Top Story with Tom Llamas - Monday, March 24, 2025

Episode Date: March 25, 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, the stunning national security breach, the White House inner circle texting war plans to a group that seems to have accidentally included a journalist. These strikes in the Middle East plan partly over text. The Defense Secretary and National Security Advisor revealing key details before the attack. Some of the texts, complete with emojis, now public, the journalists who received them speaking out to NBC News. Fighting deportations, the major test for President Trump, in court. today what it means for his mass deportation plans. Plus, the American journalist who was inside the El Salvador mega prison when detainees arrived joins top story tonight. Terrorizing Tesla, the incendiary device found at a Texas showroom after a string of Teslas were torched across the country. The new task force just announced to hunt down the perpetrators. Carolina's on fire,

the wildfire emergency across the two states, as parts of North Carolina is still real from Hurricane Helene hit once again. Residents told to evacuate, we take you to the front lines in the battle to contain them. Miracle survival, the small plane missing in Alaska overnight, found how the pilot and two children on board survived. Wife killer caught the suspect accused of killing her fire captain wife, captured in Mexico, how they tracked her down. And take it down, President Trump demanding this portrait of him at a state capital be removed. The update late today. Plus, new fears about your genetic secrets being sold,

what 23 and Me's bankruptcy could mean for you. Top story starts right now. And good evening. Tonight questions are mounting over a stunning security breach coming from the top members of the Trump administration. After President Trump's national security advisor accidentally included the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic to a group text detailing plans to strike Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Take a look at this, just one screenshot from the conversation on the messaging platform signal where top administration officials appeared to be discussing war plans in the days leading up to the bombardment. The journalist says he didn't know why or how he was added to a group chat and debated for days whether it was real or not. But it wasn't until March 15th when the U.S. struck multiple targets in Yemen. You can see some of the video here, that he quickly realized those messages he was getting were most likely real and that he was somehow looped in on highly classified information. These here are just some of the officials allegedly involved in that 18-person chat, including Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegeseth, Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, and several others. A spokesman for the National Security Council confirming the exchanges, writing in part, this appears to be an authentic message chain, and we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to that chain.

Right now, lawmakers are expressing outrage over why this app was used for such sensitive information instead of a secure government channel and how a reporter was added to that conversation. NBC News Chief Washington correspondent Andrea Mitchell starts off our coverage. Days before U.S. fighter jets took off from the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea for strikes against the Iran-backed hoodies in Yemen, a security breach with potentially catastrophic consequences for the U.S. military. Details of the U.S. war plans shared in real time with the Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg by accident on the unclassified commercial messaging app's signal. I assumed that I was being spoofed or hoaxed or being included in some kind of disinformation campaign because it was simply too improbable to me that they would have such poor operational security as to inadvertently invite the editor of the Atlantic into a national security discussion

about the timing of a bombing campaign. But it was deadly serious. Goldberg says he was added by a user, National Security Advisor Mike Walls, to a group chat, including the Vice President, the Secretary of State, the Defense Secretary, the CIA Director, and the Director of National Intelligence, sharing precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing. Shocking Senate Intelligence Vice Chair Mark Warner. Holy crap.

I mean, when this level of detail is being shared, on a non-classified network. And this isn't the first time we've seen this sloppiness from this administration. Early on, there were a couple hundred CIA agents whose identities were exposed. Goldberg says at one point the vice president called the timing of the attack on the hoodies who've been striking international ships in the Red Sea for two years a mistake because it conflicts with the president's message to end the war in Ukraine. That was actually very substantive.

There was disagreement among some of the principles. J.D. Vance suggested in this conversation that he not only disagreed with the president, but also felt that the president didn't have all the information or all the insight available. The National Security Council says the chat appears to be authentic, adding, we are reviewing how an inadvertent number was added to the chain, and there was no threats to our service members or our national security. The president reacting tonight. The hood. Do you mean the attack on the hood? Well, it couldn't have been very effective because the attack was very effective. I can tell you that. I don't know anything about it.

Andrea Mitchell joins us tonight live here on Top Story. And Andrea, when you read that piece in the Atlantic, you realize that there was some highly classified information in the text that journalist Jeffrey Goldberg didn't want to publish. No, exactly. Tom, the administration is really lucky that the person they added to this chat was a serious foreign policy journalist because Jeff Goldberg did not report the name of a covert CIA of the fact. and he left the chat deliberately when they started discussing very sensitive bomb assessments after the attack. Ironically, the administration has threatened to prosecute leaks. And tonight, Hillary Clinton investigated, of course, for her emails, tweeted, you've got to be kidding me.

Tom? Andrea Mitchell, leading us off here tonight. Andrea, we thank you for that. Also tonight, the legal battle intensifying over President Trump's efforts to deport alleged members of criminal gangs. His administration in court today arguing to overturn a judge's order. to stop deportation flights to El Salvador. Those flights raising fears that non-gang members could get caught up in the crackdown

and end up in a Salvadorian prison indefinitely. Kelly O'Donnell is at the White House tonight. President Trump's use of a rare wartime power facing a new legal test. These are bad people that should have never been allowed into our country. Today, Mr. Trump defended his administration's mass deportation policy, including the removal this month of alleged migrant. gang members who were flown out and sent to an El Salvador in prison under the Alien Enemies

Act, which does not provide due process. The president says he declared members of the Venezuelan gang TDA as foreign terrorists subject to immediate expulsion. We're getting the bad ones out first and we're taking them out. Today, a three-judge federal appeals panel heard arguments as Trump administration lawyers seek to overturn Judge James Bosberg, who temporarily blocked deportation. flights using the 18th century law. The administration says the judge went too far. The district court's order represents an unprecedented and enormous intrusion upon the powers of the executive branch. In a notable court exchange, Judge Millett raised concerns about the deportations.

There were plain loads of people. There were no procedures in place to notify people. Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemy Act. A literal reference to the law's use during World War II that prompted this response from the government's lawyer. Well, Your Honor, we certainly dispute the Nazi analogy. While Trump borders are, Tom Homan reacted with outrage. We removed terrorists. To compare that any way whatsoever with Nazis is disgusting on every level. The Trump administration cited the Alien Enemies Act to carry out 137 deportations, providing no names or evidence. Using other authorities, they say, 11,000 migrants were deported in February. Outside the hearing, an ACLU lawyer representing

a group of these deportees described what could be at stake. Someone who was not even a gang member could now spend the rest of their lives in a Salvador in prison. Okay, let's get to Kelly O'Donnell outside the White House tonight. Kelly, I want to start right where your peace leaves off. Those fears from immigration rights activists that some people who are not gang members could be held indefinitely in a Salvador in prison. Has the Trump administration addressed that in any way? How would they get those migrants back out? Well, one of the issues is the Trump administration has not provided names, has not given us criminal records, has not given supporting data. And now these individuals are beyond the reach of the United States. So it's a real question about how to

get them back. Some have been identified as having been sent there incorrectly and have been brought back to the United States. The issue isn't whether they can ultimately be deported. if they meet certain criteria. It's this particular law that the president cited, rarely used in our nation's history, does not provide that due process, so people who are swept up in it don't have a way to challenge the claims being made against them.

And that's why this is going through the court system to see did the president use too much power, overreaching, or how can he carry out his policies within the law? All right, Kelly O'Donnellan for us. Kelly, we thank you for that. We want to stay in Washington because today, Today, the director of the FBI created a new task force to investigate people torching and vandalizing Tesla's across the country. And that move comes after yet another incident.

This one in Texas where an incendiary device was found inside of a showroom. Liz Croyce has the latest. Tesla Showroom! Tonight, the nationwide protest targeting Tesla and CEO Elon Musk escalating. In Austin, Texas this morning, police fighting multiple incendiary devices placed at a Tesla showroom. Nobody was injured, but the incident just the latest attack on Tesla, which has become a political flashpoint by those frustrated with Must's role in the federal government and Doge spending cuts. During a cabinet meeting today, Must saying Doge employees are facing daily death threats. A lot of them are just kids, you know, they're just trying to help out, and they're very talented.

They could get jobs for millions of dollars a year. Instead, they come here, earn peanuts and get death threats. Tonight, FBI director Cash Patel calling attacks on Tesla cars, showrooms, and charging stations, domestic. terrorism and launching a new task force to investigate and find the perpetrators. This is a doxing website resurfaced, publishing some contact information for Tesla owners. Protesters gathered over the weekend at nearly 90 Tesla showrooms, calling on people to sell their Teslas and dump their stock. What's going on in Washington, D.C. right now is not right.

While mostly peaceful, some turning confrontational. In Berkeley, California, a 33-year-old counter-protester arrested. after whipping out a stun gun. And in Palm Beach County, Florida, a Trump supporter charged with assault after driving his car towards protesters narrowly avoiding them. Okay, Liz, Croyce joins us tonight

live from Los Angeles. So, Liz, what else is the FBI saying about this latest string of attacks? Well, the FBI is urging and warning the public to remain vigilant and cautious right now and to be aware and look out for anything suspicious happening at Tesla dealerships or showrooms

or around those areas. Ask for that task force. conjunction with the ATF and the FBI director, Cash Patel, is saying that those were responsible where we pursued, caught, and brought to justice. Tom. Okay, Liz, we thank you for that. We also are tracking wildfire emergencies up and down the East Coast tonight. Officials ordering evacuations in North Carolina today after wildfires there hit the same area still recovering from Hurricane Helene. Firefighters also battling flames in South Carolina and New Jersey. Kathy Park reports tonight from North Carolina.

Tonight, cruise across the Carolina's fighting multiple wildfires, attacking the flames on the ground and in the air. Parts of Western North Carolina taking the biggest blow just six months after the remnants of Hurricane Helene tore through the region. The storm knocked down debris in trees, adding extra fuel to these fires. Take a look. This is just a snapshot of some of the burn scars in the area. We're not seeing any active flames right now, but that doesn't mean hot spots can flare up at any more. moment. Residents near the danger zone warned to leave or risk getting trapped or injured. It's been a while, a couple of days. The blaze nearly took over John Grace's backyard in Polk County. The fire is burning like crazy. There's massive amounts of manpower. For six hours, firefighters kept

the flames away. South Carolina's governor declaring a state of emergency. The table rock fire scorching more than a thousand acres this weekend, putting residents like Kathy Bear on edge. When you look at the smoke. Does this make you a little nervous? A little, but I'm hoping and praying that it goes the opposite direction of our house. A wildfire tore through 2,300 acres in New Jersey's Wharton State Forest. Two days later, it's now fully contained. And more wild weather in the south spawned a tornado in Mississippi Sunday, while damaging winds in Louisiana toppled trees onto homes. Kathy Park joins us tonight from Polk County, North Carolina. And Kathy, we can see that smoldering forests there behind you. Do we know anything about the weather conditions? Are they

going to help or hurt the firefight ahead? Yeah, so Tom, earlier this morning, there was rain in the forecast, so that certainly helped tamp down some of these flames. The skies have cleared, but the winds have picked up, so that is certainly a concern looking ahead. But here in western North Carolina, just take a look at this, Tom. This is a snap shot of some of the burn scars that we were seeing in the area. Nearly 5,000 acres burned so far. That number was. likely go up, especially with three active wildfires burning here in the western part of the state. Tom? Kathy Park in the fire zone tonight for us. Kathy, we thank you. We want to go to a bit of developing

news tonight. The Alaska National Guard tonight saying they have rescued a pilot and two children after finding the wreckage of a small private plane that went missing late Sunday. NBC's Tom Costello joins us now. Tom, it's amazing that this missing plane was not only recovered, but everyone survived. What more do we know about this? Yeah, they were flying in a very small Piper PA 12. They went down on the eastern side of a lake on the Kenai Peninsula, and rescue teams say the pilot and those two children were spotted standing on the plane's wing after it apparently went through soft ice while landing on Lake Tustamina. It's notorious there for dangerous winds. They've been missing since about 10.30 p.m. local time on Sunday. As you mentioned, Coast Guard and National Guard planes and choppers began searching the area where the pilot's cell phone, had last pinged. At about 10.30 this morning, a Good Samaritan reported finding all three after what was likely a very cold night in or around that plane. They were taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Tom, I may note here that, you know, Alaska is notorious for a lot of

plane crashes. And the reason for that is because it is so remote, planes are the way people get around. That's just simply the bottom line, right? You're going from remote area to remote area. And it was just a few weeks ago that we had that air, or burying air flight go down. Ten people killed when they went down too heavy. They were too heavy going into a snowstorm right off of Nome, Alaska. Tom. Okay, Tom Costello for us. Tom, thank you. Up next, the sudden death of a former Yankees teenage son while on vacation. Other family members also falling sick, what we know about that death. Plus the fears today that your genetic secrets could be sold. What happens now that 23 and Me is going bankrupt?

And the coach fired for this, pulling a player's ponytail. He's now apologizing. Stay with us. More top story in a moment. We are back now with new developments in the death of the 14-year-old son of a former New York Yankee center fielder. Brett Gardner revealing his 14-year-old son died in his sleep last week while on vacation. and authorities in Costa Rica tonight say they've determined the preliminary cause of death was asphyxiation. NBC's Emily Aketa with the late-breaking details.

Tonight, new details in the sudden and mysterious death of former Yankee Brett Gardner's 14-year-old son. Investigators in Costa Rica say the teen was found in a hotel room Friday and appears to have died by asphyxiation after a possible intoxication from apparently ingesting some food, according to a translated statement by the judicial. investigation agency. Gardner, writing in a statement with his wife that their son Miller left us far too soon after falling ill along with several other family members while on vacation, adding we have so many questions and so few answers at this point, but we do know that he passed away peacefully in his sleep. The exact cause of death is still under investigation as officials now await autopsy results. The loss moving Gardner's former coach and current Mets

manager Carlos Mendoza to tears. I had the opportunity to coach him in the big leagues, and I got two boys too, and they were pretty close. The family says Miller loved hunting and fishing, along with baseball, golf, and football, sporting the same number 11 as his dad, who played exclusively for the New York Yankees for 14 seasons. Gardy goes Yardy. As Gardner's career blossomed, so did his family.

raising two boys alongside wife Jessica. Now, their extended family offering their support. The Yankees posting, words feel insignificant and insufficient in trying to describe such an unimaginable loss that is prompted an outpouring of love and questions. Emily, it kind of joins us in studio. First off, you just feel for this family. I mean, it's just horrific to lose a son like that. Do we know any more about the cause of death or when we might get more information from authorities? Well, so the family told investigators that they thought they may have gotten food poisoning after going out to eat.

That's according to the judicial investigation agency in Costa Rica. That possible food poisoning investigators say may have led to vomiting, which may have led to asphyxiation. But remember, this is very early stages of the investigation. This is preliminary analysis. What really will be key here is the autopsy reports, which could take two to three months, as we know so many people are eagerly awaiting answers in this just heart-wrenching incident here. Terribly sad. Okay, Emily, thank you for that. An update on a murder investigation we've been following closely here on Top Story tonight. Police hunting for the alleged killer of a Cal Fire captain found stabbed to death in her home.

The primary suspect, her estranged wife, fleeing to Mexico. Tonight, how Mexican authorities tracked her down and the moment they turned her back over into U.S. custody. Here's Dana Griffin. tonight a suspected killer back in the u.s in custody for the murder of her wife beloved california fire captain becky morodi mexican authorities handing 53 year old yelanda marodi over to u.s law enforcement at the border the end of a month long manhunt which started the day becky was found stabbed to death in the couple's san diego county home authorities believed yolanda fled to mexico soon after in this SUV. State police locating

Yolanda on Saturday near a hotel in Mexicali. She was then apprehended and subsequently transferred to the border, allowing U.S. authorities to proceed with legal action. Cal Fire, where Captain Morodi served more than 30 years, saying we thank our law enforcement partners in

San Diego and Mexico for their hard work. Becky was a beloved member of our community and department, and we miss her greatly. What is this loss done to your department? It's The loss has really gotten to us. They're happy that, you know, justice is going to be served for their sister that they worked alongside.

According to the arrest warrant, part of the altercation was called on ring camera. Becky can be heard saying, Yolanda, please, I don't want to die. Yolanda responding, you should have thought about that before. Court documents go on to say Yolanda can be seen at one point standing in front of Rebecca with what appeared to be a knife in her right hand. Police say three days after the killing, a witness shared a text from Yolanda with officials that read in part. Becky came home and told me she was leaving me. She met someone else. We had a big fight and I hurt her. I'm sorry. Yolanda has served time for killing another spouse. In 2003, she pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter of her stabbing and killing her husband, Jim Olenichek, inside their home, according to court records. She served more than 13 years in prison and was released in 2015, according to officials.

I think she'll hopefully be brought to justice for this. I mean, apparently, as we found out more and more about her, that she'd kind of done this once before. All right, Dana Griffin joins us tonight from L.A. So, Dana, what happened after Yolanda was brought back to California? And has a court day been set yet? Yeah, so, Tom, when U.S. authorities took custody of Yolanda, she was admitted for medical treatment.

Officials couldn't share why, but tell NBC News she was not injured during her arrest. Now, this afternoon, Yolanda was booked into the Las Calinas Detention Center in San Diego County. Her arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday. She will be charged with murder, and if convicted, faces 25 years to life in prison. By the way, Becky was a part of the biker community, and over the weekend, her friends held a memorial ride in her honor. Tom. Dana Griffin for us, Dana, thank you. We're back in a moment with bearing witness.

The American who was inside the El Salvador mega prison, as detainees arrived from the U.S. what he saw there, plus why President Trump is trying to get this portrait of him removed, and the update late today. Stay with us. All right, we're back now with Top Stories News Feed. We start with a high school basketball coach in upstate New York fired for pulling a player's ponytail. The video shows the coach Yankee and the girl's ponytail and yelling at her after an emotional state championship loss. the girls' teammates jumping to her defense, the school district terminating the coach,

saying it was disturbed by his conduct, the coach apologizing and expressing regret for his behavior. A portrait of President Trump in Colorado's state capital is being taken down after the president himself criticized the artwork. Here's how it looked. The president posted on Truth Social that the portrait was, quote, purposefully distorted, and Republican leaders requested to be removed.

It was painted during Trump's first term and was commissioned for 10,000. through a GoFundMe page, the artist's previously painted portraits of former president's Barack Obama and George W. Bush. The first black Republican woman elected to Congress has died after a battle with cancer. Former Representative Mia Love served Utah's fourth congressional district from 2015 to 2019. Love also served as mayor of her hometown Saratoga Springs. Her daughter said earlier this month that she was no longer responding to brain cancer treatment. She was 49 years old.

All right, now to the Americas. And new reporting tonight from inside the mega prison in El Salvador, where hundreds of Venezuelan migrants are now being held. In a new piece for Time magazine, reporter Philip Halsinger was granted rare access as three planes arrived in El Salvador carrying more than 200 men, designated as gang members by the Trump administration, deported from the United States. Halsinger capturing these images you see right here. For more on this moment and others, Philip Halsinger joins us now from El Salvador. Philip, thank you so much for joining Top Story. You've done extensive reporting in El Salvador and got this incredible access.

First, before we go over your images, we have some video that was given out by the government of El Salvador. What was the message being sent with these images? Well, I think, you know, El Salvador is totally transformed from a murderous nation to really one of the safest places in the world.

And, you know, in agreement or not, this president is very proud to show people that he's got a zero-tolerance policy on crime, typically with MS-13, not, you know, foreigners coming to his country. Yeah, this is a first. I do want to show our viewers some of your images. We're going to start with this when it shows a man who's obviously being detained and it looks like he's being dragged out into custody right here. Talk to us about this image and what you thought as you were snapping this photo.

So, you know, this image is different because, you know, the methodology for, you know, any sort of incarceration is, you know, in theory is, you know, the bowed body, shackled hands and feet is how you protect them and, you know, protect yourself. This is actually more of a benign picture how you, you know, move a prisoner. It's really the faces of the Venezuelans that really became the story because they looked very different than your typical gang members. Yeah, and, you know, we have that video showing what it looks like in these Supermax prisons. I do want to ask you, you know, all the people that were detained and then deported to El Salvador, the Trump administration is saying these are gang members. But you were also hearing a different story. Talk to our viewers about some of the things that you may be.

heard or some of the reporting that's out there that some of these people may not be gang members. Yes, I mean, it's, you know, no one would be surprised that somebody accused of a crime and a jail would claim to be innocent. And to be honest, I grow a little hard into hearing claims of innocence. What's different is, you know, these guys, when they arrived, and their faces looked shocked. I mean, they looked like guys that just came out of a nightclub. I mean, they actually weren't in prison garb. They were still in their street clothes.

And one way that I've described it is you kind of understand the sound of a whimper. And I'm not claiming that all of these guys are innocents or any of them, but some of them that were claiming innocence, they whimpered. They didn't sound like the people that I've heard in different parts of the world, and I've been in a lot of prisons in the world. And their body language and everything said something else. Yeah, there was an image that we want to show our viewers now. It was inside one of the vehicles, the armored vehicles.

We talk about El Salvador sending a message. The Trump administration also sending a message as well, because these men essentially, what your images remind me of are things you see out of Gitmo, the way terrorists are sort of handled terrorist prisoners. And that's the way the Trump administration views these gang members, right? That's the argument they're making in the courts as well. And when you see an image like this, which is inside an armored vehicle, you see the police force, the military force there.

You could probably tell our viewers better completely, you know, loaded up. They have the guns in hand, fingers probably on the trigger, and then the prisoner shackled in a stance, almost in a field position. Yeah. So it's very important to say what this particular photograph is. The Venezuelans were all loaded on the buses. There are a few verified known gang members. This was one of them. This particular guy in this picture was MS-13. They were transported under heavy guard because this is why El Salvador even had a crackdown on gangs. This was one of the main murderers and not to be too graphic, but the murder protocol of MS-13 and Barrio 18 is the stuff of nightmares. And so, you know, the being in an armored vehicle for this guy was a little different than the others, but that's not to say that they all handled with the same, you know, definitive force. Right. And of these 200 or so men that were taken there to El Salvador,

or we had this last image I want to show our viewers. It's of a head being shaved. Explain to our viewers why this is happening. So, you know, part of the process, this prison that they're being taken into is called Sikot. It's an acronym, but it's the center for terrorism confinement. It's a terrorism confinement center. It was built specifically for gang members.

And when they enter in, they're stripped of everything. thing. Because when you come into this prison, you know, all your clothes, hair, everything is shaved off, and you're given, you know, white clothes to wear, and then you're brought into the Supermax. Yeah. Yeah. Before we go, you mentioned some of these guys are known gang members, gang leaders. They've done horrific things. If they're guilty of these crimes, they deserve the punishment that their future holds for them, if you will. Some of these men, as you mentioned, may be innocent. What are the chances, I know you're not a lawyer, but what are the chances that those innocent people will ever get out of that supermax prison once they're in the system?

I actually, I've been meeting with a lot of people in the past few days. I actually think there's a good chance. And here's why. And I want to be very careful here. Nobody's whispering in my ear. I've heard nothing official from the El Salvador and government, but I suspect that the El Salvadorans were surprised that there weren't files handed to them of who these guys were. And I think there's some shuffling going on here going, who are these guys? We accepted to bring people like MS-13 here and who are these guys. Now it's very possible that these guys are what they're being accused of.

But I think that people are doing a second look at these guys. I have confidence, and it's why, in part, I chose to, I'm working on a book here, and I chose to work with time to publish a piece of my story, which I rarely do. As you probably can see, I run under the radar. It doesn't hardly exist online. I chose to publish this piece now, in part, in the hopes that it would help people have that conversation of who exactly are these guys and, you know, and how do they come to be here? Philip Hallsinger with a bit of new reporting there for our viewers, which we appreciate.

We thank you for your time. We hope to speak to you again more in the future. Thank you. Thank you. Back here in the U.S., the Trump administration lobbying, new allegations against Columbia grad student Mahmood Khalil, saying he also broke the law by failing to report his membership in certain organizations when he applied for residency. Kaleel's legal team calling the move desperate. NBC's Antonio Hilton has the latest. At Columbia University today, the faculty flooding the campus in protest.

Professors and researchers, blasting university leaders for caving to a series of demands from President Trump in order to secure federal funding and calling for the release of graduate student Mahmoud Khalil. In the last few weeks, we've endured one crisis after another. There was the arrest and detention without charge of our former student, Mahmoud Khalil. The green card holder and pro-Palestinian activist is an Algerian citizen of Palestinian descent. He was detained by federal agents in New York, accused by Homeland Security of leading activities aligned with Hamas. We don't want people in our country.

They're going to be committing crimes and undermining our national security or the public safety. But now the Justice Department filing new allegations against Khalil, accusing him of breaking the law by failing to disclose membership in certain organizations in his permanent residency application, including that he was a member of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, a member of Columbia University apartheid divest, and that he was employed by the Syria office in the British Embassy in Beirut after 2022. According to U.S. citizenship and immigration services, it's considered fraud to misrepresent facts and conceal group memberships on such forms.

Khalil's legal team did not comment on the allegations but called the government's last minute addition desperate. They've added some sort of preposterous charges about some supposed inconsistency as application, which we can deal with in the immigration court. Khalil had initially been arrested under a rarely used immigration law, which gave the Secretary of State the authority to deport someone if it's determined that the person would have serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States, claiming his campus. protests were aligned with Hamas, something Khalil's legal team denies and says there's no evidence of.

The only activities they've ever identified, which they say are contrary to the foreign policy and the United States, is his constitutionally protected speech and advocacy on behalf of Palestinian human rights. This comes as Khalil's wife, Nor Abdallah, broke her silence on his arrest to CBS News. My husband was taken away for me in the middle of the night. It was one of the terrifying times of my life. I don't think I've ever experienced anything scarier than that. You're going to be under arrest. Abdallah, a U.S. citizen, recording the moments her husband was taken away by federal agents on March 8th. According to the ACLU, who released the video, everyone's face except Khalil's was blurred by the ACLU. For now, Khalil remains in detention in Louisiana.

Release Mahmoud right now. As protests rage outside and a battle looms in court. It's disgusting that that that's what they're resorting to, that that's the tactic that they're using to make him look like this person that he's not. Literally, it's so simple. He just does not want his people to be murdered and killed. And with that, Antonio Hilton joins us tonight from outside Columbia University in New York City.

Antonio, there seems to be two different cases happening here when it comes to Khalil's cases. There's one in New Jersey and one in Louisiana. How are they different? That's right. His attorneys have to fight on two fronts right now. In Louisiana, Khalil is going through the immigration court process. So he has to appear in front of an immigration-specific judge on matters surrounding his permanent residency, his immigration status.

But in New Jersey, that is federal court. And his attorneys are going to go in front of a federal judge and argue that the government's accusations against him are not just wrong, but unconstitutional. Their hope is that if they get a win there, that will invalidate what's happening at the immigration court level as well. But what's very likely is that we're going to see over the course of the next several days that they are splitting their time and fighting in two states at once, Tom. Antonio Hilton for us tonight from New York City. Antonio, we thank you for that. In power and politics tonight, the Democratic Party facing a leadership crisis in the Senate. Minority leader Chuck Schumer under fire for voting to advance that GOP spending bill, helping avert a government shutdown, but also handing the Trump administration a major victory.

and greater spending latitude as they reshape the federal government. This weekend, the growing chorus among some Democrats, calling for Schumer to step down, arriving outside his New York home as protesters demanded his resignation from leadership. Schumer addressing those questions this Sunday on Meet the Press. Look, I'm not stepping down. And let me just say this, Kristen. I knew when I cast my vote against the government shutdown,

that it would be, that there'd be a lot of controversy. The CR was certainly bad, you know, the continuing resolution, but a shutdown would be 15 or 20 times worse. But Democratic voters' frustrations with their leaders has been simmering for weeks at Town Halls nationwide Democratic lawmakers, hearing outrage from their constituents that they're not doing more to oppose the Trump agenda. Simone Sanders, Townsend, and MSNBC co-host and former senior advisor to Vice President Harris,

taking her frustrations about Schumers move one step further. Live on air. There's actually little that the Senate minority leader can say, and the 10 Democrats that voted with the Republicans can say, to appease somebody like me. I'm about to change my registration to independent, first and foremost. Shout out to Hakeem Jeffries, though, because the congressional Democrats stayed together.

And Simone joins us now. Simone, thank you so much for joining Top Story tonight. quite the moment there. Let me start with Senator Chuck Schumer. Should he step down as minority leader? The question is, does Senator Schumer have the confidence of his caucus and Democrats writ large to lead them? Is he in a position where he can lead and not be a distraction? And I think if maybe the first answer to that question is, sure, he has the confidence of most of the caucus, but I do not believe he's in a position where he can lead and not be a distraction. So I would say he's facing a very similar moment that President Biden faced in.

in the general election against now President Donald Trump. President Biden, he went out there, notably on MSNBC, saying he is staying in the race. He called into Morning Joe for a wide-ranging interview. He put out a letter, if you will, to Democrats, a dear colleague. And still, Democratic leaders, Chuck Schumer being one of them, did not relent. So I encourage folks not to relent. I don't think Chuck Schumer has the fortitude, frankly, for this fight. And let me just say, Tom.

It's not just his vote on the CR. It's all of the things that he said afterwards. Notably, that he believes that if, by 2026, Republicans will be willing to work with Democrats because Donald Trump will be more unpopular. He said it worked in 2017. This one is not 2017, but two, I don't think the senator is taking in the realities of the Elon Musk money factor here that is keeping many Republicans at bay when it comes to their criticism. Do you think these protests matter? Will they matter? Oh, I absolutely think the protests matter for two reasons.

One, it is a message to Democrats in Washington, D.C., elected leaders that this is where their voters are, that their people are demanding that they speak and that they're not just going to go by the wayside. But two, they're important because while the midterms are over a year away, what is happening across the country right now are elections in various spaces and places. Lots of attention on the April 1st Supreme Court election in Wisconsin, the state's Court election, lots of attention on the special election in Florida, frankly, to replace the seat that was once occupied by the president's now national security advisor.

There's also an election in Pennsylvania tomorrow to decide the makeup of that particular chamber. And when it comes to some of these down-ballot races, particularly in state legislatures across the country, Democrats have been winning in these special elections. There was a special election in Minnesota that made a difference in who was going to have control of the chamber. held on to that state Senate seat. So that energy should and can be translated into voters at the ballot box, but that work has to happen to connect the dust. I asked you this after the election. I'll ask you again tonight. Has a leader emerged for the Democratic Party yet?

No, not yet, Tom. We're still waiting with bated breath. I'm checking my watch that doesn't exist. But look, you know, I'm someone that doesn't believe that the Democrats need one particular leader right now. I think if you go back to 2017, as the good senator would like us to do, it was not the elected officials that were the leading the resistance, if you will, or the opposition to the first Trump administration. It was the people. So the people standing up, I think, matter. I got two more questions in here for you, and we only have about a minute and a half. First, is there going to be a come-to-Jesus moment? Is it happening now where Democrats examine their leadership? And people like Senator Schumer, Representative Pelosi, Senator Bernie Sanders, fully step

aside to allow a new generation in? I think it needs to happen. I don't think it's It's going to happen in the next 30 to 60 days. But between now and the midterm elections, depending on how Democrats do, decisions will have to be made, leadership will have to be established. And I don't know if Senator Schumer holds on to the gavel as the minority leader in that scenario. Is this is what's happening now with the Democratic Party, what happened with the Republicans, I'd say after the Tea Party movement, after President Obama was elected? Is this going to pave the way for an outsider? Bloomberg tried in 2020. that wasn't very successful.

But do you see an outsider coming in to lead the Democratic Party to eventually maybe become the nominee? I do not, because I don't think the Democratic voters are as, I mean, if they wanted an outsider, they would have elected Senator Sanders. I worked for him in 2015. I remember the crowds at that time. As I always tell people, crowds don't necessarily vote. Senator Sanders had 15,000, 12,000, 10,000 crowds of folks all across the country,

but obviously he was not successful in that Democratic primary. I think that Democratic voters, they want a Democrat. They want someone that they know that they can trust it is authentic, that they believe will fight for them, and that has a vision. And that's what a primary process will be for. But Tom, I don't know if we're going to get to a presidential primary process the way this Trump administration is going, but I will hope. Okay, we're going to have to leave the conversation there.

We'll pick up another time. Always a pleasure to have you on this broadcast. Good to see you, and congratulations. I appreciate it, Simone. Thank you. Up next, you probably signed up for 23. and me at some point in the past five years. Now, it's going bankrupt. So what happens to all the data about your personal genetics? What you can do about it next? Plus, forbidden temple, the German tourist who brazenly broke the rules, climbing up a sacred Mayan temple,

and the security who chased him down. Stay with us. Back now with Top Stories Global Watch, and we start in Turkey, where more than 1,100 people, including several journalists, have been detained in violent protests across the country. In Istanbul, protesters launching fireworks at police, officers deploying water cannons and pepper spray to push back the massive crowds. The streets have been flooded with demonstrators since last Wednesday, when Istanbul's mayor

was arrested on corruption charges. That mayor is a political rival of Turkey's president, Erdogan, and he has denied the charges. The co-director of this year's best documentary at the Oscars reportedly beat up in the West Bank. Witness is telling the AP director, director Hamdad Balal was attacked by 10 to 20 Israeli settlers. Video shows the settlers throwing rocks and sticks at others in the same area, though the director

is not seen in this footage. The activists say Israeli soldiers detain Balal and that they do not know where he is now. The IDF says it is investigating the incident but did not comment further. His film, No Other Land chronicles the destruction of parts of the occupied West Bank by Israeli soldiers. And a German tourist was arrested after climbing a historic Mayan temple. in Mexico. Look at this. Watch as the man climbs to the top of the pyramid at

Chichenitsa, a security guard then chases after him. He was eventually escorted out by the Mexican National Guard and could face a fine. Climbing the steps has been prohibited since 2008 for safety and to preserve the nearly 1,000-year-old structure. Okay, back here at home,

Ancestry Service 23 and Me, filing for bankruptcy. The company which has received genetic information from millions of customers says there will be no change in the the data is stored, but concerns are now growing about who could get their hands on the information. Stephanie Goss reports. A key to unlock family history and possibly improve one's own health.

My DNA journey started here with 23 and me. But now 23 and me, the company that has collected genetic samples from millions of customers is filing for bankruptcy. I'm the California Attorney General. I'm also a consumer. It's a decision that's best for me to delete today. Attorney General Rob Banta says he's deleting his 23-and-Me account and others should consider doing the same thing. What is your biggest concern about this bankruptcy?

That the private-sensitive data and information of 14 million consumers who have used 23M-Me could get into the wrong hands. In a statement, 23-Me says it will continue operating its business in the ordinary course during bankruptcy proceedings, adding there are no changes to the way the company stores, manages, or protects customers. data. But in 2023, a cyber breach exposed the data of nearly 7 million customers. 23 and me settled a lawsuit for $30 million. Last fall, the company announced it was letting go of hundreds of employees and closing its therapeutics division because profits were dropping. Still, co-founder Anne Wojiski sounded upbeat about 23 and me's future at the time. Is a company still viable, in your opinion? A hundred percent. Is it? Yes. I believe, I believe in the company. I believe in the long-term mission, but I believe it's essential for us to restructure.

Posting today that her belief in the company and its future is unwavering. Wogiske says she is stepping down as CEO so she can possibly buy the company back herself if the court allows it to be auctioned off. And whoever buys it will have to follow the original privacy statements, according to 23 and me. But that doesn't mean those privacy statements can't change in the future. I. Glenn Cohen is a Harvard law professor. What is your message? to customers today, about 23 and me. Hey, careful close attention to what happens next. Be careful about clicking through anything that looks like a change in the privacy statement.

All right, Stephanie, Goss joins us in studio. So, Stephanie, first up, this company was so successful, so popular. How did they go bankrupt? Well, they stopped getting customers. And part of the reason may have been the fact that in 2023 there was a cybersecurity breach, and nearly half of their customers had their information compromised by that breach. might put a chill on new customers. So our viewers watch your story.

They're going to hear that Attorney General and say, okay, I'm going to delete my account. How do they do that? Is it hard? Okay. It's not that tough. Going to your profile into settings, there's an area that is called 23Mee data. You have an option to download your data. You also have an option to permanently delete it if you want to.

Okay. And then for the people at home watch and saying, look, I did 23 and me. I found my long-lost cousin in Arizona. It's been great. What do I have to worry about? But there's a real danger that this data is out there. and in the wrong hands, it could be incredibly dangerous.

It can be, because you know what it is, Tom? It is your health data. That's what it is. And that's why we have HIPAA laws so that that information isn't used against you. Imagine a scenario where you're trying to get life insurance, and that life insurance knows what your DNA is and your potential for illness down the road.

You can see how in the wrong hands it could be used in a bad way. All right, Stephanie Gossack for us tonight. Stephanie, we thank you for that. We're back in a moment with Big League dreams coming true, how this player delivered the news to his mother that after years of working as an Uber driver, even a substitute teacher, he's now a Yankee. Stay with us. Finally tonight, from behind the wheel to behind the plate, the newest member of the New York Yankees getting his big break in this now viral moment

we're going to show you after years of hard work, odd jobs, and even a stint as an Uber driver. Take a look. It's the meeting. catcher J.C. Escarra has waited his whole life for, sitting down with Yankees manager, Aaron Boone, ahead of opening day. And you've done everything you could have expected. At first, that coveted spot on the roster seems just out of reach. But as you know, we, I mean, we have a lot of catching depth. As you know, so that's what makes this hard. But the 29-year-old son of Cuban refugees is used to setbacks. He spent the better part of a decade in the minor

leagues and international baseball. Escara had no doubt for a moment that that one was going to leave the ballpark. At one point in 2022 after being released by the Orioles, J.C. taking on odd jobs to help pay the bills and keep his major league dreams alive, from Uber to food delivery, even a stint as a substitute teacher. J.C. powering through and grabbing the attention of scouts at the New York Yankees. And J.C. Ascara is going through his best week, maybe of his life. But back in that meeting, a curveball from his manager.

That spot on the roster had his name on it all along. Now, you're going to big leagues. Let's go. Congratulations. The major leagues. You earned it. I appreciate it, my brother. Thank you for the opportunity.

His first call to his mother and grandmother. Mom, Vanu, Ayur, he tells her the dream came true. The newest player to put on the pinstripes, just letting it all sink in. Good luck to J.C. and the Yankees as their season kicks off this week. We thank you for watching Top Story. I'm Tom Yamis in New York. Stay right there. More news on the way.