Of control. Strong winds set to worsen an already dire situation. A live report just ahead. Weekend washout, the first winter storm of 2020 takes aim at ten of millions in the south, midwest and northeast. Heavy rain and snow expected. Flood watches just issued. Al is tracking all of it. Those stories plus today exclusive, the husband of a beloved Sports Reporter killed in a tragic plane crash opens up to honor her legacy. She loved fiercely. She loved so much. Red carpet ready, weve got your guide to sundays Golden Globes, hollywoods Biggest Party of the year. And escalation of tensions. Hoda and lester. Andrea mitchell starting us off. We have nbc news chief Foreign CorrespondentRichard Engel with his by phone on the way to the region as we speak. Help us to understand soleimani, where he fits in the Bigger Picture in iran, and how key this is . Reporter well, this is very key. I think it is a pivotal moment, and i think it could lead to some form of Armed Conflict between the United States and iran, an Armed Conflict that wont look like a conventional war, at least not at first. Iran doesnt fight that way. Iran generally fights through its proxies, through its allies, through militias in iraq, which it has been able to mobilize through hezbollah in lebanon, syria and beyond, and the reason Kasim Soleimani is so important Qassem Soleimani is so fortunate, he is the general that expanded irans influence around the world. He was able to take advantage of the u. S. Invasion of iraq, to spread irans influence there. He was able to set up these key relationships to allow iran to have power in the persian gulf. Whenever there was a Major Incident when iran seized a tanker ship or attacked a tanker ship or fired rockets at a saudi oil facility, you could see the finger prints of general Qassem Soleimani. He was behind all of the secret operations that iran used to expand its influence without s ploy provoking a direct confrontation. That was always the goal that iran and soleimani tried to play, find that balance. How far they could push without provoking a direct military response. So now i think iran is in a position theyre trying to figure out how to respond. Theyve been in touch with the shia militias in iraq, the militias that were Qasem Soleimani. They are mobilizing as we speak. Theyve been told that they are in a stand by mode awaiting further orders, awaiting a final decision had. You describe this long list of offenses that hes committed over the years so that gets back to why now whats this timing about well, he was in iraq and this is he has shown up at the airport in baghdad that is also a very bold attack when someone is at the airport he was meeting with shia militia leaders there. He was meeting with some of the shia ma shia militia thats were involved in seizing the u. S. Embassy. He was in a vehicle with one of the top shia militia officials and that vehicle was hit by a drone strike as it was just on the outskirts of the Baghdad International airport. He dmcame in. We understood he came in from beirut generally the movements are incredibly secretive they have been very, very good intelligence, obviously, tracking down his movement as he was in a vehicle with one of the iraqi shia militia leaders, he was targeted by a drone strike an amateur video put out by hezbollah to Hezbollah Television showed a half dozen flashes in the air. There were multiple strikes on this convoy of vehicles which contained the iranian general and the militia leader i think you can expect some kind of response in the region and then we have to also keep in mind that while iran fights by proxy, the United States does not. So if iran crosses the threshold, the United States could respond conventionally and then were off to the races. All right Richard Engel, thank you we want to bring in retired four star navy admiral. He is now an nbc analyst admiral, were glad you joined us is it a in you day for americans overseas right now is this a more dangerous world were waking up to unfortunately, it is, lester. And just to add a point to my good friend richards analysis of soleimani we have to begin by saying he is an evil man and a brilliant man. He was the cardinal, he was the machiavelli. Were better for his chess piece come off the chess board but our strategy is going to put a lot of americans at risk globally and if i were iranian planner right now, id look at three things number one, u. S. Navy ships operating in the persian gulf. I think they will be under a lot of scrutiny by iran. I think, number two, our worldwide forces soef so everyone from western afghanistan to the middle east to europe to asia, all of those will be potential targets. Finally, lester, we have to be very kber very concerned about a cyber attack theyre very capable of a cyber atavenlgt o attack one of the top five in this cyber ability. So unfortunately as you heard in your interview from the minister, they have a lot of instruments, a lot of ways they can respond. They will will respond the United States has to first harden our defenses, lester. But then be prepared for the next step. We need to construct a strategy not just a tactic of taking out one individual we need a broader strategy. That gets to my question, what is the strategy of the administration as you see it right now . Unfortunately, i dont see overarching strategy heres what it ought to be it ought to be melding our allies, partners and friends number two, it ought to get the inner Agency Working together. Too often the militapresident is reaching for that military instrument and number three, a strategy to take into account the private sector, the vulnerabilities were creating here. How do you bring those things together how do you construct a strategic narrative to convince the world that we are strategically. Thats not what im seeing so far. Its going to be a busy and challenging day for the president as he hopefully tries to get the act together. Troubling times there are massive consequences after that u. S. Attack labelling it reckless nbc chief White House CorrespondentHallie Jackson with that part of the story. Hallie, good morning to you. Lester, good morning. Here in south florida President Trump today is retweeting the state Department Security alerts from travelers in iraq he also sent out that cryptic tweet overnight simply the American Flag. Members of congress are much more direct in their criticism of the president theyre concerned about the strike that killed Qasem Soleimani. And while some are praising President Trump for justified action, some are pledging to push for answers about what will happen next. Lawmakers demanding more details from the president about the u. S. Air strike that killed a top iranian commander in iraq with rising concerns about escalating tensions. Flan fla nancy pelosi declaring the strike lacked authorization and demanding the Trump Administration immediately brief lawmakers. Releasing a statement warning, tonights air strike risk provoking further dangerous escalation of violence, adding, the full Congress Must be immediately briefed on the serious situation and on the next steps that are under consideration for the Administration HouseIntelligence Committee adding congress didnt authorize an American People dont want a war with iran. All steps must now be taken to protect our forces against the almost inevitable escalation and increased risk several republicans echoing that call for congressional consultation including mitt romney who urged the administration to pursue a coherent strategy and promising to press for additional details. Overall, reaction was mostly split down party lines House Republican leader tweeting soleimani was a terrorist. President trump and our brave Service Members reminded iran and the world that we will not let it cast against americans go unpunished senator tom cotton tweeting, soleimani got what he richly deserved and all those american soldiers who died by his hand also got what they deserved, justice. On the campaign trail, 2020 democrats slamming the president , senator Elizabeth Warren calling the move reckless senator Bernie Sanders warning of dangerous ka lags and former Vice President joe biden writing, no american will mourn soleimanis passing but President Trump just tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinder box. He owes the American People an explanation of the strategy and plan. And senator sanders tweeting hell do everything to make sure the u. S. Doesnt go to war with iran expect sanders and other law makers to insist on details from president trum bp his strategy moving forward when they and the president get back to washington after the holiday break next week the fallout from this strike playing out overseas and here the ahome. Lester Hallie Jackson, thank you also breaking overnight, one of the largest evacuations in australias hist i ha australias history is under way. Devastating wildfires are about to get even worse. Were heading to the front lines of the fire fight. Good morning, janice good morning, hoda. The this was already one of the worst wildfire seasons on record with the hot summer barely under way here with fires burning and the weather taking a turn this weekend is shaping up to be the most dangerous yet across southeastern australia this morning, a heat wave and strong winds are fueling a state of emergency with new fires and thousands of people on the run more than 3,000 firefighters including what they can. And theyre on the ground. The wildfires came through here a few days ago. The positions just dont rise. Fire Officials Say the slightest shift in the direction of the weather is devastating but its contained its along the way. Rather than actually towards the road after being stranded on the out of nowhere. Flames came over the top siege and by plane we were about to move in and flying down the hill it was very, very dangerous. They were able to leave today by the only road out, passed houses r houses ravaged by flames authorities expanded the size of the danger zone because of embers that can be whipped up by the wind that can start new fires. They will get out. Janice, thank you imagine having your backs to the fire al is here tracking the first winter storm of the new year mr. Roker, how is it looking we have another 24 hours with this system. Especially to the south. There are watches and warnings for the nine Million People as this thing moves east. Were looking to day for strong storms thats at least tomorrow, periods of rain in the northeast and then snow will mix in on the backside of the system by sunday it blows off the coast it will end up with a mix of rain and snow in Northern New England. Heaviest rain will be through the Lower Mississippi river valley two to three inches of rain. And then we make our way up. Youll see snow in the mountains of West Virginia and well look for 4 to 6 inches from western pennsylvania, new york, into Northern New England and airport delays from boston all the way down to atlanta. Were going to get to your local forecast coming up in the next 30 seconds bway. Fresh value is just two ninety nine for the six inch oven roasted chicken. Seasoned all white meat chicken. Raised without antibiotics. Fresh value is the two ninety nine six inch veggie delite. With hand cut veggies and freshly baked bread. Fresh value is freshly prepared for you. Like the new subway sliders. Starting at just one eighty nine. Theres something for everyone. Thats fresh value only from subway. It is 7 19. This is the current view over downtown san jose. We will have a dry friday ahead with a chance of showers moving in but mainly overnight. Our temperatures in the 50s and 60s in the south bay. 66 degrees in morgan hill. 64 for milpitas. In through the east bay, similar conditions as well. 61 degrees in oakland. 64 in danville and 66 degrees in fremont. If youre around the coastline, the waves have calmed down a bit. 61 degrees in san mateo, and 60 in the city. And thats your latest weather, hoda. All right, al, thank you so much. Coming up next, our excl test killed in a tragic plane crash. She loved fiercely. She loved so much. She, it was hard. What they are doing to honor her legacy just ahead. The former ceo of nissan now a wanted fugitive after a brazen escape in house arrest in japan. 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Were checking with local police about any additional security measures going into place. We are looking at the impact on local gas prices after crude Oil Prices Spiked overnight. New information from a gas price analyst we talked with this morning believes if the jump in crude oil holds we could see a three to sevencent increase per gallon in the bay area. Also we checked in with the new york stock exchange, the dow industrial is down 250 points. Lets check in with vianey arana, looking at a chance of rain. We got a chance of rain and these are the views in the city. Great start. Its calm. Its peaceful. Our temperatures are in the 30s and 40s now but eventually we will be in the mid60s through the interior valley. Concord 63, predicted high of 66 in san jose. If youre in the city, a high of about 57 degrees, and we will once again see that mix of sun and clouds. As far as the rain goes were not expecting that to move in until late tonight and there is that system off to our north, not going to be a big storm. Its a weak storm expected to bring a couple of showers between the showers of 3 00 and 8 00 a. M. In San Francisco and dries out by the afternoon. Mike . Were looking over here as we look at the overall green sensor, we have scattered incidents but the most impact to folks is the fog up in Contra Costa County. A couple other crashes looked like it cleared. Eastbound 80 getting away from the bay bridge in toward san pablo a disabled vehicle currently causing the biggest slowdown because the bay bridge tol