here he is making stuff up for the video of the 100th anniversary of the national african congress last august. yeah, who is the guy? how come he keeps turning up? i don't know. is he real? he is not real. he is something else. but is he real? he is not real. he is something else. "first look" is up next. good thursday morning. right now on "first look" senate stapo standoff working through the night. finger pointing, new ntsb video released with details why this boeing 777 crash landed in san francisco this summer. a developing story aboard the international space station as scientists scramble against time. plus nbc's miguel almaguer trekz to t treks to the scene of a sub-zero improbable rescue. good morning, i'm mara

schiavocampo. lawmakers set up an all night showdown for a presidential nomination. danielle lee is live in washington with the latest. how long do we think this will go op.? >> it could easily go through saturday but senate majority leader is determined to get through all of the president's nominations if he can and he says he's willing to go as long as that could take, even if it means working through christmas. harry reid is trying to get through at least 11 nominations by the president that have been held up by republicans and two of the big ones, one is nina pillard nominated to the d.c. circuit court and another is jed johnson who would lead the department of homeland security. pillard was confirmed just after 1:00 this morning. the reason this is happening dates back to last month when democrats changed the rules when a simple majority was needed to end filibusters for the president's nominations. that weakened republicans so they're fighting pack and trying to use up all of the time they

possibly can to consider each and every one of these nominees so reid is responding by saying if you're going to do that we'll keep working right on through until this gets done. live in washington, i'm danielle lee. mara back to you. >> we'll watch and wait to see how it unfolds. also on capitol hill a vote on the bipartisan budget teal we heard so much about wednesday. the house is expected to take up the bill crafted by congressman paul ryan and senator patty murray. it funds the government through 2015 and includes some $85 billion in spending cuts. outside hard line conservatives say it stunts growth and democrats worry it does nothing for expiring unemployment benefits but both sides say that it will pass. the house adjourns for a year on friday, a vote in the senate is expected next week. a probe into the asiana flight 214 crash is laying out a fatal cockpit combination as the ntsb releases dramatic new surveillance video showing the plane crashing into the sea wall

and violently cartwheeling around and slamming on to the runway in fran last july, killing three people and injuring more than 200. investigators on wednesday laid out several factors saying pilots failed to notice their air speed was too low, that there was confusion over how the plane's automated systems work, even korean cultural sensitivities. one big focus the automated systems on the boeing 777, the pilot told investigators he was "very concerned about manually landing." he failed to acknowledge four separate warnings from a copilot he was descending too rapidly and said with his superiors watching his low level position would make it very hard to abort a landing. it's a story being dubbed the miracle in the mountains. the nevada family who survived two days in subzero temperatures called their rescuers valiant. >> reporter: on our journey to retrace their steps we take you

through the rugged and remote high desert. this is where james glanton, christina mcinttee and four children ages 3 through 10 spent four nights trapped in negative degree weather. we're 35 minutes outside of town, where you can see the footprints in the snow and just up the hill is the overturned jeep. it's amazing anybody could have survived this crash. we found the jeep still leaking gas, smelling of fuel. the family was dressed for the snow but they were prepared in other ways. they had bottles of water. we found a machete, flashlight, and they used the interior of the jeep here for shelter at night. search teams say james glanton kept his family alive pi keeping them together, and staying with the vehicle. >> jay did one hell of a job keeping those kids safe. there's not a lot of people that would have been able to do that for two days in sub-zero temperatures. >> reporter: the family gathered

sanl brush and even burnt a spare tire down to the bone. we're also told they heated up rocks like this one and put them inside the vehicle at night to keep the kids warm. >> that was nbc's miguel almaguer reporting. now a crippled cooling system that could set the stapling for another space walk on the space station. nasa is figuring out a strategy. the six astronauts on board are not in any immediate danger but the repair job could become risky if the space walk is able to fix the problem. a texas teen drives drunk, kills four people and admits to it, but it's his sentence that's also drawing outrage this morning. juvenile court judge sentenced 16-year-old ethan couch to ten

years. the defense reports he had affluenza. prosecutors sought the maximum sentence of 20 years but the teen's attorneys argued for treatment instead of jail time. one prosecutor predicted the deep would be involved in another tranlg at thgedy in the. richard lui is here with sports. >> good thursday to you. you know he coached the celtics for nine years and them you thought when doc rivers returned to celtics arena he'd get boos returning as the clippers coach. instead he got a standing ovation, fighting some tears. rivers later saying he couldn't function for the first 18 minutes of the game. you wouldn't have known it. clippers had a close lead into the fourth quarter, and then the clippers jamal crawford broadening the gap with two three-pointers, 21 points for the night and the clippers win it 96-88.

texas football coach mack brown stepped in and will alabama's nick saban step in? alabama says he's focused on the sugar bowl right now. the talk is his extension offers even more and a potential texas offer could be ast nom mal. mack brown's attorney says brown has not decided yet. conbrat lagss to auburn's jeff malzan, won coach of the year. of course that famous unforgettable iron bowl victory against alabama. richie imcognito and jonathan march tip will not return to play for the dolphins after this season. incognito is accused of bullying martin and on paid succespensio. it is the thrill of the game. base runner charging for home

and colliding with catchers, now major league baseball has adopted rules that ban them because of injuries. it's up to the players association to check off on the new rules. the andrew mccutcheon popped the question after four years. after a short video tribute he brought her to the stage, knelt down, proposed to her on national tv, why? because he wanted to tell the whole world that he loved her. >> this guy gets big points. >> big props and the big yes as well. his first rogue bike stunt video was huge. the sequel has over 2 million views, martin ashdon broke his back after making the second video, paralyzed from the waist town. his very good friends stepped in to finish the five-minute extravaganza. >> impressive. i'm sorry to hear he got hurt.

. >> the bike $20,000 each. >> amazing. an arctic blast of cold air triggered a band of lake-effect snow with some areas expecting up to four feet of the white stuff by the end of this week. brr. the video is from oswego county, new york, shows near whiteout conditions on the roads. for a look at the rest of the weather around the country here is bill karins. >> they probably have school because the standards are higher. one report on the tug hill plateau, five feet of snow in two days, it was like boom, done >> that's like my height. >> it's crazy. another cold blast coming down international falls called the ice box of america, northern minnesota up on the border with canada, minus 6 right now. we're at zero in green bay, chicago at minus 2, indianapolis at 3. these are the coldest temperatures we've seen all

year. there's not a lot of pad weather, your travel is just fine. the stream of white those are clouds and moisture coming into areas of new mexico and texas. that is the moisture for the upcoming snow event friday night and especially saturday, our european computer models showing three to six inches possible st. louis through new england and most of it will fall saturday and saturday night. keep that in mind, today the weather map looks nice and quiet. it doesn't look like a significant snow event. three to six inches for everyone with saturday plans that could be troublesome >> it's that time of year as you remind us quite often. thanks so much. two major set packs for same-sex couples and new information about the man who faked sign language at nelson mandela's memorial service. why is this guy walking with 800 pounds trapped to his feet? >> why and how? [ male announcer ] if you can clear a crowd but not your nasal congestion,

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s making news this morning, australia's highest court struck down a lapped mark law that allowed the country's first say sex weddings. s toes of same-sex marriages will be annulled a week after theer is mopeys. the protesters demonstrated against a ruling from india's spree court which struck down a lower court decision and reinstate a ban on gay sex. >> the sign language sperpter at tuesday's memorial service for theyson mandela is being called a fake by those in the deaf commute. >> he's well doing the president of south africa and he signs like this. that was it. it should look like this. the forrer president of south africa, like that. >> and a 52-year-old factory worker in china, works out every single day with a pair of iron shoes that weigh a xwip combine

total of 8 hub pounds. he walks up to 20 minutes a day dragging more than 400 pounds on each foot. he says it's actually a great cure for back pain, and here i think it would cause back pain. tyke to look at the world of money. anyton rushes to the rank of pub companies as it begins trading on the new york stock exchange. it has abipo share price at $20. general motors announced it will stop making cars in's trayia by 2017 due to high cost and's trayia's strong currency. grewon is fighting back against the strategy of using drones to deliver packages. i heard this ominous whistling in the air, i thought it was a lay inning bea of hay or hot called ron of oil but it turns out it was my package from grewon and i got 5% off my wireless head phobes and i didn't have to kocome face to fe

with a flying scary robot. scrambling politics is ahead including an incredible story about rape insurance that has become law in one state. ♪ if i was a flower growing wild and free ♪ ♪ all i'd want is you to be my sweet honeybee ♪ ♪ and if was a tree growing tall and green ♪ ♪ all i'd want is you to shade me and be my leaves ♪ grown in america. picked & packed at the peak of ripeness. the same essential nutrients as fresh. del monte. bursting with life™. the same essential nutrients as fresh. it's donut friday at the office. aso every friday morning they psend me out to get the goods.

but what they don't know is that i'm using my citi thankyou card at the coffee shop, so i get 2 times the points. and those points add up fast. so, sure, make me the grunt. 'cause i'll be using those points to help me get to a beach in miami. and allllllll the big shots will be stuck here at the cube farm. the citi thankyou preferred card. now earn 2x the points on dining out and entertainment, with no annual fee.to apply, go to citi.com/thankyoucards well, you've found delicious! ♪ ♪ must be the honey! ♪ it is so honey swagalish ♪ so much crunch, can you handle this? ♪ ♪ the party in the bowl don't stop! ♪ ♪ must be the honey! [ male announcer ] this december, experience the gift of true artistry and some of the best offers of the year at the lexus december to remember sales event. this is the pursuit of perfection.

♪ through 12 ice storms brewing ♪ ♪ 10 straight days raining ♪ 9 hailstorms pounding ♪ 5 mysteriously heavy holiday fruitcakes ♪ ♪ 4 actual tree houses ♪ 3 blackouts ♪ 2 weird to mention ♪ and a roaming horde of carolers ♪ ♪ with my exact same route [ female announcer ] no one delivers the holidays like the u.s. postal service. priority mail flat rate is more reliable than ever. and with improved tracking up to 11 scans you can even watch us get it there. and look for our limited edition holiday stamps. first look at this morning's dish of scrambled politics. controversial measure nicknamed rape insurance, the rape insurance bill is now law in michigan. it prevents insurance plans from covering abortions unless the

mother's lifedanger if women and companies are covered. supporters say it allows people opposed to abortion to avoid buying into a plan that covers it. the bill takes effect in march. the former chief of staff to tennessee senator lamar alexander will be arraigned today, arrested tuesday op. charges of possessing and distributing child pornography. the senator fired him after initially putting him on leave. statement from alexander's office says he is stunned and disappointed. former president george w. bush wrote an encouraging note to alabama number 43, foster was 0 for 3 in the stunning loss to awe burp. he said in part, "life has its setbacks, i though. however, you will be a stronger human with time." more than two years out, governor chris christie is

sitting pretty, reeding a 2016 republican presidential primary with 17% of the vote. senators rand paul and ted cruz come next with 14% and 13% respectively. in florida, bob barker is back. he's in a new tv ad backing republican david jolly in a special congressional election. >> folks, when you get to be as young as i am, you call it like you see it. that's why i'm supporting david jolly for congress, because with jolly, the choice is right. >> the senate is pulling ap. all-nighter but don't expect a farm bill to come up. lawmakers insist they're close to a deal but with current legislation expiring at the end of the year passage seems unlikely. that's your morning's dish of scrambled politics. joining me for our first look at politics as he always does on thursdays is syndicated

columnist bob franken. good morning. thanks for being here. >> good morning. i'm sure we all enjoyed the all-nighter with members of the senate. >> nothing more riveting than watching senate activities in the middle of the night. >> how would you like to spend all night with these guys? i've done it. it is no fun. >> i'll start with the budget and paul ryan's role in crafting the compromise. it's a defining moment in his legislative career but he's listen criticized by conservatives for the deal. does he gain or lose more? >> probably gains with conservatives and loses with the extreme conservatives but right now the republican party is in such a mess right now that this is legislation that is designed to just cause, to prevent sabotage from happening next year, the kind of sabotage the party suffered this year when it fought the various budget battles. when you say damaged paul ryan, that is assuming of course he has more ambitions like running for president.

>> what do you think for that? >> i suspect that he does have ambitions to run. >> facing primary challengers do you think all of this will move the entire party to the right overall? >> i think it already has. it constrain s for instance the minority ability of mitch mcconnell to make deals with democrats for fear of buzz saw from the right. you have the same situation in texas, somebody considered extremely cop sev lly conservat with a challenge from somebody who is just off the charts. >> i want to switch gears and talk quickly about new jersey governor chris christie, a new poll shows him leading republicans but also leading hillary clinton. why do you think he continues to poll so well? >> because it's so early that nobody's paying attention. remember now you're talking about the leader of the pack

that we've just been describing as an extremely befuddled state, that is to say the republican party. to be honest with you, i wouldn't pay much attention to these polls right now. >> good advice. thanks so much. >> and i'm not going to. >> we always appreciate your time. coming up, bill karins and richard lui will be here for "first buzz" including twitter's top five entertainment moments of 2013. and this hilarious how to video, yes, he's wrapping a cat, just in time for christmas. wow. it's "wow," you know? wow. wow. that feels wow! [ male announcer ] oral-b deep sweep, featuring three cleaning zones with dynamic power bristles that reach deep between teeth to remove up to 100% more plaque than a regular manual brush. it seems like it gets more to areas of your mouth that you can't reach with a regular toothbrush. [ male announcer ] guaranteed "wow" with deep sweep from oral-b. #1 dentist-recommended toothbrush brand worldwide.

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time for "first buzz" all the stories that caught our attention this morning.

bill care yips akarins and richu have a list. >> number five, jennifer lawrence, best actress in a comedy, the famous line about "i beat meryl." number four, how did beyonce make this list, her super bowl halftime performance was okay. >> she put the lights out. >> "liars" was third on the list, and the academy awards when the upset when "argo" was announced as best picture number two and number one, the bad twerk. that was number one. 300,000 tweets per minute when miley was grind -- >> tells you an awful lot who is on twitter. >> "argo" was number two. >> this is entertainment based. >> just top entertainment moments. >> you love miley, i know that bill karins. >> just as much as beyonce. >> miley was twerking with robin

thicke you should have been following him. >> that's bill karins for you. >> new year's day not good for a car. >> on new year's day that is the worst holiday for your car because that's when thieves are out stealing cars the most of any holiday throughout the yooer. >> this is so odd to me. >> the reasoning they give on that day people are out in their cars and thieves like lots that are full of cars. that's why they're out. >> i think people aspire to be better on the 1st, even if you're a thief i'm not going to steal this year. >> safest holiday, christmas and valentine's day. if any of you are wondering how to fwiftgift a pet to someo youtube user shows the perfect way to wrap up a cat. i do not recommend doing this to

any animal. >> i think everyone should try to do this. if anyone has a cat that could come half to doing this -- >> we're going to let this cat take us out. this is "first look" on msnbc. >> that's a windup. republican paul ryan and democrat patty murray announced they had reached a deal tuesday after two months of negotiations. >> oh my god, these two members of congress who did the deal are literal visual analogs for how the two sides cannot see eye to eye. they are a life size bar graph of the fiscal distance between the parties. and, quite frankly, the two look like my prom pictures in reverse. >> forget about twiciveness between political parties, how

about within them? both sides of the political spectrum seem to have a bit of a beef with the new budget deal. problems in the ukraine spilling over the border. we have issues in georgia as well. we'll splap whatexplain what's n a few former satellite countries. and this morning about the guy who fake sign language at the nelson man tell lamemorial. this is "way too early." i cannot get over that story and new information just in and we'll get to that in a few minutes. brian shactman, thursday december the 12th. also in the show some poignant moments in sports. we have a reassuring letter from one 43 to another, it's a little bit of a riddle for you, we'll have that in a few minutes. and doc rivers returns to boston as coach of the l.a. clippers, he gets the win and gets ptt