← Here's the Scoop
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- [00:01]
Kristen Welker
This week only on MEET THE press.
- [00:03]
Podcast Announcer
As the US Pushes for a Ukraine, Russia peace deal. Kristen Welker sits down exclusively with Vice President J.D. vance and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, plus Senator Adam Schiff this week only.
- [00:16]
Kristen Welker
On MEET THE press.
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Podcast Announcer
Listen to the full episode now, wherever you get your podcasts.
- [00:25]
Laura Jarrett
Hey, everybody. Welcome to here's the scoop from NBC News. I'm Laura Jarrett filling in today. Coming up on the show, an on the court confrontation at the US Open, new strikes in Ukraine and Legos are back. Mind your feet, everyone. But first, we're going to get into our top story. Thousands gathered for a prayer service in Minneapolis last night, all to honor the victims of the shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School. And authorities are still searching for answers. The shooter has been identified as 23 year old Robin Westman, who died of a self inflicted gunshot wound after killing two and injuring 17 people. We still don't know Westman's motive. But before we get into it, we should note here that the FBI director, Kash Patel has identified this shooter as male, but legal documents do show that Westman identified as female. Okay, I want to bring in now our national law enforcement and intelligence correspondent, my friend Tom Winter, who has been reporting on this basically since the news broke yesterday. Tom, I think it's important in these conversations to recognize we may never fully understand the motive of an individual who could do something this heinous. But as human beings, we have to try to get our heads around it. So what do we know at this hour about the motive of the shooter? What more are you learning?
- [01:56]
Tom Winter
Yeah, Laura, you know, since yesterday we're learning more about Robin Westman, 23 years old, in terms of motive. You know, we have so much that's out there. So just so people understand, there were a number of videos that were uploaded online over the past several months and then one that according to police was timed to upload at the moment that the shots were fired by Westman, specifically talking about the shooting, apologizing to their family for what they were about to do. Discuss suicidal thoughts. We see all sorts of different themes. We see references to the Catholic Church. We see magazines which hold the ammunition, all sorts of anti Semitic thoughts. Other mass shooters. There's a phrase kill Donald Trump. There's all sorts of just extremely violent materials that are out there. And you look at all that and you say, well, you know, police then don't say that they have a motive. Motives really kind of speaks to one specific triggering thing or one specific reason why they might be targeting a School or a location. As far as what we have out there, we have a very clear picture now from the materials that this is somebody who was deeply disturbed, deeply violent tendencies, and somebody who obviously, at the time that they wanted to do this, was hurting and believed that the only way to solve their own pain was to inflict it, unfortunately, on a bunch of kids that were just going to mass on their first week of school. It's all deeply disturbing.
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Laura Jarrett
Well, and especially in a case like this, the guns are being purchased legally. This is an adult, this is someone who's 23 years old. So it's not even a child who like stole their parents gun. The chief told us this morning that the doors to the church actually locked. And they do that once the mass starts.
- [03:46]
Kristen Welker
You know, due to the procedures that the school had in place, that the church had in place. After the mass had begun, the doors to the church were locked. So this coward had to fire from outside of the church, through the church windows and into the church.
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Mary Carillo
Wow.
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Kristen Welker
And. And we believe him not being able to get into the church likely saves countless lives.
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Laura Jarrett
I wonder if, like just in conversations with sources that you're having, they are thinking about ways to now harden churches, synagogues. Right. This isn't the first place, this is sadly not the first shooting that we've seen in a place like this. But are there sort of active conversations going on today about that?
- [04:30]
Tom Winter
Right. So one of the things that we remember from the Uvalde school shooting and another just unspeakable tragedy was that there were doors that were open, there was a back door that was propped open and allowed that shooter to not be challenged by an administrator, to not be initially challenged by a law enforcement officer who was there. And so we talk about ease of access. And one of the best and first things you can do is at least to start to make it difficult for people to get in. Now, to back it up to your question about the discussion today, okay, so the church had things set up that would lock those doors, keep people from coming in, create a single path to entry. All the things that law enforcement would say, hey, you know what? Those are best practices. Just at least looking at it at this juncture, the investigation. So now what do you do? Do you try to put up bulletproof curtains? There is such a thing over the windows of the church. Do you try to retrofit what bulletproof glass over potentially stained glass windows? The cost of that. We're talking about places that have a lot of money. And then we start to multiply that across all the different churches and denominations, synagogues and houses of worship and mosques across the country. And where are we and at what dollar figure? So the hardening of targets, when we start to really expand the aperture of places that could be targeted, that dollar figure really becomes very, very difficult to digest and comprehend and fund. It's a huge concern. Law enforcement is clearly aware of it. And the BO bottom line is there's not enough police officers to be everywhere at once. And it's probably not practical from the monetary standpoint to be able to secure all of these locations. And once you secure those, somebody's gonna look for something else.
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Laura Jarrett
Tom, I wanna take a step back and talk about the city of Minneapolis itself, because it has just been through hell this summer and a lot of cities are facing their own issues. It's something the president is focused on, obviously. But I think Minneapolis in particular, given what happened with the political violence we saw against two state lawmakers earlier this summer, and even violence in the city just this week alone has been striking. And Minneapolis, so many of us associate also with the murder of George Floyd. And it's a different circumstance, a very different crime. But there is a focus on the city right now, given everything that has happened. And I just wonder from your conversations with law enforcement sources, is there something going on in Minneapolis that is different than what is happening in other cities?
- [07:07]
Tom Winter
It's a great question. I mean, I think there's a couple things that are going on. First off, it's definitely been a difficult summer for them, starting out with political assassination. That is a extremely concerning trend. You and I have talked about this off the air. The idea of political violence being seen by people in this country as a way to solve their problems, their differences, that is something that is deeply concerning in law enforcement, is being talked about more and more and more, and it just highlights the spectrum of threats. Then you get down to the more granular level, the neighborhood level. In Minneapolis, they had had a mass shooting, seven people shot within the 24 hours before the shooting yesterday at the church. That's incredibly difficult for a community to deal with. When you're dealing with that kind of constant violence, it becomes sometimes some people in law enforcement think a little bit self perpetuating, which is that you start to get people talking about this, there's more violence that comes out of it. So there's a lot there for this community to overcome. And then when you're dealt with such a tragic event. And so, yeah, it's been a very difficult summer for the greater Minneapolis area. And having covered far too many of these tragic incidents in the past, you really feel for them and you hope that there's a way to kind of break through this cycle because it can be something that we start to see in certain communities for sure.
- [08:27]
Laura Jarrett
Tom Winter, thank you, my friend.
- [08:28]
Tom Winter
Sure thing.
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Laura Jarrett
Let's take a quick break. We're heading out to Queens, New York to check in on a dust up on court at the US Open. That's next.
- [08:44]
Jessica St. Clair
Hi, I'm Jessica St. Clair. And I'm June Diane Rayfield. And we are two friends trying to survive the chaos and celebrate the joy that life throws our way. And we do it every week on our podcast, the Deep Dive.
- [08:57]
Laura Jarrett
Sometimes we dig into the deep stuff.
- [08:59]
Jessica St. Clair
Like how I communicate with my dead best friend. And sometimes we give bad advice based off a TikTok I saw. And we're not going to apologize for that. Absolutely not. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll hire a psychic medium. Join us, won't you? Listen to the Deep Dive wherever you get your podcasts from Lemonada Media.
- [09:22]
Podcast Narrator
Have you ever wondered what it's like to be buried in an avalanche?
- [09:27]
Tom Winter
Weird foreign feeling of despair or how.
- [09:29]
Podcast Narrator
It feels to crash a skydive?
- [09:32]
Erica Edwards
I remember feeling my body hit the ground.
- [09:34]
Podcast Narrator
These are the stories you'll hear on the podcast called what was that Like? True Stories told by the actual person who went through it. And you'll hear actual 911 calls.
- [09:45]
Jessica St. Clair
911 There's a man at my back.
- [09:47]
Kristen Welker
Door trying to get in search for.
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Podcast Narrator
What was that like on any podcast app or@whatwosthatlike.com.
- [09:57]
Laura Jarrett
Welcome back to here's the scoop from NBC News. So if you were watching last night's U.S. open, you may have seen this tense altercation between American Taylor Townsend and a Latvian player, Elena Ostapenko. Right after Townsend defeated Ostapenko decisively, she won in two straight sets. Townsend, she's ranked number one in doubles, said that Ostapenko told her she has, quote, no class and no education in this heated confrontation. After the match, you can see the two of them yelling at each other and pointing at each other. Now, Townsend, who is black, was asked by a reporter after the match whether she thought there were any racial undertones to the comments. And here's what she had to say.
- [10:38]
Taylor Townsend
So I can't speak on how she felt about it. That's something that you're gonna have to ask her. I didn't take it in that way. But also, you know, that has been a stigma in our community of, you know, being non educated and all the things when it's the furthest thing from the truth and the most, the thing that I'm the most proud of is that I let my racket talk.
- [10:58]
Laura Jarrett
Stepenko, for her part, claimed that Townsend was not being respectful to the rules of the sport. And she flatly denied any allegations of racism, writing in part on her Instagram story, quote, I was never racist in my life. I respect all nations of people in the world. This particular incident comes though as the 2025 U.S. open. It's honoring Althea Gibson, the first black player to break the color line and play at a major tennis tournament. And that was 75 years ago. And there's a growing number of black tennis star right now. You think about Ben Shelton, Francis Tiafo, Coco Guff, the top earning female of all athletes in 2024. Joining me now to discuss is Mary Carrillo, who is an NBC Sports tennis analyst well known to our audience. Mary, I can't imagine someone better to talk to about what happened on the court. What do you think is actually happening in this moment?
- [11:53]
Mary Carillo
Oh, it was outright racism. There's no question about it. I mean, there's an Ostapenko acted like she was shocked, shocked that anyone could accuse her of racism. She used every quintessential racist trope and dog whistle. I mean, I've heard it before. Taylor Townsend. Good God. She's heard it before. I've noticed since she was a little kid, through all the years, and she's the number one doubles player in the world. She's been around a long time. She had to stay calm. That she avoided the whole topic of racism just shows us how far we are away from true equality. The US Open is celebrating Althea Gibson. It's the 75th year since Althea Gibson broke the color barrier.
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Laura Jarrett
Tennis is one of those sports, and I don't think tennis is unique in this sport, but it has had, I think, a historic reputation of elitism and certainly classism. And who is in the middle of Flushing Meadows is this enormous bust of Althea Gibson. And you have all of these incredible. But yet in that moment, there is something that feels like it reduced Taylor down to nothing. And to say to her, you have no education, you have no class. There's something about those words that I think everybody who's watching it strikes a nerve.
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Mary Carillo
I wish I could tell you that Elena Osapenko invented these words, these phrases, but long ago, before she got a lot older and smarter, Martina Hingis used to use this on the Williams Sisters. I remember one time she did that whole thing like, I'm so smart. And Venus is only beating me because she's big and strong and, you know, a big black athlete. And at a press conference, Venus was asked, what would your father. Because Richard Williams was, you know, so outspoken. What would your father do about this? And Venus was so smart, she just took a beat and said he'd probably invite her to lunch.
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Laura Jarrett
We did a perfect response.
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Mary Carillo
Let's educate these people. But you also have to know that Aleya, she's always been a terrible sport, in my opinion. And every time she loses, she gives these fishy, frosty, no, look, handshakes at the net. In yesterday's match, Taylor just stayed the course. As I said, I've known this woman a hell of a long time. She's a mom now. She said she wanted to behave the way she behaved for her son.
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Laura Jarrett
Mary, what do you do if you had been broadcasting in that moment? You weren't.
- [14:28]
Mary Carillo
I was.
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Laura Jarrett
And you, you said you might have had some things to say, but when you're watching something like that live play out and you can tell it's heated, how do you make sense of that for the audience in that moment when it's live and it's playing out in front of you and you don't have all the facts?
- [14:40]
Mary Carillo
I wouldn't have had all the facts, my friend, but I know a dog whistle when I hear it. And this is when I drive many of my producers through the decades crazy. I would have spoken my mind. I know Taylor very well. I've known Ostapenko through all these years. There's no doubt in my mind that Ostapenko was being a racist yesterday. There's no doubt. She never denied anything that Taylor says happened occurred at the end of that match. It's not like Osapenko said, oh, I didn't say that, or I didn't mean it.
- [15:15]
Laura Jarrett
She said, I was never racist in my life. I respect all nations of people in the world. That's what she's saying. I also wonder just about the moment we're in for tennis. I talked to Coco Gauff this week about the legacy and about Althea Gibson, and she said to me, offhand, mary, yeah, you know, after a match, I still get crazy stuff. She's still getting racist trolls coming after her. She said, it's coming from the tennis fans.
- [15:47]
Mary Carillo
It's coming from social media, which is a quagmire. I always tell players, like, don't. Don't go into that morass. The two weeks you're playing a major. Don't even look at. Don't even look at social media. When I see players lose a match, they're walking up the court and they're already checking out their phone.
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Laura Jarrett
Yeah. And you shut it down.
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Mary Carillo
Don't look at your phone. Just don't go there. It's going to be awful. And it's soul deadening to see what some athletes have to go through, in particular black athletes. And Coco Golf is our greatest gift to this since Serena Williams has left.
- [16:24]
Laura Jarrett
This is like the best possible role model for my daughter, and she's saying she's still getting trolled. If you were talking to Taylor, how would you talk to her about how she shakes this off?
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Mary Carillo
She's been dealing with it her whole life. I so admire how strong Taylor Townsend is. It might even make her stronger because she has been so celebrated for how she has handled this ridiculous, nonsensical, biting, hurting moment in her tennis career. She'll be fine. She doesn't need my help. You're talking about role models for your daughter. My daughter's 34 years old. And Coco Golf and Taylor Townsend are role models. I consider them role models.
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Laura Jarrett
Well, Mary, I know you're going to have lots of great thoughts and analysis for us for the rest of the Open. I hope you get some honey deuces. I hope that this is like a blip and not anything else, like I said, that we're going to see for the rest of the Open because it's been fun to watch and it's always fun to be able to talk to you. So thank you.
- [17:27]
Mary Carillo
It's a great event, and there's still plenty more good stuff to come.
- [17:32]
Laura Jarrett
Thank you, Mary.
- [17:33]
Mary Carillo
Anytime.
- [17:36]
Laura Jarrett
All right, let's get to some headlines. Overnight, Ukraine was hit with one of the heaviest barrages of this war to date. Russian forces launched more than 600 drones and missiles across the country, striking more than 20 different locations in Kyiv. Local officials there saying at least 15 people were killed, including four children and 38 others were injured. Homes were destroyed, thousands lost power and even diplomatic sites like the European Union's delegation building and the British Council also damaged. The EU President condemning the attack, calling it a deliberate assault on civilians. The attack comes as President Trump's peace talks seemingly have stalled. CDC Director Susan Minares is pushing back against efforts to remove her less than a month after being confirmed. The Trump administration fired her just hours after she refused to step down. But Manara has made clear she will not leave her post quietly. Her departure, which was announced by the Department of Health and Human Services, has been met with controversy. And while HHS didn't provide a reason, Menara's lawyers, they claim she was targeted for refusing to rubber stamp unscientific, reckless directives. Her short tenure was marked by reported clashes with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Particularly over changes to the CDC's vaccine advisory panel. Following the news that she was fired, several other top CDC officials resigned, with some citing the weaponization of public health. Here's NBC News health and medical reporter Erica Edwards.
- [19:13]
Erica Edwards
You know, I have covered the CDC for two decades under both Republican and Democratic leadership and I have never seen the kind of chaos at the agency that we're seeing now. This was an exodus of top leadership at the cdc, some of the most well respected scientists and physicians in the CDC's history. And you know, I've asked several CDC staffers today who's in charge now? No one could give me an immediate answer. And I really just want to pause and talk about how important this is. The CDC is in charge of looking over our public health. And to see that agency in such disarray is really something that's impactful to all of us, to all Americans.
- [19:58]
Laura Jarrett
Florida's so called Alligator Alcatraz, an immigration detention camp, could be empty within days. That's according to emails obtained by NBC's station in South Florida. The news came through a reply to a rabbi that was offering chaplain services from several faith leaders in the area. State emergency management chief Kevin Guthrie said, we are probably going to be down to zero individuals within a few days. This Everglades facility, which was rushed into service this summer, was designed for thousands, but never came close to even reaching capacity. It's faced sharp criticism over its conditions and its environmental footprint. This update comes just days after a federal judge ordered the camp to shut down within 60 days, a ruling the state of Florida is now appealing. The Department of Homeland Security. The spokesperson says that the agency is complying and moving detainees to different facilities and that we will continue to fight tooth and nail to remove the worst of the worst from American streets. Legos aren't just for kids. They're more popular than ever. In fact, Joe Fryer taught me the plural of Lego is Lego. Lego revenue has grown by 12% and sales are up by 13%. They've even launched 314 new sets. My son owns probably 300 of them. Teens and adults are buying up Legos more than ever. Lego has been keeping a pulse on all these trends, enticing young buyers with Fortnite and Minecraft sets or nostalgic sets like the Millennium Falcon. But here's the thing, you need to make sure that they get cleaned up at the end of the night, because let me tell you, stepping on a Lego is like feeling the force of a thousand suns shoot through your foot. And nobody wants that. All right. That's going to do it for us. It here's the scoop. Thanks for listening. I'm Laura Jarrett signing off.
- [22:13]
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