Top Story with Tom Llamas - Monday, April 14, 2025

Episode Date: April 15, 2025

Tonight's Top Story has the latest breaking news, political headlines, news from overseas and the best NBC News reporting from across the country and around the world.

Tonight, new details after an arsonist attacked the Pennsylvania governor's home, setting it on fire. The chilling images of Governor Josh Shapiro's residence charred beyond recognition after a man broke into the house and launched Molotov cocktails with his family still inside. New questions tonight about how he got so close to the governor. Also tonight, earthquake in California, a 5.2 quake hit San Diego, students taking shelter under desks as home security cameras, the tremors across the region. Trump's deportation battles, President Trump hosting the president of El Salvador to the White House, why both leaders say they're not sending that Maryland man mistakenly taken to a mega prison back to the U.S. Teen out on Bond, the 17-year-old charged in the fatal stabbing at a track meet, released today on Bond, why the alleged killer has racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations.

Health Care Company Threat, the intruder at United Healthcare Headquarters, the same same company targeted by Luigi Mangione, what police are saying about his motive. Devastation in Ukraine, Russia launching their deadliest strike this year, killing 35 people and injuring hundreds more. President Trump weighing in. And challenging Pelosi, the former chief of staff, for AOC, now running his own underdog campaign against Nancy Pelosi, how the political newcomer plans to take on Democratic royalty. Plus the warning tonight about the FDA and counterfeit OZemphi,

Top story. It starts right now. And good evening. Tonight, investigators are combing through the burnt remains of Governor Josh Shapiro's residence after an arsonist attacked his home early Sunday morning. Video showing just how widespread the damage is. Look at this. Rooms in the once beautiful mansion now burnt, melted, and destroyed. The fire chief calling the scene an immediate fireball. Police say this man, 38-year-old Cody Ball. He turned himself in and confessed to the crime. He's now charged with attempted criminal homicide, aggravated arson, burglary, terrorism, and other charges related to the attack. Investigators say surveillance footage shows Balmer scaling a fence onto the property, breaking multiple windows, throwing Molotov cocktails inside, and entering the home. There were no injuries, but police say Balmer said he would have beaten Shapiro with a hammer if he saw him.

Balmer's social media presence suggesting he held anti-government views and shared negative content about President Joe Biden. So how was he able to get past security and into the home in the first place? NBC Shaquille Brewster is in Harrisburg tonight with the latest on this investigation. Tonight, the man who police tried to kill Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro denied bail and facing charges including terrorism, attempted homicide, and arson. The fire chief crediting a set of closed doors for protecting Shapiro, and his family. If that door wasn't closed, the fire would have spread and would have definitely put the governor at even greater risk.

According to court documents, 38-year-old Corey Bomber, who admitted to harboring hatred toward Shapiro, walked for an hour early Sunday morning from his home to the governor's residence. Police say surveillance video showed Bomber climbing over that outside fence, wearing a black jacket, black boots with a small bag. A police affidavit saying bomber used a hammer to break multiple windows, throwing a Molotov cocktail made from beer bottles into the governor's home. Bomber then entering the residence through a broken window, deploying another device inside the dining room.

That's when police say bomber kicked a door open to escape, climbing back over the fence, and running away within minutes. Imagine where that smoke staining is, fire licking out of those windows, you know, going 15, 20, 30 feet into the air. Just a very angry fire. Bomber turned himself in on Sunday. investigators saying he told them if he encountered the governor, he would have beaten him with his hammer. The suspect was previously charged with assault in a 2023 case that's still open. His mother telling the Associated Press she tried to get him assistance for mental health issues, but nobody would help. On social media, Bomber shared anti-government views, writing in one recent post, Biden supporters shouldn't exist.

The FBI now assisting in the investigation as President Trump weighed in. The attacker was not a fan of Trump. The attacker basically wasn't a fan of anybody. It's probably just a whack job. And certainly a thing like that can not be allowed to happen. Today, the governor, who hosted a Passover Seder just hours before the attack, again thanked first responders. This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society. And I don't give a damn if it's coming from one particular side or the other.

We have to be better than this. Okay, Shaq joins us tonight live from Harrisburg. So, Shaq, we heard Governor Shapiro thank first responders. But do we know how this man was able to access that home at the governor's residence, having 24-7 security? That was definitely a question that reporters asked, Tom, to the investigators when we saw that press conference take place yesterday. Investigators said essentially that troopers who were stationed at this home on a regular basis, they were aware that someone had breached the property. They were actually looking for him as the fire was being set.

What we didn't know and what they haven't specified is how long that suspect was on the grounds. And we don't know exactly what his motive was once he left there. He said he wanted to potentially hurt the governor, but was this a political motivation? Was this more? Was it potentially a religious motivation? That is something that investigators did not answer. We do know that the FBI is investigating and authorities here have not ruled out the possibility of federal charges.

being added, Tom. Yeah, Shaq, when you think about this, he gets onto the property, he launches the Molotov cocktails, then gets into the house, and we're talking about one of the most well-known governors in our country. It is also wild.

All right, Shaq, we thank you for all your reporting. We do now want to turn to our other major headline tonight, the major earthquake that rocked the San Diego area, a magnitude 5.2 tremor, rattling buildings and sending people ducking for cover.

NBC's Dana Griffin is live for us tonight near the epicenter in Julian, California. A powerful 5.2 magnitude earthquake rocking Southern California. San Diego must have been like a five point something. Shaking buildings and sending residents scrambling. This mother grabbing her baby from a play pin, rushing outdoors to safety. A baby monitor capturing this 11-month-old child rattled in her crib. In a classroom, students sheltering under their desks with their teacher.

Thank you. We need to be safe with our head. The earthquake hitting just after 10 a.m. local time, the epicenter near Julian, California, roughly 40 miles northeast of San Diego. Officials say no immediate reports of injuries, but the incident still jarring. Oh, my God. I was so scared. This woman who took cover in her office in downtown San Diego telling us, the quake triggered her memories of similar tremors back home in Mexico City. As the shuddering stop today in Southern California, residents taking stock of the aftermath.

Cracks in a patio in Chula Vista widening, a highway left littered with rocks and sent to Isabel. This liquor store manager in Julian documented the damage after the quake shook bottles off his shelves. Glass falling, whiskey, scotch, an assortment of different bottles. First time in 15 years, I felt this kind of earthquake here. So it was definitely one for the books. Governor Gavin Newsom posting on X saying he's been briefed on the quake. His team's now assessing if emergency response is needed. All right, Dana Griffin joins us now live tonight.

Dana, any word? Have you felt anything, these after shocks that sometimes happened right after earthquakes? Yeah, Tom, we haven't felt any additional after shocks here. But according to the San Diego Union Tribune, there have been about four within 90 minutes of that 5.2 magnitude quake and they ranged in size from 3.0 to 3.9, which is a good indication that the 5.2 magnitude quake was likely the main quake. And even Dr. Lucy Jones, who is the most prominent seismologist here in Southern California, said there was about a 5% chance of a much larger aftershock. So I think many people are going to be breathing a sigh of relief that hopefully

that was the final, the final quake. And even though 5.2 pretty rapid. battling for a lot of people here in Julian. Tom? It is, no doubt. Dana Griffin, we thank you for that. We want to go to politics now, so we head to Washington. The Trump administration intensifying its battle over immigration. The president of El Salvador arriving at the White House today, rejecting calls to bring back a Maryland man mistakenly deported. It comes as the two countries joined forces amid a growing deportation campaign. NBC's Gabe Gutierrez has more. Today, President Trump welcoming the leader of El Salvador, Naeep Buckeli, to the Oval Office.

We have millions of people that should not be in this country. President Buckelly has taken in alleged gang members deported from the U.S. and posted videos of their arrivals at a notorious prison. Among them, Kilmar Abrago Garcia, a father of three with a work permit in Maryland. A Justice Department prosecutor had said he was deported due to an administrative error. Buckelly now says he won't send Abrago Garcia back. How can I smuggle a terrorist to the United States? I don't have the power to return him to the United States.

The White House now argues he was not mistakenly deported. He's an illegal alien from El Salvador. Where was he sent to El Salvador? The Trump administration says Abrago Garcia is a member of MS-13, a violent gang. The White House has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. His family denies it, and he's never been charged criminally in the U.S. or El Salvador. President Trump, bring Kilmar home now. Late last week, the Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the U.S.

That's the order. The order is bringing back. But the White House doesn't see it that way. It's interpreting facilitate to mean there's no need for the U.S. to initiate his return, only help if El Salvador decides to do so. This is international matters, foreign affairs. If they wanted to return him, we would facilitate it, meaning provide a plane. President Trump also says the Attorney General is looking into whether the law allows deporting U.S. citizens to El Salvador if they were violent. I don't know what the laws are. We always have to obey the laws, but we also have homegrown criminals. I'm all for it because we can do things with the president for less money and have great security. Meanwhile, another Columbia University student involved in anti-Israel campus protests has been arrested and detained, according to his lawyer.

Mosin Madawi is a lawful permanent resident, his attorney says, who was arrested at his naturalization interview in Vermont. Okay, Gabe Gutierrez joins us tonight live from the White House. Gabe, I do want to go back to Kilmar-Abrego Garcia, the man from Maryland, who's originally from El Salvador. Here is what Pam Bondi, the attorney general, had to say. This is her full statement when asked by the president during that gaggle with the president of El Salvador. Let's listen in. First and foremost, he was illegally in our country. He had been illegally in our country. And in 2019, two courts, an immigration court and an appellate immigration court. court ruled that he was a member of MS-13 and he was illegally in our country. Right now, it was a paperwork. It was additional paperwork had needed to be done.

That's up to El Salvador if they want to return him. That's not up to us. So Gabe, really, if we break it down for our viewers, there's two issues at play here. One, was this man deported? Was he deported by mistake? And two, as the Trump administration is claiming, was he a member of MS-13? Do we know the answers to both those questions yet? Well, the first question, Tom, was he deported by mistake? So far, the White House is now saying, today they started saying no. He was not deported by mistake, that they meant to do this.

But a Justice Department prosecutor had previously said in a court filing that it was an error. Well, that's one thing. That's the first question. The second question is, was he, you know, it's an open question at this point to see what happens next, how this will play out in the coming days. This really is remarkable because today El Salvador's president said that he would not release Abrago Garcia into his country, but he also wouldn't send them back to the United States. That means that he is stuck there having been convicted of no crime. Now, the White House argues he was there in this country

illegally. That alone should warrant his deportation. But the administration, as you heard from Pan Bondi, is pointing to that immigration judge in 2019 ruling that Abrago Garcia was affiliated with But Tom, and this is key, other justices have questioned whether there was enough evidence. In any case, the evidence hasn't been made public, and as I pointed out, he has not been criminally charged. The White House now arguing that the executive branch should be allowed to deport what it considers dangerous criminals. And by the way, Tom, late today, the Justice Department in a court filing claimed once again that the Department of Homeland Security doesn't have the authority to bring him back into the U.S.

Gabe, and I guess what we learned today, the big headlines, that things look grim for this man, right? Because he's from El Salvador. He's now in El Salvadoran prison, and the president there says he has no intention of letting him out anytime soon. Yeah, that's right. He's not coming back, according to the U.S. He just heard Stephen Miller and other top White House officials say that. He's not coming back here to the U.S. And, yes, Buckele today, the president of El Salvador said in the Oval Office that he wouldn't release him into El Salvador. So right now he is in limbo inside that prison. And again, we should find out over the next couple of days what his attorneys will do in order to try and compel the administration to bring him back.

But right now, he remains in that prison time. All right, Gabe Gutierrez for escape. We thank you for that. We want to head overseas now to Ukraine where 35 people were killed in a Russian missile strike this week and attacked President Trump labeled a mistake before blaming both Zelensky and Putin for the deadly war. NBC's chief international correspondent, Keir Simmons, has the latest. and what this all means for hopes of peace. The devastation from Russia's deadliest missile strikes this year.

Captured on video. In the city of Sumi, rescue workers racing to pull people to safety after two Russian ballistic missiles tore into the city, killing 35 people and injuring 117 others, Ukraine says. Body bags lining the streets. This woman says she was in her apartment when the explosion wave threw her around, injuring her. The deadly assault coming just days after President Trump's Russia envoy, Steve Witkoff, spent

more than four hours with President Putin in St. Petersburg discussing what the Kremlin called a Ukraine settlement. President Trump saying overnight Russia's attack was a mistake. I think it was terrible and I was told they made a mistake. Today, Trump blaming both sides for the ongoing war in Ukraine. That's a war that should have never been allowed to start, and Biden could have stopped it, and Zelensky could have stopped it, and Putin should have never started it. Everybody's to blame.

Many other Trump officials condemning the killings. His Ukraine envoy saying it crosses any line of decency. Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling it horrifying. A video live stream of a church service being held in the city captured. at the moment the strikes hit. A local Ukrainian mayor saying a military award ceremony was planned in the region, calling that a pretense for two strikes on a civilian area, one following another.

Ukrainian officials accusing Russia of using cluster munitions. Sumi is close to the Russian region of Kursk, where NBC news reported last month. The Russian military can appreciate being filmed, but believe me, there are a lot of troops there. Moscow may be preparing for a major offensive in the region, analysts warn, even as the Trump administration talks peace. President Zelensky, saying what is missing right now is pressure on the aggressor, adding

Russia is not afraid. But in an interview with 60 minutes recorded before the strikes, relitigating his clash with Vice President Vance in the Oval Office. I have been to... Accusing Vance of somehow justifying Putin's actions while inviting the president to visit Ukraine to see the impact of the war. Come, look, and then let's move with the plan

how to finish the war. You will understand with whom you have a deal. And with that, Kier Simmons joins us now from Dubai. So Kier, we just heard Vladimir Zelenskyy there, right, speaking to 60 minutes. How far back do these strikes and what we just heard from President Trump as well about Vladimir Putin? Set back the peace talks. And we should remind our viewers, the president campaigned on saying he could end this war in Ukraine rather quickly.

It's a lot tougher now that he's president. Well, it hasn't happened, Tom, and it may not do. They are talking with the Russians, but there is very little evidence that Moscow wants a ceasefire at this stage. We've said this many times, haven't we, when we've spoken. thinks that it is winning. It thinks it's making progress. If, frankly, you'd be cynical enough maybe to suggest that it may think that if it can drag out these talks, it can gain more in a deal later. So that's one question. The other thing is, we don't really know what's being said. President Trump's envoy sat for four hours with President Putin. Again,

we don't know what happened in that meeting. So it's very difficult to tell how much progress really is being made. There's some progress on the diplomatic front, agreeing to have more diplomats, if you like. Beyond that, though, President Zelensky, as you heard in my report there, saying, frankly, Russia is not afraid, is not under pressure, and that therefore, and he said this many times, therefore, a peace deal seems unlikely. Kier Simmons for us tonight, Kier, we appreciate that. We're going to be back in a moment with the accused teen killer going home. The high school student charged with stabbing another teen at a track meet. Now getting out on bond, while his lawyer is saying it was all self-defense. Plus, health care headquarters threat. The massive police response

will show it to you at United Healthcare, the same company targeted by Luigi Mangione, what police are revealing about the intruder on company grounds. And historic first, the all-female crew that made it to space and back today. New video of the moments, they were weightless. Stay with us. We are back now with an update on that deadly stabbing at a high school track meet in Texas. The 17-year-old suspect released late today after a judge reduced his bail from $1 million to $250,000. The teen telling police, he acted in self-defense, but the parents of the slain students say he was killed during an argument overseeing. NBC's George's release has the story. Tonight's 17-year-old Carmelo Anthony, who was charged with first-degree murder,

the fatal stabbing of a teen at a track meet earlier this month is out on bond. A judge today reducing the teen's million dollar bond, a $250,000 at the request of the defense. I feel it's fair. You know, bond, as the judge said, is not supposed to be an instrument of oppression. It's not supposed to keep people in jail. It's not supposed to punish. Anthony's father testifying that his son does not have a passport and that he would be surrounded by friends and family who would keep him accountable ahead of the trial.

The judge has made her call, and we look forward to continuing the process and looking forward to reviewing all the facts of the case. The lower bond comes amidst rising tensions in the community after the stabbing during a high school track meet on April 2nd that led to the death of Austin Metcalf. In result, he stabbed my son in the heart and killed him. That's what it was over. According to the arrest report, a witness told police, Metcalf asked Anthony, who attends a different high school to move. to his own school's 10 at the meet. Anthony then told Medcalf, touch me and see what happens, according to a witness. And later Metcalf grabbed Anthony to tell him to move. Metcalf's father, Jeff Metcalf telling our NBC station in Dallas, his son died in his twin brother's arms after he was stabbed. I will never be the same. Anthony telling a responding officer at the scene, I was protecting myself

before being questioned, according to the arrest report. Later saying in the police report, I'm not alleged, I did it in response to the officer referring to him as an alleged suspect. Since the stabbing, tensions over race have surfaced leading to meetings between activists and officials, an online fund for Anthony, raising more than $400,000 for his defense. The nonprofit civil rights group, Next Generation Action Network, demanding protection for Anthony's family after claims their home address was leaked online. We have saw so many different hateful images, just hateful things. This weekend, Austin Metcalf, who family described as a scholar, leader, and star athlete was laid to rest. Tonight, two families' lives change forever as this case moves forward. This is a terrible tragedy for our entire, not just Frisco, but Collin County community.

One family has suffered a permanent loss. It's the most unnatural thing for a parent to lose their child. It's permanent. It's profound. It's certainly premature. And it's the hardest thing that I think a human being can go through. So, George, what else do we know about the condition of this teen's release? Yeah, Tom, he'll be under house arrest and also have to wear an ankle monitor and check in with the bailiff every single Friday.

Now, today's attorney saying this investigation is still far from over, as there's still many questions left to be answered, including why the teen may have had a knife on him in the first place. Tom? George, so least for us, George, thank you. We're going to stay in Texas but move to a different part of the state where history was made today. there in the Texas desert. A star-studied group of female astronauts briefly reached space in a blue origin capsule. Priscilla Thompson has more on their historic journey.

One. Blasting off for 11 unforgettable minutes. The first all-female space crew in more than 60 years. One, two, three, take a space! Including pop star Katie Perry, and journalist Gail King, along with Lauren Sanchez, the fiancé of Blue Origin founder, Jeff Bezos. Look at the moon. Look.

The historic six marveling at the moon and the earth. And you look at it and you're like, we're all in this together. While floating for four minutes, Katie Perry weightless with a daisy in hand, her daughter's namesake. New Shepard's booster rocket landing first. This reusable booster that took them up now safely back on the green. around the massive rocket ready for its next mission amid the space tourism boom. Then in front of a star-studded crowd. The astronauts all smiles back on Earth.

It's about making space for future women and taking up space and belonging. Amanda Wynn, emotional, after becoming the first Vietnamese woman in space. She's a survivor of sexual assault, carrying aboard a painful reminder. And it's the hospital man. from the day for anyone who's ever had to struggle through life circumstances that weren't their choice I want you to know that you will make it through and those magical moments on board the start of a shared space sisterhood celebrated amongst the stars priscilla thompson joins us tonight from van horn texas where that capsule touchdown and priscilla there's obviously been a lot of

attention here, right? This was truly history in the making with that all-female crew. But now there's some criticism as well? Yeah, we have seen some criticism from other celebrities and people like Olivia Mum calling this gluttonous. We've also seen celebrities on social media sort of poking fun at this launch. But I will tell you that for these six women who went up, they say that, yes, while this may be space tourism for the rich and famous, or at least seen that way by some, this is also about representation and showing that women and moms and all of these people are also a part of the people who can go to space and that they also look like folks who belong there. Tom?

All right, Priscilla Thompson for us, Priscilla, we appreciate that. When we return, fake OZempic warning, the FDA out with an alert about counterfeit weight loss drugs, what you can do right now to make sure yours is the real drug. Plus, the hero police officer who rammed into this burning car deliberately, how we prevented this whole gas station from exploding. We'll explain. We're back down with a threat at United Health Care's headquarters. Police apprehending a person at the health insurance company's campus in Minnesota, more than four months after the company's CEO was gunned down in New York City. NBC's Rahima Ellis

joins us now live. So, Rahima, what more do we know about the incident? Well, Tom, what I can tell you right now is that police are telling NBC news tonight that the man arrested is known to local law enforcement. The information is just coming in, but here's what we know so far. Police say the man was apprehended on the United Health Care campus in Hopkins, Minnesota. They say he was booked on suspicion of threats. At this point, no word on whether there is a connection to United Health Care CEO Brian Thompson's murder that happened back in December right here in New York City. Luigi Mangione is charged with Thompson's murder. He has pleaded not guilty.

and is facing both state and federal charges. And tonight time, authorities are continuing to investigate exactly what happened in Minnesota earlier today. Okay, Rahima, we thank you for that. We do want to turn out to the NTSB investigation. Still searching for answers after last week's deadly New York City helicopter crash that took the lives of a family on vacation. This, as another team, is investigating a separate deadly plane crash

that killed six in upstate New York. Erin McLaughlin has more. Tonight on New York's Hudson River, divers scour the riverbed for the helicopter's rotor, which separated from the chopper during the crash. A critical clue as to why the 21-year-old tourist helicopter went down, seemingly without warning, killing everyone on board, including the pilot and a family of five here on a birthday trip from Spain. They left without suffering and they left with a smile on their faces. and that's important for us.

Late Sunday, the FAA announced the company involved New York helicopter tours shut down their operations. Their license and safety record under review. The FAA says the shutdown amidst growing calls for greater industry scrutiny as helicopter tours continue today over New York City. The NTSB told NBC News in the past 30 years they've investigated more than 100 air tour accidents nationwide. For flights, there's a higher level of safety than for these tours. That's got to change. Prior to the shutdown announcement, New York helicopter tours released a statement, writing they are profoundly saddened by the devastating crash, adding there fully cooperating with the FAA and NTSB investigations.

Meanwhile, investigators are at the site of a twin engine plane crash in upstate New York. All six on board died, including 2022 NCAA woman of the year, Karenna Groff, her family, and her boyfriend James Santoro. We want to make sure we're investigating every possible aspect of this incident. Santoro's father said they were on their way to celebrate Groff's 25th birthday. You know, they were exceptional individuals because of who they were and how they treated others. Aaron McLaughlin joins us tonight from Pier 40 there in Manhattan. And Aaron, as we see the Hudson River there behind you, how tough is it for them to try and find that rotor, right? There's that strong current in the Hudson, but also no precise location of where it fell.

Yeah, it's extremely difficult, Tom. You mentioned the current, but add to that the general difficulties of trying to find missing objects in bodies of water compounded by the sheer amount of debris that's on the bed of the Hudson River behind me. Nevertheless, investigators are determined to find that rotor as well as other missing helicopter parts, given the fact there wasn't a flight data recorder on board. the helicopter is really critical that they find those items to understand fully what happened to that helicopter worth noting that it appears that the search effort has wrapped for today. No announcement so far. Tom. Okay, Aaron McLaughlin, we thank you for that. Not at Top Stories News Feed, the Coast Guard suspending its search for five people missing after

a boat capsized in what officials are calling a failed smuggling venture. Authorities say a total of 10 people were on board when the boat flipped near St. Lucie Inlet. That's just 40 miles north of West Palm Beach. A body was recovered and rescued crews were able to pull four people from the water. No word on what caused the boat to capsize. And a Georgia police officer jumping into action after a car went up in flames at a gas station. Take a look. This dash cam video capturing the moment the officer arrives at the scene in Stockbridge just outside of Atlanta.

He then uses his cruiser to push away the burning car from the gas pump to prevent a possible explosion. The cause of the fire is unknown, but the officer is being praised for his quick thinking. And foul play inside an Indiana grocery store as a wild turkey caused chaos in the aisles. Take a look, body cam footage showing the standoff between the K-9 officer and the turkey. Police approaching the bird standing on top of a shelf. The officer then grabs the turkey's legs as it flaps and swings. A little bit of action there. A 911 caller said the bird was chasing customers and knocking items off the shelves.

The turkey was later released unharmed. All right, time now for Top Story's health check. and a new warning about fake OZempic. The FDA telling consumers not to use counterfeit OZEMPIC found in the U.S. drug supply chain that could pose a safety risk. Novo Nordus, the manufacturer of OZEmpic, saying several hundred units of the fake drugs

were distributed outside their authorized supply chain. NBC's Ann Thompson is tracking this force. So, Anne, I understand the FDA seized a lot of this fake OZMPIC. What are they doing with it? Well, they're trying to figure out exactly what's in it because they don't know. It could be anything from water to maybe there's some, Semi-glutide, that's the active ingredient in Ozempic, but they really don't know.

So as a result, tonight, Tom, they're warning people all throughout the supply chain, from wholesalers to retailers, pharmacies, health care professionals and consumers to take a look at your Ozempic and read the label very carefully. And then how can people know if it's fake or if it's real? You want to look for two things. First of all, is a lot number, and that lot number is P-A-R-362. want to look for a serial number. And it has to have both. And that serial number has eight numbers at the beginning, and they're fake. And here are the numbers. It's 517-465-17. If it has those

numbers, they're fake. Yep. Yep. So if you have both that lot number and those numbers, that's fake. All right, Ann Thompson, we thank you for that. Good heads up. Now to the retrial of Harvey Weinstein. Jury selection expected to begin tomorrow in New York after an appeals court overruled the disgraced movie mogul's rape conviction last year. Are Chloe Malaw sat down with Weinstein's attorney in a national exclusive? Will Weinstein take the stand as his health continues to decline? There are definitely times where it's like deja vu. Like, I can't believe I'm making this argument again to the judge.

It's a different judge. That's the biggest game changer here. That's Harvey Weinstein's attorney, Arthur Adala, who's representing him in his New York criminal trial set to start Tuesday. Weinstein is expected to be retried on nearly the same chart. that sentenced him to 23 years in prison in 2020. He's excited for a fair trial. He's not going to have 12 jurors who are listening to chance outside the courthouse about

Fry, Harvey, Harvey's a guilty, Harvey's a rapist, all kinds of horrible things while the trial was going on. That's not going to happen. The trial captivated the nation when the Oscar winning producer was found guilty of third-degree rape and one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree. He was acquitted on three other counts. It is a good example, and we need a good example for all the victims out there. Now his retrial is coming nearly eight years after over 80 women, including some celebrities, like Gwyneth Paltrow and Ashley Judd, accused him of a range of allegations in 2017,

ultimately fueling the Me Too movement. I came here today to see this through. Although Idala has already defended Weinstein, he says there will be challenges, the main one finding an impartial jury. Jury selection is the key. If you don't get jurors who are willing to base their evidence on what they see on the witness stand, what they hear on the witness stand,

but they're going to let all the other bad stuff they've heard about Harvey for the last six years it's been flood into their brain, then it's like climbing Everest. But how is a retrial even possible? That's because the New York Court of Appeals overturned Weinstein's conviction last year after they found in a four to three decision that Weinstein didn't get a fair trial.

The court announcing in a statement that a decision to let women testify about allegations that were not part of the actual case, quote, portrayed the defendant in a highly prejudicial light. One thing that could be different this time around, hearing from Weinstein in his own words. Will Harvey Weinstein take the stand? He has always wanted to take the stand. And it's kind of defense attorney 101 that you try to do a way. everything you can not to make that happen. Usually you try not to put your, your client on the stand, but Harvey definitely wants to testify, and it'll be a game time decision. Which at a pretrial

hearing in January didn't seem likely because Weinstein told the judge that he didn't think he'd live to see his retrial because of a series of health issues and what he's called improper care at Rikers, where he's been held since his conviction was overturned. NBC News previously reported that he was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, an uncommon form of cancer of the bone marrow. He himself said he was dying. I mean, does he have months left to live? So where we helped him was he wasn't getting the proper treatment, he wasn't getting the proper medicine, and by, you know, you know the squeaky wheel gets the grease, so we became very, very squeaky. And so he has been getting his medicine. He has been getting some of the treatment that he

needs. One thing is likely. Juries might be hearing from the women who's at accusations put Weinstein in prison. Some might say that this would be re-traumatizing to have to get up there, retell your story. Well, that was not my decision to have them come back. That's the prosecutor's decision. The prosecutor could very easily say, I mean, one of the people who you mentioned, Harvey's done all the jail time.

If he gets found not guilty of the other two people and only guilty of that one person, it's not time served, it's over. So the prosecutor is the one who's retramatizing her. And we reached out to the Manhattan District Attorney on this case in a spokesperson telling NBC News that it would be, quote, inappropriate to comment on the eve of jury selection. And we should note that Weinstein was found guilty of rape in a separate case in Los Angeles in 2022

and sentenced to a 16-year prison sentence, although he is actively appealing that conviction. If those appeals fail, he'd likely have to start serving that time. time, Tom. Yeah, and we just heard your report there, right, from Weinstein's attorney, that his client, Harvey Weinstein, wants to take the stand in the trial. He's trying to get his version of the story out there. He feels like he has nothing to lose. It's already been overturned. He's technically, according to Arthur Adala, who you heard from in my piece, he's a free man on these charges, not in L.A., but here in New York, as of now, unless he is found

guilty. Now, he has been trying to get his narrative out there in non-conventional ways through Candice Owens. Candice Owens is someone who he has developed a friendship with while he's been in Rikers, and he feels as though she's giving him a fair shake. I have interviewed him in the past. I interviewed him before his criminal trial in New York, and I had interviewed him before all the accusations came out. I've been trying once again, but he really feels as though those kind of the podcast and

those unconventional outlets are the places where he's going to reach the most amount of people. All right. Chloe Malas for us tonight. Chloe, we thank you for that. Another big interview. Thanks for bringing it to us. Okay, we're going to turn now to Money Talks here on Top Story, to the growing crisis for millions of first-time homebuyers. Younger Americans increasingly getting priced out of a skyrocketing housing market with the median age for new homeowners now sitting at a record high 38 years old. Our Christine Romans met with one couple as they struggle to buy their dream home. Ready to see the house?

Yeah. At the age of 37, Hanmi Lee is. in the market now to buy her first home. She's in the suburbs of Philadelphia with her husband David and their seven-year-old daughter, Luna. Their homeownership dreams delayed. Did you ever think you guys would be in your 30s and still renting? I definitely took my time to think about buying a house and then now I'm just regretting waiting. For younger Americans, home ownership is increasingly out of reach. In the 1980s, the median age of first-time homebuyers was 29. by 2023, 35, and last year, spiking to 38 years old. The door closed to many by high prices, low inventory, and mortgage rates hovering around 7%.

No one in their young 20s are buying homes. Real estate agent Ricky Vung says conditions are the toughest he's ever seen. Last month, the median monthly payment for homeowners hit an all-time high of $2,800. Roughly 70% of American households can't afford a 400. thousand dollar home. The national median sales price, almost 420,000. So over here is our dining area, but it's limited, we're limited on space. Hanmi, who works in insurance and David, a police officer, have outgrown the two-bedroom town home they currently rent. They'd also like a backyard for their dog, tank, and more space for another child. And what if it's not a girl? With the age

gap, too, they would want their own rooms. They've been searching for two years now. And they said, I'll just give it a couple months. The market's going to change, this and that, but it's just... It hasn't. It hasn't changed for the better. Homes in their daughter Luna's school district are in high demand. The competition makes it hard, makes it difficult, for sure. Bidding wars, driving prices in their area sky high.

That house they were touring previously sold in 2019 for $209,000. The price today? This is listed at almost a half a million dollar house. Out of the price range for Hanmi and David. Their dream of homeownership delayed, but, not diminished, and Luna already in architect mode. I think I want, like, this bed, that O has a slide and a ladder and, like, I remember it. Get right on that, dad, ma'am.

Christine Romans, NBC News, Lansdale, Pennsylvania. We hope they find that house. Okay, we thank Christine Romans for that. Up next for us, taking on Pelosi, the Democrat, challenging Nancy Pelosi for her house seat. Does he have a chance of taking down one of the most powerful politics? politicians in the country. Plus, race to the runway, the new viral challenge. Have you heard about this? Would you give yourself only 15 minutes to arrive at the airport and make it to your gate before boarding on purpose? We'll hear from those who've tried it and are posting all over

TikTok about it. Stay with us. We are back now with a closer look at the man challenging former speaker of the house, Nancy Pelosi, for her house seat. He's a former tech engineer who left Silicon Valley to work on campaigns for Bernie Sanders and AOC. But does he have a chance to unseat one of the most powerful figures in the Democratic Party? Here's NBC's David Noriega. With 19 months to go until the midterms, it's a little early to be running for Congress. My name's Coycott, by the way. What's your name?

But Choyot Chukrabarty, knows he has an uphill battle. The message is clear enough. For most Americans, you know, wages have been stagnating for decades. Chakrabardi is a populist in the style of Bernie Sanders. The challenge is getting people to know his name, because pretty much everyone knows his opponent's name. Nancy Pelosi. The House will be in order.

After close to four decades and a legendary career in Congress, Pelosi is widely seen in her San Francisco district as a trailblazer and a hero. But she's also turning 86 next year. And she's an emblem of a party facing growing unrest over what many Democrats see as a tepid response to Donald Trump. Pelosi hasn't announced yet whether she's retiring before the midterms, but she did file paperwork required to run again. People here in San Francisco are very loyal to Nancy Pelosi. She's been an institution here for decades. At the same time, a lot of people think it's time for a change. I believe that she's really out of touch. I think with the amount of time

that she's been in office, the kind of benefits that she's had, you've got to give it up to younger people. I think she's very wealthy, and I think she's very old, and I think her time is done. Chakrabardi hopes that's where he comes in. Is there some symbolism to dethroning this massive, powerful figure in the Democratic Party for you? I think there would be, not just for me, but I think for a lot of people. I've got a lot of respect for Nancy Pelosi's career, but I do think she's operating in a different era of politics. What do you say Democrats should be doing differently now? I mean, honestly, they just got to be fighting way harder than they do.

Pelosi's office didn't respond to our request for comment. But those close to Pelosi say that she fights Trump harder than anyone, and the challenges to her barely register. It's an endeavor I think most people regret because they get beat pretty bad. Do you think Pelosi is worried about Chakrabardi's campaign? I don't think the speaker is aware of his campaign. But Chakrabardi has some experience with scrappy, long-shot campaigns. A former tech entrepreneur and founding engineer at the multi-billion dollar payment processing company, Stripe, Chakrabardi left Silicon Valley to work for Senator Bernie Sanders,

presidential campaign in 2016. I wasn't born to a wealthy or powerful family. In 2018, he ran the campaign for then-unknown Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. Hey, everyone. My name is Choycott-Chakrabardi. His strategy involves bypassing big endorsements and going straight to voters. Both parties have been ignoring kind of the biggest problems facing most people. What did you learn from helping to get AOC elected?

You know, the main thing I learned is that when there are these moments of change, you know, change, you know. Everything that seems like it was impossible suddenly becomes possible. Chakrabardi's platform is wildly ambitious. The reality is there's a hundred trillion dollar global green transition happening with or without us. It involves remaking the entire American economy for workers and the environment. We've done this plenty of times. We did in World War II. We did it with a space race. It's a playbook we invented, in fact. There's a sense that there's been a pretty widespread in the general public repudiation of the left.

wokeism. How do you navigate that? You know, I just don't believe that voters are actually in this left versus right dichotomy. I think political elites are, but I think voters are about change versus status quo, action versus an action. David Noriega joins us tonight. So David,

can this challenger actually pull off a win here? I know there's probably not a lot of polling for this race just yet or even in that area, but does he sense he has a chance? So look, Tom, the primary hearing California isn't until June of 2026. So there's quite some time until this election kicks off.

And it's a top two primary system. So Chacobardi just needs to get second place to proceed to the general. It is too early for polling. But what we do know is that Pelosi has consistently won her seat by roughly 80% margins. So it would be a tremendous upset. It's a quixotic campaign for sure. Chacobardi is counting on the fact that the climate has changed enough and will continue to change enough between now and next June for him to pull off that upset. 80% margins. Yeah, it's going to be hard. Okay, David, we thank you for that report. When we returned the ultimate stress test, would you show up to an airport? Just 15 minutes before your flight is supposed to board on purpose.

A new TikTok trend is challenging travelers to do just that, so can it be done? Stay with us. Finally, tonight, getting through an airport and making it to your gate on time is stressful enough. But now there's a new TikTok challenge that ramps up the pressure. Imagine this, giving yourself only 15 minutes from the moment you step into an airport to then make it from check-in through security all the way to your gate. It's called airport theory and TikTokers are putting it to the test. Look at me stressed already.

This is the beginning. No one's behind me yet. I have 20 minutes. I'm on the shuttle to the airport still, and I'm not the first few terminals. So wish me luck. Stress. But some finding it can be done. Okay, so it's 12.18. It took me nine minutes to do everything and check my bag.

I actually got water and some snacks. And I see my gate right now. So we made it. We have officially made it to the gate just under 15 minutes. So longer than like one of the airports I've done in this series. But still, that's a huge win for airport theory. Let's be honest, right? Let's go. All right. Remember that guy in that face. But others failing the challenge. Help, I'm still at the restaurant, still sitting in a corner I haunt, cross-legged in a dim light they say- So how easily can it be done?

I want to bring in content creator Michael D. Costanzo, who has tried this multiple times and hasn't missed a flight yet. Michael, so great to have you on top story. So does airport theory work? Airport theory does work, but I think there is a little misconception about what airport theory actually is. Yeah, go for it. Explain it to our audience.

Like, literally, probably no one watching this knows this except if you're like on TikTok and you're one of your followers. Yeah, absolutely. So a few months ago, I made a video about something that I call airport theory, which is essentially that you can breathe through the airport a lot quicker than you probably expect to. You know, a lot of people usually think that the airport, you know, TSA security takes, you know, an hour and, you know, maybe you have a really long line to check your bag or a long line

to, you know, get to your gate. But I think that, you know, just from past experiences and airports that you can actually get there a lot quicker than you would normally think. Now, this doesn't mean that you should get to the airport, you know, any closer to your flight than you normally would. I'm a big advocate, actually, myself, for getting to the airport at least an hour and a half before your flight even boards. I just think that, you know, in those rare cases where you do happen to misplace something, you have to go back home to grab it, and you're going to be late to the airport,

maybe not stress as much as you probably think you should, because a lot of the times, you know, TSA is not as bad as you think. Are other people doing this? I mean, how viral is this trend right now? You know, when I posted that first video, I didn't intend for, you know, people to take it the way that they did. I think a lot of people saw that video and were like, okay, we're going to test the airport theory

and get to the airport 20 minutes before my flight boards. And I'm like, no, like red flag, that's not at all what you're supposed to do. But, yeah, it's been pretty crazy. There's been hundreds of millions of views compiled across all the airport theory videos. Why do you think people like to do this? Is it more of just, I mean, I read some articles that people say it's sort of like people maybe think it's like a private jet experience where you don't have to really rush to the airport. Or do you think it's the thrill of trying to get there in 15 minutes? I think it is that thrill.

Yeah, a lot of people think that, you know, if there's some hot new challenge that's going around on the internet, that seems. seems like it shouldn't be able to be a thing, maybe a life hack. Life hacks are super big, that they should try it out for themselves to make a video and advertise and encourage people to do it themselves. Now, again, I made the video getting there two hours early, but I think people took that a certain way that maybe I was only allowing myself 15 minutes. No, and I appreciate that you're kind of clearing that up, right? Because I'm sure the TSA and airports in general don't want everyone rushing with just 15 minutes

to board their flight. But if you do give yourself an hour and a half, two hours, and you want to try airport. theory. Give our viewers some tips that have worked for you. Now, something that I think is really important. And I do really, you know, focus on being meticulous with talking about this in the videos, is that TSA precheck is a really, really worthwhile investment if you're somebody that travels multiple times a year. It's a lot less expensive than I think people normally think it is. It's only, you know, $85 for a five-year period. And if you're traveling, you know, three, four times a year, I think that's really worth it. And the TSA pre-check line, I would say from

experience takes a third, maybe even a quarter of the time that the regular line at the airport takes. So if you do want to test out the airport theory that I think, again, is skewed a little bit the wrong way. Definitely make sure to have TSA pre-check. Michael, you got to be kidding me. All this time, all this focus and it's TSA pre-check. Give us something else, man. Give us one more tip we didn't know. Okay, well, again, my tip is get to the airport three hours early. But if you are going to do this, which, again, is not ever what I, you know, have told anybody online, I would say, don't panic. Stay calm. It's never going to. I mean, there's not really like a cheat you can do in the airport. Obviously, you don't want to ruffle any feathers with anybody there. So just, you know, don't panic and don't pull any moves you think are too crazy. You're going to get their fine, you know, regardless. Yeah, Michael Dikistanza. We thank you for joining Top Story. for being a responsible traveler. We love that out there.

Thank you so much, Tom. I appreciate it. Yeah, I'm Tom Yamerson, New York. We thank you for watching Top Story tonight. Stay right there. More news on the way.