>> you've tried and failed. >> it's dad to the rescue. >> is that the sound of bells jingling? >> ho, ho, ho. can i hear a boy that's been good this year? >> oh my gosh. >> created his own christmasy. >> have you been a good boy this year? >> so muchwell, i don't know, s missing the gut. that's part of what makes santa >> i cannot believe you two have anything negative to say about this at all. >> it's nice. we appreciate it. >> cushion for the pushing. >> why are you trying to escape? >> the little one seems to be okay with it. >> victory for skinny santa! >> well done, santa. >> look, she's smiling, the kid's smiling, santa's smiling. i'll give him some credit on this one. >> i'll give him a sandwich. >> i'll bring the cookies and hot chocolate. >> before you go, under the mistletoe. >> thanks for hanging with us. we'll see you next time on "rtm." diarrhea!♪n, upset stomach, that cough doesn't sound so good. take mucinex dm. i'll text you in 4 hours when your cough returns. one pill lasts 12 hours, so... looks like i'm good all night! why take 4-hour cough medicine? just one mucinex lasts 12 hours. let's end this. if you're one of those procrastinators who wait to start your christmas shopping on boxing day, the day after christmas, some of the best deals have yet to come. >> it's a strategy. you have to get in your car or walk and head to that thing ma that is? >> that walking thing. >> mm-hm. >> erielle reshef has more. >> reporter: retailers rolling last-minute deals to nab your holiday dollar. more than a third of shoppers doing the bulk of their gift buying their week before christmas, and some major perks forroastinators. >> 50% really good stores. >> everything at this point of the year is 50, 40. >> reporter: these popular beats headphones originally $380 at best buy now $160. experts say it's also a great time to buy bling. these designer movado watches more than $400 off. up to 70% off men's outer wear at macy's. and savings on stocking stuffer. >> i like the gift it's really easy to pick for family members. >> reporter: prices on gift cards slashed on sites like gift card granny. it is expected to be the busiest shopping of the year. the experts say knowing what you're looking for is key before heading to the stores. >> i know what i'm looking for. the stores don't have it. >> the lines, the lines are so long! coming up, an eggselent insomnihacks. >> you're watching "world news now." ♪ how do you likeour in the morning ♪ ♪ i like mine with a kiss ♪ >> a right, so insomnihacks time with dean martin and helen mcconnell, of course, that all-important question of how do you like your eggs i the morning? how do you like them cooked? >> i like mine over easy. but there's deceptively tough maneuvering to get them right, so i have some hackso help us all out. >> oh, nice. >> onef my favorite breakfastfo they sound pretty straightforward. but you also can't break the yok yolk. ans not so easy. ♪ a good egg over easy gives you the best of both worlds, the nice runny yolk without all the snotty slimy stuff on top. but they should call them eggs over rare. it reflects the temperature of the yolk and how rare it is that i get one right. this is a mess. that is not what it's supposed to look like. ♪ but i decided to change all that with my new secret weapon. yep, just a pan lid. check it out. start by greasing the pan as you normally would. i'm going to use a little bit of light olive oil. and then set it to medium heat. you can crack your egg in right away, but i like mine a little crispy on the edges and you want to wait until the oil is hot. it gets thin iraner and moves m like crack your egg in the pan, put the lid on th. that's it. you can add a couple drops of water. be careful. that will bubble up. once you see that white film over the egg, you're done. look at that. no more overcooking. no more undercooking. no more chasing the egg around the pan and no more broken yolks. perfect set whites. and the best part? that awesome, runny yolk. mm. the pan trick is pretty cool. but frying pan with a lid. so the next trick is to use the oven. preheat to 450 and throw whatever pan you're using in the oven so it gets nice and hot. you can use just a regular sheet pan for this. but to get a nice round shape, i'm going to use a mfin top pan. crack the eggs right in. set theo four minutes. kind of cool. you can watch the whole cooking process, or -- this looks great, thanks for helping me decorate, frank. paper ornament, bacon ornaments. can't forget the chinese food ornaments. oh, eggs are done. ♪ take that out. six perfect eggs over easy. perfectly shaped, done in four minutes. if you don't haven oven, you can still make over easy in the microwave, for real. get a small, microwave-safe bowl, add a little oil if you want, crack your egg in there. there's two parts to the egg white, the outer part that's thin and the inner part that's thicker. you want to scrambling that up so it's more of an even consistency. you want to make sure the yolk is in the center of the bowl and put the bowl in the centerthe m seconds and that will do the t. there you and you may not get those crispy e edges or c yolk, get pfect whites, a nice runny yolk. and perfect for the dorm room or the office or anywhere else you don't have a full kitchen. there of have it, eggs over easy three different ways, and technically, i didn't flip any of them over, they were easy and delicious. can't wait to have one of these. oh, man. >> five second rule. >> i don't know if that works with eggs, the yolk splattered all over the floor. i have to figure out a hack fo t the serving part of it all. >> we tested it out. this is their reaction. do we have it? >> was that? >> i'm just going to keep the hold. >> oh, boy. of diane's eggs? [ laughter ] >> stick around. you could apply for a medicare supplement insurance plan whenever you want. no enrollment window. that means now may be a no waiting to apply. great time to shop for an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. medicare doesn't cover everything. and like all standardized medicare supplement insurance plans, these help cover some of what medicare doesn't pay. so don't wait. call now to request your free decision guide. it could help you find the aarp medicare supplement plan that works for you. these typeno networks,ave so you get to choose any doctor who accepts medicare patients. and they're the only plans rates are competitive, of their kind endorsed by aarp. remember - these plans let you apply all year round.today. because now's the perfect time to learn more. go long. i'm joy bauer, and as a nutritionist i know probiotics can often help. try digestive advantage. it is tougher than your stomact, so it surivies a hundred times better than the leading probiotic. get the digestive advantage. ♪ and time for a little "this happened". and we know that grandma got run over by the reindeer. >> yes. >> but someone else was doing unsafe driving over in oregon, from the st. helen's police department showing the abominable snowman getting arrested during a crackdown on drunk driving. >> look who's doing the crackdown. >> that is honorary patrol driver, santa claus. it was an effort to raise awareness about drunk driving during the holidays. >> i always knew, despite all the people saying good things about st. nick, i always knew he was a snitch. [ laughter ] >> all these things about oh, he gives you presents and all that, he's a snitch. >> now the snowman is due to appear in court on december 20th. he's regretting those bad decisions. you don't want to take after the abo abominable snowman. >> imagine him on a lineup? >> which one was it? can you identify? are you sure? >> the abominable snowman going. >> i hope it wasn't hot in that cell. let's go to mississippi where residents in jackson have gotten so upswetet with that pothole that's been there since last christmas, they decided to decorate it. merry christmas from our sinkhole to yours. officials sa aware of the pothole problems there. >> they are now if they weren't before. >> but they'll get around to it, but they don't encourage doing that to other potholes in the area. >> that's one way to notice a pothole if you're driving, right? >> that is one way to make sure drivers are aware of the issue. from making lemonade to just skipping and going straight for the lemon. a woman named elizabeth in north carolina decided to allow her son to give it a shot. little one seemed to really want to try a slice of lemon, and so. [ laughter ] despite the adorable reaction he keeps going back for more. adorable. >> are you sure it's not from your egg? >> it's not from my egg sandwich. it's delicious. >> arby's, as you know, they've got the meat. and they've got the meat outfit. >> oh, ho, ho, ho. >> meat sweats. they've created a meat-printed sweats. >> now they're giving us the sweats in two different ways. if you don't pig out, you still get the meat sweats. >> they're reserved for only the most dedicated meat lovers. >> or lady gaga. >> i imagine so ok, let's try this. it says you apply the blue one to me. here? no. have a little fun together, or a lot. k-y yours and mine. two sensations that work together, so you can play together. this morning on "world now." spreading the wealth. >> republicans are celebrating the passage of the tax reform bill overnight, and companies are promising to share their new tax savings. thousands of areetting bonuses. plus to the white house, a top senator warns the president not to fire robert mueller. something that one congresswoman said would happen tomorrow. and we have an update after a police officers what forced to hold on for dear life, quite literally. he was left clinging to the side of a car as a suspect sped off. we have good news about his condition. there's a special place for you. rudolph's rage room. if you're not feeling so holly jolly, you can step right up and beat the crap out of a christmas tree. oh, sweet baby jesus, cover your eyes. >> it's the most wonderful time of the year. ♪ it's the most wonderful time -- ♪ >> something like that. on this thursday, december 21st. from abc news. this is "world news now." >> i can't. >> no, it only is supposed to happen in the confines of that room. >> only in the room? it's been staring at me for so long. i'm sick of that damn tree. >> i bet that's what a lot of people's actual christmas looks like. >> it's just like, ah! well, good morning. merry christmas. >> we're all going to be okay. >> insanity later. we're going to start with washington, d.c. and the victory lap that is taking place. president trump and republican lawmakers celebrating a major win on taxes. >> the tax reform bill is heading to the president's desk. the president says this also marks a win for the middle class, but critics aren't convinced. cecelia vega has more. >> reporter: at the white house, a beaming president trump greeting a sea of republicans with a double fist pump. >> it's always a lot of fun when you win. >> reporter: and lawmakers heaped on the praise one after the next after the next. >> something this profound could not have been done without exquisite presidential leadership. >> you listened to voices no one else was listening to. >> you're one heck of a leader, and we're all benefitting from it. t . >> reporter: the president calls it a miracle designed to help middle class families, but corporate america gets a much bigger tax break. >> we are making america great again. you haven't heard that, have you? >> reporter: and earlier in a cabinet meeting, the president flaunted those tax benefits for big business. >> our plan also lowers the tax on american business from 35% all the way down to 21%. that's probably the biggest factor in this plan. >> reporter: that cut for corporate america is permanent. but income tax cuts for individuals expire in eight years. and lower income americans making $75,000 or less will actually see their taxes go up over the next decade. during that same time, the ultra rich will see their taxes go down. the bill also repeals the obamacare mandate that every american buy health insurance. which means 13 million more americans could be uninsured over the next decade. and if some don't buy health insurance, premiums sky rocket for others. still the president touted the end of obamacare even though much of it remains in place. he also urged republicans to down play it before the vote. >> obamacare lass behas been re in this bill. i tell people be quiet with the fake news media. i don't want them talking too much about it. >> reporter: the big question now, how much will this new tax plan add to the deficit. speaker paul ryan says no one knows the answer to that because it's in the future. non-partisan congressional budget analysts have a prediction. they say it will add nearly $1.5 trillion, trillion with a t, to the deficit over the next decade. cecelia vega, the white house. and several companies wasted no time responding. announcing plans to pass on savings to workers. >> at&t will give each of his domestic employees a $1,000 bonus. >> wells fargo is raising its minimum wage to $15 an hour. >> comcast is giving more than 1,000 workers, $1,000 bonuses. critics say it's a pr stunt and that most will go to shareholders and executives. and an is that right is sending a warning to the white house about growing criticism of robert mueller. mark warner said mueller's critics should lay off. >> reporter: the top democrat on the senate intelligence committee with a warning to republicans and president trump. >> any attempt by this president to remove special counsel mueller from his position or shut down the investigation would be a gross abuse of power. >> reporter: mark warner on the floor of the senate concerned about recent new the reports and what democrats call a republican attempt to undermine special counsel robert mueller's investigation. >> just this weekend, one major news organization suggested that special counsel mueller could be involved in a coup against the president. >> reporter: that headline on fox news your white house counselor made this. >> they were pro hillary. >> reporter: responding to the comments that a fbi agent and attorney once on mueller's team were trading anti-trump text messages. trump asked over the weekend whether he's planning to fire mueller. >> no, i'm not. no. >> reporter: but senator warner isn't convinced after the firing of fbi director james comey. >> firing mr. mule iror aeller the other top brass involved in in this investigation would not only call into question this administration's commitment to the truth but also to the most basic concept, rule of law. >> reporter: president trump says he's not ready to talk pardons after michael flynn pled guilty to lying to the fbi, senator warner also warned the president against pardons in the russia investigation. diane and kendis? we want to move on to breaking fl breaking news coming in from australia. a suv plowing into a crowd of pedestrians on a busy sidewalk. it happened at a rail station. the suv was speeding and did not brake before hitting those people. up to 19 people may have been injured, including at least one child. we'll keep on top of this. and the highway shut down by the deadly amtrak derailment is open again. two lanes of interstate 5 south of dupont, washington reopened. meanwhile, washington's governor says amtrak will pay the cost associated with the recovery, including medical expenses. they want to ensure positive train control technology is in place by the end of next year. now to the desperate search for a 6 month old baby girl. an amber alert was issued. her mother was found stabbed to death in their apartment near houston on tuesday. investigators say a woman may have abducted the baby and is now posing as her mother. police also are i sag tsaying t suspect is likely familiar with the family and the neighborhood. fbi teams are also assisting with the search. this is insane. a 5-year-old boy has been shot for the second time in just over a year. he accidentally shot himself on tuesday. in 2016, a stray bullet broke his jaw as he walked with his mom. she says that the shooting made him think he needed a gun for protection. his father will be in court today to face multiple charges related to this week's shooting, including child endangerment. and a florida police officer is back home after being dragged half a mile by a car. john cusack of pembroke pines received a big round of applause from his fellow officers as he left the hospital. he had surgery for injuries to his arms and legs but says he's doing okay. he was checking on an unconscious couple in a car when the driver wakes up and hits the gas. the driver now faces a number of charges, including attempted murder. just when we thought that razor thin virginia race to decide a seat in the assembly was settled? no, no, no. >> yesterday we told you shelly simonds won. >> she celebrated for a good 24 hours. then a three-judge panel has awarded yancy a previously uncounted vote. so now the race is a tie. a final order still has to be issued by virginia's recount court. >> un-believable! and this also can dictate the control of the house of delegates. >> yes. so it has massive, massive ramifications. >> if symonds gets in, it would be a 50/50 split. they are in a dead heat. unbelievable. >> change it from being republican controlled for the first time in decades. >> yeah. >> oy. coming up, an inside look at putin's russia. and the biker gang not just made friends with but changing the regime. they're being called hench men. and olympic star makayla marrone saying u.s. gymnastics paid her to stay quiet about the abuse she suffered under the team doctor. you're watching "world news now." must have been hot out there today, huh? yeah ok, yeah... even the toughest stains and odors with new super concentrated tide sport. the new tide sport collection- it's got to be tide an oxygen tank is being blamed for a deadly explosion outside cincinnati. a 70-year-old woman died in the blast in the small town of fayetteville. the cause of that fire is still under investigation. also in ohio, a young man is fighting for his life after being injured from a stand bag thrown from an overpass. he was in the passenger seat of a car when a sandbag hit shattering the windshield and hitting him. four teenagers ages 13 and 14 are facing felony charges. they were throwing items from the overpass and hit several other cars as well. next to makayla marrone suing usa gymnastics, accusing them of trying to silence her. repeated sex abuse allegations by that doctor. >> they tried to buy her off with a secret settlement. linsey davis has the details. >> reporter: makayla marrone says usa gymnastics kept her quiet about the abuse she suffered by larry nassar. she agreed to the settlement in late 2016 filing a lawsuit against usa olympics and michigan state university where he worked for decades. >> i insist as a condition of paying her money for therapy and the suffering that she's endured that she has to keep larry nassar's secret and u.s. gymnastics secret and can never criticize them or she'd be sued fo for $100,000 or more is repugnant. >> reporter: she broke her silence in october, saying he abused her for years, starting when she was just 13. nasser now in prison after pleading guilty to child pornography and sexual misconduct. he's sued by more than 40 women. >> in 2015, when usa gymnastics admits that they became aware that he had molested girls, they didn't call child protective services. he was allowed to stay in the treatment room and treated dozens and dozens of little girls over the next year. >> reporter: usa gymnastics is responding to marrone's lawsuit saying it was her lawyer at the time that approached them about mediation about the abuse. as for the usoc, it denied any involvement in the settlement. michigan state university says it was unaware until the first reports surfaced in 2016. >> marrone's attorney says the only reason she made that deal is because she was suicidal. and they are now arguing that those agreements are illegal in california and they never should have existed to begin with. >> you heard them talking about michigan state university. it was reported they knowingly allowed him to be there and treat patients despite these allegations and knowing he was under investigation in 2014 and 2015. >> the layer of blame in this case seems to go pretty deep. coming up in the next half hour. tonya harding in a new emotional interview. the infamous story is back in the spotlight thanks to a new movie. hear how she says she is still paying four that attack on nancy kw kir began. but first, they call them putin's. does but they're not all the same. who knew? i had no idea. so she said, look for one that's shaped like a dental tool with a round brush head. go pro with oral-b. oral-b's rounded brush head surrounds each tooth to gently remove more plaque. and unlike sonicare, oral-b is the only electric toothbrush brand accepted by the american dental association for its effectiveness and safety. my mouth feels so clean. i'll only use an oral-b. oral-b. brush like a pro. ♪ look at that, the kremlin there at night. as you know, over the last year we've learned a lot about vladimir putin and his interference in elections abroad. but now he has his own campaign to worry about as he runs for his fourth term as president there. >> he's got the support of a controversial group known at night wolves. >> reporter: this is the face that vladimir putin projects to the world. openly praising the american president. we see some serious achievements, he says. but to the russian people, putin, this country's longest-serving leader since stalin is embracing a very different image as he prepares to run for a new term in march. we're at a rally mounted by one of putin's most high profile and novembe controversial allies, a violent biker game called the night wolves. [ speaking in russian ] >> reporter: the leader of this gang with several thousand members, the man known as "the surgeon." a former dental surgeon. how did this motorcycle club develop such a strong relationship with the leader of this country? putin is special he tells us. he's much smarter than other government bureaucrats. so his funding of this group is not part of a propaganda effort? [ speaking in russian ] the night wolves have become a wildly popular cultural phenomenon in russia. putin noticed that, and now they're funded by his regime. they even have a paramilitary wing which putin allegedly used when he invaded ukraine. as you now, the u.s. government has sanctioned you and your group, accusing you of committing criminal acts in ukraine. is there any truth to that? [ speaking in russian ] we went to their training camp. they claim they're just training for self-defense. the u.s. state department isn't buying it. they say the night wolves are putin's shadow army. the u.s. government has named you in the sanctions, saying that you helped the night wolves carry out criminal activities in ukraine. [ speaking in russian ] his response? i have to laugh. dan harris, abc news, russia. >> all right. >> so glad that dan got that assignment. i would have been scared. interesting facts that came out of that. putin is the longest-serving russian leader since josef stalin. quite fascinating there. >> yes, and he is currently enjoying an 85% approval rating, and i'm sure that is 100% accurate. >> and i'm sure that the kgb or secret service know the 15% who say they do not support putin. >> yes, yes, yes. >> they're well aware. the mix is next. s old jar. it's never much, just what's left after i break a dollar. and i never thought i could get quality life insurance with my spare change. neither did i. until i saw a commercial for the colonial penn program. imagine people our age getting life insurance at such an affordable rate. it's true. if you're 50 to 85, you can get guaranteed acceptance life insurance through the colonial penn program for less than 35 cents a day, just $9.95 a month. there's no medical exam and no health questions. you know, the average cost of a funeral is over $8,300. now that's a big burden to leave your loved ones. as long as you're 50 to 85, you cannot be turned down because of your health. your premium never goes up and your benefit never goes down due to age. plus, your coverage builds cash value over time. call now for free information and a free gift. all i did was make a phone call and all of my questions about the colonial penn program were answered. it couldn't have been any easier and we both got the coverage we should have had for years now. mm-hm, with change to spare. (laughing) (colonial penn jingle) yep, and my teeth are yellow. i mean i knew they weren't perfect, but, ugh. oh well, all hope is lost! oh thanks! clearly my whitening toothpaste is not cutting it. time for whitestrips. crest glamorous white whitestrips are the only ada-accepted whitening strips proven to be safe and effective. they work below the enamel surface to whiten 25x better than a leading whitening toothpaste. hey, nice smile! thanks! i crushed the tissue test! yeah you did! crest. healthy, beautiful smiles for life. i'm joy bauer, and as a nutritionist i know probiotics can often help. try digestive advantage. it is tougher than your stomach's harsh environment, so it surivies a hundred times better than the leading probiotic. get the digestive advantage. all right, time for the mix. and we're going to start things off in rome where the official christmas tree is getting a lot of attention. not for its twinkling lights or ornament, but because it kind of looks like it's dying or maybe actually dead. so the tree's nickname is now "the toilet brush." >> i can see it. >> you can imagine why. and there's even a twitter account which translates mangy. the tree cost $57,000. and they're pointing out, this is not a climate thing, because the tree at the vatican right nearby looks pretty nice and healthy and full. so what's up, rome? >> that's like in a central, focal part of rome. >> yeah. >> and there you have this -- >> charlie brown. >> charlie brown. an investigation is under way. >> i bet there should be. okay. well a little far from there in london now, there's the opposite of being in the christmas spirit. these people are my kinfolks. they are my kindred spirits. in london, they have created the rage room. >> oh. >> if you despise christmas. if you hate all that there is about christmas. if all i want for christmas comes on the radio and you want to pull both of your hair follicles out, this is a place for you. >> oh. >> you can go into this room, pay, and just beat the living crap out of a christmas tree, all of the, the ornaments. >> maybe that's -- >> get the rage out. >> maybe that's what happened to the roman christmas tree, or maybe that's what they should do with it. people can carry out their rage directly on the tree. >> that looks like fun, right? >> i kind of want to try it, just not at a relative's house. we're not endorsing that at all. over to a new genius way of figuring out your "star wars" name. follow me here. the way you can come up with your own name if were you a "star wars" character is to think of your favorite pasta dish and separate it into two words, my name would be ca carb onara. i think it works. mine would be ala vodka. >> would mine be ris otto? >> i think it's the sauce you put on it. not the actual -- >> mari nara. >> las ok, let's try this. it says you apply the blue one to me. here? no. have a little fun together, or a lot. k-y yours and mine. two sensations that work together, so you can play together. this morning on "world news now," the holiday travel alert, as many of us begin traveling for the holidays, we're watching several winter storms that could affect your plans. one system could dump two feet of snow. we'll bring you the latest forecast. president trump is praising his fellow republicans for passing that sweeping tax reform bill, calling it a major christmas gift and he's also saying that obamacare is essentially dead. but is that true? and the surprising revelation from apple. >> it is admitting what millions of consumers have long believed, that it slows down older phones, but why? and what can you do about it? and while mark wahlberg issues a shirtless holiday greeting, he tells us why he left a game early. and come on, mark. tell us why on this thursday, december 21st. from abc news, this is "world news now." >> traffic can get very bad after the games. >> it is. i mean, even if you're mark wahlberg and trying to get home. it's understandable. >> i still have an iphone 6, so i'm going to pay very close attention. >> you knew that your phone started slowing down as soon as an iphone 7 came around. we're going to start with the severe weather just as many holiday travelers are rushing to get out of town. >> the first day of winter will bring the first wave of americans filling the roads, the train stations, you name it, all to get to their christmas destinations of course. >> as we said, today is also the start of winter. happy winter, everybody! >> yay! >> there will be a mixed bag of weather across the country which could affect that trip to grandma's house. a system stretching from mississippi to texas could bring lightning and heavy rain and snow could impact travelers in the midwest, the great lakes, up to six inches could fall in parts of michigan. they can handle that. but here's justin povick. >> thanks and good morning to you. we're concerned about slippery conditions today, with snow stretching all the way back toward the rockies. looking at the potential for travel delays. notice how the stripe of snow extends all the way into the western great lakes. still very concerning with gusty winds and low humidity for additional fire danger today right into early friday morning. of course, we continue to watch the thomas fire very closely. and into the northeast, a slippery setup as we venture into the holiday weekend, with cold air locked into place. that potential not only for snow, but also a wintry mix that could include sleet and freezing rain. diane, kendis? back to you. >> justin thank you. breaking overnight, a large explosion has rocked an area of hollywood, california. the blast possibly caused by national gas sent glass and other debris flying into the street. the location is near the popular hollywood and highland center close to where the oscars are held. it is an apartment building and residents were evacuated as a precaution. one woman suffered minor injuries but is okay. and now of course investigators are looking into what happened. >> and some of our producers staying at nearby hotels say they felt the jolt, it was that strong. turning to the passage of the sweeping tax overhaul. >> republicans crowded onto the steps of the white house to celebrate the victory and heap praise on president trump. they say money raised from slashing corporate taxes will be reinvested into the middle class. it gets rid of the mandate requiring everyone to have health insurance as well. and the president claimed obamacare is essentially dead. >> obamacare has been repealed in this bill. we didn't want to bring it up. we tell people be quiet with the fake news media. he don't want them talking too much about it. >> the rest of obamacare remains in tact, of course, including expanded medicare and protections for people with preexisting conditions. >> but the repeal of the mandate could have a major impact. 13 million additional people are expected to be uninsured in the next ten years. without the mandate it would mean higher premiums as those who don't need health care leave the exchanges. senator collins is pushing for legislation to renew subsidies, but it's not going to happen before the end of the year as promised. so the tax plan is deeply unpopular, leaving many republicans with the tough task of trying to sell it to the american people as a boost to the middle class. >> the republicans say it will speak for themselves. but democrats say it's about making the rich richer and they hope voters will rebel come election day. here's political director rick klein. >> reporter: leave no superlative behind. republicans are touting this along with president trump, calling it the most massive, biggest, most sprawling, re-making tax cut in american history. never mind that it isn't the largest tax cut in history. not even close, but what it is, is a massive gamble on tax cuts and on the idea of this reform being popular with the american people. republicans have made their plight. they are on record in favor of this vast reworking of the tax code in a way that will benefit most americans, but not all americans equally. democrats are on the other side saying this is going to be viewed by the public as something bad for the country, that doesn't deliver on the president's core promises of being on the side of middle class workers. this is a major debate that has long-running consequences, but the short-term impact is that the republicans were able to close out the year with a victory. their view is a gift to the americans. the democratic view, a gift that will keep on giving in 2018 and beyond, as both parties take sides to their respective corners. this is a big accomplishment for president trump. we'll see how long the glow lasts. >> they're hoping it will last until the 2018 midterms. the top democrat on the senate intelligence committee is warning against any plans to fire special counsel robert mueller. virginia senator mark warner delivered a speak about mounting criticism of the investigation. and president trump said he is not considering firing mueller. but warner believes critics are laying the groundwork. >> firing mr. mueller or any of the top brass involved in this investigation would not only call into question this administration's commitment to the truth but also to our most basic concept, rule of law. >> warner added that any attempt to remove mueller would provoke a constitutional crisis. he warned against pardoning any targets of the russia investigation. ambassador nikki haley says the u.s. will be quote, taking names at the united nations today. the names she's talking about are the countries that support a resolution criticizing the u.s. for recognizing jerusalem as the capital of israel. haley vetoed a similar resolution on monday after it was supported by several key u.s. allies. president trump supported haley in a white house meeting yesterday saying the u.s. won't be taken advantage of at the u.n. any longer. and haley tweeted in the words of the president, let them vote against us and we'll save a lot. breaking overnight, another north korean soldier has defected to south korea. that soldier dashed across the heavily-armed border and was taken into custody. authorities are investigating the defector's intentions. at one point, south korean guards fired about 20 warning shots to north korean troops searching for the defector. this is the fourth defection by a soldier this year. two women who reached sexual harassment settlements against bill o'reilly have joined a suit against the anchor. the women claim the comments o'reilly made in his own defense depict them as liars and extortionists. they're also seeking release from confidential clauses. his attorney says their claims have absolutely no merit. and no charges will be filed in a deadly crash involving venus williams. a 78 year old man died after a car driven by his wife t-boned williams's car this past june. investigators figured out neither was at fault, williams vehicle was stuck in the intersection when the light turned red. the other vehicle had a green light when it hit williams' vehicle, but she was not hurt. lavar ball is starting a hoops league. it would feature nationally-ranked players who don't want to go to cloenollege they would iearn up to $10,000 month. it's fully funded by the big baller brand. it is four them to play in big arenas. son liangelo would not be involved. apple is confirming the long-standing conspiracy. the theory about old iphones. as batteries age, apple software slows them down. yes. but apple says it's for a good reason. and not, as some have suggested, simply to get customers to buy new iphones. >> hmm. so the tech giant says it's a way to control some of the problems that come with older batteries, like causing iphones to randomly shut down or restarting when the phone is running at peak performance. if you have an old phone that is running slow, you can replace the battery. that costs about $80 at an apple store, far cheaper than a new phone. >> i knew it. when i bought the new 8 plus in november, it started slowing down when the 10 came out. >> why is the timing working that way? i wonder? i wonder? >> they got me. >> hook, line and sinker on this one. the truly savage home robbery. why? because the burglars took the toilet. and the nba player who has an awkward question for his neighbors. can i use your bathroom? >> guess it was a really nice toilet. and tonya harding in a rare new interview telling amy robach why she does and doesn't care what people think of her after all these years. you're watching "world news now." you're watching "world news now." oh, sorry i'm late, sir. i had a doctor's appointment. when you said you were at the doctor, but your shirt says you were at a steakhouse... that's when you know it's half-washed. now from downy fabric conditioner comes downy odor protect with 24-hour odor protection. downy's powerful formula 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like me instead of nice. nice gets you [ bleep ]. i didn't like my mother either, so what. [ bleep ] i gave you a gift. >> you cursed me. >> that's margo robbie and alison janney playing tonya harding and her mother in "i tonya", chronicling her life, including the take down of nancy kerrigan. >> it has generated a renewed interest in harding's life story. after getting banned from skating for life, harding has largely avoided the public spotlight. >> but she hit the red carpet with margo robbie for the film's premiere. and she sat down for an emotional interview. take a look. >> do you still care what people think about you? >> no. yes. [ laughter ] >> i mean, i care, but i don't care. >> you've said this. that 23 years later, there are still people who believe that you actually carried out that whack. >> yes. >> why do you think that is? >> because they don't listen. the media had me convicted of doing something wrong before i had even done anything at all. i'm always the bad person. is it a challenge from the lord to see how far i can be pushed? until i break and become nothing? you can't push me that far anymore. because i've been nothing. and i've been nothing several times. but it's my faith in myself and in my father that comes back to me and makes me get back up off my butt and be something worth being proud of. i always wanted my daddy to be proud. and now i want my son to be proud. >> and you'll be able to see that full interview next month on "truth and lies, the tonya harding story" right here on abc. >> it will be interesting. "the skinny" next. story" receiight here on abc. >> it will be interesting. the skin see next. the in-laws have moved in with us. and, our adult children are here. so, we save by using tide. which means we use less. three generations of clothes cleaned in one wash. those are moms. anybody seen my pants? nothing cleans better. put those on dad! it's got to be tide. ♪ is's such a sweet sensation all right, it is skinny time, starting with an update on markey mark. you might remember during the super bowl mark, a patriots super fan left the super bowl early. >> that's not what super fans do. >> fresh off the release of the family's christmas card with a shirtless mark and their four children here. he's given an interview to "men's health" magazine explaining why he had to leave before his team mounted what was the biggest comeback in super bowl history. >> he said it was because his son, 8-year-old brendon wasn't feeling well. now he's clarifying that a little bit. it seems brendon had a bad case of potty mouth. the pats were down 28-3, and little brendon was spitting out f-bombs and going crazy. >> as one would. so when asked if his son learned a lesson, he said no, he's a vicious sore loser. >> perfect. >> they've got their hands full with that one. >> probably spitting out f-bombs. >> no. >> somebody right behind jack. >> our only super, super patriots fan in this room. can you just imagine jack, the pittsburgh steelers fan. >> i'm sure jack never loses his patience, right, jack? another sign that meghan markle is quickly being embraced by the royal family. >> so she and fiance prince harry were seen heading for christmas launch with the queen at buckingham palace. here's the thing. kate wasn't invited to that lunch until after she married prince william. the plot thickens. >> they look good together. >> they do. >> they were also spotted with prince george and princess charlotte. they're looking a little exhausted after a long lunch with the extended royal family. they will all be together again on christmas day at the queen's country estate. >> we get a new look at three generations of a hollywood dynasty. >> this is fascinating. the "hollywood reporter" is out with its legacy issue, posting this photo of 87-year-old legend tippi hedren. of course she starred in hitchcock's "the birds". her daughter, melanie griffith. >> john and hedren were in a movie together. when he eyed her 14 year old daughter. by the time griffith turned 15, they were living together. they married twice and divorced twice. but clearly they are still close and have beautiful daughter dakota johnson. she says he was her first crush. cute. and finally, a break-in that's left a former nba player without a pot to, well, you know, how it goes. >> charlie villanueva played for a decade. most recently with the mavericks. but the other night, he called dallas police to report that his home had been robbed. and apparently, the thieves might also be plumbers. >> what kind of monster would go and steal a toilet? a day later, charlie was still in shock, tweeting, bro, a toilet? i can get my mind off that. a toilet? wow. >> now we figured out a use for the toilet emoji. >> there you go, we found it. >> apparently, the toilet wanted its own twitter account. as you can see, there's stolen toilet replying directly to charlie. you lookin' for me? >> seriously. >> seriously. >> who would steal a toilet? there's some vicious, vicious people out there in america. coming up, we're opening the abc news vault. stick around. abc news vault. stick around when i found out medicare doesn't pay all my medical expenses, i looked at my options. then i got a medicare supplement insurance plan. 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