Top Story with Tom Llamas - Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Episode Date: July 11, 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 calls growing louder for President Biden to step aside, staunch supporters and more Democrats voicing urgent concerns. The mounting pressure and intense scrutiny as Biden works to reassure key allies at the NATO summit. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying, time is ticking for the president to decide if he's staying in. Movie star George Clooney saying, we need a new nominee just weeks after hosting a record-breaking fundraiser for the president. Biden's political future hanging in the balance as chaos spirals on Capitol Hill.

Also tonight, bridge-collapsed survivor, our exclusive sit-down with one of the construction workers who was on the Francis Scottke Bridge when it came crashing down. For the first time, we're hearing how he made it out alive, how he managed to survive, even when he didn't know how to swim, and what he wants people to remember about those who lost their lives. Rare tornado territory, the remnants of hurricane barrel unleashing twisters across the Midwest and northeast, a state of emergency in one New York town as houses and businesses are ripped apart. The severe storms lingering into the evening, while 130 million Americans bake and sweltering temperatures. Baldwin on trial, powerful opening statements in the involuntary manslaughter trial of actor Alec Baldwin.

Baldwin's defense arguing the shooting death of the cinematographer on the Rust set was a result of other crew members' failures. The prosecution claiming Baldwin was negligent when he allegedly pulled. the trigger. How the defense responded, plus the frantic 911 call played to jurors and the body cam footage of the moment. First responders arrived on the scene. Suspected crossbow killer, a man in custody after a gruesome discovery in England. Three women, all related, found murdered in a brutal attack. The BBC identifying the victims as family members of a notable sports commentator, the all-out man hunted detained the suspect and the country in complete shock. The $2 million baseball card heights, the robbery caught on camera, thieves distracting a card dealer to swipe the valuable collectibles, including Jackie Robinson cards, plus dream donation, the medical school program, now free thanks to Michael Bloomberg's $1 billion contribution.

Tonight we speak with one of the students, a first-generation American, how it's changing her life and the life of countless others. And the man arrested near a New York City airport, the arsenal of weapons police discovered in his possession. Session. Top story starts right now. And good evening. Tonight, President Biden facing new signs of doubt as his reelection bid takes more hits from within his own party and even from the Hollywood elite. This, Justin, a GOP-led committee issuing subpoenas for White House aides over the president's health. The political firestorm coming as Biden hosts world leaders at the NATO summit. The president up against a major

test tomorrow, set to speak on the world stage at a high-stakes press conference. His campaign grappling with a wave of new concerns, even former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying the ball is in his court if he wants to step aside. I want him to do whatever he decides to do. And that's the way it is. Whatever he decides we go with. Another punch actor George Clooney, staunch supporter and friend of Biden saying we need a new nominee. In a New York Times op-ed, Clooney wrote, we are not going to win in November with this president. On top of that, we won't win the House and we're going to lose the Senate. This isn't only my opinion. This is the opinion of every senator and Congress member and governor

that I've spoken with in private. Just three weeks ago, Clooney hosted a star-studded fundraiser that drew $28 million for Biden's campaign. As more House and Senate Democrats come out urging the president to step aside, voters we spoke with are also feeling conflicted. I think he's too old, frankly, and I think he does not have the best chance of beating Trump. I think Kamala Harris would be a good second. Joe's got to have an honest moment where he decides whether or not he's going to release his delegates. I think he's done a good job, but the debate really concerned me. There's a lot happening in this story in real time.

We have a lot to get to tonight. So here's NBC's Gabe Gutierrez. Tonight, while hosting dozens of world leaders at the NATO summit in Washington, President Biden is promoting unity and strength. we're stronger than we've ever been. But that message comes as the president faces fresh calls to leave the race. Today, one of his most prominent Hollywood backers going off script. George Clooney, who hosted a star-studded fundraiser for the president just three weeks ago,

writing a guest essay in the New York Times, arguing we are not going to win in November with this president and urging Democrats to coalesce behind a new nominee. The actor making the case that the president he spent time with at the fundraiser, had changed from prior elections, and that night was the same man we all witnessed at the debate. And this morning, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi became the highest-ranking Democrat the signal he could still drop out. It's up to the president to decide if he is going to run. We're all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short. A striking statement, considering the president has repeatedly said he has decided.

I'm staying in the race. Pelosi later clarifying she still supports the president. President Biden, is Nancy Pelosi still behind you, sir? Still, top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries has told worried lawmakers that he plans to relay their concerns to President Biden. Four sources confirmed to NBC News. And senior Biden advisors are now set to brief Democratic senators at a special caucus luncheon tomorrow. After Michael Bennett of Colorado became the first sitting senator, to say this publicly.

Donald Trump is on track, I think, to win this election and maybe win it by a landslide and take with him the Senate and the House. The question now, will the floodgates open on Capitol Hill? I am deeply concerned about Joe Biden winning this November. We have to reach a conclusion as soon as possible. ABC's George Stephanopoulos apparently reaching his own conclusion, now acknowledging he should not have said this in a video posted on TMZ just days after interviewing the president. What do you think? Do you think Biden should step down? You talk to them more than anybody else

have lately. And you could be honest. Tonight, the Biden campaign is promising more unscripted events to convince lawmakers, donors, and voters that the president is all in. All right, Gabe Gutierrez joins us live tonight from the White House. Gabe, a lot to get to here. Let's start with George Clooney, right. He mentioned, we mentioned that essay, that op-ed he had in the New York Times. What was the reaction inside the Biden campaign? Well, hey there, Tom, look, that op-ed is nothing that any campaign wants to see. But in speaking with several campaign officials throughout the day, I got the sense that they seemed incredulous to it. One source telling me that it was actually George Clooney's schedule. That was the reason why President Biden came back from Italy and went to that fundraiser

and Clooney saying that he was tired in that op-ed. This source calling it rich. Now, Tomio here behind me, being drowned out a little bit by the music here. This is the president welcoming world leaders for a dinner here tonight, and that is part of the image that his campaigned in the White House really want to put forward, that he's preserving global alliances, and he's here on the world stage doing the job and cutting out all the noise. And Gabe, he's got a busy schedule there right now.

He's going to have this major news conference that a lot of the country will likely tune in for, Talk to me about the events he's adding. We also have a major interview with our own Lester Holt on Monday. Yeah, certainly, Tom, and I was going to mention that as well. That is part of what the campaign is saying. It's going to be an increasing number of unscripted events. You mentioned that news conference tomorrow. Very significant.

It's his first solo news conference of the year. And then on Friday, he heads to Battleground Michigan. He'll speak to voters there. Then you mentioned that key interview with our colleague Lester Holt on Monday. Then later on the week, he heads to battle. out west to Las Vegas to speak at conferences there. So a very busy couple of days for the president, as his campaign really struggles to gain control of the narrative here, Tom. Gabe Gutierrez for us starting us off. Gabe, thank you. President Biden facing

major pressure on Capitol Hill, where congressional Democrats are divided over their support for his reelection campaign as leadership struggles to unite the party. Let's bring in NBC News congressional correspondent Julie Sirk. And Julie, I want to ask you first about this new reporting from Axios breaking tonight, that in a call to donors, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he's open to a ticket that isn't led by President Biden. What are you hearing tonight from Schumer's office? Well, Schumer's office, Tom, is not telling us anything. They are declining to comment on this report, which is perhaps the most interesting part of all of this to me.

Because certainly, if they wanted to refute the claims that Schumer is even leaving the door open a little bit to a new nominee at the top of their ticket for the White House in November, that they would be comfortable saying that this is not true. But just to put a little bit of context around here, lawmakers have calls with donors all the time. That is ever more true when you're in a position like Schumer is. He's the chief Democratic fundraiser, certainly for senators in the upper chamber. And he has a lot of calls with donors where he's being asked, as we have reported, as you heard from Gabe there, when it comes to George Clooney, from donors, concerned about the top of the tickets, saying they don't want to donate anymore. And that, of course, will affect the Senate's chances, right?

Democrats' chances at keeping the Senate here, too. So, of course, while Schumer left the door open, he's been saying publicly to us, I'm with Joe, I'm with Joe, I'm with Joe, but Democrats nonetheless, in a very precarious position, as you heard from Nancy Pelosi this morning, leaving the door open perhaps as well. So that's my next question, right? It sounds like some of the leadership, at least their language, is evolving on this issue, right? Right after that debate, they were behind the former president. And then we heard former Speaker Pelosi say what she said on Morning Joe. What are you hearing from your sources about how significant this is? and how other lawmakers are expressing the same sentiment? Well, Pelosi, even early on after the debate, had said maybe his mental fitness questions surrounding the president's mental fitness are fair game. So Democrats, even with Pelosi's stature,

are leaving the door open, perhaps providing some cover for other lawmakers who are certainly, Tom, you won't be surprised to hear, are feeling the same thing privately, if not publicly. I have to tell you, the list is very small of Democrats that I've spoken to who are willing even privately to stand with the president. president, perhaps publicly breaking as such, because they are really concerned. They are in a

tough spot here, Tom. As you heard from Pelosi this morning, as you heard from frontline Democrats, they don't know what to do in this moment, right? You have a president who's committed to staying in this race. He said many, many times, even as our own Jonathan Lemire pointed out to Pelosi this morning, that he is staying. He's not going anywhere. Then why are all these Democratic leaders still treating this like an open conversation and an open question? It's because they are not satisfied with the answers that they have gotten. And then finally, you know, we know a House Oversight Committee, the House Oversight Committee now calling White House officials to testify on President Biden's health. What do we know about this? Yeah, this is coming from Republicans

who control the Oversight Committee, Chairman James Comer of that panel, issuing the subpoenas to three top advisors of President Biden's. They include the special assistant, Ashley Williams, the assistant to the president and senior advisor to the First Lady Anthony Bernal and Deputy Chief of Staff Annie Tomasini, Comer is writing in part in the subpoena request that these three a quote, create a protective bubble around POTUS. So certainly they are trying to figure out if these people have been running the White House essentially. This is in their words, of course, and not President Biden, given what we saw from that debate performance from Biden, just the other week. This isn't the first time this committee has reached out to this trio.

They did so in the aftermath of that classified documents case when we heard that, of course, the committee, and Republicans are pushing to get their hands on that audio of the interview between Special Counsel Robert Hur and President Biden that the White House has deemed executive privilege over. This is the committee trying to exert the only power Republicans have in this situation, and it is in the control of the lower chamber. So this is what they're trying to do, and they want answers by the end of this month. Also, Tom, they want answers from the White House physician. Julie, Sirkin, live from Capitol Hill for us, Julie, we appreciate you. Former President Trump capitalizing on the Democratic turmoil, as you can imagine, blasting President

Biden for his poor debate performance and accusing Democrats of covering up his mental state. It comes as Trump builds suspense for the announcement of his running mate less than one week from the start of the Republican National Convention. Garrett Hake has more details. Former President Donald Trump back on the campaign trail overnight, newly lashing out at President Biden's debate performance. Joe's own party now wants him to throw in the towel and surrender the presidency after a single 90-minute performance.

Mr. Trump, suggesting without evidence, that President Biden's poor debate performance was the culmination of a collapsing Democratic cover-up. They are all co-conspirators in the sinister plot to defraud the American public about the cognitive abilities of the man in the Oval Office. The former president faced questions about his own mental fitness from within his own party as recently as the GOP primary. But when you're dealing with the pressures of a presidency, We can't have someone else that we question whether they're mentally fit to do this.

Mr. Trump, previewing the platform he'll promote at next week's Republican convention. And on day one, we will begin the largest domestic deportation operation in the history of our country. We have no choice. And teasing his upcoming choice of a running mate, expected to come from a short list that includes Florida Senator Marco Rubio. We know who our nominee is. It's going to be the next president of the United States, and his name is. In a radio interview today, Mr. Trump said he was, quote, pretty well set on his VP's selection, but might wait even until the convention opens next week to announce his choice, drawing out the drama for maximum political impact.

Tom? It is turning into The Apprentice. All right, Garrett Hick, we thank you for that. For more and where both of these campaigns stand, less than four months from Election Day. I want to bring in NBC News Chief Political Analyst and a friend of Top Story, Chuck Todd. Chuck, great to be with you. Chuck, I can remember, and I don't want to misquote you here, But right after the debate performance, we were having conversations maybe in the days after. And you said there are three people that likely could talk the president out of this. I think you said, President Obama, Senator Chuck Schumer, and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

From what we're hearing from Schumer, the reporting, and from what Nancy Pelosi maybe is telegraphing, but not saying, are we getting to that point or is the reporting a little ahead of itself? You know, I don't think it is anymore. I mean, I've been talking to a couple of sources on Capitol Hill, and I said, are we over? I literally asked that question. Are we over reading Pelosi here and just said, and this person reinforced, she never speaks off the cuff? This is not somebody who does something accidentally, right? And she had plenty of time today to roll it, roll it back if she wanted to. Here's the situation that Biden finds himself in.

And I even talked to somebody close on the Biden campaign who admitted this. it appears there are Democrats are looking for reason to jump off the Biden boat, not trying to stay on it, right? Which means tomorrow, you know, the bar, if the bar was extraordinarily low for him to perform decently at the debate, he's now actually got an extraordinarily high bar to meet tomorrow. Many of these folks don't think he met the bar with Stephanopoulos. Many of these folks don't love even what he did with Morning Joe. So, you know, there's almost a resignation, at least the view tonight right now, that, you know, tomorrow could be the, tomorrow night could be when the floodgates are open. Yeah, the slightest stumble is under the microscope, right? I think that's essentially what you're saying for what's going to happen tomorrow.

I want to read you another part of the George Clooney essay, and this follows the James Carville essay the day before in the New York Times. Calling on Biden to step aside, here's what George Clooney writes. He writes, Joe Biden is a hero. He saved democracy in 2020. We need him to do it again in 2024. One of the biggest hallmarks of Biden's 2020 campaign was that he had Hollywood firmly behind him. I don't think that means anything. I don't think any voters care about that. But I know some Democrats care about that and Democratic elites care about that. George Clooney, I would argue, as a Democratic elite, right? Does this matter? How hurtful is this to the campaign? Well, look, it's a financial debacle for them right now. I mean, fundraising is a disaster right now. Tom. They are, they are, I've talked to some sources who say they, like, they've got fundraisers

that are being canceled. Donors that had planned to host events suddenly are backing out. Those that have agreed to host events are having trouble getting people to commit and write the check. So that and so Clooney's essay today, that has a huge impact on the donor community. But this reinforces a larger issue that Joe Biden has. What made Biden the perfect vehicle for Democrats in 2020 is why so many people are comfortable saying goodbye to him now, right? This was never a pro-Joe Biden campaign in 2020. It was an anti-Trump campaign. And that's really never ended. Look, it's hard for Biden to accept the idea that people were, that he was a vehicle to get rid of Trump. But that's really what many Democratic elites saw him as in

2019. It's sort of the least, you know, this is the guy that can sort of, we can postpone the ideological fight inside the party. We could postpone the generational divide inside the party. We could post the identity politics divide. Let's just go with Joe, right? And that's the problem now. There's a very pragmatic streak inside the Democratic Party right now. They simply want to stop Trump. If Biden can't do it, that's why they're like, sorry, buddy, we like you, but step aside. There is no devotion to Joe Biden inside inside the Democratic Party. And that's always been a hallmark of his, why he never got to the presidency on his own in the first place. Before we get to Donald Trump, because I want to talk about him as well, I do want to ask you,

maybe put you on the spot for a moment. Who, in your opinion right now is in the poll position and then maybe give me two and three after that, do you think of the Democratic Party right now? Realistically, if President Biden were to say, I'm not going to run anymore. Look, I think Kamala Harris is a heavy favorite, not even just a slight favorite here. because I think there's a lot of, I've already talked to folks involved with the 20, with people that want to run in 2028. They don't think they can beat her at the convention and they don't want to alienate key constituency groups in the Democratic Party if they want themselves to run in 28. So Tom, I'll throw another couple names out there, but I think that you would see if this

happened, I actually think you'd see a surprising number of endorsements quickly. Gavin Newsom's already said He would not run against Kamala Harris. Gretchen Whitmer's already pulled herself out. Only J.B. Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, is somebody that I think might at least try to see. Because in a convention scenario, you never know. He's the host governor and things like that. But those would be the serious eyes to keep an eye on. But I wouldn't be surprised if you saw a quick coronation of her,

where there was an attempt, frankly, to use the convention to introduce her to the country. don't use the convention to have a primary campaign. Let's go to President Trump. This was last night at his rally. I want to play this clip for you. Let's do another debate this week so that Sleepy Joe Biden can prove to everyone all over the world that he has what it takes to be president.

But this time it will be man-to-man, no moderators, no holes barred. Just name the place anytime, anywhere. All right, former President Trump, I should say, like he wants to get into the octagon. Is Trump, you know, we've reported this before, how he tends to step on his own news cycle. Is he sort of playing it smart this time around?

Is he controlling himself, if you will? So far, it looks like it. I mean, look, there was some, we shouldn't underplay some of the ridiculous things he ended up saying last night. I mean, he made an accusation about Washington, D.C. and the Jefferson Memorial that's just not true. Yeah.

And so, you know, I do, I don't want to do, but for him, he's being disciplined. I mean, look, I'm impressed that he found room for Ron DeSantis. He's at the convention. I mean, it sounds like they're reaching out to see if they can get Nikki Haley to speak now. I mean, Tom, you could have a situation next week where you have a Republican party that looks extraordinarily united around its nominee up and down the ballot. Whether that's smart politics or not, we could debate that later. But the picture of a party sort of very, you know, feeling their oats.

Now, sometimes when Trump feels his oats, he sort of goes over his skis and says things he shouldn't say. But he's been disciplined for Trump, that's for sure. He's mostly stayed out of the way. In fact, I expect him, by the way, the only problem he's got is, will anybody pay attention to the convention next week? Because it does seem as if the Democratic intrigue is still the top story in American politics, and it will be next week as well. And that opens the door to the next thing I'm about to read right here. But Chuck, I want to thank you for joining Top Story tonight. note. What Chuck was alluding to, we mentioned earlier this. On Monday, Lester Holt will sit down

with President Joe Biden in an exclusive one-on-one interview. Watch a preview on NBC Nightly News and right here on top story. Catch the full unedited interview in a prime time special at 9 p.m. Eastern on NBC and NBC News now, and then we will roll right into the R&C coverage. Next tonight, an NBC News exclusive interview, speaking out for the first time since the catastrophic Baltimore bridge collapsed in March. Survivor Julio Cervantes Suarez sat down with us to recount his desperate fight to stay alive as he saw his family members and friends disappear into the Patapsco River one by one. Port all traffic on the Key Bridge.

There's a ship approaching it just lost their steering. When the cargo ship Dolly slammed into Baltimore's Key Bridge, causing it to collapse, seven construction workers were hurled into the Patapsco River. Like there is no bridge. Six of the workers would die. All but Julio Cervantes Suarez. Sardvante Suarez. This image is frozen in your head? Yes.

Why? Why? It's the ship that destroyed six families, he says. For the first time, he's telling his story of survival. Just before 1.30 a.m., as the Dolly was making its way under the key bridge, Cervantes and his crew were on a break towards the middle of the bridge, eating in their vehicles. There's a ship approaching. approaching has just lost their steering so until he got under control we got stop all traffic

though police had been alerted Cervantes says they had no idea the 947 foot long vessel was about to hit the bridge he says suddenly everything started to shake he witnesses co-workers all slide into the water one by one and then so did he do you remember what was going through your head as you're falling into the water then say okay i thought we might never get out he said Did you pray? Did you scream? He says he thanked God, asked him to take care of his wife and family, and asked for forgiveness for everything he'd done. When the frigid water started to fill his truck cabin, he realized he was alive. And luckily, his car had manual windows.

He rolled one down and got out of his truck. But there was another problem. Do you know how to swim? No, I don't know. Cervantes says he floated to a piece of the bridge lodged in the river and started to call out for his co-workers. Alejandro, Dorian, Miguel. But he heard nothing.

Among those who died, his brother-in-law, and his 18-year-old nephew, who he considered a son. He wishes he could have one last conversation with him and thank him for being part of his life. Lawyers representing five of the victims, including Cervantes, planned to file suit in the coming. weeks against all companies involved with the ship. The NTSB has reported the ship had power trouble in the days leading to the disaster. It's an American tragedy. I need you to really understand what happened. A foreign vessel hit an American bridge and killed Americans. And they have asked the court to not be held responsible. Explain that to me as simply as you can what you're up against with the law. It is an archaic rule that was quite.

created after the Titanic sank to protect companies when they cause tragedies. And it's being used now to deny all of these families, Baltimore, the state, and this country, the right to hold them accountable. What for you is the single biggest piece of evidence? The fact that it had multiple issues, not just before hitting the bridge, but before even getting to this port. That's the fight every time, isn't it? I mean, people trying to protect interests over families.

And it's sad. What's the most horrifying part of this story for you that lives with you that you have to think about as you put together your case? To me, just being in the dark, in the water, having to fight and figure out a way to survive in a situation that you've never been in, in the freezing cold water, and watching your family members die in front of you, completely harrowing?

How do you want the country to remember your co-workers, your friends, and family? Why do you think you've been to work in this country, to get a delante of their family? Why do you think you survived? No, I don't know. I think that there's a minute for me. More incredible note, Julio fell into the water with his helmet, which had a flashlight attached to it.

When the search bullets arrived, he was able to turn that light back on. It was still working, and that's how they were able to locate him. We're going to have much more of the interview tomorrow on NBC's Today Show. We do want to turn out to our continuing coverage on the deadly destruction of Hurricane Barrel.

Right now, more than a million people in Houston are still without power. Parts of the Midwest and Northeast now bracing for severe storms and possible tornadoes as remnants of Barrelhead North. NBC's Kathy Park has the latest. Tonight, as Barrel makes an exit, a final act packed with destructive winds, relentless rain, and even tornadoes in the Northeast. But it's the extreme heat threatening more than 130 million across the country, alert stretching from Florida to Maine. At least 10 suspected heat-related deaths in Oregon. And misery for millions in southeast Texas still cleaning up from barrel and sweltering as temps climbed back into the 90s. Distribution sites becoming a hot spot for people in need of food and water.

The storm wasn't nothing compared to this here, 100 degrees sitting in the house. Patients pushed to the limit among the more than one million who remained without power for a third straight day. The heat is getting so unbearable. Ice is now a precious commodity, so much so. are willing to wait in line for it. We have no way to keep our food cold. So that's why I have the ice to put it in a cooler. Houston's largest utility under fire for its response as a race to restore power.

Centerpoint will have to answer for themselves if they were prepared and if they were positioned. And Center Point Energy reporting that they have restored power to roughly 900,000 customers two days after the store. But a timeline of full restoration is still unknown. Tom? Kathy Park for us. For more on the weather, I want to turn out

to NBC meteorologist Bill Karens. Bill, how long can we expect to see these severe conditions from barrel as it moves in this direction? Just tonight. By tomorrow everything is gone, but we've had a rough day. I mean, at one point, we had like seven tornado warnings in western New York all at the same time. That's unheard

of, and I know we've had some considerable damage. Thankfully, no injuries or fatalities. We still have that tornado watched on 9 o'clock tonight. We actually are still tracking isolated strong storms. Washington, D.C., you've got some storms that are going to come through with some gusty winds and lightning. No tornadoes for you, just some gusty winds. To the north, this is up near Binghamton, New York, just north of Interstate 88.

We have a tornado warning just outside here of Norwich. You can even see that little hook on here. It's very uncommon for upstate New York to have something like that. So a wider view does show, though, the issue is a lot of tropical moisture is in the northern portions of New England. Think of mountains. Think of ski country. They're not really accustomed to getting heavy rain and tropical rain. And that's why we already have numerous flash floods.

warnings. I've heard of reports of at least two roads closed already in Vermont. And this is just the beginning. As we go throughout the night, we're going to get an additional two to four inches of rain in the high country. And with the hilly and mountainous terrain, that's going to be problematic. And then on top of everything else, of course, the heat hasn't gone anywhere. Today, the humidity was almost off the charts in areas of the East Coast. It still feels like 103 in Washington, D.C. But as these storms go through, some cooler air, a brief break tomorrow. And I say brief, because it's not going to last long. You know, 92 is now considered a break in Washington, D.C. But as we go through the weekend, the heat builds back in.

I mean, look at Nashville, 98, 99, D.C., 91, then 96. So Tom, this is just one of those summers. We're on pace for a hottest summer all time ever in this country. And next week, we should be up near 100 in the Mid-Atlantic. It's not over yet. Last summer, it was all rain. This summer, it's all heat. You can never win. All right, Phil Cairns, we appreciate that. Still ahead tonight actor Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter trial underway. Prosecutors arguing Baldwin and neglected safety standards when the cinematographer on the Russ set was shot. The panic died when one call in body cam footage playing out in the courtroom. Plus, the alarming tire blowout on an airport runway, the latest scare in a string of recent

airline incidents. And a $2 million worth of rare baseball cards stolen, the brazen heist caught on camera and the urgent search for those suspects. We'll tell you what happens. Stay with us. Back down with the first day of Alec Baldwin's rush shooting trial, prosecutors saying Baldwin behaved recklessly with a prop gun, failing to make proper safety checks resulting in the death of cinematographer Helena Hutchins. The defense responding to those allegations saying it was never Baldwin's responsibility to check the gun as an actor. NBC's Chloe Malas has the details. Alec Baldwin was reckless by pointing a gun and pulling the trigger, according to prosecutors during opening statements today.

The evidence will show that someone who played make-believe with a real gun and violated the cardinal rules of firearm safety is the defendant. The Santa Fe prosecution painting a picture to jurors of a seasoned actor with careless behavior on the 2021 film set Rust. You will see him put his finger on the trigger when his finger's not supposed to be on the trigger. The prosecution says they'll prove the revolver that killed cinematographer Helena Hutchins could not. have fired a bullet without Baldwin pulling the trigger, something the actor has repeatedly denied. Well, the trigger wasn't pulled. I didn't pull the trigger. Baldwin's defense team now says, even if he did, it doesn't make him guilty. Even if he intentionally pulled the trigger like the prosecutor just demonstrated,

that doesn't make him guilty of homicide? Baldwin listening intently as his lawyer slammed assertions he should have checked the gun for live bullets. He was just acting as he has done for generations. The jury today shown harrowing body cam footage of the moment's after the fatal shooting must ultimately decide who to believe. He pointed the gun at another human being, caught the hammer, and pulled that trigger.

This was an unspeakable tragedy. Alec Baldwin committed no crack. Hey there, Tom. It was a showdown in court between New Mexico Special Prosecutors and Alec Baldwin's legal defense team. They were going back and forth on who was responsible the day that Helena Hutchins was killed on that Russ film set in 2021. All right, Chloe, we thank you for your reporting.

for more in-depth analysis of this trial. I want to turn right over to NBC's legal correspondent, Angela Senadella. Angela, let's just start from the beginning, real basic here. Explain to our viewers the difference between murder and involuntary manslaughter, what he's charged with. So there's a huge difference, and that big difference is all about intent. So with a murder charge, you have to prove that this person was intending to kill the other person. Now, with manslaughter, you don't. All you have to prove is that this person was irresponsible, was so reckless, and that recklessness resulted in the death.

Involuntary, though. Why involuntary as opposed to just manslaughter? Well, they're kind of the same thing here. Same thing, right? It's really just that he didn't intend to. There was no voluntary action. So we heard from the prosecutors. They're essentially painting Baldwin as I want to be cowboy, right? Waving the gun around, pointing a people with it.

What's the strategy here? So they're trying to show him as just reckless overall from beginning to end, that he showed up to the set a week after he was supposed to, that he didn't follow the training that he was supposed to, that when he was on set, he didn't point the gun, He didn't check the gun. He pointed it without knowing where it was being pointed at, and that he also put his hand on the trigger, whether or not he pulled it, even if he intended to do it.

So they're just showing that he was totally reckless. So what about the defense here? What's their strategy then? So I thought they had really creative arguments today in opening statements. So the first is obviously just that he is an actor, and that actors only act. They don't do anything more than that. But what they said today is that an actor, in order to be good at your job, you actually have to go so into your character.

to divorce yourself from the reality of what's happening around you, that to be good as an actor, you actually have to disregard safety, disregard what's happening. As a result, that's why there's strict delegation of responsibility. That's why the AD is the one who has to yell cold gun. It's not supposed to be Harlan Rust, aka Alec Baldwin, checking the gun. So the method actor defense strategy, I guess, will that work on a jury? I mean, it depends on what the jury thinks. But I thought it was somewhat powerful. I also thought the last thing defense said today was really powerful. And that was that regardless of what you believe the prosecution has proven today or throughout this whole trial, no actor has ever pulled a live

round out of a gun. So it's almost like whether or not you believe that he messed up. This could not have been foreseeable even a little bit. So there's going to be an issue here, right, about Alec Baldwin's character and whether they believe him or not. We saw that in the interview that he sat down with George Stephanopoulos. He says he never pulled the trigger. Prosecutors are saying there's no way this gun could have fired unless he pulled the trigger. So there's a clear discrepancy there. Could that come back to haunt him? Yes, I think it already has. It was already foreshadowed today by the prosecution in their opening statements. So ironically, whether or not he pulled the trigger might not have even mattered

in the prosecution strategy. But once he went on the show with George Stephanopoulos and said that he didn't do it, now the prosecution can paint him as a total liar. And in doing that, that goes to their whole portrait of him as reckless and allegedly is totally irresponsible. How did you view Alec Baldwin? We've done all these high-profile cases, a lot of them involving in the former president, President Trump, and we've been talking about sort of the body language, the way they're reacting in court. How is, is Alec Baldwin behaving so far in court? He is behaving, and also this is very intentional, all of it, I believe, having his wife right behind him and having his two-year-old in the courtroom on Monday. All of this is trying to paint him as an empathetic, nice, considerate human being. Because the prosecution is really saying the opposite, that he is a disregard for all human life. But when you see his wife with seven kids, you think, well, maybe he does care about human life. Angela Sandella, for us, always great to have you on the show. Coming up, the startling arrest outside of major U.S. airport, the bullets and weapons police say they discovered.

And the suspect now in custody, that's just ahead. All right, back now with Top Stories News Feed. We start with the New York man indicted after he was found with an arsenal of where. weapons outside of a major airport. Police, a 27-year-old Judd Sanson was pulled over near New York's LaGuardia Airport for having a covered license plate. According to prosecutors get this, a cache of weapons, including 127 rounds of ammunition, body armor, and with the NYPD logo on it, was found inside his car. There was also allegedly a baton with insightful language. Okay, another scare tonight on an airport runway, new video showing the tire blowing off an American Airlines flight

As it was taking off in Tampa, luckily no one was hurt, and takeoff was aborted. It comes one day after a tire fell off another Boeing plane during takeoff in L.A. Former NBA player, Jonte Porter, pleading guilty to wire fraud charges in connection to a betting scandal. Porter, who is now banned from the league, placed bets on NBA games and gave co-conspirators confidential health information. He also withdrew early from games to help win bets. He faces up to four years in prison and massive fines. He will be sentenced on December 18. In a consumer alert, BMW recalling more than 390,000 vehicles in the U.S. over airbag concerns.

The recall impacting older model 3-series, sedans, and sports wagons. Federal regulators say that Dakota Airbag inflator can explode sending small metal pieces towards the driver or other passengers. So far, BMW has not received reports of any injuries. The airbags will be inspected and replaced. Okay, next tonight to a major theft caught on camera. Police in Allen, Texas, are looking for four men who stole a collection of rare baseball cards worth close to $2 million. The incident happened over the weekend at one of the largest card dealer events in the country. Meredith Yeomens from NBC Dallas has this story.

Watching the video, it was clearly executed very well. Surveillance video of the Dallas Card Show reveals how the high-dollar heist happened. After the show Sunday at the Marriott Allen Hotel, three males appeared to destroy. show workers while a fourth male grabs a case full of collectibles, including several Mickey Mantle cards, one with a $175,000 price tag. These are grail pieces that were stolen. Dallas Card Show organized the event and also have a store in Allen where we met card dealers, Jordan Richards. We're like a brotherhood. And Rohan Gar.

It seemed like a really good show all around. Both were vendors at this weekend show and say they could have easily been the victim. These are the centerpiece of most people's collection that were stolen. It's stuff that people weren't very hard to get. And to see it all just stolen like that is pretty heartbreaking. The collection's owner shared photos of the stolen cards on social media, along with a spreadsheet detailing what was stolen. Cards worth nearly $2 million.

I think that it's a horrible situation. I hope they figure out who did it and capture it. The theft has these dealers rethinking how they do business. They say they'll have more protections in place. to prevent becoming the ring's next target. More importantly, I think I'm just going to be more vigilant. Especially until the baseball card thieves are busted. Coming up, the chilling attack rocking a quiet neighborhood.

Police arresting a suspect accused of using a crossbow to massacre three victims. The latest details on the investigation. That's next. We're back now with the arrest in a triple murder of a person accused of wielding a crossbow in a UK town. Police taken a suspect into custody following a 24-hour manhut after three women were found in their East England home gravely injured. The community now in mourning as a motive remains unknown. NBC's Daniel Hamamjin is in London with the latest. Tonight, the suspect in a triple murderer suspected of wielding a crossbow is in custody.

The suspect, 26-year-old Kyle Clifford, now in hospital after allegedly carrying out what police are calling a targeted. attack. It happened in this normally quiet leafy neighbourhood 20 miles north of London, which is now the scene of the triple murder investigation. The victims, all women, and all are believed to belong to the same family, according to police. The BBC has identified them as Carol, Hannah and Louise Hunt, the wife and daughters of British sports commentator John Hunt. They were found in home on Tuesday night and died shortly after police arrived on the seen. Authorities believe the suspect was known to the victims and believed that in addition to a crossbow, other weapons may have been used. In the end, Clifford was located in a London cemetery

near his home with police stressing that no shots were fired, though the suspect was found with injuries. Schools had gone into lockdown and members of the public were urged not to approach the suspect. We've never, we can't remember a murder in our rather quiet neck of the woods. Homicides by Crossbow are rare here, but there have been cases fewer than 10 over a decade. A review of UK laws was announced after a man tried to kill her late majesty, Queen Elizabeth. He had attempted to break into Windsor Castle with a loaded crossbow. The suspect is now receiving medical treatment and police say they're not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation.

Tom. We thank Danielle for that report. Now to Top Story's Global Watch and a check of what else is happening around the world. We start with a major chemical fire in Melbourne, Australia. New video shows thick black smoke

and flames erupting from the factory. The fire is spreading through the building that held multiple barrels of various chemicals causing a series of explosions. No one was heard, but authorities are warning residents to shelter in place as they investigate the air quality. Russia ordering the arrest for the widow

of the late Russian opposition leader Alexi Navalny. According to Russian state media, Yulia Navalnya is wanted on charges of extremism. She's vowed to continue the work of her husband, who died in an Arctic penal colony in February. She currently lives outside of Russia, but could be arrested if she sets foot inside the country. And a Spanish soccer player becoming the youngest goal scorer at the Euro Cup, and he may have been destined for soccer greatness from the start. Here's why.

At just 16 years old, Laminia Mall scoring against France for Spain's semi-final win and a photo from 2007. Look at this, has resurfaced amid his success. It shows him as a baby with no other than the great legend, Messi. It was shot for a Barcelona calendar benefiting charity. Now Messi and Yamal will play in separate tournament finals on Sunday. Pretty cool. When we come back, dream donation.

Last night, we told you about a $1 billion donation at Johns Hopkins. Up next, you're going to meet one of the incoming medical students who will benefit, what the life-changing gift means to her and her parents who moved her, from China to give the child a better life. Stay with us. Finally tonight, a life-changing donation. As we told you last night, Bloomberg Philanthropies donating $1 billion to Johns Hopkins Medical School, making tuition essentially completely free for the majority of students there. Ellis and Barbara has the incredible story of one incoming men student and how this gift will help her live out her dream and the dreams of her

immigrant parents. Medical school is notoriously taxing. It's mentally, emotionally, and financially demanding. But for med students at Johns Hopkins, the cost suddenly zero. My roommates woke up to a loud screen. Bloomberg Philanthropies announcing a $1 billion donation to the medical school, making education free for most current and future students. America needs doctors. And And we need the best minds in medicine. And so this gift that Mike Bloomberg had is going to help us, as I said before, find those students, those brilliant students who might have otherwise not gone to medical school. 100% of tuition will be covered for families making less than $300,000 a year.

That's 95% of households in the country. And for families who make $175,000 or less each year, living expenses and other fees will also be covered. The massive donation changing the lives of students like Nancy Chen. Initially, when I read the email that was sent out, I thought it was fake. Chen grew up in North Carolina, a first-generation American who worked at her parents' Chinese restaurant, and her dream of becoming a doctor started at a young age when she would act as the family's translator. I'm coming from a lower income background, and I know what it was like as a patient. in the hospital trying to translate for my parents

who didn't have insurance. Have you thought about the possibility of seeing another family like yours, another 10-year-old like you, and you being the doctor that's in that room and being able to tell that kid who maybe looks a lot like you and reminds you of yourself, don't worry, I've got this. Oh, I just got goosebumps thinking about that.

That is exactly how I want to be as a doctor. Her dream, getting closer last year, when she was accepted into her top choice, Johns Hopkins Medical School. Congratulations and welcome to Johns Hopkins Class of 2028. The sacrifices of her parents paying off. For the past year, the first thing that came out of his mouth is my daughter's going to Hopkins for medical school. But at close to $100,000 a year, cost would be an issue for Chen and her family. Then she found out she'd get financial aid. Oh my God! Oh my God!

It covered about 80% of her tuition, but she'd still need to take out tens of thousands of dollars in student loans. And that still kind of loomed over my head. With Bloomberg's donation, she won't have to worry. All of her expenses are entirely paid for. I was with my mom at that time and I just looked at her and she was like, what? And I just like, I think I'm not going to be in debt. And in a few years, when she's Dr. Nancy Chen, she plans to be the physician her family always needed.

What do you hope other families, patients, kids of patients, will say when they leave an interaction with you? Just a thank you is enough. I just want to be able to know that I had, no matter how big of an impact on their lives, I really hope that it was a positive impact. All thanks to a gift that truly keeps on giving. We thank Ellison for that wonderful story, and we thank you for watching Top Story tonight. I'm Tom Yamison, New York. Stay right there.

More news on the way. Thank you.