on the "today" show this morning craig melvin's exclusive with vice president kamala harris. >> we're back with you at 7:25 with more live local news. good morning. one on one. one on one with frustrations mounting in washington at a virtual standstill, our exclusive interview with vice president kamala harris, taking on republicans and members of her own party in the heated battle over voting rights. >> i don't think anyone should be absolved from the responsibility of preserving and protecting our democracy. >> and responding to the critics of the biden administration's handling of the pandemic and the economy. this morning, the wide-ranging conversation, including what she's saying about the 2024 race covid struggles.

hospitals and schools dealing with surging cases and staffing shortages. good morning one on one with frustrations mounting in washington at a virtual standstill, our exclusive interview with vice president kamala harris, taking on republicans and members of her own party in the heated battle over voting rights. >> i don't think anyone should be absolved from the responsibility of preserving and protecting our democracy. >> and responding to the critics of the biden administration's handling of the pandemic and the economy. this morning, the wide-ranging conversation, including what she's saying about the 2024 race covid struggles. hospitals and schools dealing with surging cases and staffing shortages. what's being done to help the frontline workers and keep kids in the classroom we'll take you inside the new plan amid omicron's rapid spread hitting where it hurts inflation soars to a 40-year high with prices soaring on everything from food to gas to clothing straight ahead, the new shortages driving costs even higher and what it all means for your bottom line on alert. millions bracing for the next major winter storm, a mess of snow and ice set to sweep through the midwest, south, and east coast, along with another round of bone-chilling temperatures al has the latest on the timing, the track and the impact on the holiday weekend. all that plus placing blame. a new lawsuit tied to the alec baldwin movie set shooting what the woman in charge of guns and ammo is now saying about how those real bullets made their way to the set and what she claims the star actor failed to

do. and legend lost. tributes pouring in for ronnie spector. ♪ be my little baby ♪ we'll remember her impact, her influence, and her many hits today, thursday, january 13, 2022 >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with savannah guthrie and hoda kotb. live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. good morning it's good to see you we're happy you're joining us on this thursday morning. craig took a trip to d.c. and had a big interview yesterday. >> quick trip, my friend thank you so much. we sat down and covered a lot of ground, actually, touching on everything from the fight and push, the pushback over the

voting rights bill we looked ahead to the next presidential election, that the ticket might not look the same as it did in 2020. the vice president sharing her take on the current state of covid in the united states and the new criticism that has been leveled at the white house >> as we sit here this week, we saw a record number of hospitalizations, adults and children, we've seen the infection record broken. i think a lot of people are scratching their heads and wondering one year into this administration, why aren't we doing better in the fight against covid? >> so let me start with saying that people are rightly frustrated with where we are we're frustrated we're all frustrated but i think it's a mistake and it would be a mistake to suggest that we've not seen great progress if you think back to march to

2020, we were wiping down the boxes of things we ordered on line there were no vaccines now we have a vaccine which has proved to be effective and boosters now we have our children back in school, 95% of schools are back open but we're building back up we're opening back up and we are not where we were a year ago. >> let's talk about masks for a second it's been several weeks now since public health experts have acknowledged that cloth masks, surgical masks, they're not as effective in terms of stopping this new variant, omicron. should americans be wearing kn-95 masks? >> the cdc is going to be providing us with those guidelines -- >> what's taken so long? >> the cdc is making their decisions. i don't make the cdc's decisions. but what i will say is what has been clear about masks is you

want to wear a tight-fitting mask, that is clear. and we want to urge everybody to do that. in terms of the n-95 masks, they're available. there's a stockpile of i believe over 700 million of those masks. so the supply is there as necessary and as needed. >> at what point does the administration say, you know what, this strategy isn't working? we're going to change strategies six form officials last week wrote that open letter urging the administration to change course, to change strategy is it time >> it is time for us to do what we have been doing and that time is every day every day it is time for us to agree that there are things and tools that are available to us to slow this thing down. and so right now we know, we still have a number of people that is in the millions of

americans who have not been vaccinated and could be vaccinated and we are urging them to get vaccinated because it will save their life. >> at what point does the administration acknowledge, these people aren't going to get the shot >> i don't believe in giving on on people, craig, i really don't. >> the 500 million tests that are going to be sent to every american, do we know when those are going out? >> shortly they've been ord i have to look at the current information. i think it's going to be by next week. soon. absolutely soon. it's a matter of urgency for us. >> should we have done that sooner? >> we are doing it. >> should we have done it sooner? >> we are doing it. >> let's turning to voting rights for a moment. you were there in atlanta with the president when he compared those who oppose democratic-backed voting bills that are currently in the

senate. he compared folks who oppose those to those who oppose senate rights. senator romney said, so much for unifying the country. when the president was on the campaign trail in the fall of 2020, he said with trump out of the way, the vindictiveness of a president going after republicans who don't do exactly what he says gets taken away. isn't that exactly what president biden did in atlanta on wednesday? >> president biden took the right and courageous step to say that senate rules should not get in the way of protecting the american people's access to the ballot, and he compared this time to a previous time in our history which is apt for comparison. >> it's not just republican opposition. it would seem as if this piece of legislation is going to come down to one or two moderate democrats. in months and weeks, the

administration hasn't been able to convince one or two senators to come around. how are you going to do that in two or three days? >> if i may, i would like to contextualize this conversation. >> sure. >> which is in 2006, in this very town of washington, d.c., up the street at the united states capitol, in the united states senate, 98 of the 100 members of the united states senate voted in favor of an extension in the voting rights act. it was not a partisan issue. it was an american issue. >> how are you going to get it done? >> well, when we have the discussion about who's responsible, i will not absolve the 50 republicans in the united states senate from responsibility for upholding one of the most basic and important tenants of our democracy which is free and fair elections and access to the ballot for all eligible voters. >> what about senator manchin? >> i don't think anyone should be absolved from the responsibility of preserving and protecting our democracy -- >> are you working -- >> -- especially when they took an oath to protect and defend our constitution. >> why has the administration not been able to get senate democrats on board? >> we are not giving up.

>> why? >> but you're acting as though it's over. >> well, i mean -- >> it's not over. >> so it's going to happen by monday? >> i'm saying it's not over and we don't give up. we don't give up and we will not give up. >> are we going to see the same democratic ticket in 2024? >> i'm sorry. we are thinking about today. i mean, honestly, i know why you're asking the question because this is the part of the gossip around places like washington, d.c. let me just tell you something, we're focused on the things in front of us. we're focused on what we need to do to address issues like affordable childcare -- >> so there's been no conversations about 2024? >> the american people sent us here to do a job and right now there's a lot of work to be done and that's my focus. >> you're at least familiar with some of the punditry. there's been talk about a

biden/cheney ticket perhaps in 2024. did you read that article? >> no, i did not. and i really could careless about the high-class gossip on these issues. >> the other thing that i thought was interesting, a lot of people are at home waiting for the rapid tests and she said in a week they might be out to everybody. >> that's what the vice president said. now the reality is, we've spoken to a number of companies that manufacture these tests, they have let nbc news that would be a lofty goal. it is going to take some time to manufacture some 500 million tests. especially when you look at the empty store shelves right now. it remains to be seen. but the tests are on order. we'll have much of our conversation later on this morning in the third hour. her message to critics who say the administration should have been more prepared for omicron's

rapid rise. let's focus on the promise mentioned by the vice president. to ramp up covid testing supplies. many health and school officials saying it is critical to help kids stay in the classroom amid new outbreaks and staffing shortages. stephanie gosk joins us with that piece of the puzzle. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. that new supply will be critical to keeping kids in the classroom, despite the good news that omicron is not as serious as delta. it is still a struggle keeping those kids in class. millions of free covid tests will soon be headed to schools nationwide. the white house promising a monthly stream of 5 million rapid tests and 5 million pcr tests to "k" through 12 schools. the first shipments are expected to arrive as early as this month. >> how important is testing for keeping your schools open safely? >> it is vital. i think it's next to vaccines and the boosters, it's the only way that we can continue to keep our teachers and our students safe. >> reporter: the new testing

push comes as schools struggle to stay open amid omicron's surge. austin school superintendent says she started deploying administrative staff with teachers experience as substitutes just to keep class going. >> even if it wasn't as perfect as it would have been with our great teachers, we know it's better than our students not having that support. >> reporter: hospitals are struggling too. at an icu, 5% of the staff is out sick. the national guard now helping to clean, test and deliver meals. >> the reality is that we have an overwhelming number of covid patients that are occupying our icus. our emergency rooms are overcrowded, our teams are exhausted. >> reporter: a new study out of southern california finds omicron is far less likely to cause severe illness or death compare today the delta variant. but that doesn't mean the public

should let its guard down. the white house says it's considering ways to increase the availability of higher quality masks and the cdc has said it's going to update its guidance on masks. the agency's director reiterating any face covering is better than none at all. >> the best mask that you wear is the one that you will wear and the one that you can keep on all day long. >> reporter: update on the school system in chicago. last night the union voted for an agreement that includes new safety measures, including new testing to get the kids back in class. they were out of class for five days, if you remember. classes were canceled. >> thank you. tom llamas is joining us. >> since the pandemic, something we can all relate to, paying for more just about everything. the latest consumer price index showing inflation rose at the highest rate in nearly four decades. tom costello is in washington with a closer look at what that means for all of us. good morning. >> reporter: we've been talking

about this issue for months now and the latest figures show consumers are, in fact, paying the price, driven by the pandemic. those increases have hit hard at the grocery store. have you tried to buy chicken lately, beef, produce? chances are you're having a hard time finding everything on your >> reporter: just a quick glance at your bank account shows the situation. from the food in the grocery aisles to the gas in your gas tank, even the roofs over our heads, prices across the board continue to climb. >> i have noticed that prices have increased for some basics and gas. >> reporter: the csu index shows inflation reached 7% last year. the fastest pace since 1982. among the items with the biggest sticker shock, used vehicles up more than 37%. with the average price for a used car topping $29,000 late

last year. and despite a dip at the end of the year, a gallon of gas still up $1.24 from a year before. supermarket staples have seen prices soar. a gallon of milk increasing 20 cents in a year, a carton of eggs up more than 30 cents, and a pound of ground beef up nearly 60 cents >> we're going to pay more for everything because of the grains that feed the cows, the packaging where we put the soda in. i mean, just about everything is going through the roof >> reporter: the combo of covid staff shortages, winter weather and a stretched supply chain have all led to shortages on the shelves at grocery stores nationwide roughly 15% of items out of stock. compared to 5 to 10% in a typical year >> we are experiencing shortages and a lot of that is tied back to labor and how we're experiencing our own issues with the omicron variant. >> reporter: the food industry trade group says some stores have up to 40% of staff out sick with covid

while inflation is up annually, month to month, it's actually slowing down >> as products become more available, whether they're computer chips or potato chips, that will bring down prices probably in the second half of the year in a much more noticeable fashion >> i know what you're asking, when will our store shelves start to get back to normal, the grocery industry itself is saying it's hopeful that they'll see improvement in the second half of the year, you guys when suddenly these shortages start to get better, if you will one important way we can all help with that, it may be tempting, don't hoard items. try to plan your meals, buy only what you need. if you stock up, you can make things worse and your neighbor won't be able to get the chicken, the bread or the produce. >> that's when you start lending away the pork chops. thanks so much for that.

we've got 16 minutes after the hour big storm. >> big problem with the supply chain has been the weather and basically keeping trucks off the roads or slowing them down we've got storm watches, warnings, stretching from the dakotas down into the midwest. we're looking at this late friday storm coming out. clipper system coming off canada snow from the plains to the midwest. what we're looking at, what we know right now, we can expect to see isolated amounts of 12 inches of snow, but generally 4 to 8 inches of snow from iowa to minnesota. saturday, the storm dives down into the gulf coast and bringing snow to the north. a big, significant ice storm for the coast. we're bringing freezing temperatures with all the moisture, we're going to see the rain falling to cold air, freezing as it hits the surface. this ice is going to be significant from atlanta up into the carolinas.

we're talking power outages, big problems the roads will be a mess as will the airports what we're watching, monday, low pressure, tracking west of the i-95 corridor. for the coast, snow changing to rain, it's going to be windy inland, very heavy snow. we're looking at snowfall amounts that will be heavy from interior new england all the way down the spine of the appalachians we have some models that bring this further to the east and that would shift the heavy snow closer to the coast. we're going to continue to track it for you we'll get to your local forecast in the next 30 seconds seconds. i use liberty mutual, they customize your car insurance, so you only pay for what you need. wooo, yeaa, woooooo and, by switching you could even save 665 dollars. hey tex, can someone else get a turn? yeah, hang on, i'm about to break my own record. yeah. only pay for what you need.

♪ liberty, liberty, liberty, liberty. ♪ good morning. it is cloudy, 47 degrees in san jose right now. we are seeing several areas of limited visibility because of early morning fog. parts of novato less than 2 miles. today is going to be slightly cooler, temperatures in the low to mid 60s for this afternoon. and that's your latest weather. >> thank you just ahead, it's a big mystery that surrounds that fatal shooting on the set of alec baldwin's movie how did live ammunition get there in the first place well, what the woman in charge of the guns is now saying in a new lawsuit and why she believes the tragedy could have been prevented.

as omicron surges, the scramble to find at-home covid tests and better quality masks when demand is far outpacing supply across the country. kerry sanders is going to take an inside look this morning. but first, this is "today" on nbc nside look this morning. we learn about covid-19,

the more questions we have. the biggest question now, what's next? what will covid bring in six months, a year? if you're feeling anxious about the future, you're not alone. calhope offers free covid-19 emotional support. call 833-317-4673, or live chat at calhope.org today.

"be my baby" "be my baby. coming up, she made a name for herself with her music and playing alongside the beatles and the rolling stones >> we're going to remember the remark life of the legendary ronnie spector first, your local news it could mean a chance to live longer. opdivo plus yervoy is for adults newly diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer that has spread, tests positive for pd-l1, and does not have an abnormal egfr or alk gene. together, opdivo plus yervoy helps your immune system launch a response that fights cancer in two different ways. opdivo plus yervoy equals a chance for more time together.

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and lower your ability to fight them. before treatment, your doctor should check you for infections and tuberculosis. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms such as fever, sweats, chills, muscle aches, or coughs or if you plan to or recently received a vaccine. ♪nothing is everything♪ talk to your dermatologist about skyrizi. learn how abbvie could help you save. good morning. i'm kris sanchez. here are some of the top stories today including a day of action among bay area health care workers. >> reporter: i'm cierra johnson in san francisco. health care workers across the city taking part in a day of action. these nurses and health care workers plan to draw attention to some of the working conditions as well as new rules set by the state health department regarding nurses being able to continue coming to work after testing positive for

covid-19 and remaining asymptomatic. these protests happening in san francisco, san jose, santa rosa and oakland. in marin county the guidelines are changing again when it comes to schools and covid. the changes allow an unvaccinated person with a positive covid test within 30 days not to quarantine unless the person is symptomatic and tests positive again. also a fully vaccinated but unboosted person who was exposed to covid may still attend school if they are asymptomatic and test negative. schools will also stop sending notifications to parents for general virus exposures but continue to do so when it comes contacts. 47 degrees in san jose with limited visibility up towards napa. i want to give you a quick update on traffic. we had an earlier sig alert on

the westbound lines at the bay bridge. all lanes are open with residual delays at the bay bridge toll plaza. more news coming up in just a half hour. we leave you with a live look at downtown san jose. have a great morning.

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contentious reporte i'm one of these less contentious reporters who can convince you to stick around and talk with me because i'm so easy >> they said blame it on katie couric. >> this is our eve of our 70th anniversary. that one, of course, 1992, katie was interviewing first lady barbara bush at the white house and then president bush wandered in and she said, would you stick around for 30 seconds? and he stayed 30 minutes >> we're going to share one more iconic moment with you just a little bit later you don't want to miss what we have planned we're marking our big

anniversary tomorrow. >> we're turning 70. we look good for 70. let's get to your 7:30 headlines. kevin mccarthy says he will not cooperate with the house committee investigating the january 6th attack on the u.s. capitol. mccarthy says the investigation is not legitimate and he accuses the panel of abuse of power. the committee is seeking information about mccarthy's conversations with former president donald trump before, during and after last year's riot the california republican says the panel's only objective is to try to damage its political opponents. federal investigators say a medical helicopter that crashed near philadelphia on tuesday went down as the result of an accident the ntsb says the preliminary report is expected in the next couple of weeks. the helicopter was transporting an infant to a hospital.

it crashed near a church the pilot suffered serious injuries but none of the other three passengers, including the child, were hurt there's new video that shows the moment the chopper went down it happened to miss all of those power lines. the wreckage has been moved to a storage facility so investigators can examine it more closely. the latest on novak djokovic he was included in today's draw for the australian open, despite the possibility that he could still be deported from the country. he's scheduled to face miomir kecmanovic in the opening round. djokovic had his visa canceled when he arrived in melbourne last week after his vaccination exemption was questioned djokovic won a legal battle that allowed him to stay in the country at least temporarily. >> that saga continues every day. there's a lot more to get to, including new developments tied to the fatal shooting on

alec baldwin's movie set "rust." >> baldwin pushes back on claims he's not cooperating with the investigation. miguel almaguer has been following that story from the beginning. good morning. >> almost three months after that deadly shooting on the set of alec baldwin's new movie, law enforcement has yet to file any charges. but attorneys for hannah gutierrez-reed say the deadly misfire may have been prevented had their client been able to personally hand the gun to baldwin. >> reporter: in a new lawsuit, attorneys for 24-year-old "rust" armorer, hannah gutierrez-reed, say they now know how live rounds got on the western set. the complaint against pdq arm and prop owned by seth kenney says they supplied the production with real bullets the ammunition boxes failed to state a material fact, the contents contain both dummy and live ammunition, which were

deceptively sold. >> live rounds ended up in a box labeled as dummies >> reporter: saying, gutierrez-reed said rounds were not live 15 minutes before the shooting but she was not inside the church when the firearm went off.mes say baldwin did not respond to hannah's request on october 15th to schedule cross draw training. baldwin said he spent an hour and a half in safety instruction with gutierrez-reed. but one weapons expert who reviewed the complaint tells nbc news, based on how the weapon was handled, both producers and

gutierrez-reed may bear some responsibility still her attorneys further shift blame away from their client writing hannah relied upon and trusted that the prop house would only supply dummy prop ammunition and blanks and described is set as a rushed and chaotic atmosphere that created a perfect storm for a safety incident >> two people accidentally shot on a movie set. >> reporter: the filing says officers later found seven live rounds in the ammo box the lawyer for seth kenney, the gun's and ammunition provider, did not want to comment on the lawsuit. it all comes days after alec baldwin took to social media citing family concerns for not handing over his cell phone. >> any session that i'm not complying with demands, that's [ bleep ]. that's a lie.

>> reporter: a deadly shooting where no one accepts blame reveal there was some new communication that was directly between gutierrez-reed and the prop ammo owner who is being sued what do you know about that conversation >> the suit alleges the defendant texted hannah in an attempt to dissuade from involving him all together and to implicate the assistant director as the person being responsible for this tragedy hoda >> miguel almaguer, thank you. up next on thursday morning, kerry sanders taking us inside the race to keep up with the relentless and urgent demand for covid tests and the struggle that many are having finding them and those higher quality masks as well. that's right after this. r quality masks as well. that's right after this. the burning. the stinging. my skin was no longer mine. my psoriatic arthritis, made my joints stiff, swollen... painful.

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that activity is to get these covid tests out because right now, as you noted, there is a much greater demand than there is a supply. and on saturday, insurance companies will be obligated to start paying for up to eight tests a month, if -- and it's a big if -- if you can find them >> reporter: at this miami-dade factory, 450 employees working around the clock, trying to keep up with the unprecedented demand for home covid test kits. >> we're just at a million kits per day -- >> reporter: that's still not enough. >> that's still not enough the demand is just packed up we can't make enough >> reporter: the largest manufacturer in the country, abbott laboratories, producing 70 million tests a month and that's still not enough. the antigen test here, 1 of 15 home tests authorized by the fda. >> is there a good reason to be fearful that there's not enough

test kits? >> we're working around the clock to make sure that everybody who wants to get tested, gets tested immediately. >> reporter: in many stores, shelves are empty. if you are able to score a self-test, be prepared to pay. two weeks ago, prices were $7. now up to $25. and on ebay, they're going for as much as 80 bucks each but it's those do-it-yourself tests that are the fastest and easiest way to find out if you're infected. critical, experts say, to slowing the spread >> if we test regularly and detect it, you're going to be safer, your family is going to be safer, your community is going to be safer. >> reporter: they take the results one step further, a snapshot of the results are uploaded anonymously to the cloud allowing artificial intelligence to track geographic covid clusters >> you can look at a town and if you see a large cluster there,

you can predict what's going to happen >> many of them take a snapshot at the same time and you start seeing how it grows. >> reporter: this comes as the cdc says the masks we've been using are ineffective against omicron. >> cloth masks like this and these paper masks are not effective. we need to wear these n-95s. how do you put it on >> hold it in your hand, put it onto your nose take the bottom strap and go all the way -- under the ears. you never want to crisscross take your two fingers and create a seal. >> reporter: remember when the pandemic began two years ago, americans were discouraged from

using those high-quality masks because they were in short supply and doctors and nurses needed them most >> it does feel like from a health standpoint we are constantly moving the goalpost we're not moving the goalpost. it's that this virus is literally outpacing us and outtricking us and outwitting us in terms of how long it's lasting. >> reporter: while it may be difficult to find these right now, masks like this, the n-95s, very easy to find. right here in this warehouse, way back there, those boxes, they have 200 million of these n-95 masks no shortage of those but try to find these right now, it's a real -- it's a real challenge, guys. >> kerry, do us a favor, can you send a big thank you from all of us to all of those people hard at work there in miami we really do appreciate it >> reporter: working around the clock, shift after shift after shift. >> there's something that makes you feel so good seeing that effort right there behind kerry. thank you so much. we got 7:44. mr. roker, a check of the weather. >> let's show you what we've got as far as our temperatures nice warm-up happening in the plains, down into the southeast.

and, in fact, it's spreading all the way into the east. boston today, 41 degrees, 39 in syracuse kansas city is going to be 14 degrees warmer at 53 degrees got another arctic chill coming in by friday watertown, dropping. 19 degrees below average at 12 chicago is going to be 30. and then as we move into saturday morning, look at these windchills, feeling like 10 below in buffalo, 15 below in boston, 11 degrees in indianapolis, and this cold air is going to be hanging in there, unfortunately, right on into saturday sunday, it stays chilly, and then finally we hope to see a little bit of a warm-up as we good morning. we are waking up with fog, especially through parts of the north bay, limited visibility. santa rosa down to a quarter of a mile, we're seeing that fog start to roll in through the south bay, san jose and the morgan hill area. expect to keep this fog around

for the first half of the day. we will get a little bit of clearing by the afternoon. temperatures will be in the 60s and high 50s. and that's your latest weather. >> coming up next, we'll remember the life, legacy of music icon ronnie spector. we'll have that right after this ♪ we'll have that right after we'll have that right after this. my daughter has type 2 diabetes and lately i've seen this change in her. once-weekly trulicity is proven to help lower a1c. it lowers blood sugar from the first dose. and you could lose up to ten pounds. trulicity is for type 2 diabetes. it isn't for people with type 1 diabetes. it's not approved for use in children. don't take trulicity if you're allergic to it, you or your family have medullary thyroid cancer, or have multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2. stop trulicity and call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction, a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, changes in vision, or diabetic retinopathy. serious side effects may include pancreatitis. taking trulicity with sulfonylurea or insulin

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with skyrizi, 3 out of 4 people achieved 90% clearer skin at 4 months after just two doses. skyrizi may increase your risk of infections and lower your ability to fight them. before treatment, your doctor should check you for infections and tuberculosis. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms, such as fevers, sweats, chills, muscle aches, or coughs or if you plan to or recently received a vaccine. ♪ nothing is everything. ♪ woman: talk to your dermatologist about skyrizi. learn how abbvie could help you save. ♪ take me home tonight ♪ you're listening to one of the many hits that involved ronnie spector as carson joins us that 1986 duet of "take me home tonight," that one with eddie money. >> one of the most popular girl groups in that era of the 1960s.

joe fryer has more on spector's life and unforgettable voice ♪ >> reporter: ronnie spector was a groundbreaking music icon. whose voice and songs helped provide the soundtrack of the '60s her biggest hit as the lead singer of the ronettes ♪ >> reporter: the new york city native formed the group with her sister and cousin, breaking the mold of the wholesome female pop groups that came before them they were sexy, sultry and proud of it. >> i loved getting up there and going -- ♪ be my little baby ♪

>> they partied with the beatles and toured with the rolling stones keith richards inducted the group into the rock 'n' roll hall of fame in 2007 >> all i ever wanted to do was sing rock 'n' roll >> reporter: spector went on to have a successful solo career and in the '80s, a new generation of fans fell in love with her voice again with the eddie money hit, "take me home tonight. but that powerful voice didn't stop with music. spector spoke out about surviving abuse at the hands of her ex-husband she later fought in court for years to be fairly paid for royalties. ♪ >> reporter: just days ago, the ronettes returned to the charts with a christmas classic, hitting the billboard top ten for the first time in nearly 60

years. part of a legendary legacy from one of music's greats. ♪ ♪ baby my darling ♪ >> reporter: for "today," joe fryer, nbc news. >> that music puts you in a good mood >> they only had one album but they had five top 40 hits off that album in the '60s, all the girl groups would have the big skirts. and they said they would get in the tightest stuff and they loved it coming up, we've got more commercials from the super bowl coming up. the first look at the star-studded event you're going to see at the playoffs this weekend. >> oh. >> there you go. i'll have that coming up for you, but first a quick check of local news and weather e like the splash they create the way they exaggerate the surprises they initiate. otezla. it's a choice you can make. otezla is not an injection or a cream it's a pill that treats differently. for psoriasis, 75% clearer skin is achievable,

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you may pay as little as $10 for up to a 3-month prescription. ask your healthcare provider about rybelsus® today. good morning. it's 7:56. i'm kris sanchez. >> reporter: i'm in marin county where the guidelines are changing again when it comes to schools and covid. the changes allow an unvaccinated person with a positive covid test in 30 days not to quarantine unless the person is symptomatic and tests positive again. also, a fully vaccinated but unboosted person who was exposed to covid may still attend school if they are asymptomatic and test negative. schools will also stop sending notifications to parents for general virus exposures but continue to do so when it comes to exposures from close contacts. i'm scott mcgrew.

more people are working from home. the san francisco business times says auto desk is the latest to say it's not returning to the workplace any time soon. robin hood the other day said that employees there can stay home pretty much forever. meantime the city is predicting at least 15% of workers will stay home at least through 2023. that's going to hit the tax revenues very, very hard. and we are off to a pretty foggy start in the bay area. i want to get a look at some of the visibility right now, especially through parts of novato down to less than 2 miles, concord and livermore down to about a quarter of a mile. we'll keep the clouds lingering for the first half of the morning and then we'll get some peeks of sunshine. it's going to be a cooler day ahead with temperatures in the low 60s for san jose, 57 in oakland. the bay bridge toll plaza still

working to recover from an earlier sig alert along the westbound lanes of the bay bridge. we have more local news coming up for you in a half an hour.

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it's 8:00 on "today." coming up, scramble for solutions. masks and test kits remaining in low supply and high demand as schools and hospitals face the overwhelming surge. vice president harris weighing in during our exclusive interview. >> why aren't we doing better in the fight against covid? >> we're building back up, we're opening back up and we are not where we are a year ago. >> how will the administration meet the moment? the very latest straight ahead. plus, the beach bounces

back. up-close look off the coast of thailand where the scene made famous by a film is battling the effects of pollution. but hope is on the horizon. >> ready to go, my friend. >> the inspiring work that is reviving marine life and how the covid crisis is actually assisting the efforts. then, singing into 70. ♪♪ >> there's just one day to go before our huge anniversary and we're looking back at "today." get ready to have some fun, today, thursday, january 13, 2022. >> from atlanta, georgia -- >> wishing my dad a very happy birthday. we love you! >> from alabama, celebrating our second anniversary. >> we love the "today" show!

>> we're from arkansas, celebrating maddie's 22nd birthday. good morning and go hogs. >> welcome back, it is so good to see you. it's a thursday morning. so happy you're here with us today. savannah is taking today off. we got tom llamas joining us. happy eve of our 70th birthday. let's get to our news at 8:00. schools and hospitals across the country struggling as waves of new omicron put a strain on staff and resources. president biden is promising more help. we're also hearing this morning from vice president kamala harris. stephanie gosk joins us with the latest. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. the white house has pledged to start shipping out 10 million masks a month to schools. 5 million pcr tests and 5 million antigen tests. the white house says it's going to work on getting better quality masks in the hands of americans. craig had an opportunity to ask

vice president kamala harris about the white house's response in his exclusive interview. >> why aren't we doing better in the fight against covid? >> so let me start with saying that people are rightly frustrated with where we are. we're frustrated. we're all frustrated. but i think it's a mistake and it would be a mistake to suggest we've not seen great progress. if you think back to march of '20, we were all wiping down the boxes that we got if we ordered things online. there was no vaccine. now we have a vaccine which has proved to be effective and boosters. now, we have our children back in school, 95% of schools are back open. but we're building back up. we're opening back up. and we are not where we were a

year ago. >> reporter: you heard the vice president talk about the fact that the vast majority of schools are open, and that is true. but they're struggling to stay open. we spoke to a superintendent in austin who told us that every day is a staffing struggle, from the buses that come to pick up kids, to the substitute teachers that are in classrooms that they need every single day. hoda? >> a lot of big hills to climbs. thank you, steph. in addition to covid being a huge issue right now, of course, inflation hit a 40-year high last month with consumer prices up 7% over last year leading the way, big increases for used vehicles. that's up a shocking 37% gasoline averaging a buck and a quarter more than last year and americans are paying extra for basic groceries like milk, eggs and meat covid, of course, has played a major role with labor shortages and supply chain disruptions keeping supplies tight and driving up the prices. a judge in new york that has refused to throw out a civil lawsuit against prince andrew. we're joined from buckingham palace this morning with the very latest. good morning

>> reporter: good morning to you. no doubt, this is a huge league loss for prince andrew and it means he could find himself answering some very tough questions under oath >> reporter: this morning, the worst-case scenario for prince andrew, the queen's second son facing a civil trial in the fall in the u.s. on allegations of sexual abuse his lawyers asking the court to throw out the case but on wednesday, a federal judge in new york ruled the defendant's right to dismiss is denied in all respects virginia roberts giuffre is suing prince andrew, alleging that she was not only trafficked by his friends, jeffrey epstein and ghislaine maxwell, but she was forced to have sex with the royal three times when she was 17

>> he's going to keep denying that it's ever happened. he knows the truth and i know the truth. >> reporter: prince andrew seen in this photograph has repeatedly denied the allegations. >> i have no recollection of ever meeting this lady none whatsoever. >> reporter: the senior royal's choices now, try to settle, ignore the lawsuit and risk an automatic judgment against him, or fight the case in court >> if you settle, it looks like you're guilty and that's the problem with settling. and that will be a big problem for the royal family if, however, he decides or he has to go to court, that's also going to be a huge problem because he's going to be asked all sorts of questions that he perhaps doesn't want to give an answer too. >> reporter: prince andrew could be answering those questions under oath as early as next month with a trial set for september. and other royals like harry and meghan could be dragged into the case >> meghan markle could be a

possibility. i wouldn't say a probability but she's a possibility. we will be looking to take that position, people who we believe have information concerning his conduct and have information concerning his conduct and what he said about it at various times. >> reporter: prince andrew already sidelined from royal life, now left with no good options. >> reporter: no comment this morning from buckingham palace or from prince andrew's lawyers. we did ask virginia roberts giuffre's lawyer about a potential settlement he said it's always a possibility, but at this point, they're preparing for a trial. tom? >> it seems things are getting very complicated there with the royal family thank you for that seven minutes after 8:00 are you ready for a little morning boost? we got a double dose this morning, actually, i think you're going to like it. first, a toddler in canada found

out that shoveling snow can be exhausting he just plopped down dad was there to lend a hand [ laughter ] >> how about this? a jam session with a bouncy beat ♪ dad on guitar, baby on percussion the baby has the rhythm. right on the beat. >> can we go back to the kid who took the face plant in the snow? i could watch that over and over and over there he is. >> i like how the dad, keep going. >> this clearly happened before. that's not the first time this kid has done that. when we come back, protecting paradise.

keir simmons taking us to the beach that was made famous in that leonardo dicaprio moving and he's taking us at a firsthand look of a positive part of this pandemic. we'll go to keir right after this weekend in the woods. it's a good choice all around, like screening for colon cancer... when caught in early stages it's more treatable. i'm cologuard. i'm noninvasive... and i detect altered dna in your stool to find 92% of colon cancers... even in early stages. early stages. yep. it's for people 45 plus at average risk for colon cancer, not high risk. false positive and negative results may occur. ask your provider if cologuard is right for you. we're in. ask your provider if cologuard is right for you. milk-bone dipped. a treat so tasty, everyone will want to be a dog. coated in delicious peanut butter-flavored yum. dog life's more fun with milk-bone dipped. ♪ ♪

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we're back now, 8:13, with our ongoing series, behind the wall, exploring the increasingly complex relationship between the united states and china. >> this morning, how environmental decisions being made in washington and beijing are having an impact halfway around the world. >> keir simmons got a firsthand look at all of it. keir, good morning >> reporter: good morning to you. china saw some extreme weather last year, but critics say beijing isn't doing enough to confront climate change with the effects spreading across china's borders. we traveled to thailand to see the impact on people and local sea life and we're going to reveal why you may think you recognize this incredible beach. >> reporter: it's a stunning corner of our world. but even this paradise has not

escaped china's growing influence. tropical fish flocked to coral reefs off the coast of thailand, ecosystems that have existed for $200 million but guide is a local diver he shows me where the coral is bleached and lifeless. the cause, rising temperatures and pollution. charlie clears away garbage as we dive. changes are happening frighteningly fast, he says. >> this is a very big difference from five years ago. >> from five years ago >> yes >> reporter: china bears much responsibility it produced 28% of the world's greenhouse gasses in 2019 compared with the u.s. at 11%. beijing has promised to be carbon neutral by 2060 environmentalists say that will be too late. but china's now massive economy is struggling to reduce its reliance on burning coal and a

new chinese middle class have been traveling more too. according to data, in 2019, almost 28% of all thailand's tourists were chinese. many make this trip across the sea off thailand's coast >> we're head today an isolated island made famous by the movie "the beach." trouble is, the beach became a little too well known. the movie led to an explosion of tourism severely damaging the ecosystem. in 2018, they closed the beach and then covid stopped visitors. this month, they reopened with restrictions >> boats aret any further than these buoys which members everyone gets a selfie with a pristine beach behind them.

while we're here, the sharks are still there. >> reporter: the bay home to a family of reef sharks. >> the sharks have returned and marine life has returned we talk about sharks, that's a sign of a regenerating marine life. >> reporter: there's these guys. marine biologists say pollution has caused thailand's turtle numbers to fall by four fifths this conservationist warns global rising temperatures may mean a drop in male turtles as warmer sands and nests lead to more female babies that's going to mean fewer turtles? >> yeah. >> reporter: scientists have been working with the community to rescue as many as possible. each has a microchip, a tag and even a number to dial. >> there's a phone number? >> yes >> if you find this turtle, give us a call.

>> yeah. give us a call most of them move across the sea, to the other side of the ocean. >> reporter: they would go as far as australia >> it's possible. >> reporter: internationally, many scientists are critical of china where co2 emissions kept rising even during the pandemic and of the u.s. which is yet to pass legislation to meet all of its climate goals. >> china and america, you are the leader of this world yo way to stop the climate change too. >> reporter: as these turtles begin their remarkable lives in the ocean -- ready to go my friend freedom. their futures may depend on local people, but decisions made thousands of miles away in washington and beijing >> amazing experience. just this week, guys, china's foreign ministry accused

washington of saying a lot but doing little on climate. while some u.s. critics say china uses climate deals to gain economic advantage isn't it inspiring to just see local people battling to save places like this >> yeah. >> you've been so that beach >> it's a beautiful, beautiful spot, keir it's nice to see the sharks and marine life coming back. >> i wonder if they'll let the boats back in or stay this way. >> leave it the way it is. mr. roker, how about another check of the weather >> we've got another bountiful amount of rain coming into the pacific northwest. we're waiting for this clipper to come out of canada and bring snow in the meantime, we're looking at temperatures warming up in the mid planes on down into the gulf it's chilly with temperatures in the 20s. sunshine and pleasant in the midsection of the country. few snow showers coming across the great lakes. sunshine and a little milder along the eastern seaboard

that's what's goin meteorologist vianey arena. it is foggy out there. down to three miles of visibility, limited visibility really in through all of the bay area down to a quarter of a mile in santa rosa. expect some clearing into the afternoon, we will see partly sunny skies, temperatures will be running a few degrees cooler today. 62 in san jose, 57 in oakland, 60 degrees up in santa rosa and around the city and the bay upper 50s. check out today show radio siriusxm channel 108 best time of the morning pop start! >> award show season the sag award nominations, they were announced on wednesday. and leading the pack for movies this year with three nominations

each, "house of gucci", and "power of the dog. after big wins last weekend for top actor in a music drama, will smith and nicole kidman are nominated again. "succession" continues its nominations this season. tied with them for the top number of nods, one of our favorites around here, "ted lasso", that cast earning five nominations as well. there will be an in-person ceremony rihanna crossed the threshold of 1 billion streams "stay. billboard reporting it will be

rihanna's eighth video in that youtube milestone category of a billion views. if you're wondering, it peaked at number three. it was nominated for a grammy as well back in 2013. next up, saw the picture, megan fox and machine gun kelly. the couple is engaged. on wednesday, megan posting this video from inside the big proposal sharing that machine gun kelly popped the question under a tree that holds sentimental value in their relationship as in every lifetime that will follow it, i said yes. machine gun kelly sharing a look at not one on that king, but two unique diamonds. one is a diamond, the other one is an emerald. their birthstones being held by this thorn, was the idea of them coming together. he designed the whole thing.

congratulations to machine gun kelly and megan fox. next up, neve campbell sitting down on "the kelly clarkson show," she shared when she was 17 years old, she was told to dip her hand in honey in an attempt to encourage a bear to chase her for a scene she was shooting how do you think that went >> they say dip your hand in honey and run. when you get to the tree over there, turn around and stick your hand out and feed the bear. and i wanted to please everyone, i was like okay. i turn around and i put my hand out and the bear is not slowing down and he grabs me by the leg and pulls me through the forest. and my mother is screaming and finally the bear wrangling

starts throwing rocks at the bear to get it off me and it finally turns around and goes after him and i go up a rock >> a lot to unpack here. she looks incredible that story is unbelievable mauled by a bear at 17 on a movie set. >> someone should have lost their job over that. >> she wanted to do it again -- >> it's all good now it's too good. >> finally as we head to the nfl playoffs, everybody's favorite time of the year when brands break out the best commercials this morning we have a sneak peek at frito-lay and pepsi commercials. here you go. >> hey, eli, road trip to the super bowl. >> hard pass playoffs are on. you're paying for that door, by the way. >> how much longer >> are we there yet? >> no. question got to pull over for

more chips and drinks. >> hey, guys, got room for one more we got one seat left and it's special, just for you. >> it's like a convertible, except a whole lot better. ♪ >> i love it >> that's great. >> a little olivia rodrigo there. it's all leading to the big game, everybody. february 13th. guess where it is? right here on nbc. >> and peacock. >> awesome >> thank you, carson just ahead, we're cooking up a hearty pasta dish perfect for the winter season with none other than bobby flay. do you have a question for bobby? ♪ >> is your girlfriend awake?

8:26. i'm kris sanchez. some encouraging news with our climate in crisis. santa clara county residents appear close to hitting those water conservation targets after months of falling short. according to the mercury news, water use fell 20% in november compared to last year and the valley water district in june asked county residents to cut water use by 15% so that's a good thing. heavy rains in the fall may have helped people reach targets as there was less need for irrigation, although we are not going to get that help that week. >> no, we're going to be seeing dry conditions.

that high pressure has really been hanging out tough, but look at the visibility this morning, when it comes to the fog definitely a factor during your morning commute. 4 miles in san francisco, less than a quarter of a mile through parts of the north bay and down through the south bay seeing early morning fog. we will get a little bit of clearing, peeks of sunshine into the afternoon, but our temperatures will be running a few degrees cooler today. take a look at your daytime highs, we will be in the low 60s down through san jose, 62 degrees, palo alto 62, san francisco 59. so partly sunny overall and the dry weather will remain not just for today but for the next several days. now, that bay bridge toll plaza working to catch up from an earlier crash at the bay bridge, but things are catching up. we have more local news coming up for new just a half hour. be careful out there.

♪♪ >> i want y'all to sing along! >> i want y'all to sing along! ♪♪ ♪ go ♪ ♪♪ ♪ go crazy my baby ♪ ♪ i'm not myself ♪

♪ >> we want a redo. redo we need beyonce. >> it is 8:30 on this thursday morning. and that was, of course, the one and only beyonce performing that smash hit "crazy in love" back in 2003. beyonce is one of the many standout concerts during the 25-plus years and counting, of that summer concert series. >> we've had bruce springsteen -- we've had everybody. everybody. >> what was the biggest? >> stevie wonder. >> ricky martin was among the biggest. >> one direction >> but i think, yeah -- >> remember the beatles? [ laughter ] >> al, tell us about it. >> we'll celebrate moments like that on tomorrow's show. that's our big birthday. we turn 70 >> so awesome. just ahead, this is a tough turn right here, you can't control it and you're always at risk of seriously injuring yourself. a young woman shares her story

of living with that rare condition and the medical breakthrough that has changed her life. from dry skin to chapped lips, winter's cold can put your body through the ringer. we're going to give you a few dermatologist-approved tips on how to protect your skin. bobby flay is with us. normally we would just tease he's cooking something good. i'm going to tell you what it is baked rigatoni with spicy broccoli >> coming up on the third ho guest hosting, and the timing is perfect. maybe not for craig. we're going to be talking we're going to be talking relationships relationships with a relationship expert.

>> craig, you might want to call in sick. >> what could go wrong >> if we're talking relationships today, it sounds like it could get awkward. >> you got a check of the weather? >> always. >> let's show you what we're looking at as far as your weekend outlook tomorrow the chill returns to the southeast, snow and wind as the clipper comes out. saturday, western third of the country, bitter cold in the northeast. snowy through the central plains and then on sunday, sunday, we are looking for a mix of heavy snow and ice in the mid-atlantic, the appalachians, sunny and nice out to the west and martin luther king day major storm in the northeast, below average highs down through the south and look at snow in the great lakes. good morning. starting out with foggy conditions, really throughout the entire bay area. take a look at the visibility and mild down to about 3 miles in livermore, 6 miles in san jose, but less than a half a mile up through parts of the north bay.

daytime highs today we're expecting partly sunny conditions, it's also going to be a little cooler, expect temperatures in the upper 50s, low 60s. san jose 62 degrees, oakland 57, san francisco 59, santa rosa 60 degrees, napa 61. >> and that is your latest weather. >> we're still trying to book beyonce. >> we're begging >> it can happen >> come on, beyonce. >> i used to be able to text her 20 years ago when we come back here, a rare fainting disorder impacted every aspect of her life until a medical breakthrough changed everything we're going to hear one woman's story that can now help patients all around the world first, this is "today" on nbc. or can you see my wall of smiles?

when i first started using genesys technology i was kind of embarrased at all the love and attention i got from my customers. people are so moved by how much i understand about them. they start including me in their lives. that's helen and her friends. i arranged a wellness retreat for them. look at those ladies. such wisdom. mmm. but it's really genesys that helps me understand people and what they truly need. i'm just glad i can help. ♪ we are back with your health

this morning, a medical breakthrough for a rare condition that can cause people to faint on a daily basis. >> doctors have figured out the a solution, rewiring communication between the brain and the heart and for one young woman it's given her her life back >> kristen joins us with more on this medical breakthrough. good morning >> good morning, guys. put yourselves in this woman's shoes for a minute all of a sudden, your heart pounds, your ears ring, your vision goes dark and you pass out. there's little warning doctors are beginning to understand how the heart and the brain communicate and this newho >> when you're 16, getting fitted for a high school prom dress is supposed to be unforgettable. >> but it's a day she will never forget for other reasons. >> my mom said she watched my face turn white as a ghost and she kind of tried to catch me as i collapsed. >> the first time she remembers

fainting, but not the last >> i fainted in the bathroom i had my phone with me and i knew that i woke up 15 minutes later. i was just very freaked out. i was knocked out. >> you had hit your head >> yeah, i think a few times i think i might have fallen back and hit the back of my head on the toilet and fall ton the side and hit my face on the floor. >> reporter: she suffered a concussion and postconcussion syndrome her fainting went from occasional to weekly and sometimes daily. >> my heart is racing. i get really, really sweaty. i get dizzy. the ringing in my ears gets loud and the last part before i faint is tunnel vision my vision will darken before it goes out. >> reporter: now 20 and in college, she became a prisoner in her own home. >> i couldn't drive, i couldn't eat certain foods. i couldn't hang out with my friends. flying was a risk. i couldn't go on hikes i couldn't be in larger crowds

just because of the sensory overload, stressful environments i had to avoid them at all costs because there was just such a higher chance that i would collapse >> she turned to a doctor at boston's brigham women's hospital to explore whether it was a problem with her heart or brain. it was both. >> in a very, very routine way, her heart was essentially stopping for whatever reason, her brain was telling her heart incorrectly to just slow down and pause for somewhere up to nine, ten, 20 seconds at a time. >> reporter: one study says 41% of americans suffer from fainting but she had a dangerous miscommunication between the brain and the heart. >> there have been medicines that have been studied in the past with kind of mixed results. but, unfortunately, there's no clear treatment. there's no clear cure, so to th speak, for this kind of thing. >> reporter: abby could have gotten a pacemaker, something

her mother did because she suffering from fainting. but it's something doctors try to avoid in younger patients. >> that's always a challenge, especially for young people like her because then she would live with that device for the next 70, 80 years >> reporter: the doctor suggested a procedure that has only been tried a handful of times. >> we're trying to figure out which nerves are causing her heart to stop and we try to remove them or rewire them to try to prevent that from causing trouble. >> reporter: in the surgery, doctors follow blood vessels to abby's heart and seal the vessels. today abby is back at school, pursuing a degree in nursing, purs thankful she took a chance on a cutting-edge procedure. >> it gave me my future back

it gave me the ability to go back to school who is jumping up and down to wake up at 6:00 a.m. to walk to school every day i am. i'm very excited i'm so thankful. >> reporter: while the surgery was successful, she had a few nerves that were misfiring again. she went in for what doctors call a tune-up last week she's back home, resting and doing well while this surgery is really for severe cases, doctors say it's teaching them so much about the heart and the brain and they are sharing that knowledge around the world in the hopes of helps others, guys >> can you imagine >> never heard of anything like that >> that was amazing. thanks so much >> i'm glad she's doing okay >> indeed. coming up next, a dermatologist is answering your top skin questions for those annoying problems that pop up during the winter months but first, this is "today" on

♪♪ this morning on "today,"

wellness, winter skin care guide. the combination of cold weather and mask wearing can do a number on your skin. but we've got help on the way. we've got some tips and some of the best over the counter products. we have a board certified dermatologist and instructor of dermatology and you can scan that qr code and follow along with us. dr. henry, it's great to see you. masks, masks, masks. everybody is wearing them. we talked about the masks and all the things that can happen. what is a solution for that? >> absolutely. just like you said, the winter months are so brutal on our skin. we're outside, the air is dry. we run inside to warm up, that warm air is leeching out moisture. so skin care is critical. i want to start out with something we don't always think about. we want to talk about how we

take things off of our skin. switching from that jell or foam cleanser we use in the summer months to a cream-based cleanser. i love these two cleansers. they really are going to help to hydrate the skin. they're not going to disrupt your skin barrier. we all recognize this iconic box by dove and this cleanser. it's going to hydrate the skin, fragrance-free. this will take care of your skin when you're cleansing. and we step into our moisturizers. it's packed with proteins. they're made by these sea clams that live in cold water. it helps your skin to combat that weather. if you want something that is cream-based, i love this moisture surge. it gives you 100 hours of hydration, even after you wash

your skin. really smart technology. and then last but not least -- >> go ahead. >> -- a little serum. it's a revitalift. >> some people say you put on moisturizer after the shower? is that the right time to put it on? >> that is the right time. when your skin is moist. you want to lock that moisture in. i love this wet skin. >> yeah. a lot of people -- i was going to say, we live inside, in new york there are these high-heat apartments. we're dry and cracky. and you're thinking, how can i wake up and feel moisturized. >> yes, humidifiers are the answer. you want to keep your humidifier on all night so you can pack your skin with moisture. these are two of them. this one is a mist. it's not going to put particles in the air.

safe, easy. table top. you can use them in any room. >> don't forget your lips. those are important. >> yes. your lips do not have oil glands, we know that because they get really dry. two easy options burt's bees, easy to use. >> let's get rid of the dead skin. exfoliating is important. what products do you have for this? >> i have this fresh sugar scrub. it helps exfoliate gently and the buff, buff. it's great. it's inexpensive. it takes the skin off beautifully. >> tell me about baby foot. it's a home run. >> i can't tell you how many patients are coming in complaining of cracked, painful heels. >> i think we may have lost a little bit of your audio. i'm going to attest that baby foot is a ten. you put your feet in the bags.

a week later, all of the dead skin peels away. it sounds weird, but it's worth it. i want to say thank you so much for being with us. again, you can shop these products. scan the qr code. and a reminder that the "today" show does make a commission from purchases made from the links on our website. coming up next, what's for dinner tonight? bobby flay has a perfect recipe, baked pasta. perfect for a cold winter night. but first this is "today" on nbc.

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we're back with today food one of our very favorite guests, bobby flay >> so excited. he's an award-winning chef the author of 216 best-selling -- >> 216 >> and we can't forget about his hit show "beat bobby flay" >> this morning, bobby is sharing a fantastic pasta dish with us. good to see you, mr. flay.

>> good to see you guys. >> thanks for waking up early. >> what are we cooking, honey? >> we're making a baked pasta. it's fantastic for a sunday night meal it's very, very comforting and it's something that can feed the whole family let's get started. it's going to be rigatoni, hot italian sausage and broccoli rabe we're going to cook rigatoni in salted water lots of salt in your water make sure it's boiling abundance of water we're going to put the rigatoni in there for eight or nine minutes. we're going to get our sauce going. sausage, tomato sauce. i made my own. if you have a good quality tomato sauce that you like, you can use that as well and we're going to add a little bit of vodka one of the most classic dishes,

it's tomato sauce, a little bit of vodka in it and a touch of cream. really delicious. >> what does the vodka do to it? >> what's that >> what does the vodka do to it, bobby? >> it helps emulsify the sauce so it doesn't separate it's a binder, in a sense. also, who doesn't want to cook with vodka the tomato sauce with the hot sausage and we want to make sure it's nice and healthy, i'm going to put broccoli rabe in there as well we're going to take this sauce and pour it right over the cooked pasta this is rigatoni that i had cooked ahead of time we're going to cover the pasta and the sauce and i'm going to add some fontina cheese to it. and it's going to go into a casserole dish

i call it oven to table. you create something in the kitchen, you put it in an oven-proof dish, like this one -- >> bobby, did you cook that pasta al dente >> that's a great point. you want to cook it a little bit undercooked. three quarters of the way. it's going to sit in the sauce and bake in the oven at 350 degrees. we're going to put some grated mozzarella cheese. and we're going -- >> bobby, how do you keep it from sticking on the bottom? >> it's not going to stick there's lot of tomato sauce in there. it's going to be totally fine. if it gets a little crusty on top, that might be a good thing. when you have a lasagna and the edges and the crispiness, that's what you want, you get a little bit of this as well. you want to let this bake in the oven 350 degrees for, i don't know, about 15 to 20 minutes the pasta is already cooked, the

sauce is hot we're heating it up. at the last second, turn your oven up to broil. >> and cook the top. >> this is part of the recipe, by the way and then take out your pasta and you can see, this is what it's going to look like >> bingo >> it looks delicious. >> yum you can take a little bit and just kind of put it in a bowl. look at that, nice and cheesy. >> look at that. after looking at that, bobby, it's amazing that anybody beats you on "beat bobby flay. how it is going over there >> it's great. we've done close to 400 episodes which is insane. but i have to tell you, i'm having more fun than ever. it's so great to be able to welcome, you know, chefs from all over the country to come in and take me down

it's way more fun when i lose because the chefs are so excited, it's great for their community when they win. you have all of these -- they have viewing parties in their local community. it's great "beat bobby flay" has been so much fun more me. >> does your girlfriend like watching it? >> you guys, carson asked me if my girlfriend was awake. the only person awake right now in l.a. is me cooking baked pasta for you. it's 5:40 in the morning >> if you would pull the sausage out of the dish, you would have a dish she could eat. >> you've done the research. christina does not eat meat. >> a picture of her there. last time bobby was on, he was secretive for this relationship. and now he spills his guts to "people" magazine. now she's fair game. she's a lovely, lovely lady. >> we loved your restaurants in new york city. so amazing over the years. anything new on the horizon,

anything we can look forward to? >> in new york city? well, we're still doing the wait and see thing for new york i've always had restaurants in new york my entire adult life. we're going to see what happens. i just opened in las vegas that's going well. and, listen, you know, new york has my heart at some point, we'll be back there. >> thank you, bobby. >> catch an all-new episode of "beat bobby flay" tonight on food network and get bobby's recipes on today.com/food still ahead, we're going to help you declutter good morning to you, it's 8:56. i'm kris sanchez. nurses across california are holding a day of action demanding safer working conditions. this follows the recent decision at the state level to allow positive but asymptomatic workers to continue going to

work. unions believe putting nurses and other health care workers on the job while infected is dangerous. state leaders argue it's only meant for worst case scenarios in places where staffing levels are too low. days of action are planned for cities including san francisco, oakland, santa rosa, also san jose. happening now our sierra johnson is looking at health care workers at ucsf. she will have a live report in our midday news. you can get more of the back story on our homepage. those concerns about the risk of covid extension also extending to bay area schools as well. oakland teachers are organizing another sickout, they say the district is falling short in protecting staffers. our sharon katsuda will have more in the midday news. the state of california is free from the most severe drought stage except the exceptional level. find that in our twitter feed.

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rn about covid-19 e n help with free covid-19 emotional support. call 833-317-4673 or live chat at calhope.org today.

linghelp with free covid-19 emotional support. anxious about the future, you're not alone. calhope offers free covid-19 emotional support. call 833-317-4673 or live chat at calhope.org today. ♪♪ this morning on the "3rd hour of today," more of craig's exclusive one on one with vice president kamala harris on the covid surge, testing and when we can expect more tests to be available. >> should we have done that sooner? >> we are doing it. >> should we have done it sooner? >> we're doing it. >> and wait until you hear what the vice president says about the 2024 race. later, in our series, clean sweep, a digital decluttering. what to do with all those photos on our phones, or the apps we could use sometimes. plus, hot spots, vacation