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The Story Is with Elex Michaelson
Son of Nancy Guthrie Issues Plea for Her Return; Trump Urges Congress to Pass New Voting Restrictions; U.S., Iran Began High-Stakes Nuclear Talks in the Next Hour; Global Fallout from Epstein Files Release; Anticipation Builds for Super Bowl LX; NBA Trade Deadline Ends. Aired 12-1a ET
Aired February 06, 2026 - 00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[00:00:00]
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, I'll be dancing. Yes, we'll be there. We're actually doing a post-game show from the field.
LAURA COATES, CNN ANCHOR: Really?
MICHAELSON: Andy Scholes and myself at 11:00 Eastern, 8:00 Pacific Time. So we'll be doing all the wrap-up, including talking about Bad Bunny.
What are you most excited about and what snack are you most excited to eat during your home Super Bowl party?
COATES: I am very excited. I'll be having the buffalo chicken dip, nachos and make some mojito. You know? Have a great show, Elex.
MICHAELSON: Sounds good. All right. THE STORY IS starts right now
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: THE STORY IS still missing.
CAMRON GUTHRIE, SON OF NANCY GUTHRIE: Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you.
MICHAELSON: A new plea from Nancy Guthrie's family to her potential captor.
THE STORY IS nuclear talks. Iran and the U.S. meeting within the hour. We'll talk about the new proposals on the table.
KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: President Trump is always wanting to pursue diplomacy first, but obviously it takes two to tango.
MICHAELSON: And THE STORY IS NBA trade deadline. Rachel Nichols is here to break down the winners and the losers.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: Live from Los Angeles, THE STORY IS with Elex Michaelson.
MICHAELSON: And welcome to THE STORY IS. I'm Elex Michaelson.
Five days after Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Arizona home, her family has released another desperate plea for her return. The second in as many days. This time coming from Nancy's son, the brother of NBC "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
C. GUTHRIE: I'm speaking for the Guthrie family. Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you. We haven't heard anything directly. We need you to reach out. And we need a way to communicate with you so that we can move forward. But first, we have to know that you have our mom. We want to talk to you, and we are waiting for contact.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: So far there's been no proof of life, video from a potential captor. But the sheriff fronting the investigation says he believes that Guthrie is still alive. And the sheriff is asking for patience. Investigators have released new details on the timeline of her likely abduction, and say that her doorbell camera was removed. The FBI has now issued a reward for information.
CNN's Ed Lavandera is in Tucson for us tonight.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Elex, the investigation and the search for Nancy Guthrie continues to intensify with more federal resources coming in, state resources and local resources trying to find where she might be.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAVANDERA (voice-over): The Pima County sheriff revealed key details in the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, including evidence that showed blood found on her front porch matches the 84-year-old mother and grandmother.
Investigators also laid out a timeline of her disappearance according to her family and data from digital devices, including multiple cameras in the Guthrie's home and a front door camera that is missing. On Saturday at 5:32 p.m., Nancy traveled to visit her family in an Uber. At 9:48 p.m., Nancy is dropped off at home by a family member, and then at 9:50 p.m., Nancy's garage door closes.
On Sunday at 1:47 a.m., the doorbell camera disconnects. At 2:12 a.m., the sheriff says software detects a person on camera. Then at 2:28 a.m., her pacemaker disconnects from the app on her phone. After receiving a call that morning at 11:56 a.m., the family checks on her home and finds that Nancy is missing. At 12:03 the family called 911.
The sheriff says the female Uber driver has been cleared in the case.
SHERIFF CHRIS NANOS, PIMA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: Uber car itself has a video of her, so we knew that it was in fact Nancy and what she had on and what she was wearing, all those things.
LAVANDERA: We are five days into this. Are we any closer to finding Nancy Guthrie?
NANOS: I would say we are. People are always asking, do I believe she's alive? Absolutely. That, I hope, keeps us motivated because we do know the dangers of each passing day.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): The FBI announced a $50,000 reward. But investigators say there are no suspects yet. FBI agents were on scene at Guthrie's home late Wednesday, conducting an additional search of the crime scene using detection dogs and taking bags of evidence. At the same time, Savannah Guthrie, along with her sister and brother, posted a heartbreaking video painting a loving picture of their mother.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, DAUGHTER: She is full of kindness and knowledge. Talk to her and you'll see.
ANNIE GUTHRIE, DAUGHTER: She chooses joy day after day despite having already passed through great trials of pain and grief.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): Officials say there is no evidence that reported ransom notes are legitimate, though they are still investigating, including one sent to media outlets that set today as a deadline for payment.
HEITH JANKE, FBI SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE: It was 5:00 today and then it had a second deadline after that.
[00:05:06]
So we are continuing, in a normal kidnaping case, there would be contact by now.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): The sheriff, meanwhile, says they're following the evidence to bring Nancy home again.
NANOS: Every day we're working. Something -- we're like everybody else. We're waiting for that one big break.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LAVANDERA (on-camera): Elex, the sheriff tells me that he still believes that Nancy Guthrie is out there alive and needs to be rescued. He says more than 100 tips have been called in so far, and he thinks that one of those tips, if they keep coming in, will eventually crack this case -- Elex.
MICHAELSON: Ed Lavandera for us in Tucson.
I now want to bring in CNN law enforcement contributor Steve Moore, who is a retired supervisory special FBI agent.
Steve, welcome back to THE STORY IS. Do you share the sheriff's optimism? STEVE MOORE, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTRIBUTOR: Well, I -- yes, I share
his optimism and I share his hopes that Nancy is still alive. I don't have any doubt that this case will be solved. I just would like it to be solved sooner rather than later.
MICHAELSON: What's the most important thing you learned today now that we have a better sense of the timeline?
MOORE: I think what I -- two things I learned. Number one is the FBI is taking the ransom demands seriously. They made the video with Cameron right about the time of the deadline. So they are taking it seriously. That's one thing. The other thing is, well, I just, I think going back to the house and picking out other bits of evidence is intriguing to me because the only thing that you would go back to that house for is something to identify the person or persons who did this. And I'm wondering if clothes were left behind, anything like that.
MICHAELSON: Interesting. Speaking of that ransom note, we know that Harvey Levin of TMZ received one of the ransom notes. He's read it. The FBI has also read it. CNN talked to Harvey earlier today. Here's some of that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARVEY LEVIN, TMZ GOUNDER, RECEIVED RANSON NOTE: My sense is this is -- whoever sent this letter is based in the Tucson area. And I say that because of a reference made in the letter, a sentence in the letter, it feels to me reading it that this is Tucson based.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: What do you make of that?
MOORE: Yes, no big surprise. I think it -- I think it's undoubtedly, I mean, if I had to put my house on it, I'd say, yes, it is Tucson based. This is a crime of opportunity. They didn't -- out of all the people in the world choose to extort Savannah Guthrie. What they found is that they knew somebody that was closely related to Savannah Guthrie and that gave them an opportunity. I believe this is totally based here.
The other thing like Harvey was saying, the way -- the words used, the phraseology, the grammar, those are all going to be analyzed. And it will give, it will give a lot more information than I think the kidnaper wishes.
MICHAELSON: Steve Moore, always appreciate your insights. It's really interesting. And you've been pretty much spot on throughout this entire time as we've talked to you every single night.
Steve, thank you so much.
Talk politics now. The White House, President Trump's push to change the way the country votes. He is urging Congress to pass the Save America Act, known as the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections despite the fact that it's already illegal for non-citizens to vote. The president also wants an end to almost all mail-in voting.
Meanwhile, the administration is on its third explanation for why director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was overseeing the seizure of election materials in Fulton County, Georgia. First, Gabbard said President Trump sent her. Mr. Trump said he didn't know why she was there. Now he says it was at the insistence of the attorney general, Pam Bondi.
Here's the latest White House explanation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEAVITT: Election security is essential to national security. And as the director of National Intelligence, it is a part of Miss Gabbard's role to make sure that American elections are free of foreign interference and that American elections are safe and secure. And so the ODNI director is working with the FBI on this effort, and the president wholeheartedly supports both Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard in ensuring that American elections are safe, are secure and are free of foreign intervention.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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MICHAELSON: Let's bring in our panel tonight. Elisha Krauss is a conservative commentator and op-ed writer for the "Washington Examiner." Will Rollins is a former federal prosecutor and former U.S. House candidate for the Democrats.
Welcome back to both of you.
Elisha, let's start with you.
ELISHA KRAUSS, CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR: Yes.
MICHAELSON: Do you think we need to nationalize our elections?
KRAUSS: No, I don't think we need to. I also think I agree with Senator Thune and Senator Rand Paul and other Republicans who have said, no, that's actually not what the Constitution says we should do, too. I also think that it's really important for people to understand that the headlines can seem very sensational. I think what Trump means is not send in the troops to make sure -- not the Steve Bannon proposal of sending in troops and the battalion to monitor polling places.
He wants one place that -- he wants one hub and one, the federal government to be in charge of it. But like I said, I agree with Senator Thune. He says, no, it actually is better and less likely to be hackable when we allow the states and all 50 states are doing their own thing.
MICHAELSON: Well, I mean, the Constitution literally says.
KRAUSS: Yes. MICHAELSON: That the local governments and the states run the
elections, right?
KRAUSS: Yes. Yes. And the majority of Republicans agree with the Constitution on that. I would just remind the president.
MICHAELSON: OK. Will, your thoughts on all this?
WILLIAM ROLLINS, FORMER U.S. FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: Yes. I mean, I don't, I don't think any of us want to pay for that crap either actually, right? I mean, and the Republicans used to be the party, I think, of small government and expanding the federal government into a massive role in our elections just I don't think is the right decision here. And I think you're right that in terms of the politics for him, I don't think this plays well. I think most of the electorate is focused on cost of living issues still.
KRAUSS: But I do think that we saw recent polling this past week that 71 percent of Americans do agree with voter I.D. laws. So it's a winning issue across the board. I don't know why the Democrats are pushing back on it so much.
MICHAELSON: What do you, what do you -- so you think the SAVE Act is a good idea?
KRAUSS: I do think that the SAVE Act is a good idea. The American people, the American voters say it's also a good idea. This is one of those issues that as a Republican, I'm sitting back and like, well, maybe we will do slightly better in the midterms if the Democrats keep pushing at something like this, like defunding ICE and all of these other things that really, in the long term, are going to make the American people feel less safe and secure.
MICHAELSON: I mean, you've got to show an I.D. to buy a glass of wine. You got to show an I.D. to get on an airplane. Why shouldn't you have to show an I.D. to vote?
ROLLINS: I'm not necessarily opposed to that. I think the issue is more what is the federal government prioritizing? And if you look at the data on this, all of the data shows that fraud or undocumented people voting in elections, that is infinitesimally small. So it's not a real problem. It's not that I'm opposed to it in principle. I think it's just the federal government has other priorities, and I don't think we should be looking at the 2020 Georgia election fraud allegations that have been investigated inside and out.
I think it's a massive waste of tax dollars. And I think, you know, their new theory is going to be that Greenland was trying to steal that election. And I just don't think most of the public is interested in rehashing these things that have already been litigated.
KRAUSS: Well, just like it might not be a real problem, we have to understand that voters, especially the average voter, they do what is emotionally affecting them, how they feel in their day to day life, how they feel when they go to the poll and they're like, that's weird. Elisha had to show her I.D. to get in Elex's studio. Why shouldn't I -- somebody show this to vote? Just like it's not a real problem that ICE is going around shooting rampantly American citizens, but it is a tragedy that it has happened to two of them. And clearly the president and the White House have noticed that that is tainting their image and they're shifting.
I would just, I don't know, not to give free advice to your party, but maybe Democrats should shift in this area.
MICHAELSON: Yes. Well, speaking of advice to the Democratic Party, there's something I know that caught your attention, Will. This was an op-ed by Rahm Emanuel, former mayor of Chicago, former ambassador to Japan, former White House chief of staff, maybe presidential candidate, who wrote this, that, "Trump hands Democrats a golden opportunity." This is in the "Wall Street Journal," talking about the issue of immigration, which he thinks that the president and Republicans have overplayed that issue.
But look at this section, which was particularly interesting. He says, "Democrats will have to avoid the mistake we so often make of telling people we were right all along. Smug superiority is the electoral kryptonite that gets us every time."
Do you think that the Democrats are a little too smug and a little too superior, Will?
ROLLINS: Yes, I do. As somebody who lost two elections, I can tell you firsthand that that's a problem for our brand. And look, I think the point that Rahm was making, which I agree with, is we cannot placate the far-left elements of our base. I think Elisha just made it a version of this point, too, with the way that the electorate feels about voter I.D. laws and we need to pick our battles carefully when it comes to the midterms. Right?
And I think that the president has overreached on immigration. Most Americans do want a secure border. What they don't want are massed federal agents raiding communities, deporting the dudes at Home Depot, going after nannies in parks, rounding up 5-year-olds. Americans don't want that. And they sure as hell don't want law enforcement resources targeting American citizens who are protesting, exercising their First and Second Amendment rights.
KRAUSS: There's a difference between exercising First and Second Amendment right, and breaking federal law by obstructing federal officers.
[00:15:07]
ROLLINS: Well, is that what you think Pretti was doing?
KRAUSS: I do. I think that it's a horrible tragedy. And as a CCW holder, not in California, because it's really hard to get the sheriff here to give me a license, but as a CCW holder in numerous other states, literally, I felt like the whole first day of training was like, hey, when there's law enforcement involved, maybe you shouldn't have a weapon present. We will see what happens. But he is on --
MICHAELSON: But he had a right to.
KRAUSS: He had 100 percent right to. And I've said this numerous times and so has my brother from another mother, Ben Shapiro. And I think that the language from Noem and the president and others in the administration was entirely wrong. And I think that both Renee Good and Pretti's death were completely preventable and tragic. But I think that liberals are just as responsible because they're out there stoking the flames and calling them the Gestapo and Nazis and saying, hey, guys, you need to go out there and exercise your rights.
There's a difference between exercising your right to protest, your right to go to church or right to pray, all of the things that I believe in, and actually obstructing federal officers. That's where it gets really risky and dangerous. And that is not protest.
MICHAELSON: Yes. Do you think the Democrats have a smug superiority problem?
KRAUSS: I mean, I'm a homeschooled college dropout from the bible belt, and I'm a Republican for a reason because I think that we actually kind of tend to represent the little guy. I mean, hey, now we have a billionaire in the White House, and we've had some billionaire candidates in the past, but I actually think --
MICHAELSON: We got $100 billion, $200 million ballroom, and has golden toilets.
KRAUSS: But I think that --
ROLLINS: The little guy.
KRAUSS: That part of the reason why Trump won, though, is because he could appeal to the little guy, because he didn't act like your typical billionaire, and because he was able to speak to the needs and the wants of the American people in the middle of the country and in the rust belt that said, he's a little different, and I think he's going to represent me.
MICHAELSON: He did both at the same time, while also having a TV show where he flew around in a helicopter and a private plane.
KRAUSS: It's amazing.
MICHAELSON: He in a board room --
KRAUSS: He lived the American dream while telling you I can give it to you.
MICHAELSON: And all the rest, all the rest of it.
KRAUSS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: With the tower with his name in gold at the top of it. But let's talk just to end things off. By the way, do you think Rahm Emanuel is running for president?
KRAUSS: A thousand percent.
MICHAELSON: Do you think he's running for president?
KRAUSS: Yes.
ROLLINS: That seems like it.
MICHAELSON: Certainly seemed like that. The story that people really care about this weekend is the Super Bowl, right? So we've got now this choice of two halftime shows. There's Bad Bunny, the actual halftime show, put on by the NFL, which will be largely in Spanish. And then the, quote-unquote, "all-American" halftime show being put on by Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk's group, which is going to feature Kid Rock and some other conservative performers, competing head to head. Which one are you watching?
KRAUSS: I don't know. I thought that there were four halftime shows because hasn't there always been a lingerie bowl and the puppy bowl? But, listen, I like Bad Bunny, but I also love Turning Point USA and I am a fan of the free market deciding what they do and do not want to watch.
MICHAELSON: So what do you decide?
KRAUSS: I don't know, I'm going to somebody else's house. I guess it'll be on them.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
ROLLINS: I'm part of the silent majority that has both Bad Bunny and Kid Rock on their Spotify playlist, so I will be recording both as a matter of fact, and instead I will be watching reruns of "Heated Rivalry," and I would encourage the entire country to do the same thing during the halftime show only.
MICHAELSON: Oh, my god. OK. Yes. And by the way, the idea of calling it all-American is so insulting. Puerto Rico is part of America.
KRAUSS: Well, I mean, and Bad Bunny.
MICHAELSON: And so -- and that name is ridiculous. But --
KRAUSS: Listen, I am --
MICHAELSON: There's a lot of talent on both shows.
KRAUSS: I'm one of those people that loves to listen to him on my hikes in Griffith Park, but also thought that his Grammy speech was dumb. But guess what? God bless America. We can do that.
MICHAELSON: And people from Puerto Rico are Americans.
KRAUSS: Are Americans.
MICHAELSON: Elisha, Will, thank you so much. Great conversation. Now to this, U.S. forces have struck another alleged drug trafficking
boat in the Eastern Pacific. U.S. Southern Command says two people were killed on the vessel, which it says was operated by terrorists. No U.S. personnel were harmed.
At least 119 people have now been killed in U.S. strikes on boats as part of Operation Southern Spear, which aims to curtail narcotics trafficking. Trump administration has produced little evidence that the drugs carried, or boats carried drugs.
The U.S. and Iran are about to kick off new talks on Tehran's nuclear program. But as diplomats head to the negotiating table, a massive U.S. military force is on standby. USC's top Iran expert here to talk about that live next.
Plus, the NFL just wrapped up its honor ceremony as we head into Super Bowl weekend. Rachel Nichols joins us to talk about that. That guy had a really good night. The NBA trade deadline today as well. Talk about all that coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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MICHAELSON: Live pictures right now from Oman, where it is 9:23 a.m. on Friday. In the next hour negotiations from the U.S. and Iran begin new talks aimed at resolving the standoff over Tehran's nuclear program. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian foreign minister will meet along with President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. President Trump has sent a large U.S. military force to that region.
He has told Iran's supreme leader he should, quote, "be very worried," threatening new strikes on Iran if there is no nuclear agreement. Trump quit a nuclear deal with Iran and other world powers back in 2018. That was the deal Barack Obama negotiated. Iran's supreme leader had his own warning. Any strike could lead to a regional war.
To explain what's really going on here, we are joined by Ciruce Movahedi-Lankarani, a professor of Middle East Studies at the University of Southern California, my alma mater.
Welcome to THE STORY IS, and fight on, as we like to say at USC.
[00:25:02]
CIRUCE MOVAHEDI-LANKARANI, PROFESSOR OF MIDDLE EAST STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: Thank you for having me.
MICHAELSON: So let's start with, there seems to be a debate over what to talk about.
MOVAHEDI-LANKARANI: That's correct.
MICHAELSON: What does that mean?
MOVAHEDI-LANKARANI: Yes. So on the one hand, you have the United States wants to talk about three big issues. Those are the Iran's nuclear program, its ballistic missile program, and its support for militant groups around the region. Iran, on the other hand, wants to keep the talks focused mostly or entirely on the nuclear file and have kind of carved a moat around the other two issues.
MICHAELSON: So who wins that then?
MOVAHEDI-LANKARANI: Well, that's more or less I think what they're going to be talking about tomorrow or today, as the case may be.
MICHAELSON: So the debate today is over what are we going to talk about.
MOVAHEDI-LANKARANI: More or less. Yes.
MICHAELSON: OK. You know, Iran, you said, their strategy usually in sort of negotiations is to move very, very slow.
MOVAHEDI-LANKARANI: That's true. Historically, that's been their strategy.
MICHAELSON: President Trump, as we know, kind of an impatient man, especially when he wants to get something done. How do those two things jive?
MOVAHEDI-LANKARANI: Well, that's the big question for the talks I think starting tomorrow, which is that Iran's normal strategy of kind of dragging things out and looking for small advantages is going to run into Trump's impatience. On the other hand, the president is known as something of a dealmaker. And so it could, it could work out that in the end, they will find something.
MICHAELSON: I mean, how, you know, because the president keeps threatening the, you know, we're going to do military action. We've got the troops moving to the region. How much time does he give this whole process?
MOVAHEDI-LANKARANI: There's no real way to know I think for those of us sitting outside the White House. That's going to come down to I think what he and his advisers, their prognosis for the continuation of the talks.
MICHAELSON: Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, it seems like they're at a different meeting in a different part of the world every day. Right? They're leading this. They're doing the Ukraine-Russia stuff as well. They did the Gaza deal. I mean, it's kind of amazing how they're going all over the world on all these very complicated issues, and yet they're the forefront of all of them.
MOVAHEDI-LANKARANI: They're basically, I think, should be seen as personal representatives of President Trump himself. Right? There are other negotiators involved often, but they're really there to represent the president himself. So that's why they're jetting around all over.
MICHAELSON: Meaning if you're talking to them, you know, you actually have the ear of the president.
MOVAHEDI-LANKARANI: One would hope, and I think so.
MICHAELSON: Yes. All right. It's going to be interesting to see those talks again get underway in the next hour. We will go live to the region in the next hour. But thank you so much for your insights. Thanks for coming in. Really appreciate it.
MOVAHEDI-LANKARANI: Thank you very much.
MICHAELSON: All right. Negotiators from Ukraine, Russia and the U.S. say they will meet again soon after they wrapped up two days of peace talks in Abu Dhabi. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says the next meeting will be held, quote, "in the near future." His chief of staff called the week's negotiations truly constructive.
As we just mentioned, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, who was there, says that Kyiv and Moscow each returned 157 prisoners of war to the other side. It's the first prisoner swap since last October. Witkoff also announced the U.S. and Russia have agreed to reopen a military communications channel. It had been closed since late 2021, a few months before Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine.
The U.S. Justice Department says it has released the last of the Epstein files, but fallout from the revelations in those documents is far from over. The view from Europe next here on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:33:18]
MICHAELSON: Welcome back to THE STORY IS. I'm Elex Michaelson. Let's take a look at today's top stories.
High stakes nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran are about to get started. In the next hour, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff will meet Iran's foreign minister in Oman. That's happening after President Donald Trump threatened with new strikes on Iran if it does not agree to a new nuclear deal.
President Trump wants the U.S. to negotiate a new and improved and modernized nuclear treaty with Russia, as well. The last remaining nuclear treaty between the two countries has expired, sparking fears about a nuclear arms race between the world's leading nuclear superpowers.
The son of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie issued a new video begging for her return. Camron Guthrie said, quote, "Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you." So far, there has been no proof of life. The sheriff says more than 100 tips have been received. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for key information.
Fallout from the final release of the Jeffrey Epstein files is continuing to grow. A new e-mail appears to confirm the authenticity of a photo of Britain's then Prince Andrew with Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre. She claimed that she was repeatedly forced to have sex with the prince when she was underage. Andrew has denied ever even meeting her and suggested the photo might be doctored.
But last week's file release included an e-mail to Epstein, purportedly from longtime accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, referencing that photo with Giuffre. It all comes as U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing growing pressure to step down over his former U.S. ambassador's close ties to Epstein.
[00:35:03]
Our Melissa Bell has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It was a conspiracy against me, literally, by Epstein and other people. But I think it's time now for the country to maybe get on to something else.
MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): But the rest of the world is not moving on, with the British leader now fighting for his political survival. Prime Minister Keir Starmer apologizing on Thursday to Jeffrey Epstein's victims.
KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I am sorry. Sorry for what was done to you. Sorry that so many people with power failed you.
TRUMP: It was beautifully stated. What a beautiful accent, too. I'd like to have that accent. Thank you.
PETER MANDELSON, FORMER U.K. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: My mother would be proud.
BELL (voice-over): Keir Starmer's former ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, at the center of the political firestorm.
STARMER: It had been publicly known for some time that Mandelson knew Epstein. But none of us knew the depth and the darkness of that relationship.
BELL (voice-over): London's Metropolitan Police launching a criminal probe into allegations of misconduct when Peter Mandelson was business secretary back in the late 2000s. But the prime minister's judgement is also now under scrutiny.
STARMER: I regret appointing him. If I knew then what I know now, he would never have been anywhere near government.
BELL (voice-over): Given the fallout, there is also the question of what Epstein was doing and why. The Polish government is now investigating whether Russian intelligence services may have been involved.
DONALD TUSK, POLISH PRIME MINISTER (through translator): It is highly probable that this was a premeditated operation by the Russian KGB. This so-called honey trap, a sweet bait, a trap set for the elites of the Western world, primarily the United States. BELL (voice-over): Allegations the Kremlin has dismissed as a waste of
time, even as the fallout continues, consuming also the reputations of European royalty. Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit expressing embarrassment for her close friendship with Epstein. And the former Prince Andrew further disgraced by the latest revelations and now evicted by his brother King Charles from Windsor.
Revelations that may cost Mandelson his title, too. Starmer has called for legislation that would strip the man once known as Labour's "Prince of Darkness" of his peerage, making Lord Mandelson plain old Peter.
Melissa Bell, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: New U.S. Labor statistics show that job openings sank to their lowest level since the pandemic in 2020. The number of available jobs fell in December for the third month in a row to an estimated six and a half million. That is according to the latest labor survey.
U.S. stocks closed lower on news of the weakening labor market. The Dow, the Nasdaq and the S&P all fell more than 1 percent.
More than 57 million people in the northeastern U.S. are facing another weekend of brutally cold weather. A blast of Arctic cold will send temperatures to dangerously low levels from Virginia to Maine, including Washington, Philadelphia and New York City. Wind chills will make it seem even colder as the temperatures drop on Saturday. Up to an inch or two of snow will cover parts of that region.
Up next, we check in with CNN's Andy Scholes at the Super Bowl, where he spoke to 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy today about his former backup. Plus, some big changes in the NBA as the trade deadline passes. Anthony Davis heading to a new home. We'll break all that down with Rachel Nichols right after this.
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MICHAELSON: Story of sports and a live picture from Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, where they are getting the field ready for the Super Bowl. The NFL Honors just wrapped up around the corner in San Francisco. L.A. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was named this year's Most Valuable Player. He accepted the award alongside his four daughters, who all clearly wore matching outfits. There's his wife there, Kelly.
Stafford has been in the league for 17 years, and this is the first time he's won the MVP award. He edged out Patriots quarterback Drake Maye by just one vote. Maye has been in the league for two years, so he's got some more shots. He, though, has a chance to go home with the Vince Lombardi trophy if he wins the Super Bowl. Stafford doesn't get to do that.
CNN's Andy Scholes is in San Francisco for us once again tonight with more of our coverage -- Andy.
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Well, the time for talking is now over here in the Bay Area ahead of Super Bowl LX. The Patriots and the Seahawks both meeting with the media one more time on Thursday. And Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, well, he knows all too well how to approach these final days leading up to the Super Bowl. He won three as a player for New England and says he's drawing on all those experiences with his team as we hit the home stretch.
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MIKE VRABEL, PATRIOTS HEAD COACH: Trying to be intentional with the schedule, but also just trying to keep them engaged, keep them locked in, and get them to believe that something that we do at practice today is going to come up in the game and how we handle that or how we execute that is, you know, could make the difference. And so that's how we've tried to approach all our practices is that something that you're going to do today is going to help us win now.
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SCHOLES: Now meanwhile, Sam Darnold's journey from bust to champion is almost complete.
[00:45:01]
Now, along that journey, he made a stop here in San Francisco to back up Brock Purdy in 2023, and Darnold credits that season with really helping to turn his career around. And I caught up with Purdy and I asked him, what did he see in Darnold during that season.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BROCK PURDY, 49ERS QUARTERBACK: He was awesome, man. He came in and was willing to, you know, learn from Kyle and Klay Kubiak, and Brian Griese and, you know, just his role as a backup. He did such a good job with, you know, helping me out with things. And just overall, man, like he has a great attitude. And for him to come in and learn and then go and apply it in Minnesota and now Seattle and have success. I'm really happy for him.
JAYDEN DANIELS, COMMANDERS QUARTERBACK: You got Sam has been through it all, seen a lot, stayed down and obviously he's reaping the benefits now. And 30 wins in two years is insane. So I'm happy for him. You got Drake Maye that's going out there. Second year in the league. He's putting on for our quarterback class. So I'm super happy for him.
WARREN MOON, HALL OF FAME QUARTERBACK: Both teams have two quarterbacks who you wouldn't think would be here, but they're playing their best football at the right time. So that's part of the reason why they're both here. One is an MVP candidate in Maye, and then Sam Darnold, we all know about his story and his journey. It's a great story.
(END VIDEO CLIP) SCHOLES: And that was Hall of Famer Warren Moon and Commanders star quarterback Jayden Daniels who was picked right before Drake Maye in the draft, talking about this quarterback matchup. And I spoke to both of them at the Media Center. That's where there's just hundreds of media members from all around the world in one room to talk about the Super Bowl, create content and do interviews and all kinds of athletes and celebrities come through the media center.
And one person you certainly could not miss on Thursday was the Mountain from "Game of Thrones." He was there talking about the enhanced games that he's going to be competing in in Las Vegas, where he's going to try to break his own deadlift record, lifting more than 1100 pounds. And, well, since he's not protecting Cersei Lannister anymore, I asked him if he ever considered playing some football.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAFPOR JULIUS BJORNSSON, "THE MOUNTAIN": Minutes of the Vikings reached out to me and they flew me out and make a whole costume for me, and I was there with him, the whole team. I spent like a week with him and before a game, I blew the horn and in Minnesota. And then we did the Viking clap. And I remember back then they had -- we had some talks, you know, but obviously like my focus was Strongman first and foremost.
SCHOLES: If you picked me up, how far could you throw me do you think?
BJORNSSON: That's a great question? Probably a few meters, you know?
SCHOLES: You think so?
BJORNSSON: Yes, I think so. But I'm not going to do it right now. I'm going to injure you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHOLES: Yes, I bet he could have thrown me pretty far. Now, not only did I talk the Mountain on Thursday, I met a velociraptor. So a worker from Jurassic Park was carrying around Tango. And I'm not 100 percent convinced Tango wasn't real. It was a part of the promotion from Xfinity for their Super Bowl ad that's going to air during the third quarter. Now, they actually already released that ad on social media. And I'll tell you what, I think it's one of the best Super Bowl ads of all time.
MICHAELSON: It is an amazing ad, Andy. You got Jeff Goldblum back, Sam Neill, Laura Dern, all them.
All right, let's go to the NBA now where the Dallas Mavericks have dealt big man Anthony Davis of the Washington Wizards. It was just about one year ago that the Lakers sent Davis to Dallas for Luka Doncic in one of the most surprising trades in league history. Widely seen as one of the worst trades in league history for Dallas.
Davis, known as street clothes by Charles Barkley, expected to miss several more months because of a hand injury. But maybe, maybe next year.
Joining me now here in the studio, FOX Sports analyst Rachel Nichols.
Welcome back to THE STORY IS.
Thank you, sir.
MICHAELSON: Trade deadline day is now past. It seems like this Davis deal was the biggest deal of the week.
RACHEL NICHOLS, FOX SPORTS ANALYST: It was certainly the most unexpected.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NICHOLS: But I -- kudos to the Wizards man. They got him for almost, I don't want to say almost nothing but a very low price. And I think that's really what it required for Anthony Davis to move. The Dallas Mavericks needed the salary cap space so they could start building more around Cooper Flagg. And they tried to get lots for Anthony Davis, 10-time all-star, all the stuff. But as you mentioned, the street clothes problem.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NICHOLS: He has been injured more than he has not when his time in Dallas and certainly had injuries throughout his career. So they weren't getting a lot of takers offering a lot. And Washington swooped in there and they offered him enough salary matching. And a lot of draft picks that sound good but actually aren't good, so there's two first round picks in this deal. One of them is the number 30 pick, the last pick in the draft this year. And the next one is a top 20 protected pick five years from now.
MICHAELSON: OK. And the Wizards, by the way, have been a perennial very bad team.
NICHOLS: They have.
MICHAELSON: But they now got Trae Young to, I mean, if Trae Young and Anthony Davis are healthy, big if, they could be decent next year.
NICHOLS: But again Trae Young didn't cost them that much either.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NICHOLS: Now I grew up in the Washington, D.C. area.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NICHOLS: I can tell you.
MICHAELSON: The bullets.
NICHOLS: The suffering. The suffering is real. It has been more than 40 years since this team advanced out of the second round of the playoffs.
MICHAELSON: Wow.
NICHOLS: That's how desperate. You, Mr. Laker, I'm from L.A., blah, blah, blah.
[00:50:03]
MICHAELSON: Well, let's talk about the other team. If you're in L.A. that long suffering fan base, the L.A. Clippers.
NICHOLS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: That is a suffering franchise.
NICHOLS: More fair. More fair. At least we've won a title.
MICHAELSON: Yes. James Harden, you know, he was playing on that team.
NICHOLS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: Seemed to be doing well for the team.
NICHOLS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: He was just traded to Cleveland for Darius Garland. Once again James Harden traded in the middle of the season.
NICHOLS: Yes. But it's very different from the last few stops. And both sides have said that. The last few stops James Harden has been out. He's had to fight his way out. It's been very acrimonious. A lot of fans have been upset on his way out the door.
This is a business decision on both sides. The Clippers had told James Harden, we don't even know if we're going to have you on the team next year. They never fully guaranteed his contract. If he had opted in, it would have been for a small amount of money and that probably would have been the end of his NBA career.
Instead, he had a team in Cleveland that wants him, that has a chance to advance further in the playoffs than the Clippers do, and is clearly talking to him about signing a longer term deal where both his NBA career can extend and he can get more money. So it was really kind of, I don't say it's a win-win on both sides, but it was definitely sort of something that was agreed upon on both sides that, you know, if he had other opportunities elsewhere, it was fair for him to pursue them.
MICHAELSON: Talk about the Lakers now. There has been a lot of pressure with the fan base to try to make a lot of moves, to try to get more three and the guys.
NICHOLS: Yes, there has been.
MICHAELSON: As they've said, because the fan base does not feel like this roster is good enough to compete for a championship. NICHOLS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: Not a lot of moves. They got Luke Kennard for Gabe Vincent. Luke Kennard is a very good shooter.
NICHOLS: Fantastic.
MICHAELSON: Best -- one of the best shooters in the league.
NICHOLS: I was going to say. So, look, the Lakers need two things before their championship team. They need better defense. And they need three-point shooting. They solved one of those factors. I don't know if they're going to solve the other one while LeBron James is still on the team because he's definitely a historically great defensive player. But when you're 41 years old, you're no longer a great defensive player.
Luka, not a great defensive player, Austin Reaves, not a great defensive player. So it might take until the offseason to solve that problem. But the three-point shooting, Luke Kennard is leading the league in three-point shooting. So they got the best available. He's right now shooting 50 percent, 50 percent, from three, which is unheard of as just an average. And his career average is 45 percent. So he's a great add for them.
MICHAELSON: Well, and you think about it, if you have LeBron and Luka and Austin Reaves, he's now a fourth option.
NICHOLS: He is.
MICHAELSON: So (INAUDIBLE) three pointers.
NICHOLS: Absolutely. (INAUDIBLE) Going to help their spacing.
MICHAELSON: (INAUDIBLE) He could really, really helpful.
NICHOLS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: Let's talk about the NFL tonight.
NICHOLS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: Matthew Stafford winning the MVP by one vote.
NICHOLS: Yes. I know. It's crazy.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NICHOLS: Absolutely. Oldest player to ever win MVP. An incredibly close vote but so sweet, right, with his little girls up there. And he thanked his family and just, he also did a surprise announcement while he's up there. He's a big question about whether he was going to come back next year. And he said see you, guys, next year. So that's great news for Rams fans as well. I'm very happy for him. I actually have covered Matthew since he was a high school senior.
MICHAELSON: Wow.
NICHOLS: And I've seen his evolution through time. We go back and I think this is a great honor for him and appropriate.
MICHAELSON: And it's probably not a coincidence that next year the Super Bowl is in Los Angeles.
NICHOLS: Is in Los Angeles.
MICHAELSON: So you would think he'd want to come back for that. The last time he won the Super Bowl was in Los Angeles.
NICHOLS: Absolutely.
MICHAELSON: Finally, you're about to go to the Olympics, right?
NICHOLS: I am. I'm so excited.
MICHAELSON: We can check out your coverage from Milan.
NICHOLS: Absolutely. Yes.
MICHAELSON: But Lindsey Vonn is going to be competing within the next 24 hours with a torn Achille's.
NICHOLS: I mean, such a rock star, right? You can be nothing but inspired by this woman. She has come back time and time again from injuries. She released a video today of her working out, lifting weights with her legs. This woman does not have a working ACL. It is fantastic to watch this. And she has said, she's like, look, I don't know. She was a favorite before this. She's like, look, I don't know how I'm going to finish, but I will know about myself that I went out and did it.
And I think that's just such a great message. It's sort of what the Olympics are about, right? It's to show us the best of what we can all be. And at a time like this, when there's so much division around the country.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NICHOLS: It is really nice to be able to see everyone and, you know, be able to unify under that USA flag and just see someone try to be the best they can be. That's so cool.
MICHAELSON: That is so cool. How can we check out your coverage from Milan?
NICHOLS: Yes, you can find me in a few places. I will say I am on the board of directors of USA curling. Fun fact you didn't know about me.
MICHAELSON: Wow, I didn't know that.
NICHOLS: So I will be doing a lot of curling time when I'm there and everybody should watch. It's the sport with the most hours on NBC and Peacock's coverage and a lot of fun. We've got great teams over there. So let me give a little, let me give a little cobb for curling.
MICHAELSON: You go down and do you do it?
NICHOLS: I have curled, but I'm not going to do that on camera.
MICHAELSON: OK.
NICHOLS: But it's a really fun sport and you can picture yourself doing it. And the oldest U.S. Olympian ever will be on the men's curling team.
MICHAELSON: Rachel, so much info we just got from you. Thanks.
NICHOLS: Boom, boom.
MICHAELSON: Safe travels. Have a great time.
NICHOLS: Thank you so much.
MICHAELSON: It'd be fun to follow along through your journey.
NICHOLS: Thanks.
MICHAELSON: Coming up, the Make America Healthy Again movement is targeting artificial food dyes. Still ahead, the plan to expand natural dyes while making it easier to spot artificial ones.
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[00:59:37]
MICHAELSON: It is the end of a Minute Maid Era. The popular juice brand plans to discontinue its frozen juice concentrates. Coca-Cola owns the Minute Maid brand. The company says it will be exiting the frozen can category in the coming months, and focusing on products that better match what consumers want. Minute Maid has sold frozen juices in a variety of flavors since 1946. The products will last on shelves until supplies run out.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has now approved six natural colors as food dyes. Beetroot red was just added to the list.
