Top Story with Tom Llamas - Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Episode Date: March 11, 2026

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

Tonight, the U.S. unleashing a new wave of attacks on Iran after Defense Secretary Pete Hegesheth promised the most intense days of strikes yet. The new strikes today in Iranian ship destroyed, the fighter jet chasing an Iranian drone. President Trump's new warning to Iran not to hit a critical shipping passage. Our team pressing the White House, how long this war will last. Plus, gas prices surge again today, hitting not just drivers. The cost of delivery is now going up. and farmers under new strain. Also breaking tonight, a deadly bus fire erupting in Switzerland.

Six people killed. Was this an act of terrorism? The details just coming in. The new video, is this the moment a teen purchased explosive making materials before throwing a homemade bomb near the mayor's residence in New York City? Barbershop of horrors, the frightening moment a car, crashes through a storefront in the middle of a cut and shave. Plus, the former NFL star accused of murdering his girl.

girlfriend, the shocking questions prosecutors say he asked chat GPT after her death. And 53 million now under severe weather alerts, Bill Karen, standing by as we head into a potentially dangerous night. Top story starts right now. But we want to begin tonight with our top story, the escalating battle over one of the world's most vital shipping channels. The U.S. and Iran trading new threats around the Strait of Ramos, sending gas prices skyrocketing here in the U.S.

New footage showing U.S. forces wiping out more than a dozen Iranian ships, including 16 mine layers near the straight. President Trump warning, if Iran attacked ships there, the U.S. would hit back 20 times harder. And the defense secretary this morning saying today would be the most intense day of strikes yet. And look at this huge fireball rising from an Iranian ship near the strait. Iranian state media saying he was hit by the U.S. Navy. The contested channel sending the oil industry into turmoil due in part to this post from U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, which says the U.S. Navy successfully escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Ramos. Oil prices dropped on that news, but then, Wright, deleted the post, quickly sending those prices right back up. And the White House clarifying tonight, no tankers or vessels have been escorted.

It comes as the surrounding Gulf countries are caught in the crossfire and debris and destruction in the streets of Bahrain. after a barrage of Iranian missiles, a fighter jet chasing a drone in the skies over Dubai, and beachgoers looking on from the sand below. In Israel, dash cam video showing the moment a missile explodes right next to a busy road. We have full-team coverage once again tonight of the fast-moving conflict, and Garrett Hake leads us off from the White House. Tonight, a massive wave of U.S. and Israeli strikes on the Iranian regime and a wild ride for oil prices due in part to this post from Energy Secretary.

Chris Wright that, quote, the U.S. Navy successfully escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, Wright quickly deleting the post. I can confirm that the U.S. Navy has not escorted a tanker or a vessel at this time. President Trump warning Iran to stop threatening oil tankers from traveling through the strait. I will not allow a terrorist regime to hold the world hostage and attempt to stop the globe's oil supply and if Iran does anything to do that, they'll get hit at a much, much harder level. is tonight plunging down to around $86 a barrel. All as inside Iran, the Pentagon says it struck over 5,000 targets. Today will be yet again our most intense day of strikes inside Iran.

The most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes, including taking out hidden missile launchers. Ballistic missile attacks continue to trend downward, 90% from where they've started. and one-way attack drone has have decreased 83%. Though Iran still launching attacks on its Arab neighbors, this video showing an Iranian drone chased by a United Arab Emirates fighter jet. In Bahrain, the government says a woman was killed during an Iranian strike on a residential neighborhood. Tonight, new questions over the war's timeline, with President Trump saying the U.S. is, quote,

very far ahead of its initial four to five weeks schedule. It's going to be finished pretty quickly. But also, we've already won in many ways, but we haven't won enough. And the president has also suggested he should have a role picking the new Iranian leader. We press the White House. Is the ending of this war also contingent on Iran selecting a leader that the president finds acceptable? And if so, how is that not the definition of a regime change war? Look, as President Trump has blatantly and frankly stated, it's obviously within the best interest of the United States.

and the West to no longer have a radical terrorist in charge of Iran. We have objectives that we have laid out that the commander-in-chief wants to see achieved. And now a new image of the five members of the Iranian women's soccer team just granted asylum in Australia. Iranian State TV branded them traitors for protesting the Iranian regime by refusing to sing the national anthem. Yesterday, on the team bus, players had flashed the sign for help as crowds chanted, save our girls. They are safe here, and they should feel at home here.

Okay, Garrett Hake joins us live from the White House. Gary, you have more information on those U.S. service members who have been injured? Yeah, Tom, the Pentagon says it's roughly 140 service members who have been wounded. Most of them with minor injuries, they have largely returned to duty. But there are eight who are considered severely injured. And last night, the dignified transfer ceremony was held for Army Sergeant Benjamin Pennington. He was the seventh service member killed in this war. Tom? All right, Garrett Hake for us. Garrett, we thank you. Even though oil prices pulled back today from their major surge, gas prices are still in the rise, responding to the spike in crude since the war began. NBC's Camilla Bernal now with a look at the impact those costs are

happening. Fallout from the war playing to see at every gas station across the U.S. The price of a gallon of gas now up 55 cents since the war began. It definitely makes us second-guess some of the financial decisions that we make. In California with the country's highest prices, gas is well above $5 a gallon. 200 miles, 200 miles a day. Yasha Timinovich drives for ride share and delivery services for about 10 hours a day. What is it like for you when you drive around and you see gas at 579 a gallon? Makes me sick. Wild swings in crude oil prices also hitting hard for farmers just beginning the spring planting season. I have a tractor that requires a hundred gallons of diesel fuel to fill it up, and it costs me $469. John Boyd grows soybeans, corn, and wheat at his fourth generation family

farm in Virginia. He says his fertilizer supplier can't even deliver what he needs. Due to the war and the bombing through that area, the fertilizer isn't moving, which means it won't be readily available at all to me right now. And at Josie's flowers in North Hollywood, Fernando Agela has already raised prices for deliveries by 20%. If I have to eat the gas every time, it's going to hurt. It's going to hurt. Camila joins us now from a gas station in Los Angeles. So Camila, we can see those prices there just behind you, 579 a gallon. That's for the cheapest right there. How are gas stations dealing with these big price swings? Yeah, Tom, so people know in California, very high prices, but it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. Now, in terms of the gas stations,

I spoke to the owner here who told me it's difficult for her, too, because she's buying in bulk. So what she told me is that she's not necessarily making any additional money. She's just passing on that cost to her customers. On average, people are paying between $5 and $15 more to fill up their gas tanks in comparison to last week. And with the pressure on the oil markets, What happens is that we could likely continue to see these prices increasing, Tom. Okay, Camila, thank you. Let's bring in Amos Hochstein, TWG Global Managing Partner and former Biden Senior Energy Advisor. Amos, I want to start by asking you about the Strait of Ormuz.

The president posted late today a warning to Iran following reports they may be deploying mines in the strait, saying in part, I'm pleased to report that within the last few hours we have hit and completely destroyed 10 inactive mine lane boats and or ships. What could that mean for the global oil market if there were mines or other moves that would restrict the passage way even more? And also, I mean, there's just the threat of danger now. Hi, good evening. It's good to be with you. Look, the state of our moves right now is closed. We're having very few tankers go through. And the only oil that's coming out of the Middle East at the moment is coming through bypass pipelines in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. But that's really only about max capacity at about 50% of what can come through. So this is the worst oil crisis and energy crisis that the world has ever seen.

So putting the mines there is just adding another level of threat and concern that will eliminate the chance of tankers continuing to wanting to cross the straits. And remember that it's not just oil. It's oil, it's natural gas, it's fertilizer, it's de-es. diesel, it's jet fuel, it's marine fuel. So all those things are getting more and more constrained because every day that passes, the shortage becomes more acute. And that's why you're seeing the gas prices in the United States go up,

diesel's gone up even more, and the availability of some products are going to start getting constrained. When you say the worst energy crisis ever, I mean, is that fair? Yes. The last really big one was 1973, when the, the Arab OPEC boycott. But if you look at the volume that is constrained at a moment, it is the worst we've seen as far as part of how this affects the market.

Yeah, I'm seeing some stats here from Ukraine that during the Ukraine war, there was a 35% max oil move. We're at 36% right now, right? We're probably going to get even higher. Is that why you're sort of forecasting, you're speaking in those sort of those terms? I don't want to call them dramatic, but I want to make sure when our viewers are watching this, give them some context. So I was the chief energy advisor to President Biden when the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the prices went up. But let me be very clear on that.

We saw a massive price increase of oil prices and gasoline prices when Russia invaded Ukraine. But that was because of a threat of a potential loss of oil supply. But we never actually lost any supply. In this case, we have a physical loss of supply. Now, obviously, Secretary Wright said that we had Navy escorts. That turned out not to be true. So the situation in the Strait of Hermuz is very, very serious, and we're not likely to see for several days at least any resumption to back to normal supplies.

So what happens is you have countries that produce oil if they don't have where to put it, meaning they can't export it and it's stuck in storage. When the storage is full, they start restricting their actual production. So they reduce the production, which means that even when the war is over, it will take longer to start up operations again. Yeah. I do want to ask you. You said you're bringing a good point that it's going to take time for us to actually feel this at the pump. You think it's a week, two weeks, when things sort of calm down that will actually feel it back here at home

and how high do you think gas prices are going to get? Well, if you think about two weeks ago, we were about $2.80. Today, we're at about $3.60. I think if nothing changes in the straits, if nothing changes, and they don't open up, we're probably going towards $4 a gallon on average. So those prices in California that your viewers just saw, California is always an outlier because it always has high prices. But everybody in the country is going to be somewhere in the $3 to $4 to $4.

something dollars on gasoline. And really it's important because our food prices will start going up because we're not a farm-to-table economy. We're a farm-to-truck-to-table. So everything that's on a truck that uses diesel will be much more expensive as time goes by. So I think you'll start seeing the real pain at the pump over the next couple of days more than what we've seen already. The problem will be the flip side is it won't come down so fast when the market reopens in the Middle East. Amos, if you were advising President Trump, would you tell him to tap the strategic petroleum reserve? I know it's not a magic bullet, but would it help? Look, we did that during the crisis in Russia, Ukraine, and we released, under President Biden,

we released 180 million barrels. And I think that was the right move at the time, and it worked. It brought the prices that the pump down from, you know, over. five dollars to three. I think if you don't know how long the war is going to last, then I don't know that I would advise him to do that at this point because it can only last for so long that release. And this shortage that we're seeing now is so big. But I think there are other things that I would do. I would advise putting together some strategy to get at least one lane of shipping going in a secure manner in the Strait of Hermuz. And the other issue, of course, is how long do you plan

the war going on because it's not very hard for the Iranians to continue to strike at that area. So I would take all those things into consideration. And it's not even the striking, right? It's the threat of striking, right? Because no one's going to put their tankers through there. Amos Haxton, it was great to talk to you. We really appreciate it. Of course.

Any time. Those surge in gas prices is just one reason why this war with Iran is perhaps a risky political move for the president. Joining us now to weigh in. Naira Huck, an assistant dean at the Syracuse, Maxwell School and a former senior advisor and State Department spokesperson in the Obama administration. And Matt Gorman is an NBC News political analyst and a former National Republican Congressional Committee Director and a good friend of Top Story.

Matt, I'm going to start with you. The politics here obviously don't make sense. Sometimes they don't, right? You have world issues and affairs that have to be taken care of. The president keeps saying this is going to be over. His defense secretary is saying, we're still going to keep going. People are just confused here in America. Yeah, look, I mean, gas prices.

have been one of the most notable and most visible economic successes of the Trump administration so far. And if you were to ask me a week ago or two weeks ago before this broke out in Iran, I would say people don't really vote on foreign policy, especially in midterm elections. However, as you were pointing out, this certainly has some domestic political implications. Now, I think certainly when it comes to the politics of this, a short spike because of a geopolitical crisis, I don't think he's going to have a demonstrable effect come November. But if we're still talking about this a month from now, two months from now, two months from

now, spring breaks will be in full swing, summer travel will start kicking off, that's where it gets a little diceier. Yeah, Neera, what are Democrats thinking? What are they doing with this? This seems very easy for them politically to take advantage of. Democrats that have won in this cycle have already been focusing on the affordability message, right? The challenge that people are having at home with gas prices, with inflation, how much food costs,

and all this brings to bear the fact that it's about $1 billion a day in a war that majority of Americans don't even want or don't even support, that brings home the idea that there's always money to spend on war and in the military, but not the money that Americans want to see for health care or for other education, all these other pocketbook issues. When you look at the races in play right now, and even as varied as Mamdani in New York and Tala Rico in Texas, very different people, but they ran very local affordability campaigns. Add on top of that the idea that there might be deployments for this war. So now we're talking individual families

having to send their members overseas in a conflict zone. That is not something that presidents usually want before a midterm election. Tala Rico still has to win in Texas. I mean, he won the primary. He still's got to win statewide. Matt, a new report of Politico says that rising energy costs from this war

could erase tax benefits from the president's big, beautiful bill for at least the bottom 30% of Americans. Time and again, affordability is the issue voters care most about. We've been talking about it here already in this segment. How big of a mistake was this invasion in Iran? I don't think it was a mistake. I think they have to make very clear, number one, why they did it. But I've seen polling, and I think we've all seen this public polling. If this last weeks to a month or a little

bit more, the support it can be adjusted. It's not that bad. But the longer it goes on, that's where it gets dice here for Republicans. And you're right. You know, energy costs have been something that I think that White House has been keen on, keen to lower. And again, it speaks to why they've been also talking about AI and data centers and trying to sell that as well. But again, the key is making sure that this war, this operation, whatever you want to call it, is one that's contained in weeks to a month or two, not much longer. Yeah. Nayara, some Senate Democrats haven't ruled out giving the Pentagon more funding for this war. They're sort of in a tricky spot, right? You want to support the troops. You want to support the military. But as Matt just points out, the American

support doesn't seem to be there for this military. Well, certainly, it's not there in the general American public. And if you think about even how President Trump ran for office, it was to end forever wars, the idea that America first means America not being the policemen of the world, not intervening in other countries. And now we are seeing a president this time around who is deeply interventionist. And we're talking about a conflict that he started in Iran by launching weapons and missiles without consultation of any of our allies.

So our allies left having to deal with the fallout all on the war. their own. We have shifting messages. There's no real story about why this happened to happen right now. The summer President Trump had said that the nuclear program was destroyed, and anybody who said otherwise, it was fake news. So this is part of the challenge that President Trump is going to have, but it's what the American public sees clearly. This is the generation now that is voting that served in Iraq, served in Afghanistan, saw that American intervention does not make democracy pop up out of place. And in fact, it brings out so much worse that's in the world. And the question becomes, is that what we're going to end up with Iran and that new generation facing that?

Matt, when you look at the calendar, right? How much time do you think the president has left? History shows us that whatever party is in power, they're going to be hurt during the midterms, right? History shows us that. The president isn't on the ballot, so you don't have that huge Republican turnout you're going to get anyway. And now you may have this issue with gas prices and affordability that's been so stubborn. Look, I think pump the brakes, no pun intended. I think, again, this has been going on for what, maybe two weeks now.

This is a far cry from Iraq or Afghanistan. I think those comparisons don't do either circumstance of justice. But I would also point out to the last midterm election, right? That was in many ways defined by abortion. This time in 2022, we hadn't had yet the Dobbs decision come out. And I think, again, these things can be shaped, especially in this era, far later than they were, say, 20 years ago. So I would caution that extrapolating what happens in early March all the way out. to almost the end of the year in November.

All right. Matt and Nayara, we thank you so much for being here. We're also following some breaking news out of Europe. Video showing a fire erupting on a bus in western Switzerland. At least six people confirmed dead and several more injured. NBC Sam Brock is following this and joins us now. Sam, the big question is going to be, as we're covering everything out of Iran, was this terrorism? We have some new reporting right now. We don't know necessarily the cause at this point, Tom.

But Sky News, part of our news family is reporting that police in that Freiburg region of Switzerland. say that it does appear there was an act of arson or could have been an act of arson. There are local reports right now, according to Blick, which is a local Swiss paper, that witnesses on the board the bus so that a man poured gasoline on himself and lit himself on fire. Police there were asked Tom directly if they think there might be ties to terrorism. They declined to answer that question, but so that they are still investigating. Look at the visuals of this, right? You have a postal bus completely engulfed in flames for who knows how long.

It took a massive fire and police response to be able to extinguish all of those flames. You mentioned already six people confirmed dead. Five others were injured. Three of them seriously enough that they had to be transported by either ambulance or helicopter to a nearby hospital for treatment. So that debt toll most certainly could go up. But you would have to imagine, as you point out, in this frame of mind, this point in time in history, whether or not there could have been a link to terrorism with all of these cities around the globe right now on heightened alert.

And there's attacks popping up, right? There's attacks popping up at consulates, and there's things we're tracking out of Canada here. There's all kinds of things. Yep. All right. Sam Brock. Thanks, I appreciate it. Always great to have you here on the show. We're back in a moment with new details on that attempted terror attack in New York,

chilling images of a suspect, allegedly buying supplies from a fireworks store, what we're learning. Plus another round of severe weather taking aim tonight. Millions at risk from Texas to Michigan. It is going to be a dangerous stretch of days, and we're tracking the threat. And the former NFL player accused of killing his girlfriend would investigate say he asked chat GPT about covering it all up. That's ahead on top story. We're back now with new surveillance video obtained by NBC News of a suspect allegedly

buying a fireworks fuse just days before investigators say he tried to carry out an ISIS-inspired terror attack in New York City. NBC's Jesse Kirschis more. This is the moment Amir Balad allegedly walked into a Pennsylvania fireworks store and walked out with what he needed to set off a bomb. Days later, police say he was one of two ISIS-insensitive. inspired teenagers who drove to New York City and tried to ignite explosive devices in a crowd outside the official home of New York City's mayor. Once we heard improvised device, we're at least going to do a check. NBC News spoke with phantom fireworks. The company tells NBC News it searched for both suspects' names once they were made public. Everyone who buys something at your store has to give you their government identification and their home address.

That is correct. So it does lend itself to be able to forensically look back and see. The company combed through security footage that it says it has now shared with the FBI and shows Blot purchasing a 20-foot fuse in cash. The terrorism investigation also leading authorities to this Pennsylvania storage facility where the FBI says it conducted a controlled detonation yesterday. And with New York City already on edge, today police were back near the mayor's residence after a suspicious device sent people fleeing from this park. The device was later cleared.

This comes with security concerns escalating worldwide. In Toronto, two people got out of a car early this morning, opened fire on the U.S. consulate and took off, according to police, who say no one inside the consulate was injured. Jesse Kerrish joins us tonight from Miami. So, Jesse, what more are you hearing from the fireworks company tonight? Yes, so Tom Phantom Fireworks's executive vice president tells me that the fuse blot allegedly bought looks exactly like something that is seen in an image released by authorities in court documents.

And the complaint that those documents are part of also says investigators discovered, quote, a coiled green material consistent in appearance with hobby fuse. And according to this complaint, investigators found that material in the vehicle that brought these suspects into New York City. the day of this alleged attempted terror attack, Tom. All right, Jesse Kerr's for us, Jesse, thank you. We're also tracking severe weather tonight with 53 million at risk from Texas to Michigan. Parts of the Midwest bracing for potentially strong tornadoes with some already spotted. Check this out, a massive funnel cloud appearing to fill the sky in Pontiac, Illinois, the same storm producing at least one confirmed tornado.

I want to bring a meteorologist Bill Karens. Bill, another dangerous night ahead, and it's just starting. What are you tracking now? Yeah, we've already seen three tornadoes reported. and numerous other areas of great concern at this moment. Huge hail is also being reported. Many reports of baseball-sized hail already. So this is the map showing you Illinois.

There's the Chicago area. I want to focus on this thunderstorm just south of Kankakee. This is the one we just showed you the video with the funnel cloud that did produce the tornado and Pontiac. So this is Kankakee, Illinois. When you see what we call a hook echo, that's when it gets scary. That's when there's an excellent chance we have a tornado on the ground.

And look at this developing hook just south here of Kankakee, just north of Otto. Very likely. Just looking at the Doppler radar outputs, estimated 105 to 110 mile per hour winds just north of auto. That would be with the tornado right here, south side of Kankakee. Tornado sirens are going off. So for everyone on the east side of Kankakee heading to immense and just north in the Pembroke area, this is likely heading your way. Get to your shelters. Get out of the way. Get to your safe rooms as this comes on through. This has the potential to be one of our very strong tornadoes we were worried about during the day today. Further to the north, not tornadoes were worried about. in Chicago, but we've had the severe thunderstorm warning. It's been a ground stop at O'Hare Airport. There's been hail up to one inch reported. We've had one tornado outside of Del Rio. We have one active tornado warning heading for Camp Wood here. So those areas also get to your shelters. And as we said, this is a long night ahead. These tornado watches stretch from Illinois, now through Missouri, just Kansas City included, Oklahoma City, just outside of Fort Worth all the way down into Del Rio. So yes, a very dangerous night just starting now, but especially our friends near

Kankakee, very serious situation. All right, Bill. I know we're going to stay on top of it throughout the broadcast. Coming up, a frightening scene at Texas, a car, look at this, barreling into a barbershop, packed with people. We'll tell you what happened. Stay with us. We're back now following the latest in the war with Iran that is spreading across the Middle East. Lebanon battered day and night by Israeli missiles, targeting Hezbollah. 700,000 people have been displaced from their homes, but among those staying put are some Americans. Danielle Hamamjin is in Beirut and has their stories. Sunday morning in Beirut,

and a handful of congregants at All Saints Church is trickling in, a dwindling community once full of expats. Father, son, and all the spirit. Among them is American retiree, Virginia Sadler-Shatila. If she'd listened to the U.S. government, she would have left the country over a week ago. You've had the American government say to American citizens in Lebanon, leave while commercial flights are still available, yet you are here.

In 2006, we had an Israeli invasion, and we had Canadian, French, and American ships for evacuees. I didn't leave then, and I'm not leaving now. Despite her family back in D.C. urging her to return to the U.S. After decades in Beirut, this is now home. Where is your allegiance? I will always be American. Always. And even now, in these political times, I don't want to speak against my own government, which I'm not very happy about.

I'll leave it at that. But the death toll is quickly rising. Government officials say more than 700,000 people are now displaced in a small country of just 6 million. Israeli strikes on Beirut have become so common. For some, this is simply background noise. But Israel has now also struck in the heart of the capital. Israeli strikes on Beirut have mostly focused on one specific suburb, with the exception of hits like this one.

A precision strike on certain individuals throughout the city, in this case the fifth floor of the Ramada Hotel. Israel says they were targeting commanders of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. As was the case for this hotel a few days earlier. This is causing even more panic because they're in areas that don't usually have not been hit in the past. Unlike neighboring Israel, there are no sirens in Lebanon alerting the population of incoming strikes, nor are there bunkers to hide in. And according to experts, once Israel killed Hassan Nasrallah, the former leader of the paramilitary group Hezbollah,

which is backed by Iran, members of the IRGC, Iran's most elite military force, stepped in. We saw members of the IRGC micro-managing, particularly the military arm of Hezbollah. So they've revised the entire military doctrine. They've been training them. They've been working with them. The Lebanese government is now taking a harder stance on Hezbollah, even calling for direct talks with Israel for permanent security arrangements to contain the militant group. What many say is a seismic moment in Lebanese politics, but Israel has yet to respond.

As it continues to trade fire with Hezbollah, many fear Israeli forces will use this opportunity to push further into Lebanon and never fully retreat. Back at the Anglican Church, years of conflict and strife have tested the faith of those here, but not broken it. We are resilient, and I consider myself one of the Lebanese as well. I am American, yes, I am, but I am with the Lebanese community, and I want to stand. and say we are here to stay. We're not going down easily. We're going to turn now to Top Story's News Feed, an update on the shooting outside the home of celebrity couple Rihanna and ASAP Rocky. 35-year-old Ivana Ortiz charged with attempted murder and a slew of other crimes

after allegedly firing an AR-15 towards the Star's home Sunday afternoon. The couple was inside at the time with their three young children, but no one was injured. Police say the investigation is still ongoing. Surveillance video capturing the moment of car. slams into a busy barbershop in North Texas. This is wild every time you see it. Workers and customers scrambling as the vehicle burst through the wall. One person said flying from their chair, luckily nobody was hurt. The shop owner tells our local NBC station, the driver may have mistakenly pressed the gas instead of the brake. Wow. And in New Jersey, this massive bus fire.

Take a look at a video show smoke pouring out of the transit bus on the turnpike. Wow. This is near Newark airport. Officials say it happened after a tire blew out. 25 people were reportedly evacuated. Again, luckily, no one was injured. And at least five Disneyland employees in California were taken to the hospital after a reported hazmat situation. Police say they suffered minor symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness after being exposed to an unknown odor. We're told that it happened in the backstage area near the Star Tours ride. Disneyland officials say they temporarily closed the area and cleared out the guests.

Okay, not of Tennessee where a former NFL linebacker is accused of murdering his girl. girlfriend, then asking ChatGPT for advice on how to cover it up. Our Priscilla Thompson has the latest from court, including exactly what he's accused of asking the AI chatbot. The New York Jets select Darren Lee. Former NFL linebacker Darren Lee back in the spotlight, this time in a Tennessee courtroom, accused of murdering his girlfriend and prosecutors argue using ChatGPT to try to get away with it. He asks how to cover it up.

He asks what to say. 911. Lee was arrested last month after sheriff's deputies found his 29-year-old girlfriend, Gabriella perpetuo, dead inside the couple's home. In body camera video played in a preliminary hearing, Lee tells deputies he doesn't know what happened. But prosecutors painting a different picture. She has two swollen eyes. I didn't do anything self-inflicted. That's the lead detective. Reading chat GPT messages, prosecutors say, were sent from Lee's phone, a day before perpetua was found dead, including questions about handling someone non-responsive. Chat GPT, they say, replied, this is serious, but you can handle it cleanly and protect everyone.

Also appearing to reply to a question writing, yes, falls can cause puncture appearing wounds. They usually don't look like clean knife stabs. There's a whole new frontier. You have chat GPT, AI, smartwatches, Alexa's, all of those devices can now lead investigators in a criminal case. Lee's attorney declined to comment. NBC News reached out to chat GPT's owner, OpenAI, and did not hear back. Priscilla Thompson joins us now. And Priscilla, there were some strong words from the judge after hearing about some of this evidence. Yeah, Tom, after hearing this testimony, Judge Tori Smith is allowing this case to proceed.

She said, quote, she is even more convinced that the offense was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel. Now, as for Lee, he remains in jail. And if convicted on that first degree murder charge, he could face the death penalty. Tom. All right, Priscilla Thompson. First, Priscilla, we thank you for that. Still to come here on Top Story, our NBC News investigation into cosmetic surgery and what happens

when things take a deadly turn. This is a follow-up to a story we've done before. Plus, more coverage of the escalating war with Iran. We'll hear from a journalist with family. inside the country about conditions there on the ground. Stay with us. We're back now as we continue to monitor the war with Iran where fresh explosions are rocking the capital city after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth promised the most intense day yet of U.S. strikes. Even as Iran's military vows, it can keep fighting forever. The death toll tonight

is climbing. The Red Crescent saying more than 1,200 people have been killed in Iran since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks and another 486 killed in Lebanon. This has strikes by Iran and its proxies killing at least 11 in Israel and 36 across Gulf states. The Pentagon announcing that in addition to the seven killed in this war, roughly 140 U.S. service members have also been injured. I want to bring in an expert to discuss. Human Majid is an NBC news contributor, journalist and author. Human, thank you so much for joining Top Story. I understand you have family in Iran.

And after those huge smoke plumes, toxic rain and now more explosions, have you been able to communicate with with anyone inside of Tehran? I was able to communicate only briefly, the same person, same family member who was talking to me on the phone via WhatsApp with a VPN was cut off from speech and can only text now. But the text I got was, we're safe. I mean, it's gonna be short.

The connection to the internet is very brief, intermittent, it comes off, goes on and off. So they'll send a quick text saying, yeah, I'm okay, the rest of the family is okay, and that's pretty That's pretty much all we can hear. Last I spoke to her, actually spoke to her on the phone a couple of days ago, she said back then it was pretty bad. The bombing was really bad, and that's when the smoke and the black rain from the oil refinery fire was falling down on people's heads. Do we know what life is like in Tehran right now?

We see the images, obviously these nighttime strikes, sometimes daytime strikes. But what is life like right now in Tehran? I wouldn't say it's panic, but people are, the streets are pretty deserted. Those who could have or had country homes or had homes in the north on the Caspian Sea or outside of Tehran in the mountains have tried to go out of Tehran, but there are plenty of people who can't leave. They don't have anywhere to go, and they're just stuck there and they're afraid. Any moment another missile goes off, another bomb goes off, and they hear the explosions. Every street is affected on some level, whether it's just from neighboring streets.

Yeah, it's bad. People I've spoken to been able to speak to, and family members say it's really bad. They stay home. They don't go out. If they are in a house and they have a basement, they try to sleep in the basement, stay away from. But again, that's dangerous too. If a house gets hit and there's rubble. And we have seen images of people being pulled out of the rubble.

It's pretty bad. The International Red Cross just launched an emergency appeal for aid in Iran, saying humanitarian needs are growing sharply for health care, shelter, water, and sanitation. Is the U.S. in this war deflating any momentum that might have been built during those anti-regime protests earlier this year? You know, we heard from some Iranians last week who were very much behind the bombing saying that the regime had to go. I'm curious if you can even get a sense of where public sentiment is right now. I think there was sentiment at the beginning of the bombing, certainly when Ayatollah Khomeini was killed.

Those people who blamed him, both inside and outside the country, for the bloodshed in January, as we know, there was tremendous bloodshed. And as the protesters killed. So those people celebrated. But those celebrations, at least inside Iran are over. No one's celebrating anymore. Not because they love the Supreme Leader or love the new Supreme Leader that I had told his son, but because they are trying to survive. Quite honestly, they're having missiles rained down on their heads and bombs, and, you know, we've seen some of the destruction.

there really isn't time for celebration. They're trying to protect their families. So that's diminished quite a bit in terms of, you know, when Donald Trump and various people in administration, and certainly Benjamin Netanyo have said, people should rise up and take over the government, should bring about regime change now that we've done all this work of damaging the regime.

It's really hard to imagine how. How are they supposed to do this? They don't have a leader inside Iran who can, you know, coordinate. They don't have an organization. The opposition doesn't have an organization. doesn't have an organization that can do that inside Iran. I have to remember in 1979 when there was a revolution, I told him, Khomeini, the first founder of the Islamic Revolution,

had every single mosque in Iran as his base of operation, every single, you know, cleric in Iran, and their flock of supporters. So that doesn't exist right now, and people just are confused. How are we supposed to take over the government? So, you know, the next step is, will there be, I mean, things that people are worried,

about, certainly in Iran, as citizens are worried about, unlike what the foreign minister said to you, welcoming or saying that we're ready for American troops. People in Iran are not ready for that. How did you interpret what happened over the weekend into Monday, right? You had the president come out and apologized to the Gulf states and say, essentially, this was a mistake, it wasn't going to happen again. And then you had the hardliners essentially elect Haman's son, the new Ayatollah. And then the strikes against the Gulf states continued once again. What are we supposed to draw from that? Well, I think what the president said, his apology was probably not quite an apology.

It was more like, well, we're sorry if we hit people, if there was collateral damage. And they tried to fix that by saying that was not about hitting military bases. He himself said, no, as long as we're being intact, where American bases are legit targets. when Iran, they claim that, you know, when bases are evacuated because of an incoming threat, some of the soldiers, some of the executives who work on the base, I say officers, I meant, not executives, are taken to hotels. So the hotel becomes, as far as the Iranians concerned, a legitimate target. Like we saw in Bahrain, where they hit a hotel, and the Crown Plaza Hotel, I believe,

and there were two soldiers in that hotel who were injured. So that's their claim, that any American, asset in the region is fair game. So I think that was it. And then, of course, you know, there was a lot of chatter inside Iran. Why did the president say this? And the reality is the president, you interviewed him in September back here for the UN. You saw he's kind of this, you know, he's a doctor.

He's a surgeon, a heart surgeon. He's a sort of a nice guy. He's like, you know, put in this position. It's not really, he's not a military guy, never had that kind of power. And doesn't really have that kind of power now. It's more like he was in this council that was elected to perform the duties of the Supreme Leader until a new one was elected. But really, it's the IRGC, it's the military, they're basically running things.

Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov called Iran's Foreign Minister Arachi today to say that Russia wants de-escalation and offered a facilitated diplomatic settlement. I mean, he told me you were there listening to this interview that there was going to be no more talking to the U.S., the foreign minister of Iran. Do you think there's a chance that Russia, in a very ironic way, considering that they invaded Ukraine, could negotiate some type of peace here in Iran between the U.S. and Iran? Potentially, yes. I think the Iranian strategy right now is to cause as much pain for the American administration as possible. So that when there is a discussion, if there is a ceasefire, whether it's unilateral or not, that Iran is in a position to make some demands of Donald Trump. Is the pain at the pump, oil?

But what is the pain? The pain is the pump. It's at the American servicemen, who, you just pointed out, 150-something something injured. How many of those are going to survive? Yeah, I hope they all survived. But I'm just saying there's pain there, there's pain at the pump, there's pain in the region, and the pressure that Qatar and Bahrain and Oman and UAE will put on the president, who considers all of them friends, Saudi Arabia, to please stop.

this war. So there's, and you know, the economic damage to the Persian Gulf, especially Dubai, where Keir Simmons is right now, I mean, he's been reporting with you every night. It's, it's, you know, frightening for people who thought of Dubai as being the Monaco of the Middle East. Like, you could go and invest there, you can go live there, you could take your family there, and that danger wasn't really apparent until this war. So I think that pain, Iran wants to keep causing it until they can get something out of it. Because what they don't want to do, and I think the foreign minister had trouble a little bit,

kind of explaining that to you, and then again to Kristen Welker at Meet the Press, that they don't want to be in a situation where there's a ceasefire, which is to their advantage today, of course, because they stopped getting bombed. But they have a ceasefire today, and then six months from now. And then they talk again to Steve Whitkoff and Jared Kushner and whomever Donald Trump appoints.

And then six months later, another bombing. So they want to be sure that this is the last one. You know, it's the old joke, you know, the World War II joke, you know, no more Mr. Nice Guy. Well, this time we were okay, next time, no more Mr. Nice Guy. That's pretty much what the Iranians are saying now. It's no more Mr. Nice guy. We will go after everything. And I think they also see it as existential, to be honest with you. Yeah, of course. Humann, so great to talk to you. I'm sure we're going to speak again. We thank you so much. Back here at home to our NBC News investigation tonight, to the of the dangers of cosmetic surgery chains.

A recent string of lawsuits alleged that some surgeons employed by these chains have histories of malpractice suits, and in at least one case, a surgeon who has been accused of multiple patient deaths is still practicing medicine. Our Air McLaughlin has this one. When Stierre Ballard didn't hear from her mom, Tamila Smith, for days, she kept calling until finally a police officer picked up. I said, who are you, and what are you doing my mom's phone? And he stated, well, this was Glendale Police Department, and I'm here with your mom's body. The officer told her that it appeared Smith had a surgery.

Our bodies know what is best for us. After seeing her advertisements online, she'd gone to board certified plastic surgeon Heidi Reganus for liposuction and a Brazilian butt lift. Days later, Smith was dead. My granny was all I had. Ballard later learned in the four months before her. mother's death two other women died following cosmetic procedures performed by the same doctor. And what is even more outrageous to Ballard, that doctor is still practicing medicine today. I just spoke to staff at this clinic and they told me that Dr. Heidi Reganus is still practicing

medicine and performing procedures at least this location. It appears she's no longer working at the clinics where the deaths occurred and it's unclear whether she's performing surgeries. She never replied to our multiple interview requests. We've tried ringing multiple times. No one's answering. An autopsy report listed Ballard's cause of death as renal failure of unknown cause. Adding an injury directly from the surgery

cannot be identified. But Ballard is now suing the doctor, alleging she failed to properly prescreen her mother, use proper surgical techniques and equipment, and failed to properly monitor her during and after surgery. The families of the two other patients who died also sued Dr. Reganus.

One settled. The other lawsuit is ongoing. I'm sure, a thousand percent sure, if my mom had known, she would not have let that woman touch her. Right here. Ballard filed a complaint against Reganus with the Medical Board of California. It's been nearly two years. Ballard says she's frustrated patients have no way to learn about any ongoing investigations. I say the medical board does not care. You believe that the medical board does not care whether a patient lives or dies?

Absolutely. And I can look you straight in your eye and tell you that with nothing inside of me doubting what I'm saying is the absolute truth. T.J. Watkins has been a member of the medical board for six years. He says situations like this are very common, pointing to a disciplinary process that he alleges endangers patients and is rigged in favor of the doctors. Nobody is protecting the patient. If you were really protecting the patients, there would be a notice. right now that says this doctor is being investigated. Watkins is now advocating for state legislation that alerts the public when a doctor is being investigated for serious offense. Right now, there's an assumption that all doctors are safe. And that is true most of the time.

But in a small percentage of the time, it is absolutely not true. In a statement, the California Medical Board says state laws limit what information can be made public. Writing the board diligently reviews and investigates. all complaints, adding it is wrong to say that the board is failing patients and endangering lives. As for Reganus, her lawyers have denied the claims against her in court. She has a license to kill. When is it going to stop? And how would you know? How will we know? Aaron McLaughlin joins us now in studio. And Aaron, we're now hearing about a fourth patient who was

allegedly injured by this doctor. That's right, Tom. Last month, California's Medical Board filed an administrative complaint against Dr. Reganus. It came after, you know, NBC News requested comment, though it is unclear if that's in response to that. The complaint is unrelated to the three deaths in our story and involves another patient who alleges the doctor botched her surgery. All right. Aaron, we thank you for bringing this report to us. When we come back tonight here on Top Story, rising to the occasion, the high school basketball players now going viral for teaming up to support a mom in need. That story is next. Finally, tonight, a high school basketball team coming together to support a teammate whose mom is fighting cancer.

the thoughtful surprise they organized to lift her spirits when she needed it most. The Mountain View Mavericks thrive in big moments. On and off the court, this Boise Area basketball team always sticks together. A lot of them I've played with since eighth grade. I just love them all. Hey, bud. So when senior Tyler Harris's mom, Terry, received life-changing news. I was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. The entire team rose to the occasion.

All the boys grabbed a flower and they came up the stairs. One player after another, each of them, presenting Terry with a rose and a hug. She was really grateful and she was really surprised that I'm there for her. These boys, they have my heart. The moment capturing the hearts of families in the stands and thanks to this video posted by their coach, more than a million people and growing online. It's hard to meet anyone nowadays that hasn't had to have. that hasn't had someone in their family or close friend have to deal with cancer.

All that support and love definitely is nice to see for Terry. I think it's crazy to see how many other people are also going through stuff. And like you never really know until you hear it. A gesture this mom and her Mabbs will carry with them for life. It resonated with so many people. And I think that would just change hearts and change the world. If everybody could show a little kindness like that. All right, great way to end the show.

That does it for us tonight. We thank you for watching Top Story. I'm Tom Yamis in New York. Stay right there. More news on the way.