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The Story Is with Elex Michaelson
California Prepares For High-Stakes Gubernatorial Primary; Los Angeles Mayoral Primary To Be Held June 2; California Mom Loses Thousands in a Kidnapping Scam; River Ahmad is First Afghan Woman to Summit Mount Everest; L.A. Dodgers Catcher Hosts Comedy Show for Charity. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired May 28, 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: Pope Leo XIV stepped into Ferrari's first fully electric car, which based on first reactions, could use some help from above. Ferrari's president introduced the vehicle to the pontiff on Tuesday. Ferrari fans have slammed the design as it marks the departure from the brand's usual sports cars. The Italian automakers hoping the EV will appeal to the more technology savvy generation.
By the way, price tag, $640,000. So there you go. I don't know if you're worried about gas prices at that.
Stay with us. The next hour of The Story Is starts right now.
The Story Is new strikes in Iran. What's being hit, what it means for hopes of a peace deal? The Story Is the race for California governor, a new poll just releasing, plus new details about who is actually voting. And The Story Is catching hope. We sit down with all-star catcher Will Smith and his wife Kara talk about their work changing kids' lives in a major way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from Los Angeles, The Story Is with Elex Michaelson.
MICHAELSON: Thanks so much for watching the story. I'm Elex Michaelson live in Los Angeles.
And tonight the top story is escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran. A U.S. official tells CNN the U.S. has carried out new strikes in Iran targeting a military site near the Strait of Hormuz that they say posed a threat to American forces and commercial traffic. It was being used to launch attack drones. The official says the move was purely defensive.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it has already retaliated by targeting an American air base. Here's what President Trump said Wednesday about where the peace talks stand.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Iran is very much intent. They want very much to make a deal. So far, they haven't gotten there. We're not satisfied with it, but we will be. We will be.
Either that or we'll have to just finish the job. They're negotiating on fumes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: His comments come as Iranian state media reports that Iran fired warning shots at four ships that tried to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, forcing them to turn around. CNN's Ivan Watson live in Hong Kong to start us off.
Ivan, what do we know about that?
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This ceasefire is shaky. This is the latest example of shots being fired, deadly munitions flying through the air from apparently both sides, and conflicting narratives where Iran says that it fired warning shots at tanker ships and trying to pass into the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, which it claims to be in charge of right now. And one of the ships it says was a U.S. oil tanker. We have not confirmed that.
In the meantime, the U.S. military says that it shot down Iranian drones and then fired at a location near the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, which is what it said was an imminent launch of a fifth drone. Effectively, the Strait of Hormuz is still closed, Elex. And we have no signs of when it will open up again. And the ceasefire is as shaky as ever.
MICHAELSON: So what is the status of negotiations? Are they actually talking to each other at this point?
WATSON: It's all behind closed doors. We don't know what the two sides are saying to each other. We hear about it occasionally from perhaps the mediators or from the statements that are coming from both sides and they, both Tehran and Washington, are contradicting each other. We've heard Iran saying that no agreement will happen unless tens of billions of dollars worth of frozen Iranian assets will be released. Iran claiming that it is going to maintain some authority over the Strait of Hormuz moving forward, though a spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry has kind of shifted, saying that it's no longer going to ask for tolls for ships to go through.
Meanwhile, we've had President Trump shift from -- you remember when he used to call for unconditional surrender from Iran? He's not saying that anymore, but he's saying that the Strait of Hormuz has to be open, that there's not going to be any exchange of money for concessions on the part of Iran. And then in a strange moment in a cabinet meeting, he issued a threat against what has been considered an ally, Oman. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: The Strait's going to be open to everybody.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And who would control it?
TRUMP: It's international waters. Nobody's going to control it. We're going to watch over it. We'll watch over it, but nobody's going to control it. That's part of the negotiation that we have.
It's international waters. And Oman will behave just like everybody else and we'll have to blow him up.
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WATSON: Don't know what exactly that's going to mean. One final thought, the Kuwaiti military says that its air defenses were firing at hostile incoming objects in the last couple of hours, a suggestion of how dicey things still are in this oil rich, gas rich region.
MICHAELSON: Yes, a lot of military activity happening during what's supposed to be a ceasefire. Ivan Watson in Hong Kong starting us off.
Ivan, thank you.
As we just discussed, Oman is the latest nation to receive threats from President Trump. He's either threatened to attack or actually attacked at least 15 countries during his two terms as president. He's launched strikes in seven countries so far, including Iran, Nigeria and Venezuela. President Trump has also threatened or left open the possibility of strikes against several others like Cuba, Greenland and Canada. The president would point out that he's helped to stop or end conflicts with many of those countries as well.
Israel is stepping up strikes on targets outside of its self-declared security zone in Lebanon. Short while ago, the Israeli military said that it hit Hezbollah infrastructure in the city of Tyre. Earlier, Israel issued what appears to be its largest evacuation warning for the city on the Mediterranean coast. The IDF has been ramping up operations in southern Lebanon in recent days, including more than 150 reported strikes on Hezbollah targets since Tuesday.
Scenes of joy and relief in Laos after rescuers found five of the seven villagers who've been trapped in a cave for more than a week. They found them alive and healthy.
Amazing cheers erupting among the rescue teams working above ground. Hugs as well for the divers help to locate the group in the underground chamber.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I can't believe we did it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All (inaudible). Thank you, man.
(END VIDEO CLIP) MICHAELSON: For now, the five villagers will remain underground as rescuers focus on getting them supplies and preparing them for the difficult extraction process. CNN's Mike Valerio is following all this live for us from Beijing.
Mike, how have they survived? What were they eating? Do we have any idea how they've been able to pull this off?
MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Brother, I don't know what they were eating. That is a great question. They said that they are hungry. Trying to hold back their exact language. They said they are so hungry right now.
They've had fresh water that's been brought to them. And the news that's really developed since last time we talked to you last hour, they hope to start getting them out today. That is the biggest headline to bring to you and to our audience around the world.
They have also received soft food and a basic medical check. So that's certainly good. But according to one of the Thai rescuers, Kenka Bongkawong (ph), who is also a Veteran of the 2018 Thai soccer team rescue, he's telling our own CNN producer Kocha Olarn, who's based in Thailand, is working this story, that if the access through the tunnels can be opened a little bit further, perhaps these five individuals can make their way through the tunnels on their own.
You know, we have tunnel video, Atlantic control room, it's 3885. I want to see if we can play it. This was sent to Facebook by one of the Thai rescuers. And let's see if we can just listen to some of the sound. I'm going to stop talking for like three to four seconds.
But when you look at the video, it just gives you a sense, there it is right there. You hear that? I mean, it gives you a sense of how tight conditions are. Some of the smallest openings are about 23 inches wide. That's 60 centimeters for everybody watching us and the rest of the world outside of the United States.
And what I was most struck with hearing from some of these rescuers is that they've said to get through these openings, they've had to take off all of their equipment in those tight spaces, exhale as much oxygen as they possibly can, get as skinny as they possibly can, and then make their way through those openings. So challenging enough for people who have had no real food for more than a week to get through those spaces.
Also, new information before we go, Elex, we have new details that in this cave system, which is about 1,115 feet long, that is the length of from Fifth Avenue to the observation deck at the top of the Empire State Building, just to give you a sense of perspective how long they have to go, there's hydrogen sulfide, which has accumulated inside the cave systems. I don't know if you studied chemistry at USC, but hydrogen sulfide is highly toxic. It potentially shuts down your body's ability to process oxygen effectively. So they need to bring oxygen canisters, 40 liter tanks among this route, so that when these five men are making their way back up to the surface, they most likely are going to have a limited oxygen supply and potentially meet hydrogen sulfide pockets. So they need a good supply of oxygen, fresh oxygen canisters as they make their way up.
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And we're going to watch this thing happen. They want to start trying to bring them up today, Elex. So watch this space.
MICHAELSON: I will watch this space, Mike. I did not study chemistry at USC, but I do know enough to see from your demonstration that you've got too broad a shoulders to fit in that. So clearly your work at the gym is paying off, but you cannot go down into a cave because of it.
Yes, there you go. Thanks for that visual. Mike Valerio in Beijing.
VALERIO: Can't do it.
MICHAELSON: The runoff is over and the race is for the U.S. Senate seat from Texas. Democrat James Talarico on a five day campaign swing starting with a rally tonight in Houston. He'll face the Republican state Attorney General, Ken Paxton in November's general election.
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REP. JAMES TALARICO (D-TX), SENATE NOMINEE: They are afraid of this movement that we are building here in Texas. They're going to throw everything they've got at us. They've already called me a radical leftist. They've already called me a fake Christian. They've even called me a vegan.
And those are -- those are fighting words in the state of Texas. You know, I'm an eighth generation Texan. I've been eating barbecue since before Ken Paxton's first indictment.
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MICHAELSON: Source tells CNN Paxton will be in Washington next week to attend several fundraisers. Republicans are working to delete some Internet attack ads against Paxton from his bruising runoff with outgoing Senator John Cornyn.
The next major primary will happen here in California on Tuesday when voters choose their candidates for governor. Governor Gavin Newsom, who has termed out, is taking no chances of possible election interference by the Trump administration and supporters. He signed a bill Wednesday putting emergency safeguards in place, among them banning uniformed officers from seizing ballots from election offices without a warrant. Newsom referenced an incident from last month when Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco seized 650,000 ballots to investigate allegations of election fraud. Bianco part of the crowded field for candidates running for governor.
The top two vote getters will make the ballot this November regardless of party. And a new poll just released tonight from the Public Policy Institute of California shows the two front runners starting to pull away from the pack a bit. Democrat Xavier Becerra, the former U.S. Health secretary, leads the survey of likely voters with 23 percent, Republican Steve Hilton right behind him at 20 percent. Tom Steyer, who spent over $20 million on this race, in third place at 15 percent.
Paul Mitchell is the owner of Redistricting Partners, the vice president of Political Data, sort of known as the data guy for California elections, the guy that's sort of driving so many aspects of the state. Welcome to the show for the first time. Great to have you in the house.
PAUL MITCHELL, VP POLITICAL DATA & OWNER, REDISTRICTING PARTNERS: Thanks for having me.
MICHAELSON: How do you read that poll and why is that poll so important right now, this week?
MITCHELL: Well, right now this week, voters around California, there's a ton of Democrats who are holding onto their ballots, are kind of clutching these ballots, waiting for a sign from somewhere, something to say who's the right candidate to vote for, because Democrats are deathly afraid of two Republicans making the runoff. There was polling recently that showed 75 percent of Democrats have that exact fear. And so they're trying to make sure that they vote with -- for somebody who can actually get into that top spot.
MICHAELSON: And one of the reasons is because there's a guy named Paul Mitchell who was telling them to be afraid of this, as was the California Democratic Party.
MITCHELL: Yes. So months ago, back in the fall, we were getting asked, what is the possibility? Because you had so many polls where Republicans were in the top two and Democrats were floundering around in this like 12 to 14 percent kind of area. And it really did look like in all the modeling, it was possible that you would have Chad Bianco and Steve Hilton kind of pairing up at around 18, 19 percent and no Democrat getting above them.
When Donald Trump endorsed Hilton, it kind of closed the door on that possibility. But voters heard that message and they aren't letting go of that fear.
MICHAELSON: Yes. And that's something that you said because you have this model that shows the percentages of that, which was widely quoted by everybody in California politics. So now people are rethinking that. One of the people saying it's time to rethink that is Katie Porter, who's running for governor. Here's what she told us last week on The Story Is I think there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATIE PORTER, CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: Was a lot of concern a few months ago about whether or not two Republicans could get through. That is now not a concern. And I think some Democrats are starting to realize, oh, actually, we should just get to know the Democratic candidates and pick who we think is going to be the best leader. And they're having a chance now to do that.
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MICHAELSON: So Katie Porter, with that message. Tom Steyer with a very similar message, don't worry about the Republican thing anymore. Matt Mahan, who was very disappointing number in that poll by the way, with a similar message. I mean there's a reason why they're saying this.
MITCHELL: Well, absolutely. I think some candidates are saying that they're losing votes to this idea of we need to consolidate behind a potential leader. And right now that 23 percent for Becerra looks really strong. There's going to be other polls.
There's an Emerson poll, we're expecting, we're expecting a poll from the highest rated pollster in California, the Berkeley IGS poll, maybe this weekend. So if a candidate can appear to be the one that really has that late momentum, I think there's going to be a pile on for that candidate. Despite the fact that, you know, personally I believe that voters should vote for who in their heart they want to vote for. It's a personal decision.
MICHAELSON: I mean anecdotally, as somebody who reports on this and talks to a lot of people across both aisles, people will say I really like Matt Mahan, but I don't think he can win based off of the polls. So I'm going to vote for Xavier Becerra. Or I really like Chad Bianco, but I don't know if he can win. So I'm going to vote for Steve Hilton. And I'm hearing a lot of that anecdotally, people saying that --
MITCHELL: Yes.
MICHAELSON: -- trying to almost strategically vote.
MITCHELL: And it's not absolutely a new thing. This happened the 2020 primary where a lot of voters thought, ooh, I really like Pete Buttigieg, but we're going to wait for who comes out of these primary states. What's going to happen in Nevada, what's going to happen in South Carolina? 'Cause they wanted to kind of strategically vote and not quote, unquote, "waste their vote."
MICHAELSON: And you are the data guy and you have this model that shows who has turned in their ballot that everybody looks at every day.
MITCHELL: Yes.
MICHAELSON: And what are we seeing right now in terms of that?
MITCHELL: Well, we're seeing that Democrats have lower turnout so far compared to 2022. There are these kind of ballot clutchers and it's largely high propensity, more white, more older and more female population. It's people like my mom who were waiting, kind of consternating about making the Quote, unquote, "right choice" and waited until yesterday to turn in her ballot. And her friends are still talking about who they're going to vote for.
MICHAELSON: And older voters, as we know, are the most loyal voters most likely to vote. And yet they are right now seem to be waiting the longest and we'll see how many of them turn in those ballots in the days ahead.
MITCHELL: Yes, and I don't fear for low turnout because they're not turning out. The fact is, if you said Paul, renters and young people aren't voting, I'd say, well, they're probably not going to vote. But when you say seniors and Democrats who voted five to five last elections aren't voting, I'm going to say they're making it to the polls.
MICHAELSON: Here in Los Angeles, there is a mayor's race that's getting national attention. Spencer Pratt is challenging the mayor of Los Angeles, Karen Bass. That is a nonpartisan election, which means on the ballot it does not say Democrat or Republican. But that doesn't mean people don't talk about that. Spencer Pratt is a registered Republican.
Karen Bass a registered Democrat. What are you seeing in terms of the turnout so far in, in the LA mayor's race?
MITCHELL: Well, I think you set it up correctly. I mean, Spencer Pratt is an exciting candidate getting a lot of attention and he is coded Republican. If he was having a huge surge, which is what I think his side is claiming, we'd see it in these early numbers. But young Republican --
MICHAELSON: What do you mean you don't see it in the early numbers?
MITCHELL: When we look at voting among young people, which is kind of one of his targets, they're at 3 percent turnout right now. The city as a whole is at only 7 percent turnout where the rest of the state's at 11 percent turnout.
MICHAELSON: Wow.
MITCHELL: Republicans are turning out a little bit more than Democrats, but the gap is actually wider outside of the city of Los Angeles. So we're just not seeing the signs of some kind of surge of the electorate, which is the more low turnout, disaffected conservative electorate that he's targeting.
MICHAELSON: So he told me when he was here last week that the easiest way for him to win would be on June 2, where you get over -- if somebody gets over 50 percent, they win the mayor's race outright. That would be before all the ads saying that he's a Republican, before the party comes down on him, he says that there's this secret group of moms who are concerned about safety, who are not answering polls, who have not necessarily voted in other elections, who are going to come out and get him over the top. Do you see any evidence of that?
MITCHELL: No, we're not seeing a surge of voting from unlikely voters, voters who have missed recent elections. We would see that in the early data. We saw that again 2020. The Bernie voters in that primary, they turned out in huge numbers. You saw record young person turnout three weeks out before the election.
You would see something in this data and it's just not there.
MICHAELSON: We will see, though, the last day to vote is June 2nd here in California and people can even mail in their ballot on that day.
Paul, thank you.
MITCHELL: Thank you for having me.
MICHAELSON: Great to see you. Thanks for coming in.
Now to a story first reported by CNN. Sources say the U.S. Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll, the former magazine columnist who accused President Trump of sexual assault. We have learned the probe is focused on whether Carroll committed perjury in testimony tied to her two civil rights lawsuits against the president. Civil lawsuits against the president.
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Juries awarded Carroll millions of dollars in damages following judgments in the sexual abuse case and a separate defamation case. She is still embroiled in legal battles with the president as he appeals. This marks the latest effort by the Justice Department to investigate Donald Trump's personal foes.
Former first lady Jill Biden says she was worried her husband, then President Joe Biden, suffered a stroke during the 2024 presidential debate on CNN. Her comments rare public acknowledgment the former president delivered a disastrous debate performance. That poor showing ultimately doomed his bid for a second term. The former first lady opening up about that debate in an interview with CBS's "Sunday Morning Show."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANE PAULEY, HOST, "SUNDAY MORNING": Were you horrified as you saw it unfold?
JILL BIDEN, FORMER FIRST LADY: I wasn't horrified. I was frightened because I had never ever seen Joe like that before or since. Never.
PAULEY: Or since?
BIDEN: Yes. Or since.
PAULEY: You've never seen him like that.
BIDEN: Never. No.
PAULEY: What happened?
BIDEN: I don't know what happened. I mean, when I -- as I watched it, I thought, oh my God, he's having a stroke. And it scared me to death.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: The interview comes as Jill Biden prepares for a book tour of her forthcoming memoir about her time in the White House. New reports suggest Ukraine has gained the upper hand in its fight against Russia, at least for now. It finds that the war is far from a stalemate, even though neither side is capable of making a decisive strategic move. Now a map shows the current situation in yellow territory gained by Ukraine, in red Russian claimed territory.
The report by the Institute for the Study of War says Russia's rate of advance is actually plummeting. It is losing more soldiers to make fewer gains and that Ukraine is starting to regain more ground than it's losing for the first time in three years. So why is that happening? The new report cites technological innovation and Ukraine's ability to carry out intermediate range strikes. Here you are seeing Ukrainian drone technology, but there is a warning Russia could eventually develop countermeasures. So for now, the analysis finds Ukraine's international allies have a rare and temporary chance to help Ukraine while Ukraine has the advantage.
A treacherous search is underway after a deadly industrial incident in Washington State still had efforts to recover nine people presumed dead in the rubble of a ruptured chemical tank. Stay with us.
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MICHAELSON: Recovery crews are searching for nine people presumed dead after an industrial incident at a Washington state paper plant. At least two others have been confirmed dead after a tank containing hazardous chemicals ruptured on Tuesday. The incident also injured eight people and led to a chemical spill in the Columbia River. Officials are still assessing the impact, but so far they have no public health concerns outside the plant. Washington's governor spoke to the community on Wednesday as it is still reeling from the tragedy.
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BOB FERGUSON, WASHINGTON STATE GOVERNOR: We're bracing ourselves for this being the deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history. When you have a tragedy of that scale, the impacts on individuals, on families and on communities is profound.
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MICHAELSON: The former assistant to actor Matthew Perry has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for injecting Perry with a fatal dose of the drug ketamine. "The Friends" star legally took the drug for depression, though he used more than his doctor prescribed. Perry's assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, lived in his home, administering the medication six to eight times a day before his death. Iwamasa found the actor dead in his Jacuzzi in October of 2023 after administering ketamine and then leaving the house to run errands. The assistant isn't the only person charged in the actor's death, but Perry's family says there's no one that they blame more.
California mother thought her daughter would be killed if she didn't follow the instructions of supposed kidnappers. But it turns out her daughter wasn't kidnapped at all. Scammers had used artificial intelligence to mimic her daughter's voice. And this type of scam is on the rise as CNN's Claire Duffy reports.
CLARE DUFFY, CNN TECH REPORTER: This is a parent's worst nightmare. This mom, Deborah Del Mastro, received a call out of the blue from a random number. She picked up and first she hear man's voice saying, I have someone you'll want to talk to. And then she heard what sounded like her adult daughter in distress. Take a listen to how she described that moment.
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DEBORAH DEL MASTRO, AI VOICE SCAM VICTIM: This male voice said, who is this? And I said, well, who is this? And he said, someone that you need to talk to. It was my daughter's voice having an absolute panic attack, trying to breathe, scared, telling me that, you know, I love you, mom. I'm so sorry.
I'm so scared. And then they just cut it off.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DUFFY: The scammers then demanded that she send thousands of dollars to several different accounts, which she did, and only then did she try calling her daughter, who answered immediately because she was at work like normal, and Deborah realized that she had been scammed. But she is not alone. This is an increasingly common type of scam known as AI voice cloning, where scammers will take even just a few seconds of someone's voice recorded in a social media post or via an earlier scam call where somebody's voice was recorded.
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They can use widely available A.I. tools to create a really convincing replica of someone's voice, and then make this call to a loved one that sounds like their family member is on the other end of the line, having been kidnaped or in jail. The scammers will often urgently demand thousands of dollars for that person's release.
And experts say that you can no longer reliably tell whether a voice on the other end of a call is A.I.-generated based on voice fluctuations or weird pauses. This technology has just gotten too good.
But there are some other things you can do to avoid falling victim to this type of scam. The most important thing, experts say, is to just take a breath and slow down if you receive a call like this, however scary it may be. Hackers will often play up a sense of urgency. They might tell you that you can't tell anybody about what's going on, trying to prey on the fear in this moment.
You can also try to contact your loved one who sounds like they're on the other end of the line through some other means while you stay on that call.
So you could send them a text message, or if you have another device in the home, try to call them. Try to call somebody who would know where they are to determine whether they are in fact, just at work, as normal as was Deborah's daughter.
Families can also have conversations prior to something like this happening to establish a code word. This is something that only a small number of people in the family should know. It should not be written down or online anywhere, but it could be used to establish whether the person on the other end of the line is who they say they are in the event of a scam like this.
It's so important for people to be aware that this is happening. Americans lost $893 million to A.I.-related scams last year. That includes these A.I. voice scams and also things like romance and phishing scams. So these are very much on the rise.
Important to have conversations with your family members before something like this happens.
Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ELEX MICHALESON, CNN ANCHOR: Clare Duffy, thank you.
Former attorney general, Pam Bondi tells CNN she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer after she left the Justice Department. Bondi says she's undergoing treatment, including having surgery a few weeks ago. She says she's still recovering and, quote, "doing well".
President Trump fired Bondi in early April and installed his former personal attorney, Todd Blanche, as acting attorney general.
Bondi is scheduled to testify before a House committee on its probe into the Jeffrey Epstein case on Friday.
The first Afghan woman to ever reach the summit of Mount Everest facing even greater challenges just to make the climb possible.
CNN caught up with her about the remarkable journey. We'll have that interview next.
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MICHAELSON: Welcome back to THE STORY IS. I'm Elex Michaelson.
Let's take a look at today's top stories.
The U.S. has launched new attacks against Iran. That is according to a U.S. official who says U.S. forces struck a military site near the Strait of Hormuz. They also shot down at least four Iranian drones that were being launched from the site. The official says the strikes were purely defensive, aimed at maintaining the ceasefire.
Officials say the U.S. plans to send Americans who've been exposed to the ebola outbreak in Africa but do not have symptoms to health facilities in Kenya. Critics warn the plan could be unethical and illegal.
The Kenyan health ministry says there are ongoing discussions with U.S. government and other global partners on tackling the ebola virus.
FIFA is facing an investigation over its astronomical World Cup price tickets -- ticket prices, I should say. The attorneys general of New York and New Jersey have subpoenaed documents about FIFA's pricing practices, and they plan to examine FIFA's ticketing process and seat maps at MetLife Stadium, which they say were altered after fans bought tickets.
From escaping the Taliban to reaching historic heights, River Ahmad is the first woman from Afghanistan to climb to the summit of Mount Everest, and it's been quite the journey for her to get there.
She spoke with our Isa Soares from there just a few days after her remarkable achievement.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: River Ahmad has just made history as the first Afghan woman to summit Mount Everest.
RIVER AHMAD, FIRST AFGHAN WOMAN TO SUMMIT MOUNT EVEREST: I felt so powerful after the summit. That was amazing feeling. I never had that feeling that I had out there.
This is so beautiful.
SOARES: Standing at the highest point on earth to highlight the plight of women and girls back home in Afghanistan.
AHMAD: If I can climb this mountain, the highest mountain in the world, as a first Afghan woman in this part of the history with those kind of struggle, one day we can climb this part of the history. And we have to have hope.
SOARES: Hope has been her driving force after a life that has been nothing short of a miracle. She survived a deadly Taliban attack as a teenager, faking her own death with menstrual blood.
AHMAD: When I saw the Taliban, like they were walking to me and I just covered my eyes and I was like, how I should act that I am dead and these people not noticed.
But I hold my breath and these people checked that I pretend that I'm dead. And it was a scary time. It was so scary.
I carried that memory up to Everest too and then they checked that (INAUDIBLE), this lady is dead. When they moved out of the bus and I was like, am I alive?
[01:39:45]
SOARES: 12 people were killed in that attack in 2014, she said. River was one of three survivors. She found solace in mountaineering.
AHMAD: Climbing is not easy at all, and you have to put your 100 percent to get to the top. And you have to dedicate your time and your determination to do this.
I did (ph) this because world forget about Afghanistan right now. It is almost 12 years. The situation is getting worse and worse. The child marriage and education back home there.
And I thought that only things that I can do is to climb and bring awareness for women and girls back home and to encourage them.
And by climbing, to see me and how I am challenging my body and my limits to get to the top and to encourage them.
SOARES: A message of strength and defiance as the Taliban continues to tighten its hold on the life of women and girls in Afghanistan.
Isa Soares, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: Our thanks to isa.
A lot of police videos go viral these days, but this one packs a different kind of punch. Officers sprang into action when the Bingus the kangaroo got loose from a wildlife rescue in Waco, Texas.
It's not the first time police were in hot pursuit of the mischievous marsupial. Bingus bounced once before in September of last year. Neither kangaroo nor any humans were hurt in the incident, and everyone's hoping Bingus doesn't jump bail again.
You're watching THE STORY IS.
For our international viewers, "WORLDSPORT" is next. For our viewers in North America, I'll be right back with a profile of Dodgers all- star catcher, Will Smith and the great work he's doing in the community.
Stay with us.
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MICHAELSON: From time to time here on THE STORY IS we're going to feature athletes who serve their communities. Tonight, a star catcher using comedy for good.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Give it up for the great Will Smith. Keep it going.
MICHAELSON: Will Smith is known for helping the L.A. Dodgers win world series titles. Known for catching Team U.S.A. at the World Baseball Classic. Known for playing on multiple all-star teams.
But his fellow Dodgers say he's not known for his jokes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So when you think comedy, you don't necessarily think Will Smith.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We really don't think Will Smith.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you make of Will's comedic timing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know if I'd say it's great.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not great.
MICHAELSON: Yet, for the third year in a row, Smith is hosting a comedy show.
Why a comedy night?
WILL SMITH, CATCHER, L.A. DODGERS: I don't know, it's kind of ironic because I'm, like, the most boring baseball player.
MICHAELSON: All this raising money for the Catching Hope Foundation, founded by Will and his wife, Kara.
Is there a side of him that we maybe don't see?
KARA SMITH, CO-FOUNDER, CATCHING HOPE FOUNDATION: I mean, honestly, he is funny. He has like a dry sense of humor.
MICHAELSON: And is there a part of you that thinks I want to try out some material on the stage?
W. SMITH: No. Absolutely not.
MICHAELSON: You'll leave that to others.
W. SMITH: I'll leave that to the comedians.
MICHAELSON: So you're the host tonight?
KEN JEONG, COMEDIAN: Yes. No comment.
MICHAELSON: Comedian and Dodger superfan, Ken Jeong is the emcee of a sold-out evening in Beverly Hills that's part of the "Netflix is a Joke Comedy Festival", showcasing a variety of professional comedians.
The "Netflix is a Joke Fest" includes comedy shows all over southern California, but this is the only one featuring a sports team.
JEONG: And we're doing all this for charity, so it's everything, you know.
MICHAELSON: That charity, Catching Hope aims to expand opportunity for kids. For Kara, this is personal. K. SMITH: So I actually taught first grade in Louisville, Kentucky for
three years. And I was at a Title One school. So I saw a lot of, you know, students that had like missed opportunities or not a lot of resources that we couldn't quite provide ourselves.
MICHAELSON: Now, their nonprofit buys school supplies.
K. SMITH: We clear teachers' lists. And for me, I wasn't able to have my list cleared.
MICHAELSON: Every year. The Smiths welcome students to Dodger Stadium and travel to local schools, including Marquez Elementary, part of which burned down in last year's Palisades Fire. Catching Hope, helping to fund a mental health program here, and new recess equipment.
What goes through your mind when you see the smiles on the kids?
W. SMITH: Theres nothing like it.
MICHAELSON: Will first experience that sensation volunteering with the L.A. Dodgers Foundation, one of the largest nonprofits for any sports team in the world.
W. SMITH: It's just incredible what they do.
MICHAELSON: The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation says they've invested nearly $80 million in the community, serving 11 million kids and building almost 70 Dodger dream fields.
The Dodgers say 1.8 million youth and their families can now access these fields for free all over southern California.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nicole Whiteman.
MICHAELSON: Nicole Whiteman is CEO of the Dodgers Foundation. She helps individual Dodgers set up their own foundations as well.
NICOLE WHITEMAN, CEO, DODGERS FOUNDATION. One organization can't do all this work. There's a lot of need, especially here in our city.
MICHAELSON: The recently retired pitcher Clayton Kershaw and his wife, Ellen, founded their nonprofit, Kershaw's Challenge, 14 years ago. They've raised more than $28 million for 27 different beneficiaries, all while inspiring his former catcher.
W. SMITH: That kind of hit me a little bit. I'm sure it hit her as well. Just this is more than baseball. We have this platform and we can -- we can do a lot of good with it.
K. SMITH: It was something that it's like, if they can do it, like, why can't we do something?
MICHAELSON: The Smiths now, parents of young kids, first started dating each other while in college.
What have you learned from Kara? How does she inspire you?
W. SMITH: Oh man. I think just her being a mom, you know, seeing her take care of her kids every day is just special.
MICHAELSON: What have you learned from Will? How does he inspire you?
K. SMITH: Oh, gosh. Work ethic. Yes. You're special.
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MICHAELSON: What is the lesson you want your kids to take from watching you do this?
K. SMITH: If they have a passion to give back and help, like find a way and do it.
W. SMITH: Giving back. It's about helping other people, bringing happiness to other people. And I think that's what they should hopefully take from us.
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MICHAELSON: Our thanks to Will and Kara Smith and to the L.A. Dodgers Foundation as well.
Coming up, ticket prices are breaking records for the upcoming NBA finals in New York. We'll tell you how much it's going to cost if you want to sit near Marty Supreme. That's next on THE STORY IS.
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MICHAELSON: Ticket prices for the NBA finals are shattering records, as the New York Knicks head to the championship series for the first time since 1999. According to TickPick, the least expensive seats for Game Three at Madison Square Garden are going for $3,500 apiece. For $200 more, you could have attended all seven games of last year's finals.
Courtside seats, about the price of a luxury car. And with many Americans already struggling to make ends meet, Knicks fans have mixed feelings.
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RAY CUENCA, KNICKS FAN: Damn, that's crazy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To get in the door.
CUENCA: Yes, that's madness. I definitely not going to go. As much as I love the Knicks, I can't afford those prices.
SUZETTE MEADE, KNICKS FAN: I think it's a once in a Lifetime experience. And sometimes you got to do a little bit more in order to make that happen. So I would consider it.
I think that these days entertainment, sports, all of that, it really -- it comes with a premium experience. And premium experiences come at a premium price tags.
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MICHAELSON: Now to Paris, where four-time Grand Slam tennis star, Naomi Osaka, stunned crowds in the Eiffel Tower themed outfit during her first round of the French Open. Her gold tennis dress was designed by Nike.
Osaka says it reminds her of the lights sparkling on the French monument at night. She also says it's a nod to France and the country's famous couture fashion.
The tennis champ added she was concerned officials would kick her off the court because of how reflective the dress was. So she had multiple backup outfits as well.
Tomorrow here on THE STORY IS, candidate for California governor Steve Hilton will be here live. Plus, political analysis from Lanhee Chen and Caroline Heldman. And movie reviews from Grae Drake. All that tomorrow.
I'm Elex Michaelson. Thanks so much for watching tonight. We'll see you tomorrow.
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