hoda. >> some good advice.anne, thank you. >>> covid mandates were center stage on capitol hill last night in the latest shutdown showdown, but overnight, congress managed to narrowly approve a bill to keep the government funded for a moment. kristen welker has the details. here we go again. walk us through exactly what happened, how it went down overnight. >> reporter: it got tense overnight, savannah, that's for sure. congress did pass legislation to fund the government through mid february, so a short-term bill. they avoided a partial shutdown, though, which would have gone into effect at midnight tonight. as you point out, though, savannah, it came after a big standoff with a group of conservative republican senators threatening to shut down the government over the biden administration's vaccine and testing mandates for large employers. ultimately, that fight fizzled out. republicans just didn't want to be politically blamed for shutting down the government at a moment the country is facing a new covid cris

hoda?pete, thank you. >>> new details are emerging in that tragic school shooting in michigan. the investigation is moving forward in the wake of a fourth student's death. the 15-year-old suspected gunman charged as an adult now and police are revealing more about the events that led up to that rampage. megan fitzgerald is on the story for us again. good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you. that suspect has been identified as 15-year-old ethan crumbley. he's pleaded not guilty to 24 criminal counts including a terrorism charge as well as first-degree murder. this morning law enforcement are still searching for a motive. >> state your full name for us, please. >> ethan robert crumbley. >> reporter: the suspected teen shooter appearing in court remotely, along with his parents. the sheriff now revealing that school officials were in contact with crumbley twice to discuss concerning behavior in class, the day before the incident and that same morning when his parents also came to the sch

>> i got hoda's. >> you did >> yeah, yeah, i drew hoda's name i was so excited to get hoda too.sage for you take a look, hoda, this is for you. >> hey there, hoda, it's me blake shelton, and i'm here actually on the set of "the voice" getting ready to tape a show i just want to say to you, first of all, you're one of my favorite people in the world i have a ton i want to say to you, let me just start with merry -- >> that's all he would do for 50 bu bucks. if you have another 5,000, you get the whole message. for 50 bucks that's all i could get. >> really good really good. >> that's from me. >> oh, i love it i know how much you enjoy the game of golf. >> oh, yeah. >> so i wanted to get -- >> oh and my name on it. these are beautiful. >> i wanted to get you some -- >> some nice taylors thank you. >> these are very expensive. you went over budget. >> i did not well, maybe. >> thank you these are great. >> if you hit them away, chase them in the drink or whatever -- >> if you hit them in the trees where lots of people do, and there's other balls, you'll be able to identify yours fr

hoda. >> garrett haake on capitol hill.ank you. >>> let's welcome in sheinelle jones. >> good morning. we're learning stunning information about the road to freedom about that group of kidnapped missionaries in haiti. turns out the last 12 who were being held, weren't released but made a dramatic escape. nbc's chief foreign affairs correspondent andrea mitchell has the story and an exclusive interview with one of the first to be freed. morning. >> good morning, sheinelle, that interview with matt miller telling me he forgives his captors after a harrowing ordeal that left develop of his fellow missionaries with no option but to escape in the dark of night. ♪♪ >> reporter: this morning, new images of the captured missionaries safely back home after the final group of 12 pulled off a stunning escape. >> when they sensed timing was right. they found the way to open the door and filed silently door and filed silently to the path to follow >> reporter: the eight adults and two children including an infant spoke out moving out to

hoda >> i think that christmas tree so symbolic.cuments that put him at the center of an effort to overturn the election results the committee also revealed texts sent to meadows by donald trump jr. and fox news hosts as the attack was under way, they were urging him to get the president to call for a stop to the violence >>> attorneys for hundreds o victims have reached a $380 million settlement with usa gymnastics surrounding the sexual abuse by former team doctor larry nassar. nbc's anne thompson is here to tell us why that agreement is so significant. hey, ann it is a big number >> it is a big number. and it ends a five-year legal battle the settlement will be paid for by usa gymnastics, the usa olympic and paralympic committee. and their insurers it allows usa gymnastics to come out of bankruptcy and brin so time, simone biles, failed to protect her and her teammates. for years, they performe breath taking feats while hiding the horror of sexual abuse now some of women's gymnastics bigges names including simone biles and aly ra

good morning >> hoda, good morning.utal many waited outside the warehouse hoping for word of their loved ones trapped inside. officials say they don't believe anyone is still missing. in edwardsville, this is all that's left of an amazon warehouse that took a direct hit from a fast moving and powerful ef-3 tornado >> about half of this building is destroyed this is going to be a major incident >> reporter: the twister's devastating winds knocking down walls and collapsing the roof of a building nearly the size of a football field >> trying to save some people that are trapped in the rubble >> reporter: this morning, the six victims that died inside ranging in age from 26 to 62 have now been identified first responders rescued 45 others from the wreckage >> these walls are made out of 11 inch thick concrete and they're about 40 feet tall so a lot of weight when that came down. >> reporter: amazon tells nbc a tornado siren went off just after 8:00 p.m nearly a half hour later, this twister struck >> in this particular fac

we're here for savannah and hoda, along with jacob soboroff. in from the cold nice job >> it was a little chilly out there. it will be fun for the people who show up. >> i think so, yes some people fired up to a scaled back celebration we're going to have >> 15,000 versus what they had planned before >>> we want to get a check on your 7:30 headlines. the biden administration looking to end the trump-era policy, remain in mexico he asked the supreme court to rule on that directive that forces thousands of asylum seekers to wait in mexico until their cases can be heard in a u.s. court a federal appeals court has now twice thwarted the administration's effort to terminate the policy there is no word when a decision do come down >>> meanwhile, amazon is responding to an alleged incident involving the alexa virtual assistant. the woman says alexa gave her 10-year-old daughter some dangerous advice she asked alexa for a challenge to do and alexa suggested a challenge on the web to plunge a phone charger into an outlet then touch a penny to the expose

. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with savannah guthrie and hoda kotb.e from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >>> welcome to "today." it's a busy thursday morning. happy to see you this morning and happy that you're starting your day with us. >> christmas eve is one week from tomorrow. public service announcement. >> i'm going to get busy. >>> we have several breaking stories this morning including that dire new prediction from the cdc. a massive spike in new infections by the end of christmas week. we'll talk to dr. jha about what that means for your holiday plans. >> we begin with yet another outbreak of historic and severe weather. the midwest hit hard overnight, just days after those devastating tornados ripped through the region. president biden touring some of the damage yesterday. >> first, shaquille brewster joins us from minneapolis. >> reporter: it's windy here in minneapolis, but this is nothing compared to what we saw in the overnight hours. normally we would be talking about a nor'easter. but for the first time ever in december, minnesota dea

but hoda's morning boost. we love it. it feels so good. we're bringing back the boost today, our third annual roundup of the best of the best. the heart felt displays, thank you and everything else that hoda brings us on the boost throughout the year. the boostings are back. >> a lot of tears, but a lot of laughter this year. that's important. >> let us begin with a check of the news. >>> good morning. we will begin with covid and the surge of cases sweeping the country. for a second straight day, the u.s. shattering its own record for new infection. nbc's kathy park is in times square where they're getting ready for a scaled back celebration. kathy, good morning. >> reporter: hey, good morning to you as we count down to 2022. the pandemic doesn't seem to want to let go. a rapid rise in infections. the u.s. averaging 300,000 cases each and every day, and it is having an impact on new year's eve celebrations, including right here at times square. the last morning of 2021, caps off with a covid milestone. nearly two million cases in a week.

this will away staple in your wardrobe hoda, i'm glad you're feeling it it's faux leather.chy material. this is like a one size fits all. i would get this for the kids as they're going back to school or maybe you're doing a white elephant secret santa. this would be great. it's perfect tion >> price point >> it's about -- less than $20 >> you can't beat that $17. >> nice and stretchy >>> moving on the apple accessories. >> ladies, this is the "it" accessory. you ever misplace your keys, your wallet? gift this. download the app and it allows you to find your accessories >> track your keys >> you can do precision location, meaning it will tell you it's 10 feet away, sheinelle, go find pit >> or it will tell you it's in this area. that's a great gift. it's so small and discreet >> let's get to our makeup department >> i love this makeup brush. you don't have to spent a lot to get amazing makeup brushes, and you being on tv every day to get the flawless applications, it's in the brushes this is great for ex periods and novices. it gives you that flawless i woke up like this fin

we're in for our friends savannah and hoda. of the many iconic commercials he d making a name for himself on and off the field. the most recognizable faces and voice of football. >> that ad makes you smile madden died yesterday at the age of 85. he's also known, of course, for the wildly successful nfl video game series. we're going to talk to nbc "sunday night football" analyst cris collinsworth about his life and legacy first, here is sam brock sam, good morning to you >> good morning. john madden was just a gravitational force pulling people in. he never played a single snap of professional football. a knee injury cost him that opportunity. what we got instead was a broadcaster, coach, and pop culture icon, the likes of which we may never see again >> reporter: on the sidelines as an nfl head coach -- >> come on, defense. let's start off and stay after them the whole game. >> reporter: and for decades as a broadcaster. >> it's super football i mean, i love these kinds of games. >> reporter: john madden left a larger than lif

. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with savannah guthrie and hoda kotb live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >>> and good morning, everybody. welcome to "today" on this busy wednesday morning. we're glad you're with us. someone is all ready for her close-up across the street. >> i think she is. she's getting fluffed and primed. we are going to turn the lights on that beautiful tree tonight. it's going be a beautiful night. we hope you guys tune in and watch us turn the lights on. >> yeah, but there is a lot happening this morning. >>> a vigil taking place in michigan honoring three students killed and eight others injured after the suspected gunman, their 15-year-old classmate opened fire on them. he is now in custody. >> in the meantime, dramatic new video from one of the classrooms. it shows kids barricading themselves inside while questioning whether or not someone outside the door was an officer or the gunman. we will have complete coverage in just a moment. >>> but we'll start with that growing concern over the latest covid variant, omicron. there has yet to be a c

our friends hoda and savannah are off today. that tom cruise deep fake is insane. he has a pretty good talk to me goose. >> i can't believe how much that guy actually looks like tom cruise in real life. you have to see this to believe it. >> it's frightening. we'll have this coming up as we begin this morning. but we begin with the latest on the omicron variant, shooting up again. nearly 250,000 daily cases just shy of the record set for the entirety of this pandemic. numbers not seen since almost a year ago. experts say the post holiday spike hasn't even hit yet. >> and it comes as travelers are facing another day of potential chaos as the perfect storm of bad weather and staffing shortages due to covid are set to cause even more cancellations. >> the cdc now changing course, issuing new guidance on how long people who test positive should remain isolated as more is learned about the omicron variant and more companies across the country face staffing shortages. we have it all covered for you this morning. we want to begin with nbc's shaquille brewster in indianapo

. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with savannah guthrie and hoda kotb. from studio 1-a in rockefeller plaza. >> and good morning, everybody. welcome to "today." 7:00 a.m. on the west coast on this tuesday morning. hoda's got the morning off. >> we have a lot to get to on this tuesday, including that catastrophic storm in hawaii. >> it's hitting on this 80th anniversary of pearl harbor. officials say the heavy rains will not cancel the events planned. we are live. >>> new york city set to start requiring covid vaccines for all private sector workers as the nation sees an increase in covid cases tied to the omicron and delta variants. we'll have more on that new mandate and the surge just ahead. >>> let's begin with what's at stake today as president biden and vladimir putin meet by video conference. as we speak, that one on one is just getting underway at a time of growing concern, that russia could take military action against ukraine. white house officials insisting the president is going to take a hard line, warning the russian leader of very real cost

hoda. >> kathy, thank you so much. let's bring in dr. ashish jha. looking at that piece, everything seems dire. i'm getting totally a flashback to march 2020 when everything was shutting down and not going well. but you say don't panic. this is not that. >> good morning, hoda. thanks for having me back. we are not in march 2020. we just aren't. we have fabulous vaccines. people are doing great. we have lots of tests. test lines are getting longer, but we have plenty of testing around. we know how the virus spreads and we can protect ourselves with high quality masks. there is so much more that we have going for us at this point that there is no reason to panic. we can keep ourselves safe into the holiday season and into the new year. >> healthy and vaccinated people are getting this omicron and they seem to be doing okay. but here is my question. if you are elderly, you are vaccinated, you are boosted, should you be panicking? >> no. i mean, look, if you are elderly and you're vaccinated, you certainly absolutely should be boosted. if you have a bre

monday, december 6th, 2021 >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with savannah guthrie and hoda kotb live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza >> and good morning, everybody it's good to have you with us on a monday morning >> thanks for starting your week with us. we have a lot to talk about including, of course, the pandemic >> the crone variant has now been found in nearly a third of the states overnight, new rules took effect for all international passengers arriving to the u.s. we have everything you need to know, coming up. >> meanwhile, there's breaking news concerning the 2022 winter olympics the biden administration is expected to announce a full diplomatic boycott of the games. we're going to get a live report from the white house >>> but we begin this morning with the passing of bob dole tributes pouring in overnight honoring the life of the senator who died overnight at the age of 98. flags across the country flying at half-staff now. this morning, we are looking back at the senator's unparalleled life of service we'll start this morning with correspondent andrea mitc

it's so good to be with you while savannah and hoda enjoy a little time off. at 8:00. president biden pledging more federal resources, including the military to help fight the omicron variant and it comes as we're seeing testing shortages across the country. nbc's senior washington correspondent hallie jackson joins us with the very latest. good morning. >> the president is calling it an obligation to the country to get vaccinated. he also wants people who are already vaccinated to get boosted, as well, pointing out that former president biden has also, by the way, gotten his booster shot. he says that will give people the best protection over the holidays. but as the countdown to christmas gets shorter, lines across the country are getting longer for tests before people get together for the holidays from new york city to cleveland where one drive through site, the one you're looking at filled to capacity soon after opening on tuesday. why? this is all driven by the rapid rise of the omicron variant. so now facing growing pressure to fight the latest wave of i

savannah and hoda are enjoying some well deserved time off. we should say we have been tested this morning. we're also socially distanced given everything that's going on >> i was going to say, how is it over there nice to see you. >> nice to see you nice to see you. good to be with you near or far. and it is a very busy monday morning that we are here after christmas. let's begin with a look at today by the numbers starting with the travel nightmares unfolding across the country more than 6,000 flights around the world canceled or delayed over the peak holiday weekend as scores of airline employees are being exposed to covid >> it comes as cases are skyrocketing once again. the country now averaging 200,000 covid cases each day, driven by this highly contagious omicron variant. >> and, of course, with the christmas holiday now passed, all eyes are on new year's eve celebrations now just four days away and new questions about how people will safely celebrate after what is sure to be a major holiday surge. we've got it all covered for you this

and weekend today co-host kristen welker in studio 1a because savannah and hoda are off. merry christmas eve eve to you, my friend. >> merry christmas eve eve to you. craig, it is so good to be back with you, an as people get ready to celebrate across the country and frankly the world, covid is once again hanging over every aspect of the holiday, craig >> yes, it is. this week alone, cases of the omicron strain have exploded topping 200,000 per day for the first time since mid-september the variant now confirmed in all 50 states and washington, d.c. >> to slow the spread, the biden administration is pushing covid vaccines and boosters and now its mandates on businesses and certain health care workers is heading to the supreme court the justices agreeing to hear challenges during a special session on january 7th >> meanwhile, a new weapon is coming in the fight against the covid virus. pfizer has gotten approval from the fda, the fda granting authorization to pfizer's antiviral pill for people 12 and older. as you can see, there's a lot to talk about this morning. tom cost

craig is back in the studio in craig is back in t for hoda once again and i'm actually in washington right in front of the national cathedral actually in washington right i on this day where the nation will remember and honor the lif on this day where and legacy of senator bob dole, will remember and honor the life and le craig.gacy of senator bob dole, >> and what a day it's going to craig. >> and what a day it's going to be be.savannah, you' part in some of today's events, as well, right >> yes here at the cathedral, the president will speak, there will be dignitaries and then there part in some of today's events, as well, right? >> yes. here at the cathedral, the thel be will be a public memorial. there will be speakers including tom hanks. president will speak, there will i will be addressing the cro mr. roker is standing by with the forecast to help plan that weekend. >>> meanwhile, in the fight against covid, another group is now eligible for that third booster shot. key to battling the virus and its variants, older teenagers, 16 and 17 able to get the shot at a time when pedia

walensky telling savannah and hoda, omicron variant in new york and new jersey is 13%. dominant strain, and for family members wondering, do i get together with loved ones? should i be traveling? what if in restaurants, outside? what are the guidelines? most important thing according to dr. walensky, self-testing if you have to travel before you go so you know if you'll expose yourself to someone in your household or a different one that might be vulnerable. steph? >> how big a weapon might this anti-viral pill be good getting the pandemic somewhat behind us? >> great news on many levels. merck anti-viral pill approved with a much, much lower rate of efficacy preventing hospitalization and death. we compare. interim analysis, from pfizer a couple weeks ago. 89%. then wait for the final analysis and hope it's as good as it was in the interim and it was. the fact it's a pill, can take at home is a game-changer. the others have to be infused, injected. 70% efficacy pt it's not about supply. administering them. need infusion centers, nurses. like tamiflu. positive test, pre

hoda has the morning off >> yeah.li, vp of the "today" show is having a birthday today there he is. oh, and also my little boy, charlie, has the same birthday and he's turning 5 today so happy birthday to two of the most favorite guys in our lives. >> and both, ironically enough, getting paw patrol toys for his birthday >> oh, he's excited about that news >>> let's get to the news at 8:00 some encouraging signs against the omicron variant including new data just in from pfizer on the effectiveness of its vaccine and the bo sam brock joins us with the latest good morning >> reporter: good morning. happy birthday, of course, to everybody involved there and some optimistic news from pfizer i had to address that this morning. the vaccine against the omicron variant. what we're learning at this point in time is that the key here is all about the booster which, of course, will be that third shot offering you protection a month out why is that so important because the ceo of pfizer was on with savannah several moments ago ta

friday, december 17th, 2021 >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with savannah guthrie and hoda kotb live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza >> and good morning, everybody welcome to "today. it is nice to have you with us on a friday morning. one week until christmas eve hoda is getting a jump on the weekend. >> thank you for that public service announcement >>> we want to get to that concerning news about the spread of covid as we head into this final weekend before christmas >> right here in new york city, the percentage of people testing positive has doubled in three days the mayor calls it a whole new animal adding that, for now, the new year's eve celebration in times square is on, but officials will closely monitor that situation >>> meanwhile, the cdc is out with a new vaccine recommendation advising against johnson & johnson unless the other options are not available. >>> and a new study out of hong kong is raising eyebrows, suggesting this omicron variant infects the body about 70 times faster than previous strains we have it all covered, including how it's impacting t

hoda continues her week off. she's missing a good concert out there this morning. >> this is the largest crowd we have had on the plaza since the pandemic and no surprise. one of the biggest acts on the planet taking over. >> he's going to have a mini concert here this morning. we'll get to that in a moment. let's start with major headlines. >>> overnight, the senate voting to overturn president biden's vaccine mandate for private businesses. two democrats siding with all republican senators on that repeal. >> that vote coming as a major vaccine milestone. more than 200 million americans have now been fully vaccinated. that's more than 60% of the population. >> pfizer is revealing that its booster ramps up protection against the omicron variant. it's the variant that has many hospitals overwhelmed again this morning. tom costello is covering it all for us from washington. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. we've been talking to doctors and nurses. they say they are getting an earful of disbelief and anger f

storms are getting more extreme then why aren't hurricanes and storms getting more extreme there's hodaover the last 1300 years louisiana 50 have been warmst on record every year being warmer than previous. so when the oceans get warmer you have more hurricanes which is also factual more hurricane this is year than ever before. and we've had stronger storms that are outside the normal path there's a consensus of scientists world leaders there's a consensus of corporate leaders, corporate leaders are now on the same paimg because they're realizing they're losing money so there's a global about climate change, and there's a local consensus. people know they know today was 61 degrees hottest day ever recorded in history on this day in new york city alone. people understand how climate works now. we have to put past that because it is costing people lives, their home business about insurance costs are going up. it is hurting individuals across the board. dan: well, nomiki if what you said was accurate, which it isn't then why is national hurricane data indicating that hurricane impacts of t

lingering impact of abuse at the summer olympics when biles withdrew for part of the competition, telling hodajust -- i just decided i couldn't do it any more and it cracked and that is what happened. >> reporter: a system that maroney told savannah in 2018 didn't care about the women. >> all they cared about was their reputation, money, gold medals, and that was it. >> reporter: this morning, usa gymnastics is apologizing, saying the bankruptcy reorganization reflects our own accountability to the past and our commitment to the future. the usopc saying, quote. saying it has enacted sweeping reforms to combat sexual abuse. under the agreement, at least one abuse survivor will serve on the usa gymnastics board of directors and two other committees. as for how the money gets allocated well, that is going to up to a retired judge who is now doing the same thing with the 500,000 settlement that was reached against michigan state university for larry nassar as well. >> can you just comment briefly on the importance of that seat at the table, in that harrowing and heartbreaking testimony they gave b

lingering impact of abuse at the summer olympics when biles withdrew for part of the competition telling hodarning, usa gymnastics is apologizing saying the bankruptcy reorganization reflects our own accountability to the past and our commitment to the future. the usopc issues its own mea culpa. we recognize and are sorry for the profound hurt endured. saying, it's enacted sweeping reforms to combat sexual abuse. >> the fbi is looking into the case of a young woman who went overboard during a carnival cruise off the coast of mexico collecting evidence from the ship now back in a los angeles court. nbc news correspondent gadi schwartz has the latest. >> reporter: this morning, sits in port a floating seen now under investigation. pictures of broken glass and a metal divider on the deck, the only evidence seen publicly after a woman plunged from a balcony in the middle of the night. the woman still hasn't been identified. passengers say traveling with her boyfriend and a family member, rattled shipmates told a security camera captured her fall. >> couldn't believe something happened to her. swe

know, i've known janice a long long time and she's the sunny, you know, she's a bub bly, a lot like hodad her deeply and personally and it made her fearless. she went from bambi to godzilla and i respected it so much. she didn't run from it, she wasn't out for ambition. it made her very famous. she's sort of like david and gol iath a little bit, a modern day story and we didn't go into the political aspect of it at all in the book but we do talk about the injustice of how, you know, powerful things, people use their powers sometimes for good sometimes forever ill and people get hurt and people get hurt in the meantime that's one of the stories of people like megan kelly. people don't realize megan kelly has a very very serious and deep walk, but it's different from mine. that's why there's so much polarization in our world. steve: it could be because spirituality is different to different people. you know over the last two years the last 20 months a lot of people stopped going to church at the height of covid. brian: were told not to. >> they had no choice they were closed down. steve: e

rochelle walensky spoke with savannah and hoda tuesday. >> is it more transmissible is that the deal?till early. what we are seeing in other countries is doubling times of every two days or so. >> reporter: the national picture is increasingly troubling with around 40 states looking at double digit increases in covid infectionst. in omaha, nebraska, hospitalizations are skyrocketing, and health care workers are tapping into their reserves. >> we just hope that no one else has to experience the things that we've been experiencing, especially lately. >> reporter: cornell university going virtual in the middle of finals, reporting over 900 new covid cases including a very high percentage of the omicron variant in fully vaccinated people. in the nfl, wide receiver odell beckham jr. who just played in a big monday night football game, one of nine l.a. rams to land on the covid list 24 hours later, coach sean mcvay bewildered. >> this has definitely been the most uniquely challenging situation we've dealt with covid. >> our thanks to nbc news correspondent sam brock for that report. >>> com