard to say was, it's the kindness person. Billy was Kelly Madello's uncle. He taught her sign language so she could communicate. with her daughter who was non-verbal. He gave me a voice for my daughter. He bridged that connection for her and I. He gave me something I could never repay him back for. So many families mourning their loved ones while sheltering in place.

The Seals had to join a virtual vigil to remember Josh. Jason and Safine are the oldest of the four kids he leaves behind. He loved hanging out with me, my sister, watching movies. He loved spending time with us as a family. My dad was always super funny, and he loved to say, you're just like your mom. At one point during our interview, Elizabeth turning to address her two older kids. Just want to make sure you know that he loved the four of you tremendously. Every morning, he loved his time with you guys, getting you to school,

and making sure you have a great day telling you that he loves you, fist bumps, And, you know, he'd always wake you up, Safene, and say, good morning, sunshine. He absolutely adored his time with you. Time cut short by the worst mass shooting in Maine's history. And, you know, these interviews are understandably, incredibly difficult for the families of the victims. But they say they don't want their loved ones to become just part of some statistic. They want the nation to really know the innocent lives lost. Gabe?

So important to remember this last. lost. Emily Akeda and Maine. Emily, thank you. And still ahead tonight. The 14-hour standoff in Miami, a woman pulled off a roof after allegedly shooting at her boyfriend and barricading herself inside that home. Now, we're learning. She's a former Miami police lieutenant. We'll have all the details. Plus, the devastation in Mexico after Hurricane Otis. The new concern is tourists and residents turned desperate for basic supplies. And a consumer alert. More than 700,000 Toyota Highlanders recalled what owners of those vehicles need to know. Stay with us.

We're back now, and we head to Mexico, where the death and destruction left behind by Hurricane Otis is still coming into focus. A Cat 5 storm, leaving at least 27 people dead and billions of dollars in damage. Many in Storm Ravage, Acapulco, struggling to find basic. necessities. Now resorting to looting. One tourist who asked soldiers for help told to go steal from a store instead. Valard Castro has the details. Tonight, devastation in paradise. Acapulco, Mexico wants a world-famous thriving tourist destination, now in total ruin. The coastal city, home to nearly one million people, taking a near direct hit from Hurricane Otis, a monster category 45 storm.

The Mexican government says Otis has killed at least 27 people while four remain missing. Despite the 13,000 troops deployed to the scene, some people now looting grocery stores, desperate for food, water, and other essentials, store shelves left completely bare. This tourist in Mexico City says she tried asking military soldiers for help. The soldiers just stared at me like I was crazy, she says. They told us to go steal from a store. The storm exploding in size and strength, growing from a tropical storm to a cat-five hurricane

in just 12 hours, leaving little time to prepare or evacuate. And explode all the department. Vitro, and there was when I was in shock, literally. 28-year-old Jaime Villanueva and his girlfriend capturing this video in the early overnight hours. Emerging to find their world torn apart. the destruction leaving beachfront resorts unrecognizable from the air, the soccer complex inundated with floodwaters. Landslides destroying Acapulco's main highway, leaving family scrambling

over the muddy mess. The airport so badly battered it had to shut down. Mexican president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, vowing government aid is also on the way, while military leaders maintain the death toll remains the same, despite 24 hours passing since the last official count. But all indicates that that, even being lamentable, the loss of any person, not were tantos. But those who still haven't heard from loved ones, fear the number will be much higher.

And Valerie, Kastro joins us now. Valerie, I understand officials have now been able to start evacuating residents from Acapulco. What more can he tell us there? Well, Gabe, even though the airport was badly damaged, government officials say they were able to get operations at the control tower back up and running. A so-called air bridge has now been established between Acapulco and Mexico City to fly supplies in and get stranded people out. But communications are still patchy. Many people still

waiting to hear from family members that they just have not been able to reach. Power has been restored to about 50 percent. Gabe. Valerie Castro, thank you. And back here at home to Texas were state legislators that passed controversial new bills targeting undocumented migrants. The new laws would give more power to local authorities, but critics warn it could lead to racial profiling of U.S. citizens. Guadvinas has the details. It hurts us to our fucking core, and y'all don't understand that. You don't live in our skin. Tonight, Democratic lawmakers in Texas outraged as the state's Republican legislators pushed

through a controversial border security agenda with, the set of new bills tackling illegal immigration. My community is being attacked. Houston Democrat Representative Armando Wally voicing his frustration over House Bill 4, which makes it a state crime to enter the U.S. illegally and allows local police in Texas to arrest undocumented individuals

and take them to a port of entry forcing them into Mexico. Y'all don't understand the that y'all do hurts our community. The bill advancing to the Republican Majority Senate now one step closer to becoming a law. Some critics arguing the move puts U.S. citizens at risk of unintended arrests based on racial profiling. It's assuming that individuals are from Mexico. That's absolutely ignorant because we know we have immigrants from all over the world. But Republicans say it's necessary action as the number of migrants crossing the southern border hits new records.

This year, the Department of Homeland Security, reporting there's already been, nearly two and a half million encounters at the U.S.-Mexico land border. It's the federal government's responsibility to secure our southern border, and they've refused to do that. So it's left for us to deal with, and that's what we're going to do. Republican state legislators also passing a bill that expands state human smuggling laws by imposing a 10-year mandatory sentence in most cases. Additionally, another bill would allocate $1.5 billion to build new sections of a border wall. Into law, these bills would be the latest political drama between Texas and President Biden.

On Tuesday, the Lone Star State sued the Biden administration trying to stop federal agents from cutting razor wire barriers at the border, which a state trooper said in a leaked email, was injuring immigrants attempting to cross the Rio Grande. This, as Governor Abbott continues busing thousands of migrants to cities like Chicago and New York. A New York City spokesperson confirming to NBC News, a free one-way plane ticket out of the city is now being offered to migrants hoping to free up space in an overwhelmed shelter system. It's not if people will be sleeping on the streets. It's when. And Guad Venegas joins us now from the Telemundo Studios in Miami. Guad, going back to Texas, what's Governor Abbott saying about those controversial bills? Well, Gabe, Governor Abbott called for a special session. and that's the session in which the legislators approve of that bill. So, of course, he also shared a statement saying they intended the state to pass laws

that would mirror federal immigration laws because he says the Biden administration isn't doing their job. So this is part of the Republican agenda, part of Greg Abbott's agenda. So, of course, once this gets through the Senate in both the House, it is expected that he will sign the law. But then the question is, Gabe, will this then stand up in court if the Biden administration decides to sue the state of Texas because, as we know, immigration laws are supposed to be enforced by the federal government

and not by the states. Gabe? A long legal battle ahead. Guadvanegas, thank you. And when we come back, a wild robbery on an L.A. highway, video showing mass men ransacking a car right on the shoulder of the road. What eyewitnesses saw them do just before video was taken. Stay with us. We're back now with Top Stories News Feed, and we begin with the dramatic ending to an hours-long standoff in Miami. New video shows the moment SWAT officers pulled retired Miami-Dade police lieutenant Evelyn Fernandez from the roof of a home.

Authorities say she barricaded herself inside for nearly 14 hours after she allegedly shot at her boyfriend. He was not hit and no one was hurt. Fernandez was taken into custody. A shocking scene playing out on camera on a Los Angeles highway. Video shared on the Citizen app shows a group of at least four masked men running towards a smoking car that was involved in a crash. The driver out of the car and with his hands up, while the group then ransacks the car.

Eyewitnesses say the group crashed into the car before the robbery. They are then seen getting in a white getaway car and taking off. Police are now looking for the suspects. An update tonight on the $250 million civil trial against former President Trump and his company, a judge ordering his daughter Ivanka Trump to testify. New York's Attorney General's office also revealing when the Trump's will take the stand. Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka will all testify next week. Former President Trump is set to take the stand on Monday, November 6th. And Toyota is recalling more than 700 thousand SUVs over reports of loose front bumpers. The recall includes Highlander models from

2020 through 2023, including hybrid vehicles. The company warns owners that even small impacts can cause the bumper cover and hardware to detach from the vehicle, and it may lead to a crash. Toyota says affected owners will be notified by December, but the information can also be found on the company's website. Now to the ongoing search for a missing University of Rochester. professor. His family and friends pleading for help as local authorities investigating say he may be in danger. Steve Romo has the latest. Tonight, a search is underway for a University of Rochester professor who police say has been missing for six days and may be in danger. Forty-year-old High Key Ratakari, a visiting associate professor of economics and management, was scheduled to

teach on campus last weekend. He flew in on Friday. It was scheduled to. He was scheduled to teach Saturday morning at UOVR, as he has done in the past, went to a place to stay in the 1,000 block of Exchange Street, and didn't show up to teach on Saturday. Rantikari lives in the Boston area and is also a visiting assistant professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Police say they have to withhold some details on this, and they're hoping the public can provide assistance. There's some other circumstances I can't necessarily get into, but at the same time, there's additional factors that we're investigating and I'm working at the multi-agency offer.

Our major crimes unit is involved that we believe he may be in danger, and that's why we're soliciting Publico. His concerned friends say this is unlike him. This is completely unexpected for us. He's a fantastic researcher, very gifted teacher also, a love teacher, very highly appreciated. And he's somebody who you just completely can rely on. He just never turns up late. His family sharing a statement saying,

in part that Rantakari is, quote, a dedicated academic, a uniquely gifted man and beloved by his colleagues, friends, and family. Many are praying for his safe return. The university is also asking for the public support and sharing that they are hopeful that he's found safe very soon. Stephen Romo, NBC News. And coming up mounting problems for Congressman George Santos, the New York Republican in court on new fraud charges as members of his own party work to expel him from Congress. What he's saying tonight about growing calls for him to resign. That's next. Back now with a growing pressure on embattled Congressman George Santos, the New York Republican pleading not guilty to new fraud charges as members of his own party work to expel him from Congress.

NBC's Julie Sirkin has this report from Capitol Hill. Blowing a kiss and waving to screaming protesters. A smiling, George's, Santos departing a New York courtroom, where today he pled not guilty to 10 federal charges for allegedly stealing campaign donors identities and running up thousands of dollars on their credit cards. With last month's superseding indictment, the first term congressman has now been hit with 23 total counts. The government accusing him of embezzling cash and colluding with the former aid to forge campaign donations. Santos, denying all of it.

But the New York Republican is facing even more trouble outside of court, less than 24 hours earlier in Washington. House Resolution 773. His GOP colleagues filed a resolution to expel him from Congress, citing those criminal charges and the slew of lies Santos told voters to get elected. And whereas as a result of the U.S. actions, George Santos is not fit to serve his constituents as a United States representative. The resolution is privileged, which means the full House is required to vote on it in the coming

dates. And the lawmakers behind it are confident it could pass. I think we're getting two-thirds. There seems to be a good sentiment out there that enough is enough. For his part, Santos says he's not resigning in a post on social media Thursday. Writing quote, I'm entitled to due process and not a predetermined outcome as some are seeking. The new Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, agrees. We're going to expel people from Congress just because they're charged with a crime, then, you know, are accused. That's a problem. And the judge overseeing Santos's case has set a trial start date for next September.

That's just weeks before the November election, one that Santos says he still plans to participate in. Gabe? Julie, Sarkin, on the Hill. Julie, thank you. we come back, a look at what you can binge watch and listen to this weekend. The new movie starring Emily Blunt and Chris Evans, plus all the TV and movies to get you ready for Halloween. And of course, Taylor Swift's highly anticipated re-record of 1989. Finally out. And we're back now with Bingeworthy, our look at the best things to watch and listen to this

weekend. And we're joined now by Darren Karp, friend of Top Story. She's the pop culture expert and host of Shaken and Disturbed, a true crime podcast. Darren, it's so good to see you again. It's been a while. Good to see you. I know. Not in person this time. I miss you, Gabe. Not in person this time. I see you have some popcorn there all to yourself. I'm sorry I'm not there with you. It smells delicious. I wish you were here sharing a nice bowl of popcorn with me, Gabe. I'm I'm just upset about it. Well, Darren, we have a lot to get started on. A lot to binge watch this Halloween weekend, you know, heading into the weekend.

Now, let's start with a new film on Netflix. It's called Pain Hustlers. It stars Emily Blunt and Chris Evans. It's about a pharmaceutical startup and some questionable sales methods. Let's take a look. It's commissions that get you into paradise. Get a doctor to prescribe your drug. You don't we bill on a full dose script?

What? 40 grand. A year? A month. On some level, I knew it was bull-sha. It's a long-odds lottery ticket, buried under a thousand rejections. And you've got to have the grit and the balls to reach down and scratch it. There's nothing so inspiring as sheer desperation.

You know, Darren, I'm a big Emily Blunt fan. This looks pretty good. No, it is actually really good. I mean, I think there's a little bit of art imitating life, imitating art here with it. Emily Blunt plays Liza. She's kind of a high school dropout, a single mother, to take care of her family. And so I think, in a way, even though this is a fictional story, it is based on True Lace, how easy it is to kind of get caught in these schemes that just

seems so easy cash flow. So that's why I really like it, because it is kind of based in a lot of reality that's happening right now. So definitely check it out. It's on Netflix. All right, definitely have to take a look. Next, we have a historical romance series on Showtime about the story of two men during McCarthyism. It's called Fellow Travelers. Let's watch a clip. But there's another risk to national security. What is your marital status? Single. But there is a special lady in the picture.

Look, it's stunning. Have you ever had inappropriate physical contact with another man? No. Such a damn good liar. It's a love story, right there? It is a love story. It's a little volatile because it does take place in kind of a tough time. This is historical fiction by the book from 2007.

book by the same name. It stars Matt Boomer, as you can see, and it's kind of about these two political operatives who fall in love in probably one of the worst times in American history is to do that during McCarthyism. Their love kind of takes them through Vietnam and then the AIDS epidemic. So a la Forrest Gump, where we get a little bit of the historical things that happen in this country. This plays along with it as well. It's an eight-part series on Showtime. I really like it. I think there's something to relate to for everyone, but it's a great, great show. All right. I have to check that one out, too. So now we're going to give you some suggestions on what to watch this

hollow weekend. On Hulu, Ryan Murphy's American Horror Stories, is back with four different horror stories. Here's a clip. Hello, Goose. I want to tell you a story about facing your fears. I can be a lesson.

What did you put inside of me? Smize for the camera, sweetie. All right. That's a little spooky. What do you make of it? Stream it or skip it? Definitely stream it. This is a perfect time for it. It's Huluene. This is the four-part kind of spin-off anthology series. It's episodic. Each episode is completely different with a different story. I love a Lisa Rina cameo there in one of them. But they're absolutely terrifying. The trailer alone is terrifying. Ryan Murphy always has some kind of clever tying at the end. And this series is No different. I highly recommend you checking it out. Not sure if you should watch it with the kids because it is a little terrifying, but adults have at it. Keep that in mind. Next, we have a horror movie about what happens when a popular pizzeria shuts down. This one's called Five Nights at Freddy's on the mothership, Peacock. Let's take a look. In the 80s, kids went missing.

The police searched Freddy's top to bottom. Hello? They never found them. It's why the place shut down. There are ghost children possessing giant robots. Thanks for the heads up. So this is quite the franchise, right? A video game?

You've got animatronic robots. What do you think? We've got possessed children. There's something there for everyone this Halloween. I honestly think this is actually so good and so scary. I like it better as a movie than a video game because I feel like there's a lack of control with the movie. I grew up going to a lot of these animatronic shows as a kid, and they were terrifying then,

so to think about them kind of becoming demonic is even worse, but I love this movie. It's really good. All right, demonic animatronic robots. And possessed children, like I said. Something for everyone. And possessed children. A lot there. All right.

Well, last on our watch list is on Shudder. It's a streaming service, new to Top Story, featuring horror and supernatural movies. They have a new movie called When Evil Lurks. Here's a look. There's a bitcho in the people. You're going to my family. No, I've been with my own my own my own my own my own eyes, I'm going to be a an infirno.

No! What do you think, Darren? Yes, okay. I know we just talked five nights at Freddy's, but this is actually terrifying. I've heard it's one of the best horror movies of the year. year. So it does come highly rated. It's kind of about this small, rural town, already a little kind of terrifying when they realize that a demon is going to be born among them. And in order to try to kill it, they end up spreading it. And it's just kind of too late to escape. This is

one of the best trailers I've seen in a while. Definitely horrifying and terrifying. So it sounds like you are a horror movie fan. You know, I don't want to be. You know, I don't want this to be my serial killer trait. And yet here I am hosting a true crime podcast saying I eat this stuff up and it's true. Well, Darren, you're definitely not a serial in my book. And moving out to music, though, I'm really excited about this. Dolly Parton is out with a new cover of Miley Cyrus's song Wrecking Ball. Here's some of that.

Don't you ever say, I just walked away, I will always love you. I gave it like a racquetball I never hit so hard in love All I wanted was to break you was All you ever did was You know Darren Dolly Pardon can do no wrong in my book No wrong

I mean she could come out with like just like a brick And I'd buy it You know everything that she comes out with She's malifluous. She's perfect. I love her. And I really love Miley Cyrus's 2013 wrecking ball. So to have Dolly's just vocal chords on this track is insane. This is her seventh single of her upcoming album Rockstar, which comes out November 17th. This is Dolly's first rock album. And let's not forget that Miley Cyrus is the goddaughter of Dolly Parton. So she's kind of keeping it in the family with this. And I love it. It's just great and fun.

Who doesn't love this song and Dolly? It is awesome. That's awesome. That's awesome. Speaking of awesome, Or at least, look, I've heard about this next thing where I listen to all day. There are a few people that get as much of a reaction as Taylor Swift. I was speaking with one of our NBC producers actually at the White House today. Molly Roker was obsessed with this release. This is Taylor Swift's re-release of 1989. The original was released almost a decade ago, and here's one of its hits, Blank Space.

Let's listen. You can tell me when it's over If I was worth a pain Go on my Starbucks lovers They'll tell you I'm insane Because you know I love the players And you love the game Because we're young and redless

We'll take this way too far The classic But there's some unreleased songs on this release, right? Yes, there's five new tracks that she just released And she's been, you know, Easter egging them For fans for weeks now And obviously, people guess some of the Easter eggs were new lyrics to these songs. But yes, five released tracks.

This is the fourth re-recorded album that Taylor Swift has done. 1989 has been her fifth album. But what really is she actually just dropped this news this morning. That Bad Blood, which is also on this album, is being re-recorded with Kendrick Lamar as well. And that's going to be on this. So that's just massive and huge. And we can't go a week without Taylor Swift's breaking charts. So good for her.

Darren, I've learned a lot about you this week. You're a horror movie fan. Are you a Swifty? I'm not a Swifty. I have nothing wrong with her, though, but I'm not a Swifty. I'm more of a Dolly partier than a Swifty person. We need a Dolly name. You know, yeah, but you know what?

The one last question I have for you before we have to go, are you dressing up for Halloween? I don't think I am. I'm flying back. I'm too cool now in L.A. That's right. You're too cool for dressing up in L.A. It's beneath me. No, I will watch and admire.

I just can't get my stuff together soon enough. All right. Well, Darren Karp, a friend of Top Story. It's really good to see you again. I see you, too. Thanks very much for helping us out this week. Thank you. All right.

And thank you so much for watching Top Story. I'm Gabe Gutierrez, in for Tom Yamas. Stay right there. More News Now is on the way.