Top Story with Tom Llamas - Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Episode Date: May 16, 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, ready to rumble President Biden and former President Trump agreeing to debate ahead of the November election. So much trash talking now, Biden and Trump say they're ready for a face-to-face showdown with the presidency on the line. Both agreeing to sidestep the presidential debate commission blowing up traditional debates as we know it. What we can expect when the two take the stage together, the new details we've just learned, and why is President Biden doing it this? way, we'll explain. Also tonight, a barge slamming into a bridge, concrete slabs falling below, oil from that barge spewing into a river. The crash cutting off an entire community with residents and university students relying solely on that bridge, the renewed concerns about America's infrastructure. Mayor Adams doubles down. The New York mayor making racist comments about

migrants saying they are excellent swimmers. Today, a Telemundo anchor confronting him. But Adams, refusing to back down, we'll show you what he said and talk to the anchor who got the interview. Commencement controversy, the star kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, sparking outrage for his speech at a Catholic college in which he called Pride Month a, quote, deadly sin, encouraged female graduates to be homemakers, plus Taylor Swift somehow getting dragged into all of this. Also tonight, terrifying moments on a beach in Mexico. Look at this. A bull charging a woman. knocking her down into the sand, what one beachgoer had to do to finally get that bull to back off. And heroes emerging from the deadly flood disaster in Brazil, with more than 150 people killed and entire neighborhoods underwater, the elite athletes now putting their Olympic dreams on hold to stay home and rescue those people. Top story starts right now.

In the top story, the road to the White House just took a strange turn. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have agreed to a debate, but unlike anything we've seen in the nearly 40 years since they started back in 1988 under the commission. The body created to administer, schedule, and produce the debates. The commission of presidential debates cut out of the picture completely. Today, drop cold. The Biden campaign reportedly had demands the commission apparently couldn't meet, including an earlier start date, no studio audience, and microphones that cut off after a speaker's allotted time. And this morning, President Biden setting the stage further showdowns in a highly produced social media video

with echoes of Dirty Harry. Donald Trump lost two debates to me in 2020. Since then, he hadn't shown up for debate. Now he's acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, pal. President Trump accepting the challenge and signaling there may still be details to work out. I've accepted the two debates. I've recommended they should have more. He wants to do things like he wants to sit down. I think a debate should be standing up. The two men already have a history debating each other.

It's not very long, just one election cycle, but full of drama. Would you shut up, man? Listen, who is on your list, Joe? This is on your list. Gentlemen, I think we've ended this. I want to make sure. He graduated last in your class in the first in your class. Remember that?

Well, CNN announcing they locked down the first debate set for Thursday, June 27th. CNN host Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate. We've just learned that. It's still unclear if it will be simulcast everywhere. Remember, when the Commission on Presidential Debates produces the event, every broadcast network and cable news network run the pool feed. That way it reaches the widest audience because the stakes are so. high. ABC News also announcing they locked down the second debate set for Tuesday, September 10th.

The network just announcing David Muir and Lindsay Davis will be the moderators, but in their announcement, saying this, ABC News will make the debate available to simulcast on additional broadcast and streaming news networks in America. The scramble and planning to get the debates took off after President Biden made these remarks on the Howard Stern Show. I don't know if you're going to debate your opponent. somewhere. I don't know when. I'm happy to debate it. And President Trump repeatedly challenging Biden to show up. Anyplace. We'll do it anywhere you want, Joe.

For now, it seems like it's on, and there may be more. The Trump campaign saying in its statement, I would strongly recommend more than two debates. And for excitement purposes, a very large venue, although Biden is supposedly afraid of crowds, that's only because he doesn't get them. Just tell me when, I'll be there. Let's get ready to run. rumble. The Biden campaign, though, also trash talking, tweeting this today. Trump says he'll arrange his own transportation, I'll bring my plane too. I plan on keeping it for another four years. And in case you're wondering, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the best position third party challenger, is unlikely to join Trump and Biden, at least at the first debate. CNN requiring all participants

to be qualified on the ballot in enough states to win 270 electoral college votes. But tonight, RFK saying he will qualify. But the big question tonight remains, why did President Biden do this? What's really at play here for President Biden and his campaign, when that promise a return to normalcy. This is not normal, but it may be effective.

We'll know very soon. I want to bring an NBC News chief political analyst Chuck Todd tonight and Susan Page from USA Today, Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief and a moderator of the 2020 vice presidential debate. Chuck, I'm going to start with you, man. Put this into context for us. Is this a good thing?

Look, I think it's a necessary thing for Joe Biden, right? You know, look, I just wrote in a column today that they need to do something. They have to shake up this race a bit. They need to talk to 60% of the country that they haven't talked to, right? They've sort of stayed in a very careful place. Now, look, I'm not going to sit here and say I had a June debate on my bingo card as different ideas, but they needed to put them out there more. Take a little risk because the two.

trajectory of this race and now start to think about the schedule of the next three months, Tom, and you and I are invested in this because of the company we work with. You have one month that will be gone to the Olympics. And I think this year's Olympics, more than previous ones, it's just going to be one that is going to capture the country's imagination. It's in Western Europe being in Paris. We didn't really get an Olympics, you know, because of COVID. We did, but you know what I mean. So I think this one's going to really be exciting. That's a whole month that Joe Biden can't talk to the country. The conventions get in the way,

summer gets in the way. So they were running out of time to essentially change the trajectory of this race between, say, now and Labor Day. So look, I think when you think about what they're having to solve, the problem they're having to solve, trying to wake up voters that aren't paying attention,

this tactically makes a lot of sense. It's a little bit of risk, but guess what? They've been losing. They needed to shake things up. And I think this is an acknowledgment that those New York Times polls were more correct than not correct. Susan, you moderated the vice presidential debate back in 2020, as we mentioned. Peel back the curtain for our viewers, because I don't think they know what goes into these debates, right? The planning, the lobbying, even for you to get there. And you're not supposed to lobby,

but everybody lobbies. You got selected. And then there's sort of this agreement, right, between all the networks, we're going to take this pool, everyone's going to play together, it's going to be broadcast everywhere, the most Americans can see it, and now maybe it's gone forever. Yeah, but it's gone at least this cycle. And, you know, I've got soft feelings, good feelings about the Commission on Presidential Debates. But, of course, you cannot have presidential debates without the candidates being there. And in this case, they had both candidates, both major party candidates, complaining about various things in the history of these debates and their experiences with them. Could they not figure it out, though? It's what the entire

commission, it's their only job. Well, but remember, this is not an official government. criminal sanction kind of commission. I get that, but they've done it since 1988. And they took it over because the debates were kind of a mess. And we wanted to have a system, we, the country, wanted to have a system that made it more likely debates would actually take place. But, you know, this is a new world in the media. You had a situation where I think President Biden was not enthusiastic about debating,

and Donald Trump was extremely enthusiastic about debating. And this is a solution that gets us two debates, and I think that is a good thing. That leads to my next question for Chuck here, right? When this happened, it was interesting because a lot of the framing that came out to the Biden team's credit was, you know, President Biden challenges Donald Trump. And the Trump team has been saying, we've been asking him about a debate for months now. That's not really what's happened here. But I wonder if it's all strategy, if what President Biden wanted, or at least Team Biden wanted, to get these debates out of the way early and get the voting on afterwards. Do you think that theory holds up?

Because if they only hold the two debates, I mean, these debates are over in September and you still have all of October. Well, I think what they didn't like is just what you said, the fact that you would have had four debates, if you throw in the vice presidential debate, in basically a three-week time frame, right? It's like four and five weeks, something like that. And it's very disruptive to the flow of the actual campaign, getting your rallies, doing your get-out-the-vote. So this, you know, debate prep has been something that drives campaign strategist crazy because of how much time it sucks away from candidate time. So look, I think if debates aren't your strong suit, you don't want to close with the debates. If this is going to be something that he's not going to be great at,

we'll get him out of the way early in our short attentions. I mean, think about having this June debate. Let's say it's a total disaster, okay, for one of the candidates, all right? Let's say it's a total disaster. In theory, you've got all summer, right? You have to stewing it all summer, but you've got your convention to recover. You've got a lot of other things you can do to sort of make that go away. So in that sense, it actually lowers the stakes, right? The first debate being in September, oh, my God, stakes are super high. First debate in June, even though this feels high stakes to us right now.

In theory, it's lower stakes, right? Because you do have some potential recovery, you know, rest areas along the road, namely your convention. we live in an age of disruption, right? It was bound to happen. Our entire industry is being disrupted every single second. I'm thinking about the book you just wrote, about Barbara Walter's rule break. She had to break a couple rules to get to the top, right? I'm wondering if the commission maybe got themselves into this position with the debates last time. Your debate went off successfully. Another great debate went off successfully, I think, with Lester. And then there

was the famous Chris Wallace debate. And that was just a total nightmare for everybody involved, including America that watched. Do you think that moment led to this? And I'm not putting this solely on Chris Wallace's shoulders, but do you think because of that, we have this now? Yeah, I don't think any moderator could have controlled that first debate. But I think it led to some of the things we see as conditions that the Biden people put out. No studio audience.

You know, we found audiences often become part of the process. That's not helpful, I think, to voters who are watching. And also the idea of cutting off the candidates' mics when they're not supposed to be speaking. That was the thing that I think disrupted Biden the most of all the last time around that Donald Trump kept interrupting him and wouldn't stop. You know, part of these negotiations, Chuck, again, to peel back the curtain here, is who exactly is going to moderate, right? And that has been a sticking point for really Democrats and Republicans, but over the recent years, I know it's been a big issue for the Trump campaign. They made these deals with the networks. Then they announced the moderators.

You have to assume, and I don't know this, but you have to assume those were talked about. Do you think this gives a lot of room for former President Trump to maybe back out? I mean, as Susan was listening, there's a lot of things that he agreed to. And I was almost surprised that he agreed to all those things because usually he's the one with demands. Look, Tom, you're sort of reading my mind here. I've been surprised at how quick Trump accepted everything, right? He loves to negotiate. Why are you an easy mark?

I've been trying to go through my head. What is it about this that Trump likes? And the biggest thing I can come up with is he's guaranteed one debate without RFK Jr. Now, I know that the Kennedy campaign thinks it can meet this, get on enough ballots to get to 270 electoral votes by a week before that debate. I think it's a tall order. It's less likely than not. I think, but it's fascinating to me that CNN had that criteria ready. That means it was a part of this. This was sort of part of the negotiation. And so the one thing I'm trying to figure out, what does Trump get out of this?

Well, a guarantee of no Kennedy the first time, which is something his campaign needs, right? They feel like they need to talk to a bunch of Kennedy voters or sort of Kennedy curious voters who they think should be in their camp. That's the only rationale I can come up with going, you know, because other than that, I'm with you. I'm surprised at how agreeable he's becoming. Then again, he may find out that we're all noting how agreeable he's in. He may just say, hey, I'm going to be disagreeable because I'm done. Donald Trump, and I've got to be unbranded. You know, other than that, I'm not quite sure of this.

You mentioned Kennedy. I do want to play this for our viewers, because it's been a long time. They may not remember this. Some may not have been alive. Let's show that clip in 1988 from the debate with Ross Perot. Well, they've got a point. I don't have any experience in running up a $4 trillion debt. I don't have any experience in gridlocked government where nobody takes responsibility for anything and everybody blames everybody else. I don't have any experience in creating the worst public school system in the industrialized world, the most violent crime-ridden society in the industrialized world, but I do have a lot of experience

in getting things done. Quick correction on my part in 92. Susan, I remember growing up watching that debate because he was such a character, he was so popular on SNL as well. But I remember hearing and watching the news and people saying he was refreshing because he was different. He was kind of doing things his way. And there are people that are following Robert Kennedy Jr. I mean, does he deserve a place on the debate stage at this point, or he hasn't earned it yet? Yeah, well, I covered that debate.

And, you know, it was an important part of Ross Perot getting 20% of the vote and affecting the outcome of that election. And that is what Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would like to do this time. A candidate that hasn't run for office before and has grounds to criticize a president and a former president, that is a pretty delightful place for RFK Jr. to be in if he can get there. Chuck, what do you think? I mean, is it going to be a mistake? Do the voters deserve to see him there? or has he not earned that right just yet? Look, I think it's a fair criteria,

and I think if he makes the criteria, he ought to be there, right? If he's getting 15% of the polls and he's on enough ballots to get 200, to theoretically get 270 electoral votes. Let me have you just leave you with this, Tom, and think about this. There's another possibility of what happens after this first debate.

What if the country is going, wait a minute, really? Isn't there another option? You know, they, you know, both candidates could perform poorly, right? This could be one of those moments where the country goes, uh-oh, how come there isn't somebody else? And you have a whole summer of that. Look, I've always believed there's opportunity for Kennedy to meet whatever criteria is out there for him to meet. And I haven't seen what ABC's putting out.

I assume it's the same criteria as what CNN's criteria was. There's plenty of scenarios in my head of how this summer could play out where Kennedy, is qualifying for that ABC debate, Tom. Tough question, but a question we should ask, because of what Chuck just said there, should CNN offer this as a pool and let everyone simulcast it? Oh, absolutely, no question.

This is not just a CNN event. This is an event important for the future of the country. Absolutely, they should. Chuck, you think they do it? Oh, I'd be shocked if they didn't. This is a whole new world. That's a whole new world, you know, with streaming and the fragmented medium.

reason why they're getting an opportunity to have this debate is because we're trying to get the attention of the entire country, right? It should, CNN should actually welcome the opportunity to showcase their journalists in as many places as possible. Great point. I agree with both of you. Chuck Todd, Susan Page, thank you so much for coming on. This is a great conversation. We do have other big news tonight, though, and it's out of Texas, a barge. You've maybe seen the video crashing into a bridge, causing it to partially collapse. The collision unfolding in Galveston where officials now fear a massive oil spill may be underway. NBC's Priscilla Thompson has more.

Tonight, another scary scene on America's waters. The possible boat that hits the bridge and a power line down and maybe fuel in the water. A barge crashing into a bridge, this time in Galveston, Texas, closing the only road to a small island community and causing an oil spill. Our emergency management is the request and fire department has math, they're advising that there's fuel oil leaking into the water. The barge holds about 30,000 gallons. Officials say it's unknown how much oil has leaked. The barge owner Martin Petroleum says it broke loose from its toe and drifted into the bridge. The accident comes after the Daly cargo ship crashed into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge in March,

plunging the bridge into the water, killing six. So we're here today. The NTSB chair on Capitol Hill today. Yesterday we released our preliminary report, which shows that the Dolly experienced four total power outages. Investigators finding the pilots lost control of the massive vessel right before the collision. The recent rash of barge bridge accidents, including Pennsylvania and Iowa, all raising safety concerns. The NTSB now warning states to examine their infrastructure before it's too late.

Keep reiterating this. If you own a bridge, if a state owns a bridge or other entity owns a bridge, look at the current structure, do a risk assessment. You can do that now. Priscilla Thompson joins us now live from Galveston. Priscilla, what is the situation looking like tonight? And do we know if anybody was on the bridge at the time of that collision? Well, Tom, as far as we know, there was no one on the bridge at the time of the collision. But there were two operators who were on the barge, including one who actually fell into the water. and had to be, was rescued immediately. Officials say that there were no injuries, and Martin Petroleum is saying that that leak has now been stopped as the NTSB and the Coast Guard are investigating, as tonight this bridge remains closed along with the waterway.

Tom? Priscilla Thompson on that breaking story for us tonight. Priscilla, we thank you. Now, the story we first brought to you last night, New York City mayor, Eric Adams, facing backlash after his controversial remarks, suggesting that migrants could fill the city's life. lifeguard shortage because they are, quote, excellent swimmers. Take a listen.

How do we have a large body of people that are in our city and country that are excellent swimmers and at the same time we need lifeguards? And the only obstacle is that we won't give them the right to work to become a lifeguard. That just doesn't make sense. Telemundo anchor Joanna Suarez interviewing the mayor today, asking him about the criticisms over the comments. The mayor, though, doubling down, here's what he had to say. Mayor, there has been a lot of criticism due to your comments that immigrants could help solve the lifeguard shortage. You said because they were excellent swimmers. Can you please clarify, where did you get that they're excellent swimmers? Why did you say that? What did you mean by that?

Yeah, well, first of all, the bigger picture is silly. We are in a society now, where everyone has turned into the road police and they want to pick apart and demonize everything you say. I'm probably going to be the last elected official that really ignore all of that noise. People know my heart. When I go to my what we call humanitarian relief centers and I ask my migrants and asylum seekers, how many of you are in a full service industry? How many of you are former work in hospitals? How many of you are swimmers? How many of you have been former writers? I see hands go up. We have people, particularly when you look at places like Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, who, Mexico, who are professionals in these different

areas, they can fill our job vacancies. It has always been my push to continue to say, as my selling point, we have people who can feel the jobs we have vacant. We need lifeguards. We have swimmers. Swimmers because they cross the Rio Grande swimming. Is that why you said that? No, and that's silly for people to even equate that. No. When I talked about West Africans, many people don't realize we have West Africans who are migrants and asylum seekers. Not only Central in South America, that's the mind of folks that when I say people are good swimmers, they actually stereotype the group that I was only talking about South Central America. But do you see how it could be construed?

as offensive because it's reinforcing a stereotype. Do you see that? No, I cannot. No, I cannot. Especially when you know who the man is. You know, if you know Mayor Adams, you know that I'm not trying to stereotype anyone. And let's say they are good swimmers. Why is that stereotype that if you're a good swimmer? That's like saying that someone is coming from India, that's a good doctor. That's not a stereotype. No, what I said was when I go to my migrants and asylum seekers, as I've been saying for almost two years now, let people work. They're ready to work, and they have the skills. So my West African brothers and sisters said, we know how to swim. You know, they're ready to fill my life gosh.

Joanna Suarez joins us now. Joanna, first of all, incredible interview, really pressing him for answers. Do you think he understood what he said? I mean, you gave him three different opportunities. Do you think he understood what he said and how that could offend migrants, especially Hispanic migrants, who are trying to cross the Rio Grande? No, he never backtracked. He said that he didn't try to stereotype anyone. And when I talked to him about that, he said that he was very familiar with the immigrants' plight because he went to Ecuador and Colombia, especially the Dariengap, to see what they went through, what immigrants go through. And then he said that people were basically just

playing war police and picking apart his comments. Yeah, it is just so strange to go from asking people if they're police workers, hospital workers, oh, and then swimmers. It doesn't even make sense. I know you've been talking and you've covered a lot the community here in New York City, the migrants and the asylum seekers. What are they telling you about these comments? What do they think? Immigrant advocates have said that those comments are racist, stereotypical.

Some public figures have said that they're insane, that they're appalled by them. But, Tom, you're right. We've covered extensively the immigrants plied, although they subject themselves to get to the states. And as far as the drownings, which is a very sensitive subject for us, we don't have any accurate figures. The last figures I saw are 2,700 drownings in the last 25 years. But we've shown the plight of immigrants. And considering the dangers that they put themselves through,

it's a very sensitive subject for immigrants. Joanna Suarez, again, great interview. Thank you for trying to get answers from the mayor. And we appreciate you coming on Top Story. Thank you for underneath. We want to turn out of the criminal trial for New Jersey Democratic Senator Bob Menendez. It's underway.

and Menendez pleading not guilty to 16 counts of federal corruption charges. He, along with his wife, are accused of leveraging their political power in exchange for lavish gifts. NBC's Jonathan Deans has the details. Today, New Jersey Democratic Senator Bob Menendez walking into federal court, where prosecutors alleged he put his own greed ahead of his country in opening statements calling him corrupt, accusing him of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in payoffs, including gold bars, convertible and other items as part of a widespread bribery scheme. For years, Robert Menendez betrayed the people he was supposed to serve by taking bribes, the prosecutor told the jury. Among

the charges, prosecutors allege Menend has acted as a foreign agent, accepting payoffs to help Egypt get more military aid, and abusing his position as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by allegedly helping a New Jersey man get a multi-million dollar business deal approved by the Egyptian government. This was not politics as usual. This was politics for profit, the prosecutor said. Menendez has pleaded not guilty. His attorney telling the jury today, he was not an agent of the Egyptian government, but an American patriot who took no bribes. Menendez previously said that over $400,000 in cash the FBI found in his home in suit jackets, a safe and shoes,

was just money he took out of the bank over 30 years. I have withdrawn thousands of dollars in cash from my personal savings account. which I have kept for emergencies and because of the history of my family facing confiscation in Cuba. And the Menendez defense today suggesting his wife, Nadine, was responsible for the gold bars found in their home, saying they were in her closet. He did not have a key to that closet and did not know of the gold bars in that closet, the defense attorney said. All right, Jonathan, Deans, joins us now on set live. Jonathan, I want to pick up right where you left off there. They're being tried separately, Menendez and his wife.

Could he, it sounds like, blame this all on her? That seems to be part of the defense strategy to say she was the one collecting money from friends, gold bars from friends. She has pleaded not guilty. She's going to be tried separately later this summer because she has fallen ill. So the senator can make whatever claims he wants about how she kept gold bars in her closet, unbeknownst to him. And that testimony or that information from this trial can't be. used against her in the next trial because of spousal privilege, not allowed to use communications between spouses against one another.

Okay. Jonathan Deans, on day two of this trial, which is going to be very eventful, Jonathan, we appreciate that. We went to head overseas now to Slovakia and the country's prime minister Robert Fico shot in a shocking assassination attempt. Fico has long been a divisive figure in Slovakia due to his pro-Russian anti-American stance. The country shares a border with Ukraine, Here it is, and Hungary, whose right-wing authoritarian leader has advocated for ending support for Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion. Authorities arresting a suspect following the shooting, saying an initial investigation found a, quote, clear political motivation. Kierce Simmons has the latest. Tonight, a tense Europe, shaken again, gunshots, and a possible glimpse of the shooter.

Then Slovakia's prime minister staggers to his car, hit in the stomach, his security, bundling him inside. I heard three shots, this woman says, and then he fell next to the barrier. Tonight, Robert Fizzo, airlifted to the hospital, is in a life-threatening condition. Moments after the attack, police handcuffing a man. The country's president says a suspect has been arrested. I am shocked, she says. It's an attack on our democracy. Tonight's attack coming after a spate of political assassination attempts.

In 2022, Japan's former Prime Minister, Shenzhou Aber, was shot dead in the street. A year later, an assassin's gun jammed as he targeted Argentina's then vice president, and in January, a South Korean opposition leader was stabbed in the neck. Last month, Ukraine claimed it foiled a Russian attempt to assassinate President Zelensky. But Slovakia's pro-Russian prime minister had run for re-election opposed to military aid to Ukraine, only to U-turn months later. His politics divisive, thousands protesting in the streets, over plans to bring the state broadcaster further under government control. Officials say the attacker had political motivations,

but exactly why he did it is still not clear tonight. Tom? All right, here's Simmons for us. Still ahead tonight, arrested in Paradise, a fifth person now detained in Turks and Caicos after they were found with ammunition. Why anyone thinking of traveling to the island should double-check what's in their luggage. Plus, a dash cam capturing the moment a semi-truck plunged off a bridge in Kentucky, leaving the driver holding on for her life the moment she was pulled to safety.

And the Kansas City Chief's kicker with a controversial commencement speech at points calling gay pride a, quote, deadly sin and saying women should embrace being homemakers, the backlash the three-time Super Bowl champ is facing. We're back now with a graduation speech that's making waves. Kansas City Chief's kicker and Super Bowl champ Harrison Budker, receiving major backlash for his commencement address at a Catholic liberal arts college over the weekend. The speech taking aim at Working Women, Pride Month,

and even President Biden. NBC's Kathy Park has more. It began much like any other graduation speech. I would like to start off by congratulating all of you for successfully making it to this achievement today. But minutes into this address at Benedictine College, Kansas City Chiefs star kicker Harrison Butker ramping up the rhetoric, taking aim at President Biden. Our own nation is led by a man who publicly and proudly proclaims his Catholic faith,

but at the same time is delusional enough to make the sign of the cross during a pro-abortion rally. The three-time Super Bowl champ, who was made as conservative Catholic beliefs known in previous speeches, then urging female graduates to embrace a title of homemaker. I think it is you, the women, who have had the most. most diabolical lies told to you. How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? But I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world. His message to young men? Be unapologetic in

your masculinity, fighting against the cultural emasculation of men. Budker taking aim at LGBTQ pride month with a joke. Pride, not the deadly sin sort of pride that has an entire month dedicated to it. And even quoting Taylor Swift in an apparent jab at some Catholic clergy. Because as my teammates girlfriend says, familiarity breeds contempt. The speech was met with applause at the small Catholic college. But the backlash online has been fierce. Did he forget that this is a college graduation. I literally don't understand how you can be so sexist, homophobic, and misogynistic all in one speech. On X, one person saying, this is atrocious. You can find a kicker that's not homophobic and misogynistic pretty easily, I bet. Butker, the Kansas City Chiefs, Benedictine

College, and Taylor Swift, all not responding to NBC News's request for comment. Now, many shocked fans searching for answers from Butker. What in the Handmaid's Tale is going on? I still love the Chiefs, but I definitely like you a little bit less. All right, Kathy Park joins us tonight from Knoxville, Tennessee. So let's pick up right there, Kathy. This certainly does not seem to go over well with some Chief fans. Can we expect any major fallout from this?

So Tom, in addition to the social media backlash, there is a petition circulating online demanding that Butker be dismissed from the team. It's already garnered tens of thousands of signatures, and they're demanding accountability for someone who should be a role model. But sports analysts seem to believe that it's highly unlikely that he will be cut before the regular season gets underway. Kathy Park, we appreciate it. When we come back, a new type of beach danger.

Look at this, a bull charging it at tourists in Cabo, knocking her into the sand multiple times, how another beachgoer helped potentially save her life. And how did the bull get there? That's what I want to know. All right, stay with us. Okay, we're back down with Top Stories News Feed. Another visitor detained in Turks and Caicos for ammunition possession.

The suspect arrested at the island's International Airport on Monday, making them the fifth tourist arrested on ammunition possession charges in the past six months. The previous four are all Americans, police saying they found the ammunition during a routine security check. And we have video tonight from a semi-truck crash on a bridge in Kentucky. It's wild. The dash-cam footage showing the moment the truck hits a stalled vehicle then goes off the edge of a bridge. The driver screaming as the front of the truck dangles above the water, crews repelling into the cab to eventually rescue the 33-year-old. She is facing several charges.

And in Mexico, a bull attacking a tourist on a beach in Cabo. Video shows a woman feeding the bull before it charged at her. Horrified onlookers hiding behind vehicles. trying to gather her things and get away when the bull shoves her into the sand again. A brave beachgoer throwing a bucket of water at the bull, allowing the woman to flee. It's unclear where the bull came from or how it got on the beach. So far, no word on how that woman is doing. Okay, time to power in politics now.

And tonight we want to take a look at how the Trump hush money trial happening here in New York is playing with voters thousands of miles away, specifically in the battleground state of Michigan. Trump is leading in a recent New York Times poll among registered voters. in the state. But Biden ahead among likely voters. It shows just how close the two candidates are right now. NBC Shack Brewster traveled to Kent County, a swing county in a swing state where he spoke to voters at get this, a swing dancing event about their thoughts on the former president. Do you plan to testify, Mr. Trump? As President Trump's hush money trial in New York City nears its close, can you believe I've been in here for five weeks since the campaigning?

The focus is shifting to its political impact around the country, especially in crucial battle. States. Have you been paying any attention to his trial at all? What trial? She's the person to ask. Kent County, Michigan is a traditionally conservative area that Donald Trump narrowly won in 2016, but Joe Biden swung four years later. And mimicking its swing status every Tuesday, residents here gather for swing dancing, where

we talk to voters from across the county. Are you following the witnesses, the testimony? A little bit. In a nationwide poll conducted by CNN late last month, 56% of adult surveyed said the hush money-related charges should disqualify Trump from the presidency or cast doubt on his fitness for the job. While some moderate voters here say they're aware of his criminal trial,

there's little evidence a possible conviction would fundamentally change this race. If Donald Trump is convicted, would that impact how you view him as a candidate? I'm not sure. to be honest. Other things I've heard they does impact how I feel about him, but this, no. You're considering voting for him again. We'll have to see what happens to this outcome, you know, right now. Does the trial impact whether or not you can support it? It does. Yeah, you could be in jail, you know. Kathy Harris runs an organization that registers voters in low turnout precincts in the county's black and Latino neighborhoods. She says voters care more about table issues,

like the economy and reproductive freedom. When you're going to people's houses, when you're knocking on doors, is Trump's trial coming up at all in those conversations? I haven't heard it yet. Not once. We've been doing this now for three weeks. And Tom, of course, there is still more time for attitudes here to change. There's more testimony. There's an actual verdict. We learned today that there will be debates between these two candidates. That presents, of course, another opportunity for Trump's legal troubles to be resurfaced. Tom? Shaq Brewster on the campaign trail for us. Shaq, we thank you.

Coming up, disaster in Brazil, the death toll rising in the country south as catastrophic flooding engulfs the region. The celebrity chef and two Olympians now hitting paws on their own dreams and lives to help rescue those stranded in the water. Stay with us. We are back now with the Americas and we turn to Brazil where catastrophic flooding continues to cripple the southern part of the country. The death toll rising and there's even more rain on the forecast. Now, some famous Brazilians, including a top chef, and two Olympians are putting their own dreams on hold to help their communities. NBC's Ellison Barber has this one. Homes underwater, rooftop rescues, and streets washed away.

This is the worst flooding Brazil's scene in 80 years. As you can see, the crisis is still here and is very strong. Relentless rain sent river level swelling, with Brazil's Rio Grande du Sole. getting the worst of it. Flooding has now decimated entire neighborhoods. Close to 150 people are dead and more than 120 people are unaccounted for, according to local officials. As some wait in agony for news of their loved ones. Others are returning home, trying to pick up scattered pieces of their lives and livelihoods. The first thing is the sadness and the dream and a and a life that we created there,

and to have it taken away like that, is heartbreaking. I don't even have the words, this farmer says. It's not just a financial loss, it's a feeling, the planting of a seedling, the little horse that you had there and that you loved more, and now you don't have anymore,

so I can't even express myself. But in between all of the devastation, there are stories of everyday heroes. Like Fabio Nunez. Nunez is one of Brazil's top chefs. Nunez is one of Brazil's top chefs. Normally he'd be in his restaurant crafting new dishes. Instead, he spent the last 14 days rescuing people trapped in their homes.

We found people after four days that they are just floating in the water, like on anything that they could hold. And preparing meals to feed the newly homeless. my family's here. Like, this is my hometown. I was born in the hospital right there. Yeah, it's important for me to be here because I need to be a better human. And the universe putting me here right now. So I'll help to rebuild and I'll help to share their love. And he's not the only Brazilian putting his life and dreams on pole. Tuchenghagen and Ivaldo Becker were training to represent Brazil in rowing at the Olympic Games in Paris.

But they're pressing pause. Together, they decided to abandon their Olympic dreams to stay in Brazil and help their community. What motivates me so far is being able to help, Ivoldo explains, help a person, rescue a person. This is what motivates us most now. gives us strength. If everyone thinks together, Evaldo says, I think we can do a lot more. I think this is the time for us to come together and make a difference.

And inch by inch, they are. They might not be in Paris, but they are embodying the spirit of the Olympic Games, inspiring others by being the best version of themselves. Elison joins us now here in studio. So, Ellison, this started about two weeks ago, and I know one of the big concerns they have there now, it's not only the weather, but it's also disease.

Yeah, I mean, there are so many layers here. And look, it was sunny in Brazil today, and our viewers could probably see that in the back of Fabio's interview. But even he said, we know this is temporary. More rain is forecasted in the coming days, and the river levels are so high. There's already so much flooding.

And even where water has receded, the ground is so saturated that that is incredibly concerning. Adding to that is this issue of diseases that have been spreading in the region for quite a while now. And look, scientists say everything that we're seeing happen in the Americas right now as it relates to weather, as it relates to the spread of diseases is tied to climate change. In this region, we've seen more devastating weather events in recent years from floods to droughts.

We've also seen viral diseases spreading more rapidly, like dengue. Right now in the region, the World Health Organization says they have clocked over 6 million cases of dengue. A lot of them in Brazil, and they say, experts say that that is tied to climate change because as the climate is warming there, they say it's allowing mosquitoes to thrive and spread those sorts of diseases at a much faster rate. All right, Alison Barber, with an in-depth look at what's happening there in Brazil, we appreciate it. When we come back, our top story spotlight interview, a former Arizona state senator, finally walking across the graduation stage at 78 years old, the moment coming

nearly six decades after he was kicked out of college for protesting. What he told me about his life advocating for Latinos and why this moment meant so much to him. He crossed the stage at his graduation from Arizona State University at 78 years old. It's a moment he's waited nearly 60 years for after a lifetime of leadership and service in the Latino community. Gutierrez, who served his nation during the Vietnam War, also partnered with the iconic civil rights activist Cesar Chavez,

organizing and advocating for farm workers in California. In 1972, Gutierrez won a seat in the Arizona State Senate at just 27 years old. He spent 14 years in the legislature. 14 years in the legislature fighting for his state to join the Medicaid program, ensuring health care for millions. In the decades since, Gutierrez has stood up for Latinos and migrants in the public and private sectors, helping build schools and community organizations.

But one accomplishment had always alluded him that was earning a college degree. Back in 1968, Gutierrez was kicked out of ASU while protesting for the rights of Latino laundry workers on campus. Now, more than 55 years later, that dream has finally come true. And tonight, Alfredo Gutierrez joins Top Story in our spotlight interview. Alfredo, first, thank you so much for being here, and congratulations. Well, thank you. And I want to play that video again for our viewers, and I want you to talk to us about that moment.

When you received your diploma, what was that like? I was a moment of great pride, great joy, an obligation fulfilled. There were multiple of emotions running through me, but all of them, all of them imbued with happiness for having done it. Talk to me about that moment, though, back in 1968, when you were kicked out of ASU. Why did they kick you out? What did they tell you? Well, I was the visual face, the leader of a protest that ultimately took over the president's office. And the protest was focused on the maltreatment we felt of laundry workers, laundry workers that were cleaning for sororities.

and we had asked for a variety of meetings. We were turned down, and ultimately we took over the president's office. I was the public face, and the legislature, the Board of Regents, the press, there were a variety of people demanding my head, so ultimately they got it. This is incredible. Our producers were telling me that you were there for the Hispanic convocation, right? And when you were there, you were kicked out for fighting for the Latinos. And then today there were 4,100 Hispanic students who were also graduating with you. What did that

mean for you? Well, I was, you know, I was one of the people who organized the original Hispanic convocation of a nearby Latino community called Guadalupe. The first one was there. There was less than 40 students who took part in it. That was 40 years ago that we did that. And so it was important to be at this convocation. I didn't go to the major graduation, but I went to the Hispanic convocation. I was the keynote speaker in that convocation because I think I had a message. And for once, I think I was the right messenger.

I think students were listening to me for what I represent, my life represent. And they knew who I was. I knew what I've done. You know, being a true activist is never easy. It is not simple work. It's difficult and you have to make a lot of sacrifices. Talk to me about what your life has been like, being somebody who has fought for Latino rights. Because at times the movement has been ignored.

At times the movement has been shunned. And at times, even early in your life, you were shut out. What has sort of the evolution been like for you? Well, the first advice I give young people who are starting out at this and who are organized, even today organizing against anti-immigrant legislation that's going on in the state legislature. The first piece of advice is mostly you lose and you have to be ready for that and you have to be ready to get up the next day and get on to the fight because mostly you lose. What ultimately happens is you win, and you change the tenor of the state, you change

the tenor of this nation. You change the definition of justice so that it is ever expanding. But in the process of winning, mostly you lose. That's the tough part. What have you thought about the protests that have taken place across college campuses this semester in relation to Gaza, and then also, you know, sort of taking. over some campuses, building the 10 cities, and then in some of these cases,

the students who didn't even participate in these protests weren't allowed to have their graduation ceremonies. I, you know, there's been this undertone of anti-Semitism. In some cases, people claiming it in other places, actions that clearly are anti-Semitic, but the underlying issue, the underlying issue, The underlying issue is war, the underlying issue is that a probable genocide is taking place even today.

Starvation equals genocide, bombing equals genocide. That Israel has a right to exist, it's not in question, that it has a right to defend itself, it's not in question. It has the right, at this point, the death that's 34,000. that it has the right to create starvation in Gaza, at that point you begin to question. And I admire young people who are taking a stand against it. I do want to ask you if you had a chance to speak to the people

who kicked you out of school so many years ago, what would you have told them? Well, let's not go back to what I would have told them then. And let me tell you what I tell them now. I, look, they were under immense pressure. They were acting in much the same way that many administrators in colleges are acting today. So in many cases, those pressures that you can witness today were the same pressures going on then. And what do I say to them?

I think they thought they were done. doing the right thing. And in retrospect, 50 years later, life has been good. I've struggled, I've worked hard, but I think I've achieved much of what I would have anyway. Alfredo Gutierrez, congratulations on finally receiving your diploma and your lifetime, your body of work, fighting for the community that you believe in, that you're a part of. Thank you very much. And we thank you for watching Top Story tonight. I'm Tom Yamese. New York. Stay right there. More news on the way.