Top Story with Tom Llamas - Friday, September 19, 2025

Episode Date: September 20, 2025

Tonight's Top Story has the latest breaking news, political headlines, news from overseas and the best NBC News reporting from across the country and around the world. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Breaking news as we come on the air tonight. An ABC station in Sacramento struck by gunfire. Officers on the scene, at least three bullet holes seem fired into the building. The search now for the attacker, though it's unclear if the shooting is connected to this week's events. This as ABC faces a growing firestorm over their decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel following pressure by the FCC chairman. Trump allied Ted Cruz breaking with the president accusing the FCC of, acting like a mobster. Also tonight, the battle over vaccines.

A CDC panel deciding not to recommend this year's COVID vaccine for all adults, instead saying it should be a personal decision. Will Americans still have coverage to get the jab? We'll explain. On the chopping block, the federal prosecutor assigned to investigate New York Attorney General Latisha James saying he doesn't have enough evidence for a conviction, President Trump saying tonight he wants him out. The Houthi strike inside Israel, this drone hitting a hotel and exploding, the scene erupting in flames.

The bombshell testimony about former President Joe Biden, a former top aide telling House investigators, Biden's memory had deteriorated in office. His decision-making slowed, and the new comments from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro taking aim at Kamala Harris. The stunning images in Hawaii, Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, erupting overnight, spewing lava into the sky. And John Leguzamo goes home, the legendary actor returning to the stage that jump started his career. What he told Artam Jammis about his fight for more Latino representation in Hollywood. And the dangerous rise in online radicalization.

Our Stephanie Goss takes us inside the disturbing growth of assassination culture. Top story starts right now. And good evening. I'm Ellison Barber in for Tom Yamis. We begin tonight with that breaking news out of California. An ABC station in Sacramento hit by gunfire. New video from outside the building appearing to show multiple gunshots in a window. Officials saying tonight no one was hurt and they're unsure who carried out the attack or why. But police warning any perpetrators tonight, they will not stop looking for them.

It comes as ABC faces a nationwide reckoning over its decision this week to pull Jimmy Kimmel from its airwaves following that FCC threat. It's still unclear if the events are connected. Protests erupting for a second day outside Disney's headquarters in Burbank as the company remains silent about why they suspended their signature late-night host. Tonight, as some Republicans celebrate the move, top Republican Senator Ted Cruz, breaking with President Trump blasting the FCC's intervention in the case accusing its chairman of acting like a gangster.

NBC's Liz Croix leads us off once again tonight from Burbank. Tonight, gunshots fired at an ABC-affiliated television station in Sacramento, bullet holes seen in the window of the lobby. An employee of the Tegna-owned station telling NBC News someone pulled up, fired into the lobby, and drove off. We're not going to stop looking for you. This is unacceptable behavior. It's not going to be tolerated in Sacramento. At least one person was in the lobby at the time, according to the station employee. Police say nobody was injured. While the motive is unknown, it comes amid backlash to the decision by Disney. ABC's parent company to suspend Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show following the comments he made about Charlie Kirk's alleged assassin. Tonight, as ABC remained silent about the future of Kimmel, criticism growing over the company's decision and how the head of the FCC appeared to pressure ABC.

In a rare break from the Trump administration, Republican Senator Ted Cruz, joining those criticizing FCC chairman, Brendan Carr. It's fine to say what Jimmy Kimmel said was deplorable. It was disgrace. It was disgrace. and he should be off air, but we shouldn't be threatening government power to force him off air. That's a real mistake. President Trump tonight responding. I think Brendan Carr is a great American patriot, so I disagree with tech peers of that. And also, again, suggesting revoking licenses from broadcasters that air unfavorable coverage of him. They'll take a great story, and they'll make it bad.

See, I think that's really illegal personally. Meanwhile, outside Disney, under attack. Protests growing from New York to L.A. For a second day in a row now, supporters of Jimmy Kimmel are gathering outside Disney's headquarters, calling for him and we put back on the air. Many telling us they're now boycotting the company. I'm canceling Hulu. I'm not going to watch Disney, and I'm going to avoid their advertisers like the plague. Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner also now weighing in, writing on X, if not for university presidents, law firm managing partners and corporate chief executives standing up against bullies,

who then will step up for the First Amendment. Jimmy, just let me say, I stand with you and your staff 100%. With Kimmel still off the air, fellow late-night hosts now speaking up for him. That is blatant censorship. In America, we have a little something called the First Amendment. And let me tell you how it works. I don't know what's going on. And no one does.

But I do know Jimmy Kimmel. And he's a decent, funny, and loving guy, and I hope he comes back. And Liz Kreutz joins us now. Liz, I want to go back to that shooting in Sacramento. Do we know anything more about what happened? Well, Ellison, police did give an update from Sacramento, and they said that right now, again, this is a very preliminary investigation. They do not know if this was a random or targeted attack.

They have not yet identified a suspect. They did say there were at least three bullet holes in the window. of the station lobby. And we do know that yesterday there were protesters that gathered outside the station in response to ABC's decision to pull Kimmel off the air. Ellison. Liz Kreutz in Burbank. Thank you. For more on the growing Kimmel suspension backlash and what it means for the future of the media industry. Let's bring in senior TV editor for Variety, Brian Steinberg. Brian, you were on top story when this first broke earlier this week. What is the latest you were hearing about the status of Jimmy Kimmel and his late night show? The show remains off the air. We understand there have been talked about ways to come back on the air with an appropriate way of talking to viewers. Disney is clearly, you know, wants to get this show fully distributed when affiliates don't want to run it or say they won't run it. It is of cause for concern. They can't get the ratings. They need to make the show profitable, make it show work economically. But there are discussions going on. But there are on, you know, Disney's under immense amount of strain right now. There are people on all sides yelling about it. You have a new piece for variety out this morning that is titled

How to Bring a Late Night host Back from the Brink. Question mark there. Apologies can help. And you write in part, quote, Kimmel may not feel a need to apologize. His audience knows to expect such stuff from him on a regular basis. And surely ABC executives had time after his Monday taping to confer on the suitability of his monologue for that evening.

As other people who have walked in similar shoes can attest, however, apologizing can help a situation. more people remember the host for the shows they created than the glitches that may have occurred along the way. Do you think that it is really that simple? Do you think in this situation, Jimmy Kimmel, could apologize and everyone would just move on? Well, no, because critics like to criticize, and it will not solve all problems. But it might be, I don't know if apologies are the way to go, but they're also about unifying the audience. I said this. This is why I feel it.

We have a right to disagree in this country. there are other things he could do, but there has be some sort of addressing of the remarks and the firestorm it is caused in order to move past the other hosts like David Letterman, Samantha B, Bill and Marr have gone through firestorms of their own, all tied to remarks they've made on air and have had to kind of, you know, get a grip on that and get some way of talking to the audience about it in a fashion that everyone can understand. In so many ways this goes beyond late night and beyond comedy shows, right? President Trump has been going as far as to say, that regulators should consider revoking the licenses of broadcast networks that air negative

coverage. What could all of this mean for the future of network programming and really free speech in this country? It's very troubling. I think a lot of people who are free speech advocates, which I do believe include many Americans, most Americans, find this stuff detestable. It is not the way America runs. America has long taken prime in the fact that people can speak their minds without inciting riots and anger and violence, obviously, and not slandering. But all Americans have the right to be heard and say things as how they feel. These late night shows run on personality, authentic personalities, saying what they think about current events.

Johnny Carson did it and his progeny do it today. I want to ask you while we have you, too, Brian, about this breaking news tonight of shots fired at an ABC station in Sacramento. When you were talking to your contacts in the media world, Are media organizations at large on edge right now? Do you get that sense? Yes, very much so, because they're under a kind of scrutiny. They're not used to being under.

Yes, people complain about media coverage all the time. People fix errors. People complain about bias and that sort of thing. Those are discussions everyone can have, and there are also legal remedies to pursue if one feels one has been wrong. But violence and, in fact, you know, that people who work at these shows feel like they're being tracked

or being hung out as targets for violent behavior. is very troubling and people are very upset about it. All right. Senior TV editor for Variety, Brian Steinberg, thank you so much. We appreciate it. Thank you. Tonight, potentially more confusion over this year's COVID shot following new recommendations from the CDC's panel on vaccines. NBC's Ann Thompson reports on the two-day meeting that leaves more questions than answers.

Potentially more confusion tonight over this season's COVID shot following new recommendations from the CDC's vaccine advisory panel. Instead of recommending it for all adults, the panel voting to make it an individual decision, preferably with your doctor. In a contentious vote needing the chair to break a tie, we have six votes for no. We have six votes for yes. The panel opted not to recommend that states require a prescription for the shot. Both government providers and private insurers say they will continue to cover the COVID vaccines. Overall, better news than infectious disease, Dr. Buddy Creech, expected. What do you think that will do to the uptake? We know that when we have softer recommendations for vaccines, uptake goes down.

Patients tend to think they're not as important as a strong recommendation that everyone should get it. This panel was handpicked by longtime vaccine skeptic health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., causing some states to break from the panel's recommendations, creating a hodgepodge of guidelines across the country. What it does do is make it very confusing for anybody in the general public to try and understand whether or not they should or shouldn't get a COVID vaccine. In a surprising move, the panel table proposed changes to the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns. Some members clearly frustrated over a lack of science and data about potential side effects, saying more discussion is still needed.

I mean, and so many people have been confused about all of this worried and wondering if I wanted it. Is insurance going to cover it? What's next? Oh, Alison, it's just a mess. The next step here is the acting CDC director, a man named Jim O'Neill, has to sign off on these recommendations. And then the question is, once that happens, then what happens? Well, we spoke to one major pharmacy chain tonight. CVS says once the approval comes, it will once again make it available to customers. to sign up online, and you can walk into any of their pharmacies and clinics and get the

shots. But it's really, really confusing to people. Yeah, to say the least, NBC's Ann Thompson. Thank you for helping us understand. Now to another breaking news story that we are following tonight out of Washington. A federal probe into New York Attorney General Letitia James has hit a standstill after prosecutors say they do not have enough evidence to get a conviction. That's according to two senior federal law enforcement officials. But now President Trump signaling he wants to get rid of the U.S. attorney responsible for that case.

Yeah, I want him out. Yeah, when I learned that he was blue-slipped through by two Democrat senators in Virginia, two, in my opinion, two bad guys, you know, they are, Warner and Kane. So when I learned that they voted for him, I said, I don't really want him. To help us understand it all, I want to bring in NBC's Yamish Alcindor. So, Amish, take us back, if you can, and remind us exactly what this probe into Attorney General Letitia James even is or was? Well, the Trump administration and President Trump have been alleging that New York Attorney

General Letitia James committed mortgage fraud and that there were discrepancies and paperwork and properties that she owned in Brooklyn and Virginia. As you said, though, so far federal officials have not charged her, have not indicted her, because at this point, there isn't enough evidence is what we've been hearing from a number of different reports. That being said, this is sort of a long time. coming and that this investigation has been going on. Of course, Letitia James is someone who the president has pointedly criticized over and over again. She also, of course, went after his

businesses and saying that he was committing fraud at a certain point. So this is very personal for the president. Also, the administration has been very much making this a priority. Allison. So, Yamish, now that we have heard President Trump say or imply that he may end up firing the U.S. attorney that was handling this case, what do we know there? It's very interesting. There are some reports that this U.S. attorney may or may not be resigning. We have not confirmed that at NBC News. There are also reports that he may be getting pushed out. There are some people that are also saying that this U.S. attorney, who is, by the way, a career prosecutor who is seen as having the support of a number of Republicans and Democrats, that he is someone that has a lot of supporters in the building and the Justice Department so that there's a chance possibly that maybe his job will be saved. Overall, he's just not being seen as aggressive enough when it comes to pursuing these mortgage allegation, these mortgage fraud allegations. So right now we're waiting to see, I was looking down on my phone when you came to me

because I just emailed the White House to try to get confirmation on this, also to try to get reaction even to this reporting that he may be resigning. I have not heard back yet, so the NBC is still trying to confirm a lot of this reporting. But this is in some ways a big escalation if this all ends up happening, if he ends up leaving this office, because it is seen as sort of the Trump administration possibly going after an enemy of the president in trying to make this personal one. In fact, of course, it should be about whether or not she broke the law,

Ellison. Well, we will keep watching for any development. Yamish Alcindor, excellent reporting. Thank you. We appreciate it. President Trump tonight touting a deal to keep TikTok in the United States is on the way. After discussing arrangements for U.S. ownership with Chinese President Xi Jinping, here's NBC's Chief Justice

and National Affairs correspondent, Kelly O'Donnell, with what we're learning. Two of President Trump's keen interests, dealmaking and social media came together late today as he described his two-hour phone call with China's President Xi. We have a very good relationship, but the TikTok deal is well in its way. That long-anticipated deal is intended to avert a looming ban of the popular TikTok app. Congress passed the restriction over national security concerns linked to the app's Chinese ownership.

The president invoked assassinated conservative supporter. Charlie Kirk for encouraging him to use the app. We got massive numbers of youth vote, and by the way, helped very much by Charlie Kirk. So Charlie was very much in favor of TikTok. Future American owners still unclear. But a different deal to fund the government is stalled on Capitol Hill. The president lashed out at Senate Democrats who opposed a short-term GOP spending bill, facing a deadline to avoid a government shutdown next week.

We'll continue to talk to the Democrats, but I think you could very well end up with a closed country for a period of time. And Kelly O'Donnell joins us now from the White House. Kelly, President Trump today also signing a new executive order that could dramatically change H-1B visas, right? What do we know there? Well, the president has taken a couple of steps, the deal with immigration that is not about the board.

but about those who are brought into the country with special permission to work here. With the H-1B visas, they're now adding a $100,000 fee to the companies that are recruiting these skilled foreign workers to come and work inside the United States. They're describing that as a way to try to stem any kind of encroachment on American workers. There's a separate program. The president also signed in a memo form today that would allow for those seeking residency in the U.S. what they called a Trump gold card paying a $1 million fee in order to get fast-tracked in the process of legal entrance into the U.S. So some significant changes in how people come to the U.S. on various types of visas. Ellison? NBC's Kelly O'Donnell. Thank you. Tonight, parts of Southern California cleaning up after flash floods unleashed a torrent of mudslides.

And right now, police are still searching for a two-year-old swept away in the floodwaters. Take a look at this. Massive mudslides wiping out parts of San Bernardino, California. Cars there completely covered, leaving drivers trapped for hours. Also tonight, in Hawaii, Kilauea coming alive. The volcano erupting, spewing lava high into the night sky. Scientists say it is one of the world's most active volcanoes erupting regularly since last year. For more on all of this, I want to bring an NBC meteorologist Bill Karens. Bill, talk to us about those California mudslides. Do people there still fail? face rain and flood threats. Not as serious as last night, Allison. And that was scary for a while.

There are numerous locations on mudslides like that and these burn scar areas. So we get the fires, they take the vegetation off the hillsides. And then you're just left with dirt and mud and rock. And when you get these heavy rainfall events, you know, there's no plants or shrubbery to absorb it. So as we go through this evening, we do have numerous areas of thunderstorms out there, some big ones heading through areas in New Mexico. We don't have too much in the way of flash flood warnings. Only a few here. One due south of Phoenix, a couple here right on the border of Arizona, New Mexico. Ruizoso, who last night we were talking about had a flash flood warning. Now you're under a flash flood watch. So so far so good today. But as we go throughout the rest of the evening, Elisand, after the sunsets will be all clear that we'll be done with our flood threat here in the West.

And Bill, what do we know about the volcanic eruption and activity in Hawaii? Yeah, what a show this was. I mean, last night, this was like 700 to 800-foot fountains. But it's over. I just took this image. So this right here was the vent that was spewing all the, you know, the magma. And then once it comes out of the ground, it's lava. So we still have the steam coming up there and the smoke and the, you know, the toxic gases. These are all the lava flows that have now cooled throughout the area there. But it is over with.

But Ellison, ever since December, this has been happening every 30th, 33rd event. So once a week, we've been having a six to 12-hour period like this. What made last night so special was that it was spewing especially hot. This is right when it started. seven to 800-foot, you know, fountains, they call them, of lava into the air. So this will probably happen again in a week from now, just may not be as big as the one we just saw. Wow. I mean, that is unbelievable. It's on my bucket list. I want to go and see, but they only last six to 12 hours.

It's amazing. I think we even have some live pictures that we can show what it is like right now. They're that big switch. You're right. It's over. This event is over. Wow. All right. NBC's Bill Carrens. Thank you. We appreciate it. And I guess we'll talk about that one next week. Bill, thank you. Still ahead tonight on top story, Texas A&M University President stepping down after a video went viral over gender ideology in the classroom. The dispute over a course leaving that campus divided. Plus, Grammy-winning songwriter Brett James killed in a plane crash. The tributes pouring in from some of the biggest stars in the world he helped take to number one.

And tense clashes at an ice facility outside of Chicago. What happened between federal agents and protesters will explain. And we're back now with turmoil at Texas A&M. The university's president stepping down today over his handling of a controversy involving a video of a student objecting to a class that recognized more than two genders. The lecturer and two other administrators then fired after politicians, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott, criticized the university. NBC's Priscilla Thompson has the latest developments.

A heartfelt send-off for Texas A&M University. President Mark Welsh, seen here leaving campus just hours after resigning, amid turmoil over this video. I'm not entirely sure this is legal to be teaching because according to our president, there's only two genders. It appears to show a student confronting a professor over a children's literature lesson about gender identity during a reading of a novel featuring a 12-year-old navigating coming out as non-binary.

It's not legal, and I don't want to promote. something that is against our president's laws as well as against my religious beliefs if you want me to read the paragraph in that order itself the video went viral after Texas GOP representative Brian Harrison shared it on social media after the post Welsh announced he had ordered the firing of the professor and two administrators in a statement to NBC news the attorney for the ousted professor writes her course content was entirely concerned consistent with the catalog and course description, adding she was fired in violation

of her constitutional rights. Harrison hailing Welsh's resignation a victory. And I hope every president, every regent, every chancellor, and every other public university in Texas takes note, you clean house now, you stop using tax money for this liberal indoctrination or you could be next. On campus today, students reacting. President Welsh was really in touch with what being an Aggie-wise and really in touch with the school.

So I think it's really disappointing. I think this was a school issue. It should say it that way. Welsh saying he vowed to serve as well as he could until it was time for someone else to take over and that it's become clear. Now is that time. And Priscilla Thompson joins us now from College Station, Texas. Priscilla, what more do we know about the university's next steps? Yeah, Alison, the chancellor says that in the coming days, the Board of Regents will appoint an interim president and that then they will begin a nationwide search for new president. Elizabeth.

Alison. Priscilla Thompson in College Station, Texas. Thank you for that. Just ahead, former President Biden's ex-chief of staff getting candid. What he testified about his former boss struggling to remember names and dates during his time in office. Plus, the daring rescue in Maine, a moose trapped several feet below inside an abandoned well, the all-out effort to free the massive animal. But first, top story's top moment.

And one TV show watch party that got the attention of a lot of the all-out effort to free the massive animal. that got the attention of local police officers responded to screams at one California home only to learn about the unexpected reason for their outburst. Take a look. Hey, it's police department. You just heard about it? Yeah, we were here. Yeah, we were here. It's a great for checking. It was nice for checking.

We don't spoil up for those. Yeah, don't know. The summarize are pretty. They're watching the summer I turned pretty. The officer made sure not to spoil the ending. We do have to tell you. Stay with us. Back with more news in just a moment.

We're back now with new testimony tonight from one of former President Biden's top aides telling Congress he believes Biden's cognitive ability declined during his late. years in office. NBC's Chief Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles has the details. In testimony behind closed doors, former White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zines telling House investigators that President Biden changed while in office. And according to a source familiar with his testimony, Zines believed that after this disastrous debate performance, if we finally beat Medicare. It made sense for him to abandon his re-election bed. That source says Zeinz testified Biden's decision making had slowed, needing four meetings before making decisions, requiring additional rest, often at the direction of First Lady Jill Biden, and that

Biden's memory was getting worse, having Trumbull remembering names and dates. He thought that, you know, obviously the president wasn't in the same mental shape that he was at the beginning of his term. During his term, the White House insisted to the public that President Biden had no cognitive issues. And a source familiar with Zine's testimony said that he had full confidence Biden was up to the job. A spokesperson for Biden declined to comment. Republicans keep trying to focus on the past and they keep focusing on President Biden and his health while they're ripping away health care from 17 million Americans. Though in her new book, former vice president Harris slams the handling of Biden's decision to run for re-election, writing quote, in retrospect,

I think it was recklessness. But Harris facing criticism from Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro. have to answer to how she was in the room and yet never said anything publicly. And Harris also writes that right before her 2024 debate, President Biden called her and accused her of bad-mouthing him to donors. She said the call rattled her. Allison? Ryan Nobles on the Hill. Thank you. Turning now to Top Story's News Feed, authorities saying they found the remains of what is believed to be the Washington State father suspected of murdering his three daughters.

Authorities have been searching for Travis Decker for over three months. not returned the children to his ex-y following a planned visit and the three girls were found dead in early June. The county sheriff's office saying DNA analysis will be done on the newly found remains. A travel meltdown at Dallas area airports leaving air travelers frustrated. The FAA saying it's slowing flights at Dallas Love Field and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport over a telecommunications issue. The agency says the issue is with equipment operated by a local telephone company. American Airlines says they will offer travel waivers to customers who have been impacted.

And in a suburb outside of Chicago, tear gas was deployed during protest at a federal immigration facility. Video showing the tense clashes between demonstrators and federal agents, the Department of Homeland Security accused protesters of assaulting law enforcement and slashing car tires while blocking the entrance to the facility.

At least three people were arrested. And an unusual rescue caught on camera in Maine. A moose was anything but on the loose. Take a look. You can see the animal's antlers sticking out after it fell into an abandoned well. A 15-year-old was working on a shed when he heard rustling and made this wild discovery. Video shows the moments the moose was hoisted out using an excavator. After about five hours, that moose was freed, thankfully with no serious injuries.

Now to a new safety push from the FAA. Airlines are now being asked to reevaluate emergency evacuation procedures after a string of incidents where passengers were slow to get out because they grabbed their carry-on-up. items first. NBC's Tom Costello has the latest. July 26th, panicked passengers slid down the evacuation shoots as smoke and flames poured from the brakes on their plane in Denver. Somebody screamed fire, burn. Yet many passengers came down the slides with their carry-on bags.

March 13th in Denver. Passengers escaped onto the wings after an emergency landing and an engine fire. April 21st in Orlando. We're calling the fire truck right now to do that. Thank you very much. The right side engine on a fully loaded Delta Airlines flight began spewing flames, moments after pushing back from the gate. Please take your time going down the stairs. The emergency evacuation slowed since passengers could only leave from the left side of the plane. And then on top of that, you still had passengers who were trying to take their luggage with them.

While everyone on board survived, slower evacuations have troubled the FAA. Under FAA rules, the entire plane must be evacuated, everybody off in 90 seconds, even with half the exits blocked. Grabbing your bag could cost someone their life. Now the FAA is issuing a safety alert, instructing airlines to reevaluate emergency evacuation procedures, flight crew training, announcements and commands to passengers. We can't have somebody at the front of the line grabbing their overhead bags and keeping people in the back of the airplane from being able to safely evacuate. everything, drop it. Come on. In Toronto, Delta flight attendants received high praise for last February's crash landing and evacuation. One challenge, the 90-second rule is 60 years old. Today, planes usually fly full, often with passengers who are elderly or have mobility issues. The only thing you need to do

is save your life and the life of everyone else on board. Listen to the flight attendant instructions and leave your bags behind. Five years ago, an inspector general report found that the FAA had not conducted sufficient new research into passenger behaviors during an emergency evacuation. The FAA tells NBC News it is now conducting new research. Back to you. Tom Costello, thank you. Tributes are pouring in tonight for Grammy award-winning songwriter Brett James, who has killed in a plane crash on Thursday. James is behind many country chart-topping hits collaborating with artists like Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, and even Taylor Swift. Here's NBC's Joe Friar. His lyrics powered music's biggest voices.

Jesus take the wheel. Carrie Underwood's Grammy-winning hit Jesus Take the Wheel, just one of many songs written by Brett James. The beloved musician died Thursday. Have reported that aircraft crash. His single-engine plane crashed near an airport near Franklin, North Carolina, after taking off from Nashville. Two others were also killed. The cause of the crash now under investigation. crash now under investigation.

Tonight, Underwood is paying tribute, writing, Brett's passing is leaving a hole in all of us that I fear won't ever go away. It will forever be a reminder that this life is but a moment. Dirk's Bentley, who worked with James on I Hold On, says our friendship and that song change my life. James also teamed with the likes of Kenny Chesney, Bon Jovi, Clarkson, even Taylor Swift back in 2006, not to mention our own Kathy Lee Gifford. That's all you need right there, ladies and gentlemen.

Initially, James went to medical school, dropping out twice to pursue music. This year he shared his secrets to success with PBS's The Songwriters. You have to kind of, you have to learn to kind of go with the flow of a little bit. A creative force who helped so many artists reach new heights. Joe Fryer, NBC News. And when we come back, we take an inside look at the dangerous rise of online radicalization. Why the expert we spoke to says Americans of Old Stripes should be alarmed. And the dramatic whale rescue in Australia, how emergency crews managed to free this humpback in the outback.

Stay with us. with a deep dive into the troubling increase in support for political violence in the United States. Analysis by one organization finding that a, quote, assassination culture appears to be taking root in some segments of the American public, particularly when it comes to online chat rooms. Here's NBC's Stephanie Gosk. Soon after Luigi Mangione was accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the meme started, celebrating the cold-blooded murder, treating the alleged killer like a hero. He's become a symbol for this really enormous and radical and maybe unprecedented change

in American culture. Anthropologist Max Horder works with the Network Contagion Research Institute, studying online threats. We're no longer so ashamed of this violence, but actually there's a large percentage of people that actually applaud it. In a survey of about 1,200 people conducted with Rutgers University, Horder found growing support for political violence among the younger, highly online. and ideologically left-aligned.

According to their results, 56% of people who identify as left-of-center believe there could be some justification for killing President Donald Trump. Hauntingly, a few months before he was assassinated, Charlie Kirk posted about the survey results on X. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean that it's the left only which is supporting

increased forms of political violence. It seems to be more that they're sort of catching up, that we're seeing a broader change in America, where both sides are now radicalized. Online networks across the political spectrum, fueling the growth of what he calls an assassination culture. Do you think in those spaces

people are becoming desensitized to the enormity of murder as a crime? Absolutely, I do. Authorities say Kirk's accused killer, Tyler Robinson, spent a lot of time on Discord. So what is Discord? It's an online platform based around group chats. The categories are split into something called

servers. They're either public or invite only. Once in, you can click on a group and join the chat. This is about travel tips in Paris, but people can be on here chatting about anything. Discord says it found no evidence that Robinson planned this incident or promoted violence on Discord. One of the best ways to disrupt the cycle hoarder says strong messages offline. If authority figures can say this is not acceptable, we're much more likely to calm this down and to wind this down. you're saying is the message from the top matters. Absolutely. It matters more than anything else. Hoarders organization says they are watching closely to see what the reaction is to Charlie

Kirk's assassination, to see that if it is similar to the way people reacted to alleged killer Luigi Mangione, and right now they say that in the same places, they are seeing the same kind of embrace for that assassination, something that they say all Americans should be alarmed by. Stephen Goss, thank you. Now the top story's global watch, starting with surveillance video capturing a drone strike inside Israel. The IDF releasing this video of the moment the drone hits a hotel in Eilat. You can see flames erupt around the building.

Officials say no one was injured. Yemen's Houthi group claimed responsibility for the strike. It comes as Israel advances further into the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fleeing as the IDF escalates ground operations in Gaza City. And a British couple detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan for nearly eight months is finally released. Video showing the couple's emotional reunion with their family in Qatar. The couple ran an education program in Afghanistan for about two decades and chose to stay after the Taliban took control back in 2021. The Taliban says the pair broke Afghan laws but did not

reveal the reason they were detained. They say they planned to return to the United Kingdom. And drone video out of Australia capturing a remarkable rescue of a humpback whale. Take a look at this. Rescuers battling choppy waves to reach the whale as it struggled to break free from a rope attached to an orange buoy. The team successfully removed the fishing gear after several attempts, allowing that humpback to swim freely. And back here at home, our very own Tom Yamis sat down with award-winning actor John Laguzamo, who's taking on a new role as a playwright in the upcoming show The Other Americans, the actor, on how he's reimagining a genre through a Latino lens.

Nearly one year ago to the date, John Leguizamo faced his peers in entertainment and started with a joke. I used to watch Star Trek and think, wow, in the future, they ain't going to be no Latin people. But he had a larger point. And for years, I didn't complain about the limited roles my people were offered. The spicy sex pot, the Latin lover, the maid, the gangbanger. Turns out not complaining doesn't change anything. With more than 100 screen credits. Trying to kill you.

The man who made a name for himself as a solo artist with a Mambo mouth. I'm experienced, man. I'm a man. Go loco. Is digging deep to create a new type of American drama. Everybody gets to fail up but us. The system is rigged against us. That's why.

He hopes his new play at New York's public theater, called The Other Americans, inspires the movement. I'm hoping to write that great American tragedy. That's what I aspire to. Because you think it hasn't been told? No, it hasn't been told. The Latin family hasn't been told, hasn't been dissected, hasn't been revealed to us in that form.

No, it hasn't. Well, here's where Latin life happens, you know, the kitchen, the living room, the dining room, and where the conversations, the deep conversations happen in life, you know, where you make your big decisions as a family. In the play, Leguizamo portrays a Colombian-American laundromat owner. Doing this for my family, okay? This is for Nicky's sake. This is not about me.

I got to leave that boy with something. Otherwise, how's you going to manage in this world without me? Who did you pull from to build this character? I pulled from a lot. It's an amalgam of a lot of different people. I think it's a lot of my dad. My dad's a very ambitious man. And, you know, he sacrificed everything to try to make it.

So this is personal. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. It feels very personal. Every night feels personal. And for Leguizamo, his own industry's track record is also personal. Things are better than when I was a kid, way better. We have more Latino leads in movies and in series. Not enough Latino stories being told.

I mean, I want, we're almost 20% of the population. I want 20% of the executives, 20% of the stories, 20% of the principal leads. Then I'll be, then I'll be quiet. Then you'll be, shut up. Then you'll shut me up. Shut me up, please. Shut me up, somebody. Until then, Leguizamo has a lot left to say.

What is your hope for not only young Latinos, but young people in general that are going out and watching this? Oh, when they come and see this play, I hope that they see their families in it. I hope they see their family's dreams. I hope they see their struggles. I hope they feel like Latin life is important. Our thanks to Tom Yannis.

And still ahead tonight, a look at what you can binge watch and listen to this weekend. Reese Witherspoon is back with another season of The Morning Show, a movie about the creator behind a dating app Bumble and new music from Cardi B and Miley Cyrus. You won't want to miss it. And we're back now with binge-worthy. Our look at the best things to watch and listen to this weekend.

Joining us is Ralphie Aversa, host and producer of USA Today's Entertain This, and of course a good friend of Top Story. So first one that we have, a lot of people are pretty pumped. Apple TV, The Morning Show, Apple TV Plus, I should say. It is back for season five. Let's take a look. This is a reset. A different company.

A different culture. We promised real change to push the stories we cared about. People need to feel that you be. in is going to have it first and they're going to have it right a nice idea but it's not sexy so i have seen approximately 30 seconds of this show so i'm like i don't even know is it season four is it season five is it going forever what's the deal i like it i mean maybe they would like it to go forever but it's season four it was just renewed for season five though as well so if you're a fan of the morning show you're a fan of that news as well as far as season four is concerned though

years after season three ended. We're talking spring of 24. If you're wondering, no, they do not cover the presidential election. Curious choice for this show. But obviously, you got Reese and Jennifer back in the mix and John Hamm returning too. Oh, okay, good. I know people are obsessed with it. I think I'm just like, I work in that world. I don't know if I want a TV show about it. It's a little too close to all. Yeah, I think that's why. I'm like, I'm sure it's extraordinary, but I just can't bring myself to do it. I'm like, I'm not at work. Why? Why would Okay. So many people are excited about that, though. This next one I am looking forward to. It seems interesting. It's a new crime mini-series called Black Rabbit, right? This one, it's on Netflix. It stars Jude Law. Take a look. What do you think happens? You don't pay back alone for three years.

It's such a big number for you, big deals. Here's the Black Rabbit. Everything's falling apart. My family. The restaurant. I'm holding on by the skin of my teeth. I didn't budget for you. Jason Bateman also. I mean, I'm intrigued, right? This is about a New York City restaurant owner that was forced into this criminal underworld. Yeah, the whole like New York City club scene is in this. Whenever I hear Black Rabbit, I think of Dead Rabbit and Five Eye in the financial district. I don't know if you've ever been. I've been maybe a few times. Anyways, I haven't seen Jason Bateman or Jude Law there. However, they are both in this. So Jude plays the owner of the restaurant club. And then his brother played by Jason, a little bit of a

delinquent gets involved with some things he shouldn't get involved with. And then that plays out over this limited series that also features Troy Cotser, the Oscar winning actor from Coda. Oh, wow. That's awesome. He's really good. Also, Joe and Jason Bateman, like, I actually believe that as brothers. Like, I never thought about it, but I'm like, they do kind of look alike. In this series, at least they do. I wouldn't have thought it until I saw them in this trailer. And I can't wait to binge this this weekend. Yeah, it looks amazing. Okay, so the next one, a lot of people, if you were a podcast fan like I was, a fan of cereal, this one, you're definitely I'm going to want to keep an eye out for it's on HBO Max, the docu-series, the case against Adnan

Syed. It is six years after the show first debuted, giving an update on what happened after he was released from prison. Take a look. Since the series aired on HBO, it has a lot's happened. There is a lot of information that calls it to question the integrity of this conviction. When I was still a teenager, I was like, well, hopefully it just to get straightened out. Now I'm getting close to 40.

Out of the way. How the way! We're going to seek justice. We're going to look into whether or not he's innocent. I'm going to do everything and do what's right. I mean, I feel like this is, this case and this story has been a weirdly big part of my adult life as just a podcast fan. Well, I mean, think about it. This murder of Heyman Lee happened back in 1999.

And then the HBO series originally was in 2019. You mentioned the podcast as well. So we got four episodes when the series first came out. And now we get a fifth to update us on everything that's happened since then from the conviction being overturned. Adnan being released, under confinement, reopen investigation. A lot to unpack in episode five, which is out now on HBO Max. And if that's not your vibe, we have a totally different vibe next. If you are on dating apps, you might want to see this one.

It is actually a movie on Hulu. It's called Swiped. It is about the founder of the dating app. Bumble. Look. I built Tinder with them. If they can just delete me, it's like they've done nothing wrong. You say anything? They can sue.

Do not take the bait. What is this big secret project you're on developing? We need to change the rules of online dating. Fight for what you've built. My name's Whitney Wolf, and I'm starting a revolution. What do you make of it? Whitney Wolf heard, yeah, first of all, again, this is something that I feel like has been a little bit a part of my adult life dating apps. I was on Tinder, I was on Bumble.

I met my wife through a mutual friend, but that's neither here nor there. It would have been so much better if you were like, and I met my wife on Bumble. Could you have it, right? Yeah, it would have really brought it full circle for us, but that's okay. So Whitney Wolf heard this is about her, and it's very interesting. She co-founded Tinder and based on a true story and then left and started Bumble as well, which is still traded publicly on NASDAQ. So so much drama involved in this film starring Lily James streaming this weekend on Hulu.

All right, this one does look, this looks really good. And Lily James is great. Yes. Lily James is great. Okay, the next one, the last one on our watch. I'm not even going to tell you who is in this. the host of it. I'll just let you be surprised with the clip. It's called The Reluctant Traveller on Apple TV Plus. Now that I'm considered something of a traveler, I've challenged myself to complete my own bucket list before actually kicking the bucket.

Yeah. Why was this good? Welcome to Mexico. Apparently, these are some of the greatest once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences you can have. I mean, I'm obsessed with DJ Levy. He's the best. He's so great. Like from Schitts Creek to just any clip I see with him interacting, hanging out with the sun. He just seems like a

good time guy. Yeah, and we'll talk about another project of his in a second, because I chatted with him on Wednesday for this series. He has so many guests in season three of the reluctant traveler. He did tell me, by the way, he's gotten a little less reluctant when it comes to traveling thanks to this show. Some of the guests include fellow Canadian Michael Bublay, who he hadn't

met until he filmed. Somebody else he hadn't met until he filmed. Prince Yes, there he is right there. Prince William gives him a tour while he's in the UK. Can you believe Prince William told him that he watched American Pie as a kid when he was 17 years old when it came out in 1999? That's amazing. Royals are just like us, you know? Just like us.

Exactly. So the first two episodes out now and then we get new episodes weekly on Apple TV Plus of the reluctant traveler. Really, really good stuff. That's so great. I grew up in like the old era of like travel shows where it'd be like travel in a $5 budget. So I love this, like, resurgence of people you also want to see traveling and are interesting to hear from. But I can confirm, and part of the reason why he's a little less reluctant traveling, he's not traveling on a $5 budget. No, that's why I want to travel with him.

That's why I like the advancement of the show. I'm like, I want the money traveling. I don't want to be on a budget. Take me. Okay, so let's do music before we let you go, right? Cardi B, out with a new album. Let's take a listen to her song, Safe. This one features Killani.

I love my mind, say, from the problems, I don't worry, because I'm hard to find. I'm from the black, baby, is doing, ah, baby, and the world turn against me who I got, baby. I love Cardi, like, who doesn't? I've also been obsessed with how she has been promoting her album. Have you seen these clips on social media? I've seen a few. She, like, goes on the subway, and it's like, hey, it got new CDs for you, like promoting it all around New York old school. What do you think about it?

I was on my way into our newsroom, and I saw in the elevator that I guess she partnered with DoorDash and DoorDash is delivering signed copies of her sophomore album, which is called Am I the drama? Question Mark? I don't know, Cardi. A lot going on here with this press tour. A lot going on on this album as well. We heard the track with Kaylani, which is really good. She's got Lizzo on there as well, Selena Gomez on there, really, really good stuff. She's got a lot to say on this album. I bet. A lot has happened in her life. It sure had. I mean, think about it. She's only had two albums, which is also very interesting. Yeah. So, so yeah, she's got a lot to say. It's going to be a smash. I know it. Everything she does is, right? Okay. Last one.

Miley Cyrus, she has a new collaboration out with Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood. This one is called Secrets. Lindsay Buckingham Guitar Riff, Right? What do you think? Very, very interesting this song, both Miley coming out and basically saying, if you're wondering what it's about, it's about my dad. She dedicated this song to her father, got his favorite band, a couple members of Fleetwood Mac, to play on the song, basically trying to tell Billy Ray, whatever your secrets are, they're safe with me, you can tell me, I'm not judging you. It's really all about their estrangement. And Billy Ray commented on it as well saying it was a beautiful gift from his daughter. So, I mean, how sweet is that, right?

Especially in this day and age. Everything gets hyped up on social media. He said this. She said that. So maybe there's some harmony now in that relationship with this very good song. Yeah. All right. Well, Raphael Verza.

Thank you so much for being here. We appreciate it. And thank you at home so much for watching Top Story. For Tom Yamas, I'm Ellison Barber in New York. Stay right there. More news is on the way.