Yep, ambassador sondland basically implicated trump, Rudy Giuliani and most of his cabinet. At this point trump grabbed his chest and said, i think im ready for phase two of my physical. Early today starts right now. Good morning im frances rivera. And im phillip mena. We are just hours away from the final public hearings of the week in the impeachment inquiry. But its ambassador Gordon Sondlands incendiary testimony that is still smoldering on capitol hill this morning. The Washington Post this morning summing it up with diplomat acknowledges quid pro quo. And the New York Times in all caps, we followed the president s orders the ambassadors words reverberating throughout the testimony that followed his own. Senior pentagon official laura cooper updated her closeddoor deposition with new information from her staff aidas being held upils which my staff showed me two unclassified emails that they iv one was received on july 25th at 2 31 p. M that email said that the Ukrainian Embassy and house foreigcommtee are asking about Security Assistance the second email was received on july 25th at 4 25 p. M. Those emails were sent just hours after the now infamous phone call between President Trump and ukraines leader Nbcs Alice Barr has more. Reporter the name Gordon Sondland has come up at every turn in the impeachment inquiry. Now its his turn. Do you swear or affirm reporter the u. S. Ambassador to the European Union delivering bombshell testimony that directly ties President Trump to a Pressure Campaign in ukraine was there a quid pro quo . As i testified previously, with regard to the requested white house call and the white house meeting, the answer is yes. Reporter ambassador sondland says the quid pro quo pushed by President Trumps personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani was this, ukraines presidenwo investigato joe bidens son and a discredited theory about 2016 election meddling. Mr. Giuliani was expressing the desires of the president of the United States and we knew these investigations were important to the president reporter ambassador sondland denying what other witnesses have described as back channel diplomacy in ukraine, saying the secretary of state, Vice President and others knew what was happening. Everyone was in the loop. Reporter and sondland said he came to believe ukraine wouldnt get the military aid it needed until it announced the investigations two plus two equalled four in my mind, at that point. Reporter republicans emphasizing he never heard that directly from the president. It was a presumption. Reporter and ukraine did nothing but you got all three of them wrong. They get the call, they get the meeting, they get the money. Its not two plus two, its 0 for 3. Reporter ambassador sondland acknowledged President Trump told him directly there was no quid pro quo the president echoing those words. I want nothing. I want nothing i want no quid pro quo reporter but sondlands testimony raises the question, did President Trumps words match his actions . Alice barr, nbc news, washington and President Trump is claiming victory in the wake of that blockbuster hearing the president and his allies seizing on ambassador sondlands acknowledgement that the president himself never explicitly linked military aid to investigations. Nbcs tracie potts joins us with the latest from d. C. The president also tried to distance himself from slopd. Reporter he did francence who reportedly was helping to run this socalled shadow ukraine policy President Trump said, you know, i dont really know the guy very well, but watching his testimony where sondland clearly said President Trump said there was no quid pro quo, even though sondland believes that there was, the president actually believes that sondland helped him case heres what he said about sondlands testimony i think it was fantastic. I think they have to end it now. So what did the president want i want nothing okay i want nothing and let me tell you, its a hoax, its a disgrace, its an embarrassment to our country not only did we win today, its over reporter not quite because theres more public testimony happening today from fiona hill she was the top adviser on russia in the white house with the National Security council. Whats key here is that she worked for former National Security adviser john bolton and inlvement in ukraine policy. Shes talked to lawmakers behind closed doors she is expected to talk about that today also today, david holmes, hes the diplomat who worked out of the embassy in ukraine who says he overheard a phone call in a restaurant between sondland and President Trump and they were talking about investigations frances . All right a whole lot to unpack from yesterday and certainly again today. Tracie potts for us, thank you our special coverage of todays hearings begins at 9 00 a. M. Eastern time here on nbc. In the fifth primary debate of the 2020 race, the democrats went down to georgia looking for votes to win President Trump wasnt on the stage but he was the nights biggest target i learned something about these impeachment trials i learned, number one, that donald trump doesnt want me to be the nominee secondly, i found out that Vladimir Putin doesnt want me to be president. We have a criminal living in the white house. Sadly, we have a president who is not only a pathological liar, he is likely the most corrupt president in the modern history of america if you think a woman cant beat donald trump, nancy pelosi does it every single day all right nbcs Vaughn Hillyard joining us now. Looking surprise despite the certain sleep deprivation. Hes got the biggest moments a lot of fireworks we saw last night, vaughn. Reporter yeah, fireworks back and forth between the candidates and really jostling over who would be best to take on donald trump come november 2020 essentially up on capitol hill you have these hearings unfolding and the potential impeachment of the president of the United States. At the same time the democrats are just over two months away from the iowa caucus, and suddenly it is the mayor of south bend, indiana, Pete Buttigieg, who is now atop the polls over in iowa and thats where you saw Pete Buttigieg center stage with the other frontrunners really kind of facing the facing the scrutiny of the rest of the stage. I want to let you hear, though, some of the back aor a great nation does not separate children from their families we need to live our values at the border every single day. If you win the 2020 election, what would you say in your first call with russian president Vladimir Putin first, id say im sorry i beat your guy. I have a lot of respect for the Vice President he is swore me into my office hes a hero. This week i hear him literally say that i dont think we should legalize marijuana i thought you might have been high when you said it. It you notice, i have more people supporting me in the black committee that have announced for me because they know me. They know who i am three former chairs of the black caucus the only africanamerican woman thats ever been elected to the United States senate. The other one is here. Thats not true i said the first. I said the first africanamerican woman thank you reporter you heard there the former Vice President joe biden trying to hold on to support from communities of color. That has really kept him in National Polls up at the top of those polls. And Pete Buttigieg currently polling at 0 among black voters in south carolina, despite leading in iowa. A conversation over who would be the best equipped to take on donald trump come next november. You guys all right one of our favorite road warriors out there thank you so much. Now to the queens son making a surprise announcement Prince Andrew announcing that he is stepping back from public life for the foreseeable future and quilting his royal duties. This after that explosive interview with the bbc about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Heres stephanie gosk. Reporter less than a week after an interview widely described as disastrous you were staying at the house of a convicted sex offender. It was a convenient place to stay. Reporter Prince Andrew, Queen Elizabeths second son, made a surprise announcement he is stepping down from all public duties. Writing in a statement, it has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein have become a major disruption to my familys work. The prince, who expressed sympathy for epsteins victims and a willingness to work with law enforcement, also said that he continues to unequivocally regret his illjudged connection to the financier, something that was less than clear in the recent interview. Do you regret the whole friendship with epstein . Now, still not. And the reason being is that the people that i met and the opportunities that i was given to learn either by him or because of him were actually very useful. Reporter since that interview a number of companies and organizations started reconsidering their partnerships with the princes initiatives. The queen still attended an award ceremony. I congratulate you. Reporter the 93yearold no stranger to scandals in the royal family now managing one of the worst of her lifetime. Stephanie gosk, nbc news, new york police in new jersey got a call that a car was left sitting on train tracks. The driver who was allegedly drunk was away from the tracks talking to officers when nobody was injured the driver of that camry was charged with driving while intoxicated. All right. Lets check in with nbc military bill karins. Stormy weather ahead. A big storm in the southwest that is going to impact a lot of peoples travel weekend plans across the country now that storm is just south of vegas. We also have a little weak storm movingn ouday. So heres how its going to play out. As we go through the next three or four days, on friday were going to watch the storm ove rain frottl the way down to lou. On saturday, the heavier rain will move into areas through the southeast. Maybe a little bit of snow on the north side of it, but not a lot. Saturday evening, heavy rain into the midatlantic region looks like the heaviest rain in new england as we go through saturday night and into the morning. Windy, tootexas, but lateday rn moving into areas like dallas and also watching temperatures dropping in places like north texas. Travel impact right through the thanksgiving week. Well have more details coming up. Man, that is just going to be a mess for these travellers. All right, bill, thank you. Fast forwarding into thursday, tesla is set to unveil its long awaited pickup truck known as the cyber truck at an event in l. A elon musk says he drewll award his First National medal of arts at the white house Carolyn Maloney of new york has been elected to replace the late Elijah Cummings as House Oversight committee chair. Well be right back. Try Vicks Vapocool drops. Its not candy, its powerful relief. Ahhhhhh vaporize sore throat pain with Vicks Vapocool drops. You sure you dont want me to come with you . Im very sure. Because i can. laughs make good choices. You make good choices. I am. Fiber is good for digestive health. Good choices never tasted so good. Kelloggs raisin bran. 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Its shapehugging threads smooth out the back. So it fits better than depend. And no one notices. Always discreet. Leading the news, President Trump hosted a secret dinner at the white house with facebooks ceo mark zuckerberg. The undisclosed meeting took place last month the Facebook Company concerned the meeting to nbc news and a source familiar with the dinner also told nbc that facebook board member peter thiel, a major trump donor was also there. Appearing in a puerto rico courtroom on wednesday, ancrse. Hearing from prosecutors and for the first time we are that grandfather is now talking to our kerry sanders. Reporter at court in san juan, puerto rico, hes charged with negligent homicide after his granddaughter chloe fell 11 stories to her death from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship during a Family Vacation in july he was holding her in the childrens play area on the railing next to an open window he thought was closed. How do you feel about the charges . Reporter not talking on camera but his attorneys say chloes death was a horrible accident, not a crime. Chloes parents defending him last summer. Speaking with nbcs savannah guthrie. At no point ever, ever has sam ever put our kids in danger. Reporter among the evidence, unreleased security video from the ship we have a very solid caseou t your case will show a criminal act . Of course. Reporter he did talk to me off camera saying they cant do anything worse to me than ened if convicted, he could face up to three years in prison here. All right our thanks to kerry for that report. Still ahead, turns out lizzo is 100 that breakout star, sweeping grammy nods. And Ellen Degeneres gives a viral lesson on love and acceptance i can breathe again ahhhh i can breathe again ughh vicks sinex. Breathe on. A lot of folks ask me why their dishwasher doesnt get everything clean. I tell the recommend cascade platinum. With the soaking, scrubbing and rinsing built right in. 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All right did you see this movie i didnt a lot of people didnt may have been disappointing but im guessing his snl return wont be the comedy legend returns to host for a fifth time this saturday snl also finalized next months lineup with liz zoe added to Eddie Murphys blockbuster episode. Wow, look at the names there for a second. Eddie is a powerhouse. Thats what everybody has been waiting for for decades now. Will ferrell is going to get the fifth timers jacket speaking of liz zzo, the break outstar is the most nominated artist this year ght no longersw artist falling closely behind lizzo, Billie Eilish and lil nas x. Former First Lady Michelle Obama got her first nomination for best spoken word album for becoming, the really popular book that everybody seemed to have this time last year. Man, lizzo, she is having the best year. Just on fire. All right. A lesbian couples proposal went viral after one of the womens parents disapproved. 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We are back with todays shotn won the ultimate contest prize, a visit, a surprise one from his father army staff argument ian buck had been deployed overseas in afghanistan for the past year. Well, his son was at the rangers capitals game participating in a trivia contest to win a blue shirts jersey forget the jersey, he got the chance to see and embrace his dad in a packed arena that celebrated with a standing ovation. Truly a moment luke and his dad well never forget. You hang on and you hang on tight when youre in that position right there. Of course we always love these videos entering into the Holiday Season it seems like those videos pop up more and more and i love it all right. Todays top stories, empire star Jussie Smollett is suing the city of chicago and the Police Department for malicious prosecution. Smollett, who maintains his innocence, claims chicago pd pushed a false narrative of his attack by claiming it was a hoax, causing him economic harm, humiliation and mental anguish the city is seeking 130,000 in investigative costs, but his lawyers argue that they already accepted 10,000 from him as payment in full. A bill supporting the rights of hong kong protesters is heading to President Trumps desk the legislation passed in the Senate Unanimously and the house passed the senates version by a margin of 4711. The bill would set up potential sanctions against officials responsible for Human Rights Violations in hong kong. It is unclear if the president will sign the bill this could complicate the administrations trade talks with china could mobileonly coffee shops be a trend ba bandit opened in new york city no cash, no cards. If you dont have a smartphone, youre out of luck earlier this morning starbucks opened its first mobile pickup cafe also here in new york city. Own the world we are entering in seems like its going to be more and more common. All through your phone. Check out this green bean casserole fit for a giant, a green giant. Slush this is the Worlds Largest ever serving of the classic thanksgiving side dish were talking about 1,000 pounds of this casserole. Reportedly contains over 100,000 green beans and almost 500 cans of Mushroom Soup, the cream of Mushroom Soup that always comes with it. Best of all, though, it will be donated to feed homebound seniors across nyc its too much i like green bean casserole but thats a lot. All right. One pittsburgh penguin is celebrating a huge milestone mickey the macaroni penguin celebrating her 35 birthday. Made out of ice and fish, made out of ice and fish, scallops made out of ice and fish, scallops meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow. Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow. Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow. Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow. Still the only one cats ask for by name. Meow, meow. Tto harrison, the wine tcollection. To craig, this rock. I leave these things to my heirs, all 39 million of you, on one condition. That you do everything to preserve and protect them. With love, california. Thanks to move free ultra i keep up with this little one. See the world with this guy. And hit the town with these girls. In a clinical study, 4 out of 5 users felt better joint comfort. Move free. Find our coupon in sundays paper. And a good thursday morning to you, november 21st. Taking a look outside right now at san rafael, Getting Started with this thursday or as many people like to call it, friday eve. Thanks for starting your morning with us. Im marcus washington. And im laura garcia. Lets get to the forecast. Cold this morning. It is cool this morning and our air is drying out as we see across the region the storm system spinning to the south. We are going to continue to see that weather system moving away. Its causing our winds to calm down. Palo alto our temperatures in the mid40s and reachi