covid relief in limbo. the $900 billion stimulus bill parked on the president's desk as millions of anxious americans wait for aid plus, the new push in congress to boost that $600 direct deposit. a brexit breakthrough. a christmas miracle across the pond the details as britain finally reaches a trade deal santa's stuck braving a serious storm. the winter wallop wreaking havoc on the east coast. keeping the christmas spirit alive around the globe from the pope's holiday mass to santa's trip under the sea a special christmas edition of

"early today" starts right now good morning to you it, i'm michelle fisher. >> i'm phillip mena. this christmas, the covid relief package desperately needed by millions hangs in the hands of president trump. the legislation is still awaiting the president's signature following his calls on congress to allot more cash for americans. democrats tried to oblige, but republicans blocked their effort now speaker nancy pelosi is calling the house back into session on monday to vote on a stand-alone bill that would boost direct payments to $2,000 per person nbc's garrett haque has more >> reporter: d.c. bartender athena fultz has been struggling to make ends meet for months she's one of millions desperate for help going into the dark of winter >> we're going to have to pay taxes in april it's like, for what? what -- what have they done for us nothing. >> reporter: the president demanding congress boost direct payments from the $600 his administration had supported to $2,000 now >> apply only to the minority

leader - >> reporter: a democratic effort to do just that blocked by house republicans. >> merry christmas >> reporter: with federal unemployment insurance, rental assistance, and other critical programs set to expire this week, lawmakers from both parties appealing to the vacationsing president's better angels >> this is christmas eve surely the president of the united states, whether he's in mar-a-lago or any place else, ought to empthieathize with thep angst that the american people are feeling this christmas eve and sign this bill >> i hope the president looks at this again and reaches the conclusion that the best thing to do is to sign the bill. >> reporter: the house plans to return to washington december 28th democrats will force a full house vote on increasing those direct payments to $2,000. if by the end of the day the president hasn't signed the combined covid relief and

spending bill passed on monday or another extension, the government shuts down. >> our thanks to garrett for that report. 11 months into this pandemic, and so many families are struggling to make ends meet sam brock visited a food bank in florida that's helping so many in need this christmas >> reporter: on christmas week, there's a crush of cars in san antonio waiting for groceries. >> i was like, thank goodness, i have food until i get paid on the 3rd. >> reporter: a scene eerily reminiscent of the spring, though the need has only strengthened since >> they were so excited to get this food. they got emotional they break down in tears >> reporter: the lone star state is not alone in demand or tears. feeding south florida now helps 200,000 families a week put food on the table including debbie gugliata and her three kids. >> it's not a position you ever want to be in. it's hard to ask people for help i really don't want to, but i have no choice at this point >> reporter: some of these cars

have been out here since 3:00 in the morning. there's about 500 just in this field. it's not just because it's a holiday week either. this is normal >> happy holidays! >> reporter: coast to coast, a crisis deepens feeding america estimates food insecurity this year at about 50 million people that's the equivalent of the populations of texas and florida combined but grassroots help is pouring in in cities like los angeles. community fridges are popping up where volunteers gather extra food from restaurants, bakeries, and neighbors. >> it's amazing. if you stop by, you drop off some food, you come back two hours later, a lot of the fridges, it's empty again. >> reporter: these fridges are kept in homes, small businesses, some are even on the street, with those unable to contribute food bringing other items. >> you know, maybe you are food insecure, but you have a lot of blankets you have access to something or know someone who does. >> reporter: in florida, jolene most does that, pick up food for

her five kids and drop off blankets >> everybody have to help everyone so - >> reporter: that's the only way we're going to get through this. yes. >> reporter: warmth in a painful pandemic sam brock, nbc news, west palm beach. ignoring warnings from health officials, millions of americans were on the move, desperate to visit loved ones this christmas but with covid cases rising, this could put lives at risk we have more >> reporter: despite desperate pleas from the front lines to stay home, packed airports the most crowded since the start of the pandemic. up to 85 million americans are expected to travel through new year's, defying public health warnings >> i'm nervous, but i'm confident i'm not going to transmit anything to my family >> reporter: this as california's facing catastrophe. the first day to surpass two million covid cases, doubling in just six weeks >> there's an overall feeling of

anxiety, fear, and uncertainty as we head into christmas and the new year's >> reporter: in the state's hospitals, heartache over the number of lives being lost on average, nearly 250 dying a day. >> every day i look into the eyes of someone who's struggling to breathe they want to be home with their family >> reporter: similar scenes nationwide hospitalizations have more than doubled since november adding to the troubles, the vaccine rollout is not going as planned with roughly a million doses administered, far short of the 20 million expected by year's end [ chants ] >> reporter: while in some places, confusion and outrage over who should get the doses first. forcing one university to apologize for vaccinating other staff before frontline workers >> this is a charged, emotional environment where people, a lot of people, of course, want to get vaccinated as soon as possible there were hiccups in what is a complicated effort >> reporter: for these sisters, it will be a sad christmas they lost their parents and grandfather to the virus and

have this warning for anyone taking a risk -- >> what do you have to them? >> they need ask themselves should i give up this one holiday, or should i give up a lifetime >> nbc's erin mclaughlin with the latest thank you. more fallout this morning from that fatal police-involved shooting of an unarmed black man in columbus, ohio. earlier this week, the city's mayor called for the termination of officer adam coy who shot 47-year-old andre maurice hill now columbus' police chief is joining the growing calls for justice. on thursday, the chief also recommended coy be fired here's nbc's kathy park with more the family of andre hill has nothing to celebrate this holiday. >> reporter: dramatic action out of columbus, ohio, following the shooting death of 47-year-old andre hill the city's police chief making his recommendation >> today i'm announcing action to terminate officer adam coy. >> reporter: columbus officer

adam coy, who shot hill, had been placed on paid leave. the body camera footage of the shooting released this week shows the moments leading up to the deadly encounter as coy walks up to an open garage and approaches hill who's seen holding his cell phone while his other hand is out of vw.ie >> i have seen everything needi to s teeo reach the conclusion that officer coy must be terminated immediately >> got a medic - >> reporter: in the aftermath of the shooting, hill lays on the ground for more than five minutes without anyone rendering aid. police say no weapon was found at the scene what does justice look like for andre and his family >> justice for andre hill looks a lot like justice for george floyd. justice for andre hill looks a lot like justice for breonna taylor >> reporter: the local fraternal order of police in a statement said, "every citizen including officers deserves due process, and that accountability is important.

the case, now getting extra attention from the state with the ohio attorney general named special prosecutor amidst growing calls for action kathy park, nbc news [ chants ] meanwhile, over in the uk, it's merry brex-mas. after months of negotiation, prime minister johnson has struck a trade deal with the european union >> we have completed the biggest trade deal yet, worth 660 million pounds a year. we've taken controlling of our laws and our destiny >> the landmark end to a 47-year relationship with britain claiming sovereignty and taking back control of its fishing waters it also ends the role of the european court of justice. back here in the u.s., a wildfire is thenni inthreatenin homes in station county. it triggered mandatory evacuations for about 7,000 people some of those orders have been scaled back to warnings.

the fire has destroyed over 4,000 acres and is 35% contained. depending on where you live, you could be waking up to a windy, a wet, or a white christmas this morning in the upper midwest, it is the latter they've already been buried in blizzard-like conditions and now many in the northeast are facing plunging temperatures and strong winds let's get the latest on that from meteorologist michelle grossman good to see you. merry christmas. >> merry christmas so good to see you we are waking up to actually a mixed bag. we're looking at a white christmas for some windy weather, winds up to 60 miles per hour even some rain in spots. we're going to see the storm system move quickly to the northeast. that's the good news it's going to race out of here new england, you're going to be stuck in the rain throughout the day. flooding rains throughout the day. the story becomes the cold, blustery wind over the great lakes. accumulating snow, four to eight inches, up to a foot in spots. again, lots of rain, too, in new england.

that's on top of snow melt that we had from the storm last week. 57 million people impacted, and we could see a lot of rain even up to an inch, two inches, that's on top of the snow that we already have. that's a look at the big then philadelphia, 53. we're going to see temperatures plummeting throughout the day. all right, guys. when i come back, we'll talk more about the frigid air because it's going to stay with us today and through the weekend. then another round next week we'll talk about that in a few minutes. >> that's a big week we need to appreciate that when we come back, why you're going to need to watch out for falling lizards in florida this christmas and rescued from the rubble. the intense moments heroes rushed to save a toddler after a house explosion. is now a good time for a flare-up?

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leading the news, remarkable body cam footage just released telling the story of a daring rescue after a house explosion in indiana the family escaped serious injury and is speaking exclusively with nbc news. here's nbc's morgan chesky we need a pry bar. >> reporter: the frantic rescue just made public a gas explosion leveling a home in porter, indiana, back in september. jason booms' family somewhere inside >> coming to you coming to you. looking back and seeing what i seen, nobody was alive in my eyes >> reporter: buried in the flaming rubble, his 3-year-old granddaughters who jason saved himself. [ crying ] >> here, baby. go, go you forget about everything except for what you're focusing on which is find her >> reporter: just feet away,

jason's daughter kayla also trapped. >> all hands on deck let's go pull her out go -- >> reporter: emergency crews teaming up to pull kayla free. >> oh, god >> slide her out >> it i was like why would they come and risk their life lifting this off me when they could just -- catch fire and then they'll get burned or hurt >> nobody -- nobody thought twice about that >> reporter: and nobody stops until every family member was accounted for. all seven injured, but tonight back home with a message for the rescuers - >> i would like to tell them again thank you. you know, you are a part of us being alive here today >> reporter: nbc news. >> some remarkable footage there. glad that family's okay. >> yeah. the gratitude they showed for the officers the troubling new trend for millennials. >> and can't beat it, michael jackson's neverland ranch

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snorting around puerto rico. the island is afraid the pigs are proving too difficult to control. officials say it could take up to two years to fully rid them of the swine if you're in florida this winter, you might want to carry an umbrella in case it starts raining iguanas. the national weather service is predicting a cold winter in the sunshine state that could result in the highest amount of frozen iguanas in 20 years. >> always so funny to see. >> yeah. weird phenomenon there's no denying that the coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating effect on the economy and the nation's unemployment rate. that has led to nea w trend of millennials moving back in with mom and daatd an alarming rate. cnbc with more >> reporter: ellen goldberg atlanta lived in her childhood home in new jersey for over a decade, but when covid shut down her beloved theater industry, she was suddenly unemployed and unable to pay rent >> i know about half my friends are living with their parents or had to give up their apartments because they don't know how they're going to pay rent next

month. >> reporter: nearly 50% more renters are moving back in with their parents compared with pre-covid. that's according to a new study by zumper, a rental letting site millennials are moving back most up 75% from a year ago >> you were a complete, independent adult, had a career you were really proud of, and an apartment you were proud of, and then's all whisked away in days. >> reporter: ellen's parents see it a little differently. >> it's been like a surprise that we didn't know we would get. and so we're looking at it as a gift >> reporter: a gift with some surprise expenses. >> we've actually just put some more money into the house. the most important thing was upping the wi-fi because now we have three people allotted devices. >> reporter: they're not making big changes because ellen says the minute broadway opens she's going back and beleaguered new york city will likely offer her a gift -- cheating rent.

>> i'm very excited that hopefully it might be a renter's game when i get back >> reporter: ellen may be going back soon, but there has been a shift in the housing market nationally sales of multigenerational homes have jumped dramatically this year, and builders are reporting bigger demand than ever for multigenerational floor plans. in other words, this may not be temporary at all diana olick, washington. >> new world much more ahead including michelle's holiday weekend forecast plus, dear santa, the young lprl whose christmas wish is to he homeless people stay with us ce, bacteria is left behind. now, consider how many times your family touches the surfaces in your home in 24 hours. try microban 24. spray on hard surfaces to kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria initially, including the virus that causes covid-19. once dry, microban forms a bacteria shield that keeps killing bacteria for 24 hours, even after multiple touches. try microban 24. this has been medifacts for microban 24.

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a giant parade of jeeps rolled through west virginia to support a 4-year-old boy just in time for christmas you see, georgie is currently in the hospital with cancer all he wanted was to see lots of jeeps. what started as a 100-jeep event turned into a nearly 5,000-jeep parade, all coming from at least 20 states. a very merry christmas to georgie. >> wow michelle grossman is back with a look at our weekend forecast michelle >> hey there, guys yeah, we are looking at a cold weekend for many of us well below normal for this time of year. a christmas cold blast temperatures about 20 degrees below what is typical for this time of year in many spots, especially in the southeast. orlando, 53 degrees. that's 18 degrees below average. 37 in charlotte. 22 in cincinnati same story for the northeast

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well, it is christmas morning here in america. holiday celebrations are under way all over the world every country and culture finding ways to balance safety with tradition there year. nbc's matt bradley joining us from paris matt, good morning merry christmas. so what kind of celebrations are you seeing over there? >> reporter: merry christmas i mean, it's been a very merry, but very unusual christmas all around the world for millions of people here in paris, they had the traditional sort of nightly concert at notre dame. this was the first concert that notre dame has hosted since the

devastating fire that tore through the historic building's roof last year it's been almost two years since that time. this concert, it was filmed actually earlier in the month. as you can see, it was only a couple of musician and singers, they're wearing hard hits and protective gear and, of course, safety masks and they're still socially distancing because they're indoors. that's the law now, to the east in moscow, people got a rare reprieve from their lockdown that country has been devastated by the coronavirus, as well. and they were able to go out and celebrate in the shadow of the historic kremlin with sprinklers and the like for their annual christmas fare it was muted but still christmas eve and celebratory. now down under in australia where there is very little covid and no winter at this moment, australians were still able to celebrate on the world-famous beach. an annual celebration.

there were no tourists this year, just like everywhere else in the world and of course, that meant that the whole beach was there just for australians who wanted to celebrate christmas. >> wow, they got ait good down under. matt bratt bradley live from paris. thank you again. an 8-year-old connecticut girl is proving you're never too small to make a difference she asked santa to help out the less fortunate she wrote a letter after learning not everyone has a place to call home her mother shared the wish on social media, and donations started pouring in over 1,100 pounds of food were donated to a local nonprofit >> that is the christmas spirit. she's got it figured out right there. such a young age all right. in thailand, santa claus doing it a lot differently they're swim, diving into the christmas spirit swimming in an aquarium in bangkok on christmas eve santa had gifts for the fish

even in the form of a sack full of food. he did a swimmingly good job there was spreading that holiday cheer to the fish and to all the people looking on. whether it's in a chimney or under water, santa gets the job done >>leaving no stone unturned. thanks for starting your ristmas day ch i'm wierin. -and i'm margo. we've always done things our own way. charted our own paths. i wasn't going to just back down from moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. psoriatic arthritis wasn't going to change who i am. when i learned that my joint pain could mean permanent joint damage, i asked about enbrel. enbrel helps relieve joint pain, and helps stop permanent joint damage. plus enbrel helps skin get clearer in psoriatic arthritis. ask your doctor about enbrel, so you can get back to your true self. -play ball! enbrel may lower your ability to fight infections. serious, sometimes fatal events including infections, tuberculosis, lymphoma, other cancers, nervous system and blood disorders and allergic reactions have occurred. tell your doctor if you've been someplace where fungal infections are common. or if you're prone to infections, have cuts or sores, have had hepatitis b, have been treated for heart failure,

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