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The Story Is with Elex Michaelson
Second Ransom Deadline Passes Amid Search for Nancy Guthrie; Ghislaine Maxwell Pleads the Fifth, Seeks Clemency to Clear Trump's Name; King Charles "Ready to Support" Police About Andrew Allegations; Meta and YouTube Accused of Addicting Children to Their Platforms; Battle Over DHS Funding Could Lead to Partial Shutdown; Bad Bunny Super Bowl Show Prompts Trump Ire; Learning How to Curl. Aired 12-1a ET
Aired February 10, 2026 - 00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[00:00:34]
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to THE STORY IS. I'm Elex Michaelson live from Los Angeles. Here's our top stories this hour.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON (voice-over): THE STORY IS Savannah Guthrie's plea. "Today" show host's emotional message to supporters with her mother still missing. TMZ's Harvey Levin is with us.
GHISLAINE MAXWELL, JEFFREY EPSTEIN'S ACCOMPLICE: I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence.
MICHAELSON: THE STORY IS Ghislaine Maxwell tries to negotiate a deal with the White House for her own freedom. And a look at the very different way the U.K. is dealing with the Epstein files.
And THE STORY IS Bad Bunny. New reaction to the most watched Super Bowl Halftime Show ever.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: Live from Los Angeles, THE STORY IS with Elex Michaelson.
MICHAELSON: Tonight, the top story is the search for Nancy Guthrie and a second reported ransom deadline that has now come and gone. The alleged note threatened Guthrie's life if her family did not pay $6 million in bitcoin by Monday at 5:00 p.m. local time in Arizona. Her daughter, "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie says the family is now, quote, "at an hour of desperation."
CNN's Ed Lavandera starts things off for us in Tucson -- Ed.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Elex, investigators here in Tucson say they are planning to return to the site here in Nancy Guthrie's neighborhood to continue searching and their investigation and that that could continue into tomorrow as well. This comes as we have seen a new video released by Savannah Guthrie. But the bottom line is, more than a week into this search and this investigation, there are still no signs of Nancy Guthrie.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, DAUGHTER OF NANCY GUTHRIE: We believe our mom is still out there.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): Savannah Guthrie, sitting alone, makes a direct appeal to the public for help in the search for her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, nine days after she was taken in the middle of the night from her home in Tucson, Arizona
S. GUTHRIE: We need your help. Law enforcement is working tirelessly around the clock, trying to bring her home, trying to find her. She was taken, and we don't know where.
LAVANDERA: It's been three days since the alleged kidnaper sent a second ransom note to a local TV station after demanding $6 million. The latest note did not include a deadline.
The FBI and the local sheriff's department have searched Nancy's neighborhood day and night, scouring her home, her rooftop, even an underground septic tank near her property. Searches by air and ground of the nearby foothills and desert, and still Nancy is no closer to coming home.
Savannah and her family are reaching out again, this time for more than prayers, asking people to look for their mother wherever they can.
S. GUTHRIE: No matter where you are, even if you're far from Tucson, if you see anything, if you hear anything, if there's anything at all that seems strange to you, that you report to law enforcement.
LAVANDERA: Expressing gratitude in this horrific moment as she appeals to everyone concerned about her mother's fate.
S. GUTHRIE: Thank you so much for all of the prayers, because we believe that somehow, some way she is feeling these prayers and that God is lifting her even in this moment and in this darkest place.
LAVANDERA: This is the fourth video the family has posted to social media, including two from all three of Nancy's children and one video just from her son. Previous posts were aimed at the kidnapers.
CAMRON GUTHRIE, SON OF NANCY GUTHRIE: First, we have to know that you have our mom. We want to talk to you and we are waiting for contact.
LAVANDERA: And even directly to their mom.
S. GUTHRIE: Everyone is looking for you, Mommy. Everywhere. We will not rest.
LAVANDERA: On Saturday the siblings again reached out to the potential kidnapers, offering payment.
S. GUTHRIE: We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us and we will pay.
LAVANDERA: With each message, another glimpse into this nightmare that Nancy Guthrie's family is facing, seemingly with no end in sight.
S. GUTHRIE: We are at an hour of desperation and we need your help.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LAVANDERA (on-camera): Elex tonight we have received a new statement from FBI authorities.
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In the statement, it says that the FBI is not aware of any continued communication between the Guthrie family and suspected kidnapers, nor have they been able to identify a suspect or a person of interest. This, as investigators and FBI investigators specifically, are calling for the public to continue looking for any clue that might help them find Nancy Guthrie -- Elex.
MICHAELSON: With me now is Harvey Levin, the founder of TMZ, who received a ransom note for Nancy Guthrie last week.
Harvey, let's start with this new video Savannah Guthrie put out today. How do you read her message?
HARVEY LEVIN, FOUNDER, TMZ: On the surface, it sounds to me like they have not been able to have any further contact with whoever took Nancy Guthrie, and that whatever this ransom back and forth is, it's not working. And so she is literally, or figuratively, throwing a Hail Mary and pleading with the public. Anybody who knows anything, let us know. Law enforcement is doing everything they can.
It doesn't make sense to me that if she paid this money, and we know it's $6 million, that she would make a plea like that publicly because the letter says we will return Nancy to Tucson within 12 hours of the time payment is made. So that's the nail-biting time where you sit there and really do nothing publicly. And by doing something publicly and making this plea, it's feeling to me like something went awry.
And either they didn't pay the money or they did and found out something that makes it seem like they are not going to get her back this way and frankly, you know, the only way they would have paid the money is if in that second letter, that we did not receive, but the Tucson television station received, maybe there was a new bitcoin address. But we have been checking the link we got for the bitcoin address all day and nothing was deposited.
MICHAELSON: Hey, that's a key point. So let's hammer that home. So over the weekend Savannah Guthrie and her family said we will pay. That was on Saturday. So that if they then paid on Saturday, that would start the clock. We're now past 12-hour mark and you say that bitcoin account there is no money inserted.
For a lot of people that don't really understand bitcoin or how that works, can you give a little context into that? LEVIN: Maybe a little.
MICHAELSON: Sure.
LEVIN: You know, I'm not an expert in this, but you can see it's visible what people deposit if you have the link, which we do. What is not visible is who gets the money. And from what I understand, that's virtually impossible, if not impossible to figure out which is why somebody like -- somebody like this would use bitcoin.
That last letter, the reporter from KOLD, the Tucson station, very carefully said authorities would not interpret it as a ransom note. The only air I see in between that and what seems to be obvious on its face is maybe they put a new bitcoin link in that we don't know, but it's different from the one we're looking at.
I don't know they did that. And even if they did that, if they did, and Savannah paid, I don't understand today's video.
MICHAELSON: Right. And the weekend video, the word that stuck out to me, I think to you and to a lot of people watching it, she said, we want her to be returned so that we can celebrate with her. How do you interpret that word celebrate?
LEVIN: The only thing I can think of is that word in some context was used in that second ransom note, or that second note that KOLD received, because it doesn't make sense. It's totally out of context, and it seems like she is addressing something that this person is saying. And I think that word celebrate, my guess is, it was somehow in that second e-mail.
I am confused about this whole ransom situation, that if somebody took the care to try and get this kind of money, to make it appear as if this is a kidnaping for ransom, why didn't it happen? And I think that raises questions in itself. Now, maybe it did happen, but it doesn't seem like it happened given Savannah's Instagram post today.
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MICHAELSON: And lastly, you also have sort of a better concept of the zeitgeist and people's perception and what stories click than just about anybody as well. What do you think it is about this particular story that has gripped the nation in a way that very, very few stories do?
LEVIN: Yes, I was thinking about that a lot this weekend, and look, it, you know, part of it is Savannah Guthrie is very famous. But an even bigger part is that you have this elderly woman who is going about her life, who is frail, and on the surface, it seems that she was taking taken out of her home in the dead of night. And suddenly you have this CSI like, you know, something you would see, you know, on CBS. This ransom demand, sending it to television stations. It has mystery. It is relatable because people have elderly relatives.
I think so much of this connects to people because, you know, you think about what Nancy Guthrie must have gone through in that house and what's going on now. And you see Savannah and you see the emotion. It's when you really break it down, it's unsurprising. Everybody is captivated by this.
MICHAELSON: Yes. And TMZ doing such interesting and important reporting on this every step of the way.
Harvey Levin, thank you so much.
Joining me now for more on all this is law enforcement and litigation expert Sunny Slaughter.
Sunny, thank you so much for joining us. I know you find this $6 million amount interesting. You think it could provide clues to the motive. How so?
SUNNY SLAUGHTER, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LITIGATION EXPERT: Hi, Elex. Thank you for having me. Well, one of the things, it is a very unique number. And this case is really around a lot of intrigue. And when you think about $6 million, one of the things that I have said earlier is that you need to tie in that particular conversations. This case is around something, in my opinion, someone that is familiar and familial.
So what happened in the last few months, in the last few weeks and days, around $6 million. Was there a conversation? Was there something to connect this amount of money to something that Savannah was doing or someone in the family is doing? It's a very odd and unique number. So it really does not make sense. And whether or not there's actually a ransom demand, or is there someone that is playing a game using this as a tactic to further delay whether we are in a rescue mode or recovery mode?
So there's only three yards. This ransom, the rescue and the recovery. None of it is making sense, but it is gripping the nation.
MICHAELSON: What do you think is really going on behind the scenes right now? Which are, is it?
SLAUGHTER: So unfortunately, I believe that we are in a recovery mode. If you've noticed, we have not heard anyone including Savannah and law enforcement speak any further about Nancy's medical condition. The medical condition makes her a critical and vulnerable person in addition to her age. That means she should have had medication, and if this was planned out well, then we can potentially assume that these abductors -- I think it's more than one person -- may have taken the medication with them, or they may have found out what the medication is because they are familiar and familial with her condition and had it in advance, and she is getting the medication that she needs.
Otherwise, we would have to figure out what medical conditions and what delay and what could happen to her without this medication. And we know that she needs this medication. She needs it daily. And we have not heard anything about that which makes me think, based on everything that we are talking about and doing, that she has not been retrieved yet, which means she has not been rescued. Law enforcement, the FBI put out a very unique statement and that they
have not seen anything or not -- and the family is not communicating with these individuals so the time has lapsed. It's very long and I do not think unfortunately -- I hope I'm wrong. I would love to be wrong that we are in a rescue, but we are in recovery.
[00:15:07]
But it also makes sense what Savannah is saying. They are in a desperate hour. Regardless of where we are, they want her home.
MICHAELSON: Yes, and if you're Savannah or her brother and sister, you can feel for them. And you know you would want any sign of hope that you could focus on as well.
Sunny Slaughter, thank you so much for sharing your expert perspective. We appreciate it.
SLAUGHTER: Absolutely.
MICHAELSON: And we just showed that number. It's important to show it again. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff's Department at the number on your screen. 520- 351-4900. That's 520-351-4900, or contact the FBI.
Other news now, Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted accomplice of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, refused to answer questions from the U.S. House Oversight Committee on Monday. Instead she sent a clear message to Donald Trump. Her lawyer says if the president grants her clemency, she would clear his name of any wrongdoing as it pertains to Epstein. Lawmakers asked her several questions, but were met with the same answer every time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAXWELL: I therefore invoke my right to silence under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence. I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence. I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence. I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Lawmakers on the committee are accusing Maxwell of trying to buy her clemency by refusing to testify.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JAMES WALKINSHAW (D-VA): What we did not get were any substantive answers to the questions that were asked that would advance our investigation to help us learn who were the other men involved in these crimes. To help us learn who are the others who knew about these crimes.
REP. JAMES COMER (R-KY): Her attorney said, Maxwell didn't say it, her attorney said that she would answer questions if she were granted clemency by the president.
REP. ANDY BIGGS (R-AZ): By President Trump.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Meanwhile, Congressman Thomas Massie saw unredacted versions of the Epstein files on Monday, and he tells CNN he was able to identify six men whose names were redacted when he said they shouldn't be. Massie did not rule out revealing those names himself, but is giving the Justice Department a chance to do it themselves.
Overseas Britain's King Charles says he's, quote, "ready to support police" as they investigate a report about the former Prince Andrew for, quote, "suspected misconduct in public office." The new report accuses Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of sharing confidential information with Jeffrey Epstein during his time as U.K. trade envoy.
It is the latest of multiple scandals in the U.K. since the last release of documents by the U.S. Department of Justice. Our Max Foster has more from London.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): King Charles signaling his readiness to cooperate with U.K. police in any investigation into his brother Andrew. The Epstein crisis now engulfing the palace and the U.K. parliament.
U.K. police are, quote, "assessing" reports that former Prince Andrew shared confidential information with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. E-mails suggest that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in his previous role as trade envoy sent Epstein reports in 2010 containing briefings on official government visits to Asia and investment opportunities.
Prince William breaking his silence on the Epstein affair. Ahead of a visit to Saudi Arabia, a palace spokesperson saying the Prince and Princess of Wales' thoughts remain focused on the victims. King Charles reiterated the same sentiment in a later statement, saying, "If they're approached by Thames Valley Police, we stand ready to support them as you'd expect. As was previously stated, Their Majesties' thoughts and sympathies have been and remain with the victims of any and all forms of abuse."
Andrew was stripped of his royal titles in order to leave his royal residence last year due to his ties to the late sex offender Epstein.
This photo showed Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor with Epstein's former girlfriend and convicted child sex trafficker, Ghislaine Maxwell, and Epstein survivor Virginia Giuffre, who accused Andrew of sexually assaulting her when she was just 17. He settled a civil lawsuit by Giuffre out of court in 2022. Giuffre died by suicide last April.
On January 30th, the latest tranche of Epstein documents had three undated photos showing Andrew kneeling over what appears to be a woman or girl whose face has been redacted, lying fully clothed and supine on the floor. Andrew has previously denied any wrongdoing.
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KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: He lied about that.
FOSTER (voice-over): U.K. premier Keir Starmer facing his own storm over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S. in 2024, despite knowing about his ties to the late child sex trafficker. Documents reveal that Mandelson too shared confidential information with Epstein.
STARMER: To learn that there was a cabinet minister leaking sensitive information at the height of the response to the 2008 crash is beyond infuriating. And I am as angry as the public and any member of this house. Mandelson betrayed our country, our parliament and my party.
FOSTER (voice-over): Mandelson resigned from the ruling Labour Party and the House of Lords, and is under police investigation. Calls for Starmer to step down have grown following the resignations of his top two aides, including his long-serving chief of staff who stepped down on Sunday.
ANAS SARWAR, SCOTTISH LABOUR PARTY LEADER: That's why the distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street has to change.
FOSTER (voice-over): The more we see of the Epstein files, the deeper it plunges the British establishment into crisis.
Max Foster, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: To the Olympics now, U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn is speaking out after her devastating crash at the Winter Olympics, saying, she, quote, "has no regrets over her decision to compete." Vonn was skiing Sunday in the downhill race with a completely ruptured ACL. She said in a social media post that her ACL and past injuries had nothing to do with the crash that happened in Milan that resulted in a left leg fracture that will require multiple surgeries.
She said, quote, "The only failure in life is not trying." The International Ski Federation president has also defended Vonn's decision to compete.
Just ahead a landmark case that could reshape social media protections for children. Then why the U.S. squeeze on Cuba's oil supply is causing new concerns for tourists.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This may look like house cleaning on ice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lots of folks would not even think this is a sport.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's actually one of the most strategic sports in the Olympics. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Welcome to curling.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome to curling.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: CNN meteorologist and resident curling expert Allison Chinchar gives a crash course in one of the most popular sports at the Winter Games. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:26:48]
MICHAELSON: Opening statements have begun in a landmark social media addiction trial underway right here in Los Angeles against tech giants Meta and YouTube.
CNN's Clare Duffy has more.
CLARE DUFFY, CNN TECH CORRESPONDENT: Right, Elex. We got opening statements today from lawyers for both the plaintiff and for Meta. We're expecting to get opening statement from YouTube's lawyers tomorrow.
And look, this case centers on this 20-year-old woman, Kaylee, who had a difficult upbringing. Her lawyer has said that her father was abusive, that her mother raised Kaylee and her two siblings mostly as a single mom. And Kaylee's lawyer argues that that made her a more vulnerable target for what they're calling the addictive features of these social media platforms. He pointed to features like these endlessly scrolling feeds and frequent notifications, comparing the social media platforms to digital casinos for children.
And he said that those tools, those features led Kaylee to develop mental health challenges like anxiety, body dysmorphia, and suicidal ideation. He also pointed to internal documents from both Meta and YouTube that he said pointed to the companies' efforts to attract teens and young users.
Now, Meta's lawyer is arguing that it was Kaylee's difficult childhood and not Instagram that led her to develop those mental health challenges. He shared pretrial testimony from two therapists who he said worked with Kaylee, neither of whom believed that Instagram was a major contributor to her mental health challenges. He also shared testimony from Kaylee herself, saying that Instagram served as a creative outlet, and he pointed to efforts that Meta has taken developing tools like parental controls and content restrictions in an effort to keep young users safe.
And I should say that while we are awaiting YouTube's opening statement tomorrow, the company has said that the allegations in the lawsuit are, quote, "simply not true." But there is much more to learn as this trial progresses. This is expected to last through march and we are expected to hear from executives from these companies. Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan.
As I've talked to parents who have been following this issue and asking for more accountability from these companies for years, they are really eager to hear directly from these executives about what they knew about the potential risks to children and their efforts to mitigate those risks. We do also expect to hear testimony from Kaylee herself. So lots to keep an eye on as this moves forward.
But, Elex, interesting to hear how these different parties are shaping up their arguments as this very important landmark trial gets underway.
MICHAELSON: Very interesting, Clare, and we are going to have the lead plaintiff attorney joining us live on set tomorrow night right here on THE STORY IS.
Now to this. Lyft just announced a new rideshare feature for teens. The company says that the new program will only match teen passengers with drivers who meet the highest standards, including background checks, safe driving records, and positive feedback history. Parents will be able to track their teen's location live.
The U.S. Military has struck another alleged drug trafficking boat in the Eastern Pacific. U.S. Southern Command says two people were killed. One survived Monday's strike, claiming the vessel operated by, quote, "designated terrorist organizations." At least 121 people have now been killed in U.S. strikes on suspected drug boats since September in what has become as Operation Southern Spear.
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So far, the Trump administration has given little public evidence that those killed were affiliated with cartels, or that the boats being targeted were indeed carrying drugs.
U.S. blockade on oil to Cuba was already disrupting everyday life on the island, causing major shortages. But now, it has been dealt a huge blow to Cuba's tourism industry.
Its government warns that jet fuel will not be available from about now through March 11, and that has airlines rethinking their flights.
Major U.S. carriers say their planes can carry enough fuel to get to the island and back, but Air Canada has suspended its service, saying it will still carry out ferry flights to pick up thousands of customers still in the country.
All this comes after the U.S. cut off Venezuela's oil shipments and then threatened tariffs on countries willing to export oil to Cuba.
Cuba's longtime ally, Russia, called the situation truly critical due to the U.S. chokehold and said it is trying to help.
In our next hour here on THE STORY IS we will talk with Patrick Oppmann in Cuba. Coming up here this hour, another partial government shutdown is looming as Democrats and Republicans spar over funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
A live look at Washington there and a live look here in studio. Matt Klink, Fabian Nunez here to discuss that and more. Our political panel, live when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:36:14]
SEN. CHRIS MURPHY (D-CT): They've wasted a week while we've been diligently trying to, you know, move the negotiations and the talks forward. But you know, I wish Republicans were more serious about getting -- getting a budget. We're certainly, you know, on the verge of having the department shut down.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: THE STORY IS another potential partial government shutdown that could happen as soon as Friday if lawmakers can't agree on funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
Democrats have a list of demands, including judicial warrants to apprehend suspects and a ban on masks for federal agents.
Joining me now to talk about all this and more is Republican strategist Matt Klink, owner and president of Klink Campaigns Incorporated, and Fabian Nunez, managing partner at Actum, plus, the former Democratic speaker of the California Assembly.
Gentlemen, welcome back to THE STORY IS. Great to see both of you.
FABIAN NUNEZ, MANAGING PARTNER, ACTUM: Great to see you.
MICHAELSON: Matt, let's start with you. Are we going to have a government shutdown?
MATT KLINK, OWNER AND PRESIDENT, KLINK CAMPAIGNS INC.: Probably about 90 percent probability.
MICHAELSON: Wow. Why is that?
KLINK: Well, because the Democrats are doing this to make a statement. But what they're not -- what they're not telling the American public is that ice and border control, they already have funding guaranteed for the next four years.
So, what's going to happen is, if the government closes, the TCA, the Coast Guard, FEMA, and other agencies that have very little or nothing to do with the border or immigration are going to close down.
So, all this is, is for the Democrats to make a political statement to their radical left-wing base.
MICHAELSON: Do you agree with that?
NUNEZ: No, not at all. I mean, I think this is really about the Democrats meeting the moment, responding to the crisis in which our country is in.
If you look at the things you mentioned, some of them, the demands that the Democrats are making, these are basic things. If you're law enforcement, and you want to apprehend someone, you need to go get a court order to be able to do that. The FBI does it; the CIA does it; local law enforcement does it. Why is ice --
MICHAELSON: Local. Every cop gets a judicial order before they arrest somebody?
NUNEZ: Well, no, before they -- before they go into someone's home.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NUNEZ: But the way -- the way they're operating right now is ice is operating above the law. And the question here is that -- is that the way in which they're going about conducting these operations is clear violations of rights of citizens and legal residents.
And if you look at the numbers, the vast majority of the people that they're apprehending are not hardened criminals like they say they are. That's just rhetoric. And so, I think the Democrats --
MICHAELSON: There was a -- there was a -- yes, there was a CBS story that came out today that showed only about 14 percent --
NUNEZ: Yes.
MICHAELSON: -- of the people are convicted violent criminals.
NUNEZ: And 1.7 percent are drug -- are gang members.
KLINK: But they're moving -- they're moving the goal posts.
NUNEZ: But the point -- but the point is that -- the point is that this requires a response. This requires that this is the type of thing, like, when President Trump said to the states, Hey, I want Texas to help me out here. Give me some more congressional seats, how did California respond? By putting Prop 50 on the ballot.
I think the Democrats in Congress are finally standing up for the values of this country, and I think it's the right thing to do.
KLINK: Elex, if -- if administrative warrants were good enough to apprehend illegal aliens when Bill Clinton was president, why aren't they good enough now?
The Democrats are moving the goalposts, again, to appease the radicals in their party that want open borders and no immigration enforcement. The Democrats have moved on this issue, not the Republicans.
MICHAELSON: They have moved on this issue, but the facts have also moved on this issue, and some of the optics have moved on this issue, as well.
KLINK: Well, let's look at that, though.
MICHAELSON: I mean, isn't there -- isn't there some of that?
KLINK: You talked about CBS, for example. CBS says violent criminals. That leaves out drug -- drug trafficking, criminal pornography distribution, burglary, DUI that can result in deaths, smuggling, arson.
[00:40:04]
All of these things endanger communities. We don't need these people in this country.
NUNEZ: But -- but -- but this is the rhetoric, right? The rhetoric.
KLINK: But it's true. It's not rhetoric.
NUNEZ: No. The rhetoric in apprehending the people that the government is going after, they are violating the rights of Latinos and people of color in this country.
And it's looking more and more like a type of racism --
KLINK: Not according to the courts.
NUNEZ: -- that we are -- that we are -- that we are conducting in this country against people of color.
We need to respect the rights of all people in this country. And these ice agents are operating above the law. They -- they -- they're not taught to de-escalate. They escalate.
MICHAELSON: At the same time, there is no right to be in this country illegally.
NUNEZ: No.
MICHAELSON: And shouldn't there be -- isn't there a right for citizens to have people who are here illegally, potentially, taken out of here?
NUNEZ: Yes, but that's not the -- that's not the question with ice.
KLINK: That's the whole point.
NUNEZ: That's not the question with ice.
The question with ice right now is who are they apprehending and how are they getting to the people that they claim are the actual criminals?
And how they're getting to them is by addressing a tactic that says, if you are a person of color, you're automatically under suspicion of being an undocumented person. And then, they come, and they violate your rights. It's not fair. If -- if ICE agents come to your house, Matt, and they -- without a warrant, and they go and they take a family member of yours, and they don't even tell you what they're doing. They put someone in a detention facility, which is like a concentration camp, basically. And, and then --
KLINK: Ridiculous. Flat-out ridiculous.
NUNEZ: No, it's not ridiculous.
KLINK: Yes, it is.
NUNEZ: It's what's happening in America today.
KLINK: I've visited many concentration -- ridiculous.
NUNEZ: No. This is -- this is --
KLINK: They are much better than when Barack Obama was president.
NUNEZ: This is -- this is a real --
KLINK: I will tell you that.
NUNEZ: This is a real problem in our country. And I think it's the right thing for Democrats --
KLINK: Overblown rhetoric. Overblown rhetoric.
NUNEZ: -- to stand up for this. And by the way, it's not just the Democrats. The entire country is changing their view of this.
MICHAELSON: When we say -- when we say concentration camp, you're not talking about, like, Auschwitz or something like that, which was a death camp. Right? I mean, that's --
NUNEZ: Well -- well, there's a difference. There's a difference between an extermination camp --
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NUNEZ: -- and a concentration camp.
These -- these facilities where people are apprehended are not giving their rights. They have to sleep on the floor. you have women and children having to sleep on the floor where they're taking little kids.
KLINK: You mean those pictures when Obama was president?
NUNEZ: The cruelty -- well, that was really -- that was really -- that really started with -- with Trump, by the way, when they were taking the kids and putting them in detention facilities and cages.
KLINK: Oh, OK. NUNEZ: Incidentally, this is why Trump lost his reelection the first time, because the American people did not like the fact that he was putting children in these -- in these -- in these cases.
MICHAELSON: Well, and there was COVID.
KLINK: Yes. That was --
MICHAELSON: COVID was --
KLINK: It's a little more complex than that.
MICHAELSON: COVID, that was a thing.
NUNEZ: COVID played a role, yes.
MICHAELSON: There was a lot going on in that election.
But you know, all these sort of cultural inflection points also on display this weekend with this Bad Bunny halftime performance, which became way more than a halftime performance. It became like a cultural Rorschach test, depending on different people saw that in different ways.
The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, who could be the Democratic nominee, they're calling it Happy Bad Bunny Day.
Meanwhile, President Trump, responding right afterwards on Truth Social, saying how horrible it was and how it was basically an affront to America.
And then the Turning Point USA people have a competing halftime show that has millions of viewers. What do you make of the politics of this moment?
NUNEZ: Well, I think it was a beautiful thing, in the midst of these times where Latinos and people of color in the U.S. feel under siege, that finally, we have an opportunity to be recognized in the Super Bowl and to have somebody like Bad Bunny put on such a beautiful display of love and of inclusiveness, I think is -- was very important.
Obviously, I know some people turned that off and went to a different show. And those, I think, tend to be people who had buyer's remorse, kind of post-civil -- post-Civil War buyer's remorse, because they don't like the cultural inclusiveness. They don't like diversity. They want folks to represent one America, and they don't believe in the America where others participate. They want a different type of America.
And I think this celebration was very, very powerful, because what it said to people of color in this country is, yes, we're important. Yes, we matter, and yes, we're part of the fabric of this society.
MICHAELSON: You're shaking your head. KLINK: First of all, I don't watch the Super Bowl to watch the
halftime show. That's when I reload on my food of choice and my beverage of choice. I know most of my friends do that, as well.
Look, I could -- Bad Bunny's music, it's not what I'm into at all. I don't like it. So, it wouldn't have mattered for me anyway.
I don't care that he played at halftime. What, 130 million people still saw him. So, clearly --
MICHAELSON: More.
KLINK: -- he had a captive audience.
[00:45:02]
MICHAELSON: Biggest audience in the history of the Super Bowl.
KLINK: My friends who speak Spanish, they couldn't understand him either. So, I mean, I guess it would have been nice to have subtitles. I would have liked to know what he was saying, had I watched it.
So again, much to do about nothing. Not everything in this country needs to be political.
MICHAELSON: Well, I mean, so then why did Donald Trump --
KLINK: So --
NUNEZ: By the way --
MICHAELSON: -- post about it right afterwards?
NUNEZ: By the way -- by the way --
KLINK: Well, that's -- I agree.
NUNEZ: By the way -- by the way, it's interesting, because I don't understand all the Puerto Rican slang myself, but I suppose that there were a number of people who really also speak about bilingualism now saying, hey, it's not a crime to speak Spanish.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NUNEZ: It's OK to be bilingual in this country or trilingual.
So, I think it was a very positive thing.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NUNEZ: And I think -- and I think the Super Bowl and the National Football League deserves some level of -- of gratitude for what they --
KLINK: I guarantee you that Goodell got more grief than praise today for putting Bad Bunny on it.
MICHAELSON: Well, but if you think about the NFL's mission right now is to expand into other countries, including a lot of Spanish-speaking countries, that could have been a very successful thing for him.
And it was very powerful being there, watching it, that the last message on the big screen up there was that "The only thing more powerful than hate is love," which is a great thing that, hopefully, is a bipartisan message.
Fabian, Matt, thank you both so much.
KLINK: Thank you.
NUNEZ: Thank you.
MICHAELSON: Great discussion. We always appreciate it.
NUNEZ: All right.
MICHAELSON: We'll be back with a closer look at curling. Yes, that's right. One of our CNN employees, a expert curler, teaches you what's really going on, because I have no clue. Just like he doesn't know what's going on with Bad Bunny. I don't understand curling. I need some help.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:51:18]
MICHAELSON: The U.S. and Sweden are poised to make Winter Olympics history for their countries after a thrilling day on the rink.
The Americans came back to beat the mixed doubles defending champions, Italy, on the very last delivery. The U.S. will face off against world champion Sweden in the coming hours.
Sweden's brother and sister duo defeated Great Britain, who were in top form throughout the tournament. Neither the U.S. nor Sweden has won an Olympic mixed doubles gold.
Whatever the outcome, Team USA has already made history by ensuring its first mixed doubles medal at the Winter Games.
And did you know that CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar is a curling enthusiast and actually an instructor? She gave our Victor Blackwell and Coy Wire a crash course. Be warned: it's a little more complicated than it looks.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: This may look like house cleaning on ice --
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Lots of folks would not even think this is a sport. COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT/ANCHOR: It's actually one of the
most strategic sports in the Olympics.
CHINCHAR: Welcome to curling.
BLACKWELL: Welcome to curling.
WIRE: Welcome to curling.
CHINCHAR: Sweep! Keep sweeping!
BLACKWELL (voice-over): We got to spend some time with the curlers at the Peachtree Curling Association in Marietta, Georgia. It's the only dedicated curling facility in the state. And our own Allison Chinchar showed us the ropes.
So, what is curling?
CHINCHAR: So, it's kind of like shuffleboard on ice. Essentially, you have two teams of four different people, and the object is to get the stones all the way from one end down to what looks like a bullseye. It's called the house.
Essentially, each team throws eight stones per end. The players will take turns sliding the stone down the ice toward the house with the goal of getting it as close to the button as possible.
Now, the stones can also be used to knock other stones out of the way, or even block shots. Those are called guards.
Once the stone is released and crosses the hogline, your teammates can begin sweeping. Now it must cross the far hogline in order to actually stay in play. If not, it's removed.
You score one point for each stone closer to the button than the opponent's closest stone. But stones must be at least partly inside the house to count.
WIRE: That's a long way away. I didn't realize it was that far.
CHINCHAR: That's why you have sweepers. Because your sweepers can help assist the rock making it all the way down, just in case you don't quite give it that bump that's needed to make it all the way to the end.
BLACKWELL (voice-over): Once we got the rules, it was time to get into the game.
CHINCHAR: As I push, you are going to sweep. You're trying to almost make a divot as you sweep.
CHINCHAR: Sweep, sweep hard.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you ready?
BLACKWELL (voice-over): Sweeping melts the ice slightly. WIRE (voice-over): Makes the stone travel farther.
BLACKWELL (voice-over): And sweeping isn't cleaning. It's science.
WIRE: The harder we sweep, the farther it goes.
BLACKWELL: The farther it goes
CHINCHAR: Get in your position. Then put your foot on this.
I can do it. Believe. Are
There you go.
Wait I don't know what to do.
WIRE: I can do it. Leave (ph).
CHINCHAR: There you go.
BLACKWELL: Wait.
CHINCHAR: One, two, three.
BLACKWELL (voice-over): The best part, though, might be once the games are over.
CHINCHAR: And now that it's all over, and you finally know what you're supposed to do, now is the best part. This is where we all hang out afterwards. It's called broom stacking.
Have a drink, chat with some good friends, and enjoy the time. But you're missing the very last step. That is what really separates you from a true fan. And that is the hats.
WIRE: Oh, Lord!
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: Poor Victor. That totally would have been me. And even Coy was struggling. The guy played in the NFL, and he couldn't even do that.
[00:55:04]
Our thanks to Victor, Coy, and Allison Chinchar, our CNN curling queen. That was fun.
Our top stories when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MICHAELSON: The Seattle Seahawks wasted no time in celebrating their new status as Super Bowl champs. Fans turned out at the airport to welcome their hometown heroes after their decisive win over New England in Santa Clara. The Lombardi trophy there. Meanwhile running back Kenneth Walker III, the game's MVP.
