right now high wired diplomatic meeting between the u.s. and russia. at issue the syrian regime's deadly weapons attack. the american missile response. >> under fire. white house in full damage control following sean spicer's hitler gaff caused an uproar. >> after dozens drop support for the o'reilly factor the host says he will take a two-week vacation in the midst of a sexual harassment controversy. a high powered snatch and grab leaves cops scrambling. "early today" starts right now. good morning everybody. good to see you. i'm yasmin vossoughian. >> i'm frances rivera.

it has been five days since the trump administration fired 59 tomahawk missiles into syria after its deadly chemical attack. the president is taking ard ha stance against russian president vladimir putin for what he says is the backing of an evil regime that is, quote, bad for mankind. >> frankly, putin is backing a person that's truly an evil person. and i think it's very bad for russia. i think it's very bad for mankind. it's very bad for this world. but when you drop gas or barrel bombs, massive barrels with dynamite and they drop them into a group of people, and in all fairness, you see the same kids with no arms, no legs, no face. this is an animal. >> the president's comments coming as officials provide evidence confirming the assad regime used sarin gas on its own people last week and claiming russia is currently helping

assad perpetuate false claims of the nature of the attack, releasing a report that read part, the syrian regime and russia have sought to confuse the world community about who is responsible for this and earlier attacks. >> this comes as secretary of state rex tillerson is set to meet with his russian counterpart as the administration takes a hard stance against vladimir putin and its role in the chemical weapons attack. we're joined by nbc's bill neely in moscow. how much is this make or break moment for tillerson in dealing with russia and vladimir putin? >> good morning frances and yasmin, very important meeting. the two men are at a working lunch at the moment. their meeting started half an hour late and with something of a dressing down to rex tillerson by sergey lavrov, the russian foreign minister. he said we've heard a lot of ambiguous, contradictory ideas from washington. we've seen troubling actions in

syria, meaning the missile strikes, and it's fundamentally important these actions don't happen again in the future. he also said it's important for us to understand the real interests of the united states, in other words, russia looking for clarity, is it assad must go or not? rex tillerson replied to that five-minute speech, if you like, by sergey lavrov saying he, too, would be frank saying we want to identify areas of sharp difference and of common interest even when our tactical approaches might be different. i think that word tactics is very important. rex tillerson isn't going in demanding. there's no ultimatum that russia give up assad. he's saying tactically you've got him in syria's war. strategically is that wise to be allying yourself with a guy who uses chemical weapons. we'll get a readout on the

meeting much later on. >> if we only knew what was being said during that lunch. bill neely, thank you. now to the backlash that continues against white house press secretary sean spicer this morning after he made controversial comments during his daily press briefing, comparing syrian president bashar al assad to adolf hitler. >> we didn't use chemical weapons in world war ii. you had someone as despicable as hit her who didn't even sink to using chemical weapons. >> it was that remark that garnered immediate repudiation with many noting hitler gassed millions of jews during the holocaust, forcing spicer to try to clarify his remarks from the podium. >> i think when you come to sarin gas, he was not using the gas on his own people the same way assad is doing. there was not -- he brought them into the holocaust center, i

understand that. >> spicer was apparently referring to concentration camps when he used the term holocaust center. the white house blasted three different clarifications but the damage had been done, top lawmakers including democrat nancy pelosi calling for spicer's resignation, a call echoed by the an frank center who said spicer engaged in a holocaust denial. hoping to put the ordeal behind him, spicer made a full throated apology while defending himself as white house press secretary >> it was a mistake to make any comparison. assad has done bad things, to make any comparison is a mistake. i'm sorry especially in a week like this a comparison that is inappropriate and inexcusable. >> spicer wasn't the only high ranking official to compare the fight in syria with world war ii. here is what james mattis had to say. >> even in world war ii chemical

weapons were not used on battlefields. even the korean war they were not used on battlefields. since world war i there has been an international convention on this. >> this morning, one-time foreign policy adviser to then trump's campaign carter page is lashing out at the obama administration. the "washington post" reported the fbi obtain add secret court order to monitor page's communications as part of an investigation about his possible collaboration with russians to manipulate the election. page reacted quote, there have been prior reports but i was so happy to hear that further confirmation is now being revealed. it shows how low the clinton obama regime went to destroy our democracy and suppress dissident who is didn't support their failed foreign policy. an official tells nbc news he had no official campaign title and never on staff and never compensated by the campaign. page not accused of any crime also confirms he never met mr. trump personally.

nbc news has not independently corroborated "the washington post" reports which 0 cites law enforcement and u.s. officials. the united airlines video that had a lot of people talking, facing a pr nightmare, the united airlines has changed course and apologized to the passenger violently pulled from his seat so airline employees could fly. instead, that passenger is still in the hospital being treated for his injuries. tom costello has new video that shows what happened in the moments before the chaos. >> reporter: new video taken moments before sunday's altercation on a united airlines flight. >> no, i'm not going. >> we now know the passengers is 69-year-old dr. david dao of kentucky. the doctor and his wife at first accepted the offer of $800 to give up their seats but returned when they realized they wouldn't get home in time for work. >> a long time. >> reporter: moments later security not police officers dragged him out of his seat.

>> my god. what are you doing? >> reporter: the video of dr. dao appearing unconscious and bloody went viral. in china a critical market for united airlines, social media exploded on concern that the doctor was singled out for being asian with calls for a united boycott. after first blaming dr. dao, united airlines ceo changed his tone. in a statement saying i deeply apologize to the customer forcibly removed and to all others aboard. munoz is promising a full investigation with the results by april 30 saying i have committed to our customers and employees that we are going to fix what's broken so this never happens again. meanwhile, it turns out dr. dao has a checkered history in kentucky. in 2004 he was convicted of trafficking in prescription drugs, placed on probation and had his medical license suspended. he resumed practice in 2015. but it's united's handling of

the way he was treated that has led to an all-out public relations disaster. >> that was nbc's tom costello reporting. shares of united stock fell more than 4% on tuesday before recovering. >> turning now to the weather, more rain and cooler temperatures rolling into the west coast. here is nbc meteorologist bonnie schneider tracking it for us. good morning. >> good morning, francis and yasmin. we're looking at more storms rolling in from the pacific. you can see the rain is sporadic, not too much in the way of heavy downpours. we may see more rain accumulating, and in the higher elevations, over 6,000 feet, it will be snow. we're watching storms across texas and into new mexico. these could get severe at times. be very careful if you're going to be in this region. keep in mind we could see gusty winds there. that' comfortable with

bright sunshine from l.a. all the way to san diego. >> while we're looking at nice weather in the southwest, still running the risk for severe weather in parts of texas and new mexico. yasmin? >> thank you, bonnie. just ahead, remembering a hugely popular 1980s musician who died unexpectedly. fox's bill o'reilly makes a big announcement on his future. is the annual white house easter egg roll in jeopardy? we're back in two. you're watching "early today." more "earning something you love" per roll bounty is more absorbent, so the roll can last 50% longer than the leading ordinary brand. so you get more "life" per roll. bounty, the quicker picker upper

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♪ love stinks >> j. giles was found dead at his home in massachusetts on tuesday. police saying he died of natural causes. the j. giles band had a string of popular hits in the '80s

including "love stinks," "freeze frame." dead at the age of 71. >> take a moment and play some of those videos. that "freeze frame" with the paint all over the place. classic '80s. new this morning, the daily mail newspaper has reached a settlement with melania trump over an article that says she provided services beyond her work as a professional model in the 1990s. she brought a lie bebel lawsuit. the mail published an apology say ing

they accept the allegations about mrs. trump are not true and apologize for any distress the publication cost her. bill ol' ryely is in the middle of a major sexual harassment continue seer announced he's taking a vacation from his prime time show. the network spokesperson says the trip was planned back in october and it coincides when he usually takes off for his children's spring break. on last night's show oh really recommended people take two trips a year saying, quote, everyone deserves a break. he says he plans to return to his show on april 24th. in north korea the state media is warning any sign of american aggression could lead to a nuclear attack on the yiets: officials say the move. t.t. test test. >> we are submarines, powerful, far more powerful than the aircraft carrier. that i can tell you. we have the best military people

on earth, and i will say this, he is doing the wrong thing. >> certainly developments on the world front that has many, many watching. police in florida are looking for the people behind this speedy robbery. security footage showing a pickup truck crashing through a gun store. men in hoodies start smashing displays an grabbing as many weapons as possible. they did this all, by the way, in 30 seconds before the men ran off. police investigating a possible connection to similar crimes in the area. >> in and out. clearly had a plan there. just ahead, find out what's got over 136 million views in just 24 hours. an important phone call between leaders over nuclear north korea has investors on edge. you're watching "early today."

just ahead, find out what's

in today's quick hits, republican ron estes defeated his rival in a special election in deep red kansas. the margin of victory was narrower than expected, only seven points. the election had been seen as a referendum on president trump. a single-engine plane ended up on its nose after an emergency landing in maine. the pilot reported engine problems. fortunately he and the passengers walked away with minor injuries. an 82-year-old japanese woman is a legend on the tokyo scene. by day she works as a dumpling maker. president trump's phone call with china's xi has investors on edge. united's bottom line is feeling the impact of the dragged passenger controversy.

landon dowdy is following it all. >> geopolitical concerns could hangover the markets once again today as tensions ratchet up between north korea, south korea and the u.s. asian markets were mixed overnight, but europe is higher this morning and wall street is poised to open positive actually. investors are keeping an eye on secretary of state rex tillerson's meeting with his russian counterpart today and u.s. economic data. united airlines continues to suffer from the pr nightmare it created from having a passenger dragged off a flight this weekend. the company's stock also taking a hit, down more than 1% yesterday, although it had been down as much as 4%. but investors may be slugging off the incident for the week. united is down less than a quarter of a percent. walmart is adding another incentive to get people to buy online as it looks to compete with amazon. starting next week the retailer will offer discounts on thousands of products on walmart.com if you pick them up in stores. walmart can offer the discounts

by delivering items to stores because it saves on the cost of shipping them to your door. frances and yasmin, back to you. >> landon, thank you. >> love a good dispount. just ahead, the new trailer smashing viewing records, plus how police took down a couple of candy thieves in wonderland. you're watching "early today." left foot. right foot. left foot. stop. twitch your eyes so they think you're crazy. if you walk the walk you talk the talk. it's what you do. if you want to save fifteen percent or more on car insurance you switch to geico. hide the eyes. it's what you do. show 'em real slow. incr...think it wouldotection in a pwork, but it does.dn't... it's called always discreet for bladder leaks, the super... ...absorbent core turns liquid to gel. i know i'm wearing it but no one else will.

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incredible -- >> yes! >> maybe you've seen it. marvel's trailer already smashing records with over 136 million views. that is now the most watched teaser in 24 hours in disney and marvel history. the previous record holder, the live action "beauty and the beast" trailer, watched almost 128 million times. then "star wars: the force awakens" with 112 million views. a lot of fans watching over and over and over. >> a lot of people watching that, 120 million. a few teens were caught stealing candy in the wonderland theme park. look how police responded, a helicopter, thermal cameras and the canine. they were spotted hiding under a police. police say even though it was just candy, it was a good lesson

for the kids. would you want your kids to have a lesson like that? >> i'll teach them that lesson. one harlem globe trotter is taking his talent to new heights from the roof of nassau coliseum. with a flick of the wrist he sinks this trick shot right off the side of the building as you saw, swoosh, went right in. they're like, whatever. watch this. he steps it up. this time taking a backwards shot. then watch what happens. he makes it right in. >> unbelievable. >> that is why he is a harlem globe trotter. that's for sure. an update on michael buble's son's lattal with cancer. hillary clinton may have found her calling as a shoe model. you're watching "early today." you don't want to miss it. watch. nothing can stop crizal® no-glare lenses. neither water. nor smudge. nor scratch.

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record highs from baltimore to boston yesterday, in the mid 80s in some places. if we look to the northwest, much cooler. seattle 59 degrees. watch for rain in your forecast, all the way down through areas of san francisco where temperatures are also getting cooler tomorrow. we'll look for a high of only 58. 69 in los angeles. watch for that wet weather to persist all the way towards boise as we go towards thursday. frances, yasmin? >> bonnie, thank you. we're learning more about the tragic school shooting in san bernardino. 8-year-old jonathan martinez was born with a rare disease involving learning delays and heart problems. martinez was a heart surgery survivor. we know more about the boy's alleged killer, cedric anderson, seen here in photos with the

other victim, his estranged wife. multiple restraining orders sought against him, including one by an e wife who claim he threatened to kill her and her children and take his own life, chillingly similar to his alleged murder-suicide. the bhous easter egg roll is a beloved tradition. the new administration may be struggling to pull it off. several key staff positions that usually handle the logistics have gone unfilled, leaving loose ends days before the event. many groups that normally get tickets still don't know if they're even invited. a spokesperson for melania trump says this year's event will be smaller than previous years. >> so nice to hear this story. a ray of hope for michael buble and his wife. the actress gave a brief update on 3-year-old son noah's cancer diagnosis saying he's gone through treatment and is doing well. she was in buenos aires promoting a film.

she thanked fans for celebrating her happiness. they didn't reveal the type of cancer or when he was diagnosed. the couple put everything on hold, careers, performances to deal with his treatment. great developments. >> good news for that family: single katy perry may be one of the biggest names in music, be u now getting one of the biggest names in the world to model her new shoe line after the pop star posted this photo on instagram with none other thanks as you can see, hillary clinton. it's doubled the hillary, of course. take a closer look at the pink pumps. the heel is filled with glittering stars and moons. as perry notes on her website, she wants you to reach for the stars just like clinton. those are pretty good looking shoes. retail for about $139 in case you're interested. >> you don't have to pair a pant suit. >> certainly do not. thanks for watching "early

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this mornings -- and there are good wednesday morning. we're waking up to cloudy skies this morning. wet roadways as well. that's a nice vista, san francisco, city by the bay. city with the rain this morning. good morning. i'm laura garcia-cannon. >> i'm sam brock. city with dark clouds out there, kari. we're talking about fact you can actually feel the humidity and mugginess when you step outside. >> laura, your hair is still perfect. >> the humidity. >> everyone else may have to deal with a bad hair day because it will be misting. we're seeing that right now in san francisco. the south bay also cloudy and feeling the humidity. then as we go through the day, going to see at times light rain. the heavier downpours arrive later on this evening. as we get a look at our