>> i'm a little nervous. i ain't going to lie. >> a winter storm smacks the southeast burying the carolinas and being noing out power to thousands. where is it going next? >> why the man to replace chief of staff john kelly is turning down the job. the trade truths in tunnel. china's stern warning to the u.s. after the shocking arrest of a top tech executive. an answer to the age-old holiday question. what happens to christmas trees that don't make the cut? "early today" starts right now.

a massive winter storm has slammed the southeast. some areas of virginia and north carolina have faced as much as 18 inches of snow and freezing rain. >> officials across the region are urging people to stay put and not to try to drive in the extremely dangerous conditions. nbc meteorologist bill karins is tracking the storm. >> what a storm. two feet of snow in the mountains. richmond, virginia, with a foot of snow. raleigh ended up with around four to eight inches. charlotte around four to six inches, and there was a lot of ice and sleet mixed in. there was a lot of power outages, too, throughout the reasonable. the main part of the storm is gone. we're left with a lot of rainshowers. a little freezing drizzle. north of raleigh. the way it plays out today, we have a mix of wintry precip

during the daylight hours. we warm it up for mostly some just rainshowers. what's left of this, and enthis the evening as we go towards 7:00 or 8:00 p.m., it could be cold enough to get sleet or snowshowers in south carolina. not completely done yet, and, again, thousands of school cancellations today. >> all right, bill. as bill mentioned, this storm system has impacted millions of people across seven states, and it has now turned deadly. officials are blaming at least four deaths on this winter blast. nbc's tammy laettner in greensbo greensboro, north carolina, with the latest. in north carolina a man killed when a tree fell on his car. the news coming as large parts of the south remain crippled. >> i'm a little nervous. i ain't going to lie. >> reporter: residents across the region being warned to stay home. >> don't put your life and the lives of first responders at

risk by getting out on roads covered with snow and ice. >> reporter: a state of emergency declared in north carolina and virginia with some areas expecting up to two feet wrrn. >> reporter: north carolina has been getting pounded by snow, leaving treacherous road conditions and snow plows have been working around the clock. >> reporter: more than 500 crashes reported in the state. >> absolutely worse than i thought. >> reporter: snow bringing groa greensboro to a stand still. >> we get more snow in one day than weigh normally get the entire year. >> reporter: roughly a half million people are expected to lose power, and the new concern is that this snow will turn to ice making the roads here extremely dangerous. phillip. >> all right, tammy, thank you. the white house is on the hunt for a new chief of staff this morning. president trump announced over the weekend that john kelly is leaving at the end of the year and that he hoped to name a replacement in a few days. the search immediately hit a snag after the man tapped to replace the outgoing chief of staff turned down the job.

nbc ausz suz anl mcginnis is live with the latest. susan, ayers' decision seems like it was a surprise for the white house. >> hi, good morning, francis. tha that's right. it was a huge surprise. the president had pretty much settled on ayers to replace john kelly. kelly's circumstances of leaving are still not quite known. here's what larry kudlow said. the president's chief economic advisor about it on sunday. >> did kelly resign, or was he forced out? >> i don't know, to be perfectly honest. i think it was very ammicable. >> now, there is word that kelly's departure comes soon after kelly was interviewed by special counsel robert mueller. now with ayers out, here are the top candidates that we're hearing about so far for president trump. there's a long list, but here's just a couple. congressman mark meadows. he is the chairman of the freedom caucus.

also, steve manchin. the current acting attorney general, the u.s. trade rep, although he is said to be quite busy with china right now. president trump tweeted he will be making a decision soon, and it could end up being an interim person for now. elsewhere in trump's staff shake-ups we have a new pick for attorney general. this is william barr. he was tapped for attorney general under george bush sr. he is also another big advocate for very strong presidential powers. also, there's heather nowart. this is a former fox news anchor. she's being tapped for u.n. ambassador. she's being criticized widely for lacking the skills needed for that big job. also, it looks like the president has been handing out offers of the job by kirsten nielsen, the homeland security head. no telling what happens next there, but it looks like yet another staff shake-up, francis, coming soon. >> so many of knees positithese watch. thank you.

>> james comey is firing back at president trump this morning. the commander in chief targeted him over his testimony on capitol hill friday claiming that comey lied to congress. in an interview with nbc's nicole wallace, comey dbd that and called on the u.s. to hold the president accountable. >> we have to remind ourselves the president of the united states of america is publicly announcing that people are committing crimes, they should be in jail. private citizens, that's not okay, and if we become numb to it, with he risk surrendering the norm. >> for more on this spat between comey and the president, let's go to jennifer johnson in washington. >> reporter: as the special counsel's russia investigation heats up, president trump again attacking former fbi director james comey who testified before house members friday behind closed doors. leakin james comey must have set a record for who lied the most to congress in one day, he tweeted. this as former trump lawyer michael cohen is set to be sentenced on charges, including

breaking campaign finance laws. when at the president's direction, he paid hush money in 2016 to two women who claim they had sexual encounters with mr. trump. >> there's a very real prospect that on the day donald trump leaves office, the justice department may indict him. that he may be the first president in quite some time to face the real prospect of jail time. >> reporter: the president denies any wrong doing. >> sir, did you direct michael cohen to commit any violations of the law. >> no, no, no. >> reporter: serious allegations, but some members of congress say too soon to talk impeachment. >> if impeachment is moved forward on the evidence that we have now, at least one-third of the country would think it was just political revenge. >> reporter: the special counsel also revealed that paul manafort violated his plea deal. gop members now cautioning the president about pardoning manafort. >> i would advise against it. it would be a terrible mistake.

i would not be supportive of it. >> reporter: he is scheduled to be sentenced in march. jennifer johnson, nbc news, washington. now to a troubling story from new york city. an officer seen ripping a 1-year-old from his mother's arms, and a warning the video may be tough to watch. community members say they are disturbed by the video. the shocking incident. multiple officers surrounding a mother as she lies on the floor with social services office clutching her son. the one officer seen pulling the child. she was confronted in an attempt to get her to vacate the facility following complaints. let's turn it back over to bill karins. still watching the refreeze? >> this time tomorrow morning this is what we're going to be talking about. just to give everyone a heads-up because obviously, a lot of school cancellations. today warms up into the 30s, and then tonight temperatures drop down in some cases even into the teens in the mountainous areas. into the 20s from winston-salem to charlotte to raleigh.

we'll have reads improving dramatically today, and then tonight we'll get the black ice problems out there throughout the region. once again, still watching the rain and snowshowers. those exit the rest of the country looks good f anyor green bay. pretty nice day, though, in areas from st. louis to kansas city. the theme of the week is going to be a warmup. i think a lot of us have been waiting for that. >> they deserve it in certain parts too, bill. thank you. a combo carrying over one million wreaths across america en route to arlington national cemetery. the wreaths will be placed on the graves of fallen soldiers on december 15th, which is national wreaths across america day. it's an annual tradition that dates back to 1992. this year's convoy is the longest ever with over 11 truckloads. just ahead, cruising into

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i can breathe again! ahhhh! i can breathe again! ughh! vicks sinex. breathe on. new this morning, a major win for the windy city. former white sox slugger harold laines and lee smith were voted into the baseball hall of fame. baines played for 22 seasons and spent five years on the ballot. smith pitched 18 seasons and was on the ballot for 15 years. the ceremony takes place in july of next year. lee smith, pretty good. leading the news, u.s.-china trade war is intensifying following the arrest of the chief financial officer with china warning there could be chief consequences if huawei is not released. she was arrested over

allegations of fraud in vancouver and is facing extradition to the u.s. the arrest, part of an ongoing u.s. department investigation over whether huawei violated u.s. sanctions on iran. janis joining us with more. this will have major effects here. >> the financial markets are royal to gain. asian markets down across the board. continuing that uncertainty triggered last week by the arrest of mung wong jo. officials are trying to show the right level of anger, and also recognizing that fragile trade truths are hanging in the balance. >> reporter: china is condemning the arrest of a top executive with tech giant huawei summoning the u.n. ambassador to demand the united states drop its warrant against -- beijing

calling her arrest unreasonable and nasty and threatening grave consequences. >> china could do many things, which will cripple the u.s. economy. >> reporter: u.s. lawyers are opposing bail for meng, arguing her wealth makes her a flight risk, that she's had seven passports in 1 1 years. prosecutors want to extradite her to the u.s., to stand trial on charges of fraud, that she allegedly covered up deals through a subsidiary to evade u.s. sanctions against iran. in her sworn affidavit, meg says she's innocent and in china fury at what's widely seen as a competitive swipe at her. the timing of it awkward. meng's arrest came the same day president trump and china's president xi jing ping struck a truce in their trade wars. >> i think it's going to make the negotiations much more difficult. they must be seen to act. they can't be seen to be doing nothing about it.

>> the dispute could implode that trade cease-fire, which would derail talks toward a deal that would avert an all-out trade war. the next move belongs to a canadian judge. a bail hearing will resume today to determine whether meng can go free. extradition could take months, but if it happens, she faces 30 years in prison. phillip. >> whatever the outcome it will have global consequences. janis, thank you. how states are branching out with unsold christmas trees, skps tuba players hit a high note for the season. you're watching "early today." o thanks to you, st. jude children's research hospital is changing how the world treats and defeats childhood cancer. we freely share our science to help find cures and save kids with cancer everywhere. and no family pays st. jude for anything... because all a family should worry about

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>> hi, eric. don't be scared. it's just me, robert mueller, your dad's friend from work. >> mr. mueller, people say you're the worst thing to ever happen to my dad. >> no, eric. getting elected president was the worst thing that ever happened to your dad. >> another appearance. got to lot of him. >> robert deny earo, who knew he would be coming back as such a mega star to crack on mueller and trump. if you are oning what happens to all those unsold christmas trees, you may be feeling a bit like phoebe from "friends." >> no, no! >> they're alive!

not to fear, most of them are put to good use, according to usa today. even if those trees do end up in the chipper, many are turned into mulch. their christmas destiny also depends on the region. louisiana uses them to restore coastal marshes, while in illinois they become nesting structures for endangered herons, and san francisco even uses the spare trees to feed their goats. >> we all know what happens at the very end of christmas when we see all the christmas tree corps on curbs all across america, right? >> that's also part of the landscape. it is the set of a wonderful tradition right here at 30 rock. ♪ the 45th annual merry christmas tuba. they usually sit in the back of the orchestra, but they're front and center on sunday playing christmas carols for a packed pla plaza. >> about time the tuba got its due. >> it is their day to shine, and they did. >> they're, like, just get out

of the way, skiers, for now. just ahead, more magic from patrick mahomes. he makes a play that is insane. you have to see it to believe it. highlights from a wild day of football. ♪ cleaning floors with a mop and bucket is a hassle, meaning you probably don't clean as often as you'd like. for a quick and convenient clean, try swiffer wetjet. there's no heavy bucket, or mop to wring out, because the absorb and lock technology traps dirt and liquid inside the pad. it's safe to use on all finished surfaces tile, laminate and hardwood. and it prevents streaks and hazing better than a micro fiber strip mop, giving you a thorough clean the first time.

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offense led by jared goff. it was tied early in the second half. eddie beats the block for the safety to give the bears the lead. chicago helped goff to zero touchdowned, picked him off not once, not twice, not thrice, but four times. the bears win 15-6. zwloinchts now to that spaceship down in arlington, texas. an nfc east showdown between the eagles and the cowboys. the birds picked off dak prescott fwies. the second setting up an easy touchdown in the third quarter, but the big story amari cooper, the recently acquired receiver caught three touchdowns for 217 yards, but the biggest catch of the game was his last when they were in overtime. the ball gets tipped here by an eagles defender and look what he found there. that is the game winner 29-23 cowboys. five-game win streak now. now the miracle in miami. this is craze where i. the dolphins needed a touchdown and a touchdown on this play if they wanted to win the game. ryan tan na ahill finds kenny

stilz. he pitches to parker who laterals it to kenyon drake, and then he starts weaving around the defense. look at the last line of defense. that's gronk stumbling and falling. the dolphins got their miracle, and they win the game by one point. finally, the kansas city chiefs punched their ticket to the playoffs with an overtime thriller against the baltimore ravens. patrick pahomes continues his mvp season and didn't even look where he was throwing across the body, across the fold. he finds hill for 48 yards. that was on fourth down. the chiefs went on to tie the game and then win it on a field goal in overtime. >> all right. let's check back in with bill karins to see some of the mess that people are dealing with after a week of storms. >> giving them a nice melt and nice dry period here. today we're still dealing with the rain and the snowshowers out there. as we go throughout the week, light wintry mix in the middle of the country, and thn a rorm heads to the east koers by friday. maybe we'll get rid of some of the rain and snow. stay tuned here for more on "early today." manual to an elec toothbrush.

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black history month will be celebrated in 2019 by honoring the capitol bugss of black women from all walks of life. the series she thrives black women making history today will highlight ten amazing women from across generations, occupations, and regions. you would like to nominate a leader from your community, then about to nbc news.com/she thrives. entries are due by december 15th. ancient artifacts are wound up in western countries ann arbor away from where they once stood. there's now a growing movement to bring them back. nbc's lucy cavanaugh has the story. >> reporter: in the midst of the

south pacific on one of the most remote islands on earth, the mute sentinels of easter island have stood guard for centuries. the indigenous people believe the statues carried the spirit of ancestors, but in 1868 one was plundered, shipped to london, installed at the british museum. now easter island's people are begging for its return. even if temporary. >> you have take and keeping him for 150 years. just give us some months, and we can have again. >> reporter: western capitals are full of foreign treasures, like this ancient egyptian of cleopatra's needle, whose twin, stands in new york. egypt wants its artifacts back. >> any artifact that left egypt in an illegal or dubious way should be returned to egypt. >> reporter: greece has long battled britain to return the

marbles to the parthanon. in some cases the pressure has worked. france just announced it's giving back 26 pieces of african art seized from former colonies. some argue these prices treasures are safer in the west. in iraq and syria isis obliterated history waging a war on art, forcing the world to watch. preserved for centuries, this ancient city now in ruins. >> the argument for keeping artifacts where they are is so we can best understand them. >> reporter: easter island's past has been opened to millions of british museum visitors, but the people say it's time to bring the past home. lucy, nbc news. >> i think about all of the artifacts that were destroyed in wars in the world over the course of world history just been lost. >> another way of looking at art

besides just the beauty of the creativity, but also this argument behind it here is fascinating. >> thanks for waking up with us. i'm phillip mena. >> i'm francis. we'll leave you with these images oad lib live picture of s

in the park in downtown san jose. good morning and thank you for joining us. i )m laura garcia. and i )m ma very good monday morning to you. >> good morning to you. thanks for joining us. we want to get a check of that weather outside. it is cold. >> it is cold but we also have a cup couple of showers. we are going to take a look at storm ranger. the rain has been spotty and light. you can see some of the rain moving near the sunset district and as you go across