and hearing the nick nip affluenza teen when he used his privileged upbringing as a defense in a deadly drunk driving case. he was sentenced to probation. so why was he found in mexico? 5:30 on the east coast, 2:30 out west. this is "way too early." good morning. it's tuesday, december 29th, i'm louis burgdorf. severe weather continues to plague much of the country this morning. in texas, residents in the dallas area are now in recovery mode after nine tornadoes touched down on saturday. at least 11 people died. now, according to the nbc affiliate in dallas, at least 18 people are still missing or unaccounted for in garland, texas, where an ef-4 tornado hit. >> as you can see, there's been

a lot of devastation. a lot of destruction. we're working through this. we feel very blessed that there were not more fatalities. but, as we work through all this, we'll go through the phases. we will let people get back into their homes soon. >> president obama called the governor of texas yesterday to offer the administration's continued support for recovery efforts. at the same time, several states are being hit with historic flooding. in missouri, governor jay nixon says yesterday that there have been ten flood-related deaths and that number appears likely to grow. all the while rescue crews had their hands full pulling people to safety. >> were rescued by a boat with the fire department. but, we were rescued at 9:00 this morning, and stood in that water for about three hours waiting for them to get here. >> heavy rain has also caused flooding in arkansas, oklahoma, illinois and georgia. add to that in some parts of new

mexico have seen as much as two feet of snow. now, the northeast is bracing for their own winter weather. several states, including new york and massachusetts, are getting ready for the snow by loading and prepping salt trucks. thank you so much. all severe weather is creating travel problems for airports across the country. more than 2800 flights have been canceled nationwide. there have been many intersupgss that are felt across the country but airports in chicago and dallas were the hardest-hit yesterday. airlines say the heavy rain and the winds are more difficult to deal with than the snowfall. now let's turn to politics and the editorial board of new hampshire's top newspaper left little to the imagination with regard to how they feel about donald trump. and trump blasted right back at a rally last night. it began when the union leader published a front page editorial saying trump insults voters' intelligence by publisher joe mcquaid. he compared trump to biff from "back to the future."

he said trump has shown himself to be a crude blow hard with no political philosophy and no deeper understanding of the important and serious role of president of the united states that one of his goons he lets rough up protesters in his crowds. trump accused the paper of colluding with christie's campaign who the paper endorsed and while campaigning in nash shaw he also compared the paper to iowa's des moines register who called on the front-runner to drop out of the race earlier this summer. >> between that and the union leader which i think might be worse, okay. what a pile of garbage that newspaper is. so we had an interesting thing. because you have a very dishonest newspaper up here. it's also a failing newspaper. it's going down to -- i remember when this was a big paper. look at the size of this thing. if they cut it down any more you won't be able to find it. it looks like the things, you know, he you go to the grocery store where they give you a little handout. what do they call that? coupons. this was a big power here years ago. although think of this, in 36

years, since 1980, okay, think of that, since 1980, they've picked one president, who is ronald reagan. they endorsed one guy who ran and won for president. so, they're one out of a 36-year period. right? they've got one. and they're not going to win this time. that i can tell you, okay? >> meanwhile fox news reports that trump is preparing to spend $2 million a week on television starting next month, which trump hinted at last night while encouraging his supporters to get out to the polls. >> we have got to get out and vote. remember that, folks. no matter what's going on in your life, if you're feeling miserable, if you're depressed, if you're down, if you're whatever the hell, you lost your job, like everybody else is losing their job, you have to get out and you have to vote. we have these massive rallies, and it's incredible, and they said, well if they vote, trump wins. they actually said that.

>> former president bill clinton will be back on the campaign trail for hillary, with two stops in new hampshire this coming monday. clinton will headline rallies in nashua and exeter. donald trump campaigns in lowell, massachusetts, just across the state on the same day. now trump recently declared clinton's scandals fair game after hillary clinton accused him of sexism. now, late last night trump tweeted that the former president, quote, failed badly when he campaigned for clinton back in 2008 against then-senator obama and that he was, quote, called a racist. this as other republicans weighed in on whether clinton is a liability. >> of course bill clinton's fair game. he's a former president. but, you're not going to beat hillary clinton by attacking bill clinton. you're going to beat hillary clinton, i'm going to beat hillary clinton, by attacking her track record. and her lack of trustworthiness. of course she's going to play the woman card. that's what she does. >> frankly, after seven years of obama, a lot of republicans would take bill clinton back

warts and all just because at least he understood how to govern. >> now jeb bush was fired up about donald trump yesterday while campaigning on his home turf in florida. he challenged the front-runner to a one-on-one debate and mocked him as inexperienced on foreign policy. >> today, we have great challenges in this country, and great chat edges around the world. hillary clinton has no clue. hillary clinton does not believe in the greatness of our country or she would not be advocating the policies of leading from behind. believe it or not the front-running candidate for president of the united states on the republican side doesn't believe in greatness, either. donald trump said that hillary clinton -- hillary clinton would be a excellent person to negotiate with iran. and look at the deal we got. donald trump gets his foreign policy -- congresswoman, from the shows. he wakes up in his pajamas and watches the tv shows. on saturday and sunday. >> a fired up jeb bush there.

now the mayor of cleveland says the city will launch an administrative review after a grand jury declined to indict the officers involved in a deadly shooting of 12-year-old tamir rice. now the boy was shot and killed last november while handling a pellet gun outside of a rec center. the prosecutor said it was, quote, reasonable that the officers believed they were in danger. unable to tell whether the gun was -- the investigators believe it was his action to hand it over or show it was, in fact, fake. >> given this perfect storm of human error, mistakes and miscommunication, by all involved, that day, the evidence did not indicate criminal conduct by police. through this process, we too have a chance and we, too, want justice for tamir. but justice would not be achieved by bringing charges that would violate the ethical canons of our plow fegs. >> the prosecutor is now calling on the state legislature and the gun manufacturers to stop making fake weapons that look like the real thing. now the family of tamir rice

says they're saddened but not surprised by the grand jury's decision. however the city's forthcoming administrative review could result in discipline against the two officers. meanwhile, embattled chicago mayor rahm emanuel is expected to return to work later today to deal with his police department's latest use of force. the mayor was vacationing in cuba over the weekend with his family when police shot and killed two unarmed people after a call for a domestic disturbance involving 19-year-old quintonio legrier. nbc's kevin tibbles has more. >> the 19-year-old son banging on the bedroom door with a baseball bat. >> reporter: according to the family bettie jones was asked by the man upstairs to answer the door when police got here. she came out of her department, did just that, and seconds later, she was shot. >> shots fired out there. shots fired. >> reporter: today the family of bettie jones gathered in her apartment without her. >> i feel like i just want to wake up and just have my mom said, grab a drink.

but i can't. she's gone. she was murdered. and that's all that sits in my heart. >> reporter: 19-year-old quintonio legrier was also killed. his family says he had developed a mental illness. >> police say bettie jones, a mother of five, was struck by accident. we've also learned that the father of the 19-year-old who originally called the police on his son is now suing the city. the lawsuit contradicts the police department's story that quintonio legrier was combative before he was shot. it also accuses the police officer of failing to provide the college student with medical help after the shootings. the city's independent police review board is investigating. now to a manhunt that has come to an end. ethan couch the wealthy texas teen known for his affluenza defense in a dui trial and his missing mother were taken into custody by mexican authorities earlier this morning. the 18-year-old was sentenced to a drug and alcohol free probation while killing four people while drunk driving two years ago. the texas district attorney said they believe ethan couch is seen

playing beer pong in this video in violation of the terms of his probation just before he vanished. law enforcement officials have said it released -- it's release may have prompted him to flee. his mother had also been listed as missing. now couch is expected to be turned over to u.s. marshals service. now the manager of a hotel in charleston, south carolina, is apologizing for the staff's response to a photo on twitter. a tweet of the shot of the historic distrikt with the mother emanuel ame church where nine people were shot and killed over the summer. in the foreground a courtyard by marriott hotel. someone on the hotel's twitter account tweeted at washington asking quote we respectfully ask you not to include the hotel in mother ame photos, thank you. the story created an uproar on social media and this morning the hotel manager has apologized saying they mishandled the situation. now still ahead on "way too early," al jazeera stands by peyton manning's doping allegations even though the

person who made the claims has recanted their story. and if you can't beat 'em, you better join 'em. jeb bush learning his way around a smartphone and has apparently become quite the expert on selfies. we'll show you his guide to the perfect photo in just a few moments. those stories plus a check on the severe weather sweeping across much of the nation when "way too early" comes right back. ♪ and then santa's workers zapped it right to our house. and that's how they got it here. cool. the magic of the season is here

at the lexus december to remember sales event. this is the pursuit of perfection.

welcome back to "way too early." at the top of the show we told you about the winter storms advancing east sea board where just three days ago it was actually in the 60s. i'm joined now by nicole oliverio in worcester, massachusetts. what are crews doing to prepare? >> definitely is. as you mentioned it was just five days ago people were wearing shorts and t-shirts on christmas eve. this is definitely sort of more of the winter feel that we're used to here in boston. take a look, you can see the roads, the plows have been out

but it's sort of hard to keep up, and because the ground is so cold, it's definitely starting to create sort of that slush here on the roadways. and as you can see what's coming down, it's really neither snow nor sleet, it feels more like small little ice pellets. here's what it's doing on the ground to accumulate. you know, it looks nice, and you have sort of that fluffy layer there on top but right now we've only probably seen about a half an inch. but once you get closer to the bottom that's when you're seeing more of the slippery ice. it's definitely going to make, you know, a tough morning commute here. but again, to go from 60s, less than a week ago, and now to remember that it is, in fact, nearly january, and that the winter weather is about to start to hit here, it means bringing in the salt, the windshield wiper blades, and making sure that those tires are ready for winter. live in worcester, massachusetts, nicole oliverio. >> got to watch out for that hidden ice winter has arrived nicole oliverio thank you so much. now let's get a check on your weather with bonnie schneider. it looks pretty bad there in

massachusetts. what's it going to look like in new york? >> new york we're really just getting rain. we did have a little bit of sleet earlier on. we're in a zone where the temperatures are too warm to see frozen precipitation like they're seeing in boston right now. she mentioned the ice pellets. most of the heavy know will work its way towards interior and northern new england. look at all the rain coming through new jersey and into maryland and delaware right now. still plenty of wet weather to contend with. a good portion of the day. and that's why we still have advisories posted. but not for new york city. for hartford into albany. this is where we have winter weather advisories because we still are looking at the threat forewin try weather and there's the reason. the snow will accumulate. it will really start to pile up into northern main. up to a foot in some locations. but the concern with this particular system on this date is that as the temperatures in the mid levels and lower levels get warmer we're likely to see this freeze in terms of freezing rain and accumulate into ice. we could see power outages as well as really treacherous travel. so many people traveling this week. by contrast in the southeast

it's still very warm. but it's not going to last. we're going to see changes in the forecast. the temperatures are on the way up for today and for tomorrow. but then charleston getting down to 63. even in new york city you look for temperatures into the mid 40s. we are going to see the changes out there in the forecast. as we go through much of the day. but keep in mind, our big threat, of course, will be for the snow that we're monitoring over the next 48 hours, some heavier amounts further off to the northeast. overall, though, we are looking at some improving conditions. our forecast for today, still watching the flood risk, and that holds true for areas along the mississippi river, even though the rain is subsiding, there's so much water out there that we're likely to see flooding, and to the west we're looking at some really cold temperatures, billings will look for a high of only 18 degrees today and eventually, louis, that colder weather will start to work its way in oklahoma city up to 40. >> well, people have to save some extra time for the commute this morning for sure. >> definitely. >> thank you so much, bonnie. now it's time for sports and the latest on the doping allegations surrounding peyton manning,

al jazeera is standing by their reporting even though one of the key figures in the documentary is recanting what he said he was -- what was captured on tape. nbc's blake mccoy has the story. >> reporter: football great peyton manning, now threatening to sue over an al jazeera documentary that links manning and several pro athletes to performance enhancing drugs. >> complete trash, garbage, there's more adjectives i'd like to be able to use. but it really makes me sick. >> reporter: the doping allegations are made in undercover recordings with charlie sly, who claims he interned for a short time at the guyer institute in indianapolis in 2011, at the same time manning received treatment there following an injury. in the documentary, the pharmacist says manning's wife, ashley, was sent human growth hormone, or hgh. >> everywhere, florida -- never under peyton's name. it would always be under her name. >> i have my treatments that i do. she may have hers, that's her business.

there's no connection between the two. >> reporter: sly has since recanted the statements he made, and says he was badgered to talk, while grieving the loss of his fiancee. but al jazeera is aggressively defending its reporting. one of the investigative reporters telling msnbc the truth lies in those undercover recordings. >> we spent six days recording charlie sly, hour upon hour, more than 20 hours of recordings. look at his demeanor in those conversations. he's giving fact upon fact upon fact. >> reporter: manning's current and former teams are standing behind him. the denver broncos say they support him 100%. the indianapolis colts call the report utterly ridiculous. as for the league, the nfl is reviewing the matter. >> finding the evidence is going to be challenging, because this involves parties that aren't within the nfl's jurisdiction. >> reporter: manning, an all-american hero, fighting to pro-serve his legacy. >> blake mccoy reporting there. let's go to last night the injured manning watched from the

sideline as brock osweiler led the broncos against a.j. mccarron and the bengals on monday night football. this one winds up in overtime after denver's brandon mcmanus misses a would-be game-winning field goal at the end of the fourth quarter ouch. but mcmanus redeemed himself in o.t. drilling a 37-yarder to cap the broncos' first possession then it was cincinnati's turn with the ball. >> second and ten, a.j. green in motion. mccarron lost the ball. if the broncos recover they win. and the broncos are in the playoffs! >> unfortunately mccarron fumbles away the game and the chance to earn the first round bye in the playoffs instead denver wins it 20-17 clinching a postseason berth with a shot at the afc's top seed next week. even worse for the bengals, mccarron apparently injured his left wrist on the final play. he's set for an mri today. let's go to some major league baseball the new york yankees have acquired four-time all-star

reliever chapman from the cincinnati reds while the lefty only caught the yankee a handful of minor leaguers the team may way a higher place down the line chapman is currently under investigation by the mlb for his involvement in an alleged domestic violence incident that occurred in october. chapman is accused of firing, firing eight gunshots in a garage after an argument with his girlfriend the investigation halted. a trade of chapman to the dodgers earlier this month while no criminal charges were filed the pitcher could face suspension under league's domestic violence policy. let's go to college football's bowl season and it continued yesterday with an explosive start to the military bowl in pittsburgh henderson returns the hoping kickoff for 100 yards for a touchdown. but that would prove to be the biggest moment for pit in the game. navy goes on to win it 44-28. that's an incredible run, though. let's go to the nba, for a second here in an apparent problem in san antonio but not

to fear the spurs coyote mascot dressed appropriately as the caped crusader snapped into action and snatches a flying bat foe using a net. that is pretty incredible. i mean, look at that. you don't even need an exterminator. just call in the mascot. what do you think of that sam stein? still ahead gallup release of its ranking of the most admired people of the year. donald trump made the cut but wait until you see who he's tied with when "way too early" comes right back in a moment. the flu virus hits big. with aches, chills, and fever, there's no such thing as a little flu. and it needs a big solution: an antiviral. so when the flu hits, call your doctor right away and up the ante with antiviral tamiflu. prescription tamiflu is an antiviral that attacks the flu virus at its source and helps stop it from spreading in the body. tamiflu is fda approved to treat the flu in people two weeks of age and older

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welcome back to "way too early." this campaign season they're as ubiquitous as presidential candidates in iowa and new hampshire, the rope line selfie. jeb bush offered his keys to taking the perfect photo just as the framers of the constitution intended. >> the selfie is now the 11th amendment of the bill of rights. it's -- it's inspired by our framers and founders apparently, it is a requirement that you take one, and i do it with great joy in my heart. it wasn't that long ago that people wanted signatures on things. and now, forget that. i just want my damn selfie and i'm not leaving until i get it. so, we spent a lot of quality time doing that and hoping the person has a long enough arm, or i will take over. just for the record, young people do it better than older people. just we go through a little training class here. it's cooler to do it diagonally

rather than straight up. rather that. and it's better to do it higher than lower because you look skinnier. am i right? >> yes! >> diagonally and higher. okay i'll take those notes. americans once again named hillary clinton and president obama as their most admired woman and man in the world according to a new gallup poll but the corunners up in most admired man category are slightly more surprising. the honor goes to pope francis and donald trump who each earned 5%. followed by bernie sanders with 3% and bill gates with 2%. now further down on the list it was a tie for seventh place between the dalai lama and george w. bush. now, hillary clinton by the way has topped the list 20 times. it's pretty incredible. now that does it for me and "way too early" but coming up next on "morning joe" texas tries to clean up from those deadly tornadoes as an epic winter storm moves east. we'll have the latest on this severe weather. plus, donald trump sharpens the

knives against the clintons as bill clinton prepares to hit the campaign trail for his wife. and democratic presidential candidate martin o'malley joins the conversation. we'll ask if he still thinks the dnc is trying to give hillary clinton an unfair advantage. we'll have that and much more coming up next on "morning joe."

♪ we have got to get out and vote. remember that, folks. no matter what's going on in your life, if you're feeling miserable, if you're depressed, if you're down, whatever the hell, you lost your job like everybody else is losing their job, you have to get out and you have to vote. we have these massive rallies and it's incredible. they say if they vote trump wins. they actually said that. probably. >> it's not every day on the campaign trail when you get a candidate agree with a howard stern reference. good morning it's tuesday, december 29. mika, joe and willie have the day off. i'm nicole