ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast – Aug. 26, 2025

ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast – Aug. 26, 2025

Tonight, the stunning images. The blinding storm. Drivers unable to see. Passenger planes in the air. Air traffic controllers forced to leave the tower. The images right here. This massive dust storm sweeping across several cities. Planes grounded. Those air traffic controllers evacuated. A football stadium suddenly shrouded in darkness. Also, flood watches now in effect for several states. And in the Northeast, the major change coming with Labor Day just about here. Lee Goldberg standing by with the forecast. Also breaking, President Trump after months of pressuring the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. The president moving to fire a member of the Fed’s board of governors. President Trump also weighing in on the other story making news, the big engagement tonight. Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce revealing they are engaged. And Taylor Swift’s message right here tonight that she sent out to her hundreds of millions of fans in an instant. The reaction tonight from them and from the president. The thieves moving in on more than 70 Home Depot stores. The coordinated effort. And tonight, the remarkable surveillance video right here showing the suspects and how this unfolded. Overseas tonight, the sweeping protests in Israel. Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators blocking traffic, setting tires on fire, demanding a ceasefire, and that their loved ones, the hostages, be brought home. James Longman standing by. Back here at home tonight, the Diane Sawyer exclusive. The deeply personal battle faced by so many families across this country. Tonight, Bruce Willis, the beloved star in more than 70 movies. After years of Bruce sitting down with Diane. Tonight, Diane with Bruce’s wife. What she shares about Bruce Willis’s battle with dementia, a certain form of dementia, how he’s doing, how they knew, the first signs, and their hope for so many other families out there. Diane right here tonight. The other news outside New York City, a driver crashing through the glass windows of a gym. This has been deadly what we know so far. The images coming in tonight, simultaneous medical evacuations on board a cruise ship right off the US coast. One helicopter hovering in the air waiting as the first patient is airlifted on another helicopter. Also tonight here, the popular weight loss and diabetes drugs. Will they soon be available in a pill? Could this help millions more? And Powerball no winners. the eyepopping new jackpot right here tonight from ABC News World Headquarters in New York. This is World News Tonight with David Mure. Good evening and it’s great to have you with us here in a very busy Tuesday night. We begin tonight here with the stunning images. The dust storm that swept across several cities. The drivers suddenly blinded by the dust. Passenger planes grounded. Air traffic controllers forced to evacuate the tower. We’re also following this major change coming to the northeast for Labor Day. But first tonight, the remarkable images, the towering cloud of dust, hundreds of feet high, moving in over the Phoenix metro area after an unusually dry summer. This storm swept in, leaving drivers unable to see. You will hear people in their cars narrating how dangerous this was, how conditions changed in an instant. The massive dust storm turning day to night, causing travel chaos, leaving those drivers in the dark. Visibility near zero. And then the flooding rains and wind gusts up to 70 mph. Part of the roof at the Phoenix airport ripped off. Air traffic controllers evacuating that tower with passenger planes still in the air. Across the region tonight, traffic lights and trees down, tens of thousands without power. And now the new storms still coming tonight. And of course, this big change for much of the Midwest and the Northeast for Labor Day. Lee Goldberg standing by with the forecast and ABC’s Trevor Roll with the chaotic moments in the middle of this very dangerous storm. Tonight, dust storms and monsoon rains threatening millions after an astonishing and dangerous 24 hours in the southwest. This massive towering wall of dust and wind, also known as a haboob, swallowing the Phoenix metro area. Light rail just disappeared. Drivers blinded. Cassandra Ravutzki recording this video out her window as the dust blotted out the sun. Flashing tail lights the only thing visible. You can see, take a look at these planes that are right here. Our Phoenix affiliate, ABC15, reporting live from Sky Harbor Airport as that dust wall turned into driving dirt and rain. It’s hard to open my eyes because we are once again getting pelted. Pelted with rain. pelted with what feels like dust. Listen to the air traffic controllers telling pilots to stay in the air while they evacuate the tower. They said that the dust storm is going to be uh I got no points of visibility. It’s going to be pretty bad for like an hour. We are evacuating. Not only were flights grounded, one of the terminals sustained damage. The powerful system also taking down traffic lights and trees with thousands of homes and businesses losing power. and David. Flood watches are in effect for 2 million people with rainfall rates up to 2 in an hour in some spots. This region does need this rain desperately, just not all at once. David, that is for sure. Trevor Al leading us off. Trevor, thank you. Let’s get right to chief meteorologist Lee Goldberg from WABC right here in New York. Hi, Lee. Hi, David. And we’re still watching some heavy showers near Sedona this evening. One way or another, we’re cooling off from coast to coast. In the west, it’s the monsoon pattern, and it’s widespread showers. And some of those showers could drop some rainfall rates to 2 in an hour. Flood watches from California to Idaho all the way into Colorado and some of those yellow areas see the highest rainfall rates. So we extinguish the high heat in the Pacific Northwest, although it still stays above average in temperatures. But when you look at the Rockies, the Plains, the East, 10 to 20° below average. Look at Witchah tomorrow, 71. And the afternoons are comfortable, but the mornings there’s some chill near record chill in Toledo in the 40s tomorrow morning. Memphis in the 50s. This goes right into the weekend. It’s cool and comfortable all the way to the northeast. How about 10° below average Boston to New York and Philly, low and mid70s on Saturday, even 60s from places like Cleveland over to Syracuse. David, it’s comfy in the classroom after that. Back to you, Lee Goldberg. Back with us again tonight. Lee, thanks as always. Now to President Trump tonight and his new move to fire a member of the Federal Reserve’s board of governors. It comes after months of the president pressuring the Fed to lower interest rates. Tonight, that board member vowing to fight. This could go to the Supreme Court. Here’s Rachel Scott. For months, President Trump has put enormous pressure on the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. And tonight, he’s making an unprecedented move to fire one of the Fed’s seven board members, Lisa Cook. He told Cook, who was appointed by Joe Biden, he’s removing her because there is sufficient reason to believe you may have made false statements on one or more mortgage applications. It seems to have had an infraction, and she can’t have an infraction. We need people that are 100% above board and it doesn’t seem like she was. But Cook has not been charged with any crime. The Federal Reserve was designed to be independent. And today the president was asked if he’s just looking for a reason to fire an official he disagrees with. Is your administration weaponizing government by digging into the mortgage records of officials you don’t like? No, they’re public. I mean, you can find out those records. You can go check out the records yourself. Cook, for her part, says President Trump has no authority to fire her, vowing, I will not resign. Her lawyer calling the president’s move an illegal action and vowing to sue. And today, President Trump says he only wants to appoint Fed board members who will lower interest rates, saying we will have the majority soon. In the meantime, the Federal Reserve reasserting its independence, saying that its members can only be removed for cause, calling that a vital safeguard to protect the American people. David. All right, Rachel Scott right there at the White House. Rachel, thank you. And it was during that hourslong cabinet meeting, President Trump was also asked about the major headline breaking and not from the political world. It was news of this big engagement. Taylor Swift engaged to NFL star Travis Kelce. The president saying, “I think he’s a great player. I think she’s a terrific person, so I wish them a lot of luck.” Tonight, Taylor Swift’s message that she sent out to her hundreds of millions of fans in an instant and the reaction across this country and the world. Here’s Mac Guppin tonight. They were already American pop culture royalty. But today, the announcement that musical icon Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, Prince of the Grid Iron, breaks the tackle still going, sparking celebration. I think I’m more excited about this than I would be about my own engagement. What is happening? And tears of joy worldwide. Why do I want to cry? The roll out blasted out to Taylor’s 280 million Instagram followers. A fairy tale garden of roses. The big fella down on his knee. A rock fit for a queen. [Music] And the caption, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married.” From the beginning, there were doubters, some even questioning whether it was all just a PR stunt. But Swift quickly became a fixture at Chief Games. And Travis right there in the concert stage in a tux. Their support for each other and staying power proving the cynics wrong. And just days ago, Swift announced her new album on the Kelsey Brothers podcast and shared details about how Travis used the podcast to tell the world he wanted to date her. If you’re if you’re up on Taylor Swift concerts, there are French bracelets and I received a bunch of them being there, but I wanted to give Taylor Swift one with my number on it. Not right now. Oo, your number is in ‘ 87 or your phone number. You know which one. Um, their courtship typically story book. This kind of felt more like I was in an 80s John Hughes movie and he was just like standing outside of my window with a boom box just being like, I want to date you. Yeah. Do you want to go on a date with me? I made you a friendship. Do you want to date me? Just come outside and meet me. Just meet me once. Give me just give me a chance. I was like, if this guy isn’t crazy, um, which is a big if, this is sort of what I’ve been writing songs about wanting to happen to me since I was Yeah. a teenager. And David, some of their 300 million followers on social media have been asking where and when these nuptuals might happen. And some are also asking about kids. No word on either. David, we are wishing them well for sure. Matt Guppin tonight. Matt, thank you. Tonight, authorities revealing more than a dozen arrests in what they’re calling the largest Home Depot theft case in the company’s history. They say surveillance video shows suspects linked to 600 thefts at 71 Home Depot stores in Southern California. The ring accused of stealing $10 million worth of merchandise, including expensive electrical components, then resold. Tonight, the suspects have pleaded not guilty. Overseas tonight, the remarkable images coming in. A massive day of protests across Israel. Hundreds of thousands taking to the streets demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and that their loved ones, the hostages, be brought home. James Longman tonight with late reporting. James. Yeah, David. There’s been a huge day of protest today in Israel. At least 350,000 people taking to the streets. Families of the hostages are angry that a deal to get them out has yet to materialize. Now, Hamas has reportedly accepted a 60-day pause and partial hostage release, but instead, Israel is pushing ahead with its plan for a military occupation of Gaza City. There are also growing questions tonight about that Israeli strike on NASA hospital that killed 20 people, including five journalists. Netanyahu initially called it a mishap. Now, the IDF says a Hamas camera was seen at that location. There’s still no explanation as to what prompted the second strike that killed first responders and journalists. David. All right, James Longman from London. James, thank you. Back here at home tonight and to the Diane Sawyer exclusive. The deeply personal battle faced by so many families across this country when a loved one faces down dementia. Tonight, Bruce Willis, the beloved star in more than 70 movies after years of Bruce sitting down with Diane. Tonight, Diane with Bruce’s wife. What she shares about Bruce’s battle, a certain form of dementia, frontto temporal dementia. how he’s doing, how the family knew the first signs, and their hope tonight for so many other families out there. Diane’s exclusive interview with Emma Willis, Bruce Willis’s wife. Diane, you’re here. I’m here. Here we are. Oh, it’s great. It’s so nice to see you. How are you? It’s so nice to see you. This is Emma Heming Willis, a self-described lifelong introvert. See if you’re comfortable. Stealing herself to talk in front of cameras. Okay. something she never sought and never planned. For 16 years, she’s been the shy wife of the irrepressible Bruce Willis, one of America’s favorite action stars. Welcome to the party, pal. He could take down a battalion of bad guys, and then nail an old Ban Crosby song. Oh, would you rather be a fish? A fish is an animal that swims in a brook. The all-American kid from New Jersey who built a towering career more than 70 movies. Come out to the coast. We get together, have a few laughs. It’s the king of the blockbuster franchises. Die Hard. And in person, he was the mischievous guy who urged everyone to sing and celebrate life every day. He dropped by year after year at Good Morning America. Well, Bruce Willis dropped in the other day. Now, Bruce Willis. Bruce Willis. Bruce Willis. Oh, no. You are so cool. No, you were really cool. Even in the commercial breaks, we keep talking about everything. After he and actress Dei Moore divorced, he pushed me to set him up with a nice girl. And are you sufficiently ready? Can I interview Diane today? Can’t you find me? You know what I discovered? Find someone for me. You must meet so many people. [Music] See, you say that but and then he found her. What can make me feel this way? [Applause] Opposites attract. [Music] And I just loved watching him be him. 16 years ago, they had a tiny wedding on the beach. and the joyful ride began. They were the famously blended Willis family. Two marriages, five daughters, his oldest daughters, Rumor, Scout, and Tula. And then with Emma, he has two more girls, Mabel, and Evelyn. The original girl dad, one of the best. And the thing he said most was, “Live it up.” The exact quote, “Live it up every moment, every day. It’ll be over in a ginger snap. Yes, can be. She has written a book shining a light on the little known disease that ambushed her husband three years ago and giving a lifeline to caregivers. She says the subtle symptoms began when she noticed the boyant girl dad seemed subdued. For someone who was very talkative and very engaged, he was just a little more more quiet. He seemed to be losing words. A childhood stutter reappeared and he was just less engaged in their lives. Felt a little removed, very cold, not like Bruce who is very warm and affectionate to going the complete opposite of that was alarming and scary. Fronttotemporal dementia savagely eats away at the front and sides of the brain causing a person to start losing words. dimming connection to others. I can only imagine the panic. I was so panicked and I just remember hearing it and just not hearing anything else. It was like I was free falling. And how did Bruce react? I don’t know if he was reluctant or not to go to a doctor or if he even understood there was a reason you were doing it. I don’t think Bruce ever really connected the dots. an inevitable new reality arrives. Bruce is still very mobile. Bruce is in really great health overall. You know, it’s just his brain that is failing him. But the language is Yeah, the language is going and you know, we’ve learned to adapt and we we have a way of communicating with him which just is just a different a different way. Were there days that would he it would be Bruce again? Yeah. I mean, we still get those days. Not days, but we get moments. It’s his laugh, right? like he has such a like a hearty laugh and you know sometimes he you’ll see that twinkle in his eye or that smirk and you know I just get like transported and it’s just hard to see because as quickly as those moments appear then it goes That’s hard. But I’m grateful. I’m grateful that, you know, my husband is still very much here. Emma so brave to share this story and Diane special right here on ABC tonight just a short time from now, 8:00 p.m. Eastern and then streaming tomorrow on Disney Plus and Hulu. And Emma Heming Willis’s book, The Unexpected Journey, Finding Strength and Hope, on sale September 9th. We should mention Diane off camera had a moment to interact with Bruce Willis, and we’ll have more on that later. Also, when we come back tonight, news, the images coming in, two medical evacuations. Take a look at these pictures playing out at once on board a cruise ship right off the US coast. One helicopter hovering in the air, waiting as the first patient is airlifted onto another helicopter. The emergencies that led to this in a moment. And outside New York City tonight, the deadly crash right through the glass windows of a gym. A member working out has been killed. Several injuries. We’ll have more in a moment here. Tonight, a deadly car crash into a Planet Fitness gym in Elizabeth, New Jersey, outside New York City. A driver smashing through the front of the gym. One man working out inside the gym killed. Several other people hurt. No word on what caused the crash. The driver injured. She is cooperating. No word on her condition. Dramatic images tonight. Two medical evacuations at once on board a cruise ship right off the coast of Washington State. Two passengers suffering medical emergencies aboard the Ruby Princess. One helicopter hovering there, waiting as the first patient is airlifted. a 52-year-old passenger suffering cardiac arrest and a 99-year-old passenger with an obstruction in the esophagus. Both passengers are now hospitalized. When we come back tonight, those popular weight loss and diabetes drugs, will they soon be available in a pill? And the Powerball jackpot, the new jackpot where it stands tonight. Tonight, drug maker Eli Liy with promising new data. Phase three of clinical trials for that popular weight loss medication now in a pill. A GLP1 drug. They claim it could help patients lose an average of 23 pounds and lower blood sugar levels. Eli Lily and Nova Nordisk both trying to get FDA approval for the drug in a pill form. No winner. The new Powerball jackpot $815 million. Now the next drawing is tomorrow night. When we come back, an important note about Dian’s special just moments from now about Bruce Willis. A final note about Diane’s special. She did get a chance to interact with Bruce Willis away from the cameras and she’ll share what that was like. 8:00 PM Eastern right here tonight. Good night. David Mure, the most watched newscast in America. And now ABC’s World News Tonight has won the Emmy for best live news program for the third year in a row.

Trevor Ault reports on the massive, blinding dust storm – also known as a haboob – that swallowed Phoenix, knocking out power to thousands and even grounding flights, as monsoon rains swept in; Matt Gutman has details on pop star Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce announcing their engagement after dating for two years; Diane Sawyer sits down with Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma Heming Willis, who opens up about her husband’s deeply personal battle faced by so many families across the country, when a loved one faces down dementia – and the challenges they are overcoming together in the ABC special “Emma & Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey”; and more on tonight’s broadcast of World News Tonight with David Muir.

00:00 Intro
02:34 Massive dust storm sweeps through Phoenix metro area, leaving thousands without power
05:11 Below normal temperatures from the Rockies to the East Coast through Labor Day weekend
06:09 Trump moves to fire Fed Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook, who refused to resign
07:46 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announce blockbuster engagement in joint Instagram post
10:25 Police: Crime ring targets Home Depot, steals $10 million worth of merchandise
10:46 Protests erupt in Israel with calls for government to agree to ceasefire-hostage deal
11:44 Bruce Willis’ wife Emma shares update on husband’s health with Diane Sawyer
18:20 1 killed after driver slams vehicle through Planet Fitness in Elizabeth, New Jersey
18:37 2 passengers medevacked from cruise ship at same time for unrelated health issues
19:08 Eli Lilly’s oral GLP-1 pill may help people with Type 2 diabetes lose ‘significant’ weight, study finds
19:26 Powerball jackpot reaches $815 million ahead of Wednesday night drawing
19:39 How to watch ‘Emma and Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey – A Diane Sawyer Special’

ABC World News Tonight with David Muir delivers the news that matters most. Watch to get the latest news stories and headlines from around the world.

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