we're back in 25 minutes with an abc 7 news update. "good morning america" starts right n good morning, america. snow and ice blasting the south right now. >> watch out. >> this semi out of control in texas. hundreds of schools closed along the gulf coast and flights canceled. a freeze watch now stretching as far south as florida. and snow through washington, new york, boston and maine. the clock ticking as congress tries to strike a deal to keep the government running battling over d.r.e.a.m.ers and the president's offensive comments. plus, this morning, what we're learning about the president's health from his physical, the questions he had to answer. disturbing new details from inside that house of horrors where 13 children were held captive and doctors describing years of abuse.

were signs missed? now their aunt is here on "gma" this morning. insane close call. the terrifying moment this distracted driver heads right for these fishermen. ♪ i'm a fireball >> and this fireball tearing through the night sky seen across six states even causing an earthquake. ♪ and we do say good morning, america. can you imagine seeing that streaking across the sky and as you said it did cause an earthquake, a 2.0 magnitude earthquake in michigan. thankfully no reports of damage. >> spectacular sight. a little scary too and it is a slippery morning for so many. that powerful storm stretching all the way from the gulf coast to northeast. states of emergency as far south as georgia. >> take a look at the airport in atlanta, hundreds of flights canceled or delayed there and the roads in the northeast are already messy. abc's linzie janis is on the road in northern new jersey,

morristown, where i used to do training camp. good morning, linzie. >> reporter: that's right, good morning, michael. millions across the country battling treacherous road conditions this morning. states of emergencies declared in alabama, north carolina and georgia, and here in the northeast as you can see the storm bearing down making for a slippery and dangerous morning commute. this was the scene for travelers across the country tuesday. >> watch out! >> reporter: a semi sliding out of control before slamming into a light post. and near houston, one crash reported when another truck careens down the same embankment. from texas to maine, dangerous driving conditions wreaking havoc. freeways littered with accidents. over 400 crashes in houston alone. overnight, highways backed up for miles and entire interstates shut down as the south plunges into a deep freeze. >> it's terribly frustrating. i don't even really know where i

am at the moment. >> reporter: and in the north, ice-jammed rivers swamping roads even flooding entire neighborhoods. >> please stay off the roads. please stay off the roads. >> reporter: this morning, conditions for air travel no better. more than 1500 flights already canceled and thousands more delayed as this winter weather barrels through the mid-atlantic states. >> we're preparing now and we want to urge everyone to do the same. >> reporter: the impact on travel is just huge. atlanta's hartsfield airport at a near standstill. in alabama, every school closed across the state. dozen of schools closures and delays in new york and new jersey, it's all because of these road conditions. authorities just do not want you out on the roads unless you have to be. >> thank you. you be careful yourself. the snow and ice, they're creating trouble on the roads and, ginger, the bitter cold is

back and it's reaching all the way down to the deep south. >> michael, birmingham, alabama waking up in the single digits. coldest air in three years. subzero windchills and then this. you see where frozen precipitation was falling in houston for hours. these folks were stuck on interstate 59 for more than four hours. truck, cars, everybody stuck there. it's snowing from the panhandle of florida just north of panama city to one to two inches that fell around atlanta now east of them up through virginia and up through maine. look at this video. this is what's happening outside of new york. we have it from wabc here, the camera that shows those roads smothered in snow, from new hampshire and vermont back through florida this morning, michael. >> thank you, ginger, that ice down in houston, my mom's 77th birthday yesterday spent it in the house. didn't go anywhere. now to capitol hill where there's a showdown over president trump's offensive comment about immigrants and a possible government shutdown.

the deadline to reach the deal is friday and mary bruce is on capitol hill and, mary, what are the chances this isn't going to be resolved by then? >> reporter: with three days left until the government runs out of funding up here, the president's vulgar comments about immigrants from african countries have upended negotiations and raised the risk of a government shutdown. >> this has turned into an "s" show and we need to get back to being a great country. >> reporter: lawmakers this morning are scrambling to strike a deal to protect d.r.e.a.m.ers and get the president on board. >> so, mr. president, close this deal. >> reporter: but his profane comment in that immigration meeting last week is still sending aftershocks through capitol hill. >> the conversation was very impassioned. i don't dispute that the president was using tough language. >> reporter: quizzed on capitol hill tuesday, homeland security secretary kirstjen nielsen who was in the room when sources say the president used a vulgar slur to describe african countries and asked why the u.s. can't take in more immigrants from places like norway.

>> what was that strong language? >> let's see. strong language, there was -- apologies. i don't remember specific word. >> reporter: senator cory booker seething with frustration. >> your silence and your amnesia is complicity. >> reporter: the focus of that oval office showdown, a bipartisan plan to protect the nearly 800,000 undocumented immigrants brought to the u.s. as children. senators graham and durbin say the president seemed to be on board with their plan but then he changed his tune. >> what we need to do better is a reliable partner at the white house. >> reporter: now, democrats see this friday's deadline to pass a spending bill as their best chance to get something done to protect d.r.e.a.m.ers while republicans are now pushing for a short-term extension to give them another month to negotiate but it's not clear if they can get enough democrats on board with that plan. bottom line, george, this morning, a shutdown is still a real possibility. >> it is possible.

you got the democrats balking because they want daca and a threat from house conservatives. >> reporter: some house conservatives we talked to said they're not ready to commit to this short-term plan but republican leaders are still confident they can cobble together enough votes in the house to get this done. the real question then becomes what happens in the senate where they're going to need democratic support. that is still a big x factor. >> okay, mary, thanks. i want to bring in jon karl on this. jon, this is complicated by the president making escalating demands in the face of all this on his border wall. >> reporter: george, according to senator durbin in that now-famous meeting, the president demanded $20 billion this year to build the wall. this was an extraordinary. they only asked for 18 billion over ten years. clearly a nonstarter for the democrats. >> especially when you consider the president's promise that mexico was supposed to pay for the wall.

the big news at the white house yesterday extraordinary hour-long press conference from the president's doctor. >> reporter: we've never seen anything like it and the president got a clean bill of health from the white house doctor who said he is fit to serve both physically and mentally. a rare appearance by the president's personal doctor before the press. and perhaps the most extensive release of medical information on a president we've ever seen. >> all clinical data indicates that the president is currently very healthy and that he will remain so for the duration of his presidency. >> reporter: given all the questions surrounding the president's mental fitness, trump himself requested an extra test, not normally given to presidents, the montreal cognitive assessment. his doctor says he received a 30 out of 30 on this rapid test of cognitive function. >> there's no indication whatsoever that he has any cognitive issues and on a day-to-day basis it's been my experience the president is very sharp and, you know, he's very articulate when he speaks to me. >> reporter: dr. jackson has

been a white house doctor for more than a decade. previously serving presidents bush and obama. despite the glowing report, the doctor has two concerns about his patient, his diet, the president has a well-known penchant for mcdonald's and diet cokes. and his almost complete lack of exercise. >> i think i could lose a little weight. if i had one thing i'd like to lose weight. it's tough because of the way i live. >> reporter: at 6'3", 239 pounds, president trump is just short of obese on the bmi scale. dr. jackson would like to see him lose 10 to 15 pounds this year. >> we talked about diet and exercise a lot. he's more enthusiastic about the diet part than the exercise part but we'll do both. >> reporter: but despite getting just four to five hours of sleep a night, the president's doctor says his patient has good energy and stamina. can you explain to me how a guy who eats mcdonald's and kentucky fried chicken and never

exercises is in as good a shape he's in? >> it's called genetics. i don't know. some people have great genes. i told the president that if he had a healthier diet over the last 20 years he might live to be 200 years old. >> reporter: dr. jackson said there are only three prescription medications that the president takes regularly, he takes a statin to control his cholesterol, propecia to fight hair loss and another common drug to stop redness in the face. >> let's talk to our doctor, dr. jen ashton, it was an impressive performance. hour long in the briefing room. what stood out to you? >> so, he described the physical as age appropriate evidence based medicine individualized to the president and his unique job description. the main focus in the press conference was on the number one killer of men and women which is heart disease. the target for president trump, obviously his weight. he is slightly elevated cholesterol. based on his body mass index which is not the perfect

>> doesn't really measure muscle. >> he is borderline obese and needs to lose about 10 to 15 pounds and needs to start exercising. >> clearly the president's abstinence from smoking and alcohol helped. a lot of attention on this cognitive test. >> in a physical exam, we assess psychiatric and neurologic by observation. some of that is done by inquiry. he underwent this cognitive test which some questions are here and ask can you identify the lion. can you retrace the cube and this tests memory, attention, calculation and he did well. >> jen ashton, thanks very much. >> we'll have you back later to talk about natural flu remedies. >> exactly. all right. but now to the latest on the russia investigation. the president's former chief strategist steve bannon facing two new subpoenas after spending ten hours on the hot seat on tuesday. angering lawmakers by refusing to answer many of their questions. our senior justice correspondent pierre thomas has more there in washington for us. good morning, pierre. >> reporter: robin, good morning.

the stakes are rising for bannon as he's now called to testify before the special counsel's grand jury investigating russia. if he does he would likely be the senior most white house official to do so. bannon could be before the grand jury within days. sources suggesting that the special counsel's interest was ignited because of that book "fire and fury" in which bannon raises questions about the trump tower meeting with the russians and questions about the financial dealings of the president's son, don junior, son-in-law jared kushner and former campaign chair paul manafort. a source familiar with the case telling abc news that bannon will cooperate with the special counsel and answer questions with no restrictions from the white house. but for bannon as far as congressional investigators, not so fast. last night bannon left capitol hill after more than ten hours of testifying before the house intelligence committee, apparently raising the specter of executive privilege and refusing to answer many questions. >> the scope of this assertion of privilege, if that's what it

is, is breathtaking. this was effectively a gag order by the white house. >> reporter: but the white house had concerns about the scope of the committee's questions and wanted them to be better defined. >> no one has encouraged him to be anything but transparent but there is a process of what that looks like. >> reporter: bannon's attorney william burke said in a statement to abc news last night executive privilege belongs to the president of the united states. it's not mr. bannon's right to waive it. robin, expect a fight. the committee issued two subpoenas to force bannon to testify and provide documents. >> there will be a fight. all right. pierre, thank you. michael. >> thank you, robin. now the very latest on the nationwide flu epidemic. an entire school district in texas closing for a week because of an outbreak and the cdc holding that urgent meeting. abc's adrienne bankert has the latest. >> reporter: this morning, a connecticut family mourns their 10-year-old son. >> nico was a very lively, vibrant spirited kid.

>> reporter: nico was looking forward to his youth hockey tournament in buffalo and he suffered flu-like symptoms before he stepped on the ice so his mom took him to a local hospital where he tested positive for the flu and received fluids, was told to rest and discharged back into the family's care. the family decided to head back to connecticut but on the drive home his condition deteriorated. he was rushed to a different hospital and later died from what health officials believe is the flu complicated by pneumonia and sepsis where his body was shutting down. his 12-year-old brother now also hospitalized with the same strain. >> usually we see influenza may be starting in one part of the country and then moving across the country. but right now influenza is everywhere. >> reporter: in california, health officials say 42 people under the age of 65 have died from flu-related complications. 40-year-old marathon runner and mother of three katie oxley thomas died just 15 hours after

being admitted to an e.r. in san jose with flu symptoms. hospitals overwhelmed without enough room some setting up e.r. tents in parking lots to triage the flood of patients. >> this seems to be the worst flu season in at least 10 to 15 years and we're seeing a lot more patients for flu and the patients we're seeing a lot sicker than usual. >> reporter: the situation is so dire the cdc postponed a briefing scheduled for nuclear detonation to instead give an update on the response to the severe influenza outbreak. as far as nico and his family unimaginable, this active little boy gets sick on thursday, died by the end of the weekend. >> so heartbreaking for that family. >> thank you, michael. now to that emotional testimony in the gymnastics abuse case, dozens of victims confronted team usa doctor larry nassar with tears and anger about his crimes. abc's linsey davis has the story. >> reporter: trembling and tearful. >> and i have experienced flashback nightmares of the abuse. >> reporter: on tuesday 28 women

stared down their monster, larry nassar, the former usa gymnastics team doctor given another title on tuesday by one of his victims who called him quite possibly the greatest sexual predator of all time. >> without my knowledge or concept i had engaged in my first sexual experience by kindergarten. >> reporter: kyle stephens was a family friend and later baby-sitter for nassar and his family. >> you used my body for six years for your own sexual gratification. that is unforgivable. >> reporter: just on monday, one of the biggest names in usa gymnastics, simone biles, said she too was abused by the former team doctor. more than 140 women have accused nassar of sexual abuse including gymnastics' brightest star, gabby douglas, mckayla maroney and aly raisman who says the blame isn't just on nassar. >> it's not something that any of us are excited and happy to share about. it's not something you want to think about. but usa gymnastics is ignoring us. >> reporter: at times nassar wiped away his own tears as he

listened to victim after victim detail his years of sexual abuse and their subsequent loss of childhood. >> little girls don't stay little forever. they grow into strong women who return to destroy your world. >> mckayla maroney received over a million dollars in a settlement from usa gymnastics and signed a nondisclosure agreement which includes a $100,000 fine for talking publicly about her molestation by nassar i rshgsnassar, but lat usa gymnastics released a statement saying they will not seek any money from maroney if she decides to speak out about her victimization. >> how could they enforce that? >> he could not. >> there are many that were going to step up and pay that. >> pay the $100,000 fine, right. a moment of joy in puerto rico. they need it still recovering from hurricane maria. take a look at this. this is the lights finally coming back on finally electricity at this school. the academy in san juan, 112 days they waited for this

moment. and they are ecstatic to -- >> so happy to be in school. >> i know. we have to keep in mind 40% of the island is still without power. >> wow. >> those kids are back in school and they're happy there, ginger. >> i would be so ecstatic as well. so, guys, i have to almost shake the camera to tell you how far south this cold is this morning. windchill in new orleans is 6 and look how deep it gets by tomorrow morning. ft. myers and a windchill advisory will feel subfreezing. your local weather in 30 seconds.

good morning i'm abc 7 news meteorologist mike nicco foggy this morning mostly hazy this afternoon. a stronger storm arrives sunday. most in the 69 to 61 degree. tonight a little warmer this morning, upper 40s to low 50s. rain moving into the north bay. a weather across the coming up, we talk to the aunt of those children rescued from that house of horror, plus, what the doctor who is treating them is saying. and ann curry is breaking her silence five years after leaving the anchor chair of "today." f "today." ♪ ♪

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zb good morning east bay let's get up and get going. this is abc 7 mornings. >> sue hall with a quick look at the traffic. >> mike nicco telling me that fog is thick in the walnut creek area. here we go here. if your travels take you to her cueless to the bay bridge toll plaza. and to the san mateo bridge, the commute in full affect for a 20 minute

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>> the fog is dangerous in concord down to a couple of hundred feet. that's going to be hanging around. look atwal nut creek. you have to be careful on the roads. mass transit dry and then on the bay foggy. 40, 47, and to 55 in san francisco. here is a look at my accuweather 7 day forecast. the steadier rain starts tomorrow through evening commute and then scattered showers for friday. do activities saturday it gets wet and windy sunday and the showers hang around monday and tus. >> teems to be the color of the week, mike. another update in about 30 minutes and always on the app and abc7news.com. join us from 4:30 to 7:00 we'll be there to guide you through your weather and traffic. and it continues with "good

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it seems you're pregnant mrs. grey. ♪ what are you waiting for rated r. welcome back to "gma." you're looking live at the roads in new jersey. a messy commute for millions this morning in the path that -- of that winter storm. it's spreading from the gulf coast to the northeast and take a live look at the airport in atlanta. hundreds of flights are canceled or delayed and schools are closed across the south as they face the snow and ice. yeah. >> a lot of the country in trouble. also right now, a former cia officer who's been living out of the country for years in hong kong has been charged with illegally retaining highly classified information including covert operations and names of overseas assets and safe houses likely in china, major security breach. the fbi was suspicious of him when they first interviewed him in 2013 but allowed him to leave the country.

and a lawsuit has been filed over this incident during the summer in oregon. a distracted driver accused of being on his cell phone. look at this. >> oh, man. >> thankfully they jumped overboard just in time, suffered only minor injuries. >> so lucky. we'll begin with new details about that house of horrors. police rescued those 13 children. their parents are now facing torture charges. our senior national correspondent matt gutman is in perris, california, with more. matt, you spoke exclusively with the doctors treating some of those children. >> reporter: robin, i'm told they were so shaken when they saw those seven adult children they actually wept. many were in their 20s but they looked so emaciated from years of abuse and malnourishment, the doctor said they looked like children and now we're learning that when police finally got into that foul, cluttered house, they found three of the siblings shackled to furniture. this morning, authorities are

crediting that 17-year-old girl with freeing her shackled siblings by going through the win deof this house of horrors. "the daily mail" showing the clutter inside the home. >> there were three individuals that were chained to some type of furniture inside the residence. there was a very foul smell inside the residence. it was extremely dirty. >> reporter: the brave teenager showing deputies photos of her emaciated siblings ranging in age from 2 to 29. in an exclusive interview the doctor who has been treating the adult siblings says years of malnourishment severely stunted their growth. >> when we first saw them everybody thought they were children. >> reporter: even the 29-year-old. >> the 29-year-old specifically. she has a body habitus of an underdeveloped 15-year-old. >> reporter: this morning their parents are in jail. facing multiple counts of torture and child endangerment. this is the moment david and louise turpin were led away from

what seemed that quaint southern california home in cuffs. louise turpin, police say, was quote, perplexed they had been taken in. local authorities also perplexed as to how the family lasted so long under these conditions. from photos it seems like a happy family. the kids often wearing identical clothes. in one photo they all wear shirts marked thing 1 through thing 13 and boys with bowl cut haircuts like their father. and this renewal vow er ceremonn las vegas. they posted online. >> they sang with me. they had fun. they seemed to be happy. all of them. >> reporter: david turpin trained as an engineer, worked at firms like lockheed martin, but bankruptcy filings so he struggled financially despite making $140,000 a year. at the family's former home in texas, the new homeowner says the turpins left the house a disaster. several neighbors of theirs in

california tell us they never even knew children lived at the house or only caught a glimpse of them at night. >> they've been outside before doing yardwork at 11:00 at night. >> at 11:00 at night, they were doing yardwork. >> yeah, like 10:30. 11:00 at night. >> reporter: elizabeth smart who spent nine months in captivity in utah in 2002 had one possible answer. >> it isn't just as easy as jumping in the car and driving away. your brain does not think that way. you go into a survival mode where you do whatever it takes to survive so you're thinking i've got to go back. i've got to survive. i have to do everything that i can to live another day. >> reporter: and survival, robin, is what those 13 siblings and their doctors are now focused on. they're going to go through a slow period of renourishment program that will take months. but healing those emotional scars, that's expected to take years, now, their parents are due back to court tomorrow. >> robin.

>> all right, matt, thank you very much. joining us now is the aunt of those children, louise turpin's sister elizabeth jane flores. elizabeth, thank you very much. i know this is a difficult time for everyone. it was so hard for all of us to hear about your nieces and nephews. what was it like when you first heard the news? >> well, i was shocked because my sister and i really haven't had a sister relationship for about 20 years, so, other than maybe like a call every once in a while and sometimes those calls were a year apart, so i was shocked. i was devastated just like much of the rest of the world. >> i know that you're thinking of the children. you lived for a time when you were in college with your sister and brother-in-law. they had children at that time. a few children at that time. what did you observe about their parenting? >> well, i only lived there for a few months, but i thought they were really strict but i didn't see any type of abuse, you know. >> i heard that you said that your brother-in-law at the time made you uncomfortable. >> yes.

>> how so? >> well, like, if i went to get in the shower he would come in there while i was in there and watch me and it was like a joke. he never touched me or anything, but -- >> did you say anything to anybody about his actions? >> no, i was young, i was scared. i was in texas where i knew nobody. i had no family. i was treated like one of the kids kind of so i had rules. >> i know probably looking back, but, you know -- >> now that i'm an adult and i look back, i see things that i didn't see then. >> sure. your parents, i know they attempted over the years to try and see their daughter and their grandchildren. what happened when they would actually fly out to try to see them? >> well, my father actually got a flight to go see them one time. i think it was actually in 2012, i'm not really positive but around that time.

and he was so hurt, and me and my dad were close so he called me and she told him to not come. he got the ticket. he was going to surprise her and he called her to tell her he was coming and she told him not to come. >> what so many people are trying to understand, your parents tried to contact them. you all were cut off from them. but why didn't you all -- somebody, i'm sure in family gatherings you must have talked about the situation and why didn't anybody think to reach out to the authorities just to check to see if everything was okay. >> well, when that happens for 20 years and it was before the kids even, you know, were there, you don't think it's abnormal. you just think that they were always funny and private before they had children anyway so you don't think about -- now, if it had been two years ago she cut us off you would think, wow,

something is not right but this has been going on before they even had children. i mean, even before they had children, they were real private and they didn't come around much. they did come around but not much. >> do you want to reach out to your sister now? >> i do. >> what do you want to say to her? >> i want her to know that she's still my blood and i love her. i don't agree with what she did and her actions has made the whole family suffer but i want her to know that i'm praying for her salvation. and that we do love her, but mainly i want to reach out to the kids and let them know that years we begged just like them we begged to see them. the whole family. i've asked for 20 years to be

able to skype them and i want them to know they do have family that they love whether they know us or not that love them. >> what about your niece that was brave enough to run out and call and get help? >> i'm so proud of her. what was so neat is if i did the calculation on my hand right, i think it was the one that was named after me that did that. >> elizabeth. >> we all want explanations just like everyone else, probably more so. i want them to know that when they feel alone and they feel like nobody cared and they felt like they had no family, that wasn't true. i don't know that louise and david told them that we have asked repeatedly, repeatedly to have them skype and so i wanted the kids to know that there are people that love them and there's family that love them

and i hope to be able to see the children. >> i hope so. >> that's my goal. >> all right, elizabeth, thank you very much for coming in and sharing with us. >> thanks. >> thank you very much. >> thank you, robin. coming up, that new interview with ann curry five years after being forced out of the anchor chair what is she saying about matt lauer. matt lauer?

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back now with ann curry breaking her silence about that painful split from the "today" show five years ago. she's telling her sides of the story, opening up about matt lauer in the new issue of "people" magazine. "nightline's" juju chang is here with the details. >> you know, a lot has happened since she left her perch at "today" where verbal sexual harassment was pervasive, she says. this morning, ann curry breaking her silence about her tearful departure from the "today" show more than five years ago. >> and for all of you who saw me as a groundbreaker, i'm sorry i couldn't carry the ball over the finish line but, man, i did try. >> reporter: the veteran journalist speaking to "people" telling the magazine it hurt like hell. it hurt so much, but i learned a lot about myself. >> i mean i want to be honest and that is that i mean it hurt a lot to feel that you weren't wanted anymore so i can't lie about that. >> reporter: curry says it wasn't easy learning how to cope with resentment. >> i do know from experience

that hanging on to anger weighs you down and it's very hard to rise with it unless you can channel it. >> if we're really trying to get al qaeda, why are we not in pakistan? >> reporter: the seven-time emmy winner left nbc three years after leaving her anchor chair besides matt lauer. >> i'm matt lauer. >> and i'm ann curry. >> reporter: curry also opening up about her former co-host fired from his longtime role last november following allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace with female colleagues. with some seeing his departure as a kind of vengeance for his former co-host, one tweeting, somewhere ann curry is feeling something called vindication right now. curry says that's not the case. i wish i could say i was celebrating but i immediately checked myself because i knew women had suffered. >> i feel outraged. i feel empathy for the victims

and now given that it's part of a broader movement across industries across this country i feel real hope that change is coming. for the first time in my life i actually have real hope that we will see a day when women will finally be unbound and unleashed upon the world. >> curry says she wasn't surprised by the allegations against matt lauer and since leaving she's launched her own production company returning to reporting with a new docu-series called "we'll meet again" for pbs and she says the last five years has made her not just stronger but smarter. >> she's not bitter at all. no. she's so strong. >> and the new issue of "people" hits newsstands on friday. coming up, ginger is breaking down that moment in the sky that stunned so many overnight. look at that fireball. we started designing pop-up cards in our basement. what's cool is, today, we have 400 people working across the

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back now on "gma." we saw that fireball and you'll explain it for us. >> it is a meteor. a space rock that enters the atmosphere and starts burning up because of all the compression of the gases and six states were able to see it. so this is a big one and it actually registered as a 2.0 earthquake on the usgs. that's what people thought, it was a thunder and lightning. >> does it happen often? >> no, not like that and not with all the video we get these days. >> good point, ginger. we'll be right back.

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back here on "gma," this is the cowboy downhill ski at steamboat springs. they tell me they're getting better every year despite everyone falling. it looks like a fun event. let's get to your sponsored by king's hawaiian your local news and weather coming up righ

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good morning south bay, let's get up and get going. this is abc 7 mornings. >> good morning it is 756. meteorologist mike nicco has a look at your day. it is gray. >> too much fog. look at the visibility it is about zero. and it's going to be that way through 10:00 we have brakers possibly 4 feet. dry today, cool and mild. temperatures about 69 to 53 degrees. proof of the fog. >> this is one walnut cleek supposed to be 680 there is traffic out there you can't see it and it is dangerous on the roads. meter made lights remain on. a couple of earlier problems near hill top and the road.

the reason why. >> thank you, another abc 7 news update in about 30 minutes and on the news app and abc7news.com. join us from 4:30 to

good morning, america. it's 8:00 a.m. that powerful winter blast stretching more than a thousand miles. millions in the storm zone right now. hundreds of schools closed, flights canceled. a freeze watch all the way to florida and snow from maine to washington. as commuters hit those slick snowy roads in whiteout conditions or braving black ice we have the "gma" car cam out to show you how to drive safely. stop slipping and what to do if you're starting to spin out. parenting alert. the spike in virtual kidnapping scams right now. frightening phone calls right to your cell phone. how to protect yourself and your kids. new this morning, could high-fat diets be turbocharging the spread of prostate cancer?

one of the most common cancers in american men. have researchers found a missing link? ♪ catherine zeta-jones and ricky martin both here live and he's saying -- >> good morning, america. [ cheers and applause ] yes. and good morning, america. welcome back on a sloppy wednesday morning here in new york. we saw the rain on the camera. >> but it's hump day. >> yes, it is. >> and you know sometimes it's kind of hard to get going, stay awake. maybe you feel like this. a member of british parliament. >> oh, boy. >> they were talking about brexit, okay. it happens. he blames it on his early morning swim. >> or maybe a long lunch. >> that's not falling asleep. that's being knocked out. >> that's true. >> he was out of it. you're agreeing a little too much over there, eddie. but we'll start this hour with the latest on that

powerful storm that is spanning the east coast and, ginger, you're back with the latest. what's going on? >> my goodness. one to three inches falling around atlanta. that is stopping up traffic this is fulton county, georgia. that tractor trailer separated from the truck and look at that. orange county, new york. you know the snow is stretching all the way up to the east coast and making roads just a disaster for a lot of folks. doesn't take a lot of snow. south or north to get people slipping and sliding. you can see some of the panama city up through parts of virginia and into the mid-atlantic and northeast all dealing with that front this morning, but really want to you focus on how long it's going to snow in places like raleigh, north carolina. through the day and lunch hour and evening commute even as the northeast starts to clear out there's enough moisture with this coastal low that will wrap back in and keep south and north carolina in the snow. and then, guys, it's cold. i'm telling you this morning, yes, the windchill -- look at that. houston, 7 is the feels like. little rock, 3 below. doesn't stop. tomorrow morning, ft. myers, subfreezing. uh-huh. >> oh, taking my family down

south. we have friends from bermuda. can you take us back when you go back? what's the temperature there, about 60. >> about 63. >> stop rubbing it in. stop rubbing it in. >> that hurts. okay, we'll move on to new details about those 13 siblings who were rescued from captivity. their parents are now facing torture charges. let's go back to matt gutman who's there in perris, california. he has the latest. good morning, matt. >> reporter: good morning, robin. those adult siblings are being treated at this hospital for severe malnutrition. doctors told me that years of abuse stunted their physical and cognitive development. and earlier this morning on "gma" you interviewed the sister of louise turpin, the mother of

those 13 siblings. who reached out to the children. >> i want to reach out to the kids. i want them to know years we begged to skype them. i don't agree with what she did and her actions have made the whole with family suffer. i wanted her to know that i'm praying for her salvation. >> reporter: we're learning many of the family haven't heard or seen them for years. now, the doctors at this hospital say that we know what healthy children look like. so, if you see a child that is mall nowished, alert the authorities. >> of course. all right, matt. a new report links prostate cancer to obesity and projects more than 164,000 cases will be diagnosed this year. jen ashton is back to talk about this new research.

>> really interesting science here. this came out of boston, beth israel deaconess cancer center looking at, is there a link between dietary fat intake and prostate cancer particularly the more aggressive types of prostate cancer that metastasize and then kill people. so right now it's only done in the lab in animals. it needs clinical trials but the interesting thing here is, if there is, in fact, a link, could an anti-obesity drug that blocks fat production actually be used in the arsenal in the fight against prostate cancer so a lot of questions. >> double duty. >> exactly. how does a high sugar diet impact prostate cancer and the spread of the tumor. any time we can do a deeper dive on nutritional science, dietary practices and cancer that's exciting science in my opinion. >> thanks for coming back. >> you bet. >> you'll be back again. we're getting our money's worth. >> flu-apalooza. coming up, a parenting alert about a kidnapping hoax, phone calls terrifying families. what you should not do and say

if it happens to you. plus, from whiteouts to black ice, we're getting behind the wheel to show you how you can handle some dicey driving conditions when it comes to this weather. and lara is upstairs. >> i am. hello, michael. so today we have a big happy birthday ahead for a woman we all know and love. she is an american icon and she's golden. we'll tell you about that coming up and by the way, what an audience we have. come on up. "good morning america" is coming back. "gma's morning menu" is brought to you by splenda naturals, the best tasting stevia. st tasting stevia.

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[ cheers and applause ]

fired up and ready. our team is alive. welcome back here on "gma." this wednesday, hump day morning, great to have this wonderful audience with us on a chilly morning. and as always great to have a little "pop news." i love what you're doing -- is that a necklace? >> yeah, i'm trying to class up the joint. >> you're always classy. keep it classy. >> i'll try, robin. this is easy today. very, very happy birthday for a very golden girl, betty white, everybody. turns 96 years young today. beautiful betty has spent 75 years in the biz as we say. she credits her longevity to her love of pets, hot dogs and vodka. my kind of gal. that's right. she tells "parade" magazine, i know it sounds corny but i try

to see the funny side, the upside, not the down side. i get bored with people who complain about this or that. such a waste of time. we couldn't agree more, betty. betty does say she has one more big item on her bucket list. she still hasn't met her crush, robert redford, are you listening? i think that we should make that happen right here on "gma." >> skype. >> there we go. >> done. >> so, everybody, happy birthday, betty white. [ applause ] she's the best. >> she is. >> can we make that happen, that love connection? and more congratulations this time for the west family, kim kardashian and kanye west have just welcomed their third child into the world. the couple thanked their surrogate for carrying their baby girl. there it is. she's here. no pictures, no details on the name. we do know that 4-year-old north and 2-year-old saint are said to be very excited about having a little sister. congratulations are in order there, as well.

>> yes. [ applause ] this is funny. i don't know if you saw this, george. senator orrin hatch going viral during the contentious hearings about -- go on. there you go about immigration on capitol hill and here's why. watch this as he tries to remove his glasses except, oops, senator hatch, you're not wearing glasses. his staff teased him tweeting, oh, you mean his invisible glasses from warby parker? they're new. you've probably never heard of them. so i'm glad he can laugh over that. that was for you, george. >> where are they? >> are you actually wearing them? >> i do admit, it's happened. many believe that a type a personality that they have the best chance of success in life but a new book is arguing that the world has changed, and it's actually type r people who will flourish the most and feel most satisfied with their hard work. "r" standing for resiliency,

able to turn a less than ideal situation into a constructive or positive opportunity. mother/daughter co-authors, ama and stephanie marsden write that people who accept or welcome change, failure, disruption emerge in better shape than they were before, so if life throws you guys a curveball those that come on top, see the challenge as a chance to get smarter, stronger and something that could eventually be more personally gratifying. cheers to type rs. >> that's a great pep talk this morning. [ applause ] >> who is a type r? >> my name is robin renee roberts. i got triple rs. >> you certainly are a type r. i love that. >> cheers to you, by the way, that was a great "pop news." [ applause ] >> i do love the bowtie. >> thank you. we're going to turn now to our "gma" cover story. it's a parenting alert about a scam called virtual kidnapping

and, amy, you've been tracking all of this, right? >> that's right. and this scam is on the rise. even prompting the fbi to issue a new warning about how you can protect your family. one couple understandably panicking when scam artists called telling them they had kidnapped their son demanding money and they got it all on camera. take a look. >> you know what, you try to [ bleep ] me, i am going to kill your son, okay. i'm not [ bleep ] around. all right. >> reporter: those are the bone chilling words heard by one family. >> as long as you cooperate with my cartel, i promise you that your son is going to be fine. >> reporter: a caller claiming to be part of a mexican cartel said he had the couple's young son and would kill him unless they immediately paid an $800 ransom. >> now, listen, okay, i need you to get to a [ bleep ] western union or a moneygram and stop wasting time. >> reporter: but it was all a hoax. the boy safely at school. the family who asked not to be identified spoke exclusively to abc affiliate kesq. >> they looked up something where they were able to get my

husband's name, my name, our child's name, what city we were in. they knew phone numbers. somehow some way i have no idea how they got it. >> reporter: it's called virtual kidnapping, an extortion scam where victims are tricked into paying ransom to free a loved one they believe will be harmed or killed when, in fact that, person is safe. >> i'm not going to be calling you back, okay. i'm not going to risk myself of getting caught by the police. >> oh, i just don't want to you hurt my son, man. >> reporter: it's becoming all too common. >> get in your vehicle. >> no, i'm scared. i don't know you. you're threatening me. >> reporter: haty montoya recorded part of this from so-called kidnappers threatening to kill her brother if she didn't pay. and just last year, an anonymous caller demanded $3,000 from this north carolina mother who asked us not to reveal her identity for the return of her kidnapped daughter. >> they told me that they had abducted her. he said if you put the phone down we'll just shoot her. >> reporter: in every single case it was a hoax.

joining us now is evy poumpouras. we hear those. bone-chilling calls. worst nightmare. if you get a call like this what is the best way. >> first, don't panic because that's what they want you to do. so you can't think clearly. put your phone on speaker. so that other people around can hear. then track down your loved one immediately. find out where they are and call 911. >> all right, but how can parents take steps on social media because obviously these people have been targeted and perhaps we're all guilty of putting out too much information. >> yes, you have to be very, very thoughtful about what you put out there when you post your kids, what are you sharing? are you sharing their names where they go to school. whether they like sports. i know you guys like to share as well. it's something you really want to think about because you may post one picture and say, oh, i just shared this small piece of information. they build a profile on you so they go through everything and then they build this profile in they're following you for some period of time before they do this. >> they use details against you

and you start to think, wow, this could be true. >> wow. all right. so, a lot of apps ask you to link your phone number. i mean, it seems like everywhere you go they want your phone number and they want your information. i'm guessing you're saying don't give anything. >> just say no. you know, just say no. it's okay to say no, i don't want to share it. no, i don't want to download this app and think about all these apps you don't know what the security features are, you don't know how they work so be thoughtful again what you download. everything just use discretion. >> and yet, still i get phone calls, i mean my phone number still gets out there somehow, some way. >> there's no way to make this, you know, just to remove yourself completely but it's really think about when the calls come in and what you're sharing with people. if it doesn't feel right hang up. >> i have a question, how pervasive is this? i see this story and think it seems so rare and yet, it's happening more and more and more. how pervasive is this problem? >> it's been around for two decades. >> really? >> yes, they've been targeting those specific group of people

and now it's actually just expanding and what they're hoping, it's kind of like throwing spaghetti on the wall. somebody will pay. you hit 100 people maybe 2 or 3 pay. some fall prey and then they're embarrassed to go to law enforcement and tell them they did this. >> bottom line is, don't share what you don't need to share. >> exactly. >> all right, evy, thank you so much. good advice there. now good advice about winter weather driving. our senior transportation correspondent david kerley behind the wheel with some tips for icy conditions across so much of the country right now, he joins us from michigan. hey, david. >> reporter: good morning, george, we're going to get behind the wheel. but these are the conditions a lot of drivers are facing but this is man-made. i'm actually in a wind tunnel in michigan. i don't know if you can see it, but this is a ford vehicle. the snow being controlled by a control room. this is where they test the vehicles to make sure you stay safe. this morning, like every day since christmas commuters somewhere in the country are dealing with slick, snowy roads.

>> here we go. >> that's a truck too. >> bang. >> reporter: in places that don't often see these conditions including tennessee. >> it's just purely traction. i mean it's just like a skating rink out there. >> reporter: automakers are trying to help, adding special driving modes to make it through winter driving. on ice, chevy showed us on their test track electronic stability control. a computer telling each wheel whether to brake to get the vehicle straight again. slick hills can be challenging. we've seen many vehicles sliding uncontrolled. several automakers now have a driver assist system like we saw in this ford vehicle to get up those hills. you need to make sure those systems are turned on in winter conditions. if you have an older car without those systems, remember these tips. on ice and you start to slide, whoa, that thing just took off, you want to steer straight. get off the gas and brake slowly. >> when the back end starts to slide steer into the turn.

>> reporter: that's right. turn the direction of the spin to straighten out the vehicle so you can regain control. you know, the biggest and best advice here, george, is basically slow down. don't hit the gas really hard. don't crank the steering wheel really fast. don't hit the brakes dramatically. take it easy, be patient, george. >> we saw the wind tunnel you're in creating those whiteout conditions. what's the best advice when that happens? >> yeah. well, once again, it's slow down. you want to be a little bit slower, increase the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. if it's night or even in whiteout keep your headlights on low beam. don't put them on high beam and if you can, if you can find an exit get off the road. that's the best advice, george. really be patient. slow down. >> got to be. david kerley, thanks very much. let's go over to ginger. >> yes, it's time for your "gma" moment. i got to tell you, this morning,

houston's hoby airport dropped to its coldest temperature in 29 years. they dealt with freezing precipitation all day yesterday and this is what kinley from porter, texas, decided to do. jump around on the trampoline, yeah, having a good time. she's loving it saying we don't get this down here near houston. oh, no, but then she gets a friend. >> oh, my goodness. >> and the dog jumps on. >> yeah. jumps on and has a great time too. just slipping and sliding. that's the way to do the snow day so hopefully you enjoy good morning i'm abc 7 news meteorologist mike nicco foggy this morning mostly hazy this afternoon. a stronger storm arrives sunday. most in the 69 to 61 degree. tonight a little warmer this morning, upper 40s to low 50s. rain moving into the north bay. a weather across the

don't get doctor jen started on trampolines. that's all i'm going to say. more now though on how to fight the flu. for the first time the entire continental u.s. is seeing widespread activity all at once and flu season as we know is far from over. we have, what, still up to 13 weeks to go and so, jen, you're back to talk to us about these complementary natural remedies. >> that's right. so let me set the stage for you. to be very clear, there is not yet peer review evidence based medicine that supports the use of alternative or complementary therapies in the battle against the flu and so, according to the cdc, the best protection is still the flu vaccine even though it's relatively low efficacy and medications like antivirals and i want to be very, very clear that while a lot of people have a real interest in these, and i do think that it deserves a lot more rigorous science especially

with children, pregnant women, this is not recommended without the consult and advice of your health care provider. >> okay, so, it has been noted so we're going to start -- oregano. >> can you smell that? oregano oil known as p73, the volatile oil in there and active ingredient is something called carvicrol and there's some evidence that it has anti-bacterial effect. use a couple of drops on water, put it on a spoon, put it under your tongue, swish and swallow. the dose is unclear. we have to preface that really with a lot of these and we're not really -- >> sorry. >> really opens up the sinuses. doesn't it? >> too many drops. >> and we're not sure obviously yet good data on toxicity but this has been really studied pretty aggressively and there's some promising work done in the lab. next -- >> i have heard of this. >> really? >> this is actually being studied for its antiviral

properties so far shown to be pretty active against rsv and parainfluenza. research is ongoing to see if it works against the regular influenza. a couple of caplets and follow the label and then the last thing is elderberry extract. or syrup. >> what? >> this i'm most excited about because this actually is thought to promote antiviral activity that helps it attach to a respiratory and mucosal cells so again, there's rigorous science behind these. not yet peer review and evidence-based but i find it interesting. >> that's your bottom line. >> listen, the bottom line is that with any of these you have to remember risk/benefit options. it definitely needs more rigorous study and i want to be very, very clear we've heard the flu causes severe illness and death. i would recommend these in addition to conventional treatments, not in lieu of. that is not recommended. >> and still it's not too late to get the shot. >> get your flu vaccine. it's available.

>> all right, jen. we worked you out today. >> thank you. i'm so lucky. >> no co-pay. send us your flu questions on facebook and twitter. ricky martin is here live when we come back. [ applause ] tomorrow amazing deals and steals up to 55% off. you want to look good, feel great, save big. you just can't miss "gma" tomorrow.

good morning north bay. this is abc 7 mornings. >> and good morning i'm jessica castro let's check in with sue hall with a quick look at the traffic. >> in the upper deck of the bay bridge. right now trains on time. cal train on time. a train running 15 minutes late coming into fremont and 7 is on time. take a look at the fog on the map represented by the orange and slow traffic around the bay area coming out of the central valley and the shore and oakland and hayward. >> meteorologist

♪ ♪ there are two types of people in the world. those who fear the future... and those who embrace it. the future is for the unafraid. ♪ all because of you ♪ ♪

now you're accuweather forecast with mike nicco. >> look at the incredible of visibility around concord. this is not going anywhere any time soon. as you can see from walnut creek. caution out there until 10:00. foggy. get ready for rain, tomorrow and sunday monday and tuesday. >> jess. >> you can't see anything out there, mike. we have another update in about 30 minutes and always on our

news app abc7news.com join us ♪ life is a highway i want to ride it all night long ♪ welcome back to "gma." a great hump day audience we have here this wednesday morning. and give yourself a round of applause. it's okay. and we've got some stories to share with you guys and they popped in the newsfeed so we like to pull them out and share them with you and i'm going to get to the first one a new study that found if you pass your driver's test but then you don't drive for several years which probably happens to a lot of new yorkers you're more likely to be a bad driver. >> that makes sense. >> who is surprised about i that? >> use it or lose it. >> another study found more than travel of those surveyed said think knew somebody who should be required to retake their road test. >> that was my wife calling

about me. >> your wife thinks you need to retake it. >> she's tough on my driving. >> a quarter agreed we should have to renew our licenses at least once a decade. >> i think that's a good idea. >> that's a good idea? i agree with you. who thinks they could pass a road test if they had to take it again? who thinks they could pass it again. >> oh, yeah, you think your raising your hand. i have got some signs for you, people. we're going to put you to the test and i'm looking straight at you because you raised your hand with such confidence. i'll hold up a seen and shout out what it means ready. bam. what does that mean. >> stop. >> stop what? >> stop to the right. >> stop ahead. stop ahead. you got that right. you raised your hand the quickest and you didn't get that one. okay, here we go. here we go. what's this one? bam. >> no u-turn. >> now you got it. that's a good one. that was pretty easy. hmm. >> slippery when wet. >> you just know that because of

the bon jovi album. there you go. >> robin. >> i'm not looking. >> the thing is george hasn't answered one. come on, george. >> what is that? what does that mean. >> workers. >> flag guy ahead. >> flagger ahead. >> i thought it meant construction ahead. still slow down, it doesn't matter. and the last but not least -- >> i'm not -- >> narrow -- >> there you go. >> nice. >> you know what, i'll ride with you any day, ma'am. that was good. [ applause ] there you have it. >> i was not cheating. i won the driver's ed award in tenth grade. >> of course, you did. >> and on top of it you -- you were -- >> you weren't cheating? >> because she kept thinking i was cheating. i'm very proud of my driver's test. >> and you were a bus driver.

>> all right. shall we bring out -- >> let's bring him out. let's bring him out. [ cheers and applause ] exciting guest to bring to the table. a pop megastar, one of the best-selling singles of all time you know we're living -- >> la vida loca. >> do it, do it. he's taking on a big role in the asat nation of gianni versace. please welcome ricky martin. [ applause ] ♪ we will wear you out living la vida loca ♪ >> good to see you, my friend. thank you. [ applause ] >> good morning, everyone. >> welcome back. [ cheers and applause ] i love this. i love this.

they love this. >> you come out and you see -- you're so humble like the reaction, you're loved, man. >> thank you. thank you very much. >> simply adored. >> can we say congratulations you're married man. >> all right. all right. >> okay. >> i have the ring. but where's my wedding? i want my wedding. big wedding celebration. >> you did it small. >> that's next. no, we just signed all the papers and everything and we're fine and it's beautiful so in love. and then but now i want a big party so hopefully by the end of summer we'll do something. i'll let you know. >> in your beloved miami. >> i'm from puerto rico. >> i know but you live in miami. >> i live in los angeles now. i lived in miami for many year sfs yeah, that's what i thought. >> when i met i said where are we going, l.a. we landed in l.a. the kids are happy in l.a. so we're happy there. >> you have twins. >> and you want more twins. >> yeah, i mean, i come from a big family and i would love to

have a big family but now we're two to make that decision. >> your twins, do they understand how big of a star dad is? do they enjoy your music? are they living la vida loca? >> biggest critics and i've said this on many occasions, hey, right, papi, i love what you did tonight but last night was better. >> oh. >> they're very diplomatic. they're very beautiful and very special. >> you say you lived in miami and you actually lived there during the time of the versace murder. >> that's right. >> what was it like. >> i was in europe when that happened. i was invited to that house many times for many different events. i never went. it's one of those things, i also had campaign with georgio armani so i guess i was not allowed to. competition but i think that for me to shoot at the italian villa in miami beach where everything happened was the most important

thing for me as an actor to be able to feel that energy, the first scene i shot was when i actually find the body right at the stairs where it actually happened. it was very beautiful. -- >> you play his partner. >> okay, i am playing antonio which was gianni's husband for 15 years. it is such a pleasure to work with pe nelly cruz. edgar ramirez who was here yesterday. darren criss, ryan murphy if i, ryan murphy if i directed the first episode and it's been nothing but a blessing. i started working as an actor when i was 15 years old. first tv series was in argentina. and then i did mexico and i did theater and, of course, i came here to broadway and for me to have this opportunity once again has been amazing. very dramatic. very powerful series. you must watch. it's glamorous. it's sexy. did i say sexy because it is

sexy. >> and creepy, darren criss -- >> did you see that. >> andrew cunanan. i saw the first episode. >> you've seen nothing yet. >> oh, wow. >> you know, you know ryan murphy if i. no, this is true. everything that you see is events that happened leading to the unfortunate, you know crime of gianni versace. >> we hear because we've had your wonderful cast what a tight crew and we hear that there was a little bit of socializing after shoot days that -- >> at home. >> it was a little bit of living la vida loca. >> yeah, well, just to stay in character we -- we would bring it home. yes, uninvited -- i would invite them to barbecues and -- >> karaoke. >> karaoke and that was darren, he goes everywhere with his guitar and now we want him in every party. so -- >> since you all did ckaraoke, anybody impress you. >> darren is insane.

darren, he's very talented. >> from "glee." >> very, very talented and he -- did a good rendition of "living la vida loca." you know what, i'll take it to the unplugged version one day and we'll do something cool. >> before you go, thank you for what you have done for your home in puerto rico. you and many others. [ applause ] >> and there's so much -- much more to be done. thank you. we're building homes. i must talk about this. unfortunately still half of the island has no power and i'm building homes. i want to make sure that kids have a place to go and that's why we're doing an alliance with habitat for humanity and thanks to the money you've all donated between $5 here, $10 there, you've done so much for my island. thank you so much, everyone. thank you. [ applause ] thank you. >> appreciate that. good man. and the assassination of gianni

versace premieres tonight on fx. check out ricky martin. coming up catherine zeta-jones, oscar winner, is here.

welcome back to "good morning america." there is less than a week left in our warm coats and warm hearts coat drive partnering with burlington.

camila cabello donated a coat and you can too. you have time. just bring your gently used coats to your local burlington store to help someone keep warm. it is plenty cold out there in so many places. go to our website to learn more about how good morning, i'm meteorologist mike nicco a lot of thick fog out there and dangerously low visibility through 9:00 and mostly cloudy and hassy. you got to love a wednesday morning. you see ricky martin going out, catherine zeta-jones walking in. >> i know, exactly. >> ginger, it is a big, big morning here and i'm excited. our next guest, oscar own tony award winning actress starring as a ruthless drug lord in the new lifetime movie, "cocaine godmother: the griselda blanco story," please welcome catherine zeta-jones.

[ applause ] >> good morning. >> good morning. >> welcome, welcome. >> thank you. >> i'm so glad you made it. i've been fascinated with this story. griselda blanco. >> fascinateing. >> really quite terrifying. you say you always wanted to play this. >> it's been nearly four years that i've been wanting to get to kind of get under her skin. i mean you wonder why because morally i am so like the polar opposite of anything and everything that this woman was, did, believed in, life, but as an actor, it's just one of those jobs that you go -- to the point of like i was obsessed with her. but an amazing woman, giving a back story in the '70s in miami when the drug -- the drug cartels first started to come in, you know, it was dominated by men, obviously bad guys, dangerous world, a very dark world. but griselda was the queenpin, the one running the show and when i saw this documentary

"cocaine cowboys" i went all these guys are talking about this woman and revering her, fearing her, who is this woman that all these guys are like, you know, holding up so highly in their estimation but literally got the chance to play a character that i've been wanting to play forever. it was the best four-week shoot of my life. >> four weeks. >> four weeks. it was crazy. >> in the movie she named her son michael corleone. did she -- ? true. >> is that actually true. >> yeah, well, she named her dog hitler but we don't even go there but that gives you a sense that the sociopathic kind of weird -- >> she dove into evil on this one. >> i did. you know what, i kind of enjoyed it. so, no, i think i've had this kind of exorcism of that which now it's coming out on saturday on lifetime. i feel bizarrely sad that i'm letting it go but she needs to be gone. >> well, you need to see a

little bit of her. let's take a look. >> what i need, what i require is someone who knows exactly what to do before i even say it. >> and what you need is me. >> good. make him disappear. >> oops. >> ooh. whoa. ruthless. >> sounds like he didn't have a choice on that one. >> i mean a lot of people didn't have a choice, you know, when you were good to griselda she was good to you but if you were bad, she was horrid but as you can imagine, just to have all those melty layers and people say, oh, you tripped down, stripped away from -- okay, she's not really about whether she has mascara on or not but it was so liberating for me and been waiting to get my teeth into something like this for awhile? we can't wait to see it. we hear your husband had advice

to play the role. >> well, first of all i never give him unsolicited advice because only on the golf course. >> yeah. >> only on the golf course and he should take it but he doesn't. anyway, so i never read his -- we go off and do our thing. we don't bring it home. but as i was leaving for the airport we sought some in colombia and vancouver, he said let me give you a little something to think about. oh, okay. just remember you don't have to do a lot. >> i went, well, that's strange. this is a woman who you think is so colorful, he goes you don't have to do much at all. just that. why? he said because darling, you are at your most terrifying when you do absolutely nothing. >> that's pretty good. [ applause ] all right. >> wow. >> he knows you. >> 19 years. if i had known that i wouldn't

scream like a ban she every now and then i'd keep totally still and say, what do you think? anyway, so but i did take it. i did take that advice when it was a crazy shoot like the 16th hour and we were starting a new scene. what do i doey sometimes you get like i'll do something because you think you have to. no, you know what, i'm doing nothing. >> and it works. >> it helped me out. >> you did nothing in this but we're telling everybody at home to do something, get out and see it. it's called "cocaine godmother: the griselda blanco story" premiering saturday on lifetime. catherine zeta-jones, everybody, and coming up how to declutter your life from your car to your home. we'll be right back with more "gma." [ applause ] >> thank you so much, guys. than

woman: so, greg, it's a lot to take in. woman 2: and i know that's hard to hear, but the doctors caught it early. hi, blake! my dad has cancer. woman: and i know how hard that is to hear. but you're in the right place. man: and dr. pascal and her team, they know what to do. they know what to do. the doctors know what to do. so here's the plan. first off, we're going to give you all... (voice fading away) welcome back. so new year's resolutions are all about starting off on a clean slate at least. this morning "gma" is going to help you tay organized. organize your life, home

partnering with our sponsor splenda for our simply better you series and melissa garcia is with us again to help us declutter 2018. >> yes. >> this is -- imagine this is my car. it's like a dumping ground. >> yeah. >> doesn't that happen. you're on the move and throw things on the floor. how can we do better in our cars? >> so i totally agree and feel like it's an extension of your home. everything gets thrown in. here's great tips this. is a remote control holder. a pilot style seat like a lot of suvs do, put it on and kids can have all their activities and snacks to keep them busy. regular bucket style seats this can hang over your back and keeps everything organized. really fun. this is genius. you'll love this. so this is from a company called drop stop. on "shark tank" and what it does, it files the in between part of your seat in the front so you don't drop your key, don't drop your phone, i know i'm always shoving my hand.

>> a little pocket in it so if you wanted to do that it's cool. >> genius and universal. >> what's it call. >> by dropstop.com. >> of course, it's a "shark tank" thing. >> of course. >> genius. >> yep. >> so the seats and the trunk. >> throw it in the trunk. >> yes, so the trunk, again, you always hear everything rolling around. your groceries are going all over the place. i hi it pays to invest in one of these, trunk organizer from target under $35. and you make everything just so simple. everything stays in their place and doesn't roll around in your backseat. >> so thank you for that. easy breezy. your car looks better already in my head. >> all right. >> so audience member natalia, come on over here. we have a lot of audience members. >> yes. >> with questions. natalia, talk to me about your situation. >> so it's the new year. i want to lead a healthier and cleaner year but one of the things that i really can't get myself to do is keep my bathroom clean.

so any tips on how to declutter my bathroom. >> we have great tips. so like most of us we don't have a ton of space but here's great tips i actually use. we need affordable tips that are doable. these jars i picked up from ikea. 1.99 to 5.99 and use the essentials, your dental floss, cotton ball, whatever you're pulling for quickly. my daughter, i put hair ties and for easy, too, get cute glasses from your kitchen and pop all your brushes in. you can pop in makeup brushes or your toothbrushes. whatever may be -- >> that you don't use anymore. >> occupy easy. >> i would recommend using plastic just in case. >> yes, if you have younger kids i agree. you probably probably use practices tick. >> this is stuff you actually have in your house that can declutter your world which is why we love you. >> yes. >> we love you guys a lot too. we have some special information. we know that new year's resolutions can be hard, thank

you, natalia. do stay with us. we're glad we could help. thanks to our sponsor splenda we are offering the chance to win $5,000 to help you achieve your goals, your goodness. go to goodmorningamerica.com/sweep stages to enter today and splenda is so nice giving everyone in our audience a fitbit to keep your other resolutions. how good is that? you're organized. fit, healthy. we'll be right back. thank you. "gma's" simply a better you is brought to you by splenda naturals. the best tasting stevia.

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♪ life is a highway thank you for watching, everyone. have a wonderful wednesday, everybody. >> happy hump day, america.

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good morning bay area. let's get up and get going. this is >> let's check in with mike nicco for the forecast. >> that's the biggest issue, fog. we're down to 100 feet visibility and that's going to continue for another hour. and we have a high surf warning, brakers up to 40 feet. tomorrow through friday with the rain and a stronger storm with heavier rain. >> look at this, hazy out there but traffic is flying. a lot of company for about a 25 minute drive. bart on schedule. ace train number five rolling into great network 20 minutes behind schedule. >> sue, thank you we'll be back at 11:00 and reporting continues

on our news app and abc7news.com >> announcer: it's "live with kelly and ryan!" today, academy award-winning actor j.k. simmons. and from "the assassination of gianni versace: american crime story," darren criss. plus, we continue "jan-you-ary" with a special pack your own workout. all next on "live!" ♪ [cheers and applause] and now, here are kelly ripa and ryan seacrest! [cheers and applause] ♪ >> ryan: hello! >> kelly: hi. >> ryan: good morning. [cheers and applause] ♪