more turbulence for trump's cabinet picks. we're live with new reports of sexual assault allegations against the choice for defense secretary. around the new picks unveiled overnight. president biden's last stand on the world stage. we're live with what to expect from the final g-20 appearance amid a policy shift in russia's war on ukraine. new information on p-diddy. organic carrots linked to a deadly e. coli outbreak. plus how mcdonald's is racing to put its own e. coli outbreak behind them. and the highlights this monday morning. "early today" starts right now. good morning.

i'm frances rivera. we begin with the new trump administration, which continues to take shape very quickly. the president-elect attended a ufc fight over the weekend with elon musk. the billionaire has barely left his side since the election nearly two weeks ago. nbc's brie jackson joins me now. good morning, brie. the next fight mr. trump will need to focus on is getting his cabinet confirmed. >> reporter: that's right. the president-elect's pick for defense secretary is facing controversy. the "washington post" reported on a memo that was sent to the trump team, which nbc news has not seen, alleging that fox news host, pete hegseth sexually assaulted a woman in 2017. police confirm they investigated the incident, but no charges were filed. the woman threatened to sue in 2020. hegseth made a payment to her in exchange for her signing an nda. an attorney for hegseth confirmed there was a settlement but says hegseth is completely innocent, calling this a

consensual encounter. now, to the battle over attorney general. house speaker mike johnson is insisting that a house ethics report on matt gaetz should not be released, because gaetz resigned from congress, but senators want to see that report. >> should the house ethics committee release that report, senator? >> absolutely. and i believe the, i believe the senate should have access to that. now should it be released to the public or not? that's, i guess that will be part of the negotiations, but that should be definitely part of our decision making. >> reporter: and last night, president-elect trump announced he wants conservative brendan carr to lead the fcc, and oil industry ceo chris wright has been chosen for energy secretary. he has denied that there is a climate crisis. and we are still waiting for treasury secretary nominee. billionaire howard lutnick was

seen as a leading contender. he's a transition team co-chair and has the endorsement of elon musk. but the "new york times" reported overnight that mr. trump is rethinking his choice and that he will be doing more interviews at mar-a-lago this week. >> brie, thank you. president joe biden will attend the g-20 summit where he will focus on the stability of u.s. relations. he made history after first stopping in brazil and touring the amazon rain forest. becoming the first u.s. president to do so. sitting u.s. president. meanwhile, two officials say president biden will now let ukraine use long-range missiles supplied by the u.s. to hit inside russia. for more, let's turn to matt bodner. good morning, matt. >> reporter: frances good morning -- president biden speaking from the amazon rainforest said no one can turn back america's clean energy revolution. these remarks, of course, stand in stark contrast to policies

expected from the incoming administration. for example, a pledge to withdraw from the paris climate agreement. biden is in brazil to attend this week's g-20 summit which kicks off today. he flew to brazil from peru. there, he met with xi jinping. his arrival in rio de janeiro coincides with a major change in his administration's policy halfway around the globe. two u.s. officials are telling nbc news that biden has authorized ukraine to use american long-range weapons for limited strikes within russia. ukraine has been asking united states to lift these restrictions for a long time now. russia's round-the-clock strikes against civilians inside ukraine, especially in recent months, have mostly been launched from deep within russia. many of the sites that russia is using to launch these strikes are still well beyond the range of american long-range weapons,

but they could be used to help ukraine defend its positions. north korea has recently deployed 10,000 of its own troops. there is not yet any high-level reaction from pyongyang or moscow to the news nor the incoming trump team, and it remains to be seen how this policy will influence the position on the front. >> matt, thank you. the fbi says it is investigating a new wave of offensive text messages. the agency says messages are now targeting latino and lgbtq plus people. they say some of the recipients are being told they are being deported or that they're being sent to a reeducation camp. the messages have not been linked to any violence. the fbi says the texts seem to follow the same themes as previous reports of racist text messages being sent to black people. some texts were sent using the service called text now. the company says it is shutting down accounts linked to

harassment. there are new ccusations in the case of shawn shawn /- diddy koemts. he's currently behind bars in new york. it's attempt they say by diddy to sway potential jurors ahead of the trial. the accusations come ahead of another bail hearing scheduled for this week. representatives have not responded to requests for comment. he has pleaded not guilty. a chaotic scene in california after a small-engine plane crashed into a racetrack in pomona. miraculously, no one on the ground suffered injures. the plane was en route to an airport three miles away when it landed instead at the drag strip. it forced the hot rod association finals to stop.

>> we were watching the plane land and take off and land and take off over and over. no idea one was going to crash. >> the national transportation safety board is investigating. turning to more scary moments on board. police are searching for a gunman who shot a southwest airlines plane, striking near the cockpit. it happened just as the plane was taking off for indianapolis friday night. there were no reported injuries, and the plane has been taken out of service. many passengers say they had no idea what happened and boarded another plane after the aircraft returned to the gate for inspection. the dry and windy conditions across the northeast are going from bad to worse, reigniting parts of the stubborn jennings creek fire along the new york-new jersey border. george solis is in hard-hit greenwood lake, new york. >> reporter: firefighters in new york and new jersey intensifying efforts to manage the jennings

creek wildfire. strong winds saturday night caused the fire to breach the containment line. this is what the inferno looked like early sunday morning. >> the top of the hill's getting brighter. >> higher up. >> reporter: the temporary setback sparking a fast mobilization of first responders and evacuation orders for more than 150 homes in the fire zone. >> he this said you got to go. >> reporter: jim johnson and jim howard among the evacuees, watching from across the lake, hoping their homes are spared. >> you're watching it inch by inch, and it's coming towards our houses, what are we going to do? and we can't do anything. >> reporter: the firefight continued from the ground and in the air. these crucial water drops keep the fire under control. residents worry about the ongoing dry conditions and severe drought. >> we're all on pins and needles, i mean, i could have a fire around my house, too. >> reporter: the battle raging, but some on the front lines pausing to pay their respects to one of their own. new york firefighter,

18-year-old darriel vasquez losing his life while trying to fight the fire. >> it's not over until it's over. >> it ain't over until it's over. >> and our thanks to george for that report. there are storms brewing this morning. michelle's here with your morning forecast. >> we are stormy in the south today. you could see radar lit up this morning. we have severe thunderstorm watches, severe thunderstorm warning, tornado watches and warning. at this hour, where you see the red box. that is a tornado warning. lots of lightning, too, along this front here. we have a cold front moving through. it's a strong one. and e're going to see the risk continue throughout the day. it will stretch to the upper midwest later today. but heavy rain is falling here. where you see the darker returns, the reds, the yellow, the the oranges, that is leading to heavy rainfall. 6 million people impacted by flood alerts. places like tulsa, oklahoma city, lubbock, down to abilene could see the chance for flash

flooding. 9 million at risk for severe weather today. winds gusting up to 60 miles per ho. especially wheurre warm, too. well above normal into the 60s near 70 in d.c. and richmond. all right. that's your monday forecast. >> thanks so much, michelle. >> sure. cinci fans almost got the game of a lifetime on sunday night football. >> second and ten, chargers bring four. burrow retreats, directs, fires for chase! he's got it! touchdown cincinnati! the combo connects again! and the bengals right back in this one!

>> the bengals were down 6-25 against the chargers heading into the second half when joe burrow took over. cinci stormed back to tie it, 27-27 in the fourth. but it was another heartbreaker for the bengals. l.a. running back, jk dobbins put it on ice with the touchdown. chargers win it 34-27. and it took 11 weeks, but the bills finally cracked the code to beating the chiefs. kc qb patrick mahomes threw three touchdown passes, but josh allen was flawless for buffalo. >> now taking off, going to run for it. he got it, and there he goes. inside the ten, the five! oh, the play of the year in the nfl! >> that put it out of reach for the chiefs. bills hands kc their first loss since last christmas, winning it 30-21. "early today" is back in a minute with the e. coli outbreak linked to carrots, and

mcdonald's cooks up a comeback after its own e. coli outbreak. ♪♪ mmmmmmm. repeat the sounding joy. [laughters] kinder joy. [laughters] open a world of surprise. this charmin ultra soft smooth tear has wavy edges. it's no ordinary square. charmin ultra soft smooth tear has wavy perforations that tear so much better, with more cushiony softness. enjoy the go, with charmin. sometimes jonah wrestles with falling asleep... ...so he takes zzzquil. the world's #1 sleep aid brand. and wakes up feeling like himself. get the rest to be your best with non-habit forming zzzquil. ♪ ♪ swiffer duster traps 4x more dust, for a clean even mom approves of. that reach! making hard to reach... so easy. swiffer. wow. the mother of all cleans. love it or your money back!

we are back with a consumer alert. greenway farms has recalled organic carrots linked to an e. coli outbreak that has infected 39 people across several states. at least one person died and 15 others were hospitalized. the carrots were sold in stores including trader joe's, whole foods and wegman's. the baby carrots have a best buy date of september 11 to november 12. the farms says they are reviewing their growing, harvesting practicing and are working with suppliers and health officials. it's all eyes on the most valuable company today. but first, mcdonald's is going on a spending spree to win back customers after its e. coli outbreak. karen gilchrist is there with the details. good morning, karen. >> good morning, frances.

yes, mcdonald's is trying to create a happier meal experience for consumers. they are be investing $100 million to improve the outlook after the outbreak linked to onions in the quarter pounders. it will go toward the hardest-hit franchises where people were made sick and one person died. the remainder of the money will be going to improving health and safety protocols nationwide and improving supply chains. the fda says there are no continued concerns about health and safety at these restaurants, but certainly, it did hit mcdonald's sales hard, and they are hoping the new measures will help improve the safety outlook and improve customer demand. elsewhere, nvidia at the forefront of the earnings docket this week with reports, with earning reports due on wednesday. now, investors will be seeing or

expecting, rather, an increase in revenues for the third quarter. but they'll also be taking a close look at demand for its a.i. blackwell chips, which the ceo has described as a game changer for the industry. but there have been also reports of overheating of these chips, which will potentially be a concern, too. but really, investors will be looking at this report as a bellwether for the wider industry and ongoing demand for a.i. frances, back to you. >> karen, thank you. still to come, a long-lost album could see the light of day soon. the new release from the late great mac miller. and jake paul and mike tyson stepped into the ring, but it was netflix who emerged the victor. emerge as you, with clearer skin. with tremfya®, most people saw 100% clear skin... ...that stayed clear, even at 5 years. serious allergic reactions and increased risk of infections may occur. before treatment, your doctor should check you for infections and tb.

tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu-like symptoms or if you need a vaccine. emerge with clear skin. ask your doctor about tremfya®. ♪♪ ♪♪ [laughters] mom. ♪♪ mmmmmmm. repeat the sounding joy. [laughters] kinder joy. [laughters] open a world of surprise. jordan's sore nose let out a fiery sneeze, so dad grabbed puffs plus lotion to soothe her with ease. puffs plus lotion is gentle on sensitive skin and locks in moisture to provide soothing relief. a nose in need deserves puffs indeed. america's #1 lotion tissue. dad i got a huge barbeque wing stain. this bottle says i need to pretreat. that stuff has way more water. a little bit of tide goes a long way, so you can save your shirt and maybe even a little money. moat the... library.s right... for a better clean with less... it's got to be tide. many remedies you take for chest congestion only mask the symptoms. you're gonna love this property.

try this. mucinex 12 hour treats the mucus that causes chest congestion for all-day relief. ahhh! mucinex in, mucus out! treat the cause. [♪♪] did you know, serums are concentrated with powerful ingredients to visibly improve your skin? try olay super serum. for five powerful ingredients in one, it hydrates, improves texture and evenness, while also firming and smoothing. try olay super serum. mom's gonna love this! alright kids come on. it's time for bed! ( ♪♪ ) good morning, mr. snuggles. make breakfast special with the cocoa and hazelnutty goodness of nutella. ( ♪♪ )

jake paul, 12 of 53. 23%. coming aggressively. tyson, 7 of 34. 18%. >> the boxing match between jake paul and mike tyson punched

above its weight for netflix. 60 million households tuned in. and it was streamed in more than 6,000 bars and restaurants in the u.s., setting the record for the largest sports commercial distribution. gate fees surpassed 18 million in revenue, making it the biggest box gate in history outside of nevada. now given that so many people tuned in for this, what's next, right? >> that's exactly what i was thinking. >> eight transfusions before this? >> he said he didn't want to die in the hospital, he'd rather die in the ring. over the weekend, during tyler the creator's camp, a two and a half-minute trailer

advertised that mac's lost work would be released soon. he posted the instagram page back in september 2018, and mac quickly became a fan, commenting "need that." all those years ago. >> it's going to be bittersweet. people wanting to hear that music but knowing that the loss there, and how we lost mac miller. up next, why workers at vegas hotels are going on strike. and conan o'brien will be making his debuts at the oscars as the next host. and their families with life-changing programs and services. i faced my ptsd, and i'm a better husband and father because of it. we help warriors get the expert care and support to thrive. i got involved. i got healthier. i got to be an athlete again. through our programs, community and advocacy, we're proving anything is possible. learn more at wounded warriorproject.org/connect ♪♪ vicks vapostick

provides soothing non-medicated vicks vapors. easy to apply for the whole family. vicks vapostick. and try new vaposhower max for steamy vicks vapors. hi. i use febreze fade defy plug. and i use this. febreze has a microchip to control scent release so it smells first-day fresh for 50 days. 50 days!? and its refill reminder light means i'll never miss a day of freshness. ♪ ♪♪ [laughters] mom. ♪♪ mmmmmmm. repeat the sounding joy. [laughters] kinder joy. [laughters] open a world of surprise. (vo) kate made progress with her mental health, but her medication caused unintentional movements in her face, hands, and feet called tardive dyskinesia, or td. so her doctor prescribed austedo xr— a once-daily, extended-release td treatment for adults. ♪ as you go with austedo ♪ austedo xr significantly reduced kate's td movements.

some people saw a response as early as 2 weeks. with austedo xr, kate can stay on her mental health meds— (kate) aww! hi buddy! (vo) austedo xr can cause depression, suicidal thoughts, or actions in patients with huntington's disease. pay close attention to and call your doctor if you become depressed, have sudden changes in mood, or have suicidal thoughts. don't take if you have liver problems, are taking reserpine, tetrabenazine, or valbenazine. austedo xr may cause irregular or fast heartbeat, or abnormal movements. seek help for fever, stiff muscles, problems thinking, or sweating. common side effects include inflammation of the nose and throat, insomnia and sleepiness. ♪ as you go with austedo ♪ ask your doctor for austedo xr. ♪ austedo xr ♪ can your pad absorb everything and stay fresh? always flexfoam can. it's the only pad made with a flexible foam core that locks in blood and sweat while the top stays dry. keeping you up to 100% leak and odor free. see what foam can do for you. incoming dishes. —ahhh! —duck! dawn powerwash flies

through 99% of grease and grime in half the time. yeah, it absorbs grease five times faster. even replaces multiple cleaning products. ooh, those suds got game. dawn powerwash. the better grease getter. many remedies you take for chest congestion only mask the symptoms. you're gonna love this property. try this. mucinex 12 hour treats the mucus that causes chest congestion for all-day relief. ahhh! mucinex in, mucus out! treat the cause. here's what's making headlines this morning. hospitality workers at virgin hotels las vegas remain on strike after staging a walkout last friday. nearly 700 workers hit pickett lines to fight for better pay and more workplace protections. the union is negotiating a new five-year contract, but virgin hotels has failed to offer raises comparable to other las vegas resorts. the u.s. postal service is

honoring betty white with her own stamp. it will be available in 2025. gladiator two's host is set to host "saturday night live" with shaboozey. it will mark the first episode after a three-week thanksgiving hiatus. conan o'brien has been named as the next host of the 97th oscars. he takes over the reins from jimmy kimmel. the oscars will air on march 2nd, live on abc. "early today" will be right back. mom's gonna love this! alright kids come on. it's time for bed! ( ♪♪ ) good morning, mr. snuggles. make breakfast special with the cocoa and hazelnutty goodness of nutella. ( ♪♪ ) did you know, sweat from stress anis actually smelliers than other kinds of sweat? that's why i use secret clinical antiperspirant. it works on sweat from: stress, heat and activity. it provides 3x stress sweat protection.

secret works. [♪♪] my kids can't hide anything from me. i'm home! especially when they've been using toilet paper that doesn't hold up. new charmin ultra strong has a diamond-weave texture that's more durable and it cleans better* so you can use less. enjoy the go with charmin. you've got a pepto predicament, ace. you overdid it on the loaded fries and now your gut is in the gutter. undo it with pepto fast melts. so you can keep on rolling. [bowling pins knocked down] when you overdo it, undo it with pepto bismol. we are back with good news

about sacrifice and second chances. our hallie jackson tells us about the mom to stepped in to help strangers when they needed it the most. >> how are you? >> reporter: when sandy flash and katie white met for the very first time at the cleveland clinic, there was not a dry eye in the house. that's because these two strangers shared an unbreakable bond. >> hello! >> reporter: sandy, that's her there, had donated part of her liver to give katie's toddler, sonny, a second chance at life. take me to the day when you meet sandy. >> when i saw her, we're both, you know, crying and, there was sort of this instant connection. >> reporter: sandy, i see you nodding your head. what was it like for you? >> it was relief. it was joy. mom's mom. you know, just, it was

incredible. >> reporter: though they'd never met. katie and sandy had more in common than they could have imagined. sandy felt called to donate after her husband jim got a life-saving liver transplant two years ago. she didn't know who her gift would help. but, in her heart knew there was no other option. >> i was willing to give to anyone who was in eed. and brought me right back to waiting for my husband to go into a transplant surgery. and i just focussed on calming those nerves for them. and sending them prayers. >> reporter: those prayers, a blessing for 3 month old sonny, battling liver disease, a transplant his only option. >> everything happened so quickly. >> reporter: it was only days until the family found out sonny had a match. katie calling sandy the family's guardian angel. now, all of them together celebrating sonny's recovery and

bright future ahead. >> sonny is the most happy, bubbling, joyous little guy. and i just wanted to just squeeze him. >> reporter: and katie, what are your hopes for sonny and his relationship with sandy? >> i hope that i get to share, you know, sonny's first day of kindergarten with sandy. you know, all the way up through high school graduation, his wedding, all that's possible. >> ll that for the power of kindness inside and out. our thanks to hallie jackson for sharing that story. coming up, we go inside the behind the scenes of a player. thanks for being up very early with me. i'm frances rivera. have a great mday. see on

barely