but it seems that israel may not have been on that list. it's 5:30 on the east coast, 2:30 out west. this is "way too early." good morning. it's wednesday, december the 30th. i'm louis burgdorf. this morning severe flooding continues to cause havoc in parts of the midwest and southeast. in missouri, and illinois, there have been at least 18 reported deaths from flooding, and the governor of missouri has activated the state's national guard to assist first responders, and to secure areas that have been evacuated. >> think about people that have gone through it, and then you think, did i -- was i that uncaring that i didn't know that people had to go through this? but it's devastating. >> in pulaski county, missouri,

authorities have found the body of a fifth international soldier that went missing during the flooding on saturday evening. now the soldiers were on temporary assignment at fort leonard wood. in texas the cleanup continues and donations are pouring in following the nine devastating tornadoes that hit the dallas area over the weekend. now according to the dallas morning news, insurance claims will likely reach more than $1 billion. now damage assessment teams will be in the area today. republican presidential candidate ted cruz is also heading to roulette, texas, this morning where he will tour some of the damaged areas. meanwhile the northeast is dealing with the season's first winter storm. parts of new england saw several inches of snow yesterday, making for slick roads and slow commutes. this winter weather came after several areas saw record warmth earlier this month. >> it was just 60 degrees and now it's below freezing. >> make up your mind, please.

i'm tired of the cold, hot, cold, hot. >> a new "wall street journal" article is likely to complicate already fragile relations between the u.s. and israel. the paper reports that the white house eavesdropped on israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu while the u.s. was working on the nuclear deal with iran. now the article notes the obama administration thought the information could prove useful to counteract netanyahu's campaign against the iran deal, and sources tell the "journal" president obama allowed surveillance of netanyahu to continue because it served a compelling national security purpose. this despite the president's announcement nearly two years ago that the u.s. would no longer surveil friendly heads of state. >> i've made clear to the intelligence community that, unless there is a compelling national security purpose, we will not monitor the communications of heads of state and government of our close friends and allies. and i've instructed my national security team, as well as the intelligence community, to work

with foreign counterparts to deepen our coordination and cooperation in ways that rebuild trust going forward. >> now, one other thing to note from the paper, while eavesdropping, the u.s. reportedly learned that netanyahu's advisers were coordinating with undecided members of congress about what it would take to get them to oppose the deal. and they found israel's ambassador to the u.s. appeared to coach jewish american groups to get congress to oppose it. let's turn to some domestic politics here and the republican field is one smaller this morning. former new york governor george pataki has ended his bid for president. >> if we're truly going to make america great again, we need to elect a president who will do three things. confront and defeat radical islam. shrink the size and power of washington. and unite us again in our belief in this great country. well, tonight is the end of my journey for the white house as i suspend my campaign for president. i'm confident we can elect the right person. someone who will bring us

together, and who understands that politics, including the president, must be the people's servant, and not their master. i know the best of america is still ahead of us. >> now pataki spoke to nbc affiliates in new hampshire, south carolina and iowa, using equal time he requested after donald trump appeared on "saturday night live." now the writing had been on the wall for the governor. he struggled to raise money with just $13,000 in cash on hand in his most recent campaign filing. and he barely moved the needle in polls, failing to get more than 1% in the last 50 surveys taken since july. perhaps his best performance came in a poll of new york state republicans over the summer. tying for first with marco rubio at 11%. and he also missed a filing deadlines for key early states. still running a stripped-down campaign he managed to stay in longer than wisconsin governor scott walker by 100 days. let's turn to donald trump. he returned to iowa last night, inviting reporters aboard his

plane for a prerally press conference where he previewed plans for his campaign spending. >> i'll be spending a minimum of $2 million a week, and perhaps substantially more than that >> where? >> i'm going to be doing big ads in iowa, new hampshire, south carolina, and they're going to be very substantial, and i think they're very well done, i've seen the first two or three of them, i'm very proud of them. we're going to be talking about a lot of things, including the border, including trade, including isis and security for the country. we're going to be talking about a lot of things in these commercials. you understand, i'm $35 million under budget. i thought as of january 1st i would have spent $35 million on ads. i spent nothing. >> $35 million under budget there. now while trump is talking about a budget, and ads ready to go, "the new york times" is reporting that trump has yet to reserve the television time according to two independent media buyers. and it's not clear what trump is

waiting for, since the price goes up the longer that he waits. now, the leading republican candidate also talked about his relationship with the clintons, excuse me, after recently declaring the former president's scandals with women fair game. now trump said his own past is also in bounds and said he would be an inclusive leader, a theme he repeated over and over again at his rally. >> you have gone after former president bill clinton for his infidelity. are you own personal indiscretions fair game in the campaign? >> yes, they would be. hillary brought up the whole thing was sexist and all i did was reverse it on her. she has a major problem. happens to be right in her house. if she wants to do that we're going to go right after the president. the ex-president, and we'll see how it all comes out. and i feel very confident that it will come out very well for us. >> you invited the clintons [ inaudible ] >> it's very important to understand that one of the

magazines recently said donald trump is a world class businessman. and i am. you have to get along with everybody. you want democrats, you want liberals, you want republicans, you want conservatives. and i owed it to myself, i owed it to my family, to my company, to my employees, to get along with everybody. and i always have gotten along with everybody. >> are you concerned [ inaudible ] >> no, i think it's fine. i want to get along with everybody. we're going to do great with crossover from democrats. because you have a lot of democrats, look you have some very good, fine people. they want to see our country succeed. they want to see us be successful. we're going to have tremendous crossover from democrats. they're going to cross over. they don't want hillary with the scandals, and all of the things. who wants another four years like that? madam president, can you imagine? oh. oh. believe me, women, if it's got to be a woman, which i'm all in favor of some day, it shouldn't be hillary.

it shouldn't be. it shouldn't be. >> meanwhile, battles are brewing between the lower tier candidate, as chris christie shook off attacks from donald trump and focused on marco rubio's voting record while campaigning in iowa. >> he gives a good speech, marco and i want to hear his stirring speech that's going to try to persuade people in the florida senate to the vote for this awful spending bill. except he never showed up. he was totally opposed to it and didn't go there to vote no. only in washington could you have the guts to stand up and say i'm against something, but you have a vote to vote no on and just not go. dude, show up to work. and vote no. right? just show up to work and vote no. and if you don't want to, then quit. >> look, i'm running for president because i want to change the direction was this country and it will require me for the time being to miss some votes in the u.s. senate because i want those votes to matter again. my time in the senate i have a close to 90% attendance record. chris has been missing in new jersey for half the time.

but i think as we get down the stretch here some of them get a little desperate and a little nasty in their attacks. that's fine. we're going to continue to campaign on what i'm going to do when i'm president. >> last night hillary clinton was pressed on her position on the targets of christians and yazidis and other religious minorities by the islamic state and for the first time she invoked a word she has been reluctant to use before, genocide. >> in front of this group tonight, will you join those leaders, both faith leaders and secular leaders and political leaders from both the right, and the left in calling what is happening by its proper name, genocide? >> yes, i will now. and i will, because we now have enough evidence. and i'm not sure yet we have enough evidence. i am sure now we have enough evidence. what is happening is genocide. deliberately aimed at destroying not only the lives, but wiping out the existence of christians and other religious minorities in the middle east, in territory

controlled by isis. >> according to the pentagon, ten isis leaders have been killed during airstrikes in iraq and syria this month. one of those leaders was a syrian man who was said to have direct ties to the mastermind of the paris attacks. colonel steve warren a spokesman for the u.s.-led coalition in iraq said yesterday that forces will continue to hunt isis leaders, working to inspire attacks against the u.s. >> so we're striking at the head of this snake, like i said. we haven't severed the head of the snake yet. and it's still got fangs. we have to be clear about that. there's much more fighting to do. >> meanwhile, a top u.s. general is saying more troops may be needed in afghanistan. in an interview with usa "today" army general john campbell said maintaining the current force of 9800 troops to train afghan forces and conduct counterterrorism raids is vital. he also said the scheduled reduction to 5500 troops by

january of 2017 should be put off as long as possible. now according to "the washington post" the taliban now controls about 30% of the districts across afghanistan. that's the most territory the group has held since 2001. and "the new york times" points out that while the military officials have been focusing on isis and taliban resurgents, al qaeda has also been re -- re -- preparing and general campbell said recently al qaeda has been attempting to rebuild its support, and its networks and planning capabilities. now, still ahead on "way too early," developing news out of chicago under intense pressure to resign, embattled mayor rahm emanuel is expected to go before cameras today to announce major changes for his troubled police force. plus, a clash of the commissioners. the war of words escalates between the new york's current and former police top cops, find out who's accusing whom of fudging crime stats. those stories, plus a check on your severe weather when "way too early" comes right back.

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welcome back to "way too early." now to the latest on the tamir rice case. cleveland city council man says that he will ask the city to file negligent homicide charges against the officers involved in the 12-year-old's death. councilman jeff johnson tweeted about his request to the city law director last night, adding that it's, quote, not time to move on, and that, quote, process and decision not to be -- not to indict must be challenged nonviolently. now earlier -- earlier in the day city officials said they would move quickly to begin a new administrative review that could result in disciplinary action against the officers. now the police chief says the committee, which includes civilians, will start from scratch, beginning with the initial calls to 911. meanwhile, there were more protests in cleveland last night. demonstrators met at the justice center where the grand jury convened, and then marched through the city of downtown area, carrying signs and

chanting. plus this morning there are several new developments on chicago police in crisis. the police officer charged in the 24 shooting -- 2014 shooting death of laquan mcdonald pleaded not guilty in court yesterday. officer jason van dyke was surrounded by photographers as he left his arraignment. he's charged with first degree murder, and official misconduct. meanwhile the governor of illinois is speaking out, govern he released a statement calling over the weekend the shooting of 19 quintonio legrier and 55-year-old bettie jones quote troubling. he's also called for more nonlethal options for police. also last night a candlelight vigil for the 19-year-old college student. now his father called the police early on sunday and according to the 911 call tapes, accused his son of banging on his door with a baseball bat. once on the scene the police say they shot him because he was acting combative. now legrier's family says the honor student struggled with mental illness but last night his friends had only fond

memories. >> he wrote to me, he said, you're a crazy individual who has no problem expressing yourself. that is why you're my little brother. we have years ahead of us and i look forward to these years. >> he was a very humble young man. he never caused anyone any problems. for people to say that, you know, people is being very militant, very angry, that was not quintonio. quintonio was a nice person. you walk in the hallways, you see him smiling. you see him laughing. >> i would see him, and he always had a smile. he was always one of the first people to get dressed and come and play. even though he was on the bench he always came on time one of the first people dressed. >> emotional statements there about quintonio legrier.

later today rahm emanuel is expected to announce a major overhaul of chicago p.d. training. it would require every officer to be outfitted with a taser. emanuel cut his vacation short to handle the crisis but calls for his resignation are only growing louder. new york now, clash of the commissioners in new york city. current commissioner bill bratton fired back at his predecessor ray kelly yesterday after kelly suggested that the police department was manipulating key crime scene stats that make it seem like the city is safer than it actually is. >> those comments were outrageous. my cops work hard, very hard, to reduce gun violence in the city. so for him to denigrate that hard work that has resulted in shootings being reduced significantly in this city, and claim in some fashion that we're playing with the numbers, shame on him. let him back up that allegation. he's been too busy to respond, as you know, to all of you in terms of your questions about that allegation.

well, if you're going to make it, stand up. you're a big man. and explain what you're talking about. you don't need any follow-up. i've laid the challenge down to him. >> -- to back up his claim saying the department has reclassified some incidents to bring down the totals. >> i think i am a big man. -- to reduce the number of reported shootings, even though when we see a 20% increase in murder by guns, certainly in 2015. >> now there were words comes as mayor bill de blasio struggles to combat a perception that he is weak on policing despite an overall decline in crime during his tenure. now commissioner bratton joins us live on "morning joe" to talk about this later this morning. and more this morning on the wealthy texas teenager known for using the affluenza defense in the fatal dui case. ethan couch and his mother are expected to arrive in the states

today. this after a phone call for pizza led to their capture by mexican authorities in the resort town of puerto vallarta earlier on tuesday. now texas authorities believe the pair fled the country in a planned escape late last month, prompting an international search after this video surfaced appearing to show the 18-year-old at a party where people are drinking. an arrest warrant was issued for the teen after he failed to appear for a meeting with his probation officer earlier this month. he's expected to appear in juvenile court when the two touch down on u.s. soil. now his mother, meanwhile, is expected to be arrested for hindering apprehension, a charge that could land her anywhere from two to ten years behind bars. now, it's time for sports, the philadelphia eagles will play their final game this year against nfc east rival the new york giants on sunday, but they'll do it without head coach chip kelly who's been released after three seasons with the team. now the eagles have now missed the postseason for a second

straight year after a loss to the redskins on saturday. eliminated them from playoff contention. now let's go to some college football, three clemson players won't be participating in the orange bowl against oklahoma on new year's eve. now receiver dion cane, j.j. mccullough and kicker ammon lakip were sent home according to multiple reports that three violated team rules with outlets including espn claiming they failed drug tests. let's go to houston for the texas bowl. lsu beats texas tech 56-27 after a big performance from the star sophomore running back leonard furnette. the running back tied a record for most touchdowns from scrimmage in a bowl game for five four of them were rushing. bonnie it's nice to see you this morning. >> we are tracking still unfortunately the flood threat and it's in missouri and many other locations along the

mississippi river. right now we have 445 river gauges nationwide above flood stage with 48 locations repo reporting major flooding. in union west of st. louis boy that river is rising very, very quickly. now, st. louis, your crest should likely get up to about 43.6 feet. and that is going to be pretty high the second highest ever since the epic floods in the early 1990. this will occur likely tomorrow. but already you can see that water not only is it rising but moving very quickly, strong currents. other places we're watching as the swells work their way down into cape girard u and chester. very dangerous situation emerging with risk of flooding. another flood spot is the southeast, heavy thunderstorms are working their way through alabama, and into the panhandle of florida, and mississippi. we could see quite a lot of flooding in this region, as well. two inches of rain is possible. temperatures are still record -- at record levels in the south, especially in tampa where we've had six consecutive days of record high temperatures in the mid 80s. quite the contrast to the west where it's getting much colder

in chicago louis for example, 30 degrees getting into the 20s by tomorrow. >> i think everybody's really worried about what it's going to be like in times square during new year's eve. >> i think it's going to be fine. comfortable temperatures. we don't have any snow. we should be just fine. >> that's some good news at least in this all the bad news in weather. now still ahead on "way too early" mike tyson tries out a hoverboard, and quickly learns that staying on his feet isn't as easy as it used to be. you got to see this video when "way too early" comes right back. conquer the weather.

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welcome back to "way too early." now axle rose and slash parted ways way back after a feud in 1996, but billboard reports the two are rekindling their legendary partnership for a guns -- guns and roses reunion formance this spring. the last time the two shared the stage was in 1993. they're also reportedly negotiating a 25 stadium summer tour stay tuned. a little sweet child of mine november rain i won't miss that. now in a match that brought -- brought to mind a tenth round knockout underdog -- to underdog buster douglas former heavyweight champion of the world mike tyson was knocked to the ground in seconds by his daughter's pink hoverboard. >> oh!

>> dad! >> oh! >> and down goes tyson! >> down goes tyson. now tyson tweeted it seemed like a good idea to ride my daughter's hoverboard but i guess not. that looked like it hurt. that looked like he went down hard. now that does it for me and "way too early." i won't be riding any hoverboards any time soon. coming up next on "morning joe" widespread evacuations in the midwest as rivers and streams continue to rise. now, officials are eyeing more than a dozen levees hoping that the flooding will peak. now plus donald trump ramps up in iowa. he says he'll start spending some real money in the state. and he's going after his frenemy ted cruz once again. and embattled mayor rahm emanuel set to announce changes to his police force amid calls for his resignation. this morning the president of the national urban league joins the conversation. we'll have that and much more coming up next on "morning joe."