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watching. i'm tom llamas in stay right there. more news on the way. there. more news on the way. the department of education, the next target for massive federal cuts. roughly half of the staff expected to be laid off. and the trade wars loom on. new tariffs going into effect hours ago. and why the president is down playing recession concerns. signs of progress in ukraine peace talks. the u.s. restarting intelligence sharing, as ukraine indicates it's willing to accept a 30-day cease-fire with russia. but, will russia be on board? we have a live report with the latest. the new changes coming to washington, d.c. airspace after january's horrific crash between a military helicopter and a jetliner. what the ntsb and transportation secretary are now recommending. the new warning this morning about a plant-based supplement

growing in popularity, now blamed in hundreds of deaths. what you need to know about credo. and your favorite beer could soon cost extra bucks. how they are bracing for aluminum tariffs. "early today" starts right now. good morning. glad you're with me. i'm frances rivera. it is day 52 of the second trump administration. and the federal government is about to shrink even more. the education department says it is cutting about half of its workforce. roughly 1300 employees are being terminated and asked to clean out theirxd desks today. about 600 more people took offers to resign or retire. around 3,000 employees work in d.c. about a thousand are in regional offices across the country. meanwhile, the trade war is not cooling off. 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports went into

effect as of midnight. peter alexander kicks off our ]i coverage. >> reporter: with the market suffering another significant slide days after president trump would not rule out a possible recession, the president with a different take. >> do you think there will be a recession? >> i don't see it at all. i think this country's going to boom. >> reporter: all of it punctuating another round of whiplash in president trump's trade war with canada. the president announcing he would double the tariffs on canadian aluminum and steel retaliation after canada slapped m on electricity going to three u.s. states. >> if the united states escalates, i will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely. >> reporter: president trump posting, can you imagine canada stooping so low as to use electricity that so affects the life of innocent people as a bargaining chip and threat? ontario's leader backing down, saying he's suspending that electricity surcharge on the u.s. >> we have to stop the bleeding. we have to make sure we protect

both countries. and, as we're, we're duking it out back and forth, china's laughing. >> reporter: president trump scrapping his threat to double the tariffs on canada. the president sharing those plans while promoting teslas at the white house, one of which he says he'll buy. >> that is the coolest design. >> reporter: a show of support- for one of his most powerful advisors, elon musk, and police investigating a series of attacks on tesla showrooms and vehicles. >> he's an incredible patriot. >> some say they should be labeled domestic terrorists. labeled domestic terrorists. >> i'll do it.tp>> reporter: in mark leads the local union. >> it's going to create jobs over time. if tariffs weren't imposed, i think steelworkers would lose their jobs in many cases. >> reporter: the united auto

workers is also backing the trump tariffs. but martinez spent hundreds of thousands of dollarssfm÷4x[[ stg lumber. how are these threats of tariffs impacting you? >> we have a ping-pong approach. we can't operate in that arena. there's no certainty. a six-month funding bill narrowly passed in the house. the measure will need bipartisan support in the senate, where it needs 60 votes to pass. some democrats have signaled they are open to voting yes. democrat john fetterman says he will vote for the bill. to msnbc's stephanie ruhle. >> we don't agree with what's been sent to us, but, you know, if we withhold our votes, that is going to shut the government down. i would see that it become for democrats, we're going to burn

the village down just to saveí>w it. >> the government is set to run out of funding on friday if congress does not act. a possible breakthrough involving the war in ukraine. ukraine announcing it's agreed to president trump's 30-day cease-fire plan. and the u.s. now reinstating american military aid and intelligence sharing. now all eyes are on russia after president trump said ujis yesterday. >> hopefully president puth7qhç will agree to that also. and we can get this show on the road. >> for more, let's bring in nbc's matt bodner, good morning, matt. >> reporter: frances, good morning. the outcome of yesterday's talks certainly looked like a major turn around for the ukrainians. ukraine has also agreed to a u.s. proposal for a total cease-fire, lasting 30 zv"ays, provided russia agrees to it and actually adheres to it. that is now the major question hanging over this entire process. over the past month or so, trump

has very publicly antagonized ukrainians and every single u.s. ally in europe to such an extent that it has undermined europe's faith in america as an ally. moscow has been watching all of this. and on russian state television, trump has regularly beenr celebrated as our guy, doing russia's government for them, sabotaging ukraine. nearly every proposal by the trump administration, ukraine or the european allies on how to move forward with a peace plan has been publicly shot down by the russian officials. it's unclear what putin's next move will be. but ukrainians seem to have succeeded inçó directing the trp administration's attention towards russia for now. russia's demands at least publicly have not changed since the start of the war. trump has said in broad terms that russia must make concessions too, but he hasn't been specific as to what those look like. if russia refuses the proposal,

it remains to be seen if trump will lash outx-.a+7■ at putin l lashed out at zelenskyy. in may of 2022, payton gendron murdered black people at a racist attack in buffalo. he is serving 11 life sentences without the possibility of parole. federal charges include a hate crime resulting in death and the use o a firearm to commit murder. if convicted, he could face the death penalty. new details in the search for a missing u.s. college student in the dominican republic. new surveillance video appears to show sudiksha konanki's last location at the punta cana beac■ resort. she was last seen on the beach with people she met during her trip. police say there were no signs ofñi violence where konanki disappeared. local and u.s. authorities are

expanding their efforts as the search enters a sixth day. six weeks after that mid-air crash between an army helicopter and an american airlines plane, the secretary of transportation announced he is permanently limiting helicopter flights around washington, d.c. sean duffy said it is a necessary move after the tragedy. >> we're going tojr make sure we've learned from this air disaster. we're going to pay it forward so there's not other families that have to go through the pain and anguish of losing a loved one like these families had to go through. >> the faa will also roll out a.i. to identify close call trends nationwide. that's after the ntsb reported that there had been more than 15,000 so-called close proximiti events between helicopters and planes at reagan national in just three years. now to an update on those two american astronauts who have been waiting for a ride home from the international space

station for months now. a spacex rocket is set to come get them, making final preparations to launch as early as tonight. butch wilmore and suni williams have been stuck on the iss since june. with their departure imminent, suni williams handed over control to a russian astronaut. >> hopefully we did you proud. to the next commander, alexei, thank you for your [speaking in a global language] . >> an exact date for their return to earth has not yet been announced. the handover on the iss typically lasts several days. it is a soggy start to the day on the west coast. >> we indeed have a whole lot of rain and snow for our friends out west. plenty of winter alerts so far this morning, and those are going to stay there as we gear up for the next system that's going to work onshore as the day goes on. there's the heavy rain

stretching all the way up the coast. it's rain,ñcind and snow with this system. and of course that flood threat will be there for parts of southern california as we get into the day tomorrow. no surprise we've got flood alerts for 21 million people, including the los angeles area at this time. as we get through, basically, the next day or so, we'll see the potential for flooding, significant debris floes are possible, rock slides, mudslides all on the table as we gear up for the potential of 3 or maybe 4 inches of rain. we'll see the potential for severe threat across texas, in r. high 70s from charlotte to charleston. 75 degrees in mobile this afternoon. and that's a look at your forecast, frances, back to you.

>> okay, angie, thank you. coming up, the moving memorial celebrating the life of roberta flak. but first we're back in a minute with the growing calls to regulate the herbal supplement the cadbury bunnybe cuz only he brings delicious cadbury crème eggs while others may keep trying.. (animal noises continue) nobunny knows easter better than cadbury for years, one supplement claimed it improved memory. but the truth? it can't support those claims. choose neuriva plus — which supports six brain health indicators, including memory, with clinically tested ingredients. it's time to switch to neuriva. ♪ [feel me flow by naughty by nature] ♪ including memory, with clinically tested ingredients. ♪ here we go ♪ ♪ now holla if you hear me though ♪ ♪ come and feel me flow ♪ ♪ here we go ♪ ♪ now holla if you hear me though ♪ ♪ heyyyyyyyyy ♪ alice loves the scent of gain so much, she wished there was a way to make it last longer.

say hello to your fairy godmother alice, and long-lasting gain scent beads. part of the irresistible scent collection from gain. . we are back with growing calls for regulation amid safety concerns over a low-cost, plant-based substance known as kratom. it can be used as a stimulant or sedative and is legal in much of the u.s. steven romo explains. >> i'll never forget those words. he's not responded. >> reporter: nearly two years ago, trish's son cj collapsed at work and died at just 33. >> i'm confident that it was kratom that killed him. >> reporter: sold readily at smoke shops, convenience stores and gas stations, kratom is derived from a plant from southeast asia and often marketed as a supplement to boost energy, manage pain and even possibly help kick

addictions. it can be bought in liquid, tablet or powder form. small doses, the dea says, pride a stimulant effect. high doses, a sedative effect. it's axd $16 billion industry b 2032. cj was taking a concentrated liquid form for painor breaking his arm in 2021. did he say it was helping? >> he did say it was helping. he wrote in that text it's helping. >> reporter: an autopsy found he died from cardiac arrest due to mixed drug intoxication, including krato the other substances were doctor-prescribed medications he'd been taking for years. >> we found, i would say, hundreds of empty bottles o kratom. >> reporter: she's now suing the maker of the kratom her son took andxl■ pushing for a bill that would prohibit the sale of kratom in new jersey, like in these six states and washington, d.c. >> take it off the shelves, it's as simple as that.

>> reporter: but down in houston, madeline credits kratom for saving her life. she turned to kratom to deal with chronic back pain after stopping prescription opioids. >> my neck and back, taking t8fz high-powered opioids, my pain level on a good day would be a six. when i was using kratom, my pain level seriously goes to zero. >> i wouldn't want my kid going into a gas station, picking up a concentrated extract and chugging the whole thing. >> reporter: professor chris mccurdy at the university of florida has studied kratom for years. in low doses it'sñi about as addictive as coffee, but there isn't enough research or these new higher-dose products. cdc data from 2023 shows 37 states and washington d.c. have 1,151 overdose deaths in which kratom was detected. but kratom's contribution to these deaths is unclear.

the fda doesn't regulate it but warns the public against the use áz for mid treatment. >> the products are on the market because they are treated at this time as a food or a dietary ingredient. >> reporter: the kratom asciation accuses the fdas of a relentless campaign to keep kratom off the market rather than ensuring consumer safety. the fda did not respond to(nai request for comment. skolar says she's far from the only success story, but even shz agrees more laws are needed. >> my son died, and he shouldn't have died. >> reporter: steven romo, freehold, new jersey. the tariff trouble brewing for the beer industry, and his tour dates are moving out. why billy joel is postponing shows this year.

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♪ strumming my pain ♪ ♪ with his fingers ♪ ♪ singin' my life with his words ♪ ♪ ♪ >> the celebration of life of roberta flak wouldn't be complete without one of her greatest admirers. the former fugees paidtribute with "the first time i ever saw your face", and of course, "killing me softly." it was followed by stevie wonder. it could not be more fitting to have all those figures and the iconic songs sung for her. lights are going out for billy joel temporarily. the legendary singer-songwriter announcing he's postponing eight tour dates as he recovers from surgery and undergoes physical therapy for an undisclosed medical condition.

the date span from this november to next july. the 75-year-old joel says while his health comes first, he looks forward to getting back on stage. he loves performing. and so, of course, he's going to prioritize his health and get better. but he will, for sure, be back out there. >> he is non-stop even before that. up next, tsa agents discover an unwelcome stow away before takeoff. plus southwest is pulling the rip cord on a policy that made the airline unique. omise to oury blue - that we would create the best pet food we possibly could, made with the finest natural ingredients and none of the things you find in many other pet foods. we call it the true blue promise and it's our commitment to feed your pet just like we would feed blue. it's what makes blue buffalo unlike other pet food companies... ...which have many different brands with different standards. we have one standard —the one inspired by our boy blue, for the wellbeing of your dog or cat. because like you, we love them like family, too.

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the suit is citing a december 2024 study by gmo science and the group moms across america, which tested 25 samples sold in three states. the study was not published in a scientific journal and not peer reviewed and used small sample size. the non-profit addressed the study in a february blog post, saying in part the cookies are safe to consume and adhere to food safety standards set by the fda. southwest airlines is ending its bags fly free policy beginning may 28. only certain reward members will be able to get their bags checked for free. a pennsylvania man was caught with a live turtle in his pants while going through security at the airport. the turtle was confiscated and the man was escorted away by police and missed his flight. me! ( ♪♪ ) good morning, mr. snuggles. make breakfast special with the cocoa and hazelnutty goodness of nutella.

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new trouble brewing today at u.s. breweries as steel and aluminum tariffs go into effect. beer makers bracing for another hit on key ingredients. nbc bay area's jody hernandez looks at how it could impact the price you pay. >> i love beer. i think, for me, beer is, i like the taste of beer. and i like the way, you know, for me, beer is just part of our family, part of our culture, and we just, we enjoy a good beer. >> reporter: but enjoying a pint of your favorite brew could soon mean digging deeper into your pockets. tariffs on canadian goods that are key components to brewing some of your favorites are about to kick in. >> for us, as a small company, you know, these tariffs are terrifying in many ways. >> this is all made from barrels that we age beer in.

>> reporter: the owner of cali craft brewing company based in walnut creek says the trade war brewing between the u.s. and canada has him incredibly uneasy. president trump threatenedñ2zá# double the planned 25% tariff on steel and aluminum to 50%, while he later backed off that threat, the stress is mounting. >> i think that's the hardest part of all this. there's no ability to plan, and our head's constantly on a swivel. the biggest problem is aluminum cans. >> reporter: they use millions of aluminum cans from canada every year, and they believe the 25% tariff costs will hit breweries hard. >> our single-post expensive part of a package is aluminum. that's going to really affect, not only our bottom line but the consumer at the end. >> reporter: they also use tons of canadian malt barley, which will also be subject to a 25% tariff next month. >> we specifically use barley that comes from canada because

it's a little plumper, a little richer. a lot of folks in the western united states and throughout the country are using that as well. >> reporter: to make matters even worse? cali craft is currently expanding, with the price of building materials expected to rise, those projects are also going to cost more than budgeted. landberg says while he will absorb some of the rising cost of goods, customers will have to shoulder much of it. >> it will trickle down tob@vc6i consumers, whether we like it or not, and definitely it's not what we want. we're trying to attract consumers rather than push them away. >> reporter: beer drinkers faced with tumultuous times, they won't go cold turkey but will have to adjust their drinking habits. > ourthanks to jodi hernande for that report. coming up on the "today" show, the things unearthed from pompeii. the historic dig ahead on

"today". thanks for wakingp with "early u