Wednesday, March 18, 2026

0:00Life's busy. Don't let banking slow you down. Whether you're paying bills, setting savings goals, or just splitting the check. Atlantic Union Bank makes managing your money easier. With helpful people and user-friendly tools, we make sure banking with us fits you. Call, visit us online, or drop into an Atlantic Union Bank branch today. Atlantic Union Bank. Anyway, you bank. This week on Security Now, Steve Gibson digs into why modern websites are collapsing under bot traffic. How dangerous browser extensions are quietly spying on millions. And while getting software trusted, now requires legal level identity attestation. As usual, Tuesdays brings a sharp look at how fragile online trust has become with Security Now. Hi, this is Leo Laporte. Look for me and Steve at our website Twitter.tv-SN or wherever you get your podcasts.

1:00Tonight, the price of oil now the highest in years after new attacks on energy sites across the Middle East. With top intelligence leaders under fire on Capitol Hill, a devastating strike setting an Iranian oil field on fire as the U.S. launches a new wave of attacks on Iran. President Trump telling our reporter Iran is going down as they launch new strikes on Saudi Arabia. Our correspondent is there. Look at that, as that Capitol is hit. Plus, the nation's intelligence leaders peppered by senators was Iran an imminent threat to the U.S. for the controversial answers. Airport breaking point, passengers waiting hours, lines weaving around baggage carousels and the urgent warning tonight could some airports be forced to shut down? The unprecedented heat wave out west. Dramatic rescues on hiking trails as temperatures soar to triple digits in March. Explosive new reporting on civil rights icon Caesar Chavez disturbing allegations of abuse

2:00against women and girls after decades of silence. One accuser, a 95-year-old activist who says he's secretly fathered two children with her. The deadly crash in the Alps terrifying video of a gondola in free fall down the mountain you see it there. The accident in Texas, dozens of cars off the rails has met teams now called in. A family's desperate search and American college student vanishing after a night out in Spain. So how did his phone end up at the police station while he's still missing? The threat to the world's most famous hippo, Mudang. The viral sensations stand off with someone who broke into her enclosure. And there's good news tonight. A bride-to-be turns to her students for marriage advice. The hilarious and surprisingly wise secrets to a happy life from a room full of second graders. Nightly news starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News

3:00with Tom Yamas. Good evening. I'm Halle Jackson in for Tom and we begin tonight with escalations in the Iran war pushing oil and gas prices even higher. This is an infrastructure. Look at this. A huge fire at an Iranian gas field after it was hit. And across the Gulf states a relentless Iranian barrage, missiles and drones apparently targeting energy sites. Look at these two huge fireballs seen earlier in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. And here in Washington, the focus today on the rationale for the U.S. to launch this war in the first place. This war is developing up in Lebanon. Images from Beirut showing this building collapsing. You see it there after an Israeli strike. Israel had issued an evacuation order before the attack. We've got it all covered from DC to the Middle East,

4:00starting with Gabe Gutierrez at the White House. Tonight, the devastating wave of U.S. air strikes in Iran. The Pentagon saying nearly 8,000 regime targets struck so far. The Iranian retaliation against Israel overnight. Telling me the attack was nothing compared to what happened to them. They're going down. They're losing big. Meanwhile, a strike on an Iranian gas field which Iran is blaming on Israel and an Iranian attack on oil facilities and Qatar causing oil prices to spike. Vice President Vance today calling those rising prices a temporary blip. We're going to take care of business and we're going down to reality. All is Israel overnight. Killed Iran's intelligence minister who helped launch that recent brutal crackdown on Iranian protesters. As of this moment, the regime maintains power within Iran, even though they are vastly degraded on almost every front. Director of National Intelligence

5:01Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Radcliffe testifying on Capitol Hill describing the threat from Iran unimpeded, yes, a senator. They would have the ability to range missiles to the continental U.S. As former, high-ranking counterterrorism official Joe Kant who resigned in protest over the war with Iran, arguing there had been no imminent threat to the U.S. appeared with supporter Tucker Carlson. Was Iran on the verge of getting a nuclear weapon? No. They weren't three weeks ago and this started. But the CIA Director is slamming Kant's accusation. In fact, the intelligence reflects the contrary. So you disagree with Mr. Kim? I do. Iran has been a constant threat to the United States for an extended period of time and posed an immediate threat at this time. Later, Democrats pressing Gabbard who'd previously been a skeptic of U.S. intervention abroad. Was it the assessment of the intelligence community

6:01that there was a, quote, threat posed by the Iranian regime yes or no? Senator, the only person who can determine what is and is not an imminent threat is the president. You're evading a question because to provide a candid response to the committee would contradict a statement from the White House. Gabe is joining us now from the White House. Gabe, there's also a focus on that critical straight of hormones, getting it back open. And you have some new reporting on that tonight. The military dropped a four, 5,000-pound deep penetrating bombs, often called bunker busters that slammed into facilities holding Iran's anti-ship cruise missiles along the straight of hormones. But they did not wipe out the entire inventory yet. This is the first known time the U.S. military has used these in combat. Gabe Gutierrez, thank you to those new Iranian attacks on its neighbors. Kier Simmons is in Saudi Arabia tonight and Kier Iran is targeting the Saudi Capitol even with foreign ministers holding a key meeting there.

7:03That's right, Halley tonight. We witnessed the most intense bombardment of the Saudi Capitol yet. Take a look at these pictures. As Saudi authorities say they intercepted every missile that debris was caused to fall. Halley, as we flew into Saudi Arabia today, our plane had to circle whole for 90 minutes until the Capitol's airport could be reopened. When we did get here, we witnessed boom after boom, even as regional foreign ministers gathered together for an emergency meeting. The Saudi foreign minister saying he is trying to de-escalate, Halley. But many of the countries here are furious, Halley. Tonight, we're hearing Qatar is saying it is expelling Iranian diplomats, Halley. A dramatic scene there. Kier Simmons in Saudi Arabia, thanks. Also tonight, with spring break in full swing, some of the worst TSA lines we've seen yet during this Homeland Security shutdown and the man picked to lead that department next, facing heat on Capitol Hill. Here's Tom Castello. Five weeks into the partial

8:03government shutdown, and some of the longest TSA lines we've seen yet, hours-long lines in Miami. We always get here like three hours early, but some of the people are really curious. Same in Atlanta, the line weaving around the luggage carousels. If you have a flight out of Atlanta today, and the next couple of hours get here as soon as possible. And New York, LaGuardia. You hear about three hours before you have a flight. Making matters worse, an airport ground stop and power failure in Denver. The TSA says nearly 10 percent of its entire workforce called out Tuesday. Also working without pay, the Coast Guard, FEMA, and U.S. Cybersecurity. Democrats and Republicans both insist they want to fund Homeland Security. Why are we not funding these agencies? That protect Americans. We have put on the floor bills to fully fund TSA. And my Republican colleagues

9:03have objected. But Republicans object to democratic demands to include ice policing reforms. Part of a contentious confirmation hearing for Senator Mark Wayne Mullen to replace outgoing DHS Secretary Christy Nome. Today, Mullen refused to apologize for calling Senator Rand Paul a snake. And saying he understood why Senator Paul's neighbor attacked him in 2017, causing serious injuries. I just wonder if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that is struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force. As far as me saying that I invoke violence, I don't. Mullen softened his position on some immigration policies while defending federal officers who shot and killed two Americans in Minneapolis. Though he said he regrets making statements blaming Alex Pretti for his own death. I went out there too fast. I was responding immediately without the facts. That's my fault that won't happen to Secretary.

10:03Would you want to apologize to the family of Alex Pretti? Sir, I just said I regret those statements. Is that the same as an apology? I haven't seen the investigation. We'll let the investigation go through. In Washington and Tom, when you talk about those long lines, the TSA analysis it could stop operations at some airports if this funding fight keeps up. Right. Bottom line is we're already seeing some airports with 30, 40, 50% fewer staff than they need. And we've already seen Philadelphia, for example, consolidating TSA positions. The TSA says if this goes on, if people aren't getting paid and they keep calling out sick, TSA may have to close down some airport operations, TSA operations reports. Plenty to watch Tom. Thank you. On the west coast, a heat wave making history, sending temperatures past a hundred and it's not even spring yet. Liz Croyts reports from a sweltering Los Angeles. Across the west tonight, a scorching march heat wave making winter feel more like the height of summer. From California to New Mexico,

11:0338 million people under heat alerts. Cities like Tucson and Phoenix bracing for triple-digit temps. Neither have ever before seen a scorching march. Those are June. Those are just light temperatures. The Phoenix Fire Department says already this week they've had to make at least two heat-related rescues on their hiking trails, which the city is now closing during the day through Sunday. Multiple spring training games in the area are also moving to evening hours. Take breaks every 45 minutes. Get in the cooler environment and cool yourself down. In LA, the blazing sun beating down on these trails. We're going about one or two o'clock. We are dying out here. I mean, it is hot. We rolled up yesterday at two 30 because it was so hot. We drank four gainerades each four water is like you can't get enough fluids. Some ski resorts now forced to close for the season early. These images from veil Colorado show parts of the slope so melted you can see the grass.

12:03And in Nebraska, the warm dry and windy conditions continue to reach the top of the mountain. We're going to have a couple of years that have now turned deadly claiming the life of 86 year old Rose White, a grandmother who died trying to escape. Liz is joining us now live from Altadena and Liz not much heat relief inside anytime soon. Yeah, Holly, that's right. The sea wave is expected through at least Sunday and we can feel it right now. We're well into the 90s here. You can see these incredible temperatures. That would be the highest temperature ever recorded in the US in the month of March. Holly, Liz Croix, thank you to the disturbing new accusations tonight against a civil rights icon. Caesar Chavez considered a hero of the labor movement in the 70s, but now years after his death allegations emerging that he sexually abused women and young girls. Now some are calling for his name to be removed from the schools and streets named after him.

13:04That's a great contract tonight shocking allegations that Latino labor rights icon Caesar Chavez, whose name is on schools and monuments across the country, sexually abused women and girls decades after his death. Though not as weird that now 95 who co-founded the United Farm Workers Union with Chavez revealed in a statement he sexually assaulted her twice. The first time I was manipulated and pressured into having sex with Chavez against my will and in an environment where I felt trapped. Wyrtha says the encounters resulted in two children with Chavez. I chose to keep my pregnancy secret and after the children were born, I arranged for them to be raised by other families that could give them stable lives. Her statement came after the New York Times published an investigation detailing Wyrtha's account along with two other women who say Chavez sexually abused them beginning when 12 and 13 years old. NBC News has not spoken with the

14:04women. One Anamurghia is seen here next to Chavez during a march in 1975. The Times said it found extensive evidence to support the two women's claims through interviews with more than 60 people, union records and confidential documents. Neither the paper nor NBC News have been able to corroborate Wyrtha's claims, which she says she kept secret for 60 years. Chavez, together with Wyrtha, led a movement widely credited with transforming farm labor in the United States. It is a pleading for social change for social justice. Guaranteeing union protections health, safety and social services. Tonight, his family acknowledging the allegations, calling them deeply painful, adding they wish peace and healing to the survivors and commend their courage to come forward. And Wyrtha says the farm workers movement has always been bigger and more important than any one individual.

15:05This, as the union he helped found, says it won't participate in any upcoming annual remembrance events for Chavez's birthday. Kamehla Bernal, thank you. To Switzerland now and the terrifying video of a deadly gondola crash at a ski resort. Danielle Hemamjan has that story. She's crashing down a mountain side. Video capturing the cable car overturning multiple times at this ski resort in Engelberg, Switzerland. After it detached from the cable and plunged down the mountain. The winds blowing at more than 50 miles an hour. As a helicopter was dispatched to the scene and people rushed to help. Police confirming only one person had died. A 61-year-old local woman who later died of her injuries. Police saying, as a result of the accident, operations had to be suspended and passengers had

16:05to be evacuated. The fatal crash, coming after a particularly difficult season in the Alps. The new year began with a fire in a club that killed more than 40 people, many of them teenagers. Then weeks later, a series of deadly avalanches. Back in central Switzerland, the cause of this gondola crash still under investigation. Danielle Hemamjan NBC News London. When we return in 60 seconds, an American college student missing in Spain, his face on flyers across Barcelona. His family's desperately for help to find him. He's not pursued on paddle boards. How they caught a suspect to try to make it downriver. Life's busy. Don't let banking slow you down, whether you're paying bills, setting savings goals,

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19:05Spain. Maggie Vespa reports. These are the missing person who has been working with the family for 20 years. This is one of the most blanketing Barcelona tonight where American college students are frantically searching for 20 year old Jimmy Gracie, the Chicago area native and University of Alabama junior who mysteriously vanished from this beachfront nightclub. Last seen around 3 a.m. Tuesday, this is a photo of Jimmy taking that night. It's overwhelming, right? It's one of those things you probably know. I think that's what it's about. I think that's what it is. The government tells us Jimmy was on spring break visiting theta kai fraternity brothers studying abroad. Chapter president Kevin McClay is also visiting. He wasn't with the group Monday night, but learned what happened the next morning. My heart sank to my stomach. Immediately and folks are very scary thoughts. McClay says the brothers had shared

20:06locations and quickly tracked out. The family's heard there might be surveillance video of Jimmy outside that night club, but that's not confirmed. His dad has already made his way to Spain while his mom and four younger siblings cling to hope here in the Chicago area. Pally, Maggie Vespa, thank you. We are back in a moment with a huge trade in the city. The family's heard there might be surveillance video of Jimmy outside that nightclub, but that's what happened with the huge train crash out of Texas has Matt teams now called in. Plus face to face with mood day. What happened when somebody busted into the world famous hippos zoo enclosure next. Few things are as uplifting as the greatest moments in sports. And nothing brings us together quite like team USA at the Olympic Winter Games from NBC Universal's iconic storytelling to the innovative technology and the world's most

21:06popular podcast brings the Olympic Games home to America sharing every moment with millions when team USA steps onto the world stage. We're not just watching. We're cheering together. This winter we're all on the same team. Comcast proud partner of team USA. Slings is the live TV service that puts you in charge. Choose your plan. Orange for sports and entertainment favorites. Blue for news and reality or select for a new movie. We're not just watching. We're not just watching for a new movie. We're not just watching. Any time because paying for TV or not watching. That's just rude. No long-term contracts no nonsense. Pick your plan. Add what you want. Slings let you do that. Visit slings.com to learn more. Back now with the big train crash out of Texas 26 cars derailing. Look at that. You see him there scattered across the tracks with some leaking into the air. In Florida, an unexpected turn for a police

22:06pursuit. Watch this. Voluzia counties deputies hopping on yes paddle boards to chase a suspect who escaped into the river. So they're there. They paddle fast enough to catch up. They capture the man. They bring him into shore. That suspects now charged with loitering, prowling and resisting arrest and in Thailand, a close call for Somebody is now facing charges for jumping into her zoo enclosure outside Bangkok. It happened when somebody was making the evening rounds. Moody Ang fortunately wasn't hurt, but we are told she may have been slightly alarmed by the encounter. When we come back, would you ask second graders for marriage advice? One teacher did. They're words of wisdom before her big day. Finally, there is good news tonight. A second grade teacher turning to some unexpected experts before her wedding, her students. For second grade teacher Clarissa Trevino, her most personal class assignment yet.

23:07I love my students. I absolutely love them. They're the funniest kids. I just wanted to have them involved with something with the wedding. When her boyfriend Omar proposed, Trevino immediately started thinking about how to include the class, so she turned to them for marriage tips. The marriage advice I give my teacher is carefully telling him to give her flowers. Get her starbucks every day. Not eating each other snacks. That one's very important too. Now happily on their honeymoon, the couple says they've already started putting the advice to good use. To take her on a date, you go to a five star restaurant. Yeah, like you go in places, you know, and I did just that. When we got to Vegas where we had our wedding, I went ahead and got the corner table at the Eiffel Tower. Trevino, posting the words of wisdom on TikTok, where it now has half a million views. The marriage advice I give my teachers to be kind and fun with each other.

24:12You know, these are seven and eight year olds talking about, you know, love is kind. You know, so it was really nice to kind of see how they thought. You know, kids are amazing. And that is good advice for all of us. That's Nightly News for this Wednesday. I'm Halle Jackson for all of us at NBC. Thanks so much for watching and have a great night. Thanks, Noring. Gasping during sleep. Feeling fatigued? Wake up to Zepbound, to Zepa Tide. The first and only FDA approved prescription medicine for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, OSA, and adults with obesity. Zepbound is an injectable prescription medicine that may help adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, OSA, and obesity to improve their OSA. Zepbound should be used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity. Zepbound is approved as a 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, or 15 milligram injection. Zepbound contains tersepotide and should not be used with other tersepotide-containing products

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