lock? get ready for a winter blast today with millions in the path of driving snow and plenty of flash flood watches and warnings. we've got your forecast. at no time has the white house asked for nor have i provided any promises or commitment concerning the special counsel's investigation or any other investigation. >> this morning several news stories and fresh revelations swirling around the white house in an ever growing case of he said/he said. plus a major new nomination at the justice department. nbc news is reporting on a number of new twists and turns in> the searchorn ofyo

people going to extremes to look and feel younger. a new warning from the fda about so-called youngblood legendary beatles. and if for some reason you want to get that donald trump or kim jong-un look, we've got the barber for you. "early today" starts right now. good wednesday morning. i'm phillip mena. >> and i'm marlie hall. we are following a massive winter storm moving across the country. the system dumping snow and ice could impact as many as 200 million people in 39 states. the snowfall ramped up tuesday afternoon in kansas, and a woman in georgia shared this video of a hail storm last night. the winter blast is expected to reach from the south to the southern new england today. webb.re, let's go to nbc >> good morning, everyone. we have severe weather out towards the south. also tracking that heavy snow. but timing, it's really going to be key on this system.

it depends on you out towards washington, you're going to see possibly four tomp for your early morning commute. it then transitions into rain for the northeast, really impacts us as we step into your evening commute. so roadways definitely dicey and some delays definitely possible. out towards the upper midwest, we could see up to six to eight inches. so this is impacting over 100 million people here throughout your afternoon into your evening with winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings in place. >> all right. thanks for heads up, janessa. a major shake-up on the way for the justice department. president trump is nominating a top transportation official to replace deputy attorney general rod rosenstein when he leaves next month. jeffrey rosen is the d.o.t.'s chief operating previously served as general counsel. he also spent nearly 30 years at kirkland and ellis llp, the same law firm as the new attorney

general, william barr.meanile, d is back in the headlines this morning. according to "the new york times," president trump may have asked his hand-picked acting attorney general, matthew whitaker, to interfere with the investigation into hush money payments. nbc's tracie potts joining us this morning with the latest from d.c. tracie, the president is denying this report, calling it fake news. >> reporter: right, phillip. he says it never happened. and matt whitaker, the former acting attorney general, who the president supposedly made this request of, testified on capitol hill a few weeks ago that he was never pressured to influence any case. this is coming from a "new york times" story that cites multiple sources saying that, in fact, the president called matt whitaker, this man, who was in charge of the justice departmen at the top of the michael cohen case. michael cohen, the president's former attorney, who was being investigated for the hush money paymenhaade for thet. the president wanted someone different in charge of that investigation according to the

"times." that person, u.s. attorney the " butfr the case. now, we're already hearing from the former acting fbi director, who has been talking a lot lately about his upcoming book. he's commenting on this "new york times" report. >> it's not surprising at all, right, especially when you're familiar with the history we went through in may of 2017. it's not that different from asking director comey to just let go of the investigation of mike flynn. of course one of the crucial steps that caused us to believe that this president might, in fact, be trying to obstruct justice. >> reporter: and there's another report this morning. "the washington post" reporting that the president may be about eady to get rid of his director testified on capitol hill several weeks ago, contradicting the f security threats against the united states. you might remember that was the hearing where they did not

mention the southern border at all as the president was saying that the southern border where he wants to build the wall was one of the biggest security threats against the country. >> we remember that. new day, new drama. thank you, tracie. justice ruth bader ginsburg is back on the bench. she returned to the courtroom tuesday for the first time since having part of one of her lungs removed after cancer was found. reports say she looked as fit as she did before the surgery. and as is her custom, she asked the first question. while she was recovering at home, she participated in the consideration and decisions of 11 cases by reading legal briefs and transcripts of oral arguments. a bombshell twist in the jussie smollett case after the state's attorney, kim fox, recused herself from the investigation, citing potential questions of impartiality. the unprecedented move catching chicago police off guard. yesterday the two brothers accused of carrying out the attack met with police and prosecutors. but police still want to re-interview smollett.

nbc's miguel almaguer gets into the layers of this investigation. >> reporter: law enforcement sources tell nbc news jussie smollett is no victim, and he could face criminal charges. the two men who he claims attacked him, ola and abel osundairo say they were hired by the actor to stage the attack. the brothers could be called to testify in front of a grand jury. the osundairos are now cooperating with detectives after they were arrested and released without charges, with authorities tracing all communications between smollett and the brothers. investigators seized stamps and a magazine at the brothers' home. smollett says he received this death threat before the attack. cbs chicago citing multiple sources reports he concocted th desired. >> did i make that up too? >> reporter: immediately after the attack, smollett received a wave of support on social media. now a deafening silence.

house speaker nancy pelosi deleting her tweet. with smollett's story unraveling, a new twitter storm. nikki haley posting he must repay resources used to investigate and serve time for the division he caused. police and the public are waiting to hear from the once outspoken activist who remains silent. miguel almaguer, nbc news. overseas now, new developments in a story we first brought you yesterday. a british woman pleading to go home to the uk after fleeing to join isis is losing her citizenship. now, will the u.s. do the same to an american isis bride? here's nbc's keir simmons. >> reporter: as this former isis wife and alabama mother pleads to return to america, a dramatic citizenship from this ent. british isis mother, effectively banning her from britain. despite joining isis in 2015, she had claimed she was not a

threat. >> i'm a 19-year-old girl with a newborn baby. i don't have any weapons. >> reporter: now the u.s. must decide how to respond to this woman's request to come home. she went to syria and joined isis in 2014. even allegedly threatening america with terrorism in tweets she claims she didn't write. but her family representative says she was brainwashed by online propaganda. she is pleading for a second chance. >> i know i ruined my future and my son's future, and i'm deeply, deeply regret it. >> reporter: the state department leaving not commenti specific case. >> repatriating these foreign terrorist fighters to their countriesre o prosecuted and detained. that's the best alled on european countries to take back isis fighters, but the uk appears to be ignoring that request with the fate of many dangerous former isis members

far from clear. chilling new details in the case of colorado mom kelsey berre berreth. she disappeared three months ago and is presumed dead by authorities. prosecutors laid out their case against her fiance. nbc's steve patterson has been following the case. >> reporter: graphic new revelations in court. for the first time, investigators how he allegedly bludgeoned her to death, saying he blindfolded her with a swaert, asking the mom to guess the scent of candles before striking her in the head with a baseball bat. the story told to investigators by frazee's girlfriend, crystal kenny. after the alleged called her, get out here now. you've got a mess to clean up. prosecutors say frazee thenit of evidence. kenny took a plea deal, agreein pleading guilty to tampering with evidence. now prosecutors say frazee relied on

attempts til berreth, describing how two months before the alleged murder, frazee instructed kenny to poison berreth with a drink from starbucks. a separate wrongful death lawsuit filed against frazee claims a motive that she was killed because frazee wanted custody of their 1-year-old daughter. with baby kay lee now in the care of berreth he's parents, the case against her father builds steve patterson, nbc news. his picture sparked a nationwide debate, and now a fierce legal battle. 16-year-old nicholas sandman is the covington catholic high school student who made headlines last month after his encounter with a native american activist during a protest in d.c. now the family of the kentucky teen is suing "the washington post" for defamation, seeking $250 million in damages. the suit claims the post the te in an attempt to embarrass president tr classmates were wearing make

america great again hats at the time. a spokeswoman for the post responded to the suit, saying, quote, we are reviewing a copy of the lawsuit, and we plan to mount a vigorous defense. back with us now, janessa webb. >> we're still in that winter season here, and it's okay to talk about snow, even some rain. but ice is never fun here. really we're going to see not significant amounts but at least a tenth of an inch out towards west virginia into virginia. could see some icing across portions of t northeast.he look at these temperatures out to the south. we're in the 70s. so the next 24 hours really bad hair day. >> very bad. thanks, janessa. a phenomenon known as the

fire fall is back at yosemite national r a short time each fe when conditions are just right, the setting sun caused light to catch the water at horse tail fall at an angle that makes it look like lava or fire flowing down the mountain. because of deep snow this year, firefall chasers say reaching this point is dangerous. looks cool, though. >> #nofilter on that. just ahead, a 7-year-old stirs up some controversy with his hot chocolate fund-raiser. and bad news, drak eula. why the fda is warning against blood transfusions to look younger. ♪ if you love me, love me, love me like you say ♪

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marshmallows for an extra 50 cents. his parents say he raised $1,400, but virtual online sales have taken his donations to over $5,000. i wonder why he named the marshmallows after democrats. >> i wonder. the 7-year-old. he got that idea all by himself. leading the news this morning, the fda is soundsing the alafrm on an unusual blood treatment that some clinics claim can dramatically preserve youth. n >> reporter: the eternal search for the fountain of youth, procedures to pills to potions. and now young blood? getting transfusions from teenagers is the latest obsession among gh hipsters. spoofed here on the hbo series silicon valley. >> it's my transfusion associate. >> reporter: in a real company, ambrosia, had planned to launch in cities around the country,

selling two liters of young blood plasma for $12,000. >> that's an interesting idea if you can get past the gruesomeness of using blood. >> the founder touting benefits for people age 30 and up. >> reporter: peop >> they don't look like they're 20, but their wrinkles are better. >> reporter: the fda warning these infusions are unproven and not guided by evidence and can pose significant risks. >> this therapy is not a fountain of youth. it's not a proven therapy in any way. and for most people, this is just a waste of money. >> reporter: ambrosia announced it had ceased patient treatments. for now, driving a stake into the so-called vampire cure for aging. dr. john torres, nbc news. >> wow, what people will do to stay young. >> great lengths. just ahead, how one girl scout is teaming up with aquaman to sell cookies and still supporting the team. a seinfeld favorite hits the ice for a good cause. you're watching "early today."

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years with can't buy me love, twist and shout, and do you want to know a secret. ariana admitting when she saw the chart, she thought someone had photoshopped it. >> it's for real. >> she is on some kind of ride. you may recall this classic scene from seinfeld. >> so what do you think? >> what is that? >> i painted my face. >> you painted your face? >> yeah. >> why? >> you know, support the team. >> that's actor patrick warburton playing quirky devils fan david puddy. puddy was at it again las jersey. he even took missed a step and fell behind the bench. he then stood up and gave a bow. don't know whether that fall was intentional or not, but either way it was funny.n though. $25,000 he received for his appearance going straight to st. jude's hospital. good move. a clever girl scout in colorado knows her audience. with one little adjustment, she's blown her competition out

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target run and done. good morning, everyone. tracking this massive storm system to the south. we are talking about two to three inches across the south and portions of the tennessee valley. this is just the start of another series of storms. really depends. you want rain or snow today? >> neither. just ahead, the scary near miss on the ice. we'll hear from the guy who that puck almost hit. to severe plat clearer. and stay clearer. most patients who saw 90% clearer skin at 28 weeks stayed clearer through 48 weeks. tremfya® may lower your ability to fight infections and may increase your risk of infections and tuberculosis. tell your doctor if you have an infection or have symptoms such as: fever, sweats, chills, muscle aches or cough. before starting tremfya® or have recently received a vaccine. tremfya®. stay clearer. janssen can help you explore cost support options.

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has a special series, she thrives, which highlights ten individuals whose achievements transcend generations, occupations, and regions. today we recognize ketanji brown jackson, a u.s. district court judge for the district of columbia, who made president obama's sort list for supreme court nominee in 2016. to learn more about judge jackson and other inspiring ssack women, go to aught on cara from the head of our nbc colleague pierre mcguire who nbc's kevin. >> my goodness, pierre. >> reporter: nbc analyst pierre mcguire a whisper away from a knock on the nothingen. mid game between the columbus blue jackets and the tampa bay lightning, the puck took flight. >> tonight we really go inside the glass. >> reporter: the man who stands precariously between the players' benches during nhl

games was reserved about his near encounter with the very hard frozen rubber disk. >> no, kevin, i don't think they were aiming for me at all. in fact i'm real good friends with a lot of players on that team. i'm real good friends with the coach. >> reporter: and pierre, who didn't see it coming, knows a close shave when he sees one. >> it just was a shave. >> reporter: a shout out to the camera man too. unidentified flying objects should. >> there's not a better place in the ring to watch a game from. >> reporter: part of the game inside the glass. kevin tibbles, nbc news, chicago. and helmets and all of that, but great ending there. if you're inspired by president trump's or north korean leaders let's say distinctive hairstyles, you can now get a free haircut to look just like them. >> why though? >> a vietnamese barber is offering up on the house cuts in honor of their upcoming summit next week. the promotion is running until

the end of the month. this as thousands of officials and journalists descend on the vietnamese capital for the second summit between two world leaders. >> they look like two happy customers to me. look at that. at least it's free, right. take a look at this before we go. audi's first all electrical production vehicle has conquere. they're driving up hill. that's crazy. this is by formere-tron technol. they had to equip it with spiked tires, rness, and litt alead lib live picture - se

welcome to wednesday morning. taking a live look outside overlooking san jose this morning. you see that moon out there? woo hoo! >> i had trouble seeing the moon. >> you could probably see it last night, just a glow out there. >> like kari said, clouds.

>> come to the south bay. good morning, i'm laura garcia. >> i'm marcus washington. let's talk about the weather this morning. warmer. >> it's warmer. we also have a blanket of clouds. >> a balmy 44. >> i know. you're seeing at the bottom of the screen feels so much better. here is a look at storm ranger, our mobile doppler radar, the red scan showing that we have now up around eurek