Top Account with Tom Llamas – Jan. 29 | NBC Data NOW

tonight the crisis in the Middle East widening after a deadly drone attack kills three US troops and injures dozens more we're now learning the identities of the Fallen Soldiers as questions Mount over if the enemy drone was mistaken for a US drone headed back to base President Biden vowing to retaliate.

But still no word on his exact plan the Brazen attack adding a new layer to the complexities in the Middle East could this be the flash point that triggers a wider Regional War also tonight tense talks new details on a hostage deal that could temporarily pause the Israel Hamas War again the new framework calling for the release of all Israeli and US.

Hostages in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners where the deal stands right now plus NBC's Andrea Mitchell sits down with the prime minister of Qatar his response to allegations that UN agency staff ERS had a role in the October 7th Hamas terror attack new trial denied a judge turning down any hope for convicted murderer ell.

Murdoch's defense after they called for a hearing over alleged jury tampering all jurors taking to the stand to discuss whether or not the clerk in the case tried to sway their decision the judge finding their words did not warrant a retrial the startling testimony from one juror plus the harsh words the judge had for the clerk plus a.

Dramatic dognapping a woman clinging onto the hood of a car after her French Bulldog was snatched off the street it's all part of a disturbing trend of French bulldogs being sold on the black market her decision decision to jump on that moving car and what she wants other dog owners to know and Paris Under Siege French Farmers protesting in their own.

Fashion using tractors to block major highways surrounding Paris it is all part of an effort to pressure the government to ease regulations and protect Farmers against Rising outside cost what will it take to ease the blockade top story starts right now good evening I'm Ellison barber in.

For Tom yamus tonight President Biden just meeting in The Situation Room to determine how to retaliate for the Drone attack on a US military Outpost in Jordan this as we are learning the identities of the three US soldiers killed 46-year-old Sergeant William Rivers 24-year-old specialist Kennedy Sanders and 23-year-old specialist bana.

Moffet all three were assigned to a US Army reserve unit based out of Georgia dozens of others were injured in Sunday's drone attack which hit a military Outpost in northeastern Jordan known as Tower 22 it sits near a demit militarized Zone on the border between Jordan and Syria President Biden says iran-backed militant groups operating in.

Syria and Iraq were responsible for the attack Iran has denied any involvement this as questions arise over how this could have happened one Theory a possible mixup between the enemy drone and a US drone NBC News Pentagon correspondent Courtney Cub starts us off tonight today President Biden meeting with his National Security team in the.

Situ ation room under pressure to respond after an attack the Pentagon says was launched by Iranian back militias in which US soldiers were killed we've now learned the names of the three fallen troops 46-year-old Sergeant William Jerome Rivers 23-year-old specialist Briana Alexandria Moffett whose family described her as a.

Very loving person a very giving person she loved life and 24-year-old specialist Kennedy leadon Sanders her mother talking to us tonight she never explained any fear and um Tower 22 is nothing that she ever mentioned to us she was full of life um she enjoyed life to the fullest um you know she was just a a ray.

Of sunshine for anyone that came in contact with her the soldiers were killed Sunday night at a small Outpost in northeastern Jordan known as Tower 22 where about 350 US soldiers and Airmen are deployed the Pentagon saying a drone packed with explosives hit near a housing area while many troops were asleep at least 40 troops were injured.

Including eight who had to be medevaced for further treatment tonight Pentagon officials saying the Drone flew in at the same time that a US drone was also Landing possibly confusing the air defense systems they're also looking at whether its low altitude was a factor and now us officials are considering whether this could be a new tactic by.

The militias this weekend President Biden vowing to respond lost three souls and attack one our and we shall respond a major question tonight will the US strike inside Iran's borders we will respond we'll do that on our schedule in our time we are not looking for a war with Iran Iran says it's not behind the deadly strike the.

Pentagon says Iranian backed militias have targeted bases with Americans more than 160 times in recent months previous US responses have been limited and not deterred the attacks some Republicans calling for a tougher response from President Biden I think it's important to go after Iran the Biden appeasement policy with regard to Iran has not.

Worked Courtney QB joins us now from the Pentagon Courtney what more are we learning about the situation room meeting so we know that President Biden has now on several different occasions been presented with options for retaliation here and I think what we need to remember is the US has retaliated against previous attacks.

Against bases with Americans in Iraq and Syria but there's now been more than 160 of those attacks but these have been more targeted in the past so they'll go after a facility where they store drones these militia groups or or something that is specifically trying to degrade these militia groups capability to carry out future attacks officials are saying.

That this retaliation will look and feel different they are looking at a much broader set of options here and what we're waiting to hear is exactly what will President Biden approve to do Ellison Courtney QB at the Pentagon on thank you for more on this incident and what might come next I'm joined by retired lieutenant colonel Danny Davis.

He's a former United States Army officer with 21 years of active service and a senior fellow at defense priorities Lieutenant Colonel Davis thank you so much for being with us tonight I want to start with what US officials revealed today they're saying that the enemy drone here approached at about the same time that a US drone was returning to.

Base how does this sort of confusion happen break down for us the technology at play when something is coming in how do you know that's not our drone or that is yeah well that I think that probably what we're seeing here is a very actually a brand new technique something that hasn't been tried before most likely uh what these uh militia members.

Have been doing has been conducting reconnaissance on our sides they've been watching they've been seeing how we come in how we go out how we launch these uh intelligence drones that we have to do reconnaissance and they probably have if especially if there was any kind of normal pattern and normal flight pattern for these things they probably timed it.

Out to where they were ready to launch at the same time and when you're sitting there watching these things on a radar I mean it's not like sometimes you see on TV where everything is a blip and it's easily identified you could be seeing something you expect to be seeing coming in and all of a sudden there's one maybe two and you're not sure and all it takes.

Is a few seconds of uncertainty and that thing can come through and that we see the deadly results uh as Courtney was just explaining there President Biden is working through options for retaliation right now at least that's what she's being told by officials and other sources at the Pentagon the United States as she was.

Explaining they have retaliated before in an instance like this right but it was more targeted attacks after there were moments tensions issues missiles fired by houthi rebels in the Red Sea but all of those were incredibly targeted they were targeting where militia members supposedly kept weapons things like that Courtney is saying that.

She is being told this retaliation is going to look different from your point of view what is the most effective plausible Avenue of retaliation here well you asked the right question what's the most effective and that means what is going to be the most beneficial for the United States and I know that emotionally everybody wants to have some.

Big punishing strike and and really hurt Iran because I know you actually showed a couple of scenes there's been many more American figures have been saying we need to go and hit Iran hit them hard like lindsy Graham has been saying but look you have to answer before you launch one missile and then what what comes next we've lost three troops right.

Now and it was anguishing to me to sit here and watch the family members of of of that one specialist uh as you were talking as someone who's seen people die in combat it's just heart wrenching to me uh but I don't want to see any more and so we need to make sure we don't do something that's going to cause an automatic and and expected retaliation.

Even larger coming back and I can assure you Iran does have an ability to escalate things if we strike inside of Iran proper now Americans have been killed so we do have to take a response but I think it needs to be targeted against the people who did this and that's probably KB Hezbollah and some of these other groups in Iraq and Syria.

That's appropriate and reasonable but if we go beyond that and go into Iran proper then we could be unleashing holy hell that God only knows where it could end up and we better be ready for that before one missile gets launched you're touching there on the danger of going too far is there a danger here of not going far enough with some sort of.

Retaliation well look for sure all of these so-called messages that we've been trying to send and we've been talking about how you know we've been very clear on this look it hadn't had any deterrent effect none of the stuff in the Red Sea has had a deterrent effect these things in Iraq and in Syria haven't had a deterrent effect because they're willing.

To pay the price on this that's the bottom line that's why the most effective strategy we can do which I've been advocating for years to prevent this very outcome is to withdraw our troops from Iraq and Syria this I'm frankly nonsense that Kirby's been saying earlier today about how we have an important counter Isis Mission still.

Going on is simply not true it's basically the same as say we're trying to drain a swimming pool with an eyedropper in a rainstorm it it doesn't make any difference it doesn't keep us safe but it does put our troops at risk and then it puts us in a position like this were we to try to respond could actually escalate into a war that nobody.

In America needs or wants and we need to avoid that at all cost so there's not more American casualties retired lieutenant colonel Danny Davis thank you so much for your time analysis and insights we really appreciate it thanks for now to the war between Israel and Hamas negotiators working on a possible deal to free all.

Of the remaining hostages in Gaza it comes as the Israeli government accuses a dozen un Aid workers of participating in the horrific October 7th Hamas Terror attacks NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell today pressing the prime minister of qar about possible consequences tonight stunning.

Allegations that at least 12 un employees helped carry out the October 7th Hamas Terror attacks two Israeli intelligence dossier reviewed by NBC News accusing some staff of the UN relief and works agency including an elementary school teacher and a social work worker of kidnapping hostages and procuring weapons for Hamas one dossier.

Alleging 10% of the agency staff belonged to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad and linking half of its 12,000 employees to the terror groups NBC News has not confirmed the allegations the UN fired the accused employees and the US and others stopped sending money to the agency pending an investigation today I asked Cutter's prime minister about.

Israel's allegations it cannot be punished because because of the act of some employees as long as they are complying with their including kidnapping a woman according to the allegation we don't know about the irrigation yet until the investigation come out yet meanwhile we've learned details about a proposed new hostage.

Deal spy Chiefs from the US Egypt kter and Israel agreed to this weekend it calls for a halt in fighting for 60 days the release of all civilian hostages women first in exchange for Palestinian prisoners after a month Hamas would release women IDF soldiers then male IDF soldiers as Israel releases the rest of the Palestinian prisoners thousands of.

Them yesterday was uh good progress made uh to get uh things back in shape and to at least to lay a foundation we don't know and we cannot predict uh what Hamas respond will be also they are parents of American hostages including 19-year-old eten the hostages cannot be collateral damage they need to come out then you could do whatever you.

Want and Andrea Mitchell joins us now from Washington DC Andrea this was such an interesting compelling interview with the prime minister of Qatar what are us and Israeli officials saying publicly about this new deal well Secretary of State blinkin said that it is strong and compelling uh the Kad prime minister said that he's hoping Hamas accepts it.

But now it's in the hands of Hamas the bottom line is Hamas can veto anything because they want a ceas fire a permanent ceasefire up front and this is a phase deal but it does get all the civilian and Military hostages out that's the first time they've agreed to that all four of these other leaders and it also gets all the Palestinian.

Prisoners released that's thousands of prisoners Allison so that's going to be controversial with Israel Andrea Mitchell in Washington thank you we want to turn now to some other breaking news we've been following tonight A South Carolina judge denying convicted murderer elec Murdoch retrial in the killing of his wife and son the decision.

Coming after a juror on that case testified today that they were influenced by the clerk of court here's NBC News correspondent Sam Brock with the details after Alec Murdoch's double murder conviction of his wife and younger son less than a year ago a new ruling tonight he will not face another.

Trial though the judge taking issue with the Clerk of Court's behavior and comments I find that the clerk of court is not completely credible as a witness Miss Hill was attracted by the siren Call of celebrity did Clerk of Court Hill's comments have any impact on the verdict of the jury I find that the answer to this question is no this was.

Not going to be the final say so on the law that's going to be determined by the appell courts the decision coming amidst this split screen of Clerk of Court Becky Hill a year ago swearing in murd and now defending whether she interfered with Justice and this testimony from a juror known as juror Z was your verdict influenced in any way by the.

Communications of the clerk of court in this case yes ma'am and how was it influenced to me it felt like she made it seem like he was already guilty all right and well I understand that uh that that's the Tor of the remark she made did that affect your finding a guilty in this case yes ma'am juror Z previously.

Writing in an affidavit that Hill told the jury not to be fooled by the defense's case but that she felt pressure from others on the jury to vote guilty never mentioning Hill of the 11 other jurors a second recalled Hill saying something before Murdoch's testimony she made a comment about watch's body language but all 11 said.

Their decision was not impacted by any communication from Hill a point highlighted by the state in closing arguments here is uh overwhelming I would say from the people that matter and that's those jurors and still some seemingly damning evidence came up about Hill whose fundamental role is to handle back room duties jury Logistics and.

Trial exhibits he'll testified that she never spoke about Murdoch with any of the jurors and denied all claims made by the defense um at any time did you tell the jury not to be fooled by evidence presented by Mr Murdoch's attorney I did not and a friend and fellow Clerk of Court who was asked about Hill's.

Potential book in future sales and whether it was ever broached before trial okay well first of all she said we we might want to write a book because she needed a lake housee and I needed to retire and uh then fur the conversations a guilty verdict would sell more books in the end the judge's decision came down to actual proven Prejudice as this.

Layered legal battle continues to take new turns and Sam Brock joins us now from Columbia South Carolina so Sam what have we heard from Murdoch's team about a possible appeal to this decision yeah they're appealing this Ellison no surprise to the state of South Carolina they made the point look this would have been appealed either way.

Should the judge have ruled in a retrial the state would be appealing so in many ways this was expected but Murdoch's attorney said that they feel Vindicated in the sense that Becky Hill according to the facts they say was proven to have tried to influen the outcome of the trial a really interesting nugget as well the judge did say that she went.

Through the entire transcript of the six weekl long trial and concluded in her expertise the jurors made the right decision and that in fact right now they were not influenced by their decision in that verdict so it all worked out in that sense but it might not if you can believe it be the end of the road I guess we'll have to find out back to you.

Sam Brock in South Carolina thank you we appreciate it for more on this shocking development I want to bring in NBC News legal analyst Angela cadella Angela I mean listening to Sam saying that that the judge also went through six weeks of testimony to see whether or not she thought it appeared they were influenced At All by this clerk of court before.

Reaching her decision was all of this a surprised you I mean were you surprised one that this could be brought up in this manner two that the clerk of court acted in the way that she allegedly did and three that in this instance the judge was able to reach a decision so quickly Ellison it has all been shocking because this is.

Not standard this is not what usually happens in any Courthouse Across America now I would say prior to today's hearing I actually thought there was no chance the judge would offer a new trial would Grant a new trial and that's because she limited the defense so severely she said things like you can not bring up Becky Hill's plagiarism you cannot attack her.

Character you cannot bring in the alternate juror as a witness but then as we saw today the judge really just tore into Becky Hill and almost brought in evidence that she herself had previously said would be excluded so she really attacked Becky's character she also allowed for this alternate jur so I was surprised that she changed her mind I.

Was also then surprised she went backwards it was interesting because there was one juror in this testimony when we're going back to what happened with the clerk of court I covered this trial it's a small community there is a lot of just interaction seeing each other in different spaces there's one Clerk of Court a very small courthouse.

In some ways it makes sense they would be talking but the allegation always was but not like that and that she was writing this book although those different layers but there was one juror who told this judge I do feel like I was influenced by what she had to say was one juror saying that never going to be enough or is that still something that.

Was a significant comment I mean that surprised me so the judge has discretion to look at everything and I think the Judge could have looked at the number of jurors but also could have looked at the impact upon that one jur so what I think is impactful is that she never said that Becky Hills talking to her Becky Hills very improper conduct that now has been.

Acknowledged by all parties as totally outside of the bounds is what led her to the verdict so ultimately what the judge was saying is that the verdict would not have been any different had it been Becky Hill or had it been someone else jurors also I think it was that same juror also said that she felt she was persuaded or they felt they were.

Persuaded by some of the other members of the jury some of this I was watching and I had kind of two thoughts and I am not a lawyer but I do love to watch things and pretend that I am I love Law and Order but one isn't that kind of the point of a jury that you all are sitting together and somebody's going to disagree but you have to get to a.

Decision so you're going to be trying to kind of negotiate or influence and then also on the flip side this idea of a juror saying well I was sort of influenced but it didn't change my opinion I mean there are things all the time that happen in court that somebody objects to and then the judge just looks at the jury and says strike that but.

It's like they still heard it so when we're talking about this idea of things being influenced not I mean I guess it's like how do how is this kind of what happens and it's just playing out in public in a weird way for us Allison first of all I think you would make an amazing attorney and that's because you actually got on the.

Exact point and I think this was the point the judge was trying to make so I believe that if that Jersey had testified today that in that moment it was not the other jurors who made her change her mind but in fact it was what Becky Hill had said that led her to her verdict even though she believed Murdoch was not guilty that would have changed.

The game but the fact that she focused on the other jurors persuading her you're right that is the point of a jury system that's why we are not allowed inside jury deliberation rooms they're supposed to influence each other we're not supposed to see what happens now people like Becky Hill though are not on the outside supposed to be changing the.

Verdict so that's exactly right jurors are supposed to influence other jurors now outside Court people anyone outside of that jury room is not supposed to right Angela sadella I could talk about this with you forever thank you so much for being here we appreciate it as always now to Homeland Security secretary Alejandro mayorcas facing the.

Possibility of impeachment Accused by Republicans of failing to enforce immigration law it comes as Senate negotiators are working on a new border deal despite long odds it will pass the Republican controlled House NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles is following it all for us tonight tonight for the first time in.

150 years a cabinet official is staring down the possibility of impeachment House Republicans accusing DHS secretary Alejandro mayorcas of willful and systemic refusal to comply with immigration laws and a breach of public trust since President Biden took office there's been a record 8.6 million migrants crossing the border Joe Biden.

Has turned every Community into a border Community with his failed policies but Democrats blasting the move the House Republicans have clearly turned their ever shrinking majority over to the extremists and this shance impeachment of secretary mayorcas is just another sad example mayorcas a key part of the.

Negotiations around a border security package which Republicans demanded before they'll pass any new funding for Ukraine bipartisan senators are working on the border legislation President Biden vowed would help him deal with the crisis including granting him new emergency Authority if that bill with the law today I'd shut down the border.

Right now and fix it quickly if Joe Biden truly wanted to secure the order he doesn't really need a bill I did it with the current laws Republican front runner Donald Trump urging Congress to torpedo the deal for not being tough and off please blame it on me please because they were getting ready to pass a very bad Bill among the provisions it could.

Still allow up to 5,000 migrants per day to cross the border but Democrats and some Republicans believe Trump wants to kill the bill to boost his presidential prospects Ryan Nobles joins us now from Capal Hill so Ryan even if the Senate manages to finish and pass this new border Bill what does its future look like in the house.

I I shouldn't even ask yeah but do tell us you're right to chuckle Ellison it is very uncertain and that in part is because the house Speaker Mike Johnson keeps giving us every reason to think it would never pass the house he said earlier this week that if the rumors were true about the proposed package which none of us have actually seen yet.

That it would end up being Deb on arrival in the house and then he indicated today that if the provisions that would allow the the president to take executive action to prevent people from crossing the border uh weren't down to zero Crossings a day which they haven't been zero Crossings a day for a generation uh then he wouldn't support.

The legislation so uh there there's going to be a very high bar in order for this to pass the house right now and it's not clear of this legislation which I will point out one more time we have yet to see yet it's not clear whether or not it's going to be able to pass that bar and get through the house Ryan nobl thank you for more on.

The situation at the southern border let's get right to guad Venegas who joins us now from Eagle Pass Texas so guad last month we saw record border crossings more than 300,000 in December alone now it seems those numbers have come down a bit what is driving the decrease so far Ellison well when this surge was.

Taking place uh DHS secretary mayor and Secretary of State blinkin went to Mexico and they met with Mexican authorities to discuss how to slow the flow of migrants arriving here at the US Mexico border they agreed with the Mexican president that more enforcement needed to be done in Mexico which has been done on the Mexican size so now we.

Have more checkpoints and more enforcement by Mexican immigration that has been slowing the flow of those migrants we also have to keep in mind that that large number we saw that search was part of a caravan that took off from southern Mexico at some point in late October and made its way through the country eventually arriving here in.

December so it was a very large group of migrants that arrived and now of course we've seen that number decrease to very small groups we were here in December we were seeing groups of hundreds arrive daily thousands in the entire area here whereas today we spent the day here in Eagle Pass and we saw less than 10 migrants across the river here today.

Ellison uh we know the state of Texas has been fighting with the federal government over use of razor wire along the border in the Rio Grand River uh what is the latest on that right so it's it's been such a changing situation so State authorities began installing the razor wire there's two types of wire by the way there's.

Concertina wire which is the wire that we've seen installed along the riverbank to try to deter migrants from coming across the water at one point border patrol had to cut that Constantino wire to get to some of the migrants that were trapped on the bank of the river essentially they were rescuing them so that's where they cut that wire uh but.

Now after the Supreme Court ruled that border patrols can cut that wire move it if they choose to do so after that now uh Texas National Guard is installing razor wire which uh they're now putting on top of some of the containers behind me uh that razor wire is meant uh to deter migrants to from climbing over those containers so two different types.

Of wire first the concertina wire and that razor wire that's even sharper still being installed after the Supreme Court said border patrol can't cut that uh now this is inside of Shelby Park an area that has been shut down by state authorities uh as they are not permitting border patrol uh to enter here they are allowing border patrol to.

Come in and use the boat ramp but we have not seen border patrol agents inside the park we have National Guard and state troopers inside of this area detaining any migrant that does cross the river uh to come to the United States and and also I should add that the migrants that are being detained detained by state authorities are being.

Turned over to the state troopers who are then charging them with criminal trespassing Nelson guad Venegas thank you back overseas now in the angry French Farmers blockading Paris some Farmers setting fire to foreign goods and dumping trash outside of government offices as low prices and high taxes and EU regulations threaten their way of.

Life the French government deploying thousands of police officers in response NBC News foreign correspondent Josh Letterman has been following the protest and has this report an extraordinary site on the Paris highways tractors hundreds of them as far as the eye can see signs in French reading angry farmer angry over what.

French Farmers say is an existential threat to their way of life red tape low prices and high taxes they say may put them out of business we've had enough this organic farmer says enough with demands disconnected from reality enough with the markets spiraling downwards these protests have been.

Rocking France for days but now farming unions say they're kicking into higher gear vowing a Siege on the French Capital attempting to block all major roads into Paris threatening to drive their tractors all the way to elisy the presidential Palace in southern France Farmers setting a truck of red peppers on fire.

Then flipping it tires set a flame trash dumped outside government offices tonight France is deploying some 15 ,000 police officers to keep Farmers from literally shutting down Paris the interior Minister threatening arrests putting Farmers on notice saying authorities won't tolerate a blockade on Paris airports or the rungus fresh food.

Market one of the world's largest which feeds millions of people the unrest is fueled by frustration over impacts from the war in Ukraine which led the EU to suspend import limits for Ukrainian food Now farmers say cheap Ukrainian goods are flooding and driving down prices Arnold pues runs a poultry and.

Corn farm near Normandy where two of his kids work with him on the Family Farm for example wine producer don't sell wine in Russia since two year and Russia was a big market for us some people think these protests are going too far how do you respond you must to know that we are on the iway but we don't destroy the iway and until now we have the.

Support of the consumers and the citizen they are aware that we feed them all the year over the weekend France's new prime minister Gabriel atal offered Farmers a deal steps like simplifying environmental rules and freezing taxes on tractor diesel but farming unions dismissed it as small potatoes and vowed to keep.

Fighting the longer these protests go on the more there are growing concerns about food shortages in France and with Paris set to host the Olympic Games in just 5 months French authorities say this crisis can not last much longer Ellison Josh Letterman thank you still ahead tonight the man who leaked former president Trump's tax documents is.

Heading to prison a former IRS contractor pleading guilty to stealing those documents and leaking them to the Press how much time he'll spend Behind Bars plus dramatic video shows a woman clinging to the hood of a speeding car her stolen dog inside the hunt for that dognapper now underway and why one particular greed may be at risk and have.

You tried to search Taylor Swift's name on the social platform X today if so you may have seen this error message why Elon Musk has temporarily banned users from searching for the pop star stay with us now to the desperate search for a dognapper in Los Angeles shocking new.

Video shows the moment a woman clings to the car driving away with her beloved French Bulldog who was picked up and stolen outside of a Whole Foods it's part of a concerning new trend of dog kidnappings in this country NBC News correspondent Liz CZ has this story it's a shocking video a woman clinging to the hood of a car as thieves.

Speed off with her one-year-old French Bulldog I said this is it this is how I'm going to die Ali Zacharias miraculously survived saying she fell off two blocks later as she watched the dognappers drive away with little onx we're eating right here outside the Whole Foods in downtown Los Angeles with a terrifying incident unfolded Zacharias.

Described to us the moments a woman stole him and ran to a getaway car my only recourse was to stop the car so I stood in front of the car and I put my hands on I said stop I said do not go and I didn't think that they'd drive into a human the next thing I know they like drove into me and like banged me and like until I fell on the hood this.

All happened right here at this intersection and it's part of a disturbing Trend these prize French Bulldogs snap from their owners often then sold on the black market in 2021 Lady Gaga's two Frenchies were taken after shooting her dog walker the dogs found after she offered a $500,000 reward for their safe return and just.

Last November thieves stole a dozen puppies worth $100,000 from a la pet store French Bulldogs the number one dog breed in America cost between $3 to $9,000 some even more were you aware that people often Target these dogs when you got yes but I never thought it would be me I never thought that this would be my situation Onyx now a statistic with.

Zacharias still praying he'll be returned LZ CS NBC News Los Angeles coming up a woman caught on camera attacking a store clerk with pepper spray the reason she went back to the store just an hour after stealing a bottle of tequila.

Back now with top stories news feed and we begin with the sentencing of the ex IRS contractor who leaked former president Donald Trump's tax records Charles Little John sentenced to serve 5 years in a federal prison and pay a $5,000 fine after he pleaded guilty to stealing Trump's tax records and then leaking them to two media Outlets Little.

John also leaked the records of thousands of other wealthy people in including billionaires Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk a Florida woman is in custody after she was caught on camera stealing liquor and assaulting a cashier surveillance video shows the 27-year-old pepper spraying a cashier at a North Miami Walgreens just 1 hour after.

Allegedly stealing a bottle of Don Julio Tequila the suspect had returned to the store after dropping her phone as she ran out the first time two other victims were reportedly caught up in this attack including a 5-year-old no word yet on their condition and no word yet on charges for that suspect the social platform X blocking some searches for.

Taylor Swift after explicit AI deep fakes of the singer went viral users on the site are now shown an error message if they try to search the singer's name individually without quotation marks the blockade is a safety measure as the site Works to remove all images of non-consensual nudity the account that originally posted the image has been.

Suspended Swift has yet to comment now to power and politics and the race for the white house this weekend Nikki Haley saying she does not necessarily have to win the next primary in South Carolina against former president Trump despite the fact that it is her home state our Kristen Welker pressed Haley on that position yesterday.

During an exclusive interview on Meet the Press I think I need to do better than I did New Hampshire so this is a building situation it's not about which state you get State you don't do you need to actually saying you need to do better but do don't you need to win your home state to show that you can win a State.

Win your home state and really put some delegates on the map for yourself well we've got 17 delegates he's got 32 I'd say that's pretty good to start what I do think I need to do is I need to show that I'm building momentum I need to show that I'm stronger in South Carolina than New Hampshire does that have to be a win I.

Don't think that necessarily has to be a win but it certainly has to be better than what I did New Hampshire and it certainly has to be close for more on the Haley campaign strategy we're joined Now by Matt Gorman former senior adviser to the Tim Scott campaign Matt thank you so much for being here let's start with that video we just played what is your.

Reaction to Haley's strategy here you know she's wanted the one-on-one race against Trump for a while she finally got it in New Hampshire in theory set up well for Open primary small State Governor who was popular and wanted to be everywhere as a surrogate and Trump won comfortably so look at the end of the day you got to start winning.

Somewhere you know Ric Flair the 80s wrestler said you want to be the man you got to beat the man so my question is this you know we have about four weeks to South Carolina she's currently losing by about 20 points if it's 20 points say two weeks from now that Gap that's a very different it is right now so what is sort of the number since you.

Mentioned 20 points here specifically let's get into hypotheticals I mean your former boss Tim Scott obviously from South Carolina has endorsed former president Donald Trump ahead of the primary in South Carolina but when we're talking numbers the spread the up or down what would be a realistic Gap if you will if Haley does in fact lose.

South Carolina where it's like okay her argument works that she has enough delegates for it to be worth staying in it moving forward and what sort of is the number that's like there's no way you come back from that just walk away now I I mean I mean look you know a lot of the super Tuesday states by half of them are open primaries semiopen if you.

Will but to get to that point you got to get really close in South Carolina and that might even be pushing it she really needs to show that she can win somewhere win outright not just come in second not just have a moral Victory you know South con is her home state about since she left the governor's mansion about 600,000 new voters have come to the.

State a lot of them transplants from the north you know college grad and above higher income so that could be fertile ground for her but again you got to start winning somewhere that's the key here is there any state right now when you're looking at the numbers and polling that you think she might be able to win that state.

Outright I've heard you know possibly Vermont possibly DC um but again neither of those are home state South Carol is her home state and it just happens to be third so right now to even get to that point where we're having that conversation she has to close the gap in South Carolina it cannot be 20 points in her home state um.

So that's kind of mission number one all right Matt Gorman thank you so much for your Insight on this this was an interesting long- ranging interview I wish we could talk to you all night uh thank you so much for being here Matt Gorman we really appreciate it just ahead animal rights activists in Mexico March in protest of the return of bull.

Fighting the massive push back from hundreds after the Supreme Court lifted a ban in Mexico City and a Russian Olympic figure skater at the center of a doping Scandal learns her fate the decision to disqualify her and what that means for her gold medal back now with the Americas and our.

Focus tonight is a debate raging in Mexico City hundreds of protesters turning up at the world's largest bull fighting arena after the country's SU suprem Court lifted a 2-year ban on the sport opponents arguing bull fighting is animal cruelty but others say it is essential to Mexican culture NBC News correspondent Steven Romo has.

More after nearly two years bull fighting is back in Mexico City but outside the arena an equally intense battle this protesters saying bull fighting normalizes violence adding that it's Slaughter for recreation despite the masses gathered in opposition Plaza Mexico the largest bull fighting arena in the world with 41,000.

Seats opening its doors once more on Sunday after the Mexican Supreme Court temporarily lifted a 20222 bull fighting ban in Mexico City the Arena's director hopeful they'll be able to celebrate bull fights for many years to come while the Supreme Court did not explain its reasoning for lifting the ban it originally cited that the fights.

Violated the right to an environment free from violence this Mexico City Congressman surprised at the outcome but committed to making bull fights illegal in the capital city again but not all Mexicans feel this way one spectator saying her father raised bulls and gave them an excellent.

Life in fact bull fights are still federally legal in the country and many groups like this one hosting events and training sessions meant to inspire the next generation of bull fighting afficianados this aspiring bull fighter says he dreams of hearing the meaningful Olay that's offered in Mexico but tensions.

Over this centuries old tradition not just happening in Mexico stop last fighting in Rome protesters with the organization Peta interrupting a prayer service led by Pope Francis while months earlier animal Act ists at the Vatican holding a silent protest accusing the Catholic Church of condoning the practice across the globe around 250,000.

Bulls die each year during bull fights according to the Humane Society International a tradition originating in Spain it's still practiced in eight countries a push to Outlaw the practice in Colombia last year not making it out of Congress the Mexican president saying he'd explore the possibility of a referendum on the Capital City's bull.

Fighting ban but hasn't made Solid plans until then Mexico City grappling with changing times and honoring its Heritage Steven Romo joins us now in studio so Stephen do we know if the decision here from the Mexican point of view is at all motivated by the fact that they generate a lot of revenue from these bull fighting events we certainly.

Cannot ignore that we got to follow the money right most things that are cited right here have to do with the cultural history of it but National Association for bull fighting they admit $400 million is brought in each and every year from this those numbers dating back to 2018 due to this ban they also say the industry employed about 880,000.

People so there is this Rich cultural history but we can't ignore the economics that could be driving this decision Alison Steven Romo thank you now to top stories Global watch and we begin with the shark attack at a popular Harbor in Australia authorities say a woman is in critical condition tonight after she was bitten in the leg while.

Swimming alone in Sydney Harbor even though a nearby veterinarian applied a tourniquet the woman suffered immense blood loss and muscle damage on her right leg before being rushed to the hospital the home of former Brazilian president Jer bolsonaro's son was raided today in connection to a spying investigation federal police serving.

Search and seizure warrants against Carlos bonaro he is accused of using Brazilian intelligence to illegally monitor citizens during his father's Administration the former president lawyer telling local media bonaro was at the property earlier in the day but left before authorities arrived seven other properties were also raid and Russian.

Figure skater Camila Val Eva will be stripped of her 2022 Olympic gold medal for doping the punishment announced by the court of arbitration for sport two years after she tested positive for a ban substance while competing at the Beijing Olympics Vala's lawyers had tried to argue she had taken her grandfather's heart medication by.

Mistake stake and should not be disciplined the US which finished second in the team event will now be awarded the gold medal when we come back marking an important Milestone a California veteran who survived the Pearl Harbor attack celebrating his 100th birthday the family and friends who showed up to make his day extra.

Special and finally tonight we take you to California where a Pearl Harbor Survivor celebrated his 100th birthday the US Navy veteran surrounded by three generations of his family on his special day the bombs blast the Cannons Roar the sights and sounds of battle for Chuck ker turning 100 was a birthday for the history books this is wonderful oh my.

Goodness gracious I I I I don't think many people get to experience something like this ker a US Navy veteran who survived the 19 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor celebrating his special day with over 100 friends and relatives who gathered to Mark the Milestone I've had a lot of I've been involved in a lot of things during my life and you know but.

This this is maybe the most exciting and pleasing that I've had we all gave some and some gave off Coler remembering the day when over 2400 of his fellow Shipmates comrades lost their lives at War at the time he was just 17 years old he says he feels lucky to be celebrating a century and he feels touched by the recognition all of these.

People who knows where all they've came from because of me who wish me a happy birthday I'll never ever forget it now a great grandfather ker sharing some words of advice for those hoping to see their own 100th birthday don't worry about taking always be trying to give Works real good it has for me anyway it's been a great rewarding life you know but the.

More you put into it the more you can expect to get back thank you so much for watching top story for Tom yamus I'm Ellison barber in New York stay right there more news now is on the way thanks for watching stay updated about breaking news and top stories on the NBC News app or follow us on social.

Media

Sharing is caring!