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CNN Live Event/Special
"All There Is With Anderson Cooper" Podcast Returns Tuesday; Multi-Platinum Artist Josh Groban Preserving Student Arts; Japanese PM Welcomes Trump and "New Golden Age" of Alliance; California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Costumes, Candy and Family Fun; Dodgers and Blue Jays Go to Extra Innings in Game 3. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired October 28, 2025 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:00:11]
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: So we continue to follow breaking news. You look there right now at the radar of Hurricane Melissa as it approaches Jamaica. We will have complete coverage of that and a whole lot more as the next hour of The Story Is begins right now.
The Story Is in Jamaica as the island nation confronts a potentially catastrophic hurricane. The story is in Japan as President Trump continues his Asia tour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GAVIN NEWSOM, (D) CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR: I've changed. This country's changing and I'm calling it out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: The Story Is in California, Governor Gavin Newsom in our studio for an exclusive interview.
Plus --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: I've listened to about 6,000 voicemail messages that you've left about something you've learned in your grief.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: CNN's Anderson Cooper is here talking about his new show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSH GROBAN, SINGER: Arts education is the antidote to divisiveness.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: We're with singer Josh Groban as helps students find their light.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from Los Angeles, "The Story Is with Elex Michelson."
MICHAELSON: And welcome to The Story Is. I'm Elex Michaelson live in Los Angeles where it's after 10:00 p.m. here. But the top story is in Jamaica where it is after midnight and it is a sleepless night where they are bracing for a direct hit from a Category 5 hurricane. The outer bands of Melissa are already hitting the island. The storm's slow pace, that's key here because it's increasing the likelihood of life threatening conditions.
Emergency responders on the island have already received reports of landslides and downed power lines. The National Hurricane center warns of, quote, "total structural failure," saying that's possible particularly in higher elevations. Jamaica's health and wellness minister says three people have already died while just preparing for the storm.
CNN Meteorologist Allison Chinchar is live for us right now with a look at just how bad this thing is. And that is an intimidating picture, Alison.
ALLISON CHINCHAR, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Oh, absolutely. Yes, it is. And again, knowing how strong the winds are with this storm as it continues to slide to the north northeast ever so slowly, it's really more like crawling at only about two miles per hour. To put some this in perspective, the average human walking pace is about three to four miles per hour. So you could walk faster than this storm is moving right now.
The sustained winds 175 miles per hour, gusting to well over 200 miles per hour just to the south of Jamaica. Now it's expected to cross over Jamaica in about the next 12 hours or so and then gradually start to weaken as it makes its way up towards the eastern portion of Cuba and then eventually on towards the Bahama. Rain is certainly going to be the biggest concern with this particular storm. Because that incredibly slow movement means outer band after outer band is just lashing the island nation over the next 12 to 24 hours with a tremendous amount of rain. You can see here throughout much of the day, Tuesday, it crosses the island, then makes its way up to Cuba before crossing into the Bahamas.
And then finally by the latter half of the day, Wednesday, it exits back out over the open Atlantic Ocean. You have a lot of rain to go. You can see a lot of the red and pink color here across portions of western Haiti, Jamaica and even eastern Cuba. So you're talking widespread, six to 10 inches of rain. But keep in mind this is on top of the several inches that have already fallen in a lot of these places.
So a few of these areas could be looking at 15, 18, even 20 inches of rain. And some of these areas, especially along those southern mountainside regions, could be looking up 25 inches of rain total before the system moves out. Then we talk about the wind component of this storm and that's really what places this up in the high tier of historical storms. In fact, those 175 mile per hour winds that Melissa has places it in the top 10 for most powerful storms in history. Again, really looking at some of the more famous ones, Dorian, Milton, Irma, a lot of these names ring a bell to a lot of these areas.
And those winds are expected to cross over portions of Jamaica and into areas of eastern Cuba as we go through the next 12 to 24 hours. So even portions, say like of eastern Jamaica that may not necessarily take the direct hit are still going to be close enough to having those winds up around 80, 100 miles per hour, which is likely going to lead to not only to damage, but also like things like power lines and trees coming down as well.
MICHAELSON: Not a good forecast at all. Allison Chinchar, thank you so much for that. I know you're staying up all night long watching this. We'll get back to you in a little bit.
But now we head Tokyo where President Trump met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi just hours ago. The leaders signing an agreement to secure the supply of critical minerals and rare earths. And the meeting was a bit of a love fest.
[01:05:07]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are an ally at the strongest level, and it's a great honor to be with you, especially so early in what will be, I think, one of the greatest prime ministers.
SANAE TAKAICHI, JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER (through translator): I highly value President Trump's unwavering commitment to world peace and stability. I myself have been deeply impressed and inspired by you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: The prime minister also presented the president with a golf putter that belonged to the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated in 2022. Trump and Abe played nine holes of golf together during President Trump's first diplomatic trip to Asia back in 2017.
Now to my in depth, exclusive interview with the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom. Last hour, we showed you Newsom admitting that he is actually thinking of running for president in 2028.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWSOM: People talk about it, and you'd be lying if it hasn't -- you haven't thought about or processed it. But that said, quite literally, I'm making the case. That's why I have this initiative, Prop 50. There may not be a 2028 election that's fee, free and fair. So my focus is central to getting over the hump in November 4th of this year and then working on 2026 in the midterm reelections.
But look, when people, particularly people that have run before, et cetera, everybody knows the politician, the response, the Kabuki, well, I'm just focusing on my day job and we'll see where things go. So I tried to be a little more honest about it, and people ran with it.
MICHAELSON: But to that point, for many years, you've said to me and several other people that you had subzero interest in running --
NEWSOM: Yes.
MICHAELSON: -- and that how many ways can I say no? So --
NEWSOM: Yes.
MICHAELSON: -- has something changed?
NEWSOM: Yes, everything's changed. Everything changed in -- here in L.A. You were part of it. You saw it with the federalization of the National Guard. I just think we're on the other side of something radically different, not marginally different.
Everything has changed in terms of my mindset, my focus, my energy, my perspective on the world we're living in, Trump and Trumpism, what he represents and how serious and precious this moment is. So, no, from that perspective, legitimately, I've changed. This country is changing, and I'm calling it out. And I just feel like we have responsibility to be a little bit more clear and concise and precise in terms of our efforts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: We also spoke at length about the struggles of the Democratic Party, which he has called weak.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWSOM: I think the biggest problem with the Democratic Party is party when I grew up, we had a big tent party. We could disagree on certain issues without being disagreeable. We need to. We need to start building those coalitions back. And so you can disagree on certain issues.
But when we fundamentally believe in the values of growth and inclusion and we believe in social justice, racial justice, economic justice, the things that bind us together, I think we're all better off if we can sort of reconcile those differences.
MICHAELSON: You think the Democratic Party has been weak? How so?
NEWSOM: In every respect, I think weak and meek. I mean, look, you heard this line a million times. It's not even novel to say it, and it really resonated me years and years ago. Bill Clinton said it. I think he was former president at the time.
We got shellacked in another midterms. He said, given the choice, the American people will always support strong and wrong versus weak and right. There's something to that. And I think we've appeared weak.
MICHAELSON: On what?
NEWSOM: A number of issues. We've lost the national election. We lost both the House and the Senate. We lost our sense. I think we lost our mojo.
We lost our confidence and. And we've been on our heels. We've got a guy who knows how to communicate. Terrible order. He's dull beyond words, but he's a great communicator.
Trump, he's flooding the zone. There's an asymmetry as it relates to the way he's able to communicate. And we haven't been able to respond. But again, November 4th, I really believe, is a moment, a profound and consequential moment that's going to give us momentum into 2026. And look what happens in November 2026, Donald Trump's presidency de facto ends.
You'll see the president of the United States, fire and fury, signifying a lot less. But when we take back that House, when Speaker Jeffries has sworn in, we'll finally have a co-equal branch of government, not a supine Congress and a supine Supreme Court. By the way, a Supreme Court that's now encouraging and promoting racial profiling. We'll get to that, I hope, at some point today.
MICHAELSON: So, based off of what you're saying with President Biden and Vice President Harris weak?
NEWSOM: No. I think the outcome of the election, when you lose and we lost badly. We lost badly.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NEWSOM: We lost -- we lost electoral vote, all seven swing states, we lost the popular vote, and we lost the House and Senate. You can't deny that, those are fundamental facts, and you come from that. And then we're struggling with message. We've got new leadership at the DNC, we've got transition there. And we're all trying to figure out what happened, what went wrong. And then you've got this fire and fury from Donald Trump and he's moving aggressively, pushing back norms, doesn't care about rules or regulations.
Again, the rule of dawn, not the rule of law. And so this -- in that -- all that chaos was this sort of crisis of confidence --
[01:10:02]
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NEWSOM: -- that I think we're going to find again. We saw it with the people, seven plus million people that came out in the --
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NEWSOM: -- No Kings Rally. We're now supported by that. Jefferies and Schumer I think are doing an outstanding job shape shifting the shutdown. Trump has failed on the shutdown --
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NEWSOM: -- to define it in a way that it's hurting the Democrats more than it's hurting his own party, which is a failure on his part and a strength of the Democratic message because health care is a resonant issue that crosses over not just Democrats and Republicans. I'm very, very excited about this moment for the Democratic Party. I think the moments to come. We are -- we are in a very good position compared to where we've been.
MICHAELSON: And part of that change was the memes that your office has done. We've got some examples of some of those. We've got like Marie Antoinette --
NEWSOM: Yes.
MICHAELSON: -- from him.
NEWSOM: Well, that seems appropriate with a ballroom, 300 million.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NEWSOM: By the way, it won't be three, four or 500 million --
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NEWSOM: -- when it's done.
MICHAELSON: We've seen others like where is the beef. And --
NEWSOM: Absolutely. Yes.
MICHAELSON: -- what is the --
NEWSOM: I don't know about that one.
MICHAELSON: Obviously Democrats find this funny. A lot of Republicans find it annoying.
NEWSOM: Yes.
MICHAELSON: It is intended to put a mirror up to what Trump is doing.
NEWSOM: That's it.
MICHAELSON: Do you ever worry though that it actually contributes to more division in this country?
NEWSOM: No, I don't think. I mean how can Donald Trump takes floods, that zone, east division and chaos. He's -- you know, that's what he sells and he sells it hourly, daily at scale, humiliating people, vulnerable communities in particular, talking down and past folks. That said we put a mirror up on the absurdity of the President United States at all caps. Thank you for the attention this matter as he puts his picture up there on Mount Rushmore, as he puts his picture as a play as the Pope as he sits there now with an F-14 or 15 or whatever the hell was in the AI generated video dumping, you know -- MICHAELSON: Poop.
NEWSOM: -- S-H-I-T, poop, all over the American people.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NEWSOM: I remember the good old days of deplorables. And this guy is doing that to people that are out there expressing their patriotic First Amendment rights of free expression on No King's Day where there were no images of chaos, no images that they asserted would be the dominant memes and images coming out of that parade, out of that day of resistance. And so I'm trying to push back and I think it's important because communication matters. Driving the narrative matters. Substance Prop 50, substance 53 lawsuits against the administration, substance $11 insulin, $25 minimum wage for healthcare workers, $20 minimum wage for fast food workers.
A worker centered career education strategy with over 600,000 new apprenticeships. Reforming our civil service system. A brand new grade pre K-for all improved test scores in California. I can go through a list universal health care, the whole thing, substance. At the same time we've got to drive the narrative.
Donald Trump again, master communicator, we need to learn from that. And I'm trying to put a mirror up, I'm iterating, I'm not trying to say everybody else should follow but I do think we are not as effective as we need to be on the communication side.
MICHAELSON: Has there been a meme they've brought your staff that you said that's a little too far, guys?
NEWSOM: No, but I love -- I do love our Patriot store. And I do think it was appropriate and may offended people and goes to your question when I did signature series knee pads for, you know, they're sold out. And I think it was because the 219 that were ordered by Speaker Johnson of those that we sent.
MICHAELSON: OK.
NEWSOM: I mean look, these guys are selling out.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NEWSOM: I mean law firms, the media, respectfully, we're seeing it --
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NEWSOM: -- with universities selling out. We're seeing corporations, a lot of -- my great state of California, we're seeing state capitalism, crony capitalism. I can't take it anymore. And you know what? This republic can't take it much longer.
And so again, go to the Patriot store, sell some great T shirts.
MICHAELSON: Wow. NEWSOM: There's some 2026 Newsome for Governor hats. As absurd as that is, we haven't even talked about Trump's foray into 2028. Again, we have to have a sense of humor but we have to put up a mirror to this absurdity that is going on in 1600 Pennsylvania.
MICHAELSON: You really think that Trump's running for -- run again?
NEWSOM: Well, how many months have I said this?
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NEWSOM: Well before I had Bannon on my show as well. These guys aren't scooter. And why? Because they understand MAGA is not a movement. There's no there there. J.D. Vance, how about -- how did -- how about Bannon laying out J.D. Vance?
Didn't even bring him up.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NEWSOM: MAGA is a cult of personality. Donald Trump, he's weakness masquerading a strike. There have a clock. What is again the Election Rigging Response Act? They have to rig the election.
They're underwater, historically unpopular --
MICHAELSON: So how did they -- how --
NEWSOM: -- in every category.
MICHAELSON: -- how do they do it?
NEWSOM: They have to rig the system.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NEWSOM: They have to wreck it. That's what it's about. The wrecking ball that we saw in the East Wing is happening with every institution that cultivates independent thinking. That's one thing all of them have in common, all of these actions. And that should send a chill to the American people.
[01:15:02]
Not just Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Americans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: More with Governor Newsom later on. But up next, Anderson Cooper finds joy after loss.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Over the last year, I've listened to about 6,000 voicemail messages that you've left about something you've learned in your grief. (END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: I'll talk with him about his new show launching this week and how you can be a part of it, just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LUKE BRYAN, COUNTRY MUSICIAN: He had these big tears in his eyes and he looked at me. He goes, Mr. Luke, I lost my sister a couple of months ago and I want to know how you get through life. And when that nine-year-old, Anderson, when that nine-year-old told me that --
[01:20:04]
COOPER: Wow.
BRYAN: -- it was -- I dropped down on my knees and I said, buddy, you talk to your sister like she is still here. You treat her -- you treat her like she is here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: That is Luke Bryan talking with Anderson Cooper on his brand new streaming show called "All There Is." Anderson joins us now.
Anderson, welcome to The Story Is.
COOPER: Thank you very much.
MICHAELSON: It is so great --
COOPER: It's nice to meet you. Welcome.
MICHAELSON: -- to have you here on our first show.
COOPER: I'm very excited to have you with CNN.
MICHAELSON: And speaking of new shows, congratulations. We've seen your podcast "All There Is" for three seasons.
COOPER: Yes.
MICHAELSON: Now -- and now it becomes a streaming show.
COOPER: Yes.
MICHAELSON: What should we expect? What's different in this format?
COOPER: So we're doing two things. Keeping the podcast, we're making it all year long and then we're adding a companion show called "All There Is Live." And it's going to be a live streaming every Thursday night, 9:15 p.m. Eastern time. And it's just a way for people who listen to the podcast or don't but to connect with each other online and on streaming and connect with me. I'll be talking to guests, to podcast listeners about grief and loss and we have a community page that people can join the comments section and interact with me during the show as well.
It's sort of like an old school late night radio call in show is how I'm thinking about it. I don't know if it's ever been done before and, but I, you know, I think grief can feel --
MICHAELSON: Yes.
COOPER: -- so lonely and I think it's nice for people to feel connected and know that there's a community out there and a place they can go.
MICHAELSON: It's like Larry King except talking grief.
COOPER: Exactly. Yes.
MICHAELSON: So --
COOPER: Call him from Pasadena.
MICHAELSON: Pasadena. Hello. Who'd you lose? Yes.
But I mean you've had this extraordinary experience of you had 6,000 voicemails --
COOPER: Yes.
MICHAELSON: -- from viewers and listeners of your podcast and you sat and listened to them all.
COOPER: Yes, I listened to all of them.
MICHAELSON: How did that experience change you?
COOPER: It's an -- it was an incredibly profound experience. In fact, we've now made this voicemail permanent. It's 404-827-1805. And any for people who have experienced grief, we're looking for if there's something you've learned in your grief that would be helpful for others to call and leave a message and maybe we'll play it on the podcast. To me, it was life changing.
I mean to hear these -- all the different kinds of grief that exist, we think of grief as just loss of a life, of a loved one, but it can be loss of a job, it can be change of life circumstances, whatever it may be. It could be pet loss. And there is an ocean of grief out there, and so much of it has been suppressed and unrecognized, and people don't feel that they have license to talk about it. And other people aren't sure how to listen to it. And to hear, you know, 6,000 voicemail messages from people, it was and is hearing these messages is truly life changing.
MICHAELSON: You've been so open about the grief of the loss of your brother and your father and more recently, your mother. But you've also talked about the loss of your nanny --
COOPER: Yes.
MICHAELSON: -- and how that impacted you. Tell us about her.
COOPER: Yes, her name was May McLinden. She was Scottish, and she didn't suffer fools gladly, but she really was my mom for only -- for the first 10, 15 years of my life, my mom was busy and working. Amazing. But May was a constant presence in my life and she ultimately developed Alzheimer's, but I was able to maintain a relationship with her and I was there in the -- in the days before she died. And so it's nice to be able to kind of even say her name out loud because, you know, history doesn't record the caregivers for many people, but they can be as important as a family member.
MICHAELSON: How have you learned to unlock joy through grief?
COOPER: You know, I think it sounds weird that grief would lead you to joy, but it does. Andrew Garfield was on my podcast talking about how the wound is the root to the gift. And I think that is very true. I think unless if you do not allow yourself to feel grief, which is what I did as a little kid and through most of my life, you push your emotions down inside, you push the sadness down, thinking that's going to make you happy. But what it does is it actually just pushes the sadness down and it pushes your ability to feel anything down.
And you can't feel -- you can't feel sadness. You also can't feel joy. You live in this middle ground where any emotion is too volatile. And it's only by sort of turning to the grief, turning to the sadness that it opens you up and it allows you to feel joy and true joy.
MICHAELSON: Well, this is a joyous day for me. It's my first day --
COOPER: Welcome.
MICHAELSON: -- anchoring on CNN with the master sitting here on the set, which is kind of a surreal experience. What's your advice for me? What's the best advice --
COOPER: I look young, like you did once. You know, this is what happens to this job. I've been ravaged by time.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
COOPER: Listen, I don't think you need advice. You've been in the journalism world for a long time. And, you know, I've seen. I've seen your work, saw your interview with Gavin Newsom, and I think, look, I can learn some lessons from you.
[01:25:04]
MICHAELSON: Oh, don't start with that. We end with something on this show. Rapid fire questions --
COOPER: OK.
MICHAELSON: -- to get to know you a little better.
COOPER: All right.
MICHAELSON: This is our first time in person.
COOPER: All right.
MICHAELSON: What's your favorite T.V. show right now?
COOPER: "Gomorrah."
MICHAELSON: OK. Yes.
COOPER: Yes. If you know it, you'll love it.
MICHAELSON: Favorite book you've read recently?
COOPER: "The Wild Edge of Sorrow" by Francis Weller. It's one of the best grief books there is.
MICHAELSON: Yes. OK. Maybe this one will be more uplifting. Best favorite musical artist or band of all time?
COOPER: Oh, man. I just did a 60 Minutes piece last year on Dua Lipa and I'm really into Dua Lipa right now.
MICHAELSON: Very fun.
COOPER: Either one is --
MICHAELSON: Yes.
COOPER: -- I work out to it every day.
MICHAELSON: What is your favorite Halloween candy?
COOPER: Halloween candy? I mean, I like M&M's with peanuts, but my kids are so into Halloween this year and so it's so exciting to see Halloween through it, through their eyes.
MICHAELSON: What is their costume? And what's your costume?
COOPER: My youngest son is the devil. My five-year-old is a vampire. And I feel like I'm wearing a costume every day. You know?
MICHAELSON: That's a deeper. That's in for a therapy session or something.
COOPER: It is. It is.
MICHAELSON: And you're many of our role models, who's your role model?
COOPER: Look in the world of journalism, I grew up watching Bob Simon on CBS. And --
MICHAELSON: Best writer, you say, right?
COOPER: Best writer in television. I used to as a kid watch his stories in Israel and elsewhere. He was based overseas for CBS News.
MICHAELSON: Anderson Cooper, thank you so much for coming in.
COOPER: Yes, and welcome.
MICHAELSON: Congrats.
COOPER: Yes.
MICHAELSON: And people can check out the new show streaming where?
COOPER: Well, the podcast is available wherever you get your podcast. The streaming show is at cnn.com/allthereis Thursday nights, 9:15 p.m. Eastern time live and available then anytime after.
MICHAELSON: Excellent. Can't wait to check it out.
More of The Story Is when we come back.
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[01:31:33]
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to THE STORY IS.
Now to singer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist Josh Groban.
(MUSIC)
MICHAELSON: This music video for "You Raise Me Up" has been viewed nearly 200 million times on YouTube. But his most meaningful work is helping kids find their light around the country.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOSH GROBAN, SINGER/SONGWRITER: If I can do Shakespeare --
CHILDREN: If I can do Shakespeare --
GROBAN: I can do anything.
CHILDREN: I can anything.
MICHAELSON: Josh Groban is performing "Macbeth".
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Thane of Cawdor.
GROBAN: The Thane of Cawdor.
MICHAELSON: With the Young Shakespeareans, an L.A. based after school arts program funded in part by Groban's nonprofit "Find Your Light".
GROBAN: They're finding their light.
MICHAELSON: They're finding their light.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, there will be none.
MICHAELSON: Why does arts education matter?
GROBAN: Arts education is the antidote to divisiveness.
Ready?
CHILDREN: Retreat.
MICHAELSON: Among the students,
GROBAN: High five. Thanks guys.
MICHAELSON: Fifth grader Kenneth Monzon performing Macbeth.
How has this program changed you?
KENNETH MONZON, FIFTH GRADER: Oh, it's changed me to be more confident, be more brave with other people.
MICHAELSON: Do you feel like you can do anything?
MONSON: Yes.
MICHAELSON: Josh brings me along --
Ever is to fear --
For this acting and stage fighting lesson at Fair Avenue Elementary in North Hollywood, California.
What goes through your mind when you see something like this? When you're part of something?
GROBAN: I get nervous. It brings me back to when I actually did these, you know, things when I was a kid.
MICHAELSON: As a kid, Josh loved music but was shy and never performed publicly until a teacher named Richard Barrett selected him for a solo in the seventh grade.
GROBAN: He knew that I wasn't going to offer myself for a solo. I remember it was a song called "'s Wonderful", a George Gershwin Song. "'s Wonderful, 's Marvelous, if you should care for me.
I walked forward, the time came and I'm looking. It's like something out of a movie. The spotlight is on me and I'm going, ok, all right, this is probably going to be the end of my social life as I know it.
It was like that slow clap, standing ovation. Kids were coming up to me the next day going, hey bro, like you got. That was really good, man.
And I just walked a little bit higher. I just walked a little bit taller. I went home and I -- and my parents had never heard me sing. Their minds were blown. From that point forward, there was no looking back.
MICHAELSON: A few years later, Josh starred in "Fiddler on the Roof" for the L.A. County High School for the Arts.
GROBAN: It was a perfect opportunity for me to spread my wings.
MICHAELSON: Around that same time, Josh would be discovered by legendary music producer David Foster, who was working with singer Andrea Bocelli. Bocelli was set to perform with Celine Dion at the 1999 Grammys, but couldn't make it to rehearsal.
So Foster asked Josh to step in. Josh's parents capturing this home video of that moment when Josh's life changed forever.
What's going through your mind in that moment?
GROBAN: Almost as many nerves as when I sang in that showcase in junior high school.
MICHAELSON: Oh, really?
[01:34:50]
ROSIE O'DONNELL, TV HOST: And then I saw you. And what did I scream from the -- from the stage.
GROBAN: Hey, opera boy.
MICHAELSON: That year's Grammys host, Rosie O'Donnell, happened to see the rehearsal.
O'DONNELL: Josh Groban.
MICHAELSON: She booked the 18 18-year-old for her national talk show.
(MUSIC)
MICHAELSON: Josh's career would take off like a rocket ship, selling millions of records, becoming a Christmas music staple and earning Grammy, Emmy, and Tony nominations.
Perhaps his most popular song of all, "You Raise Me Up", features arts education in the music video, a nod to his own beginnings.
GROBAN: I wanted to have kind of an arts education angle to that video. That's always been part of my heart. It really has.
I also believe the arts are a refuge and not merely an escape.
MICHAELSON: Josh says he realized the true power of his voice when asking Congress for more arts funding in 2009.
GROBAN: I realized that my silver bullet and experience was in this world, was talking about the arts. MICHAELSON: Josh's fans would present him with a $50,000 check at one
of his concerts, launching what would become the nonprofit Find Your Light.
What is Find Your Light?
GROBAN: Find Your Light is an organization that is a grant giver to programs all across the country. There are so many programs that are in need that whenever -- we like to say we're putting out the bat signal for arts ed.
MICHAELSON: In 2025, Find Your Light is funding 189 arts education programs in 33 states across the U.S.
A lot of people will see you, and they'll think of singing. But it's not just singing, right? I mean, it's all --
GROBAN: No. I joke that I even give -- we even give to the to the -- to the -- arts that I am terrible at.
MICHAELSON: That includes dance and painting programs.
GROBAN: It is all about using the arts as a tool to unlock fully.
(MUSIC)
MICHAELSON: Josh recently performed with some of those students during a star-studded benefit at Lincoln Center in New York, raising over $1 million for Find Your Light.
What is that like for you to be joining in song by the students that you've helped?
(MUSIC)
GROBAN: It is my greatest honor to be able to blend what I do professionally with their instruments, with their talent. It's feeding my soul in ways they could -- they could never know.
CHILDREN: Hey Shakespeareans.
MICHAELSON: All these experiences have helped inspire Josh's work. His newest album is called "Hidden Gems".
(MUSIC)
MICHAELSON: He recently performed his newest single, "The Constant", with high school students from his alma mater.
GROBAN: I wanted to put out an anthem. That was a soundtrack and a kind of a tribute to whoever the constant is in other people's lives.
MICHAELSON: And for a lot of the kids, the constant is these programs, right?
GROBAN: That is 100 percent. MICHAELSON: The Young Shakespeareans is a constant for fifth grader Erin Thompson. How do you feel when you're acting?
ERIN THOMPSON, FIFTH GRADER: I feel like a different person, more confident and courageous.
MICHAELSON: What is the bottom-line message you want people to take away from this story?
GROBAN: These kids matter, their futures matter. Unlocking them matters to our future.
The arts gives us something that so many other things in this crazy world cannot, which is it reminds us of our humanity. The more empathetic and human and open we can make these young kids, the better future we're all going to have.
And so at a time when they're being cut more than ever, we need to give, give, give to make sure they get that. They get that constant in their lives.
MONZON: If I can do Shakespeare.
CHILDREN: If I can do Shakespeare.
MONZON: I can do anything.
CHILDREN: I can do anything.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: If you're interested in learning more about Find Your Light Foundation, head to their Web site at fylf.org.
More news now, President Trump is in Japan for a friendly meeting with the new Prime Minister there. The two signing a framework agreement on rare earths and minerals.
Hanako Montgomery in Tokyo. Hanako, who else did the president meet with?
HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Elex. During their first bilateral meeting, Trump and Takaichi, the newly-elected Japanese prime minister, met with the families of North Korean abductees.
They actually met them at the Akasaka Palace, which is just right behind me. Now, this meeting is hugely significant. Trump has met with these families twice before during his first term as president.
And during this meeting, he reconfirmed just how committed he was to helping Japan solve this diplomatic issue and help Japan bring these families home.
Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We always have this in mind because of it. It started with Shinzo Abe and now the Prime Minister, going to be a great prime minister, by the way.
[01:39:50]
TRUMP: And it's my honor to be with you again. And we will do everything within our power.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MONTGOMERY: And Elex, I just want to note here that Trump has previously spoken to the North Korean leader himself, Kim Jong Un, about this issue.
And the families of the North Korean abductees really rely on Trump to help Japan bring them home. They're hoping that Trump, with his diplomatic heavyweight and experience, can actually help break through in this issue that has been going on for many, many years now.
Now, after a working lunch between the two leaders, they have headed to Yokosuka Navy Base where they are meeting U.S. troops stationed in Japan.
And later on Tuesday evening local time, we are expecting Trump to meet Japanese business leaders, including Toyota, which is the biggest Japanese car maker.
We are expecting talks about the economy, potential collaborations also with Japan car makers and also the United States economy, Elex.
MICHAELSON: Yes. And there is a chance that the president could meet with the leader of North Korea later this week, right?
MONTGOMERY: That's correct, yes. There is a possibility that Trump could meet the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un. Trump said on his Truth Social account that he has reached out via public forums and really just kind of appeal to Kim that he's open to meeting while he is in the region.
Now, the North Korean side has not confirmed anything, has not said anything. So we have no idea whether that meeting will go through or not.
But I can tell you that on the Japanese side, if Trump does meet with Kim, I'm sure the families of the North Korean abductees will love for him to mention just how hard he's working to get those people home, Elex.
MICHAELSON: Hanako Montgomery, thank you for your live report from Tokyo. For our international viewers, you will get "WORLDSPORT" after the break. For our viewers in North America, I will be right back with more of THE STORY IS.
[01:41:47]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MICHAELSON: Welcome back to THE STORY IS. I'm Elex Michaelson.
We have heard plenty from California's Governor, Gavin Newsom on politics so far. But sometimes you learn the most about politicians when you ask questions that aren't inherently political.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: It's Halloween, right? And you guys have posted your family pictures on Halloween before. You've had some great outfits in the past. This was more of a --
(CROSSTALKING)
MICHAELSON: -- the superhero thing. Some of them have been more political in nature. This is when you were Supreme Court justices, I think. One year you were also candidates for president. This was the "Star Wars" year.
GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): Oh my gosh.
MICHAELSON: Are you are you going to be doing a group Halloween? And if so, what is it and who decides that?
NEWSOM: A few years ago we dressed up as a candidates for president and little Dutchy, who was 7 or 8, was dressed up as Bernie Sanders and he still goes -- in millionaires and billionaires -- like he still can't get it out of his head.
MICHAELSON: Your kids like --
(CROSSTALKING)
NEWSOM: My wife was Elizabeth Warren. I was Joe Biden.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NEWSOM: Which I was proud to be now. I will still have his back. That was a lot of fun.
Now, my wife is going to come up with these costumes. The kids, this is bigger than Christmas for my children.
MICHAELSON: Are they?
NEWSOM: There's something about Halloween. I don't know what it is.
MICHAELSON: Do they like it if you do the political costumes? Or would they rather be the superheroes?
(CROSSTALKING)
NEWSOM: No, they were over that. They're like, why? You know, it's like, what if I want to be Buttigieg? No, I want to be, you know. It was great. And, but I don't know what it is. Was it my gray hair that I think the
reason I was Biden? But --
MICHAELSON: Yes. Well, he's the guy that won. So there you go. Yes.
There you go.
(CROSSTALKING)
NEWSOM: It worked out.
MICHAELSON: And quickly, some rapid-fire stuff for you. What is your favorite Halloween candy?
NEWSOM: Favorite? Tootsie Rolls?
MICHAELSON: What is your favorite TV show that you're bingeing right now?
NEWSOM: My, oh, gosh. That's a good question. None. I've been. I've been -- Prop 50.
MICHAELSON: None.
NEWSOM: No, it's depressing. I know --
(CROSSTALKING)
MICHAELSON: THE STORY IS is going to be your new favorite TV show that you're bingeing.
NEWSOM: I like this, THE STORY IS. I'm going to check it out.
MICHAELSON: What's the favorite book you've read recently?
NEWSOM: Oh, I just -- Jonathan Karl, I just got his new book, which I'm looking forward to. And then I also got Sorkin's new book on 1929, which is a must-read now. That just shows you what I -- what I read for fun. I mean --
MICHAELSON: I do the same.
(CROSSTALKING)
NEWSOM: 1929.
MICHAELSON: I do the same --
NEWSOM: That sort of thing.
MICHAELSON: Who is your role model?
NEWSOM: Oh my -- it's a composite. My dad. I have a picture of my father and Bobby Kennedy.
MICHAELSON: Which is your most prized possession, right? NEWSOM: With a signature of Bobby Kennedy to my mom, Tessa. And that's
the thing I go in and grab out of a fire.
MICHAELSON: And lastly, what is your favorite quote or motto?
NEWSOM: you miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take, but I'll tell you the motto that I think about more often than not is what Michelangelo said. That the biggest risk in life is not that we aim too high and miss it, it's that we aim too low and reach it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: More. With Governor Gavin Newsom at the top of the hour.
Tomorrow, THE STORY IS second chances.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, FORMER GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA: When you said, "I'll be back", you meant it.
MICHAELSON: We apparently only talk California governors here.
We'll take you to California's West Coast Customs, where former convicts are learning new skills to transform the cars of celebrities, but also their lives.
We head there with the Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger. That's tomorrow here on THE STORY IS.
We've got more tonight right after this.
[01:48:59]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MICHAELSON: Well, I hate to advertise our competition on our first night, but one of the greatest baseball games ever is happening right now on a different network. Game three of the World Series in Los Angeles.
Andy Scholes is lucky enough to be there for this game, which is still going. Talk to us about what's happening now.
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Elex, you say lucky. I mean, it's a battle out here. All right.
We're going on six hours of baseball. Game three, I mean, it started, you know, at 8:10 Eastern. And I mean, this game just is the one that will never end.
I mean, they had to reopen concession stands. They actually did a second seventh inning stretch in the 14th inning, just to try to keep the fans awake.
And in this one, you know, the Dodgers have had so many chances to win this game, they just can't come through. At least all these fans have got to see another epic performance from Shohei Ohtani. You know, the last time we saw him on this field, he had what people called the greatest baseball game in the history of the sport. Three home runs and ten strikeouts on the mound.
Picked up right where he left off. He's got two doubles and two home runs in this game. And after he did that, the Blue Jays said, you know what? We're not pitching to you anymore. They have walked him intentionally four times since then.
But like I said, another just epic performance from Shohei Ohtani. We walked around, we -- and we asked some fans just how in awe are you of Ohtani. Take a listen.
[01:54:51]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GENE GONZALES, DODGERS FAN: Godly. He's amazing. Can't explain it. He's the best baseball player out there.
JOANNA HERNANDEZ, DODGERS FAN: Amazing. Amazing. He's a beast. He's an animal. He's doing what he needs to do.
SHIMON SITZER, BLUE JAYS FAN: Shohei is one of a kind. He's the best player in baseball. The fact that we get to witness this in our lifetime is very special.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHOLES: All right. And the Dodgers just got out. Freddie Freeman almost hit in the gap. And now we're heading to the 16th inning, Elex.
So, you know, this game, it may just never end. Maybe I'll see you next hour. Maybe not. I don't -- I don't know, I might be here when the sun comes up. You know, the record for a Dodgers playoff game is actually 18 innings, which is, they played against the Red Sox in the 2018 World Series.
We're getting close. We're almost there.
MICHAELSON: I remember covering that game because I was doing the morning show. So I started that day at 4:00 in the morning and then was part of the post-game show at 3:00 a.m. the next day. That that 18-inning game was --
(CROSSTALKING)
SCHOLES: You feel this. You know what I'm telling you.
MICHAELSON: I know exactly how you feel. So is anybody leaving or is everybody in it for the long haul?
SCHOLES: You know, some of the hey -- this is my guy. Hey, look, we got celebrities.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The greatest game ever. We're leaving. We got podcast to do.
SCHOLES: Great, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is -- this is why you show up to a baseball game. This is why you pay money to come to a baseball game.
SCHOLES: Hey.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're what, 15 innings.
SCHOLES: Almost six hours?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And they stopped serving beer. But I got a cold one.
SCHOLES: Who's going to win? Dodgers eventually going to do this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dodgers, baby. Dodgers. This is America.
SCHOLES: All right. Be careful.
(CROSSTALKING)
MICHAELSON: Cameo.
Who knew that guy had a T-shirt? He's always shirtless.
Andy Scholes, stay with us. In the next hour, hopefully we'll have a result. Because were supposed to be a two-hour show, but were going to keep going.
So we'll see you next, including our full interview with Gavin Newsom. THE STORY IS continues after this.
[01:56:50]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
