what is behind this wild weather? cruz control. a major shakeup in iowa. ted cruz skyrocketing in a new poll, now leading donald trump by ten points. with 50 days to go until the iowa caucuses. this morning, what it all means as the race to the white house shifts into high gear. missed warning signs? san bernardino attacker tashfeen malik openly posted online she wanted to take part in violent jihad before she entered the u.s. why was she let in? bushwhacked! >> the field of republicans out there is so messed up, i figured ed ed, it makes you miss me, doesn't it? >> will ferrell making a surprise return to "saturday night live." all the laughs from one of our favorite performers today, sunday, december 13th, 2015. >> announcer: from nbc news,

1a in rockefeller plaza. welcome to "today" on a beautiful sunday morning here in new york. i'm erica hill. >> glad to have you with us. i'm craig melvin alongside sheinelle jones and dylan dreyer. we'll get to more will ferrell in a moment. we'll apologize to the warriors. we jinxed them yesterday. >> you said -- >> yeah. >> the warriors had, of course, been on this unbelievable streak. they'd won 28 in a row, the longest season-opening winning streak in nba history. they lost last night to the bucks. we won't be talking about any more streaks on the broadcast. >> i don't know about "we." our top story, the twisters in texas. record heat in the east. there could be more severe weather and sweltering temperatures again today. this has been a crazy december

>> it's part nino pattern. there were two reported tornadoes in texas, but it only takes one to cause damage. you can see this run that raced across the highway. it tore off roofs. we've seen downed trees and power lines and a lot of, unfortunately, home damage that now we have to clean up the whole area. very severe storms. it wasn't just the tornadoes, but also the gusty winds that caused the damage, as well. the setup is like this, we have warm weather on the eastern half of the country and cooler air behind it. it's the clash through central texas, where we saw some of the strongest storms yesterday. we have heavy rain clearing out of dallas, moving to eastern texas, eastern oklahoma. this is going to be a rainy day, but not the severity of the storms we dealt with yesterday. we could see two to three inches of rain in arkansas. three to four in northeastern iowa. we're going to see record-breaking temperatures.

with highs running 15 to 25 degrees above average. we'll eventually get into a more normal pattern as we go through the end of the week, with temperatures cooling off. but we are probably going to see upwards of 35 to 40 record highs today. >> wow. we'll come back to you in a bit. >> thanks. turning now to politics and a shakeup in iowa. a new poll shows republican front runner donald trump now trailing texas senator ted cruz by ten points. the dramatic shift comes after trump's latest controversial. kristen welker breaks it down for us this morning. >> good morning. donald trump tried to discredit the poll that shows him trailing cruz, but it could show signs of trouble for trump. it was taken december 7th dlut through the 10th, after trump's controversial comments about banning muslims from the u.s.

moines register" poll, ted cruz leads trump by ten points, 31% to 21%. this after trump said all muslims should be banned from entering the u.s. a controversial position he defended in south carolina on saturday. >> now, all of a sudden, everyone is coming and saying, you know he's right. >> reporter: trump called the poll bias and slammed another survey which showed him in the lead. the cruz campaign said it's a testament to the fact that cruz's message is working. trump and cruz have avoided criticizing each other until recently, with cruz questioning trump's judgment during a private fundraiser. trump tried to undermine cruz's evangelical status. >> i like ted cruz, but not a lot of evangelicals come out of cuba, in all fairness. >> reporter: trump's other gop attacks.

criticized trump's policy. >> it's outlandish and offense. >> reporter: the democratic race is also heating up. vermont senator bernie sanders topping secretary hillary clinton in a recent new hampshire poll. while he continues to draw policy distinctions with clinton, on saturday, he saved his jabs for the republican front runner. >> trump and other demagogues attempting to divide this country, that is disgusting, unacceptable and, as a nation, we must reject it. >> the other headline from the iowa poll, dr. ben carson, who was once a top candidate, has plunged a stunning 15 points, to take third place in the state, with many caucus goers saying he doesn't have the foreign policy credentials to lead. will we see trump step up his attacks against ted cruz more? >> kristen, thank you.

we should note that donald trump is still ahead in just about republicans. let's look at iowa here. we've got that "des moines mentioned. give us the state of the race state. >> i think we're seeing that ted cruz has done what mike huckabee did before him, and rick santorum in 2012 and 2008, representatively. ted cruz emerged as the favorite of evangelicals. in iowa, that means you win, when you're the favorite of evan evangelicals evangelicals. it's an important voting block in the republican party, not a majority majority. becoming the candidate of evangelicals is enough to win iowa, enough to win states, but not enough to win the nomination. ted cruz himself knows this. but this will be the first time that the evangelical candidate has had organization and money.

look, i think what the iowa poll tells us is what we expected. there was going to be an evangel evangelical conservative to emerge. that's cruz. trump is in his own category. we're waiting to see about the establishment part of the party. it looks like it's going to be rubio, but it's not a done deal. >> let's talk democrats and go to new hampshire. there's a new poll showing hillary clinton at 52% right now. she's up 20 points now over bernie sanders. is this race hers to lose at this point, chuck? >> well, those new hampshire numbers, frankly, i'll be honest, those are surprising to me. i don't buy them. we've seen plenty of other polling to indicate that neighboring state, sanders had strength in new hampshire. it may be unique to new hampshire. hard stop. i do think sanders is sort of topped out here a little bit. part of it has to do with hillary clinton's solidifying herself. part has to do with biden not running. part has to do with the new focus in this race is national

it's less so with democratic primary voters than republican voters, but it has risen to the top of the list. hillary clinton's experience now, i think, is her trump card to making it so while sanders will have a solid 30% to 40% in many of the primaries, i don't know how he gets above that. >> let's talk about what happened yesterday. president obama discussing the historic accord that was signed in paris on saturday. let's listen to just a bit of what president obama had to say. >> the problem's not solved because of this accord. but make no mistake, the paris agreement establishes the enduring framework the world needs to solve the climate crisis. it creates the mechanism, the architecture, for us to continually tackle this problem in an effective way. >> roughly 200 nations have agreed to curb emissions significantly.

is there any reason to think it'll be different this time around? >> there is more momentum with this one than kyoto. the united states, the president, is more in step with this one than the president was the previous time with kyoto. a lot depends, craig -- look, the united states is going to be the leader on this. positive or negatively. i think it depends on who the next president is. if it's hillary clinton, he'll continue this, and it probably can keep this framework in place. it's fragile. none of this is mandatory. any country can back out, no matter what they say on this. that makes it difficult to see it forging ahead. >> chuck todd, always good to see you. quick reminder, tune into "meet the press" this morning. chuck's guest is presidential candidate marco rubio. turning to the latest on the mass shooting in san bernardino and new questions about the female shooter and whether she should have been able to be allowed into the united states in the first place.

bernardino this morning. good morning. >> good morning. as the investigation delves deeper into the past of the killers, new questions about radical posts online. >> reporter: did authorities miss a glaring red flag when they let tashfeen malik immigrate to the united states? she openly posted on social media she supported violent jihad, even wanted to be a part of it. law enforcement officials only recently became aware of these postings. reviewing social media isn't normally part of their background checks. today, this search of the lake where malik and her husband, syed farook, may have dumped potential evidence, is over. the fbi has not revealed whether they recovered anything of value from the water. sources tell nbc news, the fbi is trying to learn as much as they can about enrique marquez. not named a suspect, but farook's friend and the person who bought the assault rifles several years ago.

and malik were becoming radicalized before they met, as early as 2010. a potential answer as to who firebombed a mosque in california. dial, accused of a hate crime. >> he'd be responsible as an adult. >> reporter: his family says he was consumed by what he'd seen on social media and he's innocent until proven guilty. if he did it, he'll face is consequences. >> we'll supply him with money. we have no plans to bail him out. >> reporter: muslims in this community are raising money for the san bernardino victims but fear being the target of hate. >> we're grateful no one was hurt. >> reporter: while at funeral homes and churches across the country, friends and family are remembering the victims of the san bernardino attack, like shannon johnson, brought back to his home state of georgia, honored as a hero who gave his life for his co-workers.

violence in africa. >> he was so sweet, his smile. he was always so happy. >> reporter: now joining names on a memorial wall of americans killed in terrorist attacks. >> because farook was a county health inspector, the county health department is revisiting all rest rabbitaurants and businesses issued certificates by farook, replacing them with new certificates that no longer bear his name. erica? >> gadi, thank you. turning@a inging to the attacks in paris. one month since terrorism darkened the city of lights. kelly koebhas the latest, as we learn of more arrests, this time in switzerland. >> good morning. the swiss prosecutor says the two men are from syria. these two new arrests. they're suspected of making and transporting explosives and toxic gas.

found with traces of explosives in their car, officials said. this as a massive man hunt continues for at least four other suspects. >> reporter: heavy armed police patrolled geneva, on a heightened state of alert after a tip from the cia that four people with ties to the islamic state may be planning a specific attack. swiss prosecutor said the two syrian men under arrest are not tied to that man hunt. they spoke no french, he said, and had recently arrived in switzerland. a month after the attack on paris, which left 130 dead, suspect salah abdeslam is still on the run. bellgian investigators are looking for abrini, seen with salah two days before the attack. in paris, an impromptu vigil at the bataclan where 89 people were killed.

>> we are more attentive about our environment. we pay attention in the subway. but we still very sad. >> reporter: france is still under a state of emergency, but this weekend, protesters were given a special last-minute permit to demonstrate against the climate change talks. the demonstration was peaceful. at the cafes where dozens were killed, mountains of flowers and moem memorials still stan. a cafe where five died have beens been opened over a week. customers are coming back. >> there are unconfirmed reports in a british paper this morning that one of the paris attackers, abaaoud, had pictures of birmingham, england, on his phone. according to a british security analyst, there does appear to be

but how relevant the link is is still unclear. police here will only say that this country remain on the highest state of alert and, craig, that an attack is highly likely. >> kelly from london, thank you. sheinelle has a developing story out of california this morning. police shooting caught on camera, sheinelle. >> los angeles county sheriff's department is holding a press conference about a deputy-involved shooting sparking protests. the incident was on camera. we'll warn you, the video is graphic. while it doesn't show events leading up to the shooting, deputies responding to a report of shots fired confronted a man with a gun and opened fire when the man turned toward them, killing him. angry demonstrators converged on the scene, claiming after the man fell to the ground, officers kept firing. in russia, a blaze swept through a home for mentally ill adults. the smoky fire left at least 23 dead. many of the patients were unable

from the building. officials say about 50 people were rescued from the gutted structure. notifications are going out to families and employees who need to be checked for exposure to a california nurse with tau tuberculosis. it could affect 350 infants. the babies will get medication and x-rays for six months. county officials say one reason for the precaution is the area has a large number of active tb cases. in sports, college football has given out its highest honor. the heisman trophy was awarded to derrick henry of the crimson tide. he set new marks for a season single and conference rushing. finally, new orleans, a homeless man's lost christmas tree sparked an outpouring of community assistance. the tree used to stand outside highways. the sanitation department removed it, saying it violated

residents heard the story and began showing up with trees and many stayed to decorate the they're on display around the tent. >> i like that. christmas spirit right there. d yshs lshs aylan is back with the national forecast. >> we have snow and winter storm warnings in effect. we could see several inches of snow, especially across the panhandle of oklahoma and into southwestern kansas. elsewhere, we're looking at rain through the middle and up and down the east coast. we'll be breaking record highs here is additional forecast northeast towards iowa. rain has been ongoing throughout the overnight with some locations through flooded roads. turn around, don't drown! rain will continue throughout the day. an additional one to over two inches of rain is possible. minor flooding will continue to be possible in low lying areas, stream and river basins. locations in the 60s. temperatures won't warm much today but still holding steady in the 50s to 60s. rain will continue tonight with an additional half inch to one and tonight into the 50s and upper

as the rain ends from a south to north direction. likely be reached early monday and gra >> that's your latest forecast. >> dylan, thain. the waiting is almost over. some lucky people will get a chance to see the new "star wars" movie tomorrow. hollywood. we have more on the excitement. >> reporter: the wait is almost over for the release of "star wars:the force awakens." on monday night in hollywood, it's garnered so much excitement, the movie will be shown in three movie theaters. potentially making it the biggest hollywood premiere ever. >> it's unprecedented. there are so many celebrities that want to see the film, let alone people in general that are

>> reporter: in anticipation of monday's star-studded event and friday's release, people are already camped out in front of the tcl chinese theater. the same theater where "star wars" debuted in 1977. and reminiscent of people lining up in droves for their chance to take in the new phenomenon. advanced ticket sales for this film surpassed $50 million. there's no guarantee you'll get a ticket at the chinese theater's first public screening. >> it's a once in a lifetime experience. >> reporter: devoted fans must log 24 hours in line before they can get a ticket. a challenge many will gladly take up in the hopes of being part of movie history. for "today," kristen dahlgren, nbc news, new york. >> since we're talking history with the film, we thought we'd look at the reviews for the original "star wars." the new republic said, the only

been interesting was through its visual imagination and special effects. both are unexceptional. >> wow. >> "star wars" taps the pulp fantasies buried in our memories. because it's done so brilliantly, it reactivates old thrills, fears and exhilarations we thought we'd abandoned when we read our last copy of amazing stories. >> it's enjoyable on its own terms but exhausting, too. like taking a pack of kids to the circus. it's an epic without a dream. ever. >> wow. >> there you go. still ahead, a soldier's best friend. the decorated dog recovering alongside his master after both

we'll share the lot of gifts at prices low for everyone this season find thousands of rollbacks, like a 55" 4k smart tv for just $798. i'm crowning you the shopping queen! share the wonder every day. walmart. happy holidays your majesty. if you have moderate to severe plaque psoriasis... ...isn't it time to let the... ...real you shine... ...through? introducing otezla, apremilast. otezla is not an injection, or a cream. it's a pill that treats plaque psoriasis differently. some people who took otezla saw 75% clearer skin after 4 months. and otezla's prescribing information has no requirement for routine lab monitoring.

otezla may increase... ...the risk of depression. tell your doctor if you have a history of depression... ...or suicidal thoughts, or if these feelings develop. some people taking otezla reported weight loss. your doctor should monitor your weight and may stop treatment. side effects may include diarrhea, nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, and headache. tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, and if you're pregnant or planning to be. ask your doctor about otezla today. otezla. show more of you. still to come on a sunday edition of "today," the woman who posted this, that picture online, facing a long arm of the law tomorrow. would you like usher teach you how to sing? how to make that dream a there are some people you should give underwear to this holiday. and there are some people you shouldn't . people you should.

janice! should. shouldn't. yes. no. should. no way. should. no. definitely not. ha ha, nay. you shouldn't give underwear to everybody.

announcer: a horrific terror attack in paris. then, a brutal act of terror here at home. it's time for a tested and proven leader who won't try to contain isis. jeb bush has a plan... to destroy them. and keep america safe. jeb bush: the united states should not delay in leading a global coalition to take out isis with overwhelming force. announcer: tested and proven leadership matters. jeb bush. right to rise usa is responsible for the content of this message. effect until 800 am cst for marshall...norther n tama...grundy and black hawk counties... at 358 am cst...doppler radar indicated isolated thunderstorms embedded in areas of heavy rain across the warned area. between two and three inches of rain has already occurred with up to another inch of rainfall expected. the most like areas to see flash flooding will be along a line

to clemons. this corridor is where the heaviest rainfall has occurred. an additional 1-2+" is possible in this area today. stay on alert for rising rivers, streams and flooded roadways. some locations that will experience flooding include... waterloo...cedar falls...marshalltow n...grundy center...evansdale... jesup...la porte city...hudson...traer ...reinbeck...state center... dysart...dike...elk run heights...conrad...cr ossroads mall...uni-dome and mcleod center...waterloo municipal airport...gladbrook and le grand. precautionary/prep aredness actions... be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding. turn around...dont drown when encountering flooded roads. most flood deaths occur in vehicles. effect until 800 am cst for marshall...norther n tama...grundy and black hawk counties... at 358 am cst...doppler radar indicated isolated thunderstorms embedded in areas of heavy rain across the warned area. between

has already occurred with up to another inch of rainfall expected. the most like areas to see flash flooding will be along a line from dike to grundy center to liscomb to clemons. this corridor is where the heaviest rainfall has occurred. an additional 1-2+" is possible in this area today. stay on alert for rising rivers, streams and flooded roadways. some locations that will experience flooding include... waterloo...cedar falls...marshalltow n...grundy center...evansdale... jesup...la porte city...hudson...traer ...reinbeck...state center... dysart...dike...elk run heights...conrad...cr ossroads mall...uni-dome and mcleod center...waterloo municipal airport...gladbrook and le grand. precautionary/prep aredness actions... be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize paris: there's a lot to do on a dairy farm. nobody's gonna do it for you. you have to get out there and do it yourself. bernie sanders is a well-known friend of family farms. bernie cannot be bought out by big money.

it's time for our next president to get in there, roll up his sleeves, take off the gloves, and take on wall street, take on big business, take on big money, and get the working class back to where they should be. he's a rock. sanders: i'm bernie sanders and i approve this message. [ applause ] i've made a big decision. i'm entering the race for president of the united states of america.

oh, boy. poor jeb. you've got to admit, it's a pretty good plot twist, that i turned out to be the smart one. i wish you would have asked me about the exclamation point on the end of his name. look, i don't like the taste of broccoli, but doesn't get any tastier if you call it broccoli! >> oh, will ferrell, returning to "saturday night live" to pre reprise his role as george w. bush, giving us plenty of laughs which we're happy to continue into our sunday morning. welcome back. it is sunday, december 13th, 2015. we have another fantastic crowd out here on the plaza. >> this is a great bunch. >> this is good stuff. there's a sign that says, all we want for christmas is a picture with dylan. i think we can make it happen. >> right there. >> we're making christmas wishes come true every day on the plaza.

making headlines on this sunday morning. a new poll in iowa shows a shift in the republican presidential race. the numbers showing trump trailing ted cruz by ten points. caucuses in the hawkeye state, 50 days away. the "new york times" reports despite posts on social media supporting jihad, tashfeen malik passed three background checks to obtain her visa before carrying out the attack in san bernardino. the details come as police arrest a man in connection with the firebombing of a southern california mosque. roll tide. the heisman trophy awarded to alabama's derrick henry, the running back who set new records for a single season, rushing for nearly 2,000 yards. we start this half hour with the woman who unleashed a fire storm on social media when she posted a picture of her dog with its mouth taped shut.

will face charges of animal cross-suit cruelty. >> her family said she released death threats from angry animal lovers. as she prepares for her day in court, some are hoping she'll be the one to learn a lesson. >> reporter: catherine has been in hot water since posting this picture last month of her chocolate lab mix with his mouth barking. the caption, this is what happens when you don't shut up. >> the fact that anybody can do something like that and not -- i mean, obviously, not have any feelings or care anything about it, is unconnot okay. >> reporter: she posted, don't panic everyone, it was only for a minute and hasn't barked since. point made. dog lovers were quick to express their anger.

north carolina on monday. as disturbing as the case may be, legal experts say she is unlukeun unlikely to go to jail. >> unless she has other offenses that will add up that would make the judge want to give jail time, she's probably just going to pay a fine. >> reporter: animal rights activists say the penalty should be more severe. >> if somebody doesn't have the self-control to be able to patient and understanding, and to know that dogs bark, then you think, what on earth else is she going to do to punish that dog? >> the dog was not removed from her home. tomorrow's court date is considered an administrative court appearance, so she will not enter a plea. she's expected to make one other court appearance before sentencing. guys? >> sheinelle, thank you. more uplifting image of a dog and its owner that's also going viral this morning.

specialist brown and his dog, a military working dog. they're both recovering after being injured in afghanistan by a roadside bomb. the photos of these two have been shared on facebook. you can see rocky resting in his own bed with a purtple heart around his neck. both are doing well. >> man's best friend, right? man's best friend. final check of the forecast? >> we have an awesome picture from albany, new york, of all places. the kids are like, nope, not wearing the jackets. throwing their jacket outside after school one day. granted, there were no leaves on the trees so it looks cold, but it's running around 70 in al albany. i don't know why we're wearing jackets. you feel like you have to. it's going to be another record-breaking day today for possibly 23 states with the heat. in the northwest, every single

systeming make ings making their way off the pacific. this one is going to produce one of the biggest storms salt lake city has seen in three years. they could get eight inches of snow. last year was the second least snowiest winter on record in salt lake city. we'll make up for it this year. the stronghere is additional forecast northeast towards iowa. rain has been ongoing throughout the overnight with some locations through flooded roads. turn around, don't drown! rain will continue throughout the day. an additional one to over two inches of rain is possible. minor flooding will continue to be possible in low lying areas, stream and river basins. locations in the 60s. temperatures won't warm much today but still holding steady in the 50s to 60s. rain will continue tonight with an additional half inch to one and tonight into the 50s and upper 40s. winds will pick up monday as the rain ends from a south to north direction. likely be reached early monday and gra >> that's your latest forecast.

up next, our sunday stories. knowledge is star power, in a new series of online classes. plus, a new way of life within reach for 12 children born without limbs. and harry is here with a very special story involving a special talent of his own. that's all ahead after these messages. [elf] here's one of our best elves, hard at work... [kid] what's back there? [elf] nothing... [santa] touchdown. come on... [elf] santa, the davidson's are here to see our workshop... [santa] oh... well...hello! uh, this is my sleigh! it's how i deliver all the presents by myself! [team member] santa, you got anything else going to albany? [santa] by myself! [santa](muffled noises) [vo] ship with fedex ground at fedex office. it's how the holidays arrive. there's something out there. that can be serious, even fatal to infants. it's whooping cough, and people can spread it without knowing it. understand the danger your new grandchild faces. talk to your doctor or pharmacist about

mastering irresistibly smooth. the lindor truffle ...from the lindt master chocolatiers. a hard outer shell with a smooth center. welcome to the best time of your day. unwrap. unwind. experience... the melt. only the lindor truffle. for the holidays, experience our meltingly-smooth lindor white chocolate peppermint truffles. from the lindt master chocolatiers. the people closest to you can be the hardest to shop for, but if you know where to look for inspiration, you can find the perfect gift for everyone on your list and share wonder every day.

trublend has the perfect blend for each of us covergirl p!nk blend of rockstar and mama bear. her trublend... light 4 it blends in doesn't build up for a flawless nude look find your trublend at easy breezy beautiful covergirl you shine brighter than the stars in the sky... for the woman who shines brightest... i am yours and i know you are mine... kay jewelers presents- the leo artisan diamond. my love you shine so bright... yes! the design of its facets produces an incredible level of brilliance. from the creators of the first diamond certified to be visibly brighter. now at kay, the number one jewelry store in america. ...my love you shine so bright. every kiss begins with kay. you get used to sweaty odors in your car you think it smells fine, but your passengers smell this... eliminate odors you've gone noseblind to for up to 30 days with the febreze car vent clip break out the febreze,

i said i really can't stay baby it's cold outside i have to go away baby it's cold outside i really can't stay baby it's cold outside! you never know who you'll meet at barnes & noble. back with you on a sunday morning. what if you could pick the brain of dustin hoffman about acting? maybe get a private tennis lesson from serena williams? >> now you can. thanks to online classes ses bringing you the stars within reach. this is cool.

the whole class is called master class. it's a new online program aimed at providing everyone access to genius. i had an opportunity to learn about the courses and the artist's performers from their newest instructor, usher. >> reporter: imagine taking a dance lesson with usher. >> every bit of what i've learned, i want to share with you. >> reporter: an acting class with dustin hoffman. >> it's true what they say about failure. you don't learn from suck cesscess. >> reporter: learning how to create a novel from james patter patterson patterson. >> you know how to do it. create the story. >> reporter: get tips from serena williams. >> tilt your arm more. >> reporter: now you can through master class. a series of online classes taught by people who are the best in the world at what they do. >> this isn't me, this is the character. >> dustin was one of the first, if not the first, yes we got.

actually going to do -- he wants to teach? >> reporter: the partners are the brains behind the operation. tech geeks with minimal hollywood connections, they've already gotten an impressive roster, with kevin spacey, christina ago grksaguilera, launching classes in the new year. >> we've had thousands submitted. >> reporter: with work books, assignments and lessons, this looks like a typical online course, but they're direct and had produced by some of the best talent in hollywood. >> hey, usher. >> reporter: office hour questions can be answered by usher. >> stay committed. >> how hands on are you with the project? >> i'm totally invested in it. this is an opportunity to help a lot of people. what could i do with all that i've learned, other than horde it, hold on to it.

teaching people to sing and dance. you've been gone for too long >> anybody can have overnight success. what happens when you're in front of 20,000 people? now, you have an audience. understanding how to establish an image. understanding how to be confident enough to take constructive criticism and put yourself out there. use my own career as an example. i wasn't a great dancer when i first started. even at this level, i still am a lot of myself. >> what does it feel like to be a part of this project? >> someone once asked me, if you were not an entertainer, what would you be? i'd love to be a mentor. always felt i could offer encouragement to people who just needed a sense of belief. >> reporter: some might say 15-year-old moenae hunter and erica needed belief. they came from a tough background where voice lessons were out of the question.

told them we were sending a video of them singing to usher's team for possible inclusion in a master class chapter. i never dreamed >> reporter: what they didn't know is he was watching them the entire time, right outside the door. >> there's somebody singing in here. was that you guys? hey! was that you guys singing? >> yes. >> yes. >> okay, okay. >> reporter: they were about to get the ultimate master erer class. >> being able to properly execute a song, isn't always necessarily about hitting perfect notes. it's about the commitment that you convey within the song. right? so you understand what i mean when i say that? >> yeah. >> take your time. >> let's take a picture. >> wow. >> what a moment. >> can i just tell you, usher was this close to missing a flight and his team was like, we've got to do. he talked to the girls for 20

his time. it's a moment they'll never forget. you know, that's what's so great about this master class. you can have a mentor in these celebrities that are the best in their business. it costs $90. you get the whole course. you can buy it as a gift. if you want to get a gift card for somebody -- >> great gift idea. >> it's such a genius idea. >> how often do the instructors engage with the students? >> they engage by updating their whole courses. they take some of the feedback, take some of the comments they're getting and work it into an updated version of the they're very hands on. >> brilliant idea. great to have so many successful, big people involved in it. >> and share their knowledge. talents. i'll show you how i do it. >> love it. thanks. >> you're welcome. a 3-d printer delivering a

who want to you owned your car for four years, you named it brad. you loved brad. and then you totaled him. you two had been through everything together. two boyfriends, three jobs... you're like nothing can replace brad. then liberty mutual calls, and you break into your happy dance. if you sign up for better car replacement , we'll pay for a car that's a model year newer with 15,000 fewer miles than your old one. see car insurance in a whole new light.

paris: there's a lot to do on a dairy farm. nobody's gonna do it for you. you have to get out there and do it yourself. bernie sanders is a well-known friend of family farms. bernie cannot be bought out by big money. bernie's opinion cannot be purchased. it's time for our next president to get in there, roll up his sleeves, take off the gloves, and take on wall street, take on big business, take on big money, and get the working class back to where they should be. he's a rock. sanders: i'm bernie sanders and i approve this message. this is gordon... downtown for a sales call. west side for a presentation.

that's why gordon stops at exxon and mobil. for fuels that help his engine run cleaner, smoother, and with better fuel economy. so he can make it to the meeting that matters most. gordon is energy. exxon and mobil. energy lives here. exxon and mobil are proud plenti partners. lots of points. lots of places. one rewards program. we are back now on a sunday morning with our season of kindness. this time of year, santa has countless wish lists to fulfill,

simply impossible, or so it may seenl seem. >> sometimes the big guy has to call in help to make some of the children's dreams some true. kerry sanders tells us about some of the gifts that are too big to fit under any tree. >> reporter: you'd be hard pressed from a distance and, at times, even close up, to learn lila brooks pierceson cannot do everything like her friends. lacking a full arm, her mom says she's hitting the age when she, too, wants to tie her own shoes, shoot a bow and arrow, tie the ponytail. >> is the ponytail important? >> she's a soccer player. maybe one day mom is out of town and she wants to do it herself. dad is not capable. >> reporter: lila brooks doesn't like to talk about being different. when she draws herself with her best friend -- >> she has the two hands? >> mm-hmm. >> how about you? >> no. >> no?

>> the arm. >> the arm. >> reporter: a new arm with a motorized hand could cost tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars. out of reach for most. but when the piersons found a video online about alex, who got his bionic arm delivered by robert downey jr. >> do you know who that is? >> iron man. >> they wondered -- >> look at that. it's a marriage of robotic technologies. >> reporter: could their daughter get one, too? students at the university of central florida engineered alex's arm for $350. created on 3-d printers. so for the 12 days of christmas, those students are celebrating by providing 12 arms for 12 children. >> this is for you. >> reporter: on the first day of christmas for lila brooks, a good life got even better. >> alex was right there to help her along.

>> our goal is to build confidence with children. when you see the smile, everybody is hooked. >> reporter: for lila brooks, it's a life-changing gift. >> reporter: biotic arms touching hearts. >> reporter: "today," kerry sanders, charleston, south carolina. >> perfect christmas gift. i mean, that's -- >> what a story. >> for $300, they were able to do it. >> amazing what 3-d printers can do, changing all those lives. >> we're tat beginning of the 3-d printing revolution. thank you, . >> reporter: bringing in the holiday season on a series of faith. harry smith doesn't do it often, but he'll be tooting his own

after oh-oh-oh oh-oh-oh oh-oh-oh everything sparkly for everyone. kohl's. you get a cold. you can't breathe through your nose. suddenly, you're a mouthbreather. well, just put on a breathe right strip which instantly opens your nose up to 38% more than cold medicine alone. shut your mouth and say goodnight mouthbreathers. breathe right red 97! set! red 97! did you say 97? yes. you know, that reminds me of geico's

97%? helped by geico's fast and friendly claims service. huh... oh yeah, baby. geico's as fast and friendly as it gets. woo! geico. expect great savings and a whole lot more. if you have moderate to severe plaque psoriasis... ...isn't it time to let the... ...real you shine... ...through?

otezla is not an injection, or a cream. it's a pill that treats plaque psoriasis differently. some people who took otezla saw 75% clearer skin after 4 months. and otezla's prescribing information has no requirement for routine lab monitoring. don't take otezla if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. otezla may increase... ...the risk of depression. tell your doctor if you have a history of depression... ...or suicidal thoughts, or if these feelings develop. some people taking otezla reported weight loss. your doctor should monitor your weight and may stop treatment. side effffects may ilude diarrhea, nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, and headache. tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, and if you're pregnant or planning to be. ask your doctor about otezla today.

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas i think we have a few people on the plaza looking forward to their weekly sundays with harry. for more than 100 years, the salvation army provided one particular sound of the season, with its annual red kettle campaign. >> harry smith is here with a look at the charity's history with helping. >> my wife can't go buy a kettle without throwing money in. it's one of those deals. the army is deployed all over the world, helping people in all kinds of ways. >> reporter: you see it first during a disaster, as if by magic, a truck appears where you can get a cup of coffee or a sandwich. i've seen it more times than i can count. it seems like they always get there first. day to day, the army does a lot

drug and alcohol rehabilitation. homeless outreach. housing. hunger relief. veteran services. the elderly. prisoners. often times, the salvation army is the safety net that catches folks when they need help the most. frankly, they do a lot of work that's just plain hard. caring, steadfast, they see serving as their duty. while their mission comes from their faith, who they help knows no boundary. >> we're joined now by the salvation army band. gordon and two of his sons here, two, and apar from ireland. gordon, we've known each other a few years. does the need ever decrease, or is the need as great as ever? >> first, i'll say how great it is to be with you again, especially with a tuba in your hands.

year, and it becomes more increasingly difficult to raise the money. you see the red kettles this time of year. whether it's a hot meal or toys for a needy family at christmas, and music, which is close to my heart. the hundreds of children around the new york area that we teach week in and week out, the salvation army tries to invest in the lives we come in contact with. >> these guys are busy doing so many good things. where do you go when you finish here? >> to the adult rehabilitation center with the salvation army. >> wow. we have you here with the instruments. we might as well play a little bit, right? okay okay. we have ellie, our human music stand.

"o little town of bethlehem" [ applause ] >> oh, there's more. there's more. what do you say? let's give it a shot.

[ applause ] >> fantastic. gentlemen. appreciate it. merry christmas to you. >> merry christmas. thank you, guys. very impressive. >> how long have you been playing the tuba? >> i started when i was a little kid. so. cause. >> right. >> you do wonderful work. thank you for everything you do at christmas and throughout the year. >> tune into "meet the press" this morning when chuck todd si diabetes. 7 out of 10 americans take prescription drugs. but in the last 7 years drugs prices have doubled. hillary's going to take on the drug companies. require medicare to negotiate lower drug prices. let people buy their prescription drugs from countries like canada at half the price. and cap monthly prescription costs for every american. the drug companies have been over charging long enough. it's time to fight back.

and i approve this message. i was not aware of how much acidity was in my diet. i was so focused on making good food choices, i had no idea that it was damaging the enamel of my teeth. i wanted to fix it, i wanted to fix it right away. my dentist recommended pronamel. he said that pronamel can make my teeth stronger, that it was important, that that is something i could do each day to help protect the enamel of my teeth. pronamel is definitely helping me to lead the life that i want to live. are used to pay respect to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. plus... an eastern iowa police officer is in the hospital- and a man is behind

details coming up.