and i think it's a testament to brian williams, frankly.hink gingrich was about to attack brian williams. it's a different ball game here, i think. but i think that gingrich in particular was bracing for attacks that he thought were going to be worse than came. and i think he wanted to save his energy, stay calm, to the let it get away from him. but he never really got the real kind of fire i think he was anticipating. so i think that's why he started so calmly, just in case he had to ramp it up to defend himself. >> we're going to take a break here. howard, we're going to take a break right here and come back with more debate coverage. stay with us. we're going to be joined by chris matthews, who's also on the scene. we'll be back. cause apparently riding the dog like it's a small horse is frowned upon in this establishment! luckily though, ya know, i conceal this bad boy underneath my blanket just so i can get on e-trade. check my investment portfolio, research stocks... wait, why are you taking... oh, i see...solitary. just a man and his

and i think it's a testament to brian williams, frankly.nk gingrich was about to attack brian williams. it's a different ball game here, i think. but i think that gingrich in particular was bracing for attacks that he thought were going to be worse than came. and i think he wanted to save his energy, stay calm, to the let it get away from him. but he never really got the real kind of fire i think he was anticipating. so i think that's why he started so calmly, just in case he had to ramp it up to defend himself. >> we're going to take a break here. howard, we're going to take a break right here and come back with more debate coverage. stay with us. we're going to be joined by chris matthews, who's also on the scene. we'll be back. eese stolen. now there is a policy that covers you in the event of macaroni and cheese loss: macsurance. an insurance policy for mac and cheese? talk to me. i have a policy with kraft that covers me in case a grown-up eats my share. with kraft macsurance you have piece of mind in an unsafe world. coverage feels go

now here's brian williams with what's coming up tonight on "nightly news." >> coming up, in a business where perfection is the ideal, modeling, we're going to

well, we've got a big debate coming up tonight on nbc down near tampa moderated by brian williams. up his momentum? what does he need to do tonight and what can we expect from his rival mitt romney. here to help us with that is david gregory, moderator of "meet the press." you've also moderated a debate. but these are so fascinating because newt gingrich uses debates for a whole new thing. it's not nixon versus kennedy. sometimes it's newt versus the moderator. >> no question. let's remember. this is not his new feeling anymore. he had the debate last week where he really went after this question about his ex-wife. so, you know, that novelty is going to wear off. this is what gingrich does. >> will he jump the shark tonight. too much of it? >> it's possible but i think he knows how to restrain himself, too. i think the risk here is that romney will come out a little too hot and gingrich is going to be like bush was, remember in 2000 when gore walked up to him. just shoot him a look. >> he won the election with that if he did win it. >> who is most comfortable in their skin? it's go

the person that needs to disarm him is not brian williams, but mitt romney. to watch the dynamic whether or not mitt romney decides to intervene if he goes off after the media again. for him to say it's not just the media raising questions about your work for freddie mac and fanniem mae. he's contributed to the foreclosure crisis. mitt romney has to go on the attack and it's not in his interest to have newt gingrich limit his attack. >> being an attack dog doesn't come naturally to mitt romney. he's more op an attack rabbit. >> he's a nice guy that likes to smile a lot. he's straining to try to suggest impropriety on his part. the forces have had the ability to put newt gingrich down. they have to do it again, and they have a week to do it. >> i guess we are duty bound to mention the other two candidates in this race. all kidding aside, do they deserve their time there? >> sure they do. ron paul has a following. it's been consistent throughout the primary season. he's got a very committed following. he's going to pursue that all the way to the convention to t

is brian williams on monday night last night's debate because the audience was taken out of it and up until this point the audience has been your fam. you know i wish in retrospect i protested when brian williams took him out of it because it's wrong and i think he took away because the media is terrified that the audience is going to side with the candidates against the media which is what they've done in every debate and we're going to serve notice in future debates we will talk all of which is not going to allow that to happen that's wrong as the media doesn't control free speech people ought to be allowed to applaud if they want to do. all right so let me get this straight on tuesday he's complaining about a media conspiracy to keep the audience from using their free speech in adoring him and then just four days later he has a new clapping related conspiracy to throw out it wasn't brian williams this time it was mitt romney now of course the spokesman of the for a republican party says that this is absurd that the party worked very hard to ensure the room was rank and file folks w

don't miss tonight's nbc news republican presidential debate moderated by brian williams live from the university of south florida in tampa bay. it begins at 9:00/8:00 central time right here. >>> arizona congresswoman gabrielle giffords is resigning from congress. she was wounded in the tucson tucson shooting rampage a year ago that killed six people. since then, giffords has been in rehab learning to speak and walk again. that job is not complete, and she will step down to focus on her recovery. nbc's jay gray has the latest. >> reporter: it was just over a year ago that the gunshots rang out in tucson. six people killed, a dozen injured, including arizona congresswoman gabrielle giffords shot in the head at point-blank range. >> i don't remember much from that horrible day, but i will never forget the trust you placed in me to be your voice. >> reporter: a voice rarely heard since the attack. a voice that this weekend announced after five years in congress her public career would be put on hold. >> i will step down this week. >> reporter: in the youtube video, giffords says she need

we hope to see you back then after brian williams and nightly news. we leave you now with some closing results and closing footage of mitt romney in manchester, new hampshire, a very happy man, he has won the primaries. >> and soldiers returning home from the from the front lines -- never in my lifetime did i think i could walk 60 miles in 3 days. if my mom can fight and beat breast cancer, i can walk 60 miles. (woman) the fund-raising was the easiest part. people were very giving. complete strangers wanting to help. i knew someday i was gonna do this walk. if i can do this, you definitely can do this. we can do this. we can all do this together. (man) register today for the... and receive $25 off your registration fee. because everyone deserves a lifetime.

less than an hour from now, right after nightly news with brian williams, which begins at 5:30. you can also watch our coverage of the state of the union live online at nbcbayarea.com. >>> in other news tonight, redwood city police are investigating a possible sexual assault by a student at a high school parking garage. it happened last night in the underground parking garage at summit high school. police say the summit you 19-year-old student david velasquez approached a 29-year-old woman with a knife and forced her toward her car. as they struggled, a witness walked by and yelled at the man who then took off. anyone with information is asked to call the redwood city police department. >>> a southern california man is in jail tonight, accused in a sexual attack on a teenaged tourist near fisherman's wharf. it happened outside of a business building on north point street, a few blocks from the wharf. police driving by the area about 4 a.m. noticed activity in the bushes and interrupted the sexual assault. she was reported missing just a couple hours earlier when she voluntarily

brian williams will be here tomorrow. i'm lester holt reporting from

you can watch the debate tonight at 9:00 eastern with brian williams. the big fight on nbc. coming up, the base is revolting. no one channels the right wing's hatred not just of barack obama better and that's ahead. you're watching "hardball" on msnbc. with no vegetable nutrition? ♪ [ gong ] strawberry banana! [ male announcer ] for a smoothie with real fruit plus veggie nutrition new v8 v-fusion smoothie. could've had a v8. that is better than today. since 1894, ameriprise financial has been working hard for their clients' futures. never taking a bailout. helping generations achieve dreams. buy homes. put their kids through college. retire how they want to. ameriprise. the strength of america's largest financial planning company. the heart of 10,000 advisors working with you, one-to-one. together, for your future. ♪ >>> today the campaign event here in florida, rick santorum was questioned by a woman who preferred to president obama as a muslim. listen to the question and then santorum's answer. >> he is an e vowed muslim. why isn't something being done to get him out of th

the staff at rock center with brian williams is not taking a holiday.fresh stories for you tonight. here's brian williams with a preview. >> greetings once again from new york where we're preparing a great rock center for you tonight. starting with ted koppel who tonight is going to take on these new super pacs made possible by a supreme court decision they now allow even more money than ever before to flood into our politics. money that buys ads, destroys some candidates, while building others up and all the while the candidates get to say they don't work for me. i had nothing to do with this. and by the way, john mccain is predicting scandals from this as early as this election year. ted koppel will take it all on for us tonight. kate snow will introduce us to an american innovator whose products you may know whose name you should know. harry smith on why we shouldn't feel bad about china's growth for once. it appears the u.s. is about to rebound in at least one area. finally tonight i'll sit down with a guy who may have the number of women everywhere

brian williams will have had the benefit of seeing that. and as i said, this is the guy who epitomizes cool. it may not work the same. however, there is a real grudge among republicans, particularly the conservative republicans, that newt gingrich is appealing to, that the media, the elite media, that's one of those frank luntz words. the elite media are out to get conservatives and republicans. and it works. i mean, we have a whole network. fox news network has been smashingly successful on that premise. >> now, erin, tonight when we see this debate and we see them all taking whatever position they can, this really is going to be extremely important because if gingrich is successful in florida, he really has turned the whole party totally upside down and may not be able to get it front side up. and if willard can't succeed tonight, it may be over. and if santorum can't put himself in the mix it may be over. so everyone has got to go in there with some level of desperation. >> right. i think that we're going to hear both from rick santorum

. >> standing ovation. >> or will they be on their best behavior as admonished last monday by brian williams. >> we've asked our invited guests to withhold their plows any verbal reactions to what they hear onstage so as to assure this is about the four candidates and what they have to say. >> the next morning gingrich attacked williams for stifling free speech and vowed not to appear unless the audience was allowed to scream and shout like a high school basketball crowd which tells you he's not such a good debater, but a good actor who thrives on the cheap shot of audience reaction. we've gone from the lincoln douglas debates, kennedy-nixon, the dig any ofified obama mccain debates to the jerry springer show where it's not who says the smartest things that counts, it's who gets the most laughs or applause from the audience which isn't going to help newt gingrich. if he ever makes it to the big leagues, no audience applause is going to be allowed so newt will [ jody ] four course feast. man it's great. the guests love it. [ male announcer ] red lobster's four course seafood feast is back. ge

we'll rejoin brian williams and look at life on the road with our young, exhausted road warriors, the campaign embeds, class of 2012. >>> welcome back to the hall, the scene of tonight's debate in tampa. the room has cleared remarkably quickly. all of the candidates, their various campaigns, remember, are off to the next venue. miles to go before they sleep, most of them. and, of course, the campaign season, when measured in terms of the general election, is just getting started. because we are in the time period a lot of folks are by now normally accustomed to seeing "rock center" we wanted to bring you a special bit of reporting tonight before we go back in to our colleagues and wrap it all up this evening. we wanted to share something of ourselves with you and that's what happens inside nbc news with every election cycle. we put out a notice that we are looking for preferably young, agile, highly motivated individuals to become what we call -- borrowing a phrase from the u.s. military -- campaign embeds. among those of us at the network they are known as the few, the proud and the

allison williams, brian williams' daughter, is a lead in it. she's phenomenal. created by lina dunham, 24 years old. she's amazing. she's sort of the tina fey of her generation. it's incredibly observant and perceptive and relatable. >> and raunchy. >> it is raunchy. >> brian williams' daughter is raunchy? >> not as raunchy. but the show -- there's some raunchy stuff. i can't really talk about it here. >> okay. moving on to music, carrie underwood, you like. she's got some new stuff coming out. >> she has an album this spring. apparently a little darker, like she decided to write a few darker songs, kind of surprising for her. she's obviously a huge "idol" star, huge country star. >> everybody likes her. >> she's like a big, shiny golden retriever. puppy. >> yeah. >> madonna is coming back. >> yeah. >> on tour again. >> going on tour and will be performing a the super bowl. hopefully no nip flips like in previous years. >> can't beat a good nip flip. >> happy new year! yes. that is true. that's true. i think mark twain once said that. yes, but madonna, her new a

brian williams moderates monday at 9:00 p.m. here on nbc 4. >>> coming up tonight, a ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] combine a pnc cashbuilder visa credit card with a pnc performance select checking account and get up to 1.75% cash back for just about every purchase. learn more and apply today at pnc.com/cashbuilder. pnc bank. for the achiever in you. >>>-oé"/ for the march for thoú a staple prepares to go out of r >>> thousands will be here in the nation's capitol tomorrow for the 39th annual march for life. that event marks the anniversary of roe v. wade, the supreme court decision that legalized abortion. the march begins at noon near the capitol before heading to the supreme court. >>> a plan to redevelop alexandria's water front has gotten approval, but opponents plan to appeal. it will bring parks, hotels, and shops to alexandria. it was approved yesterday after it was approved yesterday after hours of when you first find out you have breast cancer, you feel like you're in a nightmare. terrified. horrified with the news. when i was

brian williams. they love you! happy new year.eadmill, sound so smart like you graduated college, like you went to yale, probably went to howard, knowing you. weekend in miami, trying to study by the pool, couple things due, you always been the one. one, i wonder why the moon looks nice, girl, maybe it's just right for the night, you said coming on too strong, girl, they want you want life as a wife, that's why you want to have no sex, protest, why you want to fight for your right. cause you don't love them buys. i know things get hard, but girl you got it, girl you just amazing, all i can say, i'm so, i'm so i'm so i'm so i'm so i'm so proud of you. i'm so i'm so i'm so i'm so proud of you. ♪ i'm so, i'm so proud of you ♪ i'm so i'm so i'm so proud of you ♪ ♪ i'm so i'm so i'm so i'm so proud of you ♪ new york, happy new year's baby, let's go! ♪ i'm so proud of you ♪ i'm so proud of you ♪ i'm so proud of you on behalf of myself, lil wayne and nicki minaj, i like to wish you all a happy new year from young money. let's go! hey, he

the other things mentioned what brian williams said.ld hold out words the networks used when george w. bush and reagan were president and still, and not everyone agrees with the president. >> he started by commending u.s. military forces and ended by reminding everyone that osama bin laden was killed on his watch. is there a coincidence? >> i think it was a smart way to do the speech. he was trying to appeal to people sort of better sized and say this is something we can agree on. we have an amazing military. they pull together under every circumstance. it was a smart way to honor the military and get people to get along. >> ellen it was the lowest rated of his state of the union addresses. are people growing tired of it? >> as a press person covering speeches since 1993, i'm look how many times do we have to hear the same thing? one of the public radio stations pulled from reagan speech, carter, bush and showed they take the same lines and reform late them. and -- >> give me a break. >> it's the best you can do if you're the media and

he wasn't happy. >> i wish in retrospect i protested when brian williams took them out of it.a is terrified that the audience will side with the candidate against the media. we will serve notice on future debates, we are just not going to allow it to happen. the media doesn't control free speech. people should be allowed to applaud if they want to. >> greg: is that controlling free speech having audience hold off applause? >> andrea: not exactly but i do agree, and i think they were squared it would provoke an outburst. i am surprised that newt didn't give williams the verbal smackdown with the question about the bush tax cut. he said don't you agree that the tax cut failed? i'm surprised that newt let him get away with it. i have a bone to pick with you, greg gutfeld. you had your first "the five" dream. watching you made me have my first "the five" dream last night. we talk about the debates we watch and talk about them. last night, i had a dream, nightmare that i missed another debate last night. the one after the one last night. i was sitting here -- >> dana: there is anot

candidates did not even attack each other thanks to saturday night live host and part-time thuz anchor brian williams western ask the guests to withhold applause and any verbal reaction to what they hear on stage. >> at applause and cheering is how you know who won. debates should be luke a wet t-shirt contest. by the way newt gingrich would totally win a wet t-shirt contest. baboom. [ laughter ] nation -- [ laughter ] anybody who knows me knows that i don't like children or books or children's books. [ laughter ] but i do respect the free market and children's books still sell. the latest literary trend is children's books by famous folks like john tra travolta, madonna, terrell owen yns. and daddy wants in. i have everything it takes. i'm a celebrity. i turn one of giants of children's literature maurice sendak author of where the wild things are and his latest bumbalardi. i hardly recommend it unless you are jewish. you can't read books about pork. stick with the very -- velveteen rabbi. thank you so much for talking to me today. >> pleasure. thank you. >> stephen: tell me about childrens literatu

. >> nbc nightly news with brian williams is next. williams is next. "no messages." but if you're looking for the one place that makes it easy, look no further than carmax. ♪"ta daaaaaaaaaa!" our appraisals are fast and they're free. we'll make you a written offer to buy, good for seven days. and we'll buy your car even if you don't buy one of ours. carmax...the way car buying should be.

he also launched today with several news anchors, including brian williams of nbc, for an off the record chance to find out about his speech tonight. >> aides at the white house say we will hear the president's plan for economic recovery. republicans are already calling the speech more of the same. >> mr. speaker, the president of the united states. >> with millions of americans to neenan, the state of the union is always a big night for the president. but it is also a big opportunity for president obama to make the case for reelection. white house officials expect him to talk about the economy and the middle class. >> this focus -- his focus is the need to keep the recovery moving along, the economy growing, and creating jobs. >> and white house aides say congress -- the president will call on congress to take action. republicans are already on the attack. from capitol hill, where lawmakers say the speech is all about politics -- >> the goal is not to caulker deep nation's problems. it is to call for republicans. -- is not to conquer the nation's problems. it is to conquer republicans.

tonight, watch brian williams with nbc nightly news. >>> and what's coming up on "today" show. after last night's tight race, gop front-runners mitt romney and rick santorum speak out in live interviews. donald trump weighs in and will be unveiling the new cast of "celebrity apprentice." keep it on this channel for continuing local news, weather, sports, and much more. i'm veronica de la cruz, thank you for watching. your first stop of the day on your nbc station. have a terrific wednesday.

tonight, be sure to watch brian williams with "nbc nightly news." >>> later on the "today" show, past anchors return to look at some of the best moments. >>> and the latest on actress heather locklear after she was rushed to the hospital for reportedly taking a mix of drugs and alcohol. keep it here for your local news. i'm veronica de la cruz. this is "early today." just your first stop of the day on your nbc station. have a terrific weekend.

. >>> we're joined now, and we welcome nbc anchor brian williams, who has stepped over. >> i like too where the highest ratings are at 11:00. i was in the neighborhood and i'm here. >> we appreciate that, brian. thanks for stopping by. you know, what many of us heard tonight and i think some might agree was constitutionally mandated state of union, but also a man using the bully pulpit to his maximum advantage. what do you think? >> we always had this yearly conundrum. aid new journalists over today for an every year off the record lunch where you can report on menu items and the president's general view and thinking. this was very much what he talked about privately today, what he had publicly tonight. a kind of reminder. since there's no big legislative calendar out of that chamber this year in the view of most, a kind of reminder that, you know, during a campaign season, 18 debates you hear bad things about america for patriots running for office because of what they view as our failings. he felt the need to say we have each other's backs. we have a great work ethic. look what we b

and now we know what brian williams does with his iphone in his spare time. this edition of "reliable sources." i'm howard kurtz. cnn will continue to follow the breaking news story of the death of joe paterno, the former penn state football coach. stay tuned for more on that. as for our program, join us next sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. eastern for another critica

and now we know what brian williams does with his iphone in his spare time. this edition of "reliable sources." i'm howard kurtz. cnn will continue to follow the breaking news story of the death of joe paterno, the former penn state football coach. stay tuned for more on that. as for our program, join us next sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. eastern for another critical look at the media. you can also download the podcast on itunes or follow us on facebook or twitter. that's it for us. "state of the union with candy crowley" begins right now. >>> good morning from the campus of the university of south

brian williams will be the moderator. that's at 9:00 tonight here on nbc 4. >>> president obama is preparing for his third state of the union tomorrow. he's expected to push for what he calls a more prosperous and elk table society. the president will outline his plan for a lasting economic recovery, which includes a tax cut hike for the wealthiest americans. republicans are already coming out against tomorrow's speech. house speaker john boehner says the president's plan is "pathetic." tomorrow's state of the union is at 9:00 p.m. and you can watch it here on nbc 4, your place for politics. >>> the tv star who collapsed at the sundance film festival and was rushed to the hospital overnight. >>> it's a fashiony start. -- it's a foggy start. >>> you new the -- the new rules once you buy a plane ticket. > good morning, time for weather & traffic on the 1s at 6:11 on thismond morning. mostly cloudy in storm center 4. patchy, dense fog, patchy, light freezing mist. watch out for that freezing up on untreated surfaces. tempera