High Memoir with Tom Llamas – Feb. 27 | NBC Data NOW

This is a decision 2024 election alert here's Tom yamz and good evening welcome to a special edition of top story we are coming to you live right now with breaking news an NBC News election alert polls have just closed across Michigan and we have a.

Call NBC News can project that former president Trump has won the Michigan presidential primary Republican presidential primary defeating former un Ambassador Nikki Haley the former president going five for five in the first races of the 20124 election season here's where we're at right now with this race 65% of trump having that and.

We also have a call in the Democratic race as well NBC News can project President Joe Biden has won the Michigan Democratic primary the major storyline there though how many Democrats would vote uncommitted here is it right here let's take a moment and look at this where we have right now with 10% of the vote in you have 16% uncommitted about.

177,000 there voting uncommitted in this primary Joe Biden obviously the clear winner the incumbent here at 78% of the vote we have complete team coverage tonight Mike memy sha Brewster and Gabe Gutierrez reporting all across the state tonight first let's get right out to Gabe who joins us tonight from Dearborn Michigan Gabe you know the big headlines.

Tonight are going to be what are the totals when it comes to that uncommitted vote versus Joe Biden have you heard yet from the Biden Harris uh reelection team and is the uncommitted number overperforming or is it sort of where people thought it was going to be well hi there Tom we have heard from the Biden campaign but before I get to.

That I want to talk about what we're seeing right now you just put up those numbers uncommitted more than 16% at this point and we should qualify that by saying it is still early you mentioned just 10% or so of the vote is in but 16% is already higher than the organizers of that group listen to Michigan the threshold that they had said now Tom the.

Organizers of that group had said they wanted more than 10,000 uncommitted votes you see right there we're up above 177,000 so they crossed that threshold significantly however as the Biden campaign has pointed out in terms of the context here in 2020 and in 2012 in previous elections uncommitted had actually done pretty well in Michigan.

Primaries uh because they gotten around 20,000 votes still these numbers are sign ific and we are hearing from the Biden Harris campaign and saying that even in 2012 uh uncommitted got about 10% of the vote again though we're up about 16 Democrats will be watching this Tom as we head into the November election and we'll see how this number.

Goes if it perhaps get goes above 100,000 the organizers of this group listen to Michigan say that that would be a significant a huge message to the Biden campaign to really pay attention to the concerns here in dear born where I am of course an area with a huge Arab American population and Tom we've been speaking with voters here throughout the.

Day who are very frustrated with the Biden administration's handling of the Israel Hamas war and they wanted to vote uncommitted to send a clear message Tom you know it's still very early in the night gab and we'll see where those numbers go you have 10% we're at 177,000 a little over 177,000 for uncommitted but again a lot of votes still left to.

Be counted out there I do want to ask you from your conversations when you talk to Democrat and they mentioned they were going to vote for uncommitted what percentage would you say had to do with the Gaza war and and and how much were just other Democrats were just sort of unsatisfied with President Biden look it was very interesting Tom.

We've been speaking as I said with several voters here actually at this particular location at this uh Dearborn High School here we spoke with several people who were frustrated just with the whole process some independent that came here who actually voted for Nikki Haley because they were frustrated that the two Front Runners of these of the.

Parties were they they cited age concerns and so so they wanted to go for Nikki Haley even though as we're seeing right now from these uh early results that once again former president Trump is going to a swift a huge Victory uh here in Michigan and he now has won these five contests but in terms of the democratic voters who came out to vote.

Uncommitted many of them saw this as a protest vote some of them came here and you know said that they acknowledged that they would eventually vote for President Biden in November but they thought it was incredibly important to send that message right now still some other voters we spoke with including one man in particular he said that he was.

Even considering changing and voting to for for former president Trump even though he's been a lifelong Democrat but the over the biggest concern I would have to say Tom among Democrats is whether or not um you know these these uncommitted voters whatever they vote in November the bigger concern is what if they stay home and of course forces you.

Know Tom Michigan in 2016 went to former president Trump by just 10,000 votes President Biden won this state by just 150,000 votes in 2020 those voters if they stay home Democrats if they stay home could be huge for the Biden campaign come November Tom Gabe you know you mentioned Nikki Haley let's talk about the Republicans now and the.

Results that we have there the Haley campaign set the bar incredibly low right they were essentially saying if they get 10% they have a significant number if we put up the boards right now where we're at with Nikki Haley she's at about 30% again only 9% of the vote has been counted so again a lot of the vote is still left to be counted out there in.

Michigan right now but she wasn't even in Michigan today right she was in Colorado she was in Minneapolis and essentially looking forward to the super Tuesday States this was expected to be a blowout for the former president yeah that's right Tom and as you said Colorado today Minnesota she'll be in Utah tomorrow Nikki Haley is.

Already moving on on to the super Tuesday State she's going to be on a nine State campaign swing ahead of super Tuesday and she has not committed though to stay in the uh one way or the other what she'll do after super Tuesday but it's clear that her campaign has so much writing over the next couple days and she's keep she's uh still trying to make.

That case that the Republican voters need some alternative to former president Trump but as uh former president Trump actually by the way we're expecting to hear from the former president potentially he's expected to call into the GOP watch party uh here in Michigan so that that could happen at any moment but the Donald Trump campaign.

Uh even in South Carolina they have not even made mention of Nikki Haley they are setting their SES squarely on the general election and focusing completely on President Biden at this point Tom all right Gabe Gutierrez for us tonight Gabe we appreciate all your reporting I do want to get back to the to President Biden and that uncommitted vote not.

Enough to prevent obviously President Biden from clinching a win in Michigan tonight but could it spell trouble for him in the general election as Gabe was alluding to there I want to speak now with NBC News White House correspondent Mike memy he joins us from Dearborn Michigan Mike you know I I this is kind of crazy I want you to tell our viewers.

Exactly where you are and if you've ever been at something like this in your illustrious career as a political reporter respon yeah that's right Tom this is the fifth presidential election cycle I've had the really Fortune to cover but I've never been at an event like this this is not a primary night event for a.

Candidate or even a party it is for uncommitted and it is actually quite a party there is a big crowd here we've already been hearing from a number of speakers and there's a lot of passion in their vote this is the listen to Michigan Campaign which has been really trying to organize this uncommitted effort and some of what we've heard so.

Far is really fascinating they are very proud of what they've been able to accomplish tonight gab mentioned this that they were setting initial projections of about maybe 10,000 as what they considered successful well we're very early Into the Night but one Democratic Source not affiliated with this uncommitted effort thinks it could.

Get as high as 100,000 but there's also a lot of passion for if I can interrupt you how much how much Credence you put on that right because sometimes in politics they put they set expectations right maybe the uncommitted set it very low maybe other Democrats are setting it very high where do you feel it's going to land tonight do you get a sense for.

All of us well I think what we have to do is look at some of the counties that we are already seeing significant vote in so far places like Oakland County which is a a county the Biden team has been looking at very closely because there's a lot of suburban swing voters that will be critical to their Coalition that number was in in the 10% range but.

Look at a county like where Ann Arbor is you know an arbor that's a college town that's the University of Michigan the number for the uncommitted there was over 25% of the vote and so if that kind of number continues throughout the night we haven't even seen the vote com in yet in Dearborn where I am now that's where the heart of this campaign really rests.

And where they think some of the bigest demonstration of the uncommitted vote will come I can tell you Tom I was talking to voters all day here in deborn and there was it took a long time before I was able to talk to somebody who had voted for President Biden in the Democratic primary and so I think based on what my sources were telling me based.

On their voter modeling this is somebody who's super plugged in to Michigan they said 100,000 could be even the minimum of where this number ends up I should also mention though Tom part of that number it's a big eye popping number but it reflects the fact that the turnout overall in this Democratic primary will be much bigger than usually is when they.

Have an incumbent president without much of a challenge and so that reflects both the organizing efforts on the part of the Biden campaign to make this more of a primary they want to see participation but especially what this protest vote is and some really flashing warning red uh red sign sirens for the campign American voters it's a great.

Point to make as turn on we always watch on these on these nights I do want to ask you though from your conversations with those uncommitted voters and we can hear it sort of in the background at the party you're at we're hearing Palestine we're hearing Israel we can kind of make make that out in in in the speeches behind you I I mean do you think these.

Voters are so unhappy with President Biden because this is the key question right that that they won't show up in November or will they also remember former president Trump's policies when he had the Muslim ban and he banned certain countries from traveling people from certain countries traveling here and he also moved the capital from to.

Jerusalem the the embassy I should say to Jerusalem will they forget those and only remember what's happening with presid Biden in his handling of the Israeli Gaza War not only that well you can hear the chant right now ceasefire now they certainly want to see if this voice that's being given really a platform for.

Tonight is influencing the White House's thinking one of the organizers who I talked to earlier today said when they heard President Biden yesterday there in 30 Rock holding that ice cream cone talking about him wanting a ceasefire as early as next week potentially to take effect they think that that was a result of the pressure campaign that they've.

Already been waging now some of the voters I talked to they said listen I supported President Biden in 2020 I didn't want to see President Trump get four more years in office but if we don't see a change in direction from President Biden in terms of his support for as they see an unchecked unqualified support for Israel's military campaign.

Against Hamas that will lead them to sit out in November they would vote for Donald Trump but it'll lead them to sit out now there are other voters I talked to who did say listen Trump is such a threat to this country I believe that Donald Trump would represent as one voter put threat and the death of our democracy Joe Biden though represents.

The death of our Palestinian friends and family powerful statement that I think speaks to the depth of passion that you're it's the choice that some voters are going to make um Mike earlier in the night I was speaking with with our political Pros here at at NBC News uh sort of about how primaries make candidates better right even though Joe.

Biden is the incumbent he he's running essentially unopposed if you will uh Dean Phillips is in the race but no real challenge there do you think this primary process is going to make President Biden a better candidate and I asked that because you mentioned the ice cream cone moment and and he's had some tough times in the past few weeks it's.

Been a rough part of his campaign but do you think this essentially makes him a better candidate you've covered him for so long follow the path of peace I think one of the big risks for any campaign especially an incumbent campaign is complacency we remember that first debate that President Obama had against Mitt Romney in 2012 remember there was a.

Lot of sense that perhaps he wasn't taking it seriously well he woke up for the next primary debate and ultimately won the election and so I think the Biden campaign has felt that slow and steady is going to be successful for them they've been feeling that uh view was going to be successful even though a lot of Democrats are saying listen you.

Need to organize earlier you need to get into States like Michigan with much more of an operation earlier and I think that will be another takeaway that nervous Democrats will send to the White House tonight this which is you can't take States like Michigan for granted you need to see uh much more organiz States ACR the one of the questions Tom.

That I think I've already asked some of the organizers here will you see the success you believe you've had here tonight and try to replicate it in other states and they said no this was a unique to Michigan effort but I think there will be Democrats dissatisfied with President Biden in other states who see what happens here tonight and maybe.

Organically they begin to take that upon themselves as well so a potential wake up call for some in the Biden campaign who have felt that they have been operating on the right path but maybe need a little bit more fire According to some of the Democrats we've been talking to okay Mike mey who will now add an uncommitted uh campaign poster possibly.

To his collection Mike we appreciate all of your reporting and the GOP candidates were facing off tonight for just a fraction of the overall numbers with tonight's election determining how only 16 of Michigan's 55 delegates will be awarded the other 39 to be decided at a state party convention for more on this I want to bring in NBC Shaquille.

Brewster he joins us tonight from Grand Rapids Michigan so sha we're going to put up the results that we have so far I mean no surprise here right president Trump former president Trump was was uh projected to win this overwhelmingly here are the numbers where they stand right now with just 10% of the vote in he's at about 64% 65% Nikki Haley at 31%.

She had put her bar at 10% but again it's politics people sometimes put the bar very low when it comes to the expectations game explain to our viewers though what exactly is going on with the Republican Party in Michigan and why only some of the delegates are going to be awarded tonight when there's actual voting and the rest on Saturday when.

There's a convention yeah it really goes back to the idea of why we're in Michigan right now in February it was President Biden and the DNC who wanted to move Michigan up to one of the early primary states in the calendar the Republicans didn't necessarily agree with that they wanted to keep the date in March but with it.

Happening today in order to avoid being penalized essentially by the the national Republican party the Republicans are doing this hybrid delegate allocation uh scenario so you have about 16 of the delegates being allocated based on the results of what you see tonight and then the rest of them the 39 will be allocated at that.

State Convention that will be happening this weekend that will be up to the preferences of the delegates by congressional district so yes it gets confusing we know a lot of those uh delegates who will be at that vention are Trump loyalists self-described in many cases so we expect Donald Trump to really get a hefty delegate load from.

That uh convention and you see the results of the election that that have been coming in to this point it seems as if he is going to get an overwhelming share of the delegates but we won't know the specific allocation Tom until later this weekend when that convention is taking place sha um you were talking of Voters today were you hearing from.

Voters that Republican voters that were happy Nikki haey with was still in this race or were you hearing that it was time for her to drop out and sort of get all of the support behind former president Trump both and it depended on who you asked you know some people saw this as a pure political calculation in terms of.

What drove them to come out and vote today I spoke to one person who was actually saying that he likes President Biden but he wanted an opportunity to have his say against Donald Trump so he voted for Nikki Haley but among the Republicans who picked up a ballot and uh who were backing Haley some of them said it's because they love Nikki Haley.

They said they like her record as un Ambassador they followed her as governor and they were here to support uh her policies and one as one gentleman put it to me her the ethical sense that she gives and the calm demeanor that she has I spoke to another couple however who told me that they came out and supported Nikki hilly because they just don't like.

Donald Trump and you know that kind of plays into what we heard out of her closing message here here in the state of Michigan Nikki hilly was here in Grand Rapids just yesterday where she told her supporters that if you don't like Donald Trump and if you don't like Joe Biden then you should be supporting me we know that when you look at polling.

Across the country folks aren't happy with the Front Runners in a potential of a rematch between Donald Trump and Joe Biden and Nikki Haley was hoping that despite your preferences whether you lean Democrat whether you're a moderate or republican that she captured some of that energy that certainly seemed to work with some of the folks that I.

Talked to Tom but if you see those results coming in the fact that we have already projected this race it clearly was not enough to lead her to Victory here sha Brewster we appreciate all your reporting for more on tonight's results at of Michigan I want to bring in our political Pros tonight NBC News senior politics editor Mark Murray Rich Lowry.

Editor of the National Review and Megan Hayes a former Special Assistant to the president to President Biden and director of message planning for the White House we thank you all for being here tonight Mark I want to start with you what's your reaction to tonight's results I'm going to have our great director Brett hly put up the results on.

The Democratic side right now and that uncommitted vote uh there it is so Mark talk to us about this is it overperforming or is it sort of where people predicted yeah Tom it's really still hard to gauge and you and I were talking earlier I still think 15% or the ballpark is significant because that's the point in which you actually start.

Picking up delegates on the Democratic side either Statewide or per congressional district and so uh uncommitted coming out with a delegate to the democratic convention uh that you would end up having in Chicago is not an insignificant deal but still it is important to note that the overwhelming uh uh number of uh Democratic primary.

Voters right now are backing President Biden uh at this juncture right now and so I do yeah when you talk about an uncommitted delegate going to the convention what exactly does that mean does that mean you essentially have somebody who was pledged to no candidate and they can vote any way they want cuz that that is sort of critical right if.

If for some reason and we have no reason to believe this right now but anything can happen if if the current president is not the nominee yeah Tom look it could end up being critical if there is a contested convention or you end up going to the Democratic Convention in Chicago and boy you know you don't know what's going to end up happening on that.

First vote I just also know back in 20 2 there was someone behind bars who end up getting 30 to 40% of the primary vote in West Virginia and ended up getting delegates to the Democratic Convention as well against Barack Obama uh that was seen as kind of a protest vote in West Virginia and so weird things sometimes happen kind of in vacuums but until it.

Really becomes a trend right now I do think the consistent theme is that uh President Biden has an absolute lock on his party's uh presidential nomination not withstanding though dealing with some ideological blowback on his handling of the Israel Hamas War Megan I want to go to you now Welcome to our our fine broadcast tonight does it worry you.

As somebody who has worked with President Biden what his numbers are right now in Michigan and some of the headwinds he's facing in this race no I don't think so at all I think he's overwhelmingly um performed in Michigan as well as he's performed in every other state in the primaries I mean I think that uncommitted is people who you know.

Want their voices heard and they're going to get their voices heard and the campaign in the White House are taking note I mean as the president mentioned yesterday he's he is hoping for a ceas fire you know earlier this week but I I I'm not worried about his um his standing in the party I think he's outperforming very well we have we have.

Some data I want to put up and it's essentially where the races in Michigan have turned out uh in the general election right looking back at 2016 when former president Trump beat Hillary Clinton by just about 10,000 votes you had 2020 President Biden beats president Trump by 150,000 votes I mean that that that was a big win there but when we.

Talk about a tight race now and the latest polls show Trump slightly ahead of Biden in Michigan and you have all those voters who were talking to NBC News you have them voting tonight uncommitted are you worried that they get so upset over the president's handling of the war with Israel and and Hamas that they don't show up on.

Election night no I'm not worried November is a long time away and at the end of the day voters in Michigan are going to remember what the president has done for them he's created 14 million jobs you know 800,000 in manufacturing alone so he is a president who's out fighting for them and out um working hard on behalf of the American people.

And I just think you know November is a long time away and he people will show up in November Rich we're going to talk about Michigan a lot I think uh as we get closer to election I think we're going to talk about minority voters a lot each little group because it's going to be such a tight race what do you think happens to those voters and I and.

I I talked to Mike memy about this do you think they they stick with what is happening right now in Gaza and the state of the war or do they do they remember what former president Trump did with Muslim Americans I I just think the end of the day they get a choice between Biden and Trump that there's no way they're going to sit it out and just say.

Okay we're okay with in effect helping Donald Trump who's going to be much you think you don't think you don't think the president has to worry much about this well I think he is worried about it and I think he's already moved uh on on on Israel in part cuz he's worried about this phenomenon in in Michigan and among young voters generally but is this is.

This you know are the all these 15% of people are they not going to be there for for Biden in November I really doubt that you've covered the Republican party for years decades uh uh we we we won't say um the term conservative has evolved over those years as somebody who has covered the party covered the movement are you happy Nikki hilly is still in.

This race or is it time for her to drop out well I kind of thought as a realistic matter she wouldn't make it to South Carolina because I thought just the proc ECT of of getting beaten pretty soundly in South Carolina the way that happened would kind of disuade her but it didn't clearly she's going to go through super Tuesday but this is looks.

Like a pretty crushing margin for Donald Trump in Michigan you know it's the state that Maverick John McCain won in 2000 it's the state that Chris Christie wi he was hoping to stay through Michigan yeah yeah and Chris chrisy was ask yeah where else could you possibly uh be strong besides New Hampshire like Michigan because you know it's you can.

Vote for in any primary you want and she's getting wiped out there so she has a stronghold among college educated voters and among moderates it's just in the current Republican party that's not nearly enough even Mark is is there any room for her on super Tuesday to surprise people and still make this a race or is the writing on the wall yeah.

Tom it's really tough for her and there are some places where she can be able to pick up some delegates but one of the things I understand about the Republican delegate math even on super Tuesday is that many of the states and congressional districts end up operating almost on win or take all if you end up getting 50% % or more and then in a.

Two-person race somebody's going to get at least 50% or more and so if Donald Trump is able to end up winning in contest Less in the margins that we are currently seeing in Michigan he's going to run the table when it comes to delegates and at the end of the day it is a delegate game but Tom it's also a game winning state by state and two.

Things can be true about Nikki Haley's campaign she is a credible well-funded campaign who has a clear ideological Lane in this Republican race on the other hand this is the least competitive presidential primary that we have seen not featuring an incumbent president since I've been covering politics it's now 0 and5 for Nikki Haley going back to.

Iowa and certainly as you look ahead to the super Tuesday States it's not going to get any easier and a reminder 2016 Senator Ted Cruz stayed around until Indiana through super Tuesday we'll see what Nikki Haley does before we go Megan I'm going to give you the last word on this panel if you could if you could give President Biden one piece of advice.

Vice since he is in the middle of of a campaign right now and he's facing some headwinds what would you tell him you know I think that he needs to take note and listen to the folks of Michigan who are are voting uncommitted I think that he will you know just like uh I think some of the other panelists had said earlier to organize earlier and and to.

Really um focus and to listen to this to this voice that's coming from these uncommitted voters and to really take action Rich before we go I don't say that was the last for we got a little bit of time you think it's going to be a close race no matter what yeah I think they're they're both incredibly weak they're both incredibly un unpopular you.

Biden approval rating below 40% that's a real Red Zone but Trump is radioactive himself and they have a lot of material to to use against them so it's it's at the end of the day it'll be who who's who's weakest and they're both pretty weak all right that's one way to put it uh Rich Lowry Mark Murray Megan it was a pleasure to have you guys all on the.

Show tonight we really appreciate your analysis that concludes our special coverage of the Michigan presidential primaries we want to thank you so much for watching watching there's much more top story coming up right after this break stay with us back now with top story and the.

Critical testimony in the hearing to remove fton County district attorney fonnie Willis from former president Trump's election interference case a witness called back to the stand to answer more questions about when a relationship began between Willis and Nathan Wade a prosecutor Willis hired to help lead the case Von Hiller is here.

With more on the T day in court tonight a key witness in the hearing on whether to disqualify Fulton County DA fonnie Willis in the Trump election interference case under intense questioning do you recall any other thing at this point in time under oath that would indicate when the relationship started between Mr Wade and.

Miss Willis I do not know when the relationship started between Mr Wade and Miss Willis I cannot recall that Terrence Bradley the former law partner of special prosecutor Nathan Wade repeatedly asked when Wade's relationship with Willis began at one point he was asked about a text message where he said the relationship began.

Before Willis hired Wade I was speculating why would you speculate when was asking you a direct question about when the relationship started I have no answer for that except the fact that you do in fact know when it started and you don't want to testify to that in court it was to weeks ago that Willis defiantly took the stand and.

Lashed out a defense attorneys trying to remove her from the case you and Mr Wade met in October 2019 at a conference that is correct and I think in one of your motions you tried to implicate I slept with with him at that conference which I find to be extremely offensive in testimony will is saying the relationship began after she had.

Appointed Wade to the special prosecutor position I'm asking you whether or not prior to November 1st of 2021 there was a romantic relationship with Mr Wade that's very simple it's either a yes or a no I don't consider my relationship with him to be romantic before that but the Trump team alleges phone records of Wades that they.

Presented last week allegedly show that prior to November of 2021 on multiple occasions Wade arrived late at night and stayed into the early morning hours Wade was also asked in court how often he visited Willis at her home before his appointment do you think prior to November 1st of 2021 you were at the condo more than 10 times no sir so it'.

Be less than 10 times yes sir so if phone records were to reflect that you were making phone calls from the same location as the condo before November uh 1st of 2021 and it was on multiple occasions the phone records would be wrong if phone records reflected that yes sir they'd be wrong they'd be wrong but.

Trump's team says analysis of that cell phone data from Wade's phone allegedly demonstrates that he visited Willis at her home at least 35 times in the months before his appointment and in the weeks immediately after Willis responded by asking the judge to exclude the phone records filing saying in a statement quote the records do nothing more than.

Demonstrate that special prosecutor Wade's telephone was located somewhere within a densely populated multiple mile radius where various residences restaurants bars nightclubs and other businesses are located and with that Von Hiller joins us now in studio Von first things first those phone records you just talked.

About in the report has the judge decided or ruled on whether he's going to admit that as evidence no not at this point in time we're waiting for the judge's decision and fonnie Willis the district attorney aggressively pushed back saying that number one that the phone messages and the contents of them are not even known so you can only apply.

So much from the exchanging of messages and phone calls and the fact that she was also responding as she said to crime scenes in those areas at the time so again you can't take too much from that of course the the the defendants argue otherwise yeah that she's used cell phone records in the prosecution of drug dealers but that issue here essentially.

Is the if the judge believes da fonny Willis Nathan Wade and now this new key witness the former divorce attorney you just go us it has huge implications right this is a historical case as we said here on top story do we know when the judge is going to rule no we don't and so that's a big if and with every passing day it makes it all the more.

Likely that the actual criminal trial for Donald Trump and those other defendants over overturning the 2020 election is not going to go to trial before the 2024 election and so for you know funny Willis if she is disqualified that could put the entire case in Jeopardy let alone it makes it all the more likely that that trial wouldn't.

Begin until 2025 if not later Von hilard for us tonight Von always great to have you on the show when we come back students at a Texas College told to lock their doors here's why surveillance video capturing a man who appears to be armed approaching a student's house what authorities are saying about that chilling scene.

Tonight back now with top stories news feed a verdict reached late today for the murder of Run DMC Jam Master J A New York jury finding the DJ's godson Carl Jordan Jr and childhood friend Ronald Washington guilty of fatally shooting the trailblazing DJ at his New York City recording studio back in 2002 they were arrested in 2020 both have maintained.

Their innocence Jordan and Washington face at least 20 years to life in prison an attempted break and caught off camera at an off-campus house in Fort Worth ring cam footage shows a man approaching the home of a student near Texas Christian University the suspect appears to be holding a gun while trying to open the locked door thankfully no one was.

Hurt but University Police are urging students to lock their doors at all times and Report anything suspicious and a consumer alert the FDA recalling eye ointment sold at Major retailers over the risk of infection the FDA says investigators found unsanitary conditions in a manufacturing facility in India that's produces products sold.

In the US they were sold under major brand names including CVS health and equate the FDA says infections could result in vision loss or even blindness but so far no cases have been reported coming up next we have new details about Alexi naval's final days what sources are telling NBC news about a possible prisoner swap that was in the works just.

Before Putin's most prominent critic was found dead in a Russian jail that's next we're back now with the crisis in the Red Sea where houie Rebels continue to launch attacks on Military and Commercial vessels the UK and us striking back hitting 18 Targets in Yemen over the weekend but the conflict already causing shipping prices to.

Skyrocket and causing major delays across the globe NBC's foreign correspondent Megan Fitzgerald takes a look newly released footage by us Central Command showing the moments fighter jets launching off an aircraft carrier on Saturday night in the Red Sea and pounding some 18 targets including underground weapons facilities.

Drones and air defense systems in the houthi controlled areas of Yemen it's the fourth joint Mission by the US and UK since January the operation in response to a surge and houthi attacks on Military and Commercial vessels it's just the latest attempt to try and deter the iran-backed militia but the houthis say the attacks.

Will continue as they protest Israel's war on Gaza it's triggering growing fears the ripple effect of the escalating conflict we felt around the world and at home in the US as some 90% of vessels have rerouted around the tip of Africa these houie attacks are very effective in terms of disrupting global trade supply chain experts like David.

Dorowski are calling this the biggest blow to shipping since the pandemic what is the impact of these attacks that we're seeing by the houthi in the Red Sea about 40% of uh global trade to Europe goes through this region around a quarter of the United States uh trade goes through through this region and you might think well shoot you know what's.

The big deal well the big deal is it adds at least one to two weeks of extra shipping uh time to uh you know to those those deliveries uh that can mean you know product shortages on shelves potentially but it certainly means higher costs dorowski says the cost to ship one container in December from Asia to the US was.

$2500 3 weeks later that price skyrocketed to $5,100 and with 10,000 containers on a ship that's an increase of some 26 million to send just one vessel the timing is really bad right because you know we're on the heels of inflation uh but at the same time now you know many many Products that come from Asia to the United States ranging.

From Toys to electronics things like home decor items the bad news is this is a major major you know large scale disruption A disruption that doesn't seem to be improving anytime soon Tom major car companies like Tesla had to temporarily pause their operations in Germany for 2 weeks because of a delay in Parts experts are saying it could.

Increase weight times for their vehicles Now NBC News has reached out to Tesla for a comment and haven heard back but the guardian is reporting Tesla's twoe pause could lead to about 5,000 to 7,000 cars not being built that's a lot of cars okay Megan Fitz Cheryl we thank you for that now at top stories Global watch we have new report reporting on Russian.

Opposition leader Alexi navali and a possible deal that was in the works to free him before his death five sources telling NBC news that discussions were underway for a prisoner swap that would have released him however nothing was agreed upon before his death on February 16th in a video message a close Ali navali claims a Russian hitman would.

Have been exchanged and alleged naval's death was no coincidence and a maritime mystery solved after more than 120 years Australian researchers released these images of the SS Nemesis wreckage on the ocean floor off the coast of New South Wales Australia researchers say the steam ship was transporting coal to Melbourne when it went missing along.

With 32 crew members during a storm in July of 1904 weeks later some bodies of the crew members washed ashore near Sydney its final resting place was discovered in 2022 okay when we come back our one-on-one with Dr Phil the emmy-winning talk show host opening up about his new projects what he's hoping to accomplish.

On his new TV network and what he thinks about the upcoming election and some of his favorite and maybe not so favorite TV moments Dr Phil joins top story right after this break welcome back tonight in our Spotlight interview we're chatting with The Man Behind one of the most.

Successful daytime talk shows ever emm award-winning Dr Phil he's out with a new book and a new cable network yes and entire network from the mind of Dr Phil and Dr Phil is here tonight in top story in our studios in New York Dr Phil thanks for being here thank you for having me an entire network yeah it's it's um I I was thinking when you say it.

That way it's kind of scary from the mind of Dr Phil uh but we we do have a whole network uh we've got our own news department and um we're going to have lifestyle programming a lot of the Dr Phil uh programming and it's really Our intention is to have a destination Network where people can turn it on in the morning and not worry about what's.

Going to be on throughout the day because it's very family value oriented so Dr Phil I see you're tackling some major issues headon I think that's a good thing we need to do more of that I think in this country especially in the media but it sounds like you're advocating for one side is that fair uh it's not and um I I'll tell you why I.

Want to own the debate Lane in America I want to have both sides or three sides or four sides of an issue uh come on and and talk about it if if there are multiple sides I want them to come on and let people hear all sides and now when I say all sides I'm not going to platform the KKK the skin heads but if there's a responsible side to an issue.

Then I I want them to come on and have an open debate and you know I'll weigh in if I have strong feelings about it and that's what it sounds like right when it comes to transgender athletes and high school sports college sports critical race Theory in schools it feels like at least from that prom and I know you know you you'll have your own.

Platform that you're against these things and and you don't think this is good for America well it depends on the issue yeah um and for example my side is the science side my side is the fact side people tell me how they feel and I'll tell you what I say about that I don't care how you feel I barely care how I feel what I care is what are the.

Facts what does the science say I don't think it's in our interest or the country's interest to come along and pretend that hundreds of years of science don't exist I don't think it's right to come in and rewrite history or take a book and rewrite it and pretend that it didn't exist that's an insult to America people come in and say we're.

Going to pretend slavery didn't exist of course it existed it was an ugly time in our history but we need to learn from that we need kids to see that and learn from it you think there's a danger there's a type of indoctrination happening in our kids schools I think it I think it is a danger and I think parents need to speak up about that and.

I think to say that parents don't have a role in their kids' education uh is is a mistake and let me say this um and I feel very strongly about this I am such an advocate of teachers I I can't I could hardly look teachers in the eye sometimes we pay them so little yeah they don't make enough expect so much I don't know a.

Teacher doesn't get in their own pocket to bring resources into the classroom they work so hard and get paid so little to do such an important job and if we work with teachers I tell parents when I say get involved I say don't run up the stairs with your hair on fire accusing people of doing something or whatever go in and find out what's going on.

Volunteer get involved in your in your kids your children's school we also mentioned you have a book out it's called we've got issues um chapter one okay this is I should say part one chapter 4 the title of this is It's the 2020s but we're living in 1984 reference the George Orwell novel talk to me what about what that means you know in George.

Orwell's 1984 which I've read several times you know they have the language police they have new speak you can't do this you can't do that and if you do it wrong you get unpersoned we call it cancelling now and we have all of these words you can't use and we have this inclusive language and and it's just gotten out of control um colleges a lot.

Of colleges now don't have Office of Admissions because that implies somebody will be rejected right so they now have office of enrollment management you so where do you draw the line right because I I don't think you want to turn back the clock to 1950 right CU life looked perfect on television in America in 1950 but it.

Wasn't right there were groups that were sidelined there was racism people didn't have a shot if you were different you likely stayed different and were never accepted is that what you're talking about certainly not we've but to suggest that we want to turn the clock back to that Tom is not at all what I'm saying but for example the N the percentage of.

People that are not comfortable expressing their opinions compared to 1950 has tripled why do you think that happened because of the internet because of people wanting to catch somebody with the wrong word in their mouth and go after them weaponizing it andad I agree with you completely is the genie out of the bottle or do you think America.

Changes I think America changes I think some of these activists in all areas and I'm talking about from both sides I'm totally non-political yeah and I'll tell you why I don't know enough about it to speak intelligently about politics and I'm not bragging but I don't and most people who speak about it don't they just aren't willing to admit it I admit.

It um but I I think that right now you used to say you know catching people with a hand in the cookie jar red-handed now it's catching somebody with a wrong word in their mouth ignoring what their intent was or what their history has been uh and I think the idea is catch them with the wrong word in their mouth and make an example out of them so you.

Can get attention so you can get uh some media coverage from it we need a council culture not a can Cil culture if somebody is being indelicate if somebody is offending someone and they're doing it consistently or whatever sit down and talk with them you know it's not a matter of going after them and trying to ruin their life you.

Mentioned politics and I know you said you you don't play politics you don't pretend to know a lot about politics but here on top story we're covering the presidential election the primaries tonight in Michigan of course um what is your take on former president Trump and you just spoke about language and some of the language he.

Uses well it's certainly I I hear a lot of things said now by both sides sadly that certainly aren't very statesmanlike are they I mean don't you hear things said that you well you hear from the voters they they're not happy with the two choices they have that's right uh we got 50 choices for Miss America and two for president that seems like out of.

Balance doesn't it uh but I think when I talk to people they aren't happy with the choices they have I love it when we're in gridlock it when we've got a president from one party and either house or Senate from the other I go okay they can't get too stupid they can't go too far in One Direction you're an expert on human behavior a lot has been.

Written a lot has being reported out right now about our current president President Joe Biden his cognitive abilities as somebody who studied human behavior for a long time should Americans be worried is is he too old for office well I I don't know because I haven't had the pleasure of meeting the president I tell you this if I did I.

Would treat him with dignity and respect if for no other reason than the office I I hear people I I talk in the book about somebody standing up and yelling liar um at the president during the say of the Union message that's not but what about what about from judging human behavior and you did this when you were worked on trial teams and you were a trial expert.

And and and figuring out who wouldd be the best jurs for your side of the case do you think somebody in his 80s I mean and you've watched him on television do you think he still has it to run second term uh it to appears to me from what I see that he is not at the top of his game and I don't think his opponent is at the top of his game now 80 seemed.

Really old to me 10 years ago it's like get closer to it it doesn't seem so but I I would hope that somebody when it's time if I'm beginning to lose cognitive skill and ability I would hope somebody would tell me hey you know it's time that you start bringing some others along to kind of help you and prop you up but I don't I I don't think and.

Whether I support President Biden or not as a voter why would people be upset with him because he's aging maybe it means that he's not fit for that job but it's not his fault he's aging uh something you are an expert in daytime television and you came into our homes on the Oprah Winfrey show you you do something with.

Oprah or you you you write something to Opa every year I read about this and I wanted to ask you if this was true you write her a thank you note every year I do why do you do that there would not be a Dr Phil if it wasn't for Oprah and she told me something one time the first book I wrote was in 1998 Life Strategies and after I she launched it on her show.

And I got with my wife Robin we've been married 47 years we said let's find out her favorite flower and we sent her 12 dozen roses of her favorite flower and and a a note and a little gift and she called me and at the time I think she'd been on the air 15 years she said out of all the books I've ever launched this is the first time anybody.

Has ever said thank you can you imagine that Oprah Winfrey and are you still close are the two of you still close we are and but every year at the end of the year I write and say I'll never forget who BR me to the dance thank you for all you've done and she always writes back and says man no idea what that means there's probably.

Someone in each of Our Lives that we should do that for every year um speaking of daytime television there's a documentary out now on Lifetime it's about Wendy Williams who was also on TV while you're on TV I don't know if you ever knew her but I know you were you you professionally you guys you know were competitors and you were both in.

The same industry what have you made of what's what's happened to her Her diagnosis and everything that's that's happened well you know I I was on Wendy's show four or five times when I come to New York she asked me if I'd come Beyond and I said sure and we had a good time we just kind of light and cut up but then she called me um just.

Privately on the side afterwards when she was having some difficulty and we spoke many times and she's had a really tough time in her life and I hate now that she's really falling on fallen on difficult times and I hope people will show her some Grace because I know she has a Persona on television of on the snap snap and calling people out but I.

Know her personally and she has a very tender heart and a very giving heart and I think she's a a very nice person and I hope people will show her some Grace 3,000 Plus shows a new book a network out now you studied human behavior before we go give our viewers one piece of Life advice that you look by I think the important thing that I would tell.

Everybody is be who you are on purpose you know you don't want to wake up and and just kind of React to what the world gives you and be a sheep and kind of do what is just served up in a reactive mode I think it's really important that we live with intention I would hate to spend my whole life becoming the best welder or the best accountant in the.

World only to get there and find out I never wanted to be a welder or accountant to begin with if you don't live with passion that's a terrible that's a terrible loss if you can find a job that's pass that you're passionate about great if not find an advocation that you're passionate about but if you don't.

Live with passion man Tom this is not a dress rehearsal this is our one shot got one shot I agree with you Dr Phil we thank you for your time we thank you for your words of wisdom good luck with that new network and the book we thank you for watching top story tonight I'm Tom yis in New York stay right there more news on the.

Way thank thanks for watching stay updated about breaking news and top stories on the NBC News app or follow us on social media

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