♪ breaking overnight, police in australia say a motorist deliberately drove into a crowd of people injuring over a dozen. details ahead. >> ultimately what does it mean? it means jobs. jobs, jobs, jobs. >> a major campaign pmise kept by the president in his first year. >> you're one heck of a leader. >> exquisite presidential leadership. >> thank you, mr. president, for all you are doing. >> officially he cements the republican party as the party of the wealthy. >> what does it mean for your wallet? >> today a funeral for cardinal

law who covered for pedophile priest. maroney says usa olympics tried to silence her abuse story. >> what happens when you eat peppers while singing? i'm frances rivera. >> i'm philip mena. we begin with breaking news out of australia. at least 14 people including a child have been rushed to hospital after a car plowed into pedestrians in the second largest city of the country. a white suv sped into a busy intersection mowing down several people. we can report at least two men, including the driver, have been arrested. police ask witnesses to come forward with any information, videos or images of the incident. people on the scene described it as deliberate back at home, republicans in

washington are in the holiday spirit this morning. a triumphant president and gop taking to the white house to revel in their biggest legislative accomplishment to date, passing that $1.5 trillion tax cut package. >> it will be an incredible christmas gift for hard-working americans. i said i wanted to have it done before christmas. we got it done. i want to thank all of the leaders. >> republicans rushed to get the bill passed in order to meet the president's timetable, and they're now also aiming to fully implement the new law in a little over a week. >> which is ten days until will the start of the new year. payroll companies "brace for confusion" as they figure out new withholding rules that will affect millions of american paychecks. corporate america makes swift changes that could impact millions across the country. for more on this, we go to tracie potts on capitol hill. good morning. >> steve: hi there. everyone is trying to sort out how quickly this will happen.

how quickly people will see this in their paychecks. the president taking a victory lap, saying it is going to happen very soon. >> hasn't been done in 34 years, but actually hasn't been done pause we broke every record. we have companies pouring back into our country, and that means jobs and it means really the formation of a new, young, beautiful, strong companies. that will be very, very important. i guess it is very simple. when you think you haven't heard this expression, but we are making america great again. you haven't heard that, have you? >> so let's talk about some of the big companies he mentioned. at&t says they're going to pour a billion dollars, reinvest a billion dollars into the u.s. and offer a $1,000 employee bonuses. comcast, a parent company of nbc universal, says will employees will also get $1,000 bonuses. of course, many of the large

companies get the biggest benefit because their corporate tax rate is dropping from 35% to 21% with this new tax bill. now, keep in mind the east/west shrine obamacare mandate goes away, and that means we could be looking at 13 million people without insurance in the next decade. while it rolls out, republicans are claiming a big victory and we are waiting the see if companies are going to reinvest the money and how soon it may show up in american's paychecks. phillip. >> thank you, tracie. if you are wondering how a 500-page tax cut bill will affect you, you're not alone. >> president trump has been promising it for months. >> we want to give you, the american people, a giant tax cut for christmas. >> so what are we getting?

lower taxes for eight in ten americans including most middle and working class families. >> someone who is self-employed, this is much-needed tax relief for a small business. >> individual tax cuts expire after eight years, but the corporate tax cut from 35 herself to 21% is permanent. on health care, the individual mandate is erased entirely in 2019. without the mandate, 13 million more americans will be uninsured in ten years according to congressional analysts. ian dixon whose family is insured through the obamacare exchange fierce his premiums will skyrocket. >> my costs will double what they were last year. >> doubling the standard deduction and increasing the child tax care to $2,000, you unrau wrapping the bill may bring surprises. if you are a homeowner you can still deduct all of the interest. the bill limits state and local tax deductions to $10,000,

hitting taxpayers in high-tax states like california, new jersey and new york. in chicago some are rushing to prepay next year's taxes. about the promise the tax code will be so simple you will be able to file on a form like a post card -- many experts say it is unlikely with this 500-page tax cut bill. >> the prd repeatedly called this bill a middle class miracle. analysts say in 10 years 80% of the benefits go to the top 1%. americans will see more money in their paychecks in february. >> thanks, peter alexander. new details in the deadly bus crash in mexico. officials confirming eight americans were over killed in the tour bus that overturned on the highway. three from the same family. >> it was a holiday cruise that ended tragically, mom and 11-year-old son killed in the

bus crash. in all, eight americans with among the dozen who died. another 18 hurt when a bus taking tourists to visit mayan ruins overturned, leaving some victims on the road. mexican officials began processing vehicular manslaughter charges against the bus driver who was injured and detained by authorities. a state prosecutor say preliminary findings find excessive speed and driver negligence caused the crash. >> my heart goes out to all of the people that lost loved one. >> the bus was transporting visitors from two florida cruise ships. the crash happened on a clear day on a narrow road with no guardrail. cruise passengers often take excursions like this booked through the cruise ship company but run by independent

contractors. no information about the driver or the reported cause. the representatives along with royal caribbean say they're doing all they can to help their guests. ron mott, nbc news according to u.s. ambassador nikki haley, she unleashed a shot across the bow. the president took it a step further threatening to withhold u.s. funding from those who may vote against it. >> for all of the nations that take our money and vote against us at the security council or they vote against us potentially at the assembly, they take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars and then they vote against us. well, we're watching those votes. let them vote against us. we will save a lot. we don't care. >> further pushing her stern warning, hailey sent this message to each of the 180 countries that will be voting on the u.n. resolution, adding at the end of her letter, "the

president will be watching this vote carefully." earlier this week the u.s. vetoed a u.n. security council resolution critical of the jerusalem embassy. a volcano eruption was captured on time-lapse video from four miles away. the massive plumes of smoke could be seen from a village 30 miles away. the volcano was considered dormant until 1955 but this marks its third eruption this year. >> let's turn to nbc money list bill karins. >> the storm system now in the rockies will spread across the country. look at the snowfall forecast through sunday. this will be over the next two days. the mountains of colorado getting heavy snow, montana and near yellowstone. lighter snow amounts throughout

the midwest, one to two inches. northern new england will get pretty decent snow out of this as we go throughout friday into saturday, especially up in the mountains getting as much as four to eight inches of snow. notice we cut it off south of the mass pike. we have to watch out for ice. near in the 30s, and still warm for at least another two or three days throughout much of the south. well, one dane issue boys' choir spiced up a christmas carol. they took on a youtube challenge to sing after eating -- look,

he's crying -- super spicy peppers. some turned bright red and teared up from pain. look at the boy on the left. >> that's hysterical. >> some are better than others. some broke out laughing and ots were crying. i think we're crying with them. >> oh, my gosh. these poor kids. you know what they need? milk. neutralizes everything. >> you sound like an experienced spice eater. >> college days. >> oh, man. great video. breaking overnight. another north korean ris and limb to defect to the south. we'll tell you more, when we come back. st. jude children's research hospital is leading how the world treats and defeats childhood cancer. we won't stop until no child dies of cancer. and families never receive a bill from st. jude... because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. give thanks for the healthy kids in your life and give to those who are not. visit stjude.org or shop where you see the st. jude logo.

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north korean soldier was shot by his colleagues and his own harrowing defection caught on tape that man survived after several rounds of surgery in a south korean hospital. thursday's defection was the fourth by a north korean soldier this year. a funeral is being held today in vatican city for cardinal bernard law. the former archbishop of boston died in rome at the age of 86. 15 years after he was forced to resign over the sexual abuse scandal that rocked the catholic church. a "boston globe" investigation revealed law had covered for pedophile priests in the boston arc d arc die sis. survivors of clergy sexual abuse are outraged. anne thompson explains. >> reporter: in death as in life, cardinal bernard law challenging the catholic tenet of forgiveness. >> i hope the gates of hell are opened wide to welcome him. >> reporter: little mercy for the man who is seen as the face

of the clergy sexual abuse scandal in the u.s. dramatized in the movie "spotlight." >> i think you'll find that boston is still a small town too. >> reporter: victims in boston furious that law will be given a funeral at saint peter's basilica in rome with a blessing by pope francis. >> the pope is honoring him and saying it's okay to abuse children. >> i would prefer to see him tied to a cross and burned instead. >> reporter: during his 18 years as archbishop, law knowingly moved abusive priests from parish to parish without warning, giving them the opportunity to abuse again. >> to all those who have suffered from my shortcomings and from my mistakes, i once again apologize. >> reporter: father jim martin of the jesuit run american media says the world will be watching the pope's actions. >> i think they're trying to do the standard procedure, you know, for cardinal law. and in other ways send signals that he is not as respected as

other cardinals. >> reporter: such as the pope's unusually short two-second statement about law's death. a man with a legacy of wounds that have yet to heal. anne thompson, nbc news, new york. still ahead, 'tis the season for porch pirates. new details on how you can protect those christmas packages. you're watching "early today." i try hard to get a great shape. this i can do, easily. benefiber® healthy shape is a clear, taste-free, 100% natural daily fiber... that's clinically proven to help me feel fuller longer. benefiber® healthy shape.

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president trump had a very good day. he is very proud. republicans finally pass his tax

bill, which means trump's about to sign his first major piece of legislation. yep. his chest was puffed out so far his tie was actually at normal length. wow. it's actually at my waist. amazing. >> i always wondered about that too. president trump is 6'2". you got to try to have it that long. good joke, though. all right. now to a consumer alert in the final stretch of the holiday shopping season. with the boom in online shopping, more people are falling prey to thieves. >> porch pirates have hit nearly one in five homeowners. nbc's jo ling kent has the thieves this action and how you can protect your packages. >> reporter: across the country can, more and more porch pirates are striking when they think no one is watching. two young women driving a golf cart to pilfer packages in a florida subdivision. in atlanta, david altman got lucky. he got the suspect on camera. >> at first i really couldn't believe it. i told my girlfriend. come look at this. i think he put my package down his pants. >> reporter: according to the neighborhood social network

nextdoor, package complaints are up 500% this year. medium price of a stolen package, $250. now law enforcement is cracking down. boston authorities recovering dozens of stolen amazon packages this week. and one ohio prosecutor posting on facebook that it's placed bait packages throughout the city with a gps inside, warning if you steal, you will be arrested. >> the theft happened right here. >> right behind us. >> reporter: in burbank, california, police arrested a porch pirate just last week. >> it is a growing problem. and we need to devote resources to this problem. and hopefully see a decline in package thefts. >> reporter: to protect your deliveries, consumer experts recommend reroute the package to a secure location, like a grocery store, neighbor, or your office. use smart gadgets like a doorbell with a built-in surveillance camera. require a signature if it's a valuable item, or pick up the package yourself from the delivery service's local office. >> it makes me mad every time i watch it. >> reporter: a warning to prevent this from becoming the season of giving and taking.

jo ling kent, nbc news, burbank. just ahead, venus williams will not face charges in a deadly car crash. plus, why hard-core zeppelin fans have reason to celebrate. you're watching "early today." and ... i used to have cancer. i beat it. i did. not alone. i used to have no idea what the american cancer society did. research? yeah. but also free rides to chemo and free lodging near hospitals. i used to maybe give a little. then i got so much back. ... i used to have cancer. please give at cancer.org. trust #1 doctor recommended dulcolax. use dulcolax tablets for gentle dependable relief. suppositories for relief in minutes. and dulcoease for comfortable relief of hard stools. dulcolax. designed for dependable relief. jack and jill went up the hill

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t-boned the tennis star is also in the clear. police say neither was at fault. some exciting news for led zeppelin fans. in a recent interview, guitarist jimmy page hinted the band will unveil, quote, all manner surprises to mark its 50th anniversary next year be. he did not add any more details. fans will just have to wait. and what does one missouri city want for christmas? well, sedalia hopes to smash a record for the largest christmas stocking. it weighs a whopping 820 pounds, and they might just have a chance. it's almost 10 feet longer than the current record. >> just a matter of what's going to be inside the stock. yeah, it's going to be the world's largest, maybe. but always fun if there is something in it. >> i hope it's a new led zeppelin item. >> a lot of people hoping too. still i had, gymnast mckayla maroney wages a shocking allegation against usa gymnastics. and a schoolgirl's wish to santa ends in a public outpouring. any object. any surface.

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this morning new controversy over sexual abuse in the world of gymnastics. gold medalist mckayla maroney is now suing usa gymnastics, saying it tried to silence her. >> as part of a settlement over a former team doctor who has now pleaded guilty to sexual abusing underaged girls. but usa gymnastics is strongly pushing back. nbc's stephanie gosk has more. >> reporter: in the 2012 london games, mckayla maroney is one of the greatest stars. maroney says the organization that helped get her to the podium, usa gymnastics, paid her to keep from going public with a painful secret. starting at age 13, maroney says team doctor larry nassar sexually abused her. according to a lawsuit filed in california, the gold medal winner signed a nondisclosure

agreement in december 2016. she says she went to usa gymnastics looking for financial help with psychological treatments. >> you don't help somebody by putting a gag on them and saying oh, yeah, we know you were molested, be you can never talk about it. >> reporter: maroney went public with her story in october, writing in part, i had a dream to go to the olympics. and the things i endured to get there were unnecessary and disgusting. at the time, usa gymnastics publicly commended maroney other accusers for their courage, writing in part, because of their strength in coming forward, predators can be held accountable for their actions. >> they would try to look good by acting like they wanted her to come forward. that statement is the height of hypocrisy, and it's despicable. >> reporter: but usa gymnastics says that's not true, writing in part the concept of confidentiality was initiated by mckayla's previous attorney, not usa gymnastics. in total, three members of the london team now say nassar abused them.

the former doctor is facing life in prison on separate sexual abuse and pornography charges. aly raisman is also critical of usa gymnastics. >> i was basically told to keep it quiet. >> reporter: the head of the organization says she is eager to speak personally with mckayla to hear her ideas. stephanie gosk, nbc news, new york. now to a texas first grade teacher who is helping one student's christmas wishes come true. she started assigning the class to writer letters to santa. well, one student asked for very simple gifts like food, a blanket and a ball. the teacher posted the letter on social media where it quickly went viral. hundreds of donations poured into the school. so much so that now there is enough for each student to receive a blanket, not just the girl. plus plenty of extras for neighboring schools in need. we see that time and time again. somebody just mentions something in need, and then the help is just overwhelming. >> but what strikes is they weren't asking for ipads or

anything. >> right. >> it was basic necessities. thanks for watching. ipm phill a commute nightmare this

morning. two big rig crashes on both sides of the bay. we have team coverage. commute nightmare this morning. two big rig crashes on both sides of the bay. we've got team coverage for you. good morning, thanks for joining us, i'm laura garcia. >> and i'm marcus washington. first we want to get to that deadly big rig accident involving a fedex truck on 880. screen nay, a really tough scene this morning. >> a deadly crash involving -- you can see this right here, this is the scene moments ago, we got this video in of that deadly crash involving a fedex big rig and what appears to be another vehicle. right now all lanes of the southbound 880 area are completely blocked off right at the coliseum. so at this point we've seen that