here we go. can we land? you're old enough to do it in the sky now. but it's gross. there is no way we're landing. are you sure no one is watching? gwen mallard! do it now, or we leave without you. ok. well, today, there's growing fallout after colorado's supreme court thumped trump from the

state's primary ballot the justices there facing threats on social media as president biden responds we break down what this means for the 2024 white house race. the ten americans freed in a prisoner swap with venezuela are back on u.s. soil. why the decision is sparking controversy. the west coast facing flood alerts as a major storm sweeps through the golden state more rain is on the way for the southern stretch of that state our own angie lassman looks at how much to expect we're days away from christmas morning, and the u.s. postal service doesn't have slei sle sleighs or reindeers on their payroll. good things can come in small packages shrink down to see this tiny tradition. it is december 21st. "early today" starts right now and very good morning to you

i'm richard lui. >> i'm jessica layton. we begin with an exclusive the colorado supreme court is facing a flood of threats today, after kicking former president trump off the state's republican primary ballot according to a report from the non-partisan organization, advance democracy, there was quote, significant violent rhetoric against the justices on mr. trump's social media platform truth social. users also posted personal information about the justices, including their phone numbers and even their office addresses. nbc's garrett haake has more on the fall out from the ruling >> reporter: president biden weighing in on the colorado supreme court's dramatic ruling, banning republican frontrunner donald trump from the state's ballot the court citing the 14th amendment, saying the former president engaged in insurrection on january 6. president biden was asked if mr. trump is an insurrectionist. >> well, i think it's self-evident you saw it all

now whether the 14th amendment will apply, we'll let the court make that decision but he certainly supported an insurrection no question about it none, zero >> reporter: the 14th amendment was ratified after the civil war. the former president writing on social media, every case i am fighting is the work of the doj and white house. no such thing has ever happened in our country before. with the campaign labeling the split decision by colorado's highest court with all seven of its justices appointed by democratic governors as completely flaw ed and a scheme to interfere in an election. the rivals echoing the frontrunner's complaint. >> we don't need judges making the decision but voters to make the decision >> reporter: and arguing it will help the former president. >> they're doing all this stuff to basically solidify support in the primary for him.

get him in the general, and the whole general election is going to be all this legal stuff it's unfair. they're abusing power 100% >> reporter: recent polls show trump leading biden in a potential 2020 rematch the colorado ruling on hold until january, awaiting word from the supreme court >> fif the u.s. supreme court does not take the case or intervene, donald trump will not be on the presidential primary ballot >> our thanks to garrett for that report. a united nations security council vote on gaza was delayed for a third time while the vote is now slated for today it could be postponed again as diplomacy unfolds any language seen as overly critical of israel risks a u.s. veto, scuttling the entire deal. for the latest on the diplomatic efforts around gaza, let's go live to claudio lavanga. what's the latest on this third

round round, if you will >> reporter: good morning, richard. according to a u.s. official who is familiar with the negotiations, the sticking point of this latest resolution is the fact that thash theere was a prl to introduce some united nations ef effort they say the united nations should be in charge because of its credibility and experience on the ground. and secretary of state antony blinken said think areey are wog with those countries to resolve outstanding oh in issues. isaac herzog did signal the country may be open to a new round of humanitarian pauses in the hope that hamas releases more hostages and the humanitarian aid is delivered into gaza, but people there

continue, of course, to die. gazan officials say the death toll has reached a milestone of 20,000 people. mostly women, children, and almost a hundred journalists, but that doesn't take into account, officials say, the almost 7,000 people who may still, who are unaccounted for and may still be under the rubble and that, if that would be confirmed, that would put the number of dead people died in gaza to one of every hundred palestinian living in gaza, which is about 20 times the number of israelis that were killed on october 7. richard, jessica >> thank you so much, nbc's claude y claudio claudio lavanga. the upper chamber of congress will face a timeline when they reconvene.

the senate leaders are committed to addressing the issues 2023 is said to have been the least-productive year in history. or at least one of them with just 20 bills pass ed by both chambers the biden administration has secured the release of ten american prisoners from venezuela. gabe gutierrez has more. >> reporter: ten americans are on their way home, among them, six people the state department says were wrongfully detained in venezuela. the biden administration striking a deal with the country's socialist government led by president nicolas maduro. >> we have no higher priority than the release of detained, americans held hostage >> reporter: venezuela is sending back a fugitive. leonard francis, better known as fat leonard was behind one of

the worst navy scandals in history and fled before his sentencing in return, the u.s. is releasing a colombian businessman, a madur maduro ally. this is the latest swap mediated by the qatari government among the detain americans, joseph cristela. we spoke with his mother who said her son was being used as a bargaining chip. >> it's just been a horrendous journey, and it's finally come to an end. >> and our thanks to gabe gutierrez for that report. texas governor greg abbott is turning up the heat on his border fight with northern states by charterering a flighto more than a hundred migrants to chicago. it's the first time they have used planes to offload migrants

on blue states they so far have sent more than 75,000 migrants from texas to six other cities announcing the move on x, abbott said until biden steps up to secure the border, we will continue to provide overwhelmed texas border towns with much-needed relief the white house fired back in a statement calling it a political stunt, adding, quite, yet again, governor abbott is showing how little regard or respect he has for human beings nearly 30 people were sent to hospitals in east tennessee following multiple chemical leaks at a cheese factory. the first leak happened around 7:00 a.m. yesterday impacting six employees, hours later a larger leak sending dozens to the hospital ot others are being monitored they say the leaks have been secured and there's no danger to the public officials are working to get a small plane removed from minnesota's upper red lake after

it crashed through the ice earlier this week. two men were trying to land there to ice fish when the plane had trouble slowing down the nose broke through patch of thin ice and the pilot and passenger ended up waste deep in water. they were taken to a nearby resort and given fresh clothes just as the east coast begins to dry out, severe storms now slamming the rest this morning. relentless rain flooded roads across coastal california yesterday. millions are still under flood watches this morning as the pacific system slowly marches south. nbc meteorologist angie lassman is tracking the storm for us big numbers to talk about, angie. >> we've got the flood alerts, and this is not what we want no see on a big travel week 27 million people under flood alerts, stretching from portions of central california down to southern california and out into portions of arizona. this is going to be something we'll watch over the next 48 hours, basically we've gotta rain draped from

central california to southern california right now, and plenty of clouds to go with it, but the periods of heavier rain are going to continue through at least saturday it stretches into parts of the desert southwest, phoenix included in that, we could pick up an inch to maybe two inches isolated spots up to three inches and on top of that we'll see additional snow falling across the rockies. nothing too impressive but an inch to a half a foot is possible as you go up in those elevations otherwise, we've got some, some quiet conditions stretching across the plains here as we get to friday. for any travel that you might have, the east coast looks great. it will be a little on the cool side, but we'll also deal with rocky owsnll deal with

sunny skies. 43 for philadelphia today. and washington, d.c. hits the upper 40s. and that's a look yaurt forefor at your forecast how the post office is preparing for the final holiday rush and in 60 seconds, a tragedy in new jersey. the deadly helicopter crash that killed two members of a news crew killed two members of a news crew. ma, ma, ma— ( clears throat ) for fast sore throat relief, try vicks vapocool drops. with two times more menthol per drop, and powerful vicks vapors to vaporize sore throat pain.

vicks vapocool drops. vaporize sore throat pain. and now to a tragedy at a philadelphia abc news affiliate. they are mourning the loss of two team members on a helicopter that crashed earlier this week in new jersey. >> reporter: abc news in philadelphia going on air reporting on its own tragedy >> two members of our news team went down. they did not survive >> reporter: the station's helicopter crashing in a forest in burlington county, new jersey >> a state officer identified

the debris field >> reporter: they were identified as a photographer and pilot. they have a long history with our nation and working as part of the action news team for years, they say. >> this is a difficult day for us >> reporter: the helicopter went down around 8:00 p.m., while on its way back from assignment on the jersey shore action news confirming it leases the helicopter the chopper is an american eurocopter model flight aware data shows the aircraft left philadelphia around 7:23 p.m., flew to the jersey shore and circled the area before turning back with its last known position near atlantic city at 8:03:00 p.m the faa arrived before dawn on scene, but the investigation began in full after daybreak and is led by the ntsb, the ntsb

saying they do not determine or speculate about the cause of the accident >> our hearts are with those team members and families as we continue to learn more about what happened. >> and our thanks to foe what pransky for that report. still to come. a high-scoring showcase in philly and signed, sealed and delivered. right after this nd delivered. right after this. ♪ (you've got the love) ♪ ♪ (you've got the love) ♪ ♪ (you've got the love) ♪ ♪ (you've got the love) ♪ ♪ (you've got the love) ♪ ♪ (you've got the love) ♪ ♪ (you've got the love) ♪ ♪ (sometimes i feel like saying) ♪ ♪ (lord i just don't care) ♪ pandora. loves, unboxed. my frequent heartburn had me taking antacid after antacid all day long but with prilosec otc just one pill a day

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indeed oh,! >> it's still early in the nba season, but joel embiid is making his case for another mvp. the star center putting up 51 points in the philadelphia sixers wednesday win over the ti timberwolves this comes two weeks after another 50-point game begins the

wizards and the seventh game in which embiid has dropped at least 50 points in his ten-year career >> embiid is not the only one putting up big numbers just a little farther down the northeast corridor, the u.s. postal service is battening down the hatch tes for the thousandso items you will, i will, all of us will need to ship new strategies to deal with the holiday rush >> reporter: avenueevery minute counts 600 employees work at the dulles processing and distribution center teamwork is a must especially during what the agency considers its super bowl. >> this facility processing about 200,000 pieces a day >> reporter: henry payne is the acting plant manager, with 50 years under his belt payne says new strategies can lead to efficiency

>> setting up operations, planning, using pro jexs from last y last year to determine how much we would see >> reporter: they have added 100 sor sorting machines it helps with 25,000 to 35,000 pieces of mail a power they then come to these boxes and these crates, and then they're they're taken to the truck >> is this a 53-footer >> we're using 95% of that mail, our mail, and putting it on ground transportation. we're using our own logistics, providing more affordable price for our customers. >> reporter: they are providing a few tips >> you can do customized hold mail or a customized delivery,

which means signature confirmation you have to sign for. >> reporter: it's us u it' it'ss like bonita. a dedicated staff working round the clock to provide a little joy at your mailbox and doorstep >> and our thanks to dominique moody for that report. when we come back on "early today," if you drive a toyota you'll want to stay tuned for a recall alert and how the ftc is working to make online spaces safer for our kids e online spaces safer f our kids. [ tires screeching ] director: cut! jordana, easy on the gas. force of habit. i gotta wrap this commercial, i think i'm late on my payment. it's okay, the general gives you a break when you need it. yeah, we let you pick your own due date

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turned off for kids and limit d data collection. toyota's recall covers multiple models from 2020 to 2022 they're expected to neaotify affected customers the u.s. consumer confidence index rose to the highest level since july go, you! go, u!be rig we'll be right back.

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in mason county, kentucky where each tiny decoration has a story to tell. evelyn schultz from our lexington affiliate has the details. >> reporter: inside the ksb miniatu miniatures collection you have to look a bit closer >> everything is supposed to be realistic. >> reporter: that's where you'll notice her renowned renowned gg gallery is decked out for the holidays. >> there was a precious little girl, about 2 1/2 years old. she goes, i was going, that's the reaction we want >> reporter: 3300 square feet filled with tiny, 1/12th scaled versions of objects. sheet music. >> we have a christmas village on both of the mantle pieces that actually are lit.

and there's, you know, snow on the mantle so it looks like it's a country village, just like, you know, we could purchase in a store and put on our own mabntle >> reporter: christmas trees are in many of the homes, and yes, they light up. >> i set up the vignette so you look at it and say what's going on here. when you look at each piece ex-together piece, together they tell a story >> there's one for each one of my grandchildren >> reporter: nearby a nativity scene tells the story of jesus' beth a scaled-down santa claus drops off itsy, bits, bitsy gifts. >> i just love feeling what it

would be like to be in that atmosphere >> our thanks to evelyn for that report everyone needs a grandma like that >> grandma evelyn. she's great! >> and on top of that, i'm thinking about small things with big heart. >> that's right. yeah she really shows it. hey, let the countdown begin. the official 2024 numerals have arrived in times square. you can snap a picture they will be raised atop the square and light up the sky at midnight to ring in the new year if you are in 401new york city,u know they are here because the streets ar

right now at 5:00, the search for a gunman that shot and killed al pizza delivery driver sitting in his car. we're live this morning on where the investigation stands and a