Trail, and inspiring america. Nightly news begins right now. From nbc news World Headquarters in new york, this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. Good evening. After a lengthy and very public casting call through the lobby of trump tower, the president elect ended the suspense today over one of the most coveted jobs in his administration. An oil company ceo to be his secretary of state. With no government experience, Rex Tillerson, the exxon mobil boss, is being praised as a seasoned International Deal maker in business, and it is those business connections, specifically his ties to russia, that are raising the most serious concerns about him tonight. And putting trump at odds with members of his own party. Nbcs Kristen Welker starts us off with the latest. Reporter tonight, president elect donald trump, likely setting up his first own party, officially tapping Rex Tillerson to be his secretary of state. Touting what he calls tillersons deep understanding of geopolitics. The pick of the exxon mobil ceo, praised by republicans, including condoleezza rice, who has business ties to exxon, but also others like bob corker. Still some key gop senators wary of his ties with russia. Marco rubio saying, he has serious concerns. Trumps team, digging in. Hes very good at being a diplomat, and e put oil in all freedomloving democracies across the world. And yet Rex Tillerson was able to make this work. Reporter and it comes on the day of what is perhaps mr. Trumps most surprising meeting at trump tower yet. Kanye west. Weve been friends for a long time. Reporter west, uncharacteristically tightlipped right now. I just want to take a picture. Reporter its not clear if west will have a role, but be energy secretary, the agency he famously forgot during a president ial debate while listing the departments hed eliminate. The third one, i cant, sorry. Oops. Reporter trump also saying his adult sons will, his business interests, and no deal will be done during his term in office. These things have a cumulative effect. It would serve him to be more transparent, the more the better. Reporter tonight a top telling nbc news, mr. Trump has tapped former Navy Seal Ryan zincy to serve as interior secretary. Their trump will appear in wisconsin later tonight. Lester . Kristin, thank you. Back to the tillerson pick, reaction has been swift and loud. How the close ties to Vladimir Putin will confirmation fight. Andrea mitchell was the first to break the news about the tillerson pick over the weekend. Good evening. Good evening. Donald trump said he wants his secretary of state to reverse what he called years of misguided foreign policies. Hiring him because hes an outside with no experience in diplomacy. In Rex Tillerson, trump has found someone like himself, no government experience, a successful businessman, whom trump aides praise as trumpian. I have tremendous respect for him. He player. Reporter born in wichita falls, texas, from engineer to chairman and now ceo, now dealing with foreign governments in nearly 50 countries. But its his ties to one country now under the microscope. My relationship with Vladimir Putin, which dates back almost 15 years now, ive known him since 1999. And i have a very close relationship with him. I dont agree with everything hes doing. Reporter improving Trump Campaign promise. Wouldnt it be great if we actually got along with russia . Reporter but tonight, theyre pointing to opposition to Climate Change rules. Coziness with Vladimir Putin is very alarming and should have eliminated him frankly. Reporter some republicans critical too after tillerson received a friendship medal from putin. When he gets the friendship award from a butcher, quite frankly, its an issue that i think needs to be examined. Tillerson is a past president of the boy scouts, embracing their decision to allow gay scouts and leaders. He wrestled with it, he prayed on it, and he ultimately decided, i have to do whats good for the boys. Reporter his loyalty to scouting shaped his values. We have a duty to this country, as citizens, to participate in our government. Reporter a Texas Oil Man who, if confirmed, will test whether its skills as a Global Business diplomacy. Andrea mitchell, nbc news, washington. Reporter im Richard Engel in moscow, where the kremlin couldnt be happier with the way trumps cabinet is shaping up, especially with Rex Tillerson as potential secretary of state. Vladimir mill of is a former russian minister of energy. Its absolutely a gift for putin. Reporter tillerson is best known here for making a deal with an oil giant called rosneft. Thats its headquarters over there. Just over the moscow river fromhe kremlin. And analysts say the company is like a cash cow for president putin and his inner circle. Mickel, an Energy Analyst says the dividends earned by rosneft end up in one place. This is the personal purse ear wallet of the russian president. Reporter and that wallet could grow significantly. And tillerson is at the center of it. Exxon mobil and deal in the arctic, russia values at 500 billion. A deal so important, after it, he was given the russian medal of friendship. But the deal is on hold because of u. S. Sanctions. Obviously the conflict of interest is something that is written on mr. Tillerson forehead. Written on his forehead . Written on his forehead. Conflict of interest some. Yes. As far as russias concerned . Hundred percent. Reporter as secretary of state, tillerson will be able to push for the lifting of the sanctions against ss Richard Engel, nbc news, moscow. Now to the brutal fouryearlong battle for aleppo that appears to be near its end this evening, the russian government, allied with the syrian regime, said today that military action has ceased in eastern aleppo, claiming Syrian Forces have taken control of the city from rebels. As our bill neely reports, civilians are still scrambling to get out of aleppo, amid horrifying reports of executions. Reporter they today. Thousands, fleeing aleppos last battleground. The young and sick, the old and helpless, besieged for months, trudging from the ruins of their homes. Theyve fled a relentless onslaught by regime and russian forces, crushing whats left of the rebel east. But not everyone escaped. Terrified civilians, sending what they called their last messages. The assad milits away. No place now to go. Its the last days. Reporter no word tonight of one child, 7yearold bana, whose latest message read, this is my final moment to either live or die. The horrors are clear on aleppos streets. Shelling and air strikes, claiming hundreds of lives. We cant verify this video, or many claims, militias are executing civilians in cold blood. Theyve been going door to door, executing people on the spot. Reporter president assads troops are celebrating victory, over this symbolic city of the revolution, and denying theyre committing atrocities. As soon as people heard we freed this area, he says, they feel safe. But few can be safe. Even as the regime boasted that aleppos rebels have stopped fighting, that theyll be allowed to leave, where, and that the battle here is over. The exodus of misery isnt over. Nor is this war in so many places beyond aleppo. Bill neely, nbc news, beirut. Switching gears and back in this country on the weather front tonight, things are about to go from frigid to worse for nearly 30 million people. A temperature plunge below to zero below zero in several places and more snow. Latest. It is still pretty slick outside. Reporter as temperatures plummet across the country, blizzard conditions in indiana, blamed for this multicar pileup. Elsewhere, a few close calls. In michigan, slick streets sent this school bus offroad. . Minnesota, a driver was pulled from her suv after it slid into a frigid pond. A dog in illinois found itself in a similar jam. Nothing else was going through my mind except saving my dog. Reporter the bitter cold snap is expected to last sel in wisconsin. Over the next week, 1 in 7 americans feeling the bite of sub zero frost. In some cases, its going to feel like its 40 degrees below zero or more. Parts of the midwest are going to stay below the freezing mark for at least two weeks. Reporter in chicago, residents are preparing to hunker down indoors. Probably get two, three more bags of salt. . . Reporter outside, vendors at this market protecting against warm . Heaps of layers. Reporter millions bundled up and bracing for another brutal arctic punch. Chicago and other areas could see some of their coldest temperatures in two years with this system. The forecast windchill tonight as low as 8 below zero. Tomorrow, twice as brutal, 16 below. Lester . Ron mott, thank you. Now the developing news that could change the way all of us drive, the government plan to require cars to talk to each other, using wifi to avoid collisions might not see coming with our own eyes. Nbcs tom costello explains. [ sirens ]. Reporter it happens every 15 minutes. Someone dies in a traffic accident. But Traffic Safety regulators say vehicletovehicle, or vtov technology could prevent up to 600,000 crashes. Heres how it works. Using wifi connections, your car would be in touch with every other car in a 300 radius, even cars information about umcoming cross traffic that isnt stopping, warning that cars ahead have hit brakes, or of an approaching ambulance, of an accident ahead, or slowmoving traffic. You would get visual or audible alerts. Our automatic braking might kick in. The car can have a 360degree field of vision, if you will, electronically and sense other cars out of our line of sight as drivers. Reporter connected vehicles could if it sounds like science fiction, audi is already rolling out technology that tells drivers how soon upcoming traffic lights are about to change. The key is to coordinate all the technology, so different car makes and models are talking to each other, on the same frequency. Human beings are fallible and while technology has its challenges, it has the greatest potential to save lives. Reporter the Obama Administration wants to require new cars to come with v. Tov. In just a few years, but along . Today the Automotive Industry would only say its studying the proposal to see how it complements other advanced Safety Systems that are starting to be included. But some day, your cars wifi chat with other cars, could keep you alive. Tom costello, nbc news, washington. President obama united with Vice President biden today for what may be the final bill signing of their administration. The president approved a massive bipartisan medical Research Bill that inclus billions for the cancer moon championed by bide whose son buied cancer lastear. Our ter deralexan has mo. Reporter in a city bay porized by polics, a rare moment ofunity. A powerful tribute to joe bid career, and beau biden memory. Oddi willing, thisill will literally save lives. Reporter the 6 billion ll invests in a Cancer Research moon shot and pays to fight other diseases and opioid abuse. I think the senate came up with a better name when they named it after beau biden. Reporter remembering the life of the Vice President s son who died of brain cancer in 2015. This effort has reinforced the bond between two men one who lost his mother she was two and a half years younger than i am today when she passed away. Reporter the other who lost a son. I know he loved you, and you were wonderful to beau. Channeling his grief into hope. How many times have you heard a patient say, doc, can you give me just three more weeks, so i can walk her down the aisle . Or just give me another two months, its my first grand baby. Reporter whats likely the last billsigning of this presidency, building a legacy meant to last. Peter alexander, nbc news, washington. Another day, another record close on wall street. The dow creeping ever closer to 20,000 it comes just a day before the Federal Reserve is widely expected to raise Interest Rates after years of rock bottom lows. Still ahead, danger in the kitchen, the alarming defect thats led to the largest kitchen appliance recall in history on a product war drums beating fight heartburn fast. With tums chewy delights. The mouthwatering soft chew that goes to work in seconds to conquer heartburn fast. Only from tums. Your Insurance Company wont replace the full value of your totaled new car. The guy says, you picked the wrong insurance plan. No, i picked the wrong Insurance Company. With new car replacement . , well replace the full value of your car plus depreciation. Liberty Mutual Insurance. My friends think doing this at my age is scary. I say not if you protect yourself. What is scary . Pneumococcal pneumonia. Its a serious disease. My doctor said the risk is greater now that im over 50 yeah. Yaha. Just one dose of the prevnar 13 . Vaccine can help protect you from Pneumococcal Pneumonia an illness that can cause coughing, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and may even put you in the hospital. Prevnar 13 . Is approved for adults 18 and older to help prevent infections from 13 strains of the bacteria that cause Pneumococcal Pneumonia. You should not receive prevnar 13 . If you have had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine or its ingredients. If you have a weakened immune system, side effects were pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site, limited arm movement, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, less appetite, vomiting, fever, chills, and rash. Get this one done ask about prevnar 13 . At your next visit to your Doctors Office or pharmacy. Were back now with the big consumer alert, the largest kitchen appliance million cuisinart food process ors. Tonight there are concerns they could be dangerous after several reports of injuries. We get details from nbcs miguel almaguer. Reporter its one of the most popular products in homes across the country, but today cuisinart says eight million Food Processors could pose a hazard to consumers. Tonight, there are at least 69 reports of metal piecesm into processed food. 30 cases of mouth lacerations and tooth injuries from fractured metal have also been reported. Turned it over and one of the notches actually was cracked all the way through. Reporter dana zucker heard the news this morning, hours after she used her cuisinart thats now on the recall list. Its really concerning to me. We hear the brand cuisinart, we trust blades called a hazard with the Holiday Season upon us, with all the cooking thats going on, including in my own house, and the risk of injury being as severe as it is, we need consumers to act. Reporter if you see rivets like this on your blade, theres a good chance your yeez nart is affected. Cuisinart is offering free replacement blades, telling consumers to check their website or call their 800 number, but they cant get through. The company is asking for patience. With no guarantee the new blades will arrive in time for christmas. Miguel almaguer, nbc news, los angeles. Were back in a moment with not one [burke] at farmers, weve seen almost everything, so we know how to cover almost anything. Even a rodent ridealong. [dad] alright, buddy, dont forget anything [kid] i wont, dad. [captain rod] happy Tuesday Morning captain rod here. Its pretty hairy out on the interstate. Traffic is getting word of another collision. [burke] it happened. December 14th, 2015. And we covered it. Talk to farmers. We know a thing or two because weve seen a thing or two. . We are farmers. Bumpadum, bumbumbumbum . Hi hey you look good. Thank you, i feel good. It all starts with eating right. Thats why i eat amaz n prunes now. Theyre delicious and help keep my body in balance. I love these. Sunsweet amaz n prunes, the feel good fruit. If you could see your cough, its just a cough. Sfx woman coughing youd see how often you cough all day. And so would everyone else. Robitussin 12 hour delivers fast, powerful cough relief that lasts up to 12 hours. Robitussin 12 hour cough relief, because its never just a cough. He has a sharp wit, a winning smile, and no chance of getting an athletic scholarship. And that is why you invest. Hi, im paul. 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Pluggable febreze and fabric refresher [inhale exhale mnemonic], two more ways to breathe happy theres news tonight in the battle over abortion, this time in ohio, where the governor, john kasich, has signed a weeks. Similar to the ban in 20 other states. Kasich however, vetoed a separate measure that would have barred the procedure when a heartbeat could be detected which would have outlawed most abortion as early as six weeks. If you gaze upwards, you could catch two duel phenomena in the sky. The moon is fu