ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - Dec. 1, 2025

David Muir, ABC's World News Tonight, America's most watched newscast. Now streaming same day with all the breaking news of the day on Disney+. Most watched, most trusted. Now on Disney+, every night.

Tonight, the breaking news on this Monday night, this major storm, hundreds of accidents, snow, ice, and freezing rain sweeping in. And now the potential for a nor'easter forming as it pushes into the Northeast. Dangerous driving, the accidents on the highways, record snowfall in multiple states. More than 75 million Americans under alerts right now.

Ginger Z standing by with the forecast. Also tonight, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth under growing scrutiny for authorizing two strikes on an alleged drug boat. The first strike taking out the boat tonight questions about the second strike reportedly targeting two survivors. The Washington Post

reporting Hanks said ordered his team to kill everybody on board the boat. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle now asking serious questions tonight and what President Trump is now saying about that second strike tonight. President Trump's M. R. I. the White House now revealing what the MRI examined after the president said he had no idea what it was for. Tonight in New York City, the high stakes hearing for CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione,

smiling in court, now his defense team, on what evidence they're now asking be thrown out. The deadly National Guard ambush near the White House. Tonight, news on the surviving guard member, what he did in that hospital room and what we're now learning about the suspect overseas tonight. U. S. Envoy Steve Whitcoff on his way to meet with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The key

question that remains the urgent search for a missing high school football coach in the middle of an undefeated season. The U. S. Marshals now involved warning the coach could be armed. The image is tonight the 500-pound surprise under the house. Tonight, what Simon Cowell is now saying

about his insults on those early days of American Idol. And it's that time of year our Made in America Christmas is back, 14 years and counting. Your ideas coming in. And we start tonight with one that's growing nearly as fast as our Made in America Christmas.

From ABC News World Headquarters in New York, this is World News Tonight with David Muir. Good evening and it's great to have you with us. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. We do begin tonight with this cross-country storm across the heartland, the Midwest, and now pushing into the Northeast. In fact, a possible nor'easter could form from this.

Tonight, more than 75 million Americans under winter alerts at this hour, snow, ice, and freezing rain, moving from Kansas to New York to Maine. The system could drop up to a foot of snow in parts of upstate New York and New England. Traffic inching its way through heavy snow on I-370. This is in Bridgeton, Missouri, near St. Louis. Ice and freezing rain causing hundreds of accidents

across Oklahoma. It was slow moving through heavy snow near Syracuse, New York. These are images from Marcellus, New York, over the weekend. Tonight, the storm causing thousands of flight delays across the U.S., Chicago and Denver among the hardest hit. Ginger Z tonight with the forecast as it now hits the northeast and the potential for a nor'easter now. And Gio Benitez leading us off with the images coming in already.

Tonight, a powerful new cross-country storm slamming tens of millions from the Midwest to the northeast with heavy snow and ice,

causing widespread travel disruptions. At least 22 states under alert.

That'll be a little dicey out there, but we'd be treating the roads throughout the storm in Oklahoma.

Freezing rain and ice causing commuter chaos this morning. More than 300 crashes reported at least two people killed.

There were three wrecks that I saw,

one with a car upside down, and it was a nightmare in Des Moines,

Iowa over the weekend. This Delta flight from Detroit sliding off the end of the runway more upside down and it was a nightmare. In Des Moines, Iowa over the weekend, this Delta flight from Detroit sliding off the end of the runway moments after landing. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Chicago getting more snow tonight

after the snowiest November day on record, 8.4 inches falling on Saturday. Of the nearly 3,500 flights canceled nationwide since Saturday, more than 1,000 were at Chicago's airports.

Our flight was supposed to leave at 2.20 and it just kept getting delayed. We knew on Friday, I was like, oh, this might be pretty bad, but I didn't know it was going to be that bad.

And David, major airports in the Northeast are bracing for possible delays as this potential nor'easter is set to hit within the next 24 hours.

David? It is December 1st. as this potential nor'easter is set to hit within the next 24 hours. David.

It is December 1st. Gio Bonita is leading us off tonight. Gio, thank you. Let's get right to chief meteorologist Ginger Zee, back with us after the holiday. Hope it was a good one.

Good to see you again, Ginger.

Same to you, David. And here, as so many people are back home, I know my kids are two of those a snow day tomorrow. So let's talk about if that's possible. Winter weather advisories are out and you can see where they are from St. Louis to Indianapolis Cincinnati over to Harrisburg Pennsylvania. But that winter storm warning that pink color from Hunter New York up to Bangor Maine that's where the heaviest snow will end up falling. So those kids they definitely have the shot at doing it. Let's time it all out because that's the important part of people are getting around to work or commuting tomorrow morning. You see the heavier rain right now.

That's in parts of northern Mississippi, Alabama, but the snow's flying in Chicago. What will happen is these two will kind of merge together, and you're going to end up with Pittsburgh being really tough to get around tomorrow morning. It'll start up in Scranton or New York, even as a mix,

and then go over to rain, especially at the coast up to Boston to tomorrow afternoon, heavy rain at times. And that's when it becomes more of a nor'easter. That heavy snow on the 6 to 12 inches goes from, say, the highlands of Maine back to the Poconos. David.

Ginger Zee with us here on a Monday night. Ginger, we appreciate it. Tonight, the White House defending Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was under growing scrutiny after authorizing two strikes on an alleged drug boat. The first strike taking out the boat. Tonight, questions about the second strike reportedly targeting two survivors. The Washington Post reporting Hagseth ordered his team to kill everybody on board the boat. Lawmakers from both parties asking serious questions,

particularly about that second strike and what President Trump is now saying about the second strike. Here's Martha Raddatz tonight.

Tonight, the Pentagon facing accusations of war crimes after a second strike on a boat carrying suspected drug traffickers off the coast of Venezuela. This video from September 2nd shows the first hit on the boat. But tonight, questions are growing about a second missile that was fired. According to the Washington Post, it was targeting two survivors who were clinging to the wreckage. Tonight, members of both parties sounding the alarm,

saying international law prohibits killing enemy combatants who no longer pose a threat. The Post reporting that at the outset of the operation, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered his team to kill everybody on board the boat.

Hegseth has called the Washington Post report fabricated, saying the military acted in compliance with the law of armed conflict. Overnight, President Trump said he didn't know anything about the second strike, adding he wouldn't have wanted it.

We'll look into it. But no, I wouldn't have wanted that, not a second strike, adding he wouldn't have wanted it. We'll look into it. But no, I wouldn't have wanted that, not a second strike. The first strike was very lethal. It was fine. And if there were two people around,

but Pete said that didn't happen.

But today, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt confirmed there was more than one strike on the boat. She didn't confirm or deny that survivors were targeted. Levitt saying the strikes were authorized by Hagseth and carried out by the mission's commander, Navy Admiral Frank Mitch Bradley.

On September 2nd, Secretary Hagseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these kinetic strikes. Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law, directing the engagement to ensure

the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated.

ABC's Rachel Scott pressing, asking how did those two survivors present a threat to the

U.S.?

And what imminent threat would two survivors pose who were clinging presumably to the wreckage

of that boat?

Admiral Bradley worked well within his authority and the law.

Tonight, Democratic and Republican lawmakers demanding answers.

You know, that is against the Geneva Conventions. That's against the laws of war, which we should always be abiding by. We're the United States of America. We have to hold our people to a higher standard. This is really serious.

And, David, tonight, in a rare bipartisan statement, top Republicans and Democrats are vowing to get to the bottom of this and determine the facts. And while the White House defended the September strikes today by mid October, when another suspected drug boat was hit, the survivors were rescued and returned to their home countries. David.

Martha Raddatz live in Washington. Martha, thank you. We do have news tonight on President Trump's MRI. The White House now revealing what it was for, what it looked at, examined after President Trump said he had no idea what the MRI was for. Here's Rachel Scott.

Tonight, the White House releasing the results of the MRI President Trump underwent in early October during a checkup at Walter Reed Hospital. The White House had not initially disclosed the tests.

The president later acknowledged it happened.

We had an MRI and in the machine, you know, the whole thing. And it was perfect.

But the details were sketchy.

I have no idea what they analyzed, but whenever they analyzed, they analyzed it well, and they said that I had as good a result as they've ever seen.

Tonight, the White House physician says the MRI covered President Trump's heart and abdominal area, and declared it perfectly normal, saying all major organs appear very healthy and are functioning within normal limits with no acute or chronic concerns. And David the White House had faced questions about why president Trump received this MRI during an annual checkup. The White House insists this was a preventative measure and

standard for what they described as an executive physical for the 79 year-old president David Rachel Scott

live at the White House tonight Rachel thank you in New York City tonight, the high stakes hearing for CEO murder suspect Luigi Mangione. He was seen smiling in court today until video of the shooting was played before the judge. And tonight, his defense team and what evidence they're now asking be thrown out.

Here's Aaron Katursky.

Tonight, nearly a year after the assassination-style killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a New York City street accused murderer Luigi Mangione back in court trying to get key evidence thrown out. The camera catching Mangione in a gray suit with a smile on his face, but later showing no reaction while watching video of the 50-year-old father crumpling to his death on the sidewalk. The Ivy League grad also saw footage of his arrest at a Pennsylvania McDonald's where

the manager called 911 saying customers recognized the bushy eyebrows and thought he looked like the CEO shooter in New York. But defense attorneys say police had no warrant to seize and search Mangione's backpack, arguing the contents cannot now be used against him, including a red notebook in which prosecutors say Mangione revealed a plan and a motive, writing, I finally feel confident about what I will do. The target is insurance. It

checks every box. Police say the backpack also contained the murder weapon, a 3D printed gun and silencer. Today, prosecutors offered a supporting witness, a Pennsylvania correction officer who testified Mangione talked to him about having a pistol and it was 3D printed. Mangione has pleaded not guilty, David, and his attorneys are also trying to omit

certain statements he made to police during his arrest. This hearing could go on for days.

David. Eric Kuterski with us tonight as well. Thanks, Aaron. Tonight, that deadly National Guard ambush near the White House. We have news on the surviving guard member what he was able to do in that hospital room and what we're now learning about the suspect tonight. Here's Pierre Thomas

tonight. One of the National Guard members attacked in Washington D. C. Showing encouraging signs, giving a thumbs up to a nurse when the nurse asked if he could hear. We were told that he also wiggled his toes. 24 year old Andrew Wolf, one of the two National Guard members ambushed last week, is still in an area hospital in serious condition. This is a solemn memorial grows at the scene

of the shooting for Sarah Beckstrom, who died on Thanksgiving Day of her wounds. Tonight, the man suspected of ambushing them, 29-year-old Ramanullah Laka Nawal of Afghanistan, remains hospitalized and under heavy guard as authorities race to determine a motive. A national and international terrorism investigation intensifying

as the FBI conducts interviews and pours through documents and communications. Sources telling ABC News the suspect worked with the CIA during the war in Afghanistan and came to the US in 2021 under the Biden administration. He was granted asylum under the Trump administration this past April, but sources tell ABC News he was unemployed and has recently been impacted

by the death of one of his Afghan commanders, growing isolated and distant from family and friends. The suspect now faces first-degree murder, but David authorities have been unable to have his first court appearance Because he remains hospitalized under that heavy armed guard

Pierre Thomas in Washington Pierre Thank you overseas tonight the war in Ukraine US envoy Steve Whitcoff is Scheduled to meet with Vladimir Putin in Moscow tomorrow of course the question will Putin be willing to make concessions now To accept this US peace plan the source telling ABC News the Russians are refusing to agree to a ceasefire unless Ukraine seeds territory. When we come back on this busy news night, the $45 fee you could face at the airport and when it starts.

Also tonight, the U. S. Marshals now involved in this search for missing high school football coach disappearing in the middle of that undefeated season. And what is families is now saying. Also the massive visitor found living under a home. The family had no idea he was there and how long. And our made in America Christmas is back tonight.

We want your ideas. You're one thing that will help create an American job. And you have to see what we found tonight growing almost as fast as our made in America Christmas in a moment. Tonight, U.S. Marshals are now offering a $5,000 reward for a missing Virginia high school football coach. Authorities say Travis Turner wanted on charges

involving possession of child pornography and using a computer to solicit a minor. His family says he was last seen walking into the woods with a gun. Tonight, the TSA is set to charge passengers who show up at the airport without a real ID as they're now called or a passport, $45 to fly.

That fee kicks in on February 1st. Travelers can pay it online before arriving. It's good for 10 days. The real ID rule went into effect last May. The TSA tonight saying more than 94% of people are now using real IDs. When we come back tonight, Simon Cowell's regrets, what he's now saying about his early days in American Idol and his famous insults to the index of other news tonight, a shocking discovery for a California man who noticed items were being moved around in his yard. So he set up a

camera and found this a £500 bear emerging from the crawl space under his Altadena home. It was a tight squeeze for sure. He believes the bear had been living there for a while. That homeowner has now called state wildlife authorities. Apparently, he says the bear still comes and goes tonight. Simon Cowell apologizing for some of his insults on those early days of American Idol. The famously opinionated judge telling the New York Times at times he went too far saying quote he

wasn't trying to be mean on purpose, but he says he was frustrated when some of those poor auditions prevented the show from finding good singers. Cowell, of course, was one of the original three judges on Idol from 2002 to 2010.

Tonight, a historic opening for Zootopia II, the highest international opening ever for an animated movie, and the fourth highest global debut of any kind. The Disney sequel earning a staggering $556 million in ticket sales globally since its opening Wednesday and over the Thanksgiving weekend. When we come back here tonight, it is that time of year.

Back already are Made in America Christmas and what we need from you tonight. Your one thing, your idea to help create an American job in a moment. ABC World News Tonight with David Muir, sponsored by Vivgard Hytrulo. Finally, tonight here, our great made in America Christmas. We do it every year, encouraging folks to check the label, help create an American job.

And tonight here, we start with the tree. Tonight, our great made in America Christmas is back. Incredibly, our 14th year. Your one thing to put under the tree and to help create an American job. All right, let's try this out.

We want your ideas.

Hi, David.

Hi, David.

Hi, David.

And we start tonight with the American farmer and their trees.

Hey, David, here's a 30-foot tree

I planted when I was in my teens. Across the country, the families who have planted their own tiny Christmas tree seedlings and have watched them grow.

All of our trees were just like that. Now we're here.

Anders next to hers. John Guyer in New Jersey, his redwood tree taller than him now. And just look at Kurt Flosky in Redmond, Oregon, his giant sequoia towering over him.

Hello David.

Caesar's giant sequoia towering over him. Hello David Caesar's giant sequoia on its way to. It's been great experience watching him grow. Have a great holiday season, David. Hey David, john Gregory Cunningham proud of his

tree. I wanted to show you the redwood that I bought from John Cena. I would say about two years ago how beautiful she is.

Happy holidays to all of you. Bye, David. Those seedlings came from McKinleyville, California, the Johnstein Company. Will Roth here for eight years growing the redwoods.

Happy holidays, David, from all of us at Johnstein Company.

Owner Jonathan Klausen. And this year, they say you can now grow rare and endangered trees, too.

Things like Joshua trees. You can grow this endangered species yourself at your house, it's amazing how many places this will grow safely.

And tonight the tree farmers across the country in Granville Pennsylvania. Hi David husband and wife Dave and Andrea Hogan togler co-owners of hoagie's tree farm.

Please support local farmers by going out and cutting a live tree this year.

And our trees are made in America.

In Stone, Massachusetts...

Lots of people getting their gorgeous trees.

The Mistletoe Christmas Tree Farm selling thousands of trees.

One, two, three, up!

The whole team helping to lift this tree out of the truck.

Woo-hoo!

Hey, David. Owner Mark Harnett. Wishing everyone a safe holiday season

and a very, very, very Christmas.

In Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Hey, David.

Owner Brentley Jackson at Jackson's Family Farm.

The best way to choose a tree is to, if the limb is pliable, it's a good tree, especially if the needles don't come out. And always remember, made in America. Merry Christmas.

In Powell, Tennessee.

Hi, David.

Anthony and Gina, co-owners of the Enchanted Christmas Tree Farm, showing us their favorite Murray Cypress trees.

It grows approximately 40 feet tall at its tallest point, but we harvest and let people come and choose and cut at around 12 to 14 feet.

And in Orrington, Maine, they're taking us inside King's Mountain Tree Farm, owner Nino Ciponi.

When you buy local, you help support over 50 Maine vendors.

Nino, with his trees and his pitch tonight.

Hi, David, look, beautiful balsam fir, 10-footer for a 105.

You can't get that in New York City. It's pretty impressive. Nino. Well back in California tonight. Happy holidays from the Johnston company. New hire Lars Hansen and the team packing up those tiny trees to get them to you in time for Christmas. There is a lot of planting ahead in the new year with three words in America. We're going to need a taller ceiling around here. Find me on Instagram. Send me your ideas. We read them. I'll see you tomorrow night.

Good night.

David Muir, the most watched newscast in America. And now, ABC's World News Tonight

has won the Emmy for Best Live News Program has won the Emmy for Best Live News Program

for the third year in a row.