llamas in new york. stay there, more news on the way. s on the way. three people killed in new york city.

what police say was an unprovoked stabbing spree perpetrated by one man over the course of several hours. the suspect now in custody. president-elect donald trump putting the final touches on his mass deportation plan and confirming he plans to use the military to carry it out. how it would work. a disturbing pattern of abuse in hospitals. some victims speaking out. what our nbc news investigation uncovered. the thanksgiving travel rush predicted to hit new records this year. how many people are expected to hit the roads and skies next week. and, for those of you who can't get enough of christmas and the christmas season, we take you aboard hallmark's first-everybody star-studded holiday cruise. it's tuesday, november 19th. "early today" starts right now. good morning, i'm frances rivera. we begin today with a fatal new york city stabbing spree that left three dead yesterday. police say ramon rivera went on

an unprovoked stabbing spree just after 8:00 a.m. on manhattan's west side. that's where he allegedly stabbed a 36-year-old construction worker. he then moved across the city on foot. police say he stabbed a 68-year-old man who was fishing by the east river. the third and final victim, a 36-year-old woman was stabbed just before 11:00 a.m. near the united nations headquarters, according to authorities. rivera was arrested shortly after. authorities say he has an extensive criminal record with eight arrests in new york city in the past year. and a documented history of mental health concerns. president-elect trump has picked another fox news host to serve in his cabinet. former wisconsin congressman sean duffy has been chosen for transportation secretary. besides serving four years in congress, duffy's resume includes being a cast member on the real world boston, and

hosting a show on fox business. hallie jackson spoke to an attorney for a witness who testified about matt gaetz. >> reporter: president-elect trump's pick to run the justice department facing an intensifying spotlight, as nbc news has learned the house ethics committee will meet wednesday, according to a source familiar to discuss its investigation into now former florida congressman matt gaetz, the committee investigating allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, which he denies, including that he had sex with a then-17-year-old at a florida party in 2017. john thune wants the report to be released. in a statement, she says she was a high school student and there were witnesses. joel leopard represents one of the witnesses whom nbc news is not naming. >> she was walking outside to the pool, and she observed to her right, her friend, who was 17 at the time, having sex with representative gaetz. they were leaned up to what she described as a game table of some type. >> reporter: leopard says his

clients testified to the house ethics committee this spring. did your client believe that gaetz at the time knew that her friend was underage? >> yes, so the house was curious about that. she testified that her belief was that representative gaetz had no knowledge that she was under 18, that she was 17 years old at the time he was having sex with her. she also testified that when representative gaetz found out that she was under age that they stopped their sexual relationship and did not resume it until after she turned 18. >> reporter: leopard says his clients, both the alleged witness and another woman testified gaetz paid them repeatedly for sex and drugs. the client was asked to record a phone call with mr. gaetz. but prosecutors ultimately declined to bring charges. the department of justice declined to prosecute matt gaetz for these allegations, so how should people square that decision with everything that

you've laid out here today? >> whether or not a federal prosecutor takes a case and decides to move forward on the trial or move forward on an allegation is that particular prosecutor's decision. it doesn't mean they didn't do it. >> reporter: gaetz has long denied the allegations against him, and, in a response to the house ethics committee in september said your correspondence of september 4th asks whether i have engaged in sexual activity with any individual under 18. the answer to this question is unequivocally no, adding that he has not used drugs that are illegal, and writing that the consensual actions of adults are not the congress' business. >> they did testify, both of them, that they consented to the activities. they were also asked whether or not they were victims, and then she broke down if tears and said it's a very complicated

question. >> reporter: did your clients make any assessments about mr. gaetz' fitness or judgment to serve in office? >> they're very careful about what they would express in public, but one did say i do think a man like him should not have that much power. >> our thanks to hallie for that report. today marks one thousand days since the beginning of russia's full-scale attack on ukraine. thousands of ukrainian citizens have died, and over 6 million living abroad as refugees. it comes just a day after president biden made a strong appeal for continued support of ukraine, speaking at the g-20 meeting in brazil yesterday with russia's foreign minister in the room. two officials say biden has authorized ukraine's use of long-range u.s. missiles to hit inside russia after russia launched its largest aerial attack. president-elect trump is already doing ground work to keep a campaign promise. he is putting the final touches on his plan to use the military to mass deport uments

migrants. >> reporter: he responded true to a post saying he will declare a national emergency and use military assets to deport undocumented immigrants. he's pledged to start with convicted criminals. >> on day one, i will launch the largest deportation program of criminals in american history. >> reporter: trump's new border czar said he's heading to mar-a-lago this week to put final touches on the plan. >> we will prioritize public safety threats and national security threats. second thing is secure that border. lock that border down. >> reporter: two sources familiar with the planning tell nbc news the incoming trump administration is already talking to private prison companies about drastically expanding immigrant detention centers to use for a short period of time between arrest and deportation. the administration also considering restarting family detention. democrats are blasting the deportation plan. >> the idea that soldiers are going to be carrying out these types of deportations, i think, number one, it's just not

something that we in the united states are used to seeing. >> reporter: it all comes as some of trump's cabinet picks face mounting scrutiny. an attorney for pete hegseth confirms to nbc news that the combat veteran and former fox news host paid a settlement to a woman last year after she previously accused him of sexual assault in 2017. a california police department says it investigated a sexual assault allegation against hegseth in 2017 and filed no charges. the attorney says hegseth maintains his innocence and that the encounter was consensual, though one senate republican says it could sink his confirmation. >> we'll figure out if can he get confirmed or not. and i do think that pete's a good pick for this position. >> reporter: president-elect trump announced his pick for transportation secretary. former congressman and fox business host sean duffy. >> our thanks to gabe for that report. the gulf coast is bracing for storms this morning. nbc meteorologist angie lassman is tracking the flood threat for us. good morning. >> hi, good morning, frances.

you're exactly right. that's where the alerts are up for coastal mississippi and louisiana. look how strong this system is. we've got an active morning already. and this rain is on the move for the next couple days actually. we'll see showers working into the mid atlantic and heavy rains across parts of the southeast through the day today. as we look ahead to tomorrow, notice that we'll have kind of rain and snow mix across the great lakes and the storms will stretch down into parts of the carolinas. as we get into thursday, new storm systems start to develop off the east coast. this brings, again, the mix of snow and rain across the northeast. this, of course, is beneficial rain for folks that have been dealing with ongoing drought in that region. we'll get about an inch or so across the southeast. same look through the northeast through the middle of the week. looking out west, though, we've got another storm system that's prompted winter alerts. this is a big one. it really starts to ref up as we get through the day.

we're talking gusts up to 70 miles per hour through the next couple days. the charleston and columbus. 62 degrees in philadelphia today. mostly sunny skies in new york city. and that's a look at your forecast, frances, back to you. >> okay, thanks so much, angie. coming up, why the future of spirit airlines is up in the air this. >> morning. ng mni. a 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. ( ♪♪ ) a beard that doesn't itch. and you're using king c. gillette on that thing? king c. gillette?

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didn't do enough to protect them. here's stephanie gosk. >> reporter: paxton greer was at her most vulnerable when she was admitted to trident hospital in charleston, south carolina. >> i had no control over my mind, my body. i was completely helpless. completely. >> reporter: the mother of two had tried to take her own life. she gained consciousness in the er. >> that's kind of when i first remember being there. having this man standing over me, telling me i'm very good at what i do. >> reporter: according to a lawsuit greer later filed, the man was a patient tech. over the next several hours he repeatedly sexually assaulted her, including trapping her in a bathroom. >> there was no doubt he could overpower you if he wanted to in that moment. >> yeah. very shaky, couldn't, couldn't fight back. >> reporter: 71-year-old lanna ray felt similarly helpless in florida's citrus hospital,

admitted with heart condition when nurse hiram bonilla started assaulting her, even blocking the window by taping up a bed pad. security footage shows bonilla going in and out of her room, more than two dozen times in four and a half hours. at one point, it shows bonilla was in her room for 20 minutes. did it occur to you in that moment, i'm, i'm being assaulted by this man? >> absolutely. but i didn't want to make him hurt me, because he kept medicating me. >> reporter: bonilla is serving a 20-year prison sentence for multiple charges in re's case, including molesting an elderly person. in greer's case, the man pleaded not guilty and is held on bond. but these women are speaking out, they say, because the hospitals did not do enough to protect them and didn't believe them when they reported the assaults. >> i was a psych patient who overdosed on medicine that could make you hallucinate. so nobody took me seriously. >> reporter: how does it feel to

have something that traumatic happen to you and not have people listen to you or take you seriously? >> incredibly angry. furious. >> reporter: ray says she repeated her story multiple times to hospital staff. >> i begged people to call the police. please, please. >> reporter: court records show it took six hours for the hospital to call the police. according to court documents, hospital policy lists protocols if there's an allegation of sexual assault. notify police is number 19 out of 26. after things like notify marketing and pull surveillance footage. the hospital says the list is not prioritized. attorney stephan turkheimer from the anti-sexual violence organization says some hospitals don't report allegations at all. >> we don't know the entirety of the problem. >> reporter: aren't hospitals required to report what happens? them? >> yes. >> reporter: the joint commission says assaults reported in hospital settings

are on the rise, increasing 77% over two years. is there something about a hospital setting that makes people particularly vulnerable to sexual assault? >> i think there is. and the reason why is because all your normal protections are being eroded. >> reporter: what's needed is better vetting of employees, he says, and greater supervision with some patients. >> and it's up to the hospitals to provide greater protections in those situations, knowing how vulnerable those people are, because they put them in that position. they created that vulnerability. >> reporter: according to hca health care, the company that runs both trident and citrus medical centers, its employees are given mandatory code of conduct and other training, and there is zero tolerance for any type of sexual misconduct, adding that there is an expectation that incidents be investigated thoroughly but did not specify when law enforcement should be contacted. the man who allegedly assaulted paxton was not arrested until two months later, after he allegedly assaulted another

patient. >> i want justice for what was done to me. i want every hospital to know that these actions are not okay. you need to stick with your policies and procedures and assaults in your hospitals and take them seriously. >> reporter: stephanie gosk, nbc news, summerville, south carolina. still to come, a coca-cola controversy. and can roblox redeem itself? the new tools for parents to ensure their kids stay safe online. sure their kids stay saf online. ymptoms define me... 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®. ♪♪

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♪ ♪ ♪ holidays are coming ♪ ♪ holidays are coming ♪ ♪ holidays are coming ♪ ♪ ♪ >> so coca-cola's latest christmas ads are facing major backlash after viewers noticed their new look. the soda brand reinvented the

commercial "holidays are coming", using generative artificial intelligence. the ad depicts digital trucks, snow, animals and even people. many took to social media saying it is soulless and devoid of any creativity. i have to say when i first heard about this i watched it over, and i go, i don't know. >> i think the people look so real. everything looked really, i mean, if you wouldn't have told me that it was a.i., i wouldn't have known. >> it's one of those things with movies and shows with cgi, you know, it's kind of, technology is kind of taking its place when it comes to this. but i understand rists are like, it's coca-cola, just hire actors. >> it is very festive and got me in the spirit. major changes are coming to the online gaming program roblox that's super popular with children. parents will soon be able to monitor their kids' online activity remotely, set spending

limits and most notably take away the current ability to let kids under 13 get private direct messages from strangers. the company says it will have content labels to help parents know what is age appropriate. a report released last month says the am. ex. poses children to grooming and pornographic images. i'm sure a welcome change for parents. >> the tough part is there are so many games on roblox. to go to each one of them and see how each one of them works is a tough thing but even more work for parents to make sure kids are safe. when we come back, a record-breaking number of people expected to travel for turkey this year. and a new study shows how young adults are being influenced, and it's not just to buy new products. it's not just o buy new products. called tardive dyskinesia, or td. so his doctor prescribed austedo xr— a once-daily, extended-release td treatment for adults. ♪ as you go with austedo ♪

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bankruptcy protection. spirit's ceo says that customers can still book tickets. the airline expect the to exit bankruptcy in the first quarter of next year. aaa is predicting 80 million people will hit the roads and skies this thanksgiving, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. nearly 40% of americans under 30 rely on social media influencers for their news. half are on instagram and 44% on youtube. we'll be right back. we'll be ri. ♪♪ [laughters] mom. ♪♪ mmmmmmm. repeat the sounding joy. [laughters] kinder joy. [laughters] open a world of surprise. do i smell okay? [sniff] mhm. why are you shimmying? oh! unstopables now has odor blocker so i'll feel fresh all day, even after a red eye. we all use unstopables. looks like he does to!

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the hallmark christmas cruise is giving fans of the popular holiday movies a chance to meet some of their favorite stars. sam brock got a sneak peek. >> hi, guys! hi! hello! >> reporter: it's one part community. >> i got this as a christmas gift from my daughter. >> reporter: one part holiday movie mania. >> how many hallmark movies in a given week or month would you say you watch? >> oh, my. of course every weekend, because new ones come out. but then throughout the day and christmas in july. >> hello, hallmark channel! >> reporter: but, in this version, the on-screen actors like jonathan bennett and tyler heinz are actually on board with personalities that can carry a party. >> so much love, so much excitement. the fand mown yum was crazy. >> this universal feeling of joy and love and comradery.

>> reporter: the dream cruise to the bahamas for 2,000-plus passengers, transforming the norwegian cruise line in a matter of hours. it's also a meaningful opportunity to go off script. >> we live in their homes. and like you said, we're on their screens. they feel like they know us. these movies get people through the hardest moments of their lives. >> reporter: and we found that connection immediately. your wife is a big fan? >> a big fan. >> reporter: how much hallmark does she watch? >> she watches a lot. she was actually in the hospital for a long time going through cancer treatments, and during the holidays it really helped. ♪ sleep in heavenly peace ♪ >> reporter: whether it's the power of like-minded company. or the magnetic attraction of a crowd-surfing king of christmas, the hallmark cast has everyone in step, unless they're trying

to teach you the holiday dance from three wise men and a baby. >> you hear that, fellas? >> reporter: in this case, leave the heavy lifting up to tyler heinz, and the man making all of these fans swoon. >> who's driving this thing? >> we are. let's go. >> reporter: clearly there was dancing. they also have bingo, and the finding mr. shipmass activity to find the one guy that truly represents the spirit of christmas on a cruise with about 2,000 women and 200 men. the demand on this thing is 60,000 people on a wait list. the entire system crashed and hallmark has a major announcement coming later in this week for 2025. back to you. >> they could do that christmas crse all yearlong.ui

meeting taking place today