scandal will impact a race garnering national attention. it was easier to parody these days, weiner or a-rod? i guess weiner still wins that one. a-rod is making a go of it. now he has a doctor with a spotty record on steroids telling the world that a-rod is not really hurt. and the royal family, they would be hurt by comparisons between the new prince george and one of our famous georges. but we'll do it anyway later on in "the cooler." this is "way too early." good morning, everybody. brian shactman here, thursday, july 25th. i don't like how it's inching ever so close to august. that means labor day and that means the end of the summer and kids go back to school and then it gets cold, at least for us in the northeast. we'll deal with the nice summer weather while we can. also this morning, awesome story from president obama 41 who

looks just a little different this morning. and we hear from patriots coach bill belichick speaking for the first time since aaron hernandez, won of his best players, was charged with murder. but we begin overseas. we have new information on what's being called one of europe's worst train accidents in years. the death toll now up to 77 after a high speed train crashed in spain. officials call the scene donte-esque. the train derailed after it hit a curb. what remained was a pile of wreckage as can you see. cars strewn everywhere. some of them were still on fire. crews tried to actually hoist victims out through broken windows. bodies were covered in sheets laying out on the tracks in plain sight. others were still crushed under the weight of the manning wil d -- mangles cars. teams search for more survivors and victims among the nearly 250 passengers who were aboard.

one spanish newspaper reported the train was traveling at more than twice the speed limit for the curb although that has not been confirmed. for, some the disaster brings back the memories of 2004, the train bombing in madrid carried out by a muslim extremist. 191 people were killed during that incident. at this point we can tell you officials believe yesterday's derailment was an accident. to domestic politics here in the u.s. president obama will head to florida later today to continue selling his economic policies to the public. yesterday the president was in illinois and missouri urging americans to avoid the retric of the right saying they should focus on improving the lives of the working middle class. >> we now have to get back and focus on what's important. an endless parade of distractions and political posturing and scandals can't get in the way of what we need to do. and i'm here to say it has to

stop. we have to focus on jobs and the economy and helping middle class families get ahead. if we do that, we'll solve the problem. >> on capitol hill, the public outcry over the nsa's intelligence gathering programs has fallen on deaf ears. a house voted down legislation that would have made it more difficult for the security agency to collect large amounts of private phone records. the bill's defeat is considered a victory for the white house which along with republican leadership made major push for the bill to keep it from passing. 83 democrats and 134 republicans voted against it. it appears that millions of americans who have student loans got a little good news. yesterday the senate approved a bill that would retro actively tie student loan rates to the markets. and cap most rates at 8.25%. in july student loan rates doubled from 3.4% to 6.8%.

18 senators voted against the bill interestingly enough including 17 democrats. senator elizabeth moore from massachusetts explained why the bill would not have her support. >> the plan asks tomorrow's students to pay more in order to finance lower rates today. and i cannot support a plan that raises interest rates on students in the long term while the government continues to make a profit off them. this is obscene. students should not be used to generate profits for the government. >> that is the sticking point, right? the bill now goes back to the house for a vote before the august recess. fresh off revelations of a new sexting scandal and back on the campaign trail, anthony weiner being dogged by journalists and the competition. >> the circus that former congressman weiner brought to the mayor's race in the last two

months has been a disservice to new yorkers. >> i have positive this whole campaign on a bet. and that is that at the end of the day citizens are more interested in the challenge they face in their lives than anything that i have done embarrassing in my past. and, you know, i'm fine. i've got an amazing wife, a child upstairs. i'm comfortable life. this is not about me. >> as the former congressman tries to refocus his campaign, he has been e-mailing supporters and there are new suggestions the worst is not yet behind him even though he indicated that right there. in an interview with "the new york times," the editor of gossip website the journey which published pages and pages of the messages between weiner and a 22-year-old indiana woman hinted there may be more revelations to come. the paper said that he discussed running for mayor with the woman and even suggested them meeting in chicago. but it is at least right now

unclear what the fallout will be on the primary which is a month and a half away and polling done was before this new incident came to light. steve king doubling down on comments that have reignited the debate over immigration reform. about a week ago the iowa republican compared undocumented immigrants who qualify under president obama's dream act to drug mules. >> there are kids that were brought into this country by their parents unknowing that they were breaking the law. and they will say to me and others who defend the rule of law, we have to do something about the 11 million. and some of them are valedictorians. well, my answer to that is, by the way, their parents brought them in. it wasn't their fault. it's true in some cases but they're not all valedictorians, they weren't all brought in by their parents. for every one that was a valedictorian, there are another 100 out there that weigh 130 pounds and they have calves the size of cantaloupes because

they're bringing hundreds of pounds of drugs across the border. >> king did not shrink from the fight. >> this isn't something that just was made up out of thin air. this is something i hear from the people enforcing the law in the border. i've seen it with my hands and unloaded the drugs with my hands. and i watch the video to support what i say. the nor dialogue goes, the more people will understand what i'm saying is factually correct, probably understated. >> this is a good one. former president george h.w. bush supporting a new look for the support of a child. take a look at the 41st president of the united states, bald. here his 2-year-old patrick, a leukemia patient. patrick is the son of a secret service agent in the former president's security detail. the entire unit as can you see, shaved their heads as well. just a great gesture. it's a special meaning for the president and first lady barbara

bush. their daughter robin, i did not know this, died at the age of 4. she, too, suffered from leukemia and died 60 years ago this october. i didn't know that. just a day after we saw the royal baby for the first time, the prince now has a name. duke and duchess settled on george alexander luis. that would make their future king george vii. he is named after his great, great grandfather. and luis is to reference the royal an sest yoerz. the daily mail is reporting none of the three names were intended to be symbolic. instead, the couple simply liked the names. let's go to business. wall street, looking to rally a little bit after the dow and s&p 500 went down. nasdaq got a boost from apple. let's go to geoff cutmore. facebook was up huge in after hours, right? >> absolutely.

we got a near 20% jump in the shares. teenagers are not desserting facebook. he need not worry. the market bought into the idea that mobile app revenue is moving the needle. if you bought this at ipo, you're 16% offside even after the rally in the shares here. moving you along, another fascinating story is big soda finally losing the appeal for american consumers here. a couple interesting numbers. dr pepper snapple, 4% in sales volume dropped. pepsico, 3.5% decline in sales. makes you wond fert fier if the drinks are no longer hitting home with consumers like they did before. we'll have to see if there is a trend developing. >> interesting also. the healthy ones are still high in sugar. people are conscious on that don't buy them as much either. google, it looks like a flash

drive. but google has a compliment to tv that is enhance viewing. is this a game changer or incremental? >> you know, the jury is out on this one. we've seen what happened with apple tv. google watched from the sidelines. they had a run at this once already 2012. didn't really come off. so they're coming back with this dongle. they think plugging this into your hdmi is going to help facilitate google from the cloud on a tv platform. so the question is, will the market buy it? and can they steal away some market share from apple tv? we'll watch this one with a great deal of interest, brian. >> all right. not that expensive. only $35. thank you very much. have a great day. listen, you may have already heard this. now it's official. jason is leaving saturday night live. we want to know who had the best post snl career? there are a lot of names out

there from washington, d.c., to movie fame. the most creative answers, we'll put the best ones on the air later on. still ahead on "way too early," the hits keep coming for a-rod and he's not even playing baseball. the latest questionable decision from the third baseman and stephen colbert knows how will and kate show their baby even though we told you he has a different opinion. we'll hear his theory. that and a check on weather when "way too early" comes right back. ♪

playtime is so much more with a superhero by your side. because even superheroes need superheroes. that's why purina dog chow is made with high quality ingredients, including 23 vitamins and minerals.

to help keep him strong. dog chow strong. cheryl burke is cha-cha-ing in depend silhouette briefs for charity, to prove that with soft fabric and waistband, the best protection looks, fits, and feels just like underwear. get a free sample and try for yourself. i guess. did you download that book i sent? yah, nice rainbow highlighter. you've got finch for math right? uh-uh. english? her. splanker, pretend we're not related. oh trust me, you don't want any of that. you got my map? yeah. where you can sit can define your entire year. and what's the most important thing to remember? no face to face contact until we're off of school property. you got this. sharing what you've learned. that's powerful. verizon. get the samsung galaxy s3 for $49.99.

time for sports. the new england patriots open training cam top day. it is overshadowed by the murder charges facing aaron hernandez. at a press conference yesterday, bill belichick spoke about it for the very first time. >> it's a sad day. it is really a sad day on so many levels.

a young man lost his life and his family suffered a tragic loss. there's no way to understate that. overall, i'm proud of the hundreds of players that have come through this program. but i'm personally disappointed and hurt in a situation like this. moving forward consists of what it's always been here, to build a winning football team, to be a strong pillar in the community, be a team that our fans can be proud of. that's what we're here for. >> even though his prepared statement, impressive with the candor of bill belichick. belichick said the team would re-evaluate the screening process for players adding they already do extensive research on their lifestyle, family and upbringing. they released hernandez shortly after he was arrested and just before he was charged with murder. now to baseball. the feud between alex rodriguez and yankees goes public yet again.

representatives for a-rod flooded the media yesterday in an attempt to contradict the yankees report that the star third baseman is injured with a quad strain. reporters caught up to rodriguez briefly at yankee facilities in tampa. >> i feel great. feel great. >> nothing? >> now rodriguez says he's ready to play and he sought a second opinion without approval from the yankees front office. he urged his doctor michael gross on espn radio. >> let me tell you for the record, i have examined alex. i looked at the mri and i spoke to him on the phone. based on that, i can tell when you i looked at his mri this morning, i didn't see anything very significant. i spoke to him on the phone. i asked him specifically, alex, do you have any pain? and he said, no. without hesitating. he said can you clear me to play? i said i can't. i never examined you. but how do you feel? do you think you're ready to play? and he said absolutely. >> yankees gm ryan cashman not

too happy with rodriguez for going behind the club's back pointing out that alex may be in violation of baseball's collective bargaining agreement. of course swirling around all this is that a-rod could be facing a lifetime ban as some reported from major league baseball for alleged substance abuse and the yankees still own him around $100 million through 2017. i don't think it will stop any time soon. let's get to the good stuff on the field. dodgers and blue jays. how about the dodgers? puig continues to tear it up. tenth inning. five run tenth. puig goes deep after juan perez and helps the dodgers sweep toronto. the dodgers are in first place in the nl west by a game and a half. red sox-rays. sox had to go in the other direction. check out this play by escobarment awesome. i love those infield double plays. some n. some ways, defense is more exciting than offense sometimes. that's just awesome. he makes it look easy.

rays win 5-1. two of three from boston. tampa bay now just a half game behind the sox in the a.l. east. i can watch that three times. braves and mets. you might want to look away for a warning if you don't like sports injury. tim hudson on the mound. eric young at the plate. scrambles to first. he stops on his ankle. i'm not even going to look at it again. these things freak me out. he broke it. he had to be taken off the field in a cart. he had nine strikeouts and pitching an absolute gem by the way as well. atlanta wins the game 8-2. i just can't even look at it. all right. let's go to being sore real quick. cowboys stadium in arlington, texas. gold it up semis. landon donovan took a sabbatical. he said you have to work your way back on the team. he's doing a pretty good job. two goals in the game. 3-1 win for team usa. they play panama in the finals

sunday in chicago. panama beat mexico to make it to those finals. so i don't know what to say, bill. i just think the yankees need to move on. they just don't know how. >> who does? i mean, i can't even -- i can't even listen to sports talk radio to hear about a-rod anymore. >> me and barnicle really feel bad for you. >> you know, he could just ask the players association to grieve it. they've done it for players before that want off the disabled list. the players association, grieve it to the team and usually win. key point for a-rod, he has not asked the players association to do anything. >> see, barnicle knows all this stuff and we just don't. >> let me give you a quick update on dorian, the tropical storm that formed yesterday. the biggest advice with this storm is if you're in the southeast this upcome being

weekend, do your hurricane prep. make sure you have everything in place that you should have done anyway. there is going to become a scare for the region. i can't say whether this one will hit or not. we'll be watching this. >> again, we're pressing you on. this sorry about that, bill. >> good job there. >> more th"morning joe," the pr goes on the offensive. does he really have points? we'll talk about that. coming back here, lewis is back to the cooler. he is exposing the town cryer who announced the royal baby's birth. what we now know about the man who cried prince.

at the top of the show we talked about the devastating high speed train crash in spain. if you want to sound smart today, tell your friends the fastest high speed train in the world is the train in china, crh380a. it has speeds 300 miles an hour. on a daily basis, it travels no faster than 186 for safety concerns, of course. since launched in 2010, that train has not had any major accidents but 40 people were killed in another high speed train crash in china a couple years ago.

welcome back lewis. >> thank you, brian. let's begin with the late night where stephen colbert thinks he knows what is behind the decision to name their son george alexander louis. >> as a royal watcher, i know that will and kate are huge fans of "seinfeld." and, clearly, named the baby for george costanza who is played by jason alexander and julia louis dryfus because just like "seinfeld," the english royal family is really about nothing. >> come to think of it, he is right. when you hear george introduce himself, he actually has a lot in common with the prince. >> my name is george. i'm unemployed and i live with my parents.

>> i'm victoria, hi. >> too good. sticking with the new prince, you may remember this guy who is seen around the world making the birth announcement. >> welcome with humble dignity the future king, the first born of his royal highness, the duke and duchess of cambridge, the third in line to the throne. >> this guy wasn't even ligit. he's not exactly who everyone thought he was. he is the town crier, he holds the position outside of london. he not only made the cover of various newspapers around the world, he led this newscast on tuesday. well done, mr. appleton, well done. that's all i have to say. we mentioned earlier in the show. it's official, jason is leaving snl. he broke the news to david

letterman last night. >> i'm definitely done. i'm going to leave. i'm not coming back next fall. >> you won't be back in the fall? >> no. >> do they know that? >> well -- >> i mean, have you run this by someone? >> i don't know what kind of ratings you're getting these days, but i would hope someone would, you know, would tell them. >> you should have called first. >> i should have, right? >> congratulations on a great career over there. >> fantastic. absolutely. >> good for you. >> really, really -- amazing. yeah. i'm very, very lucky. >> it's a sad day for snl wlachlt is next for him? he has a bunch of projects in the pipeline including movies out later this summer and "horrible bosses" due out next year. back to you, brian. >> i wonder how he's going to do. i think he's kind funny but he's not like will farrell. >> i think he'll do well. you see a lot of the snl cast people make movies and a couple films and then you don't hear from them again. i think he has staying power.

still ahead on "way too early," what snl moments have the best career? the most creative tweets. we have a lot -- there is a huge list there to choose from. of course, "morning joe," we have a cast ready to go if a few moments. ♪ you like to keep your family healthy and fit. and now there's a new way to do the same for your dog.

introducing new purina dog chow light & healthy. it's a no-sacrifices, calorie-light way to help keep him trim, with a deliciously tender and crunchy kibble blend he'll love. and 22% fewer calories than dog chow. discover the lighter side of strong. new purina dog chow light & healthy. the house caught fire and we were out on the streets. [ whispering ] shhh. it's only a dream. and we have home insurance. but if we made a claim, our rate would go up... [ whispering ] shhh. you did it right. you have allstate claim rate guard so your rates won't go up just because of a claim. [ whispering ] are we still in a dream? no, you're in an allstate commercial. so get allstate home insurance with claim rate guard... [ whispering ] goodnight. there are so many people in our bedroom. [ dennis ] talk to an allstate agent... [ doorbell rings ] ...and let the good life in. all your important legal matters in just minutes.

protect your family... and launch your dreams. at legalzoom.com we put the law on your side.

>> first things first. star jones responded. >> she's watching. >> she's watching. she has to go with eddie murphy followed closely by chris rock. >> another one bill murray or will farrell. >> and another one no question, al franken. i'm sorry senator al franken. >> chris rock wasn't on the show for that long. >> franken, it depends on how you judge success. >> bill murray, sadler and murphy. thank you, eric. "morning joe" starts right now.