cheney did an interview with "the today show" this morning, matt lauer used the perfect frame for the waterboarding question. >> if an american citizen were to be taken into captivity into iran, for example, and the government looked at that person and said we think you're a spy for the u.s. and here to carry out a covert operation, would it be okay for the iranian government to waterboard that american citizen? >> well, we probably would object to it. >> on the grounds that it's torture? >> on the grounds we have obligations to our citizens and we do everything we can to protect our citizens. >> matt lauer continued to press the point and cheney was incapable of answering the question if waterboarding is not torture, is it okay for other countries to do it? >> so why was it okay for us to use what most people would say was torture against terror suspects? >> remember, first of all, these were not american citizens. we were not dealing with the american citizens in the enhanced interrogation program. it was people who were a handful, two or three that got waterboarded. third, we had g

but wait until you hear his answer when matt lauer asks if it would be okay for a foreign government to waterboard an american? how fast will rick perry run away from his positions that social security is a failure and unconstitutional, or that texas might want to consider seceding from the union? he's about to find out, because his fellow republicans are going on the attack. >>> finally, funny she doesn't look jewish. why some people seem to think michele bachmann is jewish, and that's why it's costing mitt romney some money. we start with the president's jobs initiative. eugene robinson, a columnist and for "the washington post," and howard fineman, huffington post's editorial director and both are msnbc political analysts. eugene, you wrote, president obama's promised jobs plan needs to be unrealistic and unreasonable at the very least and if he can crank it all the way up to unimaginable that would be even better. i take it from what you wrote what you're really saying is, hey, nothing's getting done in the next 15 months? >> well, what i'm saying is, go for it. you know, the pla

and that's something that as i think about some of you that i see here today and i think about matt lauer asking that question of ray nagin yesterday, i say shame on all of us. shame on all of us for allowing that to continue to be an issue when this government or our society responds to a disaster. now, i don't want to place any sort ofty min miss attitude toward them, say let's just blow it off. i mean, let's be realistic. one of the problems that we had in hurricane katrina was something that was exposed, i think, for the first time to everybody in this country. and it is, it is a society where it's not like all of you smart people in this room. you got here by metro, you drove your car. i flew in today. i'll fly out tomorrow. i've got enough cash -- i'm not going to tell you where it is -- i have enough cash that if there's an attack tonight or tomorrow, i know i'll be able to go to hertz or somebody, and i'll be able to negotiate a deal to get a car, and i'll be able to somehow have enough cash to be able to buy gas to be able to get back to depp very. but -- denver. but when you you

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i'm ann curry along with matt lauer.alking this morning about a wonderful new face for charla nash. >> she was horribly mauled by a chimpanzee in 2009. she went through a grueling surgery. she received a face transplant this morning for the first time. we will show you how that went. we'll talk to her brother and her daughter. that's coming up. it will make people feel a lot better about this story. >> after this morning, we're going to talk about a serious habit -- raising the question of whether or not you have tried to medicate your children with cough medicine to help them stay asleep before a long trip. that question was asked thousands of women in a new survey. if it's an uninterrupted night of sleep or satisfying sex. going to get into the survey coming up. >> and who here? bobby flay is in the house. >> bobby. >> it's raising the bounty. we love when flay is in the house. >> smells terrific. >> a little later. >> go inside. natalie is standing by at the newsdesk with a look at all of the headlines, good morning.

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her attorney jose baez speaks to matt lauer. >>> jason bateman and ryan reynolds are in studio to talk about their new movie "the change-up." thank you so much for watching "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station. have a terrific wednesday.

and oscar-nominated actress ann hathaway talks to matt lauer about upcoming roles, including "batman." >>> 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

. >>> we used to do this with matt lauer. where in the world is matt lauer. now where in the bay area is jeff ranieri. we think he's in campbell. what a beautiful night to be outside, jeff. >> how did you know? were you on the 5:00 show? >> hmm, i think so. you gave us a clue back then. >> yes, of course. yes, we're right here in campbell, which can often get confused down here with san jose in the larger part but it is amazing out here tonight. you know it's summer in the bay area when there is not only music in the park but there's also some great drinks as well. as we pan off out here, i have some new friends out here at music in the park. it's a great time. everyone out here is just having a blast in campbell. we're on the front lawn of the anesly house, a very historic property here in campbell. it's definitely a you cannot miss opportunity. come out here to music in the park or tour the house. joining us tonight, karen lang with the city of campbell. tell us about music in the park. not too much time left? >> yes, there's only one more left next week, i

matt lauer's exclusive live interview with former vice president dick cheney, whose memoir is out this week. and al roker conquers the great outdoors on his alaskan adventure. 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. the day today on your nbc station. have a good one. -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com

i'm matt lauer. >> i'm ann curry. wall street was really and still in need of good news after thursday's major sell-off. initially investors got some good news, but stocks opened strong initially, but now the dow is back down in negative territory. >> down about 55 points right now. let's look at the jobs numbers. the unemployment rate dipped to 9.1% in july. employers adsing about 117,000 new jobs, so what's the take-away of all this for you? we're going to talk to cnbc's maria bartiromo and jim kramer from the floor of the new york stock exchange in just a couple minutes. >>> redmond o'neill, the son of ryan o'neill and the late farrah faucet was arraigned on thursday following his most recent drug arrest. what ryan o'neal says about his son's latest trouble. >>> and a remarkable couple we've been following on "today" for more than a year now. rachel was paralyzeeds when she was pushed into her pool at her bachelorette party. she's finally married the man of her dreams. they are back from their honeymoon, and they'l

today, matt lauer asked cheney will come call him the most controversial vice president in history.o you think there's something about your personality, your demeanor that inspires animosity in your criticics? >> i can't speak for them, matt. you're right. you left out darth vader. >> i figured that had been said a lot. >> we're going to have much more of cheney's sit-down and also ask melissa harris perry why dick cheney feels the need to take so many shots at different people. new pictures now of the devastation in vermont where fema chief craig fugate will be today. damage estimates could top $12 billion. fema has only about $800 million left for federal disasters. since irene, fema has frozen future projects in places like joplin, missouri. the death toll from irene now stands at 40 with several people electrocuted by downed power lines. utility officials say it could take more than a week to properly restore electricity to all five million customers who lost power in the storm. the fight to restore power across north carolina is making some significant progress to talk about to

i'm matt lauer. >> i'm ann curry. perhaps no surprise that the president is moving to quickly put the debt showdown behind him by returning to the campaign trail. >> however, it appears investors are not all that excited with the deal that was reached. after months of heated debate. the dow dropped 266 points on tuesday. that's its largest drop in the string of eight straight days of decline. we'll have more on the law's impact on washington and wall street coming up straight ahead. >>> also this morning, disturbing new videotape recorded by phillip garrido and his wife as they lured a young girl into their van. it was made two years after the kidnapping of jaycee dugard. >>> also ahead, a controversial new way that some young women are paying off their college debts. coming up, one coed who turned to the internet to find herself a so-called sugar daddy. we'll talk more about that. >> especially in these economic times. >>> also, after attending another lavish royal wedding, kate is seen once again, this time doing he

i'm matt lauer. >> i'm ann curry. buckle up because here we go again, 30 minutes into the trading day and wall street is on a major roller coaster ride. >> that's right. the dow plunged at the opening bell. let's take a live look at the big board at the stock exchange, down 356 points. that erases almost all of today's gains. some of that credit for the point gain due to a fed decision to keep interest rates low for at least the next few years. of course a lot of people are wondering what more president obama and the administration can do to speed up the economic recovery. should he, for example, demand that congress shut short its summer vacation to address the situation? the latest from wall street and the white house straight ahead. >>> also this morning we'll talk about british police launching this massive crackdown on rioters in london, matt. it happened overnight. this morning more deaths are being tied to the violence. the latest in a live report from london coming up. >>> as casey anthony talked to her parent

and tomorrow morning on "today" former vice president cheney will be live with matt lauer. >>> we couldse a little good news these days. in case you missed this joy in williamsport, pennsylvania yesterday, as a team of 11-year-olds from huntington beach, california, won the little league world series. nick pratto, whose dad is the manager, drove in the winning run for the 2-1 victory over the team from japan. the win brought the championship home to the u.s. after a japanese team won it all last year. always ends up in a pile of kids. >>> up next here for us tonight, beyonce shares some big news with the world, and sets a new modern day record for twitter traffic in the process. confidence. available in color. depend for women is now peach. looks and fits like underwear. same great protection. depend. good morning. great day. morning starts with arthritis pain... that's two pills before the first bell. [ bell rings ] it's time for recess... and more pills. afternoon art starts and so does her knee pain, that's two more pills. almost done, but hang on... her doctor recommended aleve beca

i'm ann curry alongside matt lauer. and just ahead, a former member of the u.s. team faces down a black bear and lives to tell the tale. coming up, her incredible story in an exclusive live movie, matt. >>> ahead, will amanda knox be cleared of her roommate's ruling? a new ruling means she will have to spend at least two more months behind bars before she learns her fate. we'll explain that and have the latest in a live report. >>> also, if you're watching your weight, are you tired of having limited options at your favorite restaurants? coming up, the popular chain is giving up menus a healthier overhaul. >>> but let's begin this morning with the story about one woman's hero inning encount we're black bare. we're doing to talk with her in a moment. but first, here's nbc's lee cowen. >> reporter: along the crazy canyon trail. a wilderness spot known well to native hosz who unwittingly wound up where no one wants to be, between a black bear and her two cubs. >> she is going to do everything she can to protect her cubs if she thinks they're in danger or somebody is

this is an interview that the president had with matt lauer of the today program about a month after he took office. in 2009. i just want you to listen to this. >> look, i'm at the start of my administration. one nice thing about the situation i find myself in is that i will be held accountable. i've got four years. >> you know how quickly people can.... >> that's exactly right. a year from now i think people are going to see we're starting to make some progress but there still be pain out there. if i don't have this done in three years then there's going to be a one-term proposition. >> schieffer: there you are, mr. axelrod. that was the president at the start. we're getting right up to that three-year point. is this going to be a one-term presidency? >> i think the question is... first of all let's certify that we have... we're in a different place than we were in the day he did.... >> schieffer: we are. worse. >> and we were losing 750,000 jobs a month. we've had job growth for 17 months. we have to do much much better. the president has proposed a series of steps that he thinks w

s matt lauer on this next hour and given the fact that it severely damaged our reputation around the world and there were no stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction you still think it's worth it and i'm sure i don't. think to damage her reputation around the world i just don't believe that i think the man and the critics are at home or are you there but in fact i think it was sound policy and the very serious problem and that he limited saddam hussein from. from kind of probably present before. so dick cheney doesn't believe that this impacted our reputation those who are why do statements like this what impact a statement like this half way through the degree they're not contradictory and that's why we're going to what he said after that for you know when he was interviewing interviewing cheney's goss bush and so. you still think torture was right and bush said oh my lawyers said it was all right and lower left it at that you know so you have to challenge these people when i challenged them armstrong and public you know when i was there i was called immediately by a very high pers

s matt lauer on that show and given the fact that it severely damaged our reputation around the world and there were no stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction you still think it's worth it you know sure i don't. think that damage our reputation around the world i just don't believe that i think you know the critics or don't want to argue that but in fact i think it was sound policy that dealt with a very serious problem and that they limited saddam hussein from. from the kind of problem a prisoner of war. so dick cheney doesn't believe that this impacted our reputation it was however one of the statements like this what impact if i could have well to the degree they're not contradictory to read it aloud or i don't know what he said after that but you know when he was interviewing interviewing cheney's boss bush and he said do you still think torture was right and bush said well my lawyers said it was all right and i left it at that you know so you have to challenge these people when i challenged rumsfeld in public in atlanta i was i was called immediately by a very high person and

s matt lauer on this day so given the fact that he had severely damaged our reputation around the world and there were no stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction you still think it's worth it you know sure i don't. think damage her reputation around the world i just believe i think you know the critics here at home are are you there but in fact i think it was sound policy to have very serious problems and that he limited saddam hussein from. a problem for. so dick cheney doesn't believe that this impacts our reputation because a lot of our what do statements like this what impact a statement like this half go through degree they're not contradicting the medal i don't know what he said after that but you know when i was interviewing interviewing cheney's boss bush and said you still think torture was right and bush said oh my lawyers said it was all right and lower left it at that you know so you have to chop down trees people when i challenged them spoke in public but when i was i was called immediately by a very high person and c.n.n. saying aren't you free. and i said. you're asking

. >> and i'm matt lauer. let's go right to the map, although if you live in the southern half of the united states, you don't need a map to tell you how hot it is. arizona to florida, that's the area trapped in this brutal heat wave. >> excessive heat warnings are in effect for a dozen states as arkansas where wednesday's 114 degrees in little rock smashed that city's all-time high. coming up, al's going to tell us why this summer has been so brutally hot and whether we could see some relief. >> also ahead, remember the georgia mother convicted after someone else killed her 4-year-old son in a hit-and-run accident? she was found guilty of jaywalking. at her sentencing, the judge said she could take probation or endure a new trial. well, she has now made her decision. she'll reveal it in an exclusive interview. >> very tough choice. >>> also, the intruder breaks into the home of the wealthiest man in sydney, australia and put what he claimed was a collar bomb around the neck of that man's teenage daughter. we'

>>up matt lauer. the dow is up about 150 points. that's a pretty positive sign a day after dropping nearly 635. >> that's right. that decline was the sixth worst single-day point decline in the last 112 years. but despite the turmoil, the s&p president is defending his company's decision to downgrade the u.s. credit rating and, in fact, some analysts believe that decision could end up being a good thing for the economy in the long run. so we're going to talk about all that this morning with cnbc's maria bartiromo and jim cramer. >>> also ahead, take a look at this "newsweek" cover featuring michele bachmann. the caption is "queen of rage," but an unflattering photo that has a lot of people crying foul. we'll talk more about that, as well. >>> also, should a man be able to use social media to say bad things about his ex-wife? that's an interesting question. a judge has ordered the creator of a blog that is called the psycho ex-wife dotcom to take down that website. we'll hear from the man and his ex-wife coming up just ahead. >>> let

>> reporter: alex, i was listening to amy robach talk to matt lauer. matt went to a gentleman from con ed and he was talking about being very highly confident about not shutting down the grid. that's great news. at this point some 7,000 people that would easily be affected by them shutting down that grid. not to mention if it was running when the saltwater got in there it would be a prolonged period of being shut down. right now the confidence is that they are pretty high they won't have to shut that down. there's a big difference, one-foot water rise rather than a four-foot water rise. if it was four feet we would probably see that water coming up on the streets in through here. instead it's a couple of blocks away and just affecting the immediate boardwalk area. a few years an long island flooding. here at the boardwalk along the battery we're hearing of flooding. from this point that's about it. back to you. >> weather channel's jim cantore telling it like it is. thank you, jim for that. let's head over to darby, pennsylvania. melissa, good morning t

eastern on your local nbc station and tomorrow matt lauer will have a live interview with the vice president. >>> coming up, the job that no terrorist keeps for very long, and that's in the rewrite. >>> later, on the anniversary of hurricane katrina, ed schultz joins me from a free health care clinic in new orleans that could use your help. let's see if we can get one past the defense. hut! go! here it comes! right on the numbers! boom! get it! spin! oh, nice hands! chest bump. ugh! good job, man. nice! okay, halftime. now, this is my favorite play. oh! i'm wide open. oh, fumble. fumble. don't want to fumble any of these. [ male announcer ] share what you love, with who you love. kellogg's frosted flakes. it's up... and it's good! good?! they're grrreat! >>> one week after the fall of tripoli, the search continues for moammar gadhafi, but we know now that his wife, his daughter, and two of his sons have fled libya, it was announced this morning gadhafi's family members are in that country. a spokesman for the rebels says, "we have promised to provide a just trial to all those criminals, and

. >> mark, matt lauer asked robert gibbs why it has taken so long for the president to come out with an aggressive jobs plans. here's gibbs' response. take a listen. >> there are things quite frankly, matt, that the president has talked about on a number of occasions that we can't seem to get the republican house of representatives to deal with. i think what the american people want is for people to put aside party labeled and instead work together for the united states. >> how much of this is a perception problem for the president? that all of this is too little too late? >> there is a perception problem going on with the president of the united states, people are saying, where is the leadership? where are all the economic plans. he did say yesterday while in iowa, he's going to have a detailed economic plan that will address the economic and also the debt and deficits in september, but people will end up wondering why didn't it come sooner? the white house will end up responding that it was so taxing they had to get that done first. >> mark murray, thanks, appreciate that. >>> presi

out on the plaza, matt lauer along with ann curry. little elvis presley music in the background. we'll show you photographs taken back in 1956. they have become iconic for elvis fans. you know who he is but who is the young lady seen in the photo with him? it's been a mystery for over 50 years. and now today we'll reveal her identity, a very interesting story. >> that's right. there are a couple more images. looks like they're very close in those images. >>> also coming up, we'll be talking to kate gosselin. she, of course, has her tv show "kate plus eight." this morning she will be talking about the future of her reality show and answer so e-mail questions that the viewers have. >>> and then we are going to meet a woman who is attempting to do something no one has ever done before. at 61 years of age, diana nyad is attempting to swim the straits of florida, all 103 miles, between ave. vannah, cuba and key west, florida. she set off on her quest last night. natalie recently spent some time with her. we're going to learn more about tha

eastern on your local nbc station and tomorrow matt lauer will have a live interview with the vice presidentp, the job that no terrorist keeps for very long, and that's in the rewrite. >>> later, on the anniversary of hurricane katrina, ed schultz joins me from a free health care clinic in new orleans that could use your help. i remember the days before copd. my son and i never missed opening day. but with copd making it hard to breathe, i thought those days might be over. so my doctor prescribed symbicort. it helps significantly improve my lung function, starting within 5 minutes. symbicort doesn't replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. with symbicort, today i'm breathing better, and that means... game on! symbicort is for copd, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. it should not be taken more than twice a day. symbicort may increase your risk of lung infections, osteoporosis, and some eye problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking it. [ whistle ] with copd, i thought i might miss out on my favorite tradition. now symbicort sig

president obama said this to matt lauer in 2009. >> one nice thing about the situation i find myselfis that i will be held accountable. if i don't have this done in three years, there is there is going to be a one term proposition. >> on sunday that quote was resurrected by msnbc. >> robert, how about it? does the president have it done or should we take him at his word, hold him accountable. it's three years past now and make it a one term presidency. >> savanna, the president is the united states. he understands that he has responsibility for what he can do. the question is whether or not we can take the presidents that the president has or anybody else hand get them enacted by congress. the president can't do all of this alone. check three, former senatorial candidate christine o'donnell promoting a new book walked out of an cnn interview. >> i'm baffled why you think being -- i think i'm being charming. public statements and now what you have written in your own book. it's hardly rude to ask you that surely. >> well, don't you think as a host, if i say this is what i want to talk

he said it the night before on cbs, and abc in june, and he said it to nbc's matt lauer back in marchamericans are on gadhafi's hands because we know he was responsible for pan am 103. he should be removed from power. >> the bombing of flight 103 took place in december of 1988 of the 259 people onboard who died, most were american citizens. the now ex-leader of libya was allegedly the mastermind of that attack. so mccain is not wrong about the immorability of his regime. mccain was not just going after gadhafi, but he wanted to attack obama for the military action. one of the most passive aggressive documents i have seen, and it reads in part, we regret the success was so long in coming due to the failure of the united states to ememploy the full weight of our air power. here is mccain back in march criticizing the president after he authorized the no fly zone. >> obviously, if we had taken this step a couple weeks ago, a no fly zone would probably have been enough. now a no fly zone is not enough. there needs to be other efforts made. he waited too long. there's no doubt in my mind a

matt lauer wants to know.e back the most outrageous examples of mainstream media liberal bias, next. take metamucil. sure it helps you keep regular, but it doesn't stop there. metamucil is the only leading fiber supplement with psyllium, which gels to help remove waste and reduce cholesterol. it can multi-multitask. it's so 2012. look at it! it's doing over a million different things right now. metamucil. ask more of your fiber. as luxury s.u.v.s, it helps to have the quality and craftsmanship of your leather interior test better than the lexus rx 350. it's also helpful to set your "select terrain" dial to "sand." ♪ but i did. they said i couldn't fight above my weight class. but i did. they said i couldn't get elected to congress. but i did. now i'm trying to make it in music. ♪ sometimes when we touch ha ha! millions of hits! [ male announcer ] the new hp touchpad starting at $399.99. ♪ >> sean: welcome to a new edition of media mash this week the news networks welcomed rick perry to the race with bachmann-l

going continue to during that he gave himself three years to turn this thing around as he told matt lauerhree years ago. pretty astute observation. people are looking at him saying he be a bow advocated on the debt discussion. bag of tricks is empty. did a giant stimulus, giant entitlement program, here we are with a spending program and he comes out and sort of got nothing left except for patent legislation and give recommendations to the congressional committee which is nice. >> bill: construction guys to rebuild america that's his big deal. >> carried kicking and screaming into this debt debate in the beginning. he did not want to have a part of it he wanted a clean debt ceiling vote or add 9 trillion so the tea party is leading on this. >> bill: let's advance the story. juan, i put forth six things that would immediately help economy in my talking points memo. president obama has not embraced any of them. am i a dunder head or is he? >> no. i thought you were smart. because you said we need more revenue. now, you had some ideas, flat taxes, each a sales tax which i think is pretty rad

that morning he spoke to matt lauer. >> you've been called skillful, dynamic, you've been called controversy devicive. some people have called you the most devicive political figure in this country in a century. >> you left out carth vader. >> you both are laughing there. we're getting more excerpts from this book today. senator john mccain getting jabbed in a couple of chapters. in one the vice president takes a shot at how mcdane handled himself in a 2008 white house meeting on the financial crisis. the vice president writing the president came back to mccain this time he spoke, but only for himself. it was a marked contrast with obama whose words carry the authority of all the democrats in the room. senator mccain added nothing of substance. let's start with you. this story isn't new. we heard at the time about what went on at that meeting. why do you think cheney included it in his book? is he trying to settle old scores here? >> i think so. clearly these two don't like each other. it's probably a huge temptation if you're to write a memoir to put things in there, some jabs at your adver

on the "today" show this morning, matt lauer asked cheney why some call him the most controversial vice president in history. >> do you think it's all political or do you think there's something about your personality, your demeanor, that inspires animosity in your critics? >> you left out darth vader. that's been included. >> i figured that had been said a lot. >> it's varied. when i was secretary of defense, i got rave notices and high ratings. by the end of my time as vice president, i was down pretty low. but partly that had to come with policy and i was a big advocate of pursuing controversial policies in order to keep the country safe and our critics obviously extracted hair pound their pound of flesh for that. >> tough word s about condi ric approximately in that dateline special. >>> turning now to the devastation over irene. in vermont the waters are finally receding after irene triggered some of the most devastating flooding in state's history, inundating community, killing at least three. the vermont governor joins me by phone. sounds like a lot -- better news this morning be

and then tomorrow matt lauer will interview vice president cheney live on the "today" show. it'll be interesting to see what cheney thinks of colin powell's criticism. >>> the opening bell will ring on time today. wall street escapes the worst of irene. we'll get a preview of the market. but first, today's trivia question. name the three most recent president who is played varsity sports in college. lettered -- not intramural sports, but sports. first correct answer wins. to a little girl who lived through it, this is more than a teddy bear. it's a step towards normal. it's why allstate catastrophe teams not only have hot coffee and help for grownups... they've also handed out more than twelve thousand teddy bears to kids. people come first... everything else is second. that's allstate's stand. are you in good hands? i'm a dad, coach, and i was a longtime smoker. in my heart i knew for the longest time that did not want to be a smoker. and the fact that i failed before. i think i was discouraged for a very long time. ♪ knowing that i could smoke during the first week was rea

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for matt lauer, all it took was one little doub one. >> it is a trick that some of these retailers will package. a lot of consumers switch to store brands, switch to generics, and they're going to continue to make that switch. >> i'm sorry. >> which -- >> something struck me as funny. oh, gosh. >> now, the home shopping network, all it takes is one caller making one little request. >> say hi to abby for me. she's my baby dog. >> oh. >> you might have just done it. >> she might have pushed me off the edge. >> i like that she's holding the gold chain all throughout that. and in england, a mere mention of a certain planet can instantly turn television hosts into bevis and butthead. >> is it venus, b, pluto, or uranus? that's 0901 -- the lines will open. >> that's funny. and on the local news, forget about it. all it takes is a traffic report. >> traffic is just fine. i should just toss it to john because there's nothing else to say. you're going to make me suffer, aren't you? >> i feel better now. he snorted. sure, it's been kind of strange having people critique my laugh on twitter all da

tomorrow matt lauer will interview dick cheney live on the "today" show. . up next, the 2012 trail mix. rick perry doubles down on his comments on social security. >>> and we continue to receive your first person pictures of hurricane irene's impact on the east coast. this person was sent to us from the waters from the rivers there topped 15 feet in some areas. if you have some pictures or video you'd like to share with us, you can email it to firstperson@msnbc.com or upload it at firstperson. [ male announcer ] we've got all you need for back to school with low prices every day on everything. backed by our ad match guarantee. save money. live better. walmart. backed by our ad match guarantee. finally, there's a choice for my patients with an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, or afib, that's not caused by a heart valve problem. today we have pradaxa to reduce the risk of a stroke caused by a clot. in a clinical trial, pradaxa 150 mg reduced stroke risk 35% more than warfarin. and with pradaxa, there's no need for those regular blood tests. prad

dick cheney is defiant in his use of waterboarding and what else we learned in the interview with matt lauer and who he is taking aim at next, john mccain. >>> and a huge contract with michael vick and the eagles. it is a staggering amount of money. $100 million. we will break it down. let me tell you about a very important phone call i made. when i got my medicare card, i realized i needed an aarp... medicare supplement insurance card, too. medicare is one of the great things about turning 65, but it doesn't cover everything. in fact, it only pays up to 80% of your part b expenses. if you're already on or eligible for medicare, call now to find out how an aarp... medicare supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company, helps cover some of the medical expenses... not paid by medicare part b. that can save you from paying up to thousands of dollars... out of your own pocket. these are the only medicare supplement insurance plans... exclusively endorsed by aarp. when you call now, you'll get this free information kit... with all you need to enroll. put their trust in

with matt lauer the vice president played down claims that he was the central figure in convincing presidentaq. >> it severely damaged our reputation around the world and there were no stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction. you still think it's worth it? >> oh, sure. i don't think that it damaged our reputation around the world. i just don't believe that. i think the critics here at home would argue that, but in fact, i think it was sound policy. >> you can see matt's full interview with the former vice president on towshow.com at msnbc.com. well, what political story will be making headlines in the next 234 hours? that's next on "andrea mitchell reports." we'll be right back. >>> we just had a category 1 or 2 storm coming toward the east coast and people forget we have an economic 5 disaster presently in the country. people want to know what we are going to do to expand the economy and create jobs. >> ah, jobs. which political stories will make headlines in the next 24 hours? we join contributing managing editor of postpolitics.com, chris cillizza. okay. can jon huntsman grab a headline

monday, and also tuesday, matt lauer will interview former vice president dick cheney live on "today.nce getting into the race, governor rick perry has shot to the top of the polls. perry now has a double-digit lead over former massachusetts governor mitt romney. mark murray is the msnbc deputy director, and so let's process the numbers, and we know the polls are early, and the caveats going into this, but nonetheless, it looks like rick perry is shaking the room a little bit? >> there is, and there is an argument to be made he is the new national front-runner, but it is important to note that it is a national poll, and a lot of the battle will be fought in iowa and new hampshire and south carolina for that nomination, and in august, sometimes being the front-runner does not work out well, ask hillary clinton, and romney, and giuliani and even joe lieberman. but the significant thing it does is to knock mitt romney's strategy of acting like he is the nominee in waiting and focusing all of the attention on the economy and president obama eventually, he has to duke it out with rick perr

exclusive interview airs tonight on in a special "dateline" tonight at 10:00, and tomorrow morning matt lauerwill interview the vice president live on "today." coming up on "newsnation" -- >> it is probably an oxymoron to say the house of representatives and intelligence are in the same sentence. >> more and more candidates are trying to appear to be the ultimate outsider, and we have the details of the latest round of tough talk. >>> and the mystery of a disappearance of a 23-year-old woman, and her family says they cannot understand what happened here, because she has never gone a day without contacting them. what has gone wrong here? we have the details coming up. an accident doesn't have to slow you down. with better car replacement available only with liberty mutual auto insurance, if your car's totaled, we give you the money for a car one model year newer. to learn more, visit us today. responsibility. what's your policy? i'm a dad, coach, and i was a longtime smoker. in my heart i knew for the longest time that did not want to be a smoker. and the fact that i failed before. i think i w