Nightly news begins right now. From nbc news World Headquarters in new york, this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. Good evening. Im kate snow in for lester tonight. Four weeks from today, President Trump will officially take the oath of office. But in the past several days, the president elect has inserted himself into high profile and controversial Foreign Policy issues. Today he went even further than his previous comments about nuclear weapons, and we learned that trump made a phone call to egypts president last night after the Israeli Government asked trump to weigh in on a u. N. Resolution involving israel. All of it breaking with past protocol for a president in waiting and angering the obama administration. We begin tonight with our chief Affairs Correspondent andrea mitchell. Reporter even has Vladimir Putin was on a fourhour news conference, donald trump was saying let there be an arms race in an offcamera call. The president elect told you what . Let it be an arms race, we will outmatch them at every pass. And outlast them all . And outlast them all. Reporter trump today escalating his stunning reversal of decades of u. S. Nuclear policy. Trump announcing the u. S. Should strengthen and expand nuclear capabilities. On today, trumps new press secretary reinforcing the harder line. Were not going to sit back as a country and allow other countries to expand their Nuclear Capability with the u. S. Sitting idle. This president is going to take action. But despite sounding like a warrior, trump was also sending softer signals today, releasing what the president elect calls a very nice letter putin sent him last week. While putin was saying, if trump invites him to visit america, of course ill go. A sharp contrast to obamas commitment to punish him for interfering in the u. S. Election. Saying losers should look at themselves first. At the u. N. , the fight was over israel, the white house letting a resolution pass, condemning jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and the west bank. Obama refusing demand to veto it. For decades the settlements have been preventing a twostate solution. Trump immediately tweeted, as to the u. N. , things will be different after january 20th. So whos in charge now, obama or trump . Its confusing the rest of the world, which is hearing two very different messages from the president and president elect. Its the unpredictability of trumps twitter announcements on complex issues that can shake the globe even before he takes the oath of office. Andrea, thank you. Tonight, as so Many Americans prepare to celebrate christmas and hanukkah, the fbi and Homeland Security are reminding the Nations Police to remain vigilant over the holidays. Their new message flds an internet posting by isis supporters, calling for attacks on churches. Our justice correspondent Pete Williams has more. Reporter police have posted extra security around prominent churches and synagogs in new york, something they do routinely. Its a good idea, remaining vigilant over the holidays. Earlier this week, it says, a proisis social media account posted a link to a website listing thousands of u. S. Churches and calling for attacks on them. It also called for attacks on coffee shops, hotels, markets, streets, and other Public Places in the u. S. , canada, franz, and the netherlands. For the past two years, isis has issued similar lists, none results in a successful attack, but this one isnt even from the terror group itself. Its important to put this in context. It did not come from isis. Most isis sources online have no idea what this is or where it came from. Police in major cities say theyve already boosted security, partly in response to the truck attack in berlin, and Officials Say the website listing churches is full of errors and out of on date. Kate . Thank you. Breaking news about actress Carrie Fisher who suffered a serious attack. Shes now 60 and best known for her role in the star wars saga, was on an overseas flight at the time, and tonight fans and costars are sending thoughts and prayers from around the world. Nbcs Miguel Almaguer has the late details. Reporter after landing at lax, Carrie Fisher was rushed to a local hospital according to Law Enforcement officials. Passengers say the actress appeared to stop breathing and was taken off the plane by emts after suffering full cardiac arrest. I dont know what youre talking about. Remembered by generations as princess leah, fisher captivated audiences for decades, even when returning to her starring role in star wars nearly 40 years later. Ive always hated watching you leave. Born in 1956 to famous parents eddy fisher and debby reynolds, the actress blazed her own path to sdardom. You think thats funny, dont you . Fishers hollywood debut came in 1975 in shampoo. Several block busters followed. The blues brothers. When harry met sally. More thant 90 credits in television and film, but it was the role in star wars that left so many talking for so many years. Just last month fisher revealed her onscreen romance with harrison ford. I love you. I know. Reporter was in fact, a reallife love affair with the married hollywood heartthrob. Today costar mark hamill tweeting, sending all our love to Carrie Fisher. People arent stars for nothing, you know. Or sometimes they are, but we wont talk about them. Reporter a prolific author, fish ers of returning from london when she suffered a massive heart attack. Tonight her condition remains unclear, but her legacy in hollywood is forever sermted in history. Miguel almaguer, nbc news, los angeles. Tonight the suspected driver who killed and wounded so many in the vicious truck attack in berlin is dead, killed in a shootout with police in italy. There are now growing questions about how he was able to travel so far undetected. We get more from nbcs hans nichols. Anis amris fourday run from the law came to an end in italy around 3 00 a. M. , when he was stopped by two officers conducted routine i. D. Checks. They asked him to empty his backpack. He pulled out a gun, yelling Police Bastards and began shooting. Police returning fire. One officer was wounded. The bullet going through his uniform. Amri was killed by a rookie officer just nine months on the job. Police say amri was carrying several hundred euros, but no cell phone. He arrived here in the dead of the night, was confronted by police, responded in italian, and about 40 yards down there, met his end. Now questions growing over how europes most wanted terrorist was able to cross multiple borders undetected. It was around 8 00 p. M. Monday when Authorities Say amri was behind the wheel of the tractor trailer that plowed through a crowded berlin christmas market. He then got a jump on German Police who took 24 hours to discover his i. D. Card in the trucks cab. Amri was able to make his way from germany to france, ended up in a french town. By 9 00 p. M. He had crossed another border, arriving in turin, italy, and proceeding to milan where Authorities Say he arrived by train at 1 00 a. M. This morning. Isis tonight releasing a video ofi in which he pledged allegiance to the jihadi group. Everything that i see that was found out about this attack, indicates that this man, at some point met people who inspired him to move from his petty crime world and into the jihad world. Reporter a transformation that possibly happened in a sicilian prison, where he spent three and a half years becoming familiar with italian language, culture, and Law Enforcement. Key questions for authorities. Why amri chose this workingclass section of milan, and whether he has a network of supporters in the neighborhood. Kate . Hans nichols in berlin tonight. Terrifying moments in the sky over libya, when two hijackers seized control of a plane with 118 people on board. The hijackers reportedly supporters of late libyan leader moamm Moammar Gadhafi forced the plane to land. After a standoff, they released all the hostages and surrendered. Switching gears on this eve of christmas eve, a very busy day on the roads and in the skies as millions race to get home for the holidays. The good news tonight as we take a look at what they call the misery map. Not a whole lot of misery there. A lot of green on the map. Meaning that things are smooth sailing at most airports across the country. One of the things thats helping that is the weather. Janice huff is monitoring all of that, a lot of folks hoping for a White Christmas. Do we have that anywhere . Yes, of course, there will be a White Christmas for a lot of the west, the interior west, especially over the mountains and even the northern plains, but were tracking two storm systems that will produce great effects across the country. The first one is moving through the midwest right now, towards the east coast. That storm system will bring rain. A threat of rain and slow delays from the northeast corridor from boston, all the way down to washington, d. C. Thats for tomorrow. The west coast storm system will be moving in and tracking eastward on christmas eve. Theres a threat of flooding for Southern California and heavy snow from the sierra into the rockies, where they will have that White Christmas. And into sunday, that storm spreads into the northern plains, producing a lateday blizzard on Christmas Day for the dakotas where they may see as much as 18 inches of snow. Blizzard warnings are in effect already. Thats all day on Christmas Day. Theyre expecting as much as 18 inches. Across the interior west, as much as 16 inches of snow. They will have a White Christmas, great for the skiers, but not great for the travelers. Maybe a little too white. Janice, thanks so much. If the roads arent packed enough for you, how about the malls . A mad dash as retailers,pulling out all the stops to lure lastminute shoppers into the stores. The stakes are high, Holiday Spending accounts for 20 of retail sales for the year. Heres nbcs jo ling kent. Reporter the Holiday Shopping season that came in with a roar is going out with a bang. In fact, today could be the biggest shopping day of the year, beating black friday and cyber monday in sales. 2016 was the year Online Shopping surged. Retailers have already brought in more than 79. 2 billion in online sales. 11 more than last year. And thanks to wintry weather across the country, Analysts Expect americans to spend 350 million more on clothing this december. Versus last year. Boots up 15 . Hats, gloves and scarves, up 11 . Now with less than two days to go, time is up for many etailers to deliver, so shoppers are flocking to malls to check off their list. Why are you out here shopping two days before christmas . Because we need more presents. [ laughter ] whats it been like out here shopping today . Pretty crazy. But i love it, i love craziness and i love a lot of people. Reporter stores are responding with deep discounts. Targ etd and toys are r us rolling out deals. Kohls and walmart offering lastminute ordering with instore pickup. Lastminute sales and deals are still out there. On everything from electronics, toys, and even beauty gift sets. Reporter here at the mall of america in minnesota, procrastinators are searching for the lastminutes bargains. According to the National Retail federation, 12 of americans waited until today to buy their final gifts. Kate . Not surprising. Jo ling kent, thanks so much. Still ahead, fighting cancer together. How patients are teaming up to share potentially lifesaving information and learn, often before their doctors do, about cuttingedge treatments. Also, a lost teddy bear on an adventure to find his wa does your child need help with digestive balance . Try align junior probiotic. So she can have a fraction dominating. Status updating. Helloyellowbelt kind of day. Get 24 7 digestive support with align junior. The 1 doctor recommended probiotic brand, now for kids. When youre close to the people you love, does psoriasis ever get in the way of a touching moment . If you have moderate to severe psoriasis, you can embrace the chance of completely clear skin with taltz. Taltz is proven to give you a chance at completely clear skin. With taltz, up to 90 of patients had a significant improvement of their psoriasis plaques. In fact, 4 out of 10 even achieved completely clear skin. Do not use if you are allergic to taltz. Before starting you should be checked for tuberculosis. Taltz may increase your risk of infections and lower your ability to fight them. Tell your doctor if you are being treated for an infection or have symptoms. Or if you have received a vaccine or plan to. Inflammatory bowel disease can happen with taltz. Including worsening of symptoms. Serious allergic reactions can occur. Nows your chance at completely clear skin. Just ask your doctor about taltz. A farmers market. Ve whats in this kiester. Nows your chance at completely clear skin. A fire truck. Even a marching band. And if i can get comfortable talking about this kiester, then you can get comfortable using preparation h. For any sort of discomfort in yours. Preparation h. Get comfortable with it. Back now with proof that theres strength in numbers in the fight against cancer. For patients battling one of the deadliest forms it can be so hard to know if theyre getting the latest and the best treatment. But theres a place online where they can share potentially lifesaving information instantly. Nbcs dr. John torres has that story. Every time we go and see the doctor, i take notes. Reporter kristin says her mission feels impossible. Finding a cure for her husband chris, a high school principal, diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer at age 44. Our girls deserve to grow up with their dad. I deserve to grow old with him. Heale. Reporter chemotherapy is not working. His only hope to survive, a Clinical Trial testing a new therapy. I dont know how you sort through 3,500 Clinical Trials with words that you dont even know what they mean. We learned these in medical school. Reporter but then, kristin and chris found a Facebook Community of Cancer Patients and their loved ones, called colon town, with 40 neighborhoods focusing on different issues. Its a private Group Sharing fears and the latest medical advances, information so new patients often learn about it before their doctors do. The clinic is where tom mars eelia posts information about Clinical Trials. Hes a scientist, specializing in cancer drugs. Hes also a stage 4 colon cancer patient himself. They can get information, even a month sooner than by another means. It could be a life or death impact. Reporter thanks to the clinic, chris is about to start a Clinical Trial he never would have found on his own. And his wife has the support of the 2,500 members of colon town. I can get online and someones there to talk to me, to listen to me, to tell me that im not alone, and that were going to be okay. Reporter patients banning together online to create their own cancer moonshot. Dr. John torres, nbc news, colorado springs. Were back in a moment with the controversy being kicked up over what are you doing right now . Making a cake uh oh. I dont see cake, i just see mess. Its like awful. It feels like am not actually cleaning it up. Whats that make mommy do . doorbell whats that . Swiffer wetjet. This is amazing. Woah wow. Now i feel more like making a mess is part of growing up. Only new wetjet pads have absorb and lock to soak up tough messes and lock them away stop cleaning. Start swiffering. If you could see your cough, youd see just how far it can spread. Robitussin dm max is now better tasting, with the same fast powerful cough relief. Robitussin dm max. Because its never just a cough. When i was too busy with the kids to get a repair estimate. Liberty did what . Yeah, with Liberty Mutual all i needed to do to get an estimate was snap a photo of the damage and voila voila sigh i wish my Insurance Company had that. Wait hold it. Hold it boys. Theres supposed to be three of you. Wheres your brother . Wheres your brother . Hey, wheres charlie . Charlie . you can leave worry behind when liberty stands with you. Liberty stands with you™ Liberty Mutual insurance hey, need fast try cool mint zantac. It releases a cooling sensation in your mouth and throat. Zantac works in as little as 30 minutes. Nexium can take 24 hours. Try cool mint zantac. No pill relieves heartburn faster. The radio city rockettes have highstepped into a bit of controversy. Theyre now scheduled to perform at Donald Trumps president ial inauguration and their union is disputing reports that some will be forced to perform over their objections. The union says a small number of rockettes are contractually obligated to perform at events, but their Management Company agreed to make all participation in the inauguration voluntary. Now to a lost and found tale that captures the spirit of the season tonight. A reunion that anybody whos ever had a best friend they take everywhere will understand. Heres nbcs harry smith. Eleanor and teddy are as close as a girl and bear can be. Hes my best friend and, um, it makes me sad not to be with teddy. Reporter maybe more so after what