Top Story with Tom Llamas - Monday, November 17, 2025

Episode Date: November 18, 2025

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

Tonight, President Trump's major reversal on Epstein, not only telling Republicans to vote to release the files, but also saying he'll sign a bill if it reaches his desk. The dramatic change in course less than 24 hours away from the vote on those highly sought-after documents are new reporting on why he switched positions. And the reaction from Epstein's survivors who hope the full truth is about to be revealed. Also tonight, the new images of the Navy's largest aircraft carrier now off the coast of Latin America, as President Trump, new military action against drug producers in Colombia and Mexico. An Indiana man charged in the fatal shooting of a house cleaner who showed up at the wrong house, why prosecutors argue he isn't protected by the stand-your-ground law there. Terrifying break-ins at the mansions of Real Housewives stars while they were away at BravoCon.

Kathy Hilton's husband inside when intruders busted in the latest incident in a string of attacks on reality stars' homes. The Gen Z-driven protests now reaching Mexico, Demonstrators demanding justice to submit what they call a wave of crime and corruption. Jeff Bezos getting back in the CEO chair. What we're learning about his new billion-dollar AI startup. And forget flying saucers. The era of flying Uber's is here. Our exclusive look at a commercial air taxi service getting ready for takeoff.

Would you get in one? Plus Hollywood duds movies with significant star power struggling at the box office. So why are movie lovers staying home? Top story. It starts right now. And good evening. We begin tonight with that stunning reversal from President Trump backing a move he's opposed for months to compel the Justice Department to release the Epstein files. The president now encouraging lawmakers to vote to force his own DOJ to make those documents public, saying he'd signed the bill if it reached his desk. NBC News has learned the reversal came as Republicans cautioned the White House.

there could be mass defections voting to release the files. Nearly 20 Republican members have already said they'd vote to do just that. That number now expected to grow in tomorrow's vote. White House officials had just days ago tried to discourage voting for the measure. Trump has now endorsed, and disagreements over Epstein have helped cause two very public disputes between Trump and his fellow Republicans. Thomas Massey of Kentucky and one of Trump's longtime allies, Marjorie Taylor Green. It's not the first time Trump has reversed course on the Epstein case. On the campaign trail, he promised supporters to declassifies the files.

But once in office, he pivoted, calling the issue a hoax, fueled by Democrats and a distraction from his successes. Now he says he doesn't care. He has nothing to hide. The big question tonight, what else could be in those secret files? And if they're held by Trump's DOJ, why doesn't he just release them now? Hallie Jackson leads us off tonight from Washington. President Trump tonight speaking publicly for the first time since his rare reversal over releasing the DOJ's Jeffrey Epstein case files. I'm all for it.

Now saying he supports Republicans in both chambers of Congress voting to try to force the release of files related to the sex offender. The president suggesting he'd sign it into law after posting overnight, we have nothing to hide. NBC's Garrett Haig pressing him today. What I just don't want Epstein to do is, detract from the great success of the Republican Party, including the fact that the Democrats are totally blamed for the shutdown. I'm for any, I don't, they can do whatever they want. We'll give them everything. Sure, I would. Let the Senate look at it, let anybody look at it. The president's political pivot coming after months of resistance. I call it the Epstein

hoax. But one conservative lawmaker telling NBC News, some in the GOP recently warned the White House, there would be mass defections among Republicans backing this bipartisan bill. The writing on the wall. Trump appears to have chickened out on the Epstein scandal. He's caved. It's a complete and total surrender. The president lashing out at Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green, who's been vocal in her support for the bill, despite threats, she says, after the president's online attacks. I stand with these women. I stand with rape victims. President Trump has not been accused of wrongdoing related to Epstein. Now, the path paved for a potentially landslide vote in the House, and this late today from a top Trump ally in the Senate. Sure, I'd vote for it.

The Democrats have been yelling about it. Let's just shut them up. Some Epstein survivors urging Americans to make their voices heard in a new PSA. It's time to shine a light into the darkness. Hoping for transparency. Knowing how popular this is with the American people, that a tremendous amount of pressure placed on the government means things happen and that this really could move forward. All right, Hallie Jackson joins us tonight from Washington. Hallie, great to see you here on Top Story. Walk us through

what could happen now with this vote tomorrow. And I understand the Speaker has also addressed sort of some of the machinations that are going to happen with this vote. Yeah, let's get into the weeds then about it, Tom. Speaker Johnson suggests that the way they're going to do this, the procedure in which this will happen need two-thirds support to pass. He was asked the Speaker if he would vote in support of this

bill, which is particularly relevant. Again, this is coming into us in just the last couple of minutes here. It's particularly relevant given what you just talked about, what we just covered there, the president's you turn on this, essentially green lighting support for other Republicans to get on board trying to force the release of this. Speaker Johnson is holding that close to the vest, at least for now. He says he's going to talk more tomorrow morning about his position on this. Remember, he all along had suggested that this bill, this push, was essentially redundant because he says the House Oversight Committee is already working to try to release documents. That obviously was something

that Congressman Massey, Congressman Kana, that bipartisan co-sponsorses of this bill felt differently about. The question is, is this going to be a landslide? We have one top Republican in the House telling our team, he thinks almost everybody is going to back it in that chamber. Next step could then be a Senate vote. That may happen as early as this week, could happen after Thanksgiving. But one question that I have that we've been asking, you know, if the president supports this and supports the release of the files, he could just tell his DOJ. It appears he could tell the DOJ to release you know, what they have. That has not yet happened. As far as what could be in those files, Tom, it's a really good question. Our team reports it could be things like other emails or

messages related to Jeffrey Epstein, other evidence seized from various properties that Epstein had, financial records, investigative summaries as well. We won't know till we see them, and it's a real question mark on the timeline there, Tom. Yeah, and then before you go, do we know if they vote on it in the House tomorrow, the Senate we think we'll get it sometime this week? I mean, when could potentially the Epstein files be released to the public if everything goes as planned? It's a good, listen, these things tend to take some time. Now, that said, you know, the DOJ, there has been a discussion since the day Donald Trump, President Trump was inaugurated, about the potential to release the files. So presumably, it's possible that some folks at the DOJ

were working on doing things like redacting victims' names, et cetera. That said, these things tend to not be instantaneous. There may be a bit of a lag time. I would also caution, you know, we don't know when the Senate is even going to take action on their part, too. They go on their Thanksgiving vacation next week, so things may not really get going until December if they get going over there at all. Okay, Hallie Jackson, leading us off here on top story. We're following another update out of the Trump administration tonight. The president issuing a stark warning about his war on drugs saying he's open to striking cartels inside of Mexico and Colombia. Here's Garrett Haig. Tonight with America's largest aircraft carrier now in the Caribbean and after another deadly U.S.

strike against an alleged drug boat, President Trump signaling he's willing to expand his war on drug cartels into Mexico. Would I launch strikes in Mexico to stop drugs? It's okay with me. Whatever we have to do to stop drugs. We know their address. We know their front door. We know everything about every one of them. And Columbia, too, where over 90 percent of cocaine smuggled into the U.S. is produced. Colombia has cocaine factories where they make cocaine. Would I knock out those factories? I would be proud to do it personally. I didn't say I'm doing it, but I would be proud to do it because we're going to save millions of lives by doing it. The president has already been weighing options to strike targets in Venezuela. Is there anything you're ready to rule out at this

point? Are you ruling out U.S. troops on the ground? No, I don't rule out. That I don't rule out anything. We just have to take care of Venezuela. But also, holding out the possibility he'd speak with Venezuela's authoritarian leader Nikola's Maduro, whom the administration accuses of running one of the country's cartels, which Maduro denies. Are you prepared to speak with him directly? Would you commit to doing that before you order the strikes? Yeah, I probably would talk to him. Yeah, I'd talk to everybody. While critics say those boat strikes have already gone too far. These strikes are illegal, and it's creating major problems for the U.S.

Garrett Higg joins us tonight from the White House. So, Garrett, if viewers are watching this, and they're trying to understand what the president said today. He seemed to be open to a lot of things. He also didn't seem to commit to anything. Yeah, that's right. I mean, I look at what the administration is doing more than what the president is saying. What they're doing is moving this advanced carrier group into the Caribbean. There's something like 15,000 military personnel in the Caribbean right now.

And they're blowing up these drug boats on an almost daily or a couple times a week basis, Tom. There's no indication from what I heard from the president today that that pressure campaign against Venezuela is going. going to end. The political pressure he's gotten on that from Democrats and Republicans has been fairly mild. Now, expanding that to attack targets in or related to Colombia, sort of nominally an ally, or Mexico, really our second biggest trading partner in this hemisphere, would be a whole different kettle of fish politically. That said, presidents have a lot of authority in this space, and this president in particular likes to push the bounds of that authority. And that seemed to be the indication he was giving in this Oval Office meeting today, that he's going to keep pushing

to see how far his authority can take him to conduct this drug war. All right, Garrett, Hayk for us at the White House. Garrett, thank you to Indiana now, where authorities have decided to charge that homeowner with voluntary manslaughter. You may remember after he shot and killed a housekeeper who mistakenly showed up to the wrong door. Aaron McLaughlin has this update. Tonight outside Indianapolis, a homeowner behind bars charged with voluntary manslaughter,

The person did not have a reasonable belief that that type of force was necessary. Prosecutors say Kurt Anderson shot and killed housekeeper Maria Floreinda Rios Perez. After she and her husband mistakenly tried to enter his home at around 7 a.m. on November 5th. Video shows the bullet hole through the front door from the fatal shot that struck Perez in the head. Her husband, Maricio, desperate to save her. Seeing my wife in my arms already lifeless, covered in blood, I felt like the child. they tore everything from me, he says. The couple had been booked to clean another house in the same neighborhood. According to court documents, Anderson told investigators he and his wife

woke up to the sound of what appeared to be some type of keys, tools, or instrument being used on the front door of the residence. He said he could hear and see that the individuals outside were still trying to get into his home, adding it was getting more and more aggressive. According to court documents, the couple never made it inside and that there were no handprints or any evidence of forceful contact with the structure of the door itself. In a statement, Anderson's lawyer pointing to the Castle Doctrine, which he wrote, allows a person to use reasonable force, including deadly force, if he reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent an unlawful entry into his home.

That our decision today in no way should be interpreted as a challenge to Indiana stand-your-ground law. Anderson has yet to enter a plea. All right, Aaron McLaughlin joins us now in studio. So, Aaron, do we know what's next for Anderson? What is the next step for us, court hearing? Well, his next hearing is scheduled for Friday. It seems likely that this case will go to trial. We heard there from his lawyer in that statement pointing to the Castle Doctrine.

When it comes to the Castle Doctrine, I've been speaking to legal experts, the key question is, was the force used reasonable and was it necessary? I was speaking to the prosecutor shortly after this happened as he was weighing these charges. And he told me he was going to be looking at a number of factors. enter the home. We now know from these court documents that they did not. How quickly did Anderson call 911? We know that he called 911 after the shot was fired. Anderson in his own video statement saying he only waited 10 to 15 seconds between getting his gun and firing that fatal shot. All of that is going to be likely weighed by a jury. Okay, Aaron McGlock and big update

in that story. Thank you. That is Charlotte where Homeland Security says federal agent have arrested more than 100 people as part of its latest immigration crackdown. This one's called Operation Charlotte's Web. Some of those encounters escalating into violent clashes, NBC's Ryan Chandler on the ground for us there in that city. Tonight, federal agents ramping up their immigration crackdown in Charlotte. The Department of Homeland Security says Border Patrol has arrested more than 130 people since Saturday. Among them, they say, are criminals with a history of assault, DUIs,

gang affiliation. DHS not specifying how many of those detained have criminal histories. Too many times we're finding that some very, very disreputable individuals are seeking work in people's homes. Across the city encounters turning angry and chaotic. Officers breaking this man's car window. Confrontations turning violent at times. H.S. says one officer was injured when a man drove a van into a law enforcement SUV. 24-year-old citizen Miguel Martinez now charged with felony assault. Today, one witness telling NBC News, more than 20 Border Patrol agents showed up at a community center for refugee and immigrant children. No children were present.

This is not making us safer. It's stoking fear and dividing our community. It's scary. Some residents say their citizenship isn't enough to feel safe. Jonathan Ocampo's parents immigrated here from Colombia. He showed us the passport. He now carries everywhere. It's sad that, you know, I'm not going on an international trip or anything, but I have to carry this. Hispanic-owned businesses closing their doors to avoid becoming targets. Manolo's bakery shuttered for a third straight day. Owner Manolo Betancourt stands guard outside, sounding his whistle when he thinks he spots border patrol.

How long do you plan to keep your bakery closed? That's what he takes. And people here insist, those fears. persist among citizens and non-citizens alike. You saw that bakery owner just there. His shop has really turned into something of the epicenter of the opposition. He is closing for what he says is one of the only times in almost 30 years of business. He says that he doesn't want to put his employees or his customers at risk of becoming targets. So now for one of the first times, you see the closed signs on the dark windows and also signs of support. Some people coming by the shop

to leave a message. We miss you. We love you. Stay safe. It's part of this grassroots effort to show support for people like him as the Border Patrol surge continues. Tom. We're going to turn now to an urgent man hunt in New York tonight for the man who shot an NFL player outside of a restaurant not far from Times Square. Officials releasing new images and asking the public for help as New York Jet Chris Boyd remains in critical condition. NBC Stephanie Gosk has the latest. Tonight, new video from the scene where New York Jets defensive player Chris Boyd was shot. First responders urgently treating someone on the street in Midtown Manhattan. The NYPD now releasing these images of the suspected shooter fleeing after the incident early Sunday morning,

asking for the public's help finding it. A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation says Boyd was shot in the abdomen after a fight broke out. A confirmed no shot. Two rounds were fired, according to the source. One hit the professional football player and lodged in his lung. Police say the shooting took place just after 2 a.m. outside this restaurant. I'm only about four blocks from Times Square. The restaurant tells NBC News that it's working with investigators and they have already turned over security footage from that night.

The New York Jets have not commented other than acknowledging that the team is aware of the incident. Some concerned players speaking out today. Perrys for him and his family and hopefully that everything will end up being all right. Defensive tackle Harris and Phillips writing, Give his family strength. Chris is a fighter and we're all here for him. Boyd's career in the NFL started in 2019 playing for the Minnesota Vikings. He is currently on a one-year contract with the Jets but hasn't played after a season-ending shoulder injury. Now the 29-year-old is battling to recover from a gunshot wound and his alleged shooter is still on the run.

Okay, Stephanie joins us now with an update here. So we got that video from the restaurant. Does the restaurant have any more video maybe of the fight that started all this? Yeah, I mean, the restaurant says they've turned over their security footage to investigators. You have to imagine that, and on that busy street, Tom, not just this restaurant, but a lot of other locations probably have the entire incident on camera. According to the restaurant, it all happened outside after they closed. What's interesting, too, is that, you know, the police coming out and say, we have a suspect, this is what he looks like. They don't have his identity. That's the only reason they would release those images of him.

And in a case like this, it can really be the public that is the deciding factor here on finding him. All right. Stephanie Goss, we thank you for that. We're going to be back in a moment here on Top Story with the terrifying smash and grab at a jewelry store in California. We'll show you how the owner managed to fend off a gang of five crooks inside of a store. Plus another string of celebrity home break-ins, this time impacting stars from the real housewives of Beverly Hills. The new details just in. And from the roads to the sky, our exclusive look at Uber's new fleet of flying taxis looking to take off overseas and right here at home in the States. Stay with us.

We're back now with the break-ins on Bravo's biggest night. The homes of two Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, cast members Kathy Hilton and Sutton Strait, were burglarized while the stars were away at a massive fan convention in Vegas. called BravoCon. And as NBCC Patterson reports, it's not the first time members of the franchise have been impacted. We got it. Let's party. Yes. As Real Housewives of Beverly Hill star Kathy Hilton showed up for fans at BravoCon in Las Vegas. We are getting along so well. Back in the city of Angels, a late night break-in at her multi-million dollar Bel Air home. Los Angeles police say the burglary was reported just before midnight on Saturday. Hilton's reps

telling NBC news, Kathy's husband Rick was home at the time, adding everyone is fine. Well, hello, very elegant, madame. The Hilton home previously featured on the series. Burglars also hitting co-star Sutton Straten's home this weekend while she was at Bravo Con, according to her rep. We do not have a great winning streak in that department. A multi-day convention featuring 160 Bravo stars attended by 300,000 fans, and and blasted all over social media.

Anytime that anyone can see that you are probably away from home in real time at another event, your residents certainly can't become a target. The incidents, the latest in a string of break-ins, impacting real housewives of Beverly Hills cast members. It's just an unfortunate thing that's been happening here in the city. There's just been a lot of burglaries lately. In July, three people jumped a gate and broke into a side door at Teddy Mellon Camp's Encino home. Luckily, the cameras detected people jumping. so we kind of knew right away.

And in 2021, Get tired of the ground. I'm going to fucking kill you. Dorrit Kemsley recounted being held at gunpoint. I was just hunched over, hunched over sobbing, going, please, please, I have little babies, please I'm a mother, please, I beg of you,

my kids name me, please, please, please, please, please. As thieves took about a million invalubles. Four years later, no arrest have been made in that case. Steve Patterson joins us tonight. Steve, have we heard from either house, wise? You know, Tom, so far, they're not speaking out about this directly. Most of what we know has been through police or through reps for the stars. Both Hilton's track, though, appeared at Bravo Khan on Sunday, but they didn't talk about it. And just remember that this has happened enough

times now that previous robberies have become storylines on the show, so fans may just have to stay tuned. Tom? Okay. Steve Patterson, good to see you, man. Moving overseas to Dubai and something that once only seemed possible, only in the movies. Uber launched in its flying taxi service, which will allow people to order trips in an aircraft roughly the same size as a large SUV. NBC's Kier-Simmons got exclusive access to how this works. Picture hailing an Uber and lifting off in one of these. Tonight, NBC News given behind-the-scenes access to an American firm in a global race to launch commercial air taxis. The company, Me, Joby, in partnership with Uber, has been testing and demonstrating around the world,

including here in Dubai, in California and in New York. This is click a button and get a flight. This is bringing the magic of flight to our everyday lives. So how will it work? A regular Uber will pick you up at your home or office and take you to a Bertie port, where you'll board a taxi unlike any other. The cabin will be air-conditioned with four passenger seats. So you may find yourself ride sharing.

Joby says a ride will cost around the same as an Uber black. Fully electric, the taxi can go 200 miles an hour and has been in development for 16 years. Roughly the size and weight of a large SUV. Listen to how quiet it is as it takes off. That's crucial because they're about to start testing it over Dubai's densely populated area. We met their test pilot, who in another life, put F-35s through. their paces. It's up there with the F-35 in terms of its responsiveness. For the many who will worry

about safety, he points to the aircraft's six propellers. We can still perform our flights and deliver our customers to where they need to be safely, even if we have a failure. At least five U.S. cities are hoping to be pioneers after President Trump simplified the process by executive order. Here in Dubai, vertiports are already under construction. The city set to be the first to launch a full fair. paying service, Joby says, as soon as next year. There are even countries and companies looking into the possibility of autonomous flying taxis.

Places like China, for example. That's flying taxis without a pilot, Tom. Of course, that is a lot further away. And there is a challenge of simply getting people comfortable with the whole idea, even liking it. You know, Tom, that cut to the daily commute. That will be part of it. Tom? I'm interested. You got my attention, Keir. All right, we thank you. Still ahead of Top Story. The fiery home explosion in California, sending debris flying through a neighborhood.

Plus, is your next car just a click away? Why you might be able to find your new ride on Amazon. But first, Top Story's top moment, and it's no longer Mission Impossible for actor Tom Cruise to receive an Academy Award. The movie legend receiving an honorary Oscar at this year's Governor's Award. after being nominated four times throughout his decades-long career. And no matter where we come from, in that theater, we laugh together, we feel together, we hope together, we dream together. And that is the power of this art form. That is why it matters.

That is why it matters to me. So making films is not what I do. It is who I am. Anne Cruz was in good company, actress and preys. producer and dancer, Debbie Allen, also receiving her long-awaited first Oscar. The two of them sharing this cute moment dancing together in celebration. I think Tom could take some dancing lessons. Congratulations to them both. Stay with us. More news on the way. We were back down with power and politics and a major defection in the MAGA coalition,

Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green publicly breaking with President Trump in recent weeks. Green rose to prominence as one of Trump's most vocal supporters, famous for her often venomous spats with Democrats. Like this one last year, you may remember with the Jasmine Crockett of Texas. Do you know what we're here for? You know we're here about AG. I don't think you know what you're here for. Well, you don't want to talking about.

I think your fake eyelashes are messing up. No, I ain't nothing. Hold on, hold on. Listen, if someone on this committee then starts talking about somebody's bleached blind, bad-built butch body that would not be engaging in personalities, correct? A what now? A what now? But in recent weeks, Green has started to criticize Trump over his focus on foreign issues

and his handling of the Epstein files. Finally this weekend, President Trump announcing he's withdrawing his support from the Georgia Congresswoman. Green saying she was worried the president would radicalize his base against her, to which President Trump said this. Her life is in danger? Who's that? Marjorie Taylor Green, she says.

Marjorie Trader Green. I don't think her life is in danger. I don't think, frankly, I don't think anybody cares about her. All right, to walk us through the falling out, I want to bring in our good friend NBC Senior National Political Reporter John Allen. John, thanks for being here. I mean, this is sort of strange to sort of witness, right? Unless politics are at play, right?

We just sort of outlined the broad strokes of the criticism Green has leveled at Trump. But walk us through the details here. This was one of the president's most powerful allies for a long time on Capitol Hill, and now he's calling her a traitor. How do we get here? Well, she's basically arguing that Donald Trump has abandoned the America First slogan and policies that he campaigned on. She's looking at things like him wanting to bring in high-skilled workers under an H-1B visa program versus Make America Great Again base and America First base that wants fewer legal immigrants

in addition to cracking down on illegal immigration. She's been at him on the Epstein file, something that the base has cared a lot about. She has argued that the United States should not be negotiating in so many foreign areas to be in America first country, and she's accused him of basically having a revolving door of foreign leaders coming here.

Muhammad bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, coming into Washington, D.C. this week as an example. So really a clash of the Titans here, and her basically saying that Trump has abandoned his base. And of course, Donald Trump may be feeling a little bit like he's being pushed out the door, firing back pretty hard, as you said, calling her a traitor. Yeah, I want to play something that she said over the weekend. Let's listen. I would like to say humbly, I'm sorry for taking part in the toxic politics. It's very bad for our country. And it's been something I've thought about a lot, especially since Charlie Kirk

was assassinated. Okay, so John, there's two ways to look at this, right? We could take her for her word, right? She's maybe had to come to Jesus moment, and she realizes that viral politics, if you will, and visceral politics really is not the way to go. Or she could be thinking down the road. What do you think's happening here? It may be a combination of those things, Tom, right? Like, I mean, you know, it's hard to divorce politicians from politics, even those who, like, Marjorie Taylor Green, sort of came to it later in life, not a career politician. So it's hard to divorce that completely from politics, but it may also be true that she's looked at a life of fighting with everybody all the time and accusing them of all kinds of things and decided that's a bad

idea. The one caveat I would say there is she is attacking Donald Trump, even as she talks about a sort of new civility. And so I think that's going to ring hollows, certainly, with with a lot of people in his base who will look at this as something that she is doing for her own political future to sort of define herself as the future of the MAGA movement. She has the name and recognition, right, throughout the state of Georgia. Is there an opportunity for her to run for Senate?

You have two Democratic senators. That's why I said, I wonder if she's looking sort of at the field and where her state has gone, or possibly to run for governor in the state. I mean, I gotta tell you, Tom, I'm not so sure she's not running for president in 2028, You know, given the really high-profile fight, she's picked here with Donald Trump. Certainly there are possibilities for her to run for governor, run for senator in Georgia.

But I think right now she feels like somebody who's trying to give herself presidential energy. Finally, where does this fight with President Trump go? Sometimes he's had these fights with a lot of his political rivals. They come back under the tent. They kiss the ring. Everyone becomes friends again. Or do you think this is a permanent breakup? It's always hard to tell.

I mean, every time you think there's a permanent breakup to your point, they come back. But, you know, if she's trying to define herself against Trump as the pure MAGA person for the future, it's going to be real hard for her to come back inside that tent. Okay, John Allen, always great to have you here on the show. Have a great night tonight. We're going to move on to Top Stories News Feed. We start with the acting head of FEMA, resigning after roughly just six months on the job. In a new statement tonight, David Richardson says he only agreed to serve through hurricane season, which is now winding down.

The shake-up comes as FEMA has faced criticism for its response to the deadly floods in Texas over the summer. A massive home explosion outside of L.A. leaving at least eight people hurt. Listen to this. You hear the chaotic scene there, the screaming, the yelling, people running after the blast. Video also capturing the house on fire and debris scattered across the neighborhood. Authorities say 16 homes were evacuated. Investigators still trying to figure out what caused it. To Central California and dramatic video of a jewelry store owner, fending off a group of thieves with a gun. Look at this. Surveillance footage shows about five mass robbers charging into the store, smashing display cases. Then just moments later, the owner comes out packing heat, pulls out a gun, starts firing every way he can.

The suspects run out of the building. The owner follows him out, keeps firing. Police say they don't believe anyone was hit by the gunfire. And if you're in the market for a used car right now, you might be able to find out on Amazon. heard us correctly. Ford announcing it's teaming up with the retail giant to offer pre-owned cars. They say customers can shop, finance, and buy vehicles on the site before scheduling time to pick it up from a local dealership. For now, the program is launching in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Dallas. And speaking of Amazon, new tonight Jeff Bezos launching a new endeavor officially getting into the AI game. The New York Times reporting

that Bezos is starting a new AI venture called Project Prometheus and will serve as co-chief executive of the startup. The billionaire is joining a crowded feel with industry giants like Google, Meta, Microsoft, and pioneering companies like OpenAI and Anthropic. I want to bring in our good friend NBC's Brian Chung to walk us through this. Brian, so, I mean, is he late to the game? Is it such a massive game? It's still okay. There's a lot of work to be done. What do you think? Yeah, I think a lot of people are like, whoa, wait. I mean, Jeff Bezos is years behind the game. When you think about Open AI already on GPT5, you have all these other entrants, meta, Google, using their massive amount of capital to start up their own AI projects.

For what it's worth, a New York Times is reporting that this particular project, what they're calling Project Prometheus, will be focused on things like engineering, manufacturing, computers, aerospace, as well as automobiles. So it seems like Jeff Bezos is trying to skip all the chatbot stuff that a lot of people have kind of been playing around with, which even other AI companies might admit is just a conduit to get to that more advanced things like robotics. Again, we'll have to see what happens here.

NBC did reach out to Jeff Bezos's team for comment, and we hadn't heard back. So we showed all the companies that are already in the game. We want to put this up for our viewers. Elon Musk even calling Bezos out, right? They have kind of a rivalry, especially with SpaceX and all that. Calling him a copycat. Yeah, copycat with the emoji.

So how would this venture stack up to the rest? I mean, he's obviously got the money. He's funny. And Jeff Bezos, I wouldn't bet against him. Yeah, well, look, I mean, when it comes to Jeff Bezos, you see what he did with Blue Origin, right? There are a lot of doubts as well in the race between him and Elon Musk. It's basically a two-horse race in the space side of things.

And you saw what New Glenn did. It was, again, that's the Blue Origin project that actually successfully re-landed a booster onto a platform, very much like SpaceX did. And so Jeff Bezos is obviously someone who has entered games in before and has been able to compete pretty well. But I do think the question of this crowded field, you have XAI, obviously Elon calling him a copycat. But you also have Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Sam Alman. You can't forget about them as well. And Anthropic. So it's a crowded field, again, his specialty, focusing on kind of robotic.

We'll see if that's a winning strategy. Does it feed into his other businesses into, you know, the AWS and to Amazon? I mean, does this sort of all help out? Or is he trying to go into a different space? Well, it's important to note that he did step away as the CEO of Amazon four years ago. Actually, this is the first time he's stepping back into any CEO role since that time. So I don't know how integrated he can make it with Amazon, knowing that he's basically handed over the reins to Andy Jassy, who's currently running things over there.

But again, Jeff Bezos has his hands in many different types of things, as many of these billionaires do? Does he want to try to make these things come back together, converge back together at some point? That's Elon's intention. Is it Jeff's intention? Yeah, we'll have to see. Okay. Brian Chung, always great to see you. Thank you. Still ahead on top story, an Ecuadorian drug lord accused of faking his own death just captured in Spain. How authorities tracked him down, plus the new wave of Gen Z protest erupting in Mexico with thousands taking to the streets, what's driving those demonstrations. That's next. We're back now with the Americas. In Mexico, protests erupting across the country in what has been dubbed the Gen Z protests. Demonstrators taking to the streets and clashing with police as they demand justice amid what they say is a wave of crime and corruption.

George Solis has this one tonight for us. Tonight, there are growing questions into a surge of youth-led protests taking place across major cities in Mexico. The demonstrations reaching a fever pitch over the weekend as some hooded protesters tore down fences around the National Palace, home to President Claudia Shinebomb. Images from the class to show riot police using tear gas and smoke bombs. Trying to calm the crowds, seen here kicking the fence and throwing rocks at officers. Mexico City's public safety secretary saying the protests left at least 120 injured. 100 of them officers, some who were taken to the hospital. The rallies organized by Generation Z, Mexico, referring to the demographic group of people

born between 1997 and 2012. The 16-year-old injured during the protests telling Telemundo, the people are dying, the people are disappearing. For it to get to the point where minors are here protesting, it's because the country is horrible. Protesters using a popular symbol, the pirate flag from the anime One Piece, seen in Gen Z protests around the globe, including ones in Nepal and Madagena. Ascar, which ended in the ousting of Heads of state. Wuerra, Claudia!

This protest are saying the Gen Z groups organized themselves on Discord. While President Scheimbaum saying this week, the protests didn't arise organically with the youth, but were part of a $90 million campaign by her opponents. But back on the streets, this young man saying, the movement isn't affiliated with any party, just an ideology for a better Mexico. The unrest fueled by recent violence, including the death of Carlos Manzo. A mayor who was assassinated in public during a day of the dead celebration earlier this month, known for declaring war on the cartels and his criticism of the federal government

for lack of action. Protesters wearing cowboy hats in his honor. This protestor saying she is seeking justice for his death and all those who have lost their lives and their property at the hands of criminals. And with that, George Solis joins top story tonight. So George, the president has been in power, I think, for a little more. more than a year. Political violence has been a problem. It almost always has been in Mexico. Has this hurt her approval ratings? Well, Tom, her popularity has shifted, but it could be negligible.

I mean, let's talk about what makes her popular, right? Her stance on things like high-impact crime, her stance on corruption, particularly fuel theft, but under her administration, you have seen several leaders across different spectrums of leadership being targeted. Still, her approval rating among the highest in Latin America hovering somewhere around 70 percent, Tom. Okay. George, totally. So great to have you Thank you, Sue. You appreciate it. Not at Top Stories, Global Watch. We start in Bangladesh, where the ousted Prime Minister was just sentenced to death. A war crimes court finding her guilty of ordering a crackdown on student-led protests last year that killed hundreds of people. Sheikh Hasinia has fled to India, and so far the country has declined to extradite her.

In a statement today, she criticized the verdict, calling it politically motivated. Moving on to Ecuador, one of the country's most wanted drug traffickers captured after faking his death and moving to Spain. Police there are releasing this photo of Wilmer Chavarria, Ecuador's president, accusing him of coordinating drug shipments and ordering assassinations from Spain under a new identity. Chavarria is believed to be the leader of Los Lodos, a drug trafficking group, recently designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. And dramatic new video of a volcano erupting in Japan, sending smoke and ash nearly three miles into the air. Local media there reporting it caused dozens of flights to be canceled yesterday. Here you can see,

lava flowing from the crater. This is one of Japan's most active volcanoes, but the eruption was reportedly the largest in more than a year. And when we come back tonight, the big slump at the box office, some of the biggest names in Hollywood, starring in major movies with massive marketing budgets and glowing critical reviews. So why is no one going to see them? We'll dive into it. That's next. We come to this place for magic. We come to A&M. AMC theaters to love, to cry, to care, because we need that, all of us. That indescribable feeling we get when the lights begin to dim.

I feel like I can already smell the popcorn. That, of course, was Nicole Kidman's iconic promo, played at AMC theaters all across the country. But these days, A-listers like Kidman are not enough to get moviegoers into the seats. The New York Times highlighting the recent slump at the box office. In a recent article with the headline, 25 movies, many stars, zero hits. Hollywood's falls to new lows, the Times outlining how difficult the past three months have been for dramas and comedies and theaters, even when they have superstars attached. For more on this, I want to bring in Paul DeGaribati, and he's the head of marketplace trends for Compscore, and Pete Hammond, Award's columnist and chief film critic for deadline. Thank you both for being here tonight on Top Story. I appreciate it.

So I want to walk through some of the examples of these so-called box office flops. This is all data from Compscore again. After The Hunt, starring Julia Roberts, cost $70 million to make and made just over $3 million domestically. That's pretty bad. Springsteen delivered me from nowhere starring Jeremy Allen White. It costs $55 million to make and has made just about $22 million so far, at least in the U.S. And good fortune with Keanu Reeves and other stars cost $30 million and has earned just over $16 million. So, Paul, you're finding that people are not just seeing these big studio movies, dramas, and comedies in particular with all-star casts?

Well, it really depends on the movie. You know, you can plug a big star into a movie that may not be the most commercial of films, and therefore that movie will not necessarily generate the kind of box office that, let's say, a Dwayne the Rock Johnson would in a Jumongi. That's very different than Dwayne Johnson in The Smashing Machine. Likewise, Sidney Sweeney and anyone, but you is very different than Sondon. Sydney, Sweeney, and Christy. And this is the time in the post-summer period where it's about the award season films,

box office, fine dining, if you will, rather than what we're about to get into in Thanksgiving, which is the cinematic fast food, which generates the big box office. So it's really the time of year, the types of movies. I don't think it's a mandate against going to the movies. I think it's just that these films are not necessarily as commercial as the other types of films

that have known IP are franchises and sequels, but some of these movies, as you pointed out, are very expensive. Yeah, I do want to show our viewers and talk a little more about why this might be happening. The Times cites a few reasons, right? One is that movies are available for digital rental or purchase as soon as 17 days after they're released, a big change from the pre-pandemic window of 90 days. Another is the audience. People are not going to go to the movies to see dramas and comedies as much as they are superhero or action movies. And another theory is just how expensive it is to go to the movies these days, from the tickets to snacks. It's a pricey outing. I know I have three kids every time we go there. I mean, just buying food,

it'll set you back. Pete, are these all valid reasons or is it something else? And what I mean by something else is this thing right here, the phone, I just wonder how much of this has taken from the audience as well. Yeah, I think they are all valid reasons. I think the movie-going habit has changed considerably. A lot of the movies you're talking about with Julia Roberts and Sidney Sweeney and all these things are aimed at adults, adults don't go out right away, you know, and if you don't grab them right away, that movie is going to die. And we've seen a succession of this all fall, one weekend after another where these adult appeal movies just die and the studios give up on him. It's a shame. Julia Roberts is really quite good in After the Hunt,

but it's a Me Too kind of movie set on a college campus. It's nothing that people say, seemed to want to see and the critics didn't really go for it. The one with Jennifer Lawrence, Die My Love, which is also just cratered at the box office. You know, it's fine for her to like go for an acting job that challenges her. But people don't want to see her in this kind of role. It's just really unsavory character. And spoiler alert, she even shoots the dog. Who wants to see that?

That's pretty bad. Same question for you, Paul. Do you think there's one main reason movies are floppy? I know you're saying it's not really award season. Excuse me, or is it a combination of things? I think it's a combination of things, and I agree with Pete. I mean, certain of these films are not on their face that attractive for moviegoers. Now, I will say this, though.

People say that Hollywood is just looking for the big dollars at the box office. But if you look at the choices that are made on these films, some of these movies are not very commercial at all. They're going to have to hope that once they wind up on the small screen, that they can develop an audience there and bring in revenue for studios at that point. But now we just have to hope, and we know that Wicked for Good is going to be a huge movie, then Zootopia 2, then Five Nights at Freddy's, then Avatar, Fire, and Ash. So all of a sudden, the box office is going to shift to these huge numbers, and then around Christmas we'll have a lot of award season contenders. So it's a real mix of films out there, but not everyone is going to be a big hit at the box. office. That doesn't mean that they're not good movies. It just means that they're not the most

commercial enough to bring in people to the movie theater. You know, Pete, there's always ups and downs in Hollywood, but are we so deep in the streaming world? And again, the phones that going to the movies could be a thing in the past. I don't think forever, but will Hollywood ever bounce back to the good old days? I think it's very different. Once you change the pattern, the movie-going pattern, people get used to watching it on their couch and they say, oh, this is going to be on my TV set in three weeks. And so, though, just wait, it has to be some sort of event. Hollywood's created all kinds of reasons to go to the movies over decades, you know,

from widescreen and now IMAX and things. I think it's got to be a little bit more of an event. And, you know, look at Margot Robbie. She had a huge bomb with this big, bold, beautiful journey movie. It wasn't a very good movie, but nevertheless, it followed Barbie. People couldn't get enough of Barbie, and they went out to theaters. They didn't want to go see her in this movie. So the stars have to be a little more careful of what they choose.

Duane Johnson, Smashing Machine, same problem. He's now calling that an art house drama. He wanted to do something different. But his audience goes and says, I don't want to see this. Right, right. No, no, you kind of think about all those things and what they mean. Paul, I do want to ask you, because I've had friends already tell us, you know, fellow parents tell me that it's very hard already to get tickets for Wicked. It's around the

corner. You also have Timothy, Shalamay's Marty Supreme. Are you hopeful for those showings? I'm very hopeful for those. I think that Wicked for Good is going to absolutely blow the doors off at the box office. I think it'll open bigger than the $114 million domestic debut of the first Wicked movie about a year ago. And then that leads into Thanksgiving and the day before Thanksgiving Zootopia 2 opens. We could be looking at one. one of the biggest thanksgivings ever for movie theaters, but powered by what? Mainly those two big, known IP, big franchise films like Wicked for Good and Zootopia, too. Before we go, Paul and Pete, give me one recommendation from some of the movies we've mentioned,

some of the movies that are out there. Give me one wreck to our viewers out there. Don't miss this in the movie theater. Okay, I would say I've seen Wicked for Good, and it is a sensational follow-up to the first Wicked. want to miss that in the theater. You mentioned Marty Supreme with Timothy Shalame. He's such a good actor, and he's so good in this, but it is such an unsavory character, so arrogant. I'm wondering if his fans are going to love that movie, Paul. I really am. Paul, what about you? It's very different than a complete unknown that Salome was in about a year ago, and that movie was a very different movie. I mean, it's a ping pong drama. It's very interesting,

But I think Wicked for Good is the one I'm recommending. See it in movie theater, not only because of the site, you know, the huge screen, but the sound as well. It's a musical. Let's go. Yeah, and we here at NBC Universal, we love to hear that. All right. Pete Paul, we're missing Mary. This has been a great panel tonight. We thank you for talking to us. Thank you.

Yeah. Finally, tonight, the touching moments in Tennessee this weekend. Not sure if you saw this one, the Army Master's Sergeant, surprising his family, on the Jumbotron at a Titans game with a heartfelt message, and they'll never forget what happened next. He's been in for 15 years, and he's been deployed for about six months,

and we really miss him. At halftime of the Tennessee Titans game, country music star Trace Atkins welcomed the Seismore family to the field. All right, we have a surprise for you, if you would look up here. A special message from a man they really miss, their husband and father,

Master Sergeant Christopher Seismore. He's been deployed overseas with the Army Special Forces for the last six months. Enjoy the game, and I miss you, and I love you. But the best reveal was still to come. We got another surprise for you. Master Sergeant Seismore wasn't just on video. He was actually at the game, walking out in full uniform, ready to reunite with his family. Master Sergeant Seismore.

His kids, Aiden and Addison, jumping into his arms. How great is that, Titans fans? Were you surprised? I mean, could you believe what was happening? I could not believe what was happening. I was really, really surprised. Are you proud of your dad that he protects our country? Yes. Now, I'm like, many times. We weren't going to have Thanksgiving with him, so to have him come into those plans it makes it a lot more exciting to look forward to doing all the holidays.

A hug and a moment this family will never forget. It's hard to put in the words. They're my world. My family's my world. Our hearts are all filled to the rim. And we thank Master Sergeant Seizmore for his service and his sacrifice along with that of his families. We thank you for watching Top Story tonight. I'm Tom Yammis in New York. Stay right there.

More news on the way. Thank you.