ABC's Jim Ryan reveals how a simple home repair left him with $20,000 in medical bills and still in a wheelchair.
The episode opens with host Amy King introducing the morning's topics, including holiday safety and financial advice. She briefly mentions upcoming segments with ABC correspondents and financial expert Joel Larsgaard. The first major segment features an interview with ABC's Jim Ryan, who discusses the dangers of holiday decorating after suffering a fall that broke his tibia and fibula, leaving him in a wheelchair with substantial medical costs. Ryan offers safety tips like using spotters and avoiding alcohol while decorating. The show then transitions to news updates, covering local stories like an Alhambra police officer's funeral, L.A. City Council spending on police overtime for homelessness, and a lawsuit over pepper ball launchers. Next, ABC's Stephen Portnoy explains a Supreme Court case about presidential power to fire members of independent regulatory bodies, noting that six justices seem inclined to side with the president. The episode continues with more news, including a shooting in Culver City, a survey on unwanted Christmas gifts, and In-N-Out removing order number 67. Financial expert Joel Larsgaard then joins to discuss the new 'Trump accounts' for kids, criticizing them as confusing and less tax-advantaged than existing 529 plans, though he acknowledges the benefit of free government seed money for newborns. He also advises checking both Uber and Lyft to save on rides. Bloomberg's Denise Pellegrini provides business updates, including Uber airport kiosks and the growth of 401K millionaires. The episode concludes with additional news items and promotional content.
