i'm sorry seems more like it. >> as you would say, willie geist, it's all right.was just getting ready to go to sleep. no problem. >> there you go. we can live that lie together. talk about the cnn poll. mitt romney, ron paul together at the top, but what grabbed people as attention was the surge by rick santorum and the drop by newt gingrich. what's going on? >> i know you meant "time"/cnn poll, first of all. >> excuse me, "time," yes. >> yeah, santorum has been working really hard on the ground, along with michele bachmann. the only one who's really put in the kind of time you normally see in iowa. and he's bearing the fruits of the fact that there's still a lot of indecision amongst the evangelical community. religious conservatives have not settled on a single candidate like mike huckabee four years ago. so it's not surprising to see rick santorum move up. the question is can he consolidate it and can he actually turn people out? he had something of an organization, but it's still, again, by historical standards, pretty small. >> on the other side of it, newt

stay tuned, "way too early" with willie geist starts right now. >>> newt gingrich continues to pick upiowa caucuses, just 29 days from now. with new polls showing him leaping ahead in a couple of early states. the question is, can the gingrich campaign that didn't see this burst coming itself organize to hang in for the long nominating haul. >>> it looks like gingrich is bringing in supporters of herman cain, who are now looking for a new man after cain dropped out of the race on saturday. the question is -- would you have had cain's improbable run in any other way, than with a pokemon quote from the candidate. that's what he did. >>> and aaron rodgers breaks the heart of giants fans with game-winning drive that took less than a minute and kept the packers perfect. the question is, will anybody beat these guys? it's "way too early" for this. >>> good morning, i'm willie geist and this is "way too early," the show that was

i'm willie geist in los angeles this morning. this is a special edition of "way too early."e there, defense secretary leon panetta, joint chiefs chairman martin dempsey and general commander in iraq lloyd austin giving remarks in baghdad. we want to go live

. >>> good morning, i'm willie geist and this is "way too early." the show that no owner is worried about being too good. aim glad you're watching or listening live on sirius xm radio. tweet me@willie geist one or text the word awake to 622639. the best responses later in the show. come on, guy, wake up. next 30 minutes your cram session for friday, december 9th. a lot going on including nicolas sarkozy telling his fellow europeans if they don't act today there will no check chance for the eu. what he means on that. >>> plus, will ferrell is in low-budget tv ads for old milwaukee beer and doing them for nothing. what's the story here? we'll show you the spots in a little bit. the news live at 5:30 a.m. the republican candidates for president gearing up for another debate tomorrow night in iowa as newt gingrich settles into his spot as the field's front-runner. with a rash of new polls showing gingrich with big leads in iowa, also in south carolina and florida, mitt romney is ramping up his attacks hoping to cast former house speaker asunelecta. in a

willie geist, it's topsy-turvy. does newt have more staying power than all of those other people that some were saying could win the nomination? >> well, for one thing, we're out of people to fill that role. i think we've gone full circle. rick perry is relegated to making fun of himself on late night shows, which he does about once a week, he did again last night. we'll show that. i think newt gingrich because of the time, we have 31 days left until iowa. he may have enough staying power if they decide, okay, he's the anti-romney, the non-romney. he's got enough time to get to iowa where he can win votes. what i hear from republicans where i talk to. you don't find them where i live so i've got to send e-mails and phone calls, a little farther south. they like the idea and they understand the problems with newt. they like the idea of him standing on a stage with barack obama and debating barack obama. they feel like he can out professor the professor. one thing i heard from one republican was watching mitt romney i

i'm willie geist. this is "way too early," the show that eats chunky peanut butter out of the jar with a spoon for breakfast every morning. glad you are watching on msnbc or listening live on sirius xm radio. tweet me and let me know what you're doing up at this hour, or text the word awake to 622639. the next 30 minutes will be your cram session for this wednesday, november 28th. iran threatening to shut off one-fifth of the oil supply through the straits of hormuz, and we look back at the fond clips of the year. the chinese seniors singing and dancing to lady gaga brought untold joy to the world in 2011. we will relive it together later in the show. first let's get to the news, live at 5:30 a.m. at 30 rock in new york city. with six days to go until the iowa caucuses, the republican presidential field still in flux. the latest nationwide poll from gallop shows mitt romney and newt gingrich at a statistical tool. gingrich's support, though, dropping 12 points since the beginning of the month. romney p

stay tuned, "way too early with willie geist" starts right now. ♪ >> where is he? where is he?he's a little late sometimes. >> what do you mean he's late sometimes. am i late? am i ever late to my show? >> um -- >> we give little willie a show. >> it's an adorable show, too. it's good for him. what? >> i give him everything. >> yes. >> everything. >> mm-h

i'm willie geist. this is "way too early." i'm the only one who gets that joke. i'm glad you're up with us this morning. or listening live on sirius radio. tell us what you're doing up at this hour. we'll read the best responses later in the show. the next 30 minutes will be your cram session. a lot to tell you about. bill clinton damming mitt romney with fake praise. a judge drops the hammer on rod blagojevich sending him to jail for a long time. details on that in a moment. first, let's get to the news live at 5:30 a.m. some remarkable new polling shows newt gingrich now dominating the republican presidential field in three of the four early primary states. the latest cnn time opinion research poll shows newt gingrich on top in iowa with 33% support among likely caucus goers. that's up 23 points from october. mitt romney has 20%. a 4-point drop from two months ago. ron paul at 17%. in south carolina, gingrich's lead now at 23 points. the former speaker up 35 points in the state since the last poll was taken in late october. a 23-point lead in south carolina ove

but stay tuned, "way too early with willie geist" starts right now. >>> newt gingrich takes a stand inromney of lying about his relationship with the super packs. meanwhile newt counters with his own advising in a form of a christmas message with calista. the question is what won out? millions of dollars in negative ads or a bit of holiday cheer. and speaking of holiday cheer, the house republicans rejected a payroll tax bill potentially giving the worst holiday gift ever to 160 americans. the question is, will this political maneuvering backfire on the gop? and bill clinton weighs in to the 2012 race handicapping president obama's chances and offering an awkward pause when asked whether he respects newt gingrich as a man. the question is, will

stay tuned, because "way too early" with willie geist starts right now. >>> six days until the votingins in iowa, and mitt romney and newt gingrich which dropped all that negative campaigning, the question is who will emerge at the top of the field? we'll have the latest from iowa. >>> back in washington, ben nelson of nebraska announces he will not seek re-election, almost assuring his seat will go to a republican. >>> and a surreal scene in the streets of pyongyang, north carolina, or was it a sound stage in burbank? where thousands gather for some choreographed mourning of the late kim jong-il. the qust

"way too early with willie geist" starts right now. >>> the republican dilemma.ling shows newt gingrich with a good sized lead among primary voters, but mitt romney with a much better shot to defeat president obama in the general. the question is, what does romney, the man criticized for not being conservative enough, have to say in it a new interview about gingrich's conservative credentials. the white house marks the return of combat troops from iraq after nine years of war. the question is how did vice president respond when asked what the united states will say if down the road iraq requests more american military help. an interesting answer. and the ntsb recommends officially that all cell phones be banned in cars. the question is, will the the board's recommendation maket through washington's lobbying

good morning, i'm willie geist and this is "way too early." a show that can be exchanged for a different size altogether. i'm glad you're watching or listlist enning live on sirius xm radio. what are you doing up this early? you can do what rocking rick santorum which is text the word awake followed by your responses. the next 30 minutes will be your cram session for this tuesday, december 27th. a lot to tell you about believe it or not including a new study by "the washington post" that shows the united states congress really has become home of the 1%. we'll show you those numbers. >>> plus, what in the wide world of sports was going on on tis program on friday? that's "way too early" you're looking at. joe and mika in jammies and slippers in front of the fire. first, to the news live at 5:30 a.m. here at 30 rock ott new york city. the iowa caucuses are now just one week away. it's crunch time for the republican presidential field after months of campaigning, debating, gaffing, it appears iowa is anyone's gain. the contenders are spread out a

>>> good morning, i'm willie geist and this is "way too early." i'm glad you're up with us this morning watching on msnbc or listening on sirius xm radio. shoot me an early or tweet me. i want to know what you're doing up at this ungodly hour or do what philip rivers does and text the word awake followed by your response to 622639. we'll read your responses later in the show. the next 30 minutes will be your cram session for the tuesday, december 6th. mitt romney attacking president obama over his upcoming christmas vacation in hawaii. >>> the heisman trophy finalists are announced, this little guy, lsu's honey badger is on the list. could the little man win the big trophy? that's later in sports. first let's get to the news live at 50 50:30 at 30 rock in new york city. the gingrich campaign is ramping up efforts in iowa as new polling shows the former house speaker opening up a big lead. with less than a month to go before voting, an abc news/"washington post" poll shows newt gingrich with 33% support of likely republican caucus-goers in iowa. th

. >>> good morning, i'm willie geist and this is "way too

i'm wes moore in for willie geist and this is w"way too earl early", the show that still has 90 hours of shopping left until christmas. and i'm glad you're up with us this morning. shoot me an e-mail or tweet me and let me know why in the world you're awake right now. or you can do what my six month old daughter does, well, she doesn't quite do it yet, but one day she will, she'll be able to text the word awake following her response to 622639. we'll read the best responses later in the show. the next 30 minutes will be your cram session for this wednesday, december 21st, and there is a lot going on today. including protests against the military in egypt that are threatening to tear the country in half. we'll explain why the military is now apologizing on the people. >>> plus you will never guess who is in the dress. one former famous athlete takes part in a local production of the nutcracker. and we'll reveal the man behind this the makeup. but first, let's get to the news live at 5:30 here at 30 rock here in new york city. rebs of congress are clearing out of washington despite the

i'm mike barnacle in for willie geist. he's one of santa's helpers. he's off today. this is "way tolderly." the show that is waiting for the supreme court to hear its case on early morning labor laws or senior abuse. they exist, right? they should. i'm glad you're up with us this morning watching on msnbc or listening live on sirius xm radio. shoot us an e-mail at waytooearly@msnbc.com or tweet us@williegeist 1. or text the word awake followed by your response to 622639. we're going to read the best responses later in the show. the next 30 minutes will be your cram session for this tuesday, december 13th. there's a lot going on today, including an attempt by the global markets to rebound following a downgrade warning from the eu from the credit agency moods. >>> plus, a brawl breaks out during a youth hockey league postgame handshake. i guess this is how they do things in kazakhstan. we'll have the full clip later in the show. >>> first to the news live at 5:30 a.m. here at 30 rock in new york city. it's not just the recent polling that suggests mitt romney is no lon

. >>> good morning, i'm willie geist, and this is "way too early," the show that bets ten large a week on the wnba. i'm glad you're watching with us on msnbc or listening live at sirius xm radio. shoot me an e-mail or tweet me at willie geist1. or do what rg 3 does and text the word awake followed by your response to 622639. we'll read the best responses later in the show. the next 30 minutes will be your cram session for this friday, december 30th.ç it is our last show of 2011, and there's a lot going on today, including michele bachmann talking in iowa about her semiautomatic we of choice and it is a good-sized gun. we'll tell you about it. >>> plus, we continue our fond look back at the clips of the year. and we finish strong, i have to say, with the coonskin capped eyewitness to a police pursuit in the panhandle. i dare you to miss this clip. >>> the news live at 5:30 a.m. here at 30 rock in new york city. it all comes down to this weekend in iowa, the first major test for the republican presidential field today kicks off a final sprint to the finish line before tuesday's caucuses

"way too early" with willie geist starts right now. >>> the dow rockets almost 500 points, as the world'sget together with a plan to contain the european debt crisis. the question is -- will this time be more than a sugar high? and what does it all have to do with digging out the american economy? >>> newt gingrich feeling his co-front-runner oats, reminisces about the time he defeated communism with an assist from ronald reagan. this as mitt romney complains that questions in a fox news interview were too tough. the question is -- does the occasionally delicate candidate romney need to come out from his glass case? >>> john mccain, jokingly insults long island, new york and makes a half-hearted apology on the senate floor to his allegedly offended colleague. the question is -- you

stay tuned, "way too early with willie geist" starts right now. >>> newt gingrich and mitt romney arguether as if this is now a two-man race despite the fact that ron paul is leading in the iowa poles. the question is what will a triumphant paul mean for the iowa caucuses. >>> good news for millions of travelers, the faa changes rules for airlines by allowing pilots more rest and time off in attempt to cut down on accidents related to fatigue. the question is why did it take the f aa 50 years to address this issue. >>> finally, with the first lady and the kids already in hawaii on christmas vacation, the president is all alone in washington, perfect time to get shopping done. where did he go? the same place every other american male goes when their

>>> good morning, i'm willie geist and this is "way too early," the show that was left out bcs title game again this year by a flawed system. i'm glad you're up with us, watching on msnbc or listening live on sirius xm radio. shoot me an email, let me snow what you're doing up this hour. you can tweet me @williegeist1 or text the word awake followed by your response to 622639. we'll read the best responses later. the next 30 minutes will be your cram session for this monday, december 5th. lot to tell but today, including president obama calling pakistan's president over the nato incident that killed 24 of that country's soldiers. >>> plus, it was the preview clip that flew around the internet last week. and last night we finally saw in all its glory, the actual show, "virgin diaries" featuring the worst kiss ever between man and woman. enough that clip later in the show. first, the news live at 5:30 a.m. here at 30 rock in new york city. with the iowa caucuses less than a month away, newt gingrich surges. the former house speaker with 26% in iowa, a 21-point jump from october. mitt r

stay tuned because "way too early with willie geist" starts right now. >>> with new polls showing newt leads, the romney campaign gets to work casting newt gingrich as unreliable and unelectable. the question is can gingrich keep it together in the 3 1/2 weeks between now and iowa? >>> president obama faces the holidays in the midst of a multifront war with republicans over the payroll tax cut. the extension of unemployment benefits and the bloc's nomination of the head of the consumer protection bureau. what is the president willing to give up to get congressional republicans to play ball. >>> nba commissioner david stern listens to the complaints of his owners and puts the kibosh on a trade that would have sent one of the great point guards to los angeles to play

"way too early with willie geist" starts right now. >>> newt gingrich, center stage as the front-runnerhe final debate before the voting begins in iowa is hammered on his electability and his conservative record as mitt romney tries to claw his way back to the top of the field. the question is, will rick perry's comparison of himself to tim tebow turn the tide for him? >>> back in washington, congress works on a deal to avert a shutdown of the government. and the much debated payroll tax cut extension could be rolled up in the solution. the question is why does it always take an 11th hour crisis to find a solution? >>> and one of the great iconoclastic maddening minds of our time leaves us. the question is, where is christopher hitchens drinking and debating this morning?

stay tuned becausewayw "way too early with willie geist" starts right now.e a great day. >>> well, the gifts have been opened and returned and now it's time to get serious about this presidential campaign. one week now until the voting begins in iowa. mitt romney is making a push to the top of the polls and newt gingrich is trying to stop the bleeding, the question is after months after looking for an alternative will they come home to mitt romney. >>> ron paul continues to lead many polls in iowa as he attempts to explain some of the ugly content of a publication that bore his signature in the early 1990s. the question is will his explanation that he was not aware of the content of his own newsletter satisfy primary voters? >>> drew brees makes mihistory. the question is could bre

"way too early with willie geist" starts right now. >>> in a landmark speech for him president obamaof teddy roosevelt to stir populist energy and directly attack republican economic theory, not just in this congress but of the party for decades. the question is can the president ride the man of the people routine to win a second term? we'll talk live to chuck today. >>> newt gingrich making himself a clear front-runner for the moment said president obama is opposed to capitalism and, quote, to virtue whamly everything that made america great. the question is, is that just the kind of red meat primary voters want to be fed? we'll show you new polls that suggest it is. >>> alec ball win thrown off a plane by a flight crew. the question is was he booted for some ld

i'm wes moore in for willie geist and this is "way too early," the show that has a live studio audience of one, two, three, four people. i'm glad you're up with us watching on msnbc or listening live on sirius xm radio. shoot me an e-mail at way too early@msnbc.com or tweet me @williegeist 1 or text the word awake followed by your response at 622639. we'll read the best responses later in the show. the next 30 minutes will be your cram session for this thursday, december 22nd. there is a lot going on today including the 2012 republican nomination starting to look a whole lot more like the real world where people stop being polite and start being real. jon huntsman gives us via david letterman one more reason to believe he's still got a shot to win the nomination. >>> let's get to the news. there's a new level of attacks in the republican race for president as two of the top contenders train their fire almost exclusively on each other. mitt romney is defending negative television advertisement against newt gingrich while questioning whether the former speaker will be able to handle the s

good morning, i'm willie geist and this is "way too early" the show once thrown off a plane for asking if we could sit on the captain's lap. i was 32 years old when i asked that question. i'm glad you're up with us watching on msnbc or listening on sirius xm radio. shoot me an e-mail. let me know what you're doing up. tweet me@williegeist. the next 30 minutes will shall your cram session for this wednesday, december 7th, 70th anniversary of attacks on pearl harbor. more on that in a moment. we'll haven an update from afghanistan. plus donald trump renews the faith of jon stewart and stephen colbert in this republican presidential race. their take on the donald's debate later on in the show. first to the news live at 5:30 at 30 rock in new york city. president obama prying a glimpse in what could be his central theme. in a sweeping inteech yesterday he struck a populist tone calling for a new action to help middle class americans still struggling under the weight of a troubled and the president says unfair economy. the president framed the debate in historic terms while taking direct ex

. ♪ ♪ >>> good morning, i'm willie geist and this is way too early, the show that's prone to drinking

. >>> good morning, i'm willie geist and this is "way too early," the show that once stepped to long island one night outside the crazy donkey farmingdale and regretted it dearly. glad you're up watching us or listening live on sirius xm radio. shoot me an email or tweet me @williegeist 1. or text the word awake followed by your response to 6 2639. the next 30 minutes will be your cram session for thursday, december 1st. there's a lot to tell you about, including the republican counterproposal to the president's payroll tax cut. we'll see if they can find middle ground on at least one issue. plus, brian williams follows up the broadcast where he fought a fire alarm while delivering the news with a cameo on last night's daily show. we'll show you that clip later in the show. >>> first, let's get to the news, live at 5:30 a.m. at 30 rock in new york city. a little bit of optimism this morning on wall street coming off the dow's seventh largest gain of all time. on wednesday. markets surging, wiping out last week's slump, the dow helpth 490 points, capping a 7% gain over the last three

"way too early" with willie geist starts right now. >>> the war of words heats up between the republicaningrich and mitt romney take shots at each other on the campaign trail. meanwhile, new polls show both candidates leading president obama in key swing states. the question is, after weeks of negative attacks, will the eventual nominee be able to stand up to a well rested president obama? >>> as the troops prepare for their final withdrawal from iraq, the president meets with iraqi prime minister al maliki in the white house declaring an end to the nine-year war and announcing a new phase in the relationship with iraq. the question is, can the iraqi government stand on its own without the help of 150,000 american troops? >>> and the supreme court jumps into the imm