weather alert. tropical depression imelda is dropping massive amounts of rain, raising flash flood fears along the texas coastline. our bill karins has the latest this morning the trump administration is weighing retaliatory action against iran in t wake of the saudi oil attack as u.s. intel shows cruise missiles came directly from iran also today president trump is planning another visit to the u.s.-mexico border with a renewed push for his campaign promise of a border wall >> we'll look back at the life and legacy of two legendary journalists who left a lasting impact in the world of tv news and beyond it's national cheeseburger

day. we will tell you where you can get the best deals as we kick off your wednesday "early today" starts right now gob with you this morning. i'm frances rivera >> and i'm phillip mena. tropical depression imelda is dumping a lot of rain on texas today. as this system slowly moves north over the next two days, forecasters are warning of up to 18 inches of rain along the coast and the possibility of life-threatening conditions, including in the houston area, which is already prone to serious flooding nbc meteorologist bill karins is tracking the storm for us. good morning >> well, good morning. imelda building up quickly we are watching heavy rain bands along the coast but so far that'sn't been concentrated in the same area. that's why we haven't had significant flash flooding up to this point but we still have about 48 hours to go to watch this scenario and the longer it remains over the same area the ground gets saturated. we were pretty much in drought conditions in this region. that helps things. but as we go throughout the next two days, you know, continuing

with these heavy rainbands especially at nighttime along the coastal areas moving inland, that's why we have flash flood watches up for the next two days areas of louisiana could even get into the mix too our computers are forecasting the heaviest rainfall totals seven inches possible. widespread from beaumont to port arthur toward the houston area again the possibility someone could get 18 inches of rain. could be a very dangerous situation. we're hoping for the best. so far so good >> we sure are i lived in an area of houston that would flood just after a few inches of rain every single time >> thank you now to u.s. officials who tell nbc news that the trump administration is weighing a range of retaliatory action on iran after the saudi oil attack. secretary of state mike pompeo has traveled to saudi arabia and is set to meet with crown prince muhammad bin salman to discuss responses to iran. our andrea mitchell has the latest developments. >> reporter: u.s. intelligence indicates the unprecedented attack on saudi oil fields

originated from iran using a combination of low altitude cruise missiles and drones to evade radar, two u.s. officials tell nbc news. they say the missiles were fired from at least one location in western iran now secretary of state pompeo is traveling to saudi arabia, which u.s. officials say could retaliate against iran with u.s. support. but without the u.s. firing a shot after earlier tweeting he was locked and loaded, president trump monday said he wants to avoid military conflict. >> i don't want war with anybody. >> reporter: and the military is also cautioning against striking iran though it is revisiting a list of possible targets including oil facilities or revolutionary guard missile launch sites the intelligence is now being shared with senators >> i think the president needs that now and he needs that with partners in a fashion sought iranians will not do this ever again. >> if the president starts a war against iran to protect the saudis, i will tell you this, we will file a motion immediately to force this to the floor of the senate and force there to be

a vote >> saudi arabia now says it has restored half of its oil production, faster than expected so u.s. analysts are now reducing their predictions of a possible 25-cent per gallon rise in gas prices down to 20 cents frances? >> all right, andrea mitchell for us andrea, thank you. president trump sets off for the front lines of the border battle today he's touring a section of the wall outside of san diego this afternoon, returning to the site where he vowed last year to stop up to 99% of undocumented immigration. the visit is the president's last stop on his fund-raising trip across california the president spoke about the backlash over california's border wall during his rally in new mexico on monday >> we put up a wall, and i thought everybody would be happy. as soon as it was finished, the day it was finished, i was notified we didn't want the wall i'd love to take the sucker down and move it right now to new mexico >> during the event he urged

latino voters to support him according to a recent pew research poll, his disapproval rate among hispanics stands at 79%. senate democrats are locked and loaded for a fight over gun control. dozens of democrats seized the floor of the senate for five hours last night, calling on their republican colleagues to take action. nbc's tracie potts joins us from d.c. with the latest tracie, many of the lawmakers place the blame on majority leader mitch mcconnell >> yeah, mcconnell definitely taking the heat for this, frances, because he refuses to bring gun control, gun issues, gun violence to a vote in the senate, specifically whether or not to expand background checks, so the five-hour talkathon by democrats to try to build on what they think is momentum, public support for expanding background checks and to try to put some pressure on both mcconnell and president trump. >> this is something all of us

should be caring about especially from arizona, where my dear friend gaby giffords was shot for doing her job >> there's one person in america who gets to decide what comes to this floor one person in america. and that's the majority leader, mitch mcconnell, from kentucky it's not donald trump. >> reporter: but mcconnell says he's not bringing anything up for a vote until he's sure what the president will sign, and the president has yet to indicate that he said he's looking at background checks but the specifics of what type of law he would support or not, still up in the air >> all right, tracie potts for us tracie, thank you. the pentagon has identified an american green beret killed in afghanistan army sergeant first class jeremy griffin of greenbriar, tennessee was on his fourth combat deployment when he was killed by small arms fire monday sergeant griffin was 41 years

old. the ruflts israesults of iss do-over election are still up in the air. the results are still too close to call. tv exit polls there show prime minister benjamin netanyahu and his challenger benny gantz in a dead heat. it could take days to get the final results, but the outcome should become clear today. if the two parties tie, which is what happened in april, israel's president will choose the leader who he believes has the greatest chance of forming a government fireworks on capitol hill as house democrats held their first official impeachment hearing the sole witness, former trump campaign manager corey lewandowski, clashed with democrats in several heated exchanges. >> mr. chairman, i request that this clock be stopped while this charade is sorted out. >> mr. chairman, you've got to start the clock. >> no, i don't have to start the clock while he's filibustering >> don't ask me a question if you don't want to hear my answer >> this is a house judiciary, not a house party. >> the white house directed him not to answer questions about conversations with president trump beyond what's in the mueller report

the president praised lewandowski on twitter calling his opening statement "beautiful." new york state has made history as the first state in the united states to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes in an effort to combat youth vaping state health officials voted to carry out governor cuomo's executive action which goes into effect immediately retailers have two weeks to remove all flavored cigarettes and other flavored product except for menthol and tobacco flavors. the news comes as a seventh person has died from a severe lung illness linked to vaping. alex trebek is undergoing another round of chemotherapy. the "jeopardy" host revealed he suffered a setback in his battle with pancreatic cancer after losing 12 pounds in one week doctors told him his numbers shot up higher than when he was first diagnosed and have ordered him back on treatment. so far there have been no changes to the show's taping schedule trebek has taped 40 of the 230 episodes this season we've got our first look at the windows of the world tallest

residential building check out these views from the top floor of central park tower. unbelievable for $63 million you can snag an apartment on the 112th floor the 1,550-foot skyscraper is set to open next year. >> wow another perk, too you'll be the first in new york to find out it's raining >> yeah, right >> you may be above the rain you could be like above the clouds >> even before bill karins he'll be calling you >> how about that? >> we still have our moderate rix of flash flooding not just for today but the next three days for the same area near houston. that's obviously the biggest threat in the lower 48 our friends in bermuda are going to get brushed by hurricane humberto this is a 115-mile-per-hour serious storm and it is heading in the general direction but it's going to go just to the north of bermuda, be a close call and then it misses our friends in nova scotia, especially our friends in st. we'll continue to fo, and look at

alabama today, a few spots like montgomery have a chance of going up into the triple digits. wills also a new tropical threat that could be near puerto rico in a couple of days. we'll give you that forecast coming up. >> that time of year >> keeping you busy. thank you. in today's quick hits meat dwen dwen, ought fishel mascot chosen for the 2022 winter olympics in beige. the international olympic committee says the cheerful panda embodies the strength and will power of athletes gary larson's comic "the far side" is making a comeback after 24 years according to the far side website a new online era of the far side is coming no official information was announced. the bayside gang is back mi tthnb by the bell" seeksale congo e c streaming service peacock.

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2020 news last night elizabeth warren held a massive rally right here in new york city it was a crazy scene check out the scene. that was it. [ cheers and applause warren was so popular the only way police could get everyone to leave was by saying "ladies and gentlemen, please welcome new york city mayor bill de blasio." >> burn. speaking of de blasio, he's currently polling at about 1%. in the latest data from nbc news and the "wall street journal." two contenders have pulled ahead of the pack since last week's democratic debate in houston the new poll shows former vice president joe biden in the lead with 31% senator elizabeth warren is trailing by six points while senator bernie sanders is the only other candidate with double-digit support at 14%. meanwhile, former president jimmy carter is weighing in on whether he would have considered a second term. >> you know, if i were just 80

years old, if i was 50 years younger, i don't believe i could undertake the duties that i experienced when i was president. >> carter didn't tie his comments to any of his fellow democrats, but both biden and sanders would turn 80 years old in office if they're elected the trump administration is set to roll back california's power to set its own vehicle emission standards it is the latest in the president's ongoing battle with the state. the move would overturn the state's role as an environmental leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality. california governor gavin newsom blasted the news, saying the president could learn from california and the state's attorney general vowed to fight any attack on the state's authority in court and asia is dealing with their own air quality program. clouds of smog filled the air and blocked the view of tourists who were hoping to catch a view of kuala lumpur's famed skyline in malaysia.

smoke from forest fires in to be the reason for that thick smog the poor air quality and pollution has forced the country to carry out cloud seeding in several states in the hope of inducing rain. still ahead, get your buns in gear for national cheeseburger day and turning hops into help a college student puts his sudden influx eeof br money to a good cause you're watching "early today." our dad was in the hospital. because of smoking. but we still had to have a cigarette. had to. but then, we were like. what are we doing?

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♪ singer turned actress mandy moore is back to sick before the season premiere of her nbc show "this is us. she dropped a new song and video called "when i wasn't watching." it is her first original song in a decade and "this is us" season 4 starts september 24th but i love it. on all the fame and success of that, you know, going back to her musical roots. >> yeah, she's back. that's where we were all introduced to her back when -- was it "candy" >> she was trying to break in with the britney and christina's and jessica simpsons and couldn't get up there. >> but look where she is now just incredible. could the princess bride get a reboot the head of sony pictures floated the idea and that sparked outrage online, as it tends to do. fans and stars alike, they were not happy. cary elwes who played the hero

in the rob reiner cult classic said remaking it would damage a perfect movie. or in other words it would be -- >> inconceivable >> inconceivable >> inconceivable >> inconceivable >> hollywood understands what that word means. >> as iconic as that word is and all the quotes that come along with it, there's no way they could do it again without having everybody think about the way it originally was >> i told people earlier in the office i hadn't seen it and they started poking me. >> they said it's inconceivable you haven't seen it. you've got to fix that, dude >> i sure will >> during one of espn's broadcast a fan held up this sign asking for some beer money. carson king made the sign that said "busch light supply needs replenished" along with this convenient mve moe account. carson decided to buy a case of sxweer donated the rest of the money to the university of iowa

stead family children's hospital busch beer and venmo were inspired by his act of kindness so both companies decided to match his donations. so far carson has received over $22,000. and going to college and having your beer supply dry up -- >> it is pretty smart. you've seen it on streets with people begging that have similar things the problem is they don't have a venmo account and they're not on college gameday. >> and they're not giving it to somebody else in a hospital. >> you're right. all right. it's national cheeseburger day, everyone did you know that? now you do celebrate. there are tons of deals out there. applebee's, they're offering 10 people the chance to win a free burger each month for a year so people can enter by visiting applebee's website and submitting a photo of themselves with their favorite burger a lot of chains are offering discounts today. wendy's, white castle, mcdonald's just to name a few, but in many cases you need to download their apps to get that deal >> when we come back, why ozzy osbourne imang blbs kiiloard

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reposted a video of him with a caption "new favorite skater." maxim abramov from russia first used skateboards to help him get around but now he's able to perform tricks and he hopes to one day take part in the paralympic games smart watches are here to stay according to new research smart watches are outselling traditional time pieces in america. smart watch sales have risen by over 24% in the first half of 2019 apple, samsung, and fitbit are among the top five best-selling watch brands in the country by value. >> get those weather alerts on those smartphones. some areas need, it especially the tropics, right >> this will be the next storm to watch this will be jerry as we go through the day today. then as we watch the storm traveling toward the northern leeward islands it's going to be a close call set to remain mostly a glancing blow and an ocean storm but you can see where that position is by the end of this upcoming weekend. just east of the bahamas that's going to be the storm to watch in the next week and a half we'll be right back here with more "early today.

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we're back with sad news about one of the best in our business cokie roberts, the celebrated correspondent and analyst for npr and abc news, has died nbc's anne thompson has more on her long and memorable career. >> reporter: for so many years cokie roberts was a sunday morning staple, offering savvy insights and wit >> but other states if they nominate yahoos, the democrat's likely to win. >> reporter: co-anchor's abc's "this week with sam donaldson" and covering every major political event on television and radio. >> commentator and columnist cokie roberts. the feature is called "ask cokie. >> reporter: a trusted familiar

voice on npr, her colleagues called roberts one of the network's founding mothers what you didn't see or hear was how she reached out to other women journalists, offering her hard-won advice. >> just do your work and get it on the air and then people will see that you're good. >> reporter: the daughter of two louisiana congressmen, politics was in her dna her father, democrat hale boggs. >> the search continued for house democratic leader hale boggs. >> reporter: after he died in a plane crash, her mom lindy winning that seat. >> growing up in the capital was wonderful. >> reporter: she married steve roberts in 1966, raising two children, co-authoring columns, books, and a life together >> i'd like to be remembered as a mother and wife and friend of people that i love very, very much >> reporter: her family saying "we will miss cokie beyond measure, both for her contributions and for her love and kindness." as will we all

anne thompson, nbc news. >> cokie roberts was 75 years old. i regret i never had the chance to meet her in person when i was working over there but everybody who i met over there, they would speak so highly of her. and i looked forward to her coverage every single election cycle. she was right there till the very end >> a perspective like no other and paved the way for so many. >> sure did. all right. we also learned of another news giant who has left us. sander vanocur rose to fame here at nbc he was the last surviving journalist to have taken part in that kennedy-nixon debate. >> i'm sander vanocur, nbc news. >> well, he went on to cover the kennedy white house and became close with the family. he interviewed robert f. kennedy shortly before his assassination. he also called political conventions, the war in vietnam, and the civil rights struggle, including a lengthy interview with the reverend martin luther king jr. vanocur had an old school writer's elegance and was a network staple

sander vanocur was 91 years old. >> vanocur and cokie roberts setting the bar extremely high for all journalists to follow. >> yeah, doing the reporting from up there together thanks for waking up with us i'm france

wednesday, september 18th. taking a live look outside, can you make it out? it's up in san rafael this morning. wednesday showers are headed our way but kari is letting us know just how far they'll make it into i guess the southern part of the bay area. good morning to you and thanks for joining us. i'm laura garcia. >> and i'm marcus washington. so what is it going to look like? when can we expect the rain to head our way? >> it's rolling to the north bay, well to the north of us, as it approaches and we bring it in closer to see the rain that's moving blue ukiah and parts of northern sonoma county. as you make your way out the door we are going to see some hit or miss showers, not everyone gettingn