Millions prepare for winter storms, Biden awards Presidential Medals of Freedom: Weekend preview

New Orleans forward logged visits to city weeks earlier

The US Army veteran who deliberately rammed New Year’s Eve revelers in New Orleans visited the city twice in the weeks before the attack and recorded video using glasses Meta intelligence, the FBI revealed on Sunday.

Shamsud-Din Jabbar also wore the Meta glasses during his New Year’s attack.but they were not activated for live streaming, and there was no indication he was recording the attack.

He recorded videos during the journey addressed to his familyin which he spoke of his intention to kill them and announced that he had joined the Islamic State.

SATURDAY Hundreds of New Orleanians gathered at City of Love Church seek comfort and understanding – by singing, shouting and praying.

“Even though we are going through this, things will get better,” Bishop Lester Love told the congregation. “The city is suffering, but it is also resilient.”

Experts warn that polarization in the United States and online is contributing to a rise of extremism. “The online environment has algorithms set up to make you angry. And it all fits into a perfect storm of factors that are leading to increased radicalization,” said Seamus Hughes, a senior fellow and policy associate at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

A major winter storm threatens the United States

Tens of millions of people are under winter storm warnings, with heavy snowfall and extremely cold temperatures are expected across the country.

Kansas, Arkansas, Kentucky and Virginia declared states of emergency and the National Weather Service warned of “significant disruptions to daily life” including “unsafe or impossible driving conditions and widespread closures.”

Temperatures are expected to drop 10 to 30 degrees below average through Friday across the central and eastern United States. From Montana to Wisconsin, wind chills will drop to between minus 25 and minus 35 degrees.

Washington, D.C., was one of the major cities bracing for snowy and icy conditions until Monday, when Congress is supposed to certify the presidential election results. “Whether we’re in a snowstorm or not, we’ll be in this chamber to make sure this gets done,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

Follow live coverage from NBC News here.

Independent filmmaker Jeff Baena dies at 47

Jeff Baena, an independent writer-director known for films like “Life After Beth” and “I Heart Huckabees,” died Friday at his home in Los Angeles at age 47.

He committed suicide in a home, according to medical examiner’s records.

Baena was married to actor Aubrey Plaza since 2021. The couple collaborated on several films, including 2014’s “Life After Beth,” which Plaza directed and starred in.

The circumstances of Baena’s death are not known at this time.

Meet the press

Sen. Adam Schiff, Democrat of California, said Sunday that the New Orleans attack shows that Kash Patel should not be confirmed as President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the FBI.

Schiff said on “Meet the Press” that the attack “underscores” the importance of an FBI director “who has experience, who has judgment, who has character, who will prioritize the defense of the country against the violence that we saw in New Orleans or the violence that we experienced.” seen on January 6.

He said that Patel’s top priority is ‘political vendettas’ and that the Senate should not confirm someone “who believes in deep state conspiracy thinking.”

You can watch the full interview here.

Politics in brief

The highest civilian distinction: President Joe Biden presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom to notable individuals including Hillary Clinton, billionaire George Soros, actor Michael J. Fox, fashion icon Anna Wintour and Bill Nye the Scientist.

Carter’s farewell: Jimmy Carter’s extended public farewell began Saturday in Georgia, with a procession and private family service at the Carter Center ahead of Thursday’s state funeral in Washington, D.C.

Trump’s priorities: President Johnson told House Republicans that Trump favors passing a single reconciliation bill, rather than two or more. which could be a blow to some GOP hardliners.

47 and 16: Trump has a particular fixation on Abraham Lincolntreating him not only as a historical giant, but also as a political contemporary (and an imperfect one at that).

Ban on TikTok: The Department of Justice urgesed Supreme Court rejects Trump’s request to delay implementationing a law that would effectively ban TikTok in the United States or force its sale by its Chinese parent company by January 19.

Hollywood reunites for the 82nd Golden Globes

Hollywood awards season officially kicks off tonight with the 82nd Golden Globe Awardshosted by actress Nikki Glaser.

“Dune: Part Two,” “A Complete Unknown” and “Nickel Boys” are among the films vying for best comedy-drama, while “Wicked,” “Challengers” and “Anora” are vying for best comedy.

Karla Sofía Gascón, who plays the title character in “Emilia Perez” (the nighttime film with the most nominations), made history as the first openly transgender woman to be nominated for a Globe for a leading role in a movie.

In the television categories, acclaimed shows like “Shōgun,” “Hacks” and “The Bear” are up for top honors.

Follow live coverage from NBC News here.

In case you missed it

• Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman who held the Guinness World Record as the world’s oldest persondied Saturday at the age of 116.
• Drivers entering Manhattan’s busiest neighborhoods will now have to pay up to $9 in congestion chargesas New York City’s first traffic congestion relief zone officially launched on Sunday.
• More than 500 animals in a Dallas shopping center were killed in a structure fireaccording to the authorities.
• Missing 8-year-old boy found alive After having spent five days alone in a game park in Zimbabwe filled with wild animals, said a member of the country’s parliament.
• “Swipe fees,” payments that companies make to banks and card companies each time customers swipe, are facing growing resistance from some lawmakers. who say the fees are excessive and are be sent to buyers.
• The new Syrian leadership plans changes in the country’s educational program. Some fear that these changes signal an intention to install an Islamist agenda in schools – and beyond.
• Israel faces pressure over detention of Gaza hospital chief, with rights groups expressing serious concerns over his fate. The Israeli military said the prominent pediatrician was suspected of “involvement in terrorist activities.”
• Doctors applaud the surgeon general’s suggestion to put cancer warning labels on alcoholic beverages. Several told NBC News patients are generally unaware of the risks associated with alcohol consumption.
• Dietary supplements are more popular than ever. Are any of them really worth it?