means to the scripps spelling bee. the nsa is pushing back against edward snowden's claims that he tried to be a whistle blower before taking it to the press. and someone call it a steal, but it is no sale price tag. the potential new owner of the l.a. clippers. this is "way too early." ♪ hey, hey, everybody. good morning. it is friday, may 30th. i'm thomas roberts. welcome to "way too early," the show that had the collection to buy the l.a. clippers game and we came up a few hundred million dollars short. it wasn't a lack of effort. we really tried to get there. but it does appear that the nba's donald sterling nightmare may finally be over. we've got these overnight developments where ex-microsoft ceo steve ballmer is set to purchase the clippers for $2

billion. wow. the proposed sale of the team now goes to league officials pending their final approval. ballmer has already been vetted by the nba when he tried to purchase the sacramento kings last year. experts have declared donald sterling mentally incapacitated. shelly sterling can now move forward with the sale of this team without his approval. that's a huge development. however, donald sterling's attorney says, quote, he is not selling the clippers. donald sterling has not agreed to sell the clippers at any price. they were trying to do this ahead of the owners league meeting in new york next week. a lot of fast-moving parts there. to washington, d.c. and an obama administration telling veterans affairs secretary shinseki is on thin ice. more than 100 lawmakers are demanding his reck nation because of wait lists and other problems at facilities across

the country. the list includes more than 30 democrats. nine of those senators are up for re-election this november. republican house speaker john boehner and majority leader eric cantor have not called for secretary shinseki to step down yet. they're framing the scandal to say president obama should be held accountable. jay carney was asked repeatedly if president obama still has confidence in secretary shinseki. he struggled to answer one way or the other. >> does the president right now have confidence in secretary shinseki. it's a simple yes or no question. you told us last week he did. does he have confidence now? >> what i would point you to is what the president said when asked about secretary shinseki. i'm not going to improve upon his words on this regard. he talked about accountability -- >> asked if he had confidence. >> i understand the word play. i think what --

>> it's not word play. it's a central question. does he have confidence in him? >> bernie sanders who is the chairman of the senate veterans affair committee has not called for secretary shinseki to resign. the nsa is pushing back on claims edward snowden tried to raise concerns internally before leaking to the press. an e-mail from snowden was released from last year asking about the government's legal authorities. officials say he sound nod alarms about data collection processes. snowden says he raised concerns with administration officials of, quote, indefensible collection activities. and when asked brian williams about the wake of 9/11, snowden accused intelligence of missing what was in front of their eyes. >> you know, this is a key question that the 9/11 commission considered. and what they found when they

looked at all of the intelligence agencies, they found that we had all of the information we needed to detect this plot. we actually had records of the phone calls from the united states and out. the cia knew who these guys were. the problem was not that we weren't collecting information. it wasn't that we didn't have enough dots. it wasn't that we didn't have a hay stack. it was that we did not understand the hay stack that we have. >> the search for missing malaysia airlines flight 370 appears to have hit a dead end. officials do not believe the plane is located in the area they've been searching in the indian ocean. they've wrapped up the search with no signs of debris from the plane. earlier this week officials said pri pings were found earlier in the month. this was false.

they were not coming from the black boxes. have you seen this? it's part of the willis tower closed in chicago. a glass ledge that juts out from the 103rd floor closed. it's a popular spot for thrill seekers at what used to be the world's tallest bulding. four family members were shocked when they stood on it and heard an ominous sound. >> you really think it's going to be -- >> you can hear it cracking. any second. that is [ bleep ] crazy. >> people are going to get hurt down there. watch. >> willis tower officials say the cracks were only in the protective coating and that no one was in danger. they're hoping to reopen that ledge coming up later today. we shift gears to talk about business news and investors will look to make it two straight days of gains when the markets open this morning. green arrows, all three indices

raised yesterday. cnbc's geoff cutmore live with us in london. >> we have a rather flat session to far in europe. you get the feeling some people are happy to close the book on may. and maybe are not going to get too aggressive for june here. so at the moment your early call on the futures looks a little negative. and we've got some personal consumption news that will be a data point. and we're looking for some comments from various fed officials. so i think there will be a generally nervous tone to the start of the trading day. one place where there doesn't seem to be any reluctance to engage is around the meat industry at the moment. hillshire was engaged in its own attempt to buy the birds eye frozen food business over its rival pinnacle.

that was interrupted when pilgrim stepped in and now tyson food has offered $2.8 billion to take over hillshire. there's a lot going on in this meat story. keep your eye focused on this. at lo of people with swarming around the potential victim hillshire at this stage. back to you. >> this other story that caught our attention, this bait and switch with southwest airlines. they're now being fined for putting out deals that weren't really available to their customers? >> this one drives me nuts. i don't know about you, but i try and book occasionally those value carriers here in europe. and they always advertise really good deals. then when you get on the website, try and find it, it's never on the day you want to travel. it's never the time you want to travel. you think well, where is that ultra-low deal when i'm searching for it. that's the deal here. they've been fined $200,000. the claim is that they

advertised a $59 flight that couldn't be found when the department of transport went on their website and started looking for it. the trout was atlanta, chicago, new york, or los angeles. apparently there was nothing available at $59 when it was sought. so they're going to have to pay $22 $200,000 for that. >> have a great weekend, sir. thank you. want to move on now and tell you about some hollywood gossip. have you heard about this one? quentin tairantino and uma thurman are now a couple. not the pair you'd expect to wind up together. kind of odd. but it makes sense. what other odd pairs might make sense to you.

tweet us your answers. get creative on us. still ahead on "way too early," rangers goalie henrik lundqvist in the garden. but was it enough to send to the stanley cup finals. it was the cutest video you'll see all week. it may get you into your dancing shoes. it certainly got us into our dancing shoes. that story and a check on weather when "way too early" comes right back. and yes, a friday edition of dancing shoes. [ julie ] the wrinkle cream graveyard.

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call 866-905-6500 now. here we go! hold on man. is that a leak up there? that's a drip. whoo. okay. aah. now that's a leak. that is a leak! and if you don't have allstate renters insurance... game over. [ female announcer ] protect your valuables from things like water damage for as low as $4 a month when you add renters insurance to your allstate auto policy. call 866-905-6500 now. plus, drivers who switched saved an average of $498 a year. just a few more ways allstate is changing car insurance for good. [ female announcer ] call an allstate agent and get a quote now. welcome back, everybody. to sports. the stanley cup now. we go scoreless in the second here. check out this save by henrik lundqvist. he hits the puck with his hand

to keep it out of the net. sweet, right? dominic moore scores to give them the advantage. lundqvist would remain a brick wall the rest of the game. the one goal is all new york would need. they're headed to the stanley cup final for the first time since winning the title 20 years ago. tonight the kings try to finish off the blackhawks in game six. one to watch. to san antonio now for the nba playoffs. the thunder and spurs in game five of the western conference finals. tight game in the first. russell westbrook with this jam to give okc an early lead. series tied at two games each. the spurs with the victory. now with just one win away from the return to the nba finals. >> five games, five blowouts. how do you explain that?

>> you're serious? you really think i can explain that? >> in simplest terms. i know you can. question is will you? >> good lord. and they pay you, don't they? >> very little. >> thus the question. >> bill, that would be like if they sent me to do that. >> who's grumpier. him or barnicle? >> probably popovich. look at barnicle. he's eating his muffin. he's mr. happy. >> all right. >> should we show barnicle? >> no. leave him in the dark. >> okay. >> there he is. >> we're a swift team around here. two-time masters winner bubba watson is known for his

creativity on the golf course. his latest trick shot is on a mini golf course, but unbelievable nonetheless. take a peek. >> bubba here. we play the course backwards. >> come on. there's got to be dental floss on that ball or something. right? >> if you're going to do this, can't you hold the camera right, please so we can get it in the large version? >> you want it in the panorama. yeah we want panoramic. look at that. that's pretty sick, right? barnicle, do you believe it? >> i believe it. >> i do too. we love bubba. >> that's amazing.

>> nice mini golf. let's do that this weekend. >> practice our shots. >> why not. take shots and then practice our shots. good morning, everyone. the down pour will continue in the deep south. three days in a row. destin, florida, over 5 inches of rain. this pesky storm is still spinning here. it'll keep you cool with showers. louisiana, mississippi, alabama, and portions of western florida. we have a flash flood watch. tropical down pours being the issue. as far as the weekend goes, new england still being plagued with cool weather and showers. we're very warm in the great lakes. much of the country looks okay. you're going to dodge some of those suhowers in the afternoon. and then we warm it up actually a little bit. should be a beautiful sunday in areas of the northeast new england. there will be showers and storms

out there today from boston to vermont and new hampshire. >> the weather last night here in new york, gorgeous. >> there won't be many of those days left. enjoy it. coming up at the top of the hour on "morning joe," the politics and the va scandal. and we'll huddle around the water cooler when we come back here. might be the most exciting end to a spelling bee of all time. the winning moment and the answer that could have you laughing out loud. all that when we return to a friday edition of "way too early." ♪ [female announcer] grow, it's what we do. we grow big celebrations, and personal victories. we grow new beginnings, and better endings. grand gestures, happier happy hours. so let's gro something greater with miracle-gro. what will you grow?

earlier in the show we told you about the reports that steve ballmer has agreed to purchase the clippers for $2 billion. if you want to sound smart today, tell your friends that ballmer's offer if approved by team owners would be the most ever paid for an nba franchise. would also be the second most expensive sports team purchase of all time behind magic johnson 2012 acquisition of the l.a. dodgers for $2.1 billion. can you imagine? that's so much money. let's huddle around the water cooler and check in with louis. we have an update in finale of the spelling bee. >> let's start with one of the most closely watched competitions around the world. the scripps spelling bee.

they're enthusiastic and fun to watch though it can be misguided at times. >> karbaragoya. >> i know it! i know it! i totally know it. okay. c-a-b-a-r-a-g-o-y-a. what? >> the spellers aren't the only ones. >> did they say he was 15 and in eighth grade? can you be 15 in eighth grade? >> i don't know. sometimes even the moderator can slip up, tom. >> watch phrase reaction on language of origin. >> tabitha discovered while her milk shake brought all the boys to the yard -- oh, boy. oh, i'm sorry. i was reading the wrong sentence.

time is ticking. enjoy the dish at a cafe in sao palo. >> i think that's not an appropriate song either. this competition ended up with classic head to head matchup. it came down the miss. >> if you spell this correctly, we will declare you co-champions. >> get the letters out there. >> okay. whatever. >> however you say it, just spell it. >> f-e-u-i-l-l-e-t-o-n. >> correct.

>> ladies and gentlemen, we have a tie. that's 14-year-old new yorker sririm and 13-year-old texas an ansun in the first tie in more than 50 years in the scripps spelling bee. >> congratulations. it's always sad when you see someone get so close and then have to walk away. so those kids deserve it. >> i like the judges for once were on the hot seat and had a slipup. >> and a pushback. kid saying whatever. >> now let's go to the viral video where dancing baby videos can't be beat. ♪

>> i wish i had had rhythm like that. >> they are so cute. >> caffeine is a drug that makes "way too early" go, but one espresso enthusiast is taking it to the extreme. the consumerist guy is out to set the most expensive drink. it included 60 shots of es suppress sew. 128-ounce glass. that's a large glass. it would cost him $54.75 if not for the starbucks loyalty program. if you're a gold member, you get a free drinking after you buy 12. this was lucky number 13. so it cost him nothing. >> there you see it. >> he says he didn't drink it all in one sitting and i think

that's a good thing. because i don't know if that's good for the heart. the website estimates that about 4500 milligrams of caffeine in that drink. sounds like a good time or a headache. >> i don't know. that person's still awake now. >> actress and writer mindy kalig didn't hide her intentions speaking at a school. >> yale law is always number one and you are always number two. sometimes stanford comes in there, bumps you to number three. let me tell you something. from where i stand from an outsider's perspective, here's the truth. you are all nerds. okay? all of you. except here's the difference. the only difference is that you are the nerds that are going to make some serious bank. all right? which is why i'm here today. to marry the best looking amongst you.

>> at least she's honest. first she calls them number two. then insults them by calling them nerds. but the marriage thing was funny. i don't know if you knew this, but it's nine days until the country crowns a new queen for miss usa. you will be there co-hosting the event with giuliana rancic. one of our eagles snapped this picture as our dapper thomas was seen dancing on the top of 30 rock. the guy has rhythm and look at that point. pointing right to camera. the competition airs sunday night, june 8th, live on nbc. all looking forward to that. and we're hoping you don't mess up on stage. there's a lot of pressure. >> a lot. but i have to say thank you to louis who is a creative genius. he helped me shoot this pro mow yet. >> you in a tux, that's tv gold. so, you know. >> hopefully it'll turn out. otherwise i'm going to make a big fool of myself. thank you, sir. we are coming back in a

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all right. that's going to do it for this edition of "way too early." good week, gang! "morning joe" starts right now. ♪ good morning. it's friday, may the 30th. great to have you with us on "morning joe." beautiful shot of new york city. is barnicle getting you laughing already? >> it hasn't even started yet, he's off the rails. he was feisty in makeup. he was really recoiled when they offered him some lip balm. i knew it was going to be one of those days. >> what's your thing against lip balm? >> with us on set msnbc contributor and lip balm user -- >> no. we could really slander him by sa