clearinghouse at the capitol. breaking overnight, sources tell nbc news some u.s. attorneys received termination letters, while a judge clears the way for president trump's buyout offers.

we're live in d.c. with the race to shrink the federal workforce, and the growing backlash from democrats. rebooting talks to end russia's war in ukraine. president trump speaking to leaders from both countries to try and kick start peace negotiations. but plenty of questions remain. the parade of paralyzing storms marching across the country. the winter blitz, freezing flights and causing chaos on the roads. our angie lassman is tracking it all. the final moments on titan. the coast guard releasing the chilling sound captured aboard the doomed submarine before it imploded. the opening bell rings deep in the heart of texas. why the new york stock exchange is setting up shop in dallas. and a history of hosts. we're celebrating 50 years of snl, with a look back at some of the biggest names to take the stage. it's thursday, february 13th. "early today" starts right now. . glad you're with me. good morning.

i'm frances rivera. we begin with breaking news. a shakeup within our federal legal system. two sources tell nbc news that some united states attorneys received termination letters. one source says the letters are from the office of presidential personnel at the direction of president trump. it is unclear how many of our nation's 93 federal prosecutors are being terminated. a political appointee for the doj's press office tells nbc news they are looking into it. meanwhile, the white house says about 75,000 federal workers accepted a buyout offer to resign. the deadline closed last night after a federal judge allowed the program to move forward. alice barr joins us now. good morning, alice. is the white house still facing a lot of backlash over the effort to slash government spending? >> reporter: good morning, frances. no question they are. there are growing questions about how much power elon musk has to overhaul the government. and democrats scrutinize the billionaire at the first sub

committee meeting on the departme of government efficiency. democrats are calling this unaccountable overreach, while republicans are praising musk's actions. >> the gravy train for a lot of these folks, it's been on biscuit wheels, and it's about to run off the dad gum tracks, and it's about time. >> it's the billionaires trying to hack that system right now. >> reporter: two employees with the department of housing and urban development told cnbc that cuts are under way at hud. affecting employees who've been there for less than a year or are new in their roles. and employees at the education department say doge staffers have taken over the d.o.e., pushing the highest officials out of their offices, rearranging the furniture and setting up white noise machines to muffle their voices. asked about those arrangements, a department spokesperson said the doge employees have the

necessary clearances. at a swearing-in ceremony for the nation's new intelligence chief, tulsi gabbard, president trump told reporters he wants to see the education department closed immediately, calling the agency a con job. the president has not given evidence for his assertions of waste, fraud and abuse but says there will be a news conference today where he'll give more details. >> what we're going to do is tomorrow i'm having a news conference. i'm going to read to you some of the names that hundreds of millions and even billions of dollars have been given to. there's no chance that there's not kickbacks or something going on. >> reporter: democrats held the senate floor overnight, delivering speeches in protest of president trump's nominee for health secretary. a final vote is scheduled for this morning to confirm robert f. kennedy jr. kennedy will likely be confirmed, expected to be along party lines to take over that job. frances? >> alice, thank you.

president trump says he spoke with the russian president putin for an hour and a half yesterday, agreeing to negotiations to end the war in ukraine. earlier at a nato visit, secretary of state pete hegseth previewed major concessions ahead of talks. >> we must start by recognizing that returning to ukraine's pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective. >> for the latest, let's go to matt bodner. is the u.s. essentially giving away parts of ukraine? >> reporter: that is exactly the question hanging over europe this morning. as ever, trump's statements yeyesterday ave us with more questions than they do answers. for example, what exactly is the u.s. negotiating position? and what is russia willing to offer concessions on? and perhaps most important, what role does ukraine itself get to play in these negotiations? the issue of ukraine's territorial integrity has been central to this conflict since

2014. since the full-scale invasion in 2022, the u.s. and its partners have consistently juggled ukraine's desire to maintain its territory with on-the-ground realities. if trump's statement yesterday represents a meaningful policy shift of any kind, it would be moving away from nato's shared commitment that nothing will be done concerning ukraine without ukraine. pete hegseth said that the goal of restoring the 2014 borders was unrealistic and pursuing the goal would only prolong the war and bring about continued death and destruction. it is worth noting that the vast majority of the people dying are ukrainians. this is happening in their homes, cities and towns every single day and every single night. ukraine is defending itself from an invasion that russia alone

chose to launch. frances? >> matt bodner, thank you. the justice department is suing the state of new york over alleged failure to enforce federal immigration law. u.s. attorney general pam bondi said the lawsuit includes governor kathy hochul, state attorney general latisha james and the head of the dmv. it highlights a green light law. it comes just days after the doj sued illinois over immigration enforcement. governor hochul says she expects bondi's quote, worthless, publicity-driven lawsuit to be a failure. attorney general james says she is prepared to defend state laws and protect the rights of all new yorkers. dozens of policies from the white house are tied up in court, and president trump's former lawyer was grilled on capitol hill. laura jarrett has the latest on the legal showdowns. >> the united states department of justice must protect this

nation. >> reporter: the top doj nominee clashing. >> i will follow the rules as told to me by the experts, career prosecutors in the department when it comes -- >> i've heard that, i've heard that. >> but it's true. >> well, it may be true in the abstract. >> no, it's not abstract. it's true. >> reporter: senators also pressing todd blanche on everything from president trump's recent executive orders to the abrupt firing of multiple watchdogs across agencies. >> do you think he broke the law by firing these inspectors general. >> i don't know. i wasn't part of the decisions that he and the white house counsels made. >> reporter: eight of those federal watchdogs fired by mr. trump banding together in a new lawsuit arguing the president failed to give congress a 30-day heads up required by law. >> igs are independent. we're non-partisan, which means we are the taxpayers' advocates

within each of government agencies. >> reporter: the legal challenges to the president's efforts to reshape the government mounting. the administration now racking up more than 50 civil lawsuits since inauguration day, on everything from the use of guantanamo bay to proposed funding freezes. judges across party lines issuing injunctions, bringing a halt to nearly a dozen different trump policies or actions. >> i follow the courts. i have to follow the law. hopefully the courts will be fair. they don't have to be very fair. they just have to be a little bit fair. because this is so egregious what's taking place. >> reporter: while justice sonya sotomayor warning. >> the court decisions stand, whether one particular person chooses to abide by them or not. it doesn't change the foundation that it's still a court order that someone will respect at some point.

>> our thanks to laura for that report. another military plane accident. this time in california. a u.s. navy growler falling into san diego bay. video shows the plane plunging through thick fog. two pilots were aboard, but both ejected and were rescued by a fishing boat. the navy says both are in good condition. officials are patrolling the area to retrieve the debris from the downed plane. a winter one-two punch is socking the midwest. some areas seeing 10 inches of snow. roads and highways left with mess with wrecks piling up and drivers stranded. airlines delaying 7,000 flights and canceling over 600 more across the country. in virginia, more than 190,000 are still in the dark this morning. and the weather isn't done yet. let's turn to nbc meteorologist angie lassman, who joins us with the latest. we can't get a break here, angie. >> don't worry, summer is almost here, frances. we've only got a little more time to go.

in the meantime, winter alerts for 60 million people focussed along the great lakes and northeast. some of these have expired as the morning goes on. in the meantime, we've got heavy rain across the south. snow for folks in parts of new england. and that's where it's going to be focussed through the day today. we'll see snow setting up downwind of the lakes. we could pick up 4 to 6 to 8 inches in ose locations by the time we wrap up today and into tomorrow. meanwhile, out west, ramping up the next system. plenty of flood alerts across california. notice the heavy rain up and down the state. but t we're most concerned abou parts of southern california of course with those burn scar areas. that's where you'll see the high flood risk across southern california. we'll also see additional snow piling up, not just today but through tomorrow and beyond. this shifts out towards the rockie picking up s, sunny skies in chicago.

low 40s from little rock to memphis. plenty of sunshine for jackson with a high of 51 degrees today. and that's a look at your forecast, frances, back to you. >> appreciate that, angie, thank you. new chilling audio released of the doomed titan submersible as it imploded in the north atlantic ocean nearly two years ago. you'll hear steady static and suddenly interrupted by a boom. . the coast guard says it believes that noise was the titan buckling under the water's pressure, instantly killing all five people aboard. the noaa recording was maid by a the noaa recording was maid by a passive acoustic recorde

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support up to 7 brain health indicators, including memory. when you need to remember, remember neuriva. wall street watching this morning to see if wholesale inflation also picked up in january. consumer prices came in hotter than expected yesterday, up 3% from a year ago. the dow dropping 250 points on the news. the jump in january mostly driven by higher prices for food, energy and shelter. and the bird flu making a big impact. egg prices almost doubling since last year, now nearly 5 bucks for a dozen nationwide. for what else to expect today, let's turn to cnbc's karen gilchrist. good morning, karen. >> good morning, frances. yes, it was a jittery day for markets on wednesday after consumer prices came in hotter than expected. rising 2.9% on the year, ahead

of the 2.9% expected for the year. now stock futures are slightly higher as they await the producer price index, we see them rising naught .2%. this all leading to how the fed is thinking about the fed and itinterest rates going forward. elsewhere, the new york stock exchange plans to launch a stock exchange in texas in a bid to lure new listings. this marks the reincorporation of the new york stock exchange from chicago after 143 years in the city. and it poses a direct threat to the recently announced texas stock exchange which filed with sec last month. it comes amid growing interest from corporate america to move business operations to the lonestar state, which it sees as business friendly.

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♪ ♪ ♪ yeah ♪ ♪ i'm sorry, ms. jackson ♪ ♪ i am for real ♪ ♪ never meant to make you cry ♪ ♪ ♪ >> going to be stuck in your head all day long, and they may call themselves outcasts, but they are on the verge of admittance into one of music's most prestigious clubs.

the iconic hip-hop duo was nominated for the rock 'n roll hall of fame's class of 2025. other first-time nominees include pfish, chubby checker and a mexican rock band. it's shocking when people are like, what, they don't have one? returning nominees, mariah carey, cyndi lauper, oasis, the white stripes. so they're nominated to, let's see. >> now to an actor who once played churchill possibly taking up the wand of another iconic english leader. >> they should have commissioned an artist who is respectful instead of wielding his murderous brush. look at it! >> sources tell deadline that six-time emmy winner, john lithgow is in talks to play dumbledore in the upcoming har

potter adaptation -- hbo declined to comment on the report. the highly expected series is expected to debut late next year. it seems like a good fit for dumbledore. >> they announced it in 2023, and none of the cast, actors have been anunced officially yet. that would be a great one. i could totally see it happening. when we come back, your morning cup of coffee could get more expensive. and the chances of an asteroid striking earth in the next decade has doubled in a few weeks. decade has doubled in a f weeks. hi zoe. how can i help you today? do you know if there's a less expensive option for my new medicare prescription? medicare? really? i might have tsee some i.d. mr. lee. here, let me check on that for you. okay, so i will give your doctor's office a call... this is not just help with a medicare prescription. thk u zoe. anytime. bye! this is the human kind of help.

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the platform after january 6. joann fabrics is closing stores due to bankruptcy. coffee prices are expected to hike. and an asteroid is on a collision course with earth. the likelihood of it striking recent doubl, a 2.3% chance of it strikes. bled, a 2.3% chan of it strikes. oe vera line is changing the game. up to five days of msture and no wash days in between? let's see about that. day two, headed to work, but i feel like i'm about to drop a hit single. all the cuties are at the run club. good thing these curls are curling. can you believe this is day five? i think i could go even longer. up to five days of lasting moisture. endless possibilities. imagine what you could do in five days. can neuriva support your brain health? mary, janet, hey! die, n frasier, frank.

frank? —fred, how are you? —fred! support up to 7 brain health indicators, including memory. when you need to remember, remember neuriva. a mystery! jessie loves playindetective. but the real mystery was her irritated skin. so, we switched to tide free & gentle. it cleans better, but the real mystery was her irritated skin. and doesn't leave behind irritating residues. and it's gentle on her skin. tide free and gentle liquid is epa safer choice certified. it's gotta be tide. 50 yearsf "saturday night live" has added up to a whopping 980 episodes. and each one of those had a host front and center. mark barger has a look at the

history behind the tradition. >> talk about a live show. >> reporter: george carlin was the first. but more than 650 actors, hletes, musicians and others have followed, hosting snl. >> the emotions are insane, between laughing, crying, puking. it's azing. >> reporter: alec baldwin has hosted the most. >> ts is my 17th time. >> reporter: 25 others have hosted at least five times. martin short's the latest to earn the five-timers jacket. >> it's live television, anything can happen. >> reporter: michael keaton's taken the reins four times. each in a different decade. >> it opates so smoothly now. it's insane. they do this every week. well, almost every week. >> reporter: weeks that are demanding for a host. even stage veterans. >> it's like being shot from a

cannon. >> reporter: drew barrymore experienced it. >> i love video games. >> reporter: when she was just 7, snl's young est host. while 88-year-old betty white n a grassroots campaign to become the oldest host. the most unlikely host was an 80-year-old grandmother from louisiana. viewers picked her as the anyone host contest in 1977. >> i promise you, i'm going to give you everything. >> reporter: duaipa is among the 49 performers who've doubled >> double the dua, double the lipa. >> it's a lot. i'm takingt day by day and enjoying every moment. >> reporter: a collection of moments. >> hey, you're the boss. >> reporter: that make snl unlike any other.

>> it's probably very cliche and cheesy, but it is a dream come true. >> to be a part of it and part of the history is cool. >> reporter: a history that still is being written. mark barger, nbc news. >> i love seeing all those hosts outside their element, doing accents, impersonations. so fun. we are celebrating 50 years of "saturday night live" all week long. coming up, heidi gardner is in the house. and you can catch the special sunday night at 8:00 eastern. so much fun. thanks for watching "early today." i'm frances rivera. have a great thursday. see you back herearly tomorrow moe rn i'm tom llamas in new york.

stay right there. more news on the way. re news on. the second round of winter storms socks the midwest with snow, ice and frigid temperatures. meteorolist angie lassman is tracking that storm's impact on the east coast this