choices. good morning. choices. sources tell nbc news, mike flynn is at the top of to donald trump's national security advisor. the president-elect gets set to governor nikki haley today. will she be the next secretary of state? or is it rudy guiliani, as hillary clinton speaks out publicly for the first time since conceding the election. >> there have been a few times this week where all i want to do is just curl up with a good book or our dogs and never leave the house again. >> this morning, what she is saying about where she goes from here. deadly blast. a gas explosion rocks an

11 others were injured. windows shattered blocks away. cause is under investigation. winter's arrival. the first major snow of the season under way. white us on conditions possible from utah all the way to minnesota. in some cities, nearly two feet expected. and guess who? al's ambush to deserving dad in maryland. >> happy thanksgiving! >> and shocked an unsuspecting student inri now, it is time for his next turkey trot surprise and one morning jogger is about to be stopped in her tracks today. thursday, november 17th, 2016. and good morning, everybody,

morning once again, where is al? it is really a secret, undisclosed location. >> our lips are sealed. we cannot reveal a thing. >> we would never say that he is -- >> northern virginia. >> okay. >> that took a lot of. >> you know what? we're not going to trust you with any state secrets, al, but now we know where you are. >> no, no. >> but we don't know who you're surprising. >> the big turkey trot bus. >> and the mystery chef on the bus. we'll find that out later. >> reveals it all. new names are considered as key roles for donald trump's administration as hillary clinton reflects on her loss in an emotional speech. our team has all of this covered and we'll talk exclusively with laura ingraham as the potential press secretary. hallie, good morning. >> reporter: hi there, good morning to you and this morning, expect to see that revolving

for what one transition source describes as interviews with the president-elect. he is taking florida governor rick scott, south carolina governor nikki haley with speculation now about who will make the cabinet cut. this morning, assembling an administration and now, word of a possible national security advisor. a top transition source tells nbc news donald trump is expected to name lieutenant general mike flynn position, though nothing is official until the president-elect goes public. flynn, long loyal to donald trump, considered controversial in certain gop circles for some of his foreign policy positions, including advocating regime change in iran and his ties to russia. the president-elect, today, will meet with others he is considered for his cabinet like south carolina governor nikki haley. now on the short list for secretary of state, according to sources familiar with the

him? >> former un ambassador john bolton and rudy guiliani also in the mix for state department. >> we discussed the transition. >> now, new back lash. >> i will tell you something i haven't told anybody else. i've had conversation with some other republican senators and i'm not the only one with some misgivings over both guiliani and bolton. >> reporter: the president-elect push back, staffers pointing to landing teams four federal agencies to get ready for january's switch over. that transition led by vice president elect mike pence. >> great progress. great progress. >> reporter: who is ready to extend an olive branch across the aisle. in meetings today with democratic leaders chuck schumer and nancy pelosi. the visit, coming one day after touring his soon to be home with vice president joe biden. >> i told mike, vice president

24/7. >> reporter: it is a different democratic message aimed at pence from some in congress questioning the possibility of security clearance for trump's son in law, jared kushner. a trump transition official reiterated no such request has been made but didn't rule it out down the road. and this morning, we're also learning more about what the president-elect's appointees will be doing after their government service and it won't be lobbying. the transition team is asking members of the administration t sign a five year lobbying ban, matt and savannah, part of donald trump's plan to, in his words, drain the swamp. >> thank you. one name floated as a potential white house press secretary is nationally syndicated radio host laura ingraham. she is a fox news contributor. it is nice to see you. good morning. >> good today see you guys. have you talked about this job? has it been offered to you? >> i think, i think they're

think is the proper priority for things. you want to get your cabinet people in place and then you move down to other white house staff. the folks at the trump transition, a lot of them are old friends of mine. we've known each other for a long time. we know our writing styles and speaking styles and so -- >> i'm going to take this as a strong yes. i'm going to take this as you've talked about it. do you want it i guess is the other question. >> you know, we have to have real conversations and it really is a privilege. i know itou it is a privilege to be considered. they have an amazing group of young people at the campaign and at the transition who really, they did the work to get donald trump elected and they have a lot of talent to choose from. >> okay. >> it is nice to be considered, but they have a lot of great people there, so that is all i can say right now. >> real quickly, laura. we know you. we know your show. you're known for your sharp tongue and sharp pen.

>> you could create a national incident from the white house -- >> is that what you're really worried about is an international incident? i think some folks watching now, conservative talk show host, i was a supreme court clerk, i worked as a white collared litigator. i have a pretty broad career in both government as a young speech writer in the reagan administration. i worked at the department of transportation, department of education and the white h i understand there is a stereo type -- >> more than what meets the eye. we get that. we get that. >> and a mother of three children. >> you make all of your own clothes, great dancer. >> i do! >> matt, you've pegged me, thank you so much. appreciate it. >> nicky haley said tough things about trump in the campaign. it was at the very end where she said i'll vote for donald trump. is she seriously considered for

>> i think it shows that donald trump is not shutting out voices who were critical of him in the campaign. for all of the talk that trump, trump is going to be this guy that holds grudges, that is just not the way he is. he is very practical and pragmatic. he might not be as ideology call as some conservatives want him to be. i understand that concern. he is pragmatic and i think he will look at people with a wide variety of talents. coming and going from trump tower right now and if she is there, i imagine she is there to be considered for a serious position but i do not have any inside information about what position nikki haley would be considered for. >> let me do this. let's end where we started. let's go back to you and the potential that your white house press secretary. what is the dynamic going to be in the press room. donald trump spent the last year and a half calling the members

corrupt, dishonest. is there going to have to be fence mending for whoever takes that position? >> i think, i think one thing that is going to be important, i would imagine for the trump folks is to have a very transparent and practical approach to the press. i mean, i think the press has its own problems with credibility and building back credibility with the american people. every poll not conservative polls show that there are a lot of folks out there that believe the media is really biassed and hillary clinton and i know people don't like to hear that but that is the way most people view the press today. i think the press has a lot of work to do to build back its own credibility and i think for donald trump, i think he wants someone who knows the issues. who is going to try to explain them to the american people and keep people updated. i don't think, it is all that complicated. if you understand the agenda that the trump folks will be pursuing, then you'll be better

press and i think a lot of great people in the press, i've known a lot of reporters covering the white house for many, many years i happen to be friends with a lot of them. we don't agree on everything but that is okay. i think this is going to be a process and people want clarity right off the bat. i think it will have to develop in its own way. >> all right, laura, here is a quickie for you. do you think donald trump should appoint a special prosecutor to look into hillary clinton as he mentioned and some of of the supporters really wanted him to going to be in the justice department right now. i'm just, i don't have a view on that. i think there are a lot of people that want to turn the page and move past this very rankerous time in american politics, if i was on the outside commenting on it, i would probably say let's move forward and get beyond that. i don't think most americans wants to spend months and months and months going through what the clintons did or didn't do at

i'm not speaking for the administration, but i think a lot of people want a fresh start. >> i have a feeling we'll be seeing more than you. >> i like the beard. it looks really good on you. excellent. >> we'll see you soon. as hallie mentioned earlier, there are a lot of questions, a lot of interest and intrigue surrounding the role that jared kushner could play in the trump white house. peter alexander has the latest on that. good morning. >> reporter: matt savannah multiple sources familiar with his thinking say the president-elect's son in law is mulli in fg whether to serve in the white house over a special council role or to play an informal role. he is quiet and reserved as trump is loud and outspoken. his will be an important voice in the new administration. wielding influence like few others.

major player in the president-elect's inner circle. >> jared is a very successful real estate person but i actually think he likes politics more than he likes real estate. >> reporter: evidence of the role he might play? trump recently met inside the oval office with president obama outside the 35-year-old kushner walked the south lawn with white house chief of staff dennis mcdonagh. he was born into an orthodox jewish family. he married ivanka in 2009. the couple has children. after critics accuse trump of anti-semitism for a tweet. he defended his father in law as an incredibly loving and tolerant person. he was raised in real estate, taking over the family business after his father pleaded guilty to tax and conspiracy charges in 2005. the prosecutor? new jersey chris christie.

conspiracy. >> he could be exercising his influence ousting christie and allies from the transition team, a point trump spokesperson denies. >> jared did a fantastic job with the campaign. obviously the president-elect seeks and respects his council very much. >> reporter: he certainly has trump's ear urging trump to dump corey lewandowski last june and organizing his trip to mexico in august. an his work preventing him from being appointed to a cabinet level. >> it is possible that a preds president -- president could try to have a family member in a job that wasn't caught by the federal law. >> she is very tough. >> trump could put kushner into a paid position on the white house staff according to legal experts. now as an outspoken insurgent

house. his soft spoken son in law could be pulled into the spotlight becoming one of the most influential men in washington. and this morning i'm told kushner who owned the newspaper, the new york observer is encouraged to join trump's inner circle by reince priebus and stephen bannon. both men kushner worked closely with during the presidential campaign. matt and savannah? >> thank you. hillary clinton was in the nation's capitol last night and delivered an emotional speech. it was her first since conceding the nbc's kristin welker has more on that. good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you. secretary clinton spoke at the children's defense fund here in washington d.c. last night. that is the organization where she began her career. it was a speech filled with reflection and raw emotion. hillary clinton stepping back into the spotlight greeted been an overwhelmingly supportive crowd with a standing ovation. it was an event aimed with

clinton wasted no time addressing what everyone was thinking. >> i will admit, coming here tonight was not the easiest thing for me. there have been a few times this past week where all i wanted to do was just to curl up with a good book or our dogs and never leave the house again. >> a defeat she tried to turn into a call for action. >> i ask you to stay engaged. stay engaged on every level. that is how we get throu time clinton has addressed her stunning loss since she conceded a week ago. >> this is painful and it will be for a long time. >> reporter: while she was spotted by a hiker last thursday, clinton has otherwise stayed out of the public eye. >> i know this isn't easy. over the past week a lot of people have asked themselves whether america is the country we thought it was. the divisions laid bare by this

listen to me when i say this. america is worth it. fight for our values and never, ever give up. >> reporter: and as clinton endnd her speech, emotions over flowed remembering her mother who as a small child faced a difficult life with no way to foresee what her future held. >> and i dream of going up to her and saying look, you will survive and as hard as it might be to imagine, your daughter states senator, represent our country as secretary of state, and win more than 62 million votes for president of the united states. >> reporter: and as democrats start to put the pieces back together, senator bernie sanders, clinton's former primary rival turned top surrogate emerged as a leading voice. he delivered his own speech here in washington d.c. last night

democrats are prepared to block any supreme court nominee that they find unacceptable. matt, savannah? >> kristin welker in washington. we'll turn from politics and head back to al who is on the road. he revealed that he is in northern virginia for the turkey trot today. hi, al. good morning! >> guys, i can get you this outfit if you would like. >> it is nice. >> i know a guy. okay? so it is very, very trot person coming up in the next half hour, next hour, but in the meantime, we've got, perhaps, the first big major snow storm coming across the country. look at this video coming out of donner pass california. we're looking at light snow. the snow will be picking up and they started making snow for the snow, ski resorts out there.

well. we, right now have over three million people under some sort of winter watch, advisory, or warning. blizzard watch is up for parts of minnesot heavy snow with low visibility makes its way ouft the rockies, pushes into the plains, gusty winds with low visibility and bringing heavy snow into the upper midwest. snow fall from six inches to over a foot and a half and it continues east and it is going to bring snow into interior new england. it is a powerful system bringing a lot of snowy weather. that is what is going on. we'll get to your local forecast coming up in the next 30 seconds. with this ring... you are my true love, my ideal. with this ring, i will love you...forever. kay jewelers is the only store to bring you... the visibly brighter leo diamond. tolkowsky-the first-ever ideal cut diamond.

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we take you inside google's efforts to stop terrorism in an online world. but first on a thursday morning, this is "today" on nbc. ok! impaciente! manolo! you're so cold, come in! what's wrong? take off your hat!

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94 southbound at ryan road is completely shutdown because of a crash on 94 east and milwaukee racine county line there are no other crashes in the racine milwaukee waukesha ozaukee area right now but looking at drive times, several slow go spots plan ahead and here's a live look outside. i'll have that goat cheese garden salad. that gentleman got the last one. r movie and one snack box. can i keep the walnuts? sold. but i get to pick your movie. can i pick the genre? yes, but it has to be a comedy. a little cash back on the side. with the blue cash everyday card from american express, you get cash back on purchases with no annual fee. throw. it's more than cash back.

7:30 now on a thursday morning, the 17th of november, 2016. got a nice crowd outside. al's on the road so we're going to go outside and say hio couple of minutes. meanwhile, let's get a check of the headlines. a natural gas explosion has killed one person and injured at least seven others. it was so strong it shattered windows several blocks away. the area is shut down and crews are investigating. hillary clinton gave her first speech since concede egg

the election. >> i know many of you are deeply disappointed about the results of the election. i am, too. more than i can ever express. i ask you to stay engaged. stay engaged on every level. >> clinton did not talk about her own future plans and vowed to "keep working to make america better and stronger and fairer." incoming vice president mike pence has a busy day ahead on capitol hill. he's attending a morning meeting of the house gop conference. and he wil majority leader mitch mcconnell. he also plans to meet with democratic leadership. now to some troubling new statistics this morning that reveal a dramatic rise in highway fatalities. there is some fear there could be a direct connection to some of those popular smartphone apps. nbc national correspondent miguel almaguer is in los angeles with that story. miguel, good morning. >> reporter: good morning. there are two things so many of us have -- a car and a cell phone. but together, they can be deadly

>> in 1,000 feet turn left on to moore park street. >> reporter: from driving directions to applications that let users post photos of their current speed, very apps to designed to make driving easier and more enjoyable may be making the road more dangerous than ever before. >> yes, i am guilty of using the miles per hour filter on snapchat. >> reporter: chris admits he was distracted but was chirac to hear of a deadly and tli nearly 18,000 people have been killed on highways in the first six months of this year, a 10% spike in death compared to the same time last year. some experts fear the rise is linked to the rapidly growing use of apps behind the wheel. >> when i look at my phone i try and think, would it be worth it to looking at my phone for that snapchat or that text message? >> reporter: the sobering news

shift their attention away from the road and to their phones. but some of the most popular apps like snapchat and pokemon go say their features are designed for passengers, not drivers. waze, the gps application, tells nbc news all core functionality can be performed hands-free by voice input and audio directions. it is not just apps that can be distractings. most new cars let you integrate your cell phone with your vehi music, maps, and text messaging. >> who shall i text? >> it is not your hand's off the wheel so much is your mind off the task of driving safely. >> reporter: today during the morning commute, drivers everywhere will face potentially deadly distractions. ones many of us could avoid. some of the most popular apps designed to get us from a to b can actually be adjusted on your

here and they can be less loud and send less alerts. that could also help less distracted drivers. >> but mess with all that when you are sitting in your driveway. right? >> that's right. let us head back down to virginia, al's got a check of the weather. >> reporter: that's right, guys. we are going to be showing you who our celebrity chef is in just a moment. even though it is pretty chilly 39 degrees, ahead of this front with being look how warm it is today. we are looking at temperatures anywhere from 10 to 25 degrees above average from chicago to houston, out to washington, d.c. but behind the front, powerful cold winds coming in. as we move into friday, pierre down to san angelo, temperatures are below average. ahead of the front, way above average. as we move into the weekend we continue to keep the warmth in the east but november chill back

slightly below average normals. >> and that is your latest wler. make sure you get the weather you need when you need it. go to the weather channel on cable. all right, let us reveal our celebrity chef. show yourself from the big "today" show turkey trot bus. it's katie lee! all right. >> good morning.

>> do those come in maternity sizes? they're good looking. >> they do. >> it is very comfortable and warm. it is cold here. >> i'm thinking using those for our thanksgiving day parade broadcast. >> now you're talking. >> absolutely. they are very stylish. >> and they're free. >> thank you so much. coming up, we're going to change subjects. google versus isis? ? ? google versus isis? roman farrell is here with an [ laughter ] ? ? [ male announcer ] for tim and richard smucker, giving a gift of their family's delicious jam always made the holidays just a little bit sweeter. we forgot to put our names on them! richard, i think they'll know who it's from. ? ? thank you boys. you're welcome. you're welcome. [ male announcer ] happy holidays from our family to yours.

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our special sear rid "under covered" continues where nbc investigative correspondent row ronan farrow looks into companies. >> recent terror attacks have raised questions about

in war zones but online leaving tech companies struggling with real practical challenges in how to take down terrorist propaganda and also free speech websites about what they should be taking down in the first place. but after years of experimenting one tech giant gave us an exclusive first look into a different kind of approach they hope will change the game. >> we're just ordinary people. i never thought it would happen. >> reporter: sally evans' son, thomas, grew up in this quiet suburb outside london >> we kind of did everything together. >> he was just a normal little boy. very caring. >> reporter: but in his late teens something started to change. >> well, he became a muslim. i was quite happy with that. i had no problems. then little things begran to change. he grew the beards. stop listening to music. he just isolated himself. >> kind of felt like i was sharing a house with a stranger. >> reporter: thomas disappeared for a time, then called home from somalia to say he had

last year he was killed while participating in a terrorist attack. his death uploaded to the internet as propaganda. >> no mother should have to see that. that was awful. it was just hearing the final moments. as a mom, and there was nothing i could do. i've seen it. yeah. >> reporter: thomas is part of a new generation of what some called drawn into violent extremism online. >> it was happening upstairs in our bedroom. he was on his computer. >> reporter: they commit lone wolf attacks or join terrorists in conflict zones. like the estimated 30,000 foreigners who have joined isis from around the world, many recruited online. tech companies have struggled to respond. this year, a break-through. google and facebook getting more aggressive about blocking propaganda. and in google's case, trying

>> honestly, we're all collectively experimenting with how to respond. >> reporter: the head of research and development at jigsaw. >> rights of that there was an opportunity to use the interin et to get to those potential recruits before isis and protect them from being radicalized. >> reporter: they call it redirect. >> we've all had the experience of searching for something like a pair of and ad for those sneakers pop up later and we have used that same principle instead to find potential consumers of isis' messages online. >> if i'm a young person out there somewhere, maybe sympathetic to joining isis, what's the process i go through? >> so you would likely search for example for a term like martyrdom for allah.

you click on the ad and you are taken to, for example, a video like this. >> reporter: not videos produced by jigsaw but existing materials from imams and religious scholars. in an eight-week pilot program, redirect reached 300,000 people who watched half a million minutes of video undermining isis. >> what's really special about this approach ishe google secret source. there is nothing that we did on the back end that allowed this to be possible. >> so any tech company could do this. >> precisely. >> reporter: we wanted to hear firsthand from the kinds of people the program targets. >> if i had the ability to travel to the united states to carry out an attack, i most likely would have done that. >> reporter: this man never got to that point but he did feel deep into online radical communities and was considering a bombing in london before he pulled back. >> when you think back on your

identify people like you and intervene in some way? >> what led me away from red callism was kind of listening to more relatively scholars and imams. if i had been exposed to that much earlier i think i would have turned away from extremism at a much earlier stage as well. >> he's writing when the infidels die, nobody cares just like when ants are >> reporter: this man says there are often predictable warning signs. >> fighters before they travel become more fervent, more extreme. >> do tech companies have the power to catch who is about to be recruited before it happens? >> i think they have the potential to do it. whether they have the desire to do it is a different matter. >> could this redirect effort help the next thomas evans? >> i think the effort to redirect people will have some impact. >> anything is worth trying,

make it harder. make it harder for them to stay our children. >> this is very much a tentative first step. jigsaw isn't sure what the future of the program will be. experts we spoke with say it is not a silver bullet. terrorists are always moving to new online platforms that are harder to track. but those experts also say tech companies taking a more aggressive stance can make a difference, especially for some of the less hard line recruits. >> it thoughtful and rational approach. >> finally tech companies are saying we've got to do more. >> just elevating a temporary view. >> using the systems we all use every single day. >> that's great. thank you very much. coming up next, guess who is back in his orange room? it is carson. he has the text message exchange

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i always say this, but all is right in the world when the orange room is occupied by none other than carson daly. >> the whiskered one is back. >> if i call you miley cyrus and adam levine at any moment, i apologize. been a little busy, but great to be back. this is a great story of a 17-year-old named jamal who got a text message from an unknown number. he gets this text -- thanksgiving dinner is at my house, november 24th, 3:00 p.m. let me know if you're of course, that includes amanda and justin. response comes in, your grandma. jamal writes back, grandma, can i have a picture? she writes, of who? he sends a picture of him and says you're not my grandma. he adds, can i still get a plate though? she writes back the most grandma thing of all time here.

feed everyone. if i could do that in my mrs. doubtfire voice, i would. this gets -- goes viral. he sends out this whole exchange. half a million people retweeting, people are loving it. we get it confirmed just a couple nights ago, they actually meet and have dinner. this is the perfect example of a classic texting fail that ends up a great success. >> i love brings people together. i love it. >> it happens so often. >> thank you, carson. coming up, oscar winner marion cotillard is here to talk about her new movie with brad ? happy holidays from crayola. so when do i start? um, shouldn't it be "spokes-crayon?" can somebody turn on the a/c? i'm melting here.

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ays. ? it's 8:00 on "today." coming up, cabinet battle. speculation reaches a fever pitch as donald trump gets closer to choosing who will make the cut when ites key white house roles. this as his former opponent makes an emotional appearance overnight. >> there have been a few times this past week when all i wanted to do is just to curl up with a good book or our dogs and never leave the house again. plus, on the road again. >> it's thanksgiving! >> al takes his turkey trot to

super fan a surprise of a lifetime. and record scratch. what had super star singer adele freaking out on stage in the middle of a concert. today, thursday, november 17th, 2016. ? [ cheers and applause ] >> it's our 25th anniversary. >> and >> and we're celebrating on "today." >> good morning, nashville! >> we love the "today" show! ? >> all the way from texas celebrating madeline's 10th birthday! >> today, i'm turning 60!

woo! good morning, everybody. it is thursday, november 17th, 2016. beautiful day out on the plaza. still feeling rather warm and lovely. i got to compliment you. >> why? >> great throwback thursday song. >> it's kind of a stones week. they opened up their exhibition here in new york. i went with "start me up". >> i'm loving it. we have al on the road with the turkey trot. >> yep. >> it's an important day i >> momentous. >> our boss, the executive in charge here at the "today" show. it's his birthday. >> there he is. happy birthday! [ cheers and applause ] >> he's just turning 25 today. just kidding. he loves donuts. loves his family. and we want to say happy birthday. >> we're so glad he also loves to share. >> that's one of the great qualities about noah. >> i think donuts are better

putting it on the boss' desk. >> that's not his thing. let's get to today's headlines. time for the news at 8:00. >> good morning. this morning, we begin with our top headline about politics. i'm hallie jackson outside trump tower in new york where today president-elect trump will be holding what's been described as a series of interviews to see who will make his cabinet cut. the president-elect is expected to at general mike flynn as his national security advisor. nothing is official until we hear it from the president-elect himself. he's expected to meet also with governor nikki haley of south carolina. she is in consideration for a job as secretary of state. the president-elect himself has stayed mostly quiet, other than a couple appearances on twitter, like this morning talking about

now his former rival is talking. hillary clinton speaking publicly for the first time since her concession speech. she admitted some days she wants to curl up with her dogs and a book and never leave the house. she got emotional when talking about what she would tell her late mother if she were here. >> as hard as it might be to imagine, your daughter will grow up to be a united states senator, represent our country as secretary of state, and win president of the united states. [ cheers and applause ] >> reporter: some of hillary clinton's fellow democrats, members of congress, chuck schumer and nancy pelosi will be meeting with vice president elect mike pence as he heads to washington today. >> hallie jackson, just down the road from us at trump tower. got some breaking news this morning from kosovo where police

simultaneous attacks by isis, including a plot to attack the israeli national soccer team. eight people under arrest in kosovo. police say they found weapons and explosive devices in the suspects' homes and said they had clear targets on who should be attacked and win. a world cup soccer event in albania was changed for a different location for what was described as security reasons. we move to illinois for the investigation into a powerful and deadly natural glass explosion that rocked a small town. ron, good morning. >> reporter: hey, good morning to you. this happened in the town of canton. officials are telling people in that area to stay away. overnight, surveillance footage posted to social media shows the moment a natural gas explosion struck the central illinois

happened in a building near the city's square, blowing out glass windows and doors, and rattling residents who say it sounded like a bomb went out. the city's 125-year-old opera house destroyed. one was killed and 11 others hurt in the blast. the contractor who died had been repairing a gas line. witnesses say the blast was felt throughout the entire downtown area. >> it shook everything. >> just big boom and just everything came crashing down at one time. >> reporter: officials have shut off natural gas in the area saying it's not clear when service will be restored. residents say they're thankful more people weren't hurt. >> it was pretty scary. something i would never want anybody to have to go through. it was bad. >> reporter: officials conducted a secondary sweep overnight and found no additional victims.

lee about to give an unsuspecting foodie fan out for a morning walk. don't shock the woman. she's going to get the surprise of a lifetime. >> al's going to surprise someone on a wooded path. >> what can go wrong? >> also ahead, the mom desperate for your suggestions about how she should open that cabinet without breaking the plates. and then oscar winner cotillard is here. we'll talk about that and a lot more after these messages. i'm ! no no, expand your horizons. it's the name of a smoothie. yeah, i see they have bee pollen. two of my favorite allergies. trust me, john grows half this stuff in his own backyard. it's true. two of my usuals, please. add spirulina. is that a... noodle? it's his first time. mmm. that's almost as good as a milkshake. cheers!

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joining me this morning for "today's turkey trot," it's katie lee. let's see your turkey trot. oh, yeah, oh, yeah. oh, yeah, oh, yeah. going to surprise someb good is in every blue diamond almond. a good that comes in 20 flavors from whole natural to wasabi and soy sauce. and once good gets going, there's no stopping it. get your good going.

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joint pain and damage... can go side by side. ask how enbrel can help relieve joint pain and help stop joint damage. enbrel, the number one rheumatologist-prescribed biologic. ? get up for black friday. starts thursday, 6pm. walmart. we are back now with the third stop in "today's turkey trot." >> all this week al's been roaming around the country if had that truck surprising "today" food fans who love thanksgiving. he's about to leap out of the bushes into northern virginia. hi, al, good morning. >> hey, guys. we're in a park in fairfax,

mcdaniel is a much loved person in this place. she loves to cook. she is an aspiring tv food host and we're going to show you just why she deserves "today's turkey trot" surprise. >> i nominated bonnie because bonnie is fabulous. she's a grand dame, a lady. i met bonnie years ago, probably about ten years ago. she had a bed and breakfast we lost touch after a while and then years later i learned i had breast cancer and my cousin had asked me to contact a friend named bonnie who had a television show to feature me on the show. i never realized it was the same person. bonnie was just so warm, so loving. and she was so nurturing and she did it through conversation and food. bonnie really has a gift for

so like for thanksgiving, i go to her house every year for thanksgiving and christmas and the lobster back and cheese is to die for. she's been like another mom to me. i want to cry. i have no way to thank her for her years of support, her years of love, her years of nurturing me. and that's something that i can't quantify. i can't replace. i can't tell her thank you a million times. i look forward to giving her this gift >> reporter: well, we are here in cutner park and we are looking for bonnie and mayma. they should be coming down this path any moment now. hey, hi! mayma, come on over! >> this is crazy.

>> i'm bonnie. >> you're bonnie? and you are our turkey trot winner. >> i am? >> you are! >> come on over! >> oh, my god, wait a minute. this is crazy. let me get my hair down. you're joking with me, right? >> no, i'm not joking with you. >> i'm going to kill you. >> i know. i love you. >> oh, my god, no lipstick, no nothing. >> you thought you were just out for a walk. >> i got mad at her because i wanted to go run this morning and she m let's run. >> oh, god, this is crazy. >> we want to keep surprising you a little bit. just so you know, the folks that love you can lie to you as well as they do. >> oh, my god. >> your husband, matt. >> i'm going to kill you guys! you know what? this is crazy. okay.

i hear you are the queen of mac and cheese. your husband's name mac. that's not a coincidence. >> okay. this is crazy. okay. >> you want to kill me right now? >> are you shocked? is your heart beating fast? >> have you seen the "today" turkey trot segments? >> i have. >> so you had no idea. >> no. i'm going to kill you. >> i lie very well. >> you are good. you are >> so she thought that she was having a bad day today. >> well, actually, we got up and -- she couldn't watch the "today" show. the keys got lost. so this was going all downhill. >> you thought you were having a bad day. >> i did. >> has it gotten a little better. >> why is al roker here? >> now you know. guys, another successful turkey trot surprise. >> oh, my god.

i love you, too. >> sorry i lied to you. >> why didn't you tell me to put on makeup or something? >> bonnie's like -- you don't even have lipstick on. >> we're going to be cooking with katie lee a little bit later in our "today" show turkey trot bus. mac and cheese. >> this is your moment to make mac and cheese. >> wait a minute. okay. this is crazy. oh, my god. >> nice >> see you guys in a little bit. >> you think you're taking a nice walk in the woods. >> meantime, your friend shows up all dolled up. she's going to pay for that one. >> oh, yes, she is. let's do what's "trending" today. let's start with a 9-year-old

there is some incredible videos. roll this. keep your eye on the upper right side of the screen there. you see an 11-month-old baby on the changing table. mom just turns her back for a second to talk to the other kids, and that is when baby falls. >> whoa! >> but big brother is there and catches him. the baby is fine. mom said she posted the video because she wanted other parents to realize what they always say. just takes one second. >> table. the body follows. >> major league baseball scouts. now can the kid hit. because he can definitely field. that's good. here is a kitchen conundrum that has stumped the web. what would you do if this happened at your house? it is a cupboard, glass door. but the bowls have tipped over inside and wedged themselves against the door. how would you open that? >> i'd get that 9-year-old kid from the other video to stand

i would just move. >> some people said time to buy new dishes. other suggestions -- put thick blankets on the floor before opening the door. break a pane of glass and take the bowls out that way. or sell the cabinet to a museum and name it "the frozen in time" series. >> i think fluffy pillows. >> well, what happened? >> she opened it carefully and apparently got the hand in there and all the bowls were no bowl was harmed in this segment. back with "popstart!." >> welcome back, carson. >> first we'll start with kate upton sticking up for her man in an epic twitter rant. she's engaged to detroit pitchers justin verlander. on second he finishes second in

cy young. he had the majority of first place votes and two writers didn't win. >> did she say anything else? >> she would go on to tweet another segment of comments that is not on the teleprompter. nor will be on this fine family show in the morning but is worth going back now to adele and the unexpected guest who crashed her concert on monday. just a bat flying around the audience. >> there's a bat! oh, my god. [ bleep ]. [ bleep ] [ bleep ].

but she is a pro, she carried on the show. >> another reason to love adele. pop start, the critics choice nominated carson daly. >>by didn't even tell your wife. >> come on, we're late. move on. thank you. i appreciate it. >> don't be so modest. and tell us what kate upton said. >> i will. in a commercial break. back to virginia. al's got a check of the weather. >> that's right. bonnie's still because she doesn't have makeup on but it is okay. we're going to cook in a little bit. >> you get to meet al roker.

>> and that is your latest weather. matt? >> wow. >> marion cottilard is no stranger to playing strong women on the big screen. she won an oscar and now stars alongside brad pitt in a new ma "allied." she plays a skilled french freedom fighter during world war ii. take a look. >> the lovely madame in apartment seven, she's married to a german captain and she's watching us. >> you are very thorough. >> that's why i'm still alive.

>> kiss me. >> marion cottilard, how are you? >> i'm good. how are you? >> i'm fine. how are you feeling? >> i feel amazing. >> i'm surrounded by pregnant women these days so you're in good company. >> yeah? good. >> i was thinking before about this movie last night that, for all of the horrors of world war ii -- and it was a horrific time in world history -- it serves as the backdrop for so stories on the big screen. do you feel the same way? >> well, yeah, of course. you know, it was -- it is kind of a fascinating yet terrifying but fascinating period because it puts -- it put people in very extreme situations. >> and these two deal in a very complicated relationship. which i guess for the times is perfectly understandable.

they're in a very weird situation where they jump into, let's say the unknown with some information but they don't know what they're going to be put in front of. and they're absolutely not expecting to fall in love with each other, which happens. >> falling in love in a movie, and then having to shoot some of the scenes you shot in this movie with brad. you've talked about it being choreographed. >> oh, no, it's less awkward because it's choreographed. >> but you have to do the choreography before you can actually do the scene. >> well, you have to. because, yeah, it is always awkward situation. but it is also very fun situation because it is awkward. >> as you know, there were headlines generated during the making of this movie between you and brad that you had denied. you can't go through a period like that without learning something, without being taught a lesson.

>> i never take anything personally when it doesn't concern me. and so i didn't take it personally because i had just nothing to do but this -- rumors or situation. >> did you you didn't allow it to affect your experience in making what is an amaing movie. >> no. no. i mean i don't give energy to this. and it was a wonderful experience working with such a visionary director and an amazing actor. so that's all that matters, you know. >> brad has to speak some french in this. >> yes. >> so you are pea a natural born critic, i would imagine. how did he do and did you -- >> critic and supporter. >> did you find yourself critiquing the accent and the pronunciation? >> well, because he asked me so i was very honest.

to be fair with the language. >> this movie is fantastic. and it is so nice to see you. >> so nice to see you, too. >> it really is. and congratulations. good luck. marion cottilard and "allied" opens in theaters nationwide on november 23rd. we are just getting started with outstanding actor.

test test test test test theest test. test test

i'm...vince vitrano alongside

? all right. we're back at 8:30 on a thursday morning. it's a beautiful fall morning here in new york. we've got fans of pro football, fans. we're getting ready for a big game tonight. >> did you say the saints fans? >> saints fans! >> yeah, baby. thursday night football. this is exciting. >> you're almost in the right colors. come around here. >> can i have one of those? >> call it a hat. >> a hat. who's for the saints? >> hoda loves it when they get a home run. it's awesome.

the way, coverage begins 7:30 eastern nbc. >> yes, it does. we have a new movie called "lion." it's an incredible true story. you probably know him from his big breakout role slumdog millionaire. >> also ahead, sterling k. brown. one of the most talked about dramas right here on nb in virginia once again. >> hey, guys. this is one of our fave shows. love it. we're inside now the "today" turkey trot bus. bonnie is getting a little makeup because she does not go out of the house other than to run without makeup. so we didn't want her to be uncomfortable. let's show you what we have for your weekend outlook. how's it shaping up?

blizzard conditions tomorrow up through the upper midwest. wet weather in the pacific northwest. very mild along the eastern seaboard. saturday, wet weather making its way into the great lakes and northern new england. sharply colder behind that front. more heavy rain moving into the central u.s., central california. sunday, snow showers interior sections of new york, upstate new york and new england. we got wet weather in the this. is. everything. honey bunches of oats. it's all of this, this, this, and this. it's the mother of all cereals. it's that, and that, and all of that. it's the most cerealriffic cereal. in all of history. yeah, it's that good.

still ahead, we're going to be cooking with katie lee. ooh, mac and cheese, baby. ooh. >> come to mama. all right, al, thank you so much. he first captivated audiences back in 2008 as the 18-year-old star of the oscar-winning movie "slumdog millionaire." well, his latest movie is called >> do you have any idea what it's like knowing my real brother and mother spent every day of their lives looking for me? huh? how every day my real brother screams my name? can you imagine the pain they must be in not knowing where i am? 25 years. 25! >> why didn't you tell me that was happening for you?

>> when you just read about the premise of this story, it grips your heart. >> yes. >> and it's a true story. tell people about your character. >> it's an incredible story about triumph, really. this young boys starts in tragedy. scavenging for food on a train with his older brother. they get separated. he's in a part of the country that he doesn't know. he doesn't even know mother's name. he's so young. he's a 7-year-old kid. he goes through a horrendous ordeal before he's adopted by an australian family in tasmania. he uses google earth to try and relocate his real mother. >> it's one of these things, that sounds like a hollywood movie, except for it really happened. >> it actually happened, yeah. >> so fascinating. his life turned out okay.

family, but the ties that bind and the search for you've mom and brother is really what this is about. >> it's really an anthem of love and unity, how love can transcend continents. there's two beautiful female characters, one played by nicole kidman who's the australian mother. >> nicole kidman said she thought that was a love letter to her kids. it was kind of a love letter to your own mom. it is a mother/child story. >> absolutely. yeah, i read the script and i was a complete puddle of tears. it's so moving. >> i heard you showed up at the writer's house, hey, i'm available. >> i did. they hadn't even finished writing the first act. there was a big whiteboard with all the story beats on there.

>> i know when you got the role, you really poured yourself into it. like eight months of prep. what did that entail? >> scripts like this don't come around every so often for someone that looks like i do. i called my manager up and said the next eight months i want to commit every fiber of my being to getting this journey right. a lot of physical training. >> you had to get the accent. >> i traveled on the trains, wrote diaries, the whole thing. >> well, there's a lot of oscar buzz. here, awkward like -- you are getting so much critical raves for this role. and you met the real guy. >> i did. he's such a beautiful -- the whole family is. his mother, his father, john. they're so open and generous. he is the epitome of a fiercely driven young man.

what the world needs right now. >> the movie is "lion." it is getting wonderful reviews. best of luck to you. it opens in select theaters on november 25th, nationwide christmas day. we have sterling k. brown paying a visit to studio 1a to talk about "this is us" and a lot more.

sterling k. brown took home an emmy this year for his portrayal of christopher darden in the hit mini series "the people v. o. o.j. simpson. now he is earning praise for his role in "this is us." while he can't wait for the whole family to be together on thanksgiving, he may be the only one. >> man, i am pumped. my mom and biological father

how great is this? isn't this great? >> um-hm. okay, let me get that. be right back. >> what's with her? >> i have no idea. >> hey, sterling, good morning. nice to see you. >> thank you so much. >> when an actor takes on a role in a tv series, basically all they're hoping for is that somebody gets to sample the show. >> amen. >> anything above that is icing on the cake. >> gravy. >> how does the gravy taste? you're in the gravy people versus o.j." to now "this is us." i've been doing this for 15, 16 years. so all of a sudden things just kind of exploded and i've been able to pay the bills. but now people see me and will wave and say hi. like it is a whole new world. i am enjoying it. >> do you even try to asian-american lies why you end up in a juicy period like this? >> no. not really. i just try to enjoy. it i think there's been such

so long, what catches on is like lightning in a bottle. >> i say hoda has been the major promoter of this series since it came out, "this is us." she's gotten us all to watch it. at one moment it can make you laugh until tears are in your eyes, and the next moment you are crying. and it is an incredible ability by the script writers. >> yes. well the show sort of encapsulates the writer of the show. he is so warm and loving but he has this biting sense of humor and he always undercuts that warmth with his u more. every day we laugh a little bit, sometimes you cry. >> we've already talked today about your success with "the people versus o.j. simpson." we know what that trial and episode did to this country. did you think the reaction to the series would be as strong as it was given that so many years

i knew we had good people attached. i knew ryan murphy was behind the whole thing. sara paulson, cuba gooding jr. and john travolta. but until it was actually out there for public consumption, we had no idea. >> see how good an actor you are. take you back to the moment of opening the envelope. and the emmy goes to -- sterling k. brown. >> i think i almost fainted. i almost passed out. >> what part of you said i have a goo to win this? >> there is a lot of people telling me that. so the more people told you -- the more people said it, i was like, all right, let's hold off here for a second. because i was the least known commodity out of everybody out there. my cast mates were excellent. there are other people in fargo. hugh laurie who's never won. i said i'm just going to celebrate whoever wins. if it happens to be me, i'll celebrate. and it happened to be me. and it was surreal.

on that stage and people stood up and were applauding like they really appreciated the work. i was humbled. >> you going to be part of the second season of "american crime story"? >> possibly. i haven't dotted the is or crossed the ts but i have expressed interest. hopefully it will come to fruition. >> i hope so, too. >> thanks a lot, man. >> you can watch "this is us" tuesdays, 9:00, 8:00 central, right here on nbc. just ahead celebrating a terrific program

introducing the reuben from subway a sandwich as full of intrigue as it is flavor.

ame. and some insist it was hollywood starlet marjorie rambeau in a fit of crazed hunger. seriously. the reuben's past may be debatable, but its great taste is not. stacked with lean corned beef, bavarian-style sauerkraut, swiss cheese, and thousand island dressing on new freshly-baked rye bread. we don't know where it came from, but we know where you can get it. only at subway. we are back now at 8:45 with a great program that's making a difference in the life of high school students in some of america's toughest neighborhoods. >> sheinelle is here with that story. >> good morning. this program is called build on. they are marking their 25th anniversary today.

poverty in some of this country's toughest neighborhoods and fighting illiteracy. they work in neighborhoods in the south bronx, boston, detroit, chicago, oakland, to name a few. a major goal is to raise the expectation for these kids. letting them know your circumstance may be tough, but you have the power to rise above it. for many families here in bridgeport, connecticut, making ends meet is tough. some teenagers experience extreme poverty and violence. down across from her home. >> you would think about it a lot and get scared walking down the streets. i'm like, i would get scared walking alone. >> reporter: their experiences outside of school affecting kids inside the classroom. >> i was skipping school. i was failing. i was -- honestly, i wouldn't stick to anything, like sports wise. everything, i would just kind of quit and give up. >> why do you think that was? >> when it got hard, i found it easier to just walk away.

>> reporter: but everything started to change when he joined build on, an organization that partners with schools around the country like bridgeport's basseck high school integrating service and volunteering into the curriculum. the goal is to help students change their own lives by helping someone else. >> they are able to study issues and challenges that they have, then they decide how they want to take action through service. they step up, they serve, they come back into the classroom, they share their experience. >> reporter: build on teens have worked with the elderly, aids patients, and on this night here in bidgeport they are cooking up a hot meal for homeless veterans, some of whom view these kids like family. >> the kids are dear to my heart. these kids could have been out doing anything. but instead of doing anything, they took their time out even on their days off to come here to prepare food for us when they could have been doing other things? i appreciate it.

outlook has changed. >> well, when i do community service, i see people. i actually have been through poverty so i know what it feels like. and so seeing them makes me want to give more. >> reporter: fabi has clocked in more than 500 hours of service and build on's impact reaches far beyond bridgeport or even the u.s. in addition to local volunteering, teens also help build schools in developing countries. to date, building 1,000 overseas for almost 2 million children. steve's experience building a school in malawi changed his life. >> they just wish they had school. a lot of them don't even know how to spell their names. i'm given these opportunities and i'm throwing them away. so honestly, it just like registered eventually, like what am i doing? like i got to take advantage of what i have. >> the main reason the service has such an enormous positive

because they're able to see what they can do. and from there, they elevate expectation for their communities, for their schools and for themselves. >> it brings out a piece of you that you never would like to bring out when you were alone. when you are in build on, you are not alone. >> being involved in build on also has a huge impact on whether these kids make it to college. in neighborhoods where there is is a build on program, the average graduation rate is around 65%. in some cases, as but for students involved with build on, it's 97%. so looking ahead to the next 25 years, they are pledging to invest more in these communities and increase graduation rates by 50%. >> you want it in every school. >> it is making such a difference. i noticed it gives these kids a sense of purpose. they have someone to help. and then they feel like, if i can make an impact for you, maybe i can do it for myself.

expectation. >> by the way, and helping the people just like we saw. >> even the donors with be people who help out with this program, they go with the kids side by side in some of these developing countries and build schools. i mean so it is just -- >> amazing. >> one of those things where they get the whole community involved. >> thank you for telling the story. nice job. coming up next, we know bonnie just got a big old surprise from al and katie lee. now she's getting ready to cook for country. but first, this is "today"

>> announcer: "today" food is brought to you by walmart. celebrate the holidays with walmart. finds gifts, groceries and fast checkouts. the moment has arrived. let's check in with al and his special guest. "today's turkey trot" is in virginia. bonnie, you are on, my dear. >> that's right, bonnie. you are now front and center. i want to clarify, bonnie was the one who asked for -- >> i need makeup. >> we think inside and out. >> do you feel better now you got makeup on? >> i understand. >> i don't, but it's okay because you guys look fantastic. you are a consummate cook. you are working on a cookbook, aren't you? >> i am. it is coming out in the spring and it is called "basic." >> what is this? is this my mac and cheese? >> we tried to approximate. you don't give up your recipe to

with the ingredients. >> bonnie told us that it looked okay. >> would you like to try? >> yes, let me just see. >> tell us -- >> i feel like i'm on an episode of "chopped" right now and i'm getting ready to be judged. >> that's not bad. >> it doesn't suck. okay. katie is going to make a little mac and cheese. stovetop mushroom mac and cheese? >> yeah. that's right. this you can make completely on your stovetop. thanksgiving, oven gets really crowded. you can just do all of this right on the stovetop. i've got some butter, mixed mushrooms, thyme, garlic. you can use just white button, whatever. it is fine. i'm going to add some flour. this is our thickener. you let that cook for about a minute just to get that flour flavor out of there. then i add some dijon to it. >> i like the dijon.

>> thumbs up from bonnie. >> so that gives it flavor and it also helps it to thicken. >> you have anything against fat, bonnie? >> oh, no. i eat real food. i just work out. >> we just exercise. that's why she was out for a walk. >> she actually does a five-mile run. >> wow, five miles? that's good. maybe i should take some pointers from you. add in some whole milk. >> you doing this room temperature for you guys out er >> she's got it. it has to it be at room temperature. >> you want to let this thicken. this takes about just a couple minutes. it starts to thicken up. then you add to it the cheese. >> what kind of cheese is that? >> i'm using parmesan. is that okay be? >> it's perfect. >> i'm bossy in the kitchen. i'm sorry. fontina, i love. >> fontina is a good melting cheese.

it comes out like this. stir it up and you just toss it together. >> let's take this out to have some of our friends try this out. >> i want to see if bonnie likes my mac and cheese any better than your lobster mac and cheese. >> we have family and friends gathered. we also to want to thank the nice folks at city of fairfax parks department for helping us pull this off. let's bring it over here. your husband, mack, is there. bonnie, we know how much you love herbs and stuff. we got an indire herb gooden for you just to thank you. >> thank you. that's going to my house. >> what do you think of katie's mac and cheese? >> i like the ingredients. >> also want to thank the nice folks at featherlite for helping

trot" truck. what do you say? >> excellent. >> all right, guys. recipes is at today.com. >> way to go. we've got a lot still to come. tony danza is going to be here. >> yes! >> in our next hour. stay tuned for that.

brian gotter...lets get a

traveling through the zoo interchange is about to get a lot easier. the dot is removing the last zipper merge next week. this is for eastboun drivers coming into milwaukee from waukesha county have had to squeeze down to two lanes for months. work crews hope to have that cleared and a new traffic pattern in place by wedensday. up in the sky... the world's largest commerical aircraft.. the airbus a-380 is landing in milwaukee today!the airbus will land at mitchell at noon today and will be in town for a few weeks for testing. fun fact.. the airbus has the capacity to carry 853

good morning everybody. today gift ideas that say only in wisconsin and i have the perfect gift for tiff. can't wait. appetizers from america's number one cooking school, we're going to show you how to make them. beautiful jewelry for those 8-years-old to 80. there we're all coming right now on the morning blend. ? ? [ music ] ? ? ? ? i can't believe the weather today. how about that weather. >> i love it. >> for november fantastic.