Top Story with Tom Llamas - Monday, September 8, 2025

Episode Date: September 9, 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, President Trump's alleged birthday drawing to Jeffrey Epstein released the raunchy note part of a book of birthday messages to the convicted sex offender discovered in a trove of documents subpoenaed from Epstein's estate. The White House denying it saying it's not the president's signature, what they are showing reporters tonight. Also, the immigration crackdown now underway in Chicago dubbed Operation Midway Blitz, the raids in the third in the third most populated city in the U.S. from the mayor saying, it's been the safest summer in decades. The bus terror attack, leaving at least six people dead in Jerusalem, two gunmen opening fire, sending people running for their lives through traffic as bombardments inside Gaza City intensified. The horrific smash and grab at a jewelry store, a car ramming into the business more than a dozen thieves rushing in, slamming the 88-year-older to the ground, the manhunt tonight for suspects.

The NFL is back with some of the biggest hits happening right in the stands. We'll tell you why police are going undercover in some stadiums dressed as fans for the opposing team. The incredible rescue on a Texas overpass, how a deputy ended up dangling for his life and the heroes who came to his rescue. And taking history to New Heights, we speak with one of the pilots, now part of the next generation of the Tuskegee Airmen, how she's carrying the legacy forward. Plus the rumored royal reunion, Prince Harry back in the UK, so will he meet with his estranged father, King Charles? Top story. Starts right now. And good evening. We begin tonight with that lewd letter sent a convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein back in 2003, allegedly, signed by President Trump. The note showing the outline of a woman's body you see it right here with a birthday message that says in part, we have certain things in common, Jeffrey, and may every day be another wonderful secret.

The letter released today by House Democrats after a book of, Epstein's birthday messages was found among documents subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee. The White House doubling down tonight, denying the President wrote that letter and threatening legal action. The raunchy birthday note re-igniting questions about how close the two men actually were. Hallie Jackson leads us off tonight with the new details. The first look tonight at that now infamous birthday book drawing released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, who say it was given by President Trump to Jeffrey Epstein years ago. tranche of documents. The committee says it received today after its subpoenaed Epstein's estate.

The drawing shows the outline of a woman's torso, breasts and hips, with a message that reads, in part, we have certain things in common, Jeffrey, and later, enigma's never age. Before the closing words, happy birthday, and may every day be another wonderful secret. At the bottom, a familiar scrawled signature. The note's existence, initially reported by the Wall Street Journal in July. The paper says it was part of a book. compiled by now convicted sex trafficker Galane Maxwell given to Epstein when he turned 50 in 2003. That report, prompting immediate pushback from the president who filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the journal, his lawyers, alleging no authentic letter or drawing exists.

Do you maintain you did not write a letter for Jeffrey Epstein's first? I don't even know what they're talking about. Now, somebody could have written a letter and used my name, but that's happened a lot. The press secretary tonight arguing it's very clear. President Trump did not draw this picture and he did not sign it. White House aides printing for reporters, copies of the president's recent signature. For his part, President Trump has repeatedly insisted he doesn't do drawings. Despite sketches, mostly skyscrapers signed by him that have been put up for auction over the years. I don't do drawings. Sometimes he would say, would you draw a building and I'll draw four lines and a little roof for a charity stuff? But I'm not a drawing person. I don't

drawings of women that I can tell you. Okay, with that, Hallie Jackson joins us tonight from Washington. Hallie, I know there are a lot of developments tonight on this story. I know you have some new reporting for our viewers. Get us up to speed, please. And literally, Tom, the last four to five minutes here, this is all coming in. The House Oversight Committee led by Republicans. Remember, it was Democrats who released this specific image on the committee.

Now we are hearing from the head of the Oversight Committee, Republican Chairman James Comer, who says it is appalling the Democrats. He says, are cherry-picking documents in his. his words and politicizing information received from the Epstein estate today. But I will tell you they are also releasing more documents. Apparently the entire birthday book. Now remember, this is redacted. That is why this committee needed to review this information before releasing it publicly. But we now have that alleged birthday book, the last will and testament of Jeffrey Epstein, that controversial 2007 non-prosecution agreement between the Southern District of Florida

and Jeffrey Epstein, as well as entries from his address books for a time period of decades here, 1990 through 2019. So I will tell you that we have a team here at NBC News combing through in great detail all of this. We're going to bring you the news as we get them. But here you have, Tom, the House Oversight Committee. They had said they wanted these documents. They subpoenaed for these documents. They said they would release them. And now we are getting that big public drop of that Tom. All right. Hallie Jackson, a lot of new reporting there. Hallie, thank you. We appreciate it. We're going to head overseas under that terror attack at a bus stop in Jerusalem. Palestinian gunmen opening fire on people waiting for a bus. Six Israelis were killed, the horror all captured on video. Richard Engels here tonight for us. You're watching the exact moment of the attack in Jerusalem. You can hear a few shots, then more, and the crowd start running and screaming. As police say, two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on people waiting at a bus stop. Six Israelis were killed before the gunmen were shot dead by an Israeli soldier and an armed civilian.

This is the bus stop with the attack took place. The entire area has now been sealed off by Israeli soldiers and police. But if you look through here, right at the bus stop itself, you see the white body bags where medical workers are collecting the remains. Prime Minister Netanyahu visited the scene and said the terror attack strengthened Israel's determination to carry out its war in Gaza to destroy Hamas and free Israeli hostages. And that Israeli airstrikes in Gaza's city have already destroyed 50 high-rise buildings in two days, saying they issued evacuation

orders for the buildings first and claiming they were used by Hamas. Netanyahu told Palestinians to get out of the city now. But many remain convinced that they'll be killed or made homeless or starve wherever they go. So why bother? Twelve-year-old Jana Mansour was living in a tent next to one of the high-rises. Today, she was looking for her clothing. She says she used to have beautiful dresses, but that now she feels like walking garbage.

Nothing is left in life. We are finished, she says. And here in Jerusalem tonight, five of the ten people injured in the mass shooting remain in serious condition. Tom? Richard Engelferres, Richard, we thank you. We want to stay overseas now because Russia has launched its largest attack on Ukraine since the start of the war.

striking a major government building in Kiev, where President Trump's special envoy was visiting just last month. Now the White House threatening new sanctions on Russia. NBC's chief international correspondent, Keir Simmons, reports. Tonight, Ukraine reeling from the biggest Russian air bombardment of the war. Strikes across the country, this key government building in Kiev hit for the first time by a ballistic missile, Ukraine says. Ukraine's prime minister filming inside, you can see the call. consequences, she tells the camera. And tonight, these stunning images, the building visited by President Trump's envoy just last month, now gaping holes where the munitions struck and parts of a missile strewn around. The deadly message from Moscow delivered not by diplomats,

but over 800 drones. Among the dead, a 32-year-old mother and her two-month-old child. President Trump suggesting he's prepared to slap more sanctions on Russia over its ongoing attacks. I'm not happy. I'm not happy about the whole situation. Ukraine's President Zelensky calling the attacks murder, when real diplomacy could have begun long ago. Ukraine targeting Russia with its own drones, but President Putin unwavering, saying he will meet Zelensky, but only in the hero city of Moscow. His audience of Russian officials loudly applauding. And tonight, Tom, diplomats have traveled from here in Europe to Washington to push for new, coordinated sanctions against Russia. Tom.

Keir Simmons in Paris for us, Keir, we thank you. Back here at home, the President Trump's threat of crime and immigration crackdown in Chicago, the windy city, the latest focus of stepped up federal law enforcement efforts. This is the Supreme Court hands the administration a major victory over similar operations in L.A. Gabe Gutierrez has the latest from the White House. Tonight, the Trump administration stepping up its crackdown on illegal immigration in Chicago, Seen here arresting a man from Mexico, I says, was wanted for aggravated sexual assault of a child. You try and reason with people like in Chicago with the governor and the mayor.

You try and reason with them and it's like you're talking to a wall. Over the weekend, President Trump posting an AI-generated image of himself with the phrase Shypocalypse Now. The caption, I love the smell of deportations in the morning. The president saying he is still considering sending the National Guard there to reduce crime. We'd love to go into Chicago and straighten it out. We're bringing back law and order to our country. Over the last two weekends, there have been 14 homicides and at least 76 people shot in Chicago,

with one alderman telling us National Guard troops would free up police. I absolutely support the Trump administration bringing in more federal resources. Our city needs as much help as we could possibly get. But Chicago's Democratic mayor is increasingly pushing back, writing the city just experienced record low homicide numbers, making this the safest summer since the 1960s. Our communities remain united more than ever against the administration's attempt to unleash the military, national guard, and rogue ice agents on our city and state. Today, in a legal victory for the president, a conservative Supreme Court majority loosened

restrictions on ice operations in L.A. But in her dissent, liberal justice Sonia Sotomayor writing, we should not have to live in a country where the government can seize anyone who looks Latino, speak Spanish, and appears to work a low-wage job. Tonight, the White House insisting it does not target people based on race. It's a multitude of factors to establish reasonable suspicion. But if an illegal alien has an MS-13 tattoo in his head, that's certainly going to be one of the factors. All right, Gabe Gutierrez joins us.

Gabe, we had that big story at the end of last week. People may remember the massive raid on a Hyundai plant in Georgia. You'll recall those images showed hundreds of South Korean nationals. taken into federal custody. That raid now prompting a top South Korean diplomat to travel to the U.S.? Yeah, that's right, Tom. Look, it was the largest such raid with regards to the Department of Homeland Security's investigations in its history. And yes, South Korea's foreign minister heading here to the United States to bring back those hundreds of South Korean nationals. And we understand that South Korea today said that it is in talks with the U.S. to eventually allow for the re-entry of those

nationals at some point. But again, this raid came just several days after South Korea's president had met with President Trump to preserve better business ties, Tom. Okay, Gabe Gutier is at the White House. Gabe, always great to see you. Now, a new surveillance footage of a shocking attack on a young woman riding public transit. Jesse Kirsch has the details on the suspect and why President Trump is now commenting on this attack. And we do want to warn you at home some of these images you're about to see they are disturbing. This is the moment Arena Zarutzka boarded a late-night train in Charlotte, North Carolina. Video released by authorities shows her in her pizzeria work uniform as she scrolls on her phone.

Police say less than five minutes after Zerutska sat down. The man behind her pulled a knife from his pocket, unfolded the blade, and struck at the 23-year-old woman three times, stabbing her in the throat. Passengers on the train later appearing to help her. Investigators say the suspect is 34-year-old De Carlos Brown Jr., who's now charged with murder. According to an obituary, Zerutska was Ukrainian. A fundraising page says she recently came to the U.S. seeking safety from the war and hoping for a new beginning. The August 22nd attack sending a chill through the Queen City. I was shocked to hear that.

I was like, really? Because I just wrote it like hours before. Today, President Trump weighing in on the attack. So they're evil people. We have to be able to handle that. If we don't handle that, we don't have a country. The president blaming Democrats for Zarutka's death pointing to the suspect's criminal history. Police and court records show Brown was arrested more than a dozen times, including for assault.

Jesse Kerrish joins us. Jesse, this story is just, it's horrific. That video is horrific you feel for that poor young woman's family. I understand North Carolina's governor has also commented on the matter. That's right. And the governor of North Carolina is a Democratic. So, of course, you have the president of the United States going after Democrats over this. Democrats responding in turn, not directly, though.

The governor of North Carolina, Tom, saying that there should be more police on the streets in North Carolina. And he says that he wants lawmakers to pass legislation, which the governor believes will, quote, stop these horrific crimes and hold violent criminals accountable. Again, Tom, this horrific incident really disturbing to watch. And, of course, it has now made its way into the political arena as well, Tom. Absolutely terrible. Okay, Jesse. We want to turn now and take a tough turn, but we have to get an update now in the tropics as Hurricane Kiko nears Hawaii. The Category 1 storm is expected to stay out to sea, but bring dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents. I want to bring in NBC meteorologist, Bill Karens. Bill, we've been tracking this sucker for a while now. We actually have some good news on it, right? Yeah, this has behaved. It was Category 4, now as a Category 1 going down to a tropical storm tonight. And it's, you know, nearing its closest approach to the big island. It's still about 350 miles away. It's over cooler water. and the upper level winds are tearing it apart.

And those are two things that hurricanes hate. And that's why it's weakening. And that's why this is not going to be a big, huge deal for the Hawaiian Islands. Unless you're at the northern beaches, you won't even know there's a storm around. It's going to go, you know, a couple hundred miles safe to the north. It's just that rip current threat and the huge waves. I'm sure there's surfers from around the world that are flying to the north shore. But it's not for like the average person to be out there.

It'd be very dangerous the next couple days. It's even less than a 10% chance, even tropical storm force winds hitting there. And as far as rainfall, it's one of those situations, Tom, where it's actually going to be drier than normal in Hawaii because the storm's going to be to its north, taking all the moisture away. So if you're in Hawaii the next couple of days, you won't even know it's around. And just real quick, while we're talking hurricanes, nothing out in the Atlantic we're worried about right now, right? I don't mean to jinx it, but I mean, we're going at least the next seven days with nothing. Okay, that's great news. Before you go right now, parts of the Midwest

facing threats of severe weather, possibly tornadoes. What are you watching? Yeah, but a rough day in Kansas. We had one spot that picked up 10 inches of rain, some significant flash flooding. Now we have a severe thunderstorm watch. And just in the last about 10 minutes or so, We've been watching these storms up. Here's some of those pictures of that flooding that was in central Kansas. But this is a new tornado warning, and StormSpoters actually just report a tornado on the ground here. This is rural sections of Oklahoma outside of Buffalo, but it is heading down towards the town of Laverne. So we'll keep an eye on that as we go throughout about the next 15 to 20 minutes or so.

Hopefully that'll begin to weaken, Tom. Yeah, and then while I have you here, I'm also being told we paid for four questions. So I got one more in here. We're tracking a wildfire breaking out in Lakeside, California, just outside of San Diego. What do we know about? Wow, look at this. Yeah, look at all the atomic. So this was like what they call a vegetation fire. So this was actually formed, you know, right in the near some mobile homes.

It quickly began to spread. It's not that windy out there. It's about 10 mile per hour winds. This is lakeside, California, maybe an hour or so outside of San Diego. But the area where it happened is right near all these mobile homes. There's enough brush around that they're worried about it. That's why they did immediate evacuations and all aerial assets. Just as we went on to it, you can see you're being dumped on this thing to try to, you know, save as many homes as possible. But we do know that we do have some homes that are inflamed currently. It's only 10 acres. It's a small one, but just happened to form, Tom, right near where people lived. Yeah, no, no, it's incredible how quickly that burns there.

Okay, Bill, I think I'm done with you. We appreciate it. Thank you for everything. We're back in a moment with the manhunt out of San Jose. After, look at this, it's a smash-and-grab heist, but on steroids, all caught on video, masked robbers, ramming a vehicle to a jewelry store, breaking display cases, grabbing jewelry and assaulting the store's elderly owner. Look what they did to him there.

Plus, dramatic rescue, motorists stepping up to help two sheriff's deputies, one trapped and one dangling from the overpass after a semi-collided with their patrol car. Two NFL security incidents, a woman left bloody after an altercation at a Rams Texans game. You see her right there. And the team using undercover police dressed in opposing teams jerseys to deter rowdy fans. Stay with us. We're back down with the investigation. to a violent robbery in San Jose, the suspects ramming an SUV through the front of a jewelry store, then rushing in, throwing the 88-year-old owner to the ground and making off with handfuls of

merchandise. All of it caught on camera. But tonight, still no arrests. Morgan Chesky has this one. Tonight, San Jose police searching for the more than 15 men caught on this surveillance video, violently robbing an 88-year-old man and his jewelry store. Watch as this great, A SUV pulls up in broad daylight, then speeds in reverse, smashing right through the glass storefront. Within seconds, three more cars pull up, and the suspects rush inside Kim Hung jewelry. Police say at least one of them had a firearm. Once inside, the suspects disguised in hoodies, masks, and gloves are seen smashing the displays, grabbing merchandise, and pushing the elderly store owner to the ground, stepping over his body as they grab even more.

His niece's finding him outside the store minutes later with open wounds from shattered glass. Oh, my God, it's all blood. It's all blood. He was taken to a hospital where doctors said he had suffered a stroke. His son also inside the store was not injured. San Jose police say the suspects fled in multiple vehicles before they got to the scene, and they have yet to identify anyone in these videos. This has become a regular occurrence.

Community leaders standing in solidarity with the family, calling for a crackdown on smash-and-grab offenders. This is very scary for every small business that own a shop. And for a lot of them, this is their livelihood. Asking Governor Gavin Newsom to fund enforcement of Prop 36, a California law that allows felony charges and increases sentences for certain drug and theft crimes, particularly for repeat offenders, something advocates say that would help small businesses like this one. It's becoming a huge problem. It's a crime wave that's happening everywhere. We need to get that Prop 36 funding that the governor was supposed to do, and we need to have it quick. The family estimating the thieves caused at least $100,000 in damages alone.

A smash-and-grab devastating a family business. They say the owner may never return to. Something he's coming back. Absolutely, no. Yeah, incredible nobody was killed in that kind of robbery there. Morgan joins us live from L.A. Morgan, any update on how that elderly gentleman is doing right now? Yeah, Tom, family members say that he is out of the hospital, is recovering at home. They say that their grandfather is strong. However, he was so traumatized by what you watched happen on that video

that he doesn't know if he's going to even be able to return to that business. They tell me he's been running for more than four decades. In the meantime, Tom, I'm told that local business owners are planning on meeting with San Jose police tomorrow to discuss how to better crack down on these crimes, just like this one. Tom? Yeah, I don't know if we've ever seen a robbery like that where you had so many crooks inside of the store. Okay, Morgan, we thank you for that. Not an incredible rescue in Texas

after a sheriff's deputy is left hanging on for dear life off the side of a highway. A group of people rushing in just in time to save him. Priscilla Thompson has the video on this one. Heart stopping rescue. A sheriff's deputy in Lubbock, Texas, seen here dangling off a highway overpass as a group of good Samaritans rush in to help. I heard a crash. Someone had hit that cruiser and pinned those two guys up against the wall. The sheriff's department says the two deputies were outside their parked patrol cars helping a driver when a semi-truck crashed into one of their cars, pinning the deputies against the guardrail.

Witnesses at a nearby gas station ran over, officials say, appearing to use rope and ladders to hoist the death. deputy to safety. We got our ladder. So only thing we can do is just grabbing, help out as best we came. The Sheriff's Department writing in a statement, thank you Lubbock citizens for watching over our deputies. All those involved are expected to recover officials say, as tonight the crash remains under investigation. Persola Thompson, NBC News. So glad they rescued him there. Okay, still ahead tonight, mounting confusion over COVID vaccines. And the challenges some are facing just to get a shot, what you need to know. Plus, the major reversal. West Point after a group called off an award ceremony for Tom Hanks, what we're learning about

that decision. But first, top story's top moment and a major win on and off the field for Nebraska tight end, Luke Lindenmeyer. The senior scored the first touchdown of his career, helping the Cornhusker secure a major win over Akron, but it was Lyndon Myers' play after the game that brought the crowd to their feet. Take a look. Husker Nation, you don't know what's about to happen. How you feel? I'm so nervous. Yeah, you're okay, huh? You'll do a great job. That is incredible. That is incredible. He proposed to his girlfriend, Kaylin, who is a member you can see of the Nebraska Scarlet's dance team.

If you were wondering, she said yes. I do not like the Nebraska Cornhuskers. but I love that moment right there. All right, stay with us. More news is on the way. Back now with Top Stories health check and tonight the growing confusion about who can get the latest COVID shots.

Some patients turned away without a prescription, others having to pay out of pocket. NBC Steve Patterson has what you need to know. 74-year-old Alison Ingle is diligent about keeping up with her COVID vaccinations. Now she's frustrated. It is just a serious. series of obstacles being put in front of me and other people to try to get the new COVID vaccine.

Engle has Medicare. And when she went to go to COVID shot a few weeks ago, she expected it to be free. But instead, what exactly did they say to you when they, when they handed you this? They said it wasn't approved by Medicare. So this is the pharmacy where Allison received that vaccine after paying out of pocket, a place that would normally allow anyone to get the shot. Now the rules for eligibility are strict, blocking anyone below 65 or without an underlying medical condition. But even then, it's a confusing patchwork. At a heated Senate hearing last week, Senator Elizabeth Warren grilled HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over access.

I'm not taking them away from people, Senator. It takes it away if you can't get it from your pharmacy. Adding to the confusion, a key CDC panel hasn't signed off in the new vaccine yet. Until they do, CVS says people in 10 states will not. need prescriptions to get the shot. As for Medicare patients, CVS says some stores are updating their systems and may not be set up yet for the new vaccine. The more barriers we throw up, the more confusion we introduce in the system, there are going to be more people who are going to end up not getting the vaccine, and then they're going to be at continued risk.

Allison says she hopes Medicare will eventually reimburse her, but she isn't confident. It really makes me furious because I believe that the decision for Medicare not to immediately reimburse for this is determined by politics, not medicine. All right. Steve Patterson joins us tonight from L.A. So Steve, to add to the confusion, the American Academy of Pediatrics is deviating from the government guidance, recommending the latest round of shots for young children. So what do parents need to know? Yeah, Tom, this will be the first time in 30 years if the Academy actively splits from federal guidance, recommending COVID vaccines for children ages six months to two years.

also saying shots are advised for older children if their parents want them vaccinated. A vice chair for the AAP admits it will be confusing, but that they need to make the right choices to protect children, while a spokesperson for the HHS condemn the move saying the academy is undermining national immunization policymaking with baseless political attacks.

Tom? Okay, Steve Patterson for us. Steve, we thank you for bringing us that story tonight. We turn out of Top Stories News Feed, the trial for the man accused of trying to kill President Trump at his Florida golf course. It's off to a rough start. The suspect, Ryan Ruth, you see him here, representing himself in the trial, despite having no law degree. The judge stopping Ruth several times from asking potential jurors a majority of his questions due to them being, quote, politically charged and irrelevant.

Ruth has pleaded not guilty to the five criminal charges he faces. Prosecutors alleged he planned his attack on the president months before he pointed a rifle through the bushes of Trump's West Palm Beach Golf Course last September. The Murdox finally reaching a deal over who will control. that family's media empire. Lackland Murdoch, the chairman and CEO of Fox Corporation and the chairman of News Corp, will maintain control of the media giant built by his father, Rupert. Murdoch's three eldest children will receive cash payouts for their shares and will step away from their roles at both companies.

94-year-old Rupert Murdoch will stay on his chairman emeritus of both companies. Okay, an Oklahoma inmate shocking drivers after he was spotted hanging out of a transport van driving down a highway. A now viral TikTok video showing, look at this, the inmate pleading with drivers to help him while covering his handcuffed hands with the shirt of his prison uniform, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections confirming the video, adding that the inmate damaged the vehicle and once officers realized what he was doing and what was happening, they pulled over and called in for backup. All right, two arrests made after wedding crashers stole a gift box with the couple's cash gifts inside a banquet hall in California. Surveillance video

capturing one of the thieves bolting to the exit with a box containing 60 grand from wedding guests. He then escapes in a black SUV driven by a getaway driver. The video helped police locate the suspect's homes where they recovered a large amount of the cash and checks. Both suspects now face several charges. And Howard Stern, he's back on the air after he trolled his listeners with a prank that he would be replaced by Bravo host Andy Cohen. Take a listen. This is not the voice that you probably wanted to hear, but it is a I, Andy Cohen, and this is our first day broadcasting on Andy 100. Cohen starting off the Howard Stern show this morning by announcing that it had been handed off to him.

The stunt comes after speculation that the show would be canceled as his contract with Sirius XM. He's set to expire at the end of the year. Stern calling reports of a split from Sirius false. All right, turning now to a major legal loss for the president tonight. A federal appeals court upholding writer E. Jean Carroll. $83.3 million judgment against Trump. The court rejecting the Trump legal team argument that he was protected by presidential immunity.

Back in January of 2024, Trump was found liable of defaming the writer's reputation when he denied her rape claim. Joining us now is NBC News legal analyst and a good friend of top story, Misty Maris. Misty, so great to see you. I guess my first question is,

does the president have another chance or is this it? Well, it's going to go to the Supreme Court, Tom, or at least that's what the president is going to ask. Because this is a typical civil case. Obviously, it was unusual because it involved Donald Trump. But it's not the type of legal issues that you generally see, go to the Supreme Court, except the immunity decision. Remember, landmark decision in 2024 came out, identified where presidential immunity applies. And that's an open question as far as what it means for civil cases for a president.

What do you think is going to happen? Do you have any idea in the Supreme Court? Well, I think the Supreme Court... Will they take it up first? I think there's a likelihood that they will take it up because of that very issue. Remember, this relates back to some tweets. He was the president, it was 2019, and those could fall into one of those buckets, certainly not an official act. But remember, there's an intermediate bucket, perimeter activity, as well as personal conduct, which would not have any immunity.

So whether or not the Supreme Court takes it up, it would absolutely be a novel issue. Remind our viewers, 83 million, that's a big sum of money. president's going to be monitoring this and following this as well. Do we know why the damages were so high? So $83 million is absolutely a tremendous amount of money, and it's broken down into two buckets. One is punitive damages, punishment, $65 million, and then $18.3 was for compensatory. That's to make someone who was harmed whole. Now, generally, these types of awards, they're challenged at appeal, and that's what we saw here. He wanted to knock that down to reduce it. But the court upheld it, and they went and looked at his conduct, and they said it was particularly egregious,

and they upheld that punitive damages award. The rule of thumb, Tom, is three times a compensatory award is generally upheld. I won't make you do the math on the spot. This is about 3.6. So it's on that high side. There was an argument that it was unconstitutional, but the court looked at the conduct and said, this is the type of conduct that warrants that award. And that, the kind of language that he used during the court case and afterwards, basically saying she's too on a true. for him to have done anything to her, what she was claiming. Did the appeals court also look at that language? I mean, was that factored into their decision?

It was. And that was exactly what the appeals court looked at to say whether or not this is the type of case that warrants an award of that magnitude for those punishment damages, Tom, because that's what punitive damages are. They're for punishment, and there are factors that the court is going to look at to say whether or not that board is on unconstitutional. How long do we know till the Supreme Court may take this up? Because the longer they have to wait, right, the president doesn't have to pay out E. Jean Carroll. Right. So now, Carol won. Remember, there's two Eugen Carroll cases. That one also was up on appeal. He was not successful.

$5 million reward on that one. Still waiting to see if the Supreme Court will take it up. Now that this one has gone through the next steps of the appellate process, I imagine they're going to take up both or none. And so we'll see what happens. And we'll know that in the coming weeks. I mean, not weeks, but months. Could take longer. Yeah, could take longer. Okay. Nistie, so great to have you on. Always good to see you. Thank you. Thank you. The NFL season kicked off this week, and the Seattle Seahawks took a page out of law enforcement's book, working with Seattle police and using undercover cops to curb bad fan behavior. We get the details on what they're doing from San Brock. At Lumenfield in Seattle, a sneaky security wrinkle after the Seahawks announced, undercover law enforcement officers will wear opposing team jerseys at home games this season

to quickly snuff out guests violating the fan code of conduct. Sunday, that meant police posing as San Francisco. 49ers fans. Everything is safe. I don't think we don't need that, to be honest with you. I think it's good. You know, it's for safety. The Seahawks telling NBC News they've been using this tactic for more than a decade on

and off, with Seattle police adding in a statement, it's to ensure that all fans, no matter who they root for, feel safe coming to Seattle for a game. So just be aware that the person you're heckling might be an officer. The measure coming as fan behavior remains under the spotlight. Fan hits him up on the head. On Sunday night football, two Ravens players, including star quarterback Lamar Jackson, were hit on the helmet by a fan wearing a Bill's jersey, with Jackson shoving back. The quarterback later apologizing as the NFL indefinitely banned the fan from all league events,

writing any fan that engages in unruly and disruptive behavior will lose the privilege of attending NFL games. Back in Seattle, Terry Fletcher, Seahawks fan of the year in 2024, says she's on board with Seattle. Seattle's clandestine cops. Do you think what the Seattle Police Department is doing will help to protect fans and keep them safe? I think yes. And I think that is what they are trying to accomplish. All right. With that, Sam Brock joins us now. And Sam, I know you have some new reporting about what happened at a Texas Rams game.

Yeah. Keep in mind, this is the opening weekend of the NFL, right? We should also warn viewers. Some of the images are graphic. I'm sorry about that. It's jarring. No, that's a good one. It is jarring. So you have a woman who there is video evidence of this. She is wearing a Texan jersey. That's the man that she was with. You'll see her in a second. She's bloodied, Tom. It looks like potentially her nose was broken, profusely bleeding. The two of them now are leaving the stadium. They're escorted by security. We spoke with a witness. So Englewood police so far has not commented or provided any details. But a witness told us after they are

escorted away, police then come in and handcuffed two people in the row right in front of them. But those two guys that were handcuffed prior to that take off their Rams jerseys, right? These Texans fans are in a sea of Rams fans there. And so they take off their jerseys. before police can even apprehend them. All four of them are escorted out of the stadium. That's all we know there. But it does sort of exemplify some of the... This is the Sofi Stadium, right? In Engelwood? It's Sofi Stadium. This is not their first cross issues. You know, I do want to ask you because last year I did a couple of these stories where there was

just wild brawls. A guy died, I think it was a Patriots fan, died in the stands. Basically what police are doing here, they're wearing the other team's jerseys. So say you go to a Dolphins' Bills game and you're in Miami. They're going to be wearing Bill's jerseys to see if the Dolphins fans do anything to them. They are totally camouflified. Flaging themselves into these surroundings to be able to sort of make sure no one is acting any differently, right? And I think how operational in this would work is that police aren't necessarily making any apprehensions there, but they're spotting what the NFL is calling fan misconduct and alerting either security or those officers who are wearing plain clothes so that they can intervene and then take care of matters.

You want to be able to watch a game, have a good time, feel safe, especially with your family. It's amazing we're having this conversation about families of football games, you know? All right, Sam Brock, great to see you, buddy. When Top Story returns, we have new polling on everything from President Trump's approval rating to public health. Our numbers guru, Steve Kornacki, he's in the House tonight here on Top Story. He's going to stop by to break it all down. And Prince Harry returns home to the UK for the first time in months. What?

But there's one question looming over all this. Will he meet face-to-face with his father, the king, and his estranged brother? Ralph Sanchez getting answers for us. That's next. We're back now. with an inside look at President Trump's job performance and the other key findings from our NBC News decision desk poll powered by Survey Monkey. So one major headline, you see it right here. Forty-three percent of U.S. adults say they approve of the president's job so far. The survey also took a deep dive into the issues that matter most to voters right now across the country, from the economy to Gen Z's views on marriage, children, and even success.

Here to break it all down for us, the one and only. Steve Kornacki, a good friend of Top Story. Talk to me first about the top two issues for voters in America, and how is President Trump doing? Yeah, so the economy rates that voters say, Americans say, as their top issue. And more specifically, you see it right here. When it comes to the economy, it is inflation. It is the cost of living. Far and away over any other option here, that's what Americans are saying concerns them when it comes to the economy. And when you ask then, how do you think Trump's doing on this 39% job approval rating under 40%? His handling of inflation and the cost of living. And his numbers have been like this now pretty much throughout this second term. Yeah, this is really interesting because he ran on the economy,

and a lot of people credit the economy for one of the reasons why he'd been because the economy wasn't in the place where Americans wanted it to be. So Democrats might be looking at this and saying, all right, his approval number is not that great. He's underwater when it comes to the economy as well. But they're in some trouble, right? Explain. Well, that's it. Democrats are licking their chops for the midterm seeing this.

Republicans say they're going to be able to withstand the Democrats in the midterms because, check this out, the view of the two. parties. Now, this is the Republican Party right here. 43% favorable. That's not a great number, but it's better than the Democrats are doing. Only 41% right here. There's still more underwater than Republicans. They are. They are more unpopular

than Republicans, and that's different. If you think that the Trump's first term, the Democrats were more popular than Republicans, then different this time around, and Republicans say that could lead to a different result. And you wonder, they'd need some momentum going into those midterms if they want to pick up some seats. They also sort of maybe need a party leader at this point, too. Let's talk about the gender gap

here among Gen Z voters. There's a divide I'm reading here that reaches beyond politics into personal and social beliefs. What did the poll find? This was the most surprising thing to me in this poll. We're looking at Gen Z. This is adults under 30 years old, kind of that rising generation. We said, let's take their temperature on some basic questions about life and how they think about it. How do you define success in life? And look at this. We found a huge gap when it came to gender and politics. So this is men under 30 years old who voted for Donald Trump. We gave him a range of choices. What do you think is important to success?

By far, they said, number one, having children. Now look at this. Women under 30 who voted for Kamala Harris, what's dead last on their list? Having children couldn't be more opposite. Meanwhile, take a look at this very high on the list for women who voted for Harris. Having emotional stability, men Trump, dead last for them. These are some basic core questions about how these folks think about life and they're very, very far apart. Both Americans, but they look at life in way different.

ways. There's a lot of debate now about vaccines. Did our poll ask Americans what they're thinking? Yeah. So remember, last week in Florida, obviously, the news was relaxing on that state's vaccine mandate. We didn't ask about a mandate. We asked here just about your general attitude towards the use of vaccines. All vaccines. All, right. And just, you know, are you four generally using them or not? And you see more than three quarters supported, although one thing notable here, Tom, we broke this down. Do you strongly support the use of vaccines? And there the number is under 50%. It's 48%. Really? Okay. So we do want to see as this, we take this poll in the future, does that number continue to go dead at all? And we're getting some really interesting numbers about people

and vaccination rates in counties and cities. We're going to have that later this week and in the coming months. Steve Kornacki, always so great to have you here on Top Story. You got a time. All right, we want to head overseas now. Time for Top Story's Global Watch, a train smashing into a bus outside of Mexico City, leaving at least 10 people dead and more than 40 others hurt. Video the moment, the freight train slams into the double-decker bus and keeps moving down the tracks. This is the aftermath of that wreck. It's unclear whether there were any gates or signals at the crossing, but state prosecutors say they are now investigating. Authorities in Nepal say at least 19 people are dead after protests broke out today over corruption and new restrictions on social

media. Local news reports say around 400 people were hurt. You can see the clashes right here, police firing off tear gas, and the protesters trying to push against barricades. The demonstrations erupting a week after officials moved to ban several social media platforms for not registering with the government. And an update tonight on a story we've been following, an American pilot and influencer who was stuck at a Chilean air base in Antarctica for two months has just been released. 20-year-old Ethan Guo was held there after authorities accused him of lying about flight data. He was trying to become the youngest person to fly solo to all seven continents and was raising money for cancer research.

Guo landed in Chile over the weekend and agreed to donate $30,000 to a children's foundation to avoid a trial. And Prince Harry returning to the United Kingdom, paying tribute to his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and speaking at a children's charity event, the big question tonight, could we see a royal reunion while he's there on this solo trip? The relationship between Prince Harry and his father, King Charles III, has of course been icy since Prince Harry stepped back from his duties as a senior royal in 2020. 2020. NBC's Ralph Sanchez joins us now from Buckingham Palace with the latest. So, Raf, the last reunion between the two was way back in February of 2024, following the King's cancer diagnosis. Will he meet with his father this time? Well, Tom, at this point, there is no sign of a meeting, and there is no sign that this very public father's son, Royal Rift,

is coming to an end. Prince Harry is here in London tonight. He just wrapped up a speech at a children's charity. And his father, King Charles, is basically on the other side of the country. He's up in Scotland. He's at Balmoral at the royal residence there. So they are very far away geographically at this point. As you said, it has been more than a year since the king has seen his younger son. Prince Harry has talked about how painful that is, especially given that his father is battling cancer right now, that his prognosis at this point is unclear. But he has also had some pretty harsh words for his father, the king, saying that his father could have done more to make sure that he has police bodyguards while he's here in the UK. That has been one of his

major grievances. It is worth saying, Tom, that Harry is in the UK for a couple of days. So the fact that they didn't meet today doesn't mean that they're not going to meet at all. But at this point, it is looking like Harry is staying in England tomorrow, and the king is going to continue to be up in Scotland. All right. Let's talk about his brother, Prince William and Princess. Kate also paid tributes to Queen Elizabeth. Is there any chance for the brothers to reunite? Yeah, that is also a relationship that is under strain. Tom, it was interesting. Prince Harry on the one hand, and then Prince William and his wife, Princess Kate, were all actually very close to each other physically earlier on today. They were all in the area around Windsor Castle.

They were all paying tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth, who died back in September 2020. That would seem to be an obvious opportunity for these brothers. get together to potentially bury the hatchet, and it didn't happen. They remained separate all day. At this point, there is no indication that they are going to meet. The relationship is pretty icy right now. Prince Harry has accused Prince William's staff of planting negative stories in the British media, not just about him, but also about his wife, Megan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex. So that is a tough relationship right now. I can tell you, Tom, there are a lot of people here in the UK who would like to see those two.

sons of the late Princess Diana, reconcile at some point, especially while their father the king is still alive. Tom. Ralph Sanchez, always great to see you. We thank you for that. Still ahead on Top Story for the first time in nearly 80 years, Tuskegee trained pilots are taking to the skies. We speak with the first woman to stand on the shoulders of those World War II heroes. Don't go away. We are back now with the sudden reversal from the U.S. Military Academy. at West Point. The Alumni Association says it's canceling an upcoming ceremony for actor Tom Hanks,

who was supposed to receive a prestigious award at the end of this month for his decades-long support of veterans and the military. Emily Aketa has this report. In just a few weeks, beloved actor and veterans advocate Tom Hanks was set to add to his long list of accolades with a new honor, the prestigious Sylvainus Thayer Award from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. that award ceremony has been canceled according to the Washington Post the decision to scrap the event which includes a parade was announced in an internal email to staff on Friday a copy of that message obtained and reviewed by the

post and not independently verified by NBC News the president and CEO of the West Point Association of Graduates writing that this decision allows the Academy to continue its focus on its core mission of preparing cadets to lead fight and win the award announced in June is given to an outstanding citizen who embodies the Academy's ideals of duty, honor, and country. At the time, Hanks called the honor both humbling and meaningful. The alumni group citing the 69-year-old's portrayal of U.S. service members in movies

like Saving Private Ryan and Forrest Gump, as well as his longtime support of veterans and military caregivers, like his work with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation's Hidden Heroes campaign, something he's talked about with Savannah over the years. Hidden Heroes is all about the people that care for veterans who've come back with wounds. It is 24 hours of day that that loved what is going to require a certain type of care and attention. And while it's unclear why the ceremony was abruptly canceled, it comes after a number of recent changes at West Point. In January, President Trump cracked down on diversity programs in the military. Soon after, West Point shut down its cultural clubs, including those for women and minorities.

Retired Brigadier General, Ty Cigilly, taught at the Academy for almost 20 years. Is this award traditionally controversial? No, it's not controversial. West Point is a staunchly apolitical organization. It tries its best to balance between left and right, Republican Democrats, scientists, diplomat, astronauts, entertainers. How unusual is this last-minute cancellation of the ceremony for the Thayer Award? Except for 9-11 and a snowstorm, it's the first one that I know of since the award started in 1958 that they canceled. And certainly the idea that they canceled for the reason they gave, which is to focus cadets on lethality, that's a first.

Today, President Trump calling the cancellation of Tom Hanks ceremony an important move by West Point slamming Hanks as destructive and woke. No word tonight from Tom Hanks, who has supported past Democratic presidential candidates. to West Point and its Alumni Association, but have not her back. Tom. Emily Aketa, we thank you. Finally tonight, a historic institution taking to the skies once again. Tuskegee University, which trained America's first black military pilots during World War II, launching a new program, allowing students to get their pilots licenses while earning their degrees.

NBC's Aaron Gilchrist spoke to the first female pilot to soar through the new program. She's a new pilot flying with history under her wings. traffic down at 849 Lima. Kimbria Parker is the first woman pilot from Tuskegee University's new aviation science program. Make sure the road moves love, make sure it moves right. There were Tuskegee women working but not flying, so it feels pretty good to be doing the flying. At the height of World War II, the U.S. Army Air Corps sent black cadets to the Tuskegee Institute for primary flight training.

I turn right and put up a stone wall of pull it. They became the nation's first black military pilot. the Tuskegee Airmen. Then we're checking the hinges as well. There's six here. Kempria is among about 50 students in the program at Tuskegee and historic Moten Field with a legacy of those first black fighter pilots was born. Now preparing students for private and commercial licenses hoping to help the nation's pilot shortage.

It's exciting to actually be operating with a 2,000, 2,000 pound vehicle. How tall are you? I'm 5 foot even. I mean, you are the master when you're in this cockpit, though, right? Mm-hmm. When I'm in it, I feel like I'm eight-foot tall. And when she climbs into that cockpit, you can see it. She is in the zone. You are bigger than you, honestly. That's the biggest battle I have with myself while getting this license. A mindset that's even allowed her to rise above her fear of heights.

But when you're in the air, no fear. Yeah. No fear. No fear. No fear. A fearlessness familiar to these airfields, launching a new generation into history. Aaron Gilchrist, NBC News, Tuskegee, Alabama. And we thank Aaron Gilchrest for that story. We thank you for watching Top Story tonight. I'm Tom Yamison, New York. Stay right there. More news on the way.