Top Story with Tom Llamas - Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Episode Date: November 21, 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, breaking news, a possible breakthrough in the burglaries of Chief Stars, Travis Kelsey and Patrick Mahomes. The FBI teaming up with local law enforcement working to determine if the thefts are tied to an international crime ring. Authorities saying the burglaries have striking similarities. It comes as officials across the country target so-called burglary tourism. The late details just coming in. Also tonight, a Trump world show a force on Capitol Hill. Vice President elect J.D. Vance and Trump's embattled Attorney General Pick Matt Gates meeting with Republican senators trying to get Gates over the finish line. It comes as the fight intensifies over whether to release that House Ethics Committee report. Members hearing from women who say Gates paid them for sex. One woman saying she had sex with the former congressman when she was just 17 years old. What the leaders of that committee are now saying. Also tonight, the firestorm in Congress over transgender rights. Congresswoman Nancy Mace clashing with newly elected member Sarah McBride, who is a trans woman, about whether she can use ladies' restrooms on the hill.

The new bathroom policy just announced by the House Speaker, bomb cyclone bears down. The massive storm slamming the northwest with hurricane force winds. Trees falling into homes, cars, even a homeless encampment, leaving at least two people dead. Bill Cairns is standing by with the timing and the track. Plus, the chilling attack on Manhattan's upper west side, a lone suspect slashing a tourist across the face in broad daylight. Police now investigating what they say was an unprovoked attack. Rust's controversial premiere, more than three years after the tragic death of cinematographer Helena Hutchins in that on-set shooting, the Western debuting at a Polish film festival without its star Alec Baldwin in attendance. What the director, who was injured in the shooting, told us about his absence. And the growing list of athletes taking part in

the Trump dance craze. The president-elect's signature moves to the tune of YMCA, taking the sports world by storm. And new developments tonight in the Susan Smith case, the woman convicted of drowning her two sons three decades ago, now asking the parole board to set her free. The decision just in. Top story starts right now. Good evening. I'm Ellison Barber in for Tom Yamis. We have a lot of of developments to get to tonight in both houses of Congress, including late details on the fight to confirm Trump's controversial AG pick, Matt Gates. But we're going to begin our broadcast tonight with breaking news and a possible breakthrough in those burglaries of several famous

athletes, including Chief Stars Travis Kelsey and Patrick Mahomes. The FBI is now investigating whether an international crime ring carried out those burglaries. Officials have said the thefts were very similar and possibly coordinated. It comes as burglary. tourism has risen in popularity in places like Los Angeles. These images capturing members of a South American crime ring stealing from residents in the city of Los Angeles in recent months. For the latest developments on this, I want to get right to NBC News correspondent Morgan Chesky. Morgan, walk us through what we know about this investigation right now. Yeah, Alison, according to two senior law enforcement officials, they told NBC news that they are now

working, according to the FBI, with local officials in order to try to find out more about these very high-profile burglaries that have taken place over the last several weeks or so, although they remain clear that they are not officially connecting these to the burglary of Patrick Mahomes or Travis Kelsey. They are saying that the FBI is working in conjunction with local police, with other agencies to, as you mentioned, try to have a potential connection to the South American crime rings. These are criminals that experts say are highly efficient and coordinated and organized here, Ellison, that can stake out a property. They can understand when a person leaves, and then they can move in in just a matter of mere hours, taking everything

that they need. Authorities stressing that they don't know exactly who conducted these burglaries, but this is a very active investigation. Ellison. All right. A lot to watch there. Morgan Chesky with that breaking news. Thank you. I want to get to our other major headlines tonight out of Washington. President-elect Donald Trump making a big push for his controversial pick to lead the Department of Justice, Matt Gates. Trump calling in his number two, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, to nudge his soon-to-be former colleagues. The Ohio senator with Gates at his side taking meetings on Capitol Hill today trying to win over skeptical Republicans. Many of those GOP senators sitting on the Judiciary Committee tasked with vetting Gates before the full Senate vote,

some of them still not committing to supporting the embattled former congressman. The biggest question still outstanding is will those senators ever see the contents of that House Ethics Committee report? The committee hearing testimony that Gates paid multiple women for sex and even had sex with one woman when she was under age, just 17. A bipartisan group of senators calling for a chance to review the report. But some Trump allies have been critical of the handling of Gates' confirmation. Lindsay Graham speaking out to reporters today. I think Matt is a very, very smart guy. And these allegations will be dealt with in committee, but he deserves a chance to confront his accusers.

And the process is turning into a lynch mob. And I'm not going to be part of that. On the other side of the Capitol, another battle playing out over where some members of Congress can use the bathroom. South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace fighting to bar transgender women from using women's bathrooms on the Hill. A resolution directed at newly elected member Sarah McBride, the first trans woman to be elected to the United States Congress. Tonight, House Speaker Mike Johnson announcing new rules, even as he calls for all members to be treated with respect. Ryan Nobles is standing by for us on Capitol Hill with the latest on that, but first we're going

to go to NBC's Garrett Haake with the Trump team push for their firebrand, AG. Tonight, 24 hours after President-elect Trump said he was having no second thoughts about his embattled pick for Attorney General, former Florida Congressman Matt Gates, Vice President-elect Vance was on Capitol Hill with Gates for closed-door meetings with the Republican senators who will decide if he gets the job. They've been going great. Senator's been giving me a lot of good advice. I'm looking forward to a hearing. Folks have been very supportive. They've been saying we're going to get a fair process. Gates meeting with undecided Judiciary Committee member Tom Tillis.

My posture is that every nominee, whether they are Biden's and last administration, or whether they are President Trump, deserve a process. And Missouri's Josh Hawley, who told us he's planning to support all of Trump's picks. Are you confident Matt Gates has sufficient character to be the top law enforcement official of the United States? Yeah, and I would just say for those who are concerned about that, hear from him, you know. I think Donald Trump's said history of that. Give him a shot. North Dakota's Kevin Kramer telling us Trump has spoken to him personally about Gates.

This is going to be a different administration with a different style. And, you know, we want to dismantle this bureaucracy because the American people are demanding it. And Trump ally Lindsey Graham blasting what he calls a lynch mob against Gates. But critical to a growing number of Republican senators, seeing that report on Gates from the House Ethics Committee, which met today to debate whether to release it. No decision was made. There has been no agreement to release the report. The committee has heard from women who say Gates paid them for sex, according to their attorneys, including a woman who says she was 17 years old at the time.

Gates has repeatedly denied the accusations. The Justice Department also looked into the allegations, but ultimately closed its investigation and did not charge Gates. Tonight's Senate Democrats sending a letter to the FBI asking for the Bureau's complete evidentiary file on Gates, calling it crucial that the panel see all relevant information. As Gates remains, the Trump pick with the steepest uphill climb to confirmation. Maine Republican Susan Collins, among those appearing skeptical. I was shocked by the nomination, given the many allegations.

And NBC's Senior Capitol Hill correspondent Garrett Haake joins us now from the Hill. Garrett, this is not the end of the House Ethics Committee's meetings on the Gates' investigation. Is that right? No, definitely not, Allison. I think you're going to see another meeting in December. The first week of December, several members of the committee said they have normal business to take care of. And they did vote today to continue working on this report so we could have a re-hand. hash of this conversation a few weeks from now. But we also saw some action on the floor tonight,

a House Democrat introducing a privileged resolution. I won't get bogged down in the procedure. But it's kind of a backdoor way to force the committee to release the report to the entire House. This hasn't been tried in this manner in something like 30 years, and it failed then. But it's a sign of how critical Democrats in particular think it is that the allegations, the fact-finding, the research that's been done in compiling this report sees the light of day before Gates's confirmation hearings sometime in January. Ellison. Garrett Hake, thank you. For more on the confirmation controversies on the Hill, let's bring in Democratic strategist

Amisha Cross and Carlos Corbello, former Republican congressman and an NBC News political analyst. Carlos, let me start with you here. Are you surprised by how much political capital President-elect Trump is expending on trying to get Gates confirmed when he does have more than one pick that could be pretty difficult to get through the Senate? It is surprising, Ellison. Not just because of all the other nominees that obviously the president, the incoming White House, wants to see confirmed, but also President Trump has described a very ambitious legislative agenda. And by putting all this pressure on senators, it really does spend a lot of political capital. Some of these senators are going to demand other items in exchange for their votes. So Donald Trump is out of the gate spending a lot of the capital. And he's accumulated. in, hey, let's be fair. He had a strong victory. He's got plenty of capital to spend, but eventually it does run out, and he's spending a lot early.

Amisha, what do you think Democrats should be doing here from a strategic standpoint now that we know a decision on this report is going to be delayed? They should be talking to Republicans across the aisle. They should be having those conversations. We know that that Gates does not have a ton of friends on the right either. But in addition to that, I think that they should be calling to question who this guy is, what he stands for, and to a point that was made a moment ago, there's a lot of political capital being expended here, but it's being expended here because Donald Trump is making a concerted effort to showcase how he feels about Matt Gates and what Matt Gates

would mean to him. Because you don't spend that type of political capital unless you know that this person will be in lockstep with all the vengeance, all of the rhetoric, all of the steps you want to take in pursuing your enemies when it comes to some of the things that Donald Trump not only said on the campaign trail, but many of the things he said even before that campaign actually began in terms of putting a target on the backs of those who he believed wronged him in multiple levels, not only in government, but also outside of it in the judiciary, as well as in the current Biden administration. I mean, Carlos, you of all people know how Congress works and also know a lot of key players

involved in this from your time in Congress. Do you think, how do you think this ends? Do you think the majority of the Senate Republicans will ultimately be influenced by that pressure from Trump and say, okay, fine, let's confirm Gates. Look, I think the way this plays out is that report is going to get out in some way, shape, reform. A strong bipartisan majority in the House want that report out. Matt Gates does not have very many friends in the House. If there were a vote, I think it would become public. and we'll see what the committee decides next time they meet.

And I will tell you today, Alison, there are not enough votes in the Senate to confirm Gates. So this is an uphill battle. I think it would be very difficult. I think the likeliest outcome is that at some point, more than four or more than three Republican senators come out and say, we're not going to be supporting Gates. And at that point, either Gates withdraws or the president decides to withdraw his name and nominate someone else. You know, Carlos, when you look at, well, actually, Amisha, let me go to you and ask first about Pete Hegseth really quickly. He is another controversial cabinet pick for Secretary of Defense, and some senior U.S. military sources have told NBC's Pentagon correspondent, Courtney Kubi, that Pete Hegisth showed, quote, zero leadership during his National Guard deployment back in 2020 and that the Trump transition team is accelerating the search right now for a deputy secretary of defense to try and stabilize the Heggseth pick.

What do you make of that, and do you think we will ultimately see Heggseth at a confirmation hearing? I think that Donald Trump has a lot of friends at Fox News, and this is somebody that he respects because this is somebody who carried the water for the culture wars every weekend for years at a time. This is somebody who has pursued anti-D-I, anti-blackness, and anti-womanhood at some of the highest levels. This is a guy who spoke the rhetoric that drove a lot of individuals to the polls to support Donald Trump because, of seeing a changing America, one where competition existed. It also included leveraging and seeing people in places that were traditionally held only by white males. And I think that for Hexef, somebody who does not have the experience or the acumen to handle

the role of sex deaf or all the responsibilities that come with it, this is actually very sad because for the Republican Party and for Donald Trump, who went out of his way to say that he was anti-Dei, that, you know, the current sex deaf, Lloyd Austin is just a DEI hire. This is a guy in Hegsef who has zero experience. This is a guy who does not deserve to be confirmed. This is a guy who wants to turn the military on its head. And it's someone who comes from Illinois who has seen my Senator Tammy Duckworth who lost her legs in combat. It is very frustrating that he is also pursuing this idea that women should not serve in combat roles.

Carlos, both Hegseth and Gates have denied allegations against them as it relates to alleged sexual assault misconduct, right? But the allegations exist. there are undoubtedly other conservative options for both Attorney General and Defense Secretary, people who have never been accused of sexual misconduct at all. Why do you think the President elect is leaning into these two so hard when he knows there are these serious allegations against him? Why go down a road that you know is going to be particularly rocky if you have other options? Well, Alison, this is Donald Trump's style. He wants to do things his way. He feels validated by the election result. He feels very strong and confident, and he really does think

that he can impose his will on the Republican Senate, now with 53 votes on his side. So look, I think most of the time there's great deference that's afforded to presidents in building their teams, but obviously there's a limit to that. And 53 votes is a lot, but it isn't 60 votes. So this is going to be an uphill climb, especially for Gates, but probably also for Hagseth and Gabbard. All right, a lot to watch. Amisha Cross, Carlos Corbello. Thank you both for your time and insights tonight.

We really appreciate it. Also on Capitol Hill tonight, the Speaker of the House weighing in on the controversy over trans rights, issuing a new policy on the use of bathrooms at the Capitol coming after the election of the first openly transgender member of Congress. NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles has the latest. Delaware's Sarah McBride made history in November, becoming the first openly trans woman to win a seat in Congress. Thank you so much to the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Her win came as Republicans made opposition to trans rights a major part of their campaign

strategy. Kamala's for they, them. President Trump is for you. Now that fight is front and center on Capitol Hill. This isn't manufactured. This is a real thing. South Carolina's Nancy Mace, who broke ground herself as the first woman to graduate from the once all-male military academy, the Citadel, arguing that McBride should not be allowed to use women's restrooms on the Capitol complex. Congressman-elect McBride already has a private restroom in their own office. There are unisex facilities throughout the Capitol. It led to House Speaker Mike Johnson issuing a new policy that says restrooms, changing

rooms, and locker rooms are, quote, reserved for individuals of that biological sex. A man is a man and a woman is a woman. And a man cannot become a woman. But I also believe that we treat everybody with dignity. This battle, a microcosm of the war raging across the country over trans rights, with Republicans pushing back on bathroom access, pronoun use, and health care for trans people. They're endangering women. They're endangering girls of all kinds.

And everybody should reject it. It's gross. It's a fight McBride, who came to Congress to deal with economic and quality of life issues, did not intend on being the face of. I'm not running to be the transgender member of Congress. I'm running to be Delaware's member of Congress. And Ryan Noble joins us now from Capitol Hill. Ryan, have we heard from McBride in terms of her reaction to all of this and where this fight goes from here?

We have, Allison, and her response is very similar to that interview I did with her before she was elected to Congress. And the fact that she's not really interested in being the face of the trans movement here on Capitol Hill. She came instead to deal with issues like economic and quality of life issues. This is what she said in a statement tonight. She said, I am not here to fight about bathrooms. I'm here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families. Like all members, I will follow the rules, as outlined by Speaker Johnson, even if I disagree with them. So this fight that we've seen played out across the country, especially during the campaign and now front and center here on Capitol Hill.

I'll listen. NBC's Ryan Nobles. Thank you. Now to the weather and the northwest slammed by severe storms and what climate scientists are calling a once-in-a-decade bomb cyclone. The system already turning deadly, killing two and wrecking havoc on the roads. NBC news correspondent Steve Patterson has more. Tonight, the chaotic so-called bomb cyclone dropping a deluge of severe weather on the northwest. The storm packing hurricane force winds with gusts up to 80 miles an hour, snarling traffic, downing power lines,

and uprooting trees. In Washington State, officials say severe weather already claimed two lives as large trees crashed on homes, cars, trailers, and buses, whipping winds leaving hundreds of thousands without power. Meanwhile, in northern California, multiple semis spun out, jackknifing on a major interstate due to whiteout conditions. To me, it's important to be wary of what's going on as far as the weather. The power of the cyclone is so large, satellite imagery captured it from space. Authorities now bracing for the impact of an atmospheric river. A narrow band of intense moisture expected to douse the region with a fire hose of rainfall, with totals up to 15 inches over the next 48 hours in parts of California and up to five feet of snow

in the mountains. Climate experts say these weather events are growing larger and lasting longer, meaning more intense periods of rain. Blashlights, batteries, water, canned goods, you know, I'm all stocked up. Because who knows, right? These are small roads. Anything could happen. Residents across the west already worn and restless, now bracing for more bad news as that ominous skyborne river stares down. Steve Patterson joins us now from Eureka, California. Steve, what are you seeing there? Of course, as you may be able to see, the rain is now starting to come down in earnest. But officials warn, this is just the beginning. This could last. nonstop consistently for the next three days. We're talking 24, 48, 72 hours into Saturday.

What that does opens this up to danger. Flash flooding, of course, snow in the mountains could cause whiteouts on the roads. But the big danger, these burn scar areas in Northern California, if the rain settles, that opens this up to mudslides. Very dangerous. They're telling folks, if you don't have to be outside, stay inside. Allison. All right, Steve Patterson, on behalf of all of us, thank you for being out there. We really, really appreciate you. Thank you. Thank you. And NBC News meteorologist Bill Karens joins us now with more. Okay, Bill, walk us through what we should expect in the hours ahead, particularly for our friends on the West Coast. Yeah, so we had our huge storm, you know, the bomb cyclone. This one, you see the

cinnamon bun spinning here off the coast of British Columbia. So that was storm number one. That's what was responsible for all the power outages and all the heavy rain that's now over California. Tomorrow, another storm is going to form. Almost in the same place that this one's origin was this will probably be another bomb cycle, two in a row. And this one's going to drive heavy rain into the same areas that just got it, especially as we go throughout the day tomorrow and then right into the first half of Friday. So that's why we're concerned, especially with areas of Northern California, that high risk of flash flooding. And the East Coast probably going to see some rain soon, right? Will it be enough to fix the drought conditions we've been seeing here that have

been issues with the wildfires in places like New Jersey? Yeah, drought buster, no. Fireender, definitely. 100%. So heavy rain, New York City early tomorrow morning, showers on Friday, then a dry weekend. And this is a good soaking heavy rain. One the two inches widespread from about Philadelphia northwards. That's going to help put out all the fires. And there will even be some snow tomorrow, Allison, too. Our friends in the Ohio Valley, Chicago, Pennsylvania, the mountains of West Virginia. You'll see a lot of pictures online with people looking at their first flakes of the season. I for one. I'm excited for those photos. Bill Cairns, thank you. We appreciate it. Still ahead tonight, the parole decision in the case of Susan Smith, a woman in prison for killing

her own children, now pleading for her freedom. We have the parole board's decision. Plus, the mold-like substance found at a toothpaste factory, how the company is responding. And the Trump dance craze, the president-elect's signature moves becoming a growing trend. What's behind it? Stay with us. We're back now with the verdict in the murder case of Leakin Riley. A judge today finding Venezuelan migrant 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra guilty on three counts of felony murder, sentencing him to life in prison. Here's NBC's Priya Shrether. I'll now announce the verdict.

After a trial that lasted four days, 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, tonight sentenced to life without parole for the brutal killing of 22-year-old Lake and Riley. There is no end to the pain, suffering, and loss that we have experienced or will continue to endure. Her family and loved ones, emotional. Seeing the police body camera video showing the moment Lake and Riley's mother first learned her daughter died. Prosecutors say the nursing student was out for a morning jog on the University of Georgia campus in February when Ibarra, who was lurking in the woods nearby, attempted to rape her and then killed her. Not only does the physical evidence identify him, the video evidence identifies him. Despite numerous studies that indicate undocumented immigrants commit fewer crimes,

the case has become a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration during the presidential election cycle. Ibarra, an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela. Right here in Georgia, our nation was robbed of a brilliant 22-year-old nursing student, Lake and Riley. During the trial, the state presenting surveillance video showing Lake and Riley, her last text message to her mother and her attempt to call 911 before Ibarra attacked her. She did fight, and it is a direct result of that fight that gives you all the physical evidence you need to convict him. Prosecutors say Ibarra's DNA was found underneath Riley's fingernails, his thumbprint on her phone, and Riley's DNA on his jacket he wore when he committed the crime.

Prosecutors say this surveillance video shows Ibarra discarding the jacket. The defense claiming the evidence was circumstantial and pointing the finger at Abara's brother. Tonight, Riley's family remembering her as a kind, selfless, loving friend and daughter. The best daughter, sister, granddaughter, friend, an overall person that you could ever hope to meet. And at the end of the sentencing, the judge did tell Ibarra that he has 30 days to appeal this decision or ask for a new trial in this case. Alison, Priya Shrether, in Athens, Georgia. Thank you. It was a case that made global headlines 30 years ago. Susan Smith, the South Carolina mom, convicted of drowning her two sons after sending police

on a bogus manhunt for a black kidnapping suspect. Well, today, after decades behind bars, her bid for freedom was denied. NBC News correspondent Kathy Park has this report. Despite a request for freedom, a South Carolina parole board denied Susan Smith's release, Roughly 30 years after she was found guilty of drowning her two young boys, Alex and Michael. Jason Smith is denied the vote. The vote is unanimous. Appearing virtually, the now 53-year-old Smith expressed remorse for her actions. I want to say how very sorry I am. I know that what I did was so horrible. And I'll give anything if I can go back and change it. Smith first made national headlines October 1994 when she claimed a black man carjacked her vehicle with her children still inside.

Authorities launched an intense nine-day search for a suspect, but ultimately she confessed to killing her sons. Her then estranged husband, David Smith, stood by her side as they pleaded for help. I want to say to my babies, that your mama loves you so much. Today, he spoke against her release. her tragic mistake she purposely meant to end their life he changed my life for the rest of my life that night the original prosecutors in the case saying the board made the right decision do you think she's the same woman that she was 30 years ago i believe susan is the same woman she was 30 years ago when she laughed in the courtroom when the jury wasn't in and cried as soon as the jury came in

David Smith turning the focus back to his sons and his commitment to keeping Susan in jail as she reapplies for parole every two years. For two more years, there'll still be justice for Mike and Alex. And Kathy Park joins us now from Columbia, South Carolina. Kathy, some of our viewers might not have been alive when this case made international headlines, but it did dominate the news back then. Susan Smith's time behind bars, it's been filled with a lot of controversy. Did that play a role in today's decision at all? So, Alison, it certainly did play a role. And when you look at her history over the 30 years that she was in prison, she incurred several infractions, one of which includes possession of contraband, drugs, also having sex with prison guards.

But the parole board had to weigh that, but also determined whether she would be a threat to the community and whether she would obey the law if released. Alison. Kathy Park in Columbia, South Carolina. Thank you. When we come back, a chilling attack in New York City, a man allegedly slashing a tourist in the face, the manhunt for that suspect. Plus, the movie Rust, premiering three years after the film's cinematographer was shot and killed on set after a bullet fired from Alec Baldwin's prop gun. What the director told Top Story about the decision to still hold the screening. Stay with us.

We're back now with Top Stories news feed and breaking tonight in Idaho judge ruling that murder suspect Brian Coburger could face the death penalty if he is convicted. Coburger is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in 2022. Tonight, the judge denying a motion to remove the death penalty as a possible punishment. The prosecution saying they will seek the death penalty, that trial is set. to begin in August next year. And in New York, police are searching for a suspect in an apparent random slashing of a tourist. Surveillance video shows a group walking down a street on the Upper West Side. The suspect then appears to run after them.

A 55-year-old Danish tourist was slashed on his ear and cheek. He is expected to be okay. This attack comes two days after a man was arrested for a string of random stabbing across the city that left three people dead. And the FDA says it found bacteria and black mold-like substances at a Tom's of Maine toothpaste factory. The FDA releasing those findings today after an inspection of the Stanford Maine facility back in May. They say bacteria that can cause blood infections was found in the water supply and some products, potentially contaminating products that included things like Tom's Simply White,

Tom's Wicked Cool, and Tom's Silly Strawberry Toothpaste. The company says the mold-like substance was found. in a hard-to-reach area and has been cleaned. No illnesses have been reported. Now to the long-delayed premiere of Rust. That is the movie where during filming Alec Baldwin's prop gun went off, killing the cinematographer and crew members.

NBC's Chloe Malas spoke to the director about the controversial decision to move forward with the screening. It's been more than three years since Rust Cinematographer Helena Hutchins was killed on the film's New Mexico set, But the movie finally made its debut Wednesday at a film festival in Poland. It gets bittersweet, obviously.

I think we would all have preferred that Lena was there standing proudly talking about it. The film's director, Joel Sousa, who was also shot the day actor Alec Baldwin's prop gun, fired a live run of ammunition during a rehearsal, speaking out to NBC News's top story moments after the premiere. It's been so long living with sort of just the insanity that kind of has engulfed everything. There is a sense of relief, I think, in this moment, finally having happened. But noticeably absent was Baldwin, who was charged with manslaughter for Hutchinson's death. He denies responsibility and saw his trial dismissed over the summer. Sousa says, though, not to read into his absence.

Was that even on the table for him to be there? Yeah, I doubt that's something that was ever even discussed. I mean, this is a cinematographer's film festival. It's not a star-studded gala. Also not there, Hutchinson's mother, father, and sister, who stayed back in their native Ukraine, saying in part in a statement through their attorney Gloria Alred on the eve of the premiere that they were boycotting the event. Writing, Baldwin has never called them to apologize and that he and the film's producers are profiting from the tragedy. Baldwin's representative did not immediately return NBC News's request for comment.

But Baldwin did say this in an emotional ABC News interview with George Stephanopoulos in 2021 after meeting Helena's son. This boy doesn't have a mother anymore. and there's nothing we can do to bring her back. And I told him, I said, I don't know what to say. I don't know how to convey to you, how sorry I am, and how I'm willing to do anything I can to cooperate. In a statement to NBC News, Russ movie productions also saying in part, Gloria Alred's misrepresentation of both the Caramage Festival

and any profit motivation is disappointing. The decision to complete rust was made with the full support of Helena's family. Hutchinson's husband Matthew is part of an undisclosed settlement with Baldwin and the film's producers was made an executive producer on the movie when they completed filming last year. When do you miss her the most? I saw a picture of her smiling the other day and I just thought, you know, she'll never smile again. The film's new cinematographer described taking the reins after the tragedy. Some people may say, why finish the film?

Is that the right move here? In addition to the tragedy of Helena losing her life, it's also awful that that's the only thing that the majority of the world knows Helena for. And hopefully via this film, people will know her as a cinematographer and how she sees the world. In the closing credits of the film, a dedication reads for Helena, followed by a quote

attributed to the cinematographer. What can we do to make this better? Chloe Malas joins us now here in studio. So, Chloe, what are people saying about the film? And in terms of where it could be seen, if people wanted to do that, where is it showing? So the film's director, Joel Sousa, who I interviewed, he said that there should be an announcement soon and that the movie will hopefully be available anywhere that movies can be watched, whether that's in theaters or on streaming. Look, I think it's safe to say that a lot of people, Allison, are going to see the movies simply because of the tragedy. And that sounds sad to say, but ultimately that will mean money and the podcast.

for her husband, Matthew Hutchins, and their son, and they had that undisclosed settlement. And part of that was that proceeds from the film would go to them, and that's why they agreed to finish it. Variety claims that there was a polite response with people clapping, but that they really clapped when they saw Helena's name in the credits and that some people walked out before the credits even finished, which isn't really customary at a premiere. But again, ultimately, I do think people will want to see the film. All right. Chloe Malas, thank you. Now to Top Story's Global Watch, and we begin in the UK with the somber farewell, the former One Direction star Liam Payne.

The service outside of London attended by Payne's family, friends, and his former bandmates, Simon Cowell, who helped form the band on the X-Factor UK, seen embracing Payne's parents. The 31-year-old died last month after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. Three people have been charged in connection to his death for allegedly supplying him with narcotics. And the United Nations says at least 150 people were killed in Port of Prince Haiti this week as gang violence escalates. Residents and police fighting side by side in a suburb of the capital city trying to repel a gang that allegedly targeted the upscale neighborhood. Amid the broader ongoing violence, Doctors Without Borders announcing it is halting its services in Haiti. Now to the latest on the Russia-Ukraine war. The U.S. shutting the doors of its embassy in Key today

after receiving what American officials described as specific information of a potential significant air attack. The move comes on the heels of the U.S.'s expanded support of Ukraine and President Biden's latest decision to provide Ukraine with a controversial type of landmines and to allow Ukrainian forces to carry out strikes inside of Russia with long-range weapons supplied by the United States. NBC's chief international correspondent Keir Simmons joins us now with more. Kier, it's well into the night now in Kiev. Talk to us about this serious potential air threat, as U.S. officials are describing it, to the U.S. embassy there. Yeah, we haven't seen any sign of that, Ellison, on the ground. It's a little bit mysterious.

Clearly, what we can say is that the U.S. had intelligence, because that's what the embassy said it had, of an airstrike that caused it to want to close the doors of that embassy. Now, that's serious. That suggests that the U.S. believed that Russia was going to target the U.S. embassy. Now, that doesn't seem to have happened. Why? Well, there could be a million reasons, not least, that Russia changed its mind, or perhaps the intelligence wasn't quite right,

you can figure it out for yourself. But I think it does point to a very... serious level of concern in Washington and other Western capitals about the position of Moscow at this point, Moscow's reaction to things like the approval of those long-range weapons use by Ukraine. Yeah, let's talk a little more about those weapons, and particularly President Biden's decision to supply Ukrainian troops with these anti-personnel landmines, which are designed to be used against humans, right? What is the significance of that policy shift?

Yeah, I mean, the Pentagon is saying that these are a different kind of landmines than the type that you've seen campaigners rail against and say you get left in the terrain and have to be cleared and that children stumbled upon them, you know, decades after a war. They say they're not like that. They defuse. They can be on the timers. So, okay, perhaps not quite as controversial as landmines who have been in the past. I think it does indicate, we said this yesterday, Edison, that Ukraine is trying to hold its battle lines against really Russia on the front foot ahead of the arrival of potentially President-elect Trump.

And the talks that he has said that he wants to see. But the U.S. didn't want to send these landmines, and now the Biden administration is, and I think that tells you something. And President Vladimir Putin in Russia, he has lowered the threshold for use of nuclear weapons. Our Courtney QB spoke to Defense Secretary, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, about that move. Let's listen to what he had to say, and then we'll talk right after. We've known for several weeks that they were revamping their policy on use of nuclear weapons. As I look at what they're doing, and we watch their strategic forces very carefully, I don't see a change in their strategic force posture.

And so we'll continue to remain vigilant in this regard. But at this point, no, I don't see an indication that there's an eminent intent to use nuclear weapons. So Secretary Austin, not sounding particularly concerned there, Are you hearing anything different from other NATO officials about this seemingly apparent shift from Russia? Yeah, other Western leaders have described Russia's change of this nuclear protocol as rhetoric. Look, here's the bottom line, Alison. If President Putin wants to fire a tactical nuclear weapon, let's hope he doesn't. He can do that no matter frankly what the protocol is.

And that's where I think they think it's signaling rather than. action and they would see that action on the ground. But I don't think that, I mean, I think these are still worrying times for Native officials. Kier Simmons, thank you. Coming up next, the new documentary detailing the agony and strength of four mothers, three of their daughters kidnapped by Boko Haram. One kidnapped herself. The filmmaker joins us for a top story spotlight interview right after this. We're back now with our spotlight series and a look at mothers of Chibok. It is a documentary that premiered this past weekend in New York City following four mothers,

three who had daughters kidnapped back in 2014 by Boko Haram. One of them kidnapped themselves. That abduction of 276 schoolgirls stunned the global community. And while their story is no longer on the front page, over 80 are still missing, according to Amnesty International, and their families are still living with that pain. a look at the film. There's a look at the film. The documentary, I don't know how much,

you know, I'm going to have been and then they're going to, you know, that's what we're doing about. Yes, we're, we're going to do,

and, we're, we're, we're, and we're, and, that, that's,

how, that's, I'm, ... Mm-hmm. Mm. The documentary's filmmaker, filmmaker and director Joel Kachie Benson joins us now on set with more.

Kachie, this is an extraordinary topic. It's one that I know you worked on for years, right? Spending years with these subjects, with their families, eating with them while they were tilling their farms. Walk us through what inspired you to start this journey of spending so much time with them and focusing, I believe this is actually your second documentary related to this topic, right? Yes. The first one was in 2019. It was a short VR piece, about 11 minutes long, called Daughters of Chibok.

With this particular one, I think for me, was about exploring how do you move on from pain? You know, how do you deal with grief? How do you move on from that? But also, on the other hand, it was also very important for me to sort of, like, present these women through a different lens. Because, you know, in my opinion, I just felt like the last 10 years has been, has been regurgitation of the same images, you know, of grief and pain. And whilst we acknowledge that, I think that that does not sort of like capture the full essence of these women. Tell me more about that, because we often look at people who have been through something traumatic,

whether it's conflicts, a natural disaster, and we say the victim of X. But you say these women are so much more than just victims. Yes, there's survivors, they're heroines, right? Yes, they had their daughters taking, members of their families taking, but, you know, they, It's interesting, I think that I classify them as fighting back. Because if you think about it, these girls were taking because they were in school. That's the single reason why they were taking. It was a statement that Boko Haram was trying to make.

And in spite of that, they are still fighting to send their kids to school. It hasn't stopped them from that desire, that dream. And so if you look at it through that lens, suddenly they're not only victims. I mean, they're not victims, period, right? They're much more than that. And so that's what I spent the last, you know, three, four years trying to capture the essence of who these women are. They're strong.

They're beautiful. They have humor, you know, and they celebrate those moments of triumph and joy. Yes, they grieve when they remember, but they're still living their lives. They're not frozen in time, you know, in that place called grief and sorrow. They are moving on in spite of it all. What do you hope an American audience in particular takes away from this? Because for so many Americans, I do think they remember that moment in 2014 when they were abducted. A bunch of celebrities, politicians on social media with the campaign, hashtag, bring back our girls.

And then it sort of faded away. So what do you want an American audience to think when they go into this film? And what do you hope they take away from it when they leave? I think what's very important for me from the very beginning is how do we see this women? What is the perception that we have of them? P.T. does not dignify anyone, in my opinion. And so when you watch this film, you come away, feeling, you know, deep respect for them, admiration for their strength and their courage.

The best, the much that we can do right now, apart from obviously lending our voices to the, you know, the calls to bring back the girls, is to really support this women in any way we can, morally, emotionally, you know, and tell them you're strong, you're beautiful, you're amazing, and we're here with you. We stand with you. We believe in what you're doing, and we'll continue to support you. I think that that's the best thing that we can do for them. That's my opinion anyways, but, yeah. Was it difficult to get these women to agree to spend the time with you

and not only share their stories in such detail, but let you film it? Well, I think the difficult part happened when I made the first film, before I made the first film. My stories are really tied around social impacts, and how can these films make a difference in the communities? And when we made the first film, we did some, we brought some group to the community. And I think that when they saw that, okay, my intentions were genuine, and I genuinely cared about their story, you know, and their lives. I think they just saw, like, opened up. And again, we spent, what, three years, you know, in that amount of time, you know, I think it will come through if you're legit or not. And so we spend time, you know, before we even turned on the cameras, it was just a lot of listening and talking, playing with their kids, hanging out with them.

you know, we had to make that sacrifice to spend that time to earn their trust. But once that trust was earned, you know, it was like a family member filming them. You know, you just see them just go about their day and they don't care if the camera is there or not. Totally oblivious. Do they hope or do they still have hope that all of those girls that are still missing will be recovered in some form of fashion or be able to come home? And do you hope this film can maybe lead to something like that happening? I think the singular most, the strongest characteristic of these women is their faith and

their hope. You can't take that away from them. And for every girl that returns, it reinforces that hope that the others will come back. So if you speak to any of these women, they'll tell you, my daughter is going to come back someday. And that's what keeps them going. That's what keeps them alive. And like I said, it's really at the core of why I made this film, you know, to really show these

women through that lens. like, hope is what keeps them going. Faith is what keeps them going. And they genuinely believe that their daughters will come back. And I believe that for them as well. You know, some beautiful things happened while we're making the film. I'm going to talk much about that. But it also reinforced that belief that, yes, in time, you know, the girls will come back. All right. Well, it is an amazing documentary, and I hope everybody will take the time to watch it. Joel, Kashi Benjin. Thank, Benson. Thank you so much for being here. Your time. We really appreciate it. Stay with us because we are going to be right back.

Tonight, the so-called Trump dance is the latest trend taking hold in pro sports. From touchdown celebrations to big UFC wins, pro athletes taking a page out of the President Alex playbook. NBC news correspondent Stephen Romo has this one. So play YMCA. Go ahead. Let's go ahead. Let's go nice and loud. It may be Donald Trump's signature shimmy. But this dance move? Now the latest victory celebration to take over pro sports from gridiron football on Sundays. Zadiria Smith with a sack.

To international soccer matches. And Christian Pulisic has the only goal. The trend first performed two weeks ago by 49ers star defensive end, Nick Bosa. What was said during half time? A day after he was fined almost $12,000 by the NFL. for wearing a MAGA hat in this post-game interview in violation of the NFL's uniform policy. Nick Bosa with a message there. Late today, the NFL telling us there's no issue with a celebratory dance such as what took place on Sunday or the previous week with the 49ers.

I think the NFL is creating some different lanes here, whereas they see a dance as a celebration of doing something right. They're not just doing it. They're celebrating something that's been accomplished versus an overt political. statement that involves words in a particular political campaign. U.S. national soccer team captain Christian Polisik distancing himself from politics and Trump after celebrating with the dance, telling the athletic, it was just a dance that everyone's doing. He's the one who created it. I just thought it was funny. And it's not the first time Trump's dance moves have crossed over into the cultural zeitgeist. He used to call me on the

cell phone. Back in 2015, he poked. fun at Drake in this hotline bling parody on SNL. But this latest trend, perhaps less a parody and more celebration in line with Trump's second White House win. I think that one of the things to think about with these players in this particular age group, which was certainly a demographic that we saw an uptick, a significant uptick, a double-digit uptick in how they voted in this election. Wow.

MMA heavyweight John Jones, even performing the dance directly to. to President-elect Trump in the UFC octagon. Hey, what do you guys think about my version of the Donald Trump? Check it out. Ushering in what could be a new type of dancing with the stars. And Stephen Romo joins us now in studio. So, Stephen, what do experts think is really driving this trend? Because in some circles, it seems like, OK, this is probably just about politics.

But in other spaces, it seems like it's its own thing. Yeah, it certainly does. Professor Bass, who we spoke to in the story, was saying that so many of these young athletes really only know Donald Trump as a political figure. He's been a part of public life for so long now. So while some things like a MAGA hat definitely seem to be politically linked, this dance, some people are saying it's certainly it's not. It's just in the cultural zeitgeist right now.

So you may expect to see more people, maybe on little league teams even doing it, and they may not know that it's political at all. All right. Stephen Romo, thank you. We appreciate it. And thank you at home so much for watching Top Story. For Tom Yamis, I'm Ellison Barber in New York. Stay right there. More news is on the way.