Top Story with Tom Llamas - Thursday, August 24, 2023

Episode Date: August 25, 2023

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.

And good evening. Welcome to a special edition of Top Story. I'm Tom Yamis. We are coming on the air with breaking news tonight. Former President Trump turning himself into authorities in Fulton County, Georgia, where he has been charged for his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. And here it is, the former president's mugshot, taken today at the Fulton County Jail, where he was booked on felony charges and also fingerprinted. Trump touching down late today atlanta's Hartfield Jackson Airport, the former president and current Republican frontrunner stoic as he arrived for the closely watched surrender. After he was booked, the former president briefly speaking to reporters right after, here's what he said. What has taken place here is a travesty of justice. We did nothing wrong. I did nothing wrong. And everybody knows it. I've never had such support. And that goes with the other ones, too. What they're doing is election interference. They're trying to interfere. with an election. Again, these are the 13 counts right here on your screen that former President Trump is facing. They include conspiracy to commit false statements, forgery, and violation

of racketeering laws. Trump and his 18 co-defendants all have been given a deadline of tomorrow at noon to turn themselves in. And tonight we are learning district attorney Fawney Willis has asked the court to set it in October 23rd trial date. That's a much faster timeline than initially expected. We're not sure if the former president will accept that trial date, set. But far from set in stone at this moment, of course, NBC News anchor and NBC senior Washington correspondent, Hallie Jackson, has been following this with me all night. And Hallie, I got to say, we both covered the former president's campaign. You covered the president in the White House, and tonight you're covering his mugshot. Your thoughts? It is a moment. It is a moment that is

making history. And I think that given this is the fourth time in five months time, that you and I have sat here and done rolling coverage, special coverage of the former president, now a criminal defendant, there is perhaps a routine feeling to this. This is not routine. This is unprecedented. And we say that because it's true, right? Like, this is a moment that really is making history. I mean, look at the image that you see here. We have seen billions of images of Donald Trump over the years, right? From his days as a reality TV show megastar to the days when he was at the White House, his impeachment, et cetera. We have never seen anything like this.

You've seen them in gold-guilded mansions, in private jets, at Mara Lago, in the most expensive places in the world, at one point the most powerful person in the world. And now this. A mugshot taken at an active county jail that's been investigated for conditions like Fed Bucks, for example, reportedly, right? I mean, it is just such a stark contrast. And the other piece of it that is so extraordinary is the way that as he has been since he got into the race back in 2015, almost immune in the Republican Party to political ramifications for what in maybe a more traditional setting would be considered a liability.

He is sought to turn this legal issue into a political strength for him. You and I were chatting with somebody who used to work for him, who I and you know well, Hogan Gidley, a former advisor to the former president who said, you know, that there's a legal battle and a political battle. It is all one battle, and that's because Donald Trump has made it one battle, Tom, and that's what we're seeing play out here tonight. It is the yin and yang that I believe sort of runs this planet, right? It is maybe his worst day, one of his worst days on Earth, but at the same time he could flip this. And as we've seen with the polling, every time he gets indicted, his poll numbers have actually gotten better. There is a difference, however, right?

Because you look at some of these polling numbers. We have it in our new NBC News, Des Moines Register, MediaCom polling out of Iowa, showing that the majority of Republicans are with him. He is blowing away the rest of the field there as it relates to, likely Republican caucus goers. We are seeing it in New Fox News polling that suggests more than half of Republicans do not believe that he did anything seriously wrong

as it relates specifically to election interference on the federal indictment. But look at the broader picture. Look at the bigger numbers. Half of all respondents, right? Meaning half of the people who would end up voting potentially in a general election do believe

that he did something. wrong. And so while this may be an asset to him in the primary, maybe, right, the general is a very different story. And that's why this Georgia case has been so interesting, watching him in a place in a state that is going to be critical. We're going to be talking about Georgia all night of November 2024. But here's the flip side, something we haven't talked about. Do you remember what happened last night? Because I'm sure a lot of, I'm sure a lot of the GOP voters have already forgotten that debate. Now everyone's talking about former President Trump and this mugshot and what's happened down in Georgia. And if you had a big night, if you're a Vivek Ramashwami, right? Or maybe even

a Governor DeSantis, if you think he had a good night, no one's talking about you anymore. Everyone's talking about this. And you just wonder how that's going to play. How do you, how do you get some of the attention? How do you get some of the oxygen when this guy's sucking it all up? But what you saw in that debate stage last night, and let's stipulate that, like, debates very rarely move the needle in a presidential election, right? Especially in a primary. They can create moments, sure. They didn't try to take the, the, from Donald Trump last night. There were multiple opportunities for those candidates to go after Mr. Trump, not even on the legal issues. Five of them were dressed just like him. Five of them

were literally dressed just like former President Trump, Navy blue suit, white shirt, red tie. I talked to Stephen Hayes, a journalist who's covered conservative politics for decades, and he was telling me he was inside Milwaukee. He said it felt like, it felt phony. He said there was felt like there's something missing there. And I wonder if voters are thinking of the same thing. Former President Trump, in so many ways over the last six years, has remade the Republican Party in his image, whether the Republican Party likes it or not. I talk to people, you talk to people who are in the GOP, the more establishment wing, who maybe don't like it, but plenty of others do. Now, listen, his approval rating is not sky high when he was president. It was, you know, we've seen where his sort of ceiling is.

That is going to be the challenge that he will have come the general. But I do think, to the point that you're making, it is two different conversations. the conversation we're going to have from like now through South Carolina, Nevada, Super Tuesday, and then depending on what happens there, if he is the nominee, the conversation after that. There's a debate a month away, and again, who knows if he even gets there? Well, he's already alluded to the, do you mean like if he'll participate? If he'll participate, yeah. He's already alluded to the fact that he will probably skip the next one.

He said debates, plural, and there was some indication that he meant those first couple. What we have seen, though, but there's a side of me. There's a side of me that thinks he watched last night, and he's like, I can take every single one of these guys, with the exception of Governor Chris Christie who will give it to him. I think he watched last night he probably wasn't very impressed and he may try to get on there.

He has said, though, publicly, what I have heard from people close to him privately now for frankly months since we started talking about the potential for him at the debates, which is why would he go on there and try to expose himself to attacks from Chris Christie

who's polling just a stratosphere and that was a good number. Hallie, amazing tonight, amazing being with you. I appreciate that. Gabe Gutier is standing by for us outside the full County Jail. He's been with Trump supporters, Trump demonstrators all night.

Gabe, I know you showed the image to some Trump supporters in our last hour. Talk to me about the reaction you're hearing from Trump world, because I know you're also talking to Trump surrogates across the country. Yeah, Tom. As you just heard a little bit ago, I spoke with one Trump supporter here that said it looked like an album cover, almost in awe for looking at this mugshot. I'm actually getting fresh reaction just in the past few moments from Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green, who was here early. earlier today speaking with the Trump supporters, and she says that that photo, that mugshot,

that you were looking on your screen right now, will win the 2024 election. That is, according to Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green, echoing similar concerns that I spoke with her earlier today. She was defiant echoing some of what former President Trump has been saying, but also going a step further. We also heard that former president speak as he was boarding his plane, heading back to New Jersey, very measured in his words. I heard you speaking earlier by he didn't seem to have the fighting spirit quite as much as he had before, not going after the DA. Well, if he was measuring his words there, certainly Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green and other surrogates are not. They are attacking the DA, saying that, you know, Republicans

in Congress plan to investigate the DA and the judiciary committee. And this is something that we expect to hear over and over again in the coming months. But yes, Tom and Halley, we've been hearing, speaking with Trump supporters here all day. They just don't buy these charges, and they think that ultimately this will help former President Trump as he campaigns in the coming months. And Gabe, as you were reporting, I was just handed a piece of paper. It was a printout of a truth social post by the former president. It says mugshot. It has the date. It has the mugshot we're showing right here. And underneath it has election interference, never surrender, Donald J.Trump.com, because we know he's going to be able to fundraise through a super PAC

using this image. It's what's expected. He's helping pay some of his legal bills through that super PAC, or all of his legal bills, I should say. Gabe, before you go walk our viewers in case they weren't watching how fast this process was, because it was pretty incredible how when he landed, he got through the whole booking process and he was out on the plane, and the whole process, I mean, at least through the jail, took less than an hour. Yeah, it's quite incredible, Tom, especially him making it from the airport here, but then also once he was inside the jail, the whole process took about 20 minutes. So we understand that he may have been able to give some of his information beforehand.

It was a very quick process. He was finger-printed that mugshot was taken. He was in and out in 20 minutes. And some of the Trump supporters that we were speaking with here were amazed. They were expecting perhaps to catch a glimpse of him as he came in. He came through another entrance just around the corner, the back entrance here to the Fulton County Jail. But so this is a very, very quick process, Tom. And you mentioned something earlier now.

There's a lot of questions moving forward about how quickly this process will pay out. You mentioned the district attorney pushing for a trial date of October 23rd. That was in response to another motion, another court filing earlier this week from one of the defendants asking for a speedy trial. Now a judge has granted that October 23rd date for that defendant, but the Trump team had said, look, we want to separate our case from any of the other defendants that may or may not want a speedy trial. They are still asking for a much longer time frame on these legal proceedings, potentially into 2026. But it does show how unwieldy this whole process is, a bit like hurting cats, Tom, as this very complicated racketeering case makes its way through the legal system here in Georgia. Yeah, two-year investigation and now Donald Trump's defense team will have to get ready. Gabe, we appreciate all your reporting as always.

If you are just tuning in, we do want to remind you the former president has been bull. for felony charges in a Fulton County jail in connection to alleged election interference. And you're taking a look at his mugshot. And this is the first time that we have ever seen, a current president, a former president with a criminal mugshot. This man wants one of the most powerful people in the world today treated like an alleged common criminal. We also understand that he was fingerprinted as well, but again, booked in a Fulton County

jail. We know that his other co-defendants have until tomorrow. to show up to that Fulton County Jail and go through the same process. Former President Trump joins his former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, his former attorney, Rudy Giuliani, and 16 others in this case, charged with 13 crimes,

charged with trying to overturn the 2020 election. Now, as all of this was going on, last night, of course, you may remember, eight of his opponents went head-to-head in Milwaukee for the first debate of the GOP primary. The group trading blows on key issues from abortion to Ukraine, to the legal battles facing former President Trump.

The frontrunner, absent, but still looming large, Garrett Hake is on the ground for us in Milwaukee with how voters are reacting. Tonight, Republicans rushing to declare victory. To come out as the winner, I think, tonight, I felt really good. I just wanted to respond to Mike for one second. After a fiery first debate that was really a race for second place. With frontrunner, former President Trump absent, 38-year-old first-time candidate Vivek Ramoswamy tried to seize the spotlight. I'm the only person on the stage who isn't bought and paid for so I can. say this, the climate change agenda is a hoax. Others on stage unloading. Now is not the time for on

the job training. You have no foreign policy experience and it shows. And you know what? Mr. Trump's top rival, Ronda Santis, targeting President Biden. If you are working hard and you can't afford groceries, a car or a new home, while Hunter Biden can make hundreds of thousands of dollars on lousy paintings, that is wrong. While Chris Christie was one of the few to take direct aim at the former President. Whether or not you believe that the criminal charges are right or wrong, the conduct is beneath the office of President of the United States. But six of the eight candidates raising their hand when asked if they would still support Mr. Trump as nominee if he is convicted of a crime, all while the frontrunner appeared in a pre-recorded interview. Do I sit there for an

hour or two hours, whatever it's going to be, and get harassed by people? that shouldn't even be running for president. Should I be doing that? Tonight, we spoke with Wisconsin Republicans. So you're like DeSantis before. What do you think about him after? I think he would be a very good president, but I think he has to get a little tougher.

Is it fair to say nothing you saw last night moves you off of Trump? No, it didn't move me off. But it does make me think a little harder. Garrett Hake joins us tonight from Milwaukee, were those candidates squared off last night. So, Garrett, you've been covering the GOP race for a while now. What surprised you about last night?

Tom, I was surprised at how aggressive both Mike Pence and Vivek Ramoswamy were, trying to insert themselves basically everywhere in this debate. That's never been Pence's style. Ramoswami was always a bit of a wild card. The two of them really took over this debate. On the other side of that coin, Tim Scott, somebody who had a very high ceiling going into this debate. He's great in small rooms. He's a very charming political operator.

None of that came through last night. I think a lot of folks were expecting more out of him. We'll see if any of that changes in the next debate, which we're already on the countdown to next one. Yeah, a few of those candidates seem to disappear at times. You mentioned in your piece the former president obviously deciding to skip the debate last night. Has he weighed in at all on where the candidates stand and what he thought he saw? He's posted a couple things on social media bashing Chris Christie a frequent foil and boosting Vivek Ramoswom. who's been a kind of a useful partner almost for Trump thus far because he's the guy who sucks all the oxygen away from Ron DeSantis.

I mean, talking to Trump campaign folks who were here last night, it's been clear, it's always been clear that they view DeSantis as the only guy who can really threaten Trump long term. They tried to pronounce him dead after last night. And while I think they're overselling that, the fact that DeSantis wasn't able to have a breakout moment that Ramoswami was the guy everybody was talking about today moves them in their view one step. closer to making him the nominee again. Tom? We thank Garrett for that for more analysis on the GOP debate last night. I want to bring in Steve Hayes. He's editor and CEO of the dispatch and an NBC News political analyst, Michael Star Hopkins, president of Northern Star Strategies and a former Clinton and Obama campaign staffer. And Sarah Chamberlain, Republican strategist and CEO of Main Street

Partnerships. I want to thank you all for being here. Steve, I want to start with you. I know you were at the debate last night. You got a sense of how the room was react. acting to the candidates in real time. You've been covering this race, much like Garrett has as well. I asked him what surprised him. What surprised you in that room? Yeah, it's an interesting question, and I'll give you a different answer than you're probably expecting.

I've been doing this for a long time. I know it probably doesn't seem like it given my gray hair, but there's a rhythm to these debates. You go to the debate hall, you go to the filing center, you see the same people. There are young people associated with the candidates who are scrambling around, media trying to get people to talk to them to help people understand what's going on. And there's a sort of sameness and a rhythm to it. And it all felt really phony to me. This isn't like any other debate. The kinds of things that they were discussing, you know,

we can score the debate and say, oh, Nikki Haley really won this exchange with Vivek Ramoswami. Or you can say, Ron DeSantis was a little flat in his answer on X, Y, or Z. But behind it all, and more important than at all, I think, is what's happening with Donald Trump, who wasn't even there. So it was a strange sort of sometimes like out-of-body experience to be there watching this, thinking for years we've done this one way. We've scored the debates one way. We've analyzed it in one way. And it just really doesn't feel like it applies. So, Stephen, I mean, you've been covering the conservative movement and Republicans for decades, so I think that was pretty profound what you just said there. Are you saying that it felt like there was sort of no soul in that room as far as like,

what is the northern star of the Republican Party? What is the direction? Yeah, I mean, if you look at how the debate started, right? The moderators asked questions more or less about the size and scope of government, and you had sort of a typical Republican Party intra-Republican scrum. Some people were blaming others for not being tough enough on debt and deficits. Others were taking shots at their opponents. But in reality, look at the context here. I mean, you've had a Republican Party that's been a big part of the spending problem that we've seen over the past eight years.

Donald Trump's – Donald Trump's presidency saw the debt skyrocket. Mick Mulvaney, his former chief of staff, has been critical of the administration for that. There was a sense that they're trading words they're having these arguments, but behind it, there's this bigger thing looming. The former president instigated in its direction. He tried to steal an election. All of these things felt bigger than the back and forth on the stage last night. And you know what? It's a great point, Sarah.

I want to go to you next because the first thing that stood out to me, right when they showed all the candidates on stage, right? I looked at them, and I sort of couldn't believe it because so many of them were dressed just like Donald Trump. I mean, they literally had the Trump uniform on. Look at this. We have the graphic up here on the screen. Navy blue suit, white shirt, red tie. I know you can say, listen, red is the color of the Republican Party.

I get it. There's so many ties you could wear. To me, they were almost trying to imitate the former president, even though they're trying to run against him. What was your take on the debate? Okay, I have to tell you, that's the first thing I saw as well. When the camera came on, I'm like, oh, my God, they're all dressed exactly alike. This is really strange.

The take in the debate was it was a good evening. Obviously, as your other guest said, Donald Trump does kind of loom over all of this. They seem to be playing for second place at this point, not knowing what's going to really happen with the legal issues against Trump. But it was interesting debate. You know, we got to see youth. We got to see the older, you know, the more established Republicans. I think it was a good evening for the Republican Party. And they got some issues out that I think the American people care about.

I think Nikki Halley. Yeah. Nikki Halley talked about abortion. Thank you. As a woman, that has to be addressed. We can be 100% pro-life, but still we need to talk about that issue. And I really applaud her, and I talk to a lot of my girlfriends. We applaud her for bringing that out.

Michael, you're a Democrat. I know you're not going to give any points to any Republicans out there. But, I mean, watching the debate and seeing what unfolded there, being on the other side, what made you excited as far as can you take on any of these candidates? or were you sort of, I don't know, left underwhelmed? Every single candidate on that stage is beatable, including the one who wasn't, Donald Trump. You know, when you look at the statements that were made on that stage,

it made it really easy to see how pivoting during the general election is going to be a nightmare for Republicans. You had Vivek talking about how climate change is a hoax. You had multiple Republicans saying that they supported a federal ban on abortion, including Nikki Haley, who on the set, said that, she didn't support it. And then in the swing room said that she did support it. It's this type of flip-flopping, which I think is going to make a nightmare general election for Republicans and really do no favors for them. Steve, you know, I thought Governor Chris Christie

maybe had the best line of the night. I want to play it for our viewers tonight. We sort of predicted he would be the one on stage, would be the most aggressive. Here's what he had to say. I had enough. I had enough already tonight of a guy who sounds like chat GP standing up here, and the last person in one of these debates, Brett, who stood in the middle of the stage and said, what's a skinny guy with an odd last name doing up here, was Barack Obama, and I'm afraid we're dealing with the same type of amateur standing in stage tonight. So Steve, I wanted to play that for you because for Governor Chris Christie to sort of own at least that moment of the debate, and yet he is polling terribly in Iowa.

has 9% in New Hampshire, and yet he was taking command of that stage at times, along with directing his attacks to Vivek Ramashwami. Where are we in this race? Yeah, I mean, look, Chris Christie's just really good at that, right? He's good at debating, and he comes up with these lines on a pretty consistent basis. He was a successful debater in his gubernatorial campaigns and 2016 as well. Unfortunately, for him, that doesn't always win him elections, and I think he faces obviously a real uphill battle this time, given the arguments that he's make, which are a broad critique of the Republican Party and the Republican party under Donald Trump. I don't think he has a ton of credibility in making those arguments

given his sort of midwifery of Donald Trump in 2016. But he's making him and he's sticking to them. The big question going in, and Tom, we talked about this earlier this week, was, does anything happen that changes the trajectory of this race? Does any of these candidates decide, I'm going to take a big risk? Does Rhonda say, you know what, it's time for me to start to establish a real contrast with Donald Trump? Ron DeSantis was never going to campaign like Chris Christie. He was never going to be a never-trumper. But would he take the opportunity to differentiate himself on electability, on effectiveness, on governance?

And I don't think he did it. And to the extent that he tried, it didn't succeed. I don't think you had a big breakout moment. I don't think we had a race trajectory changing moment in this debate. So I don't think ultimately, as it matters, as much of the rest of the stuff that's happening around. the Republican throne. Yeah, it's hard to see how this debate changes the race. Sarah, I do want to get your take on something that happened to Governor DeSantis. People have been pointing this out. Some awkward moments, if you will, while on the debate stage

there. Let's show us to our viewers. I pledge to you as your president. We will get the job done, and I will not let you down. Thank you. Thank you. You all signed a pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee. If former President Trump is convicted in a court of law, would you still support him as your party's choice? Please raise your hand if you would. So, Sarah, what people are pointing out there is the awkward smile at the end of the first statement, and then looking around, seeing what the room's doing, then raising his hand. Look, a lot of people said this was a make-or-break moment for DeSantis.

I don't think it changes his campaign in any way I could be wrong. What's your take? I don't think it changes his campaign, but he certainly didn't come out and own the stage, which I think he needed to do. He has never been a good debater, and he wasn't again last night. We'll have to see where his campaign takes him, but I would never expect him to be the star of any debate stage. It's just not in him. That's just not what his strength is.

I think he was weak, and I think Vivek actually passed him, and I think Vivek would be the one to watch moving forward. Michael, before we go, I do want to ask you if you can be as honest as possible. Who do you think of the people on that stage? Any of those people, will they give President Joe Biden to run for his money in a debate? I think Tim Scott would probably be the candidate who would be the hardest for Joe Biden to debate, just because he's such a positive, affable person and really mimics a lot of the Biden rhetoric. But I just want to point to the Vivek comment from earlier. I think Vivek may have had a good night last night.

I think today is going to be one of the worst days of his campaign because every single campaign is now going to be doing APO research or him. And so the Icarus complex, the higher he flew, the closer he flew to the sun, and now he's going to melt and crash back to Earth. Well, not only that, he's also going to lose all the attention with the Trump landing of Atlanta and the potential mugshot in the days ahead. So people are going to stop talking about this debate, probably around 7.30 tonight, Eastern. I want to thank everyone on this panel for being here tonight on Top Story,

a very important night and an important discussion. I thank you all. Thank you. We turn out of some breaking news out of Maui. County officials announcing tonight they are suing Hawaiian Electric over the devastating Lahaina fires alleging negligence. This has officials ramp up search and recovery efforts on land and NC while urging the public to provide more DNA samples. Steve Patterson has the latest. More than two weeks since the deadly fire that.

devastated Lahaina. Search and recovery efforts are still ramping up. Hawaiian authorities and federal officials bumping the number of missing and unaccounted for to 1100. So we don't want to leave any stone on turn, so we're considering everybody on that list until we can prove that they shouldn't be on that list. But as the desperate search carries on, officials are now facing a new challenge, the lack of DNA samples. We need family members to come forward and donate their samples so that we can compare them to these DNA profiles we've already generated from remains. This is a critical step in order to make an identification based on the DNA testing that's already been done.

Authorities urging the public to provide DNA to support identification efforts, but as of today, they only have 100-4 samples. As Hawaii Governor Josh Green says 92% of the total area has been searched, support continues to pour in on the national level. The Pentagon, announcing today they're sending more than 725 DOD personnel and 136 Coast Guard members to help search efforts on land and sea. Three mobile diving salvage units arriving in Maui yesterday to conduct sonar scans of Lahaina Harbor and preparation for search and recovery dive missions. Those lucky enough to have survived the fire now dealing with new obstacles. While their homes may still be standing, the conditions there are nearly unlivable.

There's a bunch of people that are still in the disaster zone and in the restricted area. They have no access to water. They have no access to other resources. If they leave, they cannot get back in. Leaving many people, especially the elderly, without basic necessities like water, electricity, and plumbing, forced to bathe in flush toilets with bottled water. Neighbors and volunteers banding together to help provide essential food, hygiene supplies, and medical aid to those stranded.

This is the Allahis spirit. give the last dollar we have in our wallet, we give the last shirt we might have in our drawer because this is what the need is. Everything that's been coming in and out of here has all been led by the volunteers and the local people. The difficult journey to recover and rebuild far from over. Yeah, Tom, the late breaking news tonight, Maui County itself now filing a lawsuit against Hawaiian Electric. Now one of 13 lawsuits alleging essentially the same thing that Hawaiian Electric caused the fire by a down-energized power line against dry brush and that They could have stopped it by de-energizing those lines ahead of red flag warnings put out by the National Weather Service that very same day.

The lawsuit also alleges extreme at mismanagement going back years, including improvements that would have protected against these fires. Back to you, Tom. All right, Steve Patterson, with that new reporting tonight out of Maui. Steve, we thank you. Now to the flooding emergency in the Midwest. Flash floods roaring into Michigan and Ohio. Look at this. suburging roads, stranding motorists, and forcing rescues.

Dangerous driving conditions also hitting Las Vegas, water flowing down the iconic strip and a casino ceiling caving in. It's not good for gamblers. Millions more bracing for severe thunderstorms tonight, so let's get right to NBC News meteorologist Bill Karens. Bill, walk us through this track. This is an overnight thunderstorm threat with high gusty winds. People could possibly lose power. You'll hear the lightning.

You'll wake you up in the middle of the night. And those storms are now forming in Michigan, and they're around Lansing. They're going to head for Detroit, Toledo, right along the lakeshore here through Cleveland. This orange area here is at enhanced risk area. So those storms will be by early morning all the way in central Pennsylvania, maybe for the morning rush hour. They may even hold together enough to be near the New York City area. So that's something that we'll be watching.

And we do expect some soggy weather out of this and weather delays, too, at the airports. We could get soaked as we go through Friday, especially Friday afternoon in Boston and Portland. This is the storms tonight into tomorrow. And then we've been talking about Tropical Storm Franklin. I've sort of been obsessed with that storm. but I know you have some new forecasting and another storm we should look at as well. Yeah, we have two fish areas,

fish storms we'll call them. Not worried about that at all. So it's first talk about Franklin, and this is expected to become a big powerful hurricane just off the east coast in the next five days. Right now it's safely to the north of the Dominican Republic. Here's the new forecast path from the hurricane center. They take it just inside of Bermuda, not a direct hit,

but possibly getting up to a category two or three storm, dangerous beach conditions like inland to east coast. And then it looks now what's changed from yesterday. This could then sneak up here towards the Canadian. in maritines, especially towards Halifax and St. John's. But I have my eyes on what could happen in the Gulf of Mexico early next week. We're watching this area down here near Costa Rica and Nicaragua and Honduras. The development zone takes it northwards right over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Not what we want to see. Our most reliable long-term model brings a pretty strong storm

up towards the west coast of Florida in about five, six days from now. We have to watch this carefully. We know we're heading towards the peak of the season, and the water temperatures in the Gulf can support a very strong storm. So we'll wait and see how this all plays out. Bill, we thank you for that. Still ahead tonight, an update on the notorious BTK killer. The man who is admitted to brutally killing 10 people in Kansas now possibly tied to two more murders. The new evidence just coming to life. Plus, race to escape the moment in Ohio police officer rushed to tell these residents the back of their home was on fire. And how much would you pay for this car? We're serious. Coming up, we'll tell you just how much one-bitter spent on this 1954 Ferrari, even though it's completely burnt out.

You will not believe it. Stay with us. Top story. Just getting started. We're back now with new developments in a case that terrorized the Central U.S. for decades. Dennis Raider, the serial killer known as the BTK killer, has now been named the prime suspect in two unsolved killings in Oklahoma and Missouri. He's currently serving 10 consecutive life terms. NBC's Emily Aketa has a story. He's known as the BTK killer, or bind torture kill, who in 2005 admitted to brutally murdering 10 people near Wichita, Kansas. I have many what I call them projects. But tonight, investigators say 78-year-old Dennis Raider could be responsible for two more killings. Do you think the number could be even higher?

It's not out of the realm of possibility. Oklahoma's O'Sage County Sheriff's Office recently on earth, new. evidence at the serial killers former home, including victims' personal effects. A pair of pantyhose that are tied in a knot. Investigators believe Rader used those pantyhose to bind to victims' hands or feet together. Perhaps they say Cynthia Kinney, a 16-year-old who was last seen at a laundromat in Pahuska, Oklahoma in 1976. Rader, writing in a journal entry around the same time that laundromats were a good place to watch

victims and dream. We read from cover to cover his journal. and he left all kinds of clues in there. Raiders daughter has been volunteering as an active agent. Carrie Rosson even visiting her father for the first time in 18 years as part of those efforts. Was there anything that you wanted to get off your chest after nearly two decades? I could have gone in there sad. I could have gone in there, you know, shell shocked.

But I went in. They're very focused on trying to get answers for Cynthia Kinney's family. Authorities say advancing DNA and GPS technology has helped progress the most. multi-agency investigation, but they also continue to receive tips, even following up on a new lead today. Raiders attorney is not commenting tonight. Tom? When we come back a wild siding in Florida, this monkey won a several scene running around a town near Orlando while officials are warning residents to stay away. Stay with us. All right, welcome back. Time now for top.

story's news feed, we begin with a major update in the Idaho College Murders case. Suspect Brian Coburger waving his right to a speedy trial, delaying the start of the trial indefinitely. His lawyers saying they need more time to prepare his defense. Coburger pled not guilty to four counts of murder for the killings of four University of Idaho students late last year. A police officer in Ohio is being hailed a hero for rushing to save residents from a burning house. Body cam footage shows Sheffield Village police officer Kevin Bring racing to put out the fire, which he noticed while he was on patrol last week. The officer then rushing to the front door, yelling at the residents who had not noticed the fire yet to get out.

Thanks to his quick thinking, no injuries were reported. And in Florida, officials issuing a warning after several wild sightings. Here's why. This image right here taken out of Popeyes in Orange City, it shows a wild racist monkey hopping on a fence, spotting one of several monkey sightings around town that has residents on edge. Police are urging people to keep their distance from these monkeys, noting that this particular kind of monkey can become aggressive when fed. Animal control has been called in to track them down. And a burnt-out, 1954 Ferrari going for an unbelievable price at a California auction.

The wreck car, look at this thing. You can see it here. It sold for $1.8 million. This is why. It used to look like this before it was crashed at some point in the 60s. The car is just one of 13 ever made, originally raced in 1954 by the same man who drove the first Ferrari to victory in 1947. The buyer of that cunk of junk, not yet disclosed. Okay, we turned out of that deadly shooting in Southern California. A former law enforcement officer opening fire at a famous biker bar, at least three people killed, six others rushed to the hospital. What we're learning tonight about the woman police believe he was targeting.

Miguel Almaguer reports. As the chaos unfolded and 911 calls flooded in, mail came in and started to duty, each off of fire. Law enforcement sources tell NBC News, the gunman, a retired police officer, opened fire inside this historic Southern California biker bar, apparently targeting his estranged wife, killing three. That's how two bodies drop. With shots fired just after 7 p.m., it took officers two minutes to arrive at Cook. corner, an Orange County venue, popular with families.

Authorities say the shooter identified as retired Ventura County Police Sergeant John Snowling was armed with multiple guns. Oh, my God, Marie. NBC, Los Angeles, speaking to a witness who was with the gunman's wife, Marie Snowling, who was shot in the jaw and survived. He turns around, and then he starts shooting at me and Marie, his wife, when I saw people running. I'm like, oh my God, I got shot at and I didn't die and I better run now before I get killed. With six people hospitalized, investigators say the gunmen immediately began

firing at arriving officers who killed him in a hail of gunfight. Also, he started hearing gunshots more and people started screaming and running. Tonight is seen of chaos and carnage with innocent families in the crosshairs. Investigators are already pouring through the suspect's life, but already appear to have their motive. Tom. Time to get a check of what's happening around the world, so that means it's time for Top Story's Global Watch. We begin with the devastating landslides in northern India.

Dramatic new video shows the moment a huge landslide leveled several multi-story homes. Luckily, no one was hurt because the buildings were evacuated in time. But monsoon rains did leave at least 12 people dead in the region on Wednesday. International outrage tonight over Japan's plan to release treated radioactive water. More than a dozen activists arrested outside the Japanese embassy in Seoul, South Korea, as they protested Japan's decision to release water from Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant that was wrecked during an earthquake and tsunami, you'll remember, back in 2011.

A UN watchdog says radioactivity levels are safe, but the move has caused China to already ban all seafood imports from Japan. And a massive drug seizure in Poland, listen to this, new video shows Poland's border guard, finding nearly 440 kilos of cocaine in the floorboards of shipping containers. Officials say the drugs had a street value of 44 million bucks. Poland's border guard believes that cocaine was shipped from Chile. Okay, we turn now to the Americas in a story we've been following out of Argentina, the skyrocketing inflation there, sending people to desperation.

This week, even sparking multiple incidents of looting across the country as locals ransacked grocery stores and other businesses for food and basic necessity. as prices there double, in some fear the situation is likely to worsen. Valerie Castro has the latest. Chaos playing out in the streets of Argentina. As business owners fend off looters with firearms, while frustrations mount over astronomical inflation rates growing to more than 110%.

It's impressive. It's a disaster. You have to go looking for all sides. But, well, it's what we're living here. Scenes of people running from stores with shopping carts full of goods, prompting shops to reinforce storefronts with metal doors. The situation is dire. People are taking matters into their own hands. The economic unrest, stretching from cities near the capital to the Patagonia region,

leading to more than 100 people detained, and police called in to guard gas stations and supermarkets. Riot police sent to another region where fires were intentionally set. But the thing is, to look at the class of the people who are

people who are people who are isolated and coordinated in the midst of a heated election year. Yet the financial crisis only expected to get worse.

J.P. Morgan forecasting inflation to end the year at 190%. They're essentially a country is bankrupt. The only way to solve that temporarily is by printing more IOUs, which is what the local currency is. There's more paper money chasing fewer goods, and the income of people is very minimal. The army is out in force this morning, but the looting and rioting continues.

The dramatic images reminiscent of unrest in 1989, when inflation increased by over 100% in less than a year. A week of rioting and looting triggered by economic. problems. At least three people have been killed and dozens of others have been hurt in the fighting. Hundreds of people have been arrested. And again in 2001, the nation suffering steep losses as prices surged once more. During two days of upheaval, 28 people were killed, dozens injured, and hundreds of shops ransacked and looted. Argentina is a wealthy country that has produced poverty. And it had its ups, its downs. Now it's been for the last 20 years or so, mostly down. And it has been, for the last 20 years or so, mostly down, and it has reached bottom.

Citizens now struggling to keep up with the rising costs of everyday essentials. Merchants unsure of what price to put on goods, putting up notices that customers should ask for the cost at the register. Sef were on the numbers, the whole sense. This week, the IMF approving a $7.5 billion loan to the country, while people prepare for what could be a chaotic presidential election in October. Valerie Castro, NBC News. Coming up next, an important message for anyone who has used Facebook in the last 15 years.

So listen up, the social media giant agreeing to shell out $725 million in a major privacy settlement. The deadline just hours away. What you need to know to cash in, we'll explain it all. Back now with money talks in a way you could possibly score some cash-in. If you have used Facebook in the last 15 years, you have until Friday just before midnight to claim your piece of a $725 million settlement from Facebook's parent company, META. NBC's George Solis explains. The clock is ticking. Facebook users hoping to get a piece of that whopping $725 million privacy settlement have until Friday millions qualify.

Facebook took a major hit on Wall Street today, losing over $40 billion in market. value. Facebook's parent company, Meta, agreed to settle a class action lawsuit in December over allegations it made data available to third parties without users' consent. That includes Cambridge Analytica, a consulting firm linked to former President Trump's 2016 campaign, which obtained and shared the information of 87 million users during the 2016 election. Cambridge Analytica was taking this data and analyzing it in terms of user profiles, user preferences, political affiliations, and really using it to profile and sell that data to various political organizations without the consent of any of the users.

The revelation prompted global outrage, an investigation by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Yes, Senator. I think everyone should have control over how their information is used. And a marathon of hearings on Capitol Hill, where Facebook creator and CEO Mark Zuckerberg was grilled by lawmakers over how third-part party partners could obtain data without user's knowledge. Your user agreement sucks. Zuckerberg eventually apologizing in a lengthy statement posted on Facebook, writing in part quote, I've been working to understand exactly what happened and how to make sure this

doesn't happen again. Meta did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement, but the company is paying up. If you were a Facebook user between May 24, 2007 and December 22nd, 2022, you are eligible to submit a claim. Even if you no longer have a Facebook account, just log on to Facebook user privacy settlement.com and follow the instructions from there. If you've had multiple accounts over the years, you may only submit for one of them. The biggest slice of meta settlement, over 180 million, will go to lawyers fees. The eight plaintiffs in the case will get up to 15,000 each. The rest will be divided up for the affected claimants, so don't expect a large payout. Companies need to know that when

they violate privacy rights, even if you can't demonstrate specific harm to you, that there's going to be some need for them to compensate people. And don't expect it any time soon. The final hearing to approve the settlement isn't until September, and there could be appeals. You can expect that if you file tomorrow, it will be several months before you see any money. All right, when we come back, a special surprise on the first day of school. Beneath this tiger mascot suit, the one person this seven-year-old has. had been waiting a year to see that reunion next. Finally tonight, the first day of school can be nerve-wracking, scary, even overwhelming.

But for one second grader in Ohio, heading back to the classroom, came with a surprise he's been waiting a year for. NBC's Maya Eaglin has this one. It's the first day of school in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. And for seven-year-old Eli, this is a big day. But it's also the latest milestone without his dad. And so there go long periods of times where I couldn't see him, couldn't talk. And it was very, it was hard. It was very hard.

Sergeant Perry Chronister has been on a one-year deployment in the Middle East. And while on patrol in mind-resistant vehicles like this with the Ohio National Guard, making calls to Eli not always easy. Where I was at, Wi-Fi was not good. And so some conversations, just some days we would try, and it really, it wouldn't work out. Sergeant Perry sending back this video message to Eli in April. Hey, Eli, I miss you very much. I love you. I'm very proud of you. You know, it's been rough. They're doing a great job. I can't wait to get home and see you.

That wait finally over this month, just in time for Eli's first day of second grade. Perry trading his military camouflage for tiger stripes, suiting up as DeWitt Elementary School's mascot. The teachers had like a great idea. They said, how about you put on the mascot costume? And then we just have you come in and like just, you know, wave at the kids a little bit. And we did the big reveal. All leading up to this moment.

Eli, jumping into his dad's arms. That's Eli's dad. It was just magical. That was the best, best feeling, the best moment that I've had. That's very exciting. A back-to-school memory, Eli won't forget. What was your most favorite part about yesterday? Me?

A big thanks to Sergeant Perry and his family for both their service and their sacrifice. And 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.