omicron variant of covid is spreading like wild fire from coast to coast >> well, the one thing that's very clear, and there's no doubt about this, this is extraordinary capability of spreading. its transmissibility capability, it is just, you know, raging through the world, really. >> we've got multiple reports ahead. president biden's major piece of legislation stopped cold by a fellow democrat. the white house fires back after this huge setback.

a sight that many thought impossible just ten months ago, tiger woods returns to the golf course after almost losing a leg in a horrific car crash. and the most inspiring story of the day starring a young dancer looking for a shot to learn. "early today" starts right now >> good morning. breaking this morning two democratic senators have tested positive for coronavirus on sunday senator elizabeth warren of massachusetts and senator cory booker of new jersey announced they have break through cases of covid both senators say they're vaccinated and have had booster shots. senator warren tweeting she's only experiencing mild symptoms, while cory booker said his case is relatively mild neither senator identified which strain of the virus they have. but they aren't the only politicians who recently contracted the virus

colorado congressman jason crow also revealed on sunday that he also has a break through infection of covid after a recent overseas trip to ukraine. the science of the omicron variant is evolving and here's what we know so far. omicron is highly transmissible and it's spreading very, very fast being vaccinated or having covid won't necessarily prevent omicron infection even if you've had the booster. and officials warn there will be many break through cases what is unclear, how dangerous this variant is overall. there are early signs it may be mild and there's some confidence it may not be more severe than delta, but that's we may not know for weeks u.s. health officials are pushing for covid vaccinations and booster shots as dual threat of the delta and omicron variants are sweeping through the naegs. if you're fully vaccinated, you might want to get boosted because your protection against the virus can drop over time reporter joe fischer from our

affiliate wral has more. >> reporter: omicron son the fast track to becoming the dominant covid variant globally. >> if you haven't been vaccinated, you need to get vaccinated your luck is running out >> reporter: a new study by duke researchers shows even after two shots of the moderna vaccine, antibodies are 50 times less protected against omicron. >> that's a huge drop. >> reporter: pfizer reports a similar drop in protection, but dr. david says a third dose can fight off omicron. >> we would expect the boost to protect people against omicron as well as two doses of the vaccine protects against delta and we know that that protection is really good >> do you think it is time for the cdc to change this definition of fully vaccinated to three doses >> i think we're going to see that pretty soon >> what could also change is the time between the second shot and booster shot >> rather than having to wait

six months, maybe give it one month later. >> to people who have only gotten their one dose of johnson & johnson, are they the least protected at this point, aside from the unvaccinated? >> yes and it's very important for people who received the single shot of the j&j vaccine to get boosted. >> reporter: a study at hong kong university shows omicron multiplies 70 times faster than delta. but so far has shown to cause less severe disease. >> it's clear that you need that boost to get the high level of efficacy >> our thanks to joe fischer for that report. and as covid cases surge across the u.s. and abroad, many americans are grappling over whether they should change their holiday travel plans with christmas just five days away, the omicron variant has made many families uncertain of what to do our emily takei da has more. >> reporter: the rush home for the holidays kicking into high

gear aaa predicts more than 100 million people to take to the roads, sky, and other forms of transportation over the christmas holiday. that's up more than 30% from last year. >> we're very excited to have the whole family back together again. >> reporter: airports bustling, rivaling pre-pandemic numbers. but will the quickly spreading variant prompt last minute changes? >> i'm very concerned about it because the flights are full inside the lobby is full. all the planes are full. >> reporter: this man says as omicron cases go up, bookings go down >> you can see, however, in the numbers that the comfort and the level of confidence in traveling is dropping. but not as steep as we've seen in 2020. >> reporter: the surge in cases scrambling a swath of american's christmas time transitions >> find out somebody in the family tested positive for covid. >> reporter: but when he reached out to the airline -- >> they wouldn't refund me my

money, and i was stuck with this $900 flight credit we'll likely never use. >> reporter: if you're rethinking travel, cancellationing policies delta pandemic still the nation's top infectious disease expert with this for travellers. >> if you're vaccinated and you're boosted and you take care when you go into congregate settings like airports to make sure you continually wear your mask, you should be okay >> reporter: a layered approach keeping airports buzzing >> what should people keep in mind when they arrive at their destination? >> you know, i think the most important thing to remember is how and when to use testing to your advantage the idea is that you want to do a test really within a few hours of meeting with a family or friend or folks outside of your household. >> health experts say any mask is better than no mask

but add an n95 or doubling up of face coverings will offer better protection senator joe manchin has dealt a major blow to the biden administration after months of negotiation, the west virginia democrat has effectively shut down the build back better plan, vowing he will vote against it because of its hefty price tag. monica alba has more >> reporter: a potentially fatal blow to president biden's massive social spending and climate plan >> this is a no. >> reporter: senator joe manchin, a democratic holdout for months over the size and scope of the package, closing the door on the $1.7 trillion bill in its current form >> i cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation i just can't i tried everything humanly possible i can't get there. >> reporter: the white house firing back in a lengthy, blistering statement, writing, manchin's comments are, quote, at odds with his conversations with the president this week,

where he pledged to keep negotiations going if his comments indicate an end to that effort, they represent a sudden and inexplicable reversal in his position and a breach of his commitment to the president. the proposal, which democrats had hoped to pass this year but ultimately punted to 2022, includes $555 billion to combat climate change as well as funding for child care, elder care, and health care. just days ago, the president was optimistic manchin would come around, saying, we will bridge our differences and advance the build back better plan but soaring inflation put manchin's support further in doubt, leaving progressives livid sunday >> if he doesn't have the courage to do the right thing for the working families of west virginia and america, let him vote no in front of the whole world. >> senator manchin's staff contacted the white house shortly before the fox interview sunday, but when biden officials tried to get in touch with the senator directly, a source

familiar tells me, manchin declined the call. francis? phillip? >> monica, thank you nearly ten months after a death defying car crash, tiger woods was completing again on the golf course. woods and his sochlie made a run for the top at the pnc championship in orlando over the weekend, 11 straight birdies before getting second. it was getting back into the sport that had tiger smiling after the match. >> the goal, one to have fun, and no bogeys. we established both. two weeks ago we didn't know whether i would be doing this, and here we are. and we had the best time ever. >> golf legend john daly and his son took home the win by two strokes. let's take a look at how your nbc week is shaping up with janessa webb >> good morning. we are dealing with garden

variety rain across the gulf coast and not causing too much of a disturbance, but it does pick up this afternoon want to get you prepared for that across new orleans and then the florida coast into areas of the southeast. so, the heavier bands there offshore in the gulf right now but they pick up this afternoon into tomorrow. look at some of these totals for florida, definitely not beach weather for daytona beach all the way down to tampa area but we could see at least an inch to two inch of rain also watching our friends across the west coast, winter weather alerts across the board from oregon to the seattle area now making their waynto th i 57

degrees, quite chilly for the northeast, new york city 37. it's a huge travel week. we'll take a look at that forecast coming up >> that is all important we'll check in with you in a bit. thanks janessa it is a bird it's a plane it's a million dollar superman comic book an anonymous buyer purchased the vintage copy in an auction for $2.6 million the issue was released back in 1939 for only a dime the auction website says this wasn't the only multimillion dollar comic sale. a 1938 issue that introduced the world to the man of steel sold for $3.25 million back in april. >> wow we're just getting started on this monday trevor noah says he's the victim of a botched surgery >> and tom brady does something he hasn't done in 15 years plus the nfl's round up, next. t?

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trevor noah is suing a new york based hospital for special surgery. the daily show host claims dr. riley williams iii botched an undisclosed operation in november of 2020 the lawsuit alleges the care noah was given at the hospital was performed and rendered in a negligent and careless matter. it goes on to say that as a result of the negligence, he suffered permanent, severe, and grievance injuries in a statement, the hospital for special surgery is calling the allegations meritles another defensive saturday night in tampa neither the saints or buccaneers were able to find the end zone that's due in part to the saints defense who congregated around brady. the tough road win has gotten by the saints 9-0

from that big road upset to a massive home upset in detroit. >> run the football, and throws it caught touchdown amon rah st. brown >> they pounced out of the lead. the lions ran away with it with a big win, 30-12 the jaguars played their first game since fires coach urban meyer. jacksonville now has the nfl's worst record at 2-12 >> the cowboys got one step closer to clinching their first playoff birth since 2018 dallas smothered the injury-riddled giants for a key road win, 21-6 and a wild finish in green bay, where the packers dominated on offense

that is until tyler huntly flew the ravens down the field for two late scores. baltimore went for the win after the last touchdown on this play, incomplete they walked away with neither. the packers defense wins it 31-30. >> and even in defeat, ravens ended among sunday's performers. and covid outbreaks around the league forced three games to be rescheduled, including a rare pair of games on tuesday in los angeles and philadelphia still to come here on "early today," it is the cheekiest event of the year and one of new york's weirdest subway traditions becomes the latest casualty of covid. santa pays a iz have to nice boys and girl. the heartwarming visit ahead eliminates and prevents odors... ...to freshen up any small room... ...for up to 45 days.

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>> what do you mean? >> they're all dying >> spiderman: no way home shattered the box office opening with $253 million in north american ticket sales this weekend. the action movie is the third biggest movie opening of all time and the highest debuting film of 2021 >> what a bag full of toys, jolly old saint nick while the hospital isn't exact he a chimney, santa claus came down with care to spread cheer to every child he saw. steve adams was there to capture the heartwarming visit >> well, you know, when you're a world class children's hospital, you have an in with santa and the elves and mrs. claus

>> oh, he's laughing >> with this pandemic that's going on, it has been stressful on everyone. and having santa claus some out, it is definitely a major change. we had hope. we had smiles and laughter instead of tears this is definitely something special. ♪ jingle bells, jingle bells ♪ ♪ jingle all the way ♪ ♪ oh what fun it is to ride in one horse open sleigh ♪ >> ho ho ho! >> life is better with santa and for some of our precious kiddos and their families, this is the closest to santa they're going to get to be able to bring santa to them and to have that joyful holiday spirit during the season. >> wait a minute, is this

elijah you've gotten so tall. i had to come see you in person. have you thought any more about your christmas >> we've updated the electronics on the sleigh because when children are in the hospital like johns hopkins children's hospital, one of the worries is santa won't find them. so, we invested in gps that's the good person system. we use it all throughout the world. it helps us find all our good boys and girls no matter where they are, whether they're at home or in johns hopkins children's hospital, santa will find them. >> thanks to wbal's steve adams for that >> good person system, i like that coming up, janessa has the weather forecast holiday travellers will cen fa ithe week ahead. and we've got an inspiring story that will make you want to get up and dance retinol24 collagen peptide new vitamin c and the iconic red jar can't top this skin shop now at olay.com

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now to the story of a christmas dream come true. a young and talented dancer made his debut on stage with the help of some kind hearted strangers more on this inspiring journey >> for 7-year-old dancer lamar marshal jr., this is a dream come true moment he's been rehearsing for months, taking the stage in the wilmington, delaware, ballet's production of the christmas classic "the nutcracker." >> what do you feel when you're dancing? >> i feel really happy

>> reporter: his mom, ramona grayson, says her son has always loved to move. >> he's dancing around the house and outside at different events we go to with family >> reporter: it's a passion sparked by social media and videos he saw on tiktok. >> i really wanted to try it i was so surprised i got it, so i kept practicing. >> reporter: sophie phillips saw him dance at a community event >> his family didn't have enough money to get him dance classes, so i wanted to do whatever i could to help. >> reporter: so she posted about his talent on social media, writing, let's help lamar achieve his dream. it caught the eye of benjamin cannon >> we first saw him and thought, this kid is -- we've just got to see if this is something he wants to do. >> reporter: cannon offered lamar a one-year scholarship >> i really think he has the

ability to dance professionally. >> i imagine there were times you were saying, i don't know how to help my child any more. >> we did pricing and things like that, and nothing fell through. so, when we got this one, it was just like a blessing >> reporter: it all led up to this, lamar debuting his first ballet ever as the lead dancer >> how proud are you, ramona, of this incredible boy of yours >> oh, my god, words can't even explain. >> i know. infinity out of infippty >> there it is >> reporter: for this mind sized performer, the best holiday gift of all comes early here. >> it is a good christmas for us, for me, and family just to see him perform. >> our thanks to jose diaz for that >> great story coronavirus is forcing new yorkers to keep their pants on

the annual no pants subway ride where festive passengers show off their best underwear has been pressed for the second straight year due to the pandemic it has been a pantless january staple

if you could give me some dance lessons you would be saving my life. how do i know that you're legit? ♪ ♪ yeah, that's more like it. we are in for a world of trouble, i'm afraid, in the next month or two it is just, you know, raging through -- through the world really >> a new week but a similar refrain we had all hoped would be behind us new covid variant omicron spreading fast and furious this morning we've got three medical experts answering some of the most asked questions of the day. the sports world rocked from the nfl to the nba and nhl athletes across the board testing positive for covid schedules upended and games cancelled. bye bye to president biden's