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can you pull him out? can you pull him out? >> we're getting our first look at this incredible rescue near houston. body cam video shows deputies right there pulling a man from a burning car. that man is on fire himself. flames burning the man's abdomen and legs. the deputies dropped him in a nearby puddle of water. >> oh, wow. >> he amazingly survived. >> quick thinking on their part. >> yeah. so swimming with the sharks turned into a terrifying experience for a diver in egypt. >> the man had a shark latch on

to his leg and it wouldn't let go. blood starts pouring into the water. you see the attack right there. >> oh! >> as another diver tries to get the shark to let go. the man survived. he's been treated at a hospital. the guy who shot this video was back in the water the next day. >> well, he was far away from it. >> he's like we're good to go. >> but great heads up move on the other guy there as well. >> scaring the shark, yeah. back here at home, a dangerous scene played out at a car wash in miami beach. >> an alleged car thief jumps into a mercedes suv and takes off. but the owner of that mercedes pulls out a gun and opens fire. here is abc's victor oquendo. >> reporter: the call came in around 10:00 -- >> there is a vehicle that crashed into the building. scene is not secured. >> reporter: according to miami beach police, the man behind the wheel of this white mercedes suv had allegedly just stolen the car from a man at a car wash across the street. that man opening fire, striking the car thief, who lost control

and crashed into the building and a power pole. >> officer can't approach until we get this power shut off. >> reporter: crews quickly shutting down power. police keeping their distance. >> we're approaching this vehicle with guns drawn. we don't know who is inside. we don't know if that individual is armed. >> reporter: first responders smashing the windows, pulling the man out. he was transported to the hospital in critical condition where he later died. police questioned and released this man who they say brought the mercedes to the car wash and shot the suspect. authorities working to determine if he should face any charges. police are also reviewing surveillance video of the incident. that suv is still in the side of the building. victor oquendo, abc news, miami beach. >> our thanks to victor there in miami. when we come back, america's richest celebrities. and who will host the oscars? "the skinny" is next. "the skinny" is next. that's when you know, it's half-washed. next time, add downy fabric conditioner for up to 7 days of downy freshness. downy and it's done.

they don't help single moms. hi. hi. what happened to our house last year? it flooded. and the water flooded out.

yeah. the red cross arranged the hotel for us. they gave me that break, that leverage, to be able to get it together and... take care of them, you know? i feel like we've come full circle. like that! this is how i'll do it. sarah: there you go. this is after the trump this is after the trump inauguration, just waving from air force one. >> yep. that's right. >> can you walk me through? >> bye, felicia.

>> mrs. obama did have that look all day on that inauguration day. she's like, she ready. she's just like time to go. >> that's what i'll be channelling friday. >> on friday. yes. >> bye, felicia. well, time now for "the skinny" on this wednesday. starting with america's richest celebrities. >> "forbes" magazine is out with the rankings. >> number yeah. >> yeah, in my head. topping the list in 2018 is george lucas, who is worth $5.4 billion. and his wife tells him how to spend it. she's smart at that stuff. he got the bulk of his fortune by selling lucasfilm to our parent company, disney, for $4 billion. stephen spielberg and oprah winfrey are behind him, naturally. >> number four, michael jordan, $1.7 billion. most of it tied up in his 90% stake in the charlotte hornets basketball team. >> not bad. so kylie jenner and the rapper

jay-z are tied for fifth place. $900 million. kylie has made more than $500,000 million from her cosmetics line alone. >> amazing. coming in at number seven, magician david copperfield with $875 million. >> what? >> i would never guess that. >> okay. i guess you could rob a bank and they don't know that you robbed a bank if you're a magician. >> whatever it takes. tiger woods is ninth place with the author james patterson. they're both worth $800 million. >> my goodness. >> so this is our segment proving stars are like us. >> just like us. next to cardi b, who gets more than she bargained for in "carpool karaoke." >> so this is a celebrity who is a little more like us. the rapper was the latest celeb to jump into james corden's rolling studio. corden let her slip behind the wheel for an impromptu driving lesson.

here's how that went. >> you've got to go in and out of the black. that's a cone. you've got to go in and out the front. >> i hit a cone. i don't care. >> stop, stop, stop, stop, stop. stop now. >> i hit something. i hit something. >> you think? now just pull forward and stop. oh [ bleep ]. okay. >> i give up. >> you know what? >> the thing that you couldn't see there, they say it was a cone, but it was actually her ex offset that was just kind of laying there. >> showed up again to apologize. >> she was just like -- i'm just going to drive over this. uh-uh. so after all that, cardi delighted fans at a retirement center. she even danced with one man who asked her if she was available. she said -- >> shake the hips at the retirement center. okay, cardi. oh, my goodness.

>> she used to get paid a lot of money to dance like that. >> he always takes it one step too far. >> too far. >> leave her alone. let her blow up. and here he is. next to the search for a host for this year's academy awards and a suggestion from sandra bullock. >> it's a pretty good one. her suggestion, producers should just randomly put actors in the audience on the spot. >> she told the a.p. they should, quote, not even have to tell them what's happening. just put up the teleprompter and go. it's your turn. you're an actor. figure it out. >> but who will give them their lines? >> the teleprompter. >> oh, the teleprompter. >> that sounds like the editorial meeting. you're an actor. figure it out. to a little holiday magic from dwayne "the rock" johnson. >> for the holiday season he's asking people to refer to him as dwanta claus. >> yeah, he explained it in a video for "e.w." >> what i can tell you about dwanta claus is he is nondenominational. he takes care of everybody. he's a little bit naughty. a little bit nice.

likes tequila. his sleigh is -- >> his favorite christmas movie, "a wonderful life." says he cries every time he watches it but says they're manly tears. >> aww! >> and he has reindeer antlers growing out of his head.

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♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ have you been satisfied with the news you're getting? do you find yourself getting thirstier and thirstier for news? well, tune in this friday where it's all about to go down. and you thought my uncomfortably unbuttoned shirts was the only weird thing about me. wait until -- >> do you feel satisfied? >> thank you, jack. i didn't want to say it, but -- >> wait until friday. >> -- these pictures. really? >> what? >> really? don't do that when you're sitting next to me. >> oh, sorry. i didn't realize.

we've been reporting on the rise in package thefts this holiday season. those box bandits who are stealing other people's christmas gifts right off their front porches. >> but a former nasa engineer has come up with a way to take revenge on those porch pirates. here is abc's paula faris. >> reporter: nearly 26% of americans will fall victim to these dreaded porch pirates according to one study, but one former nasa engineer has decided enough is enough. mark rober posted this how-to video on youtube, demonstrating the unusual booby trap that he's designed to stop porch piracy once and for all. >> i'm using four phones that have a wide angle filming mode. and are angled back. the 3-d portion is contoured this way because it represents the field of view of the phones. as you can see, i'm guaranteed to capture their reaction no matter which way they open it from. nestled in here we've got a can of fart spray. no joke, you can clear a room with one spray of this stuff. so we made a cam on a small

motor that sprays it five times. and then we have a cup here on top that spins from a motor underneath. once you load in a butt ton of the world's finest glitter, the motor spins really fast and the centrifugal force fires it in all directions. then we cut holes on the side of the lid and covered them with one-way film. finally to make it look like an actual delivered package, we added some shrink wrap and a delivery label, which is perhaps my favorite part of the whole thing. >> reporter: the video shows a friend of rober's leaving a package on her porch. a camera buried deep inside the item. when the would-be pirate loads the merchandise into his car, he's in for a very unexpected surprise. >> what the? >> reporter: a glitter explosion followed by a smell that has the pirate throwing that stolen booty right out the window. >> oh, that must have been messy cleanup in that car. >> yeah.

probably feels like insta-karma. >> no doubt, indeed. don't miss our updates on facebook. hey, we're doing a facebook chat today. join us.

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good morning. i' good morning. i'm janai norman. >> and i'm kendis gibson. here are some of the top headlines we're following this morning on "world news now." roofs were ripped off houses and trees uprooted as a rare december tornado struck the seattle suburb of port orchard. the storms also cut power and closed roads. amazingly, though, there were no major injuries reported. some rare bipartisan action in washington led senators to pass a criminal justice reform bill. the bill gives judges more discretion when sentencing some drug offenders. white house adviser jared kushner is getting credit from both sides for helping the bill move forward. and today, the federal reserve is expected to raise its key interest rate by a quarter point despite complaints from president trump. it would be the fourth hike this

year but fewer increases are expected in 2019. and hollywood is remembering penny marshall. the "laverne & shirley" star went from award-winning actress to award-winning producer during her five decades in show business. marshall was 75. those are some of our top stories on this wednesday, december 19th. from abc news, this is "world news now." and we do say good morning, everyone, we begin this half hour with former national security adviser michael flynn facing new restrictions just hours after his sentencing was delayed. >> the federal judge scolded flynn over his lies to the fbi and ordered him to surrender his passport and stay within 50 miles of washington, d.c. flynn went to court expecting to avoid prison time but the judge quickly made it clear that he can't make any guarantees. abc's pierre thomas has the details. >> reporter: michael flynn walking into court head held high. scattered protesters but also supporters cheering him on.

>> go get em, general. >> reporter: words of encouragement from president trump "good luck in court," he tweeted. in court flynn was smiling but judge emmett sullivan was not. he tore in the former general for lying to the fbi about his contacts with a russian ambassador. pointing to the american flag, the judge said flynn's secret work undermines everything this flag over here stands for, adding, "arguably, you sold your country out." the judge said he felt "disgust and disdain." it's been a head-spinning turnaround for the president's first national security adviser -- >> michael flynn. >> reporter: -- who said hillary clinton should be behind bars. >> yeah, that's right. lock her up. >> reporter: but facing a possible prison term himself, flynn took a deal with special counsel robert mueller. spending 19 sessions talking to investigators. in exchange, mueller recommended

flynn do no time. at the 11th hour, flynn's attorneys implied the fbi tricked him but in court he admitted he knew he was committing a crime when he lied to federal agents. the judge then making it clear he was seriously considering sending flynn to prison, saying, "i cannot assure you if you proceed today that you will not receive a sentence of incarceration." he told flynn and his team to leave the courtroom to consider requesting a delay in the sentencing. they did and when they returned flynn's mood had changed. his smile gone. he rested his chin on his knuckles as his lawyers asked the judge to postpone sentencing until flynn had finished cooperating with the special counsel. >> lock him up! lock him up! >> reporter: and then flynn walked out. supporters and critics shouting at the top of their lungs. >> the next time we may see michael flynn will be march. until then the judge expects flynn to continue cooperating

with the special counsel. flynn admitted he did not lie because of what the fbi did but white house officials are not backing away from their claim that he was ambushed. pierre thomas, abc news, washington. >> a big thanks to pierre there in washington. well, congress appears open to a short-term spending bill to avoid a partial government shutdown now that president trump seems willing to drop his demand for a $5 billion border wall. one republican plan calls for $1.6 billion for border security while leaving it up to the president to decide how to spend an additional billion. but democrats are calling it a slush fund. still, senate majority leader mitch mcconnell says he's confident there will be no shutdown. a government estimate says more than half a million bump stocks have been sold over the last eight years. and now those attachments which turn semiautomatic weapons into machine guns have been banned by the trump administration. gun rights activists are already challenging the ban in court. abc's jordyn phelps reports. >> run. go!

>> reporter: 443 days after the deadliest mass shooting in u.s. history at a las vegas country music concert, president trump made good on a promise to ban the devices known as bump stocks used to carry out the massacre. >> this morning we also completed the process to issue a new regulation banning bump stocks. >> reporter: bump stocks allow ordinary rifles to fire more rapidly. the president has previously claimed inaccurately that his administration already had banned bump stocks. >> we got rid of the bump stocks. the bump stocks now are under very strict control, which i think everybody agrees it's fine. >> reporter: but now there is actually a rule on the books to outlaw the devices by categorizing them as machine guns, which are already banned by law. a 90-day grace period now begins for people who do have bump stocks to get rid of them. the white house is urging bump stock owners to obey the new rule. >> a 90-day period now begins which persons in possession of

bump stock-type devices must turn those in to an atf field office or destroy them by march 21st. >> reporter: the move puts the white house at odds with the national rifle association, which has fought against this rule and says in a statement that they are disappointed. janai and kendis? >> our thanks to jordyn there. the nra is praising the trump administration's school safety report, especially its conclusion that raising the age to buy firearms won't stop the next school shooting. the report was commissioned by the president after the valentine's day attack at a florida high school that killed 17 people. among its recommendations is that schools should arm teachers in the classroom. the report also calls on schools to do more to address students' mental health issues. supreme court justice brett kavanaugh is no longer the target of dozens of ethics complaints. the 83 grievances focused on his conduct during his contentious confirmation hearings, including statements claiming he was the

target of a liberal conspiracy. a judicial panel determined the complaints were fileunder a law that doesn't apply to supreme court justices. facebook is continuing to have a banner 2018. a new round of allegations now that it violated user privacy. this one overnight from "the new york times" reporting that the site gave more than 150 tech companies, including amazon, microsoft and others, more access to data than it previously revealed. "the times" reports the arrangement allowed companies to bypass privacy rules. facebook admits some of its partnerships weren't managed properly. however, it insists the access was not abused. >> another day, another hit to facebook. >> another scandal. yeah. >> wow. well, the occupational therapy department at clarkson university has gone to the dogs. >> well, one dog at least. griffin. given his own master's degree from the new york state school when his owner brittany hawley

received hers. she uses a wheelchair. griffin is a service dog. he opens doors for her and carries things as well. >> clarkson awarded the degree for, quote, his extraordinary contribution to the student's success. his photos are featured on clarkson's facebook page which the university didn't post but facebook shared anyway. just kidding. you liked that one? >> yes. shared it to many other companies. all right. well, coming up, elon musk shows off the prototype for his underground tunnel system beneath los angeles and what he calls his answer to soul-destroying traffic. and the woman who became a household name as laverne defazio. we're opening up the abc news vault to remember penny marshall. you're watching "world news now." abc news vault to remember penny marshall. you're watching "world news now." if you're age 50 to 85, and looking to buy life insurance on a fixed budget, remember the three p's.

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unstopables in-wash scent booster ♪ downy unstopables ooh, crime doesn't pay in ooh, crime doesn't pay in new york and can earn you a beatdown. a bronx mom came outside to find someone trying to steal her suv and she was like, not today, satan. this woman didn't like that so she dragged the would-be thief out of the driver's seat and

started pounding him. she said she kind of blacked out after seeing the guy behind the wheel. >> i was like just kept hitting him saying you was trying to steal my car. really? are you serious? >> you cannot be serious. jones held the man until police arrived. as you can see there. the guy once police arrived were like happy that they could save them from her. she did all of this having had a heart condition. officers say the suspect was drunk and told them that he thought he was -- >> oh, my word. >> it was an uber. he faces -- >> drunk or obliterated? >> all of the above. >> wow. well, a landmark plan to eliminate traffic in los angeles was just unveiled hours ago. >> yeah, tesla founder elon musk has unveiled his underground tunnel, giving vips and reporters their first rides. abc's matt gutman was there. >> reporter: we are at the boring company tunnel. this is the prototype of the tunnel.

come a little closer with me. it goes about 1.14 miles. it was just finished not long ago, and they painted it. it's got some concrete inside. right now it's not operating just as the company would have hoped. you still have to actually drive a car through. it's pretty much self-operated but you have to have a driver. eventually they hope that a car will be loaded on to a sled-like device that will hurdle a car through at about 150 to 155 miles per hour and there will be nodes across places like the city of los angeles where people can lower their cars into the tunnel and then zoom to their destination. that destination will be programmed in advance so you don't have to wait in traffic or wait to turn off at a certain location. all of it will be done digitally and through computers. again, this is just a prototype. it's a pretty big deal here. we're right under hawthorne airport. i can tell there are lots of people in los angeles who would love to have this thing up and working.

it's taking a little bit longer than anyone anticipated. now, i got very lucky. i got a ride inside a tesla model x inside this tunnel. it was a little bit like a roller coaster. you might be able to see the concrete is not totally smooth just yet so it was a pretty rattly, roller coastery noisy ride. eventually they're going to even all of that out and when those sleds are brought in that the car will actually sit on as it is driven or taken one from one node to the other, obviously the ride at least we're told will be much, much smoother and far faster. >> it is a fascinating concept. >> it is. it could either be really, really cool -- >> or really bad. >> or be like elon musk version of the spruce goose that howard hughes had that flew once. >> good historic reference right there. >> thank you. >> you nailed that one. >> the google.

the google. >> jack, i appreciate you being here so much to call him out. >> i'll be here all week, janai. >> thank you. so will i. >> unfortunately. check out this. another high-tech item. >> lg has unveiled a 65 inch television that can be rolled up and put away like a poster. lg plans to begin selling the rollable tv next year. there is no word on the price. >> i want to see it roll up. >> no doubt some californians are going to roll it up and try to smoke it. >> here's the line -- >> coming up -- >> -- here's kendis. coming up, remembering a hollywood legend. >> we're opening up the abc news vault as we look back at the life and legacy of penny marshall. you're watching "world news now." now."

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so this is a live picture of hollywood and highland there in los angeles. and it's hard to imagine hollywood for that matter without the actress and director penny marshall.

she was one of the industry's most respected directors and a beloved actress. >> the bronx native became a household name right here on abc as laverne defazio. this morning we're hoping up the news vault back to a very special laverne and shirley reunion on gma. >> one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. schlemiel, schlimazel. hasenpfeffer incorporated. >> reporter: for seven years, laverne defazio and shirley feeney did it their way. >> all right, woman! i can't stand to leave you brokenhearted. >> no need for this tape. >> reporter: from dating to working at shotz brewery, "laverne & shirley" with a little help from neighbors lenny and squiggy took on 1950s

milwaukee. >> laverne, the only kind of parties we've been to are bring your own. >> i like bringing my own. then i know what i'm getting. >> reporter: we reunited with the cast. penny marshall, cindy williams, david lander and michael mckean to talk about receiving the tv land fan favorite award. >> thank you all for this wonderful honor. i want to thank our fans. >> it's been a few years and still so impactful. >> you're so sweet. a few years. >> it's been a couple of years. people still know the lines. i mean, you are still the fan favorite. >> it's funny because i never knew the lines. >> that's true. >> come on, squig, get him. get him! >> you were a spinoff of a very successful show, "happy days." >> and there's one thing they might not remember, you actually appeared on "happy days" first. >> hey, fonzie. >> hey, defazio. >> we appeared as the loose girls.

>> this is laverne defazio, she's mine. and this is shirley feeney. she's yours, as you can see. >> nice to meet you, richie. >> my pleasure. >> reporter: the network was looking for a show for penny's brother, gary marshall, to produce. >> we didn't know what a spinoff was when they said, hey, they want to do a spinoff with you two. >> don't start with me, okay? >> ow! ow! ow! mr. thompkins. she had a cough drop stuck -- >> very first show in front of an audience, cindy saying, you know this probably won't go but we're really having a great time. let's open a car wash or something. >> i thought i'm going to get to stay in town, not have to move out of town, which i was going to do, and i've got my rent for the next year. >> reporter: by its second season, "laverne & shirley" was the most watched show in america. >> there is only one fair way to settle this. >> fine by me.

>> here it is. i got it right here. >> reporter: this female odd couple with a knack for physical comedy creating some of the most memorable moments in tv history. shirley's boo-boo kitty. >> well, hello, boo-boo kitty. i missed you while i was away. >> the "ls" on all of laverne's clothing. >> can we find out once and for all what schlemiel schlimazel means? >> gary said teach penny schlemiel, schlimazel and we'll shoot it. >> schlemiel, schlimazel, hasenpfeffer incorporated. >> so then she taught it to me. >> reporter: and then they both taught us all. ♪ make all our dreams come true for me and you ♪ >> but what does it mean? so schlemiel is an inept, clumsy person. a bungler. a schlimazel is an unlucky person.

and hasenpfeffer -- >> all the research you did. >> it is a stew. frank? they ate frank?

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have you been satisfied with the news you're getting? do you find yourself getting thirstier and thirstier for news? well, tune in this friday where it's all about to go down. sure enough. >> so glad to those of you that didn't turn off your televisions after seeing that and that you're still with us. it's time for "this happened" on this wednesday. starting with a bear in florida ringing a doorbell. these bears, they're so brazen these days. >> yes, they are. >> so, look, this guy wanders up to the front door. there is a little cam that caught him.

it's that nose right there. the homeowner safely able to answer the door from inside tells that bear to go on home. >> really, is that what he or she said? >> i mean, didn't say it exactly like that, but get out of here. >> and did the bear leave? >> eventually the bear got the hint that there were no snacks, no jars of honey at the front door and he turned and searched on. >> i wouldn't be going outside for a long, long time. so this couple had an interesting predicament. their dog needed to have some surgery on his leg, but the dog wouldn't let them get anywhere near them, so the woman there -- the wife remembered that the dog likes to sleep on a mouse pad. like a mat that has -- that is in the image of a mouse. >> okay. >> so they came up with an interesting concept. >> oh. >> why not just have the hubby

dress in the mouse costume. >> cone and all, so the dog doesn't feel alone. >> yeah, exactly. and they immediately became friends. the operation went wonderfully. boom. he was completely fooled. >> thoughtful. >> yeah. so another dog story. a dog that doesn't like a cat pillow. look. the pillow just looks like a cat. >> oh, i see. >> looks like not a very nice cat. >> in the middle. >> that dog is not happy. the dog's name is opie and his anxiety over it seems to provoke the other dogs. >> uh-huh. which is what they do. >> nobody's having it. i don't blame him. that cat pillow is a little creepy. >> it is very creepy. i'd be barking at it, too. why do they do that? >> what, make those pillows? >> no, why would they have it in the house. aww, here he goes. that cat pillow don't stand a chance anymore. very cute scene down under. the australian zoo welcomed its newest member. it is a baby rhino making its first step.

this is carrie who was born on tuesday. and look at that. >> wow. >> they grow up so fast.

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because even one attack is one too many. this morning on "world news now," a dangerous storm on the move right now. >> caused significant damage near seattle after a rare tornado touched down, ripping off roofs, tearing down trees, cutting off power for many. we'll have the latest on the storm. the white house signals it does not want to shut down the government despite the president's pledge last week, but can lawmakers come up with a deal before friday's deadline? plus, the other major headline involving the president, his personal foundation forced to close. plus, celebrities are sharing their stories of legendary hollywood actress and director penny marshall. she'll be forever remembered for her movies and her role on "laverne & shirley." and if you're headed to the airport, don't forget your ugly christmas sweaters.

your good sense of style could pay off with one major perk. it's wednesday, december 19th. from abc news, this is "world news now." what if they don't think your sweater's ugly? we'll explain why -- what the benefit is -- >> we'll explain. if it's an ugly christmas sweater, it probably is pretty ugly. >> yes, it is. all right. let's get to the ugly weather because those severe storms are hitting as peak holiday travel gets under way. >> the latest in a series of storms is pounding washington, oregon and northern california, and the storms will continue right into christmas day. >> a rare tornado touched down in a seattle suburb doing extensive damage to homes and knocking down trees. it may be the strongest to hit western washington state in nearly half a century. abc's natalie brunell has more. >> reporter: a massive funnel cloud forming in port orchard, washington outside seattle tuesday afternoon. >> we moved from kansas awhile

back and i didn't expect tornados here. i can tell you that. >> reporter: the confirmed tornado destroying homes, peeling away roofs, ripping up giant trees. >> dude. >> reporter: first responders combing through the damage. >> i'm really happy that nobody's injured. i do feel sorry for everybody involved. everybody who lost part of their house. >> reporter: the severe weather part of a massive storm system bringing heavy rain, strong winds and massive waves to the pacific northwest. high surf along parts of the california coast hitting 20 to 30 feet. officials warning people to stay out of the water. the storm's pushing east, expected to dump heavy rain on the south and east coast thursday and friday, making for slow and dangerous travel conditions as millions head to their holiday destinations. natalie brunell, abc news, los angeles. >> and those storms won't be letting up. as we mentioned, they'll continue right into christmas day. >> accuweather's melissa constanzer is here with the

travel forecast. good morning, melissa. >> kendis, janai. that stormy weather from washington moves its way eastward and creates a lot of high wind threats eastward including denver. wednesday, meanwhile, becomes stormy here through texas and the louisiana coastline. the storm system, though, is just getting started. wait until thursday and friday. it becomes a heavy rainmaker across the southeast with the risk of flooding and moves into the north bringing strong winds. kendis? janai? >> all right. it's going to be a long weekend ahead for the northeast. melissa, thank you. now to that dramatic day in court for the former national security adviser michael flynn. his sentencing abruptly delayed by a federal judge. flynn was expected to avoid prison time in exchange for cooperating with federal prosecutors. he acknowledged in court that he knew it was a crime to lie to the fbi despite his memo suggesting otherwise. the judge said it was a serious offense.

expressed disgust and even raised the prospect that flynn could have been charged with treason. treason mentioned many times in court. but he later dropped that suggestion and flynn took him up on the offer to postpone sentencing, increasing his chance of leniency as he continues to cooperate. president trump is apparently backing down from his demand for a $5 billion border wall, clearing the way to avert a possible government shutdown. the white house said the president is considering other options as it became clear that he does not have enough support in congress. senate majority leader mitch mcconnell said he's convinced a shutdown won't happen. but so far democrats have rejected a republican proposal that includes $1 billion for the president to use as he chooses. >> we cannot accept the offer they made of $1 billion slush fund for the president to implement his very wrong immigration policies. so that won't happen. >> the president is also considering using unspent money from other agencies but he may need congressional approval and lawmakers are trying to hammer

out a short-term spending bill. now to some rare bipartisan action in the senate that has led to the passage of a criminal justice reform bill. the bill gives judges more discretion when sentencing some drug offenders. it also reduces the life sentence of offenders with three convictions to 25 years. and it boosts prison rehab efforts. now, white house adviser and, of course, presidential son-in-law jared kushner is getting credit from both sides of the aisle for helping the bill move forward. it's expected to pass the house this week and the president promises to sign it. the president's charitable foundation is shutting down amid an ongoing investigation by the new york state attorney general. she's accusing president trump and his family of a, quote, shocking pattern of illegality by operating the foundation for business and political purposes. abc's kyra phillips has the details. >> reporter: he once cast it as a world-class charity but president trump has agreed to shut down the trump foundation.

the new york state attorney general barbara underwood calling it "little more than a checkbook to serve mr. trump's business and political interests." she says the president, his family and his campaign basically used the foundation as a personal slush fund. spending $30,000 in charity money on two portraits of donald trump himself. $12,000 for a signed football helmet of former quarterback tim tebow and using foundation money to help his own campaign, pointing to this event in iowa in 2016. >> we love our vets. >> reporter: trump raking in $2.8 million for his foundation, and in an e-mail his then campaign manager corey lewandowski then asking the foundation to make grants in iowa just days before the caucuses. >> we have so many of these checks, they're all over the place. >> reporter: the attorney general also alleging trump used charity money to settle personal lawsuits when his mar-a-lago

club faced $120,000 fine for having too big a flagpole. he settled the case by pledging $100,000 in foundation money to a veterans charity. now the trump foundation needs to give away all its money to charities that the new york attorney general approves. and a trump foundation lawyer saying they always planned to close down after the election and that the a.g. is just playing politics. kyra phillips, abc news, washington. falling gas prices are one bright spot if you're hitting the road for the holidays. prices at the pump are now at a 17-month low. the national average now, you see it there, $2.37 a gallon for regular, of course. some gas stations now charging less than $2 per gallon. falling oil prices over the last few months has led to the gas getting a little expensive -- less expensive. well, your ugly holiday sweater will earn you something more than stares, laughs and

ridicule this friday. >> uh-huh. december 21st is national ugly holiday sweater day and alaska and horizon airlines have a present for travelers. wear your ugly holiday sweater friday and you'll be allowed to board your flight early. >> hmm. >> so the airlines are also providing festive-themed boarding music and free holiday music the entire month. >> festive-themed music. do you think they're playing "baby, it's cold outside?" >> yeah, that one's a little controversial. >> dicey. >> maybe a little run dmc. >> or that lil jon and kool-aid man. >> that we had yesterday. >> "all i really want for christmas." >> what if the entire flight is in ugly sweaters? >> ugliest first. >> okay. so then it becomes a competition? >> yeah, probably. >> all right. >> free booze for the whole cabin. >> i'm down with that. >> yes, spread the word. >> let's fly on friday. i'm just scared when the pilot goes yeah! >> yeah, right? all right.

coming up, remembering one of hollywood's most beloved actresses and directors. what we're learning this morning about penny marshall who died at the age of 75. plus, proof positive that mariah carey is still the reigning queen of christmas. we'll tell you where this happened later in "the mix." you're watching "world news now." now." there's a lot to love about medicare. there's also a lot to know. part a that's your hospital coverage, part b is all the doctor stuff... the most important thing to know? medicare doesn't pay for everything. and guess what that means... yep...you're on the hook for the rest. that's why it's important to consider an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. a plan like this helps pay for some of what medicare doesn't. so you could end up paying less out of your own pocket. that's nice. and these are the only medicare supplement plans endorsed by aarp. selected for meeting their high standards

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did i cry? >> no. >> no. no! and do you know why? >> no. >> because there's no crying in baseball! there's no crying in baseball! no crying. >> what's the matter, jimmy? >> she's crying sir. a lot of people are crying this morning. tom hanks there in "a league of their own." that film revived his career and it was directed by penny marshall. >> hanks is one of the many celebrities paying respects to penny marshall who died from complications from diabetes at the age of 75. >> here is abc's david muir. >> five, six, seven, eight. schlemiel, schlimazel, hasenpfeffer incorporated. ♪ we're gonna do it >> reporter: they were the

roommates who worked at a milwaukee beer bottling plant and their characters were household names. "laverne & shirley." penny marshall, of course, laverne. laverne defazio and shirley feeney in that plant. >> oh, mr. thompkins. she had a cough drop stuck in her mouth. >> reporter: penny marshall bringing her dry wit and that accent from the bronx. >> there is only one fair way to settle this. >> fine by me. >> reporter: carole penny marshall was born october 15th, 1943 in the bronx, where she would grow up, never losing that accent. attending her mother margery's dance school. there she is right there on the far right. it was her brother, legendary director and producer gary marshall, who gave her a break. first casting his sister in his show "the odd couple" and then "happy days." >> hey, fonzie. >> hey, defazio. they're here. >> reporter: then getting her own show in 1976, one of the most successful spinoffs of all time. >> here it is. i got it right here.

>> reporter: by its third season, "laverne & shirley" was the most watched show in america. later, penny marshall would move behind the lens, becoming a director. directing tom hanks in "big." the first movie directed by a woman to make more than $100 million. she would also direct "a league of their own." >> there's no crying in baseball! >> reporter: gina davis, madonna and rosie o'donnell all-starring in the film. talking with barbara walters along the way about her success. >> do you know that you're a huge success? >> i guess so. i mean, yeah, we're a hit show and people recognize me in the street. that makes me a little paranoid, but, i mean, i guess i know it, but then success was something strange. i mean, i didn't know what success was going to mean but it wasn't quite this. >> reporter: penny marshall would battle health problems, lung cancer that went into remission, but it was complications from diabetes that took her life. and asked in 2013 about her legacy, what she hoped people

would remember about her, she said, "i hope i made people laugh, that i moved them, touched them." >> i lived. i didn't hurt anyone. my legacy is that hope i gave you some enjoyment. >> and social media has been lighting up with tributes to penny marshall. >> yeah. among them, billy lord, who is the daughter of carrie fisher. she died two years ago, next week, actually. marshall sharing a tender moment with her mom, carrie. >> mark wahlberg shared this throwback snap on twitter calling marshall a wonderful, talented and funny lady. without her encouragement i would not be where i am today. marshall put wahlberg in his first film. >> that was like funky bunch days right there. william shatner tweeted this recent photo of the two of them, calling her a true treasure.

she was married, of course, to rob reiner, the famous actor and director, and he said -- he posted a number of different messages, including that "i loved penny. i grew up with her. she was born with a great gift. born with a funnybone" according to rob reiner and many believed that to be true. >> she also said "no matter how many movies i direct, i will always be laverne." known for that iconic role. >> "laverne & shirley" was a spinoff of "happy days," a popular show. kind of interesting that that became the number one show when "happy days" had been the top show for awhile back in the '70s. all right. coming up in our next half hour, america's richest celebrities. "forbes" magazine is out with its annual ranking and a 21-year-old made the top five. but first, a holiday health alert. what you need to know before you board a plane, a bus or train for your holiday vacation. that's next on "world news now." flings now, n so their laundry smells more amazing than ever. [darrell's wife] isn't that the dog's towel? [dog sfx]

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new york city. >> yeah, everybody -- the city's empty now. >> uh-huh. >> a week before. well, more than 45 million americans are taking to the skies this holiday season. that's up more than 5% from last year. >> and this morning we have a holiday health alert about something else that will be boarding those planes with you, germs. not some guy named jeremy, germs. so how do you keep yourself from getting sick? here is abc's gio benitez. >> reporter: as more than 112 million of us get set to travel this holiday season, this doctor, chief medical officer at dignity health in los angeles, reminds us on this fake plane at air hollywood how to keep healthy when taking to the skies. >> on an airplane you have almost a 100 time increase contracting a respiratory illness. >> reporter: think about this, a plane flying a typical new york to washington, d.c. route makes about five flights per day. that means at least four strangers are touching your table tray, shade, arm rest and

air vent. a table tray has 12 times more bacteria, harmful or not, than your toilet seat at home. and air on board is circulated. watch this simulation done for popular science. those passengers because of the air flow to the sides and behind the sides are most at risk. but it's not just planes. when it comes to busses -- when you sit down you'll touch the steel again and, of course, you will pull that cable to request a stop. >> reporter: and dr. testa says move to the back if there are less people there. staying close to that exit door where air circulates. >> the reason we get sick is because we're crowded together, rebreathing each other's air. >> reporter: he says your seat

selection can sometimes help protect you. on trains, too. >> if you sit in the window seat you actually decrease your chances getting sick because there are less people walking by you. >> how far can germs really travel. >> i can create a cloud of virus around me that extends 12 feet. so that's the people in front of me, the people behind me and you, the person next to me. >> reporter: and even the people on the other side. >> absolutely. >> reporter: that's why dr. testa says cut the small talk. >> even by speaking, they might expose you? >> correct. just by speaking you can introduce virus into the air. i recommend decreasing the small talk when you're sitting next to anyone on the train. >> reporter: gio benitez, abc news, new york. >> you've been sick all week. doctor's orders. >> i have and i'm convinced -- here i am talking, creating my cloud of virus -- from being on a plane last week. >> just got sick all of a sudden. >> tray tables 12 times more bacteria than a toilet seat? >> just don't touch anything.

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have you been satisfied with the news you're getting? do you find yourself getting thirstier and thirstier for news? well, tune in this friday where it's all about to go down. what am i supposed to -- >> oh, my word. i'm so uncomfortable. >> at least the head shot was better. a step in the right direction, right? >> oh, my god. >> my eyes are up here, people. >> lord, have mercy. i'm all warm and -- >> is it hot in here or are you looking forward to friday?

#friday. >> a couple of things i want to hashtag right now. >> all right. we're looking forward to friday. of course we were talking about millions of people traveling over the next week or so, we have found -- we've been told one of the most stressful and least stressful airports in the country. so, we have the top ten list here. and some might be surprises and others will be laguardia. laguardia with its water dripping from all over the place, the ceiling, the construction that lasts for 90 -- ew, brown water there. is considered the most stressful airport in america. landing in first place. >> not a huge surprise. >> yeah. some 30 million people every year, passengers, it showed the airport has reported the highest percentage of canceled flights so far this year. that's why it's part of that top ten list. >> probably fair because there

are so many flights, you know, of course it's going to have a higher number of cancellations. >> this is -- also if you're curious what's the least stressful airport in the country, you're watching it right there. this is the salt lake city international airport. the delta hub there. it boasts some views of the rockies. >> yeah. >> has a wine tasting place. like, how could you get stressed out there? >> that looks like -- you should go on vacation to the airport. >> yes. you know, you just fly right in. >> don't even go anywhere. >> i don't need to go anything. >> that's the trip. so good luck at those airports this holiday season. all right. so next up, forever 21 is facing some backlash. we just got to show you the picture. it's this man and the wakanda forever t-shirt. >> so what's the backlash? people are saying a white guy

can't wear a wakanda forever shirt. >> i don't know that they're saying he can't wear it, but it's like, were there no black models? >> no. come on.

this morning on "world news now," the president appears to be backing off his pledge to shut down the government in order to fund his border wall. that deadline now just two days away. severe weather pummelling the pacific northwest. a rare december tornado touching down near seattle, ripping roofs from buildings and leaving behind significant damage. that storm now pushing eas. as millions prepare to travel for the holidays. new this half hour, the terrifying moments under the sea. >> a shark takes a bite out of a diver in a dramatic caught on camera encounter. and america's richest celebrities. "forbes" magazine is out with its annual rankings and you may be surprise with who cracked the

top five. that's in "the skinny" on this wednesday, december 19th. from abc news, this is "world news now." i was waxing on poetically and the audio was just like, i'm done -- >> cue the open. cue the open. >> all right. it wasn't that deep anyway. just telling you where i'm going to go after friday, but you know what? blame the audio person. >> yeah. well, we've got two days to hear all about that, but we begin this -- we begin this half hour with lawmakers expressing confidence that they'll avoid a government shutdown even though there is no deal in place. >> yeah, president trump has softened his demand for a $5 billion border wall funding, and republicans appear -- and democrats appear to be ready to settle for a short-term spending bill that would push the budget battle into the new year. abc's terry moran has more on the options under consideration ahead of friday's deadline.

>> reporter: it was donald trump's most famous campaign promise, the border wall and how to pay for it. >> who is going to pay for the wall? >> mexico! >> reporter: that's not happening, so the president demanded $5 billion from congress by friday or he'll trigger a government shutdown. that would mean 420,000 essential federal employees would have to work without getting paid and 380,000 more federal employees furloughed without pay. the president seemed to waiver. >> mr. president, can we expect a shutdown? >> we'll see what happens. >> reporter: but on capitol hill, republicans are already signaling this fight is over. >> are you convinced that we will not shut down? >> yeah, i am. >> reporter: republicans proposed $1.6 billion in new spending for border security but not for a wall and another $1 billion the president could spend as he chose, but democrats call that a slush fund and rejected it. right now the white house says it may be able to find unspent

money in various agencies and use that for a wall, but that might not even be legal. then there's trump's claim that his renegotiated nafta deal, the usmca, will do the trick and fulfill his promise. >> why is he asking the american taxpayer for them when he promised mexico was going to pay? >> look, we're not asking american taxpayers for that. the president has been clear that the usmca deal would provide additional revenue through that deal that would show that mexico is paying for the wall. >> not to the treasury, though. the trade benefits, if there are any, don't go to the treasury. >> he is saying that the revenue provided and the money that would be saved through the usmca deal we could pay for the wall four times over. >> but trade benefits go to private citizens. they don't go to the united states treasury. >> he's talking about the general revenue that comes from that. >> reporter: not even senate republicans are buying that line as abc's mary bruce found out. >> the president promised that mexico was going to pay for this. why are we even having this

fight about $5 billion from american taxpayers? >> because mexico's not going to pay for it. >> reporter: terry moran, abc news, the white house. >> i just love he gets to the point. hundreds of thousands of bump stock owners in the u.s. have about 90 days to get rid of them. they've now been banned by the trump administration and after march will be illegal to have. bump stocks are attachments that allow semiautomatic weapons to fire like machine guns. they became a focal point of the gun control debate after being used by the gunman in the las vegas concert massacre. >> former national security adviser michael flynn will have to wait until march to learn his fate after a judge postponed his sentencing. flynn went to court yesterday expecting to get no prison time. at the recommendation of special counsel robert mueller. but the judge rebuked him for lying to the fbi about his contacts with russians. at one point the judge told flynn he could have been charged with treason and suggested that he sold out his country. he later walked back some of those comments. flynn will continue cooperating with federal prosecutors in hopes of staving off a prison

sentence. martha mcsally, who lost her race for a senate seat in arizona last month, has now been appointed to the senate. arizona's governor tapped mcsally to finish out what was john mccain's term. mcsally was defeated by democrat kyrsten sinema in a bruising campaign to fill the seat being vacated by senator jeff flake. sinema will be sworn in next month before mcsally, making sinema arizona's senior senator and its first ever woman in the senate. >> interesting. a seattle suburb will be cleaning up this morning after the strongest tornado in nearly half a century touched down. dozens of homes and businesses were damaged but amazingly no major injuries reported. the area doesn't get many tornados and almost never gets any in december. abc's will carr reports. >> oh, my god! >> reporter: this tornado touching down tearing through a walmart parking lot just before 2:00 p.m. the parking lot destroyed. >> look at all the houses back there. look at all the houses.

look at all -- >> reporter: severe storms pounding the northwest in port orchard, washington, a possible tornado ripping roofs off homes. massive trees down. an entire neighborhood leveled. >> we moved from kansas awhile back and i didn't expect tornadoes here. i can tell you that. >> i'm really happy that nobody's injured. i do feel sorry for everybody involved, everybody who lost part of their house. >> reporter: the storm's part of a system moving across the country bringing high waves to california's coast. the national weather service in the bay area warning people to stay back from the ocean or risk certain death. our weather team says there were no severe warnings in the area when these storms broke out. there is widespread damage and power outages and the priority is now life and safety as these rare storms move east. in los angeles, will carr, abc news. the storm that spawned the tornado is just the latest in a series of storms arriving on the west coast and, of course, heading east.

as the storm front moves into the rockies, the storms will bring several feet of snow. by tomorrow it will be in the midwest while another system moves up from the gulf of mexico, combining for a miserable day in the southeast. the entire east coast will share the misery on friday, particularly the millions driving for their holiday vacations. >> so that storm coming up from the gulf of mexico. who is going to pay for it? we are in the end. >> yes, you're right. singer selena gomez appears healthy and happy after her stay in a mental health facility. >> photos taken with friends show her having a good time at big bear lake in california. she smiles and mugs for the camera at the winter resort. >> another report indicates that gomez is, quote, healthy, hungry and ready to return to work. the 26-year-old was hospitalized in october. and talking about her legacy, a few years ago penny marshall said she hoped that she gave people some enjoyment. >> the "laverne & shirley" star did that and more during five decades in show business as an

actor, director and producer. abc's maggie rulli with a look back at her life. >> reporter: she was one half of the famed duo "laverne & shirley." >> schlemiel, schlimazel, hasenpfeffer incorporated. >> reporter: best friends and household names on one of america's most memorable tv shows. >> oh, laverne. >> reporter: born in 1943 in the bronx, the daughter of a dance teacher and film director. her older brother, director gary, gave her her first break, casting her in his show "the odd couple." years ago speaking with barbara walters about her sudden rise to fame. >> do you know that you're a huge success? >> i guess so. i mean, yeah, we're a hit show and people recognize me in the street. that makes me a little paranoid. >> reporter: she was married to actor rob reiner, divorcing in 1981. reiner tweeting, "i loved penny. i grew up with her. she was born with a great gift. she was born with a funnybone and the instinct of how to use it. i was very lucky to have lived

with her and her funnybone. i will miss her." following the success of "laverne & shirley," marshall turned to filmmaking, directing such hits as "big" and "a league of their own" in 1992. >> there's no crying in baseball! >> tom hanks, who starred in both films, tweeting, "good-bye, penny. man, did we laugh a lot. wish we still could. love you." in 2004 she received a star on the hollywood walk of fame. over the years she battled health problems. lung cancer that was in remission as of 2013, but it was complications due to diabetes that took her life. penny marshall was 75. maggie rulli, abc news, new york. >> and so many celebrities turning to social media to also express tributes and, you know, how they'll miss her, including rosie o'donnell who posted a link to a kmart ad here from 1996. >> 1996. they had a long history together. she posted a number of different tributes to her including some

photos. one of them from "a league of their own," the movie that she co-starred in saying, wow, we were all so young back then. >> well, she will be missed. coming up, the shark attack on a diver. the attack caught on camera and the dramatic rescue. how that diver is now doing this morning. and later in "the skinny," cardi b's latest project. she's a fan of fancy cars but can she drive them? that's a big question this morning. you're watching "world news now." ♪ let me wrap my weave up ♪ i'm the trap selena ♪ dame mas gasolina ♪ dame mas gasolina eld goal re

about the colonial penn program. here to tell you if you're age 50 to 85, and looking to buy life insurance on a fixed budget, remember the three p's. what are the three p's? the three p's of life insurance on a fixed budget are price, price, and price. a price you can afford, a price that can't increase, and a price that fits your budget. i'm 54. alex, what's my price? you can get coverage for $9.95 a month. i'm 65 and take medications. what's my price? also $9.95 a month. i just turned 80. what's my price?

$9.95 a month for you too. if you're age 50 to 85, call now about the #1 most popular whole life insurance plan, available through the colonial penn program. it has an affordable rate starting at $9.95 a month. no medical exam, no health questions. your acceptance is guaranteed. and this plan has a guaranteed lifetime rate lock, so your rate can never go up for any reason. so call now for free information. and you'll also get this free beneficiary planner. and it's yours just for calling. so call now.

can you pull him out? can you pull him out? >> we're getting our first look at this incredible rescue near houston. body cam video shows deputies right there pulling a man from a burning car. that man is on fire himself. flames burning the man's abdomen and legs. the deputies dropped him in a nearby puddle of water. >> oh, wow. >> he amazingly survived. >> quick thinking on their part. >> yeah. so swimming with the sharks turned into a terrifying

experience for a diver in egypt. >> the man had a shark latch on to his leg and it wouldn't let go. blood starts pouring into the water. you see the attack right there. >> oh! >> as another diver tries to get the shark to let go. the man survived. he's been treated at a hospital. the guy who shot this video was back in the water the next day. >> well, he was far away from it. >> he's like we're good to go. >> but great heads up move on the other guy there as well. >> scaring the shark, yeah. back here at home, a dangerous scene played out at a car wash in miami beach. >> an alleged car thief jumps into a mercedes suv and takes off. but the owner of that mercedes pulls out a gun and opens fire. here is abc's victor oquendo. >> reporter: the call came in around 10:00 -- >> there is a vehicle that crashed into the building. scene is not secured. >> reporter: according to miami beach police, the man behind the wheel of this white mercedes suv had allegedly just stolen the car from a man at a car wash across the street. that man opening fire, striking the car thief, who lost control

and crashed into the building and a power pole. >> officer can't approach until we get this power shut off. >> reporter: crews quickly shutting down power. police keeping their distance. >> we're approaching this vehicle with guns drawn. we don't know who is inside. we don't know if that individual is armed. >> reporter: first responders smashing the windows, pulling the man out. he was transported to the hospital in critical condition where he later died. police questioned and released this man who they say brought the mercedes to the car wash and shot the suspect. authorities working to determine if he should face any charges. police are also reviewing surveillance video of the incident. that suv is still in the side of the building. victor oquendo, abc news, miami beach. >> our thanks to victor there in miami. when we come back, america's richest celebrities. and who will host the oscars? "the skinny" is next. s next. that's when you know, it's half-washed. next time, add downy fabric conditioner for up to 7 days of downy freshness. downy and it's done.

this is after the trump inauguration, just waving from air force one. >> yep. that's right. >> can you walk me through? >> bye, felicia. >> mrs. obama did have that look

all day on that inauguration day. she's like, she ready. she's just like time to go. >> that's what i'll be channelling friday. >> on friday. yes. >> bye, felicia. well, time now for "the skinny" on this wednesday. starting with america's richest celebrities. >> "forbes" magazine is out with the rankings. >> number yeah. >> yeah, in my head. topping the list in 2018 is george lucas, who is worth $5.4 billion. and his wife tells him how to spend it. she's smart at that stuff. he got the bulk of his fortune by selling lucasfilm to our parent company, disney, for $4 billion. stephen spielberg and oprah winfrey are behind him, naturally. >> number four, michael jordan, $1.7 billion. most of it tied up in his 90% stake in the charlotte hornets basketball team.

>> not bad. so kylie jenner and the rapper jay-z are tied for fifth place. $900 million. kylie has made more than $500,000 million from her cosmetics line alone. >> amazing. coming in at number seven, magician david copperfield with $875 million. >> what? >> i would never guess that. >> okay. i guess you could rob a bank and they don't know that you robbed a bank if you're a magician. >> whatever it takes. tiger woods is ninth place with the author james patterson. they're both worth $800 million. >> my goodness. >> so this is our segment proving stars are like us. >> just like us. next to cardi b, who gets more than she bargained for in "carpool karaoke." >> so this is a celebrity who is a little more like us. the rapper was the latest celeb to jump into james corden's rolling studio.

corden let her slip behind the wheel for an impromptu driving lesson. here's how that went. >> you've got to go in and out of the black. that's a cone. you've got to go in and out the front. >> i hit a cone. i don't care. >> stop, stop, stop, stop, stop. stop now. >> i hit something. i hit something. >> you think? now just pull forward and stop. oh [ bleep ]. okay. >> i give up. >> you know what? >> the thing that you couldn't see there, they say it was a cone, but it was actually her ex offset that was just kind of laying there. >> showed up again to apologize. >> she was just like -- i'm just going to drive over this. uh-uh. so after all that, cardi delighted fans at a retirement center. she even danced with one man who asked her if she was available. she said -- >> shake the hips at the retirement center. okay, cardi. oh, my goodness. >> she used to get paid a lot of money to dance like that.

>> he always takes it one step too far. >> too far. >> leave her alone. let her blow up. and here he is. next to the search for a host for this year's academy awards and a suggestion from sandra bullock. >> it's a pretty good one. her suggestion, producers should just randomly put actors in the audience on the spot. >> she told the a.p. they should, quote, not even have to tell them what's happening. just put up the teleprompter and go. it's your turn. you're an actor. figure it out. >> but who will give them their lines? >> the teleprompter. >> oh, the teleprompter. >> that sounds like the editorial meeting. you're an actor. figure it out. to a little holiday magic from dwayne "the rock" johnson. >> for the holiday season he's asking people to refer to him as dwanta claus. >> yeah, he explained it in a video for "e.w." >> what i can tell you about dwanta claus is he is nondenominational. he takes care of everybody. he's a little bit naughty. a little bit nice.

likes tequila. his sleigh is -- >> his favorite christmas movie, "a wonderful life." says he cries every time he watches it but says they're manly tears. >> aww! >> and he has reindeer antlers growing out of his head.

she pretty much lives in her favorite princess dress. but once a week i let her play sheriff so i can wash it. i use tide to get out those week old stains and downy to get it fresh and soft. you are free to go. tide and downy together.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ have you been satisfied with the news you're getting? do you find yourself getting thirstier and thirstier for news? well, tune in this friday where it's all about to go down. and you thought my uncomfortably unbuttoned shirts was the only weird thing about me. wait until -- >> do you feel satisfied? >> thank you, jack. i didn't want to say it, but -- >> wait until friday. >> -- these pictures. really? >> what? >> really?

don't do that when you're sitting next to me. >> oh, sorry. i didn't realize. we've been reporting on the rise in package thefts this holiday season. those box bandits who are stealing other people's christmas gifts right off their front porches. >> but a former nasa engineer has come up with a way to take revenge on those porch pirates. here is abc's paula faris. >> reporter: nearly 26% of americans will fall victim to these dreaded porch pirates according to one study, but one former nasa engineer has decided enough is enough. mark rober posted this how-to video on youtube, demonstrating the unusual booby trap that he's designed to stop porch piracy once and for all. >> i'm using four phones that have a wide angle filming mode. and are angled back. the 3-d portion is contoured this way because it represents the field of view of the phones. as you can see, i'm guaranteed to capture their reaction no matter which way they open it from. nestled in here we've got a can of fart spray. no joke, you can clear a room

with one spray of this stuff. so we made a cam on a small motor that sprays it five times. and then we have a cup here on top that spins from a motor underneath. once you load in a butt ton of the world's finest glitter, the motor spins really fast and the centrifugal force fires it in all directions. then we cut holes on the side of the lid and covered them with one-way film. finally to make it look like an actual delivered package, we added some shrink wrap and a delivery label, which is perhaps my favorite part of the whole thing. >> reporter: the video shows a friend of rober's leaving a package on her porch. a camera buried deep inside the item. when the would-be pirate loads the merchandise into his car, he's in for a very unexpected surprise. >> what the? >> reporter: a glitter explosion followed by a smell that has the pirate throwing that stolen booty right out the window. >> oh, that must have been messy cleanup in that car. >> yeah.

probably feels like insta-karma. >> no doubt, indeed. don't miss our updates on facebook. hey, we're doing a facebook chat to

america this morning. >> stay with us. making news in america this morning, the senate passes a landmark bill to overhaul the criminal justice system reforming prison sentencing guidelines, the most sweeping changes in a generation. overnight president trump praising the move. who it affects and how it could change our prisons. a rare tornado touches down in the pacific northwest. >> everything is flying everywhere. i thought i was a goner. >> new video of the devastating damage. homes ripped apart and now the concern about storms on the move combining just in time for holiday travel later this week. caught on camera, a man trapped in this burning car, flames spreading around him. the move these quick-thinking