g away? ♪ ♪ ♪ sometimes you want to go ♪ ♪where everybody knows your name ♪ ♪ ♪and they're always glad you came ♪ this morning president biden considering a standoff with russia over the ukraine. it is one of a number of options the president was given while meeting with his national security team at camp david, all with the goal of forcing putin to reverse course, a decision from the white house could come

as early as this week. secretary of state blinken is meeting virtually with members of the european union right now as the united states is trying to coordinate its next move with our overseas allies. while all of that is going on, the administration is not taking any chances with the americans still inside ukraine ordering diplomats' families to start leaving the embassy and giving the diplomats themselves the green light to come home. let's discuss and bring in nbc's josh letterman covering the white house, matt bradley inside ukraine, matt boughner covering the russian side and joe rubin, former assistant u.s. secretary of state. how close are we to sending real troops to eastern europe? >> closer than we were a few days ago, stephanie. president biden hovering over the weekend with his national security team. he was briefed via secure video conference by lloyd austin about potential options to shore up

u.s. military resources in the region, including, according to our colleague, the possibility of flying bomber flights over the region as well as ship visits to the black sea and also moving equipment and also potentially u.s. troops into poland, into romania, other neighboring countries as the u.s. tries to show what the potential military costs for vladimir putin would be if he launches this invasion that is so feared across the west right now. i think we should say that over the last few days we've seen a real shift in tone from the biden administration, which just, you know, a week or two ago was really focused on the diplomatic avenue, even talk about what we could potentially give to russia if negotiations with them over some type of resolution were to come to fruition. now, the u.s. is still publicly leaving the door open to diplomacy with anthony blinken, the secretary of state, saying over the weekend that that is still the preferred option and

one that is available to president putin, but the emphasis from the biden administration at least publicly is on showing what the potential military costs would be as well as working with our allies to make sure military resources would be available in short order given the possibility of an invasion that the u.s. says now could be imminent, stephanie. >> mr. boughner, warships, aircrafts, troops, that's no kind of diplomacy i've ever heard of. what's the kremlin saying about all this? >> they're essentially take nothing responsibility for this situation that we're all in right now. we also saw in this daily briefing some kind of concerning claims that the russians are seeing evidence of ukrainian preparations for an attack on eastern ukraine.

and all of these talking points, i have to say, are the kind of things that i personally am looking out for as we try to gauge what russia might, do when they might do it. you know, it's kind of anecdotal, but just in conversations with russians over the past few days, they're all telling me it's impossible for russia to go to war with ukraine. in a sense, that is true. russia cannot openly go to war with ukraine, cannot launch what they look like they're poised to launch, because they need defenses. when you hear the kremlin saying nato is preparing for provocations, the u.s. are sending troops and threatening us, ukrainians are threatening eastern ukraine, those are concerns statements because it has to be painted as defensive. if president putin wants to do this, it's essentially what he needs. >> joel, statements from the kremlin, talking to russians. why should we believe anything we hear from them? we had all these diplomatic talks last week, and at the same time we're hearing about this plot to install a pro-russian

government in ukraine. like, are we kidding oufrgss? just last week garry kasparov was saying when you deal with putin, that's basically having diplomatic talks with a terrorist. it's a joke. >> you answered it yourself. we shouldn't be buying into the russian disinformation right now. they've amass 1d 00,000 troops along ukraine's border, it illegally invaded seven years ago, occupying parts of ukraine and is threatening to undermine the government from within as you described. those might be good talking points for international consumption intended to undermine our alliance with our partners the europe, but that's not going to work. that's where the diplomacy is coming in, where the united states is working with allies to ensure they understand if there is a need to put punishing sanctions on russia that the u.s. will support european country who is may get impacted by those sanctions. this is muscular diplomacy, the

ramping. of deterrence as josh is reporting and others are noting. that's a critical component to try to send the message to putin to sharpen the choice for him. this will be very costly if he moves in. >> mr. bradley, let's ignore the talking points and take us to the ukraine. you're on the ground. that is the other side of the world from where i'm sitting. what is going on there and why should people in the united states care? >> you tack about ignoring the talking points, ukrainians are kind of ignoring them. one of the most remarkable things about walking around in kyiv is how quiet it is. there aren't convoyings of cars leaving the city. nobody is headed west. it's not seen as a big deal because a lot of people here think putin is bluffing and he won't actually invade. another is, you know, ukrainians i talked to remind me this country has been at war for the past eight years in the dombas

region. this is not new from ukrainians. but the drums of war here are being heard from a distance. you don't hear them here. that's because ukrainians really feel like they're not involved. they don't have any purchase on the situation. they've been left out of a lot of the diplomacy up until now. and really this is just fulfilling a longtime frustration of a lot of ukrainians who are tired of russia using their country as a cudgel to beat the west. that is what they've seen ever since before world war ii, they've seen themselves as an instrument of moscow rather than as country of their own. while, you know, moscow is using this against the west, they think the west doesn't really care about them. they're tired of being mere spectators for their own fate. stephanie? >> joel, here's what i don't get. russia is not a superpower. they're an economic midget. the white house is threatening major stuff, huge economic

consequences, military, so much. why is none of this scaring putin? >> well, stephanie, putin wants to re-establish spheres of influence on the borders. he's been doing this for decades. he went in to chechnya and took over power 20-plus years ago. he has gone into syria, pushing boundaries as far as he can to re-establish what was once the great empire. for him personally, he is extremely rich, billions of dollars in accounts around the world. he doesn't care about the russian people. this is not a question about russia's population feeling the pain and whether or not that harms his standing. he really cares about re-establishing a bigger, greater russia. and so for him, the cost won't be felt personally, which is why the sanctions components that the united states and europe is looking at have to target not just him but the croneys around him to ensure that they understand this is costly to them as well.

>> the most important point, vladimir putin is allegedly a multimultibillionaire. he doesn't care from the russian people starve. thanks so much. we have to turn to the latest from the january 6th can committee and some documents from from the trump white house. they include a draft of an executive order that would have authorized the national guard, are you ready for this, to seize voting machines and potentially could have kept trump in power long after inauguration day. we also learned the committee has had multiple conversations with the key players at the time, former attorney general bill barr. let's bring in nbc capitol correspondent, ali vitali, and harry littman, former u.s. attorney and former deputy assistant attorney general from the clinton administration. let's start with bill barr. for a long, long time, he was

trump's body man. suddenly at the end of the last administration, he was out. what have you learned? >> at the end of the last administration, he was out, and now we're learning that his resignation came just days within that executive order being drafted that is now being reported in politico and other places and is certainly a focus of the january 6th committee's work. now, a spokesperson tells us this morning that they have at this point only had informal conversations with the former attorney general, bill barr. that means they haven't had any kind of formal sitdown deposition or interview. but that's not to say that that won't come. we also know that barr has a book coming out in the next few weeks. we've seen the kinds of things that have been elucidated in other former officials' books. certainly, this book will be no exception. but it also makes clear that this executive order is one of the things that the committee is looking to look into. they have not at this juncture talked about that with barr. that's what a committee spokesperson is telling us this

morning. but that's because the conversations they had with bar predated when that executive order first came into public light in politico and other outlets. we now know it is in that tranche of documents that the supreme court ruled the committee could get, thus making it one of the key things and points of focus for the january 6th committee who are so interested in what was going on inside the white house in the critical days, especially as if this executive order draft order said, they were potentially looking into seizing voting machines. that could be paramount to a coup. >> we have to talk about that. in today's authoritarian alert, that's what it is about. the executive order basically authorized that the secretary of defense could collect and analyze all vote mag sheens and records and said they could use the national guard to help them do it. not only did trump want to seize the equipment but he wanted to do it by force. that is like nothing we could ever imagine in the united

states. >> you're exactly right, stephanie. it another -- it's a shocking document to read. there were tons of things being trafficked through the white house funneled through former chief of staff mark meadows and onto the president's desk. source wes spoke to, the president rejected in of these conspiracy theories. we are still trying to further contextualize this document in particular. we don't know who authored this. there are tons of people in this fringy outer legal circle that was helping the president from sidney powell to phil waldren, a former psych ops military trying to figure out ways to seize these vote mag sheens to preserve the evidence that they claimed proved their theory of voter fraud.

look, we know the committee from the start has been very concerned about former president trump's abuse of emergency powers and his willingness to entertain certain conspiracy theories like this. and the fact they rose even to the level of the oval office and were on the president's desk is, in fact, troubling and also a sign of the progress that the committee had made in their attempts to obtain and seek documents and interviews from players who were involved in president trump's efforts to overturn the results of the election. >> jackie, i have about six follow-up questions but i'm so distracted by the yint cupcake behind you, i can't think straight. jackie said it, this is trump or the administration throwing spaghetti against the wall. that draft was never issued. would it even constitute as evidence that could support any charges? it's just that holy cow, this was crazy, and almost got really dangerous, but almost is the important word. >> if you're trying to do a criminal charge, but also

matters here, stephanie. all the other strands that you're referring to involve some kind of subterfuge, some kind of fooling of institution out there. this is the most raw and brutal plot we have seen. it looks as if sidney powell went to trump and said, sign this, oh, and make me the special counsel. it resites all the greatest things of conspiracy theories -- dominion, international influence, and it would have permitted trump to seize things without any court intervention for a couple months and basically control the apparatus in the worst banana republic. so you're right, it was many steps away from actual operation and barr and the military would have had to sign on, but no other institutions. and in some ways, this is the most brutal of all the plots that were feverishly being

hatched at that point in the white house. and this is in december, by the way, december 20th, when this was coming up. so it's harrowing even if it doesn't come close to passing. >> but barr and others wouldn't cooperate, showing that as scary as this was, democracy held. jackie, ammi, harry, thanks so much. we'll leave it there. coming up, one nypd officer is dead and another clings to life as gun violence in nyc is up nearly 16%. how are officials responding to this violent crime wave? but first, cdc director rochelle walensky said the agency is pivoting the language. i don't even know what that means. on what fully vaccinated is. this as covid deaths continue to rise. so what is next in the fight against covid? i'll be speaking with the one and only dr. anthony fauci. anti

their only friend? the open road. i have friends. [ chuckles ] well, he may have friends, but he rides alone. that's jeremy, right there! we're literally riding together. he gets touchy when you talk about his lack of friends. can you help me out here? no matter why you ride, progressive has you covered with protection starting at $79 a year. well, we're new friends. to be fair. eh, still. your doctor gives you a prescription. “let's get you on some antibiotics right away.” we could bring it right to your door. with 1 to 2 day delivery from your local cvs. or same day if you need it sooner. but aren't you glad you can also just swing by to pick it up, and get your questions answered? because peace of mind is something you just can't get in a cardboard box. that's how healthier happens together with cvs.

aleve-x. it's fast, powerful long-lasting relief with a revolutionary, rollerball design.

because with the right pain reliever... life opens up. aleve it... and see what's possible. subway's new roast beef footlong has so much new, like hearty multigrain bread and usda choice angus roast beef. for in-depth analysis let's go to marshawn lynch. what? man, you just ate the product shot! save big. order through the app. the pandemic made teaching and learning really hard. but instead of working to help students safely return to the classroom, the san francisco school board focused on renaming schools and playing politics. and they've even saddled our district with a $125 million deficit. our children can't wait for new leadership. here's our chance for a fresh start. on february 15th, please recall school board members collins, lópez and moliga before our kids fall san francisco was a beacon of even furhope behind. for my family to reach the middle class, and i've been helping others ever since.

when the pandemic hit bilal was right there, helping restaurant workers make ends meet. in the obama administration, bilal worked tirelessly on innovative policies. the status quo isn't working. bilal is the best shot we have for meaningful change. i'm bilal mahmood, and i know our city can become a beacon of hope once again. joining us now, dr. anthony fauci, fed cal adviser to president biden. thanks for being here and thank you for your life's work, for all that you do. now, please help us today. we're starting to see cases

decline overall. that is amazing news. in your estimation, has omicron reached its peak? >> it certainly has in certain regions of the country. if you look at the northeast and, you know, new york city, chicago, and then the upper middle west with chicago, it certainly has reached the point it's turning around and cases are coming down. however, in some of the southern states and the western states, it has not yet peaked an it's either continuing to go up or leveling off, which is the first step towards getting to that peak and turning around. i believe that in the next few weeks we will see as a country that it is all turning around. right now, the net effect, if you look at it, even though as you mentioned we still have close to 700,000 cases a day and we have about 150,000 people in the hospital and about 2,000 deaths, in general, it is starting to turn around, and i believe you're going to see that going in that direction over the

next couple of weeks. >> how do we take those numbers and get practical around how we should live our lives, right? the uk and other places are starting to open back up. scott gottlieb said we should consider dropping mask mandates on the east coast soon, but you have other parts of the country doubling down on restrictions. we know we'll never get to perfect numbers, especially given the amount of unvaccinated people we have, so how do you find the balance? >> well, you know, there's a best-case scenario and a worst-case scenario. so we're all hoping for best-case scenario, and that is that we are heading in the direction, if things hold true, that omicron does what we're seeing its doing, namely, it had a big burst of infections, peaked, and starting to come down as we mentioned a moment ago, particularly in the northeast and the upper midwest. by the time we get to the next few weeks or so, if we get the entire country down to a level that is a level of control

that's acceptable control, and let me explain what i mean, unacceptable control is when you have 150,000 people in the hospital and you have 2,000 deaths per day and 700,000 new cases. acceptable is the level of disease is integrated into the general burden you have of infectious diseases particularly during the winter months. for example, with respiratory, parainfluenza, and even influenza. if we get there, which i hope we do, and i believe we can, then you're going to start talking about looking at some real returning to the kind of normality that we're all craving. today we're not there. will we be there soon? i believe so. the only wild card in all this

which leads to the possibility of a worst-case scenario is as we get down to that level, all of a sudden we get surprised by a new variant that actually has a greater degree of transmissibility and is also serious. so we ask the obvious question, how can we mitigate against that? we have the tools now, some of which we didn't have a short while ago. we certainly have terrific vaccines, and as we know from the data from the cdc just over this last few days, boosting individuals makes a major positive impact in protecting you against severe disease, even with omicron. so you want to make sure we get as many people vaccinated as possible. tests will be available to the tune of half a billion soon and another half a billion thereafter. we've got to integrate testing into that. so you know who is infected, who might be transmitting it to others. so a combination of vaccination,

testing, and importantly antiviral drugs which we're going to get a lot more supply of, particularly drugs like paxlovid, which are very, very effective in preventing the progression to severe disease. if we have all of those things in place, even with a new variant, we may be able to have that integration into some form of normality. and that's what we're all hoping for. >> a year and a half ago, we didn't have any of those tools. the only tool we had was stay home, lock down. so when we read headlines like the school system in flint, michigan, has decided now to go virtual again indefinitely, does that make sense to you? given all the tooles we do have at our disposal right now, sending school kids home again. do you think that's a good idea? >> well, i can't comment on any individual school district because things differ from district to district, and i think that would be unfair.

we have about 97% of the schools are open for in-presence learning. there will be situations with some schools where the degree of infection would be such that the local authorities would make a decision, which i'm not criticizing, is to go virtual. but for the most part, i don't believe we need to do that. i think if you surround the children with teachers and other personnel that are vaccinated, getting the children who are eligible to be vaccinated vaccinated, get good ventilation in the classrooms, get good testing, we should be able to keep the overwhelming majority of the schools open. >> one of the issues is not just availability of the vaccine, right. more than 63% of the country is vaccinated, but only 40% is boosted. and let's be honest, information and communication around boosters has been really problematic. even today the pivoting of communication or what it means to be vaccinated, that is really difficult for people, and it's causing people to not go get the

booster. how do you fix that? >> yeah. well, you try to be clear and concise and articulate. >> do you think that's what's happened so far? >> well, i'm not going to comment on that. but let me tell you what i believe is the way to explain that. it's this issue of what fully vaccinated means versus when you're optimally protected. so if i were not vaccinated right now, and i decided i wanted to get vaccinated and i got my primary -- i got an mrna and three to four weeks later i get my second shot, two weeks to a month after that, i will be fully protected, no doubt. however, as four or five months go by, the protection will wane, which means you absolutely need a booster. and that's what i believe the director of the cdc, dr. walensky, was saying, that when you get to that point, you need to be up to date so the booster is necessary. it's not necessary one month

after the original vaccination. but as you get out to five months, the protection wanes. that's what you mean by keeping up to date to be optimally vaccinated and optimally protected. that's i believe what she meant. >> i have to ask you about how dangerous the anti-vax movement is because it's not just about getting the shot. two weeks ago in a congressional hearing you went into detail about the threats you face every day. again, just yesterday, we heard these people go after you, go after president biden. are we underestimating how dangerous, how potentially violent this anti-vax movement is? and what's it like for you day after day? >> well, i do believe it has been an underestimation of the numbers of people who are taking in by the misinformation associated with the anti-vaccination movement. it's really very disturbing. i mean, obviously, there's always been a smaller element of

people who for one reason or other were inherently against vaccination. but when you have vaccines that have now been given to billions of people throughout the world, in which clinical trials and real-world evidence have shown that they are highly effective, particularly against severe disease, hospitalization, and deaths, the numbers are incontrovertible. if you look at the charts of people who have been hospitalized and dying and compare it between unvaccinated people and vaccinated people, particularly those who have been boosted, the gap between the two are stunning in the sense of the risk among people who are unvaccinated. and yet you have the misinformation and the disinformation that was manifested yesterday at the rally in washington, d.c. since i have been spending a considerable amount of time trying to propagate public

health principles of why it's important for the protection of the individual, of their family, and of society to get vaccinated, for that reason, i've been villainvillainized. it doesn't feel good but it's just a fact of life of where we are in society right now with disinformation and misinformation tends to rule in many respects. >> does any of this make you want to leave your post, leave your job? what does your family say? >> obviously it's stressful on my family, my children, my wife, the continued attacks, but pushing back on the public health principles i talk about, but this is too important. this is the kind of thing i've dedicate midcareer in public health, science, medicine, and we are in a crisis and there's no chance i'm going to walk away from this. this is something that's too

important. >> well, i am sincerely appreciative you are not walking away from this post. you make us smarter and safer and better every day. thank you, dr. fauci. >> thank you for having me. appreciate it. people born on december 24th are really special. coming up, a young nypd officer is dead and another clinging to life after a domestic dispute call took a tragic turn. what we know about that shooting and violence in d.c. and houston. why these violent outbreaks and what can be done. e violent outb e violent outb what can be done ♪ ♪ ♪ with a bit more thought we can all do our part to keep plastic out of the ocean.

unleash the freshness... ♪♪ still fresh ♪♪ fressshhhhhh in wash-scent booster ♪♪ downy unstopables ♪ limu emu ♪ and doug. we gotta tell people that liberty mutual customizes car insurance so you only pay for what you need, and we gotta do it fast. [limu emu squawks] woo! thirty-four miles per hour! new personal record, limu! [limu emu squawks] he'll be back. only pay for what you need. ♪ liberty, liberty, liberty, liberty. ♪

♪ life can be a lot to handle. ♪ this magic moment ♪ but heinz knows there's plenty of magic in all that chaos. ♪ so different and so new ♪ ♪ was like any other... ♪ like pulsing, electric shocks, sharp, stabbing pains, or an intense burning sensation. what is this nightmare? it's how some people describe... shingles. a painful, blistering rash that could interrupt your life for weeks. forget social events and weekend getaways. if you've had chickenpox, the virus that causes shingles is already inside of you. if you're 50 years or older ask your doctor or pharmacist about shingles.

with panera's you pick 2, every meal is made fantastic. if you're 50 years or older you can be fresh and fun. bold and classic. cozy and precocious. with 465 fresh, clean, craveable pairings, find a you pick 2 for any mood. panera, the familiar made fantastic.

are you one of the millions of americans who experience occasional bloating, gas, or abdominal discomfort? taking align can help. align contains a quality probiotic to naturally help soothe digestive upsets 24/7. try align, the pros in digestive health. breaking news out of the supreme court. pete williams, what do you know? >> they've agreed to take up another blockbuster issue, the question of affirmative action in college admissions. the court will hear a challenge to the affirmative action program at harvard university that was brought by a group of asian american students. the supreme court has looked that the question repeatedly over the past years and has typically upheld affirmative action in college admissions as long as these are not strict quotas. the supreme court has said that colleges and universities can

use a student's race as a plus factor in admissions provided it's not a quota. but there are two differences now since the supreme court has last upheld affirmative action and their names are anthony kennedy and ruth bader ginsburg, both of whom upheld affirmative action and are now gone, replaced by more conservative justices who take a more jaundiced view of this. my guess is that this grant is too late to have the case argued this term. it seems likely it will be argued in the term that begins in october. but it is a huge issue, and affirmative action may be in serious trouble now that the court has agreed to look at this. >> i said the one and only pete williams because only you, pete, can say "a more jaundiced view." good to see you. really important development. also developing this morning, officials in several major u.s. cities are searching for answers to carve out a growing wave of violence including a weekend attack on police officers right here in

new york city. one young member of the nypd killed and another clinging to his life after responding to a domestic dispute call. stephanie gosk joins us with the latest. what in the world happened? >> reporter: this is a terrible incident, steph. gun violence in the city is up 16%. governor hochul and mayor adams have said they promise quick action. the mayor calling this latest an attack on the entire city. this weekend, police departments on edge after officers were shot in multiple cities. >> an officer got shot, male took off. >> reporter: houston police grieving one of their own after a traffic stop turned deadly. in d.c., police responded to a man acting suspiciously and opened fire. one officer sustained nonlife-threatening injuries. all of this as new york is now a city in mourning. >> it hurts my heart. it really does. >> reporter: hundreds line is the streets as the body of 22-year-old officer jason rivera was escorted from the medical examiner's office.

his partner, 27-year-old will burt mora, is in critical condition. both were investigating a domestic disturbance in harlem when a suspect shot them. >> we need additional units! >> reporter: police say 47-year-old lesean mcneil fired on the officers inside his mother's apartment. at the scene, police recovered a stolen glock pistol with an extended magazine that holds up to 40 rounds. >> violence against new yorkers. that's the battle we're in right now. >> reporter: mayor eric adams pleading for federal help to get guns off the city streets. >> it appears as though for every gun we remove from the street five are coming in. >> reporter: five nypd officers have been shot in just the first three weeks of this year. and in east harlem a 19-year-old burger king employee was shot and killed when a shooter tried to rob the restaurant. it was her last week on the night shift. just days ago an 11-month-old girl was struck in the face by a stray bullet in the bronx. in response, mayor adams says he

will reinstate controversial anti-gun units staffed by plain clothes officers. but today the city remembers a young man tragically lost. >> jason, love you. you will always be remembered. always. >> reporter: officer rivera's funeral will be held at st. patrick's cathedral. when he was at the academy he wrote a letter to one of the officials there and said he wanted to be a police officer because he wanted to try to heal the rift between the community and the police force. just 22 years old, he barely got that chance to do that. >> 22 years old. stephanie gosk, thank you so much. an important and tragic story to cover. staying on gun violence, other disturbing numbers. according to the gun violence archive in just the last 72 hours, this last weekend, 107 people were killed, 192 injured, and 243 separate shootings. the with the number of shootings

hitting double digits in and around some of our biggest city, 12 in houston, 21 in new york city, 25 in the d.c. metro area, and 29 in chicago. think about that. we've got to do something. we'll be right back. t to do som. t to do som. we'll be right back. my joints hurt. i was afraid things were going to get worse. i was always hiding, and that's just not me. not being there for my family, that . woooo! i had to do something. i started cosentyx®. i'm feeling good. watch me. cosentyx helps people with psoriatic arthritis move, look, and feel better. it targets more than just joint pain and treats the multiple symptoms like joint swelling and tenderness, back pain, helps clear skin and helps stop further joint damage. don't use if you're allergic to cosentyx. before starting, get checked for tuberculosis. an increased risk of infections—some serious —and the lowered ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor about an infection or symptoms or if you've had a vaccine or plan to.

tell your doctor if your crohn's disease symptoms develop or worsen. serious allergic reactions may occur. it's good to be moving on. watch me. move, look, and feel better. ask your rheumatologist about cosentyx. if you have advanced non-small cell lung cancer, move, look, and feel better. your first treatment could be a chemo-free combination of two immunotherapies that works differently. it could mean a chance to live longer. opdivo plus yervoy is for adults newly diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer that has spread, tests positive for pd-l1, and does not have an abnormal egfr or alk gene. together, opdivo plus yervoy helps your immune system launch a response that fights cancer in two different ways. opdivo plus yervoy equals a chance for more time together. more family time. more time to remember. opdivo and yervoy can cause your immune system to harm healthy parts of your body during and after treatment. these problems can be severe and lead to death. see your doctor right away if you have a cough; chest pain; shortness of breath; irregular heartbeat; diarrhea; constipation; severe stomach pain, nausea or vomiting; dizziness; fainting; eye problems; extreme tiredness; changes in appetite, thirst or urine; rash;

itching; confusion; memory problems; muscle pain or weakness; joint pain; flushing; or fever. these are not all the possible side effects. problems can occur together and more often when opdivo is used with yervoy. tell your doctor about all medical conditions including immune or nervous system problems, if you've had or plan to have an organ or stem cell transplant, or received chest radiation. here's to a chance to live longer. ask your doctor about the combination of two immunotherapies, opdivo plus yervoy. thank you to all those in our clinical trials. ♪ when you have nausea, ♪

♪ heartburn, ingestion, upset stomach... ♪ ♪ diarrheaaaa.♪ try pepto bismol with a powerful coating action. for fast and soothing relief. pepto bismol for fast relief when you need it most. this morning a new nbc news poll shows an overwhelming majority of americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. get this, the most popular words used to describe america today, downhill, divisive, negative, struggling, lost. these findings coming less than ten months before the midterms, so the question is what does that mean for each party? what does it mean for our country? let's bring in msnbc senior political editor mark murray to break the numbers down. this sounds bad. downhill, divisive, negative. but in perspective, two years later were we singing kumbaya and saying the country was in a good place? >> no, we weren't, stephanie,

but you ended up looking at just one of the bigger developments as to do with inflation. looking at our poll, you follow this, 61% of americans say that their cost of living is -- their income is being outstripped by the cost of living. only 30% say that they are able to stay even. 7% say their income is going faster than cost of living. so stephanie, i think that is a new development here, and when you talk about the midterm elections, one thing that our poll finds is that republicans have a significant enthusiasm advantage right now. they hold a double-digit lead on those who are extremely interested in the upcoming midterm elections. we still have a long way to go. we'll continue to monitor these numbers, but that is an advantage for republicans right now. >> inflation. it is a reminder that people vote based on what affects them, not offends them. what affects them, money.

thank you so much. if democrats have any shot of keeping the house and the senate, they have to turn out voters big time. one group in particular will need young voters. let's bring in the man who is in that mind group. the author of the new book "fight: how gen z the is channel ing their fear and passion to save america." you talked to a lot of people when you were writing this book. what stood out to you? young people always want to rage against the machine. they don't like the system. >> stephanie, let's put this into context. the definition of young people now, i've been studying younger voters for 21 years. we have a generation of millennials. now we're foxed on the younger voters in their 20s and younger that we're calling gen z. they represent 40% of the electorate. there will be more younger millennials and gen z participating than baby boomers.

whether you're the president or the president of a corporation, this generation is so incredibly motivated. they're anxious and angry. i think they're more committed than ever to vote and bring justice throughout american society. >> to that very point, one quote that stood out to me. when you asked what older americans do not understand about gen z and one young american answered this -- "an older generation would not understand waking up in a classroom and thinking about how easy it would be for someone to shoot it up. the same daily weight on adult shoulders over bills or taxes is what children feel about living or dying." i mean, that is a heavy and wildly true statement. is that something you've heard a lot? >> just about every head in that town hall i held were nodding with that statement. younger people said they were

literally fearful of everything is the way in which they talked about it. rather than withdrawing, what i think is so special and so unique about gen z is they're leaning in and essentially kind of changing the system both from the inside but also all the way around it. by the way, stephanie, as i was preparing for this, there was a school shooting at a university in germany. this is a global generation. i think they've come of age and their values are driven by five main factors, one of which, of course, is school shootings and what kids from parkland did. that also inspired by the way greta thunberg to create the playbook to schang the climate change policy. in addition to those two events, the occupy wall street has changed the way young americans think about the economy, capitalism in terms of where they place their political preferences as well as the trump

administration and finally the george floyd movement from 2020. those are big five factors that this generation has come of age and is now creating their political ideology around those. >> is gen z focused on or aware of voter suppression efforts going on and voting rights? are they motivated by this? >> absolutely, especially if you're a young voter, college voter in new hampshire, who has to fight, you know, to overcome those obstacles that are in place or in texas, et cetera. yes, they absolutely are. and that's the thing, though. they're just not concerned, stephanie, act kind of their own situation and college voters. a lot of people aren't college voters. but what is special is they're fighting for justice for everybody, whether that's the person who's had barriers put up so it's more difficult to vote or the younger person or their parents or grandparents who have to take a side hustle or two just to make ends meet these days.

that's the thing. they're not anywhere close to being selfish like i would argue some other generations. >> john, this actually sounds like good news. it sounds like this is a generation that wants to make the world stronger, smarter, better. >> yeah. i absolutely think so, stephanie. i paint a very optimistic picture by the end of this book. i have predictions. it's hopefulness. that's what seems to be resonating despite the insecurity and the trauma they've grown up under. i don't think there's any generation that's grown up under more trauma more quickly in at least seven, eight decades than this generation. but when boomer, gen x, millennials vote, this group doubled that level of participation in 2018 midterms, and in 2020 they broke all voting records including when. obama was on the ballot. so this generation is actually walking the walk. >> that is really good to hear.

an couraging and optimistic picture. always good to see you. congratulations. a very important book. up next, what a weekend. from tom brady falling just short of an incredible comeback to 25 points in the last two minutes of the chiefs/bills game. it was one of the craziest weekends of football. of footbal , new baja steak & jack, and the new baja chicken & bacon, aka "the smokeshow." save big. order through the app. when i break a long run, i'm talking long, long. save big. that's why i use old spice triple protection sweat defense. [announcer] there he goes. old spice works harder for longer. hey derrick man, you gonna be much longer? it's gonna be a minute, minute. hey derrick, quit playin'. derrick! [music: sung by craig robinson] ♪ i'm a ganiac, ganiac, check my drawers ♪ [sfx: sniffs / long exhale] ♪ and my clothes smell so much fresher than before ♪

♪ yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ i'm a ganiac, ganiac, check my drawers ♪ ♪ it's a freshness like i've never smelled before ♪ one sniff of gain flings and you'll be a gainiac too! the only detergent with oxiboost and febreze. my dvt blood clot left me with questions... was another around the corner? or could i have a different game plan? i wanted to help protect myself. my doctor recommended eliquis. eliquis is proven to treat and help prevent another dvt or pe blood clot. almost 98 percent of patients on eliquis didn't experience another. and eliquis has significantly less major bleeding than the standard treatment. eliquis is fda-approved and has both. don't stop eliquis unless your doctor tells you to. eliquis can cause serious and in rare cases fatal bleeding. don't take eliquis if you have an artificial heart valve or abnormal bleeding. if you had a spinal injection while on eliquis call your doctor right away if you have tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness.

while taking eliquis, you may bruise more easily and it may take longer than usual for bleeding to stop. seek immediate medical care for sudden signs of bleeding, like unusual bruising. eliquis may increase your bleeding risk if you take certain medicines. tell your doctor about all planned medical or dental procedures. what's around the corner could be a different game. ask your doctor about eliquis. my mental health was much better. my mind was in a good place. but my body was telling a different story. i felt all people saw were my uncontrolled movements. some mental health meds can cause tardive dyskinesia, or td, and it's unlikely to improve without treatment. ingrezza is a prescription medicine to treat adults with td movements in the face and body. it's the only treatment for td that's one pill, once-daily, with or without food. ingrezza 80 mg is proven to reduce td movements in 7 out of 10 people. people taking ingrezza can stay on their current dose of most mental health meds. don't take ingrezza if you're allergic to any of its ingredients.

ingrezza may cause serious side effects, including sleepiness. don't drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how ingrezza affects you. other serious side effects include potential heart rhythm problems and abnormal movements. it's nice people focus more on me. ask your doctor about ingrezza, #1 prescribed for td. learn how you could pay as little as zero dollars at ingrezza.com.

today marks the start of tax filing season and the irs is already warning that it could get skploe messy. they are still dealing with a massive backlog of returns from 2020 and they are urging everyone to file as soon as possible to avoid delays. that means file asap and do it electronically this year to make it faster. it takes way longer for them to process returns on paper. you want to choose direct deposit, so if you're getting a refund, you'll get it sooner. but if you have to do it, paper return. but make sure, this year, absolutely no errors. the irs says most taxpayers get their refunds in 21 days, but if there's a problem, it could take a lot longer, and nobody wants that. >> and this morning, americans everywhere are still buzzing

after a crazy, really, the most amazing playoff football weekend ever, with all games coming down to the final play. the conference championships now set. the bills/chiefs game saw 21 points in the last two minutes with the chiefs taking the wins, while the bucs' qb tom brady fought for a comeback against the largest, but fell a bit short. and the future of green bay's aaron rodgers hangs in the balance with social media igniting at his loss to the 49ers. let's bring in nbc's mike flourio. michael, i have to ask you, was this the greatest weekend of football you have ever experienced? >> absolutely. the four games, each one was better than the last. and to have the futures of both tom brady and aaron rodgers up in the air after the conclusion of these games with both of their teams losing, arguably, the number one and number two mvp candidates for the 2021 season. that makes it even more rare, even more impactful, and even

more memorable. >> aaron rodgers became a massively polarizing figure this year over being unvaccinated. how much do you think that is going to have an impact on his legacy? because after he lost, i mean, the attacks on him, like, hey, dude, great, you've got time to do your own research people were crushing him. is the anti-vaccination thing going to be his legacy? >> i think his legacy will continue to evolve and develop based on what he does post-football. he's made it clear in the past that he's not interested in getting into sports broadcasting, but given the extent to which the guy has been talking this year, i feel like he's going to find a platform somewhere and he's going to continue to do something. remember, last year, he hosted jeopardy for a couple of weeks and was actually pretty good at that and was in consideration for the full-time gig. and was actually interested in it and not afraid to say so. he's going to find a lane somewhere. he's going to be around. so he's got a lot of chapters

left in this book, and a very polarizing chapter played out in 2021. and i think it's only going to get worse as time goes by. >> i have to ask you, what were your super bowl picks on friday and what are they today. our audience needs to know how good you are at predicting. >> i'm not very good. my pre-season picks for the bills over the buccaneers. they were alive until yesterday. 24 hours ago, i was feeling pretty good. today, i'm not. but i'll take it. when we got the games that we got, and the way they unfold, i'll gladly go disappear 272 for publications for every game of the regular season, if need be, to get games like the ones we got this weekend. >> for people who love the game, it didn't matter who won. it was extraordinary football. michael, thank you so much. you must have had quite a day yesterday. we're going to lee it there. that wraps up a very busy hour. thank you for watching. good to be back. i am stephanie ruhle. my dear friend and colleague jose diaz-balart picks up

breaking news coverage on the other side of the break. don't go anywhere. other side of the break. other side of the break. don't go anywhere. so he's checking in on that ring fund. oh, that photographer? he's looking for something a little more zen, so he's thinking, “i'll open a yoga so.” and as for the father of the bride? he's checking to see if he's on track to do this all over again...and again. digital tools so impressive, you just can't stop banking. what would you like the power to do? is now a good time for a flare-up? enough, crohn's! for adults with moderate to severe crohn's or ulcerative colitis, stelara® can provide relief, and is the first approved medication to reduce inflammation on and below the surface of the intestine in uc. you, getting on that flight? back off, uc! stelara® may increase your risk of infections, some serious, and cancer. before treatment, get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu-like symptoms, sores, new skin growths,

have had cancer, or if you need a vaccine. pres, a rare, potentially fatal brain condition, may be possible. some serious allergic reactions and lung inflammation can occur. lasting remission can start with stelara®. janssen can help you explore cost support options. what happens when we welcome change? janssen can help you explore we can make emergency medicine possible at 40,000 feet. instead of burning our past for power, we can harness the energy of the tiny electron. we can create new ways to connect. rethinking how we communicate to be more inclusive than ever. with app, cloud and anywhere workspace solutions, vmware helps companies navigate change. faster. vmware. welcome change.

i know there's conflicting information about dupuytren's contracture. i thought i couldn't get treatment yet? well, people may think that their contracture has to be severe to be treated, but it doesn't. if you can't lay your hand flat on the table, talk to a hand specialist. but what if i don't want surgery? well, then you should find a hand specialist certified to offer nonsurgical treatments. what's the next step? visit findahandspecialist.com today to get started. good morning. 10:00 a.m. eastern/7:00 a.m. pacific. i'm jose diaz-balart. this morning, an intense fig situation unfolding right now along the ukrainian border. as president biden weighs deploying thousands of troops by air and sea to nato allies in eastern europe to deter russian aggression. this as the u.s. is now ordering the