ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - July 18, 2025

Tonight, breaking news, the massive prisoner swap. freeing Americans held in Venezuela. The stunning news late today, 10 Americans and permanent. U.S. residents coming home from Venezuela after a complex. prisoner swap involving hundreds of Venezuelan migrants. sent to an notorious prison in El Salvador. The deadly bomb squad accident in L.A. County, an explosion killing three share. of stephides, sources say the deputies. were handling explosives brought back from the seemingly. routine call that apartments were lost of life in 168 years.

President Trump under pressure calling for the release of. grand jury testimony in the Epstein case. What the Justice Department has just done, the mid-air scare, a passenger reportedly trying to open an emergency exit and. shove to flight attendant who tried to stop him, the pilot. making an emergency landing. A new video just in, a reported engine fire forcing a delta. flight to divert to Los Angeles. Severe storm sweeping from the Midwest to New York, more than.

60 million Americans on alert for storm flooding. and dangerous heat. The tropical rain storm in the Gulf, and the. soaring temperatures ahead of an extremely. hot week. The suspect in the brutal killing of a paddleboarder. in Maine, appearing in court, the 17-year-old. charged with murder, prosecutors asking he be tried as an adult. A shark bites a teen in Florida, what we know, and the stunning. video showing a group of sharks praying on a. school of fish just off a popular New York beach.

CBS cancelling the late show with Stephen. Colbert, the network facing criticism, calling. it a purely financial decision, ending the program after. more than three decades on the air. The cold play concert in the viral KISS CAM moment. seen by tens of millions who are now learning tonight and. remembering a legendary Oscar-winning lyricist. So many songs from television and film we can't forget.

From ABC News World Headquarters in New York, this is World News. tonight with David New York. Good evening, President Trump under pressure, calling for the release of grand jury testimony. in the Epstein case. The Justice Department filing a motion to do that, and late today, the president suing the Wall Street Journal. Here's ABC's Mary Bruce. Tonight, as President Trump tries to silence an uproar. from some of his own supporters, the Justice Department now. asking courts in New York and Florida to unseal.

grand jury records in the case of convicted sex. offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump, saying based on the ridiculous amount of publicity. given to Jeffrey Epstein, "I have asked Attorney. General Pam Bondi to produce any and all. pertinent grand jury testimony, subject to court approval. But that could take weeks or even months. and would not fulfill his team's promise. to release the full FBI files on Epstein.". Here's the problem. The grand jury testimony is largely about.

Epstein and Maxwell, not about all the rich and. powerful men who abused assaulted and. abandoned young women. Those people are still being protected.". Today, I asked the president why he isn't doing more. "Mr. President, why haven't you ordered Pan-Bondi to. release the full files?". The president's announcement came just hours after the Wall. Street Journal reported that But in 2003, he allegedly. sent Epstein a letter. The paper described his, quote, "body" for. Epstein's 50th birthday.

ABC News has not been able to confirm the. existence of the letter. But in an interview with the journal, Trump. denies he wrote it. And tonight he filed a $10 billion lawsuit. against the paper and its conservative owner, Rupert Murdock. The president once had a friendly relationship. with Epstein, socializing in New York and Palm. Beach. In 2002, he told New York Magazine, "I've known Jeff. for 15 years, terrific guy. He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as. I do, and many of them are on the younger side.

No doubt about it, Jeffrey enjoys his social. life." When Epstein was arrested in. 2019, Trump said they'd had a falling out and hadn't spoken. in 15 years. Some of Trump's top supporters, including. his FBI director, Cash Patel, and Patel's number two, Dan. Bongino, have long promoted shadowy Epstein conspiracies. "I don't trust any story they tell me about Jeffrey Epstein. There is a reason this client list is hidden.". Earlier this year, Bondi said. she had that list.

It's sitting on my desk right now to review. But over the fourth of July weekend, the Justice Department and FBI said the list didn't exist. and that they would not release any more information. about Epstein leaving some of the president's top supporters. disillusioned. And Bongino, who's. always like shouting from the rooftops, we're gonna. get to the bottom of this and find out who. these people are. Everyone's saying no, no, Epstein killed himself. No, nothing to see here. And it's like, okay, well that's why people are cynical. And with tonight, some of the president's top supporters are.

celebrating the president's decision to release this. kind of testimony, though this is a lengthy process. These kinds of transcripts are usually highly. protected, but some of the president's supporters. say this is uniting the MAGA movement, though it. remains to be seen just how much new information. will ultimately be released. >> Mary Bruce at the White House tonight, thank you. Ten Americans and permanent U.S. residents seized and held by authority as in Venezuela. Venezuela are now coming home. The U.S. Embassy in Venezuela releasing this. photo of the Americans.

The United States had considered them to be wrongfully detained. The Americans also taking this selfie on the plane back home. In the exchange, El Salvador released more. than 250 Venezuelans who have been deported. in the Trump administration's crackdown. The U.S. had sent many of those Venezuelans to a notorious. prison in El Salvador in that airlift back in. March. ABC's Rachel Scott leads us off with. late details just coming in. Tonight the White House announcing 10. Americans who were detained in Venezuela are on.

their way home after a large-scale prisoner. swap. Their release comes in exchange for more. than 250 Venezuelan migrants who were deported by the. Trump administration as part of his immigration. crackdown and sent to Al Salvador's. notorious mega prison. Al Salvador's president tonight releasing this video of those. prisoners boarding planes in handcuffs, saying. we've handed over all Venezuelan nationals. detained in our country. Among those released tonight, 37-year-old Lucas Hunter,

who was detained on a surfing trip his family. pleading for his return. Bring Lucas home safe. also free tonight, Jorge Vargas, a grandfather who was detained. last September. His family says his health. has been declined. And US Navy SEAL Wilbert Casanita arrested in his hotel. room while visiting a friend. Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying, quote, "Every wrongfully. detained American in Venezuela is now free and back. in our homeland.". Secretary Rubio thanking El Salvador's president.

for securing this agreement, calling it. unacceptable that those Americans were detained, saying all of them are now in their way to. freedom. Great, Rachel Scott. Thank you. Now to the tragic accident that took the life of three. sheriff's deputies in LA County, the explosion in the. parking lot of an arson explosives detail facility. The deputies were handling explosives brought back from. a seemingly routine call. Officers rushing to the scene, the FBI, LAPD. and ATF offering help.

The Sheriff's Department mourning their worst loss. of life in 168 years. ABC's Trevor Al is on the scene. Tonight a horrific explosion at a law enforcement. training center killing three Los Angeles County. sheriff's deputies. "This is, unfortunately, the largest loss of life for us. as the LA County Sheriff's Department since 1857.". Witnesses reported hearing a massive boom just after 7.30.

this morning at the Arson Explosives' Detail. Facility in East LA. explosion with three down fires also notified. You can see two covered bodies of those deputies on the ground. next to a truck with open doors, a third body covered by a. blue tarp a few feet away. Sources tell ABC News preliminary information. shows they were handling an explosive they'd. recovered from a routine bomb squad call and believed it was. safe to move when it exploded. back window of that police SUV blown out.

Investigators sealing off the scene for hours, all three deputies described as elite members. of the arson explosive detail with decades of service. - They are fantastic experts. And unfortunately, I lost three of them today. - The sheriff visibly emotional as he addressed the media. - I have met with two of the three families thus far. And as you can imagine, those were extremely challenging. conversations. So anyways, ready for questions.

- And late today, a somber procession. for those three fallen deputies. - And when investigators are now trying to retrace. the steps of these bomb squad members, trying to better understand the devices they picked up. during that call on Thursday, they thought those. devices were safe. and need to know how they exploded this morning. - And still a lot of questions in this case, Trevor, thank you. Next tonight, more than 60 million Americans. on alert for flash flooding, dangerous heat, and severe storm sweeping from the Midwest to New York,

and Indiana, this camper caught in the flood waters, washed away and slammed into a bridge. A tropical rain storm in Louisiana. and across the Gulf up to two inches of rain in an hour. Lee Goldberg tracking it all in just a moment. But first, ABC's Alex Perez in New Orleans tonight. Tonight, millions on high alert for flesh floods. who once again, as summer storms fire up. Overnight, southern Indiana hit hard. And new pecan Indiana, this camper slamming.

into that bridge, bobbing in the water before. it's crumpled like a soda can, sucked under the bridge. by the fast moving water. Oh, God, there it goes. Thankfully, no one was inside. From Texas, "Oh my god.". And New Mexico, to New York City. The month of July has been marked by epic floods, and so far this year, the National Weather. Service has issued more than 3,000 flood alerts. Along the Gulf Coast, tropical rainstorms flooding roads.

in New Iberia, Louisiana. and a flood watch remains in effect for Southern Louisiana. and Mississippi through tomorrow as this Gulf of. fuel system moves in up to two inches of rain in. hour possible in some areas. Whit. Alex Brez, thanks. Let's get right to Chief Meteorologist. Lee Goldberg from our New York station, W ABC and. leave the risk of dangerous flooding continues tonight. and through the weekend with for many. Now that flood watch will continue for parts of.

Louisiana. Mrs. Cippy for rounds of rain. That area of the country can take it two to. four inches of rain. There will be some localized problems, but. the more serious threat is to the north, especially over. Virginia. In fact, we have ongoing flooding near the. Richmond area right now. Rain fall rates up to about an. inch and 30 minutes. And that could be severe during the. overnight. In fact, the elevated flood risk goes from. Kentucky all the way to the outer banks. Now tomorrow, we're going to cover a complex of. heavy damaging thunderstorms that. and the next day, we'll be back in the morning.

We'll be back in the morning. We'll be back in the morning. We'll be back in the morning. We'll be back in the morning. We'll be back in the morning. We'll be back in the morning. We'll be back in the morning. We'll be back in the morning. We'll be back in the morning. We'll be back in the morning. We'll be back in the morning. We'll be back in the morning. We'll be back in the morning. We'll be back in the morning. We'll be back in the morning. We'll be back in the morning. Now to the mid-air scare and the emergency landing because. of a passenger, a pilot telling air traffic control. the man tried to open an emergency exit and was fighting. with a flight attendant. And late today a reported engine fire and a Delta flight.

diverted to Los Angeles. Here's ABC's Marcus Moore. Tonight this passenger on board a sky west flight is facing. federal charges after allegedly trying to open the exit. door mid-flight, shoving a flight attendant, forcing. the plane to make an emergency landing. The passenger jet traveling from Omaha, Nebraska to Detroit Thursday, with 71 passengers in crew. on board. Listen as the pilot alerts air traffic. control to a disturbance in the cabin with one. of the passengers. "You know, fight with our flight data right now.

I'll try to open that way.". About half an hour later, the plane diverting to an. airport in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Video showing officers escorting that passenger identified. as 23-year-old Mario Nick Prella off the aircraft. The FAA says there have been 871 reports of unruly. passengers so far this year. And tonight, the FAA says they're also. investigating a new incident. This video showing a reported engine fire that forced a Delta. plane headed to Atlanta to divert back to LAX. right after takeoff. The FAA saying the plane landed safely and taxing back.

to the gate without incident. With the passenger on that sky west flight remains in jail. tonight, sky west says it has zero tolerance for unruly. behavior and that the flight continued on. to a destination with no other issues. Alright, Mark, it's more thank you. Now to the suspect in the brutal killing of a paddleboarder. in Maine, appearing in court, the 17-year-old charged with. murder, and now prosecutors are asking he be tried as an adult. Here's ABC's chief investigative correspondent,

Aaron Katerovsky. Tonight, the 17-year-old arrested in the death. of paddleboarder's sunshine Stewart has been. charged with murder. Court records identify the teen as "devin young". from Frankfort Maine, prosecutors say he acted. with depraved indifference to Stewart's life when. he allegedly strangled and bludgeoned her to death. Stewart's body was found on this woodsy island. earlier this month. ABC News was granted access to the idyllic private. pond where she had gone out paddleboarding alone. This is the spot where sunshine Stewart left on her paddleboard. She put the board in the water, went for a quick swim, came up.

on that ladder, got on the board and paddled out to 100 acre. around the back side of that island is where. her body was found. Sources told ABC News the teen had been. summering with his family at the same campground. as the 48-year-old. "I was relieved as I am that we have some answers. It still just brings up just as many questions. It makes no sense.". Today, young appeared remotely in front of a judge. and denied the allegations. The judge ordered he be kept at a juvenile. detention center in Portland until his next court.

date in August. - With this is Crawford pond, it is simply magnificent, a real summer haven. And people here are just baffled, not only the alleged killer was so young, but also living among them. - Aaron Kuttersky, or thanks to you tonight. When we come back, the TSA opens new lanes. to speed up airport security. We'll tell you who gets to use them. The teen surfer bitten by a shark off the east coast today. And the incredible video coming in, the shark feeding frenzy near a popular New York beach.

Plus the kiss cam moment, causing a firestorm. on social media, the new developments tonight. (laughter). Next tonight, a teenager bitten by a shark. while surfing in Florida. Officially, the 18-year-old was in the water. near New Smurna Beach this afternoon. when a shark bit his foot. He's being treated for his injuries. And further up the East Coast, stunning new video. Take a look at this. the sharks go on a feeding fren video shows an aerial view. New York's fire island sharks on this buffet of thousands.

operator says a shark swam. did not seem to notice. Well air travel for service mem. will notice the honor lane and families on the fly lines. at more TSA checkpoints. Uniform members of the military can access honor lanes. to move through security quicker, and the families on the fly program. is rolling out dedicated lanes in areas. where families often travel with children.

When we come back, a movie prop whips up a big sale. on the auction block, details on the price tag. and the royal connection. To the index now in the end of an era. for the late show with Stephen Colbert. CBS is canceling the franchise in May of 2026, despite some public criticism the network's president says. this is purely a financial decision. and is not related to the show's performance, content, or other matters at CBS' parent company Paramount.

The late show began in 1993 with host David Letterman. A kiss cam sets off a firestorm on social media. The camera zoomed in on this couple embracing during a cold. play concert in Boston, but too quickly ducked. away from the camera. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin reacted saying they're either. having an affair or just very shy. The CEO of Tech Company, Astronomers, reportedly. the man in the video. Astronomer says it has launched an investigation. An iconic movie prop snaps up a fortune at auction.

Erison Ford famously cracked this whip. in Indiana Jones in the last crusade, a winning bid, a staggering, $525,000. The prop is not only a piece of film history, Ford gave the whip to then Prince Charles back in 1989, who gifted it to the late Princess Diana. Still ahead here, he crafted the songs that brought. movies and TV shows to life. Tonight we're remembering a legendary Hollywood lyricist.

Finally tonight, remembering Alan Bergman, the lyrical. mastermind who gave life to the silver screen. Alan Bergman was an award-winning lyricist. behind timeless hits of the 70s and 80s. ♪ Can you stand by ♪. Writing multiple TV and film theme songs, including for the sitcom's "Mod" and "Good Times.". ♪ Right in the way when you can ♪. And from the 1982 film "Tutsi," the song "It Might Be You.". ♪ Time ♪.

Bergman known not only for his talent, but also for his enduring partnership. with his songwriting wife, Marilyn, who died in 2022 at 93. The couple writing hundreds of songs together, winning four Emmys, two Grammys, and three Oscars. over their career. Among their most famous lyrical works, you don't bring me flowers written with Neil Diamond. Later becoming a classic, Barbara Streisand, Neil Diamond duet, performed at the. Grammys in 1980. ♪ You don't bring me flower ♪.

♪ And free ♪. And arguably their biggest success, The way we were recorded by Streisand for the 1973. film of the same name. Streisand performing at the Oscars in 2013. [Music]. In the wake of Maryland's death, Streisand writing, "Maralyn. and Allen Bergman were like family. Their songs are timeless, and so is our love.". Allen crediting his professional relationship with his wife.

for repairing any rare friction in their romantic relationship. But after this, most of the time it gets. worked down in the work. It's very interesting. Alan died late Thursday at his home in Los Angeles after. suffering from respiratory issues, according to a family. spokesperson, but continued to write songs till the very. end. Alan Bergman was 99. And, late today, Barbara Streisand posting. an emotional tribute calling Bergman a "father. figure" and revealing the last time they spoke he.

was working on a new song. Thanks for watching tonight. a great night.