Top Story with Tom Llamas - Thursday, May 22, 2025

Episode Date: May 22, 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 charges filed against the man who shot and killed two Israeli embassy workers in Washington as security is ramped up at Jewish sites across the country. Active terrorism, the alleged gunmen in court, the moment he walked back into the Jewish museum after pulling the trigger. And what we know about the couple killed, he was getting ready to propose to her. Their colleague, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., joins Top Story Live. Star Witness rapper Kid Cuddy on the stand in the Sean Diddy Combs trial. The photos shown to the jury of Cuddy's burnt-out Porsche. He blames Diddy for the Molotov cocktail that torched it. Deadly plane crash, a private jet smashes into a neighborhood in San Diego,

parts of the plane scattered across the street, the music agents who were killed in the crash. RFK Jr.'s health plan, the long-awaited release of the Make America Healthy Again report, today, complete with a White House rollout, while the report says America's children are sicker than ever. So what can be done about it? Robert Kennedy Jr. joins Top Story tonight. Holiday weekend washout, the rare late-season nor'easter, snarling holiday travel, bringing strong winds, rain, and how about snow right before the unofficial start of summer? The Wild West of Telemedicine,

the online companies that make getting prescription drugs easy, maybe too easy. The series, side effects after this man took hair loss medication and what our correspondent was able to buy in a matter of minutes. And back in the ring, legendary boxer Mani Pakiow coming out of retirement at 46. Can he be the oldest champion ever? And good evening. We begin tonight in our nation's capital. Two Israeli embassy staffers shot and killed in what the FBI is calling an act of terror. That attack happening just after 9 o'clock last night, right outside the Capitol Jewish Museum after an event for young diplomats. Police say the alleged terrorist started shooting at a group exiting the building.

This video right here shot by witnesses capturing the moment he was detained. He screamed out, Free Palestine, as officers handcuffed him. An investigators say his name is Elias Rodriguez, a Chicago resident, 30 years old, and just before the attack, he may have posted a manifesto on X, condemning the war in Gaza. The FBI is now working to authenticate that. He's now facing multiple charges, including two counts of first-degree murder. We are also learning details about the victims tonight. 30-year-old Yaron Lashinsky and 26-year-old Sarah Lynn Milgram were co-workers, but also a couple.

Lashinsky had just bought an engagement ring and planned to propose to her next week in Israel. Now Jewish sites across this country ramping up their security efforts as state and federal forces investigate this anti-Semitic attack. We have a lot to get to tonight. So let's start with NBC's Aaron Gilchrist, who leaves us off from the Capitol. The horror unfolded around nine last night. A squad one, acts of shoot a third of Africa Street, Northwest. A group of people leaving a young diplomat's reception at the Capitol Jewish Museum in Washington

when a gunman opened fire. 26-year-old Sarah Milgram and her partner, 30-year-old Yoron Lashinsky, both diplomatic staff at the Israeli embassy were killed. Tonight, it's being investigated as a targeted terror attack. The tragic murder of these two Israeli embassy employees outside of the Capitol Jewish Museum last night was both an act of terror and directed violence against the Jewish community. And it has the full and unwavering attention of the FBI. The alleged gunman, 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, shouted, free Palestine as he was taken into police custody. Free, free Palestine! He's now facing multiple charges, including first-degree murder and murder of foreign officials.

Today, the FBI is searching his Chicago apartment. Violence against anyone based on their religion is an act of cowardice. President Trump posting, hatred and radicalism have no place in the USA. Witnesses say it was a rainy night, and after firing the shots, the election. alleged gunman rushed into the museum. All of a sudden, we start here, what sounds like gunshots. The people inside had no idea what he had allegedly done and offered him a glass of water. We're just thinking he's a witness, frazzled, and trying to comfort him.

When did you realize that he wasn't just a witness that he was involved? I would say it was about 10 minutes later. When he started yelling to the entire museum, I did it, free Palestine, I did it for Gaza. Tonight, Israel's prime minister speaking out. The terrorists who cruelly gunned them down did so forth. one reason and one reason alone. He wanted to kill Jews. And as he was taken away, he chanted free Palestine. This is exactly the same chant we heard on October 7th. The attack comes amid an alarming rise in anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. soaring nearly 900% in the last decade. Meanwhile,

we're learning more about the two victims. We had perfect children. No, no problems. And not between your parents. Couldn't say that. In 2017, Sarah Milgram spoke to our station in Kansas City when her high school was vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti. I worry about going to my synagogue, and now I have to worry about safety at school, and that shouldn't be a thing. Sarah's dad telling us he only found out last night that Yaron was going to propose. Yaron had bought an engagement ring for Sarah and planned on giving a tour when they're in Jerusalem, you know, about a week or two from now. which we did not know. So it was the best of times and the worst of times.

Absolutely terrible. Aaron joins us now from Washington outside the Capitol Jewish Museum. Aaron, this is terror. This is what it looks like. From everything we know, it sounds like the motive as well. Do we know if this was a lone wolf attack or something more planned out with others? Well, we know that investigators are looking at this as an act of terrorism and as a hate crime, Tom. At this point, they say they don't have any evidence that points to Rodriguez having worked with anyone else, that he was, it seems, at this point, a lone wolf.

Although we should note that, of course, the investigation does continue. At the same time, he did make an initial court appearance today in federal court here in D.C. He was appointed a lawyer by the court, and he waived a detention hearing, and so we know he'll appear in court again coming up next month in June, Tom. All right, Aaron, Gilcrest, leading us off here on Top Story. Aaron, thank you. Joining us now tonight live, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, Yehiel Leiter. Ambassador, thank you so much for your time. I do want to express and extend my condolences. These two young people, they worked at your embassy on your team. What can you tell us about the kind of people that they were? They were beautiful individuals and they were a beautiful

couple. Yaron worked a few doors down from my office. He was an advisor to a One of our senior diplomats, he was a pleasure to work with. And Sarah from Kansas City, I mean, she was just sunshine. She would come in in the morning with her smile and red hair and just light up everybody and make them happy. They were, as your report, showed about to be engaged next week in Jerusalem, Yaron having purchased a ring this week, to be presented to her next week. It's incredibly sad. I know as somebody who is from Israel, and I've spoken to so much.

many people who are Israeli and who have grown up there. You know better than many, but also people who live in the region, that tomorrow is not promised. And you know you have to be tough in this world. But I got to think today has to be incredibly difficult. And even though you know terrorism is alive and real, when it happens so close, it has to hurt. Well, Tom, it hurts a lot. It came very close to home last night because a year and a half ago, I got the knock on my door when my son fell in battle in Gaza. And now I was on the other side of the door. I had a knock on the parents' door of Sarah and Yaron and informed them of what happened. And it's not easy at all.

But we're in a battle in Israel. We're in a battle for our survival. October 7th intended on destroying us. It was part of a larger Iranian plan, a ring of fire, they call it, for a full-pronged attack on every one of our borders. Sin Juan in Gaza jumped the gun and murdered some 12,000 people, 1,200 people in one day. We're in a seven-front battle for our survival, and this is an eighth front now that's been opened up the diplomatic front, with leaders internationally, particularly the President of France and the Prime Minister of Great Britain.

And now they've been joined by the Prime Minister of Canada who put the blame on Israel, put the blame on our Prime Minister, put the blame on our soldiers, which is really nothing short of an anti-Semitic blood libel. We are having humanitarian aid and food enter Gaza all the time. We've had 92,000 trucks supply the Gazans with food. We just don't want it to go to Hamas. We don't think that Americans donating money to NGOs giving humanitarian aid should be giving it to Hamas. Ambassador, I do using the money to turn against our soldiers.

I do want to get back to your Ron and Sarah. They were at an event, and correct me if I'm wrong here, that was about building bridges and addressing the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East? Well, they're both people who acted both independently. in the context of our embassy in building bridges, yes. I mean, and the event was for, the event, the event was for young diplomats, building bridges among young diplomats in the city.

It was attended by diplomats from various embassies. Had you received any intelligence reports, had you received any warnings that something like this could happen? Do you have any idea why this event was targeted? Not particularly this event. I think if we have a situation, where people are flowing through the streets of campuses in the country screaming to eliminate Israel, you're ultimately going to have somebody who's going to pick up a gun and shoot.

Free, free Palestine goes together with, from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, which is a chant, in effect, for genocide. It's an eliminationist idea. And when you constantly hammer home an eliminationist genocidal idea, somebody's going to take a gun and shoot innocence like what happened last night. And by the way, he's not completely a lone gunman. His girlfriend, we have learned from the FBI, was already arrested a while ago for trying to storm the Israeli consulate in Chicago.

She's a member of the Coalition for Justice in Palestine in Chicago. Another one of these violent groups that is active on many campuses and many cities around the country. Okay. I'm not sure if we have confirmed that information just yet, but if we do, I will let our viewers know about that. I know there's a lot of anger here, I know there's a lot of sadness right now, Ambassador. Is there anything at all to learn about this?

So many have died in your home country, so many have died in Gaza. We now have people that have died. Two young people who had their entire lives in front of them die right here in the United States. What can we learn from this? We can learn that we have to pursue the avenue of the Abraham Accords, where people are accommodating the existence of Israel. That was really the great accomplishment of the Abraham Accords. And the reason why the October 7th attack occurred was because there was an attempt to stop the process of the Abraham Accords.

So what we've got to do is defeat those who would defeat the process of coexistence, of making peace. You cannot possibly enhance and embrace the good as long as evil is persistent. And we have to defeat these new Nazis. The Hamas of Gaza are Nazis, and they're going to be defeated. because we have no choice. Ambassador, we thank you for joining. Top Story. I am so sorry for all the loss you have suffered over the last two years, especially what happened last night.

Thank you, sir. To the other big headline today, that deadly plane crash back here at home in San Diego, in the past hour we learned three employees from a music talent agency were killed, according to that company. Small plane they were on crashing into a neighborhood, burning cars and homes, multiple other people injured. NBC's Litzkroyitz is there at the scene.

tonight dramatic images show the fiery aftermath of a deadly plane crash in san diego we're doing evacuation uh we're multiple houses on fire the fire department confirming at least two people died and eight injured after a private sessna jet crashed into a neighborhood of military housing i just walked it myself and down the street itself it looks like something from a movie i'll be honest the crash happened around 345 this morning as the plane was attempting to land during dense fog with limited visibility. Anyone over there? Videos show families with young children and pets escaping their homes. Come on, let's go! Go! Go!

I thought, oh my gosh, another earthquake. And when I opened my eyes, my whole room was lit up in orange. And I turned around to look out the window, and all I saw was a burst of flames behind my house. According to flight tracking data, the plane took off from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey before midnight, briefly stopping to refuel in Wichita, Kansas, then lifting off again for San Diego. struck power lines about two miles southeast of the airport then collided with a house tonight a representative for sound talent group saying three of their employees were killed on the plane including co-founder and music agent dave shapiro writing we are devastated by the loss all right liz croix joins us tonight live from san diego liz what more have you learned from this investigation as it's just getting started yeah well the ntsb is now here on the scene and the f aa is saying they know that six people, Tom, were on board that plane with officials saying it's unlikely that anybody did survive, but it's a miracle that nobody on the ground here was killed. This home behind me is where the plane crashed into the house. And officials tonight say they're continuing that

investigation. They say that weather was likely a factor, Tom. Okay, Liz Kroits for us on the scene there of that plane accident. Liz, we thank you. We want to turn now to the latest in the trial of Sean Diddy Combs, Grammy-winning artist, Kid Cuddy, testified. in that trial, offering an explosive testimony about his time dating Cassie Ventura and the dramatic run-ins with Combs that followed. Chloe Malas reports tonight from outside the courthouse. Musician Kid Cuddy, what are you expecting today? Taking the stand, testifying that his one-year relationship with Cassie Ventura led to dangerous run-ins with her ex, Sean Diddy Combs. The Grammy-winning musician well-known for tracks like Day and Night in pursuit of happiness,

alleging that Combs was involved in a 2012 incident in which a Molotov cocktail exploded in his car. These images of the damaged Porsche shown to the jury. Kid Cuddy, whose real name is Scott Muscutty, says he filed a police report at the time. But Combs' defense team noted he was never charged in connection to the crime. Kid Cuddy also telling the jury that he called the police after Combs allegedly broke into his Hollywood Hills home when he was dating Ventura, though no charges were filed there either. Today's testimony, a key part of the government's claim that Combs led a racketeering conspiracy. The government for racketeering needs to prove that Combs had this enterprise and they engaged in these additional crimes, one of which can be arson.

So the burning of the Porsche with a Maltau cocktail, that can suffice for the government. Kid Cuddy also testified that Ventura confided in him about Combs' physical abuse. These images of Ventura's bruise body shown in court earlier this week. Taken by her mother who testified they were a result of Combs's jealousy over her daughter's relationship with Kid Cuddy. This is a stressful situation. I'm glad it's behind me. Combs faces five criminal counts and up to life in prison. He is pleaded not guilty. And with that, Chloe Malas joins us tonight from outside the courthouse in downtown Manhattan. Chloe, so much happened in the trial today watching your report there.

I'm curious, do we think if Sean Combs will actually testify? So we know that Sean Denny Combs is very eager to testify, Tom. We've heard that from his team. But I've spoken to several criminal defense attorneys over the course of my career. And you generally don't want to put your client on the stand because it opens you up to all sorts of different questioning. And it can sometimes be very incriminating. So although he may really want to get his side of the story out there, I think it's unlikely that we're going to see him testify. but again, the prosecutors, they have four more weeks of their case

and they turn it over to the defense. And, you know, maybe they'll have a week to put on their case or maybe they might not even put on a case at all because they've been doing some really strong cross-examination. Tom. Okay, we're going to have to wait and see. Chloe, we thank you. We turn out of the dire warning from the White House

on the state of public health. Today, the Trump administration releasing its long-awaited Make America Healthy again report. The 72-page document warns that today's children, are the sickest generation in American history. The report details a chronic disease crisis among children, pointing to four key factors that they say are to blame. A poor diet, environmental, chemicals, a lack of physical activity,

and over-prescribing medications. Spearheading that report, Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. I spoke with him about it late today and his findings. Mr. Secretary, we thank you for joining us. You've been at this 100 days now. You've released this report. What did you learn? Oh, you know, really there's a report is a summary of what people have been saying for many, many years.

We have a chronic disease epidemic in this country that is now existential for our country. We're spending $4.5 trillion annually on health care in our country, and we have the worst health outcomes. That's two to three times more than anybody spends in Europe. And we have the worst health outcomes. We live shorter lives. We have more. We're more drugged, we're over-medicated, we're more obese. We have higher autism levels. We have higher diabetes levels and higher chronic disease than anybody in the world. When my uncle was present, the chronic disease rates in this country, I was a 10-year-old boy, were 3%.

Today, among children. Today, there are 60%. 75% of American kids cannot qualify for military service. Our health care costs are expanding at 2% greater than our economy. So this is existential. Fertility rates, today, American teens, teenage boys, have half the sperm count, half the testosterone as 65-year-old men.

Our girls are reaching puberty six years early. They are on antidepressants. They're on ADHD meds. They're on any psychotic medications. It's not seen anywhere else in the world or historically anywhere. And it's coming from environmental exposures, from our food,

from lack of exercise and from chemical exposures across society. I do want to follow up with you on that stat about the testosterone, but let's move on here. So we know that the Trump administration, right, which you're a part of, is cutting your budget by 25%. You're letting go of staff, defunding some research. How much more studying do you want to do in the spirit of government efficiency? Why not give us a 70-page report of solutions? because you know you could have written this on day one. Well, this is the first time in history.

My uncle tried to do this in 1962 when Rachel Carson's book came out, and unfortunately it was killed before he was able to do this, and we've been waiting for 60 years. The government to recognize the negative impact of these environmental exposures on the American people. This is the first time in history that all of guys, government has come out with a consensus document that all the cabinet officials agree on. Right. And that says we are in an existential crisis now in our country. It's important the

government has never admitted that before. And today we're all admitting it and we're saying now we're going to do something about it. We have 60 days. This was the diagnostic. Yeah. In 60 days we are going to deliver the prescription of the initiatives that we need to do. but we're already doing it. And that's a pretty quick deadline. We're already getting rid of chemicals in our food, of food dies, which people have been trying to do for years. We did in the first 100 days.

But I do, I mean, one of your 10 steps moving forward from the report, and I went through this, we're going to put this up for our viewers, you want to conduct long-term trials comparing whole-food diets versus an ultra-processed food diet. Secretary, don't we already know that, that whole foods are better? Why are we wasting time here?

We're not wasting time. We are already in the middle of completing the dietary guidelines. We're reducing the dietary guidelines from a 453-page document that we inherited from the Biden administration. That was driven by the same industry impulses that put fruit loops at the top of the food pyramid. We're going to deliver, instead of a four- or five-page document that tells people how to give healthy food to their children. Those dietary guidelines will then drive changes. and the school lunch programs all over this country. We are writing snap waivers every day to the states that are applying for them

so that sodas and candies are no longer available using food stamps. Taxpayers should not be paying for chemical, for food-like substances that are chemically that are poisoning our population. And unhealthy lifestyle. I get that. You've been a crusader for medical freedom, and you've questioned the use and the safety of vaccines in the past, and yet in this report, some of the language over vaccines seems to be measured, right? You essentially are just asking to study it more. I'm wondering if your stance on vaccines

has evolved. No, that's always been my position. What's evolved is how the press covers it. The press, you know, particularly this network, has mischaracterized my position for 20 years. I've always said, well, we need to do the vaccines that are currently on the schedule, which is has now required 77 shots between in utero till 18 years of age. Only one of those, the COVID vaccine, has ever been tested in pre-licensing studies against an inert placebo. That's not science. We need clinical trials that are based upon real science that allows parents and physicians to know the risk profiles of these products and then make good choices. Mr. Secretary, experts say that what you're just saying is not true, that they have been tested. who's a Republican has come out and corrected you on the record when it comes to those

examinations. Do you understand that? And the day after, and the day after Senator Cassidy said that, I sent him the clinical trial data that shows that he was wrong. And I can show that to anybody. In their own manufacturers inserts, the vaccine companies admit there were no clinical trials that used an inert placebo for any vaccine, except for the COVID vaccine. It's not science. It's morally wrong. We need to know what the risk profile of is of these products, and the benefits, and allow parents and physicians to make good choices for public health. You say children are over-medicated? What's the solution then for parents, in your opinion? Well, you know, there are many diseases that can be treated with food. In fact, in many cases,

juvenile diabetes and pre-diabetes, which now affects 38% of teens, can be reversed completely by changing diet. So lifestyle changes, dietary changes, food is medicine, and food also affects mood, it affects mental illness, it affects the immune system, and we need to get, make sure our kids have access to good food and that parents have access to the best information so they can make good choices for their children. You also agree that there are just some diseases. Vaccines do work in some cases, chemicals that are put together in medicine to help children, to help adults. Those work too. It can't just be with food, though.

You agree to that, correct? Of course. Vaccines prevent many, many diseases, and they prevent the spread of those diseases. How do you see your role? But you know, what we need to focus on is why are our kids so sick? We're doing a good job at developing treatments for kids. colorectal cancer. But we never had colorectal cancer and a child until this generation. Why is it exploding today? Shouldn't we be asking those questions as well?

When you testified before Congress, you made a very interesting statement. You said people shouldn't look to you for medical advice because you're not a doctor, but you are leading health and human services. So what do you see your role as? My role is not to give medical advice to individuals. My role is to run an agency that is committed to gold standard science, which has not happened, which has been corrupted at the public health agencies in the past. The science has not replicated. The data are not routinely published the raw data. The peer review are not published, and it incentivizes scientists who receive huge amounts of funding from NIH to cheat. And we're going to end that incentive so that we get really.

real gold standard science that we can get that can drive good policy for our political leaders and for the American people. Secretary, while I have you, I do want to ask you about measles and vaccinations against measles. It's been the deadliest outbreak in this country in decades. Where do you stand on the measles vaccine? I just want to make sure I understand where you stand. Listen, my agency has recommended that people take the vaccine to prevent the disease.

many people in this country who won't take the vaccine for religious reasons. The MMR vaccine contains millions of particles that are derived from fetal tissue, millions of fragments of human DNA from aborted fetuses, and for religious reasons, they don't want to take it. We need to take care of that population too. We need to have treatments for measles. No child should die of measles in this day and age. We need to know how to treat measles.

Physicians know how to treat it on the first. front line and CDC has not been providing them those protocols. I will say this, we've done a better job at containing our measles outbreak than any country in the world. We have right now 1,035 measles cases. We only had 27 new ones last week, so it's plateaued and it's going down. In Mexico, they have 1,400. It has a third of our population and it grew by 150 last week. In Canada, They have 1,800, that's one-eighth of our population, and it grew by 340s last week. And we've seen recently that communities, when they find it in their backyard in America, now during this outbreak, they have started to get the vaccine. Do you feel your earlier comments on the measles vaccine were irresponsible? Have you learned since you become secretary?

What comment? Just any comments in measles where people maybe thought you were ambiguous whether they should take it or they shouldn't take it? I think people should have good information. People should be able to. make their own choices. They should be able to know the costs and the benefits of all these interventions. And they ought to make their own choices. And we should support them as a society. Yeah. When people have religious objections, taking a product that does have risks, that we ought to give them support and medical care nevertheless. Two more questions for you. Our nation is a compassionate nation. We shouldn't make choices based upon people's belief systems. Finally, Secretary, I'm going to ask you a question that's a little different, but it perplexed some people, and I'd like to get your answer on it.

You posted these images of you and your grandkids swimming in Rock Creek Park. There are warnings of high levels of bacteria that the waters are contaminated, yet you jumped in, and this sort of was your founding issue, was dirty water. When you look at the websites for the national parks, it says there's high levels of bacteria, that contact with the water is a hazard to human health. I'm a little confused. Why did you jump in and then don't your entire body in there? We weren't swimming in Rock Creek itself. We were swimming in the one of the Rock Creek tributaries that, you know, I don't think it has those kind of, there certainly weren't any warnings.

You know, I think people should be concerned about the polluters who are putting pollution in those Greeks. Those Greeks belong to the American public. We have a right to use them for swimming, for fishing, and we should be concerned about people who are polluting them rather than people who are. want to exercise their rights. Secretary, if you had a magic wand right now, what's one thing you would change about the way people eat in America? I think ultra-processed food. I think that is root cause and sugars. I think if we could get rid of those, we could virtually get rid of

diabetes in this country. Secretary Kennedy, we appreciate your time. We thank you for joining Top Story tonight. Thank you for having me. All right, coming up, the last blast of winter in May. the rare late season nor'easter pounding the East Coast what it means for the rest of the holiday weekend. Plus, the escalating manhunt for those New Orleans prisoners still on the run, why officials believe they haven't left the city just yet. And telehealth warning,

our investigation to companies that prescribe you drugs online, what our correspondent was able to order with just a few clicks in a few minutes. Stay with us. We are back with Top Stories News Feed, the Coast Guard, suspending its search for three missing boaters in Washington State. The 26-foot shrimping boat sank yesterday about 200 feet from the shore near Everett. One person, a man in his 50s, rescued by a passing voter.

The other three, two men, and a woman have not yet been found. And Nike is set to raise prices as soon as this week as retailers braids for terrorists to hit their profits. The company's saying prices will increase between $2 and $10 on a range of products, including its sneakers. Nike says it regularly makes price adjustments, but this comes as the footwear industry has been hit hard by President Trump's tariffs. Right now, Nike manufactures about half of its shoes from China and Vietnam, which have both been hit with new levels of items not getting more expensive, children's items or Air Force ones. The Supreme Court deadlocked in a decision involving the separation of church and state. the justices split four to four over whether religious charter school funded with taxpayer money is constitutional. The split decision means the lower court's ruling will stand and that the schools cannot go forward as planned.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett was recused from the case. And the end of the penny is approaching. The Treasury Department announcing it has placed its final order for blank pennies, which will be minted and go into circulation next year. Once that supply gets used up, the Treasury will no longer make the one-set coins, which costs. about three and a half cents to actually make. President Trump ordered an end to penny production earlier this year. Okay, now to the forecast and the Northeaster Starling Memorial Day weekend travel. Thousands of flights delayed or canceled as wind and rain soaked portions of the northeast and New England.

Those soggy spring conditions set to continue to much of this weekend. So let's go right to NBC News meteorologist Bill Karens, who joins me now live in studio. So, Bill, what are you watching right now that looks like that radar is really active? Yeah, this is an incredibly cold, chilly day. especially in all areas of the Northeast and all the way back through the gray legs. It doesn't get much worse than what we've experienced during the day today.

There is a little bit of snow at the high elevations. My ski friends, if you've seen pictures on some of the cameras from like Killington and Stratton and all the way up in Mount Washington, there is some snow. But the airports have been the big problem today

with the low ceilings, the cloud levels, delays 45 in Newark, Boston Logan Airport, got about an hour delays right now. Tomorrow it improves. The storm begins to move away. So let's talk about the holiday forecast travel. Tomorrow's not bad.

Miami, if there's going to be one airport with thunderstorms in the late afternoon, that could be problematic. Oklahoma City could have some random thunderstorms, too. It's still going to be really kind of windy and breezy in the northeast, but the delay shouldn't be as bad as today. By the time we get to Saturday, thunderstorms in the middle of the country. Everyone else is doing okay, though. If areas like Little Rock heading towards Memphis, Kansas City, too, that's where we could have some airport problems. And it's going to start raining hard enough that flash flooding is going to be an issue, especially from the Ozarks into areas of Tennessee. These are areas that were hit by all those tornadoes. The

The ground is soggy. Rivers were already high a little bit. And the airport problems, even in the Sunday, Nashville, Memphis, southern portions of Missouri. By the time we get to Memorial Day itself, Tom, East Coast, not too bad. A lot of clouds, though, in the southeast. I know we got a lot of picnic plans, a lot of parades out there. But Dallas, watch out all the way into areas of Alabama, Mississippi. Those are the spots that could be washed out, especially in the afternoon. All right, Bill. We thank you for that. Now, in Washington, a win for President Trump and his big, beautiful bill in Capitol Hill today. The House narrowly passing the legislation. That includes extending $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, eliminating taxes on tips, overtime, and social security benefits, as well as providing billions of dollars in funding for the border wall and mass deportations. The bill will also make changes to Medicaid, specifically imposing work requirements

for all able-bodied adults without dependence to stay on the program. And there was a major escalation today in the standoff between the Trump administration and Harvard. The administration blocking the school's ability to enroll in international students. NBC's Garrett Hake reports on the latest from the White House. Tonight, the Trump administration escalating its battle with Harvard University, barring the school from enrolling foreign students and ordering the more than 6,700 currently enrolled to transfer or lose their legal status.

27% of their students are foreign students, and they will have to find some other university to go to, and hopefully they find one that cares about them and provides a safe environment. The White House saying Harvard has become a, quote, hotbed of anti-American, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorist agitators, adding the university now must face the consequences of their actions. There should be a warning to every other university to get your act together. Harvard calling the government's action unlawful, adding, we are fully committed to maintaining Harvard's ability to host our international students and scholars. It's saddening and it's stress. Carl Molden is a Harvard student from Austria studying government. Do you think you'll be back at Harvard in the fall?

It's hard to make a call, I hope. I'm uncertain. I think with this administration, anything can happen. In April, the administration froze more than $2 billion in federal grants to Harvard over what the White House said were concerns about unchecked anti-Semitism on campus and demands to change hiring and admissions processes. The university's president pressed by Lester last month. Is this really about anti-Semitism?

I would say that at Harvard we have a real problem with anti-Semitism. We take it very seriously, and we're trying to address it. We don't really see the relationship to research funding at Harvard and other universities. They are two different issues. Garrett Haig joins us tonight from the White House. Garrett, I know there's a lot of back and forth between Harvard and the White House tonight. Now the Trump administration is asking for Harvard's student records. Why?

Lots of them, Tom. DHS says the university now has 72 hours to turn over all discipline. criminal and protest records for every student over the last five years if they hope to see this order reversed. Harvard, for its part, says it's working on guidance for its foreign students on what to do next. Tom? All right, Garrett Hake for us, Garrett, thank you. When Top Story returns, it's being called the Wild West of Medicine. Online retailers selling prescription drugs, but are there dangers if you're not being monitored by a doctor? And the selfie from space, the surprise scientist found in these Mars rover photos, we'll explain.

All right, we are back now with Top Stories Global Watch and a check of what else is happening around the world. We start with at least three people dead and one missing after major flooding hit southeastern Australia. Officials in New South Wales say about four months of rain has come down in the past two days and this is what's happened. Flash floods have happened, the fast-rising waters cutting off towns and isolating people from help. Officials warning at least 50,000 people to prepare to evacuate as heavy rain. continues over the next 24 hours. A North Korean naval destroyer damaged in a failed launch sparking anger from leader Kim Jong-un.

Part of the newly built vessel was crushed after it became unbalanced and slid prematurely into the water. Kim Jong-un calling the accident a criminal act caused by carelessness and calling for a meeting to address those errors. This comes as North Korea aims to build larger warships claiming escalating threats from the U.S. and South Korea. And the latest selfie taken by the Mars rover Perseverance getting photo bombed.

Here's what we meet. A Martian dust devil, look at it right there. The twirling small puff of dirt popped up three miles behind the rover. The selfie is composed of 59 pictures taken by a camera on the rover's arm. NASA says it took an hour to perform all the arm movements necessary to get the image, but it was worth it. And back here at home, the manhunt is intensifying for those inmates. that escape from a New Orleans jail. Five of the ten men who broke out are still at large.

The Attorney General who has taken over the search telling our George Solis, the fugitives are likely still in the area and may be receiving help from the community. The urgent manhunt for five New Orleans fugitives is escalating. Today, nearly one week after the escape, the district attorney ordering a formal and official processing of the cell as a crime scene sweeping for fingerprints and DNA. DAs typically aren't at crime scenes ordering fingerprint testing. That's not normal.

Normally the law enforcement agency that's responsible would have gotten that done. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrow, whose office has now taken charge of the investigation into the jailbreak, tells NBC News. All intel suggests the fugitives remain in the area. Are you calling for more increased patrols or any other added police presence in New Orleans at these people's homes? I think that presence is there now. These are individuals who are charged with violent felonies, and they are facing long jail sentences if they are convicted. And so that creates a pretty unpredictable and dangerous situation. Merle says the escapees may be receiving help from within the community, pointing to the arrests of these two women who state police say provided food and transportation to some of the inmates.

A jail maintenance worker facing 11 charges is accused of turning off the water in this cell so the inmates could. escape. But his lawyer says that's not true. Mr. Williams turned off the water so he could fix the toilet in a cell that was not supposed to be in use. That is all he did. He had no idea that an escape was about to occur. Absolutely not. The Attorney General responding. I don't think that's what the facts will show. I'm confident in the arrest that we made and the reasons that that led to that arrest. All right. I want to get right out to George Solis who joins us tonight from New Orleans. George, we're now learning that a judge has set bond for those two women accused of helping in the escape. What more do we know about that and what else are we hearing from the DA?

Yeah, Tom, these bonds are in the six figure. The bond for Courtney Harris set at 2.5 million and the bond for Corvante-Battice set at 1 million. Now, the DA, after his tour of the jail here today, saying he has issued subpoenas to the sheriff's office. He didn't get into specifics as to what, but he is hoping that the office releases information voluntarily as this investigation into the the jail break moves forward. Tom? George Solis on that nearly week-long manhunt. All right, George, thank you. When we come back, the new frontier of medicine, some prescription drugs available online,

but should they be what our investigation found? And the Pac-Man back in the ring, can boxing legend Mani Pacquiao mount a comeback at age 46, the championship fight he just announced? Welcome back. you've likely seen ads for direct-to-consumer medications to treat hair loss or help you lose weight. The virtual care market boomed in 2020 as social distancing, limited in-person appointments.

But today, many of the leading telehealth companies are under increased scrutiny. Last month, pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly sued four prominent telehealth companies for what they call illegal knock-offs of their drugs. And some patients say they face life-altering health issues after using the platforms. Zinclai SMWA has this one.

So today you take all of these medications after you say you got finasteride from a telehealth company. Correct. In his late 20s, Alex Milam, a pharmacy student, began noticing his hairline receding. So he sought out finasteride, commonly used for hair loss treatment. So did you speak with a doctor? Did you see a doctor? I never saw a doctor. And I only spoke to a doctor via like a patient portal type situation. So I never spoke on the phone. Milam went online, seeking up prescription from a direct-to-consumer telehealth company, Keeps. I basically entered my name and my personal information. I answered about 12-question quiz, and then they get back to pretty quickly.

This is Dr. So-and-so, and I've deemed the fact that you have male pattern baldness, and we can start your treatment pretty much right here and right now. But Milam says after over a year and a half on the medication. So the first thing that I noticed one day was I basically woke up and I realized that my genitals had gone somewhat numb. He gradually developed sexual dysfunction, insomnia, and anxiety. His symptoms growing so severe, he took a leave of absence from school. I've never actually heard of anyone starting that medication that early.

They start finasterated on men as young as 18. I also see Generate AI response. Milam says he reached out to his telehealth provider, but replies were unhelpful. So he kept taking finasteride and ultimately was diagnosed by a different doctor with a rare condition post-finasteride syndrome. Today, that medication and others remain widely marketed by direct-to-consumer telehealth companies, which make money by charging patients directly for virtual consultations, subscription plans, and medication sales. Unlike traditional health care providers, which have strict medical advertising regulations, they can directly market to consumers.

Join us in the fight for a healthier America. There are plenty of men that I see in my clinic that have gone on to have telehealth experiences, and they're coming to me with really serious issues. Urologist Jesse Mills says, while the companies are efficient, without consistent in-person medical attention, patients risk care that misses the mark. At the end of the day,

if the goal of telehealth platform that you're on is to sell something to you, then that's the wrong platform. Several of these companies now face multiple lawsuits and probes. Today, medications from direct-to-consumer telehealth companies can be accessed online, fairly quickly. Right now, I'm trying to see if I can get a GLP1 from one company. I spoke with my doctor, and based on my weight and medical history, they say GLP1s would not be an appropriate first line of treatment for someone like me. But let's see what happens when I put my information in. In just minutes, I got the green light for a variety of medications, including one for epilepsy, which can be used off-label for weight loss. While more consumers turn to these companies for their medications, former users like Alex Milam, warn of the risks. The now 32-year-old is back in pharmacy school, hoping his studies will one day help him find a cure for post-finasteride syndrome.

How did it feel to realize that you had something with no cure? No, there's no words, really. Just there's no, there's nothing. 30 Madison, the parent company of Keeps, that Milam initially used to obtain his prescription, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. If someone was considering using a telehealth company to acquire a drug, What would you tell them? I would tell them, is it worth your life? Is it worth, I mean, whatever you're trying to get, you know, say, a specific drug for,

but especially a hairless drug, is it worth your hair? I don't think so. All right, Zinclay, SMY, joins us now in studio. So Zinclair, I want to go back to that moment in your story where you tried to get one of these medications. It was a GLP1, I believe, but the one you got was off-label, also used to treat seizures. What did the company say when you brought this to them? Absolutely. So filled out those forms looking for a GLP1.

Ultimately, they offered me a medication kit featuring a variety of medications, including one used for seizures and epilepsy. I don't have either of those conditions. When I followed up and asked for a GLP 1, that doctor said it does not look like you meet the criteria to be prescribed those medications. But notably, when we tried another website, it actually said I was an ideal candidate

that I could lose 30 pounds in a year. All I needed to do was a simple, blood test, our experience and that of our character really highlighting the range and lack of regulation of a lot of these platforms. All right, Zinclay, S&W, first night. Zinclae, we thank you for that one. When we come back, the return of the king of the ring, the boxing legend staging a comeback at age 46. Can Manny Pachial take down a fighter 16 years younger than him? We'll explain. Finally tonight, the Pac-Man is back.

Mani Pachiaw announcing he's coming out of retirement at the age of 46, fighting to reclaim his welterweight title against a man 16 years as junior. NBC Sam Brock has this one. Lightweight champion of the world. One of the greatest boxers of all time, making a dramatic return to the ring with two words. I'm back. Mani Pachial announcing he's coming out of retirement at the age of 46. Paciow will go toe to toe with WBC welterweight champion

in Mario Barrios on July 19th. Listed at six feet, Barrios will be the tallest opponent Pachia was faced across his whole career. How would you contextualize this decision by Manny Pachiao to fight again? This is sort of unprecedented because Manny Pachia is going to be challenging

for a world title at age 46. If you can throw a lot of punches, I think you'll have a chance. Again, that always becomes harder with age. And his feet, we're not moving. It's been nearly four years since the boxing icon last competed in the 2021 Welterweight title bow

looking like a shell of his championship self. Four years older now, at 46. And the last time we saw Maddie in the ring at all was in 2023 when he had an exhibition in Korea, in South Korea, and he just said not look like Maddie Pachiao. Pacquiao has won 12 titles in a record eight different weight classes and has collected 62 wins against eight losses and two draws with 39 knockouts.

Mayweather on the attack with the 5'5 Dynamo lost the so-called fight of the century in 2015 against Floyd Mayweather, Jr., a bout that still sits atop the list of most watched pay-per-view events. Before coming back triumphantly in 2019 and beating Keith Thurman, who is 10 years younger than Pacquiao, becoming the oldest Welchewa champion in history. His Rangs to Rich's story has also made him a living legend in the Philippines, where Pachiao is known as Pac-Man and the People's Champ. He served as a senator in his native country for some.

six years before launching a failed bid for the presidency in 2021. This latest comeback bid follows Pachiao's unsuccessful run for a Philippine Senate seat and could land him among the all-time greats who pulled off epic comebacks. They'll return to glory. Like Tiger Woods surging back to win the masters in 2019. Michael Jordan capturing three more rings after his brief stint as a baseball player. It happened. And even in the world of boxing, George Fordman.

men's 1994 victory, reclaiming the heavyweight title at the age of 45, still the oldest champ in history. There's also Mike Tyson's return at age 58 to fight 27-year-old influencer Jake Paul. That one was less of a success. Now, all lies on Paciow and what magic his rapid fire fists can summon this time. I think he's still a star even at this age. We'll see what kind of star power and we'll see what kind of fighter is going to be in the ring. All right, Sam joins us ring side down.

So, Sam, I'm glad you mentioned George Form there, because you worry about boxers as they get older. What is Vegas saying about the Manny Pachial return? So Vegas has waited in there saying there's a clear underdog, and that underdog's name is Manny Pachial. I want to show you the odds from Fanduil. It is extremely split here. So you see Pachio at a plus 470, Burrios at a minus 750. That means if you put down 750 bucks on Burrios, you just get back $100. If you want to win $470, it's $100 down on Pacio.

Huge gap there. realities you talk about the heavy weights, the bigger that you are, heavier weight classes, the strength and physicality, Tom, tends to endure, but for more athletic, shiftier athletes like Pacquiao, it's harder to maintain that into your mid-40s. We'll see how he does. Well, you like the underdog, and I like the bets. I like those odds there. Maybe we'll watch. Sam, so great to have you here. And we thank you for watching Top Story. I'm Tom Yamis in New York. Stay right there. More news on the way.