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The Story Is with Elex Michaelson
Iranian Leaders Tout "Iron Unity" After Trump Criticism; U.S. Soldier Arrested For Allegedly Betting On Maduro Raid; Los Angeles Officials Gain Trump's Support To Rebuild; Worries over Prediction Markets Undermining Integrity; Focus on the Upcoming Midterm Elections; Raiders Pick QB Fernando Mendoza First in NFL Draft. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired April 24, 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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ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: A very special birthday to Britain's Prince Louis. The young royal just turned eight years old. Prince and Princess of Wales released this new portrait to mark the occasion. They released one each year to celebrate the birthdays of their three children. Louis is the youngest of the trio and fourth in line to the British throne.
Thanks for watching this hour of The Story Is. The next hour starts right now.
The Story Is, shoot and kill. President Trump's order to the U.S. Navy in Hormuz. CNN's Ivan Watson live with the latest.
The Story Is, betting on war.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The whole world unfortunately has become somewhat of a casino.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: How a U.S. soldier allegedly made almost $500,000 on the mission to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The Story Is, inside the Oval Office. L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger with us exclusively to discuss her meeting with President Trump to get funding for wildfire relief in California. And you'll never guess what her parting gift was.
And The Story Is, draft night in the National Football League. Arash Markazi here live to discuss the top picks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from Los Angeles, The Story Is with Elex Michaelson. MICHAELSON: And welcome to The Story Is. I'm Elex Michaelson live in Los Angeles. Tonight, the top story once again is the war with Iran. And President Trump's latest pronouncements on when it might end. The short answer is whenever he says so. President Trump told reporters he has all the time in the world to make a deal and he's not going to be rushed.
President also claims the U.S. is in total control of the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier he ordered the U.S. Navy to, "Shoot and kill any vessels that are laying mines in that vital waterway." Now all this uncertainty has gasoline prices on the rise again for the first time in two weeks. With AAA the national average for a gallon of unleaded is $4.03. Here's President Trump's response to that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you need more time, does that mean Americans should anticipate spending more on gasoline for the foreseeable future.
TRUMP: Just a little while. And you know what they get for that? You know what they get for that? Iran without a nuclear weapon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Let's bring CNN's Ivan Watson live from Hong Kong. So we just heard from the President there Ivan. What's Iran saying?
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well Iran is making it very clear that it will continue to impede commercial shipping through that strategic waterway, the Strait of Hormuz, as we saw it using Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commandos with masks on, you know, basically capturing ships earlier this week, demonstrating that it still has the power to attack and stop ships and will incur costs on the global economy to in this ongoing faceoff with the U.S. even as the U.S. has continued its own blockade of Iranian ports seizing a number of Iranian ships.
I think three is the latest count both near the Strait of Hormuz and also as far away as the Indian Ocean thousands of miles away. And it is an economic test of wills who can do the most damage either to the Iranian economy or to the global economy which is running short of things like jet fuel and fertilizer and crude oil from the Iranian side who can do the most damage until somebody eventually blinks.
President Trump is continuing to talk tough. He put out a statement saying that he, "Ordered the U.S. Navy to shoot and kill any boat that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz." But I think from some of the intelligence reporting we've gotten from U.S. intelligence Iran still has a lot of capabilities for asymmetric warfare in the Strait of Hormuz to threaten and endanger commercial shipping.
Another line that the Trump administration has been promoting is that there is alleged turmoil within the ranks of the Iranian leadership certainly after so many top officials were killed by the U.S. and Israeli joint bombing campaign. You have two top Iranian officials who are trying to push back on that putting out identical statements on Twitter or X saying that in Iran there are no radicals or moderates we're all Iranian and revolutionary and with the iron unity of the nation and government with complete obedience to the supreme leader of the revolution and going on and on.
That's the speaker of parliament and the foreign minister, sorry, the president and the foreign minister putting out that identical statement in response to the narrative coming out of the Trump administration right now Elex.
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MICHAELSON: Well, and one of the reasons there's been so many questions in terms of the leadership of Iran is that we know that the ayatollah died in the early days of this war then his son becomes the ayatollah but we haven't seen him on camera and there's been some questions about is he even alive. Well "The New York Times" has some interesting reporting on his health and CNN spoke to that reporter tonight Ivan.
WATSON: That's right. So Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the slain supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the very first day of the joint U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign has not been seen, has not been heard. There have been some written statements that have been put out over the course of the last eight weeks but we haven't seen them.
Now, "The New York Times" Farnaz Fassihi who has deep sources in Iran has really put out a detailed article describing the extent of the injuries that Mojtaba Khamenei has suffered where sources are telling her that he is still mentally sharp and engaged but he's had one leg operated on three times and he's awaiting a prosthetic limb that he's had surgery on one hand slowly regaining function that his face and lips have been so severely burned that he's going to need plastic surgery and he's surrounded by a team of medical specialists and even the president of the country who is also a heart surgeon has contributed to his treatment.
This is all again according to her excellent reporting. And this is what she has to say about suggestions that there is disunity within the top ranks of the Iranian leadership. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FARNAZ FASSIHI, NEW YORK TIME U.N. BUREAU CHIEF: We're seeing more a collaborative system where the generals are in charge where they're calling the shots and they're deciding what key decisions about how far Iran is going to escalate the war about the closing the Strait of Hormuz, about accepting a ceasefire and most importantly diplomacy with the United States. These are all decisions that the generals are making. We haven't really seen any disarray at the top.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: Again, according to Farnaz Fassihi it is the generals from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who are calling the shots who were strong supporters of Mojtaba Khamenei taking over as supreme leader and she argues that they ultimately helped stop a second round of peace talks in Pakistan between Iran and the U.S. Talks that still haven't happened Elex.
MICHAELSON: Really remarkable reporting there and sort of wild to think about all of that happening. Ivan Watson live for us in Hong Kong. Ivan, thank you. Good afternoon to you.
Meanwhile, a U.S. Special Forces soldier involved in capturing former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is now facing federal charges for allegedly betting on the top secret mission. Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke is accused of misusing classified information after allegedly betting on poly market that Maduro would be out of power by January. How'd he know that? Well, prosecutors say his long shot bet made him $400,000 in profit. He knew it because he was involved in planning and the eventual capture of Maduro. President Trump was asked about all this earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you concerned that federal employees are betting on these prediction markets and potentially getting rich?
TRUMP: Well, I don't know about it. But was he betting that they would get him or they wouldn't get him?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It sounds like he was betting on his removal from office that Maduro would be removed.
TRUMP: That's interesting.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It sounds like he was involved in the operation.
TRUMP: That's like Pedro's betting on his own team. I'll look into it, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There are also bets that are being placed as well on the Iran conflict too and there have been some trappings where people suspect that there's insider trading happening on these prediction markets around the war.
TRUMP: Well you know the whole world unfortunately has become somewhat of a casino.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Now the indictment claims that Van Dyke placed bets on poly market in the lead-up to the mission to oust Maduro. He's been charged with stealing and misusing confidential government information, theft and fraud. CNN's chief law enforcement intelligence analyst John Miller weighed in on the arrest.
JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: We know he's a member of U.S. Special Forces, a joint special operations command operation. The operators who went in after Maduro were the Delta Force, the army's most elite team. They were carried in by the 160th Air Wing from the army, the Night Stalkers who bring them in and out of those critical missions. And they were supported by Army Rangers. So what branch of the Special Forces this person was with, we don't know.
[01:10:00]
But we do know that he is now charged under arrest, will be brought to New York to face these charges. And of course it's not just a question of inside information but classified information but also the safety of his or her teammates and a question of honor.
This is a cue to foreign intelligence services to watch these anomalous bets on these platforms which is a relatively new phenomena to say, you know, do we see a clue here and can we trace these things back? Are we getting inside information by default that way which is just another national security risk? But it's a brave new world out there.
MICHAELSON: Yes, it is. John Miller thank you for that.
The new top U.S. envoy for Venezuela is now in the country after arriving in Caracas on Thursday. John Barrett is a senior member in the U.S. Foreign Service previously stationed in Guatemala. He met with Venezuela's deputy minister for Europe and North America shortly after landing. Barrett writes that he is there to, "Continue implementing the three phase plan," President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and to deliver results for people of both countries.
Republican and Democratic lawmakers have found common ground at least on one thing that is rejecting the White House's proposed budget for NASA. White House wanted to cut 2027 budget by almost 25 percent. One Democratic lawmaker said that is not a winning strategy.
On Wednesday NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman testified before a House committee. Republican congressman told him he doesn't believe the proposal could support White House plans amid a new space race. Isaacman said the proposal balances agency goals with the White House's spending plans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JARED ISAACMAN, NASA ADMINISTRATOR: American exceptionalism is being challenged in the high ground of space. To win we cannot establish programs that are designed to be too big to fail, but at the same time too costly to succeed. Nor should it be throwing more money at the problem but rather fixing the problems and contracting -- concentrating resources on the mission and delivering outcomes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Meta says it is planning to cut around 10 percent of its workforce and lay off about 8,000 people on May 20th. The tech giant also says it will not fill around 6,000 positions as it invests billions in artificial intelligence. Meta spent $72 billion last year on capital expenditures including A.I. infrastructure. It expects to spend at least $115 billion this year. Meta owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. It says it hopes to emerge as a more efficiently run company.
The Story Is, the weather and the devastating wildfires in Georgia. Extreme drought conditions have fueled dozens of fires across that state. Thirty-six thousand acres have burned in the last 30 days. The vast majority is from just two places. One in Clinch County near the state line in Florida. The other in Brantley County which intensified on Thursday due to shifting winds. At least 87 homes have been destroyed. There have been forced evacuations. Thankfully so far no injuries or deaths have been reported.
More than a year after the destructive Palisades and Eaton fires here in California, officials are still trying to get help for families who lost everything. Check out this picture. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass meeting with President Trump at the White House to get support in pressuring insurance companies to pay what they owe. They're exchanging gifts there involved with Palisades and the Olympics upcoming in L.A.
On Thursday President Trump posted on social media that those big companies are, "Stepping up to the plate as they should." But he said the banks still have a long way to go to help the people in the areas. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger also attended the White House meeting. She spoke to me a short time ago in Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: Supervisor welcome to The Story Is.
KATHRYN BARGER, L.A. COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: Thank you. It's good to be on. Good day yesterday. I can tell you that.
MICHAELSON: Well, and so what exactly came out of that meeting? Are there any tangible action items that that came out?
BARGER: Well, first of all, the mayor and I wanted to thank President Trump for what he did early on. He came out shortly after he was inaugurated and really accelerated the cleanup process and really we're a year ahead of what it would have been had he not front loaded a lot of the resources to get the lots cleaned and EPA to go in and get rid of the hazardous waste and materials. So it was to thank him for that but also to let him know that the cleanup is done. The rebuild begins. We need the federal government to be a partner along with the state and of course local as well. We have it. We have skin in the game as well.
MICHAELSON: So there's been this big debate about, you know, federal money. Is L.A. going to get federal money? Did President Trump agree that he would he would side with Congress pressure them to pass this and send more federal disaster dollars to California?
[01:15:03]
BARGER: You know good question. It's something I've learned because I met the President yesterday. I've also been up on the Hill. And there are other disasters throughout this country that have occurred, North Carolina, Florida, Texas. It's important for us to recognize that they're also standing in line waiting for assistance. So my goal and I made this clear to everyone up on the Hill that I met with is to not leave other states behind.
It's important for us to speak with one voice. We're all asking for FEMA reimbursement which is something that is in the books. Identifying the money is going to be the trick. There is no question about it. And so we've got some heavy lifting to do. But the President was crystal clear that he supports our efforts recognizing that we have addressed some of the barriers such as permitting. Permitting was an impediment prior to the fires and now we've gotten it down to like 30 days in our county's which is unbelievable.
So we've accelerated that. The building process occurring insurance continues to be a problem. The President tweeted about state farm insurance. And they finally acknowledge that they need to do better and respond to the needs of survivors. So, you know, he plays a vital role on so many levels and we are very grateful that he was able to meet with us and really discuss the concerns that we have to support our survivors.
MICHAELSON: Yes and you're of course are the only Republican on the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. Take us inside the meeting because so many people would like to be a fly on the wall. You were there. What's it like being in the Oval Office with President Trump? What's the dynamic like between President Trump and the Liberal Mayor of Los Angeles Karen Bass? You know take us there.
BARGER: Well I've said this and I mean it. I wish every American could meet our President one-on-one and they would understand the love he has for this country and the commitment he has to addressing issues across the board and I saw it firsthand yesterday. He could not have been more gracious. Asked good questions, hard questions. But between Mayor Bass and I we were able to answer and really give him the answers that I felt he needed to hear but he could not have been more gracious. Politics went out the door.
MICHAELSON: What was the dynamic of him and Bass like?
BARGER: It was -- he -- the same as with me. It was not Republican- Democrat. It was about representatives there to talk about a disaster that occurred. He came out. He saw it firsthand. His concern was are you going to help the survivors rebuild. And the answer is, yes. And we now have a story to tell as it relates to the number of permits that have gone out. But also what our ask is in terms of infrastructure. You know, we've got to rebuild our water infrastructure, roads. I mean across the board bearing the utilities.
He asked about that. He wanted to know what's being done to address that for future fires. So, you know, very well versed in what's going on and we were able to give him answers.
MICHAELSON: There was pictures of you guys leaving and it looked like did you leave with merch? Did he give you souvenirs on the way out? BARGER: He gave me a signed Bible and he gave me hats. And I will cherish them. So I don't know if you call it swag. You know, I've been on the west wing. I've been to the old executive office building under other presidents and they have swag that they give away. They give away M&Ms. I didn't get any of those. But overall, you know, he could not have been more gracious and so yes I saw that. I see one of Mayor Bass's opponents was not happy but you know what so goes it.
MICHAELSON: That's Spencer Pratt you're talking about. So what did Mayor Bass, did she get anything?
BARGER: I did not. Well, that was me carrying it. So when he was tweeting I was thinking, you know, he got my backside so I'm glad he didn't make any nasty comments. But, you know, I believe that he gave I think a Bible for sure.
MICHAELSON: OK.
BARGER: And he signed each one. And, you know, listen, that man is leaning in hard and I saw it front and center. And then Susie Wiles, I mean it was an honor for me to meet someone that is the first woman chief of staff to a President being on an all-women board. It was -- she's an amazing, amazing, amazing person as well.
MICHAELSON: Kathryn Barger, L.A. County supervisor. Thank you so much for sharing your perspective here on The Story Is. Always a pleasure to talk with you.
BARGER: Thank you.
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MICHAELSON: Short-term relief comes to Cuba after Russian oil begins to provide power to the island. How Cubans in the U.S. are helping their loved ones home, after the break, and still to come our political panel. Stay with us.
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MICHAELSON: A mass virtual trial of hundreds of alleged gang members got underway on Thursday in El Salvador's notorious CECOT mega prison. Handcuffed and ankle chained inmates watched the proceedings in front of T.V. screens. The trial involves more than 47,000 alleged crimes including homicide, arms trafficking and even trying to establish a parallel state.
Cubans are finally receiving Russian oil that was delivered to the island back in March. Cuba has been suffering from an energy crisis since the U.S. began preventing the oil from reaching the island. As the oil began to trickle out of refineries, blackouts have begun to subside. CNN's Carolina Peguero talks with Cubans in America as many send shipments of supplies back to their home country.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) [01:24:58]
CAROLINA PEGUERO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Aiza opens her trunk packed with boxes and bags of goods. Everything inside has one destination, Cuba. For Aiza and many Cubans coming to this type of agency is part of their routine in South Florida. They arrive, stand in line sometimes for hours and send off their shipments. She claims to always include something essential for Cubans.
AIZA CRUZ, MIAMI RESIDENT (through translation): They typical Cuban breakfast is coffee with milk. Any Cuban who doesn't get their coffee and milk hasn't had breakfast.
PEGUERO (voice-over): This isn't new. For decades, the Cuban diaspora has supported their families on the island, but now the need is greater.
PEGUERO: So this is just an idea of what it looks like here in this place where there's a lot of cargo shipments being sent out to different parts of the world, including Cuba. A lot of people have been waiting in line for hours, just trying to get a spot in line.
BRYAN CALVO, HIALEAH, FLORIDA MAYOR: See, you know, days where you'll have a couple hundred people waiting in line to send goods.
PEGUERO (voice-over): Cuba's crisis has deepened under sweeping U.S. economic restrictions, tightening the pressure on an already fragile economy. Fuel shortages and rolling blackouts have intensified, and goods that were once hard to find are now increasingly scarce.
RAMON RIZO, MIAMI RESIDENT (through translation): It's terrible, there is no electricity, no gas, no oil, no gasoline. There is nothing, and the people are in the dark.
PEGUERO (voice-over): Jose Antonio Govea is sending a generator to his mother.
JOSE ANTONIO GOVEA, MIAMI RESIDENT (through translation): You charge it, and then you turn it on when the power goes out. She has one over there, but she broke it, so, it doesn't work anymore.
PEGUERO: How much was it?
GOVEA (through translation): Three hundred dollars, plus $104 to send it. That's $404 in total.
PEGUERO (voice-over): Jose Antonio says he'll keep sending essentials, but he hopes Cuba will change.
GOVEA (through translation): God willing, this administration under Donald Trump, our President, brings a change that leads to solution. We cannot go on like this. The solution is not for us to send support to our families for our entire lives.
PEGUERO (voice-over): Carolina Peguero, CNN, Miami.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: A new change to a decades-old policy that governs medical marijuana. When we return, what the changes mean for public health.
Plus, our political panel, live near a Tandon, Roxanne Hoge. Stay with us.
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[01:31:40]
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to THE STORY IS. I'm Elex Michaelson.
Let's take a look at today's top stories.
Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders have cleared the way for CNN, HBO and Warner Bros.' other media brands to join Paramount Skydance later this year. WBD says shareholders overwhelmingly voted in support of the takeover deal on Thursday. Paramount now has to secure regulatory approval in the U.S. and other countries.
President Trump says he has all the time in the world to make a deal with Iran, but right now, he says, it is not entirely clear who the leader of Iran is. President claims the U.S. has total control over the Strait of Hormuz, and he ordered the Navy to shoot any ships that are laying mines in the vital waterway.
And the Trump administration has announced it is reclassifying state- licensed marijuana as a less dangerous drug.
The order reclassifies medical marijuana from a category reserved for drugs such as heroin, to a new category that includes prescription medications like Tylenol with Codeine and Ketamine. Those drugs are considered to have a moderate to low risk of dependence.
Time now for our political panel. With us Roxanne Beckford Hoge, the chair of the Los Angeles County Republican Party, and Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, a Democratic think tank. She was an adviser to Presidents Biden, Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as well.
Welcome to you both, ladies. Good to see both of you.
I want to talk about betting because I think the story today is just wild.
This story that there was a U.S. soldier who allegedly used his position knowing about the incoming raid of Maduro, bet that Maduro was going to be out of power and made $400,000 on Polymarket. Now he's facing criminal charges.
But it sort of raises this question of are these betting markets, including betting on war politics -- are they out of control?
NEERA TANDEN, PRESIDENT/CEO, CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS: Yes, they are definitely out of control. When you have a -- when you have a betting structure where someone can trade on insider information, of course, we've discovered this insider trading, but there have been a series of mysterious bets on the Iran war.
You know, hours before the Iran war, bombs were going off in Venezuela before this, you know.
So we have -- I think they create a lot of concern that people are using information to profit. And I think fundamentally raise the question of whether this should be illegal at all to do this kind of gambling on future events -- political, national, global or otherwise.
MICHAELSON: You know, it's interesting, Roxanne, here in California, the speaker of the assembly said, maybe time for more regulation. Let's put up his statement up on the screen right now.
He says, "Betting on elections isn't innovation. It's a threat to democracy. It causes manipulation, fuels disinformation, empowers bad actors.
Kalshi and Polymarket's political betting business are dangerous. Democracy isn't a sports book. More to come.
More to come sort of hints that regulation could be coming here, which sometimes is copied in other places.
I know you usually think that Democrats do too much regulation. Here, is this one instance where you might support some regulation?
ROXANNE BECKFORD HOGE, CHAIR, LOS ANGELES COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY: This is a clear instance of what the Democrats in California have perfected. Nice place you got here, would be a shame if something happened to it.
[01:34:50]
HOGE: It's a hey, maybe send some campaign contributions our way so we don't regulate you too much. I come from an English country, first and foremost, where I was born, and they bet on everything. The middle name of the next possible king's first child -- whatever.
I agree I think with you, Neera, and with everyone that a military operative betting on something that is life threatening to everyone in a matter of national security is a terrible idea.
But you know, insider trading has happened all along. People can make bets on what they want, but the employers of those people, like the U.S. government being the employer of that soldier, they should be -- have a hard and fast rule.
MICHAELSON: But do you think it's time for Congress to do something?
HOGE: Congress are the biggest inside bettors that there are --
MICHAELSON: Yes.
TANDEN: That's a fact.
HOGE: -- so it's kind of rich. I know, I would like --
(CROSSTALKING)
HOGE: Yes, it's bad.
TANDEN: I'm just saying it's a bad thing.
HOGE: If they can police themselves, then they can move on to policing others.
(CROSSTALKING)
MICHAELSON: And is -- where are -- where's the politics at on this? Because you would think that in some ways this could be a bipartisan thing, the idea that this sort of thing is bad.
But then you also wonder about all the money that Kalshi and Polymarket has. Like we know Donald Trump Jr. is an advisor to Kalshi and Polymarket.
TANDEN: Yes. I mean, I think this is something I wish there was bipartisan support for because I think, you know, we have a crisis of confidence in our public institutions and institutions in general.
I think a lot of Americans feel like there are people who are trading on inside information that average people, you know, are having a hard time making ends meet, and this stuff is happening.
So I think it's, you know, I think it's unfortunate we shouldn't see this as politics. We should see this as who's protecting the average guy.
The real thing is, you know, you and I don't have inside information to make money. And like other people, have that inside information. So really, they're taking everyone else betting as suckers. That's not fair.
MICHAELSON: It's not. It's not fair.
HOGE: Congress should start with themselves and then they can talk about regulation.
MICHAELSON: And do some sort of a ban on stock trading or something like that, which is something that both --
TANDEN: Yes. They should absolutely do that.
MICHAELSON: -- Republicans and Democrats have supported in the past. Some have, but not the leadership to actually get it through.
So let's talk about the midterms right now, because it is an interesting time. I know you're here, the Democratic governors are out here. Everybody's thinking about the elections already.
How do you see the state of the field right now? Where do you think we're at?
TANDEN: Well, I think it was really important that Virginia acted on Tuesday to address the redistricting challenges that have happened from Republican mid-decade redistricting.
But I think the reason why you're seeing these fights is because, you know, essentially, the president is really concerned about the midterms himself. And he might be concerned about the midterms himself because he has one of the lowest approval ratings of any president in modern history, much lower approval ratings than he had before.
People are really concerned about the cost of goods, the economy and the war, and he has -- you know, his approval is in the, you know, mid to low 30s, which is really quite shocking.
So I expect Democrats to do well if we have fair -- free and fair elections. And we all have to work on that.
MICHAELSON: Are you concerned? I mean, traditionally the president, regardless of party, loses in in the midterm in the middle of their term?
HOGE: I think the concern is for something that is happening light years away from now. We have no idea what the landscape will look by the time ballots drop in October.
And so I would never count this particular president out. If there was going to be someone to sort of turn things around when they look their darkest, it would be Donald Trump.
MICHAELSON: Meanwhile, let's talk about what's happening here in California. Big governor's race. Last night, there was a big debate, and there is this real possibility that there could be two Republicans in California -- Sheriff Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton, the former Fox News host who has the endorsement of President Trump.
I mean, some Republicans say let's rally behind Hilton. He got the president's endorsement. What say you?
HOGE: I love both guys. But it is Christmas in June if we get two Republicans into the top two. And I think it would be a welcome change too -- it's been a welcome change to have all the Democrats suddenly going I really don't like this top two thing. I really don't like it at all.
Because the math is there, right? There's a field of undifferentiated, undistinguished, not so great doctrinaire liberals. And then we have two strong candidates, either of whom would be better than what we currently have and better than any Democrat running.
MICHAELSON: Well, the math could be --
TANDEN: I could -- kind of like to get in that one.
MICHAELSON: The math could be there. We'll see. I mean, it basically needs to be a perfect storm where they each get about 20 percent and everybody else stays down.
HOGE: The jet goes through the canyon.
(CROSSTALKING)
MICHAELSON: We'll see. Yes. Your thoughts on the debate last night and sort of the state of where that race is right now?
[01:39:48]
TANDEN: I mean, I think prior to yesterday and we don't really know what's happening post yesterday.
Xavier Becerra was surging. Now I worked with Xavier Becerra. He was domestic policy adviser to the president so I worked with the secretary when he was secretary of Health and Human Services. And he actually did, I thought, a great job. He helped deliver Medicare drug negotiation, lowering health care costs.
I also should say, I know Tom Steyer. And I think he's a great leader as well. But, I think you will not get into this situation because Democrats understand the importance of the California governor.
It is -- the California governor has been a really important bulwark against Trump. So I think Democrats will rally probably. If others have to get out, they will rally.
MICHAELSON: Who's most likely? I mean, I mean, you have a better sense of the party than most in terms of who's the person the party says, ok, enough, we're not doing this anymore. We're all getting behind this person.
TANDEN: Well, I actually think the party doesn't decide these things. The California voters do. I mean, I've been surprised by how much Becerra is moving up.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
TANDEN: And there's, I think really three candidates at this point. The mayor of San Jose, Becerra, and Tom Steyer -- I think that was clear. I think there's --
MICHAELSON: You don't mention Katie Porter's name.
HOGE: Wow, (INAUDIBLE) all women. Where's the women?
TANDEN: Well, I just think she hasn't been performing as well, you know.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
TANDEN: And I like Katie Porter, too. I like all these guys. But, I think the party will have to rally around one or two candidates, and that's where we'll be.
MICHAELSON: It'll be interesting if there is a moment where they really see that threat. And if like Newsom and Padilla and Pelosi and others say, this is our person. That has not happened yet.
But we will have a debate on May 5th here on CNN. And maybe we'll see how that changes things as well. Get the self-promo in.
Neera, Roxanne -- great to see both of you. Thanks for coming in late with us tonight.
You are watching THE STORY IS.
For our international viewers, "WORLDSPORT" is next. For our viewers here in North America, We'll do some American sports. NFL draft night with Arash Markazi next.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With the first pick in the 2020 NFL draft, the Las Vegas Raiders select Fernando Mendoza quarterback, Indiana.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Heisman Trophy, national championship, now the number one pick in the NFL draft. Is there anything Fernando Mendoza can't do?
Joining me now to discuss, Arash Markazi, the founder and CEO of the "Sporting Tribune", former columnist at "Sports Illustrated", ESPN and "The L.A. Times".
Welcome back, Arash. Good to see you.
So you were here with us earlier this week --
ARASH MARKAZI, FOUNDER/CEO OF THE "SPORTING TRIBUNE": That's right.
MICHAELSON: -- and we all said Fernando Mendoza was going to be the guy.
MARKAZI: Yes.
MICHAELSON: That wasn't a big surprise. But it was interesting to see the production of it. The moment with his mother and the embrace from Tom Brady.
MARKAZI: Listen, I mean, he's known for quite some time. I was in Miami for the national championship game. Tom Brady was there on the sideline. Mark Davis, the owner of --
MICHAELSON: Tom Brady, who is a co-owner --
MARKAZI: -- co-owner of the team --
MICHAELSON: -- of the Raiders. MARKAZI: Yes. And by the way, during his press conference, not to make
Tom feel old, he said, Mr. Brady. It was great to talk to Mr. Brady again. Tom is very involved with this team.
This was the quarterback that they had targeted to bring the Raiders back to some relevancy. Fernando Mendoza was not born yet the last time the Raiders, the Silver and Black won a playoff game.
MICHAELSON: Won a playoff game.
MARKAZI: Yes. It was back in the 2000s.
MICHAELSON: Wow.
MARKAZI: It's been a while.
MICHAELSON: Wow.
MARKAZI: It's been a minute.
MICHAELSON: Yes. So I mean, it's interesting because the Raiders' culture, the old school culture, was sort of the sinners, right? A very intense one.
And he is very, very conservative, very Christian and quite the family man.
MARKAZI: He is. And he's the most polished guy you'll talk to. And he's on LinkedIn. And as soon as he got drafted, apparently this is like a partnership with LinkedIn, he changed his job status. He got hired, thankfully.
He got hired. He'll be signing a multimillion-dollar contract with the Raiders.
MICHAELSON: That's the social media he likes, LinkedIn --
MARKAZI: He does like LinkedIn.
MICHAELSON: -- is his big thing.
So it's wild to watch the draft --
MARKAZI: Yes.
MICHAELSON: -- in terms of the TV production and what they've done with this. These sort of thousands of people that showed up in Pittsburgh. They have the players that are there walking down a hallway, looking at themselves in the mirror with a hat.
I mean, look at this -- the sea of people is crazy. Just to hear people's names called and to watch them. I mean, they've turned this the biggest TV show in America, the NFL, into a -- into an event.
MARKAZI: Yes.
Look how popular this league is right now. And it is number one. And you have to go pretty far to get to number two.
Over 300,000 people. You saw that picture there, a record for day one. 300,000 people in Pittsburgh showed up to do what you just said.
Holding a cue card, the commissioner of the league is holding a cue card and saying, the first pick of the draft is Fernando Mendoza. That's it.
There's no games. There's nothing happening. But these folks are having a great time. And why not? It's free, by the way.
You know, there's not a whole lot of big sports events you can go to for free. This one is free.
MICHAELSON: And it's interesting. All the teams now are starting to do their own events like the Rams, where you were reporting tonight, were out at Hollywood Park. They brought in a Ferris Wheel. They had turned it into a whole community festival, essentially.
MARKAZI: Yes.
MICHAELSON: And then the biggest surprise of the entire night was this. That is Ty Simpson, who is a quarterback from Alabama.
Remember, the Rams have Matthew Stafford, MVP caliber quarterback who's 38 years old, and they just picked his replacement.
MARKAZI: This is the most viral moment of the night. I was at the press conference following this kind of surprising pick. Again, the reigning most valuable player, you just touched on. Matthew Stafford is coming back. He's not retiring, but he's at the end of his career.
And with the 13th pick in the draft, a team that was on the cusp of the Super Bowl, maybe they're a player away. They pick a guy who's not going to play this year.
And the body language of Sean McVay was that of someone who was like, man, I really wish we had picked the player who could help us next year.
I mean, they are right there. According to Vegas, they are the favorites to win the Super Bowl. And they had a top 13 pick. So you would normally maybe pick a wide receiver and defensive back. They picked Ty Simpson. We'll see how he plays.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
[01:49:50]
MARKAZI: But he -- if the Rams are successful, he will not be playing this season.
MICHAELSON: And McVay said that he called Matthew Stafford in advance to let him know about that.
MARKAZI: Yes. MICHAELSON: Meanwhile, we'll get some quick headlines in from the NBA tonight. The Timberwolves win big over the Denver Nuggets, they are a team to watch. We also saw tonight the Atlanta Hawks beating the New York Knicks, and the Raptors beating the Cavs. All headlines but Timberwolves blew out.
MARKAZI: The Timberwolves are my favorite story because they are a team that are really built for the playoffs. I mean you look at the last two years, they got to the conference finals. They have not yet kind of broken through like franchise history. They have not played in the finals.
But this is a team you don't want to play come playoff time. And by the way, we'll see what happens in terms of Victor Wembanyama coming back. But if the -- if the Timberwolves advance, if they win and they go up against a Spurs team that's still young, wouldn't be shocked if the Timberwolves find themselves back in the conference finals one more time.
MICHAELSON: And the same could be true for Denver.
MARKAZI: 100 percent. No.
MICHAELSON: Because they're a very, very good --
MARKAZI: Very good.
MICHAELSON: -- team and could be dangerous against the Spurs as well.
MARKAZI: Yes.
MICHAELSON: Although Victor Wembanyama, if healthy, is very hard to stop.
MARKAZI: Exactly.
MICHAELSON: Arash Markazi, check out his work at the SportingTribune.com. Always great to see you my friend.
MARKAZI: Thank you.
MICHAELSON: Thanks for coming in.
We'll be back to wrap things up right here on THE STORY IS.
[01:51:10]
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MICHAELSON: Looks creepy. Classic stories get a new life. "The House of the Spirits" was written more than 40 years ago by Chilean-American author Isabel Allende. It was made into an English language film in 1993.
The new version is in Spanish and was shot in Chile with a Latin- American crew. It's an eight-episode miniseries starring actor Alfonso Herrera and Dolores Fonzi. "The House of the Spirits" streams globally April 29th on Amazon Prime Video.
Thank you so much for watching us here on THE STORY IS. I'm Elex Michaelson.
My colleague, Erica Hill, will be in for me tomorrow. I'm taking a rare night off.
And I'll see you actually reporting from Washington, D.C. next week, including coverage of this weekend's White House Correspondents Dinner.
And I'll see you Sunday by the way, on "INSIDE POLITICS" with Manu Raju at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.
The news continues right here on CNN after the break.
[01:56:25]
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