the west coast is being hit by a huge storm. flooding problems causing damage with rain expecked through saturday. as thousands of flights are canceled with a massive winter storm baring down on the northeast with tens of millions in the past. a bizarre battle with retailers and trump. >> demoralizing, that's donald trump's choice for attacks on judges. five are injured after a 25-foot fall during a rehearsal for a wallenda show. an arrest in the world east most famous arena. "early today" starts right now. good to be with you.

i'm francis rivera. we are bracing ourselves across the country, really a wall up from coast-to-coast. steady rains are causing massive flooding and houses are inundated with an entire foot of water. that's not as bad as this mudslide. look at this completely destroyed by a mudslide. on the other coast, a powerful storm from east in ohio and blizzard warnings are in effect and some areas could be hit with a foot of snow. washington d.c. got slammed by the storm and now it's working up the coast, farther northeast. thousands of schools are closed from philly to boston and mor. 3,000 flights have been canceled. travelers are amazed. >> this is going to be something that i haven't seen since i was a senior in high school. >> snowplows are getting ready.

they are expecting white out conditions. people are heading to the stores to stock up on supplies and salt. conditions are already dangerous. a massachusetts couple slipping. then this car causing destruction as it slips and slides down the hill. >> get out of the way! get out of the way! [ bleep ]. >> nbc meteorologist bill karins is watching it all with the details. bill? >> two big storms and travel issues. 55 million people with blizzard warnings in the northeast. snow is highest to the north. baltimore and d.c. didn't get hit too hard. up to new england, they are going to get up to a foot of snow. some could get a foot and a half. there's a huge storm in the west. we showed the pictures of the flooding problems. it's a warm storm. not a lot of snow in central and northern california. we are getting snow on top of the rain and the rivers already running high. we have issues with water up in

the northwest, too. we'll continue to watch the heavy rains throughout the next couple days. we'll give you the updates through the weekend. the flooding is going to continue. >> thanks for keeping us on top of it. the first family goes after a retail giant with donald trump jr. slamming nordstrom after the company decided not to buy anything this season from his sister ivanka trump's fashion line tweeting women nationwide cut up nordstroms cards. also, the media site breitbart previously run by steve bannon. the president of himself used the power of the presidency to condemn the retail chain over his daughter's fashion label leaving some to question whether the president is abusing his power. we have the report. >> reporter: ethics experts sounding the alarm about the latest presidential tweet,

donald trump writing my daughter ivanka has been treated to unfairly by nordstrom. she is a great person, always pushing me to do the right thing. it comes after their decision not to buy anything from the ivanka trump fashion line. a rep says that's due to sales, not politics, just business. a business, by the way, ivanka trump no longer runs. >> how is she being treated unfairly? >> there's a targeting of her brand and her name. this is a direct attack on his policies and her name. >> reporter: now, new concerns about the president's focus on the family businesses he's supposed to be separated from. >> i think that he's putting the bully back in bully pulpit and it's wrong. it's unethical, but it also raises profound and legal and constitutional questions. >> that was halle jackson reporting. this morning, jeff sessions

will be sworn in as the country's newest attorney general after a confirmation vote that showed controversy, not just around the nomination, but gop elizabeth warren. during an all-night talk-a-thon she attempted to read a letter from king. it led to an outbreak #letlizspeak. hillary clinton lent her voice to the cause. democrats cried foul, but not before they went on to read from the same king letter on the senate floor without interruption. >> intimidate elderly black voters. >> after sessions was confirmed, warren said she would bring the hammer down to those who voted in his favor and to sessions himself saying he will hear from all of us. neil gorsuch, disheartening

and demoralizing for the trump comments about the travel ban case. barely 12 hours after an appeals court heard arguments over the immigration restriction, the president gave a full-throated defense on twitter, but not before launching an attack against the judges on the panel and defending his own executive order before gathering of law enforcement off fers. >> i watched last night in amazement and i heard things i couldn't believe. i don't want to call a court bias, so i won't. we haven't had a decision, yet. but, courts seem to be so political. >> it was that attack from mr. trump that had gorsuch openly push back in a sit-down with connecticut senator ruch ard blumenthal. >> he certainly expressed to me that he is disheartened by the demoralizing comments made by

president trump about the judiciary. >> a gorsuch associate confirmed the comments. >> the president tweeted this response to the news, senator ru richard blumenthal who never was in the war misrepresents what the judge told him. tim cook is weighing in on the ban. he said it caused chaos with apple employees with work visas who suddenly couldn't bring their families to the united states. he referenced his predecessor, steve jobs. >> our company has immigrants in it that are key to the innovation of our company. our company depends on diversity. >> apple was among several tech giants to oppose president trump's executive order. five high wire performers

recovering from a fall from 28 feet in the air. it's the famous tight roping wallenda family. they were rehearsing an eight-person pyramid, similar to this one, when five members plummeted to the ground. two are in critical condition. they are lucky to be alive. they are hoping to make a full recovery. the director says the show will go on as scheduled friday. if you received your w-2, you are in tax season. a massive drop in federal tax refunds. the refunds falling 78% compared with last year's, according to new numbers from the irs. the reason for the drop, the delays the irs warned you about earlier this year. the average refund declined signaling a possible hit for retailers and mortgage payments. beyonce's smash hit performance is up for a lawsuit. messy maya is suing for well

over $20 million. maya's team is accusing her team of using a voice recording of her without permission. it seeks damages and royalties. representatives for beyonce have not commented on the suit. she has more fun things to worry about. >> like two little ones that will be coming soon. maybe, red or yellow are the jokes for the name. i want to check in with bill karins for a check on the weather. >> you have to be in the middle of the country for the great weather. >> the timing of this, this all is rain, the orange, red and yellow is heavy rain throughout the day. heavy rain, flood watches. flood warnings in the rivers. the snow in the see area and cascades. all the highest of elevations in the sierra. the passages were closed overnight and reports of rain. we'll monitor that.

stay with your local nbc station for details on t day. not worried about thunderstorms or anything like that. reno, 61 today, a lot of melting. we are going to show you more pictures of the bad weather in the west. this was a dangerous situation that led to a flash flood. the water is rushing down the tracks. that's heading downhill. this is the 21-mile dam reservoir washing out the roadways, farms and railroad tracks. move to higher ground and they called the flooding dangerous and possibly life threatening. that's not the only spot like that. there's many areas that are concerned. >> stay safe out there, thanks. the material girl expanded her family by two. what caused a former

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point as you can see in this video. he was arrested and charged with third degree assault and criminal tres stasz passing. they said oakley behaved in a highly inappropriate and abusive manner. we hope he gets help soon. >> uncomfortable to watch. overseas, we are learning u.s. air strikes killed 11 al qaeda operatives last week. the strikes were carried out in syria. they struck terrorist targets including long time ally of osama bin laden. now, according to the defense department, the other strike was aimed directly at a building being used as an al qaeda meeting place in an effort to disrupt the apt to plot and direct attacks. madonna is a mom, once again. the 58-year-old singer adopted twins after a judge granted permission. she debuted her new daughters with this photo on instagram. she's overjoyed with the

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fast forwarding today, the senate debates the nomination of congressman tom price who has been tapped by president trump to serve as the secretary of human and health services. democrats will not wage a protest on his nomination. president donald trump is having breakfast with with airline ceos and expected to sign several executive orders including one to help mexico combat drug cartels. new york's fashion week kicks off with the biggest designers gathering to bring in the latest fashion trends of the season. they include big puffy coats and cl clunky boots. the most coveted job on the planet, which revolves around chocolate.

landon dowdy has that. >> we'll get to that in a second. it's a job to consider applying for. first, a federal judge stopped the megamerger of two xweans. it would lead to higher costs and less competition in the already concentrated market. just four companies sell health insurance plans, two large companies. last month, a separate judge declined the merger of aetna. agreeing to the trip after meeting with his mexican counter part in washington yesterday. the former exxon mobile ceo was sworn in last week. they had a constructive conversation. president trump is making mexico pay for a border wall and will scrap nafta with mexico and canada. the xan that makes cadbury

is hiring a chocolate taster for giving feedback on new products. the part time position requires you to spend less than eight hours a week in the uk endulging your sweet tooth. should i put my two weeks in? >> i'm there with you. they have fruit and nut and cadbury caramel. >> i found my calling, that's for that update. landon dowdy from cnbc, thank you. just ahead, why katy perry is hiding disco balls all over town. plus the power of love. that's next. on your medicare part d prescriptions. at walgreens we make it easy for you to seize the day by helping you get more out of life and medicare part d. now with zero-dollar copays on select plans... ...and rewards points on all prescriptions, walgreens has you covered.

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we have seen this scene way too many mornings this winter. look at the heavy, torrential rain, a plume of moisture. there's a lot of ongoing flooding in this region. check with your nbc station as we go throughout the morning to figure out what areas and roads are closed. the ice storm overnight and there's winter storm warnings and ice storm warnings in that area also. further south you are, the better off you are. rain in san francisco. >> the crazy weather with our friends in the east coast. thank you. the white house is in a battle over john mccain after the raid in yemen that left a navy s.e.a.l. dead with dozensover people. the white house is calling it a

success. senator john mccain has strong disagreement wsz that assessment, but a sharp response after being called out during a briefing. >> the action that was taken in yemen was a huge success. the life of his was in service to this country. we owe him a great debt for the information we received. any suggestion otherwise is a disservice to his courageous life and the actions he took. >> when you lose an airplane and more importantly american life is lost and wounded, i don't believe you can call it a success. many years ago, when i was in prison in north vietnam, there was an attempt to rescue the p.o.w.s, unfortunately, the prison had been evacuated because the mission failed, did not in any way diminish their bravery and courage and willingness to sacrifice for their fellow americans being held captive. mr. spicer should know that

story. >> it's not just senators making political statements, the united talent agency announced instead of hosting a lavish preoscar party they will hold a rally in support of immigrants and artistic freedom. they will donate $250,000 to the aclu and international rescue committee, a group that helps refugees. sports stars got involved as well. lebron james spoke out against the travel ban saying diversity is what makes this country so great. after the ceo of underarmor called donald trump an asset to the country, steph curry agrees, if you remove the e.t. from asset. an athlete with a sense of humor. >> arts, fashion, sports across the board. >> thanks for watching "early today." see you back here tomorrow. we are done with all this storm

madness from the west coast to ok, let's try this. ok, it says you apply the blue one to me. here? no. ah ok, here? maybe you should read the directions. have a little fun together, or a lot. k-y yours and mine. two sensations that work together, so you can play together. k-y yours and mine. weather alert."

our radar showing heavy activito approach the area, right in tim a messy morning in store. our radar showing heavy activity just starting to approach the area right in time for your commute. but we have you covered from every angle. >> that includes keeping tabs on the mudslide closure on highway 17 where all northbound lanes are still blocked by scotts valley. what another round of rain could do to this beleague erred road. a mudslide moves a house off its foundation and a frantic cry for help on facebook live. very good morning to you. i feel like it is the calm before the storm. >> the calm