the biden-trump showdown could be made official as early as this week. duelling campaign rallies pit the rivals head to head. our team in d.c. breaks down the latest. americans evacuate from haiti as the country spirals

into violence. the prime minister struggles to hold on to power. and now u.s. officials are racing to bring americans to safety. owning a car is getting more expensive by the mile. we'll explore exactly what's driving up the costs. and hollywood's biggest night saw big wins from your favorite movies and major moments from the brightest stars in the business. we've got all your highlights coming your way. and it's a heartwarming story about an ice-cold pastime. how this unlikely bond between hockey players began. we're skating into monday, march 11th. "early today" starts right now. good morning. i'm frances rivera. a tumultuous year for hollywood came to an end on sunday night. the biggest names in the industry gathered at the dolby heater to honor the best films of 2023 at the 96th academy awards. nbc's mark barger has the details on the historic winners and the biggest moments after hollywood's biggest night.

>> and i see "oppenheimer." >> reporter: a three-hour summer blockbuster about the making of the atomic bomb dominated the academy awards sunday night, winning seven, including best picture. >> could deny it, but i've been dreaming about this moment for so long. >> reporter: director emma saw her husband christopher nolan win best director for the first time. there are so many people who have dragged me up here. >> reporter: including robert downey jr., who won best supporting actor. >> i'd like to thank my terrible childhood and the academy. >> reporter: as well as cillian murphy. he earned best actor for "oppenheimer's" title role. >> we made a film about the man who created the atomic bomb. and for better or worse, we're all living in "oppenheimer's" world, so i'd really like to dedicate this to the peacemakers everywhere. >> reporter: the other winners. >> emma stone. >> the poor thing was a bit flustered as she took home best

actor. thinking is really overwhelming. sorry. my voice is also a little gone. whatever. >> reporter: and da'vine joy randolph was overwhelmed with emotion in winning best supporting actress for "the holdovers." >> for so long, i've always wanted to be different. and now i realize i just need to be myself. >> reporter: despite its billion box office, "barbie" only came way with one award. >> billie eilish and finneas. >> what was i made forgave brother finneas and billie eilish their second. >> i feel so lucky and honored. >> reporter: but muted for ukraine's first ever documentary, 20 days in maricopa chronicled the early days of russia's invasion. >> probably be the first director on this stage who will say i wish i never made this film. >> reporter: a poignant remind other about a night devoted to honoring hollywood's best. mark barger, nbc news.

and now to the race for the white house. president biden is taking his state of the union message on the road. the biden campaign says they brought in $10 million in contributions in the 24 hours after the state of the union. that boost of money now being put to work as the president ramps up his campaign schedule. brie jackson joins us now from d.c. hi, brie. there are another round of primaries tomorrow. what's important about these contests? >> good morning, frances. this week we could see both president biden and former president trump officially lock up their nominations. but both candidates, they are already focused on the general election. now one big state to watch tomorrow is georgia it is a crucial battleground state. president biden won georgia in 2020 by just over 12,000 votes. he and donald trump held duelling rallies over the weekend in the peach state, where they attacked each other over their immigration policies. >> i will seal the border.

i'm going do it. and i will stop this invasion. i'm going do it. i will stop the killing. i will stop the bloodshed. i will end the agony of our people, the plunder of our cities, the sacking of our towns, the violation of our citizens, and the conquest of our country. they're conquering our country. >> it's not a celebrating the immigrants to our country, to our economy and our communities. donald trump calls them vermin. poise, poisoning the blood of america, no one should ever doubt where my heart. unlike donald trump, on my first day in office as president, i introduced a comprehensive plan to fix our immigration system. >> this week president biden is also expected to travel to new hampshire, wisconsin, and michigan. in michigan, the president will try to win over the 100,000 people who voted uncommitted in the democratic primary. those votes were largely in protest of the u.s. response to

the israel-hamas war. frances? >> brie jackson for us, brie, thank you. the muslim holy month of ramadan has begun with no sign of peace in the middle east. the ceasefire in the gaza strip has remained elusive despite a ramp-up of diplomacy lead is being the holiday. both sides are perhaps predictably blaming the other for the impasse. good morning, claudio. first, tell us how has ramadan proceeded so far? >> good morning, frances. well, the fear here is that starting ramadan while the war in gaza is still raging on will only contribute to fuel the anger, frustration and arrest among muslims in israel, the palestinian territories, but also the wider region now. all eyes are on the city of jerusalem, where thousands of israeli policemen have been deployed, especially around the al aqsa mosque where thousands of muslim worshipers what are expected to gather in the coming days and weeks of ramadan.

and with the ongoing war in gaza, it only takes a spark to ignite violent confrontation there. it does happen -- as it does happen in previous years as well. but now the ramadan also started with president biden and the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, taking shots at each other in two separate introduce. just take a listen. >> he has a right to defend israel, a right to continue to pursue hamas, but he must, he must, he must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken. he's hurting in my view -- he's hurting israel more than helping israel by making the rest of the world -- it's contrary to what israel stands for. and i think it's a big mistake. >> i don't know exactly what the president meant. but if he meant by that that i'm pursuing private policies against the majority, the wish of the majority of israelis, and that is hurting the interests of israel, then he is wrong on both counts. number one, these are not my

private policies only. they're policies supported by the overwhelming majority of the israelis. >> well, as you heard there, this was probably the most arguably the most diplomatic public diplomatic spat between president biden and the prime minister of israel so far since the start of the war on october th. frances? >> claudio, thank you. as haiti descends into chaos, the united states is urgently evacuating nonessential personnel from the embassy in port-au-prince. our marissa parra has this report. >> reporter: amid an evacuation in a country in chaos, a military operation airlifting nonessential n nonessential embassy employees out of haiti, a move approved by president biden who a u.s. official says remains deeply concerned. the administration also boosting embassy security. u.s. southern command saying no haitians were onboard that flight. last week the white house emphasizing the urgency of the

crisis. >> you think about food, health care, clean water, forms of critical assistance through u.n. and ngo partners to help people in need. >> reporter: a state of emergency in haiti now extended to next month. the u.n. reporting 5.5 million people, almost half the entire country's population, are in need of humanitarian aid. years of political violence came to a boiling point last weekend when gangs attacked the capitol, port-au-prince, and set free thousands of violent criminals from the prisons. haiti's prime minister ariel henri still in puerto rico, forced to land there. as calls for his resignation now growing louder. haiti's main airport shut down, leaving haitians stranded. >> it's been bad before. this, this is probably the worst. i think we are reaching peak crisis. >> reporter: mercy corps has been working to reduce violence in haiti since 2019. >> the situation in haiti is delicate, and it is important to make the right decisions moving forward.

i'm sure the u.s. government, just like all governments, do not want to make the situation worse. >> and our thanks to marissa for that report. back here at home, residents are drying out this morning after a massive storm barreled up the east coast, bringing heavy rain, snow, and tornadoes. icy conditions in new hampshire left one skier dead and two others injured. two hours away, homes were submerged along the state's coast. there was a similar scene in south carolina where high waters stranded drivers. the national weather service blaming tornadoes for devastating damage to homes in alabama and georgia. let's bring in now nbc meteorologist michelle grossman for the latest on this system. good morning, michelle. >> good morning, frances. we are still seeing the impacts from the system. one being the wind. that's going the big story today in parts of the northeast into parts of the carolinas as well. into new england. we're going see winds gusting 40, even 60 miles per hour, especially as we go throughout the afternoon hours. also airport outrages.

the winds are strong and looking at really chilly temperatures. that's going set the stage for snow as well, in portions of thor into juror parts into new england. 62 million of us under wind alerts this morning, whether it's a wind advise have i, that is in the blue. high wind in the purple from roanoke. this is why. we're going to see winds gusting really high. 47 miles per hour in williamsport. 48 in new york city. 47 in atlantic city. and again, could get higher than that as we head throughout the afternoon hours. there are the winds coming down. so we're seeing them really gusty at times. we're also seeing that cold air in place, and that's bringing the snow. because of, that we'red 70s. it's warm too in the south. lots of sunshine in charlotte, raleigh, charleston and miami. all right.

that's your monday forecast. >> thank you so much, michelle. down in the florida keys, dozens tested their pucker power at the annual conk shell blowing contest. ♪ >> aspiring conk musicians did their best to dazzle crowds across the women, men, and kids categories. judges evaluated each contestant for duration, novelty and loudness they made. it pays homage to the keys' sea-faring image and old calls for communication. coming up, the new frontier for russell wilson after getting bucked by the broncos. d anwe're back with what's driving up the prices of car ownership. until, i saw how easily it picked up my hair every time i dried it! only takes a minute. look at that! the heavy duty cloths are extra thick, for amazing trap & lock. even for his hair. wow. and for dust, i love my heavy duty duster. the fluffy fibers trap dust on contact,

up high and all around without having to lift a thing. i'm so hooked. you'll love swiffer. or your money back! my frequent heartburn had me taking antacid after antacid all day long but with prilosec otc just one pill a day blocks heartburn for a full 24 hours. for one and done heartburn relief, prilosec otc. one pill a day, 24 hours, zero heartburn. [♪♪] looking for a moisturizer that does more than just moisturize? try olay regenerist for 10 benefits in every jar. rang the skin, to boost regeneration at the surface cellular level. try olay. now toe a consumer alert about the cost of owning a car. it is the second biggest expense for most people after your mortgage or rent. and now the cost of everything about owning a car is driving in the wrong direction. christine romans explains why. >> reporter: at s&s automotive

in secaucus, new jersey, owner keith scaglione is working hard to keep prices low for his loyal customers. and it hasn't been easy. to do something like this, a few years ago would it have cost the same or less? >> no. it's definitely costing more. >> reporter: right. >> like that now, it's probably at least 10% more than it was two years ago. >> reporter: keith used to adjust his prices once a year. now it's every three to six months. that's because the total annual cost of simply owning and maintaining a new car climbed to more than $12,000 last year, up from about 11,000 the year before. and that doesn't even include monthly car payments, which spiked along with rising interest rates. heather is a mother of six in atlanta who sold her suv. you loved your suv. why did you sell it? >> the cost got out of control. the maintenance, day to day,

week to week, month to month. it was and heartbreaking. >> reporter: her insurance alone rose more than $100 a month. car insurance up more than 20% nationwide last year as insurers pay out for pricier claims. >> you have a high number of claims for all kinds of reasons, including the people aren't driving very well broadly. the data bears that out. and then you have climate events that are essentially totaling cars. >> reporter: back in keith's repair shop, this business is more than just a job. keith's uncle started it back in 1969, and it has been serving this community ever since. but a lot has changed. these are not your grandparents' cars. now they are full of pricey sensors and cameras. >> this truck probably has at least 60 computers in it. >> reporter: 60 computers in one piece of machinery? >> yes. >> reporter: and those parts more expensive to repair. long-time customers like allen

say they will keep coming back. >> oil price goes up, labor costs up, you pay the price. >> reporter: christine romans, nbc news. secaucus, new jersey. still to come, recapping a wild finish in women's college basketball. and steelers nation, let's forge. there is a new qb mi fm the mile tie hawaii state to western pennsylvania. find out who, right after this. (♪♪) this is a hot flash. (♪♪) but this is a not flash. (♪♪) for moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms due to menopause... veozah is the first and only prescription treatment that directly blocks a source of hot flashes and night sweats. with 100% hormone—free veozah... you can have fewer hot flashes and more not flashes. veozah reduces the number and severity of hot flashes day and night. for some women, it can start working in as early as one week.

don't use veozah if you have cirrhosis, severe kidney problems, kidney failure, or take cyp1a2 inhibitors. increased liver blood test values may occur. your doctor will check them before and during treatment. most common side effects include stomach pain, diarrhea, difficulty sleeping, and back pain. (♪♪) ask your doctor about hormone—free veozah... and enjoy more not flashes. bother the bugs. not your family. ahh! zevo is made with essential oils which attack bugs' biological systems. it wipes cleanly, plus is safe for use around people and pets. gotcha! zevo. people-friendly. bug-deadly. nature's bounty hair growth. clinically shown to help grow thicker, fuller hair with just one capsule a day of advanced hair complex. conquer hair thinning... ...and fall in love with your hair all over again. only from nature's bounty. (oven ding audio mnemonic) tyson boneless buffalo bites and hot wings have that tasty kick of flavor...

...so they're perfect for any get-together ...if there are any left when your guests arrive. tyson any'tizers® chicken. more kicks of flavor. more smiling snackers. more to love. tyson. want luxury hair repair that doesn't cost $50? pantene's pro-vitamin formula repairs hair. as well as the leading luxury bonding treatment. for softness and resilience, without the price tag. if you know... you know it's pantene.

made it tough. iowa trailing by two. clark crosses over, gets, shoulder shake, clark all the way left side. we're tied up at 77. >> count out caitlin clark at your own risk. the hawkeyes superstar scored the tying bucket against nebraska, erasing an eight-point deficit and forcing overtime versus the cornhuskers. the hawkeyes went to work in the

extra period, gaining a lead they would never give back after a three-pointer from clark. iowa claims their third straight big ten title and a strong chance at the top seed in the upcoming women's tournament. so here she is again. powerhouse clark, who had 34 points and was also named mvp of the tourney for the third year in' roll. should we be surprised? >> no. she can do no wrong. this is her last before she goes pro. pretty exciting. >> we'll keep watching her. breaking overnight, russell wilson is a pittsburgh steeler less than a week after the denver broncos announced they were releasing him. the quarterback confirmed on social media he would be taking his talents to the steel city, posting a clip of the team's iconic renegade video. wilson, still being paid by the broncos is expected to sign a one-year contract with the team for the league minimum of $1.21 million. and he'll likely compete with the team's third year qb kenny picket for the starting job come september. so a whole new frontier at steel

city for russell wilson. and he will be traveling back to denver the upcoming season as a steeler. we'll see how he is received. >> you hope he finds his place. he has been bouncing a bit. when we come back, how a weight loss drug may protect your heart. and avwe he the biggest winner or loser from this year's razzie awards. s, and feet called tardive dyskinesia, or td. so her doctor prescribed austedo xr— a once-daily td treatment for adults. ♪ as you go with austedo ♪ austedo xr significantly reduced kate's td movements. some people saw a response as early as 2 weeks. with austedo xr, kate can stay on her mental health meds— (kate) oh, hi buddy! (avo) austedo xr can cause depression, suicidal thoughts, or actions in patients with huntington's disease. pay close attention to and call your doctor if you become depressed, have sudden changes in mood, or have suicidal thoughts. don't take if you have liver problems, are taking reserpine, tetrabenazine, or valbenazine. austedo xr may cause irregular or fast heartbeat,

or abnormal movements. seek help for fever, stiff muscles, problems thinking, or sweating. common side effects include inflammation of the nose and throat, insomnia and sleepiness. ♪ as you go with austedo ♪ ask your doctor for austedo xr. ♪ austedo xr ♪ jordan's sore nose let out a fiery sneeze, so dad grabbed puffs plus lotion to soothe her with ease. puffs plus lotion is gentle on sensitive skin and locks in moisture to provide soothing relief. a nose in need deserves puffs indeed. america's #1 lotion tissue. -we're done. -what about these? looks right. nooo... nooo... quick, the quicker picker upper! bounty absorbs spills like a sponge. and is 2x more absorbent so you can use less. bounty, the quicker picker upper.

febreze! your bathroom... needs febreze small spaces... the always-on, odor-fighting air freshener you set and forget. no outlets used, no batteries needed, no effort required. so your bathroom stays continuously fresh for 45 days. that's the power of febreze small spaces. wanna know a secret? more than just my armpits stink. that's why i use secret whole body deodorant... everywhere. 4 out of 5 gynecologists would recommend whole body deodorant, which gives you 72 hour odor protection from your pits to your- (sfx: deoderant being sprayed) secret whole body deodorant. want more from your vitamins? get more with nature's bounty. from the first ever triple action sleep supplement, to daily digestive support, to more wellness solutions every day. get more with nature's bounty. (smelling) ew. gotta get rid of this. ♪tell me why♪ because it stinks. ♪have you tried downy rinse and refresh♪ it helps remove odors 3x better than detergent alone. it worked guys! ♪yeahhhh♪

downy rinse and refresh. want the power of 5 serum benefits in 1? olay super serum activates on skin to hydrate, smooth, visibly firm, brighten, and improve texture. it's my best skin yet. olay we're back with what you need to know "early today." the fda's pushed back its approval decision deadline for eli lilly's experimental alzheimer's treatment. the agency plans to call a last-minute meeting of its outside advisers to further review its safety and efficacy. weight loss drug wegovy has now been approved by the fda to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by as much as 20%. it could mean more insurance companies may cover that medication. nintendo has announced a sequel to the super mario brothers movie set to hop into theaters april of 2026. and the oscars celebrated

the best in cinema, the razzie awards applaud the worst in film. so i've never even heard of this one. it's called "winnie the pooh: blood and honey." it's a slasher film. it won all five categories it was nominated for, including worst film, worst director, worst screenplay, and worst remake rip-off or worst sequel. it makes me kind of want to see it. we'll be right back. you know, there's a way to cut your dishwashing time by 50%? try dawn powerwash dish spray. it removes 99% of grease and grime in half the time. dawn powerwash has 3 cleaning boosters not found in traditional dish soaps that remove food and grease 5 times faster. and, because it cleans so well you can replace multiple cleaning products for counters, stoves, and even laundry stains. try dawn powerwash dish spray. brand power, helping you buy better. [♪♪] if you're only using facial moisturizer in the morning, did you know, the best time for skin renewal is at night?

olay retinol24 renews millions of surface skin cells while you sleep. wake up to smoother, younger-looking skin with olay retinol24. feeling sluggish or weighed down? could be a sign that your digestive system isn't at its best. but a little metamucil everyday can help. metamucil's psyllium fiber gels to trap and remove the waste that weighs you down... so you can lighten every day the metamucil way. now to the power of team work, bringing generations together.

boyd huppert from our minneapolis affiliate has the story. >> all right, ready? there you go. >> reporter: alone is not the best way to play hockey. >> got one. >> that's a hit. >> reporter: but when dad's not around, it is matt jenkins default. >> non-stop. >> reporter: denise and morgan say hockey is everything to their son. >> how much do i like hockey? 100%, dude. >> reporter: matt is unique. >> when he was born, there was some hinting there. >> there was a genetic marker that was missing in his chromosomes. developmentally delayed. >> that's all they can tell us. >> reporter: delayed and delightful. >> don't do this at home. >> reporter: matt liked his high school years, and three more spent after graduation in his school district's transition program. >> after that, here you go. >> reporter: missing his friends and structure, matt found solace alone at the ice arena, where he also found them. >> the mud ducks. >> reporter: a group of men in their 60s and 70s. >> our coffee clutch. >> they said, you know, if you want to come at 9:00 when we

start, you can skate with us. >> reporter: which is how 74-year-old don and 74-year-old tom ended up skating daily with 21-year-old matt. >> nice shot! >> they're good teammates. >> thank you, sir. >> they are his team. >> reporter: just when matt needed new friends. >> you look like one of us. >> yes. >> reporter: he found them, three times his age. >> they are everything to him. he comes home and he talks about them, so and so wasn't here today, they think he is sick, i hope he is okay. >> reporter: the mud ducks don't play games. they just play. enjoying hockey and each other. >> that a boy, oh, yeah! >> it's been a blessing for everybody. >> reporter: when steve burnham saw how matt was thriving, he started bringing his own son will, who has autism. >> look at that. >> reporter: now learning to skate and getting encouragement from matt. >> doing good, bro.

>> what do you say? they let him be who he is and they are inclusive. >> hi, paulie. >> when we leave, he gives us a hug. >> it means a lot. >> reporter: wisdom born of age. >> this is the life, isn't it? >> reporter: and friends -- >> two, three -- >> reporter: born of a flock. >> yeah, he is the mud duck. >> reporter: boyd huppert, nbc news, cottage grove, minnesota. >> what a great story all around. thanks for watching "early today." i'm frances verari

most buz