with more live local news. >> and don't forget to join us for nbc bay area news at 11:00. it will be a nice sunny day. get out and enjoy and don't forget the shades. ♪ good morning. her story. adult film star stormy daniels on camera for the first time, telling of her alleged sexual encounter with president trump and the threat she says helped buy her silence. >> i was concerned for my family and their safety. >> so what's next for the president and the porn star? this morning, we'll ask her attorney when he joins us here in studio 1a. inferno. a shopping mall overseas erupts into flames, killing at least 64 people. dozens more injured, and the death toll still climbing, as rescuers desperately search to find survivors. facebook fights back. a new apology from the company for that massive data breach as

advertisers abandon ship. those stories, plus vacation nightmare. the search for clues behind the mysterious deaths of a family from iowa at a mexican resort. snow way! the orange snow that has residents baffled. and down to the final four. >> another super nova run to the final four! >> villanova and kansas join michigan and cinderella loyola-chicago as march madness moves on today, monday, march 26, 2018. ♪ >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with savannah guthrie and hoda kotb. live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. morning, everybody. welcome to "today." nice to have you with us bright and early on a monday morning. were you up late watching basketball? >> i watched some of it before "60 minutes" and i saw sister jean win. i call it her team. it's practically her team.

>> loyola-chicago. the chicago cinderella story. and there is their patron saint, sister jean. >> love her. >> i think she's got a direct line upstairs, because they're going to the final four. you mentioned "60 minutes," stormy daniels, the adult film actress opening up about her alleged relationship with donald trump. the threats she claims she faced. the money she accepted in exchange for her silence. let's get to national correspondent, peter alexander, at the white house. peter, good morning to you. >> reporter: hey, savannah, good morning. stormy daniels, speaking out, defying legal threats from the president's personal lawyer that could cost her $1 million for violating what could be the world's most talked about hush money agreement. daniels saying she accepted money for silence because she feared for her family's safety. this morning, stormy speaks. >> i have no reason to lie. >> reporter: weeks after filing a lawsuit stating she had an intimate relationship with donald trump more than ten years ago, adult film actress stormy daniels, says she was threatened in 2011 with her infant daughter present not to go public with her story.

>> a guy walked up on me and said to me, "leave trump alone, forget the story." and then he leaned around and looked at my daughter, and said, it's a beautiful little girl. it would be a shame if something happened to her mom. and then he was gone. >> you took it as a direct threat. >> absolutely. i was rattled. >> reporter: the threat, she says, coming after she agreed to tell a gossip magazine of the alleged affair for $15,000, an article that didn't run at the time. in a highly anticipated interview with "60 minutes," the adult film star, whose really name is stephanie clifford, said she had sex with mr. trump once in 2006 after meeting him at a celebrity golf tournament. >> he's like, wow. you -- you are special. you remind me of my daughter. you know. he's like, you're smart. beautiful, and a woman to be reckoned with. and i like you. i like you. >> reporter: at the time, daniels was 27, trump 60. his wife, melania, had given

birth to son barron a few months earlier. though daniels said he brushed the marriage aside. >> he was sitting, you know, on the edge of the bed when i walked out perched. >> reporter: were you physically attracted to him? >> no. >> reporter: not at all. >> no. >> did you want to have sex with him? >> no. but i didn't say no. i'm not a victim. i'm not -- >> it was entirely consensual. >> oh, yes. yes. >> reporter: fast forward to 2016. 11 days before the election, a deal to stay silent. the president's personal lawyer, michael cohen, paying daniels $130,000 of his own money as part of a nondisclosure agreement. daniels explaining why she signed it. >> the story was coming out again. i was concerned for my family and their safety. >> reporter: as for evidence of an affair like pictures, text messages, or e-mails, daniels wouldn't say. though her lawyer in a tweet, recently suggested video may exist. >> my attorney has recommended that i don't discuss those things. >> reporter: the white house has denied daniels' allegations, and one of mr. trump's lawyers points to a statement daniels signed in january saying there was no affair.

daniels says that statement was a lie. >> i felt intimidated and honestly bullied. and i didn't know what to do. and so i signed it. >> reporter: the president late sunday returning home from mar-a-lago, ignoring reporters' questions. >> are you going to watch "60 minutes "? >> reporter: the white house says first lady melania trump will stay in florida for spring break. as daniels directs a message to the president. >> he knows i'm telling the truth. >> reporter: the president never mentioned daniels on twitter. he morning, he tweeted, so much fake news. overnight in this letter, the president's personal lawyer demanded that daniels retract and apologize for inflammatory statements she made about him. to be clear, daniels never said

she believed cohen to be involved in the encount ir. that $130,000 she received from cohen before the election could have ramifications on the president. it's been argued it was an undisclosed and illegal campaign contribution. >> peter, thank you so much. and stormy daniels' attorney, michael avenatti, will join us next half hour. a massive fire at a shopping complex in russia, killing dozens of people, with the death toll still rising this morning. authorities scrambling to find out what happened. keir simmons has the latest on that. hey, good morning. >> reporter: hoda, good morning. this blaze in a packed mall during school holidays has shaken russia, many of the victims were children, drawn to attractions like a miniature zoo, where none of the animals survived. and this morning, investigators say a security guard switched off the alarm system. and that some of the fire exits were blocked.

from the smoking building, a figure dangles from a window, then drops several stories to the sound of screams. caught in a blanket by rescuers. and that was one of the lucky ones. some could only hope. this father's 5-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son were inside. they phoned him in desperation, he says, crying, we need help. we are suffocating. young people ran for their lives. ekaterina was with her children to watch a movie. when we ran out, she says, there were people ready to jump. others had to break doors to escape. firefighters fought for 17 hours to control the inferno on sunday. 64 people perished, officials estimate, many of the dead thought to be children. inside the mall, the roof collapsed on two movie theaters. investigators telling television stations we were called about smoke on the fourth floor, about

4:10, where the children's playing rooms and movie theatre were situated. more than 600 emergency responders deployed to the mall, which also featured restaurants, a bowling alley, and a petting zoo. there are still others missing, feared buried beneath the debris. this siberian town, 2,200 miles east of moscow, now in mourning. parents receiving counseling as they wait for news. the cause of the fire still unknown. the impact on this small town immeasurable. this morning, four officials have been detained for questioning. investigators looking into possible negligence and violations of fire safety rules, and hoda and savannah, theories for what happened include an electrical fault or a child with a cigarette lighter. just terrible. >> terrible. thank you so much. students at marjory stoneman douglas high school are returning home this morning after flooding the nation's capital over the weekend, leading hundreds of thousands. demanding gun reform in the march for our lives. and they are now turning their attention toward the election in november. kerry sanders is in parkland this morning where the kids

there are saying they're just getting started. kerry, good morning. >> reporter: well, good morning. the students are indeed back in town, but they're on spring break, like so many kids across the country. this, after hundreds of thousands of young voters and soon-to-be young voters took to the streets here in parkland and washington, and across the country, demanding a change to our nation's gun laws. [ chanting ] >> all: throw them out. throw them out. >> reporter: this morning, organizers of the march for our lives are focusing on real change. >> welcome to the revolution. >> reporter: after inspiring an estimated 800,000 people to march on the nation's capital, survivors of the shooting at marjory stoneman douglas high school are turning their attention to november's elections. >> you need to get out and vote in every election. none of this matters if they don't do that. >> reporter: during the rally, volunteers and organizers, registering young people to vote. >> each person has a vote, and

you want to be heard. >> reporter: in the crowd, victims and survivors watching impassioned speeches and politically charged celebrity performances. ♪ it's all about it's all about the climb ♪ >> reporter: with untold thousands more gathering in more than 800 cities in the united states and around the world. beatle legend paul mccartney speaking out decades after the assassination of john lennon. >> one of my best friends was killed in gun violence right around here, so it's important to me. >> reporter: but some of the student activists have become victims of misinformation. this image of parkland survivor emma gonzalez ripping up the constitution going viral. but the picture was photo-shopped. she was actually ripping up a gun range target. and for those gathered this weekend, emotions ran high. [ crowd chanting ] >> all: never again, never again, never again! >> reporter: with gonzalez

standing through an extended and powerful moment of silence, the time that it took the gunman to kill 17 on her campus. >> fight for your lives before it's someone else's job. [ cheers and applause ] >> reporter: if every graduating senior in this nation were to register to vote, that would be 3.6 million new voters, something the student-leaders here say they recognize will be their focus so they have power at the ballot box. savannah? >> kerry sanders, thank you. an update now on the mysterious deaths of an iowa family vacationing in mexico. authorities say autopsies show kevin and amy sharp and their two children inhaled some kind of toxic gas inside the home they rented. their family and friends are now demanding answers about how this could have happened. nbc's blake mccoy is in creston, iowa, with the latest. good morning. >> reporter: hoda, good morning to you.

friends and family of the family gathered in this small iowa town last night to remember that family, and it comes as mexican authorities say they have zeroed in on a cause of death. this morning, the mystery deepening. mexican authorities now say some kind of toxic gas killed kevin and amy sharp, their 12-year-old son, sterling, and 7-year-old daughter adrianna, while vacationing on the yucatan peninsula. shortly after they arrived on march 15th, amy texted, we made it to condo. her mother responding, good. roger literally just asked. have fun. i bet kids are excited. it was the last time the family heard from them. >> they just thought it was the best place in the world to be. >> reporter: newly released photos from mexican authorities show investigators checking gas connections inside the rented condo. but they're not saying yet what the fatal gas was, or how the family unknowingly inhaled it. foul play and suicide are being ruled out. units at the condominium complex are owned by different owners.

the sharps rented theirs through vacation rentals by owner website. nbc reached out to vrbo, which sent a reply in part, our most heart felt condolences go out to the loved ones of the sharp family for their tragic loss. we are a marketplace of vacation rentals. we are not the managers of this condo. as we do not actively manage properties. >> i'm the reigning king of the hill, kevin sharp. >> reporter: kevin sharp had a passion for race car driving and was often behind the wheel of his number 2 car. amy worked from home, so she could spend time with their kids. >> i can't think of any time where they weren't happy, where they weren't smiling. >> reporter: the family was supposed to return to iowa late wednesday, but when they didn't show up, relatives got nervous and reported them missing. a short time later, mexican officials found them dead in their condo. >> they were good people. >> reporter: amy's mother is trying to come to terms with what happened, but finding answers is not easy. >> i have faith, but i have also got some hatred as to why they would do this.

why these people? why? >> reporter: mexican officials say it appears this family had been dead for 48 hours before they were discovered. the exact type of toxic gas that killed them remains unknown. the state department is working with mexican authorities. hoda and savannah? >> blake mccoy in iowa. thank you. and now to some dramatic video of a swift water rescue. it happened on a flooded california creek. take a look at this. you see the car there stranded in the middle of a fast-moving water. this video was just released but it was shot during last week's storms in the sacramento area. so you see as an emergency crew approaches that vehicle on a raft. the driver climbs on to the roof, the crew throws him a life vest. the driver then leaps on to the raft and is carried to safety. california officials say this video is a reminder for everybody, you've got to take those flooded roads seriously. let's turn now to march madness. the ncaa basketball tournament, which started with 68 teams, down to just 4.

carson? carson, there's a major cinderella in there still dancing. >> people are still dancing. incredible weekend of hoops came down the a marquee showdown between two of the game's most storied programs, the duke blue. an overtime thriller. the final four now set. next stop, san antonio, where they will have a shot at history. an epic slugfest coming down to the wire. duke star grayson allen, just missed a chance to win it at the buzzer. >> puts up the shot and it rolls off the rim! and going to overtime! >> it's been so good. why not play five more minutes? >> exactly. >> reporter: and in o.t., it was kansas' malik newman. >> he's on target tonight. >> reporter: leading the jayhawks to the final four. kansas' final four opponent, a tough villanova team. it's a highly anticipated matchup between the only two number one seeds remaining. >> it's another super nova run

to the final four! >> reporter: nova gutting out a gritty win over texas tech in their elite eight matchup. the wildcats now looking for their second national title in three years. >> we worked hard all year, we did a great job of it. and we just kept getting better. >> reporter: the tournament's cinderella story, 11th seed loyola-chicago, punching their ticket to the alamo city in convincing fashion. the ramblers running through kansas state, taming the wildcats in a blowout victory. loyola-chicago along with their team chaplain and biggest fan, sister jean, returning home to a heroes' welcome in the windy city. >> they haven't been overwhelmed by the moment. they actually have risen to the moment. >> reporter: but looking to end loyola's storybook run, the michigan wolverines. the maize and blue holing off a talented florida state seminole squad. >> now you're so close. now you're actually going to the final four.

it will be great to be part of such an amazing group. >> reporter: setting up a david versus goliath showdown in what's shaping up to be an epic final four. sister jean wins march madness. let's be honest. let's look at the brackets here. savannah, you are leading the charts still! >> yes! >> wow! >> the graphics. >> i don't think i predicted anything! >> very impressive. right behind the 46, hoda, 45. >> i just dumped my way into the top bracket. i love it. >> i think you might win. >> uncle al threw darts at his bracket and landed in last place. this is going to be some weekend in san antonio. >> carson, thank you. speaking of mr. roker, he's at the weather wall. what's shakin'? >> we've got a lot going on today. some severe weather and some flooding to talk about. look at this. this is down in texas, where they have seen heavy hail. they have seen thunderstorms. funnel clouds. it has been a mess, and we're going to see even more of this coming up in the next 72 hours. look at the radar right now from texas all the way up into omaha and parts of nebraska, we're looking at strong storms firing up. in fact, we've got a risk of severe weather today from san angelo all the way to oklahoma city. damaging winds, hail, potential

of tornadoes. and tomorrow from del rio all the way up to shreveport, 11 million people at risk. and the flooding is going to be a big problem. why? well, here's what's happening. big high pressure system is going to slow the progression of this front that has tons of moisture coming up out of the gulf. and so that is the moisture source. and with this slowing down, we're going to see days of downpours that most likely will cause flooding all across the south. a flood threat from texas all the way into the mississippi and ohio river valleys. from mcallister all the way to decatur. 6 million people at risk for flooding. and the rainfall amounts, 3 to 5 inches, even more locally. so we'll be watching this very closely over the next 72 hours. we're going to get to your local forecast coming up in the next 30 seconds. let's take that down, damage free,

with a stretch, remove... and look: no marks, no mess. like a pro. command. do. no harm. good monday morning, i'm meteorologist kari hall. as the sun starts to come over the hills over the south bay it's an all clear start with some cool temperatures as you get ready to head out the door. we've mostly had some 30s and 40s around the bay area, with a low now at 34 degrees in napa and 44 in san jose. after this cool start it's going to be a gorgeous day, reaching into the low 60s for the coast and in san francisco, some mid to upper 60s for the inland areas today. >> and that's your latest weather. guys? >> thank you, al. coming up, what was left out of that stormy daniels interview? what's on the cutting room floor? her attorney will tell us, right here in our studio. and facebook asking for forgiveness in the wake of that massive data breach. but is it too little, too late?

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san jose police this morning .. good morning, it's 7:26 for you right now. i'm marcus washington. san jose police this morning tell us a driver who smashed into about a dozen parked cars on one block over the weekend was drunk at the time. neighbors detained that suspect until police arrived. this happened early yesterday on menker avenue south of scott street. after striking one car neighbors say the driver then zigzagged down the street smashing into more cars. this is before coming to a stop. officers say that that driver was transported to the hospital for injuries and a medical condition but police plan to send the case to prosecutors. weather wise today it's going to be a bright and sunny day. >> we take a live look from our emeryville camera. it is a great bay to start out the workweek. we've mostly got 30s and 40s on

the map and 44 degrees now in san jose and oakland, but 34 now in napa. just a couple degrees above freezing, but as we look at our highs today reaching into the low to mid 60s all around the bay area, upper 60s for san jose and morgan hill. also in concord today up to 66 degrees, the week is looking amazing, mostly sunny and we continue on with the warmer trend, the warmest day this week will be on thursday. let's head over to mike for an update. we've got a couple issues for fremont. looking toward the east bay and we're looking at southbound 680 at auto mall parkway where the crash looks like it may have made its way to the shoulder in the last couple minutes. slowing out of the irving ton district making its way down toward mission boulevard. southbound 880 at steevenson crash. no injuries for passengers, but we do have a slower drive for the distraction.

a slower drive westbound across the bridges. back to you. thanks, mike. i will have another local news update in half an hour.

we're back, 7:30 on a monday morning, march the 26th. >> good morning, everybody. let's get right to our headlines, including the latest on that deadly shopping mall fire overseas. >> deadly blaze. more than 60 people dead after a fire sweeps through a movie theater and the top floor of a popular shopping mall in russia. making their mark. >> welcome to the revolution. >> marjory stoneman douglas high school students heading home after leading hundreds of thousands demanding gun reform in march for our lives rallies around the country. >> fight for your lives before it's someone else's job. controversial decision. federal authorities deport a u.s. army veteran to mexico who served two tours in afghanistan,

but was then convicted of felony drug crimes. >> oh! whoa! >> hard landing. an amateur rocket-maker launches himself nearly 2,000 feet high in a steam-powered rocket in an attempt to prove his belief that the earth is not round. and orange you glad it's spring? orange snow baffles skiers across eastern europe. scientists revealing the color is caused by sand blown all the way from the sahara desert. today, monday, march 26th, 2018. all right. let's turn back to adult film actress, stormy daniels, who spoke out sunday night, sharing details about her alleged affair with president trump. we are going to speak with daniels' lawyer, michael avenatti, in just a moment. but first nbc's chief white house correspondent, hallie jackson is here with more on daniels' life, lawsuit and more. good morning. >> practically everybody knows her name now.

but that was not always the case for stormy daniels, a kid who grew up in louisiana, a woman who flirted with a political career of her own. and now at the center of a growing scandal surrounding president trump. an adult film actress who made her career showing all, now telling all, almost about her alleged affair with president trump. >> the president watches "60 minutes." if he's watching tonight, what would you say to him? >> he knows i'm telling the truth. >> reporter: but stormy daniels declining to say on "60 minutes" whether she has e-mails, text messages or pictures to prove her allegations of an affair, claims the president's aides and lawyers have denied. daniels did reveal she threatened into this statement earlier this year, which said she did not have an affair with donald trump. >> you thought there would be some sort of legal repercussion if you didn't sign it. >> correct. as a matter of fact, the exact sentence used was they can make your life hell in many different ways. >> reporter: daniels, whose real name is stephanie clifford, now stepping into her biggest

spotlight yet, until recently far less known in the world of politics than pornography. the actress named to three different adult film halls of fame. in 2004, going behind the camera, adding dozens of directing credits to her name. her more mainstream roles include cameos in films you can safely google at work, like "the 40-year-old virgin" and "north "knocked up," both directed by judd apatow. >> she is very smart. we kept asking her to be in our movies. >> reporter: she grew up in baton rouge and flirted with a louisiana senate run in 2010. the slogan from her supporters, stormy daniels, screwing people honestly. daniels ultimately decided not to run, turning her focus from the senate to the stables. she competes in equestrian events, based in these days in texas with her husband and

daughter, the child she says was part of a threat against her in 2011. >> a guy walked up on me and said to me, leave trump alone. forget the story. and then he leaned around and looked at my daughter and said, a beautiful little girl. it would be a shame if something happened to her mom and then he was done. >> daniels' attorney suggestion michael cohen, the president's long-time lawyer was involved in the threat. but cohen's lawyer, in a letter, says mr. cohen had absolutely, nothing whatsoever to do with that incident and does not believe any such person exists or any such incident ever occurred. he has demanded a retraction. savannah? >> all right. halley, thank you so much. we are joined by stormy daniels' attorney, michael avenatti. michael, good morning. good to see you. you were here almost three weeks ago and i asked you whether there was any documented evidence, text messages, photos, that verified that stormy daniels had the affair she

claims she had. you said to me, that's a question that miss daniels will have to ultimately answer. cut to last night, she is asked directly about this on "60 minutes," and she says, my attorney has instructed me not to answer. so does she or doesn't she have this evidence? >> again, we're not going to get into the details of everything we have at this time. and there's a reason for that. we're in the very early stages of this case. we understand the american people want all the information right now, immediately. it would make no sense for us to play our hand as to this issue, and we're not going to do it right now. >> why not? this is the very moment you need to do it. she has denied it three times. she has stated, this affair didn't happen. isn't this the very moment she should come forward and as you might say, put up or shut up, if she has this evidence? >> put up or shut up? she sat down with a major journalist and asked -- answered some very tough questions. where is mr. cohen? is he coming on after me? i don't think so. where is president trump? is he going to come on after me? she's answered -- let me finish. she's answered some very difficult questions. we're not going to play our hand right now. and the reason is, because we have a case to win. >> but wait a minute, michael.

you tweeted a picture of a dvd or a cd, suggesting that there was going to be more evidence. that's the suggestion, right? you don't disagree. >> and there will be more evidence. >> and now you're being coy and not saying it. is seems you're playing games. >> i'm not playing games. there is going to be more evidence. it's just not going to happen right now. everyone wants immediate gratification. it's not going to happen right now. >> let's talk about this threat she said was made against her seven years ago in a parking lot. she said somebody came up to her, her infant daughter was right there, and said, "it would be a shame -- i'm paraphrasing -- "it would be a shame if something happened to this little girl's mother." she took it as a threat. do you know who made that threat? >> again, that's not all she said. there was a specific reference by that individual to mr. trump. so it's pretty clear that it could have only come from one place and one place only. we are in the process of running aground exactly who that was and i am confident at the end of this that we're going to discover it. >> do you feel you know right now who it was? >> right now? >> yes. >> no.

>> do you -- have you talked to her and asked her for a physical description of this person? >> i'm not going to get into the details of my communications with her. but what i will tell you is, she can describe -- excuse me -- that person in great detail. >> have you tried to show her pictures and say, is this the person you saw, is that the person you saw? she said on "60 minutes" if he walked right in the door right now i would know him. >> we are in the process of identifying who that was. she remembers it like it was yesterday, because like any mother in that situation, it was terrifying. >> you said in a tweet again, there can be no question where this threat came from. it could have only come from one place. do you mean it comes from somebody related to trump, or do you mean a particular person? >> no, it had to be someone that was related or sent by mr. trump or mr. cohen. there's no other logical explanation. >> and you are not in any way suggesting it was mr. cohen himself. >> no. we know it wasn't mr. cohen. >> yeah. and but you think mr. cohen may have directed someone to make this threat. >> someone from that side had to have directed it, because it would make no sense for it to come from any place else.

>> recently, a former playmate, karen mcdougal said she was present at the very golf tournament in 2006 in las vegas where your client, stormy daniels, says she met mr. trump and had this liaison with him. miss mcdougal says she doesn't know when he would have had the time. she was with him the whole time. have you tried to figure out the time line? she said it might have been possible if he stayed an extra day. >> first of all, the golf tournament was not in las vegas, it was in lake tahoe. >> thank you. >> and number two, she did not say she was there every night. number three, we stand by what my client has said. i think the american people found her very, very credible. there's no question this happened. >> have you tried, though, to match up the time line so the two stories jive? >> well, miss mcdougal has not said my client is not telling

the truth. >> she hasn't. >> and my client has not said that miss mcdougal is not telling the truth. there is no question this happened. miss mcdougal had a separate room from mr. trump. she wasn't there every night. she doesn't know how many nights mr. trump stayed there. there's a whole host of possibilities. >> actually, talking about this interview with miss mcdougal, there were some similarities between their stories. let me play a bit of those interviews. >> he's like, wow. you -- you are special. >> and he said, you're really special. >> you remind me of my daughter, you know. he's like, you're smart. beautiful. >> he said i was beautiful like her. and, you know, you're a smart girl. >> what do you make of those similarities? >> well, i think the similarities are striking, and i think it's important for your viewers to understand that my client sat for her interview weeks before ms. mcdougal gave her interview, even though ms. mcdougal's interview aired first. >> let's talk about your client now. she has told her story. does she have more to say? did she leave anything out?

>> she has a lot of things to say. the interview that was conducted originally was about two hours in length. there were a number of details and facts that were left out of the final product, because "60 minutes" only has so much time, obviously. they're trying to tell a broad story in a very finite period of time. she has many more details and facts, much more to say, and we're going to get to the bottom of what happened here relating to the agreement, what mr. trump knew, and where this money came from. >> is there anything left out of her interview? something on the cutting room floor that you feel is relevant and could share now? >> not that i'm prepared to share now, but what i will say is, that she was prepared to discuss intimate details relating to mr. trump. she can describe his genitalia, she can describe various conversations that they had that leave no doubt as to whether this woman is telling the truth. and if she's not telling the truth, let the president take to the podium and call her a liar. let the president come forward and say it never happened.

there is a reason why this $130,000 was paid. and it wasn't paid because she made the story up. it's absurd. >> michael avenatti, thank you for being with us this morning. >> thank you. >> keep us posted. and we'll take a turn now and get a check of the weather from al. >> well, savannah, as we look at the week ahead, wet weather into the pacific northwest. stormy weather through texas develops all the way up into the mid plains, upper midwest. snow as we get to the midweek period. that stormy condition conditions through the south, with a flood threat, heavy rain, mountain snows back through the west. and then we still stay a little on the stormy side down through the southeast, we're looking at chilly weather through the plains. sunny and dry through the southwest. that's what's go we've got a lot of sunshine around the bay area and even though it's a cool start, it's going to be a beautiful and warm afternoon. we're looking at some low 60s in san francisco, 63 degrees in oakland and 64 today in antioch, san jose 66 degrees.

over the next few days a warming trend gets under way and will feel like the middle of spring. san francisco reaching the mid 70s by thursday and for the inland areas reaching into the upper 70s by the end of the week. and that is your latest weather. >> al, thanks so much. still ahead, grocery delivery showdown. jeff rossen puts two major retailers to the test. and then digital ditching. millennials giving up facebook, twitter and instagram? we're going to explain what may be a growing trend. >> wow. then back to sci-fi. steven spielberg talks about his new film already being called an instant classic. up next, facebook fights back. but can they win back the trust of their users and advertisers? right after this.

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say. if we can't, we don't deserve it. signed mark zuckerberg. >> this was a major breach of trust. and i'm really sorry. >> reporter: the billionaire facebook ceo facing growing scrutiny over the allegations of massive data harvesting of 50 million facebook users from back in 2013 and 2014. that company, cambridge analytica, rated by uk authorities on friday. >> i don't think facebook has been fully forthcoming. >> reporter: the top democrat on the senate intelligence committee wants answers. >> frankly, mr. zuckerberg needs to come and testify. he says he will do it if he's the right person. i've got experts on my staff that you don't want my staff here. you want me her. >> reporter: zuckerberg confronted with a growing list of fleeing advertisers. among those, pep boys, mozilla and sonos. some users are ditching facebook, too, including another tech titan, elon musk, a spokesperson confirming he's

deleted his own profile are spacex's and tesla's. apple ceo tim cook this weekend in beijing adding his voice to the chorus, saying i think that this certain situation is so dire it has become so large, that probably some well-crafted regulation is necessary. a new reuters poll finds fewer than half of americans trust facebook to obey laws that protect their personal information. they trust competitors more. >> how much more we needed to do. >> reporter: zuckerberg has already pledged to audit thousands of apps with suspicious activity. restrict third-party access to your data to just your name, profile photo and e-mail address. and show you which apps have access to your information and how to revoke that access. cambridge analytica has denied any wrongdoing in the data harvesting scandal, and zuckerberg has said that facebook has made changes back in 2014, so apps couldn't access certain data. but one more thing. if you're worried about that phone call and text tracking on detroit, it is something that

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happening now... good monday morning. right now at 7:56 we wake up to some sunshine, but a chilly start as you step out the door. especially in the tri-valley. we are now down to 37 degrees and low 40s for the north bay, san francisco at 45 and the east bay at 46 degrees. after this chilly start look at our highs for today, we will be up to 60 in half-moon bay, 62 in san francisco and for the inland areas into the low to mid 60s, but up to 67 today in morgan hill. our seven-day forecast keeps it nice and sunny all week long which of course is great news for those spring breakers and san francisco up to 74 degrees by thursday. the weekend will be slightly cooler, but the inland areas reaching up into the upper 70s, even a knew low 80s for the north bay and the tri-valley. let's get an update on how the roads are moving with mike. do you know what, this monday is looking pretty good out there. we do have slowing typical

northbound routes through the south bay, getting down there recovery continues fremont south 880, south 680 both crashes heading down toward mission boulevard were cleared over the last half hour. the arrow north 280 approaching winchester, had an earlier crash, and the lowest drive 101 approaching capitol expressway. the build towards oakland is easing off now. the east shore freeway not too bad now getting down toward the bay bridge toll plaza where the metering lights are on. happening now, the a's make a new pitch to east bay leaders, they will build a new stadium on coliseum land provided the a's can own the property where the stadium is built. the a's sent a letter to oakland mayor libby schaaf detailing the proposal. link to that letter from our twitter feed. and the u.s. is kicking out 60 russian diplomats and shutting the russian consulate in seattle. this is in response to the poisoning of an ex-spy in the united kingdom. link to the full story including

what the diplomats were doing here. i'm marcus washington. claims is. how the school is preparing for picketers on both sides. plus, the steps the bay area )s largest city will take to fight climate change. tomorrow - 4:30 to 7. there's only one word for the all new together forever-a pixar night time spectacular. ooohhhh. ahhhhhh. okay, maybe two. celebrate friendship and beyond at pixar fest. staring april 13th at disneyland resort.

♪ it's 8:00 on "today." coming up, legal storm. stormy daniels opens up about her alleged affair with president trump. and the threats she claims made her fear for her family's safety. >> you took it as a direct threat. >> absolutely. i was rattled. eye ♪ baby there's nothing holding me back ♪ >> plus, food fight.

♪ >> 19-hour bus pride from alabama was worth it because, we're on t.v. >> hi, my name's ava today's my birthday. >> we're celebrating bonnie's 11th birthday. >> on "today." >> we're on a father/daughter trip from minneapolis. >> i came to celebrate my birthday on the "today's show." >> we're on spring break with savannah and hoda. >> yes, we are. happy spring everybody welcome back to monday morning. >> this crowd keeps getting bigger and bigger. >> birthday parties out there, anniversaries lots to celebrate.

your news at 8:00. a new political storm consuming the white house this morning, sparked by that explosive interview with adult film actress stormy daniels on "60 minutes" sunday night. kristen welker following the headlines on this. >> the biggest take away from that interview was adult film actor stormy daniels, she says she was physically threatened to stay silent about her affair with donald trump. she accepted $130,000 to keep it quite, that money from michael cohen, the president's personal attorney. right before the length, daniels' told "60 minutes" the intimidation started in 2011 after she first gave her story to a magazine. she says she was with her then infant daughter when a man approached her. >> a guy walked up on me and said to me, leave trump lien, forget the story.

he leaned around and looked at my daughter and said, a beautiful little girl be ashamed if somebody happened to her mom and he was gone. >> you took it as a threat? >> absolutely. i was rattled. >> this morning her attorney avenatti pointing the finger at the president's lawyer. >> you said in a tweet atlantic be no question where this threat came from, it can only come from one place. do you mean it comes from somebody related to trump or a particular person? >> no, it had to be someone that was related or spent by mr. trump or mr. cohen. >> no response to the warehouse. the president tweeted brudly today, quote, so much fake news. and over night the torn for michael cohen demanded daniels retract and apologize for me cohen. meanwhile the trump administration is announcing its expelling 60 diplomats. the u.s. also show force with

the u.k., savannah. this morning investigators in russia say a security guard may have switched off the awill remember system in the mall where a weekend fire killed dozen of people. many of the victims were children. the fire started on the upper floors where movie theaters and children''s play area was located. panic as young people tried to escape. flames breaking down doors, jumping from windows. there could be more victims trapped. the mall opened under five years ago. it alt had a petding zoo and a bowling ally. >> and heir to the an hisser bush charged with physically assaulted an 11 yearly boy. 58-year-old roughed up one of -- bush says he was attempting to protect his son. he maintains that surveillance video from the school will show

he did not do any harm to the young man. >> it is 8:04 we're caught up on the news. >> we got you right here, upon moments in life are better when you can share them with people you love. lots more to get to this morning including never before scene footage of megan markal playing queen for a day. what she said back then that has people talking now. >> and a grocery store delivery rivalry. >> hi, good morning, i'm jeff

rossum. the grocery delivery wars are heating up. amazon promising two-hour delivery from whole foods. but guess what, there's another company promising the same thing. so which will come first? promising the same as whole foods. which will come first, which one is more expensive? will everything come correctly. we're trying it out next. nature gives me strength, courage, energy, humility, clarity. nature gives, give back. join us in supporting the national park foundation with these specially marked nature valley boxes.

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offering free delivery from whole foods. right to your front door. but amazon is not alone. there is actually another company offering the same service. so, how does amazon stack up? do they arrive on time, are the groceries fresh when they arrive? this morning we are trying them out, putting both companies head-to-head. we use amazon for everything. from ordering toilet paper and vacuum cleaners to streaming movies and tv shows. now they're in the grocery business, acquiring whole foods. and a new announcement. amazon will deliver whole foods to your doorstep in select cities in just two hours. but they have competition. instacart already offering the same thing. both promise free delivery for orders over $35. for amazon prime and instacart express members. so we wondered, are they really delivering on that promise? and who is faster? we're going to try out a little experiment here. this is my producer, lindsey with me.

hey, lindsey. >> hello. >> so we're going to do some shopping today. >> that's right. >> i am on amazon. i signed up for prime, i'm on amazon, i'll be ordering my groceries from here. >> and i'm going to be ordering from instacart. >> we're going to be ordering the exact groceries, the same shopping list to see is one more expensive. is there a difference in price and to see which will get her faster. >> yep. >> first, we fill up our carts online. five bananas. >> five bananas. >> with all the same items, honey nut cheer rees. one box. >> one box of honey nut cheerios. >> reporter: 365 everyday value chicken breast, boneless. >> done. >> we love ice cream, so how about the half baked pint. >> got the same exact one. >> time to check out. >> okay. we have the same items in our carts. what's instacart telling you? >> it's telling me it can deliver within two hours from when i click purchase so i'm going to choose that. >> within two hours of when you click. okay, amazon, a little different. there's already a difference here.

amazon gives you two hour delivery windows so right now it's around 1:00. the next available delivery window is around 2 to 4:00 p.m. so i'll click on that. and that's not the only difference. look at the prices. without tip, my order from amazon, $40.25. lindsey's instacart order, $45.76. why more expensive? even though instacart waives the delivery fee for express members, look at that. there is an extra service charge. you ready? >> ready. >> 1, 2, 3, order. now, the next question, when will the food arrive? we wait and wait. someone is here. but is it instacart or amazon? >> an hour and 45 minutes. under two hours. >> it's instacart arriving first. but how did the food survive the journey. >> got my bags right here. >> let's see what you got. the milk, it's cold. the milk is really cold. >> yeah.

ice cream is in here. >> how does that feel? >> this is pretty frozen. you can see the ice still on it. >> that's frozen. the yogurt is cold and the eggs -- >> not broken. >> not broken. they all look pretty good. but, we missed something. they missed the avocados. >> we don't have the avocados. >> so instacart came on time, everything in good condition, but they missed something, which is a big deal because you paid for it. >> exactly. >> okay. but when will amazon show up? >> wow. within five minutes of instacart, amazon is here. hi, how are you? >> mr. jeffrey. >> that's me thank you very much. so how did they do? >> okay. amazon time. let's rip these open. look at this. look at that. it comes in like a cooling aluminum thing. i can actually keep this. the chicken is cold to the touch. >> milk is cold. yogurt is cold too. >> and the eggs are -- together. not broken. >> not broken. >> but they forgot the ice cream. >> no ice cream for you.

>> so everything looks pretty good, but i paid for something i didn't get from amazon. that's a problem. amazon refunded me for the ice cream, and gave me a $5 credit, telling nbc news, missing items are rare, but if customers notify amazon, they'll work to make it right. instacart telling us, the service fee helps provide customers with the best service possible. and may be used for wages, customer support and operational expenses. but didn't comment on the missing avocados. the grocery delivery wars heating up across the country. >> trade you an avocado for the ice cream. >> fine. >> done. >> they're arguing whether they would rather miss the avocados or the ice cream. i think it's obvious. >> got to get the ice cream. >> right now, amazon offers the service in six cities, including austin, texas, where we taped our experiment, great city. love austin. experts believe amazon is planning to expand across the country. as for instacart, it's not just whole foods, the company announcing a similar partnership

with sam's club in a few pilot cities, as well. so it's -- >> the bag that kept things cold. >> really cool. amazon. >> but they didn't remember the ice cream. >> forgot the ice cream. and that's a deal-breaker. >> they each forgot something. >> i like fresh direct. >> not leaving our homes. that's it. >> we're going to be shut-ins. >> just cocoons. >> and now the weather, al. >> you don't have to leave the home for this, we deliver it to your door fresh every day! it's fantastic. so we're looking right now at some strong storms firing up from new mexico all the way into the mid section of the country, and that's going to cause some problems. we've got a severe weather outlook today from san angelo to oklahoma city, a potential for a few tornadoes that continues again tomorrow from del rio, texas, all the way to little rock. damaging winds. the strongest storms in the afternoon. heavy rain. in fact, we may even see some flooding anywhere from 3 to 5 inches of rain possible. that's what's going on around the country. that's what's going on around the country.

here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> good morning, i'm meteorologist kari hall. we've got a beautiful day ahead, all clear skies as we get a life look outside at the golden gate bridge. the temperature in san francisco at 47. also 47 in san jose. while 37 in livermore. and also in napa. so a very chilly start. but it's going to be an amazing day, really nice, and temperatures warmer than yesterday. low 60s along the coast. while the inland areas will be in the mid-60s and our weather continues to warm as we go through the week.that's your la weather. savannah? >> al, thank you. with all the talk of millennials who can't put down their smartphones, something surprising is happening online or should we say off line. gadi schwartz is looking at why teens are taking a break from social media or even giving it up completely. >> reporter: they are the scrolling generation. generation z, digital natives who scan the lives of their friends and family in the blink of an eye ond fill theirs with

apps. instagram, snapchat, facebook. and while many use the power of never again to inspire millions to join them in the march for our lives saturday, a recent study shows a lot of young people want to disconnect from their social media. >> it's controlling and it's not a good way to be living life. >> reporter: hunter anderson is one of the estimated 64% of generation z that will temporarily take a break. >> had a lot of self-confidence issues with social media, constantly comparing myself to other people and i just didn't really like the fact that i was living my life that way. >> reporter: the defection from social media is a growing trend. the delete facebook movement has taken off as a result of that social network's recent data scandal where the privacy of millions of facebook users was compromised. 21-year-old fasa has seen some of her friends try to disconnect, as well. >> they honestly felt there is a sense of anxiety -- they felt anxiety-ridden to fill or to see people that were doing all of these amazing things and maybe they didn't have money to do that. >> reporter: according to a study that looked at young

people from age 18 to 24, 41% say social media made them feel sad, anxious or depressed. >> for gen z, social media is a big part of their lives and sometimes that means that they need to take a break from it. >> reporter: but for this generation, social and media are often so deeply intertwined. from work profiles to messaging to how they get their news, many say they don't see a future where someone can completely unplug. >> it's hard, because they're never mutually exclusive. >> reporter: for those like anderson, a break can be a reset. hunter decided to just go cold turkey, and nearly two weeks later, he says putting the phone down feels pretty good. >> the air feels different. because you aren't constantly on your phone. you're just looking around and breathing in the air and really living life. >> reporter: for "today," gadi schwartz, nbc news, los angeles. >> millennials may be ditching their smartphones and stuff, but we're not. >> going to the orange room where carson is! >> allison price was thrilled when she got the last seat on a

flight from washington, d.c., to austin, texas, for her friend's bachelorette party. but when it came time to board the plane, things took a turn. let's follow along with allison's tweets. united offering 1,000 bucks in travel credit for an oversold flight. if nobody buys, they will kick off the lowest fare passenger by pulling them out of the boarding line for a flight they oversold. unreal. you can see her frustration there. and then allison was hit with the hard truth. i am the lowest fare passenger. so allison got bumped from the flight. that's when the negotiations began. after some back and forth, united goes in big. here's what they offer right here. check this out. $10,000 travel voucher. >> wow. >> that's big-time. she shared this picture of the voucher online. social media users were shocked by the amount. melissa, hilarious, writes, i'd miss my own bachelorette party for ten grand. brandon posts, is it bad that my dream is to be asked to give up my seat to reap the benefits? we reached out to united. they confirmed the voucher is

indeed legit. the airline raised the voucher cap last year, as you remember, a lot of stories of passengers being dragged off flights to give up that seat. i'm happy to say not only did allison become a viral hit sensation, she got 10 grand. she made it to the party in austin to have a good time. >> she got the 10,000 bucks? >> and gets the travel voucher up to $10,000, correct. >> and she made it. >> and she made the party. >> awesome. >> have you ever taken a voucher? >> i've wanted to. i did not. >> have you? >> i might now. >> the price is right. you have a pop start? >> i do. lots to get to. we're going to start with meghan markle, stepping into a role she's been preparing for, apparently since she was 8. you don't believe me? here's the video proof. >> look, we're on videotape! >> oh, hi! >> i'm your royal highness, take one. >> the little girl in the red-striped shirt, a meghan markle, 1990, meghan markle playing queen with her friends. markle only 8 years old. who knew she would grow up to

not only be an actress but also royal, as well. speaking of her royal highness, claire foye, the actress who plays queen elizabeth on "the crown" is speaking out on the pay gap controversy. recently executives revealed that foye's co star earned more on the first two seasons of "the crown" than she did. angry fans started an online petition demanding that smith and netflix rectify the situation. foye had remained silent on the matter until now, speaking to "entertainment weekly," saying i'm not surprised people saw the story and went oh, that's odd, but i know matt feels the same way i do. it's odd to find yourself at the center of a story you didn't particularly ask for. the production company behind "the crown" has apologized to the actors and says going forward no one will be paid more than the queen. and finally, gal gadot taking on ryan reynolds. she writes, dude, you stole my look. gal referring to "dead pool's"

cross arms. wonder woman frequently uses that. you can see the similarities. ryan reynolds was quick to respond, saying, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. and in canada, it's called borrowing. that is your pop start today. >> cute. we've got a click? >> i think we do. many people think of their pets as their best friends. but that can especially be true if they start talking and maybe even looking like you. just like lawrence's cat, dave. take a look. >> dave, are you hungry? [ meowing ] >> say yeah! [ meowing ] >> say yeah! [ meowing ] >> sounds like dave is saying "yeah" to me. doesn't it? impressive stuff. >> yeah! [ meowing ] >> now there's a dog in texas who takes talking to the next level. listen to this one. ♪ >> i love you.

♪ did you hear that? >> you guys, the dog -- hoda? >> he doesn't talk, no. >> does your dog sing songs? >> that's pretty good. >> that's wild! >> that's better than astro on the jetsons. >> thank you, carson. just ahead, jenna is here, and will introduce us to a community of survivors who are helping others and also helping themselves. that's in tennessee. and how carson cooks up a big surprise for us behind the grill! benihana after your local news.

the a )s are making a new pitch for a new stadium. good morning. it's 8:26. the a's are making a new pitch for a new stadium. this latest effort would have the team staying right where it is. this morning, the a's sent a letter to the mayor, asking for the complete control of the land where the coliseum currently sits. in exchange, the a's would pay off about $135 million in debt now tied to that property. the team believes this would provide a definitive path to a new stadium. especially if they strike out on the only other current viable option, which is a stadium near howard terminal. and we want to go to senol with mike inouye right now. >> the slowest spot. the south bay starting to ease up, so that's a great drive right now.

spring break remember for many colleges. we're looking over here, southbound 680 at senol boulevard. that's where the crash has three vehicles off the roadway. then clearing towards freemont. the castro valley y, not so bad. the peninsula side seeing slows off either bridge, off the du dumbart dumbarton, off may taio bridge, as you expect in these typical spots. northbound 80, that's the bulk going towards the bay bridge. it's just slow because of all the folks traveling, back to you. >> all right, thank you very much, mike, more local news coming up in half an hour.

[ cheers and applause ] welcome back to "today." 8:30 on a monday morning. march the 26th. we've had some big crowds. i don't think any crowd so far is as big as this one. right? it seems like it's topping it. i mean -- insane. so we've got an awesome crowd. >> biggest crowd yet. >> i think it's the biggest one yet. raise your hand if your name is lauren from st. louis. oh! >> right behind you. >> hi, honey, how are you? >> i'm good, how are you? >> okay. so your sign says, my dad bet me $100 that i would not get on the "today" show. >> oh!

>> we've got to make you $100 richer. say hi to your dad back home. >> hi, dad! >> you got it! 100 bucks. spend it wisely, okay? >> let's go double or nothing. hi, lauren's dad, okay? from the whole plaza! >> hi, lauren's dad! the price just got higher. >> lauren wants her 100 in singles. just ahead, we'll meet a remarkable group of survivors as we start a series all about finding faith today, during, of course, one of the holiest weeks of the year. >> speaking of holy, i love me some benihana. i grew up with it. but can i work there? that's the question. wait until you see what happened when i share one of my favorite places and many, many pieces of shrimp with my "today" show family. >> it was spectacular. and steven spielberg getting candid about his new movie and why at this point in his career picking projects is kind of like impulse shopping to him. >> look around, guys.

do you have a friend or family member or co-worker who may be a dedicated voluntary? who is making a difference in people's lives? we're going to start this special called "neighbors helping neighbors" and we want to hear about them. if you know somebody who fits that bill, head to today.com. tell us about that extraordinary person, just maybe him or her could use a boost, and we're going to surprise them. so remember, it's a surprise. so don't give it away. >> don't tell the person you're nominating them. >> yes. megyn is here. what have you got coming up? >> is the key to female empowerment more crying at the office? do we need to be crying more? >> check and check. >> and also no botox, no filler, nothing to fight the lines. is that the next wave for women coming into their own? we'll talk about that. and also, this little ditty. is there really a heaven or a hell? a controversial bishop comes on with answers! >> okay. interesting. >> really getting into some subjects -- >> it's important to know! >> it's good. >> mr. roker, your people are here! >> i'm telling you, it is huge!

wow! take a look at how big this crowd is today. that's it. to 48th street. woo! huge! huge crowd today! let's see what your weather looks like as we start off today. we are looking at flood risk through the mid mississippi river valley. severe storms firing up in texas, morning gusty winds through the southwest into southern california. and then for tomorrow, it gets awfully stormy as you get into the flood threat in the mid mississippi and ohio river valleys. severe storms down through texas. sunshine through the gulf coast. and we're looking at some wet weather and some snowy weather in the pacific northwest. that's that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> we've got mostly sunny skies and it's going to warm us up today. a little warmer than yesterday. expect our high in half-moon bay at 60 degrees. 62 in san francisco.

66 in san jose. livermore today, 63 degrees. it will continue to warm up, from the 60s today to the low 70s in san francisco. inland areas will be in the upper 70s and a very nice and comfortable weekend ahead. and that is your latest weather. ladies! >> all right, al, thanks so much. today begins one of the holiest weeks around the world as millions prepare for easter and passover. this morning we are kicking off a special series called "finding faith today." inspired by people who are facing some of life's greatest challenges with the strength that they say comes from their faith. >> and jenna bush hager is here with one woman making a difference in so many lives on her journey of faith and love. good morning. >> good morning, guys. thistle farms is a special community in nashville, tennessee, where faith has helped survivors with one simple idea. love. >> and the wisdom to know the

difference. >> before i even got here, i was incarcerated. i had no self worth. i was very -- i was completely down and out. >> so i found myself having addiction to marijuana at the age of 12. by the time i was an adult, i had a full-blown cocaine addiction. >> well, i came into the program. i was shattered. really needed someone to put me back together again. >> it's just who i am. >> thistle farms is just a community of women, and they're survivors of trafficking, addiction and prostitution. >> reporter: becca stevens is an episcopalian minister. her faith led her to open a special place in nashville called thistle farms. here she offers a sanctuary for abused women. >> the stories are horrific, they're humbling. >> can you see yourself in some of these women? >> hmmm hmmm. i can. and i hope they can see me in them. >> reporter: becca understands

their suffering, because she's lived it. >> when you were young, you were a victim of sexual abuse. how did that help inspire all of this? >> in some ways, i learned a lot about brokenness, but i also learned a lot about strength. and about how it is that we can love people. all of us can turn our brokenness into compassion for others. >> reporter: compassion and devotion to the more than 40 women living and working thistle farms. they get free housing, counseling and even job training at thistle farms cafe and at the plant, learning to make home and body products to sell in their store. giving these women economic independence. >> this is not a faith-based organization. but you are an ordained minister. how do they go hand-in-hand? >> i think that doing the work of helping people who are coming out of horrible situations and watching them come to life is

really what faith is about. >> reporter: it's all done with one message. >> love heals is everywhere. what do those words mean to you? >> that was kind of the essence of really what we're about. healing and love. >> how to open up. >> reporter: it's a message shared each morning at the meditation circle, where they welcome new members and support each other with love. >> when you sit in that circle, there is a sisterhood to it of love. how has that changed these women's lives? >> wow, you know, i think for all of us it's about being faithful. and so we know that we're going to be there for each other. and with each other. through all of it. >> god -- >> god -- >> take my life. >> rachel is now event assistant manager. >> thistle farms has literally given me breath. it's given me life. >> sheila is working on her graduate degree in social work. >> i realized that god carried

me through that. he didn't leave me. and if i can be a part of changing just one person's life, then this is all worth it. >> reporter: and doris is the events director. ♪ lord i want you to help me and i found out that i was valuable and i do have a voice. i'm so grateful to becca stevens for her vision. >> reporter: one woman helping many others find faith, and a better life through love. >> what i am left believing, i believe with all my heart. >> and what's that? >> that is that if we can love each other and love each other well, we can change the world. >> so love heals. >> love heals. >> so becca has truly started a movement. there are 50 sister organizations all across the country that have modeled themselves after thistle farms. >> beautiful.

>> and i had the best day there. i can't speak enough. >> it's about the self-confidence. now i know i'm worth something. wow, that was very powerful. >> and they're changing their life but also their kids. >> a ripple effect. >> it is, for sure. love heals. coming up tomorrow on our series, "finding faith," a young woman facing one of life's toughest challenges with courage, a sense of humor, and yes, faith. next, it's going to be my turn to share something with you that i've always loved. here's a hint. it involves eating and it's not just the food that's fun. it's the experience. we will have it together and relive it and show everybody at home. but first, this is "today" on nbc. >> yeah, come on!

we are back with more of a few of our favorite things. it's a series that's also a song, isn't it, al? >> oh, yes, it is. everybody!

♪ raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens ♪ ♪ >> okay. good job, everybody. so to recap, each of us gets to introduce the gang to something we love. none of us had any idea what was about to happen. it turned out awesome. carson, tell us. >> that's right, guys. for me, the choice was simple. one place that was a go-to destination for every milestone of my young life and now that i'm a father, the same holds true for my young children. so what is it? have a look. ♪ the sounds. the aroma. the sharp knives. oh, and those cheesy '80s commercials. all ingrained in my soul. it doesn't get more american to me than benihana. i know it sounds a little weird, but to me it is apple pie, baseball and benihana. it's a love so deep, i even took lessons once.

and surprised my family as their h hibachi comprehensive f hibachi chef for the night. out there, things are difficult. in here, things fly freely into hats. this is a place where the eggs roll, where the heart beats eternally. i'm going to do this and what do i say? [ speaking in foreign language ] i'll be your chef today. so it's only natural i don the tall hat once again to chef it up for my "today" show friends. >> hey, pals! hope you enjoy my favorite thing as much as i do. solve the puzzle and meet me there. >> oh! >> big part of benihana is making noise. hey! >> and while they decipher my plan, chef mendez schools me in the code of the teppanyaki masters. >> making with the spatula.

no, kidding. >> all right, we get the corners. >> i got this one, hold on. >> okay, that's not it. four hours later. >> sorry. >> it takes months to perfect the required skills. egg spins. >> it's already broken. >> stabbing lemon. soaring shrimp and more. but i have just 20 minutes before they descend on me. >> wait a minute. i got it. >> hibachi? >> hibachi time! >> wait. hibachi. >> is there a hibachi? >> over there? >> okay. all right. i think we're ready for that. >> oh, there it is, guys! >> is it benihana? >> benihana! >> it's benihana! >> time to cook for my friends. let's go. >> carson, carson! >> where is the chef! >> hello? >> sake! >> hey! >> welcome to benihana. i'm your chef, carson.

>> sake, please! >> ooh. oh! >> thankfully, it's a pretty easy crowd. >> we've got a newcomer here, showing a lot of promise. >> i nail my first trick, the onion volcano turned smoking train. >> woo! >> choo choo! >> most important question, where is the sake! >> you got it, you got it, you got it. >> toss in the shrimp. was a colossal fail. >> oh! >> thankfully, the benihana gods invented plan b. i'm officially on a roll, and haven't stabbed a customer yet. >> oh! >> yes! yeah! >> oh! >> fantastic. >> coincidentally when you come to benihana, it's always

somebody's birthday. >> uncle al! ♪ happy birthday to you >> only eight months early. >> it just takes about 50 glasses of sake. ♪ if you're happy and you know it clap your hands ♪ >> and we've reached what i'm calling benihana nirvana. ♪ if you're happy and you know it clap your hands ♪ >> woo! >> happy just watching. >> terrific. yes! >> that was a blast! >> so much fun. >> you made us happy! >> oh, i was so happy. >> and you're so tall, your hat -- couldn't get the shrimp -- the ceiling -- >> the trick you couldn't do, because you were too tall. >> the truth -- >> let's go back tonight and i'll perfect it. >> the truth is, it's now become one of our favorite places. we want to take their kids for their birthdays. >> i went right after. >> so fun. >> it's awesome. >> you really have a talent! >> i have a weird obsession with it, yeah. i'm there enough. i think it's rubbing off. >> and still calling for sake. >> sock it to me. >> thank you so much for taking

time from your busy schedules to do that. >> it's in our contract. we had to. >> stop it! stop it now! >> you are terrible. >> you stop it! you stop it! don't mess with a woman with high heels and tight jeans. >> i saw that movie. coming up next, steven spielberg is taking us back to the '80s. he spoke to natalie about his new sci-fi action venture. "ready player one." but first, this is "today"n o ♪ seresto, seresto, seresto

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[ cheers and applause ] steven spielberg is known for some of the biggest and best movie blockbusters and his latest no exception. this one is called "ready player one." >> natalie got to sit down with the movie's lead actor for an early look. hi, nat, good morning. >> he is a legend from "jaws" to

"e.t.", steven spielberg has some of the best thrill rides on the big screen, but he takes this to a whole new level. >> are you willing to fight! >> it's the future spielberg-style. in his new blockbuster, "ready player one" the year is 2045, and the world is in shambles. the only escape, a virtual reality oasis. >> you hit my kids' sweet spot. virtual reality world. what was it that made you want to do this movie? >> the thing that i really wanted to make sure of, if you've never played a video game in your entire life, you would really still love what this picture is about. >> in the movie beased on the best-selling book, there is a worldwide contest, leaving the keys to controlling the empire in the game itself. it's up to the film's young hero, wade watts, played by ty sheridan, to find the clues

before evil corporate powers win control. when you hear you got this job cast in the steven spielberg movie, what was that like? >> i mean, it's a dream come true. lena, who plays my best friend in the movie, she said, he's a giant that doesn't make you feel small. and -- >> he was like my kid on this film, you know? >> we had a good time. >> we had a good time. >> reporter: using motion capture technology, it took steven berg two years to craft this high-tech virtual reality world. how far off do you think that world is from today? >> make three. >> three years. >> maybe. >> oh, my gosh. that's -- as a parent, a little concerning, though, isn't it? i mean, you're a parent of seven. and i know how they get lost in those games. >> well, they get lost in the games right now. we're going through a generation where all of us, including myself, and all the kids are going to get bone spurs in their neck from looking down. >> reporter: but there is a real message in the movie, and that is that the best reality is the

real world. it's not the virtual world, right? >> it's what i believe in. you cannot substitute being in love and being in life with your friends and your family. >> reporter: "ready player one" is also full of some real mementos from spielberg's old movies. yes, that's the flying dell lorian from "back to the future." >> where was the gremlin? there was a gremlin somewhere? >> i didn't notice the gremlin until a couple times i had been working on the effect shots, and i remember after about four times seeing this thing shot, i said, who snuck a gremlin in this thing? i didn't give permission for gremlins to be in this movie. >> reporter: speaking of, some of spielberg's greatest films are celebrating big birthdays this year. hard to believe, but it's the 20th anniversary of "saving private ryan." and the 25th anniversary of "jurassic park" and "schindler's list." >> we have fingers inside of

shell metal casings. >> reporter: what keeps you inspired? >> good stories keep me inspired. i'm kind of like an impulse shopper. when something really grabs me, i don't ask why it grabbed me. and as long as i don't question the choices, i'll keep directing movies. >> reporter: keeping him inspired at home, his wife, actress kate capshaw. >> one thing you've stayed true to is your love of your life, you're 26 years strong with kate. >> the reason we have been together this long, we have stayed in love with each other this long. and there's no other reason. it's just that we have been in love from the day we met until today, we're sitting here talking about it. >> and spielberg and his wife, kate, were so inspired by the students of the parkland, florida, shooting, that they joined george and amal clooney and oprah in donating half a million dollars to support the students' march for our lives in washington, d.c., to fight for gun control. they were there this weekend. spielberg's movie, "ready player one" opens nationwide on friday.

it's a real thrill ride, guys. >> fun to watch your interview, natalie. thank you so much. >> you got it. we are back in a moment. but first, this is "today" on nbc. at&t has a network with thousands of best-in-class security experts. which means... more of the eye balls you want watching the network... & less of the ones you don't. more experts preventing security issues... & less security threats impacting our customers. more of a highly secure network with more security products available for further protection... & less per month. switch to at&t internet for business. more & less - that's the power of &. yes, you like motorcycles.cles?

should i start a motorcycle company? yes! you really like motorcycles! should i make a squarespace website for it? yes, they're very good websites. but why am i in the desert talking to myself? don't ask me. ♪ ok. [motorcycle revs away] ♪ music fades

big fourth hour coming up. taraji p. henson, dakotai )m - police this morning are increasing their presence around good morning. it's 8:56. i'm chris sanchez. police this morning are increasing their presence around certain peninsula schools after a threat from someone at a sp t sporting goods store. the workers say this customer on friday told an employee he wanted to buy a weapon and shoot up a school. the threat is not considered to be credible. investigators have since released surveillance footage of that man. police still plan to have a higher presence of officers

around schools in the san mateo foster city school district. the move is precautionary. we have a crew talking with police and parents and we will have a live report in our middays knew cast. you can also link to more in our twitter feed. also, the a's are making a new pitch to east bay leaders. they want to build a new stadium on the same land where the coliseum is now, provided the a's can own the property where that stadium is built. the a's sent a letter to the mayor detailing that proposal. you can see the letter for yourself in our twitter feed. also, the u.s. is kicking out 60 russian diplomats and shutting out the russian consulate in seattle, shutting it down in reto the poisoning of an ex-spy in the uk. you can find that story on our homepage. claims is a transgende.

how the school is preparing for picketers on both sides. plus, the steps the bay area )s largest city will take to fight climate change. tomorrow - 4:30 to 7.

♪ [ cheers and applause ] >> good morning, everyone, and welcome. welcome to the program. i'm megyn kelly. anything good on tv last night? anybody see it? who watched the stormy daniels interview? [ cheers and applause ] the adult film star on "60 minutes" detailing her account of havingexual intercourse with donald trump over a decade ago. also alleging a hush money payment that could potentially have violated election law. ms. daniels historying she might be holding back additional evidence of the affair. she says she is speaking out now in an effort to set the record straight. here's nbc news' national correspondent, peter alexander. >> reporter: this morning, stormy speaks.