situation. back to you. we will keep you updated. >> we will be back at 7:25 with an update on that kaiser >> update on that kaiser we're on the front lines where hundreds of firefighters are working around the clock to protect a piecof history. the heat is on. soaring temperatures moving east with nearly 30 million people waking up to dangerous conditions. even more on alert for severe storms. al's tracking it all. focus on extremists. at the latest hearing today, the

january 6th committee shining a light on who was in the crowd that day and whether president trump's words set them into action. we're live with the latest from capitol hill. summer surge. a new strain of covid being called the most contagious one yet. driving a spike in cases across nearly half the country. closing summer camps and catching a lot of people by surprise. >> it was a wake-up call. it's still around and it's still disruptive. >> what's being done to slow the spread and could some areas be told to mask up all over again? all that, plus setting sail. with vacation prices at an all-time high, the one place american families can still get a great deal. >> i've never seen cruise prices like this. >> speaking of deals, it is prime time. we're going to bring you the deepest discounts and best sales from amazon prime day.

and out of this world. the groundbreaking picture of our universe taken by the most powerful telescope ever made. it's causing quite a buzz here on earth. >> we're seeing just a small little portion of the universe. >> and giving scientists and space geeks the best look ever at galaxies far, far away. "today," tuesday, july 12, 2022. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today," with savannah guthrie and hoda kotb, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. good morning. >> good to see you. welcome to today. it is a tuesday morning, 7:00 a.m. on the west coast. those images are dazzling of outer space. >> hard not to geek out and give us interesting perspective about our place in the universe. we are going to start with good news in the battle to save

hundreds of those iconic sequoias in california, at yosemite national park. the raging wildfire is now 25% contained. that's way up, because remember yesterday at this time it was zero percent contained. >> yes, firefighters are working hard. here is one image taken from above the fire showing the size and the scope, and on the ground below sprinklers, yes, sprinklers, working to preserve some of those trees. the big question this morning, is weather going to cooperate. >> we've got it all covered, including al's forecast showing severe weather threats across part of the united states. we do begin with nbc's national correspondent miguel almaguer. he is right there on the front line in yosemite. he's been at his post. good morning to you. >> reporter: guys, good morning. the southern entrance to yosemite national park remains closed and park rangers are asking that we stay in this area, because just down the road from here they say there's active fire and trees that are falling in the road. the good news, all of those giant sequoias for the most part

remain intact. there's very few damage to many of them. as you mentioned, this blaze is now nearly a quarter contained as officials do all they can to protect these majestic beauties across the area. this morning a race to save one of earth's national treasures. extreme heat and low humidity fueling the fire in yosemite national park, home to hundreds of iconic towering sequoia trees. >> when you see fire conditions like this, what's the biggest threat? >> we're just trying to keep the fire from climbing the trees. >> more than 500 firefighters trying to protect these giants, clearing bone dry vegetation and running sprinklers to keep flames at bay. the fire fight here is literally going treetop to treetop. this crew is trying to put out hot spots before it jumps to the other side. >> the fire's edge is active. >> reporter: the fire's outer rim forcing the closure of yosemite's popular south

entrance and the evacuation of some 1,600 people from nearby homes and hotels. the famed mariposa grove is a top tourist spot for sequoias, some of the tallest and oldest trees on the planet. the iconic grizzly giant first became sprouting 1,000 years b.c. sequoias here can easily stand up to 200 feet tall, higher than italy's leaning tower of pisa. these trees long celebrated as natural wonders. during the civil war, president abraham lincoln first signed landmark legislation to protect them. presidents taft and roosevelt posing in front of their massive trunks. although sequoias have adapted to survive flames, they're no match for modern wildfires, driven by climate change and extreme drought. 20% of giant sequoias have been lost in the last two years alone.

>> we've lost more giant sequoia trees in the past, i think it's 15 years, than in history. >> reporter: now firefighters doing all they can to save centuries of trees from this growing inferno. >> it's nice to see that firefighters are making progress, but they do still have concerns. what's their biggest concern this morning? >> reporter: that's right, the good news is they've been doing prescribed burns in this area for many years, so for the most part they've been prepping the area for wildfires just like this. the bad news, bark beetle infestations have killed millions of trees in northern and southern california, so that's been fuel on the ground. firefighters are making progress, it's about 25% contained. today will be another difficult day. >> miguel almaguer for us. thank you. weather is going to be the biggest x factor. al, we turn to you. what are you looking at? >> this is the smoke forecast

from the washburn fire. this extends 200 miles and it's bone dry, 15% to 25%. the winds not bad, 5 to 15 miles per hour, but hot, dry conditions through this week. so heavy smoke and poor air quality in the region. the heat, 36 million of us, stretching from the northwest all the way into texas and parts of the lower mississippi river valley. for heat advisories and heat warnings, today double digit air temperatures, dallas, memphis, we're looking at houston. but the heat index is triple digits, all the way to raleigh durham. here in new york city, going to feel like 94 degrees. that will last one more day. out west, again, triple digits for vegas, salt lake city, down to del rio, texas, and dallas again. the warmth will continue into the weekend for chicago, cincinnati, boston, down into charlotte. plus we have a risk of severe weather all the way down to

charleston, 33 million people at risks for wind gusts, isolated hail and we could see a tornado or two, guys. >> busy day. we'll check back in a few, al. thank you. now to the january 6th janh committee, reconvening for one of its final times today it will focus the shift on the violence at the capitol and one big question hangs over today's proceedings. nbc's chief white house correspondent, kristen welker, is here with what we can expect. >> good morning. it could be another splexplosiv day of testimony they say today's testimony will show direct links between trump allies and the extremist groups who stormed the capitol, and looming over all of it, the latest twists and turns about whether former trump adviser steve bannon will testify before the committee. in just hours the committee will put the spotlight on members of extremist groups who stormed the capitol, aiming to show their ties to trump world and link the former president's words and

their actions. a source familiar with the process telling nbc news this gentleman seen on the day of the attack is expected to testify. last month ayres pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and admitted he reposted president trump's 16th tweet, encouraging people to go to the capitol and saying it will be wild another major focus, taped testimony from former white house counsel pat cipollone, who answered questions for more than eight hours last week. committee member jamie raskin telling nbc's ali vitali -- >> white house counsel pat cipollone has corroborated almost everything we had learned from the prior hearings, and he had clearly tried to talk president trump down from his efforts to override the election. >> reporter: cipollone speaking to the committee after bombshell testimony by former white house

aide cassidy hutchinson. >> mr. cipollone said something to the effect of, please make sure we don't go up to the capitol, cassidy keep in touch with me. we're going to get charged with every crime imaginable if we make that movement happen. >> reporter: meanwhile, in a stunning reversal, former trump adviser steve bannon now saying he is willing to testify publicly before the january 6th committee, after spending months refusing to cooperate. on monday, a judge ruled bannon's new willingness to testify will not delay his trial next week for contempt of congress, charges brought because bannon stonewalled the committee's repeated requests. federal prosecutors calling it a last-ditch attempt to avoid accountability the committee's main focus, bannon's role in the run-up to the 6th and these fiery comments the day before the attack. >> all hell is going to break loose tomorrow >> reporter: now, a lawyer for bannon said he is now willing to testify because former president

trump initially invoked executive privilege, but has now waived it. though mr. trump's former lawyer insisted mr. trump never invoked the privilege for bannon and the committee argues the bottom line, the privilege does not apply. >> speaking of bottom lines, do you think that bannon would actually testify before this committee? >> i think it is really unlikely i've been talking to sources inside the committee and who are close to steve bannon, and it just doesn't seem very likely. look, he's been mocking this committee for months, so he's a real wildcard. add to that, you have a lot of skepticism that he's just making this offer so that he's treated better at his trial next week. but, look, those who are close to bannon say this is a serious offer, at the same time i just wouldn't hold my breath that this is going to happen. >> might be too much of a loose cannon for the committee to have him come in and testify live a separate story in washington, but always looming, politics and the president's poll numbers really dismal. >> these numbers, savannah, are setting off alarm bells for democrats.

this is new polling from "the new york times", and it shows 64% of democratic voters prefer a different candidate in 2024. and perhaps the most concerning thing for democrats, age is the biggest issue. at 79, president biden is actually older than former president ronald reagan was in his second term and they say this is an in tractable problem, but they point to a couple of other things they say, take a look at history. former president bill clinton had similar poll numbers back in 1992. >> where democrats wanted a different candidate. >> two-thirds said they wanted a different candidate. and they also point to the other figure, the fact that president biden beats former president trump in a hypothetical matchup by three points and new polling also shows that nearly half of republican primary voters want appear different person than former president trump.

>> that matchup is quite elderly as well. >> there you go. i know, a lot of voters saying they want to see something new. >> kristen, thank you. be sure to tune into nbc and nbc news now, live coverage of the january 6th committee hearing. we move to tokyo, crowds lining the streets in tribute to former prime minister shinzo abe, whose funeral took place overnight. today senior international correspondent keir simmons is live with an emotional farewell. good morning >> reporter: good morning to you. deeply moving scenes in tokyo as huge crowds line the streets to say a last good-bye to their fallen prime minister. shinzo abe's funeral was a private affair, but today the people of japan turned out in tens of thousands, many still stunned by his assassination last week. the 67-year-old was driven by hearst past many of the landmarks from his extraordinary political career, including parliament where he first entered as a lawmaker in 1993.

he would go on to be japan's longest serving post-war prime minister, res lute in his closeness to each american president. he was at times korntcontrovers, but influential. people bowed their heads, some crying and others saying thank you, as it weaved its way to the funeral and crematorium. president biden has called his killing a tragedy for the people of japan >> it's just so shocking, and as for the investigation, keir, any developments there >> reporter: it really is shocking, savannah this is a mystery. his 41-year-old alleged killer made his own gun as you know, firearms are very rare in japan. he's reported to have held a grudge against shinzo abe because of abe's grandfather's involvement in a church movement the alleged shooter's mother was

a church member an it's incredibly difficult to understand. >> a lot to unravel. thank you very much. let's move to the battle against covid. it is ramping up once again. this morning doctors are warning of a new omicron strain and they're saying it is the most contagious one yet it is driving a summer surge that's disrupting a lot of plans. >> reporter: the latest variant is improving to be a bit of an escape artist, with the ability to sidestep antibodies from vax nations and previous infections. the u.s. continues to beef up defenses against the virus, announcing plans to buy more than 3 million doses of what will be a fourth coronavirus vaccine if approved. this morning, frustrations are mounting nationwide, with a summer surprise, as covid cases, hospitalizations and deaths all ticked up again, warding summer plans for the third year in a

row. >> we might be done with the virus, the virus is not done with us. >> reporter: a covid surge struck the summer before, with delta last year. as temperatures rise and americans are armed with effective vaccines and better treatments, many expected the turn of the seasons to usher in more normalcy. summer travel soaring to pre-pandemic levels. >> it's summer and everybody wants to get out. >> reporter: but infections are climbing in nearly half of the u.s. with the summer surge, the biden administration is considering expanding eligibility for the second covid booster to adults under 50 that's according to the new york times, say people familiar with the situation. rising cases temporarily shuttering summer camps. >> i was really upset when i learned, because i wait for it every year. >> reporter: chris pilgrim's son heard his summer vacation was axed on the way there. >> it's still around and it's still disruptive. >> reporter: experts say the most contagious variant yet is

behind the surge, more than 100,000 daily infections. >> what's driving this uptick this numbers >> it's a trifecta in events number one, it's more contagious, it can escape the immunity we've built up, and mandates are being dropped around the country. >> reporter: but the actual size of the sixth wave is unclear some experts estimate the spread may be three times greater than official reports suggest because most people test themselves at home the latest surge prompting back new york city to bring back a mant advisory. los angeles county is considering mandating one, being met with mixed reaction. >> i always thought they took the masks off too soon. >> reporter: this doesn't appear to cause more severe illness and the u.s. is averaging a fraction of daily deaths compared to last winter as the fight against covid still persists.

>> i know scientists are working on another booster, but the thing about this virus is it keeps mutating will this booster even be effective? >> i think this is the question on everyone's minds right now. there is still a gamble because scientists are having to deal with a moving target overall health experts are optimistic about where this updated and directed booster is going. we know that the fda recently directed pfizer and moderna to update their boosters to target the latest and most contagious strains of omicron and many people believe that the future mu mutations will be related to the omicron family. >> we're better off, we do have therapeutics, monoclonal antibodies >> thanks, emily. >> one more thing to get to, one of manhattan's most popular attractions and we're not talking about the statue of liberty, it's called manhattanhenge twice a year the setting sun

sets up perfectly with the manhattan street grid and it creates stunning images. residents and tourists pour onto the streets to catch that glimpse. lots of photos check your instagram it happens two days in may and again for two days in july last night was the first of the july dates and it could be cloudy tonight, so maybe that's it manhattanhenge. >> how cool is that? >> that's what we get into in new york city, just a little sliver of sunset >> that's all you need, just a little bit tonight is going to be a little on the cloudy side whatever you got to see last night, hope you enjoyed it we've got gully-washers in the southwest, moisture along the west coast where they could use the rain, not going to be getting that showers around the upper great lakes. stormy in the late afternoon down through the gulf and severe storms moving into the midwest as we get into the afternoon and evening hours. we're going to get to your local forecast in the next 30 seconds.

she's using zelle to pay him back for the hot dogs he's about to buy. and the announcer? he's not checkin' his stats, he's finding some investing ideas with merrill. and third as you know in baseball means three. digital tools so impressive, you just can't stop banking. what would you like the power to do? good morning. we take a live look outside in san francisco and we see low clouds over the city. misty and drizzling within the next hour and temperatures reaching into the upper 60s. heyward will see a high of 77 degrees and low 80s in fremont. reaching 87 degrees in morgan hill. as we go for the next several

and that's your latestral weather. guys >> mr. roker, thank you. coming up, parents fed up after the latest shooting scare, sending kids and coaches running during a little league baseball game. the growing outrage and calls for action. later, we're going to switch gears. sam brock will tell us why now could be the best time to set sail >> reporter: yes, hoda, you know what, the cruise industry right now is just getting its sea legs back this going on as we're seeing such expensive prices for airfare and for hotels we'll show you what $60 or $70 will get you, maybe even $50 a night and how companies are pulling this off without going broke. >> he said sea legs. i think that's a hint that he is wearing shorts today >> oh. >> yesterday it was pants. >> we'll investigate the situation. don't show us yet. first, this is "today" on first, this is "today" on nbc. we gotta see this selection for ourselves. tile, wood, stone, laminate and vinyl. this hardwood is beautiful.

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we're back it's tuesday morning olympic icon, simone biles, one of the most recognizable american athletes. or so we thought wait until you hear what happened on a flight she was taking a flight home the presidential medal of freedom. it's worth waiting for it's a hidden "popstart. i think you'll get a chuckle out of it. >> hoda previewed it. >> it's definitely worth the

wait. >> it is >> good morning, tom. >> good morning. nice to have you along. let's get to our headlines, 7:30, tuesday morning. the biden administration is telling hospitals this week, they must provide abortion services if the life of the mother is at risk. the department of health and human services says federal law on emergency treatment outweighs state laws, even in places that ban abortions now. hhs says it is up to physicians to determine what qualifies as a life-threatening emergency. to southern california now at least two people were killed, several others hurt, during a crime wave at several 7-eleven stores in the region the string of robberies started early yesterday morning and by the end of the night, the count was up to six stores police are still searching for a suspect who they believe is responsible for at least three of those shootings. spacex suffered an apparent setback yesterday after a

booster rocket for its starship spacecraft burst into flames during testing yeah, that explosion engulfed the base of the rocket in a ball of flames and heavy smoke. luckily, no one was injured but it could complicate elon musk's goal of launching starship to orbit this year. >> maybe not his week. let's go to the new outrage coming from parents after a frightening scene at a little league game that happened in north carolina gunfire, gunfire sent kids, coaches and fans scrambling for cover. the whole terrifying ordeal caught on video. morgan chesky spoke with some of the folks that were there. good morning >> reporter: good morning. this was supposed to be a fun baseball game for 7 and 8-year-olds that turned into an absolute nightmare when someone opened fire, forcing players and coaches to take cover right on their own baseball field today that gunman still on the loose. but now this latest shooting only fueling calls for change in justice nationwide this morning growing outrage for

parents across the country over gun violence from uvalde, texas, where controversy is growing over video of key moments during the school shooting, to the white house where a parent confronted president biden. parents confronting the violence that now seems to be a part of american life. even during america's pastime. this weekend, gunfire at a little league baseball game in wilson, north carolina >> get out everybody run! >> reporter: players and coaches caught on camera, hitting the dirt coaches seen shielding the kids with their own bodies. police confirmed three shots were fired, but no arrests so far. >> i still at this point don't know how to explain that to my children why somebody would act this way, why people would act this way, why there would be these continuous acts. >> reporter: these frightening moments reminiscent of a similar scene back in april in south carolina, where dozens of gunshots sent players and

parents scrambling gl in this latest incident the community still searching for an explanation, thankfully no children were injured in uvalde, texas, parents are demanding a response after the videotape from inside the school during a devastating attack that left 19 children and 2 teachers dead nbc news has not viewed the video, but according to the austin american statesman, the video shows the shooter walking uninterrupted through the hallway and holding police back with gunfire footage shows officers en masse in the hallway armed with shields and high-powered weapons but not entering the classrooms until they finally take the gunman down at the end of the 77-minute sequence parents, the uvalde mayor and some local representatives pushing for the video's release while the district attorney has resisted it's part of the parents' long

push for accountability. congress did pass a gun control law with some restrictions on new purchases. yesterday to mark the bill, parental anger again boiling over >> sit down, you'll hear what i have to say. >> reporter: the father of a parkland shooting victim, interrupting the president to call for more action later saying the larger issues of gun violence in america cannot be ignored. this morning regarding that video in uvalde, we have reached out to the uvalde police department, but so far have not heard back >> can we go back to the little league shooting. have police said anything about the motive there, whether it was targeted >> reporter: this is interesting. they say this incident is still under investigation but it doesn't appear to be a targeted attack when i spoke to the coaches and the parents who were at that game, they described the scene as bullets whizzing by the players' heads they said it was far too close to imagine this was anything but

a targeted attack. not only that, savannah, several of the coaches on the team have concealed carry licenses and they said going forward, if legal, they plan on using them and carrying weapons when they coach baseball games >> boy, all right. 7 and 8-year-olds. morgan, thank you very much. coming up next, we're going to take a turn and we're talking about an affordable family vacation you heard me right affordable how cruise companies are going all out with these unreal deals. they're trying to lure people back. later, a mind-bending look at the vastness of space like nothing we have seen before. why this photo has nasa and hoda kotb geeking out this morning, after these messages ork! cascade platinum uses dawn as a built-in pre-rinse system. it rehydrates dried on food... ...lifts it off... ...and breaks it down. for sparkling clean dishes the first time. ok, who wants to start?

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getting away can cost a lot. >> it you're seeking a deal, you may want to look to the sea. nbc's sam brock is live to explain. good morning, or should i say ahoy >> reporter: i knew you would throw some sort of line like that out there good morning, hoda, savannah good morning right on the fly the reality is if you've been out in recent months, you know how scary it is at the moment. airfares are up, hotels are up, everything is on the rise, seemingly, except for one major arm of the travel industry, cruise lines, which are slashing prices by the boatload, making a play for your family vacation dollars and in some cases less than a budget hotel night. the summer travel surge is hitting americans where it hurts most, their wallets. the average round trip plane ticket today, $330 that soars up to $810 for international flights. hotel rooms are running an average of $153 a night, and if you're contemplating a summer

road trip, be prepared to pay $4.66 a gallon but there's good news on the horizon for families looking for affordable vacations you'll just have to hit the high seas to get it cruises are now offering some of the cheapest getaways. >> in the past, one cruise for $30 a day or one for $40 a day right now there's, you know, hundreds of them that are under $50, $60. >> reporter: in fact, there are nearly 2,000 cruises right now that cost under $100 a day through the end of the year. and 50 plus sailings under 50 bucks a day. taxes and fees included. >> i've never seen cruise prices like this. it is an epoch-defining change. >> reporter: some sample itineraries. a five-day carnival cruise from tampa to the caribbean for $56 a day. a five-day royal caribbean for 60 bucks a day a week-long celebrity cruise

from ft. lauderdale to key west, belize, mexico, bahamas, for $80 a day. given the gas prices in the state -- >> it's cheaper to go to a cruise so i did it. >> reporter: his four-day carnival cruise cost $139 plus taxes and fees he said he saved a minimum of 350 bucks. >> if i had used other services on the ship, it would have been higher, but i didn't go to the specialty restaurants. i don't drink anymore. >> reporter: but will these deep discounts be enough to lure regular cruisers back to the open seas? travel expert mark elwood says the industry is still combatting a big covid image problem dating back to the early days of the pandemic >> there were lots of problems about the way they operated the ships. they have changed those. the air circulation on board has been improved, the protocols have been improved

>> reporter: helping ease concerns, many companies require covid vaccines for adults and most kids, and the experience is centered on being outside, likely on a pool deck. >> the cruise business was dead, essentially. now every month is a new high point. >> sam, we love that story i think a lot of people are googling cruise discounts right now. what's the secret to scoring a great deal >> reporter: maybe the most important tip that i can pass along, tom, is to work with a travel agent some people maybe historically don't do that. they don't generally charge a commission, but it is worth your while in that respect because they have special deals only they have access to for group rates. look out for taxes and fees. a lot of times those are not advertised on the rates on the websites and then track prices after booking because especially in this environment right now, a cruise company is more than likely to give you the better rate if you find one after you've booked and then moving forward. you'll save bucks that way as well back to you.

>> sam, great tips for us. we appreciate that i see cruising in the future for some reason. i don't know. >> i do, too >> something big. >> i think we should all go on a cruise. >> live from the lido deck. >> i'm imagining al and craig, titanic-style, from the edge of the -- >> that didn't end well. >> no, remember that beautiful shot >> not so much for jack. >> well, just the good part. the romance, the lovely part my heart will go on. >> yeah. >> no? sorry. >> what do we have >> we're going down with the ship. >> we have a lot to talk about. >> even in you're not planning a vacation, we are going to save you money. we're going to round up the top summer grills, the gas grill under 200 bucks, and even a cool gadget that will turn your grill into a pizza oven, plus the pro secret weapon, a cooking thermometer. >> tomorrow, craig grills one of

the most sought-after filmmakers in hollywood he sat down with oscar winner jordan peele to talk about his film "nope photo photo it's been shrouded in secrecy. that's all coming up tomorrow on "today." >> let's check with al, a check of the forecast. >> noaa released its $20 million disaster so far this year, nine events, a couple of tornadoes, a derecho, severe weather through the plains, a western drought. so far this year, the disaster count is the fifth highest on record to this date and the last two years, $20 plus billion events, that's the most on record we are watching an area through the gulf with a 30% chance of developing from galveston into the panhandle of florida whether it becomes a system or not, it is going to dump a ton of rain through the fwgulf,

locally anywhere from 3 to 5 inches good tuesday morning. today our inland temperatures will reach into the upper 80s with warmth in some spots and a little bit cooler as we head into tomorrow. the rest the week we will see temperatures coming into the upper 80s and we are stuck in this weather pattern. san francisco has the clouds. then we will and that's your latest weather. guys >> all right, al, thank you. coming up in today's "can't miss," a photo billions of years in the making. tom costello on the picture that has nasa buzzing hi, tom. >> reporter: 4.6 billion lightyears ago and captain kirk must be out there somewhere.

we're looking at what our universe looked like 4.6 billion lightyears ago where no one has gone before. when we come back. d he and putting the brakes on fried foods. jardiance is a once-daily pill that...not only lowers a1c, it goes beyond to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death for adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease. and jardiance may help you lose some weight. jardiance may cause serious side effects including ketoacidosis that may be fatal, dehydration that can lead to sudden worsening of kidney function and genital yeast or urinary tract infections. a rare, life-threatening bacterial infection in the skin of the perineum could occur. stop taking jardiance and call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of this infection, ketoacidosis or an allergic reaction, and don't take it if you're on dialysis. taking jardiance with a sulfonylurea or insulin may cause low blood sugar. a once-daily pill that goes beyond lowering a1c? we're on it. we're on it with jardiance.

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ask your asthma specialist about a nunormal with nucala. we're back with today's "can't miss" and we are getting first time on just how big our universe is. nasa is unveiling the first full color image from the james webb space telescope. it's the most powerful, the largest telescope, the most expensive telescope ever launched into space. >> they call is the gucci telescope. tom kos tell costello joins us with this exciting event this is years in the making. by years in the making, we million billions of years. >> reporter: space geeks, you have a reason to geek out today. this is the deepest infrared resolutions of our universe ever last night nasa and the white house unveiling the first cosmic

image. it shows a kaleidoscope of galaxies as they appeared 4.6 billion light-years ago. we're looking at images now, the astronomer says if you look at the spiked objects, those are local stars. everything else out there is a galaxy, thousands of them. many actually distort into arcs. nasa this morning releasing even more images on a live video stream one by one. they are showing a full color spectrum of an exo planet, the life cycle or stars, how galaxies interact. they use infrared eyes to pull these faint and distant objects like stars and galaxies into sharp focus. the question is, will it discover signs of life out there? we'll take a look and look for all of it over the coming hours. back to you. >> tom's so happy. that's really cool, tom. >> i'm just going to do it

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did you do mrs. meyer's assignment yet? oh... get any size soft drink for just a buck, right now at mcdonald's. good morning. in case you missed it during our last news update the situation that drew police to kaiser hospital is now over. please only tell us it was resolved peacefully. here's what else is happening now. >> i'm in san francisco. there are calls for murdered urgent response to the pox outbreak. this supervisor and other community leaders are calling on the centers for disease control and prevention and california department of health to lead a aggressive vaccination campaign.

there will be a townhall later this evening hosted by the helm aids foundation. >> it's time to get a look at the forecast for you. we're tracking what we can expect today. >> it will be nice and cool for some parts of the bay area and the coastline. inland valleys toward the upper 80s. we come down a few degrees and you will notice there's not much of a change as we go through the weekend into the weekend. slightly warmer for saturday and sunday. san francisco will see highs in the 60s and clouds and fog and drizzle daily. the king tides will be back the king tides will be back tonight starting at 9:00.

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♪ ♪ ♪ it's 8:00 on today coming up, out of the woods. some we're live from the front lines. then fix it or nix it. with inflation driving up car prices, what do you need to keep your ride on the road and out of the shop.

>> be proactive and take care of the maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. >> and tips in case you need to buy a new one. and prime time. it is finally here. we've scoped out the sales across amazon to bring you the top items from today's big event from airpods to air fryers. what you need to know before you fill up your cart, "today" tuesday, july 12, 2022. ♪♪ >> from napa, california. >> it's my 13th birthday. >> surprised my wife with a trip to new york. >> marking it off my bucket list. from nebraska. >> from jacksonville, florida, got married two years ago today. >> three generations. >> from rochester, minnesota. ♪♪ >> from connecticut. >> college sweethearts. >> celebrating our 40th anniversary. >> girls trip from missouri. >> wishing our sister. >> a happy 21st birthday.

>> we love you, lauren! >> the "today" show's biggest fan. watching in fort worth, texas. we got you on the "today" show! >> ah we're so happy to see you guys. it's tuesday. i always love a summer tuesday outside. >> we've had some great crowds out there. you could be a part of it, too, if you find yourself in the area. if you missed the first hour, you can set your dvr, 7:00 a.m. every morning and you can catch up any time on your schedule with your cup of coffee. >> i like that. let's get right to our news at 8:00. fire crews worked through the night to keep a wildfire in yosemite national park from destroying a grove of treasured giant sequoia trees. nbc's miguel almaguer is in yosemite to tell us how that battle is going. some good news this morning, miguel. >> reporter: the entrance, southern entrance to yosemite

national park, it's closed today. >> we can see thick smoke, an indication the fire is on the move. none of the sequoias have been destroyed. there's been light damage to a few, but fire officials tell us for the most part they're in fairly good shape. the blaze is about 22% contained. that containment number is expected to rise over the next 24 hours. officials are going to be dealing with hot weather today, so that could be a bit of a setback. in terms of the good news on the weather front, we don't expect windy conditions that will fan the flames. firefighters will have that advantage. again, fire officials are doing all they can to protect the 600 sequoias in the valley floor. again, they have not lost a single one. so far, good news at the valley floor. today will be another big test for those on the front lines. hoda, back to you. >> miguel almaguer for us there in yosemite, thank you. the house january 6th hearings resume today, a focus on extremist groups today and how they may have been influenced by former president trump and his allies.

nbc's chief white house correspondent here, kristen welker, with more on this. what do you expect? >> good to see all of you. it could be another pivotal day in washington. the january 6th committee says today's hearing will connect the dots between trump allies and extremist groups to stormed the capitol. a source familiar with the process saying ste process saying steven ayres is expected to testify. last month he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and admitted he tweeted president trump's tweet. and also taped testimony from former white house counsel pat cipollone who answered questions for more than eight hours last week >> white house counsel pat cipollone has corroborated almost everything that we have learned from the prior hearings, and he had clearly tried to talk president trump down from his

efforts to override the election >> looming over all of it, former trump adviser steve bannon, after spending months refusing to cooperate, bannon says he now wants to testify publicly a monday a judge ruled the move won't delay bannon's trial next week for contempt of congress because bannon stonewalled the committee's repeated requests. a lot of drama on that front >> we'll be watching live coverage later today thank you. sticking with politics, first lady dr. jill biden is taking some heat over remarks she made yesterday at a hispanic unity conference in texas, while talking about his spank diversity, she mispronounced the word known as bodegas, but that wasn't all -- >> as distinct as the bodegas of the bronx, as beautiful as the blossoms of miami and as unique as the breakfast tacos here in san antonio. >> the national association of

hispanic journalists responded to the quote, using breakfast tacos to demonstrate the uniqueness of latinos in san antonio demonstrates a lack of cultural knowledge and sensitivity. nearly two dozen people were rescued yesterday evening. their chartered boat apparently struck a bridge off the new jersey shore the boat started taking on water, and local good samaritans stepped up they pulled up their boats and got everybody on board safely to a nearby dock. the boat was badly damaged salvage crews were quickly on board pumping up water and trying to patch the leak. i've got a boost timmy stout had not been home to bakerfield, california, in more than six months. he told his brother tommy that he could not make it to the wedding so he recorded a message for the newlyweds and guests to watch, and then this happened. >> sorry for the short speech,

but if you'll excuse me, i have a wedding to attend. [ cheers and applause >> those two hadn't seen each other since tommy's bachelor's party before timmy shipped out the brother only a couple years apart. they've always been very close how about that >> i love that that's so great. >> coming up in "pop start," you ought to know that allan is morrissette can take a joke. >> and, next, vicky nguyen gets a hands-on look on what you can do to make your old car feel new again. >> it is a tough market for car buyers, but there are simple things you can do to keep your car on the road longer i'm vicky nguyen i'll have money saving tips for all drivers next on "today." ♪♪ you don't have to keep tabs on rotating categories... this is the only rotating i care about.

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smoothly i talked with a mechanic who gave us a roadmap for some basic maintenance, plus some ways to save gas, too. >> reporter: for months, frustrated car buyers saw empty dealer lots and record high prices new cars averaging nearly $46,000 each in april, up almost 13% from a year ago. and used cars, average cost, $30,000. that's a 22% increase in one year it's prompting some to keep their cars a lot longer. recent data shows last year the average age of vehicles on u.s. roads hit a record high of 12.2 years old. while keeping your car longer could save you money, you definitely want to avoid costly maintenance bills. fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to keep those wheels turning. with me is audra, a mechanic, and owner of great bear auto repair here in queens, new york. what's your number one piece of advice to keeping your car running longer >> my number one piece of advice

is to be proactive and take care of the maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. that will keep you safe on the road and prolong the life of your car >> reporter: she says you can add years to your car's life and improve fuel efficiency right at the gas pump by using the correct fuel for your car. >> if you don't pay now, you're going to pay later putting in the right fuel makes all the difference on how optimal your car is going to run. 100%. >> reporter: how do you know what's the right octane for your car? >> when you open up your fuel door, you'll see a sticker there. it will let you know what kind of octane you use. if the sticker was removed, check online, look in your owner's manual and that will give you information. >> reporter: she recommends checking your tire pressure once a month. >> we know tire pressure is important. why is that? >> tires are just like the shoes on your feet they maintain the grip to the ground there are safety concerns here by having the right pressure in your tires will also save you fuel economy.

>> reporter: it says 44 psi on the tire, but that's not actually the amount of pressure we want in the tire. >> that is the amount of maximum pressure the tire can handle >> reporter: how do you know what's ideal for your car? >> great question. right over here is the sticker inside the driver's side doorjamb 32 psi is the correct pressure for the car. >> reporter: as summer months get into gear, consider replacing your battery if it's more than three years old. why? your air conditioner puts extra strain on it if you park your car outside, be sure to wash and wax it regularly because that will protect it from the sun's rays what's the most important thing we can do to make sure we keep our cars out of the shop >> ironically, the best thing you can do is to take your car into the shop. maintenance, maintenance, maintenance, taking care of your fluid flushes, oil changes, making sure your coolant is in peak condition all of that to maintain the systems in the car so you can stay out of the shop. >> reporter: for oil changes the old rule of thumb was every

3,000 miles, but most newer cars can go 10,000 or more. in any car, never ignore this, the check engine light if your ride is beyond repair and you have to venture into the marketplace, be flexible expand your search radius even hundreds of miles. be open to alternative makes, models and years research prices with edmunds and kelley blue book so you know the expected value in advance and search multiple websites and dealerships. also, follow up. sometimes sales fall through and a dealer may end up with a car on the lot ready to be sold. wouldn't that be nice? audra says if you drive an electric car, good news there. they generally require less maintenance, but the most common repair she sees has to do with the brake calipers, the part of the car that brings it to a stop if you hear a sound coming from your brakes on an electric car, that's a sign to bring it into the mechanic. plare still in the market for a new car, how long are the high prices going to last

>> hoda, the avera so, it's still very expensive to own a car. our analyst friends at edmund's tells us the prices have started to level off, but they don't expect to see them going down any time for new cars or used cars in the next several months, perhaps normalizing in 2024 because of all the supply chain issues >> got to wait. >> this is my chicken of the sea moment did you know calipers were for the brakes >> got the brake pads on top. >> of course al knows that. >> i learned that from vicky today. >> i learned, too. >> we're going to learn what's happening today on the old weather map. plenty of sunshine in the pacific northwest. unfortunately, it's still dry throughout much of california. so that's leading to those wildfires. big problems there a lot of wet weather through the southwest. maybe some flash flooding with the gully washers. afternoon storms down through

the southeastern plains. good tuesday morning. temperatures reaching into the upper 80s today. we start out with clouds but it will quickly clear and inland temperatures reach into channel 108 today, 1:00, off the rails with wanda sykes and eva mendez. >> that's a nice crew. >> what time is it >> 1:00. >> no, what time is it now >> oh, what time is it now i thought you were leading into "off the rails." best time of the morning,

"popstart." >> we have to do a poll if we like the couch setup some people do not like the couch setup. >> it's a living room. >> you don't like it >> no, i like it. >> i'm hanging out >> i think we should let the people weigh in. >> a little pillow, sit up, you feel good. try the pillow >> tom is literally sitting on a pillow. >> i'm going to see how this is. >> that's interesting. >> i like that. >> i feel like we're too formal and it's too casual. >> i'm sitting on a pillow. >> it's cozy. >> "popstart." hold on. >> you're going to like it better. >> okay. prince harry - >> that doesn't look good. >> no, sit down. >> that doesn't look good. >> that's nice i'm 6'2" prince harry, is out with a new mental fitness. the film is created to drive awareness on how a mental fitness practice can be

beneficial regardless of background or even profession. we have an exclusive first look. in the clip you'll see prince harry sitting down with olympian chloe kim to chat about a pro lif approach to mental health. >> how would you describe your relationship between the mind and the body when it comes to operating at peak performance? >> it would be unrealistic for me to expect to go out there and, you know, land an amazing run, learn a new trick if i wasn't feeling good mentally. and i can't expect myself to perform at my peak when i am doubting myself. and i'm feeling negative emotions. if i'm not feeling good mentally, then it will jeopardize my physical health and they go hand in hand. >> love to see those conversations happening. you can check out more of that when you head to today.com. next up, lea michele, don't rain on her parade. the actress just landed the role of fanny bryce in "funny girl".

we remember her take on barbara streisand's iconic character in "glee" and this from the show's first season. ♪ on the target one gunshot ♪ ♪ and bam hey mister here i am ♪ >> wow. >> that's savannah's favorite tv moment of all time. >> oh, wow. >> wow! >> oh, everyone should watch that today. >> that's awesome. >> they should do a duet. can we do that? i would watch that. >> i can't sing. it's so awesome. >> it is. >> it's amazing. >> the casting news comes one day after current fanny brice beanie feldstein announced she would be departing from the show at be the end of july, earlier than originally planned. she wrote she made the decision to leave the production and decided to go, quote, in a different direction. as for the rest of the "funny girl" cast, there's no "glee"

reunion on stage. jane lynch is set to finish her run before she joins the cast in september. >> well, i guess she was mrs. bryce. >> mrs. bryce. next up. tim mcgraw has been starring in the prequel series "1883", finding time to launch new music. he's already laid down eight new songs. mcgraw teasing, always looking to beat what i did last time. i'm sure we'll have something off the new album hopefully before too long. when that actually might be, mcgraw is not giving us any details. >> summer concert, tim mcgraw. >> we need tim mcgraw here. >> we need to debut that new music right on the plaza. >> he can sit on the couch. >> we can show him how to do it with the pillow. >> don't you feel better? >> he can have the couch. next up, simone biles even after taking home olympic gold world championship medals and a presidential medal of freedom,

it turns out she's still able to blend in with a crowd. biles recently releasing this picture to her instagram story, captioning the post, not the flight attendant trying to give me a coloring book when i board. let's put that picture up. i said, no, i'm good, i'm 25. that's right. team usa superstar simone biles was mistaken for a child on that flight. do we not have the picture? now the screen grab is going viral. folks on twitter showi by sharing their stories of of their height. one 36-year-old wrote, checking in at 5 feet tall. within the last couple of years i was offered the children's menu and crayons when i was out to dinner with my now wife and a friend. there you go. >> that was funny. good for simone for having fun with it. >> good for her. >> maybe tomorrow bean bags. that would be great. >> i think the pillow transforms it. we are primed and ready. big day. "shop today" scoured amazon's

prime day deals. up to 70% off. smoke the competition. how your regular grilln. how your regular grill can be a smoker first, your local news good morning. firefighters this morning are making headway in that large wildfire fight earning in yosemite. containment is at more than 20%. that is because of mild conditions yesterday including almost no wind. also a spokesperson says the fire is no longer and immediate threat to some of the oldest sequoias. the fire has burned more than 3000 acres and firefighters are hopeful they can make more headway today thanks to a shift in the wind.

there is less smoke blowing our way meaning better air quality. that is good news. >> yes. we're starting out with some clouds. this is a live look outside in oakland. the low ties come in and high tides by late this evening as we see extreme tides come in. temperatures today are reaching into the low 80s and it is cool in some of our inland areas reaching up to 85. i have 81 degrees in novato. warm temperatures reach into the 80s in the weekend and francisco will see highs in the 60s. >> okay. thank u. more yolo

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good morning, everybody. it is 8:30, a tuesday morning. sunshiny plaza here. taking selfies, saying hello what a good crowd. it's beautiful out here.

nice and toasty. three generations from minnesota. you know, it's prime day, international holiday, amazon prime day. ahead adriana brock has shopped so we don't have to. she's ready to tackle it like a pro. the "shop today" team found some of the best sales, the stuff you might actually need or want, they have found, and will tell us all about it. >> and with all the money you save, maybe you could put it toward a vacation. we've got travel and leisure's editor-in-chief with top destinations around the country and around the world, including one destination that seems like a trip back in time. >> a guaranteed way to take your grilling game up a notch do you smell that? a little smoking going on. no smoker required to smoke some meats. we're going to teach you how to teach your old grill new tricks. you'll save time, space and money. >> it smells so incredible right out here and coming up in the third hour,

summer fun without the hefty price tag. vicky nguyen has free and almost free activities perfect for the whole family i love when the price is free-99. >> love it what do you got? >> we've got a free forecast for you, completely free let's show you what we've got for today. strong storms in the northeast, mid-atlantic states. the gully washer in the southwest, showers late in the day down through the gulf coast. then for tomorrow, strong storms in the southeast, the heat streak it will be slightly cooler today compared to yesterday. we will come down a couple of degrees. no major changes even going into the weekend. sunny skies with highs in the upper 80s. san francisco, clouds and fog

each and that is your latest weather. >> worth every dime, al. thank you so much. coming up next, as mentioned, our "shop today" team has favorite picks from the amazon prime day sales tech, beauty, you name it, it's all on sale.

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plus find out how to get up to a $650 prepaid card with a qualifying bundle. we are back. extra special edition of "today best sellers," marking the start of amazon prime day, which means it is time to start shopping adrianna brach is here huge discounts on everything from tech to beauty. you can scan the qr code if you want to see the picks. >> some of the good stuff that's on sale are amazon devices

the amazon firestick is great. an easy way to upgrade your tv viewing experience so you can get more entertainment >> how does it work? >> basically, you plug this in and you can stream over 200,000 channels and apps. you can do everything from peacock to netflix, watch broadcast tv it's $11.99 right now. it's 60% off for the entry level hd if you want top of the line, you've got wi-fi 6, you want something more cinematic and faster and smoother, you want to get the 4k max, which is on sale right now for $34.99 also on sale, firesticks are huge right now >> what do we have here? >> another device from amazon that's super popular is the kindle paperwhite which is under $100 at $94.99 what's really great is that they have a bunch of other kindles on sale, but this is the best value. it's the number one best selling e reader and it's great because it's water resistant, it's got

the backlight that's warm so you can read all your favorite books day to night it looks like paper. one of my favorite things about an e-reader, especially the kindle, you don't get the distractions from your phone or tablet so you can really focus, take time to yourself. if you've been wanting an e-reader, today is the day to get it airpods, that's always a big seller i'm always losing them. >> everyone is always losing them if you've been on the fence about getting a new pair, today is the day the second generation, a wired charger style, they are on sale for $89.99 right now 30% off. but the biggest deal right now is on the airpods pro, which rarely go on sale. this is the lowest price we've seen since around november 2020. down to $61.99 31% off. >> this is like the older version. >> the second generation and the pro, you get the wireless charging, you get active noise canceling, and they're water resistant. then you get the silicone tip so you get a better fit, more customized >> great air fryers

from airpods to air fryers great segue. >> we cannot get another of air fryers they're always on sale but the chefman is $84.99, that's 39% off. it's an air fryer and oven in one. it's got three racks so it's vertical you can see all your food. you can cook a delicious meal so much faster because you don't need to preheat. you pop it in. comes with a rotisserie spit if you're into that and a basket. i haven't learned the air flier lesson yet >> you can dehydrate fruits and veggies so it's a multifunctional device that also has presets. you touch a button and it does all the work. >> $84.99, that's a big discount >> yeah, down 39%. >> let's get into hair products. >> i'm so excited about this luxury beauty rarely goes on sale, but we found two deals from two brands. one is the color wow, the

one-minute transformation mask you use it on dry hair, helps end frizz and boost shine. all in a minute with no heat you work it into your hair it's like a fake diy blowout you can use it on all hair types, all lengths it looks so great. if you really want to take your beauty routine to the next level, olaplex is on sale, too. >> that's a good deal. you never get it on sale. >> exactly you never get it on sale and it's a great treatment like a hair routine. you want to get number 3, which i know a lot of people love. number 3 is an amazing bond-building product and it's down to $22.40 right now, 25% off. you use this right before you shampoo and condition. what's really great -- >> i've done this before it makes it smooth and pretty. you have to leave it on. >> you have to leave it in it repairs your hair from the inside damage if you want to really amp it up, get the shampoo and conditioner. they're all under $25.

>> thank you if you want to get the deal, you can scan the qr code or text shop to 34318 or go to today.com/primeday and check out all the deals available, including hundreds of items discounted today and tomorrow. this segment features products solely available on amazon, which has an affiliate relationship with "today". all the legalese has been read. coming up next, what do new orleans, yellowstone and florence, italy, all have in common common "travel + leisure's"

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this is brilliant. joining us to reveal the best of the best is "travel + leisure's" editor-in-chief, jackie gifford. this is like the bible when it comes to travel. it's like you want to know where to go, your readers have picked these things usually you could say, yeah, i expected that. were there some you thought, wait, what >> yeah, i think we were surprised there were a lot of newcomers to the list, a lot of small properties, boutique properties that opened maybe 18 months ago readers are loving new and loving some domestic destinations, which we'll talk about. >> let's talk islands. not caribbean islands. let's talk islands within the united states. we're starting with mackinaw >> mackinaw island in michigan first winner in the number one spot this year it's a bit like stepping back in time you take a ferry over. there are no cars on the island. you get around by foot, bike, horse and buggy. most of the island is a protected state park so there

are nature trails, a butterfly conservatory it has victorian charm you walk down main street, you can buy fudge. they're famous for their fudge there's a really great hotel called the grand hotel that was built in 1887. an historic landmark in and of itself it's just spectacular. >> take us to south carolina. >> barrier island just 25 miles from charleston but feels a world away five golf courses on the island. really family-friendly place i love going there, if you want to go out boating and biking sanctuary hotel is also world's best winner. >> stunning, stunning. let's talk about national parks. yellowstone has been in the news a lot lately. >> i know, i know. actually, i have to say they won this year. yellowstone won. readers love it. it's been in the news but it's coming back on and crosses three states, idaho, wyoming and montana. it was the first national park signed into law. they have over 550 geysers, old faithful, mammoth hot springs and so much wildlife to see.

>> what about grand teton. what makes this park worth traveling to >> i think grand teton is special because it's a year-round destination 200 miles of hiking trails and in the wintertime you can go skiing, snowboarding, and in the summer you've got the alpine lakes and meadows and the wildlife is spectacular, bison, moose, elk >> let's go to u.s. cities this is what "travel + leisure" readers selected take us, again, south carolina >> charleston, this is their tenth year in a row winning. we're so excited for them. i think it really is the full picture. readers cited the friendliness of the locals, the fact it's walkable, the historic architecture you can see rainbow row, all those colorful old homes, take pictures the food scene is amazing. you can go to the chophouse. so much shopping to do it's a great place. >> you don't have to sell me on this next one. of course, new orleans is on your list. >> you love new orleans. >> i love it >> what's not to love? the french quarter, if you want

to go out, all the night life. readers love it for that reason. the food, the hotels, windsor court hotel won this year for the best hotel in new orleans. if you haven't been in a while, it's time to go back we're all rediscovering our own backyards. >> talk about friendly people. i don't think you can top that take us around the world these are the top cities around the world as selected by your readers. >> florence, italy, we're talking about florence because italy is all the rage right now. i don't know if you've seen on instagram. seems like everybody has decided to go to italy this year i think florence, people love to go for the art and architecture. you can see museums, climb to the top of the dome, cross the ponte vecchio, do shopping, go to the district known for the restaurants and shops. i think florence, it's a place that americans have been going to for years and still love. >> i feel like you have a photographic memory. you knew they made fudge

i can't even imagine all the info you keep. you sure did sell that that was great thank you for coming to see us carson, over to you. >> michael symon is here he has a great show premiered last night sometimes i want to take my green egg and traeger and get out the old school webber. we'll give you old tricks on how to smoke meat. we'll do chicken, amazing barbecue some of the best you've ever had. it's summer, you're grilling, the best tips. got the bird on, brother >> bird is ready to smoke. >> life it good. we'll smoke it in minutea wanna help kids get their homework done?

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we call it oleyumi. you call it california. our land, our culture, our people once expansive, now whittled down to a small community. only one proposition supports california tribes like ours. while providing hundreds of millions in yearly funding to finally address homelessness in california. vote yes on 27. tax online sports betting and protect tribal sovereignty and help californians that are hurting the most. food," turning your grill into a meat we're back now with "today food," turning your grill into a meat smoker. with us, a guy who knows a lot about that and certainly grilling, the great chef michael symon. he travels the country and his show premiered "bbq usa" giving

us a look at the toughest barbecue competitions. you visited pit masters, all the great meats. give us one great tip for people to take away for grilling this summer, something you learned? >> patience. i think the greatest tip is patience also, a lot of times when people put things on the grill, they want to see giant plumes of smoke. your smoke, you want it to run clear and then you get the gentle smoke flavor that makes the food delicious i'm showing you an alabama chicken today, alabama-style chicken. can you do it on a grill, a weber. >> how do you do it on a grill >> you're doing offset heat. all of our heat is over here. >> indirect. >> indirect. you can put wood chips on there, chunks or chips, start it with coals and drop the heat down you want to monitor your heat. chicken you can be between 275 and 325. i seasoned it with olive oil, salt, pepper the smoke is where all the great flavor comes from. >> you can do it without the chips. >> just charcoal gives you incredible flavor. a lot of styles of barbecue only

use coal i use fruit wood because it doesn't overpower it >> you got a beautiful sauce >> alabama white sauce is the historic sauce you put on chicken. people that like ranch, i feel this is where ranch started. somewhere in alabama big bob gibson's famous barbecue place started the sauce. mayo, horseradish, lemon juice, cayenne for heat, salt and a touch of sugar then you just whisk this together until it's smooth now, you could kind of have fun with it. you could put buttermilk in it, if you want, thin it out >> thicken it up, anything >> here's one we smoked just like that. then you just chop it up >> it tastes like gravy. >> right >> like a gravy. >> but it's got a little heat. >> it's delicious. >> you go to alabama and get smoked chicken, this is what's happening. >> can you break down this chicken really fast?

how do you break it down down the center?first. >> i just go straight down. you split it first then after you split it, you go through the legs and the thighs, down >> okay. and there's a joint in there you find the ball joint, cut between those two. >> and i like to split my breast in half. >> eight pieces out of that, great. move on down >> moving on down. >> if you're going to use wood chips, do you soak them first? >> that's a good question. if you soak them, it throws a little bigger smoke. if you want more gently smoked, i wouldn't recommend soaking them first, even though they'll burn quickly, or you can go to a larger chunk and let it go water creates smoke which sometimes will make the barbecue acron. >> we're overlooking this chicken. >> it's so moist. >> how is it so juicy? >> the slow cook >> don't overcook it. >> i cook a beer, michael barbecues everything. >> so good. tatoes

>> a quick potato salad. in foil. >> boil them first >> oil, salt, you can put in a little pepper, some water and -- >> wait, you did precook them or no >> pardon? >> raw >> these are raw they're going to steam a little bit and char in our foil packet. you let them go until they're tender we put these on the grill. you can put these on right when you're doing your chicken. we have two grills going you with do this on one grill. you take these off we're going to toss them into a very simple dressing here, watch. you start dumping stuff in olive oil, oil, sherry vinegar. i'm going to show you a trick. mustard, i use grainy. we have a little fresh dill and parsley, salt.

if we dump our sherry vinegar in here >> sherry vinegar is hard to find. >> is it >> it is hard to find. well, i can't find it. put it that way. >> you can use white vinegar, champagne vinegar. >> that's what i use. >> rice is a little too gentle you shake it up and now you have dressing. >> that's a little gucci on top and that just elevates the regular, old potato into something so special >> i would put that white sauce on those potatoes. >> if you wanted it a little more creamy, you could do that this is a little more acidic and poppy. almost like german potato sadly, a touch. then you have a bright potato salad. it's easy. >> i would put that white sauce everywhere it's a regional thing? >> alabama purely alabama it's a white-based sauce when people think of barbecue, they think of red sauce. >> you want to say hi to cleveland? >> congrats on the show. >> cleveland, we love you. tune in, baby! >> check out michael's show

"barbecue usa" on the food network and streaming on discovery+ remember when we were talking about cruising and there was that awkward moment and i was like, imagine craig and al and the titanic moment >> it happened. >> it's not right. it's just not right. >> it will happen. i think it is going to happen. >> can't unsee that. >> get ready. >> that was something special. coming up on "hoda & jenna," uncle joey, and the creator and star of tv's rom-com will be hereng life challenges into a new health journey. first, your local news and weather.

good morning. is a:56. san francisco leaders will make a new call for more urgent response to the monkeypox outbreak. the supervisor for call on the cdc and state department of

health to lead a more aggressive vaccination campaign. so far, monkeypox is affecting and bisexual men. state and lawmakers called the federal response a publ health failure. the rate infections continues to grow. there are 866 confirmed cases. california is

this morning on the third hour of today, wait until you see these savings. the cruise industry cutting prices by the boatload as other travel costs soar. we're going to be live with the deep discounts for an affordable family voyage. plus, we have the summer eebies to turn a weekend at home into the ultimate staycation. later, the hottest summer finds. from '90s fashion to the perfect poolside scoop and a car seat for your pup. we're going to whip up a light summer