Top Story with Tom Llamas - Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Episode Date: April 24, 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, we're live at the Vatican as the final farewell begins. Tens of thousands flooding St. Peter's Square behind me to say their goodbyes to Pope Francis. Powerful images from inside the basilica, the Pope line in state as the faithful lineup to pay their respects. We talked to Americans who made the journey as the massive security operation ramps up ahead of world leaders arriving for the funeral. New Jersey burning the wildfire in the northeast, forcing thousands to temporarily, evacuate overnight. The fire closing down highways and creating gridlock in the streets, how firefighters finally got the upper hand. President Trump backing down, new signals today that the White House may be softening its stance on tariffs on China, plus the cabinet secretary who got

into a shouting match with Elon Musk. The Lester Holt exclusive tonight, his one-on-one with the president of Harvard, why he decided to fight the White House and what he told Lester about the toll the funding cuts have already taken on his university. Vanished from Princeton and Ivy League Jr., missing since Saturday, police now searching for him here where his cell phone last pinged. Alleged kidnapper speaks out the man charged with abducting a 10-year-old girl. He met on the popular video game app, Roblox, telling his side of the story in a dramatic jailhouse interview.

And the crawling crook, the man who police say, wormed his way into a key room for car valets, and then drove off with the Ferrari. Then a Rolls-Royce, how police caught up to him. Plus, the man behind the movie Conclave joins Top Story. So how close to his book could reality be in the days ahead? A special edition, Top Story, starts right now. And good evening.

We are live tonight from the Vatican as the public gets the chance to say their last goodbye to Pope Francis. The Pope line in state right behind me in St. Peter's Basilica, where he will remain until his funeral service on Saturday. Just behind us, the viewing here was supposed to stop at midnight, but the followers here have lined up, and they've blown way past that deadline. In fact, they turned on the lights to St. Peter's Square about an hour ago, likely because of safety reasons.

There are still so many people waiting. We can see hundreds, if not thousands, that have been lined up. Inside, we have a live look as well as worshippers continue to file in to St. Peter's Basilica there. You can see the lines are still long. People waiting for hours just to get a few seconds to pay their respects at this late hour. The Vatican announcing that due to the high turnout, they would extend visitation hours, and they have. Earlier today, the solemn procession, the Pope's coffin led by cardinals alongside bishops and other priests you see there, 20,000 people gathering in the iconic square to watch and offer their prayers. In a moment, we'll

explain why this procession was unlike any. other. That marched to St. Peter's Basilica, marking the next chapter of morning, the public viewing. Crowds waiting hours in line to get the chance to see the Pope in person, so many who never even met him, but felt like they knew him. At this hour, we're learning more about the security measures as well, already underway ahead of the Pope's funeral. Police swarming Vatican City. You can see them here, looking at cameras, deploying drones, and patrolling Rome's rivers by boat. It will be a major undertaking with several world leaders expected to attend. And the big question tonight, how long could it take until we see a new Pope?

If you take a look at just over the last century, the average conclave has lasted three days, with the last four only taking two. We will have to wait and see how long it will take this time for the Cardinals to decide on Pope Francis's successor. But we start tonight with the emotional tributes as the faithful say their final farewell. In St. Peter's Square, under an April sun, and with the world watching, Pope Francis entered the basilica for the last time. The procession began with a prayer at his Santa Marta residence, led by the Camerlengo, American Cardinal Kevin Farrell.

Two rows of cardinals then led the way through the square. 14 glove pallbearers, lay people who work for the board. the pope carrying his casket, flanked by the Swiss guard. As a choir sang, his body entered the basilica. The crowd of 20,000 applauded. His casket then placed in front of the altar. In a change made by Pope Francis himself, the casket wasn't elevated, but kept closer to the ground and closer to the people he served, who lined up by the tens of thousands outside.

waited for hours. Why is this important for you? He was a man of humility, peace, and acceptance of everyone. He had a wide-reaching influence. We met Chicago residents Trish Finnan and Pamela Brunditch, who landed in Rome and headed straight to the Vatican. It looks like the line is pretty long. You guys are willing to wait.

Yes, absolutely. As they slowly marched around St. Peter's Square, they documented their hours long way. We haven't made much progress. progress. What we're smiling. And as they waited, the Vatican also allowed us to enter and witness the sea of humanity flowing towards the altar. Here inside St. Peter's Basilica, the Catholic faithful have waited for hours in the heat all day for this moment. They're now just steps away from Pope Francis, who is lying in state. They know they'll only get a few seconds, but it's worth to say goodbye. We saw believers, young and old, mothers carrying children,

stopping to pay their respects. And as they emerged from the 16th century basilica, a range of emotions. What was that moment like? Extremely moving. Very emotional. Everything stopped. Yes.

When you got in front of it. What's next for you guys now? We haven't slept. A night before last. Glass of wine, some pasta. Exactly. Exactly. And it toast.

And a toast. The Vatican announcing that the funeral of Pope Francis will take place Saturday morning, 10 a.m. local here in Rome. And then after that, Vatican watchers expect once Pope Francis is buried, the College of Cardinals will announce the start of the conclave as they search for a new pope. We're going to come back to all the coverage here in the Vatican in a moment, but we want to turn to some other big news back in the U.S. Firefighters battling a massive wildfire in New Jersey. Now scorching through more than 12,000 acres of land. Nearly 5,000 people were temporarily evacuated with officials there declaring a state of emergency. Our Sam Brock is on the ground.

After flames ravaged parts of southern New Jersey bursting onto highways and spawning huge plumes of smoke, communities under siege taking solace in avoiding a worst-case scenario. Folks, homes and lives have been saved, and we've truly averted a major disaster. Officials say not a single house was damaged nor person injured after some 5,000 evacuated just miles from the Jersey shore. Some in the chaos of gridlock streets, others helping neighbors move beloved animals. This winds are not helping us today, and the fires are unpredictable, and when you have large animals, it makes it really scary. The blaze now 40 percent contains, but some residents remain uneasy. We're standing on your deck right now, looking at massive plumes.

of smoke. And you're thinking what? Never seen that before and never expected that in my entire life. Brian Franchion lives in the Lacey Township community, where so many are stunned by the proximity of the smoke column. We were going to start unpacking because we heard the mandates were lifted, and I don't think I'm going to unpack just yet. Homeowners like Chris Mutey aren't taking any chances. What's your biggest concern? The homes. I mean, the homes are right there. Their fences all melted. These gentlemen over here, They're really the young son heroes, I guess, because they found some buckets for us.

Tonight, the Garden State, grateful after a close call. Sam Brock, NBC News, Ocean County, New Jersey. And we're also following news from Wall Street as well. The stock market today has seen a major boost. Take a look. The Dow Jones rising just more than 1% with the NASDAQ and S&P 500, finishing even higher. The rally partly fueled by the White House, signaling that the trade war with China may be coming to an end.

Peter Alexander is at the White House with more. Tonight at two of America's busiest ports, Los Angeles and Long Beach, the president's trade war is already hitting hard. The number of ships set to arrive with imports from China in the first full week of May, now expected to be down 44% from last year. Still, the market surged again today to Dow up more than 400 points. After President Trump signaled a potential thaw in the turmoil over tariffs and optimism about new trade deals that he says will level the playing field for American companies and bring back

manufacturing jobs. We are going to have a fair deal with China. It's going to be fair. He was pressed late tonight. How soon do you want to bring the tariffs on China's good deal? Well, that depends on them. We've been ripped off by every country in the world practically, and friend and foe, and we will, we're not doing that anymore.

The president today telling NBC News the U.S. is in Afghanistan. active talks with China. But just minutes earlier, Treasury Secretary Scott Besant said those talks have not yet begun. Amid confusion over the president's long-term tariff plans and following a Monday meeting where the CEOs of Target, Walmart, and Home Depot personally lobbied the president. President Trump appeared to soften his stance, saying his tariffs on Chinese imports will come down. 145 percent is very high, and it won't be that high. It's not going to be that high. It'll come down substantially, but it won't be zero. It used to be zero.

But tonight, the White House says that will only happen through negotiations. There will be no unilateral reduction in tariffs against China. All of it as Elon Musk revealed his time at the President's Department of Government Efficiency will, quote, drop significantly next month as he refocus his attention on Tesla that's seen its stock plunge more than 40% and been the target of violence and vandalism. There's been some blowback for the time that I've been spending in government with the Department of Government Efficiency or Doge. I think the work that we're doing there is actually very important for trying to just rein in the insane deficit. And Peter Alexander joins us tonight from the White House. And Peter, speaking of Elon Musk, we're also learning of some growing tensions between Musk and certain members of Trump's cabinet.

Yeah, that's right, Tom. This latest episode is a shouting match that took place last week inside the West. wing here. It was between Musk and the Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent over leadership at the IRS that was confirmed to us by two senior officials. The White House tonight responded that the president put together in their words, a passionate team of people who sometimes disagree. But Tom, notably, this is not the first time that Musk has clashed with some of the president's top cabinet officials just last month. He clashed privately with Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State. Rubio, among others, had been frustrated by the unchecked power that Musk had. within the president's inner circle, specifically was frustrated with Musk for basically

shutting down an agency that was effectively beneath Marco Rubio, the U.S.A.D. Tom? Okay, Pierre Alexander at the White House. We're also tracking fast-moving developments in the Russia-Ukraine peace talks. Earlier today, President Trump lashing out on social media, slamming Ukrainian president Vladimir Zelensky for pushing back on the terms of a proposed ceasefire deal writing on social media, he can have peace or he can have a fight for another three years before losing the whole country. But then later today, he suggested talks were still very much ongoing. I think we have a deal with Russia. We have to get a deal with Zelensky, and I hope that Zelensky, I thought it might be easier to deal with Zelensky. So far, it's been harder, but that's

okay. This can all be a little confusing, so let's get right to Gabe Gutierrez at the White House. Gabe, The latest U.S. proposal includes allowing Russia to maintain control of the Crimean Peninsula, which the Russians, of course, took from Ukraine. But President Zelensky is rejecting this outright? Yeah, that's right, Tom. Look, that's a non-starter. And it really has been a non-starter since the start of this war. But today, President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, both saying that Ukraine needed to make concessions. And President Trump accusing Zelensky of boasting. You just posted – you just showed – part of his social media post earlier today. And then in the Oval Office, just a few minutes ago, you just heard the president saying that

he thought it would be easier to deal with President Zelensky, something that he's repeated quite a bit over the last several weeks, repeating the phrase that he doesn't have the cards. Now, big question is, will the U.S. walk away from these peace talks? As Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested just several days ago, there are supposed to be talks in London. However, we're now learning that Secretary of State Rubio, as well as, special envoy, Steve Whitkoff, has backed out of those talks. There will be another envoy, Keith Kellogg, that will attend. But certainly, Tom, it appears that these peace

talks are very far off as top U.S. officials will now not take place in these peace talks. And the president's frustration is only growing. Tom. All right, Gabe Gutieres, with that major update in the war in Ukraine. Gabe, we thank you. And an urgent search is underway right now in New Jersey for a missing Princeton student. 23-year-old Lauren Blackburn was last seen Saturday evening near the university's library. Rescue crews seen scouring a nearby lake as authorities asked the public to come forward with any information. NBC News correspondent Ellison Barber is in Princeton-Ey with the late details. Tonight, police in New Jersey in a desperate search for any sign of 23-year-old Lauren Blackburn.

The Princeton undergrad was last seen Saturday around 6 p.m. near a university library, according to public announcements from the school. And crews were recently seen searching near a lake. In an email, Princeton University confirming efforts are ongoing. A school official writing to the student body this morning, please hold Lauren in your thoughts as we attempt to locate him. On campus, students we spoke to were shaken. It's just a shame because it's near the end of the semester

and this is really just like a, it's a dark thing to think about, you know. And it was kind of shocking to me. Blackburn is originally from Indiana. I think it'll be hopefully a lot more difficult at Princeton. Where the star student was profiled by an NBC station after receiving a full scholarship to attend the elite university. It was a little stressful the last couple of weeks coming up to the AP test. I had six AP tests this year. He skipped the sixth grade.

I don't think I was ever behind academically. I was a lot shorter than everyone in seventh grade though. and was beloved by his teachers. He's kind. I have never, ever once heard him speak a bad word. Alison Barber joins us tonight from Princeton. Ellison, this is so strange with a student who had so much going for him. I understand we now have a description about what he was last seen wearing.

Right, yes, so campus police say that Blackburn was last seen wearing blue jeans, a yellow t-shirt, and a black zip-up hoodie. They're asking anyone with any information to contact Princeton's Department of Public Safety. And Tom, students we've spoken to here, they say they are in the middle of taking final exams. It has been a stressful time. And now for so many of them, they're watching this, waiting for updates, hoping for the best. But right now, without a lot of information in terms of where he could be. Tom. Yeah, we hope they can find him.

Okay, Ellison, we thank you. We are back in a moment with the jailhouse interview, with a man accused of kidnapping, a 10-year-old girl. he meant over the gaming platform app Roblox, why he says he's innocent. Plus, the country crossover star Jelly Roll pushing for a pardon for his past convictions, why he says he's a changed man. And much more from here at the Vatican,

including our interview with the man behind the movie Conclave, how Pope Francis inspired parts of his book. Back now with an update to a case, we brought you here on Top Story. the California man accused of abducting a child he met online through the video game app, Roblox, speaking out from behind bars, detailing the interactions he had in that popular game in the lead-up to the alleged kidnapping. NBC's Ryan Chandler has this update. It sickens me.

Tonight, the man accused of kidnapping a California preteen he met on the video game Roblox, breaking his silence from behind bars. I should have been more careful. Yeah. I should have been more questioning when it came to having that person involved. Speaking out exclusively to affiliate KGET in Bakersfield, 27-year-old Matthew Naval says he was misled. Stating a 10-year-old girl he met in a 17-and-old voice chat room on Roblox told him she was 18.

They asked me if I wanted to be more than friends. I was a little bit hesitant because of like age or whatnot, but I was. I was pretty much encouraged. Naval says he drove hours from his home south of Sacramento to central California to pick up the girl. On April 13th, police found her with Naval in his car, more than 250 miles away from her home. So when did you discover she was 10 years old?

Oh, I would say, because I'm sorry, it like sickens me every time I hear that age. I think when I was questioned. Naval is facing seven felony charges, including kidnapping and lewd acts with a minor. He has pleaded not guilty. It was just holding hands in some sort. She's pretty much holding hands most of the time.

No sexual actions, no sexual conversation. No, ma'am. KGET also asking Naval about his attorney's remarks that he's on the autism spectrum. No, I believe that's my job position. I did work with kids who are on the spectrum with autism. Yeah, I was just starting for my second day in field training. After the interview, attorney Mark Anthony Ramondo telling NBC News,

these are sensational allegations against his client, reasserting their belief that Naval may be on the autism spectrum. Writing, Mr. Naval attended special needs classes throughout his life. He gave this candid jailhouse interview without our knowledge and without our consent. the public to reserve judgment until all evidence is reviewed. The alleged abduction also raising concerns about online video games including Roblox, which tens of millions of kids use every day to play and chat with strangers. Roblox telling NBC News these allegations are deeply troubling and we are actively investigating.

We have a zero tolerance policy against child endangerment and a range of safety features to guard against predatory behavior. Ryan Chandler joins Top Story tonight from Los Angeles. So Ryan, Roblox is one of the most popular video game apps in the world. So many children play it with 85 million daily active users. Hearing some of the specifics of what happened in this case, what can parents do to make sure their children aren't entering those chat rooms with older men? Well, Tom, Roblox points to a number of parental controls that they have at their disposal.

For one, parents can choose to block certain users from consumers. communicating with their children. They can even monitor their child's activity remotely and limit their screen time. But Tom, the sheriff's office at the center of this specific investigation says it's really important just for parents to exercise individual responsibility. You need to know what your child is looking at online, who they're talking to, and how much time they're spending on apps like this. They say it's better to be safe than let your child get into a potentially dangerous situation. Tom. Okay, Ryan, we thank you for that. to a possible pardon for country star Jelly Roll.

The crossover artist who has been open about his past troubles with addiction and the law, getting unanimous support for a pardoned by the Tennessee Board of Parole. Kathy Park has more on where his journey to a clean criminal record goes from here. Who the hell am I to expect a savior? Country music star Jelly Roll, who often sings emotionally charged songs that delve into his past struggles with drug addiction and run-ins with the law. Is one step closer to having his criminal record, which includes an aggravated robbery conviction cleared.

On Tuesday, the Tennessee Board of Parole voted to endorse a pardon for the four-time Grammy nominee who was shared publicly that music has played a big role in his redemption. Redemption and hope is where it all leads to, you know, I think we're all a little broken and sad. And I think if we were more honest and vulnerable about where we're broken and how we feel about things, that it could create more conversations to grow and move forward. The decision to recommend the pardon supported by Davidson County Sheriff Darren Hall. Under his watch in 2008, the musician who was known as Jason DeFord, was sentenced to eight years of court-ordered supervision after police found marijuana and crack cocaine in his car. He completed his sentence. He completed

at his time. And so now we're many years later in that crime that he committed when he was 17 years old. He's now 40. Why are we letting that charge that he has done many, many, many things, you know, beyond being famous, many things to change his life. And so you're haunting him with that arrest forever. Sheriff, when was the last time you stepped up in this way? To go this far is quite unusual. And I believe he has an opportunity to change people's lives far more than the public safety arena I'm in. The 40-year-old breaking both musical and social barriers, finding cross-genre's success with brutal honesty about his troubled past.

Jellyroll kind of like is a compendium of the best of what country music has to offer in a human being in a redemptive sense, yes, but also in a musical sense as well. His music bridges genre, it averages types and styles, and it's easily accessible too. Jellyroll has used his platform to give back. visiting prisons, speaking with inmates to help inspire them with their own rehabilitation journeys. Last year, he also testified at a Senate hearing, urging lawmakers to crack down on the fentanyl crisis. I was a part of the problem. I am here now standing as a man that wants to be a part of the solution. I brought my community down. I hurt people. I was the uneducated man in the kitchen playing chemists with drugs I knew absolutely nothing about.

Because of his criminal convictions, jelly roll has been banned from voting, owning firearms, traveling to some international locations, among other limitations. At Tuesday's hearing, he told the parole board, one of the reasons I'm asking for your recommendation for this pardon is because I'm looking to take my message of redemption through the power of music and faith through the rest of the world. Kathy Park joins top story tonight. So Kathy, the board of parole in Tennessee voted to endorse the pardon, but they don't have the final say on this yet. Tom, that's right. It is now up to Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. And under state law, Governor Lee can grant a part in erasing Jellyroll's criminal record, or he can actually turn down the request. We have reached out to the governor's office, and we are so waiting to hear back.

Tom. Kathy Park for us, Kathy, we thank you. We are back in a moment with Lester Holtz's exclusive interview with the president of Harvard, while he decided to fight back against the Trump administration. And the health scare for legendary rock star Santana. We have an other. on how he's doing. Stay with us. Back now with our special edition of Top Story reporting from the Vatican. You can see St. Peter's Basilica lit up behind me as faithful mourners along with top church leaders gather here from around the world. Tens of thousands lining up today to pay their respects to Pope Francis. His body line and state inside St. Peter's Basilica as preparations are

underway for his funeral on Saturday. Cardinals flocking to Rome and Vatican City for the highly secretive set to begin in just a few weeks. That's when they will be locked inside the Sistine Chapel tasked with selecting the next head of the Catholic Church. Joining me now is NBC's Ann Thompson, who covers the Vatican and the Pope for us. And thanks so much for being here. I know we have some new reporting, some new details on the funeral, but also I want you to sort of explain to our viewers, we won't get an idea of when the conclave will start likely until after the funeral, right? it would just be bad form, essentially, to announce it before the funeral. And that is something that the Dean of the College of Cardinals will make the announcement, Giovanni Battista Ré. But

the funeral is going to happen on Saturday at 10 a.m. It's expected to last an hour and a half, maybe two hours on the outside. And then after that, they will take Francis on his final journey to the Basilica of Santa Maria Majori, where you were there. They're going to close it down on Saturday so they can inter him. And then Saturday night, they will welcome the faithful back in to say a rosary, and they could pay their respects. You've covered a few of these in your time here at NBC News. What struck you about today? Today, I think it is the variety of people who have come here. It will take the Argentinians, if they come at all, it will take them a couple of days to get here. It's not an easy trip to make. But first of all, the Italians love this Pope. He took the name

of their favorite saint, St. Francis of Assisi. Lots of young people in line. Part of it is maybe they're here for it because it's a happening, but they also had to wait five, six, seven, eight hours in line and four seconds before a dead body. I mean, it's not something that you would think they would come to, but they're drawn by his message of mercy and compassion, and I think inclusion, and that's what's driving a lot of what you're seeing here.

And they just turned on the lights here, and it's people have been waiting. They were supposed to shut this down at a, yeah. certain time, but they've just turned on the lights and people are still trickling through. It speaks to sort of his impact and his popularity among the faithful. I do want to ask you, he was seen as a progressive pope, right? There's a conservative faction as well within the Catholic Church. That faction is growing in places like America and Africa. Africa, one of the fastest growing areas for all of Catholicism, one of the largest areas, too, along with Asia. Where do you think the Catholic Church goes from here? He's appointed most of the Cardinals here

who will do the voting. Will the Catholic Church move in the direction of Pope Francis? the big question. And Tom, I don't think anybody really knows. I mean, yes, he appointed 80 of the Cardinals who will choose his successor, but you don't know what they're going to do. And the other thing is, you don't know the man who becomes Pope. You don't know what he's going to do. No one saw Jorge Maria Burgolio being Pope Francis. He was a dour. He had a dour presence in Buenos Aires. He becomes this charismatic, very, you know, affable individual. No one's saw that before he became pope. What I will tell you is that you're absolutely right about the conservatives growing, especially in Africa, and the issue of blessing same-sex couples

that France is permitted, not blessing same-sex marriages, but blessing the people, is a non-starter for the African bishops. That's just a red line they will not cross. So the question is, is that the start of building a conservative momentum for the next? And it's interesting, even in the conversations I've had, I'm sure just like you've had with people here, Catholics, there's that divide as well. Some people want to move more conservative. And some people highlight all the great work that Pope Francis did when it came to things like that and same-sex couples. You could see it in the church I went to on Easter Sunday. They had for the communion line, the center aisle was for most Catholics who take communion in their hand. On the right-hand side of the church, they had an altar rail where people could kneel and take communion by the tongue. And that's become, yeah, and a lot of people lined up for that. I was stunned at the number of people. We may even see the return of the Latin Mass as well. That seems to be popular as well. All things to watch in the next couple of weeks. It's going to be great. And Tom, so we thank you for being here. Thanks, Tom. All right, let's take a look at Top Story's

news feed now. Sentencing for the Highland Park shooter getting underway today. Several witnesses in court to give statements about the shooting at a Fourth of July parade in suburban Chicago nearly two years ago. But the man who pled guilty last month to killing seven people and injuring more than 40 skipped the hearing. He faces life in prison without parole. In Kansas dash cam video showing the moment a driver lost control going airborne before crashing. Kansas Highway Patrol posting this video from a trooper's car. Take a look. It shows an SUV comes across the median boom before it hits a bump and flips in the air. Miraculously, the driver was not injured. Officers saying he owes his life to wearing a seatbelt. Carlos Santana is postponing his concert in San Antonio after being hospitalized

hours before he was set to take the stage. A representative for the guitarist says Santana was preparing for last night's show when he experienced an event that was determined to be dehydration. He's now recovering and doing well. The show is expected to be rescheduled and he is continuing the rest of his tour as planned. And more than three months since Southern California's Palisades fire, a high school that burned to the ground is back in session. This week, students from Palisades Charter High School reported to their new classrooms inside an old Sears department store, the city and the school working to retrofit that building into a temporary campus, complete with walls, furniture, and air conditioning. School officials say volunteers and donors help make it all possible. Okay, now to an NBC News exclusive, Lester Holt sitting down with the president of Harvard, Alan Garber, speaking out for the first time since that funding battle began between his university and the White House.

His college now at the forefront of the Trump administration's push to reshape higher education. And Garber's decision not to back down was not when he took lightly. Here's Lester. Did you have to take a deep breath before you agreed to file a lawsuit? That's a big step, especially given who you're suing. It is a big step. And it was more than one deep breath. That was a tough one.

It was tough. Harvard President Alan Gerber, on Canada. today reflecting on the university showdown with the Trump administration over its demands at the school accept government order changes, Harvard accusing the administration of illegally withholding $2.2 billion in federal funding as a form of leverage. Among the list of the federal government demands eliminate DEI programs, make broad changes to admissions and hiring practices. At the center of it all, allegations anti-Semitism on campus went unchecked.

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. There is no doubt about the severity of that problem. We don't really see the relationship to research funding at Harvard and other universities. They are two different issues. He said he had no choice, but to fight back against what he believes is government overreach. What they are indicating is that they want to directly review who we hire on our faculty.

That has implications for what kinds of views can be expressed on campus. They also want to be able to tell us who we need to fire, and they also want to intervene in our admissions processes. That is what we are objecting to. You're taking on the most powerful man in the world. We are defending what I believe is one of the most important linchpins of the American economy and way of life, our universities. How much pain can Harvard absorb here?

We don't know how much we can actually absorb, but what we do know is that we cannot compromise on basic principles, like defense of our First Amendment rights. Is this bigger than Harvard at this point? Of course it's bigger than Harvard, because we look at what's at risk here. And what's at risk is the excellence of higher education in the United States, and in particular the research mission of many of our universities, which played such a vital role. in the U.S. economy and in the health and well-being of the American people. One of Harvard's programs at risk due to the funding freeze is tuberculosis research.

If the funding were to be suddenly turned on, how quickly could you get back to your work? It's a hard question because today we could start relatively quickly 10 days from now. now, you know, as the network unravels, the damage becomes irrevocable. Is this a fight you can win? I don't know the answer to this question, but the stakes are so high that we have no choice. And Lester Holt joins us tonight from New York. So, Lester, I think you framed this perfectly in your interview. Does Harvard think they can win against the administration? I mean, you asked the question, the most powerful man, now up against the most powerful man. Now up against the most

powerful university in the world. Yeah, so I point out on that story, of course, that you are taking on the most powerful person. I think the short answer to your question is they don't know whether they can be successful, but there's a feeling this was an imperative that they have to stand up for academic independence. It was interesting. We were talking about that as we walked across the quad at Harvard, and I said, what kind of reaction do you get as you walk across this campus? And he said, a lot of thumbs up. So he's enjoying a lot of support at the same time acknowledging that for many, This is a tough battle and maybe one that they shouldn't have reached for.

And other universities may follow that lead. All right, Lester Holt with this big interview tonight for us here on Top Story. Lester, we thank you for that. And we're back in a moment with the car theft caught on camera. Look at this thief, warming his way into a room filled with car keys for a hotel valet, how he drove off with millions of dollars worth of cars. Plus, you know the movie Conclave, which brought the drama of picking a new poke to life. So how close to reality was it, the man who wrote the book?

The movie is based on, joins Top Story. Stay with us. We're back with Top Story's Global Watch. India's prime minister saying yesterday's mass shooting that killed 26 tourists in Kashmir has ties to Pakistan. Officials saying India is closing the mainland border crossing between the two countries. It's also suspending a water-sharing treaty. Pakistan's foreign minister says his country would respond tomorrow. We're also learning more about the people killed.

24 were Indian tourists, one was from Nepal, and one a local tour guide. Kashmir Resistance, a previously unknown militant group, has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the people shot were affiliated with Indian security agencies. The group's claims have not been verified. And a 6.2 magnitude earthquake hitting Istanbul today. Video showing stores being evacuated and shaking light fixtures. More than 200 people were injured. damage reported. It was felt in cities 300 miles away, according to the USGS,

Did You Feel It, Matt? The Interior Minister says it lasted 13 seconds, and there have been more than 100 aftershocks. And for the first time, wild chimpanzees filmed sharing alcohol together in the form of fermented fruit. Take a look at this. Watch as the chimps share the fruit in a West African National Park, motion-activated cameras assembled by a team led by the University of Exeter, caught them in the act 10 times, according to the university's news site. Researchers say this opens up the possibility that primates, much like humans, could also use alcohol as a social bonding tool. Okay.

Back in the U.S., a man in Miami is facing charges of grand theft and burglary after surveillance video allegedly shows him crawling on his stomach into a valet key room at a luxury hotel. It then shows the suspect stealing keys to cars that police say are worth nearly $2 million. So how did cops track him down? NBC's George Solis with the video and the story. This video from inside a Miami Beach high-end hotel valet key room, showing an unusual entrance to what police say led to a high-end crime. Miami Beach police say the suspect seen here stole keys for nearly $2 million worth of luxury vehicles,

including a Rolls-Royce and a Mercedes G-Wagon. Authorities say the man in the video is 24-year-old Gregory Yurdy Jr., who in the end, quote, couldn't slither his way from Miami Beach PD. Watch again. Police say after the keys were taken, Yerty attempted to evade detection by once again low crawling out of the room. How critical was the video in this case? The video was extremely crucial and it was actually the key to the investigation. So our investigators started at square one with the surveillance video from the hotel. They were able to piece together a puzzle.

The investigation began last July when authorities say several cars were reported stolen from the Satai Hotel on Miami Beach. Now, according to police, surveillance camera captured a black Cadillac Escalate, tailing one of the cars that would eventually be stolen out of this parking garage. Two unidentified men get out, steal two cars. That SUV later returning, leading to the theft of two more cars. What's your first name? Police say this footage shows Yerty trying to rent that same Cadillac Escalade connected to those robberies. Authorities pointing to a black viny and gray sandals matching those of the suspect in the valet room. What he did days prior is he connected with.

with a private citizen, asked to rent his vehicle, that citizen recorded him for insurance purposes. And luckily he did, because had it not been for that crucial piece of evidence, we probably would not have identified our offender. Once identified, Yerdy surrendered to police. He's charged with four counts of grand theft and burglary. Good morning, Judge.

Yurdy's attorney writing in a statement provided to NBC News, at this early stage, you remind the public that Mr. Yerty is presumed innocent, We strongly caution against rushing to judgment based on initial reports or selectively released surveillance footage. So far, despite evidence of accomplices, police say no other arrests have been made. So we apprehended our main guy. However, this investigation still remains open. It's still very active, and we're seeking the public's help.

Yerty is currently being detained in Miami. His bond said at more than $40,000. And with that, George Szilis joins us tonight from Miami outside the Satai Hotel. So, George, we understand the suspect in this case has. a history that includes stealing cars going back to 2017? Yeah, that's right, Tom. Authorities describing this suspect as a career criminal with a rap sheet dating back to 2017, multiple charges, including Grand Theft Auto and Burglary.

He's also been in and out of jail here in Florida multiple times. Now, the authorities want to highlight this arrest to say it's put a spotlight on what they say is a national trend of the theft of high-end vehicles. Now, the cars in this particular case have not been recovered. For tonight, the authorities' message to the public is to stay vigilant. Tom? Okay, George Solis, George, we thank you for that. We're back at a moment from here at the Vatican with the man who wrote Conclave, which was turned into a popular movie.

So how much will life imitate art this time around? The real-life dramas inside the Sistine Chapel that inspired his book. Stay with us. The Pope is dead. The throne is vacant. The conclave begins now. We're about to choose the most famous man in the world. And one and a quarter of billion souls watching.

That was a trailer from the Oscar award-winning film Conclave, a political thriller that depicts the highly secretive process of elected a new Pope, a process that is about to play out in real life inside the walls of the Vatican. While widely popular since its release in October 2024, the death of Pope Francis has reignited new interest in the film. Streaming views get this up 283% just on Amazon Prime. The movie is based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Robert Harris, and is a very close adaptation to that book.

The author himself joins Top Story Tonight. Robert, thank you so much for coming on to talk about your book, and of course the film that made it so popular as well. You spent a lot of time researching and thinking about conclaves. I want to show our viewers some side-by-side images, obviously, in a very respectful manner because of what's happening in the real world right now. The real footage from the past few days is on the left, and footage from the movie is on the right. Seems like the ceiling of the Pope's door after he passed away, and footage of the Cardinals arriving at the Vatican from around the world, some of them meeting for the first time, seen having conversations in the square. It seems like your depiction is pretty close to reality from the research you've done, how similar.

is the real-life conclave to what we see in your book and the movie? Well, thanks for having me on. I was a journalist before I became a novelist, particularly a political journalist, and my novels I research. I do a lot of research, and that's part of the pleasure of writing them. So I went into a lot of depth to try and get the conclave in the novel that was translated into the film as accurate.

as I could. I invented my own College of Cardinals, 110 men, gave them all their ranks, and followed the whole process. The process of the conclave, as you know, is very precisely laid down by the Vatican. So I had the whole structure of the various ballots and the processes that are now beginning. And then I tried to invent cardinals who were similar to the ones in real life. they're the same factions that we see playing out now. Conservatives versus liberals, Cardinals from Africa and Asia and Europe and America, all throw together in this extraordinary place.

And so it is really as close as I could come to a kind of documentary realism of what a conclave is like. I'm curious, how much of your book, and specifically the Pope who dies, the beginning was inspired by Pope Francis. Quite a bit, to be absolutely honest with you. I took the fact that he, when he was elected, chose not to go and live in the apostolic palace,

the grand rooms, the parliaments that the Pope normally inhabits, but chose to remain in the hostel, really kind of like a private clinic or something. It's a rather antiseptic environment, as is shown in the film, rather than go and live in the grand place he liked to use kind of very ordinary transport he liked to eat in the cafeteria with the nuns and quite often with sick people who would be invited in

he made an elaborate show in a way of being humble and this antagonised quite a lot of the old guard in the curia as it's called and set up the conflict that has already taken place before the novel opens. And so, yes, I did take quite a lot from the late Pope. You know, a lot of the questions that I've been asking to our correspondence that cover both the Vatican and cover conclaves and this historic moment is how much of what we saw in the book and also in the movie, those sort of whisper campaigns, the conversations that

happened in the square, the conversations that happened behind closed doors really go on as they start to think about the new Pope. Well, I mean, a lot is the truth. I mean, you know, the official line is there's no canvassing, and in a broad, crude way, as in a secular election, that is true. But of course, this is the election of a man who presides over 1.4 billion people. This is to be God's representative on earth. This is, if you like, the ultimate election. So, of course, there's some politics, because there are differing views.

you get different views, you get politics. And that does go on. There were four ballots a day once the conclave really gets going, two in the morning, two in the afternoon. They break for lunch, they break dinner. And it's over the meal tables, in the rooms, in the corridors, that obviously discussions of what has happened take place. And this constant resetting of the ballot after each vote,

as they try to get towards a two-thirds consensus agreement. This is a highly political process because it means that you can identify who looks most likely to win, and if it's not someone you want, then you tend to try and get behind a compromise candidate who might stop the front-runner. That is what happened with when Cardinal Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict, there was an attempt to stop him,

centered, oddly enough, around the late lit. deceased pope. And it's a highly political process. And that's what drew me in the first place to write the novel. Why do you think people are so interested in this process, right? Because the Catholic Church right now is sort of at an inflection point. You have it growing in places like Africa and Asia, but not in America and Europe. You have this sort of struggle between conservatives in the Catholic Church and more progressives like people like Pope Francis. But Why do you think people are suddenly tuning into your film? I mean, on the way over here, I was telling people,

everyone was watching on the airplane, the streaming numbers are through the roof right now. Well, I mean, it's the ultimate election, as I say. It's for something of immense importance. It's the most beautiful ritual. It takes place in one of the most beautiful buildings in the world that was built for this purpose, what, 500 years ago, that the robes, the whole way in which it proceeds is extraordinary spectacle. That draws people in, I think, the historic nature of it, the unique nature of it,

the smoke that emerges from the chimney. It's part of our culture, deeply embedded in it, the rituals of the conclave. And I'm not surprised that people are fascinated by it. I mean, it is extraordinary. It combines both the excitement of an American presidential election with the locked room mystery of an Agatha Christie novel. I mean, it's an extraordinary spectacle. And, of course, you know, we don't know who's going to win.

Generally, we never do. It's very rare that the media predicts the winner because once they get behind closed doors, what we in the secular world would call momentum in an election and they call the movement of the Holy Spirit takes over and someone emerges. And it's fascinating and we sit locked outside wondering what on earth is going on inside.

Robert, congrats on all the success of your book and of course the film as well. We thank you for joining Top Story tonight. And we thank you for watching the special edition of our broadcast from the Vatican. I'm Tom Yamas. Stay right there. More news on the way. Thank you.