ich could need hospitalization, skin problems, and severe bone, joint, or muscle pain. don't wait for a break, call your doctor today, and ask about prolia®. the president parsing out pardoning and the covid relief bill intended to provide crucial aid to millions of strugglin americans. the u.s. hits 1 million vaccinations, but with millions heading home for the holidays, will it be enough. a fiery blast in baltimore the race to save window washers left dangling after an explosion hits a high-rise.

and feeding a new normal "early today" starts right now. >> good morning. thanking for joining us. i'm phillip mena. >> and i'm michelle fisher. breaking out overnight, the president granted 20 more pardons including a first for a family member and several more for longtime alleys convicted in the robert mueller investigation. nbc's chris pollone joins us with more on that. more crucial names on that, right? >> that's right. the president gave full part on the charles kushner. if that sounds familiar, that's the father of his son-in-law jared kushner who pleaded guilty in 2004 for making illegal campaign donations in another rebuke, president pardoned paul manafort he also gave a full pardon to

longtime campaign adviser roger stone. you might remember the president commuted his sentence previously stone was convicted last year on charges of making false statements, obstruction, and witness tampering. on tuesday the president granted clemency to more than a dozen other people meanwhile mr. trump has taken action on one spending bill while leaving another in limbo the fate of that bill is uncertain. he left for florida without signing it he wants to see direct stimulus payments increased from $600 to $2,000 it turns out the democrats do as well. >> we need the relief to get to them one thing we should not be doing is holding up the bill when at the end of the month the benefits are going to end. >> reporter: it sets up a showdown with house speaker nancy pelosi claiming to try to bring an amendment to the floor, voting to bring the stimulus payments from $600 to $2,000

the republicans have said they will block that. also another thing the president did before leaving town last night, he vetoed the military budget for the upcoming year the president objecting to some of the provisions in it which would include allowing the renaming of many military bases because they're named after confederate generals the house already poised to override that veto next week in votes. michelle as the virus continues surging across the country, california has surpassed the 2 million mark, and despite the growing calls to stay home this holiday season, 85 million americans are expected to travel our tom costello has more. >> reporter: health experts fear a superspreader event is playing out in real time as a million a day fill the airports. >> i'm feeling confident that if

i do get covid, i'll survive. >> reporter: the most travelers said since the pandemic began. despite official pleas to keep people home, many said they can't stay way from family any longer. >> we haven't seen my two granddaughters and daughter since last christmas we see them on skype, but it's not the same thing. >> reporter: concerned about a more infectious strain of covid in britain, mayor de blasio ordered anyone arriving to new york from the uk must be quarantined. >> if you violate quarantine, $1,000 for the first day if you violate any day thereafter, $1,000 for each additional day. >> reporter: which vaccinations continues nationwide, the cdc reports just 1 million americans have received the pfizer vaccine

while 5 million were shipped commanders concede vaccinations have been slower than expected meanwhile the government is now doubling the size of its pfizer vaccine purchase, enough for 100 million people by the end of july. >> we come out of the holidays, we're in a steady drumbeat of vaccine delivery. >> the urgency is to pick up steam fast. millions of americans remain in need. the strulgs are hitting home for too many families. our gadi schwartz met some of them as they waited in cars for food in los angeles. >> reporter: we had a difficult day yesterday in los angeles we saw the highest impact. 145 deaths in a single day the hospitals are surging, and those food break lines are heartbreakingly long at any given food drive, there's always someone at the front of

the line at the front of the line was this couple who showed up three hours early. like so many others he lost his job at a restaurant. he said they had a little bit of savings and now they're going around looking for cans and bottles to resieccycle. and as these lines recycle, they never thought they'd have to be waiting in line for food for christmas. >> it definitely was a shock to us. >> reporter: the los angeles regional food bank has given out 120 million meals since it began. but an estimated one in four are looking for food it's still not enough. >> we're not reiching everyone who needs help. >> reporter: as they receive their food, they tell us what volunteers hear again and again, they plan on sharing their

blessings in the community with those who need it too. >> reporter: obviously a big debt of gratitude should go out to the food pantries who are making sure people are fed they've had 12 caseworkers come down with covid at the food bank we were at recently, and yet volunteers continue to come forward trying to keep up with this unprecedent need. back to you. >> a tough time for so many, gadi thanks. other in the uk, an alarm is growing. according to "the new york times," britain confirmed nearly 40,000 covid cases wednesday we're joined now by our reporter in rome. even more in the uk are going into lockdown over christmas. >> that's right.

of course, that prompted the authorities to extend the area that will go into full lockdown starting on boxing day and there will be a total of 24 million people who will be stuck, locked in their homes on that day, and that's more than 40% of the population and that's not the only problem the uk has right now yesterday yet another new variant, a strain, was discovered in two passengers traveling from south africa to the uk according to the secretary there, it's more transmittable than the variants found a few days ago as you may remember meantime here in italy the whole country has gone back into full lockdown for the christmas holiday starting today to the 6th of january of course, torn, the families will have a special dispensation to go to christmas mass, even though they will not start at midnight a lot earlier, 6:00 or 7:00 p.m.

including most anticipated marx the one held by pope francis at st. peter's. only a few faithful will be allowed in but it will start at 7:30 local time, 1:00 p.m. eastern time. >> it's frustrated for people not to be able to do the traditional things this holiday season, but absolutely necessary. thank you. columbus, ohio, mayor andrew beginner this is calling for the dismissal of adam coy after the body cam shooting showed him shooting an unarmed black man holding a cellphone. he shot andre maurice hill but not until after he pulled the trigger. the mayor called out coy and the other officers for failing to provide prompted me cal assistance which is a violation of policy and procedure. officer coy has been relieved of duty with pay.

caught on camera, a fire in pennsylvania, went above and beyond to rescue a dog trapped in a burning barn. he was able to pull out the window frame to get to the dog he was too scared to jump out the window, so the firefighter picked him up and lifted him to safety you see the dog running away thankfully the dog is oklahoma and has since been reunited with family. >> glad that had a happy ending. bill karins is watching severe weather for this christmas eve. bill >> we're going to watch severe weather, high wind darjs effects of bitterly cold air coming down through the northern plains where we had our blizzard conditions yesterday, but the overall bigger headline if you're in eastern north carolina, southeastern virginia, northern portions of north carolina pushing the myrtle beach area, you have a chance of severe weather today, maybe even severe tornadoes make sure you stay alert that

the possibility exists even after dark for very strong storms then the rain is going to move all through the areas with heavy snow last week we're going to have flash flood problems in new york state, pennsylvania, possibly new england. 51 million people. our computers are highlighting central pennsylvania 3 to 4 inches of rain on top of the snow melt, that's going to do be a big problem. we sllti the east coast. that's all the sign of a very powerf powerful cold front and windy conditions along with it

we'll have your holiday forecast coming up. if you want a chance to be a multi-millionaire, here's your chance there were no winners. that mean's flid night's jackpot has risen to 353 million while the powerball is at $341 million. it would make quite the christmas gift as luck would have it or not have it i bought some powerball and mega million tickets and i just found out i didn't win. >> you didn't win. we'll see you tomorrow. a blast leaves window washers hanging on for dear life. but first "early today" is sharing photos sent in by our viewers for frontline workers in their lives. we thank them for risking their own health and safety for others we'll be right back. every toucg as the first.

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leading the news, an explosion at a downtown baltimore building has left at least 21 people injured. officials say the blast was so powerful it caused a partial roof collapse, shattered windows, and traps two window washers on the scaffolding stephanie govg has more on the harrowing rescue mission. >> reporter: an explosion at the baltimore gas and electric building rocked downtown, partially collapsing the roof. >> we have victims on the roof i have at least one victim down. >> reporter: window washers were left dangling from their cables and workers inside were trapped. firefighters smashed windows on the 10th and 11th floor to reach window washers dangling for their lives 26781 people were rescued altogether nine are in critical condition at the hospital. >> we're fortunate at the

hospital we only have a serious injury, no deaths. >> reporter: the company says construction work being done on the building's air handling and boiler system were the blame largely most of the building was empty. because of the upcoming holiday, more tragic happenings were avoided. the new beard-busting protocol as they had to postpone the first game of the season nyquil honey. the nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever best sleep with a cold medicine. ibut they all do it a littles tdifferent.aundry, honestly, i add a couple of tide pods and just stuff everything in. it works. and of course, everyone thinks their way is right. i stood in line for hours to get this. it has to be washed on delicate. it has to be cold water,

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in today's "quick hits," volkswagen is recalling over 305,000 beatles to replace faulty airbags in coupes and convert calls in 2012 through 2014 models. the airbags could rupture, spread metal pieces and cause fatalities >> the nba is charging lebron james after a video spotted him partying without a mask this week. in washington, d.c., mayor muriel bowser is claiming today dr. fauci day. >> happy birthday, dr. fauci. losing vital services has been devastating for those who

have children with special needs. >> reporter: sean and ashry are getting their 9-year-old max ready for the day. his autism is severe he's sometimes aggressive and can't verbalize how he feels >> fes he ooh doing his therapies on a regular basis, he's much more calm in his body. >> reporter: it took years to find him the perfect specialized school in connecticut, but after the pandemic hit, it sit shut down. >> he had a whole team of people that would help him with his educational track. i used to go to meetings with eight people, and it's like being on a baseball team and losing eight players and you're the only person left. >> reporter: max's behavior regressed. in a may survey by one advocacy group, 40% of parents said their kids hadn't received the special education support they should. >> i know life has been really difficult for all of us.

>> reporter: ashley and sean reached out to others. >> we blanketed the others. >> reporter: eventually they convinced an investor to open a new facility in the city the families they meet with regularly wish policy makers would see this as essential. it's been a difficult year but it's brought them closer. >> we've grown as human beings. >> we've figured out how far we can stretch. it's way farther than we thought. >> reporter: max has always shown them what it means to love unconditionally. kate snow, nbc news, greenwich, connectic connecticut. when we return, bill will have our christmas forecast. >> first we have more photos phu sent in of frontline wkeorrs we want to say thank you for the

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while in lockdown due to the pandemic many around the world did all they could to lighttown mood and bring a little lightness to the chaos in 2020. >> we needed we look back at how some used their creativity to make the best of this past year. >> reporter: this is the new normal wacky acts of freedom were repurposed in 2020 or done alone. this first year of the new decade had everyone uneasy. >> oh, no, i ain't wrestling with you were we had to learn

how to enjoy old things in new ways, and being stuck at home was not always a comfort. >> you can't be destroying my life. >> reporter: though it was safer for us to remain inside. the human spirit became uncaged and fought normalities with human behavior, love, and in one case, nonstop elvis karaoke. told paper became an icon missing from the store shelves but became a tchotchke months had some literally climbing the walls like this olympian at one point virus concerns shut down every major sport but didn't stop the games. tennis champ novak djokovic kept his reflexes cooking with frying pans and couch cushions. this french player didn't seem to notice. patrick marleau had to break a

family rule. >> no roller blaiding in the house. >> reporter: and enes kanter kept his countdown with mar marshmall marshmallows. >> professional swimming in the backyard with dan hicks. anyone in your quarantine circle could play. >> want to knock out my brother's teeth? >> reporter: some had ulterior motives. those who were alone in their bubble could play against the house like this swiss skier. and that's where we are. reinventing normal and creating new traditions it's uncertain what the next year will bring, but if 2020 has taught us anything, it's what we can bring to the next year rafael seth, nbc news. >> what a year. >> it's been a banner year for social video and viral videos.

what else are you going to do? staying home and getting retweets and likes. >> that makes me wish i could have done more wacky things. >> there's still time. we want to wish you and your family a saf ♪ ♪ life's more fun with a dog. and doglife is more fun with milk-bone. ♪ ♪

and a good morning to you. right now at 4:30, it is christmas eve and a foggy day in walnut creek. take a look at this this morning as we start the day. the last hours before christmas day. and a good morning to you. i'm marcus washington. >> rudolph with your nose so bright. >> perfect time now to check in with meteorologist kari hall to see how it's looking in the sky. hi, kari. >> more clouds and