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- [00:00]
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- [00:09]
Yasmin Vasugian
I need a coffee.
- [00:10]
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- [00:33]
Yasmin Vasugian
Hey, everyone. Welcome to here's the scoop from NBC News. I'm Yasmin Vasugian. Today on the pod, emotional testimony from the families of Bryan Kohberger's victims in Idaho and why it's never too late to get back on the pitcher's mound or the tennis court. Up first, though. Well, okay, it's Congress. Congress is out for summer. The House is breaking early for recess. With congressional Republicans consumed by a fight within their own ranks. The question is whether the government should release files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. So for more on this, I want to bring in my colleague Ryan Nobles. He's our chief Capitol Hill correspondent, joining us now from a booth on the Hill where all the action seems to be happening nowadays, or no action at all because they're going into recession. You just came from a gaggle with House Speaker Johnson. What happened?
- [01:27]
Ryan Nobles
Well, I think it was pretty revealing, Yasmin, because he basically called all of us reporters together on a moment's notice. This wasn't planned to insist that they were not going home early because of the Epstein controversy, that this was a planned recess and there was nothing about the Epstein saga that was making them break early. He's ignoring the fact that they were unable to get through a couple of key votes because a procedural step in that process was held hostage by the fact that his Republican members were unwilling to clear amendments and resolutions that would require more information to be revealed in the Epstein controversy. So while perhaps it is a little overblown to say completely that the reason that they're leaving at the time that they're leaving is because of the Epstein saga, there is no doubt, A, that their work was interrupted as a result of it, that's unquestionably true. And B, that there is still a very significant portion of the House Republican caucus that feels that they are not getting the answers that they're looking for as it relates to Epstein, and they're pushing for more. And this has become a growing problem for Mike Johnson and the fact that he felt the need to call us all together to try spin it one more time before they leave for the August recess is pretty revealing.
- [02:47]
Yasmin Vasugian
Well, I can't help but think that when someone tells you to look over there, not here, you're gonna look exactly where he tells you not to look. Right. So the question is, is there a sense that the speaker is getting pressure from somewhere to make sure the public knows that this is not because of Epstein as to why they're going home early and if he's getting pressure to break early because of Epstein?
- [03:10]
Ryan Nobles
So I think without getting into his head, but knowing what I know about Mike Johnson from covering him from as long as I have, he is very much aware of press reports. And so I think he saw the results of this decision to suspend the Rules Committee and not move a bunch of pieces of legislation that they wanted to deal with to the floor. And the interpretation of that, that they were getting out early because of Epstein, and he wanted to respond to that. He did not want that to be the perception leading into the break. And Yasmine, I think he thinks that they're gonna go away for 30 days or more. They're not gonna be back until Labor Day and after Labor Day. And I think he thinks they're gonna go away and then this problem is gonna go away. People are gonna forget about Epstein. But the reality here is that this is organically driven. This has always been a bottom up issue. It's rank and file MAGA Republicans that have beat the drum on Jeffrey Epstein. That was part of why they elected Donald Trump is because they wanted answers on Jeffrey Epstein. And Marjorie Tay, who is one of Donald Trump's biggest supporters, told us this week that the number one issue that she's getting calls to her congressional office on is the Jeffrey Epstein saga. So there's a real possibility that all these House Republicans go back to their constituents during this district work period and get an earful from them. Why aren't you releasing the Epstein files? Why aren't you pushing the Department of Justice to release the Epstein files? So I think he hopes this is gonna go away. But everything we're reading and seeing and what we're hearing from people talking to us is that this is not gonna go away until some results are actually delivered.
- [04:49]
Yasmin Vasugian
Listen, last week we literally talked about on this podcast that Speaker Johnson had called for transparency when it came to the Epstein files. And so what happened between then and now in which he's kind of made this about face essentially and saying there's no daylight between The White House and him and not wanting this vote to come to pass.
- [05:16]
Ryan Nobles
So I'll just tell you what he's saying and then our listeners can interpret it for themselves. His argument here is that the White House has said that they are going to take some steps to release this information, that the President has said that he wants all credible information to be revealed and that he is going to allow the White House and the Department of Justice the opportunity to, to go through that process and release the information and deliver what he calls maximum transparency. And if at the end of that process, after the White House wraps this effort up, they feel that they haven't done enough, then Congress can come in and compel them to do more. And he also said that he's very concerned about the victims of the case. And, you know, part of the reason the Department of Justice doesn't just release this information or post it on their website is because over the course of the investigation, you collect a lot of information about a lot of people. And it might not necessarily be germane to the investigation. Investigation and people who are completely innocent might be caught up in it and might not look good, but they might not have done anything criminal, which is why the DOJ and prosecutors don't just release all this information. And so he's saying that this information needs to be vetted and gone through before you just release it all. What he leaves out every time he has this conversation and he, he kind of jumps through all these hoops to defend the administration is that the reason that we are in this space is because Pam Bondi, the Attorney General, released a memo that stated, there's nothing else to see here. We've gone through everything. We've exhausted this investigation. It's over with. You don't need to look over here anymore. And that is what has led to the outcry. People didn't believe that. And so this idea that now the White House is scrambling and now they're interested in maximum transparency, that wasn't the case three weeks ago when they released that memo. And that's the reason that we're in this position right now.
- [07:05]
Yasmin Vasugian
Ryan Nobles, thank you for that. And you will have a much deserved break coming up as Congress goes into recess. Thank you, my friend.
- [07:13]
Ryan Nobles
Well, listen, here's a scoop. Every day on the beach, I promise.
- [07:15]
Yasmin Vasugian
Okay, I believe you.
- [07:18]
Ryan Nobles
All right, Take it easy, husband. Thank you.
- [07:20]
Yasmin Vasugian
And just an update here. After we wrapped this conversation, citing senior administration officials, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Justice Department told the President that his name is in the Epstein files, though we should note that being named in the files is not an indication of wrongdoing. The DOJ and FBI said they reviewed the files and concluded nothing warranted further investigation. We are going to take a quick break and when we come back, closure for the families of the victims of Bryan Kohberger. Stay with us.
- [07:55]
Al Roker
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- [08:26]
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- [08:42]
Don Wildman
What started the Civil War? What ended the conflict in Vietnam? Who was Paul Revere? And did the Vikings ever reach America? I'm Don Wildman. And on American History Hit. My expert guests and I are journeying across the north nation and through the years to uncover the stories that have made America. We'll visit the battlefields and debate floors where the nation was formed, meet the characters who have altered it with their touch and count the votes that have changed the direction of our laws and leadership. Find American History Hit twice a week, every week, wherever you get your podcasts. American History Hit. A podcast from History Hit.
- [09:33]
Yasmin Vasugian
And we're back with here's the scoop from NBC News. Today, in an Idaho courtroom, Bryan Kohberger was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences without parole. We also heard from the families of the 4 University of Idaho students that he murdered. For hours, their loved ones delivered raw emotional victim impact statements describing the unbearable weight of life without them. The judge even appeared to wipe away his own tears as the family spoke. And Kohberger seemed emotionless. Here's NBC News legal analyst and defense attorney Danny Savalos.
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Danny Savalos
I have no doubt that Kohberger's attorneys were admonishing him in private, do not react when you will certainly be absolutely destroyed in these victim impact statements.
- [10:19]
Al Roker
And Kohberger stood there like a statue.
- [10:22]
Danny Savalos
Or sat there like a statue.
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Yasmin Vasugian
The two roommates who survived the murders also spoke, including Dylan Mortensen.
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Dylan Mortensen
People Call me strong. They say I'm a survivor. But they don't see what my new reality looks like. They don't see the panic attacks, the hypervigilance, the exhaustion, the way I scan every room I enter, the way I flinch at sudden sounds. They don't know how heavy it is to carry so much pain and still be expected to keep going. And that's because of him. He stole parts of me I may never get back. He took the version of me who didn't constantly ask, what if it happens again? What if next time I don't survive?
- [11:17]
Yasmin Vasugian
These are some really heavy feelings. And we wanted to understand how someone can actually move forward from something like this. We're joined now by Ben Miller. He's a clinical psychologist and adjunct faculty at Stanford University School of Medicine, specializing in trauma. Welcome, Dr. Miller.
- [11:37]
Danny Savalos
Thank you for having me.
- [11:38]
Yasmin Vasugian
Watching the victim impact statements today and hearing what they had to say was incredible because it was so emotional and we expected that. But hearing especially from the roommate that survived, first and foremost, this will impact her for the rest of her life. Her best friends have been murdered, and she may very well have been one of them. How do you pick up from that? How do you move on from that, Dr. Miller?
- [12:09]
Danny Savalos
Well, let's just take a minute and just think about how we feel. Listening to you say that. I'm just thinking about how I feel as a parent, as someone who's had friends that I've lost. And I just. I feel it deeply. And I think in moments like these, we need to acknowledge. Acknowledge that everyone's experience with something as traumatic as this is going to be different. And they're all entirely valid. So this is about acknowledging how you feel, acknowledging the moment that you're in, and then recognizing that this is probably a normal response for most people that have gone through something as significant, as horrendous as this person has. So for us bearing witness to this and feeling how we feel, it's on us to now understand what to do with those emotions, what to do with our lives, and how to turn it around so that we can get through it together.
- [12:56]
Yasmin Vasugian
I've covered many mass shootings and I've had to talk to parents, siblings, and we saw that today in the courtroom as well. And I always, as a parent myself, cannot imagine what that is like to do, to have to do. I don't even know how they put their shoes on to get out the door to do it in the first place. Is there something that is helpful in the healing process of having lost someone? So tragically, to be able to talk about them in this way.
- [13:24]
Danny Savalos
Absolutely. We, we know from copious amounts of research that keeping it in and not letting it come out is the worst way to heal. You have to share your story, you have to share how you feel. You have to share what's going on. It could be with your friends at the dinner table, it could be with the coworkers. It doesn't matter. The point is that you share, you get it out, and you're able to talk about it in ways that you can be heard.
- [13:47]
Yasmin Vasugian
I can't tell you, Dr. Miller, how many times I've asked someone, how you doing these days? And they say, I'm all right. And I think people have had different levels of PTSD and trauma in their life. This is extreme, what we are talking about today.
- [13:59]
Danny Savalos
It is.
- [14:00]
Yasmin Vasugian
And no one wishes this upon their worst enemy. But for folks that are listening, that have ptsd, that have trauma from things that have happened in their lives, how do they deal with it?
- [14:14]
Danny Savalos
So find someone that you can trust, whether it's a friend, a support group, a therapist. Name what's going on with you? Naming that feeling is a powerful first step and then being able to process it.
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Yasmin Vasugian
What do you mean by naming what's going on with you?
- [14:26]
Danny Savalos
Just say how you feel. Like, say, listen, I can't turn on the TV right now because I'm just terrified about what it's going to do with me or how I'm going to feel the rest of the day, or I don't want to go outside because I'm worried that something's going to happen. The second thing is giving yourself permission to feel whatever you're feeling and to rest and to step away. Your body and mind may need time, and there's no right way to grieve or right way to heal. And then finally, I think it's really important that we stay connected. We are inherently social creatures and we need to have others in our lives. And so whether it's a walk with a friend, eating regular meals, whatever it is, to maintain some sense of connection and sharing of how you feel, that's a way to ground yourself in a small daily ritual that can be helpful and healing.
- [15:13]
Yasmin Vasugian
Dr. Miller, thank you.
- [15:15]
Danny Savalos
Thank you.
- [15:18]
Yasmin Vasugian
Moving on now to some headlines, and we want to start with a tariff and trade roundup. President Trump says his administration has reached a deal with Japan, one of the largest U.S. trading partners, to lower its tariff rate to 15%. And with plans to talk next week in Sweden, the US And China may extend their deadline to reach a deal. Meanwhile, a domestic battle is brewing over Trump's 17% tariff on Mexican tomatoes. NBC News enterprise reporter Bracey Harris says the levy has US Growers split.
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Bracey Harris
The divide really comes down to you have a sort of geographic breakdown where Florida growers are growing in open fields and they've really seen their share of the industry shrink over the years. Whereas in states like Texas and Arizona, it's not uncommon to have a greenhouse company, let's say, have cross border operations where they may have tomatoes growing in Mexico and they're also growing in the US Too. So the argument that they make is you can't really have these tariffs that hurt one side of their business without it also carrying over to their operations.
- [16:26]
Yasmin Vasugian
In the US the tomato tariff is costing consumers, economists saying prices could rise by up to 10%. The MLB is stepping up its global game, expanding recruitment efforts to India, a nation with a massive population and a deep love for bat and ball sports like cricket. So what is the goal? To tap into that passion and uncover the next generation of baseball talent. One shining example is Toronto Blue Jays prospect Arjun Nimala. He's a top recruit with Indian heritage who represents what the league hopes is just the beginning. And while it may be in with the new, it's not necessarily out with the old. On the mound last night, 45 year old rich Hill became the oldest active MLB player pitching for the Kansas City Royals against the Chicago Cubs, the very team that he debuted with 20 years ago. It was a full circle night for Hill, who now shares the record for most teams played on 14, by the way. And he still isn't done in more oldies but goodies news. Venus Williams is still that girl. At 45 years old, the tennis legend made history last night at the Mubadala City DC Open, taking down Peyton Stearns, becoming the second oldest woman to win a WTA singles match. Not too shabby, right? And that win, by the way, came hot on the heels of a doubles victory with Haley Baptiste earlier in the week. So what brought her back to the core? It wasn't fame, not fortune, it was health insurance. I had to come back for the.
- [17:56]
Dylan Mortensen
Insurance because they informed me earlier this year I'm on Cobra.
- [18:02]
Yasmin Vasugian
So I was like, I got to.
- [18:03]
Bracey Harris
Get my benefits on started training stars.
- [18:07]
Yasmin Vasugian
They are just like us. Well, that's going to do it for us, that here's the scoop from NBC News. We'll be back here tomorrow with whatever the day may bring. Signing off, I'm Yasmin Vesugian.
- [18:31]
Gretchen Rubin
Are you looking for ways to make your everyday life happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative. I'm Gretchen Rubin, the number one bestselling author of the Happiness Project, bringing you fresh insights and practical solutions in the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast. My co host and happiness guinea pig is my sister, Elizabeth Craft. That's me, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer.
- [18:51]
Yasmin Vasugian
And producer in Hollywood. Join us as we explore ideas and.
- [18:55]
Gretchen Rubin
Hacks about cultivating happiness and good habits. Check out Happier with Gretchen Rubin from Lemonada Media.