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The Story Is with Elex Michaelson
Backlash Over Lack of Transparency in Epstein Files; MAGA Movement Faces Civil War as Fighting Erupts; "60 Minutes" in Crisis After CBS News Abruptly Pulls Story; One-on-One with Filmmaker Behind New Chevy Chase's Documentary. Aired 11p-12a ET
Aired December 22, 2025 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[23:00:00]
ABBY PHILLIP, CNN HOST: Mariah Carey --
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ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN HOST: Good evening. I'm Elex Michaelson in Los Angeles. Laura Coates has the night off. So, I'm with you an hour early for "The Story Is," which starts right now.
"The Story Is" digging through the Epstein files. The DOJ on defense after redactions, delays, and disappearing files. Attorney for Epstein survivors, Gloria Allred, joining me live. Plus, is the attorney general about to face some consequences? House Oversight Committee's James Walkinshaw also live tonight. "The Story Is" inside the MAGA Civil War.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNKNOWN: A conservative movement is also in danger.
STEVE BANNON, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF STRATEGIST: Ben Shapiro is the farthest thing from MAGA.
TUCKER CARLSON, CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, FORMER FOX NEWS HOST: I'm like, what? This is hilarious. MICHAELSON: Can Vice President J.D. Vance keep the peace?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: "The Story Is" asking what happened to a 60-minute story pulled for broadcast and igniting backlash. Former "60 Minutes" producer Chris Whipple will join us. And "The Story Is" behind the scenes of the brand-new documentary about Chevy Chase.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNKNOWN: It's Saturday night!
MICHAELSON: The filmmaker live in studio with me tonight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from Los Angeles, "The Story Is with Elex Michaelson."
MICHAELSON: And thanks so much for being with us for our first hour of three hours tonight. There is frustration building over the incomplete and inconsistent release of the Epstein file. Some survivors feel slighted, ignored, fearful. In some cases, the DOJ's redactions go way beyond what the law calls for. Entire plate is blacked out. In others, not nearly far enough.
Just take what one Epstein survivor is telling CNN tonight. She says that she is mortified that her name appears unredacted multiple times in the files. She says she was abused by Epstein back in 2009. The woman says she tried to get DOJ to take down her name. She says, so far, she has been unsuccessful.
After releasing some files on Friday and promising more to come, not a single new file was released today. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defending it this way.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TODD BLANCHE, UNITED STATES DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: In a case like this, where we're required to produce within a certain amount of time, but also comply with other laws like redacting information, that very much Trump's redacting information, very much Trump's some deadline in the statute.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: As for the files that have come out, including those photos showing Jeffrey Epstein with celebrities, President Trump says people are getting dragged through the mud.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: A lot of people are very angry that pictures are being released of other people that really had nothing to do with Epstein, but they're in a picture with him because he was at a party. And you ruin a reputation of somebody.
Look, I don't like -- I like Bill Clinton. I've always gotten along with Bill Clinton. I've been nice to him. He has been nice to me. We've always gotten along. I respect him. I hate to see photos come out of him. But this is what the Democrats, mostly Democrats, and a couple of bad Republicans are asking for. So, they give them their photos of me, too. Everybody was friendly with this guy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Bill Clinton, as you know, does appear in several photos, but he denies any wrongdoing and has never been charged or implicated in any way with a crime. And tonight, the former president is taking it a step further. He says everything should come out, including anything related to him whatsoever.
Here's a statement that his spokesperson put out. Quote -- "What the Department of Justice has released so far, and the matter in which it did so, makes one thing clear: someone or something is being protected. We do not know whom, what or why. But we do know this: We need no such protection."
Meantime, House lawmakers are trying to figure out how to hold the DOJ accountable for slow walking the release, which some of them believe is happening. The two lawmakers at the center of the discharge petition that got us here have an idea. They say they want to take an action against Attorney General Pam Bondi.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. THOMAS MASSIE (R-KY): Quickest way and I think most expeditious way to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi.
REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA): We're building a bipartisan coalition and it would fine Pam Bondi for every day that she's not releasing these documents.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: So, in a moment, Congressman James Walkinshaw from the House Oversight Committee will join me live on the legal fight ahead. You see him there standing by. But first, the view from Jeffrey Epstein's survivors through an attorney who represents more than 20 of them.
[23:05:01]
Famed attorney Gloria Allred back with us live here. Gloria, welcome back to "The Story Is."
GLORIA ALLRED, VICTIMS' RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Thank you, Elex.
MICHAELSON: So, I want to ask you about the files themselves in a moment. But first, your reaction to what President Trump just said, that innocent people are being targeted. All of a sudden, he is very focused on Bill Clinton and photos.
ALLRED: Well, I guess maybe Bill Clinton is not one of the prominent Democrats that he wanted investigated. I don't know. I do like President Clinton's suggestion that -- put it all out there on him and put it all out there now instead of a drip, drip, drip, so to speak. And let's put it all out there with President Trump as well any photos of him and so forth.
And everybody can decide for themselves in the court of public opinion. So, I think that's an easy solution. But I'm, of course, mostly concerned about the survivors.
MICHAELSON: Right.
ALLRED: And we know that, you know, they have been harmed, they have -- you know, by Jeffrey Epstein. And some of their names have been put out there without being redacted. That was wrong. It's not compliance with the law. And a lot of the survivors feel very frustrated.
I, myself, I'm on the list to be notified by the Department of Justice. And I was notified. We provided the names of our clients who wanted to be redacted. We expected them to be redacted. And then I found out on Saturday, the names were in the published files.
MICHAELSON: Yes. So --
ALLRED: But I immediately contacted the Department of Justice. They went into action. They have a special team that deals with correcting this. And so, I would suggest any victim, first of all, or survivor who is represented by an attorney should have her attorney contact them immediately without waiting for an invitation to, you know, be asked or do want anything redacted and bring to their attention. I think they
will deal with it. I like to be fair. I'm not here for politics. I'm here for justice for my clients.
MICHAELSON: Well, sometimes, you're here for politics.
ALLRED: Oh, yeah, but not tonight.
(LAUGHTER)
MICHAELSON: So -- let's be honest.
ALLRED: Right.
MICHAELSON: So -- but the DOJ, when you reached out to them, you felt like they were responsive and they took care of it pretty quickly.
ALLRED: They were, and then they informed me that they had removed the names.
MICHAELSON: Yes. I know you've looked at a lot of this different evidence and you come from the perspective of having represented a lot of different people.
ALLRED: Yes.
MICHAELSON: And there's one photo that you find especially interesting. This was released last week. It shows a tattoo, which appears to have a line from Lo-lee-ta, the novel on it. What strikes you about this and what potentially was happening with folks that you know in Europe?
ALLRED: Yes. And I don't represent that person. I don't even know who that person is. I don't recognize her from her foot but -- or from anything that is written on her body or from the text. But I can tell you, I have represented victims from Europe. And there were also texts or emails accompanying that, suggesting that there was a recruiter who was recruiting girls or women for Jeffrey Epstein, but she wanted a thousand dollars for each one. And there are --
MICHAELSON: This is somebody separate from Ghislaine Maxwell.
ALLRED: I'm going to assume that from the context of what we saw. And in any -- I don't know what Ms. Maxwell's arrangement was with Jeffrey Epstein.
MICHAELSON: And as far as we know, this person has not been prosecuted, right?
ALLRED: The person who is allegedly recruiting or did recruit or was recruiting for Jeffrey Epstein. Girls and women in Europe, I don't know what evidence they have on her, but I do know that existed and that many young women and/or girls who were vulnerable.
And I might add, that's most girls and most women, especially young ones, were drawn in not with the thought that they were going to have to be sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein, but by some innocent explanation of what he could do for them, what kind of work they could do for him.
MICHAELSON: So, we know that Ghislaine Maxwell is being moved, right, in terms of where she is. The deputy attorney general, Todd Blanche, made the decision to put her to a lower level security. Listen to how he's describing why he did so.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLANCHE: At the time that I met Ms. Maxwell, there was a tremendous amount of scrutiny and publicity towards her and the institution she was in. She was suffering numerous and numerous threats against her life. So, the BOP is not only responsible for putting people in jail and making sure they stay in jail, but also for their safety. And so, she was moved. She is in federal prison. She was in federal prison before. She is in federal prison now. She's doing 20 years because she was convicted.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Do you buy that's the real reason?
[23:10:00] ALLRED: This is the first time I'm hearing it.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
ALLRED: Also, earlier, at some point, I remember that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, formerly the criminal defense attorney for --
MICHAELSON: President Trump.
ALLRED: -- President Trump, before he was President Trump or after he was the first time, that he said that he hadn't looked at some of the estate evidence that the Jeffrey Epstein estate had, which apparently was not at that point in the custody of the Department of Justice. And so, that's why he didn't ask certain questions.
That really is something I don't understand. I would think one of the first things that the Department of Justice would do would be to spin all of the evidence from the Epstein estate.
So, this -- look, the survivors don't want to hear it was about her safety. What about their safety? Their safety was invaded when they were sexually abused. Many of them when they are underage. Translate that to they were children who were sexually abused and/or sex trafficked --
MICHAELSON: Right.
ALLRED: -- by Jeffrey Epstein and Ms. Maxwell. So, no. Do they think that that would be a good reason? No. And they don't buy it. And a lot of people think that she's getting something special there and it's not because of safety. But we'll have to wait and see if that was really his reason.
MICHAELSON: We'll see also, like a pardon or clemency or something comes as well.
ALLRED: And that won't be -- that will not be welcomed by the survivors, for sure.
MICHAELSON: Gloria Allred, thanks for coming in. Appreciate you sharing your views.
ALLRED: My pleasure. Thank you.
MICHAELSON: So, where does Congress go from here? James Walkinshaw is a member of the House Oversight Committee, Democrat from Virginia, with us live now. Welcome to "The Story Is" for the first time.
REP. JAMES WALKINSHAW (D-VA): Thanks for having me.
MICHAELSON: Your colleagues, Congressman Ro Khanna, Democrat, Thomas Massie, Republican, believe that Attorney General Pam Bondi is not disclosing what is required by law passed by Congress. They're now considering holding her in contempt. That's rarely done on the Hill. Would you support that? WALKINSHAW: I would if the Department of Justice doesn't come into compliance with the law. Look, they were violating the law on Friday when they failed to release the full files. They're violating the law on Saturday, Sunday. Today is Monday. If they continue to violate the law when Congress returns in January, I think that's something we absolutely have to pursue.
And it's important to note that in the House of Representatives, both inherent contempt and impeachment are privileged motions, which means Speaker Johnson would not be able to prevent a vote on the floor for either of those measures.
So, if I were a Republican member of Congress close to the White House, which I'm not, but if I were, I would be calling the White House, urging them to ensure the Department of Justice comes into compliance with the law. Otherwise, they'll be facing a very uncomfortable vote in January.
MICHAELSON: I mean, speaking to your Republican colleagues, are there the votes for either of those things, contempt or impeachment, which is even higher level?
WALKINSHAW: Well, look, the legislation to release the files passed essentially unanimously in the House of Representatives. I would expect that, once again, Republican members of Congress won't want to put Donald Trump's coverup ahead and above the survivors that we're hearing from, who are frustrated and outraged by the Department of Justice's failure to comply with the law.
So, I think there would be bipartisan support for that. I think Republicans will want to avoid having to take that vote, and I hope they'll avoid it by coming out publicly and urging the White House to come into compliance with the law as quickly as possible.
MICHAELSON: Meanwhile, the DOJ facing more scrutiny after several files were taken down, re-uploaded with additional redactions. The DOJ says -- quote -- "photos and other materials will continue being reviewed and redacted consistent with the law in an abundance of caution as we receive additional information."
Do you trust the department to make proper and legal redactions? For so many years, the Department of Justice was seen really as apolitical. The administrations would not give them direction. Do you feel like that's what's happening now?
WALKINSHAW: Well, first, I want to acknowledge that there are still, of course, you know, hundreds of honorable patriots working at the Department of Justice and the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies. I wouldn't put the leadership of those departments or agencies in that category right now. So, the answer is no, I don't trust the public statements being made by the Department of Justice.
Oversight Committee Democrats have set up a whistleblower tip line. And we're urging anyone within the DOJ or the FBI who has been working hard to try to get full transparency around these files and has seen that work thwarted for whatever the motive is that the Trump administration seems to have here to come forward and blow the whistle.
[23:15:05]
And whistleblowers have legal protection under the law.
MICHAELSON: I mean, what do you think is a fair punishment if, basically, they don't do the right thing and don't follow the law? I mean, what makes the most sense to you?
WALKINSHAW: Well, I think the most effective punishment for a member of the executive branch who is openly defying a law passed by Congress and signed into law by the president of United States is probably inherent contempt with daily fines for each day that they're not in compliance with the law. Impeachment would be a higher bar and probably a more difficult bar to cross. But I think inherent contempt with daily fines until the law is complied with is probably the most effective tool that Congress has.
MICHAELSON: What do make of what Bill Clinton said in all this? Basically, let's put it all out there, I got nothing to hide. Basically, here, we call on President Trump to direct Attorney General Bondi to immediately release any remaining materials referring to mentioning or containing a photograph of Bill Clinton. That seems to be what you do when you feel like you're innocent, not what you do when you're trying to hide something.
WALKINSHAW: Yes, yes, that's right. I mean, you know, I wish that Donald Trump had been taking the same posture over the course of this year. But he spent the year doing everything in his power, continuing up until this moment, seemingly, to prevent these files from getting out. And we don't know exactly why that is.
But I've become convinced over the course of the year that there is some very specific reason that Donald Trump doesn't want the world to see what's in these files. And we might not find out today or tomorrow or next week but, ultimately, we will find out why Donald Trump doesn't want us to see the files.
MICHAELSON: Congressman, thank you for sharing your views. Happy holidays to you and your family.
WALKINSHAW: Thank you. Great to be with you.
MICHAELSON: Coming up, a MAGA war like we have never seen before, personalities picking sides, trading shots. Can J.D. Vance hold it together? Can he be peacemaker? The panel is with me next. And later, claims of censorship rock "60 Minutes" as CBS faces questions on why they pulled a story on that notorious prison in El Salvador. A pretty famous former "60 Minutes" producer will be with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[23:20:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I know some of you are discouraged by the infighting over any number of issues. Don't be discouraged. Wouldn't you rather lead a movement of free thinkers who sometimes disagree than a bunch of drones who take their orders from George Soros?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: That is Vice President J.D. Vance trying to take down the temperature a bit in the MAGA movement because right now, it has been at a fever pitch. A debate is raging. Who is MAGA? Who isn't MAGA? Is there anyone too extreme for MAGA? Those are the questions taking over Turning Point's annual AmericaFest. Vivek Ramaswamy, Ben Shapiro using the platform to speak out about rising racism and antisemitism in the conservative movement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VIVEK RAMASWAMY, FORMER 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If you call Usha Vance, the second lady of the United States of America, a jeet, you have no place in the future of the conservative movement.
BEN SHAPIRO, CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR, PODCASTER: There is a reason that Charlie Kirk despised Nick Fuentes. He knew that Nick Fuentes is an evil troll and that building him up is an act of moral imbecility. And that is precisely what Tucker Carlson did. Hosts are indeed responsible for the guests they choose and the questions they ask those guests.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Shapiro there was also taking aim at prominent conservative voices platforming proclaimed white nationalist Nick Fuentes. And those voices pushed back hard.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARLSON: Here calls for like de-platforming and denouncing people at a Charlie Kirk event. I'm like, what? This is hilarious.
BANNON: Let's face it, Ben Shapiro is the farthest thing from MAGA. Ben Shapiro is like a cancer, and that cancer spreads.
MEGYN KELLY, SIRIUSXM TALK SHOW HOST: I found it kind of funny that Ben thinks he has the power to decide who gets excommunicated from the conservative movement.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Joining me now to discuss, former Republican lieutenant governor of California, Abel Maldonado, and Sabrina Singh, a CNN political and global affairs commentator and former deputy Pentagon press secretary. Welcome to you both. Welcome to "The Story Is" for the first time. Nice to have you in the house.
SABRINA SINGH, CNN POLITICAL AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR, FORMER DEPUTY PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY: Thanks for having me.
MICHAELSON: Abel, your thoughts on the fact that Vice President Vance is not taking sides, trying to sort of be the bigger man here? Should he be? Should he be speaking out against antisemitism more forcefully?
ABEL MALDONADO, FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA: I think he has, and I think he will. But at this point in time, he's in the business of multiplication. He wants to grow the party. You saw what happened at the AmericaFest, Elex. He had 30,000 young conservatives there. And there was a straw poll. I think it was 84 percent for Vice President J.D. Vance. And he is MAGA. I mean, he's the vice president.
MICHAELSON: Meaning a presidential straw poll for the next time around because --
MALDONADO: Correct.
MICHAELSON: -- Erika Kirk who runs the whole organization said, we're going to back him. So, it probably -- that's probably pretty good endorsement, right, before they do the straw poll, right?
MALDONADO: So, you know, they do the endorsement and the straw poll. You're correct, Elex.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
MALDONADO: And when you have Erika Kirk endorsing you, obviously, it's a great sign. I think J.D. is on his -- J.D. is a very good spokesman. He's very good at what he does. And you watch him, and I'm looking forward. I mean, look, the 2026 elections, number one, that's very important. And then you go on to 2028.
MICHAELSON: Of course, we know that J.D. Vance'a wife is Indian American. And J.D. Vance sort of went after people who would attack her. We'll put this up on the screen.
[23:24:59]
Anyone who attacks my wife, whether their name is Jen Psaki or Nick Fuentes, can eat "S." You know what? That's my official policy as vice president of the United States.
That's him going against Nick Fuentes. Put that out as a statement. Didn't say that from the stage. What do you make of that?
SINGH: I mean, look, having worked for Vice President Kamala Harris in that position, when you're a person of color, I think, at such an elevated role, there is -- there is -- there is a ton of scrutiny that comes at you, and it is often quite unfair.
So, you know, of course, there is -- there is accusation or whatever it is being lobbied at Usha Vance, and that isn't fair. But also, I mean, if J.D. Vance is going to put out a statement like that, I mean, where were you also with Kamala Harris or any of the other Democrats that you're attacking, including the president of the United States going after them with baseless accusations? But I think, you know, on the larger point here, what we saw with J.D. Vance and to your point also about, you know, the straw poll endorsing him 84 percent, I think what the Republican Party is going to have to wrestle with, and particularly J.D. Vance, is this -- the Trump economy is the Vance economy. And so, if he wants to run and be the, you know, presumed nominee for the Republican Party, costs, housing costs, rent costs are an all-time high.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
SINGH: Grocery prices are an all-time high. People can afford their electricity bills. So, that's really the legacy that J.D. Vance is going to run on.
MICHAELSON: So, are you -- you know a thing or two about a vice president getting blamed --
SINGH: Yes.
MICHAELSON: --for the president's economy --
SINGH: Yes.
MICHAELSON: -- and having it sort of tank their campaign.
SINGH: It is -- it is very difficult.
MICHAELSON: Bidenomics was not favorable to Kamala Harris.
SINGH: Yes.
MICHAELSON: There was an interesting comment from Rand Paul, the senator from Kentucky, talking about J.D. Vance and where the party goes. I want to get you to respond, Abel. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. RAND PAUL (R-KY): I think there needs to be representatives in the Republican Party who still believe international trade is good, who still believe in free market capitalism, who still believe in low taxes. So, I'm going to continue to try to lead a conservative free market wing of the party, and we'll see where things lead over time.
UNKNOWN (voice-over): And that's not J.D. Vance.
PAUL: No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: I know. Rand Paul not usually afraid to say what he thinks. Look, the Republican Party is so different under Donald Trump than what it was when you probably got into it with Ronald Reagan, right?
MALDONADO: One hundred percent.
MICHAELSON: I mean, it's like a totally different party, like opposite.
MALDONADO: One hundred percent.
MICHAELSON: So, what is it the Republican Party going forward? Is this Donald Trump, Trumpism, MAGA, the way forward? Do we see it going back to the old way? And do you feel at home in that sort of Republican Party?
MALDONADO: Look at President Donald J. Trump's new party. It's a -- it's a bigger party. It brought unions, working men and women.
MICHAELSON: Oh, Reagan won 49 states. He did pretty well.
MALDONADO: But let's not forget, the African American vote, huge for Donald J. Trump. The Latino vote, huge for Donald J. Trump. And Sabrina is right, the economy is going to be the deciding factor as we go forward. But we've got three years for the economy to get better. And it's going to take some time.
Donald J. Trump and J.D. Vance inherited a really bad economy from Joe Biden. And I'm not here to blame Joe Biden for the next three years but we're going to because Barack Obama --
(LAUGHTER)
SINGH: Playbook right there.
MALDONADO: -- Barack Obama blamed George W. Bush for eight years. So, it's what it is.
SINGH: I think -- I think there was blame with the Bush administration when it came to some of the decisions made in Afghanistan and Iraq, which I think we're still reeling with today, and that was failures under multiple administrations.
MICHAELSON: So, OK, around the horn, who's the strongest Republican nominee? Who would you be most fearful to run against?
SINGH: I don't know about most fearful, but I think the strongest at this moment with the momentum is probably J.D. Vance just because of pure name I.D. and anointment from Donald Trump and Erika Kirk.
MICHAELSON: Who's the strongest Republican nominee?
MALDONADO: I think J.D. Vance hands down with Marco Rubio right beside him.
MICHAELSON: Perhaps more interesting question, who's the strongest Democratic nominee?
MALDONADO: I think the most authentic and strongest Democrat Party probably going to be AOC, to be very sincere with you. She's authentic. She's very for hard left.
MICHAELSON: That who you most want to run against? MALDONADO: Actually, I think she's got a good shot because the Democrat Party is going hard left. And she's Bernie Sanders on steroids. I mean, that's who AOC is.
MICHAELSON: Who do you think is the strongest Democratic?
SINGH: So, here's the best part of your question, is that I actually think the field has not consolidated like it has with the Republican Party. And I think that actually is a good thing for Democrats. We should not have an anointed candidate. We need a really robust primary.
As someone that went through the 2020 primary, and I know you covered it, you know, these are really tough, but you get the best candidates out of them. And so, I don't have an -- I don't have a name for you, but I know whoever emerges from that primary will be the best suited. If it's J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, whoever it is, I think we have the momentum at our back.
MICHAELSON: That's why they paid you a lot of money, to be a good political spokesperson. I like the way you skated that without answering the question but gave a really good answer.
(LAUGHTER)
SINGH: Thank you. Thank you.
MICHAELSON: Sabrina, Abel, thank you so much.
MALDONADO: Thank you, Elex.
MICHAELSON: Great to have both of you. Hope you'll be back soon. Coming up, "60 Minutes goes from covering the story to becoming the story. One of the show's own correspondents firing back over the network's decision to abruptly pull her story.
[23:30:00]
We have the scoop on what happened behind the scenes and what's going to happen next. Stay with us.
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MICHAELSON: Welcome back to "The Story Is." I'm Elex Michaelson. Let's take a look at today's top stories. A rare high-risk flood outlook issued for the L.A. area in Southern California tonight. The atmospheric river storm nicknamed the "Pineapple Express" set to hit California Tuesday afternoon. National Weather Service now upgrading parts of Southern California to high risk for excessive rainfall and flash flooding on Christmas eve.
The FDA tonight is approving a pill version of the popular weight loss drug Wegovy, making it the first oral version of a GLP-1 drug available in the U.S.
[23:35:05] The drug is typically administered through weekly injections. A second pill from drug maker Eli Lilly is also expected to be approved soon.
And time to get out those Powerball tickets. Are you the lucky person who is calling out of work tomorrow for winning the $1.6 billion jackpot? The winning numbers are 3, 18, 36, 41, 54 with a red Powerball of 7. Did somebody win? Are we going to do this again in a few days?
Growing backlash tonight after CBS News abruptly decided to pull a 60- minute segment on migrants deported by the Trump administration to a notorious mega prison in El Salvador. CBS News and editor-in-chief Bari Weiss are defending the decision, saying it needed -- quote -- "additional reporting." But the correspondent who reported the story is disputing that claim in a memo to colleagues, calling the move political and corporate censorship.
CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter has been speaking to the sources within CBS News.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHARYN ALFONSI, CBS CORRESPONDENT: I'm Sharyn Alfonsi.
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST, AUTHOR, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT FOR VANITY FAIR (voice-over): It was a report from Sharyn Alfonsi shelved by Bari Weiss that has put "60 Minutes" under the microscope again. Viewers were supposed to see this report on Sunday night. CBS released this video clip ahead of time, encouraging viewers to tune in.
ALFONSI (voice-over): The deportees thought they were headed from the U.S. back to Venezuela.
STELTER (voice-over): Alfonsi interviewed men deported by the Trump administration to a notorious maximum security prison in El Salvador.
ALFONSI: Did you think you were going to die there?
UNKNOWN (through translator): We thought we were already the living dead, honestly.
STELTER (voice-over): Alfonsi said in an internal email to her colleagues -- quote -- "These men risked their lives to speak with us." CBS put the segment to bed on Friday, but then Weiss waited on Saturday. She said the segment didn't sit right with her, sources told CNN. One of Weiss's main concerns was the lack of response from the Trump administration. She wanted someone like Stephen Miller on camera, on the record.
In an extraordinary internal memo, Alfonsi decried corporate censorship and said she had -- quote -- "asked Weiss for a call to discuss her decision. She did not afford us that courtesy/opportunity."
Alfonsi went on to say, our story was screened five times and cleared by both CBS attorneys and standards and Practices. And we requested responses to questions and/or interviews with DHS, the White House, and the State Department. Government silence, Alfonsi said, is a statement, not a veto.
And here is the key quote. "If the administration's refusal to participate becomes a valid reason to spike a story, we have effectively handed them a 'kill switch' for any reporting they find inconvenient."
Weiss criticized the story on Monday morning, telling staffers on a conference call -- quote -- "While the story presented powerful testimony of torture at CECOT, it did not advance the ball."
That comment created even more indignation inside CBS, with staffers wondering if the Trump administration is pressuring CBS parent company Paramount.
TRUMP: I beat CBS for much more money than that.
STELTER (voice-over): Trump sued CBS over "60 Minutes" last year. And the old owners of Paramount agreed to settle, stoking outrage. Then Trump praised the new owners, the Ellisons.
TRUMP: Larry Ellison is great. And his son, David, is great. They're friends of mine. Big -- they're big supporters of mine.
STELTER (voice-over): But this month, Trump has been blasting them.
TRUMP: "60 Minutes" has treated me worse under the new ownership than -- they just keep treating me. They just keep hitting me. It's crazy.
STELTER (voice-over): That comment coming just hours before Weiss intervened in the Alfonsi piece. Weiss, a New York Times opinion desk veteran, launched the free press website in 2021 and sold it to Paramount this year for $150 million. Paramount CEO David Ellison put her in charge of the CBS newsroom while she's still running her startup, causing concern that she's overstretched. Former CBS reporters like Harry Smith say Weiss is now being tested.
HARRY SMITH, FORMER CBS NEWS ANCHOR: Who does she need to please and what does she need to please? And if that's not journalism as the number one answer, then there really is a problem at CBS.
STELTER: And now, incredibly, the segment that Barry Weiss tried to shelve in the U.S. is being streamed around the world. That's because inside CBS, this report was viewed as so ready to go last Friday that CBS shipped off the finished product to one of its affiliates in Canada, network called Global T.V. On Monday, the report popped up on Global T.V.'s app and some Canadian viewers noticed it. Within hours, the video of the segment was viral, although Paramount has been trying to get some copies taken down because it is Paramount or CBS copyrighted content.
But the bottom line is that the report was seen. It is being seen. And now, as a result of this CBS crisis, there's even more public interest and attention around the conditions at that prison in El Salvador. Elex?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: Brian Stelter reporting from us from New York. Thank you, Brian. I'm joined now by veteran journalist and former "60 Minutes" producer, Chris Whipple, who is also the author of that explosive new profile of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles in Vanity Fair, which has dominated media attention last week.
[23:40:02]
Chris, welcome to "The Story Is." Thank you so much for being with us. What would you make of what Sharyn --
CHRIS WHIPPLE, JOURNALIST, WRITER AT VANITY FAIR, FORMER "60 MINUTES" PRODUCER: Good to be with you.
MICHAELSON: Thank you. What do you make of what Sharyn Alfonsi said? I mean, you know, on the one hand, she is an employee, and she's calling out her boss in such a public way. Some in the White House are saying she should be fired for insubordination. What do you make of the fact that she still did this?
WHIPPLE: No, listen, I think she did exactly what she should have done. This was a train wreck. I mean, really unusual, almost unprecedented to yank a story at the last minute like that. I've seen it along with thousands of other people, thanks to that bootleg copy that the Canadians put out. It's a really strong investigative piece, squarely in the tradition of "60 Minutes."
But here's the good news: If Barry Weiss thought she was burying this story, she has done exactly the opposite. It has become a cause celebre. I think there's going to be tremendous pressure for CBS to air this. I can remember when "60 Minutes" spiked a story about a big tobacco whistleblower back in the late 90s, and that later became a movie starring Al Pacino.
I think this is going to have legs. There's going to be tremendous pressure on CBS to air it with the result that it becomes -- that it gets even more attention than it would have.
MICHAELSON: Yes. And that movie also starred Russell Crowe and led to big changes in big tobacco back in the day. Bari Weiss says the report will eventually air, but that it wasn't ready for air. Alfonsi says the segment was screened five times before being cleared by lawyers and fact checkers. As somebody who has worked there, who understands what the internal process is like, can you give us some insight on what a segment would have to go through in order to get to the point where they're literally releasing a promo of it?
WHIPPLE: Yes. I mean, it goes through a real wringer of lawyers and fact checkers and standards and practices. I went through it a lot. I went through the same process with my piece for Vanity Fair about Susie Wiles this week. They take it very seriously.
But you know what? If I were Sharyn Alfonsi, it's unclear at this point what Bari Weiss's problem is with the piece. But look, if she wants her to go and interview Stephen Miller for a White House response and Miller is willing, I would say have at it. You know, I mean, I'd like to see her confront Stephen Miller with the videotape of those former detainees talking about how they were tortured and see how he tries to justify that. I mean, that would be a great "60 Minutes" moment as far as I'm concerned.
MICHAELSON: Yes. I mean, the ratings for that, I'm sure, would be -- would be huge. I mean, give us some more insight into Stephen Miller because you did these in-depth interviews with Susie Wiles. You did 11 of them. You know, Stephen Miller is her deputy, somebody she's called like her pit bull. She told you candidly, I'll concede that we've got to look harder at our processes for deportation. It's something that she said. What did she say about immigration and what did you make of Stephen Miller and how important he is to that administration?
WHIPPLE: Well, Miller, of course, is a true believer. I mean, he is all in on the MAGA agenda. I think Susie Wiles is a different case. I think she is somebody who is totally dedicated to Donald Trump's advancements but not necessarily -- not an ideologue in the same sense that Miller is. I interviewed Miller just a couple of weeks ago and, you know, he's exactly what you would expect. I mean, he's -- he believes in the agenda.
Susie, on the other hand, was extraordinarily surprising and candid and freewheeling and unguarded in eleven interviews over eleven months, all kinds of revelations, including the fact, as you mentioned, that she had real reservations about this draconian immigration process.
And she said, look, you know, if you've got clear evidence of gang membership and a criminal background, maybe it's OK to send these guys to a terrible prison in El Salvador. But when you don't, then we've got to have some kind of due process. She didn't use those words, but she meant a much more thorough check before -- before you deport them. Well, you know, you wonder what Stephen Miller maybe thought about that comment.
[23:44:57]
And you wonder what Donald Trump thought of some of her other revelations, including the fact that she says he has an alcoholic's personality. Well, apparently, that's OK with Trump. He agrees on that one, at least.
MICHAELSON: Right. Well, the writing is fantastic. You can check it out at Vanity Fair, vanityfair.com. Chris Whipple, thank you for that piece and thank you for your insight on your "60 Minutes" experience as well. Great to talk with you.
WHIPPLE: Great to be with you. Thanks.
MICHAELSON: Coming up, comedy legend Chevy Chase like you haven't seen him before. The filmmaker who got him to open up in a brand-new documentary takes us behind the scenes. She's here live next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNKNOWN (voice-over): If you could try to look at me instead of looking directly into camera unless you --
CHEVY CHASE, COMEDIAN, ACTOR: It's hard for me.
UNKNOWN (voice-over): Why?
CHASE: Because I invented "Weekend Update," so I couldn't (ph) look in the camera.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHASE: Nobody is leaving. Nobody is walking out on this fun old- fashioned family Christmas. No, no, we're all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We're going to press on, and we're going to have the hap-hap-happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap dance with Danny (bleep).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[23:50:00]
(LAUGHTER)
MICHAELSON: The iconic scene from the holiday classic "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" starring actor and comedy legend Chevy Chase. Now, the brand-new CNN film "I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not" shines a new spotlight on the highs and lows of Chase's career.
And there's plenty of both, from his breakout on "Saturday Night Live" to becoming a box office sensation with hits like "Caddyshack" and the "Vacation" films. And it features unfiltered interviews from the man himself to collaborators like Dan Aykroyd, Goldie Hawn, Lorne Michaels. Here's a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARINA ZENOVICH, DIRECTOR, "I'M CHEVY CHASE AND YOU'RE NOT" (voice- over): I'm just trying to figure you out.
CHASE: No (bleep). It's not going to be easy for you.
ZENOVICH (voice-over): Why is it not going to be easy?
CHASE: You're not bright enough. How's that?
ZENOVICH (voice-over): Whoa.
CHASE: Well, you asked. I know you're not going to put that on the air, and I hope not. But my answer is, I'm complex, and I'm deep, and I can be hurt easily, and I react spontaneously to people who want to figure me out, as it were.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: With me now is the director of the film, the woman you just heard there, two-time Emmy winner, Marina Zenovich. Marina, welcome to "The Story Is."
ZENOVICH: Thank you.
MICHAELSON: So, why Chevy of all subjects?
ZENOVICH: Oh, my goodness. Why not? I mean, Chevy Chase is such a fascinating character. And as a documentary filmmaker, you're always looking for people who just have so many kinds of edges to them that you don't know about.
MICHAELSON: Yes. And it was really clear throughout the film that there were people in the camp of I love Chevy Chase, he's a legend, he's such a great guy. And then there were other people in the camps of he is a huge A-hole and I can't stand him. After spending so much time with him, which camp are you in?
ZENOVICH: Oh, what a great question. I have a soft spot for Chevy. I mean, I think he has been through a lot of trauma in his life. A bit of an overused word, but he really has.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
ZENOVICH: And I think he's doing his best.
MICHAELSON: Yes. And he was -- well, you get into that trauma, which I had never heard of before, that he was abused as a child and that comedy has really been a coping mechanism for him.
ZENOVICH: Totally. And he does it throughout the film. I mean, every time I tried to go deeper and deeper, he would just -- you know, he'd do a gag, he'd make a joke, he'd put me down. But I just kept going.
MICHAELSON: Were those put downs, were those real? Were those not? It was hard --
ZENOVICH: They were totally real.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
ZENOVICH: I mean, Chevy Chase was one of the hardest interviews I've ever done. But the moment he said, you're not bright enough, I was like, oh, I have my in --
(LAUGHTER)
-- because that's what I wanted. I wanted -- I wanted to get to the bottom of him. And I think this film kind of really explains him.
MICHAELSON: It's really -- it's really great. And you learned so many aspects of him. Clearly, his first two marriages didn't go great. But his third marriage has lasted, describes it as the love of his life. And this film really is a love story.
ZENOVICH: I love that you say that. It is a love story. They have a beautiful family. And how he has been able to kind of break that generational trauma and thrive in his home life is really wonderful to see.
MICHAELSON: A love story not only with his wife but with his three daughters who clearly are --
ZENOVICH: Adore him.
MICHAELSON: -- very protective of him, right?
ZENOVICH: Yes, and very protective.
MICHAELSON: So, the title, "I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not," is clearly a reference to "Saturday Night Live." That's the way he would start "Weekend Update."
ZENOVICH: Yes.
MICHAELSON: He was the first ever "Weekend Update" host on the first season of "Saturday Night Live." He became the breakout hit. He's the one who wins the Emmy. He becomes the biggest star. And then he leaves after one year.
ZENOVICH: Yes.
MICHAELSON: And he admits that was a mistake.
ZENOVICH: Yes. What was really interesting about this film and kind of exploring his career was, what does it take to sustain a career? How do you make decisions that serve you? I mean, he says in the film, I never had any plans. And you kind of see that.
(LAUGHTER)
MICHAELSON: Yes.
ZENOVICH: But, you know, he's a huge star. He starred in a lot of iconic films that people want to watch over and over again.
MICHAELSON: Yes. And some say, like -- talk about career choreography and having five-year plans, and it's clear he didn't really have a five-minute plan. It was kind of, like, let's do what's good in the moment. And you talked about his drug addiction and how that may have impacted some of that, some of his health problems as well. And he almost died, and that has impacted some of his memory. And you talked about also "Saturday Night Live" 50th anniversary. They bring everybody back.
ZENOVICH: But not everyone.
MICHAELSON: Yes. Most --
ZENOVICH: But most people. MICHAELSON: Most people back. Most of the most iconic people from "Saturday Night Live." Chevy Chase, one of the most iconic people. But he's not invited on stage to deliver a line, and that hurts for him.
ZENOVICH: It was hard. It was hard.
[23:55:00]
I was trying to negotiate that between him and Lauren (ph) and trying to get the answer as to why.
MICHAELSON: What happened?
ZENOVICH: I don't know. I mean, I think -- I think showbusiness is pretty ruthless. And for some reason, they didn't pick him to do a segment.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
ZENOVICH: So -- but he was there the first night. There was a concert, and he was there. And Jimmy Fallon, you know, called him out, but he wasn't there. He should have said live from New York at Saturday night.
MICHAELSON: Right. And he was brought up on the stage at the very end when everybody was brought up.
ZENOVICH: Yes.
MICHAELSON: Have you talked -- has Chevy seen it and what does he think of it?
ZENOVICH: He saw it. It's hard for him. I mean, after the premiere, he just -- there was a Q and A and he just said, you know, I'm vulnerable, I'm anxious. I mean, it's kind of like I'm insecure. I think he said I'm insecure, but that basically sums up what he was trying to say. It's very hard for him to watch his life. I think, you know, he said it was well-made, but it's difficult, but it's making him face some things.
MICHAELSON: Well, it's so great. And we want to encourage everybody to catch the new CNN original film. "I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not" airs on New Year's Day at 8 p.m. right here on CNN. So, you can start your morning with the Rose Parade with me out at 8 a.m. Pacific, and then you can watch "I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not" in the evening. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for being here.
ZENOVICH: Thank you.
MICHAELSON: Congratulations. It's really fantastic.
ZENOVICH: Thanks so much.
MICHAELSON: We've got another two full hours of "The Story Is" right after this. Thanks, Laura Coates, for letting me fill in for the night. I'll be back in this time slot tomorrow night as well, but more of "The Story Is" right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
