raising new concerns about the withdrawal of all u.s. troops from the country. nbc's richard engel reports live from the region. judge those stories plus targeting the white house. the fbi thwarts an alleged plot to carry out disturbing attacks in washington. moving forward. the family of kidnapping survivor jayme closs opening up about the 13-year-old's road to recovery as her friends flood social media with messages of lone and support. razor burn. gillette reprice to the firestorm aimed at men in this time of me too. the company calling the commercial a success. will the backlash end up hurting their bottom line. today, wednesday, january 17th, 2019. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with savannah guthrie and hoda kotb, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> welcome to "today" on this thursday morning. we're so happy you're with us, start urge day. and the snow is coming. >> it is. it is already in the midwest and headed this way. >> we've been talking about these powerful winter storm. this week the first-round of snow and ice is spreading. we'll get straight to al. >> good morning. our friends on the west coast getting hammered right now. we'll be feeling their pain in a little bit. here's the first system. 33 million people are under a winter weather advisory or wind weather watch stretching from the dakotas into indiana and then here in the northeast where we're talking one to two inches. quick hit and then out. this one we're watching. for tomorrow snow spreading from the southwest, the rockies, omaha, chicago, icy mix as a part of this. oklahoma city, st. louis, cincinnati, buffalo, boston as we move into saturday with an icy mix there and heavy rain along the coast. and then sunday the system pulls out. so what starts as rain ends with snow. here's what we're looking at. basically back through the midwest about three to six inches from sioux falls, des moines, kansas city, circle, columbus. in the northeast here's where the numbers start to pile up. the storm track will determine how much. generally 18 inches of snow from binghampton up to bangor. three to nine inches of snow in new york city and heavier amounts in the appalachian. saturday look for airport delays, major ones in st. louis, indianapolis and pittsburgh for snow. we're looking at atlanta and memphis and new orleans for rain. and then i-70 kansas city to baltimore big problems. sunday boston, new york, washington, d.c. for snow along i-80, i-90 and i-95, big problems as far as rain and snow. we'll continue to track this and fine tune the forecast as we get into the day today and on into tomorrow. guys? >> lots of moving parts. in the meantime this is day 27 of the longest government shutdown in u.s. history. and all signs point to the president and democrats being further away, not closer to a deal that ended. in fact a new front erupted over the president's state of the union address. will it happen or not? we have two reports starting with peter alexander. >> reporter: good morning. this morning the state of disunion over the president's upcoming stein address less than two weeks away and now this. a power play from democrat nancy pelosi. the house speaker flexing her muscles in a move designed to deperipheral the president of a high-profile platform to attack democrats and to sell his border wall. the this morning the shutdown of the state of the union now heating up. speaker nancy pelosi urging the president to postpone his annual address or deliver in writing. in this new letter citing security concerns, noting that due to the shutdown the defendant homeland security and secret service have been hamstrung by furloughs. >> you can make it from the oval office if he wants. >> reporter: pelosi's deputy more definitive. >> state of the union is off. >> state of the union is off. >> reporter: sceny hoyer's aides later misspoke. white house calling it a political stun. >> speaker pelosi should act like a speaker. it's not a security issue. it's politics. >> reporter: the white house not responding to pelosi's request. the president's lawyer, however, is speaking out. changing his argument about the russia investigation. >> i never said there was no collusion between the campaign or between people in the campaign. >> yes, you have. >> i have not. i said the president of the united states. >> reporter: rudy giuliani contradicting his past possession and the president's possession on collusion with the russians during the 2016 presidential campaign. >> no collusion whatsoever. there was no collusion whatsoever. there never has been. the last thing i want is help from russia. there's been no collusion. there's been no obstruction. it's all a made up fantasy. it's a witch-hunt. >> reporter: giuliani in that heated exchange wasn't finished. >> there's not a single bit of evidence that the president of the united states committed the only crime he could commit, conspire with the russians to hack the dnc. >> reporter: the president often refers to mueller's investigation as a witch-hunt. it led to indictments of 30 people. among them his former campaign chairman paul manafort. giuliani apparently trying to move the goal post in that interview. to be clear as a fact check there are multiple examples of the president and his lawyer rudy giuliani arguing the trump campaign did nothing wrong, there was no collusion with the russians whatsoever. >> peter, thank you. each day that passes without a deal brings more hardship to millions of families who rely on a government paycheck and new concerns about the overall impact on the economy. nbc's tom costello has that part of the story. tom, good morning. >> reporter: good morning. this is the iconic view from freedom plaza here in washington. capitol hill right behind me. the white house a five minute walk that way. caught in the middle the rest of the country. 800,000 federal workers, millions of contractors and their families haven't had a paycheck since last month and many fear the next one could be a long way off. on either end of pennsylvania avenue no sign of compromise in a fight that has every day americans struggling to get by. the trump administration has called back to work tens of thousands of government workers in critical jobs, but without pay. in columbus, ohio, faa aircraft inspector john jeffries is back on the job. >> i'm out here to perform a safety function to help the folks out and keep the invitation industry safe. but i would like to be compensated for it. >> reporter: in utah this single dad and ir collector is going back friday, again no pay. >> i can only survive toto three weeks, maybe two at the most before, you know, before i'm evicted. >> reporter: in washington thousands of federal workers have been showing up for a free meal offered by the world central kitchen. >> i felt ashamed. i did. because i'm a working woman. i love to go to work every day. i can take care of just myself. >> reporter: at dallas-ft. worth airport in dallas workers rallying in protest of the shutdown. meanwhile the tsa chief says financial hardship is the most common reason screening officers are failing to show up to work. some unable to afford child care or put gas in their car. now take second jobs. after 90-minute lines in atlanta on monday the tsa sent in a rapid response team to shore up the staffing. though this morning checkpoints in houston and atlanta remain closed. now atlanta is preparing for this weekend's mlk holiday crowds, and the super bowl travel crush in atlanta on february 2nd. tsa officers are supposed to staff the stadium as well as the airport. kesha bottoms is atlanta's mayor. >> get here as early as you possibly can, and especially for the super bowl, we'll have a record number of passengers coming in, but it will be over a ten day period. but mass exodus of passengers on monday 220,000 leaving on monday. >> so how real is this worry that if this goes on and on you would have tsa officers, air traffic controllers just walking off the job? is that likely? >> reporter: i can tell you that there has been open discussion about that between tsa officers and air traffic controllers, but there's a lot at stake. if they walk off the job they can get fire, lose their pension and a few have been on the job for years and years and you built up a pension that's a lot to lose. that could be a real hard inflection point, pressure point for the government if tsa officers walk off the job, tsa checkpoints shut down -- that's not happening now but there's been these grumblings and rumblings out there over the last few days that's a possibility. >> you'll see a tanking on the economy if that happened. tom, keep us posted. >> craig is joining us at the table. president trump's plan to withdraw u.s. troops from syria claiming isis has been defeated. they are facing new questions this morning following an attack that left four americans dead. nbc's chief foreign correspondent richard engel is in iraq. he's near the syrian border. richard, good morning. >> reporter: good morning, craig. the military is still investigating this attack, which bears all the hall marks of isis trying to reassert itself have the president's announcement that u.s. troops will be coming home. overnight new details and more fallout after a deadly attack on americans in syria. witnesses say u.s. forces were near a popular restaurant on this street in the city of manbji when a man in civilian clothing approached. avenues suicide bomber lying in wait wearing a powerful explosive vest. four americans, two u.s. service members, a contractor and a civilian working for the dod were killed. witnesses telling nbc news the american forces have set a dangerous pattern here, repeatedly coming to the same restaurant. isis quickly posting an unsubstantiated claim of responsibility. the group telling the world president trump is wrong. >> we beaten them badly. we've taken back the land. now it's time for our troops to come back home. >> reporter: president trump used to say he would never telegraph u.s. troop moments in a war zone, often criticizes former president obama for it. >> america's enemies must never know our plans or believe they can wait us out. >> reporter: this time he's announcing future u.s. troop deployments and that about-face has frightened america's allies in syria, the kurds who worry they will soon be abandoned. and it may be emboldening isis to attack now so they can claim to have forced america's pull out. even one much president trump's closest republican allies warning pulling out the remaining 2,000 u.s. troops in syria too soon is a mistake. >> my concern by the statements made by president trump is that you set in motion enthusiasm by the enemy we're fighting. you make people who are trying to help wonder about us. >> he's not alone. >> this rapid withdrawal without a plan or strategy puts our troops in danger. >> so richard, president trump says the troop withdrawal has already started. you're along the border. what have you seen? >> reporter: so there's been a lot of confusion about this. the pentagon also put out a statement saying that withdrawal has begun but that only some non-essential equipment has been coming out of the country. from what we could see on the front lines the fight with isis with kurdish troops is as intense ever. we saw no indication the withdrawal is having any impact so far on the fight against isis. >> our chief foreign correspondent, richard engel there. >> now to a stunning arrest in georgia. a young man in custody this morning charged with planning to attack targets in washington, d.c., including the white house. nbc's justice correspondent pete williams has the latest. pete, good morning. >> reporter: the investigators say the man they arrested actually talked for months about attacking the white house and even skechd out floor plans of the building but he never had any weapons and he was under investigation for nearly a year. overnight police and federal agents searched a home in suburban atlanta where the man they arrested lived. authorities say someone in the atlanta area warned them last march that he had become radicalized. >> this investigation and arrest were the direct result of a tip from the community. another example of how spoirt to contact law enforcement if you see or hear something suspicious. >> reporter: neighbors reacted news to the arrest. >> they were pretty quiet but no red flags. >> reporter: court documents said fbi undercover operatives began meeting with him last fall posing as like-minded people. he wanted to commit jihad and become a martyr. the document says they asked him to get weapons and an anti-tank rocket. his desire was to attack the white house today but he had no actual plan, did not know how the explosives worked and had never fired a gun. >> there was any threat at all to the general public? >> reporter: no. not much of a athlete to the white house either because they were watching him so closely for the past several months. the fbi said he was arrested yesterday morning, wednesday morning when he received the weapons from the undercover operatives. he hasn't yet responded in court to the charges. >> pete williams in d.c. thanks. we turn to al for the rest of the forecast. >> let's take a look what our friends are looking at across the country. heavy snow making its way through the sierra. heavy rain in southern california. pleasantly mild throughout texas on up into the mid-plains. but we got some light snow coming across the great lakes, u.p. of michigan, southern in northern new england and plenty of sunshine in the gulf coast into the southeast. we'll get to your local forecast coming up in the next 30 seconds. good morning. i'm meteorologist kari hall. our microclimate weather alert continues as we've seen storms develop toward the middle town area. a closer look at that, we'll have lightning strikes in the area. that will be pushing off to the east as we head down to san francisco. parts of marin county extending to contra costa and another round of heavy rain. we will see the showers off and on and it gradually tapers off as we go into tonight. dryer weather in time for the first part of the weekend and more showers on monday. >> latest weather. guys. >> al, thank you. coming up -- urvivor jayme closs on how they are helping her move forward and their message to her alleged abductor. how gillette is ponding to the uproar over its controversial new ad. but first this is "today" on nbc. just ahead, the billionaire >> justfo hide. the bail lone founder of 23 and me dna test kits opens up to nbc news. >> how is your back feeling this morning. why your work desk could be to blame for the pain you have. what you can do about it this morning. >> set up straight. we're trying. >> very comfortable. and every time we move, things change. apartments become houses, cars become mini vans. as we upgrade 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microclimate weather alert. some places cleaning up from yesterday's storm. heavy rain triggered this slide on skyline near summit road. highway 35 closed in both directions at least through the morning hours. meteorologist kari hall tracking those conditions for us. >> we have rain, thunderstorms farther to the north. we'll be seeing this moving through as we get more still lingering effects of that storm that moved through yesterday. we're going to be seeing some of that rain moving to the north over toward lake county. also some heavy rain moving back into san francisco extending over toward richmond and reaching very close to concord. it's still going to be a busy day. rain chances in the forecast, even a few thunderstorms. we will start to see this tapering off as we go into this evening. our highest chance will be in the north bay. by tomorrow we will still have early morning rain chances but clearing out on saturday. another quick moving system will bring us some rain on sunday. how are the roads now moving, mike. >> kari, we have wet roads, rain traveling through richmond, walnut creek. be careful out there. tow truck in the parking lot area. that's not a major concern. you see on our maps we have all this big rain coming throughout the north bay and into the east bay, upper east shore freeway. that camera was over richmond san rafael bridge. smoother drive, san mateo showing smoother drives. 101 approaching san antonio, crash moved to the shoulder, a distraction. reports are there's an armored truck there. back to you. >> thanks, mike. we'll have another local update in 30 minutes. morning, everybody. it's 7:30. it's wednesday, january 17th, 2019. that's our plaza. a windy one. a cold one. winter is here. we're awaiting powerful back-to-back storms that our ci commute. we're all getting it. >> that's where we start today with the headlines. the first system will spread snow, sleet, freezing rain across the northwest and mideast today through friday. more powerful system already hammering the west right now. it's going to bring heavy snow to the plains and the midwest friday and saturday. then that is going to move to the northeast late saturday/early sunday. some areas may see more than a foot of snow. mr. roker is going to be. roker us who will get hit the hardest. a new fight over the's upcoming state of the union address. nancy pelosi is urging him to postpone the speech or deliver it in writing. she said department of homeland security and secret service have been hamstrung by furloughs but kirstjen nielsen said the secret service is fully prepared to support state of the union. >> british prime minister theresa may is reaching out to opposition parties today in a battle to keep brexit on track. may managed to survive a crucial no confidence vote on wednesday just one day after the uk parliament overwhelmingly rejected her brexit deal. the vote left the uk in its deepiest political crisis in half a century as it barrels towards a march 29th deadline. also this morning the family of kidnapping survivor jayme closs is speaking out about how the 13-year-old is doing and also addressing reports that suggest the suspect's father tried to reach to them. kristen dahlgren has more on this. good morning. >> for 88 days jayme closs' family held out hope that she would come back home alive. now one week after her incredible escape they are looking forward not back saying they want nothing to do with the alleged kidnapper or his family. one week ago family and friends of jayme closs were wondering if she would ever make it home. this morning they are celebrating the is-year-old's safe return. >> we're all just so happy that you're back. >> her friends posting a video to light the way home for jayme facebook page. >> not everything will be easy from now on and it's okay, jayme because so many people support. >> jayme's aunt yen who is now her legal guardian said jayme loved seeing this. she loves her friends. messages of love and support as jayme tries to move past the chilling crimes she's faced. authorities say the teen hid in a locked bathroom with her mother last october as jake patterson stormed their home. first kelg her father then her mother before holding her captive for 88 days in a remote house. this week's patterson's father tried to give a note to jayme's family. not clear what it said. they said i honestly have nothing to say to that family or ever plan to communicate with them. i only want what's best for jayme. patterson's attorney said the 21-year-old's family is heartbroken. >> his dad said to me his heart hurts for them, for the pain they are going through. >> according to the criminal complaint patterson's father visited the home. the 21-year-old telling authorities he would barricade jayme under his bed when his father arrived, turning up the radio in the room to cover up any news jayme may make. authorities have not said whether patterson's father knew he was there and he has not respond to our request for comment. swra me's family trying to stay strong for her as she adjusts to her new normal. >> patient and take each day as it comes. >> a new chapter being written one day at a time. >> family members say jayme was eger to see them when she returned home and seeing her friends will come with time. patterson's is being held on $5 million on bail. let's turn now to mr. roker standing by a look at some nastiness out west. >> they have been getting hammered. another big storm making its way on shore in central and southern california. another storm in the pacific northwest this weekend. take a look at this check board of watches and warnings. winter storm warnings. blizzard warnings for part of california. flash flood watches up and down the coast. high surf and wind advisories as well. here comes that first front that brings in rain and mountain snows. those will start to taper off as we get through the day today and tomorrow. then another system blankets the pacific northwest and be drier for much of california. impacts tore be felt over the burn scars. mudslides continue. mountain snows, risks for blizzards in the sierra good morning, i'm meteorologist kari hall. the blizzard warning for the sierra has been allowed to expire. now winter weather advisory in effect. we still are seeing very active weather across the bay area with heavy rain moving through san francisco over toward parts of berkeley and richmond, and then we'll see this continuing off and on at least throughout the morning as this atmospheric river targets california. we are going to see our rain chances going down by tomorrow. dry weather on saturday, and some more quick moving showers on sunday. >> and that's your latest weather. still ahead a rare interview with the woman behind 23 and me. how her popular dna test kits reveal the past may change the future of medicine. >> do you look at screens all day? that could be the source of your sore back. we have some simple solutions. the royals are just like us. what happened when meghan markle stepped out in a $35 dress. >> up next, though, a "today" exclusive. family of an accused russian spy convicted of trying to influence american politics are speaking out for the very first time. but first these messages. first, these messages. when you have a cold, pain from chest congestion can make this... ...feel like this. all-in-one cold symptom relief from tylenol®, the #1 doctor recommended pain relief brand. tylenol®. 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>> reporter: last moshe pled guilty to concease-fire to act as an undisclosed agent of russia in the runs. nbc news traveled to her home town, discovering previously unreported details of her history in an interview with her family. maria was and is a very keen person her father says. she would always reach her goal. a child who loved dolls, volleyball and harry potter. >> this is our photo from maria's childhood. >> reporter: a different image from a woman in a cowboy hat at an nra meeting. in 2011 she set up a gun rights organization in russia. in 2016 she moved to the u.s. enrolling as a graduate student in international relations at american university in washington. but court documents show her actions were directed by russian government official, all part of a plot to influence conservatives and even the trump campaign. in order to gain access to the white house and then she had support from rich and kremlin connected russians. >> we're talking about an operative that got herself invited to the homes of sitting republican politicians. she was present at nra meetings. became a real influencer. >> reporter: maria butina attended president trump's inauguration with her american boyfriend, nra member, paul eri canso -- erickson. >> it don't bother us she was dating an older man. the family tells nbc news she brought ericcson to cyberia. there were two visits in 2014 and 2015. maria has been in constant contact with her relatives from her jail in virginia. the daughter who networked her way to washington was, they say, for a time held in solitary confinement. it's obvious she doesn't want us to know how difficult it is. she tells us the minimum of what it's like but we can tell from her voice how hard it is. the family denies she was knowingly a part of russian influence operation telling us there's no way a student like maria could influence anything in such a big and rich country as the u.s.. maria butina is still awaiting sentencing in the u.s. meanwhile in the past 24 hours the russian foreign minister saying it is unfair to accuse maria butina of subversion saying in the current climate almost any russian is accused. guys? >> all right. thank you. up next, how gillette is responding to the growing backlash against its controversial ad aimed at men in the me too age. but first these messages. it ind she's watching too, saying [indistinct conversation] [friend] i've never seen that before. ♪ ♪ i have... ♪ i have... ♪ ♪ the russells travel to a different swim meet every saturday. but now...it's thursday. good thing they discovered gain flings. the only detergent with concentrated gain, oxi boost, and febreze odor remover. hey dad, you just got an invisible high five from parents everywhere. try new improved gain flings. i looked for realed ingredients for real taste. absolutely no artificial flavors or preservatives. knorr selects real ingredients for real taste. something important. it's not going to be easy. quicksilver earns you unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, everywhere. actually, that's super easy. my bad. psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, little things can be a big deal. that's why there's otezla. otezla is not an injection or a cream. it's a pill that treats differently. for psoriasis, 75% clearer skin is achievable, with reduced redness, thickness, and scaliness of plaques. for psoriatic arthritis, otezla is proven to reduce joint swelling, tenderness, and pain. and the otezla prescribing information has no requirement for routine lab monitoring. don't use if you're allergic to otezla. it may cause severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. otezla is associated with an increased risk of depression. tell your doctor if you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts, or if these feelings develop. some people taking otezla reported weight loss. your doctor should monitor your weight and may stop treatment. upper respiratory tract infection and headache may occur. tell your doctor about your medicines and if you're pregnant or planning to be. otezla. show more of you. welcome back. the controversy surrounding that new ad from gillette, encouraging men to be better in the wake of the me too movement, doesn't appear to be dying down. nbc's morgan radford is here with the very latest. there appears to be some backlash to the backlash. >> backlash to the backlash. we all talked about this ad earlier in the week, when it first came out. now, the controversy is growing. while some appreciate gillette's message against so-called toxic masculinity, others believe the ad is putting all men under attack, and so now, they're striking back. >> reporter: this morning, some men are dumping their gillette products in the trash. posting photos and videos online with the #boycott gillette. >> boys will be boys. >> boys will be boys. >> reporter: they're up in arms, as backlash grows over gillette's controversial, new ad, turning the company's popular tag line on its head. >> is this the best a man can get? ♪ best a man can get >> reporter: and framing it in the context of the me too movement. >> allegations regarding sexual assault and sexual harassment. >> reporter: many customers took to social media, praising the ad for its progressiveness. but now, some say the ad represents a backlash against traditional masculinity. >> this is getting a lot of talk. >> reporter: the commercial making waves on cable news. >> so let's point out all the bad things that you might say about men, put them into an ad, make men feel horrible, then say, overpay for a razorazor. >> reporter: many conservativco, women among them, saying the ad went too far. >> i think there is this backlash against being traditionally masculine, as well. i just want men to, obviously, not sexually harass anyone, not make women feel offensive, not do anything illegal. >> reporter: in a statement, gillette tells us, the ad started a discussion, as intended. if we get people to pause, reflect, and to challenge themselves and others, to ensure their actions reflect who they really are, then this campaign will be a success. still, polarizing ads like gillette's are bound to turn heads. >> whenever you take a stand, you always risk losing a few people. if nothing else, they're going to be buzzed about. that i going to be talked about. this is going to get a lot of attention. that is all good for a brand. >> believe in something. even if it means sacrificing everything. >> reporter: nike sales grew after its controversial commercial with former nfl quarterback colin kaepernick. gillette's sales' impact is still up in the air. >> we believe in the best in men. >> reporter: even if some customers no longer believe in gillette. >> there has been blowback from women, as well, who claim that gillette has a pink tax, meaning women's products cost more than men. so in other words, when it comes to razors, shaving creams, body wash, items that are explicitly marketed towards women, usually costs slightly more for virtually the same product. one study found in 2015 that, on average, personal products for women cost about 13% more. a lot of women are saying, look, if you want to treat us equally, charge us equally. >> don't humor us with this nice commercial or whatever. i get it. >> social responsibility marketing can be tricky though. there are folks who also suggested that gillette might be just the latest company that's trying to capitalize on a worthwhile movement. >> it can take this unpredictable bounce, which is what i think we all saw here. >> it makes more sense if you have a company that's not well-known, just trying to get on the map one way or the other. gillette is so well-known. >> established. >> they be waiting for weekend sales numbers. some worlds, all press is good press. >> we're on it. >> thank you. ahead, al has new information on the one-two punch, nasty winter storms. we'll get an update. hello. rolling across the country, just ♪ when cravings hit, hit back. choose glucerna, with slow release carbs to help manage blood sugar, and start making everyday progress. glucerna. ♪ (door bell rings) it's ohey. this is amazing. with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, are you okay? 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(sigh) (crunch) babybel: that snack just sounded boring. babybel: coming through. no photos, please. babybel: bye bye, bland. babybel: helloooo, delicious. vo: rich, creamy, 100% real cheese. vo: with mini babybel, snack time is saved. babybel: saved it! -we're in a small room. what?! -welcome. -[ gasps ] a bigger room?! -how many of you use car insurance? -oh. -well, what if i showed you this? -[ laughing ] ho-ho-ho! -wow. -it's a computer. -we compare rates to help you get the price and coverage that's right for you. -that's amazing! the only thing that would make this better is if my mom were here. what?! an unexpected ending! paragraph right now at 7:46, we're still in microclimate weather alert. now a thunderstorm moving near the bay bridge. also heavy rain in san francisco extending toward the east bay. a closer look, we can see that lightning strike there. this is cloud to ground lightning. you may hear recommend bells of thunder if this continues. heavy rain through orinda, concord, moving north and east and widespread heavy rain through the east bay through parts of the peninsula. we will still have our rain chances going through the morning as the storm system continues across the region. a lot of lightning strikes here. we have to watch out for that chance of thunderstorms. our rain chances will go down as we go into tomorrow. scattered showers for the north bay. saturday is looking dry with highs in the low 60s. another chance of showers in the forecast for sunday, but clearing out in time for martin luther king day. we'll have more updates on that. let's head to mike for an update on the commute. >> there's the radar showing activity. as i remove that, look where it is, over the bay bridge she walked about, 24 corridor. richmond, puddling roadways, san rafael, marin county. the rest of the bay shows typical slowing except this, 680, a lot of big potholes, two lanes closed toward andretti. be careful out there. back to you. happening now for the second time in two days, a lot of people may have woken up a little earlier than planned thanks to an earthquake, 3.5 in piedmont, struck after 6:00. a similar size quake hit the exact same area a little before 5:00 a.m. yesterday. some areas this morning cleaning up after yesterday's big storm. that rain triggering a mudslide on skyline at summit road. this is above los gatos near bear creek. highway 35 closed in both directions at least through the morning. the east bay teachers planning a "sick-out" tomorrow morning- and the impact it will have on students. plus: kari hall is tracking our weekend forecast for all the area )s big events! join us tomorrow morning from 4:30 to 7. it's 8:00 on "today." coming up, one-two punch. the first of back-to-back storms making its way across the country, causing a messy commute in the midwest. with a second storm right on its heels, how will the winter weather impact your weekend? al's got the answers. plus, it's in the genes. an up close and personal look at the woman behind the popular dna testing company 23 & me. >> you are in the billionaire club. >> i think about success for me, for the company, is the impact that we have on human life. >> how she hopes those kits that unveil the past could also change the future of medicine. and back at it. we've got the simple solutions to help you combat aches in your back, your neck, and shoulders, including the one thing you are doing at work that could be the cause of all of it. today, thursday, january 17th, 2019. >> i'm turning 70 today. >> hi, "today" show. i'm sitting here watching from my living room in front of my fire. hope you all have a great day. >> hi. my younger sister katie in south dakota. ♪ high, high hopes for living >> baton rouge, louisiana. >> from the roads of west virginia. >> good morning to our grandson, george. >> besties from california. >> and welcome back to "today" on this thursday morning. you're looking at brave people. it's in the 20s out there, freezing. snow is on the way, but look at them. >> who dat sign out there. did you see it? >> see it? i wrote it. >> planted it on the plaza. >> we want you to be part of the show and this moment. it's easy. record a quick shoutout, say whatever you want, keep it clean, share it on twitter or instagram and use this hashtag, my today plaza. that's how we can find it and sit back and watch because you may just see yourself. meantime, we have a lot happening. right to your news at 8:00. the snow is icy rain that will cover a good stretch of this country is already coming down now. they are making a mess of the morning commute. al is tracking how this thing will play out. al, good morning. >> morning, guys. it is a changeable situation, but we're watching right now, snow developing from southern minnesota all the way down into indiana. we have 33 million people under winter weather advisories, winter storm warnings -- or watches, i should say. a quick hit of one inch or two, upper midwest to the northeast. this second storm is the one we're really watching. friday, snow from the rockies into omaha, chicago, wichita, oklahoma city into saturday. st. louis, chicago, buffalo, and new york. gusty winds with blowing snow. heavy rain on the coast. the system brings in cooler air, meaning rain ends as snow. we're expecting one to three inches, maybe six inches from sioux falls, des moines, columbus. the northeast, that's where the numbers really start to rack up. could be 18 inches or more from northern pennsylvania all the way into northern new england. the impacts of this system going to be travel delays, a real mess, especially as you get down south. we're looking at heavy rain. sunday, more of the same. airport delays in the northeast. rain along the i-95 corridor, making travel very difficult. guys? >> al, thank you. in washington, the shutdown that's disrupted airports, parks, even the coast guard, is causing a shutdown over an american institution, the state of the union address. white house correspondent peter alexander joins us with the latest on that. >> reporter: hey, this morning, it is best described as the state of disunion. the latest flash point, the president's upcoming state of the union address. it is 12 days away. house speaker nancy pelosi is urging president trump to postpone his speech until after the government shutdown ends or to deliver it in writing. in a letter to the president, pelosi cites security concerns. due to the shutdown, she notes, the department of homeland security and secret service have been, in her words, hamstrung by furloughs. she said the president can speak from the oval office if he wants. republicans are blasting this power play as a political stunt. da secretary kearirstjen nielse rejected the claim, saying her department and the secret service are fully prepared to support and secure the state of the union. notab notably, the white house still hasn't ve responded responded. >> thank you. president trump visits the went gone today. he'll be unveiling a new strategy for upgrading the missile defense program. he's expected to call for a layer inform systems in space to detect enemy missile launches. the pentagon also wants more research into space-based interceptors, including lasers. this is the first missile review in almost a decade. officials say it is critical to guard against growing threats from north korea and iran, and to stay ahead of improved missiles developed by russia and china. a married tennessee teacher who kidnapped his 15-year-old student and spent weeks on the road with her has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. cummings disappeared with the girl in march 2017, setting off a nationwide search. police found them a month later living in a cabin in california. he pleaded guilty to obstructing justice and taking a minor across state lines for sex. he apologized to his own daughters in the court. a statement from the victim called cummings a sick, disgusting criminal who manipulated a lonely and shared girl. a fireball rocked a college campus in leone, france, overnight. at least three people suffered minor injuries. officials is say that was an accident. a gas bottle exploded on the roof of a science library that was being renovated. students were able to be safely evacuated. we have the news covered, and i have a boost. a texas christian university pl basketball player thought he was in trouble. an officer walked into the meeting. everyone was in on a wonderful surprise. take a look. >> we have a problem here, guys. >> yes, sir. >> sorry to interrupt y'all's meeting. i'm looking for an owen. >> yeah. >> can i see you just a minute, please? >> yeah. >> doing a follow of up f-up fo detective. i want to make sure i have the right person. is this you, sir? >> yeah. >> oh! >> that, by the way, said owen had been put on scholarship for the spring semester. his teammates swarmed in and congratulated him. his heart probably isn't back to normal after that. a little cruel. >> it is. >> but he'll never forget that moment. >> no. >> he signed that paper. wow. >> oh, i love how everybody just hugs him. that's cool. ahead, this morning, we'll try to contain al's excitement. guess what? we have a first look at the new "ghostbusters" movie. >> we were talking about it five minutes ago, as well. first, a candid conversation with the pioneer behind the popular 23 & me dna kits. >> once you get this first taste of learning about yourself, it really changes how you think about your health overall. >> what she says will be her company's next big thing. that's right after t welcome to our lipton tea factory. here we work together with nature. our irrigation system, the rain. [splash] our light source, the sun... ...soaks the leaves with 4,000 hours of sunshine. and when we pick them at the peak of freshness, we put that sunshine into your cup of lipton tea for that smooth, refreshing taste and aroma. ♪ eucriprescription ointment for mild-to-moderate eczema. and it's 100% steroid free. eligible patients may pay as little as $10 per prescription. text save to 47500. do not use if you are allergic to eucrisa or its ingredients. allergic reactions may occur at or near the application site. the most common side effect is application site pain. ask your doctor about eucrisa and visit eucrisa.com to learn about savings. something important. it's not going to be easy. quicksilver earns you unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, everywhere. actually, that's super easy. my bad. that's super easy. dates and cashews. just 2 real ingredients. the delicious cashew cookie larabar. larabar food made from food. this morning on today's talker, the future of at home dna kits. >> they are wildly popular. in fact, the holiday season was 23 & me's largest to date. yes, mom, i'll do my test today. nbc's senior investigative correspondent cynthia mcfadden got a rare interview. >> morning. you may wonder what happens to the genetic data people send into the company. the silicon valley giant now has the world's largest database for genetic research. 4 million customers have given them permission to use their dna to study genetic diseases. there are already some really fascinating results. >> reporter: it's the dna testing company that digs into your past to tell you about you. >> meet your genes. >> reporter: 23 & me. but there's another side you probably never knew existed. their search for cures to age-old genetic diseases. >> i want to create information that's going to help everyone. >> reporter: has anyone ever called you a dreamer? >> i'm a total dreamer. i thrive on having like totally -- like huge ambition, unrealistic thoughts, because i think it's possible. >> reporter: over the past 12 years, anne wojcickwojcicki, th and founder of 23 & me, turned her dreams into dazzling reality. >> we have over 5 million customers. people are empowered with their genetic information. >> reporter: 5 million. >> yeah. once you get this first taste of learning about yourself, it really changes how you think about your health overall and your own sense of empowerment and your health. >> reporter: wojcicki decided not to stop there and offers every customer to give their dna a second life, by being used for genetic research. over 4 million customers have opted in. >> how is it that i can crowd source all of this information? i can. i can partner with academic researchers. i can partner with biotech companies, parma companies, to say, how can we all, with a common interest, come together and say, i want a solution and information? >> reporter: the result, breaking scientistic ground together, on everything from migraines to cancer. one of the most significant finds, the first ever genetic links to depression. in a partnership with drug manufacturer pfizer, a successful experiment, according to the company, because of the sheer size of the database. w wojcicki's next target hits home. >> my husband has the parkins parkinson's gene. >> reporter: he found this out after taking his then-wife's test. this may be a personal question. knowing parkinson's runs in the family, do you test your children at this point? >> i tested my children from the moment i could. >> reporter: only five year as ago, the existence of the company was threatened when the fda said 23 & me had to stop marketing its health reports immediately. saying, they had failed to provide sufficient proof its tests were accurate. did you think you might lose the company? >> no, never, ever. i'm very persistent, and i'm stubbo stubborn. it was never a question. it was just how? >> reporter: wojcicki worked years to win approval and won. 23 & me can screen customers' dna for nine diseases, including parkinson's and the first at-home genetic test for some cancers. the massive database that has so much promise for science also poses questions about privacy. for those who don't consent, does any third-party ever get access to their dna? >> no. >> reporter: so let's say someone submits their dna and then says, you know what, i'm really uncomfortable. i want it back. can you ever get it back? >> yeah. just e-mail. you can delete your account. if you don't want to participate anymore, withdraw. totally. >> reporter: are you absolutely confident that the database can't be hacked? >> there's no such thing as a database that can't be hacked, but for us, it is a top priority in the company, to make sure we're doing everything we can to protect people's privacies. >> reporter: people like lila, a former foster child who didn't know her genetic origins, now living with parkinson's. in july, 23 a& me announced a partnership with gsk to find a cure for parkinson's. >> i wanted to help others by my participating. if somebody else can be spared having, you know, to suffer or prolong, you know, diagnosis. >> reporter: and a bonus she didn't expect. a year after mailing in her dna to 23 & me, she got the e-mail of a lifetime from another customer. 23 & me had found her biological father. >> i have parkinson's, but i have a family. if i had to get one to get the other, i'd do it again. >> reporter: wojcicki tells us it's stories like lacy's, not the money, though she's made a lot of it, that drives her. you are in the billionaire club. >> i think about success for me, for the company, is the impact that we have on human life. >> last week, nature published two new studies that use 23 & me data. one suggests genetics may nudge some individuals toward more risky behaviors, like smoking, drinking, and speeding. another dived into the genetic role into tobacco and alcohol use. it is fascinating. >> sounds like a cool place to work, too. >> let's not get our hopes up, folks. it is harder to get a job there by 12 times than it is to get into stanford or harvard. they accept 0.5% of those who applies. one out of five employees has a phd. >> rules us out. >> that's really cool. thank you. al, what you got? >> ready for a big drop in temperatures? >> oh, am i. >> let's do it. all you folks who get some kind of snow on sunday, whatever is out there is going to stay. for example, sunday afternoon, 6 in 20 in columbus. look at this 12-hour temperature drop. by monday morning, it is going to be 6 below in columbus. 1 in pittsburgh. 6 in new york city. minus 10 in new york city, the wind chills. we're talking a 30 to 40 degree temperature drop in 12 hours. whatever is on the ground, whatever precip, that is going to flash freeze on monday morning. the commute is not going to be pretty. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happ that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> good morning, i'm meteorologist kari hall. we're under a microclimate weather alert, seeing some thunderstorms moving through parts of the bay area. a close look of the thunderstorm moving toward walnut creek. then it continues to move off towards the east, over towards clayton and also in pittsburg. we're tracking that rain as it continues to move across the bay bridge, over towards oakland. watch out for the potential thunderstorms throughout the morning. >> don't forget, you can catch more of "today" on our sirius xm channel. channel 108 today. >> what it? "today" show confidential. >> all right. get ready for a blast from the past, guys. something is about to return that we've all been waiting for. safe to say, carson -- oh. >> hello? hello? is fred durst there? guys, this is it right here. the motorola razor. it is making a comeback, according to the "wall street journal." as you can see, the once popular device is being revived as a smartphone with a foldable screen. the razr reboot could launch as early as next month. expected starting price, about $1,500. >> what? >> rumors of a revamped razr. i guess they're starting back to square one here. this is 2017, motorola filed a patent, showing the image of a clamshell style smartphone that folds inward when the device closes. the specs and screen size are still unclear. news already has social media users feeling nostalgic. mark writes, i had the original razor. i dig the comeback. >> loretta says, i liked ending a conversation with a flip shut. >> and this guy shows, he's loyal. i still have mine. >> wow. >> another one writing, love the comeback, but the price is killing me. not in a good way. motorola isn't the only company bringing back the folding phone. samsung unveiled their version. there's rumors apple and lg are not far behind. >> cool. >> ever have one of these? >> oh, yeah. >> i always wanted one. i never had one. >> here you go. >> thank you. >> the bag phone. >> oh, yeah. >> motorola sidekick, the flip screen? no? >> you were cooler than us. pop start. we'll start right here. last week, the duchess of sussex has been announced as royal patron to the mayview animal home in london. she paid the charity a visit. meghan, a known animal lover, met with puppies, including this one up for adoption. she scooped up the pooch in her arms but could be heard saying she couldn't take on a new dog right now as she and prince harry have their hands quite full. the duchess was wearing cream, and her dress got buzz online. it is a maternity dress from h&m and costs $35. but, of course, it has sold out instantly. >> of course. >> good luck with that. up next, we need a little music. earlier this week, it was announced that a third "ghostbusters" is in the works. not a reboot, >> yes. >> not a reboot but a follow-up to the '89 "ghostbusters 2" movie. ivan wrightman's son will direct this one. there's been no word on whether the original cast members of the franchise, bill hurry and ernie hudson will appear in the installment. overnight, the first teaser for the film was released, giving us a peek at what's in store. ♪ >> yes, roker! >> what is that? >> that's the ecto-1, baby. >> ecto-1 being taken out for a new spin. >> come on. look at roker. >> that's right. >> are you excited? >> oh, i cannot wait. >> you are in it? >> oh, yeah. >> was that the real one from the movie? >> from the second "ghostbusters," the one with the female cast. but it's the ecto-1. >> my 4-year-old is all about the "ghostbusters." >> wow. >> wanted a t-shirt for christmas. has a "ghostbusters" t-shirt. >> where did it come from? >> we showed him the movie at halloween, and he fell in love with it. knows the song word for word. belts out ray parker jr. in the backseat every other day. >> expected to hit theaters summer 2020. alex rodriguez showed a video of himself pulling a prank on a stranger. sitting outside of a workout studio. a woman said, you look a lot like a-rod. here's what happened next. >> a-rod, alex rodriguez. >> who is that? you're kidding me. looks like me? >> yeah, kind of. >> let me see. put it next to each other. face-to-face. >> okay. it does look -- i'm right. it's not a good picture. oh, here's one. >> let me see. looks nothing alike. oh, that guy is handsome. >> are you -- you're not, right? >> no. can't be. hey, nice to meet you. >> oh, my. [ bleep ]. >> couldn't keep up the act for too long. to watch the full video, today.com. good sport there. finally, betty white, 97th birthday. a lot of people out there want to celebrate with betty. she's currently the number one u.s. trending term on twitter. we'd like to take a second to wish her a very, very happy birthday. one of our favs. that's your pop start today, guys. >> happy birthday, betty. >> got a click? >> sometimes, there are benefits to being the older sibling. the same can be said for dogs, as well. this puppy was struggling to get over a safety gate. jumping up and down. continually falling short. the older dog watches patiently before taking a few steps back and showing, that's how you do it. >> oh! >> so bad. >> poor puppy left more confused than ever. >> look how rejected. >> and go. >> all right. thank you, carson. straight ahead, simple solutions for your sore back. and what you're doing at work that may be causing that pain. we're cooking an affordable, good for you meal with the star behind "fit men cook." all that and lots more, coming up after your local news and some weather. good morning, it ). i )m ... we )re still in a microclimate a very good morning to you. it is 8:26 right now. i'm laura garcia. we're still in the microclimate weather alert. some places cleaning up from yesterday's storm. heavy rain triggered a slide on skyline boulevard near summit road. highway 35 will be closed in both directions at least through the morning hours. meteorologist kari hall has within tracking the conditions for us. >> it's still raining. we've seen the rain come back across parts of the bay area and as we get a klosser look, even some thunderstorms moving across parts of contra costa county. it's been pouring for some areas for the past few minutes. as we head down to san francisco and south city, some heavy rain right near our storm ranger doppler radar. we're also seeing some of the showers moving into parts of the south bay and east bay. this rain will be off and on as we go throughout the day. rain chance is winding down. drier weather in time for the weekend. how are the roads now moving, mike? >> that rain is a concern over there in the east bay. contra costa county. 242, northbound, commute, currently just closed, all lanes, by a jackknifed big rig. in the rain there, a concern. also pothole repair work. through pleasanton. back to you. >> we'll be back with another local news update for you in half an hour. see you then. ♪ hi. good morning, everybody. it's 8:30. it's thursday morning. it's the 17th of january. it's 2019. it is a beautiful, cold day out on our plaza. >> it is. >> we love saying hello to everybody. >> that's right. got a little crowd moment for you. >> we have a nice crowd. >> where is johnston? how are you, sir? ten years ago, you were here. >> as a sixth grader. >> we got a picture. let's show it. >> what? >> look at you there with meredith. >> oh, with meredith. >> it's the hashtag ten year challenge. we have to update this. everybody, get together. >> okay. >> get a picture with johnston. >> yes, perfect. >> come on in, carson. >> all righty. >> there you go. >> ten years ago, a little shorter. >> you look great. >> thank you very much. awesome to see you. >> we'll see you in another ten years. >> ten years looks good. better than mine. welcome back. coming up, guys, how to ease the pain in your back by doing stuff we do all day which is staring at a computer, looking at our phone. we'll address that with dr. azar coming up. the rising demand for denim jeans. with so many styles and cuts, which should you buy? we'll show you the hottest jeans of the season. >> low-rise jeans. >> nobody likes them. >> the muffin top. unless you have six-pack abs. we'll get to the bottom of it. >> yes, we will. >> maybe we'll introduce the trend and kill it. >> okay, got it. >> yeah. and we've got the social media acceptization behind "fit men cook." we'll get his recipe for eating well on a budget. on the third hour of "today," christie brinkley. on the lessons learned series, a woman who thought she found the man of her dreams until she discovered a secret that changed everything. >> doesn't sound good, at all. secrets are usually not good. we'll find out in the next hour. what do you got in the weather? >> let's what we have for you. friday, snow in new england and the midsections of the country. mild through the southwest. another northwest storm comes in. saturday, a lot of wet weather in the northwest. arctic blast in the plains. snowy through the mississippi and ohio river valleys, north east. strong storms into the gulf. sunday, sunday, heavy snow in upstate new york and northern new england. more rain and mountain snows in the pacific northwest. arctic chill settles over the central plains, midwest, and down into even the g that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> good morning, i'm meteorologist kari hall. we're still in a microclimate weather alert tracking some thunderstorms in end sino county. also some heavy rain through san francisco, over to east bay. this rain has become a little more scattered. but we are still going to have this impacting the morning commute. it is moving down the peninsula and closing in on the south bay. we will see still some scattered showers today and rain chances for the north bay early tomorrow. by saturday, we're all dry and then another round of rain in the forecast through sunday. >> and that is your latest weather. look who is 1 year old today. little jolene. is she named after the song? >> no, but we do like it. >> works out well. happy birthday, sweetheart. she even has a little birthday hat. we like that. back inside to you guys. >> well, thank you, al. are you waking up with an achy back? might not be how you slept last night but more how you worked yesterday. more people are heading to the doctor with pains from sitting behind a computer screen all day long. luckily for us, nbc medical contributor dr. natalie azar is here with back solutions. doc, good to see you. >> good to see you guys. >> my first question, why, as hoda staring at a screen like so many of us, why would it affect your back? >> let's talk about the concept of tech neck. have you heard of this? >> no. >> it is the posture you get from either looking down at a handheld device like this or sitting scrunched up at your desk. the normal human head weighs about 10 pounds. every inch forward you flex, it adds about 10 pounds to that. suddenly, your 10 pound head becomes a 50 pound head, and that is not comfortable for the neck. it causes neck pain, back pain, headaches, fatigue, et cetera. when you're on the handheld, that's one thing. when you're sitting on the computer -- >> it a posture thing? >> it's all of the above. i want hoda to push her tush to the back of the seat. have it reaching there. you want the back of the chair to follow the natural curve of your back. you don't want it 90 degrees, but a little reclined at 100 degrees. want the legs parallel to the floor. you want your feet on the floor. if your legs are short, put them on a foot rest. up here, you want your eyes to be at the same level of the monitor. you want the font to be comfortable. increase it if you need to. you don't want to be scrunching forward. >> right. >> follow these principles. >> her head is in line with her neck, not forward. >> it is not really comfortable, but you have to get used to it. >> all week long, as i've been prepping for this, i've been doing it, and it makes a big, big difference. you stay there and practice. >> okay. i'm good. >> a lot of people say, okay, you know how sitting is the next smoking? maybe if i stand, everything is going to get better. as a little aside, you don't burn that many more calories when standing. but whether or not -- >> don't you stand? >> i have a standing desk. >> you have a treadmill. >> treadmill and a standing desk. the question is, is a standing desk going to solve all my problems if sitting is so bad for you? here, i like this 30-minute rotation idea. sit for 20 minutes. stand for 8 minutes. move around for 2 minutes. kind of the messaging here is it doesn't have to be one the other. mixing it up is probably the best thing to do. >> okay. >> for some people, standing could solve all the problems. other people, it may not be comfortable. the same principles apply. you want the head in line with the monitor. legs hip width apart. posture matters. you want to be standing on the balls the feet. not on the heels. again, try it out. it might be good for you. the adjustable optionality is what we're suggesting to people. >> should people switch from sitting to standing? if they can just make that adjustment. >> if you have the optionality to mix it up, that works best. >> mix it up, hoda. you're over there. >> finally, we have, okay, a lot of people working on their laptops, doing it at home. you want the same thing. you want your eyes flush with your monitor. here's something, a little gadget. our assistant alisa is wearing on her back, it's called the upright go. i think of this as the tech version of your mom telling you to stand up straight all the time. >> how do you know? >> it is a wearable device that actually tracks how your posture is. >> is it on your phone? >> mm-hmm. >> it links to an app that tracks all of your postural stuff throughout the day. it trains you, too. every time you flex forward -- >> you get an electric shock? >> no. it doesn't hurt. it is a vibration or a buzz. it is a constant reminder to stand up straight. >> wow. have you felt the buzz? >> not yet. >> good. you have good posture. >> this is something that's available. it is less than $100. if you can train yourself to constantly stand up straight, that's great. if you need a reminder, this could be something that really works for you. >> doctor, how is al's posture at work? he's doing nothing. >> al is not -- al, feet off the table. i'm his mother. >> this is all good stuff. thank you very much, dr. natalie azar. we appreciate it. coming up, just ahead from pain to pants. pair of jeans for your body type. first, this is "today" on nbc. wake up, al! don't miss the grand opening of the new floor & decor in burlingame. if you have never been to a floor & decor, you have to go to the grand opening. hardwoods, laminates, tile or stone. holy smokes, this place is huge! i'm on a budget and i was able to go to floor & decor and save a lot of money. you will be blown away by this experience. the pros come here, i come here. if you love your wallet, and you love your home, you have to go. floor & decor. now open in burlingame, 101 & broadway in the old gokart racer building. this morning on today style, blue jeans. they're back. i didn't know they left. >> i didn't either. maybe the fashion staple didn't go anywhere, but suddenly, sales are soaring. you see denim everywhere you look. >> reporter: so many styles. so many fits. so many options. >> when it comes to denim in 2019, expect the unexpected. straight, slouchy, boot cut, wide leg. >> reporter: famous faces fawning over an american mainstay. >> we have the kenner jenners of the world, the gigi hadids, they're all rocking denim in unique silhouettes. >> reporter: which are rocking sales. last year twcompared to the previous 12 months, the u.s. sales of women's jeans increased 8% to $8.9 billion. with skinny jeans accounting for more than half of purchases. sporty looks slowing the sale of denim, becoming an accepted dress code for the office. >> it is interesting to see traditional athletic brands competing in this market. you have athleta with jeans. they're adapting to the new demand. >> reporter: the demand for denim. >> what are the secrets for buying jeans on trend and also flattering? melissa garcia has the scoop. you have jeans for everybody? >> four styles that are trending for 2019. i assure, there's something for everyone, starting with the low-rise. these might not be for everybody. >> i can't with the low-rise. >> i can't look. >> britney spears was the queen of low-rise jeans. they're coming back. i almost fell off my chair when i heard this, but they are. what's good, we see them here. they're actually coming back in a great way because they've haddad more stretch. we all know when you bend over or sit down, you want everything to stay in tact. they have a fitted, contour waistband, so everything stays put. >> okay. >> nobody looks good except you. >> you look great. >> no one looks good in those jeans. >> if you have the muffin top, it hangs over. >> i'll sit this one out. girls, you can. >> next one. >> let's say you're not a perfect supermodel like our friend here. you look fab. boot cut jeans, i can get excited. in the '90s, this was my look. >> was it? >> yes. >> when the internet got ahold of the idea boot cut was coming back, people got mad. it absolutely worked for everybody, every shape, and every size. i love these here. these look beautiful. these are from gap. they're a petite cut. they're fitted through the leg, then they flair out on the bottom. if you wear them with a heel, they lengthen and elongate your frame. a little higher rise. >> another beautiful model. thank you so much. you look fab. this is wide-leg denim, which i thought was the boot cut. what is the diff? >> this season, it is all about an all over wide leg. it is really wide through and through for a really dramatic, wide leg. this is one of my favorites, as you can see, i'm wearing them, as well. these are from top shop. they have a higher waist. the key here, since they have so much fabric and they're voluminous, tuck your shirt in so you can see your waist. >> you need a heel, right? >> i like the idea of a heel. it'll lengthen and elongate your frame. >> you look beautiful. >> these are fun. >> this is like the new iteration of skinny jeans for the year. victoria beckham sort of brought this on the fashion map. what this is, it is basically a regular skinny jean, but instead of it hitting at the ankle like we're used to, it has extra fabric. you slouch it. we got her an extra longer length, so we had the extra fabric to work with on the bottom. i think it looks edgy and trendy. i'd say, make sure you wear these with a heel. if you do it with a flat, it looks messy and childish. >> they're also high waisted? >> high waist. >> we love the high waist. >> our fifth segment is mom jeans. >> yes. >> no. >> melissa, thank you so much. >> for more on these looks, check out today.com/shop. coming up next, we are making a gooey, cheesy chicken that's good for you. this is the sensation behind "fit men cook." we'll introduce you to him and it's time for the january savings event on the sleep number 360 smart bed. it senses your movement and automatically adjusts to keep you both comfortable. it's our weekend special. save up to $500 on select sleep number 360 smart beds. plus, free premium delivery. ends monday. and we're back with today food. one of our favorite social media stars, kevin curry, is here. kevin has more than 2 million followers on instagram, youtube, facebook. he's also the founder of the top-ranking food app called fit men cook. now, he's expanding his brand, as they say. there's the new cookbook called "fit men cook." good to have you, brother. >> preerappreciate you having m >> let's start with the kpandmentkpan commandments, if you will. you have ten commandments in the book. one of the biggest things is meal prep. >> you have to be prepared. when you have healthy food, you can actually eat well. that's why. >> all right. >> always have food ready for yourself. >> what are some of the other commandments. >> one is to buy what you can afford. some people try to do too much, and they buy all these pricey foods. they can't maintain their diet. buy what you can afford, always. >> what's the story on these? >> you want high-quality containers. you want to be able to lock in the freshness. i love these because they have the rubber part around the edge of it. i'm so sorry. i'm kind of nervous this morning. >> you're doing great. >> this is my first. all right. you want to have these. you can lock in the freshness for you. that's why. >> all right. so high-quality containers. make the food in advance. >> make the food in advance. >> buy what you can afford. >> buy what you can afford. >> what are we making this morning? >> today, we're going to make a stuffed chicken parmesan. we have dried herbs, greek yogurt, mozzarella. we have goat cheese. if you're not a fan, use feta. >> the idea here, these are things a lot of guys have in the kitchen. >> practical things in your pantry you can use. >> regular yogurt or the non-fat stuff? >> 2%. the non-fat has hidden sugars because they're trying to replace the flavor of it. use 2% or whole fat. >> all right. >> that's also good for the people on keto right now. >> oh, al roker made you say that. >> i know. >> he made you say that. slipped you a $20. >> pay me later. >> put me to work. what are we doing? >> i'll have you make up the filling. we'll add in goat cheese. >> the goat cheese. >> there's yogurt inside of here. we'll add in crunch with some al monday almonds. >> okay. >> basel, dried herbs. i'll season the chicken breast. most of the flavor will be inside the stuffing, so i'll add a little bit of garlic powder, then some pepper, and then some sea salt. >> that's your run of the mill, boneless, skinless chicken br ? breast? >> yeah. keep this simple because the flavor is here. this is a stuffed chicken breast, so we'll make a little pocket here. this is what we're going to use to stuff it. make this little pocket. i want you to get a big dollop of this. >> dollop. >> a big dollop. a tablespoon and a half or so. >> can you use boneless chicken thighs? >> probably hard to stuff those because they're thin. but the breast, the fat will be inside the almonds and the goat cheese. we'll add the fat with the olive oil. once this is set, come over here, this is my sure fire way to make chicken. you can season, sear, then bake. olive oil in here. we have some fat, al, so you don't have to worry about that. >> what's the verdict, gentlemen? >> really good. >> no short in flavor with the goat cheese. >> you're doing a good job. first time cooking? >> how long do we cook? >> three minutes each side. make in the oven eight to ten minutes. >> oh, in the oven after that? >> yeah. >> you have to bake in the middle. we don't want raw chicken. you can be sick. >> throw the whole pan in the oven, right? >> absolutely. it is all metal. >> nobody wants chicken tar-tar. >> yeah. now, what we're going to do, we're going to add in some warm mare n mar n marinara. you can do a small dollop. you don't have to do too much. >> cheese on top. >> you have a side dish, too. >> yeah. this is to keep the entire dish low carb. you don't have to add pasta. we'll have shaved brussels sprouts. >> sounds delicious. >> it is a filling meal. turkey bacon, regular bacon. >> i didn't know it was turkey bacon. >> tastes really good. >> how do you shave the brussels sprouts? >> use a gillette razor. >> before. before with the really sharp knife. >> when they're cold? >> when they're raw. saute them in a pan. the whole meal is delicious. it's low carb. it is hardy. >> this is good. >> like that? >> i can see why a few million people follow you on social media. >> al, how was it for keto? >> delicious. >> today.com/food. to find out more about kevin's book, "fit men cook," today.com/shop, as well. we're back in a ♪ no hormones! ♪ i found a birth control ♪ with no hormones! ♪ paragard's 100% hormone free ♪ and over 99% effective, ♪ that's key! ♪ no hormones! ♪ not an ounce, ♪ with an ingredient ♪ i can pronounce. paragard is a hormone-free iud that's over 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. if you experience pain, pelvic infection, or miss a period, call your healthcare provider. pregnancy is rare but serious and can cause infertility or loss of pregnancy. rarely, paragard may attach to or go through the uterus. want hormone free? ask for paragard by name. all right. we are back. al, you know what the music means? >> birthday. >> let's do it. >> roll those smucker's jars. let's see what we have for you. first up, happy 100th birthday to lillie bell of district heights, maryland. loves spending time with her family and friends. mr. charlie mataya celebrating 100 years. the secret to longevity, red wine. happy birthday to mary watson of vermilion, ohio. she was married to the love of her life over 50 years. >> ms. jennie talbot traveled to italy at 82. ruby harvins is a fashionable lady from mississippi. loves dressing up and never forgets the lipstick. happy 100th to don from millers bu millersberg, ohio. graduated high school at 16. we salute you for your service, sir. if you know someone celebrating an anniversary on birthday, today.com/celebrate. >> thank you, al. today? >> i'm so glad you mentioned that. if you are looking for more "today," like all day, just go to today.com/allday. >> all day. >> guys, did you know it is the perfect time to hit your local thrift shop? >> why? >> marie kondo is telling us to throw everything out. plus, need to get your diet back on track. we have an easy to follow, one-day detox from joy bauer. she'll help you reset. everyone has already blown their new year's resolution. >> i can get into that diet, one-day diet. >> speaking of the third hour, mr. roker, also coming up, i'm going to be sharing my love of plants. >> wow. >> got something for you. >> do you really love plants? >> i do. >> do you keep them alive and everything? >> i usually do. >> i have a tricky ficus. ficus is dying. >> i don't think i can save the ficus though. >> i don't think anyone can, other than the good lord above. >> we'll have lots more coming up in a few minutes. >> christie brinkley. >> yeah, that's right. >> all day. >> succulensucculents? >> i love that. good thursday morning. right now at 8:56, our microclimate weather alert continues. still some decent rainfall across the bay area. through the day, we're going to see more of that. our rain chances will be going down by tomorrow morning. by saturday, we're going to get some peaks of sunshine. and then another system moving in quickly on sunday and bring us scattered showers in time for the holiday, martin luther king day, we'll see sunshine with highs in the upper 50s. we'll monitor today's rain. let's head to mike. >> rainy and slow throughout contras cou s couls could tra c. we have this traffic alert north highway 242 at grant street. a fuel spill so that's a concern. southbound 680, right two lanes blocked by pothole repair. a number of flats. back to you. >> thank you very much. happying now for the second time in two days, a lot of people woke up a little earlier than they planned once again due to a minor earthquake. a 3.5 centered in piedmont. a similar size earthquake hit the exact same area a little before 5:00 a.m. yesterday. some areas this morning cleaning up after yesterday's big storm. the rain triggering a mudslide. we're keeping an eye on all of it for you. the east bay teacher planning a "sick-out" tomorrow morning- and the impact it will have on students. plus: kari hall is tracking our weekend forecast for all the area )s big events! join us tomorrow morning from 4:30 to 7. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today," live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. >> good morning. welcome to the third hour of "today." i'm dylan with sheinelle, craig, al, and willie geist. >> good to see you. >> dilly dilly and willy willy. >> good to have the crew here. >> you've been saying that all morning. >> i know. >> doesn't get old. >> today is -- you have something on your lip. sorry. >> got it. >> that's a good friend, by the way. don't like the person who doesn't tell you. >> he's so close to me. >> afraid i might launch it on you. >> more about you than me. >> today i

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