new questions this morning about president trump and his dealings with russia and whether he himself was a threat to national security. day 24 in the government shutdown. patience is running thin as unpaid federal workers are feeling a financial pinch while some are fighting back against furloughs. today begins a massive strike with more than 30,000 public schoolteachers and staff hitting the picket lines in los angeles. new details surrounding a happy 13-year-old jayme closs recovering with family after three months months in captivity. today her abductor faces the judge. get ready for the hottest wheels to hit the road. we'll take you live to the detroit auto show for a preview of this year's coolest cars. "early today" starts right now.

i'm frances rivera. >> i'm phillip mena. president trump facing tough questions this morning over his relationship with russia, following a pair of bombshell reports. "the new york times" detailed an fbi investigation into whether the president himself was working for russia. while a "washington post" report claims the president concealed details about his face-to-face meetings with russian president vladimir putin, the president took to twitter in wake of these stories tweeting over two dozen times throughout the weekend. it started saturday morning with a volley of six tweets about the russia investigation specifically targeting the fbi and its former director james comey and the tweets ended with the president talking about everything from border security and the wall to his push to withdraw troops from syria. he also poked fun at one of his 2020 competitor, senator elizabeth warren and took jabs at jeff bezos who he dubbed jeff bozo. susan mcginnis joining us now

from washington, d.c. susan, good morning. we have this russian cloud hanging over the longest government shutdown in history. >>eporter: that is right. he has been lashing out all weekend long. a friendly interview on fox. and he continues to bor reopen the governme longest in , the government shutdown has federal workers worried about making ends meet, including border patrol agents. >> a lot of the employees work double shifts. and with no paycheck. that's a slap in the face. >> reporter: and still no give on either side of the stalemate in washington. >> reasonable too. moving further to the democratic side. >> reopen government. why punish people who are applying for food stamps because the president is having a temper tan trump? >> reporter: the president is lashing out at a bombshell "new

york times" report saying the fbi opened an investigation into the president's behavior following his firing of james comey, looking into whether he was working on behalf of russia insulting thing i've ever been asked. >> reporter: the president also denied ave steps to hide conversations he's had with russian president vladimir putin. >> does the president have a right to conceal these conversations? probably. but i don't think it's the right thing to do. >> it's pretty much up to him in terms of who he wants to read into his conversations with world leaders. that's just the basic fact. >> reporter: both stories putting the president on defense. and as for the shutdown, republican senator lindsey graham suggested the president open the government for a short time, saying three weeks, so talks could continue. >> susan, thank you.

leading the news more than 30,000 teachers and staff are going on strike in l.a. today. it comes after two years of failed efforts to negotiate new contracts for the teachers. but nbc's steve patterson reports the dispute is about more than just money. >> reporter: frances, this will be the first strike to face the district in close to 30 years and it will be a historic one. more than 30,000 educators ready to walk out for demands they say are just better for their kids. the nation's second largest school district on the edge of a massive strike. after weeks of negotiations between l.a.'s school board and teachers union stalled -- >> our kids are worth better than this. they really are. >> reporter: -- more than 30,000 educators serving 600,000 students won't be going to work. >> we will be on strike for our students, for our schools and for the future of public education in los angeles. >> reporter: what do they want? smaller class sizes, higher pay and more nurses, counselors and librarians. the superintendent saying

they've made several ereven ask governor to get involved. >> keep us in a room, lock the door, throw away the key if he has to so we can reach the 80% students rely on free ora a. schools will stay open with substitutes and volunteers filling in but some parents are keeping their kids at home. >> we are both working parents. it's going to be a big challenge for us next week but we will support the teachers no matter what. >> reporter: for educators like michelle hamburger, the prospect of any time without a paycheck is terrifying. >> many nights i lie awake and worry and cry because i'm afraid. >> how about i stand with the teacher? >> reporter: now parents and teachers are gearing up to send a message for a struggle that could stretch on for weeks. and just to be clear, school will remain open. the district says they're bringing in about 400 substitutes so it's on the parents to decide what they want to do with their kids. frances. >> all right, steve patterson, thank you.

breaking news. one person is dead and a police officer injured following a chilling shoot-out overnight in. it started with with a tense domestic assault call, before the suspect began firing at officers returned fire, and the suspect was later found dead inside the home. the officer who was hit has been released from the hospital. haas joined the force in may 2017. the indonesian navy has recovered "the voice" recorder from the jetliner that killed 189 on board. it was found on the ocean floor beneath mud. it will take up to five days to analyze the data. lion air flight jt-610 plunged into the ocean october 29th

shortly after takeoff. authorities say a dive team discovered the cockpit recorder today, along with human remains. sappearance of 13-year-old jayme closs is due in court today. jake thomas patterson is accused of shooting and killing her parents before abducting her. she was found last week just 70 miles from her home. now investigators are piecing together evidence to build their case against patterson. nbc's kathy park has the latest. >> reporter: these are the first photos of jayme closs smiling with family and cuddling with pets after her three-month ordeal. >> she's eating well. she's happy. she's smiling. >> reporter: closs managed a dramatic escape thursday from a home in rural wisconsin ending an intense search for the 13-year-old. she's been at home with her aunt. >> i don't know if he just saw her or what the connection is but there's been no contact like everybody thinks.

appearance monday, his lawyers released a statement to the associated press saying they're relying on the integrity of our judicial system to treat him fairly. one of patterson's neighbors says she was shocked by his arrest. >> jake just seemed like a typical kid. you know, no different than any other kid in the neighborhood. >> reporter: back in closs' hometown gratitude for her safe return. >> we believe she was going to come home. it was just a matter of time. >> reporter: a long awaited homecoming for a community that never gave up hope. kathy park, nbc news. now to the millions who were in the path of a a delta plansl tarmac sunday morning when arriving in northern kentucky. that's when nearly nine inches of snow fell. icy conditions led to the cancellations of more than 250 flights at three major airports serving the d.c. area. and virginia state police say they responded to more than 230 traffic crashes and more than 100 disabled vehicles. the storm knocked out power for nearly 200,000 people in virginia and north carolina.

a huge storm. d. krfpl, 10 inches. st. louis had 11. no time to talk about that. we have the next storm system that could impact the west coast. a much bigger storm wednesday into thursday. numerous impacts. the possibility of widespread rain and flooding. you can get mud and debris flows in the burn-scarred areas. in the mountains, outside of l.a. where some of the big fires were. miles per hour. and snow at the highest elevations. a dangerous wee possibly inkstok

much bigger. take a look at the week ahead forecast and the timing of the stormy weather. >> plan ahead. bill, that i think. anthony scaramucci is joining celebrity big brother. the mooch will be joined by kato kaelin and dina lohan. >> the two started date anything june. >> winter is almost upon us. hbo releasing this new trailer for the eighth and final season of "game of thrones". it will be six episodes long. the show will premiere april 14th. we'll be right back. ♪ today's the daisy i do ♪ daisy it's true ♪ before i get on the move

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>> we will take the room. >> eddie murphy has confirmed america." arsenio hall, james earl james expected to reprise their roles. >> crazy to think 30 years later. a little over 30 years over. >> a long time. a test of the prime minister herself. sarah harmon brings us the very latest from london. good morning. >> reporter: frances, good morning. this week is make or break for brexit. britain is supposed to be leaving the eu in just 10 weeks. if british lawmakers can't agree on a divorce deal, brexit could be delayed or even fall apart.

>> before the uk is set to leave the european union march 29th, tensions are running high. and not just on the streets. british lawmakers still don't agree on how to leave. >> i want us to leave the european union on march 29th with the good deal that's on the table. >> reporter: tuesday a vote on that deal. few expected to pass. people here have had enough ofg election now. if her brexit deal doesn't pass, here's what could happen. one option, delaying brexit beyond march 29th. another, leaving without a deal which could have disastrous consequences. there could even be a second referendum. but if these protesters have their way -- >> time for her to go, i'm afraid. shraouflt litt absolutely time for her to go. >> reporter: -- it may not be up to may company longer.

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on saturday, kansas city was battling some snowy weather and managed to get chiefs jeff allen

stuck in the snow on his way to the game. along came dave allen. he helped him him out of the snow so he could get on his way to go game. >> he told me he's a chiefs player. i looked at him as a normal person. he would do the same for him. >> now as a thank you allen gave the good samaritan two tickets to next week's afc championship game. it'll be his first time ever going to a chiefs game. playoff action in the big easy where the defending super bowl champs philadelphia eagles took a commanding 14-0 lead before the saints offense finally kicked in. new orleans couldn't get its first lead until late in the third on this touchdown pass to michael thomas then with two minutes to play the eagles are down 6, quarterback nick foles throws a bullet to alshon jeffery but it goes right through his hands and right in the hands of marshawn lattimore, saints win, 20-14.

the patriots would strike first. the chargers would match right away. philip rivers dropping back to pass and chucked it all the way down to keenan for a 43 yard and the score and it looks like it's going to be a good one. it was not a good one. the patriots blew out the visiting chargers, 41-28 and it wasn't as close as the score. also some history made on that field. sarah thomas became the first woman ever to officiate an nfl playoff game. she was among the officials working that pats/chargers game and she was the first full time female official in the nfl and is now in her fourth season. today is the day bankrupt retailer sears learns its fate and fedex goes after a bigger piece of the pie. we have those stories and more. >> reporter: good morning, frances. we will start with the big retail news. sears will hold a bankruptcy auction for assets today. those rockies start at 10:00 a.m. at a law firm in new york city. last week sears chairman and

largest shareholders submitted a revised $5 billion offer to keep 425 sears and kmart stores open and up to 50,000 employees working. it's not clear how that bid stacks u mosp agaiy from liquid firms. if the firm loses, it is possible that sears biggest ken could live on. >> prices at the pump have dropped since the holidays. the average price of gas i 12 cents the past three weeks to $2.31. gas is down 60 cents since october. fedex is reportedly testing residential delivery of bulky products. it had been additionally left to trucking companies because they don't fit well into a currier sorting center. that will be offered through the fedex frailty business. they would carry items like washing machines and sectional sofas into your house and then even put them together.

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transition in the auto industry. one of the reasons for that pivot, a lot of makers and drivers moving away, saying good-bye, to the sedan. piecing together and polishing up the few final touches as the annual north american international auto show gets ready to shift into high gear. >> this is the motor city. a lot of automakers use this show to show off their best and their brightest. >> reporter: and while there is plenty of flash, there are few things that are different this year. sedans are getting tougher to spot. fewer are being built as manufacturers continue to replace them wh uc, crossovers, and suvs. and the cover will be pulled off new design ts hes here, but noty as many. >> we are looking at 30 reveals, about half of what it was last year. >> reporter: after four straight years of record sales of more than 17 million new vehicles a year, shoppers may be tapping the brakes a bit in 2019. >> the worry is this industry for 2019 for the first time in a

decade doesn't grow. >> reporter: but analysts are quick to point out -- >> compared to where we have been i think maybe a bit lower but all in all fairly strong. >> reporter: so the engine driving the industry hasn't stalled, it may just be on cruise control. there will be a surge of late model lease . frances, phillip, you can get a lot of same amenities and technology at a reduced price. it should be a good year for buyers in the industry. >> all right, jay, thank you for the preview. remember this iconic golf swing here? take a look. yeah. happy gilmore. it look like justin timberlake

did. perfect, well done, justin, mimicking that sidestepping whack. sent that ball flying florida the night sharing his triumph on instagram and with all of us we're able to see it. everybody is taking a swing and try that. >> you look really cool waking up with us. i'm frances rivera. >> and i'm phillip mena. in tokyo, polar plunge time plugging into ice baths. freezing there. a purification ritual for the new year. don't go anywhere. the news continues here. have a great monday.

there's a wicked weather weekend in many parts of the country. heavy snow causing havoc in a number of cities and sending a passenger plane skidding off the runway. in all there were seven deaths. we'll have the latest. >> and during the snowy weekend at the white house, president trump tweeting some 27 times. his targets were all over the map as new questions over

dealings with russia gain new attention. >> day 24 of the government shutdown, and still no talks, no negotiations, and no end in sight for the millions caught in the government's cross fire. >> and we now know for certain when winter is coming. a date is in place and why did ac