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The Story Is with Elex Michaelson

Knicks Mount Record Game Four Comeback; U.S. Completes Latest Round of Strikes on Iran; Scandal-Plagued Graham Platner Wins Maine Democratic Senate Primary; Crowds Set Buildings & Vehicles on Fire in Belfast; Bill Gates Testifies about Jeffrey Epstein Connections on Capitol Hill; Scottish Football Fans Arriving in Boston for World Cup. Aired 12-1a ET

Aired June 11, 2026 - 00:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: Live from Los Angeles, THE STORY IS with Elex Michaelson.

[00:00:48]

ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: And THE STORY IS breaking news in New York City, where the Knicks are one win away from their first NBA championship since 1973.

Look at these live pictures from the streets of New York City right now, where one of the biggest parties is underway in years. Let's hope it remains peaceful as people try to get through the streets right there.

Let's show you the highlights of what we're talking about. The Knicks just wrapped up the biggest comeback in league finals history, erasing a 29-point deficit to beat the San Antonio Spurs 107-106.

Jalen Brunson missed the three there, but O.G. Anunoby, the tip-in to give the Knicks the lead. Brunson led the Knicks with 36 points, Victor Wembanyama with 24 points for the Spurs.

CNN's Omar Jimenez is live on the floor at Madison Square Garden. Omar, the party is on.

OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN ANCHOR/CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Elex, you know, sitting here -- it's really loud in here -- but sitting here watching this game, I mean, I think some Knicks fans are in disbelief at what happened.

Like, the celebration here was off the charts after the game ended. They started playing "New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra, "Empire State of Mind," Alicia Keys. And everyone in this arena was singing along, and you couldn't hear anything.

And I want to contrast that with, in the first half, when the Knicks team was down almost 30, you could hear a pin drop in here. It didn't feel like a finals game. It felt like a deflated crowd.

They were -- they were missing threes. They weren't -- didn't seem they were able to get it together.

And then little by little, over the course of the second half, this crowd woke up. Some shots started to go in, and then that tip when O.G. Anunoby somehow reached back and tipped that ball in to take the lead in the final seconds, this place absolutely exploded.

The fans that were sitting in some of these courtside seats, we saw them in the middle of the court once the game was over, jumping around and celebrating.

The classics. Spike Lee, of course you expect him at games like this. But even from other sports. I was talking to C.C. Sabathia, Yankees pitcher. And he was telling me that, even when the Yankees are doing well, it doesn't compare to when the Knicks are doing well.

And so, there's a scenario here where they were going to be tied 2-2 going to San Antonio. They are now up 3-1 and on the precipice, ever closer, to doing something they have not done in more than 50 years.

And you can feel the excitement, not just on -- I got this guy fist pumping, fist pumping right next to me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coming down from 27. Unbelievable. These Knicks are the best. Never happened in history. Fifty years we're waiting. Go, Knicks! Go, Knicks!

JIMENEZ: See, I don't even have to -- I don't even have to go search for fans who want to share their excitement. They're coming to me --

MICHAELSON: They're coming to you.

JIMENEZ: -- over the course of this. And it's not just inside. It's -- it's outside everywhere in the city, as well, Elex.

MICHAELSON: Yes, I mean -- I mean, talk about some of the -- the big names around you. I mean, what an experience this must be like for you as a basketball fan, as somebody who played college basketball yourself at Northwestern --

JIMENEZ: Oh, man.

MICHAELSON: -- to see something like this and to be surrounded by the biggest names in the world, including Taylor Swift.

JIMENEZ: Oh man. Yes. Oh, yes. No. Well, Taylor Swift, when she walked in, obviously, the energy in the building changed a little bit. She doesn't usually come to Knicks games, in at least this visible of a way. And she was very visible alongside him and everyone on the court.

Now you talk about the basketball royalty in the building. I just turned around. There's Metta World Peace in a New York Knicks jersey.

MICHAELSON: Wow.

JIMENEZ: There's Emeka Okafor, college legend at UCONN, but also NBA player, as well. Former. And then there was Spike Lee on the court. I saw Jimmy Fallon on the

court. It was like every walk of celebrity life seemed to be here.

But it wasn't just that. When you talk to some of them. For example, I spoke to Spike Lee. I spoke to John Turturro, as well. They've been watching and coming to these Knicks games since the early '90s together, and then have been fans and been watching these games since the '70s. And it's now sort of passed on through generations.

[00:05:00]

John Turturro was telling me about how now his son is watching his game -- these Knicks games with him. And this is the generation of Knicks that he will experience and grow with as he moves forward in life.

So, multi-generational sort of aspirations here. And when you do the math, it kind of makes sense. The last time they won: in the '70s.

Then in the '90s they make it to the finals. Don't quite make it over that hump the last time in '99 against the Spurs.

And then now here we are 27 years later, a chance to get over that hump against the Spurs, and now ever closer.

MICHAELSON: I mean, they call the Garden the Mecca of basketball. Was this probably about as loud as it's ever been in there?

JIMENEZ: It really was. And, you know, I cannot emphasize enough how quiet it was in the first half when it seemed not that hope was lost. But you know, that -- that -- that differential kept growing and growing. And the Knicks didn't quite seem to have it.

And then, in that second half, as things got louder and louder, it seemed like one bit of energy fed on the next bit of energy. And before you know it, it was a 15-point game, ten-point game, a five- point game.

You know, Josh Hart missed the go-ahead layup. And that could have ended the run there. And yet, the Knicks kept coming and kept showing up. And all of a sudden, here they are on the other side of this.

You know we were talking about every time I turn around there's another NBA player. There's Kevin Love there on the sidelines, as well. Long-time, also, former champion here in the NBA.

And when you talk about the Mecca of basketball, too, this is something that Spike Lee and I actually spoke about, was that I asked him, Why do the Knicks matter so much to New York City?

And he simply said, because basketball matters to New York City. It doesn't matter that the Knicks haven't won in over five decades. The other teams -- the Yankees, Mets, Jets, Giants -- they split the fan bases a little bit, but not in the Knicks case.

When the Knicks are good, New York City feels good. And I don't think that's ever been more apparent than the past week here.

MICHAELSON: Yes, well, Omar, you got to say hi to Metta World Peace for me. He's our friend and a regular on our show, who's right over your shoulder on the other side.

JIMENEZ: I'll go find him. I'll go find him.

MICHAELSON: What a -- what a crowd. What a game. What a night for you. A dream assignment for Omar Jimenez. We're going to stay on this celebration. We have live pictures throughout the night. There's a lot going to be going on in New York, which is a city that never sleeps and is really not sleeping tonight.

Job well done, Omar. How about that? Very cool.

So, we're going to keep on that.

JIMENEZ: Good to see you.

MICHAELSON: But we also, of course, here on CNN need to follow the important serious stories of the night. And we continue with our coverage of the war in Iran.

It is now 7:30 in the morning in Iran, where the U.S. says it has now completed a second straight night of strikes. U.S. Central Command says this latest round, which lasted for several hours, targeted Iranian military sites.

It came in response to, quote, "Iran's unwarranted and continued aggression." The U.S. says Iranian targets that posed a threat to U.S. forces and international commercial ships also came under fire.

The U.S. first launched strikes Tuesday after the downing of an Army Apache helicopter.

Meantime, Iran says the Strait of Hormuz is now closed to all vessels. The U.S. military, though, has pushed back on that claim, saying commercial ships are continuing to transit in and out of the critical waterway.

The latest actions by the U.S. are coming after these remarks from the president and the defense secretary.

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DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: We're going to be attacking them and attacking them very hard.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're resuming bombing?

TRUMP: Yes, well, we are, based on the helicopter. I guess we have the right to do that.

PETE HEGSETH, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: Central Command will be busy tonight, because President Trump said we will be hitting Iran hard, and we will be. Because Iran has a chance to make a good deal, a great deal to codify

what they said they've been willing to do, and they haven't been willing to do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAELSON: CNN's Paula Hancocks live in the region. She's in Abu Dhabi. Paula, what more can you tell us about those strikes?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Elex, what we've been hearing from U.S. Central Command is that they are specifically military targets that they have been hitting in the early hours of today, local time, military surveillance capabilities, comms systems, air defense sites.

And we've heard from the U.S. president that the reason that the U.S. is -- is carrying out these strikes for a second day is because Iran is not pushing forward with this memorandum of understanding.

Now, we heard the U.S. president yesterday saying that it was in retaliation for the downing of an Apache helicopter. Today, it appears to be because the -- the diplomatic process is not moving as quickly as he wants it to.

Worth pointing out that there's actually a Qatari delegation in Tehran at this moment that has been trying to push the delegation, push the diplomacy forward. But clearly, this will potentially be put on hold once again.

[00:10:04]

We've -- we've heard from FOX News, a correspondent saying that they spoke to President Trump, and he has said to FOX News that the bombing will continue tomorrow, if there is not this memorandum that is agreed to.

Now, we've seen the precedence, that -- that Iran does not succumb to pressure of a military type. It does not want to -- to agree to a deal, a face-losing deal, if -- if -- if President Trump is saying that this is the reason these strikes are happening, to try and pressure them into that.

So, there's a lot of questions as to what will happen in the coming hours. And -- and whether or not this pressure will succeed. The vast majority of people suspect it will not -- Elex.

MICHAELSON: So, what did -- Iran doing in terms of their response?

HANCOCKS: So, what we've seen so far is, once again, Kuwait and Bahrain, and Jordan bearing the brunt of the Iranian retaliation.

The Revolutionary Guard said that they were going to be targeting U.S. military facilities. They say they had 18 significant targets.

We saw in Bahrain. That, of course, is the headquarters of the -- the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet. We saw in Jordan, the U.S. embassy in Oman actually telling Americans to shelter in place, to find shelter, as they were coming under attack, as well.

And Kuwait again, intercepting, the military says, a number of -- of incoming missiles and drones.

Now, when it comes to what was targeted in Iran, it really was around the Strait of Hormuz. A number of different locations around that key waterway, which Iran now claims is completely closed.

We do know they were allowing some ships through. It was widely believed that they were charging extortionate amounts to -- to allow certain ships through, to be able to take oil and other goods to the rest of the world.

CENTCOM has pushed back, though, saying that they are still seeing some vessels transit the strait -- Elex.

MICHAELSON: Paula Hancocks for us, live in Abu Dhabi. Paula, thank you.

President Trump is weighing in on Maine's Senate Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate. He calls Graham Platner a, quote, "thug, a pig." And "worse than any human being that's ever run for office, probably."

Platner has been plagued by a series of controversies, including a tattoo that resembles a Nazi symbol, and allegations of mistreating women.

But he won the Democratic primary by a wide margin on Tuesday and will take on Senator Susan Collins in November's midterm elections.

I'm joined now online -- here live by our political panel: Caroline Heldman, political scientist, Democratic strategist, and professor of critical theory and social justice at Occidental College, and Joel Pollak, opinion editor at "The California Post" and former senior editor at large at Breitbart News.

Welcome to you both.

So, this puts Democratic senators in a weird place who, for so many years, have said, we believe the women; we believe the women. And then all of a sudden, maybe aren't believing these women. Some are, some aren't. Here is what some are telling our Manu Raju on Capitol Hill today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TAMMY DUCKWORTH (D-IL): We hold folks at the highest standards here in the Democratic Party, and I have not supported him nor given money to him. He has to account for his own actions.

SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA): Graham Platner has taken responsibility for his past. He's indicated he is not proud of who he was. And he has asked the people of Maine to judge him based on the work he has done since then and who [SIC] he has done now. And I think that's what last night's results show.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAELSON: You've spent so much time of working in this space, working with women who were victims. How do you see this whole story?

CAROLINE HELDMAN, PROFESSOR, OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE: I think Graham Platner, his most recent allegations are very odious. I would not want to be a Maine voter.

I think it's -- if you're a Maine voter, you are either voting for a misogynist, which he very clearly is. There's a lack of self- reflection, not about the tattoo, not about the previous comments on Reddit from ten years ago. I actually think he did a great job with that.

I love call-in (ph). I love restorative practices where, if people self-reflect on something and take accountability for their actions, then you bring them back into the community, into the fold. I actually think that's a selling point for Graham Platner.

But these most recent allegations are 2023. He hasn't done that. He's obviously got some unresolved misogyny that he needs to deal with.

So, you're either voting for a misogynist, or you're voting for the woman who played a pivotal role in overturning Roe v. Wade.

So, I think, you know, in terms of policy, it's a pretty clear choice, but it's not an easy choice. And I think that's what Democrats right now are navigating. And some of them are -- could do more -- right? -- to call this out, because it's open misogyny.

MICHAELSON: Do you think there's some Democratic hypocrisy here, Joel?

JOEL POLLAK, OPINION EDITOR, "THE CALIFORNIA POST": Yes. I think Democrats are supporting him because they believe he's going to win. I think the early polling --

[00:15:04]

MICHAELSON: Or they think that he has to win. Yes.

POLLAK: Well, I think they might have looked for an alternative if he hadn't been leading Susan Collins by such a wide margin.

I think the prospect of him helping them take back the Senate is what is helping Democrats get over the moral problems and the questions.

And I think they'll regret that in the long run, because Susan Collins often runs behind early in her reelection campaigns, and then comes back to win.

And we could be having a conversation in November about why do they choose this guy? This was really an inexplicable choice. The Nazi tattoo. That's what really got me.

I mean, it's not just a Nazi tattoo. It's the concentration camp symbol for the S.S. And he claims he didn't know what it was, but he had it on for so long.

And it's just -- you know, the funny thing is about that. He didn't know it was a Nazi tattoo. But then he says things like, he's going to fight the control of AIPAC over Congress, which is basically an antisemitic conspiracy theory.

So, he's not a Nazi anymore. But now, he's got these Jews that he's going to fight. I mean, it's -- it's -- it's not credible.

MICHAELSON: There is a difference between AIPAC and Jewish people.

POLLAK: But people who are obsessed with AIPAC in a particular way --

MICHAELSON: It's not necessarily the same thing. But -- but your point, your point is --

POLLAK: But that's the formula. We all know it.

MICHAELSON: Yes. So -- but in terms of this, though, I mean, do you think -- why do you think Maine voters are so attracted to him for that? With all that being said, there's some sort of authenticity or something about him that people are clearly drawn to in that state.

HELDMAN: Well, Elex, I think it's the timing. I actually think, had the revelations in "The New York Times" article come out from 2023, we might be in a different place. I actually think they might have chosen, perhaps, Mills or gotten another candidate into the race.

And I will say, it's not too late. There's still a month for the Democratic Party in the state of Maine to, if he were to step down, to choose somebody.

I think his previous allegations, he had a very good humanizing reason for that. It was PTSD. It was related to service. You felt for him. He came out, and he apologized.

We have not seen that with these most recent allegations. And -- and they are misogynistic. They're abusive. Yes, the Democrats need a come-to-Jesus moment about why it is that they're not condemning him more, more vehemently.

MICHAELSON: And what do you make of Donald Trump calling him a pig?

HELDMAN: Well, Donald Trump is a man with 26 serious allegations of sexual violence. He has a civil -- two civil findings against him, right, for -- for sexual misconduct.

This is a man who's all over the Epstein files. Two 13-year-olds have come forward and made allegations against him. I find it just the -- the apex of hypocrisy.

MICHAELSON: And those allegations are not proven. And he has not been charged with any crimes in terms of that.

But let's talk, Joel, about Donald Trump when it comes to the Iran war. We see more strikes just in the last 24 hours. The threat of a full-on resumption of the war.

We know so many folks in the Republican Party voted for him, because they thought he wasn't going to do Middle East wars. As somebody who's so in touch with the Republican base, where is the base on this?

POLLAK: I think most Republicans are supporting him. And I think the bias among Republicans and Americans in general is toward success.

So, if Trump can show that he's succeeding in achieving the goals of the war, then people will support it. The moment it looks like it's not working, then support falls off; and people start asking, why did we do this?

But you know, we're coming up on the 250th anniversary of the country. And the reason we have a Navy is because Thomas Jefferson decided that we were never going to pay tribute to pirates from Islamic caliphates that tried to stop our shipping, and kidnap our sailors, and make them into slaves.

And the Iranians haven't learned from our history. They're just running the same playbook. And this goes back to Jefferson. It's not just Trump. This can only end one way.

MICHAELSON: Do you think this war is working, though?

POLLAK: I do, I do. And I think that the blockade has successfully denied Iran an ability to raise money, which means they can't sustain this for very long. And they're trying everything they can. I think they're desperate to maintain control. But I think ultimately we win this.

MICHAELSON: Your eyebrows raised to the top of your head.

HELDMAN: Yes. Joel, you're such a smart, wonderful human. Right? But those are talking points.

This is not a successful war. All you have to do is look at polling. Amongst the Republican Party, it's wildly unpopular, with about two- thirds of Americans don't support it.

We are right now, by the way, just to be clear, we are fighting to get back to where we were, which is the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

We started this. I teach a class on international relations, and we talk about what will happen if you go into Iran. And so, a one-on-one class simulation, gee, it happened. And now it's not a hypothetical anymore.

We're also fighting about enriched uranium. Right? And that was the JCPOA that Obama signed in 2015, that Donald Trump got us out of.

So, our -- our two primary foci at this moment are to get back to baseline.

And we are right now bombing night after night. Why? To get a memo signed. That memo doesn't agree to anything, really. MICHAELSON: Yes.

HELDMAN: It agrees to us sitting down at the table. So, this is like amateur hour in the Middle East. And we are in an unfortunate situation where it might escalate into a ground war, simply because we can't get out of this quagmire.

[00:20:04]

MICHAELSON: All right, well, we have to leave it there, but you both are coming back in our next hour. You're going to be with us to talk about the California elections and more. So, Caroline, Joel, we'll see you then. Thanks for being here.

Also, still to come, another day of unrest in Northern Ireland. I'll speak with an expert about what is fueling this violent anti- immigration protest. And really dramatic images coming out of that country.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MICHAELSON: Police in Northern Ireland are preparing for more days of violent anti-immigration protests.

On Wednesday, they used water cannons against angry crowds throwing objects at police vehicles. It is the latest escalation after masked rioters broke into homes and set fires to buildings and vehicles in recent days.

[00:25:09]

CNN international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson has more on what sparked that violence.

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NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR (voice-over): At its dangerous peak Tuesday night, police rescuing Belfast residents as their homes torched in a night of anti-immigrant rioting gripping Northern Ireland.

A neighborhood bus set on fire amid scenes of some of the worst violence across the U.K.'s troubled province in years.

At times, angry mobs of masked men roamed streets unchecked, smashing Houses, apparently searching for migrants. The violence smoldering through the night as riot police clashed with rock throwing youths in multiple towns. At least two policemen injured, several people arrested Northern Ireland's police chief, ramping up his forces in readiness for worse.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will be on the streets tonight in numbers even more than we were last night, and we have got arrangements in hand to get mutual aid that will be arriving here tomorrow. And we're looking to get a further some 200 officers to get on the streets to deal with this. ROBERTSON (voice-over): The rioting triggered by a knife attack Monday

night where the victim, Stephen Ogilvie, was saved by neighbors but lost an eye, according to authorities, and remains in hospital in critical condition with head and neck injuries.

The suspect, named in a Belfast court Wednesday as Hadi Alodid, a 30- year-old Sudanese refugee who authorities say was legally in the U.K. and was charged with attempted murder. Other immigrants in Belfast now concerned for their safety.

ANSELME SHIMA, BELFAST RESIDENT FROM DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: I'm afraid maybe I might be the next to be attacked on the street, so I don't know where to take my family, my children, who is 9 years old, who is asking me every question that crosses his mind. And I don't know how to answer him. I don't know; maybe I'm the next.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): The British prime minister calling for calm at a time when the U.K. is being tested by divisions over immigration.

KEIR STARMER, U.K. PRIME MINISTER: But let me be clear, Mr. Speaker. The acts of violence and arson that followed are totally unjustified. We are united in calling for calm and determined to restore order.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): Last year, anti-immigrant riots lasted five days. In Northern Ireland, tensions are easily combustible. The legacy of grievances from 30 years of sectarian bloodletting a generation ago has left easy kindling and a know-how for fiery rioting.

Adding to concerns violence could escalate further, some anti- immigrant mainland U.K. campaigners have already come to Belfast. Others posting on social media.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's very easy, these days especially, to look online and be persuaded by people who know nothing about Northern Ireland.

Stop listening to these idiots. We will be going after them for the incitement that they've been doing.

ROBERTSON (voice-over): But by late afternoon Wednesday, fears of more violence realized. Police using water cannon to keep protesters at bay. A second night of rioting erupting. Young men pitted against police again.

Nic Robertson, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAELSON: Joining me now live is Brian Levin, founding director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism. He's also professor emeritus of criminal justice at California state university. Brian, good to see you.

That man we just heard in Nic's piece, which was just heartbreaking, said that he's afraid, doesn't know what to tell his kids. Should he be afraid? What should he tell his kids? BRIAN LEVIN, FOUNDING DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF HATE AND

EXTREMISM: Well, he should be concerned. But the way we respond to this, similar to what President Roosevelt said about nothing to fear but fear itself. We can't let fear take away from the things that we can do.

So, the first thing is safety. So, for instance, in California, if you're the victim of a hate crime, call 911. But also, 1- 883 -- eighty-three -- 38-NO-HATE. So, there's things that you can do to respond.

Make sure that you are safe. Get to a place that is safe. Report. There is help available in 20 languages here in California.

So, that's the first thing. Respond to immediate safety concerns, have that plan. But for the most part, what I think most of us should do is unify. Take this opportunity to stress commonalities.

[00:30:06]

Just yesterday, the imam from the Islamic Center of San Diego addressed the California Commission on the State of Hate in a multi- faith setting.

We have to show up and be there for others, especially people who are grieving. And the thing is, unify. And unify around people that respect the dignity of all human life and embrace nonviolence.

MICHAELSON: Yes.

LEVIN: I think that's some of the ways we respond. So, we don't think we're powerless.

MICHAELSON: Well, and let's talk about what's contributing to this. I want to put up on the screen a headline from "Politico" in Europe, which is quoting right there, the Labour leader in the region, who is slamming what she calls the "appalling" Elon Musk after Belfast riots.

She doesn't like what he's sharing out. Tell us the story behind that and some of the stats behind some of that that you found.

LEVIN: Thank you so much. And remember the context of which this is happening.

Preliminary -- and I'm giving it to you exclusive. There you go -- FBI data. We'll probably get the final in the next month or two.

But what it shows is, even with a decline of about 8 percent, aggravated assaults rose and hit the second highest level. And what are we seeing? We're seeing in the 2020s, not only in the United States but in Europe. Northern Ireland hit a record in the last reporting that they have with respect to both religious and racial violence.

In the United States, anti-Latino hate crimes hit a record last year. That's another headline. So, look at the context. And what we've seen is when -- when leaders

talk, and high transmitters talk, with regard to these kinds of incidents in a salutary way, like President Bush did six days after 9/11, hate crimes dropped the next day, never to rise above where it was before, and dropped again through the next year.

We're not having that now, where Muslims, Jews, immigrants are being attacked. And Musk, with -- with his millions of followers and a free- wheeling platform, as many of these platforms have become, we're seeing them exploited with bots and the internationalization of hate.

So, the attack that we saw in in our community in San Diego, for instance, that was an internationalized set of impactors that are now -- that allow those accelerationist Nazis to come up with a narrative.

MICHAELSON: And in this particular incident, Elon Musk shared out something that a leader in Northern Ireland had shared out. And the other leader felt like it was inappropriate to do that and IS sort of adding fuel to the fire.

Brian Levin, thank you for sharing your views. We appreciate it.

Iran is responding to the latest barrage of U.S. airstrikes. Ahead, we'll have a report on the hostilities from Tehran. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:37:36]

MICHAELSON: Let's get you up to speed with the latest on the fighting in the Middle East.

Iran is vowing a harsh response after U.S. strikes on the country for the second straight night.

Reuters is reporting that Kuwait has temporarily closed its airspace after new Iranian strikes, which also targeted Bahrain. Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it went after U.S. military bases in those countries.

Fred Pleitgen has more from Tehran. A reminder: CNN operates in Iran only with the permission of the government but maintains full editorial control of its reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Iran has vowed a harsh response to renewed U.S. strikes, especially in areas, it seems, around the Persian Gulf region.

In addition to that, the Iranian military is also announcing that the Strait of Hormuz has now been closed by the Iranian military. They say that any vessels or tankers trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted.

Now, all of this comes as the U.S. has announced that it is conducting new strikes on areas in Iran. And those really do seem to be focused on the Persian Gulf and, specifically, on the Strait of Hormuz region.

There were explosions that were reported in several areas within the Strait of Hormuz, but also around that area, as well.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): Earlier, I was able to speak to a senior official from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and he told me he was not impressed by some of the threats coming from the Trump administration to hit Iran if they don't sign a deal with the U.S.

BRIG. GEN. HOSSEIN MAROOFI, ISLAMIC REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS (through translator): Trump is delusional. He must understand the power of this great nation, and he must recognize the strength of our armed forces.

He should have become aware of the great movement of our armed forces in these recent operations and fully comprehend the readiness of our armed forces with the support of the Iranian people.

PLEITGEN: All of this comes as a Qatari delegation is still on the ground here in Tehran. They've been working throughout almost the entire day on Wednesday, trying to make progress with the Iranians on a memorandum of understanding that would then be signed by both the U.S. and Iran.

And that would aim to end the hostilities between the two nations and pave the way for broader peace talks that could then lead to a peace agreement between the United States and Iran.

However, in the past couple of days, of course, there have been a lot of tensions, especially in the Persian Gulf region, with the United States and Iran trading blows there. That made progress towards peace more difficult.

[00:40:07]

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Tehran.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAELSON: Pope Leo travels to the Canary Islands in the coming hours, where he will meet with organizations working with migrants.

The Canary Islands are a major point of entry for migrants from Africa trying to reach Europe.

On Wednesday, Pope Leo wrapped up his visit to Barcelona with a mass attended by thousands at Sagrada Familia Basilica. He also inaugurated the iconic basilica's new tower, 144 years after construction began.

During his homily, the pope praised the building's architect as a man inspired by faith.

Billionaire Bill Gates testifies on Capitol Hill. What he told lawmakers about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:45:29]

MICHAELSON: We're now on our top story, the war in Iran. Let's go to CNN national security analyst Alex Plitsas. He is the director of the Counterterrorism Project at the Atlantic Council.

Alex, President Trump has been insisting that the U.S. and Iran are close to an agreement. And now we had these strikes today. What's the message being sent with these strikes?

ALEX PLITSAS, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: So, it seems as though there was the last-minute details that needed to get worked out on a couple of the nuclear issues and the nuclear file, which weren't coming to a conclusion. And the president had lost his patience and was politely messaging to the Iranians, at first, you need to bring this to a conclusion. They weren't listening. He felt they were dragging their feet.

And so kinetic strikes were ordered as a means of influencing the Iranians to try to get them to come back to the table and finalize this deal.

MICHAELSON: So, how much time is left for countries to sign a memorandum of understanding before we head to a full-scale war again?

PLITSAS: So, I think it's clear that the president is making his case at this point, the Iranians, that they need to come back to the table.

We've only got a couple of days left until the weekend, and we'll see how much longer he's going to allow this to go. But he put pressure on today. He said, look, if you don't sign tomorrow, there's going to be more bombing tomorrow. The language he used, I don't know if we'll repeat here on air, but made it clear to the Iranians that additional bombing is going to come if they don't sign tomorrow.

So, it was a pressure message that was sent. He bombed some military facilities along the strait. Those that were used to attack shipping. That's been keeping the straits at risk.

So, the message is clear. We're going to continue to threat (ph) those capabilities along the coast if you do not sign onto this peace deal.

The Iranians have been steadfast and have resisted pressure at this point. And for them, it's a lot about safe -- about face-saving. So, we'll find out, I think, in the next 24 to 48 hours.

MICHAELSON: And what do you anticipate happening in the next 24 to 48 hours?

PLITSAS: So, from all accounts, both from Washington, from Tehran, and from regional mediators, we were actually fairly close to a memorandum of understanding with the Iranians, at least at a high level, that would have facilitated additional discussions.

But what was holding it back was the final details on the nuclear side that would have allowed the president to move forward comfortably and not going to give up a lot of cash or liquidity to the Iranians without getting more substantive concessions in return. And again, they sort of dragged their feet at the last minute.

So, the question becomes, are they willing to finally close the deal on those last couple of issues? Because the feeling in Washington is that they were trying to drag this out and make sure that the president was going to suffer from either long-term political or economic concessions, because that's what they thought was going to happen.

But the presidents made it clear that he is actually willing to go back to war if he has to, and that they need to come to the table and sign this deal.

MICHAELSON: We will continue to follow every step of the way. Alex, we appreciate your insights every step of the way, as well. Thanks for joining us.

Bill Gates is revealing new details about his ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The billionaire testified before the House Oversight Committee, since being mentioned several hundred times in the Epstein files.

He told lawmakers that Epstein tried to use information about his extramarital affairs against him. CNN's Randi Kaye has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL GATES, CO-FOUNDER, MICROSOFT: I'm glad to be here voluntarily to testify to help with the committee's work.

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates told the House Oversight Committee he was introduced to Jeffrey Epstein in 2011, and that the late convicted sex offender promised he could raise billions of dollars for global health.

Gates has always denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein. Documents released by the justice department include several hundred references to Gates and reveal graphic, unverified allegations.

Emails in the files detail meetings, meals, proposed phone calls, and attempts by Epstein to meet Gates. "I enjoyed the breakfast a lot," Gates wrote Epstein in December 2014.

Last December, the House Oversight Committee also released this photo from Epstein's estate. That's Gates with a woman whose face has been redacted. According to the documents, all the interactions with Gates occurred long after Epstein's 2008 conviction on prostitution-related charges.

In February this year, Gates addressed the allegations.

B. GATES: You know, it's factually true that I was only at dinners. You know, I never went to the island. I never met any women. And so, you know, the more that comes out, the more clear it will be that, although the time was a mistake, it had nothing to do with that kind of behavior.

KAYE (voice-over): The documents released also included two draft emails Epstein appears to have written himself in July 2013.

[00:50:01]

In them, Epstein seems to suggest he facilitated sexual encounters for Gates and helped Gates get medication to hide a sexually-transmitted infection from his wife at the time, Melinda French Gates.

In this email, Epstein claimed he'd helped Gates get drugs in order to deal with consequences of sex with Russian girls and illicit trysts with married women.

B. GATES: Apparently, Jeffrey wrote an email to himself. That email was never sent. The email was, you know, false. So, I don't know what his thinking was there.

It just reminds me, you know, every minute I spent with him, I -- I regret, and I apologize that I did that.

KAYE (voice-over): This other draft email alleges Gates had tears in his eyes as he asked Epstein to delete messages referencing an STD and explicit personal details about his penis.

The allegations contained in the draft email are unverified and uncorroborated. There is also no indication the message was ever sent to Gates.

Bill Gates has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing. Gates shared his regrets about meeting Epstein with Anderson Cooper in 2021.

B. GATES: It was a huge mistake to spend time with him, to give him the credibility of, you know, being there.

KAYE (voice-over): In February, during an interview with NPR, Melinda French Gates addressed the issue.

MELINDA FRENCH GATES, EX-WIFE OF BILL GATES: Just unbelievable sadness, unbelievable sadness.

For me, it's personally hard whenever those details come up, right? Because it brings back memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage.

KAYE (voice-over): Today, in his opening statement to the committee, Gates said, "I never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct. I never went to his island, his ranch, or his Florida home," adding, "I have never victimized anyone."

Gates also testified that his interactions with Epstein ended in December 2014.

Randi Kaye, CNN, Palm Beach County, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAELSON: Football fans are arriving in North America for the World Cup, and they are ready to party. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They ran out of beer. That's my only complaint.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAELSON: Beer shortage, of course, not going over well with Scottish fans. We'll hear what else they have to say as THE STORY IS continues.

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[00:57:04]

MICHAELSON: The biggest sporting event on Earth, the World Cup, officially gets underway in just a matter of hours right there. We're looking live at the stadium in Mexico City, where Mexico takes on South Africa. It's 10:56 there.

And this week, FIFA's president had a warning for the people of Los Angeles, FIFA's president telling them, quote, "You will be invaded by a horde of barbarians, but it's happy barbarians. Don't worry."

He's, of course, referring to the flux of crazy football fans who will be entering all the host cities, including Boston.

Mike Sullivan from WBZ has this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE SULLIVAN, CORRESPONDENT, WBZ (voice-over): Scottish fans are known for three things: their kilts, their chants, and their libations.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Been drinking since -- when did I got up this morning? One in the morning I got up.

SULLIVAN (voice-over): That's when some fans began heading to the airport, bound for the U.S., bound for the World Cup.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We ran out of beer. That's my only complaint.

SULLIVAN (voice-over): The pilot telling us when the beer ran out, they switched to wine.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, I'm going to go. I'm going to go and have a nice whiskey at my digs, and then I'm going to go and hit the town. I've got to find Cheers.

SULLIVAN (voice-over): It's the spot where everyone knows your name. By the end of the weekend, Boston will know the Scots, certainly by their attire.

SULLIVAN: What's an airplane seat like in a kilt?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it's a bit hot and sweaty. SULLIVAN (voice-over): Fans showed up ready for the games this

weekend, some shelling out thousands of dollars to see the team play in the World Cup for the first time in 28 years.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: First on sale. There were about 1,200 quid.

SULLIVAN (voice-over): Carol McNamara bought her tickets online.

CAROL MCNAMARA, ATTENDING WORLD CUP: No, we got scammed. So, it is what it is. We're still here. We're still smiling.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAELSON: So, those sky-high ticket prices are a familiar complaint.

Meanwhile, some of the big-name players are also arriving. French phenom Kylian Mbappe moved -- wowed crowds in Boston, signing autographs there with his teammate.

France plays its first match against Senegal on Tuesday, and Team USA will take the pitch on Friday against Paraguay right here in Southern California. They're playing at Sofi Stadium. Our Coy Wire will be there, and we'll have live coverage here on THE STORY IS right afterwards.

But for now, the next hour of THE STORY IS starts right now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAELSON (voice-over): THE STORY IS ceasefire in Iran with a whole lot of fire. The U.S. president warns more strikes could happen if a peace deal isn't reached. We're live in the Middle East.

THE STORY IS the World Cup just hours away from kicking off. Why America won't let a Somali referee into the country.

And THE STORY IS groundswell.

IAN SOMERHALDER, ACTOR/DOCUMENTARIAN: Not another depressing climate documentary.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well.

SOMERHALDER: This film is different.

MICHAELSON: "Lost" and "Vampire Diaries" star Ian Somerhalder is here to talk about how regenerative farming could change the food you eat.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: Live from Los Angeles, THE STORY IS with Elex Michaelson.

MICHAELSON: Thanks for watching THE STORY IS. I'm Elex Michaelson. We're live in Los Angeles.

And tonight the top story.