ans and the white house reach an agreement on tax cuts. but did the president break a major campaign promise? for millions today is the coldest morning since last winter. an arctic blast dipping all the way to florida. and elizabeth edwards and her family reveal that further cancer treatments won't do any good. good morning everyone. thanks for being with us on this tuesday. a major deal to cut taxes and extend unemployment benefits has been reached between republicans and president obama. >> but now, the white house must sell the compromise to liberal democrats who are accusing the president of selling out. emily schmidt is joining us now

with washington with details of the plan. good morning, emily. >> reporter: rob and vinita good morning to you. president obama says the typical american family would pay $3,000 a year in taxes beginning next month, if this deal falls through. but some democrats charge that the compromise comes too early and leaves too much on the table. the bipartisan deal extending bush-era tax cuts for two more years announced by president obama is what he says, not exactly what he wants, but what the country needs. >> it's not perfect. this compromise is an essential step on the road to recovery. >> reporter: the deal means lower tax rates will remain in place for everyone even the highest earners. though the president once vowed the rich would pay more. >> we will take those tax breaks away from the wealthiest americans and put them in the pockets of hard-working americans. >> reporter: but with the stalemate now and more republicans coming for the next session of congress mr. obama backs down in exchange for republican concessions.

extending long-term unemployment benefits for an additional 13 months for about 9 million americans. payroll taxes will get a deduction. and every morning american will keep 2% of the first $100,000 they earn. top senate republicans called the deal an important first step. some democrats aren't sure. >> i think a lot of people are wondering why president obama doesn't fight for what he believes in a lot more. it seems like it goes from zero to fold in pretty fast time. >> i'm not willing to let working families across this country become collateral damage. i'm not willing to let our economy slip backwards. >> reporter: vice president biden plans to meet with senate democrats today to try to get them onboard with this compromised plan. and there's reason to act quickly. taxes for everyone will go up if no deal is reached by january 1st. rob and vinita? >> we're all watching those

numbers. emily schmidt, live this morning. thank you. the arctic air blast in the country is getting even colder as millions of people brace for the most frigid day yet. it's going so far south, citrus growers are scrambling to protect their crops. the upper midwest wakes up to single digits. matt gutman reports on winter's early arrival. >> reporter: snow gridlocked buffalo. car crashes in indiana. and caught north carolina and president obama offguard. >> although, i have to say i came down here for slightly warmer weather. what's snow doing on the ground in north carolina? come on, now. >> reporter: around the great lakes, snowfall will be measured in feet not inches. and it's >> we do believe that there will be another shot of even colder air coming down into the deep south, as we get late into this weekend and early next week.

>> reporter: and with the jet stream shooting arctic air as far south as florida, the homeless are especially vulnerable. >> it's very difficult. i mean no shelter. no place to go. >> reporter: florida's $2 billion a year citrus industry is also vulnerable. growers are spraying crops. >> anytime the temperatures get down to the mid-20s, we start to get concerned. >> reporter: but for other floridians -- >> it gets me in the mood. nothing worse than shopping for a christmas tree when it's 80 degrees and humid. >> reporter: if the cold is so cold it kills the trees, that's a bad thing. but most likely they will survive. and that cold will make the trees heartier and the fruit, like this, a lot sweeter. matt gutman abc news florida. and for more on all of the winter weather, we turn to accuweather's ava dinges with today's forecast. ava. >> good morning, rob and vinita. it's been cold across the northeast. now, that cold weather reaching the south. it comes across pennsylvania and

upstate new york. some areas of the snow band could see another foot of south. in the south, it's the cold weather. a hard freeze to start off the day. and in southern florida, we're talking about temperatures in the 30s and low 40s. that's a concern of frost in west palm beach. back to you, rob and vinita. robert gates is meeting with troops right now. david cameron arrived for a surprise visit. he said british troops will likely begin withdrawing next year. abc news polltakers recently visited all 34 afghan provinces. a dangerous job that found 62% of afghan stas still support the presence of u.s. forces in their country. but that's down from a high of 78% in 2006. our poll also found some hope though. a majority 61%, of afghans say they have hope they will live in

prosperity and peace. will troops be allowed to fight on the ground in pakistan? wikileaks founder julian assange could turn himself into british police today. his lawyer says a deal is being worked out for assange to meet with investigators. the 39-year-old australian is wanted on suspicion of rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion in sweden. he's been hiding out in an undisclosed location in britain. the battle of gay marriage in california has gone to a federal appeals court in san francisco. it challenges proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriages. the judges gave no indication when they will rule on the issue. the case is likely to end up before the u.s. supreme court. it took more than 100 firefighters in baltimore almost 3 hours to gain control of a raging blaze there in the city's adult entertainment district. the roof of a three-story brick building caved in yesterday and spread to at least five other

businesses. luckily, no injuries have been reported. the sports world is remembering dandy don, the football great who became more famous for his moves off the field than on. don meredith died of a brain hemmage sunday at the age of 82. he was the dallas cowboy's first big star. he teamed up with how ward cosell on "monday night football." he was known for his colorful personality and his trademark line, turn out the lights the party is over. when we return on this tuesday, turning their fame into big pay chex. coming up, the highest-paid reality tv stars. and it's the largest lawsuit of its kind in u.s. history. walmart must defend itself in front of the supreme court. and as she prepares for the end, elizabeth edwards offers a message of hope. a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a

a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a st year sick w last year sick with cancer jordyn was given just weeks to live. then my mom saw your st. jude commercial.

i know... at st. jude children's research hospital, jordyn received our pioneering research procedure and now jordyn has hope. ...and now i'm in the st. jude commercial. in it...you're the star of it. give thanks for the healthy kids in your life. and give to those who are not. go to stjude.org or shop wherever you see our magnifying glass. go

time now, for a check of market activities starting overseas. tokyo's nikkei average lost 26 points today. meanwhile, hong kong's hang seng is up in late trading. and in london the ftse opened higher. wall street starts the day with the dow jones industrial average at 11,362. after falling 19 points yesterday. the nasdaq index rose 3.5 points to close at 2594. the treasury department said it made a $12 billion profit while bailing out citigroup. it's selling off its remaining citigroup shares for $10.5 billion. the government acquired those

shares during the bailout of the financial industry. the u.s. supreme court is set to hear a case that pits walmart against all of the women who have worked there. the sex discrimination suit represents 1.5 million women claiming they were passed over for raises and promotions. walmart says the women are too divorce a group to be represented in just one case. and "consumer reports" is naming u.s. cellular the nation's top cell phone service provider. it mainly works in the midwest and the south. at&t who has an exclusive deal with the apple iphone was last. boeing's 747 program is facing more delays. the jetmaker has ordered a three-week hold on pieces for the new jet. that's affecting assembly plants in several states. that means it will not carry passengers until 2012 that is three years late. it has been a lucrative year for reality tv stars. a perfume, a clothing line even

party-hosting gigs add up to a $6 million a year paycheck for kim kardashian. "the daily beast" estimates that lauryn hill earned $5 million this year. and bethenny frankel had a $4 million a year. >> we are in the wrong business. and "the jersey shore" did well too. >> not a bad payday. next on this tuesday morning, a reason for many to take a daily dose of aspirin. and billed as a monday night battle for the ages, it was anything but. [ female announcer ] it's 9 pm. and the chocolate cravings begin... again. ♪ ♪ for nights like these there's special k chocolatey delight cereal. ♪ ♪ so you can get your

chocolatey fix... ♪ ♪ ...without undoing your whole day. ♪ ♪ [ barks ] ♪ ♪ guy: hey. son: hey mom! wife: what are you doing? what is that? what is this? guy: it's a special paste i invented to replace socks. we're dipping our feet in it. wife: why? guy: because we can't find socks that shape to our feet. we're sick of it! son: sick of it! wife: that's really stupid. guy: that's the future. announcer: hanes makes better-fitting socks the whole family will love. guaranteed, or your money back. woo hoo! 'tis the season. yeah. we're buying gifts. i gotta decorate the yard. people are coming over. i want to make sure i get something for my spending. some credit cards... they have all these rules and... restrictions with their rewards. they make us jump through hoops. i have the bankamericard cash rewards™ credit card. -1% cash back... -with every purchase. there's no limit to the amount of cash back i can earn. and our cash rewards

they won't expire. no hoops to jump through. -1% cash back. -really simple. [ male announcer ] the refreshingly simple bankamericard cash rewards™ credit card. apply online or at a bank of america near you. - good for 23 yards. - hey. he went to jared. - that's a peerless diamond, the ideal ideal-cut diamond. female announcer: jared has thousands of loose diamonds and hundreds of settings to create your own one-of-a-kind ring. - you crying? - no. she felt lost... until the combination of three good probiotics in phillips' colon health defended against the bad gas, diarrhea and constipation. ...and? it helped balance her colon. oh now that's the best part. i love your work. [ female announcer ] phillips' colon health. up to three feet of snow is now on the ground from upstate new york to western pennsylvania. and they can't dig out fast enough. heavy lake-effect snow is still coming down with another two feet expected by the time it

ends tomorrow afternoon. and all that white stuff is making for a rough morning commute on i-80 and 90 from cleveland to pennsylvania. icy on i-87 to the canadian border. and i-95 in northern maine. lots of snow-covered highways in michigan. and wet on i-5, from seattle to portland. >> if you are flying today, you can expect some airport delays in seattle, salt lake city boston, new york philadelphia and d.c. elizabeth edwards' family is at her bedside this morning after doctors told her she only has a few weeks left to live. >> the breast cancer that edwards battled for six years has now spread to her liver. reporter steve daniels of our affiliate wtvd has the latest from north carolina. >> reporter: elizabeth edwards made her last public appearance in september at the stand up to cancer fund-raising event in los angeles. >> cancer doesn't care that you have young children who need their mother. >> reporter: now, we know her cancer has spread to her vital organs. her family issued a statement

saying elizabeth has been advised by her doctors that further treatment of her cancer would be unproductive. she is resting at home with family and friends. chapel hill is where she feels most at home. she went to college in carolina. met john at the unc law school. they were married at bethel baptist church in 1977 long before elizabeth became known to the country during two campaigns for the presidency. >> he and i are very different. we have very different backgrounds. but he's really straightforward in the way he talks about things and the way he approaches people. and it's disarming. >> reporter: in recent years, she and john have made their home in chapel hill where they have been raising their two, young children. own her facebook page, elizabeth sent this message to their friends, i've been sustained throughout my life by my three saving graces, my family my friends and a faith in the power of resilience and hope. these graces have carried me through difficult times. and they have brought me more

joy to the food times than i could ever imagine. it didn't possible to put into words the love and gratitude i feel to everyone who has and continues to support and inspire me every day. to you, i simply say, you know. with love, elizabeth. steve daniels, abc news. >> we will have much more about the edwards family later today on "good morning america." in related news now, a breakthrough study is giving new hope in the battle against cancer. the british report shows that long-term, low-dose aspirin could reduce the risk of death from some cancers by 20%. the study published today in the journal "lancet" followed 2,500 patients. a phoenix flight made an emergency flight in pittsburgh after a dog bit a passenger. the bites were not severe. but the pilot landed the plane

as a precaution according to a u.s. airways spokesman. the owner was identified as an 89-year-old woman from new jersey. u.s. shark experts are arriving in egypt to fell p figure out what is causing a recent spate of shark attacks in the resort of sharm el sheikh. in the past week one tourist was killed and four others injured. the attacks are being blamed on white tip sharks that normally don't get close to the beaches. the beaches, meanwhile, remain closed indefinitely. new, high-tech $100 bills are causing high stress for the u.s. treasury. the bills hit a snag in the printing process. the security strips were wrinkled making the bills unusable. but the treasury is saying they can use the majority of the big bend. it costs 120 million bucks to print $1.1 million in $100. on paper, a monday-night matchup of equals. but the action on the field told a different story. highlights now from espn news.

>> good morning. i'm don bell with your espn news update. and we start with a major bat until the afc. this one, for conference supremacy. there is new england's tom brady, versus mark sanchez of the jets. first quarter, pats lead 10-0. brady on fourth down and three, hooking up with deion branch. a dane of 25 yards. it's a touchdown. the patriots go up 17-0. second quarter, pats lead 17-3. brady, play-action pass. rolling left. looking for a man. brandon tate, tremendous catch. the referees talk about it. not sure it's a touchdown. then, they call it one. rex ryan doesn't challenge. pats up 24-3. sanchez throws a pick. he threw three interceptions in the game. ensuing patriots drive brady. another play-action pass over the middle to aaron hernandez. one of two talented tight ends for new england. he knows how to run after the catch. takes it inside the 25 yard

line, a gain of 35. later on the drive, second and four. brady to his security blanket. his safety blanket. it's wes welker. drives his way forward for the touchdown. pats lead 31-3. rexbefuddled. sanchez, looking deep. picked off by devon mccourty. ensuing patriots, first and goal. brady to hernandez, for a touchdown. tom brady, 326 yards, 4 touchdowns. pats win, 45-3. that is your espn news update. i'm don bell. back to you in new york. >> what an ugly game. one more amazing catch to show you this morning. a california man reeled in a 405-pound tuna. that's the biggest yellow fin caught in more than 30 years. the amateur angler is making a lot of sushi fans very happy. look at the size of that thing. coming up next remembering

those who gave the ultimate sacrifice on this pearl harbor day. plus, the new numbers out this morning. the latest math and science scores from american students. [ superhero ] is he coming today? [ alien head 1 ] he had a fever last night. [ alien head 2 ] yeah! [ robotasaurus ] well, his mom gave him new triaminic fever reducer syrup. from the brand recommended by pediatricians. [ alien head 1 ] how do you know? [ alien head 2 ] yeah! [ robotasaurus ] the same way i know triaminic is a safe and effective way to help bring down a fever. i get wifi. [ alien head 1 ] cool! [ alien head 2 ] yeah! [ superhero ] can i check my email? [ robotasaurus ] no. [ female announcer ] introducing new triaminic fever reducer. with the #1 doctor recommended ingredient to help bring down children's fever. trust in triaminic.

for strong bones i take calcium. but my doctor told me that most calcium supplements... aren't absorbed properly unless taken with food. he recommended citracal. it's different -- it's calcium citrate soit can be absorbed ith or without food. citracal. [ female announcer ] letting go of your cigarettes can be hard. but the nicoderm cq patch gradually steps you down off of nicotine in just three steps doubling your chances for success. nicoderm cq. 3 steps, 10 weeks and you're free. [ female announcer ] imagine the possibilities with stelara®. for adults, stelara® helps control moderate or severe plaque psoriasis with 4 doses a year, after 2 starter doses. in a medical study, 7 out of 10 stelara® patients saw at least 75% clearer skin at 12 weeks. and 6 out of 10 patients had their plaque psoriasis rated as cleared or minimal at 12

weeks. stelara® may lower your ability to fight infections and increase your risk of infections. some serious infections require hospitalization. before starting stelara® your doctor should test for tuberculosis. stelara® may increase your risk of cancer. always tell your doctor if you have any sign of infection or have had cancer. alert your doctor of new or worsening problems including headaches, seizures, confusion and vision problems. these may be signs of a rare, potentially fatal brain condition. serious allergic reactions can occur. tell your doctor if you or anyone in your house needs or has recently received a vaccine. with 4 doses a year, after 2 starter doses it's stelara®. and now, a look ahead to the stories we'll be watching on this tuesday. millions of americans are bracing for the coldest day of the season so far. there will be more heavy snow in the midwest and northeast.

and the big, deep freeze is even threatening citrus crops all the way down in florida. wikileaks founder, julian assange, could turn himself into british police today later for questioning on sex crime allegations. assange has not been seen in public since early november. we find out today whether american students are keeping up with their international peers when it comes to math and science scores. veterans across the country are marking pearl harbor day. more than 120 pearl survivors are gathering in hawaii to remember the japanese attack that ushered the u.s. into world war ii. and oprah winfrey and 300 lucky audience members arrived in australia this morning. the trip, of course, is that big giveaway that started the season back in september. oprah will tape two shows at sydney's landmark opera house, which even australians have since nicknamed the oprah house. lucky folks. coming up later on "good morning america" today, danger in the kitchen. bakeware that suddenly explodes, sending glass and hot food all over. we'll be right back with more.

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i can't believe i used to swing over those rocks... took some foolish risks as a teenager. but i was still taking a foolish risk with my cholesterol. anyone with high cholesterol may be at increased risk of heart attack. diet and exercise weren't enough for me. i stopped kidding myself. i've been eating healthier exercising more... and now i'm also taking lipitor. if you've been kidding yourself about high cholesterol...stop. along with diet, lipitor has been shown to lower bad cholesterol 39% to 60%. lipitor is fda approved to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients who have heart disease or risk factors for heart disease. [ female announcer ] lipitor is not for everyone, including people with liver problems and women who are nursing, pregnant or may become pregnant. you need simple blood tests to check for liver problems. tell your doctor if you are taking other medications or if you have any muscle pain or weakness. this may be a sign of a rare but serious side effect. let's go, boy, go! whoo-whee! if you have high cholesterol, you may be at increased risk of heart attack and stroke. don't kid yourself. talk to your doctor about your risk and about lipitor.

glglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglglgl finally from us this morning, a new queen of talk in the middle of a war zone. >> a television host known as

the oprah of afghanistan is putting herself in the line of fire by taking on a series of controversial issues. she talked to our george stephanopoulos. ♪ those were the days we thought they'd never end ♪ >> reporter: mozhdah came back to afghanistan just last year, to shake things up even more. her hit song, "afghan girl," sheds light on the horrific act of men throwing acid on women they believe shamed them. a song so powerful, she was asked to perform it for president obama. mozhdah now hosts her own tv show, tackling issues rarely discussed in public. you want to take on the issue of child marriages, forced marriages, divorce? >> yes. divorce, that episode, actually, a lot of people, even my uncle, called me and said, i don't think it's a good idea for you to discuss divorce on, you know, television. i said, we have to. this is what i'm here for. >> reporter: she's called afghanistan's oprah.

>> it's actually a huge honor to be compared to oprah. i would never compare myself to her. but, you know, she's my idol. and i always put myself in a situation, like what would oprah do right now? >> reporter: what would you say to her if she were here right now? >> i would thank her. i would thank her for giving me the strength to do what i'm doing here. i'm a controversial figure here. >> reporter: so, you have round-the-clock security? >> i have security always. i have my own gun. >> reporter: you carry a gun? >> yes. i carry a gun. a licensed gun. >> reporter: is it worth it? >> if they allow me to continue my show, the way that i want, and to be able to actually teach families what i want them to know, then i think it's worth it. i have some regular families come to me that say, please don't stop what you're doing. you're really helping families. and my husband has stopped beating our kids because of your show. >> reporter: so, you're making a difference? >> yes. i think so. >> and you can see more from our special series about afghanistan, coming up later on "gma." that's what's making news in america this morning. have a great t