When you wake up with us on Christmas Morning. We hope you have good presents under the tree. We know 2020 has presented the world with a lot of challenges that make for, i guess we could call it a unique holiday, there are still plenty of reasons for joy. We are hoping to bring that for you this morning. We have lined up special christmas messages from some of our favorite people, people who always inspire, and brighten our spirits, Cardinal Dolan is going to join us in a few moments. Bishop Michael Curry and our own harry. Amen. Plus songs and spirits from brett eldridge, and the reknowned ina garten will join us. Nice. Get the kids rea the reverend harry. Let the Church Say Amen plus songs and spirits from Brett Eldredge, and the renowned ina garten will join us. Nice. Get the kids ready because we have the big man himself, santa, telling us how hes handled the challenge of going house to house in a year like no other. All right we have a lot to get to and fun to have this morning lets get started with a check of the mornings top stories morgan is on duty. Morgan, good morning and Merry Christmas. Thats right, guys, Merry Christmas and good morning the storm thats disrupted us backing snow, high winds and now also the threat of flooding. Nbc Shaquille Brewster joins us with the very latest. Shaquille, good morning and Merry Christmas. How are things looking and what should we expect reporter Merry Christmas, morgan we are dealing with some bitterly cold temperatures here in chicago bu when you look across the rest of the country, you can see the situation could be much more intense. Santa claus really having to deal with a massive winter storm. While the upper midwest is going to have that White Christmas, you can expect along the east coast things to be wet and rainy. We saw storms and power outages, thousands waking up without power this morning the storm also bringing threats of tornadoes to folks in the south, and this also bringing travel disruptions so while Health Officials advise millions to stay off the roads, we saw scenes of packed airports and dangerous road conditions. Ill tell you, morgan, we are expecting temperatures similar to what im standing in right now once this storm makes its way through the east coast cities like miami and atlanta bracing for their chilliest christmas in decades morgan stay bundled up it does look mighty cold in chicago. Thanks for joining us. Now we go to west palm beach, florida, different temperatures and where President Trump is be spending the holiday hes under growing pressure to sign off on the deal that was struck by congress that would provide stimulus payments to millions of americans facing the financial pain of this pandemic. Lets go now to nbcs garrett haake. Garrett, we have these massive bills still hanging in the balance. What is the latest and what are the president s plans this holiday . Reporter hey, morgan, good morning and Merry Christmas from palm beach where it was basically a silent night the president deciding to forego his typical church trip and avoid his usual tweeting hes been ensconced at maralago, his resort here, where were wait ing to find out if he will sign that massive spending and covid relief bill. He has a copy of it as of last night. If he chooses to sign the bill with the 600 direct payments that his administration had originally supported, those checks could go out before new years but if the president continues to hold out on that bill, we would start to see some of the provisions in the last covid relief bill, like the expanded Unemployment Benefits, begin to expire just the day after christmas as the country now waiting and watching for the president. He has no Public Events on his schedule today, morgan, so theres nothing for us to do but wait wait and see with a lot at stake as we wrap up the year garrett haake, thanks so much for joining us live this morning. Now lets get a look at the National Forecast where flooding is possible in new england today with the christmas storm bringing heavy rain to the east coast. You can also expect some snow around the great lakes as temperatures tumble across the southeast. Meanwhile, a western storm will also bring some coastal rain and mountain snow to the Pacific Northwest. Be sure to stay with us because we will get to your local forecast in the next 30 seconds. Dont go anywhere. Whoo, what a ride i invested in invesco qqq a fund that invests in the innovators of the nasdaq 100 like you you dont have to be a deep learning engineer to help make the world a smarter place does this come in blue . Become an agent of innovation with invesco qqq good morning. Im meteorologist kari hall. As we take a look at storm ranger and mobile Doppler Radar rain approaching the coast and the north bay. The rain will continue across the bay area. As we go into today you can see the steady rain thats pouring across our north bay counties, and as we go into the rest of today all of this rain continues to roll in moving from north to south and going into the next several days still more rain in the forecast, even extending into the end of the year. 2020 has 2020 has been such a topsyturvy year, really creating a new normal and we are so happy everyone has beloved holiday traditions, and right now we want to turn to one of our very favorites. This is one of our best traditions Cardinal Timothy dolan is here to share his christmas message, an to reflect on the year that was. Youre a sight for sore eyes usually youd be here drinking our eggnog are you at least having your eggnog now thats a violation of hipaa lawes. I cant i do hear that youre doing carryouts during covid. So come across the street and bring me some with those great chocolate chip cookies, will you . We always have them here for Cardinal Dolan we do well do it in exchange for some of your beautiful christmas wisdom you know you always have a message on christmas for your parishioners youre so kind and generous to share it with us what are going to tell them this year of all years . Savannah and hoda, thanks its a cherished tradition for me to be with all of you and it gives me a chance to give christmas blessings to everybody. Savannah, how are you kids okay thank you trying to remind them of the reason for the season, not the gifts under the tree you hurry up to get home and be with them how is al doing . Is he all right . Al is aokay. Hes just off framewright here, and hes back in business. Hi, al, good to see you thank you so much our love and continued prayers to you, al good to see you. Thank you you, too Cardinal Dolan, you know what was interesting, we were looking back to last year at this time and the message you had for 2020, and we asked you what people should be focused on in 2020 and you said, connection with people i mean, we had no idea of knowing what was ahead youre a prophet, too well, we sure miss that this year when you think about it, with the message of christmas, how important connection is and pope francis has been emphasizing that, so god wanted to be connected with us so much that he became one of us at christmas. He sent his only begotten son to become one of us, to take flesh to enter the human scene so even god knows that that connection is so essential and even with the birth of the savior, the messiah, that first christmas at bethlehem, savannah and hoda, he just didnt show up out of nowhere he was his mother, his earthly father, the shepherds, the wise men, the angels, he was there were people with him so that connection with humanity i love the word that our jewish neighbors use so often, emanuel, god is with us and for us, thats never more evident than on Christmas Morning. No question about it. When times are hard, the thing we really need is perspective. And i think having a faith provides that perspective. How have you been reflecting on how this time and this time of loss and suffering and hardship in our country fits into a larger story it does fit into a larger story because, see, heres the scoop for both jews and christians hanukah and christmas are about darkness, darkness, darkness theres darkness over the earth. Were at the darkest time of the year right now, as december comes to an end. And, of course, jews and christians celebrate light, light conquering darkness. Youve got the menorah, hanukah, celebration of light youve got the birth of christ who is the light of the world. Light conquers darkness naturally. As the sun now begins to ascend and we get more sunlight every day. Super naturally, the darkness that oftentimes we find ourselves in in the human condition will light will triumph. Theres no doubt about it realistically this christmas, theres a lot of darkness out there. There are people still suffering with covid theres fear, theres apprehenon, sieres waiting and impatience about the vaccine. And all of that. There are people alone this christmas who usually would relish the connection of family and friends. Theres a lot of darkness. But what we say at this time of the year is that when all is said and done, when god has the last word, and he does, light conquers darkness. I dont know what is what will and we need hope and i think, too, people are struggling with not only loneliness and loss, because were talking about more than 200,000 people have passed because of this covid19, but we need each other. And i think were separated from one another. And i think were all trying to figure out how to have a connection with one another. What advice do you have during this season . Well, ill tell you this, first and foremost, and you wont be surprised that i would say this as a pastor, as a believer first we have to enhance and revive our connection with the lord and im just so inspired over the number of people that tell me this has happened to them over the last nine months, that they had always thought that their faith muscle was kind of limp and here they found an interior resilience they found inside a reservoir of faith and hope and they have rediscovered a connection to the lord, that there is no quarantine when it comes to god he is with us. Secondly, lets just make an act of faith that we are united with one another. When i talk to mom in a little while, im going to say, mom, im with you when i talk to my sisters and brothers and nieces and nephews, im going to say, look, we have a love that space cannot destroy. Its more powerful than that and it does not depend on physical presence. I know you think right now, hoda and savannah, the number of husbands and wives and kids that are zooming to their to moms and dads, husbands and wives who are in military service in different parts of the world theyre connected with them. They desperately miss them, but, boy, there is such a glow of their love and it dawns on them, our love conquers this space. And if anything, were more in love than ever and i think thats how we are with the lord. Thats how we are with one another at christmastime and in the final moments we have with you, Cardinal Dolan, can we talk about love in action there are so many people in need right now. And if you are feeling the love of god and the love of your family, how we can kind of put that out into the world in acts of generosity and service to our friends and family who are in need right now in tiny practical ways, tiny practical ways last night i called a lady who i know is very sick and isolated and i try to keep in touch with her. Shes a very faithful joyful catholic and ive gotten close to her and i called her expecting her to be down, and she said, you know what . I heard a knock on my door i opened the door, and there outside is a tray of christmas cookies and a glass of eggnog. She said, i dont know from whom that came. Theres no sign here but somebody in this Apartment Building knows about me and cares for me and wants to express appreciation and closeness at christmastime and she said, that means the world to me. We talk about a lot of Heroic Charity and service. Hallelujah, when you think about health care workers. But im talking about, too, the wonderful touching simple tender everyday signs of love and affection that seems to have flourished during this covid and that really is what christmas is all about, right . Yes, right. And all the people said, amen you know what i love, Cardinal Dolan . We started with eggnog, were ending with eggnog all is right with the world. Merry christmas. Merry christmas a blessed good to see you you, too. Thank you. Have a good one. Craig over to you lets head to a place Cardinal Dolan knows very well the vatican. Millions turn to the pope for guidance this Holiday Season this year those messages are coming in different forms. Nbcs ann thompson has more on that ann, good morning. Reporter good morning. This is the day catholics and all christians celebrate the birth of jesus christ, when god became man and, yes, there are many changes at the vatican this year but in some ways they magnify the true meaning of christmas. This christmas the vatican is a reflection of our covidplagued world. To what extent has it impacted the vaticans christmas celebrations we are not going to be able to have as many people as we used to have reporter father manuel durantes is a chicago priest and adviser to the Vatican Communications department. All those lines of people who would request tickets or make it a special moment to go to the vatican, this year thats not going to be possible even some of the cardinals and usual people who can celebrate along with the holy father, those numbers are going to be limited due to social distancing reporter though visitors are few, the nativity scene, and Christmas Tree are still in chant says father David Mccallum just behind me a Christmas Tree reporter an american jesuit on assignment in rome. The pope says there are signs of hope are those signs of hope we need this year more than ever when we see something physical, like a symbol of the tree pointing upward, its incredibly beautiful the way it kind of reaches up and likewise, when we see the nativity scene, we know that this was a homeless family seeking shelter, and nobody wanted to take them in and when we think about all the people who have been affected by this in an economic way and the way in which this has really hurt the poor even more so, i think there is a poignancy this year that is very powerful about the nativity scene reporter it hasnt changed christmas. Has it changed the message i dont think covid has changed the message of christmas. What covid has done is accentuated. Christmas is the moment in which we christians celebrate the fact that god emptied himself, sent his only son, became incarnate and became part of our reality god did this out of love for humanity we need to replicate that. Reporter it is a quieter rome that surrounds the vatican. Its famous buzz, muted and yes it still inspires. Its hard to walk by places of the coliseum, pantheon. Theyve been around a long time. Theyve been through so much despite such damage and hardship and that resilience is there right in front of you. Reporter resilience that this year we draw from both the physical and spiritual worlds. Merry christmas. All right, ann thompson ann, thank you coming up, guys, in a year when everythings been different, our tree is no exception. Were going to look back at the journey to 30 rock with a surprise stowaway hidden inside. And an update on little rocky the owl. And also ahead, that wasnt the only tree we helped light. Well share the trimming traditions we all use to bring the studio 1a tree to life. Bufirst, this is today ot n but first, this is today on nbc. And just ahead on this Christmas Morning, did santa leave presents under your tree, mr. Roker . Of course, he did of course and he left them under yours as well pandemic cant stop the big man. The big question is how did he pull this off in a safe and efficient way. Leave it to keir simmons to get the story straight from the jolly old elf himself after a quick check of the news and your quick check of the news and your wwas proven superior to humira® in providing significantly clearer skin. Serious allergic reactions may occur. Tremfya® may increase your risk of infections and lower your ability to fight them. Tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms or if you had a vaccine or plan to. Tremfya®. Uncover clearer skin that can last. Janssen can help you explore cost support options. Tremfya®. Uncover clearer skin that can last. That daniel deal got me some sweet savingsarm, on my insurance. Daniel. State farm offers surprisingly great rates to everyone. Sure you do, tell you what. Im not supposed to do this, but ill letcha try the chunk honey. Oh. Im good. 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Good morning. It is 7 26. Im marcus washington. Todays national top story for you this morning, we begin with that breaking news out of nashville. According to police there has been an intentional explosion in downtown that happened earlier this morning. Police believe a parked rv exploded causing widespread damage. You can see here how the chaos is this morning. At least one Apartment Building destroyed. Three people were taken to the hospital. I used to live in nashville, and that area very popular with restaurants and a lot of people normally hang out there. But on Christmas Day normally everything is shut down, so that minimized the damage to businesses. Of course well continue to follow this story bringing you all of the information and updates we get as well. Just a glorious sunrise. A beautiful shot. Rain is on the way. We need the rain and this beautiful shot is a good way to start our Christmas Morning, kari. We are going to see a lot more of these as we go into today. Tracking it on storm ranger and mobile Doppler Radar. Weve seen the steady rain over parts of the north bay as we get a look at more rain coming in today. Well see it off and on and becoming more widespread. This moves out later on tonight. Well see a new storm system approaching on sunday night into monday and more rain for the middle of next week. Marcus . Well have another local news update coming up in 30 minutes. Back now, 7 30 this Christmas Morning, friday, december 25th, 2020, with a look at the holiday decorations at the white house. This years theme, america the beautiful, paying tribute to the majesty of the u. S beautiful as always. Lovely. And now to a holiday tradition a little closer to our address, the Iconic Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree indeed. We miss the crowds this year, the tree lighting, but it was still so special to be able to bring it to everybody at home. And if you remember, when that norway spruce made its way here to the plaza, unbeknownst to everyone, it brought along a little friend. Lets just say no one will forget that adorable owl in the hamlet of west oneonta, new york, theres a home called the Christmas Tree house. The plac this years giant norway spruce was first spot by a rockefeller employee on the front lawn of the dick family home they found us about four or so years ago it was only 71 feet tall once it grew a few more feet, the christmas call came. We were more than honored to donate it and hopefully we bring some joy into some peoples lives this season. A season like no other. Harkening back to 1931 whe construction workers raised the unofficial first tree on rockefeller plaza. It became a symbol of hope and started an annual tradition. But is this 11ton spruce went up after its 200mile journey to new york city, so did some unflattering comments on social media. Some comparing it to the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree because of its shaggy appearance. Yes, there was a lot of social commentary online about the tree and how its, you know, looking a little scraggly. Somebody tweeted, i thought it was really funny, like in 2020 form the rockefeller Christmas Tree tried to cut its own hair. That changed with the discovery of a tiny owl found buried in the trees branches. The 7inch wide eyed resident was rescued by tree workers who then gingerly placed the owl in a Cardboard Box and sent it to the Ravens Beard Wildlife Center for care i was thrilled that he was alert and looking up at me the northern owl nicknamed rocky became the new symbol of hope and resilience. After a week of monitoring, rocky, she, not a he, was released in upstate new york back where her journey began watching her fly today was really a beautiful thing its just the perfect ending to all the work a perfect ending indeed capped by the lighting of this magical tree rocky oh, love rocky. You named it rocky. Well, he was rockefeller. It took too long to say it we had to get to it. It was a girl, could be rockette maybe next year by the way, it is a girl. Its a girl rockette by the way, rockettes house, the tree, it stays up through early next month just remember, if you do want to see it in person, there are, of course, new covid safety rules in place rockette, i like it coming up next, what are your beloved family treetrimming traditions we share a few of ours we brought it to our studio tree right here, we brought it to life we have that and more on a lovely Christmas Morning and a friday, too. But first these messages sound from wind chimes neighbor 2 laughing at least geico makes bundling our home and Car Insurance easy. Which helps us save even more. Neighbor 2 hey, sarah, hey, peter neighbor 1 touche. Neighbor 2 ahhh neighbor 1 pret neighbor 2 en garde for bundling made easy, go to geico. Com i was born right in theof my doorway i dont know where i am, i dont know where ive been but i know where i wanna go with a touch of honey. Plump, juicy raisins and tasty fiber into one delicious cereal . It took a lot of branstorming. Get it . Kelloggs raisin bran crunch. Two scoops of delicious. Than Rheumatoid Arthritis. When considering another treatment, ask about xeljanz. A pill for adults with moderate to severe Rheumatoid Arthritis when methotrexate has not helped enough. Xeljanz can help relieve joint pain and swelling, stiffness, and helps stop further joint damage, even without methotrexate. Xeljanz can lower your ability to fight infections. 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We wanted to show you something. Kristin oh my god Andrew Kristin is the most uncommonly kind person that weve met. Suzanne thank you so much. And welcome back if you are just waking up, let us be the first to wish you and yours a very very Merry Christmas. Merry christmas we took a look back at the rockefeller Christmas Tree of course, being part of its lighting is a yearly highlight for all of us. It got us thinking about some other tree traditions, the ones we do at home with our family. That is right so we all contributed a little bit of them to one big today family tree. The result well nothing short of spectacular oh, looky, looky. There she is our tree is always puny, and so we do a really elaborate lighting one wow get ready two you got to have white lights because it speaks to christmas and it feels like peace. The kids make their own ornaments. Start with haley little hope. You got to have lots of tinsel theres a technique. You take a lot of it and you just keep throwing it in blobs it has to look like its dripping with icicles. I need a little help carson, can you help me out with some lights . Thanks, hoda. Oh, no, no, not white lights there you go no, no, no heres some lights for the tree. Its only colored lights what kind of person would put white lights on a tree i mean i know it looks fancy. Christmas shouldnt be fancy and elegant. It should be festive and fun have yourself a merry Little Christmas grab this book right here. Its always under the tree, called a special gift. My father would read it. All of us would sit around him now that hes not here, i have carried on the legacy of reading this book on Christmas Eve we like to hang a stocking with all of ours, thats camouflage, we do it in honor of the troops who are overseas and couldnt get back home for christmas. We put this front and center as a reminder ornaments, craig, you can start with these thanks, carson, but we actually use a pickle ornament we also started hiding the pickle in the tree and one of the kids finds the pickle and they get a surprise and then we have the pickle again. Its baby jesus there. Happy birthday to you when we were dating, outcomes the birthday cake and these people begin singing happy birthday to jesus. I was in and ever since weve been singing happy birthday to jesus. Happy birthday, baby jesus happy birthday to you savannah, i believe this i for you. Thanks, craig i always like to put something a little sweet on the tree we used to love putting candy canes on the tree an by the time christmas came around all the candy canes were gone put it up high so the kids dont get all of them. I love Christmas Tree ornaments that have a sense of humor and have some personality. A christmas cactus because im from arizona i like ornaments that are kind of weird honestly. Heres a new york city taxicab and a little pretzel the weirder the better and look at this fancy little flamenco right up front. One thing i started doing was making a photo ornament of the kids every year, and i love opening the ornament box and seeing how they have grown each year heres our family. Theres our family, our today show family. Tree looks good. Al, you have to finish it off. I can never get it untangled. Our tree topper is a beautiful blac angel. Almost there. You dont feel its christmas until shes on top of the tree yay we have ornaments that represent the beautiful black angels and put the angels next to the baby jesus. Weve done the ugly christmas sweater. Weve done the ugly christmas suits. Even if you dont want to wear an ugly christmas sweater, you can always put one on your tree. Bad taste is always timeless really looks lovely, but somethings missing. Oh, theres no pine scent. The scent, you know, especially when you cut it down and youve got the pine sap on your hands nick and i have been going out and cutting a tree since hes been about 6 or 7. Were kind of lumber jacks we go out, put on flannel shirts we got our tree. Yeah, we did. I stole these out of a new york city cab. That says Merry Christmas. Good stuff. Thanks so much for the bacon ornament you gave me thats the best whats a little charcudery on the tree always makes it so joyous. Should we toast to the tree weve hidden a little bit of wine wine not . Cheers cheers. Merry Christmas Love you guys. Merry christmas. By the way, what are you wearing, carson . Just a little santa sweater that is so carson which list are you on this year naughty or nice . I think both the naughty according to the sweater. I say nice he has a naughty tattoo and a nice tattoo. We good morning. Im meteorologist kari hall. Our mobile Doppler Radar, we have some rain passing by and its starting to roll into parts of the north bay and approaching San Francisco as well as parts of the east bay as well. Weve seen the rain in the north bay the past couple of hours, and its just going to continue to roll in. Well be tracking this as it moves from north to south today and becoming more widespread. Maybe some pockets of heavy rain as well and, of course, well have more updates throughout the morning. And that is your latest weather. Al, thank you coming up, we are heading to london for the story behind some longtime royal christmas traditions that are being broken this year. Right after this and i know its gonna be. A lovely day. Lovely day, lovely day. Lovely day. Lovely day. Lovely day, lovely day. No matter how you celebrate this year, make this holiday extra special with a gift from pandora jewelry. Make this holiday extra special we like clockwork. Ht. Do it run your dishwasher with cascade platinum. And save water. Did you know certified dishwashers. Use less than four gallons per cycle, while a running sink uses that, every two minutes. So, do it with cascade. The surprising way to save water. It makes our lipton leaves better. Which makes this smooth tea taste better. And time spent together. Even better. And drinking lipton every day. Can help support a healthy heart. Ifeelin trendy yall, with the straight jeansr day. Showin off those curves, cause you the queen everyone go slay in your Old Navy Jeans shop up to 75 off storewide only at old navy, and oldnavy. Com want to sell the best burger add an employee. Ode . Or ten. Then easily and automatically pay your team and file payroll taxes. That means. World domination or just the west side. Run payroll in less than five minutes with intuit quickbooks. Because of the pandemic, of course, most families have been forced to rethink how they are spending this holiday. And that includes the royal family, skipping their traditional get together as the queen and Prince Philip spend a quiet day at Windsor Castle instead. Nbcs Kelly Cobiella join us with more on that. Kelly, good morning. Reporter craig, good morning and Merry Christmas to all of you. Here in the u. K. Covid means families cant get together this christmas, so the queen for the first time in years is spending the holiday away from her kids and grand Kids Christmas cheer at Windsor Castle, the queen and her family all socially distanced, saying thank you to key workers earlier this month a rare public Family Reunion for the royals and the only one this Festive Season as she made her way back inside, grandson Prince William called out, bye, gran he wont be seeing her Christmas Day because christmas with the queen is canceled this year. Buckingham palace says Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip who are 94 and 99 ar celebrating quietly in Windsor Castle the first time in more than three decades the Church Service canceled so royal fans dont gather. The royal family used to spend christmas at windsor up until about 37 years ago when they switched to sandringham its going to be familiar territory. Shes going to feel cozy and christmassy even though shes not up in norfolk. Reporter Buckingham Palace may have been home for princess elizabeth and sister margaret like in season i in netflix the crown. But christmases were almost always in windsor, and as i found out on visit to the castle in 2018, the royal sisters were the stars of family plays and christmas cards. Thats the queen. Thats the queen at age 13 and her little sister. Reporter the last royal Windsor Christmas was in the 80s the era of ronald regan, Margaret Thatcher and shoulder pads Princess Diana was a young mom, just 26, when the royals held their final christmas here in 1987 this year the halls are decked with six Christmas Trees, including this 20foot stunner from windsor great park. The queen starting new traditions, too, like video calls with help from daughter princess anne. Good morning. Im very glad to be able to join you. Can you see everybody the queen has embraced new technology she has been using Video Conference calls to speak to her nearest and dearest. Reporter with harry and meghan, and archie home in entrash, Prince Williams kate, likely celebrating with her parents will they join the queen for a game of charades online. Its hard to imagine the royals doing charades on zoom it is hard to imagine this is very much an attempt from the queen to lead by the top. Look, we know its not going to be a normal christmas, were part of it, too, and were not going to get special treatment reporter the queen will be sending out her christmas message today just as she has done every year since 1952 guys all right, Kelly Cobiella there in london. Kelly, thank you thank you, my lady. Thank you, my lady. Just ahead, a man we came to love during the royal wedding. The most reverend bishop Michael Curry. He joined us to lift our spirits throughout the pandemic and he is joining us again today. Hes got a special holiday message, something we all need we definitely do. And then harry smith reflects on the year that was with a little help from a classic christmas tale but first your local news. Should auld acquaintance be forgot and Auld Lang Syne well take a cup of kindness yet for Auld Lang Syne next customer please. 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Before treatment, get tested for tb. Tell your doctor if you have an infection, flulike symptoms, sores, new skin growths, have had cancer, or if you need a vaccine. Rpls, a rare, potentially fatal brain condition, may be possible. Some serious allergic reactions and lung inflammation can occur. Lasting remission can start with stelara®. If youve been financially impacted by covid19, janssen may be able to help. Good morning. Its 7 56. Im marcus washington. Breaking news out of nashville this morning. According to police an intentional explosion in downtown. This happened not far from the honkytonk bars. Police believe a parked rv exploded. Several buildings are damaged, at least one Apartment Building destroyed. Were checking with bay area agencies to see if theyre ram upping up security after this explosion. Well bring you any updates as we get them right here as well as online. Moments ago we saw the sunrise. Take a look at this rainfall on the peninsula. A live look around the bay area. Not as rainbowy right now in some areas. Meteorologist kari hall has been tracking that for us. We do know the rain is coming in. Yes, i think well see more rainbows. I love that video captured by kira klapper. A band of rain rolling down the peninsula into the east bay. What caused that rainbow and were going to see more waves of rain like this. Marcus . Well have another local update coming up in 30 minutes. Ill see you back here then. Merry christmas. Have a holly, its 8 00 on today, coming up, Merry Christmas. This morning well take time to reflect with bishop Michael Curry and his thoughts and wisdom and harry smith will share his thoughts this time of year plus making spirits bright, ina garten will have drinks that will make you feel very merry. And santas little helper, country super star Brett Eldredge is rocking around the Christmas Tree you wont want to miss today is friday, december 25th, 2020 good morning. Welcome to our Winter Wonder land todays the day Merry Christmas. Merry christmas, today show thank you, santa claus. So cute oh. Remember to thank santa good morning, everybody. So glad youre with us this special morning as the world wakes up and celebrates a new world, christmas Merry Christmas Merry Christmas, everybody. 2020 is a year thats been hard on everyone, but that does not mean there are not a lot of reasons to celebrate today that is right we are going to do just that in the next hour including festive music from Brett Eldredge and festive drinks with one of our favorites, ina garten. We do want to begin with a check of the news, nbcs Morgan Radford has that covered for us. Good morning hey there, guys, good morning, and Merry Christmas the east coast is now dealing with a roaring winter stor unleashing snow, rain and powerful winds leaving many waking up this morning without power. That storm has already disrupted plans for many holiday travelers in the northwest we saw blankets of snow and heavy winds. Shaquille brewster joins us from chicago. Shaquille, good morning, what are you seeing out there right now . Reporter Merry Christmas, morgan its bitterly cold in chicago. You can look across the country and see conditions that are much more intense. It will be a White Christmas for folks in the upper midwest once you hit the east coast, you can expect things to be wet and windy. We saw the winter storm packing rain, snow and wind gusts 60 miles an hour. That storm still making its way through the northeast. Santa had to fight this massive storm as he was dropping off those gifts last night we also know tha thousands are waking up without power with the same system that brought tornado warnings to the south. And also those massive travel disruptions, we have scenes of packed airports and dangerous road conditions. That of course despite warnings and pleas from Health Officials asking people to stay off the road and try to avoid those holiday gatherings on the back end of this storm, we can expect some chilly temperatures, similar to what i standing in right now. Cities like miami and atlanta expecting their chilliest christmas in decades morgan definitely chilly temperatures stay bundled up and Merry Christmas. Thank you so much. High stakes for president who has Big Decisions to make about covid relief and a possible government shut down. Nbcs garrett headache is traveling with the president in florida. Good morning and Merry Christmas. There is so much in limbo and so much at stake for millions of americans who are waiting to find out whether some financial help is on the way with that covid relief bill. Where do things stand right now . Reporter hey, morgan, good morning and Merry Christmas from palm beach it was a silent night here, the president foregoing his usual christmas trip to church also foregoing his usual tweets. Although he did fire off a few messages at republicans he says are not fighting hard enough to overturn election results. We are waiting to see what the president will do with the massive Government Spending and covid relief bill that arrived in palm beach awaiting his signature yesterday. The president has said he wants to see more than the 600 direct payments that his administration initially agreed to in this bill if he signs it asis, those direct payments could go out before new years. If the president decides to hold off and keep fighting for higher payments, we could see some critical programs like expanded Unemployment Benefits begin to expire as early as tomorrow. The country, the congress waiting to see what the president will do. Morgan, he has no events on his public schedule this morning so theres nothing left to do but open presents and wait to see what the president has in store. Waiting and watching this Christmas Morning. All right. Garrett haake joining us live from florida garrett, thanks so much. Now a look at the National Forecast where the christmas storm is bringing rain to the east coast today snow could get heavy around the great lakes. Meanwhile the Pacific Northwest is in for some rain along the coast and snow in the mountains. And now your local forecast in good morning. Im meteorologist kari hall. We look at the rain rolling into the bay area. Were going to see it becoming more widespread. Make sure you have the nbc bay area app so you can get alerts as the rain moves in. More widespread for parts of the north bay but continuing to move through into this afternoon and to the evening. Most of the rain will start to taper off later on tonight. There may be pockets of heavy rain through early tomorrow morning and then as we go into the rest of the forecast, were going to see some more showers headed our way into the middle of next week. And coming up on this Christmas Morning, we can always count on this man, bishop Michael Curry to spread some joy in this Holiday Season he has a message that may be music to our ears. Hes going to tell us why he thinks that the greatest gift you can give this year actually costs nothing at all and then for those who want something, well, lets say a little more tangible, perhaps drinkable, ina garten is going to mix up something merry, cocktails to make sure you are feeling festive. But first these messages still warm. Thanks, maggie. Oh, alice says hi. For some of us, our daily journey is a short one. Save 50 when you pay per mile with allstate. Pay less when you drive less. Youve never been in better hands. Allstate. Click or call for a quote today. To visit your doctor right now. But if youre experiencing irregular heartbeat, heart racing, chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue or lightheadedness, dont wait to contact your doctor. Because these symptoms could be signs of a serious condition like atrial fibrillation. Which could make you about five times more likely to have a stroke. Your symptoms could mean something serious, so this is no time to wait. Talk to a doctor, by phone, online, or inperson. I was born right in theof my doorway so this is no time to wait. I dont know where i am, i dont know where ive been but i know where i wanna go welcome back. Christmas is a holy day for billions of christians around the world, and its a time of year when everyone reflects on the year gone by while looking with hope toward the year ahead and if you need added inspiration, well, weve got just the person with us now. The most reverend Michael Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church good morning and Merry Christmas. Merry christmas to all of you. Great to see you your presence is a gift, thats for sure. We have counted on you again and again this year. Whats your message going to be to parishioners on a really difficult year, but a morning of hope its been a tough year. Its been a tough year and, you know what the truth is, at the root of christmas, there is that wonderful passage in johns gospel, god so loved the world that he gave his son god loved the world enough that he gave the gift of his own self, his very life. And you know what . The greatest gift that we can give each other is the gift of ourselves. And we can do that its been a tough year its been a tough year for so many, and yet weve got each other. And if we give ourselves to the other in new ways, thats the reason we give little gifts and things its not because the gifts mean all that much. Its because im giving you a gift of myself remember that Christmas Carol the little drummer boy the drummer boy didnt have much to give he gave all he had and just played his drum an the tale says the mother mary smiled and the baby jesus smiled when we give the gift of each other to each other, we bless each other and bless the world even in the most difficult times. So if youre not high tech, then email. If youre high tech, zoom. If youre no tech, pick up the telephone and call give yourself to somebody and say Merry Christmas. Bishop curry, you had some great insight. A lot of people as you talked about it, are suffering. Theyve loews loved ones because of this pandemic this is what you said. You cant jump to hope there is a process you have to go through there are no shortcut to it. People are always saying, find hope, find hope. But how do you get there you know, you just have to acknowledge that there are some things youre sad about. And if loved ones have been lost in the course of the year, remember them. Say their name say their name to god, and youre going to feel sad for a moment and then stop and think, the reason youre sad is because youre going to miss them. The reason youre sad is because somewhere in that past theres a memory of joy and hope and happiness. And go back and think about that joy and that hope and that happiness, whatever it was, and remember that and pray that that memory, the memory of them, will continue to be a blessing for you today. And then hope that you can be a blessing to someone elses memory bishop curry, for those of us who consider ourselves people of faith and so many folks have had their faith tested in so many ways this year i contend that on the other side of this, we are all going to be better off in a myriad of ways what would you say to people of faith who have had their faith tested so mightily in 2020 what do you think its going to look like post pandemic . Hope. Dont give up on hope. The bible says, god so loved the world that he gave his only son. The world was a mess then, and god came anyway. God did not give up on his world and god has not given up on us even now let me tell you a quick story. My daddy, when he was sick, he had a stroke and i was in the hospital room with my aunt carrie and she was rubbing his legs, and she start ed singing blessed assurance and amazing grace. She was rubbing his legs aunt carrie, why are you rubbing his legs she said, didnt you know . I said didnt you know what, she said, didnt you know your daddy had polio when he was a little boy. And thats what his mama would do, she would rub his legs and put some ointment on them and sing those songs the truth is he eventually opened his eyes after all the surgeries. It took several days, while she was standing there singing those songs. And i dont know how that all works. I dont know that he hears mamas voice in his sisters voice. I dont know all i know is there was hope for him in that deep memory of his own mothers voice singing weve all got some deep memories of something good, and there is hope and god has been in that hope and if god hasnt given up on us, then we dont have to give up on each other, and somewhere along the way there will be and is a vaccine for this disease just as there was for polio. Bishop curry, at this time a lot of people are, you know, really riven by the election that just happened were in a time of forgiveness how do we reach out to those who may not agree with where we stand at this time of peace . You know what weve got to reach out youve just got to cross the street, put out your hand, and put it out without an agenda the only agenda is, i want to sit down and have lunch with you because youre my brother, youre my sister we are siblings. We are all children of god and if we are all children of god last time i checked, if you have the same parent, that means youre intrinsically related. And last time i checked, we all come from the same god, same god and creator of us all. And if thats true, then that means we are family. We may be dysfunctional, but we are family. The best ones are bishop curry, you talk a lot about the power of love, love is the way is your latest book. For those watching now on this day, how can somebody, you know, issue the power what is the power of love and how can it be spread you know what it really is its not a sentiment. Its a commitment. The power of love is found in my willingness to seek your good as well as my own and if i do that toward you, and you do that toward me, then we actually create a new space where both of us can live together when we agree and when we disagree. Thats the miracle of love it actually creates space for all of us. I give up a Little Something, you give up a Little Something and then in the miracle of this kind of mathematics, we all get something more my goodness good time to hear that. Thank you so much Merry Christmas. Thank you for your wisdom. Merry christmas to you guys well be looking for you in 2021 ill be there yes let us take a bit of a turn here on this Christmas Morning turn to a certain person who flies around the world this time of year, delivering gifts. The pandemic has even presented him with a bit of a unique challenge. Thats right. But from his home in the arctic circle, santa had it all figured out, the social distancing, the elves with the ppe, all of it. And before his yearly ride, he found a time to tell todays Senior International correspondent keir simmons how he was going to pull that off keir, good morning, Merry Christmas. Reporter hi there, hoda. Merry christmas, everyone. The headline this morning, santa made it. Despite the coronavirus, father christmas paid his traditional overnight visit to millions of homes around the world and delivered presents for millions of children. Covid has hit tourism to santas groto in lap land by 80 but with the magic of christmas and th magic of technology, we can still stay in touch. Its the most wonderful time of a year when everything changed. So its good to see you santa at last its true, even his groto in lapland looks a little different from christmas past with elves in face masks and plexiglass i have some excellent news for you. Christmas will not be cancelled. My name is ariana and im 8 years old. Reporter millions of little ones wrote their letters i have been very good this year reporter just like our girls. But who could have predicted last christmas that this year santa would be talking to many youngsters on zoom this is elia and this is ariana. Please tell me, youre both 8 years old, youre twins. Yes elia, you wrote me that youve been really good this year yes, we have. Is it so . The elf told me something about you, too lets see what it says about you have been nice or not. Oh, oh. Oyeoye, oopsy this says you have been very good [ laughter ] it says something about dad also that was the woopsy part [ laughter ] reporter some traditions turn out to be even more important this time around you have to remember, i cant deliver the presents if you are awake. Reporter oh. So youve got to be asleep otherwise santa wont deliver the presents. Yes. Reporter okay. Because of the social distancing reporter and sometimes its children who suggest what really matters this Holiday People who do not get to, like, be celebrating christmas with their family and friends. I was thinking everyone could join up on like a zoom meeting and we could have a christmas party. Thats true this is the new way to be in contact with people and i love this this is wonderful. And everybody should do this reporter around the world from the u. S. To europe to russia, adults have been doing their best to keep the magic alive. Its important to say to all children in the country that w regard santa clauss travels as essential travel reporter and while life has changed, even in santas groto, our childrens joy is the best reminder of the Christmas Spirit byebye, Merry Christmas Merry Christmas reporter and santa has been doing as many of those video calls as he can to keep the magic alive for children around the world. Hopefully by next year, it will be a christmas like the ones we used to know hoda all right, keir, thank you. And now we know lets get a check of a very merry popstart carson Merry Christmas to everybody. First up earlier this month we featured some fun match ups in our headtohead holiday challenge. And now weve got four more. I want to reveal those from today show fans. They voted on them on twitter. Here are the results first up, what happens when you pit sugar cookies against candy canes . We thought this would be close but my goodness, 90 said sugar cookies of course i agree can you imagine christmas without a candy cane absolutely can. Without seeing them no. But i dont see a sugar cookie at christmas. How can you not have sugar cookies . You have to leave them out for santa. You can leave a butter cookie and some brownies. Heres another one. We have christmas roast beef versus christmas ham 57 said ham i would have said my whole life roast beef until i met a man named al roker who sent us all the roker ham. Best ham ever it is changed my life with ham. It is incredible ham we have another one for you. Which decoration on the top of the tree do you prefer, angel or star 69 said a star. We go star. I go angel my soul says angel but i like a star i put the star we have a star on our tree here you are the star on the tree. Look, guys, its snowing outside, isnt that beautiful . Theres a fire raging, too. One more for you. This is a close one. Which Christmas Movie do you prefer christmas vacation classic or elf. Christmas vacation christmas vacation was the oner, 52 . For me, its elf elf is the new classic we have Christmas Music data w want to share with you from our friends at spotify they told us what the streaming service top songs are of all time well start at number 5. Justin biebers mistletoe. The belieber is pushing this into the top five. After that its mr. Christmas himself, michael buble, the this is a good record to put on, the whole thing. Its beginning to look a lot like christmas. Number three is another pop star, Ariana Grande with her hit santa, tell me number two, bona fide classic m mother loves lam last christmas is a classic one. This is miley just covered this. Another surprise. Number one we all know. Greatest it deserves to be there all i want for christmas, number one 400 trillion hits just today finally we have a fun Christmas Movie ranking done by rotten tomatoes. They look the critic tomato scores of 62 holiday movies based on percentage of critics who rate a movie fresh or rotten. And then compile them into a list with just a bunch of editorial input. What . I dont know. Since it won last the last holiday head to head challenge, we have to mention christmas vacation which came in at number 55 with a critic score of 68 . And featured these memorable moments here they want you to say grace. The blessing well, i dont know what to say, except its christmas and were all in misery. Good, good, good. Hallelujah that was funny. Thats great. After that a true holiday classic. To me it was a christmas story before elf like this is fun to just put on your house and have on just play on an endless loop this comes in 21 with 89 positive critic score. Classic scene putting the tongue on the flag pole there double dog dare you heres one some may find controversial. They are classifying die hard, the movie die hard, which im not mistaken, came out in july of 83 yes, it did it ranks at number 14 critic score of 94 . Uncle al, you are on the side of this is indeed a christmas absolutely. Why because the plot itself takes place at christmas it cant go on without christmas. The reason he goes out there, john mclean goes out there to be with his estranged wife. There is a snap there is kind of a santa one of the bad guys end up as bad santa. Doesnt end up well for him. Little coal in his stocking. When i read, i studied this is it a Christmas Movie or not there are deep studies about this one is they say the word christmas like 100 times in the movie more than they say the word kill or die hard or other sort of words. Should have called it christmas hard coming in number 2 on the list is Charlie Brown christmas. 94 . Thats a great one. This is a classic, too. Although its not a movie its a halfhour special, which was not controversial, but for the first time they mentioned god and christ in a holiday special. Wow which was neat. Doesnt he read from the bible, luke . He does he reads from the bible. Thats what christmas is about. I heard bruce willis tried out for the part of linusu and didnt get it, the classic, its a wonderful life, critic score 94 6 of critics rated this movie a thumbs down. Hard to imagine. Great goot good popstart. If youre feeling, you know, like a little scrooge like this year, harry smith has the redemption story for you to turn things around. Plus, the country king of christmas himself Brett Eldredge who collaborated with kelly clarkson, Meghan Trainor on this new holiday music this year just ahead hes going to perform just for us. But first your local news. Good morning. Its 8 26. Im marcus washington. Breaking news from out of nashville. According to police, theres been an intentional explosion in downtown. It happened earlier this morning not far from the citys famed honkytonk bars. Police believe the parked suv exploded causing the widespread damage you can see there. Three people were taken to the hospital. We are checking with bay area agencies this morning to see if they are ramping up security around the city after this explosion. Well continue to bring you those updates online. Lets get a look at that forecast for you on this Christmas Day. Kari hall has been tracking that. Weve been tracking the rain moving in. Heres a look live right now at storm ranger. You can view the same on the nbc bay area app. And see where the rain is now. Weve been watching more of it starting to roll in off the coast moving from north to south. Well see more of these heavier downpours later this afternoon into the evening. A bit of a break as another storm system is set to move in late on sunday into monday. Tuesday is also looking dry but we could see more rain in the forecast between wednesday and new years day. Its going to be busy and well be tracking it all. Marcus . Kari, Merry Christmas to you. Well have another local news update coming up in 30 minutes. See you then. The usual gifts are just not going to cut it. We have to find something else. Good luck what does that mean . We are doomed. [laughter] thats it. I figured it out were going to give togetherness. That sounds dumb. Were going to take all those Family Moments and package them. Hmm. [laughing] that works. I would like to wish my family and friends in south dakota a Merry Christmas and happy new year i would like to wish my friends and family happy holidays happy holidays to my wife jasmin go saints. Wed like to wish our friends and family back home a happy holidays happy holidays we are back 8 30 on this Christmas Morning, 2020, with a few holiday wishes there from our service men and Service Women who are stationed overseas on this christmas we wish all of them and of course all of their families a happy holidays yes so grateful. Especially this morning. Coming up, guys, Brett Eldredge is bringing his festive farewell christmas this morning with a special performance right off hi holiday album. There are the tunes and ina garten playing bartender shes going to share some festive drink recipes you can make them, you can enjoy them at home today looking forward to that harry smith is also here to revisit a beloved christmas classic for a reminder that even in the toughest of years, showing kindness can make a big difference in the world and good morning. Im meteorologist kari hall. As we go hour by hour, taking a look at the rain that will continue to spread into the bay area. A lot of the heavier downpours will be across the north bay and the rest of the bay area seeing it spotty. Some of the heavier rain arriving later this evening. Even tonight, still looking at some rain that will be with us off and on, especially in parts of the north bay. And then well see some of the rain winding down as we get ready for a new round of rain coming in late on sunday. Weather. Savannah al, thank you with christmas coming at the end of a remarkably difficult year, the holiday is bringing much needed time for joy and happiness and reflection harry smith joins us with a little guidance from a classic christmas story. Good to see you this morning Merry Christmas, harry good morning. Merry christmas to one and all im looking at the screen and how much i love and enjoy each and every one of you its great to be with you this morning. You, too. And in a year like this, sometimes you just have to go back to the old standards. Christmas, the traditions, the memories, the movies, the anticipation, the preparation. In any year, its a lot. We get sapy. We get melancholy, lonely, too like santas sleigh, christmas is often overloaded with the urge to get things right, to please, to be pleased. And this year christmas 2020, well, its all that and more when we look at the lines of cars waiting at food banks, when we listen to the pleas of front line workers begging us to do our part in the epidemic, we whether we listen to the stories of loved ones lost, we cannot help but feel shrouded b the dark reality of our time what, then, of christmas it would be easy enough to cry, hum bug. Every idiot who goes about with Merry Christmas on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart he shoul so says ebenezer scrooge dickens knew about hard times. 1840s victoria england was ravaged with famine. Cities were crowded with newcomers were in horrid conditions the poor were despised dickens wanted to awaken his country men to the needs of the less fortunate so he wrote a timeless carol about a man rich by any standard but poor in spirit oh, bu he was a tight fisted grind stone scrooge, grasping covetous ol sinner as scrooge is visited by the ghost of christmas past, present and future we see a man forced to look deeply into the mirror of his life the more he thought, the more perplexed he was and the more he endeavored not to think, the more he thought. And when he sees his true self, he is humiliated he had been sobbing violently in his conflict with the spirit and his face was wet with tears. Horrified by what the ghost had shown him, scrooges hard heart was softened and he promises himself to be a better man i will honor christmas in my heart and try to keep it all year i will live in the past, the present, and the future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me i will not shut out the lessons that they teach. The newly generous joyful scrooge embraces the family of his employee bob, especially the ailing little boy tiny tim scrooge was better than his word he did it all and infinitely more and to tiny tim who did not die, he was a second father he became as good a friend as asod a master, and as good a man he good old city knew or any other good old city, town or borough in the good old world. Every era has its challenges its up to us to acknowledge them to reach out to those whose needs are greater than our own and bring close, if even on screen, those we hold dear and as tiny tim said, god bless us everyone. So, my own children, i read the Christmas Carol to my own children over several nights for years and years and years because christmas is always so fraught and we were always traveling to family and it just was this busy insane time. And i thought, whats one way we can sort of drag it back a little bit and try to get a little bit more perspective . So my poor children listened to this story more times than i could count. And its not an easy read, by the way. Somebody needs to come up with a better little more modern version. I bet it put them to sleep, though, and thats its own reward thats a gift in and of it self its a nice family tradition. Thank you, harry thank you so much Merry Christmas to you you bet you, too up next, the part of the show ive been waiting for, it is here there she is were about to get a personal lesson on the perfect holiday drinks from the great ina garten. But first, this is today on were going to find the perfect tree. Were going skating. Were going to nanas. Wherever you go this holiday, chevy can help you get there. Which is why were making our chevy. Employee discount available to everyone. The chevy price you pay. Is what we pay. Not a cent more. So wherever you go, happy holidays from chevy. Use the chevy employee discount for everyone to get over six thousand eight hundred dollars below msrp on this equinox. Get the chevy employee discount for everyone today. Were back with today food on this Christmas Morning. If youre looking for a drink, oh, yeah not just food but a drink to keep you merry and bright, well, weve got just what you need and who you need been waiting all morning for this segment here we go there she is lets bring in santas special helper, the one and only ina garten she broke out the cook books to come up with two ideas alcoholic and nonalcoholic. For your Holiday Celebration ina, good morning and Merry Christmas. Merry christmas to all of you, too lets get the nonalcoholic one out of the way and spend time on the alcoholic one. Does it have to be nonalcoholic . Spiced apple cider what i did for five minutes, i simmered really good apple cider, not apple juice, but the real thing, with a little pepper corns and cloves and cinnamon, a Little Orange zest so all of those spices get into it im just going to strain them now. It smells good i wish we had smellavision you could smell how good it is then im going to pour it into a glass. A pretty glass, Something Like that and does it have to be nonalcoholic . I usually put a little bourbon in now youre talking, homemaker. You do you. It is christmas after all maybe like a tablespoon of bourbon. Because it has that carmely thing thats really good cup of bourbon. That wouldnt be bad. And then i just put a Little Orange and apple and a cinnamon stick in it as a stirrer and thats the drink thats delicious. Merry christmas ill taste it and see if its any good let us know whats the other one . I wish you were here. We do, too. Okay, thats the nonalcoholic one. Cant wait to see the one with alcohol [ laughter ] thats the long island iced tea. We call it iced tea so what im making is a pomegranate gimlet my friend rob marshal made it for you once, and its just so good the first thing i need is a pitcher. Im going to make a lot. 1 1 2 cups of gin. This is for seriously later. One cup of pomegranate juice you can buy it in the store. I love the color of it its good for you, right sure. One cup of freshly squeezed lime juice ooh got to be freshly squeezed, right . Little bit of sugar syrup, about half a cup thats one cup of sugar, one cup of water cooked until the sugar dissolves and chill it doesnt that look like christmas . Delicious then i have a big cocktail shaker just going to pour it into a cocktail shaker. Shake it up. And i have one more thing. I always freeze the glasses. Im going to go get it ah. Very classy thats what makes you you, ina is that a dumb question thats the cocktail shaker, yeah im going to shake it for about 15 seconds, if you can wait 15 seconds. We can wait get it right its nice and cold actually, also, dilute it a little bit, which is nice. Now, you used begin can you use vodka or any liquor youd like you can use vodka i usually do hi, hoda hi, honey hoda and i had a great time the other day. We did. We talked about inas book it was awesome. The comfort food book her fan base is insane. Ive never seen anything like it every night whatever meal you thin youve had, you make it out of inas book, its the best version of that meal oh, thank you isnt that lovely . This is the version of a pomegranate gimlet anybody ever had. Its beginning to look like christmas is that christmassy enough, a little lime . Yoe, oh, yeah, the red and the gree were ready for christmas. Happy christmas. Have a wonderful time. Merry christmas, ina. Thank you all of you. You make us very happy you will be feeling no pain in moments exactly. This is the afternoon drink. Enjoy it. For inas recipes you can head to today. Com food. Thank you, ina. When we come back, the perfect complement to holiday spirits, a holiday song, a special performance for your christmas announcer the citi music series on today is proudly presented to you by citi and welcome back. We hope your morning is filled with presents to unwrap. Right now we have one more for you. We sure do. The special performance of the Christmas Song from his holiday album glow. Here is Brett Eldredge chestnuts roasting on an open fire jack frost nipping at your nose yuletide carols being sung by a choir and folks dressed up es like eskimos Everybody Knows a turkey and help to make some mistletoe help to make the season bright tiny tiny tots with their eyes all aglow will find it hard to sleep tonight they know that santas on his way hes loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh and every mothers child is gonna spy to see if reindeer really know how to fly and so im offering this simple phrase although to kids from 1 to 92 although its been said many times, many ways Merry Christmas Merry Christmas Merry Christmas to you we love our Brett Eldredge that was great a big thanks to him because hes always spreading that christmas cheer. What a voice. We are back in a moment on this Christmas Morning. But first, this is today on nbc. We made usaa insurance for members like martin. An air force veteran made of doing whats right, not whats easy. So when a hailstorm hit, usaa reached out before he could even inspect the damage. Thats how you do it right. Usaa insurance is made just the way martins family needs it with hasslefree claims, he got paid before his neighbor even got started. Because doing right by our members, thats whats right. Usaa. What youre made of, were made for. Usaa this is the day its all about traditions every year we like to wrap things up with a certain toast its a toast to our family a toast to everybody who works here, everybody watching from home we love you. Its been a difficult year and we have the best staff on earth. None of this is possible without everybody in our studio and every one of you, and especially our team behind the scenes so from all of us to all of you why is mine empty already [ laughter ] because thats the way you roll long show its 2020 Merry Christmas, everybody. Thank you Merry Christmas. Merry christmas Merry Christmas, guys this whole time period is really a testament to bonds that are greater than physical closeness. Theyre real closeness, emotional closeness. And our friendships have carried that and have kind of lifted us up i mean, were far away i feel as close to you as ever if not more. Closer. Especially because these are trying times a smile on my face when we al know its hard theres no way to pay you bac bless your heart i love you for that honest and selfless folks at home are working really hard at today these are the people putting the show together, producers, writers, everybody working from home stepping up, look at every single face. They work each day and we really want to say thank you. Matter matter matter youre doing a good job a good job youre doing a good job dont get too down the world needs you now know that you matter matter matter yeah six in the morning as soon as you walk through that door Everyone Needs you again the worlds out of water its not as sound when youre not around all day on your feet hard at work keep that energy i know when it feels like the end of the road you dont let go you just res forward youre the engine that makes all things go always in disguise my hero i see a light in the dark smiles on the face you all know its hard theres no way to ever pay yo back bless your heart know i love you for that honest and selfless i dont know i dont know if this helps good job, youre doing a good job, good job youre doing a good job, don get too down the world needs you now, know that you matter, matter, matter yeah, its a good job youre doing a good job, a good job good job youre doing a good job dont get too down the world needs you now know that you matter, matter, matter, yeah the mothers, the fathers, the teachers, the preachers, strangers, the friends that show up in the end from the bottom to the top, those that hear us this is for you, you make me fearless doing a good job, good job doing a good job, good job dont get too down, world needs you now know that you matter, matter, matter yeah good morning. It is 8 56. Im marcus washington. Breaking news from out of nashville this morning. According to police there, theres been an intentional explosion in the downtown area. It happened earlier this morning not far from the citys famed honkytonk bars. Police believe a parked rv exploded causing widespread damage. You can see there. Three people were taken to the hospital. Were checking with bay area agencies to see if theyre ramping up security around the city after this explosion. Well bring you the updates online. Happening now, our big story locally, Bay Area Health leaders are preparing for the next surge in covid cases as icu beds are at capacity. They are warning people to wear the mask and social distance during the Holiday Season. For more tips on how to stay safe, head to nbcbayarea. Com. In a land not so far away, people are saving hundreds on the most Reliable Network with xfinity mobile. They can choose from the latest phones or bring their own. And choose the data option thats right for them. They even get nationwide 5g at no extra cost. And since they are on the carrier rated 1 in customer satisfation, they live happily ever after. Again, again xfinity mobile. Your wireless. Your rules. Your way to stay closer together. Click, call, or visit an xfinity store today