good morning, america. holiday travel chaos. winter weather and covid combining to create a perfect storm. thousands of flights canceled, frustrated travelers waiting in endless lines in major american cities. the situation this morning. cases exploding. a record 2.2 million covid infections reported. the states sounding the alarm, and calling on the national guard as hospitals are overwhelmed. >> there are a lot of patients on ventilators. >> this morning, how school districts across the country are trying to keep kids in class as they return from winter break. capitol riot anniversary. nearly one year after the deadly siege that breached the hallowed chambers of congress. the justice department zeroing in on the more serious offenses. where the investigation stands this morning.

dramatic rescue. 21 people spending new year's eve stranded for hours in freezing conditions aboard two stuffed trams in the new mexico mountains. the intense recovery efforts from first responders as a passenger describes the harrowing experience. giant jackpot. no winner in the $500 million new year's day powerball drawing. the prize swelling. what it's worth now. and celebrating betty white. ♪ thank you for being a friend ♪ >> we remember the hollywood icon's starring roles, career highlights, and impeccable comedic timing. >> if you squeeze the bird, his eyes will bug out. >> the tributes to her this morning, and how she wanted to be remembered. good morning, america. happy sunday morning to you. whit and eva are waking up with their families, but we are

thrilled to kick off a new week and a new year with will reeve and gio benitez with us. >> yes. >> so much to get to this morning, starting with that big winter storm that slammed the west and is now moving to the east. one sign of how bad it was, southwest airlines just called it a day and canceled everything coming into and going out of chicago saturday. >> today and tomorrow are expected to be the busiest days to get back home from your holiday travels, and as far as air travel goes, they may turn out to be the most frustrating. here's a look at the lines at boston's logan airport. the airlines having to play catchup from a backlog that was caused by more than 2,600 canceled flights on saturday alone. >> and airlines facing pandemic staffing issues adding that severe weather in parts of the country, and you have a slew of flight troubles from coast to coast. let's see where things stand right now, and abc's zohreen shah is live at denver international airport with more. zohreen, good morning. >> reporter: hey, good morning, gio. i landed here yesterday, and i was delayed two hours, and when

it comes to cancellations, denver airport is the second hardest hit airport in the world right behind o'hare. many of those cancellations creating a major domino effect making it very challenging for millions to make it back home. this morning, millions facing major travel disruptions as they head home after the holidays. >> i just want to get home. >> reporter: at chicago's o'hare airport endless lines of passengers jam packed inside terminals. many of those crowds building after a domino effect of flight cancellations since christmas eve. >> i like to see the people, but this is a lot of people. >> reporter: on new year's 2,600 flights canceled. airlines like allegiant canceling over a quarter of their flights. even major airlines delta, united, and american all canceling over 7% of trips. southwest resuming all operations this morning after suspending all chicago flights on saturday due to weather. combined, chicago's two major airports canceled more than 1,000 flights with about 300

delayed. passengers bracing for more delays as the storm rolls in. >> i was watching the weather very, very closely because the weather -- they say it's a nasty storm moving. >> it was real shaky leaving greenville coming out here, so i'm expecting another shaky plane ride. >> reporter: all of this coming amid travel challenges already caused by the omicron surge. many airlines forced to cancel flights after workers called in sick. some offering major incentives to staff who could pick up more shifts. >> it's very difficult when you are trying to plan around weather, a pandemic, and all sorts of other crazy incidents. >> reporter: and if you have to make a flight change, the best place to do it is online, and gio, one more thing. those roads are just as tough as these skies. so, if you plan to drive back home today, best to do it before noon to avoid that mad rush. gio? >> yeah, zohreen. it's going to be incredibly busy on the roads. thank you so much for that. and of course, we've got that severe weather threat affecting millions of americans this weekend, and rob marciano

joins us now live from norwalk, connecticut. rob, good morning to you. >> good morning, gio. we've got severe weather. we've got flooding, and we've got snow. it's an expansive holiday high-impact event. over 40 storm reports across five states, and the flooding rain especially across kentucky, look at this video, a number of the high water rescues over there from the flash flooding, over 7 inches of rain falling and they had damage from potentially tornadoes. also tornado damage outside of atlanta, east of atlanta there near covington, georgia, and you see that funnel sight there. storms today shouldn't be nearly as bad, but a line across atlanta, some rain across the northeast, kind of a messy day, and then another pulse comes through, and we'll see more rain and maybe snow on the backside all the way down into the south. we'll talk more about that later in the show. janai, over to you. >> that's not going to help travel. thank you so much. now to the pandemic and a surge in omicron infections across the country as so many parents get ready to send their kids back to school tomorrow

after the holiday break. abc's phil lipof joins us with more. phil, good morning to you. >> reporter: janai, good morning you. it really depends on what state you live in and what the rules are in that state. tomorrow, it looks like some kids are going to back to school in person. others, online. this morning, covid-19 outbreaks exploding across the country. just this week, the u.s. reporting more than a record 2.2 million infections. at least 11 states sounding the alarm, calling on the national guard to help with the omicron-fueled surge in cases. texas governor greg abbott requesting more covid testing sites and medical personnel as the state sees a spike in hospitalizations. in michigan, hospitals are overwhelmed. >> today is not one of the better days. there are a lot of patients on ventilators. long wait times in our emergency department. >> reporter: patients waiting hours for icu beds to open up. >> they're sicker. they're younger. a lot of them don't have any pre-existing conditions, and

it's scary. we have so many patients in the icu right now, that we are all pulling extra shifts and coming in extra days to work. >> reporter: as pediatric hospital admissions from covid climb to an all-time high, the fda could authorize boosters for 12 to 15-year-olds as soon as possible, offering extra protection for school-age kids. some school districts bracing for a potential spike in cases as students return to school this week. >> i think as a parent, we're kind of having this here we go again kind of moment with this new variant. i think it's just better to be safe than sorry and keep the masks on. >> reporter: a rise in cases prompting schools in atlanta and a district outside of new york city to welcome students back online. many schools around new jersey also going to remote learning. >> there you go. >> reporter: in california, the castro valley unified school district passing out covid testing kits to parents so all students can test before classes start on monday. >> we want to make sure that everyone takes a test before they come to school so that if

someone is symptomatic, they can quarantine safely, and we can keep the rest of the school community safe. >> reporter: all over the u.s., people waiting for testing in long lines. >> i've seen wait times up to three hours. this isn't just testing to be able to travel anymore. now it's becoming testing in need because people are become infectious. >> reporter: many americans trying to get their hands on hard to find rapid test kits. in connecticut governor ned lamont addressing the low supply and announcing a new shipment will be distributed. >> we have 426,000 rapid tests right here, and more to come. >> reporter: and this morning, a federal judge in louisiana has ruled the biden administration overstepped congress in requiring that teachers in the federally funded head start program be vaccinated by january 31st. that same ruling said the government can also not require kids in that program 2 and older to wear masks indoors. will?

>> so much to unpack. phil lipof, thank you. to help us unpack all of that is dr. alok patel. he is a specialist in hospital pediatrics at stanford children's health. happy new year. thank you for being with us this morning. as 2022 begins, the holiday break is over for millions of kids, but with pediatric hospital admissions at an all-time high, should kids really be going back to school right now? >> well, happy new year to you, will, and this is a very important question. a lot of parents, teachers, even teens are asking me, and it should be a priority depending on the level of layered protection and what different districts are doing, i respect the fact that different school districts around the country are doing what they can because we know that in-person learning is the best place for students. not only academically, but for their mental health, their social development, and in some cases, their safety and nutrition. so it should be a priority, but as long as we can do it safely. >> if the case rate is already so high, at this point, how would keeping kids home from school make any impact on stopping the spread?

>> you know, it really depends on what districts look like in terms of their resources, but also their test positivity rate. we're seeing some districts like in florida with a test positivity rate above 20%. you take into account with surging cases in the northeast, and it may make sense to delay school openings for a week or two. at least having a remote option. for some of the parents who have children who are at higher risk and may feel comfortable staying home. >> significant news this week with the fda set to authorize booster shots for children 12 to 15 years old. how important is that step? >> you know, it is important. we just get rid of the term booster shot already and just call it part of being fully immunized because we know that booster, the third shot is actually going to give us the optimal protection against omicron, but i'll be completely honest. we want to see clear-cut data, not only for ourselves, but also to be able to tell parents, like, hey, go out there and get the shot.

we still only have about 30% of americans who have been vaccinated going out and getting the booster, so we want to see that data and be realistic and take the time to build up the immunity, and it may not have enough time to put a dent from the surge in january from those kids age 12 to 15. >> speaking of data, there's new data out of the uk that indicates omicron causes less severe illness than delta. how reliable and significant is that information? >> well, fingers crossed that that data holds up. so far this data from the uk is the largest data set of its kind and it correlates to what we have seen in south africa and what we're hearing about right here is that the omicron variant tends to cause a more mild illness, especially if you are vaccinated, but i have two big asterisks to tell people. if we're having hundreds of thousands of positive cases a week, even a small percentage of that is going to wind up in the hospital, and also this data looks at a younger population. we don't really know how this

is going to affect the unvaccinated or those with a higher risk such as children. we have to keep our guard up. >> dr. alok patel of stanford. thank you for making us smarter. happy new year to you. gio? >> will, thank you. to politics now, and that impending anniversary of the january 6th capitol riot. the assault on the legislative branch of the u.s. government leading to hundreds of court cases and a congressional probe. abc's maryalice parks has a look at where these investigations stand nearly a year later. >> reporter: one of the most photographed crime scenes in history has led to one of the largest law enforcement investigations ever. many of the january 6th rioters filming their own alleged crimes, breaking into the u.s. capitol, assaulting officers, breaching the hallowed chambers of congress. but many that day walked away, back to their hometowns, where social media aided by police tracked them down. according to an abc news count, 703 cases have been brought related to the attack that day. approximately 165 individuals have pleaded guilty. the justice department focusing

first on cases easier to prove, and now zeroing in on more serious offenses. extreme acts of violence, conspiracy, and organization. >> what the fbi is doing is they're going through who were the hangalongs. who were the minor players in this? they're trying to weed them out of this so that they can focus on the major players. >> reporter: the select committee set up in the house casting a wide net in its own investigation conducting more than 300 interviews, subpoenaing 19 former trump officials and tens of thousands of documents. moving forward, chairman bennie thompson not ruling out kevin mccarthy sit for an interview this year too. mccarthy has said he has nothing to add. the question now, where will the investigation lead, and could the former president's family be subpoenaed too? members of the committee saying it's crucial their work account for the events of that fateful day as well as the weeks leading up to it, and any effort to inspire the attack or overturn the election results.

>> there was pressure based on -- placed on state election officials such as in georgia. there were attempts to change out the leadership positions within the department of justice in order to influence them. i feel like this was an attempt at a coup which fortunately failed. >> reporter: and members of the select committee say they plan to release formal recommendations to safeguard against attacks like this in the future. and members say they feel pressure to finish that work quickly in part because if republicans take control of the house, the committee could be disbanded. janai? >> and those images just as startling as they were a year ago. maryalice, thank you so much. and let's bring in abc news political director rick klein to talk about this. here we are just days away from the anniversary of the january 6th attack at the capitol. any security concerns surrounding that anniversary on thursday? >> janai, that is a number and date that has been circled on the calendar for a long time. there of course are concerns. there are no specific threats

that have been reported or expectation of a rally or anything like that, but we know how quickly events can get out of hand. security officials say they're ready, and there are new changes and protocols to bring in more individuals on a faster basis if necessary. one of the shortcomings of a year ago was just how slowly it took to dissipate that angry and violent crowd. >> shortcoming certainly paints the picture there, rick. baseless claims about the 2020 election largely inspired those riots at the capitol last year, but also changes to voting laws in a number of states. that could have a big impact as we're now in a midterm year. explain that to us. >> the very structure of voting has changed in this country in a substantial way just in the last year. 19 states have put new laws onto the books that make it harder to vote or change the voting processes in a way that adds a burden for many, many voters. so this is not just an academic argument. many of those laws were inspired by the lies president trump and his supporters told. others were just sort of straightening up loose ends after the covid era, but make no

mistake. people are going to be voting differently, including in some very big states like georgia, texas, florida, arizona, big changes on the books. people have to do their homework and figure out how those changes will affect them, and we're already in it. the first voting of 2022, believe it or not, is going to be taking place in texas just next month in advance of their march 1st primary. >> like you said, people have to do their homework, and voting rights will remain in the spotlight. as we head into the midterms. rick, thank you so much. and be sure to watch "this week" later this morning. george stephanopoulos goes one-on-one with dr. anthony fauci about the record-breaking level of covid cases and representives liz cheney and bennie thompson discuss the next phase of their investigation of the january 6th riots. will? heading now to colorado and that desperate search for at least three people missing after one of the most destructive wildfires in the state's history. those three people are missing after the 6,000-acre marshall fire tore through boulder county torching an estimated 1,000 homes and forcing thousands to flee.

the fema administrator arrived overnight and is planning to speak with survivors and first responders. president biden approved a disaster declaration for the area. gio? such a tough start to the year for so many people. we have that severe weather moving through. let's check back in with rob marciano in norwalk, connecticut. hey, rob. >> hi, gio, and you know in colorado they went from fires to snow which is now hampering the recovery and investigation that's going on just outside of denver and boulder there. here's video of the snow hampering travel along i-70, shutting it down at times yesterday. cars sliding all over the place. this is just west of denver up towards the tunnel there and getting over towards summit county. not just in colorado, but also east there in kansas. some accidents there, and there are injuries because of that. difficult travel across kansas city as well, and getting up to chicago. they had nearly 3 inches of snow, and speaking of snow, we have had an improvement in the

drought situation, but we still a drought across the sierra nevadas and the cascades. we still need to get through this year with at least normal precipitation to at least improve the drought somewhat. we're off to a great start, but we got a long way to go. more storms coming to the east, and this last one will be a kicker across the southeast tonight and tomorrow, and bringing r balmy out here, but that's all about to change as we

finally start to feel some winter in the east here. in this first week of 2022. >> stay warm out there, rob. >> well, he is, but it sounds like winter is coming. >> we miss you in studio. that's all i mean. that's all i mean. we miss you. >> rob, thank you very much for all. and 2021 ended with a scare for 21 people leaving a mountaintop restaurant outside albuquerque, new mexico, as the trams carrying them down from the 10,300-foot peak got stuck around 10:00 p.m. local time friday with the winter conditions harsh and well below freezing temperatures. crews worked through the night to free the 19 restaurant employees and two tram staffers beginning 2022 with an unforgettable rescue. >> reporter: this morning, new video of that dramatic rescue scene in albuquerque, new mexico. >> back en route to tower number 2. >> reporter: 21 people stranded in two trams at sandia peak late

friday night. extreme weather causing ice to form around the cables leaving trams stuck midair. here you can see rescuers climbing to retrieve riders one by one. >> we had to cease operations due to the high winds and icing. >> reporter: overnight, we spoke to colleen elvidge, a passenger trapped on that tram, in what she calls a terrifying experience. >> it was scary. it rocks, you know, and everyone is, like, oh my god. oh my god. we couldn't see anything. it was frightening. >> reporter: first responders taking to the air and the sheriff's office on the ground. >> it was taking roughly about 5 to 15 minutes for every two people to get rescued off, and that includes the helicopter flight. >> reporter: all 21 people were rescued after hanging in the sky for over 14 hours. >> the owners and the managers and the maintenance crew were there all night with us. they were just trying to get us the heck down so we could be safe and then it just kind of worked, but it is scary. >> mercifully there were some

snacks and fire blankets on board the trams and that helped passengers get through the ordeal in which nobody was injured thankfully. it sounds like there is nowhere to go but up, or i guess down in 2022. >> good point. >> 14 hours though. >> terrifying and glad that they're all safe. >> yes, very much so. on celebrating the one and only betty white. tributes pouring in for the beloved actress who passed away at age 99 on friday. the new challenges ahead for small businesses dealing with the omicron surge. and new year, new view. how you can put that nagging voice in your head to good use. we'll be right back. "good morning america" is sponsored by progressive insurance. save when you bundle auto, home, or motorcycle insurance. okay, we're not gonna ask for discounts on floor models, demos or displays. shopping malls can be a big trigger for young homeowners turning into their parents. you ever think about the storage operation a place like this must rely on? -no. they just sell candles, and they're making overhead?

you know what kind of fish those are? -no. -eh, don't be coy. [ laughs ] [ sniffs, clears throat ] koi fish. it can be overwhelming. think a second. have we seen this shirt before? progressive can't save you from becoming your parents. but we can save you money when you bundle home and auto with us. but you know what? i'm still gonna get it. with ww, i lost 30 pounds and i feel incredible. i love the new program because the app does all the work for you. it's never too late to start. start the new year with three months free. join today at ww.com. hurry, offer ends january 3rd. i brought in ensure max protein, with thirty grams of protein. those who tried me felt more energy in just two weeks! (sighs wearily) here i'll take that! (excited yell) woo-hoo! ensure max protein. with thirty grams of protein, one gram of sugar,

and nutrients to support immune health. i've lost count of how many asthma attacks i've had. one gram of sugar, but my nunormal with nucala? fewer asthma attacks. nucala is a once-monthly add-on injection for severe eosinophilic asthma. not for sudden breathing problems. allergic reactions can occur. get help right away for swelling of face, mouth, tongue, or trouble breathing. infections that can cause shingles have occurred. don't stop steroids unless told by your doctor. tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection. may cause headache, injection-site reactions, back pain, and fatigue. ask your doctor about nucala. find your nunormal with nucala. ♪ ♪ my name's caleb. what's yours? i'm grace! did you just move here? yeah! cool!

got our favorites, chicken mcnuggets... let me guess, a big mac? what's that? where's my mcnugget, dad? what mcnugget? i can literally see it! enjoy any two classics for 6 dollars like a big mac or ten piece chicken mcnuggets for a limited time at mcdonald's. (music throughout) after my dvt blood clot... i was uncertain... was another around the corner? or could things take a different turn? i wanted to help protect myself. my doctor recommended eliquis. eliquis is proven to treat and help prevent

another dvt or pe blood clot. almost 98 percent of patients on eliquis didn't experience another. ...and eliquis has significantly less major bleeding than the standard treatment. eliquis is fda-approved and has both. don't stop eliquis unless your doctor tells you to. eliquis can cause serious and in rare cases fatal bleeding. don't take eliquis if you have an artificial heart valve or abnormal bleeding. if you had a spinal injection while on eliquis call your doctor right away if you have tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness. while taking eliquis, you may bruise more easily... and it may take longer than usual for bleeding to stop. seek immediate medical care for sudden signs of bleeding, like unusual bruising. eliquis may increase your bleeding risk if you take certain medicines. tell your doctor about all planned medical or dental procedures. what's around the corner could be worth waiting for. ask your doctor about eliquis.

welcome to the club. trainer: what's going on? hours of operation: whenever you need to feel good. the club has no dress code. no rules of decorum.

pets are allowed. trainer: now we're squat jumpin' up a storm. you don't have to share your card at the door. there is no door to the club. there is no ceiling. and if you have 10 minutes... trainer: come on, come on! ...20, 30. if you're wearing one of these, let's go. >> building a better bay area. moving forward, finding solutions. this is abc 7 news. liz: good morning everybog two people were killed after their car crashed into a tree in vallejo. it happened before 9:30 last night on shasta street. officers found the car engulfed in flames.

another man was hurt after bystanders pulled him away from his car which was hit by the other car before it crashed. he was treated and is -- and is expected to be ok. let's get a check of the forecast with lisa argen. lisa: just how frosty is it out there? the coldest temperatures we have seen in a while. 34 in san jose and half moon bay and look at the beach. it is gorgeous but how about that 27 in santa rosa? 29 in concord with 39 in napa. liz:

someone was actually able to deceive me once. [ laughter ] >> well, welcome back to "gma" on this first sunday of 2022. that, of course, is the one and only betty white who gave us so many memorable moments over her impressively long career spanning eight decades. coming up, chris connelly takes a look at how much this beloved american icon is being remembered. we were just talking about her on "gma" on friday. >> yes, i know. >> so getting that news, it hurt, but it felt good we had celebrated her. >> every generation celebrated betty white. >> yes. >> and every generation knew her. eight decades. >> incredible. let's take a look at some of the other big stories we're following this morning. happening right now, anti-apartheid champion and nobel peace prize laureate,

archbishop desmond tutu laid to rest in a scaled down state funeral in cape town, south africa. the service limited to 100 mourners because of the pandemic. desmond tutu died last week at age 90. also right now, there were no winners in the $500 million new year's day powerball drawing, and that means that monday's jackpot is expected to reach a whopping $522 million. the last time a winner hit was in early october. and it was a rose bowl for the record books. ohio state beating utah 48-45 in the final seconds of an instant classic. buckeyes wide receiver jackson smith finishing with 15 catches, a rose bowl record. 347 receiving yards, a record for any bowl game ever, and three touchdowns, also a tie for the rose bowl record along with his teammate marvin harrison jr. who had three scores and set the school record for most receiving yards in a season, and i set my personal record for most time on the couch eating food and watching football. >> let me tell you something, will reeve, you just turned on that espn will reeve real quick. >> it's in my blood.

>> it burns in your blood. all right, we start this half hour with small businesses feeling the pinch of the pandemic. as a new year gets under way, almost half of all americans working for small businesses ushering in 2022 with a good deal of uncertainty. abc's deirdre bolton has more. >> reporter: january 2022 marks the start of a new year and brings a new set of challenges. some small businesses across the country temporarily closing their doors even though they aren't required to, in an effort to protect staff and the community. like this burbank bar canceling its new year's eve celebration. >> we're a small bar with no windows, not a lot of ventilation. >> reporter: for many this moment in time is particularly difficult because it follows almost two years of hardship. these restaurant owners thrived in what they thought was the worst of the pandemic having opened their restaurant in july of 2020. >> it made us extremely strong and resilient.

>> reporter: now they say the newest covid variant brings a new level of unpredictability. >> he has to go in the kitchen and basically cook everything today because our whole kitchen has omicron. >> reporter: some experts say while omicron is spreading faster, the policy response is not as clear. >> when there was variants that were so extreme, it was really easy to say, well, let's just shut down. >> reporter: back in march 2020, the government announced ppp loans that were a lending lifeline for small businesses. this time around experts say it's unlikely another program will be passed. as many point out, the health of small businesses is a big part of the health of the u.s. economy. by some measures, almost half of all americans work for small businesses. experts such as carissa tell us that consumers have a lot of power right now, so it's important to support small businesses, take a little extra time, shop local, and put community over convenience.

gio? >> oh, yes, absolutely. shop local, small businesses need our support. >> community over convenience. i love that. >> love that. absolutely. thank you, deirdre. time for the weather. let's go back to rob marciano. hey, rob. >> good morning again, guys, and let's go back to texas. love that state especially when just outside of lubbock. had a couple of inches there. winter weather advisories stretches from texas to mississippi, to maine with this expansive snow. rapid city, a couple of inches of snow there, and the national weather service took some video for us to shoot it and say, it's cold there. look at some of the numbers are frightening as far as the deep freeze is concerned, and this is sliding to the east slowly but surely. minus 26, the wind chill in minneapolis. they played the hockey game yesterday, the winter classic outdoors, below zero, and looking ahead to the second week of january, this pattern has shifted. we're looking at below average temperatures for the northeast ern third of the country, and

this weather report has been sponsored by target. we'll show you a pretty picture this weather report has been sponsored by target. want to show you a pretty picture as we wrap this up to head into the new year. >> whoa. >> st. croix, this is inspired by janai's endless vacations. [ laughter ] >> i know you didn't shoot this, but i knew you would appreciate it. >> so funny, rob. my birthday is coming up this week. i'll send you a picture from the beach, my friend. >> you're peacing out again. all good. >> she deserves it. she works hard. >> all right, rob, thank you. and coming up on "gma," tributes pouring in for betty white as a nation remembers the last of "the golden girls." and new year, new strategies to deal with our mental health.

that's coming up ahead in our "weekend download." [ "best of my love" by black pumas ft. sofia reyes ] come in for workout gear, leave feeling empowered. come in for snack time, leave more fulfilled. because when you shop at target, you leave with what you value most. like healthy foods for your family and brands that lift our communities. at target, the things that matter are always within reach. what we value most, shouldn't cost more. [ music ends ] (swords clashing) -had enough? -no... arthritis. here. aspercreme arthritis. full prescription-strength? reduces inflammation? thank the gods. don't thank them too soon. kick pain in the aspercreme. find your rhythm. your happy place. find your breaking point. then break it. every emergen-c gives you a

potent blend of nutrients so you can emerge your best with emergen-c. superpowers from a spider bite? i could use some help showing the world how liberty mutual customizes their car insurance. ow! i'm ok! only pay for what you need. ♪ liberty. liberty. liberty. liberty. ♪ only in theaters december 17th. all the serums out there. this is the #1 in the world. liberty. liberty. ♪ revitalift hyaluronic acid serum from l'oréal. it seriously hydrates to visibly replump skin and reduces wrinkles. effective for all skin tones. revitalift hyaluronic acid serum from l'oréal paris. people everywhere living with type 2 diabetes are waking up to what's possible... with rybelsus®. the majority of people taking rybelsus® lowered their blood sugar and reached an a1c of less than 7. rybelsus® isn't for people with type 1 diabetes. don't take rybelsus® if you or your family ever had medullary thyroid cancer or have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if allergic to it.

stop rybelsus® and get medical help right away if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, or an allergic reaction. serious side effects may include pancreatitis. tell your provider about vision problems or changes. taking rybelsus® with a sulfonylurea or insulin increases low blood sugar risk. side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may lead to dehydration, which may worsen kidney problems. wake up to the possibility of lower a1c with rybelsus®. you may pay as little as $10 for up to a 3-month prescription. ask your healthcare provider about rybelsus® today.

does your vitamin c last twenty-four hours? only nature's bounty does. immune twenty-four hour plus has longer lasting vitamin c. plus, herbal and other immune superstars. only from nature's bounty. ♪ ♪ and it is time now for our "weekend download," and starting the new year with a new

perspective. that's what this is about. dr. ethan kross is the best-selling author of "chatter: the voice in our head, why it matters and how to harness it." it is a book i absolutely love, and dr. kross joins us this morning. hey, there. happy new year, ethan. >> happy new year to you, gio. >> thank you, my friend. so first off, what is "chatter," and how does it affect our lives? >> when we experience stress, we tend to reflexively turn our attention inward to try to work through our problems, but as many viewers know, those attempts often backfire. we ruminate, we worry, catastrophize. we experience what i call chatter which is getting stuck in a negative cycle of thinking and feeling which turns this amazing capacity we have to introspect into a curse rather than a blessing. it's a major problem, and one of the big problems we face as a culture because it makes it hard for us to think and perform. it creates friction in our relationships with others and it can even damage our physical health. >> and ruminating. a lot of us are always

ruminating. listen, the pandemic has people feeling so much anxiety, but that's exactly what you focus on in your book and you write about talking to yourself in the third person, and when i read that, i thought, no way. that does not work, but it really does, doesn't it? tell us your top tips. >> it does work. that, in fact, is my number one go-to strategy for myself. we call that distant self-talk. it involves trying to coach yourself through a problem while silently talking to yourself in the third person. that's an important caveat, gio. i would not want to advocate walking down the streets in new york talking to yourself out loud in the third person. very important. so here's what we know from a science. it is much easier for us to give advice to other people than it is for us to take our own advice. what using your name to work through a problem does is it switches the perspective. it makes it seem like we're

talking to someone else, and it makes it much easier to give ourselves good advice. you can do with this kids. ask your kids to pretend they're a superhero. what would batman do here? what would wonder woman do? two other very quick tips that i personally find useful. something called mental time travel. if you are ruminating about something, say it's your next presentation or interview or date, think about how you're going to feel about this a week, a month, a year from now. that has a powerful way of putting things in perspective, and finally seek out experiences of awe. awe is an emotion we experience when we're in the presence of something vast and indescribable. an amazing sunset, looking up at a skyscraper that stretches up into the sky. when we experience awe, that is a powerful way of broadening our view of things. >> you're zooming out. >> totally. you're zooming out and that's very useful. >> thank you so much. dr. ethan kross. love your book "chatter." thank you for being here on this first sunday of 2022. thank you, my friend. and coming up here on "gma," celebrating hollywood icon betty

white and how she touched our hearts. stay with us. we love our new home. lots of windows, great light- but the birds. they're back. yes, i hear them. uh-oh. why are these birds so angry?! at least geico makes bundling our home and car insurance easy. we save a lot. i'm going...i'm going. aaaahh! hurry, hurry! i know, i know! for bundling made easy, go to geico.com. does your vitamin c last twenty-four hours? only nature's bounty does. immune twenty-four hour plus has longer lasting vitamin c. plus, herbal and other immune superstars. only from nature's bounty.

hi susan! honey? pluyeah?rbal and other immune superstars. i respect that. but that cough looks pretty bad... try this robitussin honey. the real honey you love... plus the powerful cough relief you need. mind if i root through your trash? now get powerful relief with robitussin elderberry. (swords clashing) -had enough? -no... arthritis. here. aspercreme arthritis. full prescription-strength? reduces inflammation? thank the gods. don't thank them too soon. kick pain in the aspercreme. our strength, our power, our purpose... starts within. so let's start there. with collagen that supports our body from the inside out.

(sfx: playful cadence of full soundscape)

back now on "gma" to celebrate the singular life of betty white who died friday just weeks shy of her 100th birthday. figures including michelle obama honoring the tv icon posting that white broke barriers, defied expectations, served her country, and pushed us all to laugh. actress valerie bertinelli tweeting, how bright heaven must be right now. abc's chris connelly has more. ♪ thank you for being a friend ♪ >> reporter: a comic actress and tv personality, one of the most beloved figures in american public life. betty white served up a

beguiling blend of sugar and smarts that made her a standout through multiple decades in show business. >> if you hold a bird gently, the bird will stay, but if you squeeze the bird, his eyes will bug out. [ laughter ] >> reporter: in the '80s and early '90s on "the golden girls" delighting audiences with her rose nylund hilarious naivete. >> someone actually deceived me, once. [ laughter ] >> do tell, rose. >> reporter: and before that, in the 1970s on "the mary tyler moore show." playing against her wholesome image. >> i want a job where i don't have to smile. i don't like smiling all the time. it's against my nature. >> you are smiling. >> i am? right now? >> uh-huh. [ laughter ] >> reporter: she was unforgettable as the happy homemaker who was a sweet-voiced

vessel of cutthroat ambition. >> that means the camera is about -- >> i know what i'm doing. just cue me and then stick a sock in it. >> reporter: she won two emmys, for playing sue ann, eight emmys in all in a sitcom career that would include work on the series "hot in cleveland." ♪ nobody knows the trouble i've seen ♪ ♪ nobody knows my sorrow ♪ >> reporter: the comic's talent and sass winning new fans. >> announcer: ladies and gentlemen, betty white. >> reporter: at 88, she was "snl's" oldest host ever. >> people say, but betty, facebook is a great way to connect with old friends. well, at my age if i want to connect with old friends, i need a ouija board. >> reporter: yet there was more to betty white than just making people laugh. her passionate advocacy for animal welfare. >> that's my life really. i have to stay in show business to pay for my animal business,

but i found it endlessly fascinating since i was born. >> reporter: it was 1939 when a 17-year-old betty white first appeared on television in los angeles. by the '50s, she was hosting and producing her own network shows. >> betty white in "life with elizabeth." >> reporter: early '60s, betty white had been married briefly twice, then a widower named allen ludden, a tv host courted her avidly and proposed. they enjoyed 18 years of marriage before his passing in 1981. betty white died on december 31st, just two weeks shy of what would have been her hundredth birthday. >> what would you like to hear god say to you when you arrive at the pearly gates? >> come on in, betty. here's allen. >> reporter: for "good morning america," chris connelly, abc news, los angeles. >> and our thanks to chris connelly. what a sweet sentiment ending that piece there. an eight-decade career.

that spanned and transcended generations. betty white will be missed and revered and we will be right back with "pop news." stay with us. . s." stay with us. we hit the bike trails every weekend shinges doesn't care. i grow all my own vegetables shingles doesn't care. we've still got the best moves you've ever seen good for you, but shingles doesn't care. because 1 in 3 people will get shingles, you need protection. but, no matter how healthy you feel, your immune system declines as you age increasing your risk for getting shingles. so, what can protect you? shingrix protects. you can protect yourself from shingles with a vaccine proven to be over 90% effective. shingrix is a vaccine used to prevent shingles in adults 50 years and older. shingrix does not protect everyone and is not for those with severe allergic reactions to its ingredients or to a previous dose. an increased risk of guillain-barré syndrome was observed after getting shingrix. fainting can also happen. the most common side effects are pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site, muscle pain, tiredness, headache, shivering,

fever, and upset stomach. ask your pharmacist or doctor about shingrix. shingles doesn't care. but you should. my two favorites. looks like you already chose your favorite. knife. two favorites. i'm gonna take this now. enjoy any two classics for 6 dollars like the quarter pounder with cheese and 10 piece mcnuggets for a limited time at mcdonald's. cranky-pated: a bad mood related to a sluggish gut. miralax is different. it works naturally with the water in your body to unblock your gut. free your gut, and your mood will follow. ♪

♪ my name's caleb. what's yours? i'm grace! did you just move here? yeah! cool! (swords clashing) -had enough? did-no... arthritis.re? here. aspercreme arthritis. full prescription-strength? reduces inflammation? thank the gods. don't thank them too soon. kick pain in the aspercreme. i lost 26 pounds and i feel incredible. with the new personalpoints program, i answer questions about my goals and the foods i love. i like that the ww personalpoints plan is built just for me. start the new year with three months free. join today at ww.com. hurry, offer ends january 3rd.

(swords clashing) join today at ww.com. -had enough? -no... arthritis.

here. aspercreme arthritis. full prescription-strength? reduces inflammation? thank the gods. don't thank them too soon. kick pain in the aspercreme. ♪ all right. it's time for "pop news," and we are splitting the duties this morning, and we are starting things off with what's quickly becoming one of my favorite ways to ring in the new year. from our colleagues in chicago, terrell brown throwing it back to the '90s along with the meteorologist by opening the station's new year's eve tradition, a chicago tradition, their special for the past 30 years. ♪ >> that's crazy. >> yes. yes. this is the fourth year cheryl and terrell have paired up to dance their way into the new year. >> the production value there, too. >> and terrell directed it. he was the man behind it all.

they did incredible. >> awesome. >> he must have prepared all year long for this. >> right? let's go to a colorful way to start 2022. pantone is out with its color of the year and it was made by combining violet red undertones with a periwinkle blue to make a new shade called very peri. it's the first time the company's created this brand-new kind of shade for its color of the year saying, very peri opens us up to a new vision as we rewrite our lives. pantone says the decision to create a new color was to truly reflect the transformative times that we are living in. that's why i wore this tie. and talking about transcending and colors, the new "game of thrones" prequel is getting an important seal of approval. george r.r. martin who created the book series, said he's seen the "house of dragons" pilot and he was impressed. he said it's dark, powerful,

visceral, just the way i like my fantasies. the prequel is set 200 years before the events in "game of thrones," and it focuses on the targaryean family, and it's being called the most anticipated new tv show for 2022. >> wow, a lot to look forward to. >> yes, and a lot to appreciate in 2022. >> and being here with you guys. this was great this morning. thank you for watching abc news. we're always on at goodmorningamerica.com. stick around for "this week" with george. have a good day. ick around for . have a good day. >> building a better bay area. moving forward, finding solutions. this is abc 7 news. liz: good morning everyone. today in tomorrow are expected to be the busiest travel days for people returning home after the holidays. a combination of the weather and staffing shortages are slamming airlines right now. so far there are already 1000 flight cancellations across the country today.

46 flights have been canceled at sfo, 18 at oakland international in nine at san jose. happening today in the south bay, the children's discovery museum is helping families get vaccinated and you can visit the museum for free. each family that comes through the vaccine clinic today gets a free pass to the museum good for one visit for up to eight people. you can use it today or anytime within six months. the museum is offering this pass at the -- at another clinic on january 23. let's get a check of the weather with lisa argen. lisa: it is so cold out there. a freeze warning for another hour and these temperatures are only -- our only 40 degree reading is in san francisco. the view here from the beach, it looks lovely but we are in the mid to upper 20's from santa rosa to livermore. we went up a degree in concord, freezing in napa and novato.

we are much colder than yesterday. southerly wind will help us warm up a bit today but the second half of the day, featuring more high clouds. 56 in freemont, 51 in santa rosa. the seven day forecast, we are milder each and every day with a weak system on tuesday. liz: thanks for joining us. the news continues with this week with george stephanopoulos.

say hello to 2022 with xfinity and you'll get fast and reliable internet for only nineteen ninety-nine a month for twelve months. plus, you can get twelve times the speed for the same price when you add xfinity mobile. you'll save hundreds over at&t. say hello to kicking off the year with this amazing offer. and with xfinity mobile, you can get a 5g phone on us and three hundred dollars back during our xfinity hello twenty twenty-two sales event! click, call or visit a store today! i invest in invesco qqq a fund that gives me access to nasdaq-100 innovations, like cgi. oh, don't worry. become an agent of innovation with invesco qqq

>> announcer: "this week" with george stephanopoulos starts right now. new year, old challenges. >> we're seeing a wave, a tsunami as it were of cases in this country that will continue to go up. >> the omicron surge shatters daily case totals. a record number of children now hospitalized as america struggles with covid fatigue. >> omicron is a source of concern, but it should not be a source of panic. >> will the new year bring new hope at beating the virus? dr. anthony fauci joins us live this morning. plus -- >> i promise you one thing, new york, i will make our city better every day. >> eric adams sworn in just after midnight in times square. what's his mission for america's largest city? and his message to democrats. he joins us live in a "this week" exclusive.