HAVE A GREAT THURSDAY. SEE YOU FRIDAY MORNING. >>> THE STAGES THAT FOR DONALD TRUMP IN THE NEW YORK, FOR DONALD TRUMP IN HIS HIGH-STAKES MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR CIVIL FRAUD TRIAL. BUT THE FORMER PRESIDENT WILL BE SPEAKING, WE WILL TELL YOU WHY AND WHAT TO EXPECT AS THE MONTHS LONG CASE COMES TO A CLOSE. >>> CHAOS ON THE CAPITAL AS HUNTER BIDEN'S -- JOE BIDEN SON HUNTER MAKES AN APPEARANCE. >> TO HOLD SOMEONE IN CONTEMPT WHO'S OFFERED TO PUBLICLY ANSWER ALL THEIR QUESTIONS. THE QUESTION THERE IS, WHAT ARE THEY AFRAID OF? >> WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DRAMATIC HEARING AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN. >>> AND THE REPUBLICAN RACE FOR PRESIDENT IS HEATING UP. WITH FRONT RUNNER DONALD TRUMP OPTING OUT OF THE DEBATE AGAIN, HOLDING A TOWN HALL INSTEAD AND CHRIS CHRISTIE ANNOUNCING HE WILL DROP OUT BEFORE THE IOWA CAUCUSES. >>> ALSO, WHAT IS IN THE WATER. CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF BOTTLED WATER AND WHITE RESEARCH SAYS THE PROBLEM IS A LOT WORSE THAN ORIGINALLY THOUGHT. >>> 15 YEARS LATER WE ARE LOOKING BACK AT THE INCREDIBLE EMERGENCY LANDING KNOWN AS THE MIRACLE ON THE HUDSON. >> PRETTY INCREDIBLE, SHE HAS FRIENDS THAT SHE MADE ON THAT FLIGHT STILL TODAY. >>> GOOD MORNING, I AM JOE FRYER. >> I'M SAVANNA SELLERS. GET STARTED IN YOUR CLOSING ARGUMENTS I SAID TO TAKE PLACE IN THE SUM OF -- THE CIVIL FRAUD TRIAL AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. >> HE'S ACCUSED, AND SOME OF HIS FAMILY OF INFLATING THE VALUE OF ASSETS SO THEY COULD SECURE FAVORABLE TERMS IN LOANS AND INSURANCE. TRUMP DENIED ANY WRONGDOING AND LAST WEEK, --. SHE ALSO WAS A LIFETIME BAN ON THE FORMER PRESIDENT TO KEEP HIM FROM WORKING IN THE NEW YORK REAL ESTATE BUSINESS. >> THE FORMER PRESIDENT ASKED TO DELIVER PART OF HIS CLOSING ARGUMENTS HIMSELF BUT THE JUDGE DENIED THE REQUEST FOLLOWING A CONTENTIOUS BACK AND FORTH WITH TRUMP'S LAWYERS ABOUT CONDITIONS HE WANTED TO COME TO MEET. >> FOR MORE ON WHAT WE CAN EXPECT, WE ARE JOINED BY --, OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE IN LOWER MANHATTAN. -- GOOD MORNING TO BOTH OF YOU. LET'S BEGIN, THE TRIAL LASTED MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AND ENDED A LITTLE BIT AGO BEFORE CHRISTMAS. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TODAY? >> THE LAST TIME WE HEARD FROM THE DEFENSE, THEY PRESENTED WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS THEIR STAR WITNESS, A PROFESSOR -- I WANT TO READ FOR YOU ABOUT WHAT WE CAN EXPECT TODAY, GOING FORWARD. FROM THE JUDGE ABOUT THE TESTIMONY. HE SAID THAT HE'S A TENURED PROFESSOR BUT THE ONLY THING HIS TESTIMONY PROVES IS THAT FOR $1 MILLION, SOME EXPERTS WILL SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT THEM TO SAY AND WE WANT FOLKS TO KNOW, HE MADE OVER 900 OR SO THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A DAY AND A HALF OF TESTIMONY. WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE WATCHED FOR THE CLOSING ARGUMENTS, THE ATTORNEYS, TWO HOURS OF CLOSING TESTIMONY BY THE PROSECUTION, TWO HOURS AS WELL, KEVIN WALLACE,. YOU TAUGHT ABOUT HOW THE FORMER PRESIDENT -- CLOSING ARGUMENTS HERE. THERE WAS A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH. IT HAPPENED BEGINNING JANUARY 4th WHEN THE REQUEST WAS INITIALLY MADE. AND ESSENTIALLY HE SAID HE CAN DO IT BUT HE'S GOT TO FOLLOW THE ROLES. HE CANNOT VIOLATE THE GAG ORDERS. YOU CANNOT GO AFTER FOLKS IN MY COURT. HE CANNOT GO AFTER THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. HE CANNOT GO AFTER MYSELF. ON JANUARY 9th, THEY CAME TO THE JUDGE AND SAID THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S MOTHER-IN-LAW HAD PASSED AWAY AND HE WOULD LIKE AN EXTENSION TO THE END OF JANUARY. HE SAID I'M SORRY ABOUT THE LOSS, BUT NO EXTENSION. AND WHAT ABOUT YOUR RESPONSE -- NO RESPONSE. THE DEADLINE CAME AND WENT YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. HE SAID IT LOOKS AS IF THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS NOT GOING TO OFFER CLOSING ARGUMENT. SO WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, QUITE WILL BEGIN TODAY 10:00 A.M. I'M SURE THERE'S GOING TO BE CONVERSATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE FORMER PRESIDENT CAN OFFER SOME CLOSING ARGUMENTS. JUDGE ENGORON HAS MADE IT CLEAR HE WILL NOT ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN. AND IF HE VIOLATES THE GAG ORDER, THE CLOSING ARGUMENTS COULD BE A MAJOR FINE AND/OR HE COULD BE ESCORTED OUT BY COURT MARTIAL'S. SO IT COULD BE A VERY BIG DAY FOR THIS CASE. >> LET'S BRING YOU IN. HOW UNUSUAL WOULD IT HAVE BEEN IF THE FORMER PRESIDENT WHAT YOU HAVE MADE THE CLOSING ARGUMENT HIMSELF AND WOULD THAT BE A LEGAL RISK IN ANY WAY? >> I CANNOT BELIEVE IT WAS EVER ON THE TABLE. AND YOU KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS LIKE TO SAY THAT TRUMP IS BEING TREATED LIKE ANY OTHER PERSON BEFORE THE COURTS. BUT NOT REALLY, AND THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE. JUDGE ENGORON DENIED THE REQUEST, WHICH IS THE RIGHT MOVE. BUT YOU SEE FROM THE EMAILS IT WAS IN PLAY, AS A POSSIBILITY. AND HERE'S THE WAY IT NORMALLY WORKS. IF YOU HAVE AN ATTORNEY, WHETHER THE CIVIL OR CRIMINAL CASE, IT IS THE ATTORNEY BESPEAKS. IF YOU WANT TO FIRE YOUR ATTORNEYS AND PROCEED BY YOURSELF, WHICH I DON'T RECOMMEND, THEN YOU CAN GIVE YOUR SPEECH AT THE END BECAUSE YOU ARE ACTING AS HER OWN ATTORNEY. EVEN WHERE YOU HAVE BOTH, COURTS DO NOT LET YOU DO LENDED ARRANGEMENTS WHERE SOMETIMES I LET MY ATTORNEY TALK AND SOMETIMES I GET TO TALK. IT IS JUST NOT A LOT. YES, YOU HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO HAVE A CRIMINAL DEFENDANT TO TAKE THE STAND AND SPEAK IN YOUR OWN DEFENSE BUT IT DOES NOT TRANSLATE TO BEING ABLE TO GIVE A SPEECH AS A CLOSING ARGUMENT. PARTICULARLY CLOSING ARGUMENTS WERE REALLY THE RULES ARE GENERALLY THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN INTERRUPT. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO MAKE A SPEECH AS LONG AS IT IS A SUMMATION OF YOUR ARGUMENTS BUT AGAIN, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN CHAOS. AND IT LOOKS LIKE JUDGE ENGORON WAS CONSIDERING IT. >> WHAT IS THE JUDGE DECIDING AND HOW QUICKLY WILL WE GET THE DECISION? >> HOW QUICKLY, I DON'T KNOW. I LOOKED AT JUDGE ENGORON SUMMARY DECISION. -- HE HAS TO DECIDE THE REMAINDER OF THE CASE. KEEP IN MIND HE ALREADY DECIDED A GOOD PORTION OF IT WHEN HE GRANTED SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN FAVOR OF THE PLAINTIFF. CASINO THE STANDARD, IT IS RARE TO GET SUMMARY JUDGMENT GRANTED. YOU HAVE TO SHOW THE DEFENSE HAS ZERO CHANCE OF WINNING. AND PART OF THE CASE HAS BEEN DISPOSED OF. THE QUESTION IS, THE REMAINDER OF THE CASE. AND OF A QUESTION OF DAMAGES WHICH IS WHY THE AG IS ASKING FOR MORE. SHE FEELS SANGUINE ABOUT HOW THE TEAM DID AND SHE'S ASKING FOR MORE FROM THE JUDGE. NOT UNUSUAL IF YOU THINK YOU ARE WINNING. GO FOR THE GOLD. SPOT THANK YOU BOTH, WE APPRECIATED. >>> IN LOS ANGELES, HUNTER BIDEN IS EXPECTED TO BE ARRAIGNED ON FEDERAL TAX CHARGES. >> HE FACES SEVERAL COUNTS INCLUDING FAILING TO PAY TAXES. HUNTER BIDEN FACES UP TO 17 YEARS IN PRISON IF HE'S CONVICTED. NOW YESTERDAY, TWO CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES VOTED TO FORMALLY RECOMMEND THE HOUSEHOLD HUNTER BIDEN IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS BECAUSE HE DEFIED THE SUBPOENA. EARLIER IN THE DAY THE PRESIDENT'S SON MADE A SURPRISE VISIT TO THE CAPITAL, ACTUALLY ATTENDING THE COMMITTEE MEETING IN PERSON. >> CORRESPONDENT TIM DELANEY AND HAS MORE ON THIS. LET'S START WITH TODAY'S ARRAIGNMENT. TELL US WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FOR TODAY. >> Reporter: GOOD MORNING. THE THING TO KNOW ABOUT THE FEDERAL CASE IS IT IS MUCH MORE SERIOUS THAN THE CHARGES TO WHICH HUNTER BIDEN AGREED TO PLEAD GUILTY IN A PLEA DEAL THAT CLAPS. WHICH IS WHY WE ARE HERE. FELONY TAX CHARGES, WHICH CARRY 17 YEARS IN PRISON, HE WILL BE ARRAIGNED TODAY IN THE COURTHOUSE IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. ARRAIGNMENT IS A STANDARD PROCEDURE WHERE THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM WILL BE READ, HIS RIGHTS WILL BE EXPLAINED. THERE ME TO BE DISCUSSION OF DEADLINES AND OTHER FILINGS. THEN WE GO FROM THERE AND REMEMBER HE IS ALSO FACING SEPARATE FELONY CHARGES IN DELAWARE. SO HE'S IN VERY SERIOUS LEGAL HOT WATER. >> LET'S TURN TO THE SHOWDOWN ON CAPITOL HILL YESTERDAY. HUNTER BIDEN APPEARED AT THE COMMITTEE HEARING. WE KNOW HE IS AT ODDS WITH THE PUBLIC -- HE DEPOSED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND HE WANTS TO DO IT PUBLICLY IN FRONT OF THE CAMERAS. WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY? >> HIS APPEARANCE, WHICH SURPRISED EVERYONE INCLUDING THE WHITE HOUSE, PRESS CORPS, THE ENTIRE CAPITOL HILL OFFICIALS COMMANDED MASSIVE MEDIA ATTENTION. HE SAT IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM DURING THE HEARING WITH COMMITTEES VOTING TO BRING A CONTEMPT RESOLUTION TO THE COURTHOUSE. THEN SOME REPUBLICAN MEMBERS HAD SOME CHOICE WORDS. TAKE A LISTEN. >> HUNTER BIDEN, YOU WERE TOO AFRAID TO SHOW UP FOR A DEPOSITION AND YOU STILL CAN'T COME IN TODAY. I BELIEVE HUNTER BIDEN SHOULD BE HELD COMPLETELY IN CONTEMPT. I THINK HE SHOULD BE HAULED OFF TO JAIL RIGHT NOW. BUT HUNTER BIDEN IS TERRIFIED OF STRONG, CONSERVATIVE, REPUBLICAN WOMEN BECAUSE HE CAN'T EVEN FACE MY WORDS AS I WAS ABOUT TO SPEAK TO HIM. WHAT A COWARD. >> ASSUMING THE HOUSE EVENTUALLY VOTES TO HOLD HUNTER BIDEN AND CONTEMPT, THE ONLY WAY IT IS ENFORCED IS IF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DECIDES TO BRING CHARGES AS THEY HAVE IN SOME CASES. >> LOOKING AHEAD AT WHAT COULD HAPPEN, THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDED THE FULL HOUSEHOLD BIDEN IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS. WAS LET GO FROM HERE? >> AND THEY WOULD SEND THE RESOLUTION OVER TO THE DOJ AND IT IS REALLY UP IN THE AIR. THEY LOOK AT IT, AS A POLICY MATTER. REMEMBER WHEN STEVE BANNON DEFIED THE SUBPOENAS RELATED TO JANUARY 6, THEY WERE PROSECUTED AND CONVICTED IN D.C. COURTS. OTHER FORMER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, THE DOJ HAS DECLINED TO ACTS. IT IS IT REALLY CLEAR WHERE THIS SUBPOENA FITS IN THE PANTHEON OF CASES SO WE WILL HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SEE WHAT THE DOJ DOES. >> AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>> MANY ARE RECOVERING FROM THE WICKED WINTER WEATHER. >> LOOK AT THE DAMAGES AND I WANT TO SHOW YOU VIDEO. PEELED OFF PART OF THE ROOF ON A WEDDING VENUE IN SOUTH CAROLINA. LOOK AT THAT. >> LOOK AT THE FLOODING ACROSS UPPER MARLBORO, MARYLAND, HEAVY STORMS DUMPED MORE THAN TWO INCHES OF RAIN. TWO PEOPLE HAD TO BE RESCUED FROM THIS FLOODED ROAD, SEVEN OTHERS HAD TO BE SAVED FROM THE VEHICLES AS WELL. >> AND IT IS NOT OVER YET. ANGIE LASSMAN JOINS US WITH THE STORMS EXPECTED TO HIT THE COUNTRY. YOU WANT US AND THEY KEEP COMING. >> HERE WE GO AGAIN, WOULD LET ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM THAT WILL TAKE ALMOST THE EXACT SAME PATH AS YOU SAW FROM THE DAMAGE THERE. WE GOT THE WIND ALERT AND HE FLOOD ALERTS, A COUPLE OF THOSE WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF NORTHEAST. BUT LOOK HOW EXPENSIVE THESE ALERTS ARE. JUST UNDER 50 MILLION FOR WINTER ALERTS, 90 MILLION FOR THE WIND ALERTS AND HERE IS A SYSTEM WE WILL TRACK AGAIN, A SIMILAR PATH TO THE PREVIOUS ONE. RINGING SNOW TO THE PLANE TODAY. WE WILL ALSO SEE A BLAST OF ARCTIC AIR, BITTER COLD CONDITIONS THAT WILL SPREAD IT TO THE EAST. AND PORTIONS OF THE MIDWEST AS WE GET INTO THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. REALLY BRUTAL COLD CONDITIONS. THAT WE ALSO GOT THE SNOW ON DECK FOR FOLKS ACROSS THIS REGION AS WE GET INTO TOMORROW FROM BUFFALO TO CHICAGO, DETROIT, STRETCHING TO PORTIONS OF KANSAS AND MISSOURI WILL SEE THAT SNOW ENDED IT IS THE STRONG WINDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE ACCOMPANYING THAT SNOW. DIFFICULT TRAVEL ACROSS THIS REGION FOR FRIDAY AND NOTICED THE RAIN THAT WE ARE TRACKING ACROSS THE EAST. REALLY SATURATED GROUND, NOT QUITE AS MUCH AS A PREVIOUS STORM BUT STILL, SATURATED GROUND, ALREADY FLOODING CONCERNS WITH FLOOD ALERTS UP. WE LIKELY HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM AS WE GET INTO THE END OF OUR WORK WEEK. A LOOK AT THE GREAT LAKES, WE ARE GOING TO DEAL WITH THAT LAKE EFFECT SNOW ACROSS THAT REGION AS YOU GET INTO YOUR WEEKEND. HERE'S A SEVERE THREAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, 7 MILLION PEOPLE, SHREVEPORT, IN THE BULLS EYE, ALEXANDRIA TO LITTLE ROCK, THE POTENTIAL OF ISOLATED TORNADOES AND STRONG WIN. IT IS MORE EXPENSIVE INTO TOMORROW INCLUDING 37 MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST, A SIMILAR AREA THAT DEALT WITH STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS WITH THE LAST GO ROUND OF OUR STORE. THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE WATCH FOR THE POTENTIAL STRONG TORNADOES AS WELL, EF-2 OR HIGHER FOR MONTGOMERY, MACON, COLUMBIA, THAT IS THE AREA YOU WANT TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET ALERTS ON FRIDAY. SATURDAY, I THINK WE WILL SEE MAYBE AN INCH SO OF RAIN. BUT THE MIDWEST IS GOING TO GET HAMMERED WITH SNOW, ESPECIALLY ALONG THE LAKES. WE'VE GOT A POTENTIAL FOR MAYBE A FOOT TO A FOOT AND A HALF PLACES LIKE THE U.P. OF MICHIGAN. SO IT WILL BE A WINTER WONDERLAND THERE. >> THANK YOU. >>> THE REPUBLICAN RACE FOR PRESIDENT, CHRIS CHRISTIE ANNOUNCED HE'S ENDING HIS 2024 CAMPAIGN. JUST HOURS BEFORE THE LATEST GOP DEBATE WHICH HE WILL NOT BE PART OF. >> NIKKI HALEY AND RON DeSANTIS WENT HEAD-TO-HEAD IN THE BATTLE FOR SECOND PLACE BEHIND FRONT RUNNER DONALD TRUMP. MEANWHILE TRUMP HELD A TOWN HALL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN. ALL THIS COMES AS WE'VE GOT FOUR DAYS UNTIL THE CARCASSES. >> NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT -- GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US. IT IS FOUR DAYS UNTIL THE CAUCUS. WHAT DO WE SEE FROM THE DEBATE, WHAT WERE THOSE TAKEAWAYS? >> Reporter: IN SOME WAYS IT IS THE MOST SUBSTANTIVE DEBATE WITH TWO CANDIDATES ON STAGE, HALEY AND DeSANTIS WERE ABLE TO COVER GROUND ON POLICY AND DIFFERENCES FROM EACH OTHER, ON THEIR PLANS FOR THE COUNTRY AND SO FORTH. BUT IT SEEMED TO TAKE PLACE IN AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE, THE CANDIDATES BARELY TALK ABOUT THE DOMINANT FRONT RUNNER, DONALD TRUMP, WAS CRUSHING BOTH OF THEM IN IOWA RIGHT NOW. THEY CHOSE TO PRETEND HE DIDN'T EXIST EXCEPT FOR A FEW MOMENTS LIKE THESE. >> I WISH DONALD TRUMP WAS UP HERE ON THE STAGE. HE'S THE ONE I'M RUNNING AGAINST, HE'S THE ONE I WISH WOULD BE HERE. HE NEEDS TO BE DEFENDING HIS RECORD. >> NOBODY IS ENTITLED TO YOUR VOTE AND HE COMES IN HERE EVERY NOW AND THEN AND DOES HIS SPIEL AND HE LEAVES. I'VE SHOWN UP TO ALL 99 COUNTIES BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT. >> Reporter: WE ENDED UP HEARING FAR MORE ABOUT THE WEBSITE NIKKI HALEY SEEM CREATED TO MAKE FUN OF RON DeSANTIS RELYING THEN WE DID FOR HER PLANS TO DEFEAT DONALD TRUMP, WHO IS LEADING IN THE STATE BY 30 POINTS. SO A LOT OF HEAT BUT PERHAPS NOT A LOT ABOUT HOW THE CANDIDATES EXPECT TO CHANGE THE RACE. >> WE DID GET A LOT OF PLUGS FOR THAT. WHAT DID WE HEAR FROM DONALD TRUMP LAST NIGHT? WE HEARD HIM, I KNOW -- ABOUT A RUNNING MATE. >> THE TRUMP TOWN HALL ON THE EXACT SAME TIME ON A COMPETING NETWORK WAS MEANT TO DRAW EYEBALLS AWAY FROM THE DEBATE FOR A LITTLE BIT. THE THING THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION WAS HIS COMMENT ABOUT A RUNNING MATE. IT IS ALWAYS HARD TO TELL HOW MUCH TRUTH THERE IS TO THE STATEMENT BUT HE SAID HE'S DECIDED TO HIS RUNNING MATE WAS GOING TO BE. HE IGNORED THE MODERATORS ATTEMPTS TO FOLLOW UP. HIS CAMPAIGN SAID IT'S NOT RIGHT, HE HASN'T MADE A FINAL DECISION AND THEY WILL ANNOUNCE ONE WHEN HE DOES. BUT AS YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER TWO ON THE TICKET IS BASICALLY EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE PARLOR GAME BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE AND DONALD TRUMP STARTED EARLY. >> AS WE MENTIONED WARMER NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE DROPPED OUT OF HIS LONGSHOT BID FOR PRESIDENT. IS REALLY THE NLY ONE WHO WAS CRITICIZING THE FORMER PRESIDENT. DID THAT HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE STATE OF THE RAISE? BUCKET MIGHT, CHRIS CHRISTIE WAS REALLY OWNING RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. HE WAS IN THIRD PLACE THERE. WITH HIM OUT, HIS SUPPORT COULD GO TO NIKKI HALEY. THAT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR HER BUT CHRIS CHRISTIE GAVE HER AN UNWELCOME PARTING GIFT, A COMMENT CAPTURED ON VIDEO BEFORE HE TOOK THE STAGE WHICH HE SEEMED TO SAY SHE WOULD GET SMOKED IN THE RACE AND SHE WASN'T UP TO THE CHALLENGE. PRESUMABLY OF PICKING UP HIS MANDALA AS THE TRUMP CANDIDATE. IS THAT CANDIDATE MADE BEFORE THE EVENT STARTED THAT IS GETTING MORE ATTENTION THAN WHAT HE SAID ABOUT TRUMP WHEN HE STARTED HIS WITHDRAWAL SPEECH. THAT IS NOT GOING TO HELP NIKKI HALEY OR ANYBODY ELSE IN THIS RACE. >> LOTS TO COVER, MORE TO COME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>> WE ARE FOLLOWING A LEGAL AND DIPLOMATIC BATTLE AT THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE. >> TWO DAYS OF LEGAL ARGUMENTS OPENED OVER ACCUSATIONS ISRAEL IS -- ON OCTOBER 7th. 15 JUDGES WILL HEAR THE CASE TODAY AND TOMORROW. COURT RULINGS ARE BINDING UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW BUT IT HAS THE POWER TO ENFORCE THE ROAD. >> FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT MEGHAN FITZGERALD JOINS US FROM OUR LONDON BUREAU. WHAT HAVE WE HEARD AND SEEN SO FAR AND WHAT EVIDENCE IS SOUTH AFRICA PRESENTING TO THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE? >> GOOD MORNING, GOOD TO BE WITH YOU. A LOT OF GROUND TO COVER. THE FIRST SOUTH AFRICAN ATTORNEY WE HEARD FROM ARGUED THAT ISRAEL IS COMMITTING GENOCIDE THE VARIOUS ACTS OF THE MILITARY CAMPAIGN AND THEY HAVE IMPOSE CONDITIONS ON THE TERRITORY THAT CANNOT SUSTAIN LIFE. THE ATTORNEY TALKED ABOUT THE MASSIVE DISPLACEMENT AND INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS, HOW THE IDF HAS BOMBED AREAS THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SAFE. SHE WENT ON TO SAY HOW THOSE INJURED DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ACCURATE HEALTH CARE AND IT IS RESTRICTED TO THE ENCLAVE. SHE HIGHLIGHTED HOW THE TERRITORY IS ON THE BRINK OF FAMINE AND HOW DISEASE IS QUICKLY SPREADING. THEN WE HEARD FROM A SECOND ATTORNEY WHO SPOKE ABOUT THE INSIGHTFUL COMMENTS MADE BY HIGH-RANKING ISRAELI OFFICIALS WHICH HE SAYS HAVE GENOCIDAL INTENT WHICH THEY ARGUED INFLUENCE THE ACTIONS OF SOLDIERS ON THE GROUND. THIS ATTORNEY CITED COMMENTS MADE BY ISRAEL'S DEFENSE MINISTER AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR, CALLING FOR COMPLETE SIEGE ON GAZA BECAUSE THEY ARE FIGHTING QUOTE, ANIMALS. HE CALL THAT LANGUAGE, WHICH IS BEEN REPEATED BY OTHER OFFICIALS, DEHUMANIZING. >> SO WHAT COULD THIS COURT FIND AT WHAT POWER DOES IT ACTUALLY HAVE? >> ISRAEL IS EXPECTED AS FAR AS NEXT STEPS, THEY ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE THEIR CASE TO MILE AS TO WHY THEY ARE NOT COMMITTING GENOCIDE ON GAZA. ISRAEL HAS PREVIOUSLY SAID THE ALLEGATIONS ARE BASELESS, THEY ARE NOT TARGETING CIVILIANS AND PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SET ON I, FORMERLY TWITTER, THERE'S NO INTENT OF OCCUPYING GAZA OR DISPLACING IT CIVILIANS. THE JUDGE WILL LIKELY COME BACK WITH A DECISION IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND WHEN THEY DO, SHOULD THEY SAID WITH SOUTH AFRICA, THERE'S NO WAY TO FORCE ISRAEL TO ADHERE TO THE COURT ORDERS. HOWEVER MANY ANALYSTS HAVE SAID, THAT SHOULD ISRAEL FAIL TO LISTEN TO THE COURT, IT COULD BE DAMAGING IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION AND EFFECT RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES. >> MEGHAN FITZGERALD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECORDING. >>> TESS MATA, AND LATER THIS HOUR, WATER WARNINGS. THE STUDY ABOUT JUST HOW MUCH PLASTIC IS IN BOTTLED WATER AND HOW IT COULD BE HURTING YOUR HEALTH. >>> FIRST, AFTER THE BREAK, AN EMERGENCY WITH REAL CONSEQUENCES. WE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE SURGE OF SWATTING CALLS, IMPACTIN >>> WE ARE BACK WITH NEWS ABOUT AN ALARMING RISE IN SO-CALLED SWATTING INCIDENTS, FAKE EMERGENCY CALLS THAT ARE MEANT TO DRAW A S.W.A.T. TEAM TO SOMEONE'S HOME. GABE GUTIERREZ REPORTS, INCREASINGLY THEY ARE TARGETING HIGH-PROFILE PUBLIC OFFICIALS. >> Reporter: SOMETHING CONGRESSMAN RENDON WILLIAMS NEVER EXPECTED AND CHRISTMAS DAY. >> WHEN IT HAPPENS YOU WOULD IS PERSONAL, VERY VIOLATING. >> Reporter: HE SAID SOMEONE CALLED 911 TO REPORT VIOLENCE AT HIS HIM. PLEASE RECOGNIZED HIS ADDRESS AND CALLED TO ALERT HIM THAT THEY WERE ON HIS WAY. BUT IT WAS TERRIFYING TO A FAMILY. >> I WANTED TO GET MY FAMILY TO A PLACE WHERE THEY WOULD BE SAFE. I BROUGHT EVERYONE INTO THE KITCHEN AND JUST EXPLAINED WHAT WAS HAPPENING, DROP EVERYTHING. >> Reporter: SWATTING, AS IT'S KNOWN, IS WHEN SOMEONE MAKES A FALSE EMERGENCY CALL ALLEGING VIOLENCE AND THE VICTIMS HOME SO HEAVILY ARMED LAW ENFORCEMENT, S.W.A.T. TEAM RESPONDS. IT IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN TOO PROMINENT AND EVEN NOT SO PROMINENT PUBLIC OFFICIALS. AMONG THEM, SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH WHO FILED CHARGES AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, ACCUSING HIM OF PLOTTING TO OVERTURN THE 2020 ELECTION. ALSO JUDGE TANYA CHUTKAN WHOSE OVERSEEING THE CASE. MAINE SECRETARY OF STATE SHANNON BELLOWS WHO BARRED MR. TRUMP FROM THE STATE'S BALLOT ALSO WAS SWATTED AND CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE, FLORIDA SENATOR RICK SCOTT AND BOSTON MAYOR RACHELLE WU, A TREND THAT HAS THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ON HIGH ALERT. >> IT IS DEEPLY DISTURBING SPIKE OF THREATS AGAINST THOSE WHO SERVE THE PUBLIC. >> Reporter: THE FBI HAS LAUNCHED A NATIONAL DATABASE TO TRACK THE INCIDENTS AND SAID THAT SWEATERS USE WHAT IS KNOWN AS SPOOFING MECHANISMS TO HIDE THEIR IDENTITIES AND LOCATIONS. AS FOR CONGRESSMAN WILLIAMS, HE BELIEVES HE WAS TARGETED BECAUSE OF HIS PRO-ISRAEL VIEWS, -- SO FAR. THE SHERIFF THREATENED TO CALL THE MORE THAN PRINTS, THEY ARE ILLEGAL AND CAN BE DANGEROUS AND LEAD TO VIOLENT ENCOUNTERS WITH POLICE. >> PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THIS ARE TRYING TO CREATE CHAOS, TRYING TO INTIMIDATE THE INDIVIDUALS WERE THE SUBJECT OF THESE FALSE REPORTS. AND IT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE. >> THANKS TO GABE GUTIERREZ. SOME SAY THEY SHOULD INCREASE PENALTIES FOR SWATTING, OTHER STATES ARE CURRENTLY CONSIDERING IT. >>> LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT IT WAS SEEN ON BURISMA ANALYST FREDERICK ALEXANDER, HE IS ALSO A FORMER CHIEF OF POLICE. I WAS STUNNED, A RECENT REPORT THAT THERE IS NO SPECIFIC LAW CRIMINALIZING SWATTING CHECK -- SWATTING IN THE U.S. THERE ARE PENALTIES WHEN SOMEONE IS CAUGHT AND CONVICTED BUT BOTTOM LINE, IT IS TOUGH TO PROSECUTE, ISN'T IT? >> THEY CAN BE TOUGH TO PROSECUTE. HOWEVER IN MANY STATES, ANYTIME YOU CALL AND FALSIFY A POLICE REPORT, OFTEN TIMES THERE ARE LOCAL STATE LAWS THAT REFER TO THAT BUT IT VARIES FROM STATE TO STATE. BUT I THINK THE BIGGER ISSUE HERE, THIS MORNING, IS THAT THIS IS BECOMING AND CONTINUING TO BE A PROBLEM WITHIN OUR SOCIETY. PARTICULARLY AS THESE TYPES OF EVENTS ARE DIRECTED AT HIGH- PROFILE, ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THIS PARTICULAR TIME WE ARE IN, IN THE HISTORY OF THIS NATION. SO I THINK AS TIME GOES ON, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE PUBLIC SAFETY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL CONTINUING EFFORTS. BUT MORE INCREASED TECHNOLOGY IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE INTRODUCED HERE. I THINK, TO FIGHT AGAINST THIS SPOOFING, AS IT IS REFERRED TO A. >> THE LOCAL LAW-ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OR A 911 OPERATOR, ARE THEY BEING TRAINED TO SPOT SWATTING CALLS, IS THAT PART OF THIS? >> SOMETIMES THESE CALLS CAN COME IN AND SOUND VERY REAL AND CERTAINLY IF IT COMES IN AS AN URGENT DAY, 911 OPERATORS ARE TRAINED TO RESPOND IMMEDIATELY. BUT THE DANGERS INVOLVED HERE, THAT ANY TIME YOU CALL, THERE IS A REPORT OF SOME VIOLENT INCIDENTS THAT IS ACTIVELY TAKING PLACE, POLICE ARE GOING TO COME AND COME VERY QUICKLY. THE OFFICERS TRIED TO GET THERE AS SAFELY AS THEY CAN. THEY PUT THE OFFICERS AT RISK. IT CAN CREATE A SITUATION WHERE THERE IS SOME CONTACT WITH POLICE AND SOME INDIVIDUAL AND INDIVIDUALS, THAT CAN TURN OUT TO BE WRONG. I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC WHO MAY BE WATCHING THIS MORNING, IF YOU KNOW PEOPLE DOING THIS, PLEASE STOP THEM. IF YOU ARE DOING THIS OR CONSIDERING ED, YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR STATE, PUTTING YOUR NATION THAT HARMED. BECAUSE THIS IS THE TYPE OF BEHAVIOR THAT NEEDS TO END IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE IT SERVES NO REAL PURPOSE AND IT HURTS ALL OF US. AND HURTS OUR COMMUNITIES. >> IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT THINK IT IS DOING DAMAGE OR HAVING AN IMPACT. IF YOU YOURSELF THINK YOU ARE THE TARGET OF A SWATTING CALL, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? >> CERTAINLY, NOTIFY YOUR LOCAL POLICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. GATHER AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN AND WHEN YOU CALL 911, THERE ARE RECORDED MESSAGES AND THEY ARE ABLE TO TRACE, UNDER SOME SECOND CHANCES, THEY ARE ABLE TO TRACE THOSE CALLS BACK TO THE PERSON OR PERSONS WHO MADE THOSE CALLS. BUT WE KNOW THAT WE ARE SEEING A GREAT DEAL OF SPOOFING AND AS WE GO ON, I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL BE INTRODUCED TO HELP SPOT AND LEAD US TO THOSE WHO MAY BE CARRYING OUT THESE TYPES OF ACTS. >> CHIEF ERIC ALEXANDER, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. >>> COMING UP, PROMISES OF CHANGE FROM THE CEO OF BOEING AFTER THIS MIDAIR EMERGENCY. WHAT HE SAYING ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION AND WHAT PASSENGERS HAD TO SAY. >>> IT IS KNOWN AS THE MIRACLE ON THE HUDSON. WE ARE MARKING 15 YEARS OF THAT INCREDIBLE PLANE LANDING ON THE HUDSON RIVER WITH ONE OF THE 150 PASSENGERS WHO SURVIVED. >> THE FIRST WOMAN ON A LUNAR MISSION. WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO GET THAT NEWS? >>> WELCOME BACK, THE CEO OF BOEING IS MAKING A PROMISE TO FIND OUT WHERE QUALITY CONTROL BROKE DOWN LEADING TO THE MIDAIR BLOWOUT OF A DOOR PLUG INVOLVING A BOEING MAX 9 PLANE. CEO OF AMERICA'S OLDEST PLAYMAKER ENSURING THE COMPANY WILL DO BETTER AS THE NTSB AND FAA TO NUKE THE INVESTIGATION OF LAST WEEK'S CARE. SENIOR CORRESPONDENT TOM COSTELLO JOINS US NOW. GOOD MORNING. >> Reporter: UNITED AND ALASKA AIRLINES ARE THE ONLY AIRLINE THAT FLY THE MAX 9 IN THE U.S. THEY ARE WAITING TEACHERS, INSPECTION PROCEDURES FROM BOEING AND THE FAA BEFORE THEY START A FIVE TO EIGHT HOUR PROCESS AND FOR NOW, I'LL MAX 9 LIGHTS REMAIN GROUNDED. ALASKA SAYS AT LEAST TWO SATURDAY. WELL BOEING IS MUCH IN A DAMAGE CONTROL. >> Reporter: ONCE AGAIN, BOEING IS FIGHTING FOR ITS REPUTATION. SIX DAYS AFTER THE SIDE OF AND ALASKA AIRLINES 9 BLEW OUT FORCING EMERGENCY LANDING. SENIOR OFFICIAL DAVID CALHOUN TOLD OFFICIALS, AIRLINE CONFIDENCE IS ON THE LINE. IN A CNBC EXCLUSIVE, CALHOUN SAYS HE TAKES THIS ACCIDENT PERSONALLY. >> I SAW THE PICTURE THAT EVERYBODY THOUGHT OF THE OPENING. BUT WHAT I REALLY SAW WAS THE EMPTY SEAT AND -- >> Reporter: OUT OF PURE LUCK, NO ONE WAS SEATED THERE WHEN IT OPENED UP. IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS AND 346 PEOPLE DIED IN TWO MAX 8 CRASHES OVERSEAS. IT WAS GROUNDED FOR TWO YEARS WHILE BOEING WAS FORCED TO PAY 2 1/2 BILLION DOLLARS IN FINES AND SETTLEMENTS. BUT BOEING HAS STRUGGLED WITH QUALITY CONTROL. THIS MAX 9 WAS BRAND-NEW, DELIVERED IN NOVEMBER YET WITH A POTENTIALLY FATAL FLAW. INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THE DOOR PLUG THAT BLEW OUT WASN'T PROPERLY SECURED. THE NTSB SAYS FOUR CRITICAL BOLTS HAVE NOT BEEN FOUND. IT IS NOT CLEAR IF THE BOLTS WERE EVER ATTACHED. WHEN ALASKA AND UNITED TECHNICIANS EXAMINED OTHER MAX 9S THEY FOUND BOLTS AROUND THOSE DOOR PLUGS, TOO. DIFFUSE ALLIES WAS MADE BY SPIRIT SYSTEMS AND DELIVER TO BOEING FOR FINAL ASSEMBLY. >> WE ARE NOT GOING TO POINT FINGERS THERE BECAUSE --. >> Reporter: SPIRIT HAS JUGGLED WITH QUALITY CONTROL PROBLEMS BUT SAYS AS A COMPANY, WE REMAIN FOCUSED ON THE QUALITY OF EACH AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE THAT LEAVES OUR FACILITIES. SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION PETE BUTTIGIEG. ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF PRODUCT THAT BOEING IS TURNING OUT AND SHUT THE PUBLIC CONCERN? >> EVERY PLANE THEY HAVE DELIVERED TO AN AIRLINE, EVERY PLANE THAT GOES INTO THE SKIES NEEDS TO BE 100% SAFE AND THEY NEED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT. >> Reporter: BOEING CREATED A CHEETAH SAFETY OFFICER AFTER THE OTHER CRASHES. THE CEO SAYS IS A -- IT IS UP TO THAT OFFICER TO DETERMINE WHEN BOEING CLEARS THE MAX 9 TO FLY. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>> WHILE BOEING IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WENT WRONG WITH HIS PLANE, NEXT WEEK MARKS 15 YEARS SINCE WHAT WE CALL THE MIRACLE ON THE HUDSON. >> WHEN CAPTAIN SULLY SULLENBERGER AND HIS COPILOT SUCCESSFULLY LANDED U.S. AIRWAYS FLIGHT 1549 IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HUDSON RIVER. THEY HAD NO OTHER OPTION AFTER A BIRD STRIKE CAUSED THE PLANE TO LOSE ENGINE POWER AFTER TAKEOFF. AMAZINGLY ALL 150 PASSENGERS ON BOARD SURVIVED. THEY WERE PULLED FROM THE PLANE AS WE WATCHED AS IT FLOATED ON THE RIVER. >> WE ARE JOINED BY ONE OF THOSE PASSENGERS ON THAT FLIGHT, PAMELA SIEGEL. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME. WE APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> TAKE US BACK, YOU HAD JUST TAKEN OFF OF LaGUARDIA. WHAT DID IT FEEL LIKE AND WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND? >> WE HAD A SLIGHT DELAY, A VERY ROUTINE FLIGHT FOR SOME OF US WHO DID THAT CHARLOTTE TO NEW YORK ROUTES. WE DID ALL THE TIME, AND WE TOOK A FLIGHT DELAY, CAME OUT AND IT FELT LIKE A FAIRLY NORMAL DAY. IT WAS COLD AND SNOWY BUT WHEN WE TOOK OFF EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I AM A NERVOUS FLYER. I WAITED A MINUTE OR TWO BEFORE I REACHED DOWN TO GET MY BOOK AND AS I WAS GETTING MY BOOK I HEARD, BANG AND FELT THE SHUTTER. IMMEDIATELY LIKE WE HAD SOMETHING BUT YOU ARE IN THE AIR, TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENED. SOMEONE ON THE RIGHT SIDE SAID, THE ENGINE IS ON FIRE AND SOMEONE SAID LEFT ENGINE IS ON FIRE AND WE REALIZED, THIS IS NOT GOOD. WE LAST FORWARD MOMENTUM. KIND OF BANGED TO THE LEFT. SOMEWHERE IN THAT PERIOD, THE CAPTAIN SAID, BRACE FOR IMPACT AND WE REALIZED, WE WERE GOING INTO THE RIVER. I TRIED TO DO MY BEST. >> HOW DID THAT IMPACT YOU AT THE TIME, IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AFTER THAT, AND STILL NOW, 15 YEARS LATER, HOW DO YOU REFLECT ON THAT? >> THE DAYS AND WEEKS AFTER, THERE WAS DEFINITELY A LITTLE BIT OF PTSD. IN WHAT HAPPENED AND TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF THE STORY. THE MEDIA WAS COVERING IT AND TRYING TO INTERNALIZE ALL OF THAT. AND THEN THERE IS ALL THE THINGS , I HAD TO TAKE MORE CONTROL AROUND FLYING, WHAT AIRCRAFT, DO I KNOW THE EXIT WROTE, BREATHING TECHNIQUES. BUT THEN THERE WAS ALSO THE BIGGER CHANGES I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IN MY LIFE. THERE WAS SPENDING MORE TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO BE THERE FOR GRADUATION OF MY CHILDREN, MARRIAGES, NOT GOING TO BE A GRANDPARENT FOR THE FIRST TIME AND ALSO, PROFESSIONALLY I WAS ABLE TO CHANGE AND FIND MY PURPOSE AND PASSION AND I NOW TRAVEL THE WORLD HELPING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS AND HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE WORLD BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO TAKE THAT MOMENT AND GIVE IT AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME. >> THAT IS INCREDIBLE. I KNOW AT THE TIME YOU ONLY KNEW ONE PERSON ON THE PLANE, WHEN YOU BOARDED. BUT COMING OFF OF THAT PLANE YOU NOW HAVE OTHER LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS. IS THAT RIGHT? >> ABSOLUTELY, THERE'S DEFINITELY FRIENDS FOR LIFE. ONE PERSON ON THE PLANE, WE ARE CLOSE AND SEE EACH OTHER FREQUENTLY. AS PASSENGERS WE HAD TO NETWORK AND FIND EACH OTHER. THE FIRST ONE CAME FROM SOMEBODY WHO WENT TO THE HOSPITAL WITH ME AND LEFT A SOGGY BUSINESS CARD. I FOUND THAT PERSON. ONE BY ONE WE HAVE CONNECTED AND WE HAVE FACEBOOK RIBS AND MEET UPS AND THERE'S USUALLY IN NEW YORK, A DINNER ON THE ANNIVERSARY, SOMETIMES -- I WANT TO BE WITH MY FAMILY AND THAT IS IMPORTANT TO ME RIGHT NOW BUT THE PASSENGERS ARE VERY CLOSE AND WE HAVE LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS AS A RESULT. >> I AM GUESSING YOU HAVE HIGH FEELINGS ABOUT THE CAPTAIN. >> ABSOLUTELY, WE ALL DO. HE IS ABSOLUTELY, THE WHOLE CREW, THEY REALLY DID WORK TOGETHER. >> IT'S A REMINDER, WE SIT THERE IN A PLANE AND GO TO THOSE EXERCISES BEFORE HAND. >> THERE IS A REASON THEY DO THAT. >> IT IS A REALLY GOOD REMINDER. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND RECOUNTING THAT DATE. CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING A GRANDPARENT. >> THANK YOU. >>> COMING UP, CONTAMINATION CONCERNS AND A CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY. >> YOU CAN FEEL THAT YOU ARE SUCKING IN DIRT, GRIME. YOU CAN FEEL IT ON YOUR SKIN. >> AND NBC NEWS INVESTIGATION ON A BATTERY PLANT BEING BLAMED FOR THE PROBLEMS SEVERAL YEARS AFTER AN EXPLOSION. >>> ALARMING RESEARCH SHOWS BOTTLED WATER HAS MORE PLASTIC IN IT THAN ORIGINALLY THOUGHT. WE WILL BREAK DOWN THE >>> WELCOME BACK. A CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY IS FEELING THE IMPACT OF LEAD CONTAMINATION FROM A BATTERY PLANT, YEARS AFTER IT IS CLOSE. THE ETA DECIDING WHETHER TO DESIGNATE AT LEAST THREE FORMER PLANT SITES, ONCE RUN BY -- TECHNOLOGIES -- CONTAMINATED LOCATIONS THAT ALLOW THE AGENCY TO CLEAN UP TOXIC LEAD RELEASED INTO COMMUNITIES. SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT CYNTHIA McFADDEN HAS THE DETAILS. >> Reporter: THE ETA IS CONSIDERING WHETHER TO DESIGNATE THREE FORMER BATTERY RECYCLING PLANTS AS SUPERFUND SITES. THAT IS BECAUSE ALL THREE OF THEM LEFT SUCH LARGE LEVELS OF LEAD IN THE SOIL AND AIR AROUND THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY OPERATED. ALL THREE OF THEM RUN BY THE SAME COMPANY, EXCISE TECHNOLOGIES. HERE ON THE EAST SIDE OF LOS ANGELES AT WHAT WAS ONCE A BATTERY RECYCLING PLANTS, THE CHISELED THE COMPANY'S NAME OFF THE WALL. IF ONLY IT WAS AS EASY TO ERASE THE HARM IT HAS DONE TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. FOR MOST -- SERVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEXT TO THE PLANTS. HE'S BATTLED TO CLOSED, AS THE FACILITY KNOWING RELEASED CANCER-CAUSING ARSENIC AND LEAD IN SOME PLACES, 650 TIMES WHAT THE STATE SAYS IS SAFE. WHILE MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. >> TO THINK THAT SOMEHOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE SAFE. >> Reporter: HE AND OTHER LEADERS WERE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE PLANT SHUTTERED IN 2015 AFTER ADMISSION TO SELLING VIOLATIONS AND PUTTING THE ILLEGAL STORAGE AND DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS WASTE. THE SETTLEMENT WAS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. BUT NOW NINE YEARS AFTER THE PLANT CLOSED, LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEMS REMAIN. >> HONESTLY, YOU CAN FEEL THAT YOU ARE SUCKING IN DIRT, GRIME. YOU CAN FEEL IT ON YOUR SKIN. >> Reporter: THE STATES CLEANUP HAS FAILED. A NEW STUDY EXCLUSIVELY OBTAINED BY NBC NEWS, SHOWS THE CONTAMINATED AREA IS MORE THAN TWICE THE SIZE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT. >> WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT OUR PROPERTY WAS CONTAMINATED, WE WERE HEARTBROKEN. >> Reporter: LIKE MOST PEOPLE HERE, THE AREA --. >> NOBODY CARES HOW HURT WE ARE OR HOW SICK WE ARE. I 2-YEAR-OLD IS IN BEHAVIORAL THERAPY. IS THAT A COINCIDENCE? NO ONE WILL TELL ME. >> Reporter: CHILDREN ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO LEAD POISONING WHICH OVER TIME CAUSES BRAIN DAMAGE AND DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS. COMMUNITY MEMBERS SAY DESPITE REPEATED REQUESTS, THE STATE HAS NOT PROVIDED ANY LONG-TERM TESTING. MARK LOPEZ FAMILY HAS LIVED HERE SINCE THE 1950s. >> I AM VERY MOTIVATED. >> Reporter: HE LEADS A NONPROFIT INSTRUMENTAL IN SHUTTERING THEM THAT HE'S FURIOUS THE COMPANY GOT AWAY WITH A MODEST FIND AND LATER DECLARING BANKRUPTCY AND DISSOLVING IN THE U.S. >> WE TALK ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM, IS NOT JUST THE FACT THAT THESE FACILITIES EXIST, IT IS ALSO WHEN DISASTER HAPPENS, HOW DID THE AUTHORITIES RESPOND. THEY RESPOND IN WAYS THAT TELL US OUR LIFE THE MATTER. >> Reporter: IN FACT, DR. JOE JOHNSON WAS THE RESEARCH AUTHOR IN A STUDY THAT CONCLUDED THE STATE RESEARCH CLEANUP IS NOT WORKING. HOMES ARE SO CONTAMINATED. TEAM ALSO CONCLUDED 98% OF HOMES AS FAR AS 4.5 MILES FROM THE FORMER PLANT TESTED AT LOW LEVELS ABOVE STATE STANDARDS. STATE OFFICIALS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CLEANUP, DECLINED REPEATED REQUESTS FOR AN INTERVIEW. HOW GOOD A JOB HAVE THEY DONE IN YOUR ESTIMATION? >> FAILED, COMPLETELY. YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR. >> Reporter: THEY DID TELL US THEY HAVE HIRED A NEW CONTRACTOR TO RUN THE CLEANUP AND A THIRD PARTY MONITOR. BUT AFTER DECADES OF FAILED PROMISES, THE COMMUNITY IS BOTH ANGRY AND IN DESPAIR. WHILE THE STATE HAS SPENT ALMOST $1 BILLION ON CLEANUP, IT JUST HAS NOT WORKED. WE WILL SEE HOW THIS NEW COMPANY DOES. >> VERY POWERFUL REPORTING. >>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT A STUDY THAT IS ALL ABOUT THE SAFETY OF BOTTLED DRINKING WATER. RESEARCHERS FROM COLUMBIA AND RUTGERS UNIVERSITIES FOUND YOUR REGULAR BOTTLED WATER CONTAINS 240,000 DETECTABLE PLASTICS. THAT IS 10 TO 100 TIMES MORE THAN PREVIOUSLY ESTIMATED. >> IT IS JUST GOING TO CHANGE WHAT YOU SEE ON STORE SHELVES. BUT FOR NOW, PROBABLY NOT. THE INTERNATIONAL BOTTLED WATER ASSOCIATION RESPONDED TO THE STUDY SAYING THEY HAVE HAD LIMITED NOTICE AND CANNOT PROVIDE A DETAILED RESPONSE. >> TO BREAK THIS DOWN IS DR. STAPLETON, ONE OF THE CO AUTHORS AND AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE STUDY AND FINDINGS. WHAT DID YOU DISCOVER AND HOW CONCERNED SHOULD WE BE? >> IN THE STUDY WE WERE ABLE TO USE TECHNOLOGY TO IDENTIFY THE NANO PLASTICS, THOSE REALLY SMALL PLASTICS. AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE WERE ABLE TO DETECT SOMEBODY MORE. PREVIOUSLY DETECTED AT MICRO SIZE OR A GRAIN OF SAND SIZE PLASTICS. BUT THE CONCERN IS UNDER EVALUATION. WE NEED TO DO MORE TESTING TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE PLASTIC PARTICLES INTERACT WITH OURSELVES. >> AS WE SAID EARLIER, THE STUDY USED CONCENTRATIONS OF PLASTICS IN BOTTLED WATER THAT WERE 10,000 TIMES SMALLER THAN PREVIOUSLY ESTIMATED. PUT THAT INTO CONTEXT IS OF HOW MUCH WORSE IT WAS THEN WE THOUGHT. >> WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY MICROSIZED PLASTICS, THOSE ARE ABOUT A SESAME SEED, A GRAIN OF SAND, A LITTLE BIT SMALLER THAN THAT. IT ALLOWED US TO LOOK AT -- 1000 TIMES SMALLER THAN THE SMALLEST OF THOSE MICRO PLASTICS BEFORE. THAT IS WHY NUMBERS ARE SO MUCH GREATER AND STARTLING BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT THEY WERE THERE, -- IDENTIFY THEM, QUANTIFY THEM AND GIVE US THE TYPE OF PLASTIC THEY ARE, THAT IS WHAT MAKES THE STUDY SAYS SPECIAL. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS, YOUR STUDY, STUDIES LIKE IT. WHAT THEY LEAD TO AND WILL WE SEE ANY ACTION TAKEN? >> THAT IS EXACTLY IT, THE FIRST LINE IS AWARENESS BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF SOMETHING YOU CAN'T SEE AND THIS ALLOWS US TO IDENTIFY IF THESE PARTICLES ARE INDEED IN WATER SOURCES. A STUDY RELEASED THIS WEEK IDENTIFIED A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PROTEIN SOURCES AS WELL. SO FIRST, JUST TO BECOME AWARE OF WHAT THEY ARE AND WHERE THEY ARE. THE NEXT STEP IS TO IDENTIFY WHAT THEY DO WHEN THEY GET INTO CONTACT WITH HUMAN TISSUES. THEY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE HUMAN LUNGS, HUMAN BLOOD. SO TO HAVE A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING. AND POLICY AND REMEDIATION CAN COME INTO EFFECT AS WELL. >> HOW CONCERNED IF SOMEBODY THEY SHOULD SOMEBODY BE IF THEY ARE GETTING WATER AT THE GROCERY STORE OR AT THE AIRPORT, HOW MUCH SHOULD PEOPLE BE THINKING ABOUT THIS? >> I THINK IT IS AN AWARENESS TO LIMIT YOUR CONTACT WITH PLASTIC IF YOU HAVE THE OPTION. YOU HAD A STORY ABOUT THAT AND I KNOW THE PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY WILL BE DRINKING BOTTLED WATER BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT BOTTLED WATER DOESN'T HAVE THE LETTER IN IT. -- THE LEAD IN IT. MAKING CHOICES TO LIMIT YOUR EXPOSURE AS BEST AS POSSIBLE BUT REUSABLE ALUMINUM, REUSABLE GLASS NOT ONLY LIMITS EXPOSURE BUT IT ALSO LIMITS THE DISPOSAL OF THAT PLASTIC BOTTLE, ONCE YOU ARE DONE WITH IT. IT IS A TWOFOLD WAY TO HAVE MORE REASONABLE OPTIONS. >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >>> LET'S TURN TO FINANCIAL HEADLINES AFTER TUESDAY, WE DISCUSSED THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS DECIDED TO GIVE BITCOIN ETF THE GREEN LIGHT. >> WE HAVE THAT AND OTHER MONEY NEWS. GOOD MORNING. >> Reporter: GOOD MORNING TO YOU. THE S.E.C. VOTED TO ALLOW INVESTORS TO BUY AND SELL BITCOIN AS EASILY AS STOCKS AND MUTUAL FUNDS. A DECISION BEING HELD AS A GAME CHANGER FOR THE CRYPTO INDUSTRY. THE S.E.C. DECISION CLEARS THE WAY FOR THE FIRST U.S. EXCHANGE TRADED FUND OR ETF THAT HOLDS BITCOIN TO BE SOLD TO THE PUBLIC. PREVIOUSLY IF YOU WANTED TO BUY OR SELL THE CURRENCY, YOU HAD TO EITHER TRADE ON AN EXCHANGE LIKE GOING BASE AND PAY A HEFTY TRANSACTION FEE OR BUY PRODUCTS THAT TRACK BITCOIN. A DOZEN FUNDS FROM COMPANIES INCLUDING BLACKROCK, FIDELITY, -- HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT TO LIST ETF'S ON STOCK EXCHANGES AS SOON AS TODAY. GOOGLE IS LAYING OFF HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES INCLUDING FROM --. THE COFOUNDERS OF FITBIT ARE LEAVING THE COMPANY AND THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THE AUGMENTED REALITY TEAM ARE BEING LET GO. LAUGHS COME AS COMPANIES LIKE GOOGLE AND MICROSOFT ARE BETTING BIG ON THE ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGY FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF CHATGPT. >>> IF YOU LISTENED TO MORE MUSIC LAST YEAR, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. A REPORT FINDS THE GLOBAL MUSIC INDUSTRY TOPPED $4 TRILLION -- 4 TRILLION STREAMS. A NEW RECORD AND UP 34% FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. IN THE U.S., COUNTRY, LATIN AND WORLD, WHICH INCLUDES K POP SAW THE BIGGEST GROWTH. AS FOR THE BIGGEST MUSIC STAR IN THE WORLD, AND HE GUESSES? 1.8% OF THE U.S. STREAMING MARKET, ACCOUNTING FOR 7800 --. SAVANNA, I AM SURE YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A LOT OF THAT. I READ THAT AND I WAS LIKE, WOW! IN THE WORLD. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>> COMING UP, WE TAKE YOU TO TENNESSEE WHERE A PERSON -- COULD SOON SET THE STAGE FOR ITD . >> NEWS FROM THE GENERATION OF NOW IS NBC NEWS NOW. >>> WELCOME BACK. SELENA GOMEZ WILL PLAY JUSZCZYK ICON LINDA RONSTADT IN AN UPCOMING BIOPIC. THE NEWS WAS CONFIRMED ON SOCIAL MEDIA SAYING IT ALL STARTED WITH A SIMPLE DREAM THAT TOSSED BACK TO HER EIGHTH ALBUM. SHE'S A COUNTRY, ROCK 'N ROLL AND LATIN MUSIC LEGEND WHO HOLDS THE RECORD FOR THE BIGGEST SELLING NON-ENGLISH- LANGUAGE ALBUM IN U.S. HISTORY. AS FOR GOMEZ, IN ADDITION TO HER MUSIC RESUME, SHE'S AN ACTRESS, SCORING A NOMINATION FOR HER ROLE IN ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING. BOTH ARE OF MEXICAN HERITAGE. THE PROJECT IS IN PREPRODUCTION. WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT YOU STREAMING TAYLOR SWIFT. DAYS AGO I WAS STREAMING LINDA RONSTADT. >> THERE YOU GO, YOU'VE GOT TO GET SOME SELENA GOMEZ TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS COMING FOR YOU. >>> WE END THIS HOUR WITH EFFORTS OUT OF TENNESSEE TO PROTECT MUSICIANS IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. THE STATES GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED PLANS TO UPDATE THE EXISTING LAWS TO INCLUDE PROTECTIONS FOR SONGWRITERS AND ARTISTS FROM THE MISUSE OF AI. NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT WENDELL VANDER HAS A STORY. >> Reporter: IN THE STATE TO LAUNCH SOME OF MUSIC'S MOST ICONIC VOICES, THERE IS A GROUNDBREAKING NEW BILL TO HELP PROTECT THEM. STANDING IN NASHVILLE'S LEGENDARY RCA STUDIO, TENNESSEE GOVERNOR BILL LEE ANNOUNCED LEGISLATION TO PROTECT ARTISTS IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. A FIRST OF ITS KIND BILL WITH A VERY INTENTIONAL NAME. >> IT IS THE ENSURING LIKENESS VOICE AND IMAGE SECURITY AT, THE ELVIS ACT. >> IT WOULD EXTEND ON LAWS PROTECTING LIKENESS BY SAFEGUARDING VOICES OF SONGWRITERS, PERFORMERS AND PROFESSIONALS FROM UNAUTHORIZED A IVORY CREATION. >> ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AS HELPFUL AND BENEFICIAL AS IT CAN BE WHEN USED APPROPRIATELY AS SOMETHING THAT CAN FRANKLY ROB AND DESTROY AN ARTIST, A CAREER IF IT IS USED INAPPROPRIATELY. >> Reporter: WITH THE LIKES OF GRAND OLE OPRY AND -- RECORDS, MUSIC IN TENNESSEE IS A NEARLY $6 BILLION INDUSTRY. OFFICIALS HOPE TO MAKE THE SPELL A NATIONWIDE BLUEPRINT. THE OVERLAP BETWEEN MUSIC AND AI IS GROWING. FAST. THE SONG WENT VIRAL WITH AI GENERATED VOICES OF DRAKE AND THE WEEKND WITHOUT ARTIST CONSENT. BUT SOME ARTISTS LIKE DEMI LOVATO AND JOHN LEGEND ARE LEANING IN, PARTNERING WITH LIMITED ACCESS TO THEIR VOICES TO 32nd CLIPS. TECHNOLOGY >> A LOT MORE OF THA CONVERSATION HAPPENING >> AND THE ELVIS ACT, I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE. THAT DOES IT FOR THIS HOUR O MORNING NEWS NOW STAY WITH US THE NEWS CONTINUES RIGHT NOW >>> HEY, EVERYONE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS THURSDAY. I'M SAVANNAH SELLERS >> I'M JOE FRYER RIGHT NOW ON MORNING NEWS NOW, BACK IN COURT. FORMER DONALD TRUMP IS EXPECTE TO BE PRESENT TODAY FOR CLOSIN ARGUMENTS IN HIS CIVIL FRAUD TRIAL IN NEW YORK, WHY THE JUDGE IS DENYING TRUMP'S REQUEST T DELIVER PART OF THE ARGUMENT HIMSELF AS THE CASE ENTERS ITS FINAL PHASE. >>> ALSO IN COURT TODAY, HUNTE BIDEN, THE PRESIDENT'S SON I DUE IN A LOS ANGELES COURTROOM FOR HIS ARRAIGNMENT ON TAX RELATED CHARGES, THREE OF WHIC ARE FELONIES, FOLLOWING SURPRISE APPEARANCE AT A CONGRESSIONAL MEETING, DEBATIN ON WHETHER TO HOLD HIM I CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS, MORE O WHAT WE CAN EXPECT LATER TODAY >>> DEADLY AVALANCHE I CALIFORNIA, ONE PERSON KILLE AND ANOTHER INJURED AT A SKI RESORT NEAR LAKE TAHOE WE WILL HAVE THE DETAILS AND HOW TO STAY SAFE ON THE SLOPES >>> AND ALL THE WORLD IS A STAGE IN OUR LATEST EDITION OF FLIPPING THE SCRIPT. WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE LATES PROJECT THAT HAS HIM STEPPIN INTO THE SHOES OF SHAKESPEAR HIMSELF. >> THAT IS TWO OF MY FAVORIT BROADWAY SHOWS OF THE LAST FEW YEARS. >>> WE BEGIN WITH THE LEGA CASES OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUM NEARING AN END >> CLOSING ARGUMENTS WILL TAKE PLACE TODAY IN NEW YORK IN THE CIVIL FRAUD TRIAL AGAINST TRUM AND HIS COMPANY. HE IS ACCUSED OF INFLATING THE VALUE OF HIS BUSINESS ASSETS T GET MORE FAVORABLE LOAN TERMS. TRUMP ASKED TO DELIVER SOME OF THE REMARKS TODAY BUT TH REQUEST WAS DENIED BY THE JUDG PRESIDING AFTER THE FORMER PRESIDENT WOULD NOT AGREE TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS JASMINE IS OUTSIDE OF TH COURTHOUSE IN LOWER MANHATTA WITH A PREVIEW TELL US WHAT THE CONDITIONS WERE THAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT DI NOT AGREE TO AND WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN THE CLOSING ARGUMENT TODAY? >> Reporter: AS IT CAME TO ME, YOU SAW ME SHIFTING FROM SIDE TO SIDE IT IS COLD BUT SPARKS ARE LIKE LETO FLY INSIDE THE COURTROO THIS MORNING I WANT TO READ FOR YOU FROM TH JUDGE AND THE REQUEST THEY MADE, WHAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT WA ABLE TO DO AND NOT TO DO IF IN FACT HE WAS ABLE TO OFFER PART OF THE CLOSING ARGUMENTS SAYIN TRUMP WOULD BE ALLOWED SPEAK ONLY ABOUT FACTS IN EVIDENCE AND APPLICATION OF THE RELEVANT LA TO THOSE FACTS AS HIS LAWYER ARE LIKEWISE RESTRAINEDED. THE JUDGE SAID HE WOULD NO ALLOW TRUMP TO MAKE A CAMPAIGN SPEECH OR ATTACK THE JUDGE, HI STAFF OR ATTORNEY GENERAL. THERE IS A GAG ORDER IN PLAC FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN THIS MORNING. COURT IS IN SESSION STARTING A 10 # 0 A.M WE WILL GET TW HOURS OF CLOSING ARGUMENTS FRO THE DEFENSE TEAM FOLLOWED BY TWO HOURS OF CLOSING ARGUMENTS FRO THE PROSECUTION, KEVIN WALLACE ANDY AMIR. IT IS LIKELY THERE WILL BE CONVERSATION WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S ATTORNEYS AND TH JUDGE. BECAUSE OF THIS BACK AND FORTH LEADING UP TO TODAY'S CLOSIN ARGUMENTS, BEGINNING ON JANUAR 4th WHEN THEY PUT IN THE REQUEST FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT T OFFER PART OF THE CLOSIN ARGUMENTS AND THESE GUIDELINES WERE PUT INTO PLACE. THERE WAS A DEADLINE AS OF YESTERDAY NOON THAT DEADLINE WAS EXTENDED A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TIMES SAYING RESPOND TO THESE GUIDELINES IN PLACE OR THE FORMER PRESIDEN WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OFFER TH CLOSING ARGUMENTS. THEY DID NOT RESPOND GORAN SAID IT IS NOT GOING T HAPPEN WHETHER OR NOT THEY APPEAL TO THE JUDGE IS I QUESTION BEFORE THE CLOSIN ARGUMENTS GET STARTED. >> WE KNOW THAT LETITIA JAMES, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, SUED FOR $250 MILLION AND NOW SHE WANTS MORE AND A LIFETIME BAN AGAINS TRUMP WORKING IN THE NEW YOR REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY WHAT MORE CAN YOU TELL US ABOU WHAT SHE IS SEEKING? >> SPEAK ABOUT THIS FOR MOMENT WE ARE LOOKING AT HALF A CENTURY OF WHAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAS BUILT HIS REPUTATION ON, BEING THIS REAL ESTATE MAGNATE IN NE YORK CITY, HOBNOBBING WITH THE WEALTHIEST OF THE WEALTHY IN NEW YORK CITY. JAMES IS ASKING FOR $750 MILLION IN FINES, ASKING HIM TO BE BANNED FOR LIFE FROM WORKING HERE IN THE NEW YORK CITY AREA AND BANNED FROM SERVING AS A OFFICER OR DIRECTOR OF A NEW YORK CORPORATION SO DONOT BE FOOLED WE ARE LOOKING AT 90 PLU CRIMINAL CHARGES AT THIS POINT FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT, FOUR POSSIBLE TRIALS AS WELL WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE FEDERAL AND OF COURSE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN GEORGIA AS WELL. THIS CASE THOUGH, IS GOING T HAVE A REAL EFFECT ON THE FORMER PRESIDENT LONG WITH HIS FAMILY AS WELL PAUSE OF WHAT HE HAS BASED HIMSELF ON FOR SO LONG AND THEN THE QUESTION IS WHEN IS THIS DECISION FROM THE JUDGE GOING TO COME. HE HAS BEEN VERY PARTICULAR, VERY METICULOUS THROUGHOUT THE TRIAL. SO THE LIKELIHOOD THIS COMES WITHIN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO, VERY LOW. THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS IS MORE LIKELY AND HOW HIGH THE NUMBER WILL B IS STILL IN QUESTION >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>> PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SON HUNTER BIDEN IS SET TO BE ARRAIGNED LATER THIS AFTERNOON IN LO ANGELES ON FEDERAL TAX CHARGES >> THE ARRAIGNMENT COMES FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE OF TH PLEA DEAL LAST YEAR. THE DEAL WOULD HAVE GIVEN HI TWO YEARS PROBATION AFTE PLEADING GUILTY TO MISDEMEANOR CHARGES. HOUSE REPUBLICANS VOTED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE FULL HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOLD HUNTE BIDEN IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRES FOR NOT COMPLYING WITH A SUBPOENA HE APPEARED YESTERDAY AS A SURPRISE AT ONE OF THE COMMITTEE HEARINGS BEFORE THE VOTE >> RYAN NOBLES IS JOINING US NOW FROM LOS ANGELES RYAN, GOOD MORNING TO YOU. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT DURING TH HEARING TODAY ON THE TAX CHARGES? >> Reporter: THIS SHOULD BE ROUTINE ARRAIGNMENT HEARIN WHERE HUNTER BIDEN WILL ANSWER TO NEW CHARGES, THREE OF THE FELONIES WHERE FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ARE ACCUSING HIM O NEGLECTING TO PAY MORE THAN MILLION IN TAXES AND ALSO FILING FALSE # RETURNS. THEY SAY INSTEAD OF PAYING TAXES, HE WAS SPENDING MONEY O LUXURY HOTELS, DRUGS, AND MANY OTHER THINGS AND THAT THAT WAS A VIOLATION OF THE LAW NOW THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THA IF HE IS CONVICTED ON TH CHARGES, HE COULD FACE UP TO 1 YEARS IN PRISON. IT IS UNLIKELY THAT HE WOULD FACE THAT AMOUNT OF TIME BUT THESE ARE SERIOUS CHARGES THAT THE SPECIAL COUNSEL HANDED DOWN. IT IS LIKELY THAT HE WILL END UP IN TRIAL THAT TRIAL COULD HAPPEN IN THE MIDST OF THE 2024 CAMPAIGN >> CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE APPEARANCE YESTERDAY BY HUNTER BIDEN ON CAPITOL HILL? HE WAS JOINED BY HIS LAWYERS KIND OF TURNED INTO A CIRCUS I THE HALLS OF CAPITOL HILL, TEL US WHAT HAPPENED >> Reporter: YEAH, WE ARE IN A WEIRD TIME ON CAPITOL HILL THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED BUT EVEN BY THA STANDARD WHAT WE SAW PLAY OU YESTERDAY WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY UNPRECEDENTED NO ONE KNEW THAT HUNTER BIDE PLANNED TO SHOW UP FOR THI HEARING. HE WAS NOT SCHEDULED TO BE A PART OF IT THIS WAS ACTUALLY AN ATTEMPT T HOLD HIM IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS FOR NOT COOPERATING WITH CONGRESS SO THE FATH THAT HE SHOWED U THERE WAS A DEMONSTRATION THAT HE WAS WILLING TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS BUT WANTED TO DO SO IN A PUBLIC SETTING IT WAS PRETTY REMARKABLE IT DIDN'T REALLY CHANGE TH COURSE OF ACTION BY THE HOUS COMMITTEES THEY STILL VOTED OUT A RESOLUTION TO ASK THE ENTIRE HOUSE TO RECOMMEND THAT HE B HELD IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS BECAUSE HE REFUSED TO SIT FOR CLOSED DOOR DEPOSITION IT COULD MEAN THAT IF THE ENTIRE HOUSE AGREES WITH TH CONGRESSIONAL OPINION, IT IS LIKELY IT WILL BE SENT TO TH DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WHERE THEY COULD POTENTIALLY PROSECUT HUNTER BIDEN FOR NOT ABIDING B THE REQUEST. >> THE DRAMA EXTENDS FROM TH IMPEACHMENT LED INQUIRY INTO PRESIDENT BIDEN. WHERE DOES THAT ININQUIRY STAND? >> THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS IS A BIG PART OF IT. HUNTER BIDEN IS A KEY WITNESS TO THE REPUBLICAN ALLEGATIONS THA IT WAS HIS FOREIGN BUSINES DEALINGS THAT THE PRESIDEN SPECIFICALLY BENEFITTED FROM THEY HAVE YET TO DEMONSTRATE ANY HARD EVIDENCE TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION A LOT OF IT HAS JUST BEE INNUENDO SO TRYING TO ASK HUNTER BIDE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON WHAT HIS WORK WAS ABOUT AND HIS FATHER' INVOLVEMENT OR LACK OF INVOLVEMENT IN IT IS A IMPORTANT PART OF TH IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY. THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH OTHER DEPOSITIONS. THEY HAVE THE ART DEALING WH SOLD SOME OF THE ART OF HUNTER BIDEN. THEY ARE MOVING CLOSER T ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT. EVEN THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUS AHAS BEEN PRESSED ON WHETHER O NOT THE EVIDENCE IS THERE TO ACTUALLY MOVE TO ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT WHICH WOULD BE PRETTY GRAVE AND HE HAS YET TO SAY THAT THE INVESTIGATORS HAV REACHED THAT POINT >> ALL RIGHT, RYAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH >>> LET'S GET TO THE LATEST ON WINTER WEATHER THIS MORNING. MILLIONS ARE PICKING UP TH PIECES AFTER DEADLY STORMS TOR THROUGH MUCH OF THE COUNTR EARLIER THIS WEEK. IT BROUGHT SNOW, TORNADOES TORRENTIAL RAIN AND NOW A NE THREAT IS ON THE WAY CORRESPONDENT EMILIE IKEDA IS IN LITTLE FALLS, NEW JERSEY WHERE THE FLOOD RISK IS HIGH, GOOD MORNING. >> WELL, MORE THAN 180 MILLION AMERICANS ARE FACING NEW WEATHER ALERTS THROUGH THE WEEK WHIL STILL CLEANING UP FROM THE LAS BRUTAL BLAST WATER RESCUE TEAMS HERE ARE AT THE READY WITH FLOOD WATER CONTINUING TO POUR INT COMMUNITIES. YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE WATE ENCROACHING ON HOMES BEHIND ME IN AN AREA THAT HAS SEEN NEARL DOUBLE THE AVERAGE RAINFALL OVER THE PAST MONTH >> Reporter: THIS MORNING, A SECOND BLAST OF BRUTAL WEATHER IS BARRELLING ACROSS THE U.S SOME IN THE NORTHEAST ARE STIL RISING AFTER FIVE INCHES OF RAIN BATTERED THE ALREADY DRENCHE REGION >> WE WEREN'T ABLE TO CROSSING THE CURRENT SO WE COMMITTED TO STAYING IN THE BUILDING. >> Reporter: SCHOOLS CLOSED AN NEIGHBORHOODS EVACUATED NEAR A PARTIAL DAM BREACH I CONNECTICUT WEDNESDAY. RESCUE CREWS PULLED PEOPLE FRO THE FAST MOVING FLOOD WATERS WINTER WEATHER FROM COAST TO COAST AND IN CALIFORNIA, DERVE STATION AT A POPULAR SKI RESOR NEAR LAKE TAHOE AFTER A MASSIV AVALANCHE NEARLY 10 FEET DEE AND 450 FEET LONG FLIPPED FOUR PEOPLE AND KILLED ONE, A 54-YEAR-OLD MAN. >> THIS IS A SAD DAY FOR AEF EVERYONE HERE. >> Reporter: BACK EAST, POWERFUL WINDS ON THE NORTHEAST COASTLINE, STRONG ENOUGH TO PUSH THIS EMPTY SOUTHWEST PLANE INT A JET BRIDGE IN MAINE. IT IS THE SAME SYSTEM THAT BLAPG TED THE MIDWEST IN BLINDING SNOW AND BROUGHT TWO DOZEN REPORTED TORNADOES TO THE SOUTH RESIDENTS THERE NOW PICKING UP WHAT IS LEFT OF LEVELLED HOMES NATIONWIDE, THERE IS NO RELIEF IN SIGHT FOR STORM WEARY COMMUNITIES, BRACING FOR ANOTHER BLAST OF WINTER. >> WE JUST TWO DAYS AGO FINISHED ALL OF THE WORK AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH TH SAME THING AGAIN >> Reporter: IT'S HARD TO MAKE OUT WHERE THE PASSAIC RIVER ENDS AND OVERFLOWS INTO THE COMMUNITY. IT HAS PASSED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD HERE. THE PASSAIC RIVER IS STILL RISING AT THIS POINT AND I CAUSE FOR CONCERN. IT COULD REMAIN IN FLOOD STAGE THROUGH TOMORROW THE REGION COULD BE BATTERED WITH MORE RAIN BEFORE THE FLOO WATERS EVEN RECEDE >> THANK YOU SO MUCH >>> THE SEVERE WEATHER COVERAG CONTINUES WITH METEOROLOGIST ANGIE LASSMAN. >> ANGIE, TELL US THE LATEST HERE >> GOOD MORNING. EMILIE LAID OUT ALL OF THE IMPACTS FROM THE PREVIOU STORMS IT WILL BE SIMILAR WITH THE NEXT STORM ON DECK. WE HAVE AN ADDED PUNCH OF SOME BITTER COLD TEMPERATURES, TH COLDEST WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR THIS SEASON WE HAVE A 11 MILLION PEOPL UNDER THE WIND CHILL ALERTS UP AND DOWN THE PLAINS. YOU CAN SEE WHY. TEMPERATURES IN THE SINGLE DIMGTS FOR RAPID CITY, BILLINGS, MINNEAPOLIS, SITTING AT 20 DEGREES. SINGLE DIGIT WIND CHILLS FOR MINNEAPOLIS, RAPID CITY AT 1 BELOW. THE TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO BE LIKE THIS. IT WILL GET WORSE AS THE DAY GOES ON. AS WE GET INTO FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, THESE ARE YOUR MINIMAL WIND CHILLS. THEY ARE DANGEROUSLY COLD IN A LOT OF SPOTS 41 BELOW IN RAPID CITY FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. 37 BELOW FOR GRAND ISLAND. DES MOINES WILL GET TO 32 BELOW. REALLY DANGEROUSLY COL CONDITIONS THAT PEOPLE NEED TO PREPARE FOR. AS WE LOOK TO THE EAST AND INT THE END OF THE WEEKEND, AN EARLY NEXT WEEK, SINGLE DIGI TEMPERATURES EXPECTED FO CHICAGO ON MONDAY, JUST DEGREES FOR THE HIGH TEENS FOR CLEVELAND, 6 DEGREES ON MONDAY IN ST. LOUIS PREPARING FOR SOME REALLY ARCTIC KIND OF COLD CONDITIONS THAT WILL WORK INTO THAT PORTION OF THE COUNTRY. NOW, WHETHER IT COMES TO THE OTHER IMPACTS, VERY SIMILAR PATH TO THE PREVIOUS SYSTEM AND SIMILAR IMPACT WE SEE THE SNOW IN THE PLAIN THAT WILL MAKE THE TRAVE DIFFICULT. WE HAVE POTENTIAL FOR STRONGER STORMS THIS EVENING AN OVERNIGHT ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE GULF COAST AND THEN TOMORROW, THE SOUTHEAST IS WHERE WE HAVE ONCE AGAIN, ANOTHER CHANCE TO SEE STRONG STORMS INCLUDING THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE TORNADOES. THE HEAVY RAIN WILL BE SOMETHING WE DEAL WITH ON TOP OF THAT, BLIZZARD CONDITIONS IN PARTS OF THE MIDWEST AND GREAT LAKES. WE WILL SEE HEAVY SNOW AND STRONG WINDS WE HAVE ALERTS ALREADY UP IN A LOT OF SPOTS WHEN IT COMES T WINTER ALERTS AND WIND ALERTS. THE SNOW CONTINUES AS WE GET INTO SATURDAY. WE WILL SEE REALLY CHILL CONDITIONS ON TOP OF THAT SNOW IT WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR TRAVEL. WE COULD SEE A FOOT TO A FOO AND A HALF ON THE LAKES. AND HERE'S WHY WE HAVE REALLY WARM TEMPERATURES FOR THE LAKES BUT NOT DEALIN WITH MUCH ICE COVER. THAT MEANS WHEN IT COMES TO LAKE EFFECT SNOW, IT THDECISION THANK YOU FOR JOINING US IMPORTANT INFORMATION. >> THANK YOU >>> NOW TO IOWA AND A DAY OF HEADLINES AS THE CAUCUSE QUICKLY APPROACH JUST HOURS BEFORE THE LATEST REPUBLICAN DEBATE BETWEEN NIKK HALEY AND RON DESANTIS, CHRI CHRISTIE NOUNCED HE IS STOPPIN HIS LONG SHOT CAMPAIGN GARRETT HAAKE IS LIVE IN DES MOINES WITH THE LATEST >> Reporter: GOOD MORNING. THIS DEBATE LAST NIGHT WAS THE LAST BEST CHANCE FOR THESE TWO CANDIDATES TO INTRODUC THEMSELVES TO THE COUNTRY BEFORE IOWA STARTS THE PROCESS OFF FOUR DAYS FROM NOW WITH THE CAUCUSES. THE DEBATE WAS OVERSHADOWED IN PART BY CHRIS CHRISTIE DROPPIN OUT AND A COMMENT TRUMP MAY DO ABOUT HIS PRESIDENTIAL TICKET. OVERNIGHT, A FIERY FACEOFF I FROZEN IOWA WITH THE STATE'S REPUBLICAN CAUCUS JUST FOUR DAYS AWAY >> YOU ARE SO DESPERATE. YOU ARE JUST SO DESPERATE. >> Reporter: NIKKI HALEY AND RON DESANTIS DEBATING ONE ON ONE I WHAT IS LIKELY A RACE FOR SECOND PLACE BEHIND THE DOMINAN FRONTRUNNER HERE, DONALD TRUMP HALEY AND DESANTIS LAUNCHING REPEATED ATTACKS ON EACH OTHER'S RECORDS. >> EVERY TIME HE LIES, DRAKE UNIVERSITY, DON'T TURN THIS INTO A DRINKING GAME BECAUSE YOU WILL BE OVER SERVED BY THE END OF THE NIGHT. >> WE DON'T NEED A MEALY-MOUTHED POLITICIAN WHO TELLS YOU WHA YOU THINK YOU WANT TO HEAR JUS TO TRY TO GET YOUR VOTE. >> Reporter: HALEY MOCKING DESANTIS FROM HIS CAMPAIGN SLIDE FROM TOP TRUMP RIVAL AND HER MOMENTUM HAS GROWN >> IF YOU CAN'T MANAGE A CAMPAIGN, HOW CAN YOU MANAGE A COUNTRY? >> Reporter: DESANTIS DELITTLING HALEY'S WORK AS AMBASSADOR T THE U.N. >> YOU CAN'T TAKE THE UNITED NATIONS OUT OF THE AMBASSADOR. >> Reporter: DESPITE TRAILIN TRUMP, BOTH CANDIDATES BAREL CRITICIZING HIM. >> I AGREE WITH A LOT OF HIS POLICIES BUT HIS WAY IS NOT MY WAY. >> HE PROMISED RECOR DEPORTATION. HE DEPORTED FEWER PEOPLE THA OBAMA WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT. >> Reporter: THE MOST CONSISTENT KRITSIC OF THE PRESIDENT, CHRI CHRISTIE SUSPENDED HIS CAMPAIG AND TOOK SHOTS AT TH FRONTRUNNER. >> ANYONE WHO IS UNWILLING T SAY THAT HE IS UNFIT TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS UNTIL TO BE PRESIDENT OF TH UNITED STATES. >> Reporter: HE WAS ALSO CAUGH ON A HOT MIC >> DESANTIS CALLED ME, PETRAIFIED >> Reporter: AND MAKING THIS COMMENT PRESUMABLY ABOUT HALEY >> SHE IS GOING TO GET SMOKE AND YOU AND I BOTH KNOW IT >> Reporter: SKIPPING THE DEBATE IN FAVOR OF A FOX NEWS TOW HALL, TRUMP SEIZING ON THE COMMENT. >> I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE THA CHRIS CHRISTIE IS RIGHT. THAT IS ONE OF THE FOU THING THAT HE HAS BEEN RIGHT ABOUT >> Reporter: IN THE TOWN HALL, TRUMP ALSO RAISED EYEBROWS B SAYING HE HAS ALREADY DECIDE WHO HIS VICE PRESIDENT WOULD BE. THE CAMPAIGN WALKED THE COMMEN BACK AND SAID NO FINAL DECISIO WAS MADE AND THEY WOULD ANNOUNCE ONE IF THERE WAS BUT THAT IS WHAT GETS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN POLITICS TALKING WHE YOU START PICKING YOUR VIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE BEFORE TH VOTING HAS STARTED >> JANUARY, YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH >>> COMING UP, WE WILL LOOK AT ISRAEL'S LONG TRACK RECORD O ASSASSINATIONS AND HOW I APPLIES TO THE WAR WITH HAMA NEXT >>> WELCOME BACK LET'S GET TO INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES, STARTING IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA WHERE PROTESTS ON PAY CUTS HAVE TURNED INTO DEADLY RIOTS. >> ALI AROUZI JOINS US NOW WIT THAT AND MORE. >> GOOD MORNING. THAT'S RIGHT A STATE OF EMERGENCY HAS BEE DECLARED IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA AFTER MAJOR RIOTING AND LOOTIN HAS KILLED AT LEAST 16 PEOPLE. THE COUNTRY'S PRIME MINISTER HAS SUSPENDED THE POLICE CHIEF ALONG WITH TOP BUREAUCRATS FROM TH FINANCE AND TREASURY DEPARTMENTS WHILE THE GOVERNMENT CONDUCTS REVIEW INTO THE CAUSE OF THE RIOTS. >>> IN FINLAND, THEY ARE GOING TO KEEP THE BORDER WITH RUSSIA BEYOND JANUARY 15th WHEN IT WA DUE TO OPEN. THE CROSSING WAS SHUT DOWN LAT LAST YEAR AFTER ACCUSING MOSCO OF ORCHESTRATING THE ASYLU SEEKERS. 900 PEOPLE FROM COUNTRIE INCLEEDING SYRIA AND YEMEN CROSSED OVER ENNOVEMBER AN INCREASE OF LESS THAN ONE PE DAY PREVIOUSLY >>> AND IN THAILAND, THEY AR CONSIDERING BANNING THE USE OF MARIJUANA, 18 MONTHS AFTER BECOMING THE FIRST COUNTRY I ASIA TO DECRIMINALIZE THE PLANT. THE COALITION GOVERNMENT HAS VOWED TO TIGHTEN THE RULES AND ONLY ALLOW THESE OF MEDICA MARIJUANA ENDING A SHORT BUT LUCRATATIVE INDUSTRY I THAILAND >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US >>> THIS MORNING WE ARE TAKING A DIFFERENT LOOK AT THE WA BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS ONE TACTIC ISRAEL HAS EMPLOYED IS THE USE OF TARGETED ASSASSINATIONS FROM LETTER BOMBS TO EXPLODING MOBILE PHONES T DRONE STRIKES, TARGETING ENEMIES AS PART OF ASSASSINATION >> BUT CAN THAT TACTIC WOR AGAINST HAMAS? THAT IS THE TOPIC OFFEN ARTICL ON NBC NEWS.COM RIGHT NOW, WRITTEN BY OUR REPORTER, DAN DULUTH >> DAN IS JOINING US NOW THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE LET'S START BY ASKING THAT QUESTION, CAN THE TARGETED ASSASSINATIONS WORK AGAINS HAMAS? >> I THINK IT IS AN OPEN QUESTION BUT IN THE PAST, A LO OF THESE TYPES OF OPERATIONS DID NOT DESTROY HAMAS, DID NOT ELIMINATE THEIR ADVERSARIES. IT COULD WEAKEN THEM AND DISRUPT THEM FOR A TIME. IT IS A TACTIC THAT RAISES A LOT OF MORAL AND LEGAL QUESTIONS BUT IT IS REALLY NOT A STRATEGY. THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION, EVEN SOME OF THE MOST FORMER INTELLIGENC OFFICIALS SAY IS SOME KIND OF DIPLOMATIC SLOUGZ. BUT IT IS A WAY TO STRIKE BACK AT ISRAEL'S ENEMIES AND ITS OW WAY OF TRYING TO # CREATE SOME DETERRENCE >> LET'S TAKE A LOOK BACK BEFORE THE FOUNDING OF MODERN ISRAEL, THIS AS A TACTIC NUCLEAR SCIENTISTS IN IRAN, TH CAMPAIGN TO AVENGE THE MURDERS OF ISRAELI ATHLOTES AT THE 197 OLYMPICS HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT OVERALL AS A TACTIC WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT TH BROADER ACCOMPLISHED GOALS >> IT WAS SOMETHING THAT FRO THE BEGINNING, ISRAEL SHOWED A A TACTIC THEY HAD TO STRIKE BACK AT SOME OF THE GROUPS AND THAT IT WASN'T A CONVENTIONAL MILITARY PROBLEM THAT COULD BE SOLVED THROUGH THOSE MEANS YOU KNOW, WE ARE LOOKING A THOSE IMAGES FROM THE 1972 MUNICH OLYMPICS WHERE TH HORRIBLE MASSACRE OCCURRED WHERE PALESTINIAN MILITANTS ENDED UP MURDERING ISRAELI ATHLETES AND THEN ISRAEL DECIDED TO FIN AND HUNT DOWN ANYONE WHO WAS ASSOCIATED OR INDIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE KILLINGS AND THEY SUCCEEDED THERE IS A FAMOUS MOVIE ABOU THIS NOW BY STEVEN SPIELBERG BUT THEY DID MAKE A MISTAKE. THEY MISIDENTIFIED SOMEONE I NORWAY IN A SKI RESORT AND THE KILLED A MOROCCAN WAITER WHO THEY THOUGHT WAS A SENIOR AIDE TO ARAFAT AND IT WAS EXPOSED B THE AUTHORITIES AND THE ISRAEL INTELLIGENCE AUTHORITY SUFFERE EMBARRASSMENT AND LOST A LOT O THE NETWORK IN EUROPE. THERE ARE HIGH RISKS WITH THES KINDS OF OPERATIONS. AND THERE IS ALWAYS THE RISK T INNOCENT CIVILIANS AND BYSTANDERS >> DAN, LOOKING AT MODERN TIMES, WE HAD A WEEK AGO, A DRONE STRIKE THAT KILLED A SENIO HAMAS OFFICIAL ISRAEL HAS NOT CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DO THE ASSASSINATIONS HAVE ON THE PEACE TALKS OR LACK THERE OF AND TOWARDS THE EFFORT OF TRYING T GET THE REMAINING HOSTAGES HEL BY HAMAS >> YOU KNOW, I THINK ISRAEL HA TO REALLY WEIGH A LOT OF FACTORS WHEN THEY WENT AFTER THAT SENIOR HAMAS LEADER IN BAY ROUTE IN THE HEART OF THE HEZBOLLAH STRONGHOLD YOU KNOW, MANY PEOPLE ARE NO SAYING, AND DIPLOMATS ARE SAYING THAT THAT STRIKE, WHIL OBVIOUSLY DAMAGED HAMAS MAY HAVE JEOPARDIZED A HOSTAG NEGOTIATION TO TRY TO SECURE THE RELEASE OF THE REMAINING ISRAELI HOSTAGES HELD BY HAMAS IN GAZA AND OF COURSE QATAR HAS BEEN A INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN HAMAS AND ISRAEL WITH ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE CHIEF GOING TO DOHA TOTRY TO NEGOTIATE THAT BY GOING AFTER THE LEADER IN BEIRUT, IT RAISES SOME QUESTIO ON WHETHER THE HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEN SET BACK THERE IS REALLY NO IMMINENT DEAL RIGHT NOW TO GET THE REST OF THE HOSTAGES OUT THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT DECIDED THEY WOULD TAKE THE RISK >> DAN DULUTH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR OUR VIEWERS. CHECK OUT HIS FULL STORY AT NB NEWS.COM >>> COMING UP, SPEAKING OUT. >> THAT'S RIGHT. ACTRESS MARISSA HEART IS OPENING UP ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT 30 YEARS AG NEXT >>> YOU MAY KNOW HER AS OLIVIA BENSON, A DETECTIVE WORKING TO TRACK DOWN SEXUAL OFFENDERS ON LAW AND ORDER. >> NOW MARISSA HARGITAY IS OPENING UP ABOUT HER OWN SEXUA ASSAULT. KATE SNOW JOINS US WITH MORE O THIS GOOD MORNING >> GOOD MORNING. FOR YEARS, MARISSA HARGITAY DI A LOT OF WORK FOR SURVIVORS OF #IAL ASSAULT BUT UNTIL NOW SHE DIDN'T WRITE ABOUT HER OWN HISTORY. SHE SAID FOR YEARS SHE MINIMIZEDED IT BUT NOW SHE I ABLE TO SEE CLEARLY WHAT WAS DONE TO HER. SO SHE CHOSE TO WRITE A FIRS PERSON ESSAY >> Reporter: FOR YEARS, MARISK HARGITAY HAS SHINED A LIGHT ON VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. NOW SHE IS DESCRIBING HER OW TRAUMA A MAN RAPED ME IN MY 30s, SH BEGAN. IT WAS NOT SEXUAL AT ALL DOMINANCE AND CONTROL, OVE POWERING CONTROL AS MANY SURVIVORS DO, SHE PUSHED IT OUT OF HER MIND I COULDN'T PROCESS IT. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT HAPPENED THAT IT COULD HAPPEN SO I CUT IT OUT, I REMOVED IT FROM M NARRATIVE. SHE SAYS OF HER EXPERIENCE, HE WAS A FRIEND, THEN HE WASN'T I WENT INTO A FREEZE MODE, A COMMON TRAUMA RESPONSE WHE THERE IS NO OPTION FOR ESCAPE. I CHECKED OUT OF MOY BODY. BUT AS THE YEARS WENT ON, SH BEGAN TALKING ABOUT IT WIT THOSE WHO WERE CLOSEST WITH HER. THEY WERE THE FIRST TO CALL IT WHAT IT WAS. THEY WERE GENTLE AND KIND BU NAMING IT WAS IMPORTANT. NOW I'M ABLE TO SEE CLEARLY WHAT WAS DONE TO ME I UNDERSTAND THE NEURO BIOLOGY HARGITAY SAYING SHE AND OLIVIA BENSON WHO HAS ALS EXPERIENCEDED TRAUMA THROUGHOU THE SHOW'S RUN ARE ARE ON PARALLEL JOURNEY SHE DISCUSSED HER BELOVE CHARACTER ON TODAY >> THIS IS A CHARACTER THAT OU SOCIETY NEEDS AGAINST ALL ODDS FOCUSED AND BELIEVES SURVIVORS >> Reporter: HARGITAY SAYS VIEWERS REGULARLY SEND HER LETTERS WITH THEIR STORIES >> TO LEARN THAT THESE WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS HORRIBL TRAUMA WOULD HAVE THE COURAGE TO COME FORWARD AND THEN TO B IGNORED. >> Reporter: SHE BECAME AN ADVOCATE FOR THEM, FOUNDING TH JOYFUL FOUNDATION AND SPEAKING OUT. >> ALTHOUGH THERE IS PROGRESS, THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE. >> Reporter: IN HER ESSAY, SHE WRITES THAT THEY ARE A SENSE O STRENGTH FOR ME. SHE WRITES, THAT THE EXPERIENC WAS HORRIBLE BUT IT DOESN' EXCLOSE TO DEFINING ME I'M TURNING 60 AND I'M DEEPL GRATEFUL FOR WHAI AM AND PROUDLY IN PROCESS >> SHE HOPES FROM WRITING TH ESSAY THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE T TALK MORE OPENLY ABOUT ASSAULT WITHOUT SURVIVORS EXPERIENCING SHAME. THE NEW ISSUE OF PEOPLE MAGAZINE IS ON NEW STANDS TOMORROW. >> REALLY INCREDIBLE TO HEAR HER OPEN UP, SUCH A FIGURE IN TH SPACE HELPING OTHERS >> AND SHE CONTINUES TO BE >> THANK YOU SO MUCH GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE >>> HOW IS OUR ECONOMY LOOKING AS WE KICK OFF THE NEW YEAR? >> THE LATEST INFLATION REPORT IS JUST OUT. WE B >>> WE ARE BACK WITH BREAKIN ECONOMY NEWS THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS ANNOUNCING A MONTHLY LABOR REPORT >> CONSUMER PRICES IN DECEMBER WERE UP 3% COMPARED IT WITH TH MONTH BEFORE, NOVEMBER INFLATION UP 3.4% YEAR OVE YEAR BREAKING IT DOWN FOR US, WE AR JOINED BY CORRESPONDEN CHRISTINE ROMANS AND INVESTOPEDIA EDITOR IN CHIEF SAIL CALEB SILVER. TELL US ABOUT THE NUMBERS. WHAT SHOULD WE KNOW? >> INFLATION HEATING UP A BIT TO END THE YEAR LAST YEAR WAS A YEAR OF RAPI COOLING ON THE INFLATION REPOR SO THIS 3.4% NUMBER IS PICKING UP FROM WHAT WE SAW THE MONT BEFORE THAT IS IMPORTANT HERE BECAUSE PROGRESS ON INFLATION HAS BEEN CRITICAL FOR THE FED IN IT FIGHT HERE TO COOL DOWN TH ECONOMY A LITTLE BIT AND TRY T EXECUTE A SO-CALLED FLAT LANDING. WHEN YOU LOOK INSIDE THE NUMBERS, RENT, SHELTER, IS A BIG DRIVER OF THE OVERALL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CALL STICKING INFLATION, REALLY HAR TO TURN THAT INTO THAT FRONT BUT THERE ARE HOPES THAT THE RENTS WILL START TO STABILIZ AND COME DOWN THIS YOUR AND THAT COULD TURN AROUND. YOU HAVE FD AND GAS PRICES UP. THAT IS DRIVING NUMBERS. >> I MISSPOKE. 0.03% OVER NOVEMBER BUT 3.4% YEAR OVER YEAR >> THAT IS HIGHER THAN W EXPECTED IT IS BUMPIER. WE HAVE A SLOWING IN THE RATE OF GROWTH GOODS PRICES HAVE COME DOWN. USED CARS HAVE COME DOWN BUT THE STICKY STUFF THAT IS STUFF T GET AROUND SHELTER PRICES ARE HIGH WHIC MEANS RENT PRICES ARE HIGH WE HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE HOUSING MARKET THE RENT PRICE, 30% OF YOU INCOME GOING TOWARDS RENT PUTS PRESSURE ACROSS THE REST OF WHAT YOU SPEND ON >> NOW THAT WE ARE IN JANUAR AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THE LAST YEAR, LET'S DO YEAR OVER YEAR, 2023 VERSUS 2022 WHEN INFLATIO WAS SUPER HIGH WHAT SHOULD WE KNOW? >> WHEN WE WERE BACK AT 9.1% THAT FELL JUST AWFUL IT IS ONE REASON WHY SO MANY PUBLIC OPINION POLLS STILL SHO PEOPLE FEEL TERRIBLE ABOUT THE ECONOMY. THEY REMEMBER WHEN INFLATION WAS THIS HIGH. THAT IS A MEMORY THEY CAN' SHAKE. YOU CAN SEE THE RAPID PROGRESS HERE THIS BLIP AT THE END OF THE LINE HERE, WE SHOULD PUT IT I CONTEXT. THE TREND HAS BEEN FRIENDLY IN TERMS OF THE INFLATION MODERATING WE CERTAINLY HOPE SHOW IT IS NOT THE 2% THAT THE FE WOULD LIKE 2.4% IS NOT WHAT THE FEDS WOUL LIKE BUT WE WILL HAVE TO SEE I THIS IS A ONE MONTH BUMP, REACCELERATION AND IT COOLS OF OR IF IT CONTINUES WE DON'T KNOW YET. >> IS HOLIDAY SPENDING A FACTOR? MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T JUDGE TOO MUCH OF WHAT WE WILL SEE THE REST OF THE YEAR >> YEAH, THIS IS A DECEMBE REPORT, A LOT OF SPENDING GOIN INTO THAT MONTH. PRICES WILL REMAIN UP WHEN YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF DEMAND WE ARE STARTING THIS YEA LOOKING AT 3.4% RATE THE FEDS WANT US CLOSER TO 2%. A LOT OF ECONOMISTS PREDICTING WE WILL GET TO THAT BY THE END OF THE YEAR. A REAL SLOW DOWN IN THE ECONOM COULD SPIN THINGS IN THE WRONG DIRECTION HERE YOU WANT TO GOLDY LOCK THE SOF LANDING. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR. MAYBE WE STEADY OUT. >> WHAT MIGHT THE FED DO >> IN 20 DAYS? >> YOU HAVE THE COUNTDOWN. >> THEY WILL DO NOTHING. THEY WILL HOLD RATES WHERE THE ARE IN JANUARY IT IS THE MARCH MEETING AND IN MAY. THAT'S WHEN THEY PUSH IT OFF A LITTLE LONGER. WE WILL WATCHFOR THAT IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS >> ALWAYS ALL OVER IT FOR US THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>> NOW LET'S GET TO COLLEGE FOOTBALL WHERE LONGTIM UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA HEAD COACH NICK SABAN IS BLANKING TO CALL IT A CAREER. SABAN IS LONG CONSIDEREDED TO BE ONE OF THE BEST COLLEGE COACHE OF ALL TIME, WINNING 6 CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH THE CRIMSON TIDE JESSE KIRSCH TAKES A LOOK BACK AT HIS LEGENDARY CAREER. >> Reporter: THE NEWS RAISIN EYEBROWS FOR FOOTBALL FANS ALL OVER IF YOU ARE HAVING A DEBATE ABOUT WHO MAY BE THE GREATEST COLLEG FOOTBALL COACH OF ALL TIME, NICK SABAN HAS TO BE ON THE LIST. NOW THE CRIMSON TIDE ARE MARKING THE END OF THE ERA OF DOMINANC ON THE GRID IRON THIS MORNING THE TIME IS CHANGING AT ALABAMA. NICK SABAN ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT THE 72-YEAR-OLD ICON WRITING I A STATEMENT, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HOW MANY DAYS WE WON AND LOS BUT ABOUT THE LEGACY AND HOW W WENT ABOUT IT. SABAN WAS A COLLEGE HEAD COACH FOR 28 YEARS >> I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PLEASE AND HONORED I AM TO BE YOU COACH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA. >> Reporter: SPENDING THE LAST 17 OF THEM IN ALABAMA, TURNING THE CRIMSON TIDE BACK INTO A POWER HOUSE PROGRAM. >> THEY GOT IT >> Reporter: HE WON SIX NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS THERE, MOS RECENTLY IN 2021 AGAINST OHI STATE. >> I'M SO PROUD IN WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH GOING UNDEFEATED AND WINNING THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. >> Reporter: THERE WERE POSSIBLE RETIREMENT RUMORS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON. >> I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS IF CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE BUT I FEEL GREAT RIGHT NOW. >> Reporter: ALABAMA EARNEDED SPOT IN THE ROSE BOWL BUT TH TIDE FELL SHORT TO THE NATIONA CHAMPS THE MICHIGAN WOLVERINES IN 2022, SABAN TOLD OU STEPHANIE GOSK HOW HE MADE THE MENTAL HEALTH OF HIS PLAYERS A PRIORITY >> WE WILL ALL HAVE BAD THINGS HAPPEN BUT THE ABILITY T OVERCOME THAT WILL GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING US BE SUCCESSFUL. >> Reporter: THIS MORNING, THE SPORTS WORLD PRAISING ONE OF THE WINNINGEST COACHES IN COLLEG FOOTBALL HISTORY >> I DON'T THINK THERE IS BETTER COACH THAN NICK SABAN >> Reporter: DEIAN SANDERS WRITING, COLLEGE FOOTBALL JUST LOST THE GOAT TO RETIREMENT. THE ALABAMA FAITHFUL ARE SAD T SEE THEM GO. >> WE HAVE A STANDARD AND THAT STANDARD IS WINNING. HOPEFULLY THE FUTURE COACH CAN LIVE UP TO THAT STANDARD >> Reporter: THAT STANDARD WIL BE TOUGH TO MATCH. A COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 10 YEARS NICK SABAN'S CRIMSON TIDE HA PLAYED IN EIGHT OF THOSE TEN PLAYOFF SEMI FINAL ROUNDS. BACK TO YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH >>> WE ARE ALSO FOLLOWING TH NEWS OF ANOTHER LEGENDARY COAC WHO COULD BE STEPPING DOWN NFL COACH BILL BELICHICK OF TH NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS HAV MUTUALLY DECIDED TO PART WAYS. HE LED THE PATS IN A DOMINAN ERA OF SPORTS WINNING SIX SUPE BOWLS AND 17 DIVISION TITLES OVER A 24 YEAR PERIOD. THIS LATEST DEVELOPMENT COME AFTER THE WORST SEASON O BELICHICK'S CAREER ENDING IN A 4-13 RECORD. BELICHICK IS DUE TO ADDRESS TH MEDIA AT NOON WITH PATRIOT OWNER ROBERT KRAFT NBC NEWS HAS REACHED OUT FOR COMMENT. >>> PAST McAFEE SAYS QUARTERBACK AARON RODGERS IS DONE APPEARIN ON HIS ESPN SHOW RODGERS MADE REMARKS ON THE SHOW THAT SUGGESTED JIMMY KIMMEL HA TIES TO SEX TRAFFICKER JEFFREY EPSTEIN. KIMMEL BROUGHT TO FEUD T ANOTHER LEVEL THIS WEEK AN FIRED BACK AT RODGERS DURING A MONOLOGUE ON HIS SHOW. HERE'S A BIT OF WHT HE SAID. >> I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO THINK THAT ATHLETES AN MEMBERS OF SPORTS MEDIA SHOULD STICK TO TALKING TO SPORTS I THINK AARON RODGERS HAS TH RIGHT TO EXPRESS ANY OPINION H WANTS TO BUT SAYING SOMEONE IS A PET FILE IS NOT AN OPINION NOR IS I TRASH TALK >> HERE NOW TO DISCUSS IS BRIA STELTER. WALK US THROUGH WHAT HAPPENED TO THE POINT OF McAFEE DISTANCING HIMSELF FROM THE QUARTERBACK WHO WAS A HUGE DRAW. THE FACT THAT KIMMEL INVOKED HIS NAME IN THE MONOLOGUE EARLIE THIS WEEK HAD SOMETHING TO D WITH IT. >> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GOES BACK YEARS AARON RODGERS HAS HAD A LOT OF SKEPTICISM ABOUT VACCINES. AND DURING THE PANDEMIC, THERE WAS SOME QUESTIONS ON WHETHER HE WAS VACCINATED JIMMY KIMMEL CRITICIZED RODGER BACK THEN. THE TWO MEN HAVE THIS BEEF GOING BACK A COUPLE OF YEARS IT ERUPTED LAST WEEK WHE RODGERS GOES ON ESPN ON THE PA McAFEE SHOW AND IMPLIES THAT MAYBE JIMMY KIMMEL WAS CAUGHT UP WITH JEFFREY EPSTEIN AND MAYBE KIMMEL WAS ONE OF THE CORRUP GUYS WHO WAS EXPLOITING WOMEN ON THE ISLAND RODGERS SAYS HE WAS JUST JOKIN BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE JOKES LIK THAT IT IS ONE OF THE NASTIEST CLAIMS YOU CAN MAKE ON A RANDOM SPORT RADIO TALK SHOW. AND THIS WOULD BE MORE CONTROVERSIAL BECAUSE KIMMEL AND PAT McAFEE ARE PART OF DISNEY. ABC AND ESPN ARE BOTH PART O DISNEY THIS WAS A BIG MESS FOR TH HOUSE OF MOUSE PAT McAFEE CLEANED UP SAYING RODGERS WILL NOT BE BACK ON HI SHOW FOR THE REST OF THI FOOTBALL SEASON. RODGERS WILL PROBABLY BE BACK IN THE FUTURE BUT NOT FOR NOW >> FOR ANYONE WHO HAS NOT BEEN CLOSELY FOLLOWING THIS, TIMELINE REMINDER IS THAT TH MORNING FOLLOWING THE MONOLOGU THAT WE PLAYED A SNIPPET O THERE, HE WAS BACK ON THE SHOW McAFEE ALLOWED HIM BACK ON THE SHOW SO WHY DO YOU THINK IT WAS AFTER THAT THAT HE IS NOT GOING TO LET HIM ON THE SHOW. WHAT HAPPENED? >> PAT McAFEE PRODUCES HIS OWN SHOW AND THEN ESPN PAYS LICENSING FEE. PAT McAFEE IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL HOST EMPLOYED BY ESPN. HE IS HIS OWN BRAND. SO HE WAS ABLE TO BRING ON RODGERS AND HE PAID RODGER WHICH IS UNUSUAL AND ULTIMATELY PAT McAFEE FOUN IT WAS A DISTRACTION RODGERS TALKING ABOU ANTIVACCINATION VIEWS, FEUD WITH JIMMY KIMMEL, IT WAS A DISTRACTION FROM A GREAT SPORT TALK SHOW AND BAD FOR BUSINESS SO ULTIMATELY IT IS A WIN FO DISNEY TO GET THIS FIXED AND McAFEE KNEW IT WAS I INTEREST OF EVERYONE TO STOP THE FEUD FROM GOING FURTHER. >> THANK YOU WE JUST HAD A WHOLE SPORTY BLOCK. >>> COMING UP, LET'S TALK ABOU BROADWAY FROM HAMILTON T SHAKESPEARE. >> WE WILL SPEAK WITH AUSTIN SCOTT ABOUT HIS LATEST ROLE IN OUR LATEST EDITION OF FLIPPING >>> WELCOME BACK THIS IS PRETTY EPIC. WE HAVE A BOY BAND CROSSOVER FOR YOU. THE BACK STREET BOYS AND INSYN GOING ON A HEAD TOUR THE SINGERS WILL PERFORM ALL O THE HITS THAT MADE THE '90s FANS SWOON. AJ AND JOEY WILL SHARE SOM STORIES FROM THEIR TIME ON THE ROAD, THEIR MINI NORTH AMERICA TOUR KICKS OFF ON MARCH 15th I WAS INSYNC ALL THE WAY WHAT ABOUT YOU >> I LOVED THEM BOTH I COULDN'T THINK OF A BETTER STORY TO SET UP THE NEXT SEGMENT. THRIPPING THE SCRIPT SHINES SPOTLIGHT ON THOSE FOR DIVERSITY. AUSTIN SCOTT RECENTLY IN JULIE WHICH FEATURES THE BACK STREET BOYS, PLAYING THE ROLE O SHAKESPEARE. HE ALSO APPEARED IN HAMILTON WHERE HE PLAYED HAMILTON HIMSELF. HE ALSO APPEARED ON SCREEN AND MOST RECENTLY, MR. MONK'S LAST CASE ON PEACOCK. WE ARE LUCKY TO BE JOINED BY AUSTIN SCOTT HIMSELF YOU HAVE BEEN BUSY THE LAST FE YEARS. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> BEING IN JULIET, RARELY YOU THINK YOU WILL BE SHAKESPEAR GROWING UP WHAT IS THAT LIKE? >> STEPPING INTO THE SHOES O SHAKESPEARE IS AN HONOR AND LITTLE DAUNTING. THIS IS A VERSION OF SHAKESPEARE THAT IS HISTORICALLY ACCURATE. THERE IS DOCUMENTATION THA SHOWS HOW MUCH HE LOVED THE BACK STREET BOYS. >> HE WAS A FAN, IT'S PERFECT. >> IT HAS BEEN VERY FUN. I HAD TO BRUSH UP ON M SHAKESPEARE BECAUSE I NEEDED T KNOW WHAT HE WAS SAYING AN WHERE IT IS FROM A LOT OF HARD CORE FANS HAVE SAID HOW MANY THEY ENJOY THE PORTRAYAL. >> THAT MUST BE GOOD TO HEAR AS I WAS GOING THROUGH WHAT YO HAVE DONE ON BROADWAY, YOU HAV THE MUSIC OF MAX SMART WHO WAS PROLIFFIC. AND THEN BOB DYLAN'S MUSIC, ALSO A GOOD CAREER. AND THEN YOU HAVE LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA WHO DID HAMILTON YOU HAVE BEEN SINGING THE WORDS, LYRICS, OF ICONS OVER DECADES OF MUSIC. DOES THAT HIT YOU? WHAT IS THAT LIKE FOR YOU? >> IT DEFINITELY HITS ME I TRY TO THINK OF IT IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH OF A PRIVILEGE IT I AND HOW EXCITING AND NOT TOO MUCH OF A WOW, WHAT AN INCREDIBLE -- WHAT'S THE WORD. >> I WAS THINKING HONOR. >> THIS IS A BIG DEAL. IT IS REALLY, REALLY INCREDIBLE. I FEEL SO LUCKY TO BE ABLE T KIND OF BE A MOUTH PIECE FOR S MUCH INCREDIBLE WORK >> ALL INCREDIBLY DIFFERENT BU REALLY POETS IN THEIR OWN WAY. GREW UP IN THE NORTH COUNTRY I ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS YOU GUYS ORIGINATED A ROLE I THAT IT IS BOB DYLAN'S MUSIC. IT IS NOT ABOUT BOB DYLAN. BUT IT HITS ON SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT WHICH IS RACIA INEQUALITY ONE OF THE SONGS IS HURRICANE. BOB DYLAN BASED THAT SONG OF THE REAL LIFE STORY OF A BLACK BOXER FALSELY CONVICTED OF MURDER. I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE BACK STORY UNTIL I STARTED DIGGIN INTO IT. BUT THAT SONG, PERFORMING THAT SONG, WHAT DID THAT MEAN TO YOU? >> IT WAS VERY POWERFUL. I THINK IT MEANT DIFFERENT THINGS AS YOU KNOW, COUNTRY OPENS I 2020 AND THEN IT CLOSED. WHEN WE CAME BACK, IT WAS POST GEORGE FLOYD, POST BREONNA TAYLOR SO IT TOOK ON ANOTHER MEANIN FOR ME WHEN WE CAME BACK AND THERE WERE SO MANY NIGHT WHEN I KIND OF BLACKED OUT I STARTED A SONG AND THEN WOKE UP ON THE OTHER END AND WENT SOMETHING. I THINK THAT WAS POWERFUL AN POWERFUL FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO HEAR THAT IT WAS A CHANCE TO GET OUT A LOT OF PAIN, FRUSTRATION AND ANGER, NIGHT AFTER NIGHT AND JUST REALLY CONNECT WITH THAT THAT FELT REALLY THERAPEUTIC >> I THINK IT HELPED THE AUDIENCE TO FEEL IT IN THA MOMENT >> I TALK ABOUT THA FACT THA AYOU DIDN'T GO TO A COLLEG THEATER PROGRAM OR A CONSERVATORY AND YOU HAD T CARVE YOUR OWN WAY WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO INSPIRE WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND FIGURIN OUT THE BEST PATH FORWARD? >> I THINK MY BIGGEST ADVICE WOULD BE TO STAY CURIOUS, STAY PLAYFUL, KEEP GROWING. LOOK AROUND YOU AND LEARN FROM EVERYONE YOU CAN, ESPECIALLY I YOU DIDN'T GO TO A CONSERVATOR LIKE I DID IF YOU ARE LEARNING ON THE JOB LIFE IS YOUR TEACHER, YOU KNOW STAYING REALLY OPEN AND PLAYFU AND JUST REMEMBERING THAT YO DON'T ACT IN A VACUUM. NO ONE ACTS ALONE. YOU HAVE THE SCRIPT AND YOU HAVE THE DIRECTOR AND THE OTHER ACTORS WHICH ARE SO VITAL AN IMPORTANT. SO JUST STAYING OPEN AND CONNECTED AND REMEMBERING THAT YOU ARE NEVER ALONE. ON FX SOON. FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T SEEN AND JULIET WHICH I'VE SEEN FOUR TIMES. AND WILL LIKELY SEE IT MORE BUT HAVE YOU SEEN IT. >> NO. >> I TIDE SAID TAKE ME TO SOMETHING YOU WANT ME TO SEE. >> COME SEE AUSTIN. A PRESSURE HAVING YOU ON CON. >>>THE LATIONS. THAT'S GOING TO DO IT FOR THIS HOUR OF MORNING NEWS NOW. >> A GREAT CONVERSATION AND AUSTIN I WILL BE THERE. >>> THE NEWS CONTINUES RIGHT NOW STAY WITH US.
