woman of courage event. >> and her woman of courage award stemmed from her anticorruption efforts in ukraine? >> yes, that is true. >> was it ever determined who threw the acid and killed her? >> there have been investigations but while some of the lower ranking individuals that were involved in this have been arrested, those who ordered this have not yet been apprehended. >> after you stepped away from this anticorruption event to take this call, what did the director general tell you? >> she said that there was great concern on the 7th floor of the state department. that's where the leadership of the state department sits. there was great concern. they were worried. she just wanted to give me a heads up about this. and, you know, things seemed to be going on and so she just wanted to give me a heads up. i, you know, hard to know how to react to something like that. i asked her what it was about,

what did she think it was about. she didn't know. she said that she was going to try and find out more but she had wanted to give me a heads up. in fact, i think she may even have been instructed to give me a heads up on that. and so i asked her kind of what is the next step here? so she said she would try to find out more and she would try to call me by midnight. >> what happened next? >> around 1:00 in the morning she called me again and she said that there were great concerns, there were concerns up the street, and she said i needed to get -- come home immediately. get on the next plane to the u.s. and i asked her why. and she said she wasn't sure but there were concerns about my security. i asked her, my physical security? because sometimes washington knows more than we do about these things. and she said, no. she hadn't gotten that impression that it was a

physical security issue but they were concerned about my security and i needed to come home right away. you know, i argued. this is extremely irregular. and no reason given. but in the end, i did get on the next plane home. >> you said there were concerns up the street. what did you understand that to mean? >> the white house. >> did she explain in any more detail what she meant by concerns about your security? >> no. she didn't. i did specifically ask whether this had to do with the -- mayor guiliani's allegations against me and so forth. and she said she didn't know. it didn't even actually appear to me that she seemed to be aware of that. no reason was offered. >> did she explain what the urgency was for you to come back on the next flight? >> the only thing that's

pertinent to that was when she said that there were concerns about my security. that's all. but it was not further explained. >> now, prior to this abrupt call back to washington, d.c., had you been offered an extension of your post by the state department? >> yes. the undersecretary for political affairs had asked whether i would extend for another year, departing in july of 2020. >> when was that request made? >> in early march. >> so about a month and a half before this call? >> yes. >> did anyone at the state department ever express concerns about your job performance? at your deposition you said the deputy secretary of state told you you had done nothing wrong

but there was a concerted campaign against you. what did he mean by that? >> i am not exactly sure. >> i'm not exact loy sure but i took it to mean that the allegations mayor guiliani and ears were putting out there that that's what it was. >> who else was involved in this concerted campaign? >> some members of the press. in the ukraine, i think -- his predecessor, certainly. >> and at this time mr. lutsenko was the lead prosecutor general is that right? >> that's right. >> had president zelensky indicated whether or not he was going to keep him on after the election? >> he had indicated he would not

be keeping on mr. lutsenko. >> i believe you testified earlier that mr. lutsenko had a reputation for being corrupt, is that right? >> that's correct. >> now, during this conversation did the deputy secretary tell you about your future as the ambassador to ukraine? >> he told me i needed to leave. >> what did he say? >> he said that -- i mean, there was a lot of back and forth but ultimately he said the words that, you know, every foreign service officer understands, the president has lost confidence in you. that was, you know, a terrible thing to hear. and i said, well, you know, i guess i have to go then. but no real reason was offered as to why i had to leave and why it was being done in such a manner. >> did you have any indication that the state department had lost confidence in you? >> no. >> and were you provided any reason why the president lost

confidence in you? >> no. >> now, you testified at your deposition that you were told at some point that secretary pompeo had tried to protect you but that he was no longer able to do that. were you aware of these efforts to protect you? >> no i was not until that meeting with deputy secretary sullivan. >> did you understand who he was trying to protect you from? >> well, my understanding was that the president had wanted me to leave and there was some discussion about that over the prior months. >> did you have any understanding why secretary pompeo was no longer able to protect you? >> no. it was just a statement made that he was no longer able to protect me. >> so just like that you had to leave ukraine as soon as possible? >> yes.

>> how did that make you feel? >> terrible, honestly. i mean, after 33 years of service to our country, it was terrible. it's not the way i wanted my career to end. >> you also told the deputy secretary that this was a dangerous precedent. what did you mean by that? >> i was worried about our policy but also personnel, that -- and i asked him how -- how are you going to explain this to people in the state department, the press, the public, ukrainians, because everybody is watching. and so if people see somebody who -- and of course it had been very public, frankly, the attacks on me by mayor guiliani and others and mr. lutsenko in

ukraine. if people see that i, who have been, you know, promoting our policies on anticorruption, if they can undermine me and get me pulled out of ukraine, what does that mean for our policy? do we still have that same policy? how are we going ourallacy? how are we going to affirmatively put thatter it forward, number one. number two, when other actors, in other countries see that private ininterests, foreign interests can come together and get a u.s. ambassador reminedx what's going to stop them from doing that in the fuch in other countries? offen the work we do, we try to be diplomatic about it but as george kent said it can getepal

angry with us, uncomfortable. we are doing our jobs but sometimesepal bebecome very angry and if they realize they can just remove us, they're going to do that. >> how did the deputy secretary respond? >> that those were good questions and he would get back to me. >> did he get back it to you? >> he asked to see me the following day. the conversation was more -- and again i'm grateful for this but to see how i was doing and what would i do next? how could he help. >> but he didn't discuss the dangerous precedent? >> no. >> you understood, of course, the president of of the united states could remove you and you

served at the pleasure of the president, right? >> that's correct. >> have you heard of of a president recalling another ambassador without cause based on allegations the state department itself knew to be false? >> no. >> now, you testified in your opening statement that you had left ukrain by the time of the july 25th call between president trump and president zelensky. when was the first time that you saw the call record for this phone call? >> when it was released publicly eat the end of september. >> and were you aware that president trump had specifically made reference to you in that call? >> no. learning that? >> i was shocked. absolutely shocked and devastated, frankly.

>> what it do you mean by devastated? >> i was shocked and devastated that i would feature in a phone call between two heads of state in such a manner where president trump said that i was bad news to another world leader and that i would be going through some things. so t it was a terrible moment. a person who saw eme lead to transcript said the color drained from my face. i think i even had a physical reaction. even now words fail he. >> without upsetting you too much, i'd like to show you the can excerpts from the call and the first one, where president trump says the former ambassador from the united states, the woman, was bad news and the

people she was dealing with in ukrain were bad thuz. so i just want to let you know. what was your reaction when you heard the president of the united states erefrefer to you bad news? >> i couldn't believe it. shocked, appalled, devastated that the president of the united states would talk about any ambassador like that to a foreign head of state and it was me. i mean i couldn't i couldn't believe it. >> the next excerpt when the preside president references you is a short one. he said well, she's going to go through some things. what did you think when president trump told president zelensky that you were going to go through some things? >> i didn't know what to think bout i was very concerned.

>> what were you concerned about? >> she's going it go through some things didn't sound good. sounded like a threat. >> did you feel threatened? >> i did. >> how so? >> i didn't know kaktly. exactly. it's thought a very precise phrase but i think it didn't feel like i was -- i really don't know how to answerer the question any further except to say it felt like a big threat and so i wondered what that meant. it concerned me. >> now in the same call where the president, as you just said, threatens you to a foreign leader, he also praises rather

the corrupt ukrainian ros kurt who led the false smear campaign against you. i twuwant to show you another excerpt or two from the phone call where the president of the united states says good because i heard you had a prosecutor who was very good and he was shut down and that's really unfair. a lot of people are talking about that. the way they shut your very good prosecutor down and you had some very bad people involved. and he went on later to say "i heard the prosecutor was treated very badly and he was a very fair prosecutor. so good luck with everything." ambassador yovanovitch after nearly three years in ukrain where you tried to clean up the office, was it your view that

the prosecutor general was a very fair and good prosecutor? >> though t was not. >> in fact he was rather corrupt, is that right? >> that was our belief. >> the prosecutor general's office is a long running problem in ukrain, is that right? >> yes. >> so how did you feel when you heard president trump speak so highly of the corrupt ukrainian prosecutor who helped to execute the smear campaign it to have you removed? >> i was -- it was disappointing, concerning. it wasn't based on anything the state department would have recorded or anybody else. there was an interagency consensus that we were hopeful he would do the things we set out to do including retorming the prosecutor general's office.

but that did not materialize. >> so this was not the uniform position of the official u.s. policy makers, is that right? >> right. >> now let's go back to the smear campaign you referenced and in march when you said it became public and you previously testified that you learned that rudy giuliani, president trump's lawyer and r79 representative also mention said in the july 25 25th call was in regular communication in late 2018 and early 2019. and at one point in your deposition you said they, that being giuliani and the it foreign prosecutor general, had plans to quote do it things to me. what did you know by that? >> i didn't know but that's what i had been told by ukrainian

officials. >> did you subsequently understand a little bit more of what that meant? >> with the advantage of hindsight i think that meant removing me from my job in ukrain. >> who do you thing was working with mr. giuliani as his associates in ukrain? >> cert. enly mr. sa, the ko and ukrainian ahaircons that had recently been thedited. >> those were the two that had been indicted in thork? >> southern district of new york. >> at the end of march we to sums are sh of the allegations

ahung others three different categories. one cat dwoirer included the attacks against you which you referenced in your opening statement to give the ros kurt general a do-thought prosecute list and one that included ukraini ukrainian interference in the 2016 election and one including the bidens. is that correct? >> yes. did these seem to be ruhoted by those in the united states? >> they seemed to be around rudy giuliani. >> a tweet here by president trump himself on march 20th, the first day that one of the

articles was published. it appears to be a quote that says john sol 00 is the author of the articles. as russian fads, plot to help clinton emerges and it i could dwe to another tweet tour days later. this is thes's son, donald trump jr. who tweets we need more @richard grenell's -- and that's amwasder of germany? >> that's right. >> and less of these jokers. and it's are a retweet of the article referencing the allegation that says calls grow to it remove obama's u.s. ambassador to ukrain. were you aware of the tweets at the time? >> yes. >> what was reaction to eseeing this?

>> i was worried. >> what were you worried about? >> these attacks were being repeated by the president himself and and his son. >> and were you aware whether they received attention on fox thuz as well? >> yes. was the allegation you were bad mouthing president trump true? >> though. >> was it true you gave a no prosecutor list to ukrain? >> though. >> in fact didn't the ros kurt general later recant those allegations? >> yes. >> when they were first published did they issue a eresponse? >> as you said there was a series of articles. so after the first article,

which was an interview was only really about me and made for allegations about me, the state department came out the following day with a very strong statement. saying that these allegations were fabrications. >> so it addressed the falsities itself? >> yes. >> it didn't say anything about your job performance in any way? >> i haven't looked that in a long time. i can't recall. >> did anyone in the state department raise concerns or express any belief in these allegations? >> no. i mean people thought it was ridiculous. >> now after these false aldwagzs were made against youx did you have discussions of anyone in leadership about a potential statement of support from the it department or

secretary himself? >> after the tweets you showed he, it seemed if the president's son is saying things like this, is going to be hard to continue my position in ukrain unless the state department came out very strongly behind he. i think march 22nd there was a lot of discussion on email among a number of people about what could be done. i and the undersec reeritary for political affairs called me on sunday and i said it's really important the secretary himself come out and be supportive. because otherwise it's hard for me to be the kind of

representative you need. and he said he would -- that's my recollection of the call. that may not be exactly how it played out. that's my recollection. >> this is david hale, the number three person at the state department? >> yes. >> did he indicate he had such a show of support for you? >> i think he must have because i don't think he would have gone to the secretary if he didn't support it. i mean you wouldn't bring a bad idea to the secretary of state. >> your understanding is you did have the full support of the state department, right? >> yes. >> in fact during your 33-year career, did you ever hear of any serious concerns about your job performance? >> no. >> was the statement of support

ultimately issued for you? >> no t was not. >> did you lun why not? >> yes, i was told there was concern that it a statement of support was issued by the state department or secretary purse that he will that it could be undermined. >> how could it be undermined? >> that the president might issue a tweet like that or something like that. >> you were one of the senior most people in the state department, been there numerous years, up with rr numerous awards, appointed an ambassador three times by both republican and democratic presidents and the state department would not issue a statement in support of you against false allegations because they were concerned about a tweet from the president of the united states?

>> that's my understanding. >> if i could follow up on it that question. seems like an appropriate time. ambassador yovanovitch, as we sit here testifying, the president is attacking you on twitter. i'll read part of one of his tweets. everywhere marie yovanovitch went turned bad. she started off in somalia. how did that go? he goes on to say later in the tweet is u.s. president's absolute right to appoint ambassadors. first of all, ambassador yovanovitch, the senate has a chance to confirm or deny an ambassador, do they not? >> yes, advise and consent. >> would you like to respond to the attack that everywhere you went turned bad?

>> well, i -- i mean i don't think i have such powers in somalia or other places. i actually think where i've served over the years i and others have demonstraebl mated things better for the u.s. as with well as for the countries i served in. ukrain, for campn example where there are huge issues, including the topic we're discussing today, corruption huge challenges. but they've made huge strides and the ukrainianepal get the most credit for that. but a part of that credit goes to the work of the united states and to me, as the ambassador in the ukrain. >> ambassador, you've shown the curtj to come forward today and testify.

not with standing the fact that you were urged by the white house or state department thought to, not withstanding the fact that as you testified earlier, the president implicitly threatened you in that call record. and now the president in real time is attacking you. what effect do you think that has on other witness' willing ifness to come forward and expose wrong doing? >> it's intimidatinging. >> designed to intimidate, is not? >> i can't speak to what the president is trying to do but the effect can be intimidating. >> i want you to know that some of us here take witness intimidation very seriously.

>> ambassador yovanovitchx y, y indicated the same articles in march that included the smear campaign also included allegations related to ukrain's interference in the 2016 election and the barisma/biden connection, correct? >> yes. >> so i want to go to the july 25th call. president trump references these two investigations. first, immediately after president trump thanks president zelensky on his great job on defense, quote unquote. i would like you to do a favor because our country has been through a lot and ukrain know as lot about it.

i would like for you to find out what happened in this whole situation with ukrain. they say crowd strike. i guess you have one of your wealthy people, the server. they say ukrain has it and he goes on to say whatever you can do, it's very important you can do it if that's possible. now as your experience to ukrain for almost three years and understanding that president zelensky was not in politics before he ran and was a new president on this can call, how would you expect president zelensky to interpret a regres a favor? >> the u.s. relationship for ukrain is the single most relationship. and so i think president zelensky, any president, would

do what they could to lean in onb a favor request. i'm not saying that's a yes. i'm saying they would lean in and see what they could do. >> fair to say ukrain, which is so dependent on the united states, would do everything in his power to pleases the president of the united states if he could? >> you know f he could. i'm sure there are limits and i understand there were a lot of discussions in the ukrainian government about all of this. but, yeah. i mean we eare an important relationship on a security and political side. stow the president of ukrain, one of the most important functions he has is to make sure the relationship with the united states is rock solid. >> are you aware of ukrainian interference in the 2016 election? >> i mean there have been rumors

out there about things like that. but there was nothing hard. at least nothing i was aware of. >> nothing based in fact to support these alligations? >> yes. >> and in fact who was responsible for interfering and meddling in the 2016 election? >> well, the u.s. intelligence community has concluded that it was russia. >> are you aware that in february of 2017 vladimir putin himself promoted this theory of ukrainian interference in the 2016 election? >> you know, maybe i knew that once and have forgotten but i'm not familiar with it now. >> let me show you a press statement that president putin made in a joint press conference with victor orbon of hungary

where he says second, as we eall know during the presidential campaign in the united states, the ukrainian government adopted a unilateral position on one candidate. certain oligarchs funded this candidate or female candidate to be more precise. now, how would this theory of ukrainian interfeerence be in vladimir putin's interest? >> he must have been aware of russian meddling in the 2016 election and what the potential was for russian meddling in the future. classic for an the intelligence officer to try to throw off the scent and create an alternative narrative that might get

creedance. >> that would have absolved his own wrong doing? >> yeah. >> and when he talked about an oligarch and he talks about the support of the ukrainian government, there's also a reference in the july 25th call to a wealthy ukrainian. it your understanding what vladimir putin is saying in 2017 similar to what president trump said in relation to the 2016 election? >> maybe. >> now let me show you anath exhib -- another exhibit from the call. there's a lot of talk about biden's son, that biden stopped the prosecution and a lot of people want to find out about that.

so whatever you could do with the attorney general would be great. biden went around bragging that he stopped the prosecution, so if you could look into it, it sounds horrible to me. are you familiar with the allegations related to former president biden? >> yes. >> do you know if he ever went round bragging that he stopped the prosecution of anyone? >> no. >> and in fact when vice president biden acted to remove the former corrupt prosecutor in ukrain, did he do so as part of official u.s. policy? >> official u.s. policy that was endorsed and was the policy of a numberf other international stakeholders, other countries, other monetary, financial institutions. >> and in fact if he were helped to remove a corrupt ukrainian

prosecutor general who was not prosecuting enough corruptionx that would increase the chances that corrupt companies in ukrain would be investigated, correct? >> i would think so. >> and is it your understanding that president trump's request to have vice president biden investigated, was that part of official u.s. policy as you knew it? >> i should say at the time of the phone call i had already departed ukrain two months prior. >> didn't change that much in two months? >> it certainly would not have been the policy in may when i left. >> were these two investigations part of the anticorruption

platform that you championed in ukrain for three years? >> no. >> was to match the political interests, rather than the national interests? >> they certainly could. >> returning to the allegations in the hill publication in march that were promoted by mr. giuliani, the president's lawyer, were those similar to the allegations the president wanted president zelensky to investigate? >> yes. >> so ultimately in the july 25th phone qual with the ukrainian president, president of the united states endorsed the false allegations against you the bidens. is that right?

>> yes. >> i yield back. >> votes are fairly imminent. we're going to take a brief recess. i would ask everyone to allow the witness to please exit the room and we will resume after votes. >> the gentleman can seek recognition recognition after we resume. >> so what adam schiff is saying. there's other business of of the house, votes they have to take. so they're going to take break when they can come back. we've been listening to marie yovanovitch, the former ambassador of ukrain, how she felt about the president calling her out in negative terms in the july 25th conversation with the president of ukrain.

first of all, andrew weiszman, one of of the questions we asked is how would she play in the narrative that the president democrats tried to lay out wednesday. >> one of the questions is how did she come off in terms of of credibility and she's spectacular. if you're calling had her as a witness, this is the kind of witness you want. poised, credible and emotional in a really sincere way. in terms off substance, she also gave the democrats something really terrific in terms off making their point because she was the regular channel verses irregularer. she was an example of the regular channel that needed to be removed to carry out their scheme. >> the july 25th phone call in which they asked for investigation the to it bidens

to the 2016 democrats. if that's the culmination here. she's kind of of the back story. she's sort of laying out the background of how that phone call ever could have happened. as someone who covered the area for many years, can you explain how she fits into the background? >> so she was a ambassador getting in the way. represents the official policy and her policy was to represent the united states and fight corruption in ukrain which also helps u.s. interests because it makes government more transparent, better partners, etc. so she's pursuing one channel and then comes along rudy giuliani with his team and they're looking into hunter biden, old allegations because they want to dig up dirt on the biden family. she's getting in the way.

so a smear campaign is lauchbnc and removed, threatened. the blood drained out of herself as she felt threatened. >> the theory of the case was to continue with you that she would have been an obstacle, presumably, according to this theory that she would have been an obstacle to the investigations that giuliani wanted undertaken of biden? >> and by extension an obstacle to the president's objectives to dig up dirt. not only is the president reaching down and removing an ambassador from the state department and she's not getting any support from the secretary of state and several have resigned in protest of mike pompeo for not doing that. but the president of the united states is getting the state department to remove her in the middle of the night.

to call an ambassador in a place that has just been violent, we've been attacked and killed as a result by the mob, if you will and they're telling her your security is at risk. take the next plane out. this never happens. people are evacuated but they're never told you're put on a plane commercially and being removed from office. they are among the congressional investigators how unusual this was, why she felt threatened. why her 33-year career and the fact the president is tweeting against her in real time -- >> we didn't see him tweet against george kent or bill taylor. he says everywhere marie yovanovitch went turned bad. she went to somalia. how did that go? and t is a u.s. president's absolute right to appoint

ambassadors. >> that is clear but it's not his right to remove an ambassador for corrupt reasons. that would say, they would say, an impeachable offense. about somalia. her first post under ronald regan was somalia. it ended up going badly, as the president suggest ess. but to suggest everything she wentz have went badly. she's won many awards for fighting corruption. >> he didn't tweet anything in particular about george kent and taylor. the white house also trying to get ahead of it by releasing the transcript of the earlier april call. i suppose to say we have calls and not all of them have the investigations of the bidens and democrats. is that the point?

>> reporter: the president is one for the congratulatory call. he made two important points. the framing adam schiff used was notable. when the president tweeted in real time as the hearing was unfolding about ambassador yovanovitch, only took him 20 minutes or so to bring them up. she says i don't have that power to make somalia turn bad f you will to the point andrew is making and she said she felt intimidated by what the president was saying. you saw the chairman try to make the point that president was conducting, as we speak, witness intimidation of people part of othis impeachment inquiry. it directly contradicts what we heard less than 90 minutes ago, which is that he was watching devyn nunes opening statement and continuing with the work of

thoamerican people. but he's keyed in on this. unlike ambassador taylor or kent, the president has taken a notable interest in her. you also mention this call and let's be clear. the transcript of the call that was released, that is not the call at the center of the whistleblower complaint. it was in april. it was a congratulatory phone call. nobody expected anything nefarious. a short call a few pages and mostly complimentary, etc. they said president trump specifically talked to president zelensky about rooting out corruption. this transcript shows no such referen reference corruption, corruption

investigations at all. why the discrepancy. they said in april it's one thing and now based on the paperer they released, it's something else. and it raises more questions for the white house. we'll hear from the president in a bit of counterprogramming about a health care initiative. >> and i'll turn to richard. the defense has been this white house was all about rooting out corruption in ukrain. >> so what is corruption? who is fighting corruption is at the center of all of this and it's important to break down a couple of these things. there were two prosecutor generals we keep hearing bout time and time again.

one is victor shoeken he was widely -- european countries wanted him removed and that's the ambassador general that -- >> u.s. policy. >> -- that u.s. policy wanted to remove. he was removed. he was then replaced by and it's not just the top cop, it's like an attorney general and an fbi director in one. >> very powerful. >> this person gets to choose who gets investigated who doesn't and has the ability to carry out investigations. in any country that's a powerful person.

it was the second prosecutor who cleared and he is enjoying this position he's a a bit of an unusual character. but he likes the power that he has. years pass and then he is udenly is facing the end. his job is ended and he wants to keep his job. and this is where it kwam wicam ambassador. the u.s. policy was to weaken his portfolio, have judicial reform in ukrain and plsplit up things in the portfolio. which he didn't like obviously. and then he meets with rudy giuliani and the -- giuliani is

looking for information about burisma and said vee have to get out. >> it was the sitting prosecutor still when he started dealing with giuliani or is he out of office? >> no, he was still in. >> it matters because who gets investigated matters who can investigate biden and that's why this issue of corruption, that's what it stands for in this context. >> i think one point you make for the democrats of the president trying to root out corruption. if that was true, that explains why he says i'm going to hold congressional hearings. it does explain the relief. if you're trying to root out corruption, is the president going to say in the few weeks between the hold and release

there was no longer a corruption problem? so that reasoning i think is going to have a hard time explaining the timeline. >> we're privileged to have former ambassador served in russia during the obama administration with us. i thought there was an interesting point in the end where the -- it feels like a court of law but it isn't. where he put up something vladimir putin himself said. and it looked like he was trying to draw a big picture about where does all this come from? and it sounds like he was trying to lay it right at putin was feet. is that how you read it? >> absolutely. i remember when he said that in real time, vladimir putin. change the narrative, create disinformation on the side that

ukrainians were involved in the 2016 election and low and behold, the president off the united states has bought in. >> let me bring in chuck todd. when we spoke the other day you said after wednesday's testimony it left you wanting more. obviously democrats have a long way to build this complete nair itative but give me your thoughts based on what we've seen this morning. >> i think for the first time -- the first two witness withes wednesday steered clear of why they're testifying. is the president abusing his office? what is the impact of this? she has voiced the rational for why she thinks we're here which democrats, if they're going to prosecutor the case and through the impeachment process, have to start making a case for why they're using impeachment.

why is it that a potential removal from office is at stake. something she said and i think it's very key. after these events what foreign officialx corrupt or not, could be blamed for wondering if the ambassador represents the presidency and what u.s. ambassador could be blamed for harboring fear to defend u.s. policy and interest. and those in her opening statement she incapsulates why we're at this point. why this is a constitutional crisis and why this is so serious. what's ironic is i've not heard a democrat put it as sustingtly. anybody on the day asking questions put it susinkly as she

did. >> she said any ambassador is under threat because they know the united states is not playing by the traditional rules of our values. that any ambassador can be removed at will and as she was. and that makes the point as just to how this has corrupted foreign policy and what, if anything, does justify rehuvimo the president from office this close to election. >> her opening statement was an indictment about where they look today. >> she's saying she's the cautionary tale. everyone knows an ambassador does serve at the pleasurer of the president and can be removed at any reason but what she's saying is people who wanted to see her gone were able to co opt this side channel of u.s. person in the form of rudy giuliani and

actually make it happen. i think to chuck's point and yours the other day. many republicans say look, i don't love what happened on the call. it makes me uncomfortable but does it really rise to the removal of a president, something that has never done in our country's history? democrats have to make that case. it's not just about establishing facts. but establishing the magnitude of this moment to remedy the situation. >> before hand we were thinking what would she really add because there's a side issue and it's a lot of background. she emotionally, in terms of makinging it emotional resinateo listener and she used the phrase hollow out the state department and how important that is to the

country. >> and with secretary pompeo so much in the orbit of of president trump and the only survivor in the national security team. bolton is gone, madden is gone, h.r. mcmaster going back. so for pompeo not defending her for months and being asked by mckinley, by taylor. remember william taylor said once with in 40 plus years he had sent a cable to a secretary of state and it was to say this is not right. you have to defend her. she's being removed for no cause and the night pompeo did not respond. nor did he respond to any thoufgter appeals. the closest advisor resigned. so it just says there were no guardrails left. and that's the strongest argument.

>> let's look at what adam schiff says in terms of corruption. did you pick up on that? is this the ultimate aim right he is to make that point? >> i think that's one of them and if the congress will be looking at obstruction, she is a great witness to hang that on so you have the intimidation of this wngs witness and adam schiff saying what is the message -- >> there's a real knowledge of threat and inittimidation. >> i can tell you being tweeted about by the president of the united states is not a comfortable feeling. it you're thinking about what message it sends, it's deteres it. >> as i turn to you in the few minutes we have. let's look at it from the other side. a lot of republicans mentioned

say even if you accept this essence of the facts that they've been laid out, particularly in the white house transcript. i mean that is an undisputed piece of evidence. they still don't think it amounts it to an impeachable offense and democrats are exhibiting a desire to remove the president through a way other than the election. that they've always wanted him gone and what's the republican's best argument? >> i think it's their best argument to make the case but because when they go on the merits and facts, it doesn't work. this is where -- the best argument the president's supporters are coming up with is he's too incompetent to come up with this scheme. it's amazing to me the

president's best defenders are not defending his actions and? stead questioning whether he's capable of having this sophisticated of an operation. it was a running excuse during mueller. i think lindsey graham says these guys couldn't collude on figuring out how to eat a hamburger. i don't understand why they think this is their best defense. it's a way to keep him from being ousted from office. but at the same time i think they're basically making the argument he shouldn't be reelected. how many republicans have made the incompetent argument as they basically grasp for something because they don't want to deal with the facts at hand because the facts are uncomfortable as we've been pointing out. er they don't like how he handles it. which i think will undermine his reelection.

>> what's the buzz in the hallway during this break? >> i've been texting with democratic forces and they think yovanovitch's testimony lifts the lid off of the abuse of power argument they say is at the core of the impeachment inquiry. in addition to the obstruction of congress piece you were talking about earlier. they say yes, ambassador, political appointees serve at the pleasure of any president but what is clear is she was removed on baseless grounds and had to do with that she knowingly ran afoul of the back channel that pts president trump deputeized those oficials to execute that would be beneficial to him. the other reason they say it's so key is because of the timeline she helps establish. republicans have tried to narrow the focus.

if you're only talking about one or perhaps two phone calls, that looks better for him. but it makes clear there was a coordinated campaign and continued through september when the aid was ultimately released under pressure. >> and house keeping, they're voting on non-related matters at the break? >> exports/import banks. >> we're in the midway point of marie yovanovitch's testimony. republican counsel will question for 45 minutes and then members of congress will get a shot at it when we return thrum break. >> so we will take break and return to our coverage when they get back to it. now, i'm lester holt and on behalf of of the entire team, thank you for watching and we'll

see you later on. it's 8:00 on "today," coming up, heartbreak and heroes. ♪ >> ove it's 8:00 on "today," coming up, heartbreak and heroes. ♪>> kids were just >> over night, residents of a california town come together after a gunman opened fire at the local high school killing at least two students >> kids were just running and crying >> just ahead we'll hear from a teacher who helped a young girl shot multiple times. >> i don't think there's any sort of training that can prepare you for this plus, saving the koalas. >> there is some indication that

in 20 years without koalas. >> how australian zoo keepers are helping preserve the species from disappearing in the wild. and we need them now. >> ♪ i just need you now >> fresh off their show stopping performance at the cmas, lady antebellum will be here for a live performance to help kick off your weekend, today, friday, november 15th, 2019. >> from knoxville. >> columbia, south carolina, on a girls trip from florida. >> madison is turning 16 >> and reno is turning 60. >> this is a party out on that plaza today. will you look at that crowd. >> a heck of a crowd sure to joa

>> yes, the christmas tree in the backdrop but the foreground is what we want to focus on. look at the cute faces, all the folks coming out, stand in the cold and say good morning to you, and we say good morning to you back >> that's one of our biggest crowds in a long time. be sure to join us all next week as our all new november rolls on we have crazy huge stars, on monday, brace yourself ms. guthrie, the cast of "the crown" gives us a sneak peek at the return also ms. guthrie, you're going to sit down with tom hanks, that happens on tuesday wednesday, you guys, we have to brace ourselves, the legendary dolly parton. >> i can't take it. >> in studio. >> good month. >> really good. at the stop for us, police still searching for a motive in the california school shooting that left two students dead, others scrambling for safety and three others wounded miguel almaguer has the latest on what authorities are looking

into this morning. hey, miguel, good morning. >> reporter: savannah, good morning, this high school in santa clarita remains a crime scene. investigators say their work here will continue meantime we know today that two students are dead. three are in the hospital still fighting for their lives said to be in much better condition today as the suspect remains in grave condition investigators still don't have a motive for this school shooting. police say this all unfolded in 16 seconds they say the gunman simply walked on to campus, pulled a gun from his backpack, then unloaded on five students before turning the gun on himself and running out of bullets investigators say their search into the motive could take quite some time. they are poring over the suspect's digital footprint, trying to see what kind of information they can glean from that they're also interviewing his mother meantime, those victims are still recovering in a local hospital later on today we hope to have more information on their conditions as investigators, again, scour for that motive. savannah. >> miguel almaguer, thank you, miguel. the former u.s. ambassador to ukraine testifies today as public hearings resume in the house impeachment inquiry.

marie yovanovitch has already told investigators that she was forced out through a smear campaign led by president trump's personal lawyer rudy giuliani meanwhile, house speaker nancy pelosi is now using the word bribery to describe white house pressure on ukraine to conduct political investigations president trump said thursday that the impeachment process has been unfair and very hard on his family we'll have live coverage of today's hearings on most of these nbc stations starting at 9:00 eastern still no word on punishment this morning after that ugly fight during last night's game between the pittsburgh steelers and cleveland browns in the closing seconds, steelers quarterback mason rudolph is tackled by the browns myles garrett. they start to wrestle on the ground and then as the two steelers try to pry them apart, garrett tears off rudolph's helmet, swings it, hits the quarterback in the head. more players come into the fight. garrett and two others were ejected. rudolph who was hit with the

helmet said he was okay. scientists are recruiting 10,000 dogs for the largest study on k-9 ageing. dogs chosen for the five-year project will live at home. dna samples will be taken, and owners will have to complete regular surveys on diet, exercise, some will test the pill that could slow the ageing process. researchers hope some of what they learn can help humans live longer by the way, they are looking for candidates, if you want to nominate your dog for the study, find a link to the dog ageing web site on today.com. maybe we'll find out if dog years, if that's true. >> 10,000, that's a lot of dogs. >> we have the news covered, would you like a little boost. it can be a beautiful moment when the child meets the newest member of their family for the very first time. here's what happened when 3-year-old molly went to the hospital for the first chance to hold cora her little baby sister take a look. >> i won't drop you. i won't let you go anymore >> i won't let you go anymore. she looks so proud, so protective i mean, if that's not a sister

bond right there, nothing is. >> i love how she's cradling her. >> kissing her >> it's a well swaddled baby. >> super sweet. >> you can get an extra boost every saturday morning, hoda has a weekly news letter sign up, let me tell you how, go to today.com/morning boost. >> i'm on it that's a great idea. coming up, a national treasure in danger we're going to show you how australia is trying to do for koalas what america did for its bald eagles. but first, a today exclusive, revolutionary procedure involving virtual reality to save the life of a little boy in need an incredible story right after this

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>> this is really amazing. nbc's ayman mohyeldin joins us with the details. >> it is an up lifting >> it is an up lifting story, a team of neurosurgeons performed this high stakes and skilled procedure to remove a tumor from a 2-year-old's brain to prepare for the operation, doctors at lucille patrick children's hospital at stanford university, this is the interesting thing, they used virtual reality which is a surgery video game and a 3 d printed model of the patient's skull. this morning, an exclusive first look at the ground breaking surgery for a little boy named ari ellman with a rare and dangerous brain tumor. virtual reality and a 3d printed replica of his brain changing the direction of this toddler's life when he started having seizures his parents feared the worst >> 24 hours of violent vomiting. >> and at some point we were like, this is not just a virus, like a stomach bug or something. >> tests revealed a life threatening tumor growing deep

at the base of ari's brain and now the boy whose name means lion in hebrew was preparing for the fight of his young life. to save their son, the family turned to hospitals around the country. some suggesting open brain surgery. others radiation but a team of surgeons at stanford university in california wanted to try a ground breaking approach. >> we have never done an operation in such a small kid. actually, most people thought it was not possible >> to do the impossible, doctors wanted to go through ari's nose, a so called endoscopic skull based surgery to reach and remove the tumor. >> look at the anatomy, what it can also do is i can simulate my approach. >> using the 3 d model which

included the tumor and surrounding vessels, surgeons spent hours practicing the procedure. >> if you are 1 millimeter beyond and you are not careful, you can injure the carotid artery. >> i'm bawling, i can't handle, it's too much. it's like handing your kid and not knowing if he'll ever come back. >> for 16 hours, doctors removed ari's tumor, piece by piece. >> there were multiple times his life was saved no question. >> reporter: months after this ground breaking operation, a miraculous recovery. >> the young lions, they feared they would lose has come roaring back to life. >> he recovered himself. no question. we were there to support him and the doctors but this is a powerful animal. >> yeah. >> he's a real lion. he's also very determined.

>> wow oh, my gosh. >> remarkable story. >> that is incredible. >> it really is. the courage of these doctors and then the resilience of that little boy are we seeing you in a different set? how did you get on to this story. >> the first rule in journalism school, never reveal your sources. my brother is training in that form of surgery himself, so he called me and told me about this story, and i thought it was remarkable it's is not something i normally cover and everybody was moved by it, and we had the chance to go out there, and it's an amazing story because the parents as well deserve a lot of credit they were very persistent in sending this all across the country, and when people said here's the only way to do it, they wanted to try this ground breaking approach. they went to stanford, and the doctor that's the leading expert in the field of skull based surgery performed it, and the

tumor has been largely removed. >> this is a hollywood movie you should play the doctor. >> 16 hours. >> i asked the surgeon, how do you prepare for it, do you do exercises, mentally physically, what do you go through. >> it was a moment he has been training for his whole life. they have been practicing for hours on the skulls and 3d replicas, even with that there were setbacks in the operation the father was saving you know what they saved his life more than once. there was an unexpected outlook, but they had seen it in 3 d, done the replica. >> how is he doing today >> he's doing great. we were there on tuesday, he had an mri scan, everyone is optimistic about how this is going, and you see the video, running around, definitely very different a year ago when he was essentially diagnosed with it. >> superheroes. >> tell your brother to keep the stories coming we love hearing what they're doing. >> they are doing ground breaking things there and across the country. >> your parents have to be pretty proud >> they introduce me as a neurosurgeon and i'm the younger brother. >> when you're competing with a neurosurgeon whose saving kids lives, it's a whole different ball game. >> there is no competition thank you. >> thank you, guys. >> let's go to mr. roker with a check of the weather. wet weather making its way

into the pacific northwest, and parts of northern california, they use that rain we're also looking at a lot of wet weather along the southeastern atlantic coast. chilly temperatures stretching from the great lakes and the northeast, the only place we're seeing above normal temperatures as we get to the southwest and southern california. for today, a milder afternoon in the northeast, heavy rain along the southeastern atlantic coast good morning, i'm ka rierks hall. we still have clouds over the golden gate bridge and much of the bay area throughout the morning. we'll see sunshine as the day goes along. temperatures on the cool side as we see upper 50s in san francisco. 65 in san jose. warming up to the upper 60s in

a antiok. weather. best part of the morning >> oh, you guys. >> come on, big boy. >> there you are, you liars, table of liars, first up, alex rodriguez, the former baseball star sat down with jimmy fallon where the two eventually got to talking about his famous fiance jennifer lopez, and jimmy reveals the ultimate throw back thursday. >> i found a video, an old video of you in an interview you gave and i want to show it tonight. this is from 1998, i believe here's alex rodriguez. >> what would be a dream day with alex rodriguez be. >> jennifer lopez. >> that means that dreams actually do come true in america. >> alex calling it there in '98. the sexiest man alive, john legend, his victory lap brought him to the ellen show, he filled in as a guest host and he was feeling so much swagger that he

decided to take a lucky audience men and serenade her only as john legend can. >> you wear a sexy yellow blouse, while you dance at the ellen show oh, the way your body moved and grooved, i just had to say my at my wife is hello. i want to give my all to you but my wife is chrissy and she would kill me so i think we're through. >> speaking of his wife chrissy, it wouldn't be the ellen show without a few surprises.

>> don't tell chrissy, guys, she'll be very very very jealous of ellen >> how long were you stuck under there. >> a long time >> even when john's scared, he's still cool right. >> that would freak me out >> so good next up, sterling k. brown, "this is us" star, he talked about his role in the upcoming "frozen 2" movies and how his kids can watch his projects. >> they don't get to see a lot that daddy does, it's nice when they can see something he does and vibe with it i took my oldest to see the first frozen ice when i would play the sound track, i want to hear the first song over and over again, and the first song, the guys are like chopping the ice. cold and winter air and mountain rain combining >> wow, another talent >> but, i was like, you want to build a snowman, no, i just want to hear the first song.

>> my son loves that song too. >> getting ready for "frozen 2." >> the full interview is this weekend, check out sunday today with willie geist. and harry styles, the singer set to be host of snl. he was a musical guest they did put him in a couple sketches he did a great mic jagger. if the lines around the building are any sign, these are people hoping to get in one girl was all the way from atlanta. another group of girls came from sydney, australia. the line goes down 6th avenue, wraps around 48th street it's freezing outside. you saw him this morning >> they said some of them had been out since tuesday. >> they have >> in sleeping bags. and only about 50 on the line, i think, actually get into snl. n

>> that's the streets of new york. >> where do they go to the bathroom, anybody know >> probably a starbucks. >> that's funny. yeah >> surprise. >> you'll get warm real quick they throw you in jail all right. well, now let me turn our attention to something we were all surprised to learn, the koala, the iconic symbol of australia is in serious danger. >> experts are warning if something isn't done and done in a hurry, the koala could soon disappear from the wild, a situation made even more dire by massive wildfires that are ravages australia this week. nbc's tom costello has more. >> reporter: good morning from sydney, this is archer, a 6-year-old koala, and this is chad, he is the zoo keeper and also. >> archer's best mate. >> reporter: archer's best mate. he takes care of archer. it's illegal for somebody who's not a zoo keeper to hold a koala. we're here because if something isn't done, experts say they may

not be in the wild in 20 years outside sydney, yet another koala has arrived at the pet hospital. >> he's a young one but obviously sometimes -- >> clinging to a big stuffed koala she thinks is her mother, poppy is just a year old she was found alone on a road at night. her real mother, likely killed by a car or a dog. >> the belly is not producing any sound. it's soft, there's nothing that means she's not okay. >> she looks healthy, absolutely healthy. >> poppy is lucky. veterinarian, lorenzo says australia's wild koala population is in extreme danger from climate change and urban sprawl the trees they live in are being torn down for new developments

or burning in australia's record heat and massive brush fires and a respiratory chlamydia infection is ravaging entire colonies today there could be fewer than 80,000 wild koalas, down from a peak of 20 million >> there are some indication that in 20 years, we might be without koalas. >> reporter: without koalas. >> it's very sad but it is like this it can happen. can really happen. >> reporter: tracy mcguire's group rescues and tries to rehabilitate orphan and injured koalas. >> they are wild animals they do cause damage we do get bitten we do get stretched because they don't understand that we're here to try to help them, and fix ha two thumbs, three fingers and two thumbs. as them >> reporter: chad staples is the chief zoo keeper at sydney's featherdale park when archer's mother abandoned him as a baby, he clung to chad and hasn't let go in six years. >> when you look at his hand,

two thumbs, three fingers and two thumbs as you can imagine, they are designed to live in trees. >> reporter: koalas sleep 20 hours a day, digesting a diet made up of eucalyptus trees. while parks are trying to breed koalas to maintain the population, they can't keep up with a loss of wild koalas. >> even if australia, i don't think we have come to terms with the fact that they are endangered or at threat of being lost in the wild. >> debra has dedicated her life to saving koalas, she warns they could be functionally extinct, unable to produce three generations. >> i want every american who hears the story to write to our prime minister that we love koalas and we want them protected because it's a global species. >> we are very careful with antibiotics, we are very careful with diet. >> reporter: the university of sydney's avion hospital which needs private donations to save

koalas, they fear the clock is ticking fast. >> we will eventually have no wild koalas in the wild, you'll have to go to a zoo. >> you think that is a real possibility. >> i do think it is. >> reporter: now at extreme risk so back here with archer and sydney and chad. there's an effort in australia to create something similar to the bald eagle protection act in the states that brought the bald eagle back they would like to do something similar with the koala because without that kind of a big national effort, they fear that the koala is very much in danger guys, back to you. >> get on that letter. >> i'd sign that in a second. >> do you recognize archer >> i don't, but i feel like he lives in my soul. >> you should recognize him because you actually played with archer back in 2015. >> remember that >> same koala. >> you're kidding me. >> arthur's heart is broken, you didn't recognize him. >> you just said, we have to save these koalas. >> we have to write the letter today.

>> get on it. >> archer. all right. >> your spirit animal. still ahead, that really blew me away, the people respond to great smells and music in our studio this morning. valerie bertinelli and lady antebellum. >> i joined the band >> we love you all so glad you're here. a very good morningçó to yo theru may be a bright spot inñ the south bay c]mounity today. expressñiñi lanes are openñr fo& business. timeóñr saver plusçó 237ñrñiçó can expect tiñr save up to 20 here is a map of what is newçó today.ñi that area of 237zvñr up there red.çó ?ixdñr miles betweenjf ñi101 and the dixonçójf landing. that green area is set to w3çóc.

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it is 8:30 on friday morning, november 15th, it is 8:30 on friday morning, november 15th, 2019, we stepped outside to join quite the massive crowd on the plaza just look at that. >> by the way, i would say this is our biggest crowd so far. >> happy birthday.

>> i don't know if you realize but a lot of people in this crowd are lady a fans. they really are. >> of course they are. we were saying why is this such a big crowd. because lady antebellum is here. >> i've got a crowd moment where is mary beth from georgia. >> mary beth >> where >> hold on, mary beth from georgia. hi girl, how are you >> lady antebellum they sang at your graduation they did >> oh, my god, what's your favorite song. >> run to you. >> original. >> i know they're performing inside which is kind of a bummer, and it's hard to hear through the glass, but we are wondering if you wanted to come inside we're going to head inside with mary beth from georgia, by the way, the guys from lady a are from georgia we'll come instead in a bit.

okay stay right there, we'll come back and pick you up, take you inside all right. guys >> very cool get to see lady a and get out of the cold that's a win-win right there we're looking forward to lady a, and a huge concert lined up, black friday, the 29th of november, and it's another reason to wake up early. k pop sensation, ncc 127, they're going to be here live. >> outside >> the fans are ridiculously dedicated. it's going to be a huge morning on the plaza >> their fans are lining up. >> on black friday >> it's going to be a blast. >> first, how do bacon bites sound. how about delicious stuffed mushrooms. how about valerie bertinelli, how about recipes for football watching finger foods. it's all coming up. >> meanwhile, we have heard you're taking the 3rd hour on the road. >> one week from today yes, you can

we're going to reveal where we're going on monday. we're going to reveal it on monday, we want everyone to send their best guesses to @3rdhourtoday on instagram. >> dylan and sheinelle are heading there now. they sent this clue from the airport. >> we are at the airport, and we are about to board our flight for the very place 3rd hour will be live from next friday >> and we want you to guess where we're going. you want a clue, here you go, the "today" show makes its journey south to a city steeped in history with chicken that will burn your mouth, it has songs and beer and mystery >> we don't know where to go first but we'll drink the whiskey, this city sure sounds great. >> make your guesses. >> i don't think dylan is drinking whiskey go and vote. and by the way, we want to mention that one of our producers did us quite proud, quite proud last night at the new york association of black journalists awards gala last night for her stories on girls of uganda, she did that show with jenna bush hager, took home a well deserved award.

congratulations. >> love her. >> congratulations mr. roker, you got a check of the weather for us >> but first, this sunday night football weather is brought to you by verizon the network more people rely on. >> all right we're going to get to sunday night football in just a moment, but first, let's look at your weekend ahead. here's what we're expecting, a look for bitter windchills in the northeast tomorrow coastal impacts from that storm along the southeast coast. western third of the country, . good morning, i'm kari hall, we have sunshine as we wake up and head out the door in the south bay. i have seen some clouds in parts of the coastal areas as temperatures there stay in the upper 50s to the san francisco

and half moon bay. for palo alto and san jose, expect 65 degrees and upper 60s for the inland. we'll have mid 70s going our way and expect some cooler weather, back to fall by the middle of next week. >> that is your latest weather. but now we've got the weather for the best night of the week, because it's going to be sunday night football night in america. we've got the bears, they're going to be making their way into l.a. memorial coliseum as they take on the rams. but it's a big one. coming up on it's going to be clear it's warm. it's 85. it's l.a but it's a big one coming up on sunday night

starting at 7:00 eastern hoda, back to you. >> al, thank you savannah has a bit of business to take care of this morning. >> the impeachment hearing starting at 9:00 a.m we'll have a special report. i'll see you monday. >> just ahead, we're about to meet christmas karen and the woman behind the wildly popular made for tv movies, we have lady a coming up, valerie bertinelli coming up, we have a great half hour coming up but first this is "today" on nbc. but first t so, as you can see, saving can be quite simple. case in point, if you get xfinity internet

and mobile together, big savings on your wireless bill. write this down, this is important. amy, this is actually a life saving class. what a nice compliment, thank you! save on fast internet and the best wireless network together. what can i say, i love what i do. that's simple, easy, awesome. get xfinity internet and mobile together and save hundreds on your wireless bill. you'll get unlimited talk and text and no activation or line fees. switch today.

welcome barck, for most of us, christmas is a little over five weeks away. >> if your business is the holiday, the movie, the books, it's a year round endeavor. joe fryer has a closer look at the business of christmas, what's up, joe. >> consider this, if you add up all the new holiday movies airing on lifetime, hallmark, and hallmark movies and 70 new holiday movies on just those three channels a few of them premiered last month. this morning, we want to introduce you to one of the writers behind some of these movies, someone who knows that holiday entertainment is big business. >> we barely know each other >> i have never been more

certain of anything. >> for so many, those made for tv holiday movies are christmas comfort food with ideas cooked up by writers like karen shale. >> i think with everything going on in the world and all the negativity, we need these christmas movies and novels as an escape, something feel good, and that's why people are gravitating toward them. >> in a span of 18 months, karen wrote three of those christmas movies and three christmas novels, a prolific feet earning the nickname christmas karen. >> it's 24/7 i feel like i'm living in christmas all year round. >> reporter: is that a good thing or a bad thing. >> i told people i went down the christmas rabbit hole, and pop up and go back down. i'm happier down here. >> reporter: we caught up with karen in new york in front of the met museum's christmas tree, a soaring 20 foot blue spruce that perfectly reflects her spirit for you christmas is in your blood. >> i found out from my grandma my great aunt was born on

christmas day, named her merry, and her last name is day she's in ripley's believe it or not for being named merry christmas day. >> reporter: she put her reporting skills to work a few years ago before writing her first christmas movie. >> i watched all the hallmark movies and the first kiss is here, they have to have a near miss kiss. >> hey, no fraternizing with the enemy. >> you know, i really studied it. >> reporter: that research inspired her to write a christmas prince >> aren't you worried they're all talking about us >> and saying you're out of my league. >> reporter: the popular romantic comedy set in the fictional land of el dovia was streamed on netflix in 2017, introducing younger folks to the genera. >> different generations are like what is this cheesy, crazy,

silly movie. >> reporter: you acknowledge it's cheesy. >> i say uplifting and heartfelt. if somebody says that's movie is cheesy, if that means uplifting and heartfelt, you call it whatever you want. watch it and read it. >> next came a lifetime film, every day is christmas like so many movies it was inspired by a christmas carol with toni braxton channelling scrooge. >> reporter: i hallmark tapped her to write her third movie, christmas about an ad executivh her to write her sent to a rural retreat. they even take her phone. >> it's called disconnecting to reconnect to christmas. >> reporter: prompting karen to have create chris mat themed classes. more books and movies are on the horizon. christmas karen keeps on going, a yuletide assembly line. >> your world is 12 months of christmas a year, and you're good with that >> it's an honor to do what i

do it's a big responsibility. christmas 24/7 works for me. i love it, as long as i can keep bringing people joy, i'm not stopping. >> these holiday movies which are quick and cheap to make do get good ratings last year, hallmark was the number one cable network in the 4th quarter in women in the key demographics these movies do especially well on saturday night. >> my sister is leading the charge when i walk into her house right now, hallmark is locked. . >> that's it that's all she's watching. >> how about that woman's relative's name who was born on christmas day is merry christmas day. that's insane. of course. >> joe, thank you. coming up, valerie bertinelli's recipes for a fun bertinelli's recipes for a fun paread for a football my parents never taught me anything about managing money.

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we are back with "today" loves food football, sunday night's game sure to be a battle between the chicago bears and l.a. rams. our good friend valerie bertinelli featured in the new food net work, perfect snacks for the occasion. valerie, i have to say when we look at your name on the run down, and you're here we're happy because we know it's going to be food and want to chow down. >> i'm so glad. i love cooking for you guys. fun football snacks for your sunday afternoon and evening. so i've got these sriracha bacon bites, brown sugar, sliced bacon, or you can use a scissors and make your life easier. >> any kind of bacon. >> this would be your favorite bacon. >> i like the center cut. >> all right. you get everything in a plastic bag and you mix it around. not going to get your fingers all dirty. >> you are because you're going to pull them out, and then put them right here. you're going to get them into the oven and about ten minutes,

five minutes, before they're ready, you're going to take these black and white sesame seeds and sprinkle them all over. and then you put them back in. >> is that honey, what's going on on top. >> this is the brown sugar and sriracha. >> i don't know what that is. >> nobody knows. >> i don't know. i don't really cook. >> this is what they end up looking like, and they're so ridiculously good. they're spicy, a little sweet. >> fantastic. >> so good. >> he's already got them. >> you mixed them with popcorn. >> your team came up with this, mixing the bacon bites with popcorn. i lowe yove your team. >> really good. >> he's taking the whole thing. >> we'll take care of that. >> really good >> he's taking the whole thing >> we'll take care of that >> something a little bit healthier, let's go to the mushrooms and i know people get scared of mushrooms, you can't put them in water. would you rather them be clean or eat the dirt. i would rather them be clean >> so you take the stem out. >> take the stem out and you're

going to use the stem and chop it up and saute everything together i'm doing quick versions of everything go to the web site >> you take the mushroom cap. >> chop them up, other ingredients, onions, spinach, tomatoes, all of that sauteed up and while that's happening, you're going to be prebaking your mushrooms, but what i would like you to see is see how the water kind of -- mushrooms are filled with a lot of water you want to bake them like this, and bring them over so they are not filled with water, and put all the filling in >> let's do a little bit >> sprinkle a little bit of panko on there panko and back in the oven >> for about how long, valerie. >> i don't know. >> what's happening here, valerie? >> i don't memorize everything. >> well we love you, for real. >> i have eaten one. >> have you? >> i think you might like this, though i think it's maybe -- >> it's like 12 minutes. >> thank you >> how did you know. >> i read your book.

>> you have a better memory than i do and then we have, asparagus dip which i love because again it's healthy and a little bit cheesy. serve with crackers, you can clean with the stems, a lot of people like to find the bendy point and take off the woody stem just go like this. >> what are you doing? >> there >> now you have all the woody stems off. >> you don't need the end, they're yucky. then what do you do with thethee asparagus? >> we don't -- hello cups! and >> so you put it -- >> so you put it with some cheese and panko and get it into a nice, you can do it in individual serving cups! and you dunk your veggie in. healthy. >> tastes like artichoke. >> when it comes to asparagus, it's got a lot of antioxidants,

tons of vitamins, d, k. >> who do you like, bears or rams. >> she likes the saints and the browns. >> head to today.com for the recipes, catch the game sunday night here on nbc. we're so excited, you all, lady a is here in studio 1a, but first, this is "today" on nbc. the citi concert series on "today" is proud by presented to

the citi concert series on "today" is proud by presented to you by winners lady antebellum, they are releasing their new album today. >> we are so excited it's called "ocean" hillary, dave, charles, good morning, the title "ocean," tell us. >> the record is full of the upt and downs of what it's been like to be in lady a for the last couple of years, and so i think ocean brought up a lot of the waves of life. you can feel like you're flying

and sailing on an ocean. >> such a great performance. you're going to do your single "be patient with my love" is one of the best songs i have heard in my life if that's not one of the more raw, vulnerable lessons you have written, i can relate to it lyrically, that song is special. >> like hillary said, with kids and marriages, we go through so many up and downs and struggles and we just really wanted to be honest and vulnerable in this record >> song is incredible. >> take it away. >> lady a. >> ♪ is broken heart but the moving on is the hardest part ♪ ♪ it comes in waves but the but

memory is memory is everybody knows ♪ eyed ♪ i close my eyes and lost dosef i never get o what it's supposed to do, but if i never get over you ♪ ♪ maybe years from now and working out, every now and then he can see right through cause when i look at him yeah all i see is you ♪ ♪ what if i'm trying but then i close my eyes and then i'm right back lost in that last

good-bye ♪ good-bye ♪ ♪ and what if time doesn't do what it's supposed to do what if i never get over you ♪ ♪ what if i never get over? you ♪ what if i never get ♪ ♪ what if i never get closure y? what what if i never get back all the wasted words i told you? what if it never gets better ♪ ♪ what if this lasts forever an ♪ and what if time doesn't do what it's supposed to do ♪ ♪ what if i never ever and ever ♪ ♪ i'm trying but then i close m

eyes and then i'm right back lost in that last good-bye ♪ ♪ and what if time doesn't do what it's supposed to do ♪ ♪ what if i never get over you ♪ ♪ what if i ♪ what if i gave you everything i got what if your love was my one and only shot ♪f i never ♪ what if i end up with nothing to compare it to ♪ ♪ what if i never get over you what if i never get over you ♪ ♪ what if i never get over you what if i never get over you ♪ ♪ what if i never get over, ove you ♪ >> that's a hit song

>> number one country. >> by the way, mary beth was our fan from out on the plaza, she's actually singing at carnegie hall with a choir, and she was just harmonizing with you. >> oh, my gosh, that's awesome. >> the album is "ocean," thanks to lady a and the band >> we'll be back after your local news you all want to harmonize. >> that's great. >> love you all. that was awesome. >> thank you >> thank you good morning to you, i'm marcus washington. there may be a bright spot in the south bay commute today and express lanes are opening for business. happening now, they are banking on it being a time saver for people that suffer slow downs in that pabt of 237. it could save up to 30 minutes

in each direction. each person must have a fast track transponder. they will spend 30 cents to $8 depending on the congestion. >> authorities revealing there was five arrests in four counties after a shooting. and talk about a close call, part of an old mall in coopertino came crashing down. a man that lives near by caught the whole thing on camera. amazingly no one was hurt. no comment to far. the develop is very controversial. they are currently deciding whether or not though opportunity it into housing, office, or retail space.

plus, kari hall is tracking your workweek forecast, join us monday morning 30 to 7:00. >> discover all that california

has to offer from the bay area to los angeles and san diego. california live takes you where the locals go and helps you live your best california live weekdays at 11:30 a.m. on nbc bay area.

live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza, this is the "3rd hour of today." >> and good morning, everybody. tgi friday, welcome to the "3rd hour of today." al along with craig, natalie, sheinelle and dylan are on a secret assignment which we'll give you a clue about in a few minutes. by t way, a shout out to our production team. our stage hands who, if you just saw the end of our second hour, there was a full set up for lady antebellum. it is all gone. >> just like that. >> which they will have to set