>> eight of them. >> and you were going pretty fast. that said you're not a professional. >> i know. thank you, will. >> fake science. patriots are innocent of which i'm saying not because of any scientific conclusion, but right now on "first look," the blizzard of 2015 is putting the finishing touches on new england. record snowfall in some parts, but overinflated forecasts for others. just days ahead of super bowl xlix the nfl has a person of interest in deflategate. president obama returns to america with a busy agenda not to mention new security questions and that white house drone. good morning everybody. and thanks so much for joining us today. i'm betty nguyen. all right, so 30 inches and still counting. the coast isn't clear for snow-slammed, wind-whipped new england. some areas will get even more snow. in massachusetts, the sound of snowblowers was everywhere people digging out from 3 feet

of blinding snow. this morning a statewide travel ban was lifted. that's a little bit of good news. but more than 21,000 are still without power. and 30 miles outside of boston, this is the problem. in marshville the sea wall collapsed. the atlantic ocean roaring and coming ashore covering homes in a layer of ice. >> my roof caved in. the roof collapsed, the side wall. >> this is the worst storm i've seen. this place is like a war zone. >> farther south, there was no epic storm, as predicted. new york city and new jersey dodged a bullet. the bad news the city lost $200 million in economic activity. so why was the forecast so wrong? the weather service uses different models. one said new york could see 22 inches, a european model said 15 but a new u.s. model had it right, just under 10. >> we've always heard so much about the superiority of the

european model as opposed to the american model. in this case the american model actually handled it a little bit better. >> what we learned from the storm is we all need to improve how we communicate forecast uncertainty. >> and in new jersey an apology from a meetteorologist saying "you made a lot of tough decisions expecting us to get it right. we didn't. once again, i'm sorry." so how much will the blizzard of 2015 cost? according to the research firm ihs global insight, it could top $1 billion. and here's the reason. the cost of snow removal and the screeching halt of business after shutting down cities. all right, well with just days to the super bowl there is new video evidence of a so-called person of interest, and it's reportedly emerging in the deflategate football scandal. nbc's ron mott shows us why a bathroom break is now taking center stage. >> reporter: nbc sports is reporting the deflategate investigation is now centered on a 90-second bathroom break taken

by a patriots locker room attendant before the afc championship game. the attendant, nfl sources say, is seen on surveillance video carrying game balls from both teams after they were certified by the officials. >> this is the first piece of evidence beyond the fact that the footballs were underinflated. this is the first thing that can be pointed to as an opportunity by someone with the patriots organization to have the footballs behind a closed door for any period of time and potentially do something with them. that's why it's caught the nfl's attention. >> reporter: super bowl media day, a supersized frenzy of reporters, cameras and microphones with questions flying at coaches and players from all directions. but of all the questions opposed, deflategate remained a hot topic, though responses revealed little. >> it's all about seattle. it's all about us getting ready to play sunday. and that's where all of our attention is. i'm not really worried about the rest of that. >> reporter: upon arriving in arizona monday patriots owner robert kraft demanded an apology from the nfl, if its investigation can't prove the team did anything wrong.

>> i would expect and hope that the league would apologize to our entire team and in particular, coach belichick and tom brady, for what they have had to endure this past week. >> that was nbc's ron mott reporting. well a busy day ahead in the nation's capital. loretta lynch, the president's nominee for next attorney general, begins her senate confirmation hearings. then a formal farewell for defense secretary chuck hagel. next week confirmation hearings take place for ashton carter hagel's proposed replacement. and all of this comes on the heels of the president's trip to india and saudi arabia. the president and first lady returned to d.c. early this morning. before they left though the first lady got a lot of attention on social media for not wearing a head scarf or veil. in saudi arabia women are expected to cover their heads. exceptions are made typically, for foreigners though. well according to the "washington post," more than 1,500 tweets were sent with the

hashtag translating to "michelle obama unveiled." nbc's tracie potts is live in washington. so, tracie what's on the president's agenda today? >> reporter: pretty busy day. he's going to say good-bye to chuck hagel, outgoing defense secretary. he'll make some remarks there this afternoon. but first, he's got to deal with congress. and from what we're hearing, betty, he already got an earful from his own party before he stepped off that plane early this morning. before president obama arrived at the white house early this morning, sources tell us top democrat nancy pelosi was on air force one convincing him not to tax college savings plans. the white house now confirms he's dropping that idea. key democrats and republicans agree, it would hurt the middle class. >> we need opportunities to empower and reward folks for preparing for the future. but the president's plan does just the opposite. >> it's another example of his out-dated, top-down approach. >> reporter: in private, house speaker john boehner told

republicans he's close to finalizing a plan to sue president obama over immigration. the senate's planning to deal with immigration and homeland security funding after they approve the keystone oil pipeline. >> the keystone pipeline vote is about jobs it's about opportunity. >> reporter: and it's going nowhere. the president already promised to veto. >> i think we should do everything we can to persuade at least a half a dozen democrats that they should join us to get this done. >> reporter: but republicans' immigration plan to beef up border security hit a snag pulled before it ever came up for a vote. insiders say there weren't enough republicans behind it. >> when we're ready to move we will. >> reporter: next, obamacare. the first vote by this new congress to repeal the health law is expected next week. but that and keystone aren't expected to go very far, even if they do land on the president's desk. as we've noted, betty, he's already promised to veto both issues. >> he's been pretty solid on that. thank you, tracie. well there are new

questions about security at the white house, namely how could a small drone land on the white house lawn evading radar detection? it happened early monday morning. today a source confirms to nbc news the man had been drinking beforehand. it was apparently an accident. the unnamed man, who later turned himself in works for the national geospatial intelligence agency, a group credited with helping take down osama bin laden by pinpointing the location of his compound in pakistan. but what if his plan was more sinister? well the "washington post" says the secret service still has not figured out a way to easily detect and stop the relatively small and inexpensive drones. this next story does come with a warning, because there is some disturbing video that we are about to show you. a florida woman seven months pregnant is run over by her boyfriend after an argument. police say the boyfriend called her beforehand asking "are you ready for your abortion date?" goodness. shocked witnesses describe what happened next. >> she went flying.

i mean she went flying on the hood and her legs hit her face. >> i ran outside and he was running out, and he's like i know i'm going to jail i know i'm going to jail. >> that boyfriend, justin colby, fled on a motorcycle. he was arrested last night for attempted murder. colby has previous charges for assault and battery. astonishingly, the woman is being treated at a nearby hospital for minor injuries. hope she gets well soon. all right, let's get down to business with cnbc's landon dowdy. good morning to you, landy. >> betty, good morning. unemployment fell in 42 states last month, another sign that strong hiring is creating job opportunities. unemployment rose in four states and was unchanged in four others. job gains were healthy in states with big oil and gas industries suggesting the drop in oil prices hasn't led to significant layoffs yet. a new report finds amazon prime members are spending more than nonmembers. the data estimates amazon has 40 million prime members who spend an average of $1,500 a year versus just $625 for nonmembers.

amazon prime costs $99 a year and offers unlimited free shipping. americans are rediscovering their love for burgers. 9 billion were served at restaurants last year up 3% from 2013. that's the first gain in five years, and that means every person in america ordered a burger every two weeks. restaurants are replacing more focus on new concepts such as using fancy bread. betty, back over to you. >> all right. love our burgers! thank you so much. now to sports and my friend frances rivera. good morning frances. >> hi, betty. good morning to you. and the australian open continues. top-ranked serena williams cruises into the semifinals downing 11th-ranked dominica steevl cova in straight sets it she outlasted sister venus, who fell to madison keys. stan wawrinka beat fifth-seed kai nietzsche corrie in straight sets to advance to friday's semifinals play. boxers floyd mayweather and manny pacquiao agreed on

attending a heat game. they even met at halftime and spoke briefly. >> nice. >> maybe about their potential bout. maybe not. but it is progress. they're face-to-face. pacquiao says the two have never spoken in person before. wonder what they talked about. super bowl media day in arizona was a frenzy of players, friends and media. always, a handful of wacky reporters in unusual get-ups, as usual. pats coach bill belichick would not address the deflategate controversy, but did answer this. >> what stuffed animals do i like? i like like a little puppet that you can put your fingers in, it's a little monkey and he can talk and move his fingers and nod his head and kind of talk back to you. >> some random stuff. >> oh, the jokes that are going to come after that. >> yeah. seahawks' marshawn lynch was in repeat mode answering reporters with his phrase of the day. >> i'm here so i won't get fined. i'm here so i won't get fined. i'm here so i won't get fined. >> think he got his point

across? why is he there? >> slightly. >> right. last night's penguins game day program features sidney crosby on the cover, but look at his name. an unfortunate typo that red sindey crosby instead. and ryan anderson tyreke evans and anthony davis showed off their acting skills if you want to call that, in this hokey ad for group tickets for pelicans games. i don't think hollywood's going to be calling any time soon though. you know makes you watch. it is kind of entertaining. >> what were those dance moves? >> i have no idea betty. >> all right thank you. well in the "l.a. times" this morning, mormon church tries to balance gay rights protections religious freedom. the church is supporting housing and public accommodation protection for gays and lesbians while also calling for those same laws to protect religious freedoms. it comes just seven years after the church mobilized members to help pass prop 8 in california, which outlawed same-sex marriage. and in "usa today," godaddy

pulls controversial puppy mill super bowl commercial. have you seen it? the ad shows a cute and cuddly puppy falling off a truck and its long and difficult journey home only to be greeted by its overjoyed owners because they had just sold the puppy online. the ad drew outrage from animal activists, some saying it promotes puppy mills.

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well welcome back. this blizzard is finally coming to an end. it's still snowing up in maine, but even portland has now shut it down, and shut it down is a good word for it because that's how they are in eastern portions of the state. the windchills that are greeting people this morning that have to go out and shovel and get rid of all that snow negative 2 in boston windchill down to 4 windchill as far south as new york city, so a very cold air mass out there will greet you as you head out the door. amazing snowfall totals. we had 2 1/2 feet in massachusetts, connecticut, new hampshire and out on long island. three different states with 2 1/2 feet for their max snowfall total. so, what's next?

we do have a little clipper storm. this one will be a little one. the only people that really have to worry about getting additional inches of snow would be up in maine. so, this is the forecast. just a little bit of light snow as we go through thursday night into friday morning here especially in new england. and it looks like maine has the best chance of getting maybe 6 inches or snow. they're going to get nailed a couple times this next week. then the next big storm that we have to track starts on saturday out here in the plains and this band has the possibility of 6 inches of snow from the northern plains through northern ohio valley and then the possibility of even more than that in new england. so that's the next storm to watch. that would hit new england sunday night and a messy monday morning. >> gosh, say it isn't so, but unfortunately, we must get ready. >> that's the next one. >> thank you. some other stories we're following for you. a national jury found two former vanderbilt football players guilty of raping a former student back in 2013. the victim was in the courtroom. she was heard crying each time a guilty verdict was announced. the men will be sentenced on march 6th. two others involved in the case have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.

senior defense officials tell nbc news that army sergeant bowe bergdahl will likely face a lesser charge of desertion and could end up not serving any time in prison. the desertion charge carries a sentence of five years in prison. they say the army is considering crediting bergdahl for the five years he spent in captivity after he walked away from his post in afghanistan and was captured by terrorists. bergdahl might be demoted, lose back pay and also be given the opportunity to leave the army with a less-than-honorable discharge. pentagon and army officials stress that no final decision has been made. an american citizen was killed in libya when at least three gunmen stormed a luxury hotel in the nation's capital. five other americans were evacuated after that attack. look at this. amateur video shows the fire that began when a car bomb was detonated right before the gunmen entered that hotel. three guards were killed and several others wounded. a group linked to isis has claimed responsibility for the attack. all right, listen up because apple has posted the

largest profit in corporate history with a record $18 billion, surpassing an earlier record set by exxon. they sold almost 75 million iphone 6 units with about 60% of those sold in china alone. ceo tim cook characterized the iphone sales as staggering. and starting in april, you can get your hands on the apple watch. okay so how sarah palin actually helped make $25,000 to promote a hillary clinton bid for the white house. we'll explain. "scrambled politics" is next.

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20 minutes past the hour. here is your hump day helping of "scrambled politics." you know, it turns out, former alaskan governor sarah palin's speech in iowa made big bucks for hillary clinton. yes, that's because at one point in her speech she said "it's going to take more than a village to beat hillary. i'm ready for hillary." well, the pro-hillary super pac called "ready for hillary" and ran with it. the group used palin's comments to reach supporters on social media and e-mail asking for donations. the pac raised $25,000 as a result. say cheese! congressman paul ryan used a hunk of gouda to make a committee meeting on trade barriers more interesting yesterday. in a cheesy move the republican was waving the block around as he hit his talking points. the criminal case against former texas governor rick perry will move forward. a judge has decided not to throw out the charges he's facing in the abuse of power case. white house dreams for wisconsin governor scott walker.

he is now the third gop hopeful to launch a political action committee. former florida governor jeb bush and new jersey governor chris christie have also created pacs. super bowl ads can cost companies big bucks. this year alone, an ad is expected to cost about $9 million per minute. a "washington post" writer points out though that for what the koch brothers are planning to spend in 2016 they could buy 99 minutes of super bowl ads. that is a lot of money, my friends. minority leader nancy pelosi is hoping mitt romney will run for president. yes, you heard me right. when asked by the hill if he would stand a chance against hillary clinton in 2016, she said, "no, no. i mean he might be a nice person -- no offense, no offense -- but let's save you time. let me put it this way, i hope he's their nominee." and that is your morning dish of "scrambled politics." you can read between the lines there, can't you? all right, now i'm joined by politico reporter katie glit. good morning to you. >> good morning. thanks for having me. >> absolutely. let's talk about hillary clinton. she's been keeping a low profile

recently. we haven't seen her attend many events. what's her strategy ahead of an apparent white house run? >> she sure has, and of course, that's in stark contrast to the frenetic schedule she kept up last year, especially in the midterms and even in the summer when she was traveling the country on her book tour. but recently we have not heard much from her, and a lot of observers say that that may be because she is really in the stages of planning what looks like at this point an inevitable presidential run. but this time around she's going to do things on her timetable. she does not want to be rushed despite all the movement that we're seeing on the republican side right now. >> any chance she is just you know, kind of staying at home spending time with her family being a grandmother? >> well she does often talk about being a grandmother, and you know maybe that is part of it but she also is you know doing as far as strategy sessions and having meetings with people close with her. you know there are many people or several people that have come

kind of into her inner circle as the contours of a likely presidential campaign begin to take shape. some of those folks involved are having those meetings as well. >> yeah, well it might also allow her to really pick and choose what issues she wants to publicly react to as these possible gop candidates battle it out publicly. >> exactly. well, and you know when she ran for president in 2008 which of course, was not ultimately successful, you know, people close to her felt that she was sort of pushed to get in earlier than she was ready, you know. and at this point, they're sort of saying that's not how this is going to happen this time around. let the republicans kind of duke it out. they're looking at april as sort of the likely time for when their campaign is set to get off the ground assuming she does this. >> we'll be watching. katie, thank you for joining us today. we appreciate it. >> sure. thank you. 24 minutes past the hour. still ahead, 70 years later, the liberation and remembrance so that the world would never repeat history again. that's next. leave your car unprotected. but a lot of us leave our identities unprotected. nearly half a million cars were stolen in 2012,

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it was a solemn day in poland where some 300 survivors returned to auschwitz to mark 70 years since the camp was liberated. nbc's bill neely was there. >> reporter: at the end of the auschwitz railway line on the ground where the ashes of a million jews are buried, survivors marked the camp's liberation. but it's clear, they are not free of memories. >> how can i ever forget the smell of burning flesh? >> we survivors do not want our best to be our children's future. >> reporter: pope francis said auschwitz cries out with pain and pleads for a future of

respect. amid the pain here fears for the future are very real. bill neely, nbc news, auschwitz. >> thanks for joining us everybody. "way too early with thomas roberts" starts right now. ♪ that is the ocean out there at the end of the street. kurt, if you could zoom right in, you can see it's pretty angry. oh big wave coming right over a car there. >> all right so new york may have been underwhelmed but the blizzard of 2015 delivered a punch to new england. this morning, the latest on the snowfall totals and an apology from the national weather service as the cleanup begins. flying fears. how twitter threats are grounding and rerouting planes above the u.s. and can this form of terror be stopped? and just wait until you meet the new "ghostbusters"! those are the old ones but the new and improved ones are pretty cool and they're nothing like the old ones. this is "way too early"!

♪ something strange in your neighborhood, who you gonna call ♪ ♪ ghostbusters ♪ >> hey, everybody, good morning! i'm thomas roberts. it's wednesday, january 28th. welcome to "way too early," the show that believes in ufos, esp, clair voice, spirit tlogify, full-test mediums, the loch ness monster and the theory of atlantis. wasn't that good? sasquatch too? i was trying to quote all of janine annie potts, and i think i did good right there from "ghostbusters." the new cast how they're going to improve on the original if it can be done. we'll have that for you. but we begin this morning in new england, where crews are facing bitterly cold conditions as they begin to clean up from a powerful blizzard. the boston area bore the brunt of the storm and is now trying to get back to normal. some towns are now dealing with up to 3 feet of snow on the ground. one of the hardest hit areas, cape cod.