seasoned curly fries, with triple cheese and bacon or chili cheese. try my sauced and loaded fries. it's pretty delicious. . we start your friday with breaking news overnight. a human smuggling ring is uncovered. dozens are involved. we've got the late details >> shocking numbers this morn g morning. over 2,800 new coronavirus deaths with cases rising plus we'll tell you which world villains are trying to compromise the global vaccines. a wildfire emergency is raging in southern california. 25,000 people are being evacuated. and a major movie studio has

made a huge change which could spell the end of theaters. it's friday, december 4th. it's "early today" and i'm frances rivera. >> and i'm phillip mena. >> we find ourselves in some of the darkest days of the pandemic a record 2,800 americans have died in just 24 hours. hospitals in at least a dozen states are delaying elective surgeries. in california a new lockdown could be triggered in some of the biggest cities as beds become scarce. meanwhile the first batch of pfizer vaccines have arrived in the uk over 800,000 doses will be made available next week. our jay gray is following the latest for us here in the states. >> reporter: doctors identified the first coronavirus infection january 20th

now almost a year and almost 14 million cases later -- >> we as a country are in a very, very difficult if not crisis situation when it comes to the explosion of cases. >> reporter: more than 200,000 new positive tests in a single day, more than 2,700 deaths in a single day, both tragic pandemic records. >> well, what we're seeing right now is a surge on top of a surge on top of a surge in cases across the country. >> reporter: hospitals literally running out of space with a prognosis things could get even worse. the cdc warning, 20,000 could die from covid christmas week alone. >> the reality is december, january, and february are going to be rough times. i actually believe they're going to be the most difficult time in the public health history of this nation. >> reporter: still, doctors are urging americans not to lose help. >> help is on the way. we're going to be giving vaccines toward the middle and end of december and then more in january and more in february.

>> reporter: but until the vaccine is widely distributed, health care professionals stress now more than ever, face mask anchd social distancing are the keys to slowing the spread jay gray, nbc news. as we anxiously await the coronavirus vaccine, there are new warnings this morning foreign government hackers and criminal chains are hitting the global supply chain with phishing scams. >> reporter: just as drug companies pfizer and moderna are pre-positioning vaccines ahead of approval, evidence that there are those attacking the critical supply chain there's a fake email phishing campaign spooked to appear as if it originates from a real chinese biomedical company

the team says foreign governments are likely behind the hack, possibly russia, iran, or north korea, perhaps in order to build their own supply or interrupt others. >> there are thousands and thousands of doses lost for people to be able to get inoculated. >> already massive cooling rooms are standing by. as vaccines and therapeutics receive approval, they'll move through cooled distribution centers like this one to assure they remain viable this is a shipment of remdesiver ready to go. >> organized crime works are targeting vaccines physically and online in an effort to disrupt supply chains, even selling fake vaccines. hospitals, clinics, and public health offices should act now. >> be on guard for suspicious emails limit who has access to the system and be ready to go shields up in

the event that there is an intrusion. >> reporter: a call to fortify defenses as countries seek to profit from a pandemic tom costello, nbc news in california there could be a lockdown as beds become scarce there are over 1.2 million cases and in the past 24 hours over 22,000 cases our jake ward has more. >> reporter: good morning, frances. that's right california has seen an 84% uptick in cases in the last 14 days that's a record-breaking number and leads the nation governor newsom has added statewide restrictions including non-travel and gathering with family members it will be triggered if the region loses more than 15% of its icu capacity then we would go into this new

expanded shutdown. at the same time the governor encouraged californians to protect their health, exercising outdoors, taking your dogs out for a walk, everything california is. but we're looking at new much more restrictive stay-at-home orders for the entire state for the next three weeks and possibly beyond. >> hopefully it will be just that thanks, jake. we turn now to some breaking news out of houston, tngs, where police say they have busted a huge trafficking operation 29 men and one woman were found inside a home after a man was seen running down the street in his underwear yelling he had been kidnapped. >> they were held against their will for between two days and a week in their house. a school took them inside, helped them find clothes. >> three people have been taken

into custody and they may be coyotes, those who smulg others into the united states president trump is doubling down on his criticism of attorney general william barr. >> reporter: fuming over widespread fraud that doesn't exist, president trump has the attorney general in the crosshairs. >> you do still have confidence in bill barr >> ask me that in a number of weeks from now they should be looking at all of this fraud. >> reporter: the president's unhappy after bill barr said this week the justice department has so far not seen fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election now, multiple sources familiar with the discussion says president trump is not ruling out firing barr with some in his circle working to persuade the president to hold off. the president is mostly focusing on the election results and not the pandemic that's going worse

in this country, but he is signaling support for covid relief that could help millions of americans. >> i think they're getting very close, and i want it to happen, and i believe they're getting very close to a deal, yep. >> reporter: on capitol hill aides and lawmakers sound more optimistic than they have in months, starting to call for a bipartisan proposal with a $908 billion price tag. it would not provide another round of stimulus checks but would provide help for businesses, $300 a week for unemployment benefits, and relief for health care workers >> compromise is within reach. we know where we agree we can do this. >> reporter: the full details of the bipartisan framework could come on monday with lawmakers pressured to come up with something before they head home for the holidays according to "the new york

times," investigators scrutinized the top trump fund-raiser and jared kushner's attorney capitol hill correspondent tracie potts joining us now with the latest tracie, tell us more about this alleged scheme. >> hi, phillip, good morning "the new york times" is revealing new details about this presidenti presidential pardon investigation, detailing this summer there was an investigation of brodie and jared kushner's attorney that they may have offered bribes the "times" says no one has been charged, there are no targets. the prlt calls it fake news and politico is reporting mr. trump is considering preemptively pardoning 20 aides and associates before he leaves office on january 20th

that could include his personal lawyer rudy giuliani and several family members none of them have been charged with any particular crime. president-elect biden was asked about these reports last night. >> in terms of the pardons, you're not going to see in our administration that kind of approach to pardons, nor are you going to see in our administration an approach to making policy by tweets, you know it's just going to be a totally different way in which we approach the justice system. >> mr. trump has yet to make any specific decisions about potential pardons. phillip? >> preemptive pardon that is a phrase or concept i hadn't even heard of, tracie, thank you. an 18-year-old accused of shooting two men at a protest in kenosha this summer is prepared

to stand before trial. he's back in court january 5th. a fast moving wildfire is tearing through orange county, california the bond fire has already killed more than 7,200 acres with zero containment. so far 75,000 people have been evacuated and homes have been damaged. at least two firefighters have been hurt while battling the fire the blaze had plenty of tinder and wind behind it will surely burn through the weekend. back here, the east is building as we check in with nbc meteorologist janessa webb good morning. >> good morning, you two good morning, everyone a big-time powerful storm system is tracking from the mid-atlantic into the northeast as we go from tonight into the

weekend. winds are going to be picking up right now i'm watching a little bit of severe weather for the south and southeast, but that will continue to make its way across the east coast. right now there's a dual side to the system there will be heavy rain in northern new england with s this afternoon. tampa today, a little bit of sunshine but going into your saturday, we're going to be dealing with widespread storms. we'll take a look at na weeketht weekend forecast coming up. >> thank you so much. our shot of the day takes us to the pga tour.

check out his second shot on the parr par 5. he cups it he picks up the rare albatross on it. check out his reaction does he know it went in? no reaction. iron conviction. it's like he's done it before. >> a winner is coming back. and could thcrite ed roll on the new movie theaters the small ones you've been dreaming about. the ones you couldn't be more ready for, and even the ones that take you by surprise. these are the moments you'll remember, the ones that are impossible to forget. to new memories. hilton and our family of hotels.

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all of the 2020 warner brothers movies will be released in service and on hbomax. >> the exact same day. >> what now? >> reporter: that means while in theaters they can also be watched at home for a month, available to anyone paying hbomax's monthly fee, $14.99 in all, we're talking about 17 movies including remake of "dune," and the musical "in the heights. >> you're hoping to make some box office revenue by having it in theaters for those comfortable going to theaters, and then for everyone else, they're hoping it will drive people to streaming. >> reporter: warnermedia calls this a unique one-year plan saying most will likely operate at reduced capacity throughout 2021 movie theaters and studios have struggled based on covid restrictions and the lack of

blockbusters, which means for now some movies are coming to a theater or tv or mobile device near you joe fryer, nbc news. >> they say it's a one-year plan. >> i hope it doesn't go beyond that. >> a lot of people are used to it. up next, the heartwarming holiday gift for a young boy who has lost so much. >> let there be light. the dazzling displays bringing dark spots to a year ♪ through the walk of life, walgreens has always been there to help make life easier. and now we're doing the same with medicare. so you can easily find the best, most affordable plan for you. visit walgreens.com/medicare to get started. walgreens. we make medicare easy. visit walgreens.com/medicare to get started. with mucinex nightshift you've got powerful relief from your worst nighttime cold and flu symptoms. so grab nightshift to fight your symptoms, get your zzz's... and get back to your rhythm.

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check out social media we're on facebook, twitter, and instagram. for new updates you can check it out on nbc "today." 'tis the season for giving a 5-year-old who lost both of his parents to covid-19 is paying it forward in a big way this holiday season. he's donating hundreds of gifts he received for his birthday to those in need. our affiliate has the story. >> hmm we were hoping to bring you that story. we have some problem. >> some technical difficulties when we return, janessa will have our weekend forecast. keep it right here on "early today" on this friday. really. my first idea was "in one quarter of an hour, your savings will tower...

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and dad? >> between 100 seconds with one. >> reporter: he lost both of his parents to covid less than 100 days from each other. >> we're from the air force, and we heard you're a pretty special little guy, so we got you some stuff. >> reporter: but he continues to see an outpouring of love and support. >> we got you our unit patch just like i have on my shoulder here. >> thank you. >> reporter: now the tough part begins, sorting out his favorite toys. >> what are you going to do with all the toys you're not going to use? >> donate them to somebody else. >> reporter: he's donating hundreds of toys he set aside some for himself. he's set aside a garage filled with boxes of cars, toys, and dinosaurs to gift. his family is happy to see him paying it forward on his own.

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♪ santa, if you get this letter ll will you help me out ♪ ♪ i know you're kind of busines ♪ >> the queen of christmas with her crown on tight mariah carey releasing her new song "oh santa" featuring jennifer hudson and ariana grande not only did she have this whole christmas special, but everything mariah is out there. >> growing up i was like bing

crosby, why is he known for christmas? next generation, mariah carey. she had a whole different career. hbomax has announced a new spin-off "house of the dragon" will premiere in 2021 it will be 300 years before "game of thrones." along with the announcement they shared photos of the concept art with the phrase "dragons are coming." i never got into "game of thrones." >> it's never too late especially in this lockdown world. >> i think it's worth the investment. despite the dark times during this pandemic, there's plenty of light this holiday season and people can't seem to get enough here's nbc's kevin tibbles. >> reporter: let there be light. >> merry christmas. >> reporter: in the darkness of isolation.

is it good to get out of the house? >> yes. >> reporter: a thousand families tonight together in their cars sharing the light with chicago's drive-through fantasy. >> we brought the whole family including hamster. >> reporter: across the country, pop-up light shows are a breath of fresh air to safely celebrate. at the chicago botanic garden, a labyrinth of light. >> this is one heck of an experience. >> it certainly is. >> reporter: here time tickets ensure socihuure a socially disd lightscape, and it's sold out. >> people are joyful to be sharing with their families in is something fun and forgetting about the outside world. >> reporter: don't worry soon we'll say bah humbug to 2020 because there is light at the end of the tunnel. >> i like christmas. >> reporter: kevin tibbles, nbc

news, glencoe, illinois. >> yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel. >> we're waiting for it, like it can't come soon enough. thanks so much for starting your friday with us. i'm phillip mena. >> and i'm frances rivera. havea great weekend. p ming u

right now at 4:30, the key deadline bay areas face to distribution plans. plus, bracing for more restrictions. we are on the verge of a stay-at-home order for the second time this year. the impact businesses say it will have on their already struggling chances of survival. and a live look outside in san jose. a chilly start this friday morning. meteorologist kari hall tracking when dangerous fire conditions return. "today in the bay" starts right now.