good morning, america. as we join you this thursday morning, hundreds of u.s. troops are deploying to the middle east as tensions rise there. on edge. american troops moving into the middle east after that violent siege on the u.s. embassy. iranian-backed protesters throwing rocks, setting fires, ramming bulletproof windows during two days of chaos. what the president is now saying as u.s. citizens are warned not to go near the compound. homecoming havoc. snow, ice and heavy rain moving in as millions head home from the holidays. cars spinning out on slick roads. high winds causing this truck to lose control. tumbleweeds shutting down a highway. now the new threat this morning. ginger is tracking it all. wildfire emergency.

australia in crisis, as those deadly fires burn out of control. thousands of residents and tourists seeking shelter on the beach as the military races to evacuate people trapped by flames. the urgent new warning this morning. an abc news exclusive. alex trebek and his wife revealing the moment they learned his diagnosis and how they're facing it head-on. >> throughout my life i've always wondered about how courageous a human being i was. >> his wife jean by his side helping him keep that signature humor. >> back off, michael. >> i'm not saying anything. >> only on "gma" this morning. hanging by a thread. the terrifying moment this b.a.s.e. jumper gets caught on the face of a mountain. his parachute stuck in a crack. inside this heart-pounding rescue. ♪ bad to the bone and bad to the bone. wasabi, the pekingese waltzing his way to best in show. winning top dog in the american kennel club national championship. now he's bringing that fur and fluff right here live to times

square. ♪ and we certainly do say good morning, america. great to be with you on this first thursday of 2020. look who is helping us celebrate the new year. oh. >> bad to the bone. this little -- that's wasabi is the name. that's a pekingese. this is the one that won the title of best in show at the american kennel club national championship. >> look at that face. look at that face. >> beat out 5,000 other faces. yes, 5,000 other competitors. >> big hair, don't care. wasabi's got the special soy sauce to go with it too. wasabi, the first dog from the toy group to win. of course, we can't wait to meet him live coming up. >> and we will. but first, we have a lot of news to get to, starting with the rising tensions in the middle east following those explosive protests at the american embassy. two days of fiery clashes. now more u.s. troops are heading to the region. martha raddatz is in washington,

has the very latest for us. good morning, martha. >> reporter: good morning, robin. this is an embassy that is one of the most fortified in the world and while those angry crowds have backed off for now, the u.s. military is taking no chances. in the wake of a violent siege on the american embassy in iraq, hundreds of u.s. troops have arrived in the middle east. from north carolina soldiers deployed within hours. and marines arriving by osprey aircraft on the embassy grounds. the reinforcements coming after two days of chaos at the embassy which was surrounded on tuesday by an iranian-backed militia and its supporters shouting "down, down, america." the angry crowd throwing rocks and spraying anti-american graffiti and setting fire to rooftops and guardposts, even ramming bulletproof windows with american security standing on the other side. apache helicopters sending warning flares over the violent

protesters. the next morning marines forced to fire tear gas into the crowd. over the holiday the president laying the blame for the violence at the feet of iran which has been backing several proxy groups in the region despite tweeting that iran will pay a very big price, this is not a warning, it is a threat, trump insisting he does not want war. >> i don't think that would be a good idea for iran. it wouldn't last very long. do i want to? no. i want to have peace. i like peace. >> reporter: the protests igniting after the militia says 25 of its members were killed in u.s. air strikes launched in retaliation for a deadly rocket attack by that same militia group. after iraqi prime minister adel abdal mahdi called on crowds to stand down, protesters finally obeyed its own leadership withdrawing on wednesday.

but tensions remain high as pro-iranian elements continue to demand the removal of american forces while the pentagon says thousands more u.s. forces are on alert for possible deployment. the u.s. embassy in baghdad said in a statement wednesday that it was closed to the public until further notice advising u.s. citizens not to go anywhere near the compound. robin. >> right. and as you know, martha, there is also worrying signs coming out of north korea. their leader there saying, quote, threatening shocking action and warning new strategic weapon. what is the latest you can tell us about north korea? >> reporter: exactly, robin. kim jong-un warning that north korea will no longer be bound by a self-imposed moratorium on testing nuclear weapons or long-range ballistic missiles and he did threaten to show off a new strategic weapon. this is going to be a very challenging year for president trump with both north korea and iran, robin. >> does appear to be that way. all right i martha, thank you.

t.j.? we turn to a dangerous weather threat that is on the move this morning. we're talking about snow, heavy winds, also out there heavy rains that are causing some flooding. all this as millions head home after the holidays. ginger has the latest. she's tracking this. good morning to you, ginger. >> good morning to you, t.j. you can see right here, salt lake city, interstate 15, the slide-off. dozens of accidents happening there. it wasn't just that light snow, though, that was causing trouble. it was the wind. that's right along the wyoming/colorado state line. that amazon truck taking that wind, and this is why we warn for high-profile vehicles. boulder, colorado, had a gust to 80 miles per hour. now we have a different storm, we'll be watching this one. this is absolutely going to impact the south today and through the weekend here in the northeast. avel, huge. that's why we have to go to alex perez in chicago this morning. >> reporter: hey, good morning, ginger. check out the terminal behind me here. you can see already a number of passengers here at o'hare making their way home from the holiday trips. now, take a look at this map. it shows all of the flights in

the air right now across the country as you can see, things are picking back up as some 2.64 million passengers are expected to fly today. that's about 250,000 more passengers than we see on an average day. things are about to get a lot busier. ginger. >> thank you, alex. you know, chicago may be dry but atlanta is starting to get into the range. the heavy rains will be just west of there. that's which we want to focus on louisiana, mississippi, alabama and tennessee. a lot of these spots already have been very wet the last seven days at about 200% of normal. you see those flash flood warnings that are put up really through the state of mississippi, and northern alabama like huntsville, worried about flash flooding especially if you're going to be on the road, if you're traveling i-65 or i-20 you get four to six inches of rain first. don't be on the roads. that's how people die in flash flooding in cars. on top of this, you have the front moving through. so southern louisiana and

mississippi end up having a damaging wind and even isolated tornado threats. if that's not enough this is not going to stop in the south and it's going to move to the northeast. one to two inches of rain will be with us. saturday night, though, wraparound snow to deal with in the northeast that could be trouble going into sunday/monday, guys. >> ginger, thanks. we'll check back with you soon. turning now to washington where lawmakers will soon return from recess and start the new year right where they left off at a stalemate over impeachment but this morning there are signs of potential breaks in the gop ranks and mary bruce is on capitol hill with the very latest. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, whit. the impeachment process is still in limbo this morning, the president is optimistic. he says he's looking forward to a trial in the senate, but it's not clear what exactly that trial is going to look like, and now some republicans are raising concerns with their own party's approach. republican leader mitch mcconnell has promised to be, in, quote, total coordination with the white house, but senator lisa murkowski says she was disturbed to hear that, and senator susan collins of maine says it is inappropriate for

either side to prejudge the evidence. she says she is also open to witnesses, and that is the key sticking point here. democrats are still demanding to hear from four key witnesses close to the president while republicans want a quick trial with no witnesses, and until they can sort that out, house speaker nancy pelosi is refusing to send over the articles of impeachment for the senate to consider. so lots of questions for lawmakers as they return to the hill next week. robin? >> still looking for answers. mary, thank you. now to the race for 2020. we're just over a month away from the iowa caucuses and democrats are crisscrossing that state trying to connect with voters and taking new aim at their opponents. eva pilgrim is in cedar rapids with the latest there. good morning, eva. >> reporter: good morning, robin, we have one month until the iowa caucuses and the candidates are out in full force. joe biden and bernie sanders are both expected to make stops in this area today and this is still anyone's race. the latest polling showing people here in iowa haven't made up their minds. >> reporter: the rush is on to

get to voters. now one less candidate. breaking news this morning, julian castro breaking out of the race. as a cloud of uncertainty around the impeachment trial looms and could potentially throw a wrench into some campaign plans. >> i would honor whatever the congress, in fact, legitimately asked me to do. >> reporter: after first saying he would not, joe biden clarifying that he would comply if subpoenaed for the impeachment trial, but the former vice president maintains his testimony would be irrelevant. >> i have no firsthand knowledge. there's no basis so my point was there would be no basis upon which to call me as a witness to an event that, in fact, i cannot have any impact on. >> reporter: biden not the only candidate waiting to hear if or when they will be pulled back to d.c. for the impeachment trial. senators michael bennet, cory booker, amy klobuchar, bernie sanders and elizabeth warren will all be faced with juggling their campaigns and duties in

the senate. meanwhile, the former mayor of south bend, his term ending wednesday, freeing buttigieg up to spend more time campaigning. and anything can happen here in iowa right up until the homestretc and the candidates know that. in 2019 there were nearly 19 campaign events here. in january alone, they have already 92 events scheduled. >> all right, thank you so much. eva. we want to turn to the devastating fires in australia killing at least 18 people forcing tens of thousands from their homes. now, many of those residents as well as tourists are seeking shelter from the flames on beaches. our maggie rulli is there for us in australia. good morning, maggie. >> reporter: t.j., with fire danger expected to increase into the weekend today, crews were out there trying to get the upper hand. firefighters here tell us that they were able to contain a large fire just up the road. even stopping it from jumping across a busy street. a weeklong state of emergency

declared this morning in parts of australia. thousands fleeing as more than 200 fires rage in two of australia's most populated states killing at least 18 people. firefighters driving tough the inferno. >> put the blanket up. >> reporter: shielding their windows with blankets as flames engulf their vehicle. >> we were in the thick of it. we thought that this could be it. >> reporter: in the south some families are trapped on the beach as the fires surround them on all sides. the australian navy is now stepping in delivering aid to those waiting to evacuate. the wildfires are also burning through much of australia's precious ecosystem killing an estimated 500 million animals and threatening countless others. >> he's so thirsty. >> reporter: like this koala found fighting for his life. >> here he is here, this is paul. >> reporter: he's recovering at the koala hospital and even has a name, paul. he was the first to be rescued from these fires but dozens followed. >> it's really going to set back the koalas who are already in serious decline.

>> reporter: but it's little ones like paul that make the researchers here keep fighting. both researchers at the koala hospital and firefighters here tell us that they have been working in this region for decades, and they have never seen anything like this, guys. >> just imagine the massive size of that. >> trying to put that into scale. 12 million acres they said is bigger than the states of new jersey and connecticut combined. >> combined. >> it's unbelievable. thank you, maggie. we do want to turn to an apology from pope francis after that surprising moment in vatican city seen around the world. the pope was greeting the faithful on new year's eve as he walks by the crowd. that woman in the purple coat there you see yanked the 83-year-old pontiff's arm pulling him towards her, pope francis smacked her hand and then moved away, clearly irritated as he began his new year's day address on st. peter's square, and he began his new year's script saying we often lose our patience, me too, and i apologize for my bad

example. we're also going to celebrate the life of former nba commissioner david stern who was at the helm of the league for 30 years. a time in which it reached new heights of popularity, profitability and personality. chris connelly is in los angeles with more on the man who changed the face and future of pro basketball. good morning, chris. >> reporter: and good morning, robin. you know, with fierce intelligence and unparalleled vision, david stern brought profound sweeping change to professional basketball during his three-decade reign as nba commissioner becoming a monumental figure in the history of american sports. the effects of a brain hemorrhage suffered two weeks ago claiming the life of former nba commissioner david stern on new year's day at the age of 77. the league he helped to define honoring him with moments of silence on wednesday. before david stern became nba commissioner in 1984, the league was in the doldrums, its finals

often aired out of primetime, on tape delay. stern seized on the excellence of such young superstars as magic johnson, larry bird and michael jordan, marketing their singular greatness helped stern transform the nba into a worldwide juggernaut both fantastic and fantastically lucrative. michael jordan saying in a statement, his vision and leadership provided me with the global stage that allowed me to succeed. from the dream team at the 1992 summer olympics in barcelona and the electrifying slam-dunk contests during all-star weekend, to the straight out of high school magnificence of lebron james and kobe bryant. >> the charlotte hornets select kobe bryant. >> reporter: stern had a key role in making all of it possible and profitable. >> for me personally, it was a dream come true to step up on that stage and shake david's hand. my prayers and condolences to his family. >> reporter: his hard-charging

style saw him lead the league through an infamous brawl and a controversial dress code, through labor unrest and lockouts. >> i never felt that i had to apologize for the players for making that money. >> reporter: yet, there was more to david stern than just business. he had a lifelong commitment to social justice too. when magic johnson announced he had hiv stern would ensure that magic played in the 1992 all-star game and on the dream team as he told robin roberts in 2016. >> we got to give commissioner david stern a lot of credit. so we both helped change the world in a sense, and so i thank him for that. >> reporter: it was also stern who spearheaded the drive to establish the wnba in 1996. said commissioner cathy engelbert, his steadfast commitment to women's sports was ahead of its time. to this day, from steph curry to kawhi

leonard, from candace parker to diana taurasi, none gets fans so engaged on social media. none generates more breathtaking highlights. all thriving on a landscape that david stern brought into being. and what david stern accomplished continues to endure. guys. >> yes, under his successor adam silver. chris, i mean, commissioner stern had the respect of the players, owners and fans. that's quite a trifecta. >> reporter: yeah. i would say he's the most accomplished and successful sports commissioner of all-time. there's plenty of evidence for that. >> it certainly seems that way. you have to remember, you know, remember the league in the '80s when he came along? >> yeah. >> no one was really talking about the nba as they do now. >> but he highlighted the personals and knew the money was in the stars and highlighted them but came into the league, you had stern, jordan and barkley. came in in '84 all at the same time. that's a heck of a group. >> absolutely. >> that didn't hurt.

>> incredible career. >> well, he will be missed. we're following a lot of other stories this morning. next, michael's exclusive with alex trebek and his wife jean on the pain he noticed that led to his cancer diagnosis. how they're coping using humor and the pet peeve jean says she wants him to stop doing. can't wait to hear that. also ahead this morning, the heart-pounding rescue of a b.a.s.e. jumper stuck dangling on the face of a mountain. first though, let's go back to ginger. >> ten cars buried in a drift. not a snowdrift, a tumbleweed drift. this is in washington state, the highway was closed for a time. again, ten cars this there, guy, that was all from that wind that was so extreme with that storm. all right, your local weather coming up in 30 seconds. first though, the sunny cities sponsored by allstate.

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♪ ♪ no matter how you stay fit keep it light with light & fit's 12 grams of protein and 80 calories. ♪ ♪ ♪ this is intelligent, loving, bonds very closely with its family. >> we welcome back to "gma." that is wasabi, the pekingese getting fluffed for prime time winning over the judges. got to be the fur. he landed the top dog title at the american kennel club national championship and wasabi is here live. he's going to join us in the studio. much more with him coming up. >> we are told there's legs under the fur and perhaps ears in there. we'll have to confirm that later this morning. that's ahead. but first, though, the top headlines we're following right now.

the u.s. is deploying hundreds of troops to the middle east after that violent siege on the u.s. embassy following two days of protests. also right now, some new laws for the new year. illinois becoming the 11th state to legalize marijuana for recreational use leading to long lines. surprise. also eight states will either increase fees or introduce new fees for electric cars, this is to make up for revenue loss in gasoline taxes. also oregon becoming the eighth state to ban single use plastic bags in retail stores, supermarkets and restaurants. >> a lot happening in the new year. now to our exclusive interview with "jeopardy!" host alex trebek and his wife, jean. we're hearing from him for the first time since his cancer diagnosis. the couple sat down with michael to talk about their journey that began when alex started experiencing severe stomach pain one year ago. >> i knew as soon as the doctor came back and mentioned the pancreas. i said, uh-oh, it's going to be cancer. throughout my life i've always wondered about how courageous a human being i was. i just look at it as it's part of life.

does that mean i'm courageous because i'm dealing with it? no. i can be scared to death and i'd still have to deal with it, but i'm not scared to death. so maybe i am courageous. way to go, alex. this week i was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. >> did you think once you announced it that it would affect the people the way it has? >> had no idea. that was not my point in making the announcement. i just wanted to get ahead of the tabloids because i knew they would emphasize and misrepresent what was happening to me. and you've seen some of the headlines in the tabloids. you know, he's not going to make it to christmas. okay, i'll show them. i am going to make it and beyond. >> reporter: jean and alex trebek have been married 29 years and they have two adult children. >> very simple question. do you know you're married to an icon? >> he's just my husband. >> but i liked it better when

she would bow when i came into the house. those days are gone. >> i know, jean, you haven't spoken about your husband's illness before. what's the toughest part for both of you? >> for me it's when i see him in pain and i can't help him. and when he doesn't eat right. when he has too much diet soda. >> back off, michael. >> i'm not saying anything. >> i'm 79. if you get to be 79 and be in as good a shape -- wait a minute. i'm not in great shape. darn. boo that one, trebek. >> alex has been working through all of this. >> mm-hmm. yeah. >> have you ever looked at him and said, honey, take a break? you can miss a show? >> yes. i mean, to my girlfriends, yes, but i know it's what feeds him. he loves doing "jeopardy!" he has his own family over there.

they're such a close-knit, beautiful group of people. so i think that gives him a lot of support, a sense of purpose and that he's just not in bed and can be productive. >> it's always tough for the caretakers because she has to deal with her worrying about my well-being and also dealing with i'm not always the most pleasant person to be around when i'm experiencing severe pain or depression and she has to tread lightly around me. >> reporter: the cancer diagnosis shifted his world. >> most of us have open-ended lives. we don't know when we're going to die. because of the cancer diagnosis, it's no longer an open-ended life. it's a closed-end life because of the terrible statistics, survival rates for pancreatic

cancer, and because of that and something else that is operating here, people all over america and abroad have decided they want to let me know now while i'm alive about the impact that i've been having on their existence. >> i'm just happy that people are able to express it right now. >> they have come out and they have told me and my gosh, it makes me feel so good. >> you see there, those well wishes, they really do make a difference, and i'm so glad he talked about the caretakers, and in particular his wife, jean, because they are the unsung heroes when somebody they love is going through something like this. we've had the good fortune, both of us, to spend time since his diagnosis and that trademark humor. it comes through. >> always there. he makes you feel better about his situation, right? and about his wife, one of the first things out of his mouth,

about his wife and how she's taking care of him. >> interesting what he said. he chose to speak out and be candid about all this because he wanted to gain control of the narrative and he is doing that and he's helping so many in the process. >> he certainly is, and you can see so much more of michael's interview with alex and jean on the abc news special "what is jeopardy? alex trebek and america's most popular quiz show" at 8:00 p.m. here on abc. we do need to turn to new details we're getting on the new year's eve death of nick gordon, that's the former fiance of whitney houston's daughter bobbi kristina. he was held legally responsible, you may remember for bobbi kristina's death back in 2015. amy robach is here now live with more. good morning to you. >> reporter: hey, t.j., good morning. nick gordon and bobbi kristina had a very complicated relationship and now nearly five years after her death he has passed away after a reported overdose. >> bobbi kristina. >> reporter: overnight, abc news has learned the former fiance of whitney houston's only child, bobbi kristina brown, has died of a reported drug overdose.

according to "the daily mail," 30-year-old nick gordon was rushed to a hospital in central florida during new year's celebrations after having a series of heart attacks. doctors were unable to revive him. an attorney for gordon confirming his death, but not commenting on a cause. ♪ and i will always love you >> reporter: gordon was long rumored to be whitney houston's adopted son. though never actually adopting him or including him in her will, he was there the night the music superstar accidentally drowned in a hotel bathtub surrounded by drug paraphernalia just before the grammys in 2012. gordon and bobbi kristina eventually becoming engaged. >> we're really very happy. >> reporter: but their union rumored to be tumultuous. in 2015, bobbi kristina, then 22 years old, in a scene eerily similar to her mother's death found unconscious and unresponsive with drugs in her system in the bathtub of the georgia home she shared with gordon. she remained in a coma for six

months and later died. in 2016 bobbi kristina's father, singer bobby brown joined his daughter's estate to file a $10 million wrongful death civil suit against gordon. and although he was never charged in the case a judge ordered him to pay $36 million to her estate. gordon's brother telling abc news overnight, we are devastated by the loss of my beautiful brother. he leaves a void in the hearts of my family and his friends. nick's battle in life was not an easy one. now, gordon's brother also went on to say, i was able to hold his hand as he journeyed on. next month will mark the eight-year anniversary of whitney houston's death. so much tragedy in this situation, whit. >> that is for sure. amy robach for us, thank you. we do want to turn now to the dramatic rescue caught on camera. a b.a.s.e. jumper who got stuck on a vertical rock face in arizona hundreds of feet above the ground. will reeve is here now with the incredible video. will, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, whit. scott frankson has been b.a.s.e.

jumping for decades and had close calls but likely none as close as this dangling off the face of a cliff. his plight and rescue all caught on camera. this heart-stopping video shows a life literally hanging by a little more than a thread. scott frankson was b.a.s.e. jumping over arizona's superstition mountain sunday morning when he got stuck on a sheer face vertical wall. you can see a small sliver of his torn parachute catching the edge of a rock. a helicopter hovers overhead as a state trooper works to free frankson. >> can you break that away? >> it's the best place to cut it. you got me clipped in? >> reporter: listen to the blustery conditions. the wind whipping the parachute as frankson hangs on for dear life. the jumper suspended hundreds of feet off the ground. the rescuer finally able to detach a grateful frankson from his harness. >> thanks, man. >> reporter: minutes later, the lucky man's feet touching down on firm ground. despite the harrowing scene,

frankson managed to walk away unscathed. this is the second close call for frankson over these very mountains. in 2015, frankson was b.a.s.e. jumping with a bunch of friends when his parachute got tangled up with another's and the jumpers spiraling down in a potentially deadly freefall. their lines tied together, but as they dropped, they somehow managed to untangle themselves. frankson crash landing on the face of a boulder. neither frankson nor his rescuer were injured in the ordeal. by the way, b.a.s.e. jumping legal at superstition mountain although officials advise against it for all the obvious reasons. >> wow. i would say so. will, thank you as always. coming up, we have holiday gift returns. how to get cash back on things you have already purchased. come on back. come on back.

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we are back now with a record return getting under way. $100 billion worth of merchandise is expected to go back to retailers. u.p.s. says that will peak today and predicting it will handle nearly $2 million in return packages. rebecca jarvis showing us how to get the most out of your return. good morning, rebecca. >> reporter: good morning, robin. happy new year. yeah, that's right. the game has changed. all that online shopping means more returns than ever before and even though we love the convenience of buying online, when it comes to returning or exchanging, people still want to

take it back in store. this morning, a new year and many happy returns. americans predicted to return a record $100 billion worth of gifts. u.p.s. anticipating 1.9 million items returned through their mail service today alone. experts expecting a record-breaking $42 billion worth of merchandise bought online this holiday season will be returned. $5 billion more than last year. and many major retailers including walmart, target, best buy and amazon even extending return policies over the holidays. some up to an additional 60 days. but beware, not all products are included under that umbrella. one standout, electronics, and the sales aren't over. retailers looking to clear out their inventories and with after-holiday sales on everything from linens to exercise equipment, to winter gear and clothes, you might even

be able to get some cash back on something you already purchased. and finally, if you received a gift card that you can't use with apps like raise and cardpool, robin, you can burn it -- turn that gift card into cash. >> good to know. all right, rebecca, thanks so much. well, coming up -- >> why are you smiling? >> you get a gift card, you can take that back. you can take everything back now. >> he's still thinking about the bedding he's going to purchase with the return. our "play of the day" and a reason you should always finish the race strong, folks. ♪ i'm on the edge the edge the edge ♪ this is capital one. where banking moves at the speed of right now. you can open a new savings account in about 5 minutes and earn five times the national average. from here or here in our cafés. plus, there are no fees or minimums on savings or checking accounts. welcome to banking's new frontier.

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good morning, south bay. let's get up and get going. >> good morning. this is "abc7 mornings." dro. ra drew tuma is working this morning also. >> we have visibility that is zero in spots. it will linger until about 9:00 a.m. and so the average this time of yar in the 50s and low 60s. >> the fog is a issue for the people traveling through livermore. we will take you to something following on the bay bridge. it is slow past treasure island and we haven't seen issues coming down from chp.

some areas are down to 24 miles per hour and expect delays headed that direction. >> thank you, jobina. coming up a "gma" exclusive, a first look at the u.s. world news and report top diets and how to make one of them work for you. you can always find us on the

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good morning, america. it's 8:00 a.m. on edge, hundreds of u.s. troops are deploying to the middle east after that violent siege. iranian backed protesters firing on bulletproof windows. during two days of explosive protests. new this morning, the fda's change to nutrition labels starting now. no longer labeled by just a single serving but by how many calories are in the entire package. could it change the way you eat? ricki lake posting photos overnight revealing her private 30-year battle with hair loss, something a lot of women can relate to calling it debilitating, embarrassing and

lonely. g ying she wanted to start 2020 feelinliberated and free. "gma" exclusive. your first look at u.s. news' list of the best diets of 2020. which ones can kick-start your health. the best for weight loss and what to consider before starting a new lifestyle. dr. ashton breaks them down. here comes wasabi. the pekingese running away with best in show at the american kennel club. now he's here live on "gma." we can't wait to meet wasabi as we say good morning, america. ♪ show him how to do it now you cannot go wrong with peaches and -- >> got you going. >> we are glad you're starting day two of 2020 with us. and as so many people are making resolutions, you're going to meet three incredible women who saw those resolutions through pushing themselves to become healthier and happier on weight loss journeys that transformed their lives. we have that story for you just

ahead. also another story and another guest we have here with us. yes, there is a dog under that hair. that is the winner of the american kennel club's national championship. that is wasabi, the pekingese, and i'm going to braid that hair a little later. >> are you really? >> no. >> he's got his own glam team. we know that. we will hear from wasabi very soon. first we begin with the latest on the rising tensions in the middle east following explosive protests at the american embassy. more u.s. troops heading to the region. let's go back to martha raddatz in washington with the latest developments. martha, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, whit. those angry crowds have backed off for now, but hundreds more u.s. troops have now arrived in the middle east. soldiers from ft. bragg were deployed almost immediately after that violent siege on the american embassy began and about 100 additional u.s. marines are now at the embassy itself. the reinforcements coming after the embassy was surrounded by an

iranian-backed militia and its supporters. the crowd shouting "down, down, america" throwing rocks, spraying anti-american graffiti, setting fire to rooftops, even ramming bulletproof windows. at one point during the attack, the u.s. marines fired tear gas at the crowd. those marines will remain on site as long as needed and thousands more on alert for possible deployment. t.j. >> thank you for the very latest. a major change want to tell you about from the food and drug administration. with the new year comes new nutrition labels. they are designed to reflect how americans actually eat. janai norman here with more on that. a lot of people talking about resolutions and maybe get a little help here on what they're doing with their diet. >> i'm not so sure this will help, t.j., but the fda's new nutrition labeling rules kicked in launching changes to how manufacturers are required to label packaged foods. one change you'll notice, large

food manufacturers to list two different columns on the nutrition labels for their products so one listing the nutrition facts for a single serving, the other new label listing the nutrition facts for the entire package so think bag of chips, pint of ice cream, anything not good for that new year's resolution. it comes because nutrition is different and hope the new label will help them focus on what they're eating and drinking? >> does that mean we're eating the whole bag? >> a lot of people are. >> i'm in that company. i need the whole bag labeled. >> food that can reasonably be eaten in one sitting. >> you think that's for the whole bag. that is going to help. >> is that what you thought? >> now you know what you're eating. >> hey, want to stick around and do "pop news." >> i think i will. first we want to tell you we'll say good-bye to a baseball legend, former new york yankees pitcher don larsen has passed away. he's the only pitcher to three a

perfect game in world series history. it happened in october of 1956. produced one of those -- this is that iconic photo in baseball history. watch. yogi berra leaping into his arms. in a statement following his passing the yankees called the photo, quote, the pinnacle of baseball success, and a reminder of the incredible, unforgettable things that can happen on a baseball field. he died new year's day. he was 90 years old. how many times have we seen that iconic photo. >> you said it. a true legend. >> yes. coming up, ricki lake revealing her secret struggle with hair loss and how she's taking control. you'll want to hear it. three inspiring women who made it their mission to get healthy without surgery. wait till you see how they're doing. we can't wait for wasabi. the best in show. i just like saying that name. wasabi, best in show here strutting down the runway. much more with him coming up. we'll be right back. k. being a person is complicated.

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back here on "gma," this wonderful audience once again. [ applause ] here to start the new year. and a little "pop news" with janai. all right, guys. first "pop news" of 2020? yeah. no pressure here. okay. we begin this morning with lizzo who is reminding all of us that a lot can happen in ten years. the singer took to twitter to reflect on her journey over the

past decade writing, 2009 was the year my daddy died. 2009 was the year i lived in my car and cried myself to sleep on thanksgiving. 2019 is the year my album and song went number one. 2019 is the year i told my mama i can buy her a house. anything can happen in a decade. >> amen to that. amen to that. >> and she posted that picture right there of the change over the decade. a side-by-side of her in 2009 next to her "time" magazine entertainer of the year cover. telling fans, 2020 could be the beginning of your anything, and certainly lizzie oo off to a gr start. already up for eight grammys. yeah, hey, lizzo. i have a feeling 2020 will be good as hell for her. >> keep it going. >> i checked with the producers and they said i could say that. i'm not trying to get in trouble in 2020. no. now lil nas x is also ringing in the new year right. he took the "old town road" all the way down south to surprise

dozens of children at a hospital in atlanta just in time for the holidays. the award-winning rapper signed autographs, hung out with the kids and even played truth or dare with them. this is actually the same hospital that he visited back in september when he gained his famous gucci cowboy hat to an 11-year-old boy named elijah. look at that. quite a gift. lil nas x is known for giving back. of landers elementary school s with a special performance of his hit song he couldn't get away from, "old town road." we can't wait to see what else he does in 2020. >> he had a big 2019. >> that song was everywhere for months. finally, if you weren't able to stay up late enough to watch the ball drop on new year's eve you may have missed a sweet moment that happened after midnight. one new york city firefighter decided to pop the question to his girlfriend, of course, on live tv. take a look. >> one thing on my mind today.

you make me a better person. i hope to make you shine. will you marry me? [ cheers ] >> oh my god. yes. >> wow! >> there's a lot going on. >> yes, right. >> she did say yes. >> she said yes. >> congratulations. >> how do you like that? they met at an elvis-themed wedding ten years ago in las vegas. >> so precious. i don't think we would have showed it to you if she said no. >> i was waiting for it. >> so congratulations to them. >> all right, janai, thank you very much. that's "pop news." [ applause ] time now for our cover story. so many people make resolutions to be healthier in the new year. now "u.s. news & world report" is giving us a first look at what they say are the best ways to eat in 2020. erielle reshef has all those details for us.

>> reporter: new decade. new dreams of the perfect diet. only problem. only problem? >> there's no such thing as one size fits all in dieting. >> reporter: this morning "u.s. news & world report" releasing their rankings of the 2020 best diets after a team of experts sized up 35 different plans. sitting at the top of the leaderboard for best overall diet for the third year in a row, the mediterranean diet. >> this style of eating emphasizes cutting back on saturated fat and red meat and sugar and emphasizes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and seafood and nuts and whole grains. olive oil and even a glass of wine. >> reporter: experts say the mediterranean diet is easy to stick to, promotes overall health and even prevents chronic disease. >> it last snagged top spots on the best diabetes diets. easiest diets to follow and the best diets for healthy eating. >> reporter: tied for second best overall the dash and flexitarian diets.

>> the dash diet stands for dietary approaches to stop hypertension. it was actually designed by the government to help lower blood pressure but a side benefit happens is it is good for weight loss. >> reporter: the flexitarian diet is being a flexible vegetarian. >> the idea is that the more plants you eat, the better. if you cannot resist a hamburger, that is fine, go for it. >> reporter: the experts say these type of lifestyle plans are more sustainable and successful for followers, compared to rigid, restrictive diets like whole 30, keto and the dukan diets which have less science to back them up and scored the lowest ratings across the board. erielle reshef, abc news, new york. >> our thanks to erielle. now, dr. jen ashton is going to join us live from boston. so we know it's not one size fits all. there are so many different plans out there so what should people consider? >> well, robin, first happy new year to you. i think anyone who wants a new

eating plan in 2020 has to consider some logistical factors and look at your home life, work, social life, whether you travel, whether you have any allergy restrictions. you know, you can't go on a diet which requires you to prep and portion control and weigh your foods if you are on the road for work every day. so you have to find what works for your lifestyle. >> you really do, and many people -- and i appreciate you saying happy new year. same to you, and millions are still making their resolutions and wanting to stick to it to be healthier and such. you have a degree in nutrition. this is your wheelhouse, so what are the best tactics for people to stay on course when you make a plan? >> so, robin, i like to say that for a diet to be good for you, it has to have the three ss. it needs to be safe, simple and it needs to be sustainable. the data is really clear in the world of nutritional science that any diet can work short-term. the key is keeping that diet

going long term so that it really works for you and that's not just about weight loss. that's about inner health as well. >> that's so true. so what are the best plans for losing weight, and what about, you know, those quick fixes that people are looking for too? >> according to the "u.s. news & world report," the winners for rapid weight loss, weight watchers, something called volumetrics and vegan diet. most work by portion control and being hypocaloric or low calorie. what i like about weight watchers, it has a strong social community component which is key for anyone who feels like they're doing this alone. and things like keto and whole 30, absolutely safe and effective short-term. the key is whether they can work long-term. >> that is the key. all right, jen. thank you so much. good to see you. >> you bet. >> you can learn more about these plans on our website and in the latest issue of "u.s. news & world report" on newsstands right now. whit? all right, robin, thanks.

now to that powerful message from ricki lake opening up for the first time about her struggles with hair loss and depression and taking charge with a brand-new outlook. >> she says she literally went from "hairspray," to hairless revealing on facebook she has been struggling with hair loss for most of her adult life and suffering in silence for nearly 30 years but now she is ready to share her truth and take on the new decade with a brand-new style. she is the original tracy turnblatt from "hairspray." >> on camera, if you were asked to? >> i would be proud to. >> reporter: who went on to have her own talk show, and compete on "dancing with the stars." and overnight ricki lake opening up about a private struggle she's been dealing with for the last 30 years. hair loss. the former talk show queen buzzing her head but telling fans it's not a mid-life crisis or a mental breakdown sharing the photos of her new look on her social media pages writing, it has been debilitating, embarrassing,

painful, scary, depressing, lonely, all the things. there have been a few times where i have even felt suicidal over it. almost no one in my life knew the level of deep pain and trauma i was experiencing. not even my therapists over the years knew my truth saying she wanted to start 2020 feeling liberated, free and real. she went on to say her hair was healthy when she played tracy turnblatt but changed after filming. the actress believes her hair loss was attributed to a number of factors including hormonal birth control, radical weight fluctuations, stress and hair dyes. though she went to the doctors for treatment receiving steroid shots and supplements it would still fall out most recently after working in london and going on an extreme diet in six weeks. according to the cleveland clinic, more than 50% of women will experience it in their lifetimes. she's hoping to inspire men and women who deal with hair loss on a daily basis. ricki's honesty and openness is certainly inspiring others.

women are taking to her facebook page to share their own stories and their own fphotos and suppot those that are facing similar challenges. whit? >> all right, amy, thank you. robin, you'll talk live with ricki lake on "gma" tomorrow. >> so powerful what she is doing. as amy said, so many women it resonates with so many women. we're just thankful she will join us live here in the studio to talk with us. that is tomorrow. also tomorrow night on a special "20/20" we'll bring you the miraculous story you may remember of three young cleveland women, michelle knight, amanda berry and gina jesus who were kidnapped and held captive for over a decade. their daring escape leaving many of us including me in awe of their strength and their spirit. since then each of them, each of them continues to forge their own path of healing and thriving. one of the young women, michelle finding joy and love. tell us about it. >> oh, my gosh. he is the love of my life.

he's my other half. he showed me that life doesn't have to be horrible and you don't have to be alone. >> it must feel great for you. >> yes. >> she's like a big bomb in a small package. you know? >> when i first came out of the house i didn't even know what love was. what a tender touch was. all i knew was abuse. >> huge personality. very, very intelligent. she's got her own light when she walks in. >> michelle, she's found happiness and joy. she's married. >> she looked beautiful that day. i don't know what came over me. i had tears in my eyes. >> we are so incredibly happy for her. may 2013. 2013. that's almost seven years and all that they have gone through through that time and all three of them, they're making their mess their message. the work that they have doing and it's just -- their story of resilience and strength is

absolutely amazing and such an honor to have all three together and the "20/20" special "trapped" airs tomorrow on abc, a two-hour program featuring new exclusive interviews with the three women, the fbi agents and others who worked closely on the case. when you hear the first responders, all these years later how they still reacted. >> i was looking at some of those clips and what was amazing about that is one of the officers remembered gina dejesus as well and so to see her face he instantly recognized her and it shows the dedication of those officers over the years looking for missing people. >> yeah, and even their emotion to this day is something else, but that is tomorrow. now over to ginger. can't wait osi thato see th, robin. so this one comes to us from indiana. i know a lot of people watch football and little kids get inspired and say i want to play football. not 4-year-old will. he wants to do this. yes. he wants to be a drum major at notre dame and so for christmas that's the outfit.

he's really good. he's only 4. i say you have a great future there, will. please drop your "gma" moment on my facebook page so we can s we turn to a "gma" exclusive. a just released report finds the percentage of movies directed by women has doubled in just one year. that's great. now our linsey davis is here. now we hear that. that sounds great but still only

ooet -- at the helm of 10% of the movies. >> reporter: that's right. first of all, happy new year, mr. holmes. consider this, we are approaching the 92nd year of the academy awards. in that time only five women have been nominated for a best director oscar only one has ever won. cue the "jeopardy" music in you know the answer. anyone know? >> kathryn bigelow. >> reporter: you got it. in 2010. [ applause ] her talent existed and the times are a-changing. female film directors were at an all-time high in 2019 thanks to box office hits including greta gerwig's take on the classic novel, "little women." lorraine scafaria's hit "hustlers" starring jennifer lopez and constance wu. >> it's a side hustle. everybody had to get creative. >> reporter: and "frozen ii" co-directed by jennifer lee which accounted for almost $2 billion made at the box office

in 2019. >> what we're seeing is finally an industry that is catching up with this idea that women desire to direct, what has been lacking is access and opportunity and it seems as if things are starting to finally move in a progressive direction. >> reporter: in fact, women were at the helm of 12 of the top 100 films of 2019 and comprised more than 10% of those directing feature films. a number which doubled from 2018 and tripled from 2007 according to a new report obtained by abc news. although it also found representation is really lacking whit comes to female directors of color. across 1300 films with 57 women directors, only 11 women are from underrepresented racial ethnic groups. however many famous faces remain dedicated to a broader female

representation in front of and behind the camera largely in part of last year's 4% challenge, asking industry insiders to commit to a project with one female director in the next 18 months. a-lister including amy schumer and reese witherspoon pledged right away and j. lo announced "hustlers" release on twitter. >> the 4% challenge really was a rally cry, brought the industry together, and we're seeing the dividends in the numbers not only this year, but into 2020 as well. >> five of the top ten most anticipated movies of 2020 are directed by women. "wonder woman 1984," "black widow," "mulan" and "birds of prey" could garner $4 billion worldwide. >> all movies we can't wait to see. stay with us. "gma" will be right back. " will be right back.

good morning, north bay. let's get up and get going. >> this is "abc7 mornings." >> good morning, everyone. i'm kumasi aaron from "abc7 mornings.." a magnitude 3.9 earthquake rattled parts of southern santa clara county last night. the quake had an epicenter in the hills of east hills along the calaveras fault. the shaking could be felt as far north as san francisco. good morning, everyone. a check in on the overall map here, and the fog is lingering over livermore there. and the fog has been impacting the morning commute. a look at the bay bridge live, and we don't have a lot going on there. it is slow this morning which is good for the people headed into san francisco. the drive times across the board are all green and looking

trumpand total disaster.mplete let obamacare implode. nurse: these wild attacks on healthcare hurt the patients i care for. i've been a nurse in new york for thirty years. i know the difference leadership can make because i saw what mike bloomberg did as mayor. vo: mayor bloomberg helped lower the number of uninsured by 40%, covering 700,000 more new yorkers, life expectancy increased. he helped expand health coverage

to 200,000 more kids and upgraded pediatric care--- infant mortality rates dropped to record lows. and as mayor, mike bloomberg always championed reproductive health for women. so when you hear mike bloomberg on health care... mrb: this is america. we can certainly afford to make sure that everybody that needs to see a doctor can see a doctor, everybody that needs medicines to stay healthy can get those medicines. nurse: you should know, he did it as mayor, he'll get it done as president. mrb: i'm mike bloomberg and i approve this message. now, your accuweather forecast with drew tuma. >> we continue to track the issues with fog out there, and livermore has fog down zero miles visibility and now a similar issue along the peninsula, and san car locarlo o visibility. and now, 30s and 40s here and a

nice today to dane in the lower 50s. we have another update in about 30 minutes or so, but you always ♪ we welcome you back to "gma." day two of 2020 and for so many people the new year is all about embracing resolutions and living your best life. this morning we're sharing the stories of three inspiring women who pushed themselves to not only lose more than 100 pounds each but keep it off. they're all featured in "people" magazine's "half their size" issue. we'll meet them but diane macedo has their story for us. >> reporter: 38-year-old shawna tindal battled her weight since she was young. she says as a teen she hit over 330 pounds. >> at a very young age i learned

to use food for something that can't be -- i tried to make it my friend and to provide emotional comfort. >> reporter: she says she would sneak food and binge secretly in her room until college when some good friends helped her find a new path. >> i realized that i could create my own identity. away from my family and high school. >> reporter: 41-year-old marsha parker said she gained 70 pounds during her pregnancy and ballooned to 290 by the time her daughter was 5. >> i wasn't eating in a healthy way at all. chinese food, fried rice, fried wing, foods that were easy to get and that were more economical for me at the time. >> reporter: but it was her daughter kumari now 9 who motivated marsha to take better care of herself. >> she not only impressed me to eat healthy like her. she would set my alarm so i could go to my class and start exercising. >> reporter: lindy cellucci starred gaining weight in her

30s, eventually hitting 299 pounds. >> i gave up a lucrative career and quit smoking. it was a trifecta. >> reporter: she fed her kids well but her own eating habits fell apart. >> i would provide a healthy breakfast for my kids but for myself i would grab an ice cream sandwich because it was in the freezer and convenient. >> reporter: her turning point came in 2014 on a trip with friends. she couldn't keep up and needed to sit out an a steep walk down to the ocean. >> i was so disappointed in myself. i didn't want to be the person who was missing out on life anymore. >> reporter: for "good morning america," diane macedo, abc news, new york. >> oh, my. we're joined by "people" magazine editor zoe ruderman. >> i love this. >> we were talking. i can only imagine how many people reach out to you, but what was it about these three women? >> we get so many submissions but they talked about their emotional relationship. this wasn't about i just want to look better in my jeans or a bathing suit but about changing

that relationship. we heard phrases like intuitive eating and freedom. so these were really special stories. >> had to change the inside as well as the outside. >> yeah, and they did it all with really hard work. there were no weight loss pills, no surgery. this was just hard work. >> hard work. all right. thank you so much. you want to meet these women? [ applause ] i know you do. okay. we're going to bring out lindy first. let's see lindy before and lindy now. come on out, lindy. [ cheers and applause ] how are you? i love how -- strutting down there. show us how much weight you've lost. she's going to show us right here. turn it around. [ applause ] and you know what, we've heard a little bit of your story in that setup piece.

>> just watching made me cry actually again. >> and talk about that breaking moment for you. >> well, it's awful. you're with your friends. you're the same age and go to this place that's fantastic and go down on the ocean floor and there are these awesome flower pot rocks and i couldn't do it. i stood there, and i thought, i can't do 300 steps. i'm 56 years old. i can't do 300 steps. i stood there, i cried. i was so embarrassed and ashamed. i could hear them playing. >> taking selfies. >> having a great time and could hear my friend laughing. i was so disappointed and i said that's it. i actually said those words out loud. i'm sure people around me thought, what is she saying? it's time. it's time. >> you knew right then. >> yes, started right then. started right then. [ applause ] >> like so many women, you were putting other people before yourself. >> my kids. >> what's your advice? >> everyone is busy. you all got busy times. doing things. i think if i could do it again i

would have them help me. incorporate them into my plan so on a sunday spend a few hours in meal prep. get some things in the fridge. get that stuff into the freezer. and then when you get up in the morning and you need something you're not going to go for the ice cream sandwich because guess what, it's not going to be there, right? [ applause ] >> sure. i love that advice. such great advice. very happy for you. >> clean environment. thank you so much. >> are you ready to meet marsha, marsha, marsha? here is marsha before and here is marsha now. come on out, marsha. [ cheers and applause ] ♪ hair toss check my nails baby how you feeling ♪ >> how are you? >> i'm great. [ cheers and applause ] >> show people how much weight you've lost.

[ applause ] >> oh. you talked about this. this is something i'm sure a lot of your readers reach out about. women during and after pregnancy gaining weight and that is what's happened to you. >> exactly. yeah. >> your daughter helped you. >> she -- i'm blessed to have her as my little girl. >> how did she help you? >> she started reading early so she would read food labels and set the alarm so i could go to my classes and run with me. she would tell me how proud she is of me. she's amazing. [ applause ] >> i saw her bright and early. that is kumari? >> that's kumari. >> she's 9. what do you want to tell her? >> you are so powerful. you were able to use your love to influence an adult so there's nothing you can't do and i want to be like you when i grow up.

[ cheers and applause ] >> i'm going to go off script. come up here with your momma. come up here with your momma. you stand here with her. all right. you stand her with her. all right. now, shawna. >> very excited about this. >> here's shawna before. and now shawna, come on out. [ cheers and applause ] ♪ [ applause ] >> i'm so happy for you. bless your heart. okay, so show people how much weight you lost. >> yes, yes, yes. >> yes, yes, yes. drum roll. 165! [ applause ] to each and every one of you -- you said this is something -- a lot of people, you've had a history of dealing with your weight. you said even in middle school

you were, what, 300 pounds. >> yeah. >> so what was that moment for you? what turned it around for you? >> you know, i had to say becoming who i was, knowing who i was meant to be and starting to learn that from adolescence into early adulthood and knowing that i was worthy of being treasured regardless of my size. regardless of my size. and being empowered by that and knowing that gave me the freedom to say, food doesn't have a magical power over me. i can use it. i can enjoy it. we're allowed to enjoy food. i'm allowed to have fellowship with food but it doesn't have to have a stronghold over us. >> it has you explaining and you really personify that, all three of you, and inside you just really felt that it was more for feeding your soul. >> absolutely. yes. yes. >> that really jumped out at us, especially in your food. it was about freedom from that power that food held over you

for your whole life. >> zoe, thank you, ladies, thank you very much. congratulations to all these women. "people" magazine's "half their size" issue is out now. to learn more go to our website. coming up, the top dog, wasabi, the pekingese is here live. [ applause ] [ applause ]

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>> announcer: he is the most loved game show host in america. who is alex trebek? >> way to go, alex. >> announcer: now exclusive alex trebek and his wife jean from his health. >> you haven't spoken about your husband's illness before. what's the toughest part for both of you? >> announcer: to the "jeopardy" event everyone is waiting for. >> the g.o.a.t., the greatest of all time. >> showtime. >> announcer: "what is jep parody" tonight at we are back now to talk about the top dog, a pekingese known as wasabi. won best in show at the american kennel club national

championship in orlando. >> it's a big deal and you're looking at that winning moment right there. wasabi is going to join us live in just a moment. first though will reeve is back with a look at all the action. >> reporter: so much action, whit. what a night and what a morning. we have been excited to meet wasabi, the moment almost upon us. first, let's see how wasabi got here. more than 5,200 pooches battling it out tooth and tail in this year's american kennel club national championship. >> another one of the finest dogs in the country. >> reporter: all hoping for a leg up on the competition from the fluffy to the happy with tails wagging all putting their best paw forward pining for that elusive title of best in show. >> best in show tonight is the pekingese. >> reporter: at only 18 months old this male pekingese named wasabi is just starting his career. his breeder, owner and handler, david fitzpatrick ecstatic. >> oh, my goodness. what a wonderful boy. >> reporter: that first place

ribbon bigger than he is. >> his head is gorgeous. >> beautiful condition. he looked wonderful. >> reporter: the toy size newcomer chewing out some stiff competition including a giant schnauzer fresh out of retirement. >> number one dog in america in 2017. >> reporter: and this giddy golden retriever. as for this pooch -- >> fabulous. look at that head. >> beautiful expression and head on wasabi. >> reporter: he's enjoying all the grooming of a top dog. >> certainly deserves it. >> reporter: wasabi will be competing in the upcoming westminster dog show an event his grandfather malachi won in 2012. championship pedigree. >> big time. big time. thank you, will. appreciate it. all right. now the moment you've all been waiting for. it is time to bring out the top dog. here is wasabi with his handler, owner david fitzpatrick. [ applause ] how are you doing, my man?

welcome, welcome, welcome. >> good to see you. how are you? >> this is a big, big day and he is a handsome fellow, no question about that. first let me ask, he beat out 5,200 other competitors to be the top dog here. how are you feeling this morning? >> well, excited and still very surprised that he did so well. i didn't expect him to do that well because he's such a young dog but, you know, it was a thrill of a lifetime. >> you said young, n even 2 years old. what were you expecting and some kind of training the dog has been going through. >> he's been brought up to be a show dog and, you know, when he was a little puppy as soon as i put a lead on him he just strutted around like he owned the place so i thought this dog looks like a winner and, you know, we just continued walking him and training him and, you know, when you go to a show like the akc national championship it's a huge venue and just want the dog to show well and represent your breed well and --

>> he's representing, no question about that. >> that's what he did. >> speaking of training this is a two-part question. tell us more about the training, but also the training program for the hair because there's a lot involved here. >> yeah. yeah. >> it's like a cross between cousin it and fabio. >> yeah. well, his coat is incredible, especially for such a young dog, but i don't know how fast it grows, but i'm just amazed, you know, we'll trim a little off, and before you know it, you've got to do it again. it's amazing, but he gets groomed every day. >> why the name wasabi? >> his mother was named sushi grand. [ laughter ] >> nice. >> so wasabi just a friend of mine named him. >> you have to think about it every time you eat sushi shy with wasabi here. what's next for him? >> well, we're going to have a few shows in january but his next big show will be westminster here in new york city in february. so he'll be hopefully competing there.

we'll be showing for the breed and if he's lucky enough to do well there, he'll go to the garden for the night competit n competition. >> this is -- i'm sorry. is it okay? >> okay. well, thank you so much. congratulations to wasabi. >> thank you. >> we'll see you again down the road. right now let's head over to ginger. >> thank you, t.j. i learned it's all about up next, we've got supermodel turned business mogul kathy ireland here live. you don't want to miss it. [ applause ] you don't want to miss it.

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we are back now. you're really going to want to applause, the incredible kathy ireland. [ applause ] supermodel turned business mogul who has graced the cover of "forbes" as many times as the cover of "sports illustrated," and now her name is on the cover of this brand-new book, co-authored called "fashion jungle." please welcome again kathy. >> great to see you. >> happy new year. >> happy new year to you. >> any resolutions that you made? >> for me it's more of a daily. a year is too much. i fail. but there is so much divisiveness all around us so to be kinder, more thoughtful. >> thank you. >> daily quick to listen slow to speak, slow to become angry is my goal each day. >> not just for this year. you had quite a year in 2019. i love the fact that -- the wnba, their board of advisers and then also with the nfl, the first woman to serve on

the board of nfl inc. >> nfl pi along with jenny abrams and -- [ applause ] >> why is that? why is there interest there in both? >> well, sports have always been a passion and, in fact, 20 years ago, our company began hosting lpga tournaments. we raised the purse up to a million dollars. on all these boards we can agree that there needs to be more equality with men and women and so working in that is a passion and working with athletes. there's many similarities from the modeling industry way back when and oftentimes there's short-term careers and to have someone come along and be an advocate for you and to really fight for some opportunity, that's exciting. >> you're the right person for that and this -- i cannot wait to read this. i've read your other books but this is your first foray into fiction. >> yes. >> but it's based on some true stories of your life.

tell us about the book. >> so "fashion jungle," these are stories i never planned to share. i met rachel van dyke, and she's a "new york times" number one best-selling author, and as i started sharing stories, rachel got weepy and then i started getting angry and just recognizing so many stories that i experienced roommates, girls and boys who i worked with, it's a story that needs to be told. yes, it's fiction but it is based on real life incidences and it's a romance novel. it's also a thriller and it's a cautionary tale of what happens when you don't know your value and you don't have boundaries. >> oh, gosh. when you don't have those two things, some other things can happen. look, you were fabulous now then as a supermodel and you're so

good about being honest about the industry. you're very grateful for the opportunities that it presented. >> oh, yes. >> but you do have this cautionary tale. if there is a young person, kathy, who wants to go into this industry, what is your advice to them? >> my advice is have your eyes wide open. be alert. know your value. know what you believe in. what are your values, your convictions? put boundaries in place because they will be challenged. know what you would walk away from. know that ahead of time. >> your faith has served you very well, hasn't it. >> i would not be here with you today if not for that. >> so what do you want people picking up this book to come away with? >> i want them to have a true understanding, i mean, i believe all things are possible with god and i believe in that strength is what got me through the difficult times.

that's what helped me survive the fashion jungle and my hope is that each person would find true value in who they are and really recognize that. >> well, thank you for your stellar, stellar example and all that you do. all that you represent and the people that you help. i know how philanthropic you've been. >> well, thank you, and in our philanthropy, we are so grateful to work with some wonderful organizations. the work makes it possible, but serving as the international youth chair for the pediatric national cancer foundation with david frazier. that is a dream and elizabeth taylor aids foundation. [ applause ] >> thank you. bless you. bless you and all those you hold close to your heart. "fashion jungle" comes out on january 28th. [ applause ]

what a way to start the year with kathy ireland. thank you so much for being here. [ applause ] have a nice day, everybody. [ applause ] have a nice day, everybody.

good morning, bay area. let's get up and get going. >> this is "abc7 mornings." >> good morning. i'm kumasi aaron from "abc7 mornings." here is drew tuma with the forecast. good morning, drew. >> good morning, kumasi. we are tracking the fog down to a quarter of a mile of visibility in livermore and zero in san carlos. where the fog has set up shop, it is dense. it is going to lift around 10:00 a.m. 40s right now and nice and under a lot of sunshine this afternoon and upper 50s and lower 60s later today. >> thank you, drew. this is a live look at the san mateo bridge and the fog has been moving in and out of the area, and there is a crash that we are following on the estbound side of the bridge and i will bring up the map, and this is eastbound on 92,92,92, high-rise where a big rig is blocking traffic. >> and we will be back at 11:00

after "live with kelly and ryan." until then you can find us >> ryan: it's "live with kelly and ryan." today superstar jennifer lopez, and from "the resident," actor morris chestnut," plus youtube sensation david dobrik, and tune in for your chance to win a luxurious trip to cabo san lucas, and i take some of the staff on a delicious pasta tour of nyc, all next on "live." >> meghan: ♪ to come ♪ wake me up ♪ i've been dreaming of you >> ryan: and now here we come, kelly ripa and ryan seacrest. >> meghan: ♪ say you want ♪ me too ♪ say you want me too ♪ to come wake me up ♪ i've been dreaming ♪ oh i've been dreaming ♪ of you ♪ say you want me too >> ryan: well, hello, hello, hello. hey. hi, guys. hey. hi. >> meghan: ♪ oh ♪ i've been dreaming >> ryan: hi. >> kelly: hi.