11-year-old girl. the police chief admitting it made him, quote, physically nauseous. and the winter storm tonight, from minnesota to new york, moving in now. and will your packages arrive on time? what we've learned tonight. good evening and it's great to have you with us here on a very busy wednesday night. and we begin with your taxes. is president trump on the verge of victory? he thinks so, and tonight, he's making that promise that if passed, americans will see savings within weeks. tonight, republican leaders in both the house and the senate have now agreed on a single plan. president trump making what the white house called his closing argument today. this even egg, what does this mean for the middle class versus wealthier americans? and what does it do to the deficit? and will it pass? abc's mary bruce, leading us off. >> reporter: at the white house today, republicans proclaimed they're on the verge of a big win on tax reform. the president with a christmas promise. >> we want to give you, the american people, a giant tax cut for christmas. and when i say giant, i mean giant. >> reporter: but back on the hill, protests. >> kill this bill! kill this bill! >> reporter: protesters say it will hurt the working and the middle class, as lawmakers huddled in the basement of the capitol to finalize the bill. even top republican negotiators admit it's not a totally done deal. so do you have a deal? >> ah -- well, it's going forward. very positive. >> it feels very close. >> reporter: even the president is cautious. >> i mean, we are so close right now, so close, in fact, almost -- i don't want to talk about it. maybe we shouldn't talk about it. >> reporter: tonight, they have agreed to this. helping corporations, it drops the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. caps the mortgage interest deduction at $750,000, a middle ground between the senate and house versions. repeals the obamacare individual mandate that all americans have insurance, which could leave 13 million more americans without insurance in the next decade. and to help the wealthy, it lowers the top individual tax rate from 39% down to 37%. how does that help middle class americans? >> this bill is going to lower the tax burden on working families, on middle income families and it's going to generate tremendous economic growth. >> reporter: but what about the deficit? it's still unclear how much this will ultimately cost. a new analysis predicts it could add more that $1.5 trillion to the nation's debt. and a previous analysis of the senate version said americans making $75,000 or less will pay more over the next ten years. democrats insist the long-term benefits will go to the wealthy. >> most of what's there for the middle class is written in disappearing inning. >> the republican tax bill is one that ebenezer scrooge would love. it is a big bah humbug. >> reporter: democrats are urging republicans to slow down and wait until the new democratic senator from alabama, doug jones, is sworn in. but the pressure is on for republicans to pass this before the gop loses that alabama vote. >> if it doesn't get done before then? >> well, it could be a problem. there could be a problem at that point. >> mary bruce with us live on the hill tonight. we heard the president today promise that if he has the bill by christmas, mary, that americans will see lower taxes and bigger paychecks by february. is that true? >> reporter: david, we've been pressing the white house for answers, and calling the irs. no response yet from the irs, but the white house insists that starting in february, americans benefits from the tax cut will see less money withheld from their paychecks. >> and real quick, mary, democratic leaders pushing for congress to wait for a tax vote until doug jones, the democrat who won in alabama last night, is sworn in in the senate. but that's not likely to happen. >> reporter: david, there is very little chance of that happening. doug jones' victory last night puts even more pressure on republicans to pass tax reform here and fast. david? >> mary bruce leading us off. in the meantime, to that special election in alabama. the nation watching late last night in that deep red state, doug jones will be the first democratic senator in nearly 30 years. defeating republican roy moore, who battled accusations of sexual misconduct with teenagers. the president gave him a full endorsement, but what he said today about roy moore after the loss. here's abc's chief white house correspondent jonathan karl. >> reporter: a subdued president trump made it clear today, he is unhappy with the results in the alabama senate race. even as many in his party are relieved. >> a lot of republicans feel differently. they're very happy with the way it turned out. but i would have -- as the leader of the party, i would have liked to have had the seat. i want to endorse the people that are running. >> reporter: although the president tweeted this morning, "i said roy moore will not be able to win the general election, i was right." adding "if last night's election proved anything, it proved we need to put up great republican candidates." but unlike many republicans in congress, trump went all-in for moore. >> get out and vote for roy moore. do it. do it. >> reporter: this despite the fact that eight women accused the candidate of sexual misconduct, much of it when they were teenagers. >> he denies it. and by the way, he totally denies it. >> reporter: but trump's endorsement carried surprisingly little weight. in 2016, he won 63% of the vote in alabama. but among voters yesterday, his approval rating, just 48%. on the flip side, democrats are energized, boosted by a big turnout of women and african-americans. >> elections have serious consequences, and when you realize that, you tend to turn out the vote. >> reporter: at least some republicans were actually celebrating. republican senator jeff flake tweeting, "decency wins." you tweeted "decency wins." what do you mean? >> well, i think this was a good result, paradoxically, it was a good night for republicans. we didn't want roy moore here in the senate, it's -- we have enough challenges as republicans, without being the party of roy moore. >> reporter: perhaps the second biggest loser of the night, steve bannon, the president's former chief strategist. he helped convince the president to support moore. now, some republicans want bannon banished. >> he looked like a disheveled drunk that wandered in off the street. i think we should shun him. we should cut him off. >> jon karl live from the white house tonight. we're learning that president trump reached out to the senator elect from alabama, doug jones, today? >> reporter: the white house is confirming that the president called doug jones to congratulate him on his victory. jones says the president also invited him to the white house. as for roy moore, he still hasn't conceded, he insists the race remains too close to call, although election officials in alabama say there is no reason to question the results, which are expected to be certified before the end of the month. david? >> all right, jon, great to have you. now, to the fbi tonight, and the russia investigation, and this question. is there bias inside that fbi investigation? tonight, right here, the text messages, and the deputy attorney general in the hot seat. rod rosenstein on cap top hill facing tough questions about alleged bias. and he was asked, has he faced any pressure to fire robert mueller? here's abc's senior justice correspondent pierre thomas tonight. >> reporter: tonight, the fbi on the hot seat amid questions of fbi bias, after hundreds of text messages, some of them ant anti-trump, between an fbi agent and fbi attorney, have been made public. the messages were exchanged during the primaries between peter strzok and lisa page, shown here in a daily mail tv photo. long before the russia investigation was under way. donald trump often the target of the fbi employees' ire. but they take aim at others, too. in august 2015, page texts, "i just saw my first bernie sanders bumper sticker. made me want to key the car." agent strzok responds, "he's an idiot like trump. figure they'll cancel each other out." three months later, strzok writes, "at some point the rep party needs to pull their head out of their expletive." the day after a republican primary debate, page writes this "god trump is a loathsome human." "he may win," agent struck responds. "america will get what the voting public deserves." at another point, struck writes, "god hillary should win 100 million to 0." page's response, "i know. also, did you hear him make a comment about the size of his blank earlier? this man cannot be president." strzok was removed in july from special counsel robert mueller's team, because of these texts. on capitol hill today, devdy attorney general rod rosenstein answering questions about whether there's bias in the fbi and the justice department. >> i think it's important to recognize that when we talk about political affiliation, that all demonstrates political affiliation. the issue of bias is something different. we recognize we have employees with political opinions and it is our responsibility to make sure those opinions do not influence their actions. >> reporter: rosenstein pressed about robert mueller. he was asked if anyone had pressured the department to fire him. >> nobody has communicated to me a desire to remove robert mueller. i think it would be very difficult, congressman, for anybody to find somebody better qualified for this job. director mueller has, throughout his lifetime, been a dedicated and respected and heroic public servant. >> pierre thomas with us live tonight. and pierre, you were watching this hear, but also something else, you and the team. donald trump jr. interviewed behind closed doors by the senate intelligence committee. the third committee to talk to him about that trump tower meeting with a russian lawyer during the campaign. the e-mail that don jr. received promising dirt on hillary clinton. he was questioned about his contacts with wikileaks? >> that's right, david. the president's son, don jr., has been behind closed doors eight hours and counting. questioned by senate investigators on all those topics. david, he's still in there. >> eight hours and counting. pierre, thank you. there was a high profile departure at the white house today. the resignation of omarosa. a former contestant on "the apprentice." why is she suddenly out of the west wing? abc's senior white house correspondent cecilia vega tonight. >> omarosa has to go. you're fired. >> reporter: it happened three times on "the apprentice." and tonight, omarosa manigault newman is out of a job at the white house. the official line, she resigned quote "to pursue other opportunities." but multiple sources tell abc news manigault newman was fired. and in a dramatic departure fit for a reality tv star, she was escorted off the white house grounds. polarizing to say the least. >> every critic, every detractor, will have to bow down to president trump. >> reporter: she was also one of the most high profile african-american staffers in the administration. a friend of the boss, who could walk into the oval office whenever she wanted. that is, until chief of staff john kelly took over. she notoriously clashed with fellow aides, and there was this scene at a journalism conference this summer. >> if you don't want to be here, don't be here. don't disrespect -- >> reporter: many in the west wing couldn't say what she did in her role as director of communications for the office of public liaison. and she will perhaps best be remembered for her lavish wedding, and showing up to the white house wearing her dress, a party van full of wedding guests with her for an unannounced photo shoot. >> cecilia vega with us live at the white house tonight. and cecilia, omarosa, a long-time favorite of president trump's, but chief of staff john kelly not a fan? >> reporter: he cut off her access to the oval office. and there does not seem to be much love lost among many sources in the west wing. one source described omarosa as, quote, one disaster after the next. david? >> cecilia, thank you. next, to a deadly shooting on a college campus near pittsburgh. the penn state beaver campus put on lockdown when shots were fired. police finding two people dead, a man and a woman, an apparent murder-suicide. neither were students. next, to grand rapids, michigan. officers pointing their guns at an 11-year-old girl, handcuffing her as she screamed for her mother to help. and what the police chief is now saying tonight. here's abc's alex perez. >> reporter: this hard to watch video sparking outrage tonight. >> no! no! >> you're not going to jail or anything. >> no! >> keep your hands up! >> stop yelling! >> quit crying. >> reporter: those screams from 11-year-old honestie hodges. the incident, captured on the officer's body cam, began when the elementary school student, her mother and aunt were leaving a home in grand rapids, michigan. police incorrectly believed a suspect sought in an attempt murder case was hiding inside. >> stop yelling. >> i will not calm down. that is my child. >> reporter: weapons drawn, the girl terrified, starts krig as the officer cuffs her. >> no! i didn't do anything wrong. i've never been in trouble by the grand rapids police. >> reporter: her mother demanding answers. >> you got us all into cop cars, have my child scared, like, why? for what? >> reporter: the police chief admitting the young girl was not treated properly. >> listen to the 11-year-old's response makes my stomach turn. it makes me physically nauseous. >> reporter: and david, the police chief says the 11-year-old should not have been treated as an adult and says there's an internal investigation into the officer's actions under way. david? >> alex perez tonight. thank you, alex. next, the bitter cold in the east tonight, after a first round of snow. the highest snow totals in upstate new york so far. 15 inches in syracuse. a second round of snow falling right now in wisconsin, accidents lining the highways near green bay tonight. winter is here. wind chills, many in the single digits. rob marciano tracking it all. i know it's not officially here -- but it's here. >> reporter: it is. it's been a biting wind all day long. look at the numbers, what it feels league right now across much of the northeast. single digits in many spots. teens. as we look to tomorrow afternoon, really, it doesn't get any warmer. nor does it on friday, because we have a strong alberta clipper that's bringing the snow to the great lakes. that's going to usher in more. it's got snow covering the entire hand of michigan. detroit and getting in through pittsburgh. could seal four to eight inches of snow including northern parts of ohio. by the time it gets to new york, only one to three inches, but maybe enough to slick up the morning rush. david? >> rob marciano with us again tonight. thank you, rob. there's still much more ahead on "world news tonight" this wednesday. will your packages arrive on time? the airport scare. was the passenger plane about to land on the ta xh iway by accident? the former vice president joe biden's emotional moment with megan mccain. and the documentary so many of you fell in love with. well, there's news coming in tonight about the penguins, were they once the size of humans? a lot more news ahead. even a sw. and we covered it, july first, twenty-fifteen. talk to farmers. we know a thing or two because we've seen a thing or two. ♪ we are farmers. bum-pa-dum, bum-bum-bum-bum ♪ aleve direct therapy. the only remote controlled tens device that's drug free, wire free for deep penetrating lower back pain relief. get aleve direct therapy with $10 back and extra bucks rewards at cvs pharmacy. i am totally blind. and non-24 can make me show up too early... or too late. or make me feel like i'm not really "there." talk to your doctor, and call 844-234-2424. and carmax will hold it for you youp to seven days, for free.ine you come in when it's convenient i know this because i'm from seven days in the future. now don't be frightened, seven days in the future is a glorious place. after all you had two good hair days in a row... perfect. right out of bed. and this car you reserved on carmax.com is still being held for you, for free. pretty sweet. or as we like to say from seven days in the future... ah...we still say pretty sweet. it's basically the same. but he hasoke up wwork to do.in. so he took aleve. if he'd taken tylenol, he'd be stopping for more pills right now. only aleve has the strength to stop tough pain for up to 12 hours with just one pill. aleve. all day strong. all right, no pressure, but christmas is less than two weeks away now. and with the record number of online purchases, will your packages arrive ontime? again tonight, rebecca jarvis. >> reporter: with more than 2 billion packages set to crisscross the country this holiday season -- >> and the united states postal service delivers more of those purchases to homes. >> reporter: -- and just 12 days until christmas, the mad dash on to make sure that special gift reaches that special someone -- >> even the smallest things. >> reporter: -- on time. >> are sometimes the biggest. >> are you a procrastinator? >> yes. >> reporter: amazon today announcing they are expanding prime free same-day delivery and prime free one-day shipping to more than 8,000 cities and towns. meaning prime customers can shop until christmas eve morning. and if you're not a presume member, you can do a free 30-day trial. best buy and target now offering free shipping on most orders without a minimum purchase. and this friday, free shipping day, nearly 900 retailers taking part. you get everything shipped for free on time for christmas. >> okay. i'm definitely doing that this friday then. >> all right, free shipping day friday, but does it get there on time? >> reporter: that's rishgts david. it does get there on time, by christmas eve, but keep in mind, some of these retailers restrict it to certain items and a minimum purchase price, david. >> all right, know that going on. rebecca, thank you. when we come back here tonight, big news on bon jovi tonight. also, the airport scare in atlanta. the passenger plane, was it about to land on the taxiway by accident? what we've just learned. you outf the game for weeks, even if you're healthy. pneumococcal pneumonia is a potentially serious bacterial lung disease that in severe cases can lead to hospitalization. it may hit quickly, without warning, causing you to miss out on the things you enjoy most. prevnar 13® is not a treatment for pneumococcal pneumonia... it's a vaccine you can get to help protect against it. prevnar 13® is approved for adults 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, you may have a lower response to the vaccine. the most common 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. help protect yourself against pneumococcal pneumonia. ask your doctor or pharmacist about prevnar 13®. we cut the price of trades to give investors even more value. and at $4.95, you can trade with a clear advantage. fidelity, where smarter investors will always be. and at $4.95, you can trade with a clear advantage. i tabut with my back paines, i couldn't sleep and get up in time. then i found aleve pm. aleve pm is the only one to combine a safe sleep aid plus the 12 hour pain relieving strength of aleve. i'm back. aleve pm for a better am. us lives here. where we can be surprised by others. and ourselves. for a better us, support to your local y today. you or joints. something for your heart... but do you take something for your brain. with an ingredient originally found in jellyfish, prevagen is the number one selling brain-health supplement in drug stores nationwide. prevagen. the name to remember. to the index and that airport scare in atlanta. the ntsb revealing a delta 737 mistakenly lined up with the taxi way instead of the runway last month. another plane in its path. the delta pilots did notice, requesting a go around. they did land safely. former vice president joe biden sharing a personal moment. joe biden on "the view" consoling cohost megan mccain. her father battling the same form of cancer that claimed biden's late son, beau. >> one of the things that gave beau courage, my word, was john. your dad, you may remember when you were a little kid, your dad took care of my beau. your dad, when he was a mil aide, worked with me and became friends with beau, and beau talked about your dad's courage, not about illness, but about his courage. >> it was a moving moment. late word today that senator mccain is currently being treated at water reed medical center for what his office describes as normal side effects of his cancer therapy. senator mccain and megan both thanking biden for his support. quite a discovery in new zealand to report. imagine penguins the size of humans. fossils revealing a giant penguin measuring 5'10", 220 pounds. the biggest penguin these days, the emperor penguin, standing less than four feet tall. we all love that documentary. and the new inductees into the rock and roll hall of fame tonight. ♪ half way there >> bon jovi headlining the class. the band joined by the cars, dire straits, the moody blues. when we come back here tonight, we have not forgotten lhas is l, and there was quite the milestone today. you have to see it after the break. when you have a cold... ...stuff happens. shut down cold symptoms fast... ...with maximum strength alka seltzer plus liquid gels. ♪ tired of sore throat lozenges that only last a short time? 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[ cheers and applause ] thanks, johnny. thank you, ladies and gentlemen. and welcome. the ides of december -- will they be good or bad for our players today? bryce, rachel, and lakedra, welcome. good luck. jeopardy! round begins now.