( ♪♪ ) itit's momore than a a gif. ♪ i get t to see whatat sa left f for me ♪ the biggest pre-christmas storm of the past four decades is here. damaging winds, flash freeze conditions with 30-degree drops in just three hours, and scattered power outages from michigan to maine. coming to america. the former king of crypto is now on u.s. soil in police custody. as two of his former close associates are cooperating with the feds. on the heels of an impassioned plea for aid from a grateful president have saying

help has its limits. and the season of giving also a season of buying. and a special special from santa to a children's hospital is by far the best medicine. thursday, december 22nd, "early today" starts right now. hi, good morning. i'm phillip mena. >> glad you're with us, i'm frances rivera. watches, warnings, and alerts as a massive winter storm creeps across the u.s. snow now hitting the midwest with zero visibility on some highways, and hundreds of crashes. scattered power outages are expected as condition worsen. let's turn to our nbc meteorologist angie lassman. a good day to live in san diego where they're not dealing with the storm system. basically everybody east of the rockies is going to be impacted in some way, shape, or form over the next couple of days. you can see the snow what we're talking about in the midwest and into the great lakes. that will be on tap for folks in

michigan, chicago, today. as we look to the mid-atlantic, it's the rain. when it comes to the showers and -- that could be -- they could be dealing with some of the heavy rain as we get through the next couple of days. the winter weather alerts are including 110 million people right now. blizzard warnings are up in places like michigan, extending back to the west. you can see why. we have a potential for over a foot of snow along the eastern side of lake michigan. as far as the rain, the flooding concern will remain through at least the rest of the day today, guys, and into friday. it will be a concern, as well, for storm surge along the coast. >> a lot to be worried about. always a good time to live in degrees no matter what time of year. >> especially now. >> thanks, angie. the battle over the border is now holding up the passage of the massive government funding bill. a late-night vote on the omnibus package fell apart in the senate over an amendment involving title 42. we have more now from washington, d.c. brie, good morning.

the government should be shut down on christmas eve if a budget does not pass. what's the holdup here? >> reporter: good morning. yeah, the process fell apart over that border policy, title 42, which allows migrants to be quickly expelled. senator mike lee's amendment would cut funding for the homeland security secretary's office unless title 42 is kept in place. the policy was supposed to be lifted yesterday, but the decision is under review by the supreme court. democrats offered a 60-threshold vote, but senator lee is demanding a simple majority. >> they're terrified of this vote because they will lose, as they should lose. so i'm standing firm. i'm going to depend an up or down vote. if they don't give us the up or down vote, this is going to be very difficult, and it probably will cost them the omnibus. >> reporter: democrat chris koonz of delaware said he thinks this bill is hanging by a thread. republican ben sass of nebraska told nbc news, quote, omnis are

always s shows, as he left to get a beer. many of these lawmakers had hoped to leave d.c. before the winter storm gets worth. majority leader chuck schumer returned to the floor at 2:00 a.m. to say they were close to a deal but not there yet. the senate is expected back at 8:00 a.m. this morning as we wait to see if an agreement will be finalized. the deadline to avoid a shutdown is friday at midnight. republican leader mitch mcconnell could push for a continuing resolution to keep the government funded until the gop takes over the house in january. that short-term fix would not include provisions like aid for ukraine. phillip? >> a lot of work to do before christmas in washington. thank you. hunter biden is lawyering up, securing defense attorney abby lester holt. the move in anticipation for what could be several republican probes once the republicans take over the house next month. lowle has represented major figures including president bill clinton. former president trump's

son-in-law, jared kushner, and bob menendez. they have been investigating his business and financial activities while on the board of a ukrainian gas company. last month congressional republicans revealed plans to investigate hunter including alleged business dealings for possible evidence found on a laptop. biden has consistently denied any illegal activity. after ukrainian president volodymyr zelenskyy's visit to d.c., lawmakers are set to vote on additional support for ukraine. the u.s. contribution will soon near $100 billion, but that aid does have limits with ukraine still under attack. and when republicans take over the house next month, the purse strings could tighten as the prospect of an endless expensive war has in rethinking america's commitment. alice barr reports on zelenskyy's trip to washington. [ applause ] >> reporter: a standing ovation for ukrainian president volodymyr zelenskyy who left the front lines of his war-torn

country on a high-stakes mission to secure more military aid from the u.s. congress. >> your money is not charity. it's an investment in the global security and democracy. >> reporter: dressed in his signature fatigue-style sweatshirt and cargo pants, the ukrainian leader evoking america's struggles for freedom as his forces fight on. >> we ukrainians will also go through our war of independence and freedom with dignity and success. >> reporter: president zelenskyy bringing a flag signed by soldiers holding the line. >> the ukraine didn't fall. ukraine is alive and kicking. >> reporter: the ukrainian president's first foreign trip since the invasion began comes as lawmakers race to pass a massive funding bill that includes more than $45 billion in ukrainian military and economic aid.

>> ukrainian courage and american resolve must guarantee the future of our common freedom. >> reporter: the stirring speech comes after zelenskyy met with president biden in the oval office, bringing home promises of support to make it through a hard winter. >> our faith in ourselves will not be put out. >> reporter: hope, the greatest weapon this christmas in ukraine. in washington, alice barr, nbc news. the former king of crypto is back on american soil and staring down one of the biggest fraud cases in history. sam bankman-fried arrived in new york overnight where he's expected to be arraigned later today. he's facing a slew of charges after the collapse of his crypto exchange ftx, once valued at $32 billion. the u.s. attorney's office for the southern district argues that the former ceo of ftx used $8 billion worth of customer assets for posh real estate

purchase. vanity projects like stadium naming rights, and spent millions in political donations. he could face decades in prison if convicted. the case has also ensnared his inner circle. prosecutors say the co-founder of ftx and former ceo of bankman-fried's hedge fund pleaded guilty to fraud yesterday and are cooperating with prosecutors. with christmas eve just two days away, that massive winter storm is already throwing a wrench in many holiday travel plans. here's tom costello. >> reporter: with snow already hitting a crowded minneapolis airport, chicago o'hare is also running at full thursday to. >> we're going to send them to bravo five -- >> reporter: counting down with the storm expected to slow air traffic across the region to a trickle, this family among the thousands who decided to leave early for florida. >> looked at our schools and it made sense to try to beat and

not deal with issues come friday. >> reporter: airlines are waiving change fees and urging passengers to rebook if they can. >> united airlines service to miami -- >> reporter: running the operations -- this is exactly the kind of glitch you don't need this week, right? >> the timing of the storm is challenging for sure. but we're ready. we're prepared. we've got good procedures, good policies. >> reporter: nationwide passenger volumes is approaching 2019 levels. >> we're expecting winds 30 to 50 miles per hour in chicago and midway starting tomorrow. >> reporter: to keep the system moving, the faa command center in virginia has opened military airspace to commercial flights. >> boarding passes -- >> reporter: alaska airlines, the country's fifth biggest, focuses on the west coast and is also navigating volatile weather. the ceo -- >> we operate in the 30 to 40-degree range. you don't know if it's going to be rain or snow, you have to be ready. right on the edge. >> reporter: a lot has changed

since last summer when alaska was among the airlines forced to cancel flights and cut schedules as they struggled with a pilot shortage. alaska has since signed new labor agreements and hired more pilots. >> we've learned a lot in terms of staffing and resourcing in volatile periods. i think we're in a pretty good spot heading into 2023. >> reporter: no repeat of the summer meltdown. >> no. we're going to make sure we don't our customers down going into 2023. >> reporter: alaska is rolling out new rf technology is on speed the check-in process. permanent bag tags, customers simply touch the itinerary on their phones to the tag which then displays the new flight information. >> you'll show up to the airport, drop it straight onto the conveyor belt with an agent, and get on with your day. >> looking forward to that. thanks to tom for that report. angie, much of the country is going to get a little bit of something whether you like it or not. >> the cold air for pretty much

everybody across the country. my us 60 in douglas, minneapolis, 33 degrees below. look as far south as dallas, minus 5, minus 8 in little rock. lubbock minus 12 for windchills. the winds are impressive, windchills below 32 degrees. though.on il if you're in new york, 50 degrees. back in grand rapids, though, 34 with some snow. and guys, these statistics and these records are going to continue to come. we saw big temperature drop in montana, 26 degrees in -- not a whole lot of time, minutes really. >> incredible story. millions of us dealing with this right before christmas. thank you, angie. now to a story that shows the power of tiktok. there was a shopper who decided to help out a walmart employee

in arizona who was working to pay off some medical bills. here's what happened -- >> look, you got a cane, too? don't they give you a chair? >> no. >> no chair? i'm going to make sure this goes viral and get you some help. >> it happened, carmen said that she needed to pay off $10,000 in debt and within ten days, a gofundme created by elizabeth, the tiktoker, has raised more than $130,000. >> i mean, you have just -- you're changing my whole life. >> those two women live only 20 minutes from each other, and elizabeth says that she now sees carmen as her own grandmother. >> i love that they got together after that whole thing. "early today" is back in a moment with a santa whwho trades a s sleigh f hehelicopter to o bring chriris sdwroi a a children'n's hospital sdwroi a a children'n's hospital it's a an upside-d-down boboe withth no cap. yoyou justst grab anand squeeze.e. dawn p platinum's s more powewerful formumula breaks dowown and remomoves grease 4 4 times fasaster.

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and reindeer, he arrived in a her. rihanna ross of our baltimore affiliate has the story. >> reporter: it was just days before christmas and right outside, santa traded his sleigh for a helicopter ride. up on the rooftop, santa waved to each girl and boy they watched and waved back. hearts filled with joy >> that was cool santa rode the helicopter. >> reporter: once inside the hospital, santa greeted kids with cheer parents beamed with pride seeing their kids happy, even here. >> it's a difficult time to be in the hospital, obviously, not that there's a good time but the staff has made the experience really joyful ♪ santa claus is comin' to town ♪ >> reporter: music and gifts to get kids christmas ready and a

chance for santa to get a western list from 3-year-old teddy. >> i want a blue truck and a blue airplane for christmas. >> and you know you don't know if he's going to be home or not home for christmas the happiness he felt leaving the room to be able to see christmas was the best collapse gift >> ho, ho, ho. >> reporter: it's a tradition that's been a part of the hospital for a while a chance to give kids who are sick a reason to smile >> it's a pretty remarkable experience can you see it in the joy in their face, their eyes light up. you can see everybody take that extra deep breath and remember this is a joyous season. >> reporter: a joyous season indeed, all merry and bright merry christmas to all, and to all a good night >> ah, our thanks to brianna for that heartwarming story.y. >> > after the e breaeak, reg the legendnd behinind the most

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thi strong confidence numbers helped push the dow up over 500 points the s&p and nasdaq also popped futures are in the green there's just a couple days left for holiday shopping, and this year many small businesses are hoping sales will rebound from the pandemic despite inflation. catie beck has more. >> reporter: customers at red barn mercantile in alexandria, virginia can find anything from a card to a couch. the eclectic small business welcoming a return to the register this season, after feeling the squeeze of slowed shopping during the pandemic >> it was, it was rough. >> reporter: owners like amy

rutherford hopeful for a comeback >> i've got new customers coming through my door. >> reporter: and for small shops, the holiday season is make or break. >> we will do half of our business in the last three months of the year >> reporter: but now another pinch. inflation, higher costs to rutherford and her customers >> shipping prices and cost of goods. it's across the board. >> reporter: while the national retail federation expects shoppers to spend between 6% and 8% more than they did last year, inflation accounts for most of that 70% of consumers are taking inflation into consideration this holiday season, and about half are buying fewer gifts as a result >> in terms of shopping, yeah, i would say yes, actually. we did cut back. >> i'm cognizant of where and what i spend money on. >> reporter: but rutherford says

she's ever strong working to lure customers with the trees in her store. >> my message is thank you, thank you, thank you for shopping local >> reporter: the season also one of gratitude catie beckck, nbc news >> y you have e to support those small businesssses >> > coming up, one of the biggest upsets in the history of college hoops.s. anand santa spspreads cheeeo animals. nta a spreads chcheer to animals.s. whwhen do you u spray febrbre air?r? afteter every flflush. in my y kitchen, f febreze tacs my toughghest odors.s. after r vacuuming,g, bebecause fresesh means clcl.

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the football world is mourning the death of steelers icon franco harris he won four sboels with pittsburgh and ran for over 12,000 yards in his career he is known for the quick-thinking catch that has become sports legend >> bradshaw, trying to get away. and his pass is broken up by tatum. franco harris! >> that was 50 years ago tomorrow harris completed the immaculate reception. one of the most heralded plays of all time. his catch lifted pittsburgh over

the raiders. the steelers announced back in september they were going to retire harris' number 32 jersey at halftime of this saturday's game at heaarris' hall of fame induction, his teammate lynn swan said that he gave the steelers heart, discipline and pride because of his work ethic. others as well as president biden remembered him for his compassion and excellence on and offer the field. soccer legend pele remains hospitalized in brazil as doctors say his cancer has advanced the hospital said he is under elevated care and is being treated for kidney and heart problems pele's daughter said the 82-year-old will spend christmas in the hospital and she had provide an update next week. eastern illinois university played their way into college basketball history they were on the road against

iowa, and eiu scored 355 points in the second half to stun the hawkeyes caesar's sports book says this was the largest upset in college hoops in at least 30 years panthers' coach, marty simmons, celebrating with his team after the game it's the first win over a big ten team in 35 years just about everyone in spain is feeling lucky this morning. $2.35 billion in cash and prize are on the line for el gordo this is a tradition that dates back over 200 years. as many people as possible can take at least some cash from el gordo, with grand prizes set at just over $4 million >> i like it it's m more atattainable than t ones we've got here.e. the animimals at thehe cincinnanati zoo are on sasanta

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the earthquake hit and then their home went newspaper flames. we speak with a humboldt couple that is left with nothing. we are tracking king tides and how long they are expected to last. the unusual training for store owners in the castro. this is "today in the bay" streaming on apple tv, roku, fire tv and online. i am marcus washington. >> i am ginger conejero saab. laura has the day off. we