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The Story Is with Elex Michaelson
Savannah Guthrie Posts Video Pleading For Mother's safe return; Trump Suggests "Softer Touch" Needed On Immigration; Supreme Court Allows California's Dem-Leaning Map To Stand; Trump Says Iran's Ayatollah Should Be Very Worried; Washington Post Lays Off A Third Of Its Staff; The African Men Lured To Fight For Russia In Ukraine; African Men Lured into Fighting for Russia; EPA Chief Holds Roundtable with Victims of Palisades Fire; Quarterbacks Sam Darnold, Drake Maye Usher in New NFL Era. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired February 05, 2026 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANTONIA MORTENSEN, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: You have to say latte macchiato.
DIEGO CROSARA, CHIEF PASTRY CHEF, MARCHESI 1824: A typical breakfast in Milan is for those who have it at a pastry shop or a cafe. Naturally, coffee reigns supreme, and for us, it is accompanied by Cornetto.
MORTENSEN: Italians rarely sit unless they're planning to stay a while. The ritual usually happens al banco. It's quick, it's efficient, and it's usually over within 2, 3 sips.
If you didn't pay at the start, you settle up on your way out, usually with the exact change. And that's it. The ritual ends.
It's simple, fast and rooted in community. It's not just about drinking a coffee, but it's also about the moment it creates. And for visitors coming here, mastering it is the quickest way to feel like a local. Antonia Mortensen, CNN, Milan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks so much for watching. Stay with us. The next hour of The Story Is starts right now.
The story is tearful message.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everyone is looking for you, mommy, everywhere. We will not rest.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Today's show anchor Savannah Guthrie pleads with her mom's captor for proof of life and her safe return.
The story is California wildfires. I go one on one with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in Pacific Palisades as the federal government aims to speed up wildfire recovery.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEE ZELDIN, ADMINISTRATOR, U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY: As I look around, I'm seeing a lot of empty properties and the president wants he's motivated to want to help.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: The story is broken promises and bloody combat. CNN investigates into the tactics Russia is using to recruit African men into its armed forces.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from Los Angeles, The Story Is with Elex Michelson.
MICHAELSON: Thanks for watching. The story is. I'm Elex Michelson. First up, an emotional inter fearful plea from Today anchor Savannah Guthrie and her siblings days after their mother's apparent abduction from her home near Tucson. 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie was last seen Saturday night and remains missing.
On Wednesday, an increased law enforcement presence was seen outside her home in what the Pima County Sheriff's Office called a follow up at the property. Then came this gut wrenching video from her kids.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, TODAY SHOW HOST: Our mom is our heart and our home. She is 84 years old. Her health, her heart is fragile. She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine. She needs it to survive. She needs it not to suffer. We too have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media.
As a family, we are doing everything that we can. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Everyone is looking for you, mommy, everywhere. We will not rest.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: President Trump says he is directing all federal law enforcement to help the Guthrie family and local officials in finding Nancy Guthrie.
Joining me live now is Steve Moore, a CNN law enforcement contributor, a retired supervisory special agent with the FBI. Steve, welcome back to the story is we talked last night at this time about this -- this video. So heartbreaking to watch. Why do you think they released that? What does that tell us about what's going on behind the scenes?
STEVE MOORE, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTRIBUTOR: Well, Elex, I think what it tells me, you know, just kind of reading between the lines here, is they have determined that there is enough credibility to at least one, possibly more of the ransom notes, the ransom demands, that they felt it was worth communicating with them or at least trying to communicate with them.
I don't know if this was, I mean, we don't know exactly what was in either of those, or at least all of them. So there could be a ransom demand that we don't even know about. I mean, the only ones we know about because they were sent to public agencies. If one was sent directly to the family, it may have demanded a TikTok video or a Instagram video. You just don't know what they have that they're not talking about.
MICHAELSON: Yes, I mean, you just, you feel for everybody involved. I mean, in a situation like that, would -- would that be crafted with law enforcement, with investigators?
[01:05:02]
I mean, it seemed like the word choice was very intentional in terms of talking about her humanity, talking about specific asks.
MOORE: I think that there's no way now, I mean, we know that law enforcement is involved. We know that the FBI is heavily involved. And one thing the FBI does very well and what they've done for 100 years now is kidnappings and working kidnappings. And they have a massive institutional knowledge, and they know what needs to be communicated and they know what needs to be demanded, proof of life, things like this.
And so there is no way, at least as far as I'm concerned, that wasn't a collaborative effort between the family and the FBI.
MICHAELSON: Yes. So what we're looking at now, Steve, that's video from today. We thought that this crime scene had been processed and been cleared. And then all of a sudden the yellow tape goes up. Investigators are inside, they're walking away with bags of evidence. What does that tell you that was happening today after the scene had already been cleared?
MOORE: Well, it tells me that something likely came up from investigation they're conducting that led them right back to the home for things that maybe they hadn't picked up. And I see right now that they're carrying this out in paper, large brown paper, frequently that can be biological material. It can be clothing, things where you don't want to remove air from it.
You don't want to put it in an airtight bag or put it into something where biological material may change, may spoil things like that. So how it's even packaged is interesting.
MICHAELSON: Well, let's hope there's a positive development soon on this case. It really is something to watch that video. And Steve, if that happens, we'll check back in with you. We appreciate you joining us once again tonight. Steve Moore, thank you so much.
MOORE: Thank you.
MICHAELSON: Now, some big news when it comes to immigration. President Trump is admitting that his administration could use what he's calling a softer touch on enforcement. He spoke with NBC's Tom Llamas on Tuesday, reaffirming his focus on getting what he calls really bad criminals out of the country. But he suggested he plans to expand his law enforcement surge to five unnamed cities in the future.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM LLAMAS, NBC NEWS ANCHOR: Mr. President, speaking of Minneapolis, what did you learn?
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I learned that maybe we can use a little bit of a softer touch, but you still have to be tough. These are criminal. We're dealing with really hard criminals. But look, I've called the people, I've called the governor, I've called the mayor, spoke to him, had great conversations with them. And then I see them ranting and raving out there literally as though a call wasn't made.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: The president also said Minneapolis residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti were no angels, but he's not happy they were shot and killed by federal agents.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LLLAMAS: You mentioned Renee Good and not and Alex Pretti not being angels. Do you think any of that justified what happened to them, though?
TRUMP: No, I don't. It should have not happened. It was a very sad. To me, it was a very sad incident. Two incidents. And, you know, they mentioned the one. Now they don't mention the other. Well, I think they were both sad. And, you know who feels worse about it than anybody? The people of ICE.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Meanwhile, the Trump administration's border czar says he is starting a drawdown of personnel from Minneapolis. Tom Homan announced 700 of the roughly 3,000 federal agents will be leaving the city immediately.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM HOMAN, WHITE HOUSE BORDER CZAR: We want to get back to the normal operational footprint here. Well, that depends on the people out there putting up illegal roadblocks. That depends on people that want to intimidate and interfere and put hands on ICE officers. Tone down the rhetoric.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey welcomed Homan's announcement, but insisted he will keep pushing for a complete ICE withdrawal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR JACOB FREY, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: He's right that a softer touch has been required. The drawdown of both federal agents, as well as the implementation of body cameras is obviously a step in the right direction. That being said, the continued presence of 2,000 federal agents in a city that only has 600 police officers is still not deescalation. So we have been very clear that Operation Metro surge needs to end.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Latest polling reveals how Americans view Alex Pretti killing. In an Ipso survey, 55 percent called it excessive force. And in a Quinnipiac poll, 62 percent said it was not justified.
[01:10:06]
The Trump administration is going to new lengths to investigate its claims of voter fraud. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence says it obtained voting machines from Puerto Rico and tested them for security vulnerabilities. The office says it found extremely concerning cybersecurity and operational practices, but did not provide evidence.
Former senior U.S. intelligence official called the move amateur hour, saying it goes well beyond the office's authority or expertise.
President Trump calling again for Republicans to nationalize elections. He says he tapped Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to investigate because a lot of the cheating in elections is international cheating.
The president also defended the FBI seizure of election materials from Fulton County, Georgia, claiming they would show the true winner of the 2020 presidential vote. His allegations of widespread election fraud have been repeatedly debunked.
Supreme Court has cleared the way for California to use a new voting map that benefits Democrats. Republicans in the state claimed one of the districts was redrawn based off of race instead of politics. The court sided with the state with no voted dissents in their decision on Wednesday.
California's new map will put five House seats held by Republicans into play. The Supreme Court previously approved a redistricting effort in Texas, which also puts five seats into play that will help Republicans
Now, during that very same interview with NBC News, we've already talked about President Trump also issued a strong warning to Iran's supreme leader just days before the US And Iran are expected to hold peace talks in Oman. CNN's Kristen Holmes has more from the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Trump on Wednesday said that he had heard Iran was looking to rebuild their nuclear program and leveled a threat at the supreme leader.
LLAMAN: Should the supreme leader in Iran be worried right now?
TRUMP: I would say he should be very worried. Yeah, he should be. As you know, they're negotiating with us.
LLAMAN: I know they are, but the protesters have said, you know, where are the Americans? You promised them we would have their back. Do we still have?
TRUMP: We've had their back. And look, that country is a mess right now because of us. We went in, we wiped out their nuclear. So that's the question in the Middle East now.
HOLMES: This kind of rhetoric is the way President Trump has approached foreign policy. We also know that they have built up this armada outside of Iran and they are continuing to use the threat of U.S. military as they go into talks on Friday between U.S. officials and Iranian officials.
Now we are told that President Trump has all options on the table but right now, he is still looking to go the diplomatic route. So, of course, this again does appear to be some kind of posturing from the president similar to what we saw in Venezuela in the months leading up to the actual capturing of Maduro, using the weight of the U.S. military, the power of the United States to threaten as part of a negotiating tactic just days before these talks. Kristen Holmes, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: A nuclear weapons treaty between the U.S. and Russia is set to expire on Thursday. Russia says it's prepared to counter any potential threats. In the meantime, though, it remains open to talks.
The New Start Treaty was signed in 2010. It limits the number of long range nuclear warheads both countries can deploy. Russia says the U.S. has not responded to its proposals to extend the treaty. President Trump has previously brushed off the treaty's expiration, suggesting a better deal may eventually be done at some point.
Ukraine accuses Russia of trying to manipulate the issue to intimidate the threats of nuclear escalation to weaken support for Ukraine.
Well, Jeff Bezos is facing criticism after sweeping layoffs at the Washington Post. A look at the cuts and how the paper's executive editor is responding.
Plus, next, my conversation with EPA chief Lee Zeldin and his efforts to help wildfire victims rebuild in California. President Trump just put him in charge. He visited the disaster zone today. That's where I caught up with him. Our conversation next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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MICHAELSON: From Washington, D.C. to Atlanta, sweeping layoffs are hitting newsrooms as newspapers look to cut costs and push for profitability amid their transition to the digital age. The Atlanta Journal Constitution says it's cutting 15 percent of its staff with the headline reading the move is coming as it continues a digital transformation.
The AJC published its final print edition after 157 years just weeks ago. And the storied Washington Post announcing it has laid off about a third of its staff. CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter joins us now with more. Brian.
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST: Hey, Elex. Yes, Jeff Bezos coming under harsh criticism for his management or you might say, mismanagement of the Washington Post. On Wednesday, the Post announced sweeping layoffs, among the most severe cuts in the company's history. About one in three staffers were laid off.
I'm told about 300 staffers from the newsroom. This was affecting all sorts of sections at the Post. Sports is basically shutting down. The Metro Desk is being decimated. Many international correspondents were laid off.
And these cuts are just the latest round of cost cutting moves at The Post as it tries to move from the print age to the digital age, with digital subscriptions being the main driver of growth. But the Post is not really showing much growth at all.
It continues to shrink, and that is causing an uproar among Post staffers as well as readers, subscribers and fans of the institution.
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We heard on Wednesday from the Post Union saying maybe Bezos is not the best owner for the Post anymore at all. The Post Guild said in a statement, quote, if Bezos is no longer willing to invest in the mission that has defined this paper for generations and serve the millions who depend on Post journalism, then the Post deserves a steward that will.
But on Wednesday, I also interviewed Post editor Matt Murray, who was the public face of these layoffs. He told me he believes Bezos is still committed to the Post. Matt Murray said, quote, I can say from my perspective, Jeff is nothing but supportive of getting the house in order and being positioned for growth.
Murray called Wednesday a painful but necessary reset moment and said that Bezos is on board for a reimagining or a reinvention of the Washington Post.
Bezos clearly wants the paper to return to profitability. It's been losing tens of millions of dollars for years. But journalists at the Post are criticizing the owner's approach and they're increasingly questioning his motives, wondering if he's trying to appease the Trump administration and curry favor with President Trump, perhaps to benefit Amazon and Blue Origin, two of the businesses he famously founded.
Bezos has been silent about the Post lately, but former Post editor Marty Barron called him out on Wednesday, calling what's happened at the paper a case study and, quote, near instant self-inflicted brand destruction and blaming Bezos for turning off subscribers.
Murray told me that the Post's mission of scrutinizing people in power continues. That includes, of course, President Trump. Murray said, quote, our jobs should be reporting on Trump aggressively, without fear or favor. And that's what we're here to do.
We are continuing to do that and our brilliant staff is producing a lot of great work on that front, as you know, because we're breaking a lot of scoops.
And that's true. The Post is doing remarkable reporting every day on the politics beat and on many other beats. But the Post is also dramatically shrinking as the company says goodbye to hundreds of staffers in a severe layoff that's going to have serious implications. Elex, back to you.
MICHAELSON: We feel for all of our colleagues at the Washington Post. Up next, my conversation with EPA head Lee Zeldin.
Also coming up, you escape or you die. African men say they were forced onto the front lines to fight for Russia in Ukraine after being duped. Larry Madowo and a CNN investigation, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:26:33]
MICHAELSON: Welcome back to The Story Is. I'm Elex Michaelson. Here's a look at today's top stories. Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have made an emotional plea on social media for the safe return of their mother.
Law enforcement returned to the Tucson area home of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, who is believed to have been abducted. Response to reports of a potential ransom note, Savannah Guthrie said, quote, we want to hear from you and we are ready to listen.
President Trump is suggesting his administration could use a softer approach to immigration enforcement. The president says he wants federal agents to focus on rounding up and deporting really bad criminals. He also said he's looking at surging law enforcement in five additional cities, but he would like to be invited.
As tensions soar between the U.S. and Iran, President Trump says the Iranian supreme leader should be very concerned. He told NBC News that if Iran intends to revive its nuclear program and build new sites, quote, we're going to do very bad things to you. Iran and the U.S. are expected to hold nuclear talks in Oman on Friday.
A CNN investigation is revealing the strategies that Russia is using to lure African men into joining its army. Many are job seekers who are given rosy promises only to find themselves sent to the front lines in Ukraine with Almost no training. CNN's Larry Madowo has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is your name?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Francis.
LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This disturbing video appears to show an African recruit in the Russian army with a landmine strapped to his chest. He is being ordered to storm Ukrainian positions on the front lines. A Russian speaker hurls racist insults at the man, saying he is being used as a can opener to breach an enemy bunker.
ANNE NJERI NDARUA, MOTHER OF FRANCIS NFARUA: I didn't see it. It's so traumatizing. Francis is my son.
MADOWO (voice-over): CNN traced the man's mother to Kenya. She hasn't been able to reach her son since October 2025, but she recently received another video of him from an unknown Kenyan number.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Be careful, you guys, because people are being taken there and you end up being taken to the military and you are taken in frontline battle and there is true killings.
MADOWO (voice-over): Francis is a trained electrical engineer who was promised a civilian job in Russia, but his family says he was forced into the Russian army and to the front lines in Ukraine.
MADOWO: How long was the training?
NDARUA: Three weeks.
MADOWO They had only three weeks of military training.
NDARUA: Only three weeks of military training.
MADOWO: Had he ever been in the police or in the army in Kenya?
NDARUA: No, no, no, no.
MADOWO: Do you know where Francis is?
NDARUA: I don't know where he is. I was told he's in Ukraine, but I don't know specific whether he's there or not.
MADOWO (voice-over): Francis is among a growing number of African men currently fighting for Russia. Though exact figures are unknown. Some Africans in the Russian army glamorize their life on social media, encouraging their countrymen to join. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For those of you in Africa, in Nigeria, that want
to come and join the Russian army, it's very easy and very good. No stress.
MADOWO (voice-over): This Ghanaian man posts dance videos and brags about how much money he makes.
UNDENTIFIED MALE: My salary can feed your father, can feed your mother, can for you family, for like, two years, three years, my salary.
MADOWO: Where are you now? Can you say where you are?
[01:30:00]
MADOWO (voice-over): CNN spoke to a dozen African fighters currently on the front lines in Ukraine. They described being forced into a deadly war, racism from Russian commanders, and unpaid salaries.
Many say they were made to sign military contracts in Russian without lawyers or translation.
Nearly all told CNN they were desperate to escape, but felt trapped. Patrick Kwoba is one of the lucky few. He has made it back to Nairobi after escaping the Russian military. He is still carrying shrapnel in his body from a Ukrainian drone ambush.
PATRICK KWOBA, KENYAN INJURED IN UKRAINE (through translator): It hit me down here, but my food backpack saved my life. I didn't get burnt in my back because of my armor vest, but it tore my pants and burnt my buttocks and legs.
MADOWO: Patrick is a carpenter who says he was only given basic military training.
KWOBA (through translator): I asked my Russian partner for first aid, but he turned hostile.
MADOWO: So, after you've been hit by a drone --
KWOBA: Yes.
MADOWO: -- and the grenade.
KWOBA: Yes.
MADOWO: You asked for help from your partner?
KWOBA: Yes.
MADOWO: And he sent you away.
KWOBA: Yes. He want to kill me. I'd have to run, my friend.
MADOWO: Patrick fled to the Kenyan Embassy in Moscow while on leave to recover from his injury. MADOWO: So, the only way to leave is to escape?
KWOBA: You need to escape or you die. It's only two ways.
MADOWO: CNN has seen adverts, messages and recruitment documents aimed at foreign fighters. They offer Africans sign-on bonuses of $13,000, salaries up to $3,500 a month, and Russian citizenship after a year.
CHARLES NJOKI, ESCAPED FROM RUSSIAN MILITARY: They are lying to people. The money that they tell people they pay, that is not true.
MADOWO: Desperate for work and with a baby on the way, Photographer Charles Njoki signed up to the Russian army hoping to avoid active combat. He believed his skills as a drone operator would keep him at a safe distance.
Instead, Charles says he was pushed onto the front lines and was wounded by Ukrainian drone. He says a rescue team refused to come, forcing him to drink his own urine to survive.
MADOWO: You feel that the Africans were being sent to the front deliberately?
NJOKI: Yes.
MADOWO: So, you didn't get the money? You didn't get the citizenship?
NJOKI: And I am here suffering. I have an issue at my spine right now. There is some water I need to go and be removed.
MADOWO: Russian recruitment networks in Africa have gone underground after recent crackdowns, but despite growing suspicion from locals, recruits are still signing up.
Larry Madowo, CNN, Nairobi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Wow. Our thanks to Larry for that.
The Russian government has openly acknowledged recruiting foreign fighters, including Africans, to serve in its army, to fight in Ukraine, and has publicized cases in which some were granted Russian citizenship after their service.
However, Russia's defense ministry and foreign ministry did not respond to CNN's request for comment on allegations that some African recruiters were misled or coerced into fighting.
Well, a couple of weeks ago, President Trump appointed Lee Zeldin, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to oversee Californias response to last year's deadly wildfires. Today, Zeldin was in L.A. to meet with some local leaders and survivors. He did not meet with California governor Gavin Newsom, who is asking for $35 billion in federal funds.
I caught up with Zeldin one-on-one in one of those burnt-out neighborhoods.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: When you look at lots like this, what goes through your mind?
LEE ZELDIN, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ADMINISTRATOR: Each of them have a story. The first thing I see is a house that was here, lives, pictures, the sentimental stuff you lose you can't ever get back.
I think of the fact that it's been a year and the house isn't rebuilt. Makes me wonder why not?
MICHAELSON: EPA administrator Lee Zeldin visits the Pacific Palisades not long after President Trump tapped him to oversee the federal response to California's wildfires.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: During the fires we lost our house.
MICHAELSON: Zeldin and SBA administrator Kelly Loeffler meets with the victims in the disaster zone and during a roundtable discussion. Both were also here in the days following the fires.
ZELDIN: It felt apocalyptic.
MICHAELSON: More than a year later, you can still smell the smoke in the air in these lots, which still need to be rebuilt.
More than 16,000 structures burned in Californias wildfires, which started on January 7th, 2025. A year later, the Fire Survivor Network says 70 percent of fire victims are still not in their homes, many blaming insurance companies.
ZELDIN: Victims have to go through a long process producing so much information, having to relive this worst experience of their entire lives. And then at the end of the day, they're still not getting paid everything that they're owed.
[01:34:49]
MICHAELSON: Zeldin says President Trump's personal friends lost their homes and called his cell phone often to complain about red tape and rebuilding.
They call him all the time, and then he calls you.
ZELDIN: Well, you know, it's -- sometimes the president could be getting a phone call and somebody is saying that they heard from someone who heard from someone.
But it's a little bit different when somebody calls and it's a person who actually lost their property, who has not yet been able to rebuild.
MICHAELSON: California governor Gavin Newsom has asked Congress and the White House for $35 billion for federal disaster relief funding.
$35 billion for funding, right, and they say they need that money. And you say what?
ZELDIN: Yes. So a few things I would say as far as strategy. One is when you're asking for money, you ask for as little as you need. It has to pass the common-sense smell test and everything that you view as being legitimate and essential and necessary needs to actually be vetted out that way.
And in this case, you have asks at the county level, you have asks at the city level, and the governor comes in over the top and adds a whole lot of billions on top of what the locals are asking for.
And my message to the -- to the locals was -- and again, unsolicited -- is that it would be helpful for them, go through their current ask and to sort out what they view as legitimate and essential, what's needed and what's aspirational.
If you're going to come up with a massive ask that includes an aspirational, astronomical figure, it probably isn't best to bury that ask in the middle of a day that is filled up with whatever kind of, you know, quips, insults of the day you could come out with the guy who you're asking for the money from.
But, you know, that's just me, you know, as one observer from the outside.
MICHAELSON: But so you say that about Governor Newsom and obviously goes back and forth with the president. We know the president. He throws some insults out there, too. I mean, I know.
(CROSSTALKING)
ZELDIN: And the wildest thing -- I'll give you an example. I was coming out to L.A. for the first time, and I am about to board the plane. And the president calls. And he has Governor Newsom in the Oval Office.
MICHAELSON: Right. And unfortunately, I made the flight barely. And the two of them are like having this great conversation. I'm on the phone and the two of them are just hammering things out, and they're getting along and they're working through all sorts of ways to be as responsive as we can in response to the wildfires.
And then maybe the next thing you know, you open up, you know, the governor's social media or, you know, the president says something in response, and they have that back and forth.
MICHAELSON: President Trump has suggested possible conditions be placed on California's disaster aid, which has never happened before for disaster relief.
But, you know, traditionally, there's been a back and forth between leaders of different parties the president throws his insults to. And then usually they work together on disaster funding. That's certainly what happened during the first Trump administration with Newsom and Trump.
Why not now? I mean, you know, because folks here are saying we need the money. We need federal help. A lot of Republicans are saying that.
ZELDIN: Yes. So again, I would -- I would definitely if I was the governor, be going through the list and sorting out what he actually feels is essential, legitimate, necessary, and what is just.
(CROSSTALKING)
MICHAELSON: But they cut down $5 billion out of the list because at first they asked for $40 billion and then they said $35 billion.
ZELDIN: Yes. And I would also say you know it probably would be helpful to go through statewide policies because that is all over the radar from conversations I've had with members of Congress.
MICHAELSON: Zeldin says California's fire funding ultimately is not up to him.
ZELDIN: I'm not going to speak for, you know, Congress or the president as to what a final bill could look like, how much it would be, when it -- when it would pass. But I would imagine there would be intense scrutiny on the amount.
MICHAELSON: President Trump just recently signed an executive order promising federal permits to cut through red tape.
KELLY LOEFFLER, U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATOR: Essentially, President Trump's executive order helps residents bypass permitting that has been backlogged for months and months.
So if you've had a permit on file that meets the contours of the law, you can self-certify. There's two forms on the sba.gov Web site that homeowners can download and submit with their builders. Self-certify, and the check and balance on that will be inspections. So this is not a free pass to break the law.
MICHAELSON: Governor Newsom's spokesperson Tara Gallegos, described President Trump as a, quote, "old clueless idiot" who believes the state and federal government can issue local rebuilding permits and L.A. gets its water from the Pacific Northwest.
On THE STORY IS L.A. County supervisor Lindsey Horvath described it this way.
LINDSEY HORVATH, L.A. COUNTY SUPERVISOR: What we need is a federal partner in that work, not somebody who's a chaos agent.
MICHAELSON: On this visit, Zeldin met with L.A. County supervisor Kathryn Barger, a Republican, and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat.
[01:39:44]
ZELDIN: I had a really good meeting with the mayor earlier, and I thought it was nothing but productive, and it was candid conversation. I served with Mayor Bass in the House. And I want -- you know, for me,
my team, we want to work with the city, the county, the locals, the victims. We just want to be as helpful as possible.
And, you know, I feel like, you know, for example, when you have, you know, one item that shows that there's over a thousand applications that were submitted with the city that are now back with the applicant, my first thought from a constituent service standpoint is, why are all of those applications not approved and instead kick back to the applicant?
MICHAELSON: Zeldin says the Trump administration is committed to long term recovery.
ZELDIN: All I care about is that as I look -- I look at you, by the way, and I see a lot of empty sites behind you, and I want nothing else, RSVP right now, to be able to stand here with you months from now, and be able to look at just rebuilding everywhere.
And the president's a builder. He loves this. He loves the challenge of building. And as you pointed out earlier, he hears from people who live in this community who lost their homes. He wants to do it for them, for their neighbors. And whatever we can do to help.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: Let's hope so. We would love to see some rebuilding.
Our thanks to EPA administrator Lee Zeldin.
And thank you for watching THE STORY IS.
For our international viewers, WORLDSPORT is next. For our viewers here in North America, I'll be right back and we'll take you to the Super Bowl in San Francisco, check in with Andy Scholes, who checked in with both teams' starting quarterbacks.
See you in a few minutes.
[01:41:27]
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MICHAELSON: The man who planned to assassinate Donald Trump at his Florida golf course in 2024, has been sentenced to life in prison. Ryan Routh was convicted in September for plotting, stalking and lying in wait for the right moment to shoot and kill then-candidate Trump. The assassination attempt was thwarted by a Secret Service agent. The charges against Routh included attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he regrets appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington. Mr. Starmer is under fire for appointing Mandelson after his ties to Jeffrey Epstein were made public. Mandelson, who was fired last year, is now under criminal
investigation for allegedly passing government information to the late sex offender.
Other powerful people outside of government also appeared in the files, including tech giant Bill Gates. In a new interview he said he was, quote, "foolish" to spend time with Epstein and regrets even knowing him.
Gates has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing.
His ex-wife, Melinda French Gates, tells NPR she is filled with unbelievable sadness over Bill Gates' inclusion in those files. Gates adds that she hopes the victims find justice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MELINDA FRENCH GATES, FORMER WIFE OF BILL GATES: Whatever questions remain there, what I don't -- can't even begin to know all of it. Those questions are for those people and for even my ex-husband. They need to answer to those things, not me.
I'm able to take my own sadness and look at those young girls and say, my God, how did they -- how did that happen to those girls, right?
And so for me, it's just sadness. Sadness for, you know -- I've left, I had to -- I left my marriage. I had to leave my marriage. I wanted to leave my marriage. I had to leave the -- I felt I needed to eventually leave the foundation.
For me, I've been able to move on in life, and I hope there's some justice for those now women.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Good for her.
Coming up, it is a new era at quarterback in this year's Super Bowl. Ahead, the very different paths Drake Maye and Sam Darnold took to get the biggest games of their career.
We'll check in with Andy Scholes in San Francisco. We spoke to both of them today. Stay with us.
[01:47:34]
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MICHAELSON: Rescue crews evacuated more than 60 skiers on Wednesday after a gondola broke down at an upstate New York ski resort. The company that manages the mountain says the gondola experienced a quote, "non-emergency mechanical alignment matter", whatever that means.
Rangers lowered skiers down by ropes to the mountain. The operators say the gondola will return to service only when all operational and safety requirements have been met.
Pizza Hut is closing hundreds of restaurants across the U.S. The chain has been struggling in the competitive pizza market, recording another dismal quarter.
Its parent company, Yum! Brands, says Pizza Hut's same store sales dropped 3 percent in the U.S. Yum! Brands' other restaurant chains Taco Bell and KFC, have reported higher same store sales of 7 percent and 1 percent, respectively.
Of course, that will probably change after Tom Brady's commercials, where he says "hut".
Well, we are just four days away from the Super Bowl. You see a live picture right there? A game that will feature a changing of the guard at quarterback. No more Brady, no more Manning, no more Mahomes. Instead, it's a battle between a second-year pro and a man once considered a draft bust.
CNN's Andy Scholes is in the Bay Area ahead of the big game.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN WORLDSPORT: Well, Super Bowl LX here in the Bay Area may be the beginning of a new era in the NFL. This is just the second Super Bowl in the past 13 years that doesn't have one of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Patrick Mahomes playing.
Our quarterback matchup this year is Drake Maye versus Sam Darnold.
And Darnold has a story we've never seen before. He was drafted third overall by the Jets in 2018, but he was then cast off as a bust.
He actually came here to San Francisco in 2023, and he credits his time backing up Brock Purdy as one of the keys to turning his career around.
Now, no other quarterback has ever gone from bust to leading a team to a Super Bowl title. And when speaking with Darnold's teammates this week, they all told me they were so impressed with his journey.
COOPER KUPP, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS WIDE RECEIVER: For Sam, being able to do what he did and go through the early trials that he did, and be able to come back from that, it's impressive. It's really impressive. It takes a lot of mental fortitude to be able to push through those things and to be here now and do what he's done the last couple of years is it's -- there's not many people that have done it.
A.J. BARNER, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS TIGHT END: For any player in this league, like, you go through ups and downs, you have successes and failures. And to know that a guy like Sam, you know, has weathered the storm and he's playing his best ball right now.
I think it's encouraging as a player, a young player to, you know, to keep growing, keep learning, and the sky's the limit for any player that sticks to it. SCHOLES: Maye, meanwhile, had an incredible second season, throwing
for more than 4,000 yards, and at 23 years old, he would become the youngest quarterback to ever win the Super Bowl.
[01:54:46]
SCHOLES: And speaking with Maye's teammates, they told me they are just amazed at the poise and leadership he already possesses.
TREVEYON HENDERSON, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS RUNNING BACK: He's done such a great job of just leading this offense, leading his team, and being a vocal leader, but most importantly, leading by example with the work that he puts in each and every day.
When he comes to practice, he's always looking to get better and push the guys around him to get better as well.
KAYSHON BOUTTE, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS WIDE RECEIVER: He's always there for us, and it's good to have a guy like that at quarterback. We -- everybody believe in him. We know we're going to find a way at the end of the day.
CRAIG WOODSON, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS SAFETY: Just the way he carries himself, just the way that he goes about his work and trying To get better every day. Like, you know, that's something that you can just, you know, look at and be -- try to follow his footsteps.
SCHOLES: Now Maye has been with his wife Ann Michael, since they were in seventh grade. They were middle school sweethearts. And Ann Michael is a master baker. And boy do the Patriots love when she brings them some goodies.
WILL CAMPBELL, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS OFFENSIVE TACKLE: Other than Drake, I'm the taste tester, so.
SCHOLES: Yes? What's your favorite? What's the best thing she cooks?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She made some cookies the other day -- some sour -- or not sourdough -- Snickerdoodle with, like, cream cheese icing. They were good.
She brings to the O-line room all the time. So honestly, there hasn't been one thing that's been bad.
BEN BROWN, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS GUARD: Drake's brought them into the O-line room a few times so they don't last very long in there.
SCHOLES: What's the -- what's the best thing you've had?
BROWN: I think we had some kind of during Christmas. It was -- it was almost like a sugar cookie, but with like, peppermint bits in it. And I may have gotten that wrong. I don't know, I just saw it and I ate it, and it was delicious.
SCHOLES: Now, Maye will likely finish second in the MVP voting to Matthew Stafford, but we'll find out Thursday night who is the MVP, along with all of the other awards as the NFL holds their annual awards show. NFL Honors here in San Francisco at 9:00 Eastern.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: Andy Scholes, thank you.
Thank you so much for joining us. I'm Elex Michaelson. We'll see you tomorrow.
[01:56:38]
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