Of tomorrows next republican debate. Cs kasie hunt has s the latest. Reporter less than 50 days out from the iowa caucuses, ted uz is closing in on donald trump, and their unofficial trucece officially over. Look at the way hes dealt with the senate, where he goes in there like a, you know, frankly, like a little bit of a maniac. Reporter so far,2 cruz is laughing off trumps attacks, taking to twitter with a link to the famous maniac theme from flashdance. Shes a maniac, maniac trump is still leadinggn national polls. In iowa the Des Moines Register shows cruz beating him by ten points. What is behind the surge . E . A sophisticated game in iowa. Long drive. 13 1 2 hours. Reporter theyre joining dozens of volunteers who are so dedicated theyre paying their own way to bunk in a dorm known as campp cruz. Dorm beds. My husband says lets bumping em. Oh, fantastic. Reporter this is where camp cruz becomes the strike force, getting equipppp with tablets that s sw them which doors to knock on and what to say as they try to convince iowa voters to pick ted cruz. Can ted cruz count on your support in the caucus . Yes. Reporter r ut not everyone is sold, and there are signs trumps attacks are hitting home. Theres just a little bit something just about his persona comes across that i hahant bought yet. Reporter the gop establishment never saw it coming, the republican nomination fight between two outsiders who have made few friends inside the party. Trump and cruz could be a disaster for the republican party. Its going to be difficult potentially for the party to win over mainstream voters in swing states. Reporter republicans e gathering here in las vegas aheadf the last debatat of the year. Also today, donald trump releasing a letter from his doctor saying that if he wins, hed be the ever elected to the presidenen. Lester . Kakae, thank you. Now to the stunning turn of events for u. S. Army Sergeant Bowe bergdahl held captive by the taliban for five years after walking away from his base in of adawan stand, then final freed last year in a dramatic and controversial prisoner swap. Many called bergdahl a deserter or worse, and now tonight, hes facing a courtmartial as our pentagon correspondent Jim Miklaszewski reports. Epte held hostage by the taliban for five years, Sergeant Bowe bergdahl could face life inn military prison President Army ordered him to face courtmartial for des ergs and endangering the safety of his fellow soldiers. 20 minutes out, good grief im oveve my head. Suddenly this starts to sink in, i really did something bad. Reporter in his first person account for the podcast serial, bergdahl describes how he walked away from his outpost in Eastern Army Commanders of leadership problems, but was soon captured by a group of heavily armed taliban fighters. Im not stupid enough to try and knife off a bunch of guys with ak47s. Reporter bergdahl was released in a controversial prisoner swap for five taliban prisoners held at guantanamo bay. That samam day, president obama welcomed bergdahls parents to the rose garden. Wonderful. Its a good day. Yes is a today good day. Reporter today bergdahls attorney called the charges against his client excessive. The government had shown probable cause for one thing own, a oneday awol. Reporter the army itself is spliliover the case. Many believe bergdahl should be punished for putting the lives of his fellow soldiers at risk but the investigator in the case suggests that any jail time for bergdahl would be inappropriate. Bergdahl remains on active duty, no date has been set for his courtmartial. Jim miklaszewski, nbc Many Americans are on edge following the recent attacks in paris and san bernardino. In our brand new nbc news wall street journal poll, 40 say the federal governments top priority is National Security and terrorism. That number has more than doubled since april, and 29 say theyre worried that they, or a loved one, will be the victim of a terror attack. But today, for the second time in just over a week, presisint obama argued that his strategy against isis is working. This time he made those comments in a rare appearance at the pentagon. Last month in november we dropped more bombs on isil targets than any other month since this campaign started. The point is isil leaders cannot hide and our next message to them is simple, you are nextxt the president was at the pentagon for a meeting with his National Security council. On thursday he will also visit the National Counterterrorism center before traveling to hawaii on friday for christmtm vacation. Lets turn now to the missed signs in as of now, screeners do not regularly look at social media for people applying to come to this country on socalled fiance visas but that could change now that we know one of the llers left clues on social media before she camehere, but they werent flagged until too late. We get more from our pete williams. Reporter well before she applied to come to the united states, officials say, Tashfeen Malik was expressing support for violent jihad on social media, but the u. S. Agencies that reviewed her application for a fiance visa did not know that. Now the Obama Administration is reviviing whether social media foror visa applicants should be checked, something Many Employers already do. The social media placed a whole new burden and a whole new set of questions, but not impmpsible ones to resolve. Reporter heres how the process works, a u. S. Citizen applies for a k1 visa to bring in a fiance from overseas. Foreign applicant is checked against u. S. Terrorism databases and state Department Officers overseas get the applicants fingerprints and check criminal records but surprisingly, even in pakistan where Tashfeen Malik is from, the process seldom includes a facetogase interview. We only interview in the k1 program in cases where theres some issue that needs to be explored. Reporter tonight u. S. Officials say Tashfeen Maliks jihadist messages were no only missed because they werent checked but also because they were sent privately to the Facebook Page of her sister, not posted publicly. Meantime investigators work to build a time liner what malik and fa rook were doing before and after the shooting. There was a moment that a vehicle very similar to that newer model ford excursioio i believeve thats what it was, had passed by the dealership. Chairman of the pous Homeland SecurityCommittee Says it will consider a bill to require inperson interviews and social screenings for visa applicants. Last year the number of fiance visas was about 36,000. Tonight were just over a week from winter, but you wouldnt know it, across much of the country, where its so warm, it feels like spring, and heat records are dropping left and right. Temperatures i the 60s and 70s, where last year they were alrerey buried in snow. Nbcs dylan dreyer reports on the reason and how long into winter this will last. Reporter just eight days before the offici start of winter, a december heat wave has set more than 1,000 record high temperatures across the northeast and midwest. Out west its another story, winter is in full effect, treacherous roads, and packed slopes, but ski resorts back east are seeing green and not the good kind. We really need the temperatures to change, or at least become a little more seasonal so we can get the facility open. Reporter by this time last year, upstate new york was already buried by snowstorms. Up to six feet of snow fell in parts of western new york. What a difference a year makes, with no snow so far this december, buffalo broke a 116yearold record. Last years bone chilling temperatures have given way to this, record temperatures reaching new highs, 70 in philadelphia, 71 in buffalo, and 72 in baltimore. It like weather whiplash, thanks in part to el nino. What we are seeing this year is a near recordsetting el nino pattern over the pacific ocean, which is transporting very warm air across the entire united states. Reporter with el nino reaching its peak, the country can expect several more weeks of mild temps in the midwest and northeast, and storms out west, but as we approach february, a more typical winter should return. Now here in new york city, it is still 61 a high of 65 earlier today, and for those of you hoping for a white christmas, im sorry, but ittooks like most of the country will not be seeing one this year. Dont worry, it will snow eventually, its just not going to get here in time for christmas. Lester . Dylan dreyer tonight in new york, thank you. It happened exactly three years ago today, a massacre of innocents, one of the worst Mass Shootings in our nations history, 20 ildren, ages 6 and 7, murdered along with six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in newtown, connecticut. In the aftermath, there was a sense in this country that something would change, whether it be gun law, better access to Mental Health care or some other solution, but as our Stephanie Gosk reports, hundreds of children have lost their lives to gun violence in this country since that awful day three years ago. Reporter o name on this list would bee one too many. Instead at least 555 children under the age of 12 have died from firearms since the shooting at sandy hook child every other day for the last three years. The numbers compiled by nbc news showed children are no safer from guns now than they were before the newtown shooting. Even though overall gun violence in the country has dropped. The stories are as varied as they are tragic. Why did this have to happen . Why couldnt it have just been me . Reporter hi vus 10yearold son aaron was killed when two gunmen robobd his business and opened fire. 9yearold tyshawn was murdered because gang members allegedly had a vendetta against his father. 9yearold corbin. Some of the deaths could have been avoided with better gun safety, and with gun sales on the rise, its a focus f f some dealers. People have loaded guns in the house are just asking for a problem if they have bidens familyas owned this gun shop in new jersey since the 70s. He actually helped write the state law requiring a gun lock be sold with every gun. You have to have a license to drive a car. Youre feeling that should extend to gun ownership . I havav no problem with people carrying guns. It should go through some type of training or to go pass a test to make sure theyre qualified. Rorter he is among 84 of americans who support background checks for all gun sales, but legislation on background checks went nowhere in congress. Right now, we are being distracted by cultural debates rather than on the central policy questions that are important to keeping americans safe from gun violence. Reporter still since the newtown shooting, 4141tates have passed their ownwn laws strengthening gun regulation, not willing to wait for congress. Evidence that in some plac, these facesd have broken the gridlockck news, glassboro, new jersey. Still ahead tonight could you be putting your child at higher riskf autism . What a new study has to sayay about pregnant women who take antidepressants. Also what youre required to do if youre getting one of these hot holiday gifts, or els ya know, viagra helps guys with erectile dfunction get and keep an erection. Talk to your doctor about viagra. Ask your doctor if your heart is healthy enough for sex. 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For drivers with accident forgiveness, Liberty Mutual wont raise your rates due to your first accident. See Car Insurance in a whole new light. Liberty mutual insurance. Were back with news about autism that you need to hear, if you or someone you love are expecting. New study just out troubling connection between mothers w w takedepressants and higher risk at their children children developing autism. Reporter in what is a time of great expectation and anxiety for women, today a set of scary headlines. New study finds the most commonlnl prescribed antidepressants, if taken during the second and third trimesters, are associated with an 87 increased risk of autism. But experts say its a big jump of what is still a very small number. For women who are taking antidepressant during pregnancy, they found that they have onehalf of 1 of an increase in having an autistic child. Reporter this is the latest study to link antidepressants to birth defects and developmental delays. The drugs in todays ssris, with brand names such as prozac, paxil and zoloft. One manufacturer says its reviewing the study, which does not conclude these drugs cause autism. Its really just a correlation, not a cause and effect, so its possible that Something Else has caused this increase in the group that took antidepressants. Reporter obstetrician joanne stoneays she wont tell her patients to stop taking the drugs because untreated deprprsion can be very serious. What are the risks of not taking the medications . The risk of not taking the medication are increas risk for poor pregnancy outcome, higher preterm delivery rates, higher caesarian rates and potentially higher risk for adverse outcome for the baby babies. Repororr meaning women need to look at all options when deciding whats best for them and their babies. Anne thompson, nbc news, new york. Were back in a moment with why you another day, ananim still strugglingngwith my diabetes. I do my best to manage. 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New rules at the faa is detailing tonight as the feded try to cut down onn the close calls between drones and airplanes, more than 1,000 just this year. Heres nbcs tom costello with more. Reporter its the must have gadget of the year, more than 400,000 drones are over the holidays, a whopping 1. 5 million for all of 2015. Theyve also crashed at sporting events,s, even on the white e house lawn. We just had something fly over us, i dont know if it was a drone or balloon, it just came real quick. Reporter pilot report 100 drone sightings and close calls each month. Now the faa is rolling out new rules that go into effect next monday, all drone owners 13 and older must register their drones online, including name, address, and email. The cost 5, though that will be waived for the first 30 days. We think this is not just about registering. This is also about educating and providing folks with the information they neededo do this safely. Dont fly near airports or any manned aircraft. Reporter by registering the drones user also also get the rules, fly below 400 feet, at least five miles from airports. While the Drone Industry today applauded registration, the Model Aircraft Association calls it an unnecessary burden for its members. To have a guy that does something stupid. Reporter we recently caught up with some drone enthusiast enthusiasts. Give me a list of five things that the government does well. Theyre going to screw it upup reporter registering drones will allow authorities to track down owners if they crash in restricted air space. The potential fine 1,100 per offense. Tom costello, nbc news,washington. W wn we come back its the moment generations of fans have been waiting for. Tonights the night the force awakens. Woman its been a journey to get where i am. And i didnt get here alone. There were people whwhlistened along the way. People who gave me options. Kept me on track. And through it all, my retirement never got left behind. 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Reporter in a galaxy far, far away, better known as hollywood oh no reporter star wars lovers are lining up outside the ts like every family reunion. You make time for it, you cant this it. Reporter some of the fans will have spent 12 days in line. Caroline ritter and andrew pororrs travelel from australia, before seeing the movie thursday, theyll get married right here, so whats more important . Technically the wedding but the movie is j jt as important. Reporter set about 30 years after return of the jedi the force awakens will introduce a new crop of characters and mark the return of princess leia, now a general, and han solo. Were home. Reporter the movie is expected to earn 1. 5 billion and 2 billion worldwide, maybe more. They could be recordbreaking and could be in the top alltime. Reporter the premiere takes place tonight in hollywood, but when the original movie premiered in 1977, there was little fan. They were surprised next thing you know we around the block. Reporter somewhere in the horde of moviegoer moviegoers,3yearold brendan thibodeau, 30 years later back in line. I cant wait to see it, i cant wait. Its geg to be amazing. Reporter for generations old and new, its clear the force is still with us. Joe fryer, nbc news, hollywood. And that will do it for us on this monday night. Im lester holt. For all of us at nbc news, thank you for watching, and good night. T. And charged with murder after police rule a possible suicide a homicide. Plus heavy rain storms over the weekend are causing flooding issues. Yes flooding issues. Right here in the cedar valley. And governor branstad is about to enter the political recood governor in american history. Youre watching kwwl, weve got you covered. This is the news at six. Good evening everyone, im ron steele. And im amanda goodman. Thanks for joining us. An iowa man is behind bars tonight accused of shooting his waterloo girlfriend. This all happening sunday evening in the 600 block oo first street north east in hampton. 60 year old ronald lee rand charged with first degree murder for the death of his alleged girlfriend 51 year old michelle key of waterloo. Kwwll lauren moss spent the day in hampton speaking with neighbors, she joins us now live with the latest neighbors describe rand as a quiet man. Someone who kept to himself. They say usually, you could find him outtde working on his motorcycle, but sunday night. He was outside in neighbors say its a rare sight. Caution tape surrounding a home in hampton. Its such a quiet town, safe neighborhood. Just a lot of good up christmas lights. But thosee lights were actually police cars because the home across the street is now a when they