President trump and the russia investigation. The commander in chief spending the weekend with eyes fixed on the russia probe after his former National Security advisor Michael Flynn pled guilty to lying to the fbi. Flynn is now cooperating with special counsel muellers investigation leading the president to seemingly rewrite the narrative of why flynn was fired in the first place. The president tweeted, i had to fire general flynn because he lied to the vicepresident and the fbi. He has pled guilty to those lies. Its a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide. Well, that seems to suggest the president knew flynn lied to the fbi when he asked then fbi director james comey to drop the flynn investigation. For more we go to nbcs tracie potts in washington. Tracie, good morning. Reporter hi there, frances, good morning. The president s personal lawyer john dowd says he wrote that tweet but doesnt have an email or any evidence to prove it because he says he dictated the tweet to the white house social director, and thats how it ended upcoming out. Meantime the president tweeting over the weekend a number of things in defense on this russia investigation including saying that he never asked the former fbi director james comey to stop investigating mike flynn, the National Security advisor. In other words, the president saying that he never asked comey to back off that investigation, and that is a key issue here. Keep in mind back in march, the president tweeted, mike flynn should ask for immunity. Of course, we now know that mike flynn, which the president called this whole thing a witch hunt during that tweet in march, now we know that mike flynn has pleaded guilty to this one count of lying to the fbi. Lots of people wondering if there may be more behind that. Meantime, the president is stepping back from offering flynn, once his confidant, his support. But a senior democrat says this may be leading to an obstruction of justice investigation here in congress. I think what we are beginning to see is the putting together of a case of obstruction of justice. I think we see this in the indictments, the four indictments and pleas that have just taken place, and some of the comments that are being made. I see it most importantly in what happened with the firing of director comey, and it is my belief that that is directly because he did not agree to lift the cloud of the russia investigation. Thats obstruction of justice. Reporter four people connected to the Trump Campaign now charged with lawmakers here on capitol hill, fran sense, wondering whats next. Tracie, thank you. With the investigation getting closer to the oval office, the president who plied prided himself on being the law and order president is taking on the law agency. Writing the fbi, its reputation is in tatte are, s, worst in history. We will bring it back to greatness. Others say mr. Trump is trying to dee legitimatize the probe by attacking the very agents pursuing it. Former a. G. Eric holder saying youll find intiger receipt and honesty at fbi headquarters and not at 1600 pen avenue right now. The fbi is in tatters . No, the only thing in tatters is the president. After he sent potentially antitrump text messages, the president pilloried the agency shortly after learning the news. This morning famed metropolitan opera james le vine is off the job after the world reknowned the organization suspended the relationship with the longtime conductor pending an investigation of Sexual Misconduct against him. The met writing in part, based on these new news report, the met has made the decision to act now following multiple allegations of Sexual Misconduct by mr. Lavine that took place from the 1960s to the 1980s. Including the earlier part of his conducting career at the met. And while mr. Lavine is denying the allegations laid against him, we are learning there were claims the met knew of for over a year. Nbcs Morgan Radford has more for us this morning. Reporter he is one of the worlds most famous conductors. 74yearold james lavine who led new yorks iconic metropolitan opera for more than four decades, now accused of Sexual Misconduct. On saturday, the countrys largest opera house announced it is investigating details from a 2016 Illinois Police report revealing allegations that lavine abused a teenaged boy. In an anonymous interview with the new york times, the accuser said the abuse began in 1985 at a summer Music Festival and continued for years. Was the metropolitan opera invested in protecting him . That is the question now being investigated. They have known about these allegations for at least a year and are only investigating them now that they have gone public. Reporter in a statement to nbc news, the mets general manager said they found out about the allegations last year. Mr. Lavine said that the charges were completely false and we relied upon the further investigation of the police. We need to determine if these charges are true, and if they are, take appropriate action. The mets former press representative johanna feedler acknowledging in a book rumors of sexual abuse circulated in the 1970s. His the first high profile claim to rock the Classical Music scene since a wave of accusations has toppled other famous faces. For media mogul Harvey Weinstein to cbss harvey rose and nbcs matt lauer. The culture of wanting to keep things quiet or not coming forward is not conducive to airing this kind of thing. Reporter now a moment of reflection and reckoning. Morgan radford, nbc news, new york. A merger between Health Care Giants is moving markets this morning. Cvs will buy aetna for about 69 billion. The megadeal is one of the biggest of the year and the move could shake up the Health Care Industry with cvs poised to provide a broad range of Health Services to aetnas 22 million pharmacy members. Leaving competition scrambling. The Senior Palestinian official warning the Trump Administration to tread carefully. That official says recognizing jerusalem as israel capital wont promote international anarchy, disrespect global law and sew ethnic conflict. President trump is set to announce policy decisions on the status of jerusalem any day now. And the president may follow through on his promise to move the u. S. Embassy from tel aviv to jerusalem while simultaneously declaring jerusalem the capital of israel. That has the palestinian side warning about the potential for violence. And now we are hearing from the man the president tasked with leading mid east efforts, his soninlaw jared kushner. And heres what he said about an impending decision. All the reporters have already called saying they have inside sources that know what the decision is. But what im saying say is that the president is going to make his decision he hasnt made his decision . Hes still looking at a lot of different facts and when he makes his decision, hell be the one to want to tell you, not me. U. S. Officials now confirm american diplomatic posts in the region have been warned about possible unrest in the days ahead. Alec baldwins cold open as President Trump on saturday night live is number one on youtubes trending videos list. The Christmas Carol spoof hes visited by the ghost of Michael Flynn one day after he pleaded guilty to lying to the fbi. Youve come to get me, i knew it, its the muslim stuff, no. No. Its for calling mexicans rainists . No. Pocahontas . No. Making fun of the handicap reporter like this . No, sir im not here for any of that. Who are you, jacob marly . You have a lot of chains on. No, im Michael Flynn, the ghost of witness flipped. Mr. President , i came to warn you, its time for you to come clean for the good of the country. The what,ed good the good of the country. The goo be da comecome . So good. Lets get a check of the weather with bill karins. Winter, we havent talked a lot about snow forecast, even blizzard warnings up this morning. Its just starting to break out of rip i had city, weve had snow over need in areas of wyoming. A little around salt lake city. The forecast shows the higher totals in fargo, minnesota, south dakota. Its only 2 to 4 inches. Its going to be windy, too. Thats why we have blizzard warnings for this afternoon and this evening. Well get rain the next couple days from the northeast right down to the ohio valley. Well get rain for the etuxioxekfll s s a y u reach for that cookie this morning. Much more ahead here on early today. So probably take it at night. 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Hey, your shirts making me hungry. Ha ha, derek. Downy and its done. British police have just released dramatic dashcam video from earlier this year showing a speeding semi truck crashing into cars on a highway in england. The 47yearold driver fella sleep at the wheel and slammed into two stationary cars at 43 Miles Per Hour sending them spinning across the highway. We see that there. Both drivers in the cars were treated for nonlifethreatening injuries and the semi truck driver has been jailed for 16 months. Terrifying to see that video. Amazing they didnt get hurt any more. Leading the news this morning, they celebrated the 40th Kennedy Center honors. Gloria stephane, norman lear, l. L. Cool jay, carmen and Lionel Richie were honored. Some notable absences, President Trump and the first lady melania became the first president ial couple to skip the gala. The white house said they wanted to avoid any political distraction. Florida teenage girl who went miss ing with her High School Soccer coach has been found safe. 17yearold caitlyn f risin i returned home to her family saturday after police found her with her 27yearold coach over a thousand miles way in syracuse, new york. The teen had gone missing to air week after allegedly sneaking out of her home and running off with the coach. He is now under arrest and has a Court Appearance today. Nbcs mia rodery guess has more. Reporter back home after a week on the run, 17yearold caitlyn f risin i and her parents returning to florida after the teenager disa peert last saturday night with 27yearold Ryan Rodriguez who had been a soccer coach at her school. The family not answering questions, but in a statement saying they were tired and worn out. In syracuse new york, friday, a trooper spotted caitlyn and rodriguez, taking the soccer coach into custody. The family had an emotional reunion. We are so thankful to have her back. Its been difficult. Im glad to have my daughter back where i know i can protect her and keep her safe as a father always wants to do. Reporter newly released documents reveal when caitlyns family reveal she was missing a friend of hers told caitlyns mom the teen had been in a relationship with a 27yearold. Caitlyn said rodriguez wanted to leave the country. The friend adding caitlyn said she was scared and didnt know what to do. Caitlyns father later using her phone to find splus it snapchat messages between her and rodriguez. The document also citing a School Resource officers august investigation into a rumor that the two were in a relationship. The officer at the time concluding it was not true. Our work does not stop. There is a lot of investigative things that will still continue on. Reporter Ryan Rodriguez was arrested and charged as a fugitive of justice in new york. Do you have any comment . Do you have any comment . Reporter facing an additional felony charge interference with child custody in florida. As caitlyn returns to the life she left behind. Mia rodriguez, nbc news. There is a growing trend spreading across the u. S. We seem to be coming a Cashless Society but is that really a good thing . Youre watching early today. He came to st. Jude Childrens Research Hospital where we developed a new treatment that reduces chemotherapy. And because we freely share our discoveries, were giving kids like nolan everywhere a chance to beat cancer. And live healthy adult lives. Story, done. Story, just beginning. Give thanks for the healthy kids in your life. Visit stjude. Org or shop where you see the st. Jude logo. Youre so cold, come in whats wrong . Its dry. Your scalp . Mine gets dry in the winter too. Try head and shoulders dry scalp care it nourishes the scalp and. Keeps you up to 100 flake free head and shoulders dry scalp care but he hasoke up wwork to do. In. So he took aleve. 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Reporter when she gets ready to go in the morning, cash is not in the equation. I think the last time i went to an atm was two years ago. Reporter she streamlined her wallet to credit cards only. Cash she feels is inconvenient and dangerous. Theres a lot of times i think if i had a lot of carbon me id be a little anxious. Reporter while cash is still the number one method of payment between 2000 and 2015, noncash payments in the u. S. Grew by almost 400 . 338 for you. Reporter i havent really needed cash. Its either my credit card or if im out with friends ill use vin mail. Reporter it now processes 2 billion a month. This year apple added similar payment capabilities in imessage. These Free Services are so popular 30 major banks recently launched a competing product called zelle. It has been a big boom for businesses like the restaurant sunday in brooklyn. The transaction at the table is quicker. Guests are looking for the cleaner, safer, easier transaction and having a wad of cash in your pocket just isnt convenient. Reporter but 7 of americans do not have access to banking or credit cards. That adds up to 9 million households that operate with cash only. When a business says we will not be accepting cash here, it also is saying we will not be accepting people who dont have smartphones here, who cant afford them, and people who dont have Bank Accounts here. You need a line of credit. You need some technology to be able to live in a Cashless Society, and that leaves out a large portion of our population. Reporter the brooklyn restaurant says it will not discriminate. If it did become a concern, i think we would pivot and figure out a solution. Maybe take it for select people. Reporter cashing in on convenience while accepting the cost of change. Jo ling kent, nbc news, san francisco. 11 days and counting until the next star wars movie debuts, but did you ever wonder what it took to become a real jedi knight . Well show you what we come back. When we come back. Time to open the laptop. And compare Medicare Health plans. Why . Because plans change, so can your health needs. So, be openminded. Look at everythinglike Prescription Drug plans. And Medicare Advantage plans from private insurers. Use the tools at medicare. Gov. Or call 1800medicare. Open to Something Better . Start today. Im and im an emt. Erer when i get a migraine at work, its debilitating. If i call out with a migraine, thats one less ambulance to serve a community. I just dont want to let these people down. Excedrin migraine. Relief that works as hard as you do. Anif youve got a lifee. You gotta swiffer ugh man, my sinuses. Its like my heads in a fog. I mean, could you be any more dramatic . Ive had it. Im taking mucinex sinusmax. Eh, that stuffs all the same. 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