urgent need for aid. while congress is voicing support for israel, it needs to officially

fill the speeeat of speaker the fighting between israel and hamas now claims over 2,000 lives. we'll have a full report on the latest airstrikes by israel. discussing the unimaginable as the war escalates parents and educators struggle with how to explain the conflict to kids. how some teachers on long island are opening up the conversation. the price is right steve sedgwick joins us from london to preview the new u.s. inflation numbers and how they could provide new relief for consumers. and america's sweetheart fights for her hive. mary lou retton is battling a rare illness what her family is saying about support pouring in from around the world. it's thursday, october 12. "early today" starts right now good morning, i'm frances rivera >> i'm phillip mena. we begin with the war raging between israel and hamas, the bloody conflict entering the

sixth day. 22 americans are among the dead with 17 more still missing >> antony blinken will be in israel meeting with benjamin netanyahu showing support for one of america's closest allies. for more on washington's response, we're join by brie jackson in d.c the president also spoke again about support for israel >> reporter: that's right, good morning, frances the president hosted a group of jewish community leaders at the white house and in the meeting said military assistance was being rushed to israel, including ammunition to help support israel's eastern dome defense. mr. biden also said the u.s. is working on every aspect of the hostage crisis at least 17 americans are unaccounted for and some are believed to have been abducted by hamas but president biden made it clear that the public should not expect details about those recovery efforts >> now, look, the press are going to shout to me, and many of you are, what are you doing to bring these, get these folks

home if i told you, i wouldn't be able to get them home. folks, there's a lot we're doing, a lot we're doing i have not given up hope of bringing these folks home. >> reporter: and back here in washington, the war is putting more pressure on the house to elect a speaker. overnight, congressman steve scalise of louisiana narrowly won the vote to be the republican nominee >> it's really, really important that this congress get back to work we select a speaker. go to the house floor. get to 218 and get the house working again. and the first order of business is a strong resolution expressing support for israel. >> reporter: lawmakers are expected back at the u.s. capitol today, but it's still unclear when the speaker vote will go to the house floor scalise needs the support of nearly every republican to win the gavel. and it does not appear that he has enough so, now the vote is on hold

while the gop tries to sway some holdouts the absence of a house speaker could slow or limit the amount of aid the united states can send to israel >> thank you the war between israel and hamas has now entered day six. the death toll in gaza has reached at least 1200, as israeli air force pummels the enclave with airstrikes. and this video shows a palestinian man carrying his daughter who was killed in an airstrike. he says over and over again, simply, "my beloved girl." for the latest on this, let's go to claudio lavanga the horror, the grief. it's so unsettling what is the latest there in gaza >> reporter: absolutely, phillip. overnight, israel continues to pound gaza relentlessly with airstrikes, even though the military is saying they continue to just target hamas militants of course in such a

densely-populated enclave, while civilians are also bound to pay the ultimate price, the gaza health ministry said the death toll inside gaza among palestinians is 1200 with 5600 other people wounded the living conditions inside the gaza strip are made more difficult by the total blockade that was imposed by israel with the united nations now calling for israel to at least send water, food and fuel inside gaza, warning also that there are at least 338,000 people who have been displaced so far but those civilians don't know where to go or how to get out of gaza now israel and egypt are talking about creating some sort of safe passage, but for now that would dedicated only for foreigners, including u.s. citizens inside gaza on the israeli side, prime

minister benjamin netanyahu on wednesday said every hamas member is a dead man it's not clear, though, how israel plans to accomplish this goal, while the airstrikes continue, while israelis send tanks to the border for a potential ground operation, a ground invasion. but there are some people inside israel with this anger mounting, day by day, who think that the only solution is to raze gaza to the ground ali velshi spoke to a former israeli soldier, let's take a listen >> i need gaza flat. i don't want that any soldier will, israeli soldier, will come into gaza. i want to make it flat f from up. the size of the bomb will matter only the size of the bomb. >> reporter: another sign that

israel is on edge, look at the northern border with lebanon on wednesday the israeli army issued an alert saying there was an infiltration into airspace while that report was later retracted and an army spokesperson said that was a mistake, false alarm >> so much confusion and terror there. claudio lavanga, thank you secretary of state antony blinken is en route to tel aviv this morning the top diplomat will meet with benjamin netanyahu and president isaac herzog, amid the continuing schaescalation of th israel-hamas war blinken hopes to bring the message that the united states has israel's back. he added that israel will be given everything it needs to defend itself while reiterating president biden's warning fence any party looking to take advantage of the situation in the region in an incident that is raising issues of free speech, several business leaders are

seeking to black list harvard student whose said that only israel is to blame for the outbreak of war. the letter was signed by various student groups that did not include anyone's name. bill ackman and others want the names made public to prevent the students from being hired after graduation our new york station has this report >> reporter: as jerricho students headed home, parents picking them up acknowledged the terrorist attacks in israel have impacted their kids. >> they are upset. kids are upset it's affecting everybody >> reporter: sharma is mother t a seventh grader >> they are emotionally affected by it, because they have a number of friends whose families and, you know, have been directly impacted by this. >> we are here, and our job is to support our students.

>> reporter: jerricho superintendent said counselors have provided support all week, but with students who are both jewish and muslim this is more complicated. >> there is definitely a political implication to this event. >> reporter: that's which the superintendent alerted parents this week that teachers would discuss what happened with students and since monday those discussions have kurd at o discussions occurred at middle and high schools students from different backgrounds and perspectives who wanted to talk about it were allowed to do just that. >> you know, today's teenager, there are conversations that dwee can't shy away from >> viewpoints are viewpoints at the end of the day but you know, this should not be, you know, hidden, you know, just from conversation >> our thanks for that report.

a new study shows how much of a threat climate change is to marine life. researchers from noaa examined 100 different groups of marine animals and found more than 70% were vulnerable to losing their habitat and food sources large whales and dolphins were found to be at most risk it can also change sound transmission, making it harder for the mammals to hunt and communicate. if you're feeling a little crabby this morning, maybe this photo will perk you up a french photographer won the wildlife photographer of the year award for this snap of a shores shoe crab off the coast of the philippines it's the second time in three years that he's won that award handed out biy the london museu of history angie is tracking wet weather. >> you're right. we're dealing with heavy rain

across the southeast the umbrella and extra time is going to go a long way on your commute. most of the rain will move out in time for the afternoon unless you live in florida, where we'll see the chance for strong storms we've seen quite an active morning there and a chance of stronger storms developing later in the day, too. notice what happens in parts of the plains, we will continue to see another day of severe weather possible for folks there along with heavy rain and the snow falling across parts of the rockies. the system is on the move, moves t into the great lakes with the potential for flooding we will see it work offsre bhoes

and that's a look at your forecast, guys, back over to you. >> angie, thank you. "early today" is back in 60 seconds with another reason to hate your landlord and is another rate hike on the horizon? steve sedgwick will look into his crtabaheysl ll aad of the latest inflation numbers due out later today. the ultimate clen in the toughest conditions. dry burnt-on stains. old dishwashers. very hard water. even when you skip the rinse. its new cyclesync technology releases the right ingredient at the right time, and finish ultimate breaks down stains, cuts grease, and boosts shine for the ultimate clean. even in the toughest conditions. ♪ oh... stuffed up again? so congested! you need sinex saline from vicks.

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50% more than smoking. the irs is telling microsoft to pay up. the tax agency says the tech titan owes nearly $29 billion in pack taxes the dispute focuses on allocated profits between countries and jurisdiction between 2004 and 2013 microsoft fired pack against the claim, vowing to contest it in court if necessary the company will likely go through the irs' administrative appeal which could take years. new inflation numbers are due out within just hours. and hopefully, hopefully the outlook is good. steve sedgwick joins us with what to expect hi, steve, good morning. >> yeah, really good to see you, phillip and frances. we had wholesale data yesterday. it was way higher than expectations and that didn't all go particularly well for the cpo, the consumer price inflation we're expecting the core figure

be that strips out things like energy and food, 4.1% higher in september. as expected as well that could keep the pressure on the federal reserve meeting at the tail of this month and are they going to raise rates one more time? american consumers are already paying the highest elf hlevels this century if the inflation numbers remain hot, can the fed hold rates where they are or do we need an increase in cost, which is going to affect auto loans, student loans, you name it absolutely pivotal numbers coming out >> has a grip on our economy thank you. still to come, zac efron is stepping into the fling his new biopic movie non-drowsy claritin-d. knocks out your worst allergy symptoms including nasal congestion. without knocking you out. feel the clarity and make today the most

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paper. >> right >> but it was a divorce. >> divorce >> so from the year 2016, which is seven years ago now >> yes >> y'all have been -- >> apart >> the actor e prxpressed confun toward chris rock. the special is set to air on nbc. it raise as s a lot of questions why was he so angry if they hadn't had any feelings for years and years. >> she even thought it was a comedy bit until he sat down pete davidson is a man with a new lucrative plan he revealed on the "tonight show" with jimmy fallon that he has started collecting sealed vhs tapes. he has collected almost 5,000 so far and recently sold a copy of

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anovel scientists discover a rare oxide powder in the mona lisa. the compound was likely used to thicken the paint and help it drive. and drews in massachusetts rescued a black lab that got trapped in a drainpipe they worked for an hour to free her. when we return a olympic r fer edallist in the fight fo heli the scary health battle for mary lou retton ly shown to help grow thicker, fuller hair with just one capsule a day of advanced hair complex. conquer hair thinning... ...and fall in love with your hair all over again. only from nature's bounty. are you tired of clean clothes that just don't smell clean? downy unstopables in-wash scent boosters with your hair all over again. keep your laundry smelling fresh waaaay longer than detergent alone. if you want laundry to smell fresh for weeks, make sure you have downy unstopables in-wash scent boosters. honey... honey... nyquil severe honey. powerful cold and flu relief with a dreamy honey taste.

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olympic champion is fighting for her life, over a very rare form of pneumonia >> thank you so much for all the love and support >> reporter: her daughter shayla share ago update wednesday on her mother who remains in an intensive care unit. >> she's still fighting. it's going to be a day by day process, and we hope that you guys will respect her boundaries >> reporter: mary lou first vaulted into super stardom at the 1984 olympics. becoming the first american gymnast to wint all around at just 16 years old >> representing the united states of america. olympic champion, mary lou retton >> reporter: she would go on to win five olympic medals that summer, more than any other athlete, quickly becoming a household name for her athleticism and infectious smile. >> watch out, big boys >> reporter: on the cover of a wheaties box and even as a

dancer the hall-of-famer spoke with "today", in 2019, about watching her daughters follow in her very footsteps. >> i frompromise her every year' going to sit like every normal parent and i can't do it are. >> reporter: fellow olympic champion nadia comaneci writing, please get better my very dear friend as her family appeal to the public >> thank you for the prayers, and we can't thank you enough for the love and support you guys have shown. >> reporter: and retton's star burns especially bright in houston where the city induktd her into the sports hall of fame in 2020, help coming not only in the form of tributes but financial assistance as well retton's daughter sharing they are crowd funding their hospital bills because her mother does not have any health insurance. the initial goal, $50,000, and at last check, people all over

the world have contributed more than $280,000 for the cause. >> a heartbreaking story, morgan, thank you. coming up on the "today" show emilie ikeda takes us behind the screens of the taylor swift eras tour i had my same strategy in getting tickets for this movie like i did with the concert. much more successful at getting these tickets. >> you called it right before this tour happened you knew it was going to be huge you knew you had to be there you made it ha

the president says israel has a duty to defend itself. >> nation's defense chief

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