of msnbc, a tsunami warning in japan after earthquakes erupted off the west coast. the 7.6 quake causing mass blackouts and crippling communications. first responders are racing against the clock to locate the injured. plus, the israel-hamas war expected to go on for many more months as the first major drawdown of troops since the war began. what the next phase of the war will look like. former president trump s legal battles in the new year, what his appeal could look like after he was removed from colorado and maine, and the the latest on the slew of high stakes trials set to begin this year. happy new year to you. it is 11:00 a.m. eastern, i m frances rivera reporting from new york city. we start with breaking news out of western japan where a powerful earthquake hit overnight disrupting kplun communications. as tsunami warnings rang up and down japan s western coast. now, japanese officials are warning the aftershocks could continue for up to a week. we want to brin