Top Story with Tom Llamas - Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Episode Date: January 18, 2024

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, the race for the 2024 Republican nomination heating up, former President Trump in court and on the campaign trail in the same day. Fireworks erupting in a New York City courtroom as the judge threatens to eject Trump, and it comes as the former president unleashes racially charged attacks at rival Nikki Haley, how his latest tirade comes straight from his 2016 playbook. Also tonight, Arctic Air tightening its script on the year. US with more frigid temperatures on the way. Streets in Washington turning into ice skating rinks and in Buffalo, wide out conditions leading to several crashes. Another cross-country storm already firing up out west expected to make its way to the northeast by the end of the week. Michelle Grossman standing by to time it out for us. NBC News exclusive for the first time we're hearing from two Palestinian American college students who were shot in Vermont. They describe the

terrifying moments of the attack, one student left paralyzed, explaining what he's taking Solison despite likely never being able to walk again. Pulled from the ice of Vermont State Trooper jumping into action to rescue an eight-year-old girl who had been submerged in a freezing pond for minutes. The remarkable moment she realized the girl was still alive and how she's doing tonight. An investigation underway in Ohio after a mother says police waited the wrong home, injuring her one-year-old. The shocking incident caught on body cam footage, showing the moments a flashbang smashed the window of the child's bedroom, why police say their lives were at risk and where the investigation stands now. Plus, Hogan to the rescue? Retired wrestler Hulk Hogan

rushes to save a teen trapped in an overturned car after a crash. Top story. Starts right now. And good evening, with just six days until the New Hampshire primary, former President Trump caught in a balancing act, juggling the courtroom and the campaign trail. Tense moments on day two of E. Jean Carroll's defamation case as a judge threatened to kick the former president out of the courtroom for making comments during testimony. President Trump sounding off after asking the judge to postpone the trial so he could attend his mother-in-law's funeral. So he would rather have me missed the funeral or go to the funeral, missed the trial, and that's a nasty man. He's a nasty judge. He's a Trump-hating guy. Meantime, Trump is expected to return to the campaign trail in New Hampshire tonight, where he is dominating in a new poll.

Trump leading the way with 50% support among likely Republican voters in the Granite state. Nikki Haley is just 16 points behind while Ron DeSantis is dead last drawing just 5%. DeSantis seemingly giving up hope in New Hampshire as he pulls his people out of the state to shift their focus on South Carolina, while Haley is drawing criticism from prospective voters after forcing the cancellation of two planned debates in New Hampshire and saying she would no longer take questions on stage from voters. Also tonight, former President Trump stepping up attacks and racially charged attacks criticizing Nikki Haley. We'll have much more of that in a moment, but all the legal battles Trump is facing, we want to get right to get right to get. Garrett Hake, who's leading our campaign coverage and starts off tonight from New Hampshire. Tonight, the campaign sprint to the New Hampshire primary, taking a detour through a New York City courtroom.

Donald Trump there for a second defamation lawsuit by writer E. Jean Carroll, who testified today. The judge threatening to kick out the Republican frontrunner for talking too loudly to his attorney. Trump saying, I would love it. The judge replying, I know you would because you just can't control yourself in this circumstance. On social media, Trump attacking the judge as, quote, a seething and hostile Clinton-appointed judge who is abusive, rude, and obviously not impartial. I'm leaving right now for New Hampshire. We just got a poll in that shows me leading by a lot. And I think we'll do there, maybe similar to what we did in Iowa. It comes after Trump's rally in New Hampshire overnight. Nikki Haley is a disaster. Looking for another landslide win and going after Nikki Haley. A new poll shows Haley in a distant second here, trailing Trump. by 16 points.

She's not tough enough to deal with these people. I will tell you that. She's not tough enough. Your time is Tuesday. The Granite State, widely seen as make or break for Haley, with its mix of more independent voters and moderate Republicans like Haley supporter Jude Blake. Well, I think Trump doesn't believe

in my version of democracy. And I'm just looking for an alternative. Plus, younger. We need younger and we need women. Haley campaigning overnight. I voted for President Trump twice, but rightly or wrongly. Chaos follows him. You know I'm right.

Chaos follows him. I'm the only one that's not running a basement campaign. While Ron DeSantis calling out both Trump and Haley for refusing to debate before the primary here. Donald Trump won't debate. He's not willing to defend him his record. And Nikki Haley won't debate because she's not willing to defend her record. What does that say? But that's not swaying Trump supporter, Bob Swan.

What put Trump over the top after you looked at everybody else? The previous administration and... Just the fact that he has an actual record. Forceful and willing to fight against the establishment. All right, with that, Garrett Hague joins us tonight from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. And Garrett, we've been talking a lot about sort of this dual nature. Donald Trump is juggling right now, being in the courtroom, but also being a candidate. and it's actually caught up to him tonight in New Hampshire?

To a certain degree it did, Tom. I mean, he's delayed here tonight. He's going to have a smaller than expected event, even in a small room, probably in part because of that delay. Excuse me. But the reality he is here, Donald Trump's campaign rhetoric and his courtroom rhetoric are so similar that he can basically turn any place he stops

and talks to microphones into a campaign rally. That conversation he was having with reporters after his courtroom appearance today, was partially about court, but then also about the composition of the electorate here in New Hampshire. So he's not really stopping, and to the degree in which he pulls the media spotlight with him, he hasn't been punished for it with the electorate in a place like Iowa or New Hampshire that we've seen yet. And these are places that expect to see their candidates quite often, Tom. You know, I want to sort of lean into the strange nature of this campaign in particular.

You have weather issues there in New Hampshire. You had them in Iowa. You have courtroom issues. New Hampshire voters like Iowaans, you know, they're used to seeing their candidates. How is this affecting the primary? I think it's certainly dampened enthusiasm across the board. I mean, we saw this in Iowa, too. The combination of the lead that Donald Trump has

and the weather has led to cancellations of events. It's led to kind of this feeling like perhaps Donald Trump cannot be caught. The other part of it, Tom, is the degree to which sort of normal New Hampshireites or normal Iowans, the folks who aren't following this super closely every day, the degree of which Trump is kind of their default person, If you're generally not thrilled with this direction of things in this country right now, but you're not paying super close attention to politics, Trump is basically the incumbent in the back pocket of many of these voters that I've talked to.

And I think he's gotten some of those votes, at least in Iowa. We'll see if he gets him in New Hampshire. If that becomes a kind of built-in advantage for him as we move through this primary season. Gary, there's still about six days. This is not your first rodeo out there in New Hampshire. Anything else you're picking up on from voters or from this primary that stands out to you? I hear a lot about this sort of general distaste for the Biden presidency, for people who struggle even to really define what their concern is. I talked to a couple of voters today, one of whom was in that piece, who said they would really struggle to decide if they would vote for Joe Biden or Donald Trump if Trump was the nominee, the Nikki Haley supporter in that piece.

Just because she doesn't feel like Joe Biden is kind of up to it. She does not like Donald Trump at all. She thinks he's a threat to democracy. but her sort of in unspecific concerns about Joe Biden might make her a Trump voter anyway. That's the kind of thing that if I were working at Biden headquarters down in Wilmington, I would be very, very concerned about because those are the exact kind of voters they need in this coalition to make a state like New Hampshire, which is a swing state, really competitive or in the blue column come November. All right, Garrett, some great analysis there. We appreciate all of your reporting leading us off tonight.

As the battle for New Hampshire intensifies, former President Trump is falling back on an old campaign playbook, personal attacks against his political rivals. Trump taking a truth-social, misspelling Nikki Haley's birth name, and likening her to Hillary Clinton as she pulls closer to him

in the New Hampshire polls, in some polls, I should say. Dasha Burns is in the Granite State tonight with the latest. Tonight, former President Trump returning to a familiar campaign refrain, weaponizing race, gender, and xenophobia against his political opponents. Nikki Haley is a disaster.

Trump posting on Truth Social attacking Nikki Haley, who is the daughter of Indian immigrants. Writing anyone listening to Nikki Nimrata Haley's whacked out speech last night would think that she won the Iowa primary, misspelling Haley's birth name, Nimirata. Trump also posting this picture, mixing Haley's photo with Hillary Clinton. Nikki Haley in particular is counting. on the Democrats and liberals to infiltrate your Republican primary. Trump has often resorted to race and gender-based attacks on Haley, reposting a false report questioning her eligibility for the presidency in the run-up to the Iowa caucus because

her parents were born abroad. Haley is a full U.S. citizen born in South Carolina and is constitutionally eligible to be president. These aggressive campaign tactics have been a staple of Trump's political brand since he ran for president in 2016. During that primary campaign, he repeatedly accused Ted Cruz of being ineligible for the Oval Office because he was born on Canadian soil. So you should go out, get a declaratory judgment, let the courts decide. Cruz's mother is a U.S. citizen, making him a citizen as well and fully eligible for the presidency. Trump also promoting false conspiracy theories that Cruz's father spent time with Lee Harvey Oswald, the man who assassinated President John F. Kennedy.

is with Lee Harvey Oswald prior to Oswald's being, you know, shot. I mean, the whole thing is ridiculous. Then candidate Trump also launched personal attacks on Ben Carson, joking about an incident in Carson's autobiography, where he said he stabbed a friend, getting his knife caught in the man's belt. He lunged that knife into the stomach of his friends, but lo and behold, it hit the belt.

It hit the belt. And the knife broke. Give me a break. give me a break Trump also bringing up details in the autobiography about what Carson called the quote pathological temper of his youth drawing a disparaging comparison

that's a big problem because you don't cure that as an example child molester you don't cure these people you don't cure a child molester there's no cure for it pathological there's no cure for that

even before his time in politics Trump consistently promoted the false conspiracy theory that former President Obama was born outside the U.S., before finally admitting he was not. He doesn't have a birth certificate or he hasn't shown it. His grandmother in Kenya said he was born in Kenya. Now, years later, as the battle for New Hampshire tightens just days before polls open, Trump's attacks going personal yet again.

Dasha joins us tonight from the campaign trail in Manchester. So, Dasha, how is Nikki Haley responding to all these attacks from Trump? Well, her team is reacting with a statement out today saying Donald Trump is attacking Nikki for one reason. She's got momentum and he's scared. This is a two-person race between Nikki and Trump voters have a choice. The chaos, drama, and personal grievances of the past or a new generation of conservative leadership. Of course, it is not a two-person race quite yet, but they are looking to spin these attacks in her favor, Tom. And, Dasha, I know you have some new reporting as well when it comes to the DeSantis campaign and some moves they're making ahead of the New Hampshire primary.

Yeah, that's exactly right. They are focusing their efforts rather than here in New Hampshire because, as we know, we've all seen those numbers. And the DeSantis campaign has also seen the numbers. He does not do very well here. This is much more fertile ground for Haley. So he is moving the majority of his campaign staff to South Carolina. They're going to start building that operation as soon as possible there. That's where they see a possibility of turning this into a two-person race. They believe that Nikki Haley is going to struggle there. because it's her home state, she's going to have a difficult time getting past that. If you lose your home state, it's hard to argue viability going forward.

Lucky for DeSantis, Florida is a little further down the line in the primary calendar. He's not doing so hot against Trump there, but he's got a little ways before he has to cross that bridge. So they're looking for South Carolina to turn it into an actual two-person race there. So that's their strategy moving forward. The question is, will they have the resources to get to South Carolina and beyond Tom? Dasha Burns with a lot of new reporting for us tonight. Dasha, we thank you for that. As we mentioned at the top of the show,

former President Trump was back in a New York courtroom today, but it's not the only legal battle he's facing as the 2024 election cycle gets in a full swing. I want to bring an NBC News legal analyst, Angela Senadella, for more on the legal cases he's facing, and what happened in court today. So, Angela, let's start there. It's this second defamation case involving E. Jean Carroll.

And he had it back and forth with the judge and he almost got kicked out of court. but at the same time, the judge is not allowing him to go to his mother-in-law's funeral. So I'm trying to understand, you'd have to miss court for it. I'm trying to understand what's that play in this case. Well, a lot is on the table in terms of money, Tom. And I think it's possible that we will see huge damages awarded. She's asking for $10 million here.

But in addition to that, there's punitive damages. And in New York State, the bar is high to clear to get punitive damages, but also they are uncapped. And they're meant to deter. In this case, the whole point is that Trump just keeps defaming her. over and over without stopping. So in this case, I think a jury would find a perfect excuse to award huge damages. What about this issue about the mother-in-law's funeral and going there, right? Is that unfair? I mean, as you mentioned, it's a jury trial. They're going to want to see the defendant there, I would think. Would it look like he doesn't care if he's not in court

and he had to attend the funeral? Or would jurors understand that? Well, I think there's a difference. So in a criminal trial, the defendant has to be there. But in a civil trial, the defendant does not. Now, look, in the real trial, the fact-fighting trial, he chose not to go. He chose not to testify. So that was his message to the jury. So in this case, I think whether or not he's there or not won't affect damages. Okay, let's take a look at the legal and political calendar here. And I want you to walk our viewers through what you see in the middle of a very busy election season.

So here we have New Hampshire, Nevada, the federal election interference trial, Super Tuesday, the New York State criminal hush money suit, the classified documents trial. Do you think any of these trials actually start during this campaign season? Well, right now, the New York State criminal hush money suit is the one that's most likely to start. But on February 15th, there will be a hearing to decide whether or not it should move forward. So all four of the different judges here have so much discretion. They're totally different jurisdictions. So it's unclear.

And also on that list is the constitutional trial that will be in front of the Supreme Court, whether or not he can even be on the ballot. What do you think about the case involving trying to steal the election and trying to, you know, make sure the election didn't go forward and that Joe Biden won the presidency? Do you think that case involving the special prosecutor, Smith, that do you think that happens? So I think it's very unlikely at this point that it will start in March, but that judge was determined to have it start in March in D.C. But there was this appeal about whether or not it could be dismissed based on Trump's immunity, criminal immunity and double jeopardy because he claims he was impeached and. acquitted by the Senate, and so that shouldn't be tried again. So to see, the D.C. Circuit of Appeals heard that. It'll go back down to the trial court, and then he can appeal to the Supreme Court. So I don't think that'll start in March. Is this, these delays, are they

because of their, the Trump's defense are winning sort of arguments or they're filing motions, or are the judges in these cases also considering the calendars? They're all considering the calendar. They're all considering the calendar. They have to, because a criminal defendant can't be in all places at the same time. So I'm certain they're considering it. All right. Angela Senadella. great to have you here on Top Story. Great to see you. We want to turn out of the deadly winter weather stretching from coast to coast, an ice storm slamming parts of Oregon and Washington, freezing rain,

making for treacherous travel and power outages as the storm system continues to move east. And in the Midwest, several vehicles sliding off snow-slick roads in Missouri, those cars abandoned in the frigid cold. You see them there. And these dangerous conditions, not letting up as we head towards the weekend. I want to get right to NBC News meteorologist, Michelle Grossman, who joins us now in studio. So, Michelle, what's the latest on that storm out west and where is it headed? Hey there, Tom. It's a big one. We're looking at ice. We're looking at snow in feet. And we're looking at really heavy rain. It's now impacting portions of the west, the Pacific Northwest with some rain, some ice, some really tricky travel.

40 million people under winter alerts because this storm system is going to move off to the east. And we're going to see some snow once again into the northeast by Friday. It's going to be a very similar system as what we saw on Monday. But this is what's happening right now with satellite radar. You can see that green, even those brighter colors, the reds, the oranges, the yellows in the west. That's where really heavy rain is falling. You see that pink and purple. That's been the story all day long. Treacherous travel and portions of Oregon, its interior parts of Oregon and also Washington has a possibility of bringing down power lines and that could cause some power outages. Where you see the blue, that is the snow. And we're looking at feet of snow in portions of the

rockies, also the cascades. Here's that storm system as it moves on shore. We're looking at rain, wind, ice causing lots of problems. And then heavy snow for the mountains, the highest mountains. We're going to see a foot and a half of snow. By tomorrow, we're going to see the storm system moved to the central planes. Tom, this is going to phase with the storm system in the south. It's going to bring some snow to the northeast by Friday. And then let's talk about the brutal cold that has turned deadly. Is it a warm-up of any kind on the way anywhere? I wish I could say there was a warm-up. We're going to look at the extent forecast, and we're looking bitterly cold. So as we go throughout the next couple of days, we're going to get another Arctic

blast. Excuse these maps. We're going to get to the temperatures in just a minute. But we had a little rip period today, still bitterly cold for many, but we weren't minus 47 in some spot. So we still do have 12 million people impacted by windshield alerts. We have windshield advisories, windshield watches, windshield warnings. This number will grow as we go throughout tomorrow as well. And we do have a freeze warning also in portions of the southeast. So this cold air, we have the jet stream that dipped so far to the south, kind of allowing that polar air from Canada. So here's our next Arctic blast by tomorrow. We're looking at minus 18, the windshield. That's what it's going to feel like on your body in Bismarck. Feeling like just two in Omaha, it's going to feel like 21 degrees in

Wichita. Then as we go throughout Friday, same story. We're going to keep that cold air in place, anchored in place. So St. Louis, feeling like minus two, feeling like just 22 in Little Rock. We're not used to these temperatures in the south. And also Dallas, you're going to be cold once again, feeling like 26. The air temperatures just right at the freezing mark. Now, as we go into next week, not much of a warm up. We're looking at that Arctic blast into the weekend.

So places like Chicago, 15 degrees on Saturday, still below freezing on Sunday. By Monday, just above freezing, but only 34 degrees. Detroit, we're looking at the freezing mark, too, as we go through Monday. Tom. Okay. Thank you for that. We want to head overseas now to the Israel-Hamas War. More than 100 days since the fighting began,

more than 100 hostages, including six Americans, are still being held captive in Gaza. One of them, missing the birth of his daughter. NBC's Ralph Sanchez sat down with that newborn's grandfather, still holding out hope that his family will be reunited. Her name is Shahar, Hebrew for Dawn. She was born five weeks ago with curious eyes and two big sisters who love her.

But she's missing someone. Her father, Sigi Declan, is one of six American hostages still held in Gaza. When Hamas overran Kibbutz near Oz on October 7th, Sagi secured his family in a safe room, then went out to confront the terrorists. It was the last time they saw him. When he was taken captive, his wife Avital was seven months pregnant. Sigi missed his daughter's birth.

He's never held his little girl. and doesn't know his family survived the attack. Now his own father, Jonathan, stepping in until his son returns. If you could speak to him, what would you tell him about his new daughter? I would say that she is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, and that his four girls, his wife and three daughters, are waiting for him to come home. His girls miss him terribly, and they have all kinds of things. have all kinds of questions that we cannot answer.

When they ask you, where is dad? What do you tell them? The six-year-old is perfectly aware that some of her friends were murdered on October 7th. There's no point in trying to hide it three months later. And so she is aware that her dad is in Gaza. Hostages released in late November told Sagi's family they saw him in Hamas's tunnels, proof he was alive as recently as Thanksgiving. We received that news overjoyed, but ever since that day, of course, worry only increases.

Jonathan's mission has taken him to a White House meeting with President Biden, but back in Israel, frustration growing with the government of Prime Minister Netanyahu. All of the other hostage families are doing what we must to keep the Israeli decision makers aware of their obligation to bring the hostages home alive. Tonight, a small glimmer of hope, a deal to get medicine to the hostages after more than a hundred days. In exchange, Israel allowing more medical aid for Palestinian civilians in Gaza, where the health care system has all but collapsed.

At least a third of the hostages have chronic conditions, families say, and they're demanding proof the medication reached their loved ones. We must get clear proof that each and every hostage got the needed medications. Risigee's family and so many others, fear of more milestones missed. He's already missed his daughter's birth. Do you worry what else he's going to miss as his captivity continues? Part of me, yes, but I can't think in those terms, because that would bring on hopelessness. And he doesn't deserve our hopelessness.

So I'm driven by the desire to make sure that they all come home tomorrow and they won't have to miss anything else. Ralph Sanchez joins us tonight from Tel Aviv. Raf, you mentioned this deal to get medicine to the hostages. Do we know when these medications will actually arrive? So, Tom, those medications were delivered from Qatar to Egypt earlier today, and the Qatari government says they have now crossed over into Gaza. What we don't know is exactly when they will be delivered to the hostages and what kind of verification there will be that it actually made it to the people it was intended for.

we don't know if there will be photos or videos from Hamas or if it may be that the Red Cross is brought in to vouch for the delivery actually happening. And then, Ref, Israel has talked about scaling down its operations, but there's still intense fighting going on right now. How can you explain that to our viewers? Yeah, so Israel has scaled its operations down in the north. It says it's in the process of scaling down in the south of Gaza, but our team on the ground says there is very intense fighting going on in the city of Han Yunus right now, especially around

the Nasser hospitals, one of the only major hospitals in Gaza still functioning. The Jordanian government says a field hospital that it is operating was damaged by Israeli fire in the south earlier. Israel is denying that it was responsible. But I can tell you, for Palestinian civilians on the ground, it does not feel like de-escalation right now. Tom. Ralph Sanchez from Tel Aviv tonight for us. Raf, we thank you for that. Now on NBC News exclusive, the Palestinian-American student paralyzed in a Vermont shooting last November, now speaking out for the first time, sharing his story of how a walk around the block with friends change their lives forever. I just remember gunshots and falling down.

For the first time, Hishem Awartani, the Palestinian-American college student who was shot and paralyzed, is telling his story. How he and his two friends were ambushed on a November night in Burlington, Vermont. He says, because of racism. Growing up in Palestine, this is something that I'd always thought was possible. But did you think it happened here? Not really. No, I definitely expected it. It would happen to me in the West Bank in Palestine, but not in Vermont. Hishem and his two best friends, Kinan Abd al-Hamid and Tassin Ali Ahmed, all grew up together in the West Bank, doing everything together, including going to college in the U.S. With the war raging, the friends decided to stay with Hishem's family in Burlington during the Thanksgiving break.

Hisham's uncle was driving us from Bowling Alley, and before we went into the house, we decided to walk around the block, so we usually do. And on the way back, just across the road, we saw this man standing. Tahisina and I were both wearing the traditional Palestinian headscarf for a variety of reasons. Like, I mean, like, practically because it was really cold, but on a more, like, you know, meaningful sense, It's because that we felt as Palestinians during this time period, it's important for us to show our identity and to show that we exist and that we're human.

Just walking along the street, you know, this man comes down the porch, approaches us, pulls out a pistol, like I just remember gunshots and falling down. Dacin was screaming when he was shot first. He shamed didn't make a sound while he was run. As soon as Dacin started screaming, I was running. Did you know you were shot? I mean, I knew that something was up.

I didn't quite process the fact. Until I, like, looked at my phone and I saw my phone had blood on it. I was like, yeah, I'd been shot. All units be advised the shooters unaccounted for. The next day, federal agents arrested 48-year-old Jason Eaton, who lived steps from the shooting and had an arsenal of weapons in his apartment. He allegedly told the authorities who arrested him, I've been waiting for you. Eaton has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges.

Why do you think he shot you? Systematic dehumanization. I just don't think of the issue as an individual. I think there's been a lot of attempts for us to fully only demonize the guy, but we realize this is part of a larger systematic issue, which both on purpose and not people would like to focus on him as an individual. Oh, he's just this one evil guy. But the truth is he's a symptom of a larger issue. The bullet that hit Hishem struck his spine, now paralyzed he's learning how to navigate his new life. When they told you what your future may look like or at least what the immediate future would look like, what was that moment like? I mean, yeah, it's definitely like something that's hard, but I take solace in the fact that I'm able to receive this care and I'm able to receive this physical therapy and I'm

able to, you know, go to a good hospital when, like, it makes me think of, like, other people in Gaza who are in wheelchairs and who, you know, have been disabled by, like, bombings and, like, they are not able to receive that. They can't even receive, like, the primary care that they need, like, let alone the rehabilitative care that they deserve. And, you know, that was something that I thought of more than my own life, because I know that my life will continue, but I don't know about theirs. What's it like to see your friend, your best friend, your brother, in a wheelchair? It's very hard, yeah, it's very, very hard.

It's really unfortunate, but I'm also humbled by the strength of our people. both in West Bank and Gaza, because I could only imagine what they're going through. As he goes through rehab, his family, including his mother, who's American, right by his side. I'm so angry, not at what happened to him, but the fact that he could, he is being seen as part of a community that can be exterminated and can be demolished and can be abused without anyone standing up. But I'm a mother, and my son is alive, and he has cared for. And I am so angry that other mothers don't have that. And so what is my pain to the pain of other mothers? And what is my grief? I still have my child.

I can still touch him. But to know that other mothers don't have, that makes me angry, and then my grief fades away. Your moms are both here, but I noticed when your mom asked you to take a picture, you smiled. It was the first time I saw you smile. What is your mom meant to you throughout this experience?

It's been very good to have nearby. Initially, I didn't want them to come because they didn't want them to leave my, like, brother sister alone in Palestine, but it's been good to have both my parents here. And, you know, it just, it reminds me of, like, the importance of family in Palestinian society. And, you know, we, as a community in Palestine, a way that we're able to get through so much adversity is being together and supporting each other as families, and that just made me appreciate that more.

So far, the suspect in this case, Jason Eastna has not been charged with a hate crime. The state attorney in the case has said there is no doubt this was a hateful act and they are still investigating the crime. Okay, still ahead. The police raid outrage body cam video capturing the moment police in Ohio detonated a flash bomb outside of a one-year-old's bedroom while his mother is saying they were at the wrong house. Plus incredible video capturing the moment of Vermont State Trooper jumped into freezing cold water. to save a little girl who fell through the ice, what she told us about those heart-pounding moments. And a major update on those pesky overdraft fees,

the step the Biden administration is taking that will affect how much you have to pay the bank when this happens. Top story, just getting started on this Wednesday. We're back down with the growing outrage after a police raid sent an Ohio toddler to the hospital. Police saying they executed a search warrant at the correct address, but the toddler's mother saying her ring camera captures someone saying they were at the wrong location after police deployed a flashbang device. The child suffering burns and struggling to breathe.

For more on this story, Valerie Castro joins us. Valerie, what's the latest? Tom, according to police reports and documents that were released by the city of Illyria, this all had to do with the police investigation surrounding stolen firearms. And police were there at the home to serve a search warrant. looking for a suspect. In the body camera footage, you can see about a dozen officers in tactical gear outside the home. They bang on the door and shout that they have a warrant. About six seconds after that first knock, officers set off flashbangs outside the house. That shatters a window and then they bust open the door. Once they do so, you see Courtney Price, the mother of the baby, she is there inside the home, her hands raised over her head, telling police officers that she

has a baby on a ventilator. Now, in a statement, police say they believe they were at the correct house, but Price says that the person that they were looking for hasn't lived there in more than a year. She says now her aunt and uncle live there, and she recently moved to Ohio to stay with them while their baby waits for heart surgery. Her baby waits for heart surgery. She says her baby was born prematurely and has a lung condition as well as a hole in his heart. She says after this all happened, he was taken to the hospital, and doctors tell her that her baby was suffering from smoke irritation to his lungs as well as some irritation around his eyes due to some sort of chemical component.

Police in a statement say that they did use two flashbangs when they entered the home. They say those were for sound and light purposes. They say there was no chemical component there. And in a statement, they say any allegation suggesting the child was exposed to chemical agents is not true. There is also some ring video camera, doorbell video footage that Price gave to NBC News. NBC News obtained that from the mother. She claims that you can hear someone saying that this is the wrong home. Now, it is unclear who says that because after those flashbangs go off,

the doorbell ring camera falls to the ground. So, again, it's not clear who says that. If police say that or someone else, police have not responded to that portion of the video. And again, the mayor now calling for a full investigation. Tom. Okay, Valerie Castro, with that update first, Valerie, thanks. Next tonight to some heart-stopping moments in Vermont. It's not often we get to see heroes in the heart of action, but tonight, underwater body camp capturing one state trooper's urgent efforts to reach an eight-year-old child drowning in a frozen pond.

We do want to warn you, some of these images are graphic, but the girl in this story was rescued and is alive. Here's Stephen Romo with the video and the story. When Vermont State Trooper, Michelle Archer, arrived on scene at this frozen pond in Cambridge, she feared it was already too late. I saw this call come up on the screen, six-year-old floating in a pond, possibly deceased. Just minutes earlier, an eight-year-old girl and her sibling plunged into the water after the ice cracked. The 80-year-old property owner able to save the younger child who was near the shore, but the eight-year-old, unreachable near the center of the pond. I don't know if it's instinct or training, but, you know, something took over.

Once on scene, Trooper Archer jumping into that freezing water and swimming toward the child. She drags the girl to shore, putting her on her side. Then the remarkable realization. The little girl was still alive. The first side of relief came when I pulled her out of the water and I heard those kind of audible noises. Because at that point, I wasn't sure if she was still breathing or not. Making noises. Trooper Archer calling for her colleague to help. Good baby girl. Michelle, get out of your clothes.

Trooper Keith Cody, making sure the eight-year-old was okay and taking her to an ambulance on site. We cover a widespread area, and for whatever reason, the both of us were three minutes away from this pond where this little girl needed help. The child taken to a hospital in Burlington with injuries that at first were thought to be life-threatening. But amazingly, she made a full recovery and is now back home. How's the other one? She's cold. The Vermont State Police Department now recommending the two troopers and the 80-year-old property owner for the agency's lifesaving award.

We come across calls that stick with us for a while, if not for the length of our careers and beyond. So this is definitely one of those calls that we'll always be thinking about. All right, Stephen Romo joins us now. Stephen, it's just that video, it's just so hard to watch. I'm so happy she was rescued and she's alive. I think those troopers, they probably deserve a lot more than just awards, right? Because they literally saved that little girl's life and it was very brave what they did. What are some tips that parents and people should always remember when they're around icy ponds

like that. Yeah, this is a fascinating thing that I learned about the story. I grew up in Texas. I don't really know much about this. But some of the things, the tips that we have from these troopers, areas with moving water has thinner ice most of the time. Snow covered ice also, like to be thinner, and ice doesn't freeze uniformly. It freezes at different rates. And snow-covered ice, as we mentioned, thinner, ice with rocks, logs, and sticks. I don't know about this one at all, is more likely to be weaker and shady areas, also likely to have thinner ice. Some important tips there, but the thing that I'm left with is the trooper that we talked to is saying that it's really not worth it. The risk versus reward here for playing on ice, especially that in kids play on ice,

it's just not worth it. It's never going to be something that's a good thing. I agree with that. And again, that trooper just jumping into that icy pond, not knowing what she was going to find. All right, Stephen, thank you. Coming up next, a powerful retail magnate facing new legal scrutiny. The FBI announcing an investigation to the former CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch, what he's accused of using his influence and power to do. Stay with us. All right, we're back down with Top Stories News Feeding.

We begin with the FBI investigating a former Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffreys. According to reports, federal agents are now investigating allegations the ex-retail magnet and his business partners sexually exploited and abused men in New York and around the world. As we reported in October, a lawsuit accused Jeffreys of using his influence and power to carry out an alleged sex trafficking operation. Three Seattle police officers acquitted in the 2020 killing of Manuel Ellis have agreed to leave the department. Each man, though, expected to receive $500,000 from Tacoma PD as part of a voluntary resignation agreement with the city. Video captured the officers beating, tasing, and pinning Ellis to the ground while he was handcuffed. He was heard saying he could not breathe and later died.

Lawyers for the officers claim meth and a heart condition led to his death. A use of force policy for the apartment has since been updated. The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees. The Botted Administration announcing today that Bank Overdorf, fees could drop to as little as three bucks. The proposal is the administration's latest attempt to cap junk fees, it says, place a burden on American consumers, particularly those living paycheck to paycheck. Major banks face billions of dollars in revenue losses and are expected to challenge that plan. And Apple takes over as the world's number one phone maker for the first time

ever. Apple has knocked Samsung from a 12-year run as the world's dominant phone maker. Apple sold 234 million phones last year, even as the industry sees the lowest number of smartphone purchase over a decade. Samsung said it expects lower profits due to decrease global demand and increased competition emerging markets. Okay, we want to turn out to an alarming trend in health care. Colorectal cancer spiking among younger Americans, the disease now the leading cause of death in men under the age of 50. Scientists are working around the clock to figure out just why this is happening. NBC's Ann Thompson has a story. Sierra Fuller was just hitting her stride, building a trauma therapy practice and closing on a house with her husband, Steve.

Then at 32 years old, she was diagnosed with cancer, stage 3B, requiring radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. Did you have any family history of colorectal cancer? No. No. And I got genetic testing done, and I have no genetic markers for it either. Sierra's story, part of what the American Cancer Society says, is an alarming. friend. Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer deaths in men under the age of 50 and the second among women of the same age. We do suspect it's something in the environment,

but what that is we don't know. Likely it's a combination of things that's affecting our microbiomes or our immune systems that may be leading to why this is happening younger and younger. Dr. Kimmy Ng is an oncologist at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and is seen a dramatic increase patients in their 20s and 30s. Younger people tend to have more advanced cancers, correct? Yes, the majority of our young patients who are diagnosed, unfortunately are diagnosed with either stage 3 or 4 colorectal cancer. Dr. Ng says screening is crucial, especially with a family history of colorectal cancer. If not, colonoscopies begin at 45. And be aware of symptoms, including blood in the stool, abdominal pain, and unintentional.

weight loss. Now healthy, Sierra is not wasting a minute, traveling and thinking about a family, her eggs preserved before her treatment. Now, yes, it would have to be surrogacy. It would be a completely different way to become a parent. Finding the right pieces in the puzzle of life together. Ann Thompson, NBC News, Boston. All right, we thank Ann for that. We want to continue our coverage now in that dangerous cold gripping half of the country because it's causing a major problem. on the roads, including crashes, but also causing a big headache for many electric vehicle owners. Adrian Broadus explains. Electric vehicles may save drivers on the cost of filling up, but this winter, growing

frustrations for drivers stuck waiting at charging stations. But you still have to wait for those other cars to get through charging, to even get to the charging. Uber driver Marcus Campbell says he spent hours this week charging his car after freezing temperatures swept across Chicago. I'm not making no money, and time is money. The problem? The cars run on lithium batteries, which can take longer to charge in cold temperatures. You may even need to charge more often. According to AAA, the average electric

vehicle's driving range decreases by 41 percent when the temperature outside dips to 20 degrees and when the car's heater or AC is on. For each electric vehicle model, the EPA lists the mileage. But experts say that number. can be misleading. We've seen that that is wrong on day one and doesn't account for weather or variance. So EVs get less range in the extreme cold and they get a little bit less range in the extreme heat.

Experts say especially when it's cold, drivers should keep their vehicles charged overnight, ideally in a garage. And don't let your cars charge fall below 20%. If the battery drops to zero, the car will have to be towed and possibly repaired. In Chicago, some tow truck businesses getting a boost. David Berth says he's been busy in the cold. We have seen an increase in calls from a lot of different owners that have electric vehicles. While some learn to weather the inconvenience for others, the challenges are too much.

I'll be getting a gas vehicle ASAP. Because it's not it for you? It's not it for me. Adrian Broadus, NBC News, Chicago. All right, we thank Adrian for doubt. Now, just some breaking news out of the Americas in a story we've been following closely. A prosecutor in Ecuador who was investigating that TV studio attack has been killed. You may remember last week, armed gang members stormed a news station in Guayaquil, tying up the staff.

Officials now say the lead investigator in that case was found fatally shot today. No arrests have been made in the shooting. Just yesterday, the prosecutor told local media he did not have police protection after having been assigned to investigate the January 9th attack. More international headlines coming up, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, detained in Munich, while the former California governor was stopped at the airport for hours over a watch and what he had to do to be allowed into the country. We'll be right back.

We're back now with Top Stories Global Watch and a check of what else is happening around the world. We want to start with some breaking news. A U.S. carrier ship has been hit in the Gulf of Aden. Luckily, no one on board was heard. U.S. officials say the strike came from a Houthi-controlled area in Yemen. The strike coming hours after the Biden administration redesignated the Iranian-backed rebels as a terrorist organization. We told you about this last night. The U.S. says the designation will restrict the group from accessing financial markets.

All right. In Russia, a rare public display of opposition after the jailing of a prominent activist. Take a look at this. Riot police moving in to disperse a massive crowd that gathered in central Russia to protest sentencing of indigenous activists fail Alzenov, demonstrators throwing snowballs at the officers and trying to block their vehicles. Alsonoff is accused of making

a racist comment in a speech last year, something he denies. And Arnold Schwarzenegger detained at the Munich airport for nearly three hours over a luxury watch. A source close to the former California governor says he was stopped by customs for traveling with a watch that he's planning to sell at an auction for his charity. Customs officials confirming

to NBC news that, quote, criminal proceedings were launched against the former action star. He was released after taking out cash to prepay any taxes that may have been owed according to that source. All right, and over to the UK and some surprising health news today about the Royals. Buckingham Palace says the Princess of Wales will be hospitalized for nearly two weeks after abdominal surgery and that King Charles will soon undergo a procedure for a large prostate. Both are expected to take a break from public duties while they recover. However, NBC's Molly Hunter, has more. Tonight, serious health concerns within the royal family.

In a surprising announcement today, Kensington Palace says Kate, Princess of Wales, is recovering from a successful planned abdominal surgery. They don't say why, only that the 42-year-old was admitted to the London Clinic Tuesday and will likely remain in the hospital for 10 to 14 days, a rare, lengthy stay. A source at Kensington Palace confirms her condition. is non-cancerous, providing no additional details. The Palace says she'll cancel all public appearances until after Easter, her husband, the future king, also taking a time out. We know that Prince William will also not be carrying out public engagements in the coming weeks. He very much plans to be at home with the children in their mother's absence and at her side

when he can be. And also today, in a surprise, second statement, Buckingham Palace announced 75-year-old King Charles will have a procedure next week for an enlarged prostate, like thousands of other men, the palace notes. His Majesty's condition is benign, the statement says, calling it a corrective procedure. Apparently the King was very keen to publicize the fact that he'd sought treatment for this because he wants to inspire other people, so other men of his age and possibly younger, to look for the symptoms and to go and seek treatment. And King Charles has also been advised to postpone his engagements until after. his recovery. A double shock tonight for the royal family, key members out of sight dealing

with serious health concerns. All right, when we come back, Hulk Hogan pulling off a new move, this time saving a teenage girl from a car crash in Florida, how he says he used a ballpoint pen to help pull her from the wreckage. We'll explain. That's next. Finally tonight, you probably know Hulk Hogan as the iconic wrestler, one of the toughest characters in WWF and WWE history. But now the former world champ has taken on the role of Good Samaritan, stepping in to save a 17-year-old girl from a severe car wreck on a Florida highway. The team, thankfully, walking away and harmed.

Moore Barrett has the story. Hulk Hogan, he drops a big leg on him. Hall of famed wrestler, Hulk Hogan, has a lot of big names. Hocomania is here. Hoka Mania, Hollywood Hogan, Mr. America, And now he can add, Hero. The legendary wrestler now credited for saving a teenage girl after her car flipped upside down near Tampa, Florida. Photos from TMZ capturing the moment Hogan and his wife, along with friend Jake Rask, were driving along Tampa's Veterans Expressway over the weekend.

When the teen's car flipped over after being hit by another vehicle, that's when Hogan and Rask sprang into action. The 70-year-old posting to X that he punctured the teen's airbag using a ballpoint pen. The teen emerging safely from her overturned car. Tampa police telling NBC they responded to the scene with only minor injuries reported. Hogan's wife posting the heroic act on social media, calling the incident an absolute miracle. All right. We thank more for that story. We thank you for watching Top Story. I'm Tom Yamison, New York.

Stay right there. More news on the way. Thank you.