good morning. breaking overnight, trump folds. good morning. overnight. trump folds after batting with house speaker nancy pelosi, the president agrees to postpone his state of the union address until the shutdown is over. the senate ready to vote today on competing bills aimed at reopening the government, but does eithe reallyan stand ? what's the president's next nove? terror i florida, the suspected gunman behind a masked shooting set to beou in c today. this morning, what we are learning about the five victims, the suspect'sown call t 911 and the dramatic end to an

hours' lon standoff. high alert. threats against kentucky high school students against that infamous encounter. and after the 16-year-old at the center of the stairdown toldah savann did nothing wrong, this morning the man on the other side of theace-off joins us to share his reaction. those stories plus fear makes us crazy. pope francis weighs in on the president'sorder wall, delivering a strong message as he arrives in central america. let it rain. a powerful storm targeting nearly 50 million people fromca north lina to new england today. al has the forecast. i am challenging hoda -- hoda -- >> what superstar jennifer lopez is asking us to do and why it will not beod easy tay thursday, january 24th, 2019.

>> from nbc news, this is "today" with savannah guthrie and hoda kotb live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> welcome to "today" on this thursday morning. thank you for j us. not every day jennifer lopez calls us out and wants us to challenge her t something. >> first of all, it's a very difficul challenge. she didn't challenge us, she challenged you. whyre you dragging us into this? >> she challenged us. th> first let's get to our top story. bitter battle over the government shutdown. following a back and forth ofe ho speaker nancy pelosi, the president announced he'll wait until the shutdown is over to ve his state of the union address. the senate holding votes today on duelling plans to reopen the government. >> with over 800,00 workers voicing their frustrations in a massive demonstration on capit

hill. >> we have all this covered this morning. we'll start at the white house with peter alexander. >> reporter: good morning to you. for president trump this is a rarere eat, conceding in a showdown with house speaker nancy pelosi who blocked him from doing histe sf the union address until after the government reopens, the president said acknowledged pelosi's power i washington, a stalemate after the shut down drags on. >> overnight the president writing iig a late tweet, i'll two the address when the shutdown is over. i am not looking for an alternative venue for theof sta he union address, because there is no venue to compete with the history and importance of the house chamber. pelosi encouraging the president to endhe shutdown and reopen the government. earlier in the day, president trump in ate l to pelosi dismissing her request to delay the address, saying he would

give t speech on time, on schedule and very importantly on location. pelosi firing backelling the president she wouldn't authorize his address in the house chamber asna oriy planned. the president appearing caught off guard by the news delivered by nbc. your response to the hou speaker? >> it's reall a shame what's happeng with the democrats. they've become radicalized. si >> reporter: pnt trump later lashing out at the speaker. >> the state of the union speech has been canceled by b nancy peloause she didn't want to hear the truth. she's afraid of the truth. i think that's a great blotch on the incredible country that we all love. >> reporter: for the president, backlash is building, his approval rating dropping to 34%, its lowest level in more than a year with most americans blaming him for the shutdown. unpaid federal workers converging on the capitol. protesters arrested outside

mih mcconnell's office. five former heads of department of homeland security, includi the esident's former chief of staff john kelly writing a letter to the president and to congress urging them to fund tht dent to ensure our homeland remains safe. the letter following a new eport that details the firsthand accounts of fbi agents, warning the shutdown is undermining criminal, counter-terrorism and en counter-intell operations. this morning the white house is wn to g for this shut stretch into february, even into march. officials asking agency leaders to give them a list of programs that could be impacted if this shutdownts for weeks more. savannah and hoda? >> there are a couple of volts today planned. do ty have any chance at all? is this just posturing. >> reporter:he senate set to vote on these duelling bills. there are small signs of progress. hink the question is will it be enough? house democrats are preparingne

offer funding what they describe as a smart wall with at least $5.7 billion. here it wld come in the form of more technology, border agents and judges. no new wall. is it enough? we'll have to wai and see. >> peteroualexander, thank y so much. t's formeresid attorney michael cohen postponed plans to testify on capitol hill citing concerns about his family's safety. bc's kristen welker is on this story. >> good morning to you. michael cohen is telling friends he's concerned anti his family'w safety aftt he describes as verm attacks from president trump and his attorney rudy giuliani. top lawmakers say that notng testif is not an option. >> reporter: the president's former mixer michael cohen says he won't testify before the house oversight committee.

his lawyer writing due to on going threats against his family from president trump, his testimony will be postponed to another date. this is a time to put his family and saf >> i would say he's been threatened by the truth, only threatened by the truth. >> reporter: a source close to cohen says he'srl particula concerned about the safety of his father-in-law and wife. >> his father-in-law is a very rich guy i hear. >> he should give information maybe on his father-in-law becae that's the one that people want to look at. >> did he keep his wyche out of trouble. >> reporter: also citing comments made by the president's attorney. >> his father-in-law has -- >> it's not a crime. >> of courseno it's t. he comes from the ukraine. he may have ties to something called organized crime.

>> reporter: msnbc contributor donny deutsch is a friend of cohen's. >> he's panicked.he going after my father-in-law. are my children next? >> reporter: cohenleed guilty to multiple crimes congress lying to about a possible trump tower project in moscow. it's notwi clear congres led him out off the hook. inem a stt, efforts to intimidate witnesses are textbook mob tactics that we condemn in the strongest terms. not appearing before congress was never an option. >> i have not decided how we'll go about it, but i promise you, we will interview him. >> reporter: lawmakers are looking at the possibility of subpoenaing cohen. congress can secure hisve testimonn after he's behind bars, savannah and . ho >> kristen welker, thank you. the suspected gunman behind a deadly mass shooting inside a florida bank is appearing in

court. investigators are trying to piece together why he took the lives of five innocent people nbc's kerry sanders has the latest. kerry, good morning. da reporter: we're learning more this morning about the fivems vic in this horrible shooting. sources tell nbc news four of them were employees he at the bank, all of them women, one of them hired just weeo, a mother of two small children. the fifth victim, a bank cu omer. overnight investigators scouring the home of the suspect, searchingor clues in the horrific crime that has shaken this city tots core. >> suffered significant loss at the hands of a sensele criminal doing a senseless crime. >> reporter: the gunman in ive people.ling the suspect, -year-old zephen xaver.

authorities say he was the one that called 911, telling them he entered the bk and began shooting. >> our uni and units from the sheriff's office responded, e scene. ed a sec >> reporter: a team of officers began negoating with a suspect barricaded inside. a s.w.a.t. team vehicle ramming the bank, the suspect eventually surrendering, led away in handcuffs >> this i very dynamic and on going investigation. >> reporter: the florida department of corrections telling nbc news that xaver was hired as a trainee as avon park correctional institution in november before resigning a few weeks ago. they say he had no disciplinary issues during his stint. in his mugshot, he appears to be wearing a shirt depicting the force horsemen of the apocalypse. his next-door neighbor knew him as very quiet and well >> i never in a million years would think anything like this ld happen >> reporter: overnight, family members and co-workers of the

victims talking to grief counselors at a loc hotel. a community trying to come to d grips with tastating tragedy as lawmaker digs for answers. >> obviously this is an individual that needs very swift and exacting justice. >> reporter: the suspect is scheduled for anrraignment later this morning. so far it's unclear ifs h answered investigators' questions. >> the big question is why would a guy walk into the bank and shoot people. are investigators closer to a motive, kerry? >> reporter: we the arraignment a little more. the motive is conspicuously absent. didn't talk about a bank robbery. we'll find out from the state o attorney police later this morning. around 11:00 this morning we may have a news conferee with more details. >> all right, kerry sanders, thank you soch venezuelan president nicolas

maduro says his government is cutting off relations with the united states and ordering all u.s. diplomats to leave the country. secretary of state mike pompeo plys the u.s. will not com with that order. the president formally recognized opposition leader juan gad dough. hundreds of thousands have taken to the streetscross venezuela to demand muro step aside. pope francis beginning the first full day of his central american tour. while there is a lot o excitement surrounding why he's there, theeader of the catholic church is making headlines by weighing in on the border wall battle. anne thompson is in panama city with the latest. >> reporter: hoda, pope francis is here in panama city to energize the world's catholic youth. we're waiting to see if he says anything about the clergy sex abuse crisis that is engulfing the global church. on the papal plane here, pope

francis made newsn w asked about president trump's proposed border wall. his response, it is the fear at makes us crazy. francis himself is the son of immigrants. throughout his papac he's advocated for refugees and migrants. he's urged the world to build bridges and not walls. three years ago he said anyone who builds walls to keep people out is not christian. given that panama itself is a land bridge between and south american continents, poem francis is expected to say more on the issue of immigrahoon thro the rest of his four-day visit. hoda? >> all right, ann, thank you so much. craig joins the table with covering. ry we're >> good morning. new details erging about the kidnapping ordeal faced by a young woman in boston and the amatic manhunt that led police to both her and her alleged abductor a thiser the suspect's first cour appearance. nbc's kristen dahlgren is in

boston with more on that. good mo >> reporter: good morning, craig. this morning we're learning more about the alleged kidnappe his facebook page victor pena describes himself as very romantic andnvites young women to reach out to him. in court yesterday a e psychiatrist saids sucking his thumb and said he heard voices in his head. the state trying to determine if that's exaggerated now that he's facing trial.a victor pen accused of kidnapping olivia ambrose, a crush ofunameras surng him. once inside, weeping uncontrollably. a doctor telling the court pena didn't appear to know h whywas there. >> his behavior aeared to be what psychotic. >> reporter: the judge ordering him to a state mental hospital for further evaluation. the 38-year-old accused of holding the 23-year-old hostage for almost three days. ambrose arrived home late

tuesday wrapped in a blanket. >>r family thrilled to have her safe. she's very strong and she's doing okay. it's going to be aprocess, but she's okay. >> reporter: ambrose went missing saturday after a night of dancing at this bar with friends and her twin sister. after she left alone, surveillance videos shows pena approaching her. >> that suspect was twice seen engaging ms. ambrosend guiding her, actually clutching her, guiding her along. s >> reporter: t photo obtained by dailymail.com appeared to show womanen out p of a subway station. police traced cer lastl phone location to pena's apartment where they found the victim standing nex toena crying with a horrified look on her face. ambrose telling them her known was taken by pena and he refused to lete.er leav after the hearing, pena's attorney had little to say. >> i'm happy that ms. ambroba is home with the epfamily.

>> rter: neighbors complaining they've had their own problems. >> last week my daughter went to the trash and he was following her. >> reporter: a cty captivated by the desperate search. >> it could have been us. >> any one of us, any onef our friends. >> reporter: now relieved ambrose made it home alive. >> a lot of people saying they're using this as a goodry minder to stay in grps. meantime pena will be back in court on february 11th after that psychiatric evaluation. >> so good she's back homeith her family. 7:16, let's say hello to mr. roker. getheur first of the weather. >> hello. >> hello. >> a lotf wet weather stretching from the east coast down into virginia. winter storm watches and advisories from the u.p. of michigan into upstate new york. heavy rain stretching from new england down to florida. airportay del tampa, charlotte, d.c., new york and boston.

it's a very vigorous storm system that pushes up and through the east. the heaviest rain through the t first half o day. behind it we've got the winds coming across the warmer water of the great lakes. that will set up lake-effect snow with snowfall rates two inches per hour. the u.p. of michigan may see a .6 foot watertown, two feet of snow. rainful amounts of one to two inches. we could seees rainfall rat up to half an inch per hour. there could be urban and small stream flooding. we'll get to your local forecast coming up in the next 30 seconds.

good morning everybody. i'mm storm t 4 meteorologist chuck bell. temperatures near 60 degrees this morning. cloudy, wet and breezy. south winds 20 miles per hour sustained, already gusting pver 30 mil hour. look how mild it is. temperatures up close to 60 pretty much all over the region. planning out your day today, windy and rain difficult through at least noontime. heavy rain moving through frricksburg and parts of southern maryland. that burst of rain could have wind gusts up near 50 miles per hour. >> that's your latest weather. straight ahead, the high school student at the that encounter at the lincoln memorial broke his silence yesterda this morning, reaction from the man on the other side of that face-off. big changes happening todaye insi cvs's new natural beauty

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there's so much to take advantage of. from scheduling appointments to finding specialists, it's easier to get the care you need when you need it. good morning everybody. 7:26 on this thursday, january th, 2019. i'm aaron gilchrist. >> i'm eun yang. in the news today, the metro board is set to hear proposals tora keeping running longer. one plan would keep the hours the same, another would return service to the pre 2016 hours. the plans will be presented at a board meeting later this morning. here iswtop's jack taylor for ac of your traffic this morning. >> --it my road blocked between oregon and 16th street. sounds like you'll be rerouted. the crash rorted with an overturned vehicle. authorities on scene.

northbound near prince william parkway, a broken down tractor-trailer in the right lane. outer loop of the beltway along river road, one left the beltway causing a slowdown off the spur. all week tommy mcfl is getting you ready for change. a local mom shares h inspiring story of how she left her high paying job for a new adventure. we'll take a break. your forecast is next.

heavy rain nowov mg through fredricksburg and into parts of southern maryland. it's going o to be raining hard for the next hour or so. rain continues to affect pretty much all of the area. flood watches up for a quickf inchrain. it's mild this morning. temperatures in the 50s to near now will plummet into the 30s

by early this evening. much colder weather the next couple days. ha >> chuck, you. another local news update in about 25 minutes. >> for now, back tohe "today" show after this short break. have a great day.

7:30 now, thursday morning, 24th of january, 2019 a rainy one up and down the east coast. it felt good outside. vewarm compared to what whad. >> left the puffy coat at home. >> we'll take it. a kentucky community is on high alert aftering there thrust into the national spotlight. police say students at covington catholic highl schoo have received death threats. >> we talked to the student at the center of it yesterday. a moment we'll get reaction from nathan phillips, the man on the other side of that encounter. first nbc's gabe gutierrez with the >>latest. reporter: this morning police are investigating suspicious

packages sent to the diocese of covington. students now back in class after authorities say the school got a number of death threats. >> my position is that i was not disrespectfulo mr. phillips. >> savannahn sitting dow with nick sandmann, a 16-year-old junior at vington's catholic high, now the face of this lincoln memorial confrontation with native american elder nathan phillips. >> what do you wish you could do differently? >> i wish we could walk away after the first set of protesters talked to us. >> reporter: sandmann had just attended an anti-abortion rally when a group of hebrew industriri indust israelites started taunting them. his chaperone gave him permission to shout school

chants. that's when phillips can be seen walking between the protesters. >> did you feel he was being aggressive by being so close to you and having thaig drum there? >> i think he certainly could ahave stoodther foot back and still looked at me and hit theum i don't understand why he got so close. i felt like he was tryingo intimidate me by getting as close as heco d. >> reporter: phillips says he was trying to defuse the situation, but the students crowded around him. >> i feltthreatened. when we were there and we were in front of them, they surrounded us. >> reporter: a tense encounter at sparked a politically charged debate around the country and put this tight knit community on high alert. for "today," gabe gutierrez, nbc news, covington, kenthaky. >> n phillips is with us now. mr. phillips, good morning to you. >> good morning. >> first questi, how areou doing? this has been a whirlwind few

days for you. you findelf on the front page of every newspaper. how are you doing and how are you feeling? >> well, i woke up strong this morning with a really positive attitude. i had an opportunity to go to a traditional prayer cemony that was the other night. yesterday i woke up with all kinds o good feelings in my heart for all those who have been mean to me. i want to forgive them. >> i believe you've had a chance to see the interview that the stteent at the c of this gave. what was your reaction? what did you think of what he had t say about this encounter? >> i was upset i was made to sit down and watch it. >> why is that? >> um, i read his statement and

then when i got irs the first -- somebody tried to show it to me fore i went to my prayer ceremony and i got into about the first 30 seconds, 40 seconds of it. i said, that's all i needed to hear. >> what was your reaction to it? how did it make you what did you think about his words and his explanation and his version o this unenr? >> coached and written up for him, insincery, lack of responsibility. those are the words i came up with. but then i went to go pray about it. and then i woke up. i woke up with thisng forgi heart. so i forgive him.

he said when i asked directly that he didn't think he owed an apology, but he does wish he had walked away. was that enough for you, or do you think he shod have apologized? >> well, if there's an apology, there would be an apology for his own behavioro a lot of other people besides me. i would be like o way down the list of people he needs to apologize to. but because of the tomahawk chop and the mocking and those things, and in one of those statements he did say he was the leader of that. he got permission from his school teacher. you know, there's a lot of times he could have walked away. >> did you hear anyone say "build that wall?" it isn't audible on the video clips that are out there, but did you hear that? >> you know, iid hear that. and i have seen some out there

on the internet where you can hear them saying "build that wall >> how did you feel in that moment? did you, yourself, feel threatened? >> well, all that anger was directed at those four individuals, the black israelites and the youth there. it was getting really explosive. so when i started praying, i asked creator, god, to protect me, to stand with me and i was just -- to witness what was happening, and then when i put myself in prayer and used that drum to reach to g, that mass

and ung men surrounded me the folks that were with me. it was a moment when i was in prayer, it wasn't that i felt like i could stop anything or do anythi anything, but i felt like i was spiritually moved into that center, into that center of that whirlwind as you were saying. >> i asked the young m this question. i'll ask you the same thing. do you think in that confrontation, that encounter that went on and on, should you have walked away? he ss yes, he thinks now he should have walkedaway. do you think you should have walked away? >> that's what i was trying to do. there was a spot, a place i could take my people. we were surrounded. couldn't go right, couldn't go left, back. and then tha -- i was still in

prayer, still singing and then i was looking past the crowd, and i took that first sp and that crowd backed up. i took a second step, and tha crowd started breaking apart there, and i took a third and i actually seen clearspace. i said that's the space, and we started going that way. from somewhere -- from a clear space, a person was th ye. >> feel you were blocked? >> oh, i was blocked. >> there has also been some question about the nature ofur military service, and this is a good chance to clear it up. you were a veteran. you served in the marinsocorps. have said you were a vietnam veteran. i don't believe you have said that. what exactly is the nature of yo service? >> i went to boot camp. i stayed there. that marine corp was

reservist guy. so i stayed in the reserve for a couple years. that wasuring the time of the american indian movement and the m trials and there was a lot of things going on during those years. the vietnam war was still going on. >> so clear, you served in the marines at the time that vietnam was going on, but you did not serve overseas? >> what i've always said is i've never stepped ft in south vietnam. i don't know how much clearer can that be. when i was discharged may 5th, 1976, i was told when i got outu don't wear uniform. don't say you're a veteran. people don't like you out there. >> finally, wonder what you

feel now. what doapou lopens now? would you want to meet with these students? what are you hoping comes of this moment in our culture? i find myself,vethough i have the anger, i still have the forgiveness in my heart for thoseanstudents. the forgiveness goes to those chaperones and teachers s whould have just said you students this isn't the place. and to talk wh them now. i did s hear thetement that he wrote and the video statement he put out. his stat those aren't even his words if he has a pr .fi some sincerity, some sense of

responsibility for his actions. these are some of the things that, if we ever did meet, it t would se adults. i would like to ask why didn't they have those school administrators there and ask them why didn't they say no. >> have you feared for your safety since all of this has happened?e tudents have received death threats. have you feared for your own safety? >> you know, i didn't have any problems until the students stted saying the were getting death threats, and then as soon as that happened, it started happening with me. >> mr. phillips, you've certainly been through a lot in these last few daysu, thank r. phillips, for spending this time with us and sharing your story. it's much appreciated. >> yep.

>> interesting to have both perspectives now. people can look at the video, hear what the individuals involved had to say and makerp thwn minds. >> i think a lot of people look t seven seconds of video and think they kno whole story. then you lay out both interviews and you get to make a dtision on w you think. we do have a lot more ahead, including celebrating imperfections.l we get kerry washington's take on a big change you'll find in the beauty aisle of a major drugstore today. e.l. james reveals her big surprise to us exclusively. us, what inspires you? oprah revealing the greatest,es deept joy in her life. you can't put a price on love, but you can get amazing bargainsn valentine's day gifts. jill is here with her greatest steals and deals. first, these messages. little as $10 per prescription. text save to 47500.

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will be trouble. >> for hoda. >> we're all doing it. >> no, no. >> yes. >> i'd rather do keto. >> i'd rather eat doritos. >>'d ratheo the weather. we're looking at the next big chill. we've got one warm day up and down the eastern seaboard where temperatures will be anywhere from 15 to 21 degrees above average. cold air coming in. 4 today in minneapolis, 32 in st. louis, wichita 31. chk out tomorrowmorning, windchill of 22. new york city, 2 in buffalo. an s 25 in des moines with air temperature of minus 10. same for minneapolis. as we head into the ekend, degrees in new york city on saturday. 46 in ralgh onsunday. look at chicago. 4 degrees on friday morning. that's going to leave a mark. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. good morning. itmild, a

heavy rain now moving across the northern neck and into parts of southern maryland. everhere is already wet. there's plenty more rain where this came from. flood watches have been posted for the next couple hours as another inch of rain is still possible. temperatures in the 50s t near 60 now, will be falling into the mid and upper 30s by later this afternoon into early this evening. blustery and cold weather turns for tomorrow. >> there's always room for j. . >> i'm glad you brought her up. listen to this, hoda. >> i am challenging hoda. hoda, i know you're up for a good challenge. >> hoda sure is. >> we are. >> a good challenge, a tough challenge. we'll tell you whatwa jennifer s hoda to give up, and it is not going to be easy for hoda. iss you. going to >> we're all doing it together. >> first, these messages.

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7:56 is your time now on this,thursd january 24th, 2019. good morning to you. i'm eun yangri ght now let's get right to wtop's jack taylor in your first 4 traffic. how are the roads, jack? >> we lad a crash in rockville on the outer loop of the beltway near 355. it's the ramp to 355 temporarily stopped to remove the truck from the ramp. outer loop of the beltway after river road, activity in the transition lane alonghe far right side causing delays coming off 270 south. military roa n inthwest is still closed between 16th and oregon avenue. you'll findutourself re in the area. back to you. >> jack, thank you. we'll take a break and check your forecast when we come back. stay with us.

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heavy rain across most of southern maryland towards the northern neck. moderate rain and showers continuing across the d.c. metro area flash flood watches out for the rest of the day. q ack inch of rain is a real possibility, especially in southern maryland. temperatures in the mid to upper 50s to near es60 degnow. take a gusty northwest wind later today will drive temperatures into th0 by 7:00. >> chuck, thank you. another local news update in 25 minutes. for now. back to the "today" show after this short break.

it's 8:00 on "today." coming up, backing down. after a heated back and forth with nancy pelosi, president trump overnight says he will not deliver his state of the union address until the government reopens. as the senate prepares to vote on competing bills today to end the shutdown. at mwhe hlaadtest.isha c plus, keeping it real. the major makeover coming to cvs t will change the way you look at things in the beauty aisle. >> i know what it is like to ke up and look at my own face on the cover of a magazine and say, wow, somebody at a computer changed the shape of my fbee use they weren't happy with what i look like. and grey heir. >> this is one place whe re grey heir keir simmons

catches up with 50 shaets author e.l. james. >> there's something over there on the desk. >> yes! today thursday, january 24th, 2019. >> shout-out to my family in spokane, washington. >> lawrenceville, jogorgia. w. celebrating my 18th birthday at the "today" s ♪ >> sending love home to detroit. good morning, dad. >> good morning. jack. this is reid. today we're celebrating our tenth birthday in houston, texas. >> celebrating 50 years of marriage. >> happy anniversary. welcome back to "today" on this thursday morning. we love that you'v come re. nice day, 50-some degrees. a little rain. >> rain, but iwas .

>> you know how you can avoid the rain? you can go to the computer, pick up your smart phone, take a picte, #mytodayplaza. join in the fun, record a message, twitter or instagram. we're starting to get some good ones. >> we love seeing it. we want to get right to your news. it is day 34 of the government shutdown and the stakes are getting higher. president trump now postponing his state of the union address until the standoff is over. nbc white house correspondent peter alexander has the latest from d.c. peter, good morning. >> good morning. good to see you. for the president, this is a rare retreat backing down in his state of the union standoffer house speaker nancy pelosi who disinvited him from delivering hisheddress in house chamber until after the government is reopened. the presidentn a late night tweet saying it's pelosi's prerogative that we'll give the statheof the union the shutdown is over. this marks a symbolic win for the democrats, but the stalemate

itself drags on. the president's job approval droppins taking a hit, to its lowest level in more than a year. importantly today the senaten will vote duelling bills, but igth are expected to fail. now some of progress. house democrats are preparing a new offer funding what they calt a s wall with more than $5 billion for border security, but no money for any new wall. hoda. >> peter alexander at the white houspe the s accused of a deadly plas shooting, 24-year-old zephen xaver shot and killed five people. officials say xaver was the one old them he 911 and entered the bank and started shooting. he surrended after first barricading himselfin side. the state department of corrections says heft hired at a correctis officer trainee in november but resigned a few weeks ago. iowa senatorer jont is

it revealed wednesday she was raped when she was in college. she says her attacker was a man she was dating. she called the sexual assault hotline but never filed a police report because she was dbarrassed. jus ago, she said she suffered domestic abuse near the end of her 26-year a sacramento uber driving is sharing a video. a passenger attempts to grab the steering wheel while they wereg drivin on a busy highy. the driver manages to fight him off while maintaining control of the car. he initiated a panic button alerting 911. the passenger was really intoxicated and laterarrested. alec baldwin agreed to anger management class after pleading guilty to harass nmt a new york city parki angrrested in novembr after police say he got into a shoving match with another driver. he denied reports that he

punched the man in the face. prosecutors dropped an attempted assaul charge after reviewing surveillance video and speaking to witnesses as well as the alleged victim. we've got the news covered. a boost for you. it's a cute one. sometimes it's the simplth thins bring the most joy in life. take a look what happens when a dog owner places an orange on kitchen floor. >> it was pure it went on and on. sometimes we take too much time to try to make. it's as simple as that. >> every d craig and hoda have an orange at 8:00. it's a little like that. you love your citrus >> i do. still to come, a groundbreaking change in beauty. the makeup aisle at one of the l

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[splash] our light source, the sun... ...soaks the leaves with 4,000 hours of sunshine. and when we pick them at the peak of freshness, we put that sunshine into your cup of lipton tea for that smooth, refreshing taste and aroma. ♪ this morning on this morning on "today's talk," one of the most world,sful writers in the e.l. james. behind the fifty shades series. the movie is based on it brought in more than a billion. fans 's been teasing h for some time she's been working on a new project. we can reveal she doe have a brand new book coming out. nbc's keighsimmons went str to the source coming up. keir, what is it?ry a dictio

glossary? medical textbook? >> you said it right there. she has aew book. e.l. james has a new book coming out. good morning, guys. i can't tell you the number of people on instagram and twitter who have been begging for us to give them more details. we have all the details coming more.nd there's e.l. james has never let the cameras into her writing room, her inner sanctum. that was the setting for our exclusive interview. >> if the first time a tv crew has been allowed into this inner sanctum. you immediately know who office it is. look at this. fencing equipment. and this little mr. grey w compleh mask. of course, it's e.l. james. what's that over there?

we or not allowed to inside. >> it was manuscripts like this, the fifty shades trilogy and the movies that followed that made british author e.l. james into a worldwide phenomenon. she rarely invites the cameras into her home. we even got to meet -- >> oh, >> a member of her family. he this is max. >> o, max. >> it's great to meet you. >> great to meet you, too. this is an honor to be in this room. >> i've wrihen b darker and grey here. another thing about this room, it's sort of a sanctuary as well. this is the place where i can get away and scribble my thoughts down. >> reporter: e.l. james writes for her fans and her fans respond in the millions. i >>'ve had so many extraordinary e-mails from le peop, and in here, the reactions to the books.

just want to say a big thankou toriting -- they saved me. stuff like that. >> they saved me. when someone says, writes to you and says what you wrote me.ved >> i know. >> amazing that you're so >> we need to stopitalking about because i'll sit here and cry. >> reporter: about to get something new. >> something new over there on the desk. >> yes. >> that is to millions of people, that is the literary equivalent of gold bar sitting on the desk. >> it's hopefully another inspiring love story with two people doing their thing, shenanig enanigans, boy meets girls. >> details ability her new book.

>> an aristocratic englishma who meets a young woman. it's st century cinderella. >> names of the characters? >>nd maxim alesia. >> great name i don't know how to ask this, but is there -- >> yes, lots. >> really? >> you knew exactly what i was going to ask. >> this "i don't know how to ask this" gives it away. a passionate erotic love story. >> fisdfty s erotic? >> no, not fifty shades erotic. >> can i take this for a while? >> . >> just f a day or two? >> no. keir, you're not the demographic for this. >> i wouldn't be so sure.

>> i think men reading the stuff makes me embarrassed. >> can you tell me what it's called? >> it' call the mister. >> alesians o the door but freezes on the threshold of the room.e, he's th the mister -- dangled in his duvet, but naked, very naked. he stirs and his eyelids flicker en to -- he shifts and turns his face away set lts dow and goes back to sleep. >> wow. >> my pulse races. i may have to go and sit dn for moment. >> i think i need to go sit down for a moment, too. >> good fun. iove the way she tears up when she talks about her fans, guys. savannah, i think the's just one detail missing. >> what's that?

>> what could it be? ow.well, i don't i'm missing it. >> you're asking the question and not answering it. >> i thought you knew. >> i'm on a ten-second delay day. what? >> the book cover? >> i think you may have the cover. >> oh, there it is. >> "the mister." that's what use on my plants. >> it's a book about botany. that's right. keir, it looked like you had a good time. >> a really good>> time. id you read it? >> i'm not allowed to read it. i haveo wait for everybody else. >> you kept karassing that manuscript. >> it's pretty steamy. from what she read, it's pretty steamy. >> i wonder if anybody thought for a minute she might go thehe way. jim carrey does all these movies where it's comedy and then does a drama. > i think she knows her

audience. >> remember how crazy the fifty shades, when the books came out in 2011. >> kind of surprising. a lot of women were reading it, reading it in vecret. thenbody was like i read it. >> i read one of them. >> i read one, too. i don't think we thought it was going to hit a nerve. friends r talking to and it became such a phenomenon. people in theubway secretly were like -- >> it wasn't just all the sex. itas a little scandalous, too. >> people were reading the books. would take off the cover and put ow another book cover. >> is that you read it? >> no. asking for a friend. let's geto "pop start." >> we have an excerpt on today.com. carrie underwood and her husband mike fisher welcomed their child. jacob brian fisher was born early monday morning. big brother isaiah seems to be nailing his role already. >> oh, mygosh.

>> the quote was our hearts are full, our lives are tired and our lives are forever ianged. li good. congratulations to kercarrie an her entire family. ut oprah opened up aer leadership acted me for girls in south africa and how it's become her greestlegacy. in a documentary called "oprah's daughter" she discussed manifesting motherhood through fe girls and the school. >> il like they're my daughters. they're the dauters i did not have. this is how having children was supposedo manifest for me. i never thought the mother thing was for me. i like babies, but i like them like, hi, baby, go over there. i like childrenhen theyan actually speak to me and tell me what the problem is. so 12 years old is really good for that. getting them abors 12 yea old was actually perfect for me. >> interesting to hear oprah be

so candid on that topic. you can watch "oprah's daughters" on peletv.com. hoda, are you ready? jennifer lopez took to instagram to announce she and a. rod are taking part in the teday challenge. what does it involve? fun things like eating no sugar or carbs for a ten-day eyriod. thant others to join in. just walking in for the gym in theiddle of our ten-day challenge. it's getting lonely. let's challenge some people. no sug no carbs. ten days, i'm challenging lh remini, elaine goldsmith thomas and hoda. we're just walking into the gym. >> are you up for aood gym. >> first of all, i'm a excited and i want to do it. are my if you all friends, which i think you are, we should all do this together. savannah had a good idea, once we do it, we'llhallenge

somebody else. >> bread, potatoes, pasta, riceu r, including bananas apples, grapes and oranges. ackberries, blueberries, strawberries are acceptable. no caffeine, no milk. >> no caffeine, i out. we're morning show people. do you thi n we could have to cut out caffeine. s let's find out if we can do this. says yes, will you do it with me for ten days? >> i i'll do it. >> will you really? okay. >> let's talk to jennifer. we'll talk about it tomorrow. >> what about tequila. i need more ioinform >> vodka or gin. no carbs. i'm already doing this with the keto. so i'm in. everybody in the audience 're the price is right," y waiting to hear the magical words, come on down.ro

tara armst seemed to have a different priority. tara armstrong seemed to have a different priority. >> you're thet nex contestant on "the price is right." tara armstrong, come on down! >> she's in the bathroom. >> tara. >> that's how bad she had to t bathroom. there she is. it. made started with the bidding. >> so glad you could make it. >> that was cool. >> don't you love t tts show looks the exact same way it did when wamwere kids. e music. the music gets me excited. >> drew carey is still using the old school microphone. >> look how excited she . >> i love that show. thanks, carson.

a check of the egkwr, mr. roker. >> let's take a quick look, show you what's going on. flash flood watches coming, weather delays stretching from boston all the way down to i'm w moo mimeh this front. there's going to be a lot of heavy rain. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. good morning everybody. 's cloudy, wet, breezy and mild. heaviest rain for now is in southern maryland headed for the bay. could be more restrictions for traveling on the baybridge. flood watch is up for the rest of the day. current temperatures though incredibly mild. we're up neareg 60es now. it will be a quick drop in temperatures later toda gusty south wind this morning becomes a gusty northtest wind today. temperatures in the 30s. windchills in the 20s by dinnertime. >> carson started it -- ♪

♪ just like me, they long to be close to you ♪ >> all right, al. thank u. now to major change in the beauty aisle. starting today when you go into cvs phmacies, you'll see models, imperfections and all. risten dahlgren has more. >> reporter: goorning. this is the type of image that we're used to seeing. katy perry probably has pores, but airbrushed away. bru now we'll see pores, freckles. this mark saying it's unalteredi a rea check for us. this mning cvs is getting a makeover, abo s to look at what we're looking at.

identifying pictures that have been digitallted and like this with no retouch. 70% of photos will be labeled. most of those won't have any airbrushing, their goal to have 100% labeled by2020. >> for years we've been sold this vision of beauty as perfection. was it hard to get the companies on boar >> what was inspiring was that because customers were already talking about their desire for authenticity and transparency, this is a movement that was happening and oursees at cvs health and our brand partners listen to our >>customers. makeup companies like cover girl, neutragena and rev lon have pledged to ease the airbrushing, instead offering up authentic photo to sell products. >> the results will blow you away. neutragena creative consultant kerry washingtonla aing the move. >> i know what it's like to wake up and see my own face on the

covering of a magazin and say, wow, somebody on a computer changed the shape of my face because they weren't happy with what i look like. >> reporter: of courhe knows aegt en tick photos may mean some changes. h it may mean iave to get a really good night sleep. we or not saying i woke up like this. >> reporter: e erts say that's important, in a society where airbrushed photos can create unrealistic goals. >> it's impossible to hold yourself up to those standards. so seeing these images can be detrimental to body image and result in a negative impact on self-image. nd >> reporter: the models won't be makeup free, but the message is a trip to the beauty aisle shouldn't make you feel bad. >> it'suteally saying we should stand behind t power and quality of our products to do what they do. we don't need digital transformations to misrepresent products. our products are strong, our spokes people are proud and we can be ohe there in world celebrating our beauty using the products to put our best face

forward without the help of computers. >> reporter:cvs is also making its beauty influencers sign a contract that the won't use social media filters. they're hitting this from all angles. i want to show you those side-bosside ph the airbrushing, they take off freckles, moles, added eyelashes to this model. a lot is done. combed her flyaways. we'll see the models looking like the rest of us. >> i prefer the freckles. >> you're right. i do think her natural look is prettier. just ahead, new steal deals. get ready for your valentine's day. >> giadas here as well. she's got the recipe for one simple pan recipey your fams going to love it. maybe you can make it for valentine's day. >> exactly. after your local news.

it is an extremely mild morning. temperatures are near 60 degrees right now. heaviest of the rain is moving across southern maryland and the northern neck.

everybody has a chance for plenty more rain oming up for the rest of the day. temperatures will fall from near 60 this morning to the 30s b later on this evening and stay in the 30s tomorrow and saturday.

no8:30 w. 8:30 on this thursday morning, 24th of january. 2019. good news, bad news in new rk. it's a l warmer burks it's raining. we have this idea. what if the crowd came inside. and here they are. good morning. >> we thought wehould still do a crowd moment. thank you for coming. orm looking -- where are felicia and carrie? >> come here, come here. >> come on down. >> felicia and carrie are from midway, georgia. >> you're fans of the show? >> yes. i watchvery day. >> you not so much? so one of the things you

wanted to do when you came to new york was stop by. >> this was my dream to be here. this i whate gave me for christmas, a trip to new york. >> what a sweetone. oker, do you want to do a picture? >> not only do you come to the "today" show, you're on the "today" show. >> smile for nate. >> you should go to savannah and hoda's dressing room. pick out whatever you want. >> thank you guys for coming. we appreciate it. s thank you forpping by. thanks to everybody for coming. we appreciate it. >> happy >> happy anniversary. >> bye felicia. i couldn't resist. t >>k about a good christmas present, but valentine's day is really upon us. at are you going to do? jill has special steals and deals. great gifts for your sweetheart at deep, deepou dis. what's better than a delicious home cooked meal? how about one that only dirties one pan. giada is here with quick and

easy recipes that will cuteown your tn the kitchen. on the third hour of "today," behin the scenes of the hit show "glow" and hopping into the wrestling ring. we'll introduce you to the gh mother-dter team with a recipe for success. how they're trying to change the world with soup. first, we mentioned valentine's day is right around the corner. we want you to warm our hearts and everybody elses with your love story. head to today.com to share the love today. we'll pass on our favorites with a special share the love today -- >> you're not going to use that voice -- >> i'm going to do it today all day. >> are you going to do the forecast in that voice? >> oh, y bet. >> please don't. let's show you what we have. looking ahead to your we have lake-effect snow starting up, especially around

the eastern gre lakes, the southern chill as you get into the lower mississippi river valley. mild and dry out west on saturday. snow through the plains. shin returns down to southern texas. ers in southern florida. lake-effect snow starting to taper off in the great lakes. sunday, sunday! looking at another clipper coming acrossringing snow to the upper mississippi and ohio river valleys. warm in the rockies. artly cloudy skies along the west coast. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. temperatures went up overnight. we're near 60 degrees now with pockets of moderate to heavy rain across the area. the heaviest of the rainor now is in southern maryland. we have a chance tk p a quick inch. temperatures will fall very quickly later this a afternoon a gusty northwest wind moves back in. tomorrow lot colde and stay chilly over the weekend. briefly back to near 50 drees early next week before a real shot of arctic air comes back

again. that's your latest weather. carson.u. >> thank coming up next, get ready to blast off. we're going to take you on a one-of-a-kind journey to space.d we'l it right here from studio 1a withiz first, this is "today" on nbc. will this fit my big head? >> i think so.

welcome back. what if i told you thatpace exploration would be possible from right here in studio 1a? that's exactly what savannah, hoda and craig are doing right now thanks to the award winning virtual reality experience spheres. they're eacutfitted with special vr headsets. we're joined by director eliza mcnit. how did you come up with this?

>> craig is about to fallnto a black hole. >> we can see what they're seeing behind them. >> exactly. >> right now he's being pulled into the force of a black hole. hoda over there is in t solar system, and she'll start hitting the planets andl she be able to hear the songs of each aiplanet. >> what is it like? >> i've never experienced anything like it. >> do you feel likeht you're r there in the cosmos? >> i do. but i've lost my sense of where i am physically. >> who are some of the big names you've recruited. >> jessica chastain and patty voices of re all the the universe. o> did you choose specific parts for them narrate? >> i did. i wanted the piece to representt three diffe generations of women who speak about the niverse tnd teach us about t cosmos. >> it's not just visual. >> we have music by kylon dic and michael stein who did t score for "stranger things."

it's about the music of the universe. space is not silent. it's actually fullds of so >> what is it about the virtual experience for space as opssed to -- i atching one of these this weekend and it was a lock climbing thing. >>pace is a place that we dream of going. where tronauts can't go we hope to send everyone through this experience. you go to thest dar edges of the cosmos inside of black holes. >> not to interrupt. i'm moving my arms like this. what am i seeing. >> right now you're being shredded into millions of pieces as a sta as you enter the singularity which is a place where space and time -- >> whoa! >> spheres itself was at the tell riuride film festival. >> yes. we were thewi ers. >> what's been the reaction? >> it's been phenomenal. more than i could havdr ever med of. i have an incredible team.

th >> could youin an oscar one day for this? >> we hope one day virtual reality will. actually it has before. we hope to see that as a main category in the future. >> what is savannah doing? >>nk i don't tine is working. >> should i do quit app? >> clear histort >> w do i hit? >> i see a screen thatay spheres -- >> i had never done this vr recently.il it's amazing. i have anxiety and i was worried about getting lost in this world. it really puts you into places and you think about limitless possibilities of where the virtual experience can put people in the world who can't trav or can't experience things. it's incredible.

>> this is a whole other level. congratulations. >> thank you so much. l thank you. >> do youe it, hoda? >> i like it. i feel like i'm in space. >> you can experience spheres for yourself right here atef roler center. come on down and check it out now through march 3rd. up next, jill's special valentine's day edition of steals and deas . first, thiis "today" on nbc.

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as have blood, liver and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions and new or worsening heart failure. before treatment, get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you've been to areas where certain fungal infections are common, and if you've had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have flu-like symptoms, or sores. don't start humira if you have an infection. join over 250,000 patients who have chosen humira. ask about the #1 prescribed biologic by dermatologists. humira... and go. we e back. we are back. 8:42. just in time for valentine's day, we have a special lux for less edion. >> fro kristin, we have extra special gifts for your someone special. jill martin joins us. i got you ladies some flowers? >> you're so sweet. >> this is one of the holidays that sneaks up on you. if you're in a relatioahip for ong time, it's one of those,

do we just do cards? let's make it easy. everything here will ship in time for val dayne' day. the marquis by waterford, retai9 does not come for the flowers. you can pick thosep locally. they're calling this thema milian vase. it could be used as a centerpiece. retail $129. detail is $44. 66% off. >> beautiful. jewelry, you can't g wrong with jewelry. >> always big and comes in the gift box already. just need to add the bow. retail $150 to $170. 18 karat gold plated. choose from earrings or a .racel they're really shiny. i'm actually wearing one right now. >> aor they dress-up or every day? >> i feel like you can dress it up with jeans and a t-shirt or fancdress. this is that traditional tennis bracelet that you can sort of bring back in all the different platings. it's /oeith

retail $150 to $170. deal is $19.99.f. 88% >> this is a nice gift for the fellow in your life. >> these are unisex. i like to wear an watch.zed if you want to get one for valentine's day, invikta watch, $595 to $895. the deal is $79, up to 91% soof. omes in a gift box. so you can just add a bow. there's different ones,es staisteel. >> you're right about unisex. you wear the bighuy watch. it does look cool. >> i actually hav one of these in the closet at my house. perfect for -- >> what's it for? >> keys, wallet. >> a catch all-. what i like is the thought in it. there's an initial there.

is is for guys and girls. the leather catch-all, jewelry, ke, when you walkn the house. a great organizer and again unisex. i feel like anyone canth use . retail is $78. deal is $35. that's 55% off. i always like a cozy little sweater. >> this is the brel cashmere sweater coat. this is an ,indoor/outdo cozying up in front of the fire, running to the supermarket. it's longer which a lot of people like. also unisex? >> only if you'd like to wear it. this is just f the ladies. fans ilude angelina jolie and j. lo, retathe deal is $99. >> pockets is always a plus. >> got to love a pocket. >> no carb or suga to put>>in.

jill, thank you so much. theproducts, vases, jewelry, watches, the catch all-s cashmere coats. you can find out more on al today.com/des. up next, giada is creating easy dishes in agl s pot. first this is bc"today" on n.

>> announcer: "today" food is brought to you by lipton. picked at the peak of freshness. naturally smooth taste.s and t morning on "today" food, this morningfo on today , easy and delicious one-pan week night dinners. all therecipes. who better to cook up a lovely meal than host of food network's

"winner-take-all" giada. you have three restaurants. >>w are the dogs? bella? ella is a cat. my dog bruno. they're my children. >> how are the children? >> the children are fantastic. i don't know what they're doing, but they're fantastic. >> do you cook dinner weeknights with your schedule? >> i do. i prep in advance. i do stuff in the morning. i use a lot of slow cookers. >> do you ever domino's? >> yes, but it's not domino's. >> you order pizza? >> i assume this is what your kitchen looks like every single night. i want to knowou whate doing. >> ordering domino's makes you human? >> absolutely. >> i don't order domino's but i order pizza from time to time. jay likes to keep me>>grounded. hat have we got? >> we've got chicken.

making a marinade for thisheet n chicken. >> it looks like a hen. why is that chicken so little. >> that's what i was wondering. i looked at the legshat al was eating and they're skraun any. >> the recipe calls for regular roaster chicken? >> you can buy piecesf chicken or you can do all breasts or all thighs. whatever you wa. olive oil, garlic. can you guess what those are? >> spices of some sort. >> yes. >> are those dried spices? >> your wife cooks. come on. >> oregano. >>raf va. >> what's this coalander? is that a thing? >> coriander. >> what is it?, my gosh. >> my wife is like -- she's changing me. i don't want to know these things. >> she knows who plays third

base for the yaees. >> paprika. >> smoked paprika. garlic and salt. >> hat's notgarlic. taste it again. >> it would be good in my bloody mary. >> onion powder. >> you've got all your spices tomato paste. >> juice. >> tomato vegetable juice. you put it all in here and make this quick little marinade. anyway, you grind it all up. >> this is the marinade for the chicken. >> quick. >> you want t try it before i put on raw chicken. >> no. >> why? >> it's not poisonous. >> how long does this need to marinade. >> one garlic clove is not enough. four hours minimum. you can leave it overnight if you want. esically, i lik to massage the chicken just to make sure the marinade goes all over. leave it in a bowl like this i a baggy in the fridge.

>> no citrus. >> my brother-in-law makeshe st chicken and he marinades it in an orange or chicken. >> when y c userus like that, you don't want to leave it too long becau it cooks the meat as well.'s an acid. not too longhe otherwise meat becomes rubbery. >> they would like for us to put it in the oven. >> 375 -- >> 400 for 30 minutes. >> very close. >> so that's 30 minutes. youant to cut bread? earlier you were eating the bread. thatt challenge t j. lo did, it's just hoda. >> we haven't started yet. >> i'm on the all-carb challenge. >> you're going to make croutons? >> yes. you cube the bread. i love olive oil.

>> if y have stale bread, you it.make croutons with >> you can put it in the food processor and make bread crumbs. then, after 30 minutes, this is what the chicken looks like. you keep >>cutting. chicken is done and now you're adding this. >> not quite done. >> i'm rry. this is partially cooked and you brought it out to do this. you'll put it back in. >> bravo. >> so you put the chicken o e oh put the bread all around. put it back in the oven, 400 grees for 15, 20 minutes. and then here is your salad thae goes with bread. it becomes like a bread salad. one cup of ftomatoes, cup fennel, parmesan cheese, basil and sply -- >> olive oil. >> lemon. >> i asked giada if she had a fragrance, celebrity line. if she did it would be olive oil. >> and lemon. >> the smell of southern italy.

>> just marinade yourself. >> you take the bread, the leftover juices from the pan. osen you it altogether. if you can do it carson -- >> anybody can do it. >> so then -- lookow pretty that is. but look, look. chicken andhen there is your skillet lasagna. >> is thi a separate recipe, like a bonus. >> these recipes and more go to today.com/food. down to savannah. >> fantasticment i just had a plate. after you collect out those recipe, head over to today.com/allday for more stories you love. if you need a pick me up, inspirational quotes to give your mood a boost from our oneh small instagram account. why a classic valeatine's day may be in short supply this year. all that and more at

>> meanwhile, in just a few minute third htrouesr of h mars stop by. on the fourth hour, ambush keover. >> and then on the 11th hour of today. no. lot more. first a check of local news and weather and these messages on thursday moouing. >> see y in a few minutes.

8:56 is your time on this thursday, january 24th, 2019. good morning to you. i'm eun yang. let's start with ahe on the roads with wtop's jack taylor and yourirst 4 traffic. how is it going? ra we've got troubles out of brandywine,nche ave northbound after earnshaw drive. outer loop of telay near

river road, a vehicle off the roadway. slow traffic there. also 95 northbound near the for theilliam parkw past couple hours, a tractor-trailer stopped in the right lane, stil causing major delays. maybe he has his ml being forwarded there. back to you. >> we'll check your forecast when we come back. stay with us. stronger is blasting her tumors... without risking her bones. it's training her good cells... to fight the bad guys. stronger is less pain... new hope... more fight. it's doing everything in your power... and everything in ours. stronger, is changing even faster than they do. because we don't just want your kids to grow up. we want them to grow up stronger.

good morning everybody. still a lot of rain across the areazy brinds out of the south now will be a very strong northwest wind later today. we're near 60 degrees now. we're in the mid 30s bydi ertime. dress appropriately. bring your warm coat with you. a cold and breezy day tomorrow with a few flurries otaround. r big drop in temperatures coming our way for the second half of next week. on wireless phone service? xfinity gives you the fastest speeds from america's best internet provider to stream on all your devices. plus, with xfinity mobile included, you can switch your wireless carrier and save hundreds of dollars a year. now that's simple, easy, awesome. get started for $39.99 a month for 12 months. plus, ask how you can get xfinity mobile included

so all you pay for is data. switch today. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today," live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. good thursday everyone. craig melvin alongside al roker, dylan dreyer. our friend, willie gst is here with us. >> welcome. >> that is a handsome mug. this is not aom handse mug. this, on the other hand, is the official "sunday today." it is a goblet, so big. >> wherean you get that? >> thanks for asking, al roker. nbc store online, available now. people have been asking for three years. >> we have an nbc store online? >> all kinds o "today" show stuff. >> really? >> i have mug envy. this, look how chipped this thing is. >> mine has a bite