>> they are not focused on you. they are focused on politics. they are focused on trying to mess with me. >> reporter: and mess with all americans. if congress doesn't reach a deal by october 1st when the government runs out of money. at that point, the cdc may stop monitoring diseases. visas and passports would stop getting processed. even some soldiers and federal workers won't get paid. we caught up with congressman scott ridgell of virginia. the only republican to go against his party. >> i have not heard from any members who thinks shutting this government down is a good idea. we're going to have to give a bit on both sides. >> reporter: there is no sign of that yet, in the house or in the senate, where the debate picks up next week. which means congress once again is headed toward the political brink. jeff zeleny, abc news, capitol hill. >> and now we head to southeast asia, and china bracing for the most powerful storm on the planet so far this year.

super typhoon usagi with 150 mile per hour winds, it's the equivalent of a category 5 hurricane. and it's on track to slam directly into china over the weekend. and in another part of the world tonight, the regime in syria has taken the first step toward turning over chemical weapons, they have submitted an initial list of chemicals, and where they are located. the u.s. government will review the list for accuracy and full disclosure. and there is also talk tonight of a breakthrough in u.s. relations with iran. the possibility that president obama may meet with the new iranian president who says he wants to push forward on nuclear talks and end the crippling sanctions by the united states. and abc's david muir saw the effects of those sanctions firsthand. did they work? and why? >> that's the big question, diane. as you know we saw crippling sanctions with iran's families, tonight everyone asking are we seeing something else. a thaw in the u.s. relationship

with iran. listen to what the new iranian president is saying, it is a lot different from what we heard before. after years of the former president taking aim suggesting the hol kauft never happened and 9-11 was a conspiracy. tonight the new president prepares for a speech before world leaders at the un. what he will say or do remains a mystery. because president rouhani appears to work from a new playbook, his own. the iranian leader writing to move beyond impasses whether in relation to my country's nuclear program or its relations with the united states, we need to aim higher. president obama telling abc news just this week, the two leaders exchanged letters, after rouhani was elected. >> have you reached out personally to the new president? >> i have. and he's reached out to me. we haven't spoken directly. but -- >> letters. >> yeah.

>> that communication unheard of before. the american delegation walking out after those 9-11 commens. the approach from the new president comes as people demand change back home. we saw it firsthand just before he was elected. given exclusive access to the people, the streets of teheran, no government minders with us. the u.s. led economic sanctions over iran's nuclear program hurting. this mother and daughter feeling it. some of the parents we spoke with imagining a different relationship for their children, this mother telling us her son needs english. but we wondered if she truly believes it will be any different when he grows up. do you hope for your son, a better relationship between iran and america? she tells us god willing, it will happen. and we couldn't forget as class let out, the children swarming our cameras, they had never seen a reporter from america. do you think iran and america will get along?

>> maybe. >> maybe, maybe. >> do you hope for it? >> yes. >> the next generation time will tell if the new president's overtures are policy or posturing, the u.s. still convinced iran working toward a nuclear bomb. iran says their program is peaceful, in that same editorial the new president saying their nuclear program, diane, is also about who they are as a nation. so we'll see if there is any wiggle room next week. >> david, thank you. and when we come back now, we are going to come back home for a consumer warning. about something right outside your door. a growing number of thieves are targeting something in your car. in 40 seconds they can run off with a row of your seats. so what do they do with them? why are they valuable? david wright tells us. >> reporter: it may not be grand theft auto. but it is gone in 60 seconds, in this security video from a dallas driveway, three men steal not the car but the third row

seats in under a minute. this car dealership in simi valley police say a suspect stole seats from 16 chevy tahoes. petty crime for big profit, in this case the estimated value, $48,000. >> third row seats are a growing problem throughout california and across the country. >> reporter: it's a grab and go crime. the way car radios were in the '80s. because these things were designed to be easy to take out. thieves sell them on craig's list and ebay at more than $1500 per seat. it can cost more than twice that much to replace them at the dealer. >> with a limit of time and effort people can protect themselves. >> reporter: police departments recommend etching your vehicle id number on the seats. remove and store seats that are not being used. or buy back seat locks, some marketed just for this. >> when they see this decal, tg your third row seat out.

>> reporter: david wright, abc news, los angeles. >> and now, from real theft to the virtual kind. a new video game redefining the word blockbuster. grand theft auto v set a new record, more than $1 billion in sales in three days. a note of course, the series considered one of the most violent games on the market. and the other hot item of the day, the new iphone, those long lines are forming, the frenzy does not seem to die down. but that's what apple is hoping with higher than ever stakes for your smart phone dollar. here's linzie janis. >> reporter: out of control lines, people waiting hours, even days apple fans across america don't appear to be losing any enthusiasm over the iphone. in la things even turning violent. check out this brawl that broke out after one man discovered someone had been paying homeless people to hold places in line. >> get out of the way. >> reporter: it's the kind of

fierce loyalty apple is banking on. because tonight wall street analysts say there is more riding on this iphone launch than ever before. they are worried about the company's ability to keep turning out must have products, and send off the competition. >> they are not the only phone maker in town any more. >> reporter: one of the main reasons apple shares have taken a serious beating. losing 1/3 of their value since the last new iphone launched a year ago. today even apple's head honchos were out trying to raise the hype. tim cook stopping by the palo alto store. and co-founder steve wozniak pouring on the charm with some free doughnuts. and apple watchers are hoping today's launch isn't just a sugar high, that fades, once the opening weekend is over. diane. >> all right, linzie janis, out on the front lines, literally. and just two minutes right here,

stay with us. a lesson from katrina. we are going to show you rescuers in colorado saving people by saving their pets, even if the pet is a horse. we have a little boy's message of love and compassion rocketing around the world into your life. what was it that made his twin sister's jaw drop. it's our person of the week. we went out and asked people a simple question: how old is the oldest person you've known? we gave people a sticker and had them show us. we learned a lot of us have known someone who's lived well into their 90s. and that's a great thing. but even though we're living longer, one thing that hasn't changed much is the official retirement age. ♪ the question is how do you make sure you have the money you need to enjoy all of these years. ♪ trust your instincts to eto make the call. years. to treat my low testosterone,

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>> mostly dogs as you can see. but some cats in crates and other animals i couldn't tell what they were inside crates. i think at least a bird, i saw a bird cage. >> reporter: today we learn almost 900 pets have been air lifted to safety. all part of a mission to convince their owners to evacuate. we've seen more and more dramatic pet rescues in the years since hurricane katrina, when people died, because they didn't want to leave their pets behind. >> they are members of our family. we are neighbors helping neighbors, that includes the entire family. >> reporter: in colorado we saw heart wrenching images, the horse waiting out the floods all alone. today, word is, socks survived. we also witnessed the real life cowboys saving those who couldn't save themselves. >> i helped the family out that looked like they would have to leave their animals behind. >> reporter: and proof that our pets are our everything. >> this is where i slept since

friday. >> reporter: bill pots slept in his car for five days until he could get his cat baby boy. >> i have to take care of him. if you had kids, you'd know. >> reporter: i was there when the thomas family evacuated their home. they weren't going without their three dogs. >> hary, happy and digger. they are coming. >> reporter: the national guard's most recent tweet says it best. pets are people, too. ginger zee, abc news. and coming up next right here, it is our friday instant index. we'll show you amazing pictures we did not want you to miss. including an amazing escape. i've always tried to give it my best shot. these days i'm living with a higher risk of stroke due to afib, a type of irregular heartbeat, not caused by a heart valve problem. at first, i took warfarin, but i wondered, "could i up my game?" my doctor told me about eliquis. and three important reasons to take eliquis instead.

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and the best move of all? having the right partner at my side. it's so much better that way. [ male announcer ] have the right partner at your side. consider an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. go long. insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. is there a lot of worry building up around a daily problem? well ladies, now there's big news in controlling your overactive bladder symptoms. thinking less about them with new oxytrol for women. it's a patch. the first and only over the counter treatment for overactive bladder. it's good to know how to put the control back in your go. new oxytrol for women. now over the counter in the feminine care aisle. visit oxytrolforwomen.com to learn more. i'm on expert on softball. and tea parties. i'll have more awkward conversations than i'm equipped for,

because i'm raising two girls on my own. i'll worry about the economy more than a few times before they're grown. but it's for them, so i've found a way. who matters most to you says the most about you. at massmutual we're owned by our policyowners, and they matter most to us. ready to plan for your future? we'll help you get there. fby eating healthier, drinking plenty of water, but still not getting relief? try dulcolax laxative tablets. dulcolax is comfort-coated for gentle, over-night relief. dulcolax. predictable over-night relief you can count on. now on our friday instant index, we saw so many things this week, that opened our eyes and made us smile. so tonight, abc's nick watts looks back at the highlights of this week. >> reporter: topping this week's index for bravely, a daredevil

who scaled a skyscraper in china before changing his footwear and using different shoes to climb a crane. you need nerves of steel to jump off the top. topping the big star index, brad pitt who crashed a wedding at his hotel and hopefully upstaged the groom. topping the feel good index, this dairy queen worker in minnesota, who called out an old lady, when she picked up and pocketed a $24 bill dropped by a blind man. she refused to give the money back. >> all right. i'm going to ask you to leave the store politely right now. >> reporter: young joey gave the blind man 20 bucks out of his own pocket. now lessons from the sports index. seahawks fans are the world's loudest screaming at 131.9 decibels, when they sacked the 49ers quarterback, interesting. meanwhile, in the animal index, a loving homeowner discovered

how his dog escapes from the kitchen, even with the windows boarded up. he installed a camera which captured this houdini in action. and keepers at the oregon zoo distracted mom with a bone to give these three little girls their first medical. she is now nicknamed feisty. finally in the field of modern dance, this lady was caught dancing on her way home from work, her bus stop moves went viral. and just landed her a role in a stage play. that was the instant index. and i am nick watts. and when we come back, what happened when this little boy took a stand for his sister? the surprise that made her jaw drop, a lesson in compassion, for everyone everywhere. n a cot. [knock] no one was at home, but on the kitchen table sat three insurance policies. the first had lots of coverage.

the second, only a little. but the third was... just right! bear: hi! yeah, we love visitors. that's why we moved to a secluded house in the middle of the wilderness. just the right coverage at just the right price. coverage checker from progressive. her busy saturday begins with back pain, when... hey pam, you should take advil. why? you can take four advil for all day relief. so i should give up my two aleve for more pills with advil? you're joking right? for my back pain, i want my aleve. you're joking right? the pain started up and wrapped around to the front. i was on my way to a music conference and the pain from shingles just made it impossible to even want to move. i couldn't play my bassoon because of the pressure that i felt throughout my whole head. eventually i noticed that i had these little blisters up on my forehead and they started spreading. the blistering and the rash was moving down towards my eye. the doctors at the emergency room recommended

that i have it checked out by an eye doctor. there was concern about my eyesight. i eventually learned that if i had chickenpox i was susceptible to getting shingles as an adult. i couldn't do the things i loved because of the pain. when i had shingles the music stopped.

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finally tonight, one little boy, and the letter that has so many people thinking about how to reach out and stand up for each other. abc's josh elliott with our person of the week. >> deer santa -- >> reporter: a beloved ritual for millions of kids come winter. that all important letter to santa claus. this year, karen suffern asked her 8-year-old twins ryan and amber to write their letters early. she's a single mom, and wanted to get a jump on her christmas shopping. but instead of toys for himself, ryan asked for something very, very different. would you do me a favor, ryan, could you read your letter? >> deer santa, i wanted a remote control car and helicopter, but i don't want that any more. kids at school are still picking on amber. i pray that they will stop, but god is busy, and he needs your

help. >> reporter: when she read it, karen was heart broken. for she herself had been bullied as a child. >> amber was like yeah, they pick on me, i feel like i want to die so they leave me alone. i felt my heart stop. >> reporter: are kids mean to you? >> yeah. but i don't know why. they like say i'm fat. i'm stupid. i'm ugly. and i'm hideous. i don't really believe them. >> reporter: karen shared ryan's letter on facebook, only with family and close friends. but it quickly made its way around the social media globe. making little heroes out of both kids. what's it like having ryan as a brother? >> he protects me. >> reporter: do you wish people would mess with you instead of amber? >> yes.

>> reporter: ryan asked santa for a little something else for amber. a chance to meet her favorite band, big time rush. i think somebody actually did get this letter early. guys. >> hi. >> hello. >> how are you guys doing? >> what's up? >> how are you? are you doing allright? >> reporter: speechless, but ecstatic. amber had a moment in time, that was at long last the best of dreams ♪ >> reporter: an early christmas gift for a brave and most deserving young girl, courtesy of the best gift of all, a twin brother like ryan. so we choose 8-year-old ryan suffern and the whole family tonight. we thank you for watching. we have a reminder tonight of 20/20 coming up. a look at some nightmare neighbors called the people next

door, a special 20/20 coming up tonight. and abc's david muir will be right here for you all weekend long. i'll see you again monday. good night.

on "the list requests, the new iphones are out and so are the ifans. but not everyone is ihappy. if you want a body like kate hudson or heidi plume, today is yor day.an bo buff like beethoven, this is also your day. business for pets, yes, it's a date. >> hey, gang, congratulations, you made it to friday. here's what we do. our staff numbering in the

thousands, hike the world in search of the cool stories everyone is talking about. oh, good, that i had're back. and we picked the top five. >> and i'm matt gallant at number five. the much valued new iphone 5 is in stores today. did you know that a guy camped out for 15 days waiting for it? girlfriend, we're guessing no. iphones? nope, cancel your weekend plans. demand is so favorish, they're amping up production to meet demand. this kid is not impressed. >> i guess you're just going to have to get used to it. >> hey, kid, you're not alone. mrksz iley cyrus said i'm not going to update.

it's beautiful, but going to take some tting used to. amber riley, digging the new update. well, she is on dancing with the stars. number 2, colorado can take on homes, but not pets. no pets left behind is the national guard motto regarding one of the highest in national history. >> early rescue efforts made by residents focused on the more difficult task of livestock. among saved, cows, donkeys, goats, even a monkey. >> at number 3, smile, unless you've been drinking mountain dew, and then may believe keep your mouth shut? >> booyah. >> as in do ya want nasty teeth? public health advocates say soft drinks like mountain dew are

rotting teeth all the way from new york to alabama causing an epidemic dubbed "mountain dew mouth." soda causes obesity, diabetes, loneliness, because who wants to kiss someone with mountain dew mouth. good news for breaking bad fans. now, you can get those expensive, illegal drugs. at number 4, definitely not a positive experience. a woman gets herd picture taken and actually ends up as the poster child for h.i.v. positive people. probably not what she had in mind when she signed the model release. the 25-year-old model is suing a major stock photo company for 45 $450,000 after they used an image of her in an ad that ran in new york newspapers.

the ad has hurt her personal and professional relationships. for the record, she is not h.i.v. positive. of course, this isn't the first time a healthy model has ended up in a new york ad about a sexually transmitted disease. at number 5, 8-year-old ryan was sick of his sister, amber, being bullied in a school at north carolina. so he turned to santa. >> dear santa, i want a remote control car and health conscious. but i don't want that anymore. kids at school are still picking on amber. and it's not fair. we can ask big samurais to come to