charles sennott, global post, thanks. >> thank you. >> ann curry, nbc. as always, tremendous. thank you. >> a pleasure. @=@y

. >> and i'm ann curry. happy friday, everybody. this debate in sioux city was the last before the iowa caucuses, january 3rd. >> while newt gingrich did face some criticism, surprisingly, none of it came from mitt romney. he saved his harshest words for president obama. we'll have much more on the debate and where the republican race stands right now, straight ahead. >>> an encouraging sign for one of the smallest babies ever born, delivered at 24 weeks and weighed 9.5 ounces and doctors gave her a 1% chance of surviving. now four months later doctors have wonderful news for this family. we'll talk to the parents coming up in just a few moments. >>> and we're going to be hearing a lot from how warde stern on the new season of "mark's got talent." the outspoken shock jock as some call him, decided to join the judge's table and already promising "feelings are going to be hurt." we'll have more on that story as well. >> uh-oh. >>> more on the political debate, chuck todd is our political director and chief white house correspondent. g

ann curry of nbc news may be best known for her work on the "today" show and "dateline," but e's also distinguished herself in global humanitarian reporting. she reported on the crisis in darfur when few western reporters were there anharern tafrica repeatedly to cover the conflicts in sudan, chad, and the congo. she's also reported from the middle east and from ir f tt uny' presidential election. charles sennott, longtime foreign correspondent for the "boston globe," was bureau chief in both jerusalem and london and h more than 25 years of experience covering the world. he's now the executive editor of a new venture, an entirely web-based seice devoted exclusively to global news. it's called global post. so welcome to you both. >> thanks. it's nice to see you, frk. >> all right, we know what nbc is, so let's let charles tell us: what is global post? >> well, global post is a new web si. 'fr. 'caed a destination site. so you can go to globalpost.com anytime and draw on the stories that our correspondents, correspondents in 50 countries, are covering every day. we saw a tremendous oppo

>>> "today" exclusive ann curry talks to vice president joe biden in baghdad as the last u.s.in iraqpare to leave, and he gets emotional as he reflects on his own son's return from a year of

i'm ann curry along with matt lauer and al roker.is half hour you'll be having a date. >> donny, star and dr. nancy are in our studio. did you know scientists have come up with a pill that they say will alleviate the symptoms of a hangover. >> i don't believe it, really? >> why are you smiling so much? >> it's not your birthday. >>> also a 9-year-old boy suspended from school because he was overheard calling his teacher cute. >> huh. there must be a back story to that. >>> we're going to meet a photographer who transforms kids into some of hollywood's most famous celebrities and great motion picture moments. we gave her a challenge. find mini versions of us. wow, that could turn out really bad. >> okay. apparently some of these pictures are very, very funny so we'll take a look at some of that. also, we want to remind everyone that tomorrow, this is an interesting note, we'll have in our studio some of the things that were in michael jackson's house, where he spent his final days. we'll bring those into our studio and give you a prev

i'm ann curry, good morning, everybody. >> and good morning, ann. i'm natalie morales in for matt this morning. we've step outside to be right near the gorge russ rockefeller christmas tree as the countdown is in fever pitch, two days to go before christmas, this is as quiet as you're going to see it. >> this is the eve of the eve. all eyes are on the roo and we had pretty big downpours in the northeast overnight. in fact there was actually a storm in parts of georgia. it was a very powerful storm and so the question this morning is, what does mother nature have in store for us today and the rest of the holiday weekend? we're going to get the forecast coming up straight ahead. >>> and in these economic times i think we all need a holiday feel-good story and we've got one for you, anonymous angels picking up the layaway tabs for families in need all across the country. we'll have much more on that story as well. >> we have important information for parents tied to powdered infant formula that's now been pulled from the shelves of walmart stores natio

i'm ann curry. for all of us here at nbc news, thanks for joining us. [people chatting] everyone, it's $37 a piece. paying with your smart phone instead of cash. that's a step forward. with chase person-to-person quickpay, you can send money directly to your friend's checking account. all you need is their email address or mobile number. don't worry honey, i'll show you. thanks everyone. so take a step forward... and chase what matters. you don't decide when vegetables test test test test test test test test test test te . >>> in walnut creek, some people at in ordnordstrom got quite th surprise when two thieves tried to run off with thousands of dollars in merchandise. there was a scene when a good samaritan tried to stop the two, and one tried to use pepper spray in the crowd. >> reporter: people say it's not unusual to see a spike in shoplifting during the holidays and it's usually difficult to track the suspects, but in this case good samaritans made all the difference. they're called grab and runs. police say a man and woman with armloads of purses

i'm ann curry along with carl quintanilla filling in for matt this morning. week. and coming up, hollywood's hit-makers, headline-makers. "the hollywood reporter" is out with people who helped change the face in 2011. and someone familiar to all of us is here from that list. that's coming up in just a moment. >> that's right. and some much-needed help if you're busy planning a holiday meal. martha stewart will share her secrets for pulling off what they're calling the ultimate christmas dinner. >> all right. also, we have a legend in the house. some of us around here call him mr. b. he is tony bennett, and he is basically going to be helping us -- that's right. yay is right! [ cheers and applause ] he's going to be singing a holiday classic here in our studio. and we love it when he is here. in the meantime, let's get a check of the top stories from natalie at the news desk. >> good morning, everyone. the clock is ticking on capitol hill where a house vote tuesday scuttled a deal for a payroll tax cut and jobless benefits. if the house and senate can't agree

here is ann curry with a look at what is coming up next on the "today" show. >> good morning. lawmakers reach a deal to avoid a tax hike for millions of americans. john boehner is admitting the fight may not have been a smart move for the gop new developments in this search for a missing toddler in maine. her mother will speak out in a live interview. what will you face on the roads and the airports if you're joining the millions of americans heading home for the holidays? we're live at the travel rush. those stories and it holiday performance from the cast of "jersey boys" when we get started on a friday morning here on "today." >> 45 degrees on tv hill. we will come back and check the weather and traffic together before you head out to start your day. >> how is that looking? >> pretty good. now baby the time to head out because there are not many people -- now may be the time to head out. you can get on the road and get where you're going. lion's gate drive remains close in owings mills for that crash. we're looking nice on the major roadways. four minutes on 95 southbound b

. >> here is ann curry with a look at what is coming up next on the "today" show. >> are your tax is about to go up? we will talk about that and the state of the gop presidential race with michele bachmann this morning. a florida doctor funding a legal bill -- he calls for his guardian angel. she will open up about the relationship. the best last-minute holiday shopping deals, plus one family's christmas card tradition that has turned them into internet sensations. those stories and it holiday performance from tony bennett when we get started here on "today." >> 46 degrees on tv hill. >> we will come back and check the weather and traffic together before you head out to start your day. >> it has been a pretty decent weeks of war on the roads. >> it will get lighter as folks take off for work. have one problem in essex. major roadways are looking good. six minutes between the beltway and 100. we're looking good. this is the west side of the beltway. picking up in volume but no delays. this is 95 at white marsh. looking good in both directions. >> there is an elementary school in balti

i'm ann curry. >> i'm carl quintanilla in for matt. officials say the attacks in baghdad were designed specifically to cause widespread havoc around the city. >> there were at least 14 separate bombings many targeting private neighborhoods but the worst was outside a government agency. is this a new wave of sectarian violence now that the u.s. is gone? >>> also this morning new developments in the search for a missing toddler in maine who disappeared from her own bed. now the fbi is getting involved and this morning we will hear from the little girl's mother. >> obviously very sad. on a very different note, mcdonald's may have a firm grip on the top spot but it looks like there is a shakeup on the way when it comes to the second most popular hamburger chain in america. here's a hint. it's good news for a certain red head with freckles. >> we gave it away already. >>> we begin with that breaking news, a deadly wave of violence in baghdad overnight. nbc's chief foreign correspondent richard engel is here with some details. fill us in fir

in the meantime, warm and coasty inside studio 1-a, i'm ann curry alongside matt lauer.oming up this half hour, one of the national guessing games every year since 1926, and that is who will be "time" magazine's person of the year? >> a lot of coffee table and water cooler buzz about this. recent winners include mark zuckerberg, president obama and vladimir putin. but who will grace the coveted cover in 2011? we will reveal "time's" pick live in a few minutes. >>> also coming up, the holidays are a time for tradition. and this year, one seasonal tapel seems much more popular than ever. we're talking about christmas sweaters, the louder the better. savannah guthrie will help us find the best ones all around that apparently we are going to try on ourselves to get into the spirit. >>> also, is living on less the new american dream? we're going to meet a family that get by on just $20,000 a year and wait until you hear their secret. >> okay. we're going to be inspired by that. >>> let's begin this half hour with new developments in the nearly four-week-old search for missing

here is ann curry with a look at what is coming up next on the "today" show. >> good morning.oming up, we are following breaking news in iraq. at least 60 people have been killed in a wave of deadly bombings. the fbi has intensified its search for a girl who vanished from her bed six days ago. what a mother has to say. where to find the most stylish looks at affordable prices. we will go to the north pole to check on santa claus' preparations for his yearly ride when we get started on it thursday morning. >> 52 degrees on tv hill. we will come back and check the weather and traffic together before you head out to start your day. stay with us. >> what is happening on the roads? >> i expected it to be light but the whole week has been really light, a full week before christmas. it is very light. report of a crashed near baltimore national pike. with a crash in dundalk at kimberley road and northpoint road. those are the only incidents we're seeing. this is the topside of the beltway at york road. it is picking up just a little bit but nothing compared to what we normally see thi

i'm ann curry. >> and i'm matt lauer. a lot of eyes are going to be on that pennsylvania courtroom today. we're expecting testimony that is emotional and very graphic. >> that's right. this is going to be the first time the public and jerry sandusky will hear direct testimony from the alleged victims themselves. ten, as we all know, have now come forward, many who saw sandusky as a father figure, so you can begin to imagine just how tough it's going to be for them. it's also going to be wrenching for sandusky and his family. we'll get the latest and get perspective from our legal team of savannah guthrie and star jones, straight ahead. >>> another story we've been covering, lauren scruggs was nearly killed when she walked into a plane's spinning propeller. ten days later, the model's recovery has taken yet another encouraging turn. we're going to hear from her father in a little while. >>> also coming up, a wealth of topics with today's professionals, everything from denver broncos quarterback tim tebow, wearing his relig

>> music, too, as ann curry pointed out. they use vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon, maybe apple this time of year is pretty popular. try get you in the right frame of mind to actually spend. these scents appeal to our emotions, they put us in that frame of mind that allows a commitment to occur. buying is a commitment. you see all sorts of scents used particularly over the holidays. and again, music. just be aware of it. there's nothing you can really do but be in tune with your emotional state. >> electronic products. a lot of people are offered the extended warrantees and because these are often big-ticket items you're tempted by it because you don't want it to break, then you lose all your money. >> "consumer reports" survey show time and time again this is not a good deal for consumers. we spend $1 billion on warrantees over the holidays. profit margins on these things are phenomenal. chances are you don't need the extended warrantee. first, most products don't even break during the period of the extended warrantee coverage.

. >> i'm ann curry. in community after community, children are in trouble from men. >> among those caught on tape, three military men. two served in iraq. could they now be served time in prison? chris hansen has our latest investigation. again, we want to warn you, it is explicit. >> she said she was 13. >> she did. i told you, sir, i have an interest in younger girls. that is just a fantasy of mine. >> a fantasy. do you know it violates georgia law. >> yes, sir. >> are you going to arrest me or what? >> get on the ground. on the ground, now. >> a chance they will be apprehended. >> am i being taped? >> you are being taped. >> and know all about "dateline's" previous reports on internet sex predators. >> i just wanted to test it. that's all. >> they are still showing up at a house where they are told a woman is home alone. the number of men who wind up at the door at each undercover operation is alarming. >>> like our sixth investigation. this time in harris county, georgia. we've rigged it with 12 hidd

. >> and i'm ann curry. in community after community, vulnerable young teenagers are still at risk from grown men online. now our hidden cameras are in georgia. >> among the suspected predators caught on tape, three military men. two served in iraq. could they now be serving time in prison? chris hansen has our latest investigation. again, we want to warn you that some of it is explicit. >> she said she was 13. >> she did. i'm sorry, sir, i have interest in younger girls. that has just been a fantasy of mine. >> a fantasy? >> yes, sir. >> you know it violates georgia law? >> yes, sir. >> come on in. >> even when men know it's against the law -- >> are you going to arrest me or what? >> get on the ground! on the ground now! get down. >> know there's a chance they'll be apprehended. >> am i being taped? >> you are being taped. >> oh, crap. >> and know all about "dateline's" previous reports on internet sex predators -- >> yeah, i know what that is. i just wanted to test it, that's all. >> they still show up at

. >> and i'm ann curry. this time we're in long beach, california, where the long arm of the law has reached out and grabbed three dozen men in just three days. >> put your hands above your head. >> this time someone's gone online to post a warning our hidden cameras are in the neighborhood. but think that stopped these men? a reminder. some of what you are about to hear and see is explicit. here's chris hansen. >> what do we have coming up right now? that's our avalanche. that's our 12:30. like 29 years old. >> we've always been aware that the men coming into our undercover houses could be dangerous. >> now, stay there. we don't want to send you out yet. >> but as we set up our "to catch a predator" operation in long beach, california, the very first man who arrives has us especially worried. >> whoa, hold on, here he comes. he's coming. >> whoa, hold on, here he comes. head to position 3. >> 29-year-old michael warrecker, an unemployed computer technician, uses the frightening screen name, can i rape you a

. >> and i'm ann curry. this month millions of people have been watching our investigation into computer sex predators. among them some of the suspected predators themselves. and what's most surprising, even knowing that they may be walking into a sting is not enough to keep some of them away. >> tonight we're back in florida where we started our investigation last week. and now there are new suspects and new dangers. again, we want to remind you that some of what you'll see is explicit. here's chris hansen. >> you seem like law enforcement. i happen to know law enforcement. >> you do? so you're an expert in this area? >> no, no, i'm just saying you come off as law enforcement. >> really? you know how you come off? >> how's that? >> somebody who's very nervous, somebody who came over here to have sex with a 14-year-old girl. >> 14-year-old? >> like all of our previous investigations, the potential predators are keeping us busy. >> is this some kind of setup or something? >> while some are surprisingly candid

ann curry is in iraq with an exclusive interview with vice president joe biden on the pending u.s. troop withdrawal. and a live tour of a new exhibit showcasing elizabeth taylor's dazzling jewels and over the top wedding dresses. >>> now keep it on this channel for continuing local news, weather, sports and more. i'm lynn berry. thanks for watching "early today." just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station. have a good one. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

ann curry is traveling on this trip with the vice president and is with us tonight from baghdad. ann, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. that's right. vice president biden is marking the final weeks of the eight-year u.s. war in iraq. he's saying the obama administration is fulfilling a promise to the american people. he reaffirmed the final withdrawal will happen before december 31. and after meeting with iraq's prime minister malaki today he said the u.s. is about to begin a new chapter launching a civilian mission to help iraq rebuild but it's unlikely that u.s. troops will ever return here. we were able to grab a few moments with the vice president today. he became passionate when asked whether americans have a moral obligation to thousands of iraq war veterans now returning home. >> every american business out there, if you want somebody who knows how to handle pressure, billions of dollars worth of equipment, who knows how to operate under fire, hire a veteran. we have an obligation. they fought over here. they have gone through these god awful sands and deserts

biden told nbc's ann curry the time is right. >> this is no rush. over 4,500 dead, 30,000 wounded.s three years since we took office almost. we've done this in a way that no one thought could be done. 144,000 troops when we took office. now in a position with highly trained iraqi military training their police force. this is no rush. >> biden also told ann curry he would not close the door on a white house run in 2016. >>> former louisiana republican governor buddy roamer hasn't had much luck in the gop race so now he's seeking the nomination of a third party of sorts, as well. roamer announced wednesday he'll seek the nomination from the group americans elect. he's also still running as a republican. americans elect is not really a third party, just another way to get a nomination of a third place on the ballot. the reverend billy graham is waking up in a north carolina hospital, where he is undergoing tests to see if he has pneumonia. the 93-year-old pastor was admitted wednesday with congestion and a cough and a slight fever. >>> secretary clinton is in the middle of a landmark

. >> i'm ann curry. both houses of congress have now passed a bill to create the first nationwide registry for sex offenders, which in many states includes online sex predators. >> this time we take our hidden cameras to florida. we thought we'd heard and seen just about everything. but what we found there even surprised our own chris hansen. a reminder, some of what you'll see is explicit. >> hey, come on in. i made some cookies. they're on the table. >> hi. >> take a seat. >> this 49-year-old man and the teenager talking to him have never met before. he probably believes she's the 15-year-old he's been chatting online with for the last week and a half. >> hey, i just had to change my shirt real quick, but just come in and watch some tv. i'll be right there. >> okay. >> what he doesn't know is she's really a 19-year-old actress we hired to be a decoy. and he has just walked into a "dateline" hidden camera investigation. why don't you come on over here and have a seat there. >> i'm here. >> hungry? how d

he would have ann curry next to him, a stable of other journalists within nbc who could also handle ithare of that show, it is interviews, cooking, fashions, celebrity stuff that is very familiar, that ryan's very familiar with. >> yeah. that's why so many people watch cnn. i'm happy about that. whatever. let's talk about beyonce and the lawsuit against beyonce. what's it about? >> this is interesting. you know, celebrities get sued all the time and a lot of these things get thrown out. beyonce wanted this to be thrown out of court, but it wasn't. a judge ruled that kite move forward. she was involved with a company that they were producing a video game called super star beyonce that was going to be about her dance moves and they filed a suit against her saying that she double crossed them, those were their words, double crossed them, and [ inaudible ] lose millions of dollars and have to lay off 70 people the week before christmas last year so a judge has ruled, looking at all the documents, that it can move forward and that possibly beyonce would be liable in this situation. >> all r

i'm ann curry. >> and i'm david gregory. this hostage video was just 54 seconds long and along with some photographs, it was sent to the family of robert levinson about a year ago now. >> but it was not released until this morning because authorities feared if made public it would hurt their efforts to bring levinson home. >>> sad news for the dugger family. after announcing they were expecting their 20th child, michelle dugger has now suffered a miscarriage. we'll talk about the decision do have another child, given that michelle is 45 years old and has already given birth 19 times. >> and a little later on a lighter note, something you carry about is your holiday shopping. we're going to tell you where you can find the "it" gifts for men, women and kids. and charlize theron is in the house. >> i'm very excited about that and the holiday tips. i'm focused on the holidays, not her. >> of course you are. >>> let's begin with the top story this morning. natalie, good morning. >> good morning, ann. good morning, david. more on

i'm ann curry. >> and i'm carl quintanilla in for matt today. kim jong-il actually died on saturday, though it was announced on television yesterday. >> he suffered a heart attack on a train. his 17-year rule marked by his unpredictable nature helped to isolate his country from the rest of the world. his son, kim jong-un is called the great successor. the military has reportedly fired a test-range missile. >>> a major winter storm is said to bring near white-out conditions from new mexico to kansas. some areas could see up to a foot and a half of snow. we'll see where the system is headed next. >> not good as the holidays are emerging. >>> a 13-year-old girl who kept her cool during a terrifying situation. close way synington was in her home when two men broke in, she climbed under her bed and called 911. >> you're still under the bed? >> i'm like halfway under it. >> okay, how did they not see you? >> i don't know. >> we'll hear more and find out how she kept her cool in an exclusive interview coming up. >>> we begin now this breaking news, the

meantime, i'm ann curry with matt lauer and al roker.alking about an oscar winner's return to the big screen. >> she is in the studio right now. we're talking about sandra bullock. she took a short break from acting and is back with a new movie called "extremely loud and incredibly close." i saw it the other day. it is extremely well done and powerful. we'll talk to sandra about that and other things in a couple minutes. always good to have her here. >>> and as we bring this year to an end oftentimes it gives us great perspective to look back on some of the trends. one of the questions we'd be addressing this morning is what do we use the internet to search for? what were our google searches? and you can see some of the people who were searched on google. we talked about major stories. we'll find out what were the top trends of 2011? >> and then another question. what were the top movies and tv shows of 2011? we'll have complete coverage. the golden globe nominations are coming up. and we'll have all of that for you. big coverage. >> i'm

i'm ann curry along with carl quintanilla. >> they are fired up today. >> i know! we're so glad.meantime, you guys, we're so glad to have you here. we're going to be talking about books this morning. we're so lucky because we're going to be having former president bill clinton in the house. he's got recommendations on great books. you know he is a voracious reader. >> and author. >> that's right. and we'll find out what his picks are if you have some ideas that you need to buy christmas gifts for your family. what else is coming up? >>> good news for a very special couple, very brave couple diagnosed with advanced stages of cancer within days of each other. they'll share that and some recent medical news for them in the live interview. >> sweet, sweet people. >>> also coming up, we're going to find out more about how the italians celebrate christmas, specifically the seven fishes. why seven, how do you make them, do you to you eat them? is it for the omegas? we'll find out more about that. >>> first let's get a check on some of the top stories. good morning, natalie. >> good morn

. >> over ann curry asked if speaker boehner has lost control on the house, that he leads the erika hill at cbs compared republicans to the grinch. i mean, is that where we heard that before? >> well, newt gingrich. time magazine's cover story the gin-grinch that stole christmas and this is the way they play the game. republicans know this going in. i'm just amazed that all they can do is shout media bias. they know how the game is played they haven't learned how to play better thatten the democrats. >> i wonder if erica hill is to say, i'm quoting obama saying that are they talking directly and don't bother to get footnotes. >> another event that happened this week, the death of a dictator in north korea, kim jong-il is gone and as soon as it was announced he was gone we saw the images of north korea in distraught. all kinds of emotion, not a lot of tears, i have to say. what's the power of those images, kirsten? >> well, i think in terms of the coverage of this one, one thing i wish we would have seen more of is a background and explanation of what we were watching, puzzled are they cr

roker to be talking b i'm matt lauer along with ann curry and mr. roker.out women and stress. >> that's right. it's a sobering topic because get this, more than a quarter of adult women are now taking prescription drugs, and often to deal with anxiety, depression, the daily stresses of work and family life. there was a great stigma using pills but is that stigma diminishing and is that hazardous for women. >>> also ahead take a look at our studio. these are some of the items that were in the room and the home where michael jackson passed away. now, this is an auction coming up. to be perfectly honest, i think some people might be a little uneasy about this, but we're going to be showing you some of those items and talking to the people responsible for selling them in just a little while. >>> then on a different note, it's a big cast, rom com called "new year's eve" and two of the key players, michelle pfeiffer and zac efron will be here in our studio to talk about the movie. there they are. >> by the way, you've got a little something on your cheek there,

meantime inside studio 1a, i'm ann curry along with matt lauer.ime, we've got a very serious topic we'll be addressing. we'll be talking about e! news host giuliana rancic. she received an outpouring of support when she announced her battle with breast cancer. now seven weeks later, her treatment is taking a new turn, and this morning giuliana is going to be here along with her husband, bill, to share a rather big announcement about her treatment, matt. >> and some very important information. we've all been on flights and look at that passenger safety card that's in the seat back pocket ahead of you. some people pay attention to it, others don't. what about the flight attendant safety briefing. do you pay attention to that? well, would you really know what to do in case of an emergency? coming up, we'll talk about the information that could save your life and why it's important to pay attention during those things. >> very important information. >>> and also her first aerobics video changed the way millions of americans work out. well, now, nearly

i'm ann curry, good morning, everybody. >> and good morning, ann. i'm natalie morales in for matt this morning. we've step outside to be right near the gorge russ rockefeller christmas tree as the countdown is in fever pitch, two days to go before christmas, this is as quiet as you're going to see it. >> this is the eve of the eve. all eyes are on the roo and we had pretty big downpours in the northeast overnight. in fact there was actually a storm in parts of georgia. it was a very powerful storm and so the question this morning is, what does mother nature have in store for us today and the rest of the holiday weekend? we're going to get the forecast coming up straight ahead. >>> and in these economic times i think we all need a holiday feel-good story and we've got one for you, anonymous angels picking up the layaway tabs for families in need all across the country. we'll have much more on that story as well. >> we have important information for parents tied to powdered infant formula that's now been pulled from the shelves of walmart stores natio

i'm ann curry. >> i'm carl quintanilla in for matt. officials say the attacks in baghdad were designed specifically to cause widespread havoc around the city. >> there were at least 14 separate bombings many targeting private neighborhoods but the worst was outside a government agency. is this a new wave of sectarian violence now that the u.s. is gone? >>> also this morning new developments in the search for a missing toddler in maine who disappeared from her own bed. now the fbi is getting involved and this morning we will hear from the little girl's mother. >> obviously very sad. on a very different note, mcdonald's may have a firm grip on the top spot but it looks like there is a shakeup on the way when it comes to the second most popular hamburger chain in america. here's a hint. it's good news for a certain red head with freckles. >> we gave it away already. >>> we begin with that breaking news, a deadly wave of violence in baghdad overnight. nbc's chief foreign correspondent richard engel is here with some details. fill us in fir

december 15th, i'm ann curry. >> i'm matt lauer. it was an emotional ceremony, a symbolic gesture, a lowering of the u.s. forces the flag in baghdad. the nation's long and difficult military campaign in iraq formally comes to a close with that ceremony. >> that's right. it's important to note that as of today, 4,476 u.s. servicemen and women have died in iraq since march of 2003. and it is estimated that there have been at least 100 iraqi deaths also. >> 100,000. >> that's right. iraqi deaths in this war. during this morning's ceremony defense secretary leon panetta says that sacrifice was necessary because it helped the iraqi people to cast tyranny aside. we're going to go live to baghdad in a moment. >>> on a different note, michael jackson's daughter paris sits down for her first one-on-one interview and has a lot to say about the way she was raised, the lessons she learned for her father and what she has planned for her future. >>> also, hollywood is up early this morning because we've got the nomination for the 69th annual gold

i'm ann curry along with carl quintanilla for matt and also sharon hall.>> coming up, we've got some timely advice regarding money emergencies. >> yeah, everybody is counting pennies these days, very important as we get to the holidays as people tend to overspend, rack up a lot of credit card debt. this morning, our "money 911" team is going to answer about questions about getting the best interest rate. >>> i cringe when people ask does this dress make me look fat? >> it's always no. >> well, i want an honest answer from my girlfriends. >> i don't. lie to me. it is that time of year when we're out enjoying parties and you have those awkward moments where someone asks you a question like does this outfit look good on me or you may forget someone's name or you're stuck in an endless conversation, as i often find myself, because i'm the talker and people like running from me. nonetheless, how do you get out of these situations graciously? we'll talk about that. >>> also coming up, we have a couple of "today" young friends, helping out with some edible stocki

i'm ann curry. >> and i'm matt lauer. want to take you for a live look at courthouse where jerry sandusky was supposed to be hearing directly from his accusers in court for the first time. instead, his attorney is answering questions from reporters outside. >> that's right, matt. as we just mentioned, just as the hearing was getting underway, he waived his right to have it. the case is moving closer to trial with his next court appearance on january 11th. we'll get a live report from the court and talk about what happened this morning with our legal team. >> also ahead, lauren skrugs was nearly killed when she walked into a plane's i spinning propeller. her recovery has taken another encouraging turn. we're going to hear from our her father coming up. >>> and we have a wealth of topics to discuss. everything from quarterback tim tebow wearing his religion on his sleeve to a new survey on what people are willing to do to lose weight. you might be surprised by what most of us would not give up. . >> let's begin with the sur

i'm ann curry. >> i'm matt lauer. jerry sandusky's attorney says his client hopes to post a $250,000 cash bond today following the arrest on new charges of child sex abuse. >> that's right, matt. the newest alleged victims to come forward, two young men who claim they were abused starting when they were just 10 and 12 years old. one of them says his alleged molestation began in 2005. that is two years after the initial grand jury investigation into sandusky. a live report coming up straight ahead. >>> then we'll change subjects. the fest votes are set to be cast in the republican primary season just a couple of weeks from now, and the race is heating up with former vice president dan quayle's endorsement of mitt romney. this morning the vice president is in our studio. he will tell us why he made that decision. >> it's nice to have him in our studio. also coming up, very important information for women in the fight against breast cancer. this morning there is a report that two drugs tested in patients may show some pr

over here we've got an owl lamp. >> ann curry christmas gift. she loves owls.ther side of your sofa. it's not overboard, it's just very subtle and pretty. >> and i know you love birds because they bring you a lot of happiness. >> they do. >> there's a comforter. >> this is from home goods. this is $70 for everything. look, it's so fun. the colors, you get the pillows with it. it's very unusual, the parakeets in the cage, i just loved it. so fun. >> it does bring you happiness looking at that. over here -- >> rugs. >> these are great little entryway rugs or maybe a girl's room. >> cat fanatics, i thought this was so cool from urban outfitters. oversize, be great for a girl's room. >> black and white is modern. >> this is so bold and visual, this would be great for a mud room. not expensive as all. this fabulous mock butterfly, i fell in love with it. >> and over here, pillows. this is a great way if you want to add accent to a broom. >> look at this brooks brothers lobster pillow. it's got a preppy formality to it. i thought it was so fun. it would be great on a