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The Story Is with Elex Michaelson
Republicans Expecting Mass Defections On Epstein Vote; Impacts Of Shutdown Remain As Government Reopens; U.S. Justice Department Sues California After Redistricting; Illinois Community Stands Up To Border Patrol Agents; Israeli Settlers Burn West Bank Mosque Amid Rise in Violent Attacks; Former Newsom Aide Facing Up to 20 Years on Fraud Charges; Apple Launches $229 iPhone Pocket "Sock"; "The Running Man" Releases in U.S. Theaters on Friday; Shohei Ohtani Wins Second Consecutive NL MVP Award. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired November 14, 2025 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[01:00:00]
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: And some slight burn on there like charcoal. That's a lot of stuff combined. Three cheeses later, he said we could still taste that cheese. Congratulations. What an honor. Thanks for watching this hour of The Story is. The next hour starts right now.
The story is Epstein emails Republicans bracing for defections during a big vote next week with U.S. California Senate President Mike McGuire.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE MCGUIRE (D) CALIFORNIA'S SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: I'm Mike McGuire and I'm running for Congress.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: In his first interview as a U.S. congressional candidate.
The story is these Illinois moms are banding together to warn their neighbors about ice. We talk to both sides.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This was how she operated like a Mafia boss.
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MICHAELSON: The story is indicted a night after Gavin Newsom's former chief of staff is criminally charged. Her longtime friend is here to respond in a CNN exclusive.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from Los Angeles, The Story Is with Elex Michelson.
MICHAELSON: And welcome to the story is. I'm Elex Michaelson. It's 10:00 p.m. here in Los Angeles. A lot going on in the west coast. But it's 1:00 a.m. in Washington where the story is the Epstein files.
More Republican lawmakers are breaking away from party leaders and backing the idea of releasing the full Epstein file. CNN has learned that instead of trying to delay, they are now moving for an early vote on bipartisan legislation calling on the Justice Department to release all the files. House Speaker Mike Johnson scheduling that vote for next week.
A senior White House official says President Trump was made aware of that fact and that he and Johnson had spoken about it. The president ignoring questions today about why his name appears in newly released Epstein emails multiple times.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sir, any response to the Epstein emails that mention your name?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Miami Herald investigative reporter Julie K. Brown exposed many of the horrific details of Epstein's alleged sex trafficking ring. She explains what stood out to her from the newly released documents.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JULIE K. BROWN, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, THE MIAMI HERALD: One of the things that we noticed is if you check to see how many times Trump's name is contained in these documents, it's over 2,000 times that Trump's name is mentioned.
Now of course, this doesn't mean -- this doesn't implicate him in any crimes or anything like that. But it does show how much room Trump held in Epstein's brain, so to speak, or how much Epstein was preoccupied with Trump.
He mentions him virtually all the time. Or people are emailing Epstein about Trump trying to find out information as if Epstein is sort of the all wise Trump expert. So it's interesting to see how Epstein now remember these emails started around 2011. They go through 2019.
So this is a period of time when his relationship with Trump is waning and by the way, there aren't any emails in here between Epstein and Trump and we don't know why that is, whether they weren't turned over, whether any even exists.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: And Trump not known for doing a lot of emailing himself. Anyways, last hour on The Story Is Democratic Congressmember Sydney Kamlager-Dove joined me here on set and I asked her what she makes of the rising number of Republicans who are now joining the list to release the files.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REP. SYDNEY KAMLAGER-DOVE (D-CA): I think it's very hard to say. I support continuing to cover up pedophilia, pedophiles and a child trafficker. So, yes, we have to let this discharge petition ripen. Adelita Grahalva was a 218 signature on that when she got sworn in. There were some survivors of Jeffrey Epstein in the gallery and she talked about the need to release the files.
I think it's interesting, however, that Donald Trump ran on a platform to release the files and now he's doing everything he can to bury the files, including calling Lauren Boebert into the Situation Room with creepy Kash Patel and Pam Bondi, who trying to intimidate her to take her name off this discharge petition.
MICHAELSON: We have seen emails leaking out now, thousands of pages of emails. Anything surprise you? Anything stand out to you?
KAMLAGER-DOVE: I love that Jeffrey Epstein said Donald Trump is a lowdown, dirty dog, essentially. Right. He said he's someone who -- he's the worst. So when you have a human trafficker say that Donald Trump is the worst, that should tell you something.
MICHAELSON: Although we do not have any evidence of Trump actually --
KAMLAGER-DOVE: We do not.
MICHAELSON: -- doing anything with these underage women.
KAMLAGER-DOVE: We do not. We do not.
MICHAELSON: Which is an important thing to say.
KAMLAGER-DOVE: We do not. But we have 20,000 emails that are being released, more to come. We hope that as much can't be redacted. And this should not just be an oversight, it actually should be in our Judiciary Committee as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[01:05:06]
MICHAELSON: The federal government is back open, but it's going to take a moment for everything to go back to normal. Federal agencies are slowly beginning to reopen, but many have backlogs of work to process, like at the IRS. This comes as 60,000 private sector jobs were lost due to the shutdown, according to the National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett.
Meanwhile, federal workers are waiting on their back pay, which the timeline to receive their checks varies depending on what agency you're working for. Many of these workers missed two full paychecks and a partial one. Friday saw over 150 flights canceled as airports attempt to return to normalcy after the shutdown, heavily impacted air traffic controllers and other airport staff.
This comes as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem handed out $10,000 bonus checks to select TSA employees in Houston. She said they worked really hard during the shutdown and they've earned it. Noem said more would be receiving bonuses, but it's not clear who exactly or why these particular people were chosen. All TSA agents are expected to receive back pay in the coming days. Not necessarily $10,000 bonuses.
But some good news for SNAP benefit recipients. U.S. agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins telling CNN on Thursday that relief is now on the way, with full benefit payments expected by Monday. 19 states have already rushed to issue full benefits, which over 40 million Americans rely on to eat.
Wall Street had its worst day in a month. Dow Jones fell nearly 800 points, the NASDAQ sliding 536 points. S and P down as well. This comes as some on Wall Street are expressing concerns that delayed economic data from the shutdown may impact the Federal Reserve's economic outlook.
A live look right now from LAX here in Los Angeles. You can see kind of damp there. Air traffic could be affected tonight, not just because of the shutdown, but because of a massive storm that is moving from northern to Southern California.
In the coming hours the storm is expected to increase the threat of flooding and mudslides for millions of here in Southern California, especially the burn areas. We've seen problems in Northern California already earlier today. Officials are warning people that they may need to evacuate if some of that flooding begins.
Now the Trump administration is joining the lawsuit to stop congressional redistricting here in California. And some of the races for the U.S. House are already starting to take shape.
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MCGUIRE: And don't worry, I will always stand up to the destructive policies of Donald Trump. I'm Mike McGuire and I'm running for Congress because I won't be outworked. No one will fight harder for Northern California. No drama, no BS, no gimmicks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: That is California State Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire announcing his candidacy for the U.S. Congress today. He would represent the newly redrawn free 1st congressional district.
On day one, Maguire announcing some big endorsements. Senator Adam Schiff, House Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and other top Democrats.
Joining me for his first TV interview as a congressional candidate is Mike McGuire. Welcome to the story is and congrats on the launch.
MCGUIRE: Elex, thank you so much for having me. Good evening. It's nice to see you.
MICHAELSON: Nice to see you, too. So, Senator, why are you running for Congress?
MCGUIRE: I run for Congress because this is my home. It's personal. It's where I've called home for generations, right here in Northern California. And as leader of the state Senate, as state senator, I've delivered over $3 billion to modernize our schools, build new roads, expand broadband, expand rural jobs and bring down the price of living.
And I'm running because of Doug LaMalfa and Donald Trump. Doug LaMalfa, who will now be our member of Congress, has voted to take away health care for millions. He's voted to increase health care prices for millions more across America. 42 percent of Congressman LaMalfa's constituents are on Medicaid and he voted to cut them.
He continues to vote for every one of Donald Trump's tariff taxes, making life so much more expensive and it continues to take food away from the most vulnerable. I'm running because I am fighting. We are fighting for the future of America and I'm fighting for rural California.
MICHAELSON: So Douglas LaMalfa, as you mentioned, is the current Republican incumbent. We spoke to him here on The Story Is the night before the Prop 50 vote. He obviously was very against Prop 50. It does not help him. Here's what he said.
[01:10:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. DOUG LAMALFA (R-CA): The people have spoken on three different initiatives in California that they wanted this not in the hands of legislators who draw lines for their own protection, for their own needs. We're constantly trying to get across the voice of the people of this region that no -- there's a counter argument to what's going on here.
That argument will be completely suppressed because basically barrier representatives will be covering these areas and we're not going to be heard anymore.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: So there is criticism that essentially you drew this district to help you and that's icky. What do you say to that?
MCGUIRE: I say, Doug LaMalfa, you know how this is done. You know that's not true. I didn't draw the map. But I also understand why Doug LaMalfa tonight is clutching his pearls. Because voters overwhelmingly rejected Donald Trump and Doug LaMalfa's agenda here in the great state of California.
And candidly, what did he expect? When you vote to take food off the table of the most vulnerable in this state, when you vote to take health care away from the people that you work for, when you vote to raise health care prices for millions of Americans, when you vote for tariff taxes and make life more expensive for all of us, and when you vote to take away reproductive freedom, the people revolt. And what they did is they spoke loud and clear. They rejected the Trump-LaMalfa agenda by nearly two-thirds of the vote here in the state of California.
And Elex, let's just be blunt. Doug LaMalfa knows that I'm a rural Democrat. I'm one of the few rural Democrats here in the entire state of California. I'm the first rural Democrat to be elected Senate leader in over a century. And I live in a no stoplight town, nearly 1,000 people and four of them my son, my wife and my mom.
And here's where I've been focused. I've been focused on driving down costs, building more housing, expanding rural broadband, keeping hospitals open, making our state more wildfire safe, doubling the number of Cal firefighters, doubling the number of mental health beds.
What people want right now, not politicians, they want us to focus on the people. And that's what I'm committed to. I'm committed to building a stronger rural California.
MICHAELSON: Well, Senator, thank you so much for being with us. It is definitely true that the people of California in big margins voted for Prop 50. It is also true that Prop 50 was drawn by Democrats to help Democrats and that this district is advantageous for Democrats on purpose.
That was the point following what happened in Texas where Republicans drew maps to help Republicans. So we will see what happens in this race, but we appreciate you giving us our first interview. Mike McGuire, thank you so much.
MCGUIRE: Good to see you, Elex. Thank you so much.
MICHAELSON: A scary moment for Ariana Grande during the "Wicked" For Good" premiere in Singapore on Thursday. The actress and singer was greeting fans alongside co-stars Cynthia Erivo and Michelle Yeoh when a man jumps over a barrier and rushes at her.
He appears to place his arm around her, so she got some help. Cynthia Erivo, of course, moved in to protect her while security stepped in and removed that man. Reuters reports that the man, a social media personality known for these kinds of stunts, was charged with committing a public nuisance. Not good. What a buffoon.
Meanwhile, shocking scenes from a town in Illinois. As tensions escalate between Border Patrol and protesters, we'll show you how residents of this town are standing up to ICE agents.
Plus, an arson attack on a West bank mosque is the latest in a surging number of Israeli settlers attacks against Palestinians. What we know about that incident is next.
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[01:18:39]
MICHAELSON: At least one person is dead and two others are injured following what Ukraine called a mass attack on its capital.
Officials in Kyiv said hours ago that several buildings caught fire and urged people to stay in shelters. The warning also said that power, heat and water could be out in parts of the city.
Across the border, a Ukrainian drone strike damaged an oil refinery in southwestern Russia Friday morning. Russian officials said the drones were being intercepted. So far, no reports of casualties.
British journalist and pro-Palestinian commentator Sami Hamdi is back in London after being detained for 18 days by U.S. immigration authorities. Hamdi was taken into custody at San Francisco's airport last month after he spoke at an event for the Council on American Islamic Relations.
Agents told him he overstayed his visa. Hamdi and his legal team insist his visa was valid and say he was detained for speaking out against Israel's war in Gaza.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAMI HAMDI, BRITISH JOURNALIST AND COMMENTATOR: This wasn't just an attack on me. It was an attack on the freedoms of ordinary Americans and citizens worldwide. It was an attack on their freedom to speak the truth in the face of hatred.
I think that the reason that my visa was targeted was not because of anything that I was saying, but because Americans were listening.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Across the country, the presence of ICE agents is welcomed by some in the community and feared by others.
[01:20:02]
We have seen a trend emerge, though. Groups banding together to alert their neighbors that they're coming. Senior crime and justice correspondent Shimon Prokupecz is with us now. Shimon, you profiled one of these groups in Illinois?
SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN SENIOR CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, in Evanston, Illinois. Specifically, it was moms who were alerting the community when ICE and Border Patrol was in town blowing whistles. And really, it was Halloween day when all of this sort of came to a head and unfolded was just a chaotic and harrowing scene. Take a listen.
BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): David Brooks captured this Border Patrol arrest on Halloween. Then came the real horror.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sir, she is a citizen of the United States of America.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're going to what? You're going to shoot me? All right. All right. You. You're going to shoot me? Get out of here. All right, tough guy.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Look again from another angle. Border Patrol had just been involved in a crash. Cell phone video shows them taking a woman out of a red car and pinning her to the ground. As a crowd gathered, Brooks filmed as people were detained, then stared down the barrel of an agent's gun.
PROKUPECZ: What was that like?
DAVID BROOKS, EVANSTON RESIDENT: Frightening, Surprising shock. Nobody was threatening violence. There was a lot of yelling, a lot of screaming. It was a charged situation. But I don't -- I don't think it was anything that would warrant trying to control a crowd using a gun.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Don't put your hands on people.
PROKUPECZ: Here's how the Department of Homeland Security says things unfolded. That their Border Patrol agents were in an SUV and that they were coming up this street. They were trying to make a U turn here. And that's when the red car stops, slammed into the back of the SUV.
However, witnesses here say that's not how things unfolded.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): They say the SUV driven by those Border Patrol agents purposely slammed on its brakes, causing the crash. DHS says its vehicle was being aggressively fouled by the red car and called those who rushed to the scene agitated.
PROKUPECZ: Their argument as well. Go mind your business.
BROOKS: The crowd was annoying. And you don't beat people up because they're annoying you.
AMANDA BROOKS, EVANSTON RESIDENT: We have a legal right to protest. We do not have a right to break the law, but we have a legal right to protest.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): From Border Patrol caravans through the streets to spot checks of landscapers, here top Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino walks the streets wearing a long gun. It's perceived intimidation. These families say they're fighting.
PROKUPECZ: The Brooks family is one of many families that is using their phone to keep an eye on where ICE could be here. And one of the things they tell us their concern is the presence of ICE outside schools like this.
DANIEL BLISS, EVANSTON, ILLINOIS MAYOR: So on Halloween, I was communicating with the superintendent. They decided, rightly, to have indoor recess, to not let kids out because it wasn't safe because of armed federal agents attacking people on the streets.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): When they spot immigration officers, like here, outside of Home Depot, they blow whistles to warn others.
SAVANNA ESSIG-FOX, PINK POSTER CLUB: We do three short whistles if we think we see ICE, and that helps to alert your neighbors.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Savannah Essek Fox and Emily Miller started Pink Poster Club. They hang flyers with information on civil rights and run a grassroots network of residents keeping tabs on ICE. Most are moms. We first met some of them in front of their local school.
BROOKS: My son, anytime one of his friends is not at school, he comes home and he says, I'm so afraid they took him away.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): When sirens go off, they check their text messages.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They say, there might be a very large park.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Amanda Brooks runs to protect kids on the playground.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People all over Chicago and Evanston hear whistle they run to them with their phones, ready to film and to witness.
PROKUPECZ: Why is this an issue for you guys right now?
ESSIG-FOX: We have white skin. You know, were born here. Like, we had -- there's a level of privilege we have. We have comfortable lives here in Evanston. Like, there is a safety that we have, and that privilege we can use to do some good.
EMILY MILLER, CO-FOUNDER, PINK POSTER CLUB: In order for me to be able to enjoy my kids and enjoy my other hobbies that I never do anymore, like reading or knitting or whatever. I can't just pretend something's not happening and go about my life.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is why. How can you live with yourself?
PROKUPECZ: Can we show your arm? Is that OK? Do you mind?
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): Jennifer Moriarty shows us the bruises on her arm, those she says she got while being detained during that confrontation on Halloween.
PROKUPECZ: What was the point of you being at the scene?
JENNIFER MORIARTY, EVANSTON RESIDENT: It just happened in front of me. Just -- I was walking with my phone out like this, about ready to hit record on the video, and then I was dropped on my back.
[01:25:00]
PROKUPECZ: Do you ever hit anyone?
MORIARTY: No.
PROKUPECZ: Did you ever threaten to?
MORIARTY: No. No.
What is wrong with you? Why would you do this?
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): She shot this video from inside the car. Her hands coughed in the front. She was able to still keep her cell phone. She was one of the three people detained that day. That's her leaning out of the vehicle as agents pinned down another person.
MORIARTY: They put us in the vehicle. They didn't frisk anybody. They didn't arrest us. They didn't Mirandize us. I had my phone in the car.
Help us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Help us, please.
MORIARTY: Open the door.
I'm surprised that they hurt the young man like they did, quite frankly.
PROKUPECZ: It was hard to see to sit there and see him.
MORIARTY: It's very hard to see his left eye. It was super black, and it was getting very large. He was very distressed.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): DHS said that man grabbed the groin of one of the agents while being arrested, though that's not evident in the videos. The man who was detained with Moriarty didn't want to talk to CNN, but in that video from inside the car, he said he didn't know what he did wrong.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was just trying to help. I didn't even do anything.
MORIARTY: Neither did I.
PROKUPECZ: How long did they hold you guys?
MORIARTY: Five hours. And most of that was driving around.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stupid mother --
MORIARTY: Shut up, dude. You are shameful.
We were kidnapped. Absolutely. Absolutely. There was no arrest. It was as if to make an example, like, no one is safe.
PROKUPECZ (voice-over): The local mayor says all three were released without charges.
MORIARTY: I wasn't afraid. There was no fear for me that day. It was anger. But I'm also super enlightened and motivated by the people, the community. I mean, that was a crowd of probably 70 percent women. And these men were out there pulling their guns and trying to mace people. They're afraid of communities who are on alert.
(END VIDEEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: What a story. And, Shimon, I know you reached out repeatedly to DHS to try to get more answers on this.
PROKUPECZ: I did. Specifically, Elex, about the gun that Border Patrol agent that pointed the gun at the dad. A protestor, essentially, who was out there filming what was happening. And on multiple occasions, this Border Patrol agent pulled out his gun. The man was unarmed. He was yelling at the Border Patrol agent, as you saw.
But that was it. And we really don't have any accounting for why that agent decided to pull that gun. And on all the occasions that I reached out to the Department of Homeland Security, they ignored me. They never responded to my questions about why this happened and why this agent pulled out his gun.
MICHAELSON: Shimon Prokupecz reporting for us from New York. Thanks so much. Really appreciate it.
Outrage in the occupied West Bank after the latest attack by Israeli settlers. Palestinian authorities say Israeli settlers burned a mosque and sprayed it with racist graffiti early Thursday. Images show parts of the mosque's interior damaged by fire and glass and windows smashed.
The Israeli military says it dispatched a team to review the incident, though no suspects were identified and the case has been transferred to Israeli police.
Settler attacks on Palestinians have surged this year. A U.N. report last week described more than 260 settler attacks in October, a record high number since the U.N. began tracking incidents back in 2006.
Well, Xi was handpicked by Donald Trump and brought charges against some of his political enemies. Now a judge is hearing arguments over whether Xi even had the power to pursue those prosecutions in the first place. Details next.
And before we go, a live look at the weather radar. We're tracking the atmospheric river that's now heading towards Southern California, ready to bring heavy winds, rain and possible flooding.
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[01:33:45]
MICHAELSON: Welcome back to THE STORY IS. I'm Elex Michaelson.
Let's take a look at today's top stories.
Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro urged Americans to unite with Venezuela against further military escalation in the region.
In a CNN exclusive, Mr. Maduro called for peace and de-escalation during a youth rally in Caracas while warning the U.S. against being involved in a prolonged conflict.
The U.S. military has bolstered its firepower in the region as it carries out strikes on alleged drug trafficking vessels. The BBC has apologized to U.S. President Donald Trump over an editing
blunder in a documentary. The president's attorneys called the piece false and defamatory and threatened to sue for $1 billion.
The public broadcaster has no plans to rebroadcast the documentary and rejects that it was defamatory. Two executives have already resigned over the controversy.
Ukraine says at least one person was killed in what it called a mass attack on Kyiv. Two dozen others wounded in Russian strikes overnight, including a ten-year-old child and a pregnant woman.
Multiple buildings in the capital caught fire. Officials are warning that some areas could lose power, water and heat.
[01:34:48]
MICHAELSON: A federal judge says she'll rule within weeks on an issue that could derail the legal cases against former FBI director, James Comey and New York attorney general, Letitia James.
Defense lawyers say the acting prosecuting attorney who secured the indictments against their clients was unlawfully appointed to that post and that the charges she brought should be thrown out.
Lindsey Halligan was handpicked by Donald Trump to serve as U.S. attorney when her predecessor resigned amidst pressure to pursue legal cases against Trump's enemies.
Halligan quickly charged Comey with making a false statement to Congress and James with bank fraud. Both have pleaded not guilty.
In California, a former top aide to Governor Gavin Newsom, his former chief of staff, is facing up to 20 years in prison after being indicted on multiple federal fraud charges.
Dana Williamson is accused of bank fraud and falsifying business contracts related to pandemic-era loans. She was allegedly involved in a scheme to steal money from campaign of former secretary of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra.
CNN affiliate KCRA reports she pleaded not guilty in court on Thursday, was released on a half-million-dollar bond.
Last night here on THE STORY IS, I spoke with Gil Duran, now working as a journalist who once worked for Williamson. This is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GIL DURAN, JOURNALIST, THE NERD REICH: As someone who knew Dana for many years, who worked with her, did not have a particularly good relationship with her, full disclosure, this is not surprising to me at all.
Dana has a reputation for being reckless, for being irresponsible, and for being a bully. She was somebody who loved power and loved to abuse power.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Now a different view from Steven Maviglio. He is a California political strategist and former press secretary for then Governor Gray Davis. He's live in Sacramento.
Welcome to THE STORY IS. What is your response to Gil?
STEVEN MAVIGLIO, CALIFORNIA POLITICAL STRATEGIST: Well, you know, as he said, he didn't get along well with her. And it's unfortunate that he feels the need to pile on here maybe because he hasn't had a job in politics in a while.
But, you know, one person's bully is another person's brilliant political mind. She is known as being one of the best strategists in the state. She's got policy chops. She knows government inside out.
You know, having interviewed the three governors who work for her with very different styles, they wouldn't hire her if she wasn't the best in the business.
MICHAELSON: But aren't you a bit troubled by these charges and the fact that another co-conspirator has pled guilty already?
MAVIGLIO: Well, you know, I can't speak to the facts of the case, but I think we both know this is less about Dana and more about the rivalry between Trump and Newsom at this point.
(CROSSTALKING)
MICHAELSON: How can you say that, though?
When this case -- this case was started during the Biden administration, when he was in charge. This was not started by President Trump.
MAVIGLIO: And you're exactly right. And guess what? Dana was interviewed more than a year and a half ago. The case was dormant until the Trump weaponized DOJ and FBI came in and made it a big case again.
I mean, this thing was pretty much done and over with. They didn't find anything. Dana did not have anything to offer them. So they decided to ramp up, sending people in to handcuff her son in her house with guns like she was an armed bank robber, which was not the case here.
And just a lot of grandstanding by the Trump DOJ here.
MICHAELSON: So for the, you know, the other folks involved in this, including one who apparently pled guilty to this, was that all part of this as well?
MAVIGLIO: You know, I can't speak to the facts of the case about what other people did, but we know that Dana has pleaded not guilty. And she has the trust of the governor and the other governors she worked for because she's a straightforward talker. And she gets down to business and gets things done.
And when she says she's not guilty, I think most people believe she's not guilty.
MICHAELSON: It seems like Governor Newsom has tried to distance himself quite a bit from her in the last few days, not putting out any statement, sort of saying what you just said, saying everybody's, you know, not guilty until proven otherwise.
What do you think this does to him? I know you've been a critic of him sometimes in the past. How do you think this impacts him, as he's clearly thinking about running for president?
MAVIGLIO: You know, I think like any political figure, he's had his share of scandals already. I think this is just a blip on the radar.
You know, I think one of the reasons that we just discussed is that he's moving up in the polls. The Republicans are nervous about them. And this is one of the reasons why we're seeing the headlines about Newsom aide rather than Dana Williamson, because it's all about Trump versus Newsom.
And it's, you know, I don't think it's going to stop his rise. He's on a roll. And I think this is just going to be a blip on the radar screen.
MICHAELSON: Steven Maviglio, thank you so much for joining us live from Sacramento. Appreciate your time and perspective.
MAVIGLIO: Thank you.
[01:39:43]
MICHAELSON: THE STORY IS tech. For all you Apple fans out there with money to spend, the company just launched a new product that is raising some mixed feelings and some eyebrows.
The new Apple phone pocket sock is out in stores on Friday in an array of colors. The knitted strap was developed alongside Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake.
Your phone can fit snugly inside while you carry it over your shoulder. There are two versions - the short pocket and the long one, which can hold your AirPods, among other things.
The price -- $150 for the short one and $230 for the long one. And you know people are going to pay it.
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin has launched a landmark mission to Mars. The towering new Glenn rocket took off Thursday from Cape Canaveral, Florida after several delays. It was carrying a pair of satellites that have started their long, winding trip to the Red Planet.
Thanks for watching. I'm Elex Michaelson. We head to WORLDSPORT if you're watching internationally. And we continue with movie critic Grae Drake here in North America.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:44:55]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GLEN POWELL, ACTOR: I'm going to come back here and burn this building down. I promise.
JOSH BROLIN, ACTOR: That's the spirit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: That is the trailer for the dystopian thriller "The Running Man", releasing in the U.S. on Friday. It stars Glen Powell. So should you run to theaters to see it?
Joining me now on set is Grae Drake, a film critic for cbr.com. Grae, welcome back. Good to see you.
GRAE DRAKE, FILM CRITIC, CBR.COM: Hello.
MICHAELSON: So is this movie any good?
DRAKE: Yes. It's good.
So Glen Powell is faced with joblessness. His wife doesn't make enough money, and their baby's super sick. The only way he can come up with money is to, of course, enter a reality TV show contest where everyone in the country is trying to kill him.
So this is a Stephen King adaptation, so get ready to be bummed out basically. And what the movie has is a great cast. You got Josh Brolin, and you know, tons of other great faces. Michael Cera.
It has a like really good music. It has Glen Powell in a towel. Love that.
MICHAELSON: We see his backside.
DRAKE: Yes. Love it. A plus. But I'm not made of stone, Elex.
But what it's lacking is a little bit of fun.
With everything that's going on in the world -- things like health care, joblessness, A.I.-generated video -- I kind of got confused and I thought I was watching the news for a second.
MICHAELSON: Ok.
DRAKE: And so it -- it's still good and it's --
MICHAELSON: Yes.
DRAKE: It's a faithful adaptation. Its Edgar Wright. It's good. But I didn't -- I wasn't like, yes, "Running Man".
MICHAELSON: It wasn't great. You got to bring the fun. That's why we bring you to the news.
DRAKE: Thank you.
MICHAELSON: Meanwhile, "Now You See Me". Should we see that?
DRAKE: You should.
Now, this is "Now You See Me: Now You Don't" is the third movie in that series. It's about a bunch of magicians like Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco.
Now this time, they're joined by three new magicians. Side note all of them are also thieves.
So this movie is perfectly consistent with those other two movies. They are robbing from the rich. They're giving to the poor. Rah-rah, sis boom bah, yay magic.
It's mostly focused on CG, like these are not real sleight of hand tricks. So the nerd in me, a little frustrated, but great rainy-day watches, all three thumbs up.
MICHAELSON: Finally, George Clooney is back, right?
DRAKE: Oh, yes. Ok, brace yourself. This plot is going to be hard for you to believe. George Clooney is playing a movie star.
MICHAELSON: Ok.
DRAKE: Now, "Jay Kelly" is about to embark on his next project, but he's sort of faced with a restlessness, and he's realizing that all these choices that he's made to make his career very successful have made his life kind of empty.
And it's a relatable film overall as long as you can get past the littlest echoes of, like, well, I'm so rich and famous and sad. Now there's just a little bit of that, but it's such a great cast.
It's Adam Sandler playing his manager, Laura Dern playing his publicist, and there's a lot to like in it. You just have to get past the wah-wah rich and famous thing.
MICHAELSON: Ok. There's plenty of that in Hollywood.
So if you had to pick one of the three, which would be the one to go see?
DRAKE: I would say "Running Man" is probably the most summer fun-esque kind of movie in the fall.
MICHAELSON: But not that.
DRAKE: But not -- if you're anything like me, you're going to leave with a little bit of a stomach ache because you're like, oh, my God.
MICHAELSON: And is this "Jay Kelly" like an Oscar kind of movie for George Clooney?
DRAKE: It definitely is. I think that it's going to get a lot of attention for award season just because of that cast, and it's directed by Noah Baumbach.
You can't go wrong with his movies, and you are going to learn a little bit about yourself and a little bit about your life, whether you like it or not.
MICHAELSON: All right. Grae, that's so great.
Next week, "Wicked" is back.
DRAKE: Oh, it sure is. I'm going to show up in a witch's hat singing.
MICHAELSON: So that's the reason to join us next week on THE STORY IS.
Thanks so much for being here this week.
We'll wrap things up after this.
[01:49:17]
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MICHAELSON: THE STORY IS history in the making in Major League Baseball. Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, the unanimous winner of this year's National League MVP. It's his fourth MVP.
Look, the real star there is, though his dog, Decoy. That dog is something else. Shohei, surrounded by his wife and his family for the big award, which happened live on MLB.
Ohtani hit 55 regular season home runs, made 14 starts as a pitcher. Nobody has done that before, ever.
Just last month, he helped lead the Dodgers, most importantly to their second consecutive World Series title.
The guy they beat last year in the World Series is Aaron Judge. And he just won the MVP award in the AL for the second year in a row.
He's there with his wife and his two dogs, Gus and Penny, along with his mom. They're giving him a big hug and kiss.
Judge launched 53 home runs to go along with a league leading 331 batting average. He joins Mickey Mantle and Jimmie Foxx as the only players to ever hit at least 50 home runs and win the batting title in the same season.
[01:54:45]
MICHAELSON: The third MVP award for Judge, but unlike Ohtani, he has zero World Series rings. Sorry, Yankees fans.
In the NFL, a Patriots legend back in New England on Thursday. Rob Gronkowski named Keeper of the Light for the Thursday night football matchup with the Jets. Came a day after he signed a one-day contract to retire with the Pats.
Gronk was good luck. New England went on to dominate their division rivals, beating the Jets 27 to 14, improving their record to nine and two.
Look out. The Patriots are the best in the NFL. Drake Maye baby. Who needs Tom Brady?
Well, it is still Thursday here on the West Coast where it is World Kindness Day. And I was honored to be inducted into the Kindness Hall of Fame today.
Here is this year's class. We all were wearing our brand-new hall of fame jackets. Who needs Augusta green? Weve got teal for kindness.
The Kindness is Free movement was created by the boys and girls club of West San Gabriel Valley and East Side. It's a simple idea. They ask people to take a pledge, which basically is be kinder to everyone.
Among this year's class, comedian J.B. Smoove of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" fame and also broadcast legend Leeza Gibbons. What an honor. What an incredible day.
Thank you to everybody who's a part of that. They're going to have a big float in the Rose Parade coming up on January 1st. You can check out more at kindnessisfree.org and you and your family can take the pledge.
Thanks so much for watching. We'll see you tomorrow.
[01:56:24]
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