Trump blasts Democrats at NATO meeting, storm slams Northeast, and Christmas arrives at the White House: The Morning Rundown

Good morning, NBC News readers.

President Donald Trump is in the U.K. today for a gathering of world leaders in honor of 70 years of the NATO alliance as the impeachment inquiry enters a new phase back at home.

Here's what we're watching this Tuesday morning.

Trump hit the ground running this morning with an impromptu 52-minute press conference with NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg sitting alongside.

Trump riffed on all manner of issues during the wide-ranging chat with reporters — from the impeachment inquiry to the British election, frays within the NATO alliance, the China trade war, North Korea aggression and recent protests in Iran.

Trump was particularly critical of France and President Emmanuel Macron's recent comments that NATO was undergoing "brain death," saying the remarks were "very insulting."

The rift between the leaders underlined the divisions within the alliance threatening to spoil its 70th birthday party.

And while Trump said that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is "very capable" and that he planned to meet him while he is London, its unclear whether that will happen.

Rather, Johnson is eager to avoid a potentially damaging Trump meeting just over a week before an election that will decide whether he remains in power.

But, as he steps on to the world stage, the shadow of impeachment looms large, NBC News' Jonathan Allen and Shannon Pettypiece write in an analysis.

President Trump calls impeachment probe ‘unpatriotic’

Dec. 3, 201902:01

If you live in the Northeast, tuck back in under the covers if you can.

The wintry storm that has killed at least eight people as it marches across the country was expected to hang on stubbornly through Tuesday, further bedeviling travel plans in the Northeast.

The powerful storm will show up along the Northeastern and New England coastlines, causing snow — heavy in some areas — from the Appalachian Mountains to inland areas of the Northeast and much of New England, the National Weather Service said.

It could be well into Wednesday morning before the weather system — which the weather service, in a bit of understatement, called a "long-duration storm" — finally moves completely off the Maine coast, forecasters said.

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Winter storm batters Northeast with wind, snow, icy rain

Dec. 3, 201902:41

A woman who has said she was trafficked by the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to Prince Andrew implored the British people to “stand up beside" her, according to a BBC Panorama interview broadcast Monday.

“This is not some sordid sex story. This is a story of being trafficked. This is a story of abuse and this is a story of your guys’ royalty,” Virginia Roberts Giuffre told the network.

Andrew, who has repeatedly denied the allegations, recently said he did not recall ever meeting her during his own BBC interview.

Following the widely criticized interview, Andrew announced that he was stepping away from public duties because of the controversy surrounding his past friendship with Epstein.

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‘Stand up beside me’: Prince Andrew accuser calls for British support

Dec. 2, 201901:14

While other states cut higher education spending, California is confronting the stubborn problems that are plaguing colleges and universities nationwide.

The state is making big investments in a host of creative approaches to get students enrolled and graduating on time, including cheaper textbooks, food banks, extra tutoring, programs for parents and more.

If the experiments work, they could become a model for states that can afford to follow in California’s footsteps.

“If you can make something work here, it will probably work anywhere else,” said Kevin Cook, a researcher at the Public Policy Institute of California.

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• The Trump campaign said it will ban Bloomberg News reporters from events and rallies after the organization announced that it would not investigate its boss.
• Campus activists have found a target at the intersection of immigration and technology: Palantir, a private tech company that provides data analysis services.
• Another potential side effect of global warming: Premature births, one study finds.
• "Two weeks’ survival is insane. It doesn’t happen," said a police spokesperson after a pair of people were rescued after spending weeks lost in the Australian outback.
• Another honor for Megan Rapinoe: The captain of the U.S. women's soccer team won the Ballon d'Or and was named the world's top female soccer player of 2019.

The impeachment debate is heading to Nadler's House committee. But the real fight is in the Senate, professor at Loyola Law School Jessica Levinson writes in an opinion piece.

It's Giving Tuesday. Here are ideas for a variety of charitable gifts that will delight the recipient and give back to those less fortunate.

Christmas has arrived at the White House. Well, the decorations at least.

First lady Melania Trump unveiled the first photos of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue decorated for the holidays in a theme she designed and dubbed "The Spirit of America."

"This Christmas season I want to honor those who have shaped our country and made it the place we are proud to call home," she said in a White House press release.

The first lady's official Twitter page also released a short video showing her walking through the glistening decor in various rooms of the White House.

Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown.

If you have any comments — likes, dislikes — drop me an email at: petra@nbcuni.com

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Thanks, Petra