Nightly News Full Broadcast - May 16

NBC Nightly News: Full Broadcasts | NBC News

16 May 202421:08

Summary

TLDRIn a dramatic courtroom scene, Donald Trump's attorney accuses Michael Cohen of lying under oath regarding a 2016 call about hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. Meanwhile, President Biden asserts executive privilege to withhold recordings of his interview with the special counsel. Elsewhere, a Texas governor pardons a man convicted of murdering a Black Lives Matter protester, and a Kansas City Chiefs kicker faces backlash for a commencement speech deemed sexist and homophobic. Additionally, a stolen statue of baseball legend Jackie Robinson is being restored, thanks to community efforts and donations.

Takeaways

📢 Donald Trump's attorney accused Michael Cohen of lying during cross-examination, casting doubt on Cohen's testimony regarding a 2016 phone call about hush money payments to Stormy Daniels.
🎙️ Michael Cohen, former 'fixer' for Trump, faced a second day of intense cross-examination, with the defense suggesting he was driven by revenge and seeking to discredit his testimony.
🔍 New text messages were presented by Trump's attorney, Todd Blanche, suggesting that the call Cohen referred to was about a prank caller and not about the payments to Daniels.
🤔 Cohen appeared blindsided by the new evidence and could not definitively confirm that the phone call was with President Trump, damaging his credibility as a star witness.
🏛 President Biden has asserted executive privilege to prevent the release of recordings of his interview with the special counsel regarding classified documents found at his home.
🌧️ A high-risk alert for life-threatening flash floods in the South has been issued, with dangerous storms being called a 'nightmare scenario'.
🏆 The Texas Governor pardoned a man convicted of murdering a Black Lives Matter protester, citing Texas' 'stand your ground' law as justification.
🚨 A Florida neighborhood was terrorized by gunmen with high-powered firearms, who unleashed a barrage of bullets in a 15-second attack.
🏈 The Kansas City Chiefs' kicker, Harrison Butker, is under fire for his commencement speech at a Catholic college, which critics called sexist and homophobic.
💊 A new drug, Elinzanetant, is showing promising results in treating menopause symptoms, but its high cost and insurance coverage limitations may hinder access for some women.
🚑 An NBC News investigation reveals that most ambulances in the U.S. do not carry blood on board, which could be a critical lifeline for trauma patients and save tens of thousands of lives a year.

Q & A

What is the main courtroom drama involving Donald Trump's attorney and Michael Cohen?
-The main courtroom drama involves Donald Trump's attorney accusing Michael Cohen of lying on the stand about a 2016 phone call concerning the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels.
How did the defense team attempt to undermine Michael Cohen's credibility?
-The defense team tried to undermine Michael Cohen's credibility by highlighting his history of lies, portraying him as driven by revenge, and confronting him with his eagerness to see his former boss, Mr. Trump, suffer.
What was the key moment in the cross-examination of Michael Cohen?
-The key moment was when Trump's attorney, Todd Blanche, accused Cohen of lying about a phone call with Mr. Trump regarding the hush money payments to Stormy Daniels, suggesting the call was for another purpose.
What was the nature of the phone call that Michael Cohen claimed to have had with Mr. Trump?
-Michael Cohen claimed to have had a phone call with Mr. Trump on October 24, 2016, during which he informed Mr. Trump that the deal to pay off Stormy Daniels would be done.
What evidence did the defense present to challenge Cohen's testimony about the phone call?
-The defense presented never-before-seen text messages and call logs showing that the call on October 24th lasted only 97 seconds, implying that the phone was never passed to Mr. Trump as Cohen claimed.
What is the significance of the phone call in the case against Mr. Trump?
-The phone call is significant because it is part of the evidence that Mr. Trump allegedly had advanced knowledge of the plan to pay off Daniels to protect his campaign and later signed off on a scheme to repay Cohen, falsifying business records to disguise his reimbursements.
How did President Biden assert executive privilege in relation to the investigation of classified documents?
-President Biden asserted executive privilege to prevent Congress from obtaining recordings of his interview with the special counsel regarding the investigation of classified documents found at his home.
What is the controversy surrounding the Kansas City Chiefs kicker's commencement speech?
-The controversy is that the kicker, Harrison Butker, gave a commencement speech at Benedictine College that critics say was sexist and homophobic, leading to calls for the NFL to remove him from the Chiefs.
What is the situation in Gaza regarding the U.S. military's humanitarian aid efforts?
-The U.S. military has anchored a pier off the Gaza Strip and will begin using landing craft to shuttle humanitarian aid to the coast, despite Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's warning that this could put U.S. troops at risk.
Why are some hospitals and blood banks not keeping whole blood in stock?
-Hospitals and blood banks often store blood's component parts instead of whole blood because it is tradition, it's cheap, and it's available, not necessarily because it's the best option for trauma situations.
What is the significance of carrying whole blood on ambulances for trauma patients?
-Carrying whole blood on ambulances can be life-saving for trauma patients, as it is the best product for treating severe bleeding and can help stabilize patients before they reach the hospital.
What is the issue with reimbursement for blood given on the way to the hospital?
-Neither Medicaid, Medicare, nor private insurers pay for blood given on the way to the hospital, which may contribute to the lack of whole blood being carried on most ambulances.
What was the impact of the theft of the Jackie Robinson statue in Wichita, Kansas?
-The theft of the Jackie Robinson statue left the community and the youth baseball fields, League 42, without an important symbol of inspiration and courage. However, donors raised over $100,000 to rebuild the monument.
How is the new statue of Jackie Robinson being recreated?
-The new statue is being recreated by a skilled team at Art Castings of Colorado, who are using the original molds crafted by the late sculptor, Kansas artist John Parsons, to cast and paint an identical statue.

Outlines

00:00

👨‍⚖️ Courtroom Showdown: Michael Cohen's Cross-Examination

In a dramatic courtroom scene, Michael Cohen, former attorney for Donald Trump, faced a scathing cross-examination by Trump's defense attorney Todd Blanche. Cohen, who has already spent 14 hours on the witness stand, was accused of lying about a phone call with Trump regarding hush money payments to Stormy Daniels in 2016. The defense team attempted to discredit Cohen by highlighting his history of lies and suggesting he was motivated by revenge. A key moment was when Blanche accused Cohen of lying about Trump's bodyguard Keith Schiller passing the phone to Trump, arguing that the call was actually about a prank caller and not Daniels. Cohen appeared blindsided by the new evidence and maintained that he did speak to Trump about the matter. The trial is nearing its end, with the significant question remaining of whether Trump will testify.

05:01

🎙️ Controversial Commencement Speech by NFL Player

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has stirred controversy following a commencement speech at Benedictine College, where he criticized LGBTQ rights, abortion, IVF, and surrogacy, and advised female graduates to focus on being homemakers. Despite receiving a standing ovation, many have condemned the speech as sexist and homophobic, leading to a petition signed by over 140,000 people calling for Butker's removal from the Chiefs. The NFL has distanced itself from Butker's views, stating that they are not representative of the league and that he gave the speech in his personal capacity. Neither Benedictine College, the Chiefs, nor Butker have commented on the situation.

10:01

🛑 Life-Saving Blood Shortage in Ambulance Services

An NBC News investigation has highlighted a critical issue in emergency medical services: the lack of whole blood on board most ambulances. While San Antonio, Texas, and Birmingham, Alabama, have implemented the practice of carrying blood on some of their emergency vehicles, 99% of the country does not follow suit. The investigation shares the story of a 6-year-old girl who was saved by the immediate availability of whole blood after vomiting blood post-surgery. Experts, including former military doctors, advocate for the use of whole blood in trauma situations, arguing it is more effective than the standard IV fluids used by many hospitals and blood banks. However, financial constraints, as neither Medicare, Medicaid, nor private insurers pay for blood given en route to the hospital, are a significant barrier to change. The issue is pressing, as 40 million Americans live more than an hour away from a trauma center, and lives are being lost due to the absence of blood in ambulances.

15:01

🚨 Restoration of Jackie Robinson Statue After Theft

Months after a beloved statue of baseball legend Jackie Robinson was stolen, an effort to restore the monument is underway. The statue, which stood at a ballpark in Wichita, Kansas, was a symbol of inspiration for underprivileged city youth playing on League 42 baseball fields. After the theft, donors raised over $100,000 to rebuild the statue. A team at Art Castings of Colorado is now working to recreate the iconic Dodger statue using the original molds made by the late sculptor and Kansas artist John Parsons. The statue's restoration is a testament to Robinson's enduring legacy and the community's commitment to honoring his spirit, which is set to be unveiled later in the summer.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cross-examination

Cross-examination refers to the process in a legal proceeding where a witness is questioned by the opposing counsel. In the video's context, it is a key part of the courtroom drama as Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's former attorney, faces rigorous questioning by the defense attorney Todd Blanche, aiming to shake Cohen's credibility and cast doubt on his testimony.

💡Hush money payment

A 'hush money payment' is a term used to describe a payment made to someone to prevent them from revealing certain information, often of a sensitive or damaging nature. In the video, the hush money payment is central to the case, as it is alleged that Donald Trump had prior knowledge of the plan to pay off Stormy Daniels to protect his campaign, which is a significant point of contention during Cohen's cross-examination.

💡Executive privilege

Executive privilege is a legal principle that allows the president and other high-level executive branch officers to withhold information from the legislative and judicial branches of government. In the video, President Biden asserts executive privilege to prevent Congress from accessing recordings of his interview with the special counsel, which is related to an investigation of classified documents found at his home.

💡Flash floods

Flash floods are sudden and intense floods that occur within a short period of time, often as a result of heavy rainfall or a dam break. The video discusses a high-risk alert for life-threatening flash floods in the southern United States, highlighting the dangerous storms that are being referred to as a 'nightmare scenario'.

💡Pardon

A pardon is an act of clemency granted by a higher authority, typically a governor or president, which forgives a person for their crimes and releases them from punishment. In the video, the Texas Governor Greg Abbott issues a pardon to a former U.S. Army sergeant convicted of murdering a Black Lives Matter protester, citing Texas' 'stand your ground' law as the justification.

💡High-powered firearms

High-powered firearms refer to guns with a high muzzle energy, capable of causing significant damage and having a long effective range. The video describes a terrifying incident in a Florida neighborhood where gunmen with high-powered firearms unleashed a barrage of bullets, terrorizing the community and leading to a search for answers.

💡Commencement speech

A commencement speech is a formal address given to graduates at the end of a course of study or at a graduation ceremony. In the video, the Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is under fire for his commencement speech at Benedictine College, where he made controversial statements about women, LGBTQ rights, and other topics, leading to backlash and calls for his removal from the team.

💡Nonhormonal option

A nonhormonal option refers to a treatment or medication that does not involve hormones. In the video, the discussion about a new drug called elinzanetant for treating menopause highlights it as a nonhormonal alternative to other treatments like Veozah, which could provide relief for millions of women experiencing menopause symptoms.

💡Trauma center

A trauma center is a medical facility equipped and staffed to provide care for patients who have suffered severe injuries, often as a result of accidents or violence. The video discusses the importance of having whole blood available on rescue vehicles, as 40 million Americans live more than an hour away from a trauma center, and timely access to blood can be critical in saving lives.

💡Reimbursement

Reimbursement refers to the process of compensating someone for an expense they have incurred. In the video, it is mentioned that neither Medicaid, Medicare, nor private insurers pay for blood given on the way to the hospital, which is a significant issue because it affects the availability of whole blood on ambulances and the ability to save lives during medical emergencies.

💡Statue restoration

Statue restoration involves the process of repairing or rebuilding a statue that has been damaged or destroyed. The video concludes with the story of a stolen statue of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, which is being restored by a skilled team at Art Castings of Colorado using the original molds. The restoration is significant as it honors a barrier-breaking sports hero and serves as a symbol of resilience.

Highlights

Donald Trump's attorney accuses Michael Cohen of lying on the stand during cross-examination.

Cohen, Trump's former fixer, faces a scathing cross-examination, casting doubt on a 2016 call regarding hush money payment to Stormy Daniels.

President Biden asserts executive privilege over recordings of his interview with the special counsel, criticizing his memory.

A high-risk alert for life-threatening flash floods in the South, with dangerous storms called a nightmare scenario.

Texas Governor pardons a man convicted of murdering a Black Lives Matter protester.

Gunmen with high-powered firearms terrorize a Florida neighborhood, unleashing a barrage of bullets.

Kansas City Chiefs kicker under fire for his commencement speech urging women to be homemakers and blasting the LGBTQ community.

Community comes together to help restore a beloved Jackie Robinson statue after thieves made off with it.

Key moment in trial as Trump attorney Todd Blanche accuses Cohen of lying about a phone call with Trump on hush money payments.

Cohen's credibility is key to the state's case as he is the only one testifying that Trump had advanced knowledge of the plan to pay off Daniels.

Trump's defense argues nothing was falsified and challenges prosecutors on Trump's intent to shield his campaign from Daniels' story.

Cohen maintains his composure when pressed about his criminal history, including being convicted of lying under oath and being disbarred.

Defense suggests Cohen is not telling the full story about his desire for a White House job, which Trump never offered him.

Jury pays close attention as the defense accuses Cohen of lying under oath about the phone call.

Governor Abbott's pardon justified by Texas' stand your ground law in the case of a former U.S. Army sergeant convicted of murder.

Neighborhood in South Florida experiences a terrifying night with a barrage of gunfire targeting a car with high-powered weapons.

NFL on defense after backlash over a controversial graduation speech by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, criticized as sexist and homophobic.

U.S. military sets up a pier in Gaza to shuttle humanitarian aid to the coast, despite the risk to U.S. troops.

A new drug, Elinzanetant, shows promising results in treating menopause symptoms, but its high cost and insurance coverage may be a barrier.

Doctors and first responders sound the alarm about the lack of whole blood on most ambulances, which could save tens of thousands of lives a year.

Restoration of a stolen statue of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, with donors raising over $100,000 to rebuild the monument.