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The Story Is with Elex Michaelson
HHS Freezes All Child Care Funding For Minnesota; Israel To Suspend Operations Of Major Aid Groups In Gaza; Body Found During Search For Missing Texas Teen; New York City Steps Up Security For New Year's Eve Celebrations; Final Preparations Underway For 137th Rose Bowl Parade; China Stages Massive Military Drills Around Taiwan; HBO Max's Hospital Drama "The Pitt" Returns January 8; Las Vegas Prep's for "America's Party" & NYE Fireworks. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired December 31, 2025 - 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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HOWIE NICHOLSBY, KILT MAKER, 21ST CENTURY KILTS: -- were long haired like this and were centralized. French royalty were wearing it. They were worried about a man being aroused. So the Spartan got put in the middle as a kind of protection really.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really.
NICHOLSBY: So the legend goes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So your view is that anyone anywhere in the world can wear a kilt?
NICHOLSBY: Yes. Yes, just as long as it's a nice kilt, properly made, hopefully made in Scotland.
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ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Max Foster, I love that story. And who knew there was that much material in it. Thanks for watching this hour of The Story Is. The next hour of The Story Is starts right now.
The story is fraud.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're from CNN. Can we talk to you?
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MICHAELSON: Trump administration is stopping child care funding in Minnesota after a viral video by YouTuber Nick Shirley. CNN's Whitney Wilde catches up with him.
Story is New Year's Eve, take you live to Las Vegas. They're preparing for the biggest party in the Western US. Story is, the Rose Parade. I take you to last minute preps as CNN
prepares for live coverage of New Year's Day's most iconic tradition.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from Los Angeles, The Story is with Elex Michelson.
MICHAELSON: And welcome to The Story is. I'm Elex Michaelson. Our top story is in Minnesota where it's already New Year's Eve and the Trump administration says it is now withholding all federal childcare funding to the whole state which comes in response to a viral video posted by a MAGA content creator who claims that he uncovered widespread fraud by Somali run child care centers in that state.
CNN is looking into those claims. We have not independently verified the accusations. Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security announced the funding freeze on social media. He also says that federal child care funding for every state in the country will now require justification and photo evidence or receipts.
Earlier this week, DHS and the FBI said that they were surging resources to Minnesota to investigate what they called suspected fraud sites. One agent says the new push is due in part to that YouTube video.
Now it's important to note that fraud allegations in Minnesota, this isn't a new thing. Justice Department under the Biden administration actually began charging dozens of people with fraud related to COVID- 19 relief programs starting back in 2022. But this latest push comes as the Trump administration is specifically targeting Minnesota's Somali community.
President Trump himself has called Somalis garbage saying they should quote, go back to where they came from. And this latest so called evidence comes from a man who has posted anti-Muslim and anti- immigrant content in the past. CNN's Whitney Wild went to Minnesota and spoke to him and takes a look at his claims.
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WHITHEY WILD, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRESPONENT: CNN can we talk to you.
WILD (voice-over): This Is MAGA youtuber Nick Shirley back at a daycare in Minnesota he alleged was a fraudulent facility in a now viral video.
NICK SHIRLEY, YOUTUBER WHO MADE VIRAL MINNESOTA VIDEO: People are going to say this is a left or right issue, but no, fraud is fraud. I'm not out here trying to put a twist on things.
WILD (voice-over): Shirley's viral video, released over the weekend in which he says he's uncovering tens of millions of dollars in fraud at Minneapolis daycares run by the Somali community, was retweeted by Elon Musk and Vice President J.D. Vance.
In the video, Shirley tries to open locked doors and talk to people at various daycares he claims are frauds.
WILD: Did you come during their normal operating hours when you came to visit?
SHIRLEY: I came at 11:00 a.m. I believe, and I also came the following day, later in the day. The point of it is not whether or not I came at the right -- at the right time of their operation hours. The point is blacked out doors. They can't give you any information. You call that number, no one answers. I wasn't trying to go inside. And they -- there should be a way for somebody to actually be able to call that number and somebody be able to answer. These aren't real businesses.
WILD: But surely you don't think a daycare should just be unlocked? You shouldn't be able to just walk into a daycare reception. No, every daycare is locked.
SHIRLEY: And so, OK, you bring up a fair point then. But why can't they actually give me information how to enroll a child?
WILD (voice-over): Federal law enforcement has been investigating fraud in Minnesota for several years. Both Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel said on social media they've indicted dozens of defendants. DHS has posted multiple videos of agents they say are conducting a massive fraud investigation.
WILD: Do you think that federal law enforcement hasn't done enough? I mean, they would say, look, these fraud cases have been going on, but. But they've already done like 80 indictments. The cases have been going on, you know, for years.
SHIRLEY: And why did I show up one day in Minnesota and go to all these daycares? No children. They're receiving millions of dollars. We uncovered nearly 100 million, $110 million in fraud in one day.
WILD: How do you know that all the allegations that you're making are true?
SHIRLEY: How do I know that they're true? Well, we showed you guys the -- we showed you guys what was happening, and then you guys can go ahead and make your own.
WILD: Now we're coming so we can make our own analysis. Are you 100 percent sure you're true?
SHIRLEY: Yes, I am 100 percent sure I'm true.
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WILD (voice-over): CNN is looking into Shirley's claims.
WILD: Hi, my name's Whitney Wilde. I'm a correspondent for CNN.
WILD (voice-over): We reached out to several of the daycares featured in the now viral video. Only one daycare facility answered and said they are a legitimate business.
WILD: Have you seen the videos purporting that some of these daycares don't have kids inside?
WILD (voice-over): Minnesota Republicans say despite the new focus from the Trump administration, they have been sounding the alarm on fraud for years.
LISA DEMUTH, REPUBLICAN MINNESOTA HOUSE SPEAKER AND GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATZE: You know, we have talked about fraud. We have gotten stories. We have -- we've tried to push this forward every way that we can.
WILD (voice-over): At the daycare where Shirley showed, back up a stream of children walk inside. You're saying that this is a fraudulent daycare? There's kids being dropped off right now?
SHIRLEY: Yes. The commissioner of children literally said a week ago this place was closed. They're showing face right now.
WILD (voice-over): A viral video disputed claims and their full fallout remains to be seen.
WILD: Dozens of fraud cases that DOJ is touting began during the Biden administration. Back in 2022, the U.S. attorney's office from Minnesota announced 47 indictments for this massive fraud scheme. Since then, they've indicted more than 30 more people, and in total, they have secured at least 56 convictions. Whitney Wild, CNN, Minneapolis.
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MICHAELSON: Earlier tonight, I filled in for Kaitlan Collins on The Source and spoke with Democratic California Congressman Ro Khanna about his push for an investigation into waste, fraud and abuse here in California by California Democrats.
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MICHAELSON: Governor Newsom's office posted in response to your claims, quote, it's unclear how a proposal to reinvent the state auditor, a constitutionally independent office that already audits the budget and identifies fraud, would reduce taxpayer waste, then create it. We look forward to learning more about this idea and others proposed on Twitter, which is sort of suggesting. First off, what's your response to that?
REP. RO KHANNA (D-CA): Well, look, it's a serious report. It was the governor's own inspector general who said that there are billions of dollars of fraud and waste. And I heard about it from people in my district. They were saying, Roe, you're calling for higher taxes. We're maybe happy to pay those higher taxes, but we want to know how higher taxes on the very wealthy, I should clarify, but we want to know that tax dollar is not going to get wasted.
And there was fraud and waste with COVID. There's been fraud and waste on some of the eligibilities of these programs. There's been fraud and waste in some of these infrastructure programs. So all I said is I'm going to work like I have with Thomas Massie on
Epstein. I'm going to work on a bipartisan basis on the Oversight Committee to understand what that budget is. It should be audited and make sure we're getting rid of fraud and waste, whether it's in California or whether it's in a red state. This should not be a political issue.
And it has nothing to do against any particular Democratic politician or Republican politician. It's making sure that the American people get the receipts for what they're paying.
MICHAELSON: Because, you know, there are cynics that are going to see this. And we know that you have said that you're thinking about running for president. We know that Governor Newsom has said that he's thinking about running for president. And some cynics see this as a convenient way to you to potentially wound an opponent in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary.
KHANNA: The governor have a great relationship. We had a good exchange, wishing each other happy holidays today. I believe that the governor could get on board with this, which is, how do we have a effort to tackle fraud? How do we have a effort to tackle waste?
You know, when people are paying billions of dollars of taxes, they want to make sure that money is actually going for health care, for education. And it's not just California. It should be all 50 states. It should be a bipartisan basis.
I invoked FDR. He was calling for higher taxes on the very wealthy. But he said we cannot have the inefficiencies and waste of local and state governments. It's a common sense principle.
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MICHAELSON: Interestingly, we had Republican Congressman Kevin Kiley also on the show who said he likes what Ro Khanna is doing. And Ro Khanna said he didn't know that. He saw the show and we're making news and let's get together and the two of them now vowing to work on doing this fraud investigation in a bipartisan way in Washington.
All right, now to the Middle East, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he could see a new future for Gaza in 2026 if Hamas disarms.
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BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: New government as Gaza is possible, if you disarm Hamas, because no one's going to come in there if Hamas stays armed and they'll put a bullet right through the back of their head, you know, anyone of any potential new government.
So the answer to your question is if we disarm Hamas, whether with an international force or by any other means, yes, I see a different future for Gaza.
(END VIDEO CLIP) MICHAELSON: So this comes one day after the Israeli leader met with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Netanyahu telling Bret Baier that they see, quote, eye to eye on Gaza.
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Although the fragile ceasefire in Gaza is largely still holding, Israel says it will suspend the operations of several international aid groups who do not comply with their new restrictions. That includes providing personal details of staff members which aid agencies say will endanger their employees.
All this comes as 10 countries warn that Gaza is facing renewed deterioration. The humanitarian situation remains, quote, catastrophic. CNN's Matthew Chance has the story from Jerusalem.
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MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENRIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The war in Gaza has eased and it's the elements now pounding. It's displaced from the skies. Severe weather has left tens of thousands of people exposed to the high winds, cold and rain, appalling conditions that have left at least 25 people dead this month alone, including six children, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health.
We woke up to find ourselves floating in the water, says this woman. We've got no food, no drink, no bedding. Everything we had has been ruined, she adds.
This man shows us inside the waterlogged tent where he lives with his baby daughter, inundated by the rains. Everything is soaked, the clothes, the mattress, everything just wet as you can see, he says. But for people in Gaza, their homes destroyed by war, there's still little sign of relief.
Promises to rebuild the devastated territory have yet to materialize, held up until the second phase of President Trump's Gaza peace plan, also involving Hamas surrendering its weapons, gets underway.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Will the reconstruction of Gaza begin even before Hamas has disarmed?
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I think it's going to begin pretty soon. He's looking forward to is (INAUDIBLE). What a mess. What a mess.
CHANCE (voice-over): It is a deadly mess with dozens of bomb damaged buildings collapsing amid the severe weather over the heads of people inside, leaving Gazans with a life or death choice to risk shelter beneath crumbling ruins or endure the flimsy tents outside. Matthew Chance, CNN, Jerusalem.
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MICHAELSON: Authorities in Texas have recovered a body during the search for a teenager who went missing on Christmas Eve. They say it's too early to confirm whether the remains are in fact 19 year old Camila Mendoza Olmos. She was last seen around 7 o'clock in the morning on dashcam video on Wednesday walking on the side of a road in San Antonio.
Local sheriff there says the body was found near Olmos home. A firearm was also recovered and is still being processed. Authorities say a relative of Olmos had previously reported a firearm missing. They do not suspect foul play, say the body did show signs of self-harm.
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JAVIER SALAZAR, BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF: That there may have been some suicidal ideations on Camila's part before some signs of depression. Undiagnosed as far as we can tell. But from what's being described to us, it sounds like it was a young person going through a very tough time in their life and going, sorry, through some emotional issues. And there were some indicators of suicidal ideations as well.
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MICHAELSON: Dozens of volunteers helped search for almost over the holiday weekend. We'll keep you updated as we learn more on this one.
A train derailment caused a chemical leak in rural part of Southern Kentucky. 31 cars went off the tracks early Tuesday. Molten sulfur began leaking from one of the cars, sparking a fire. Emergency crews worked to quickly contain the fire, clean up the site. Authorities have lifted a shelter in place order for those living nearby, saying the air quality is now safe.
Southern California is bracing for more rain that could result in flooding and mudslides and have the first rainy Rose Parade in two decades. A new storm heading to the area which is still saturated from the intense storms during Christmas week. Parts of L.A. County that were scarred from recent wildfires are under evacuation warnings starting Wednesday morning.
Not the way you want to start off the new year. While they are not mandatory, officials are urging people to prepare to leave due to possible mud or debris flow. By the way, it's supposed to rain during that Rose Parade on New Year's day. Close to 100 percent chance of rain and hasn't rained since 2006.
Take a look at what is happening with the weather in Pennsylvania. A lot colder there, beaches, railings all covered in a sheet of ice along the bayfront in Erie County. That ice, strong winds, blizzard conditions came from a powerful winter storm that swept across central in Eastern U.S, which knocked out power, disrupted travel during one of the busiest tribal times of the holiday season.
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Cities like New York are preparing for huge crowds of partygoers to ring in 2026. We'll show you how they plan to keep people safe during the big celebration.
Plus, we're talking about the Rose Parade. I'll take you to the final preparations, give you an inside look of the Rose Parade history, including some video we found from the 1890s. Stay with us.
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MICHAELSON: This is a live picture from New York City, where it's after one o'clock in the morning. If you look in the middle of your screen, that's Times Square, where lots of lights are already up and running. Always are in Times Square, but that's going to be the center. A few hours crowds, all that security fill Times Square. Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen will be there as well.
Sherrill Hubbard takes a look, though, at how cities across the country are planning to keep revelers safe as they ring in 2026.
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SHERRILL HUBBARD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In New York City is the countdown to the new year is underway. Crews Tuesday gave the iconic ball a test drop in Times Square. The new and updated Constellation Ball includes more than 5,000 Waterford crystals and LED lights.
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But the glitz and glam isn't all that's being talked about. It's also the security.
JESSICA TISCH, NEW YORK POLICE COMMISSIONER: The public should expect to see thousands of NYPD officers deployed throughout Times Square. That includes officers from our specialized units, including Emergency Service Unit K9, the bomb squad, heavy weapons teams, and our harbor teams.
HUBBARD (voice-over): Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to ring in the New Year in Times Square with millions around the world watching online or on TV. NYPD says not only will it be deploying helicopters and drones, it'll have ample boots on the ground.
TISCH: We will also deploy dedicated pickpocket teams, hotel response teams, and additional uniform patrols.
HUBBARD (voice-over): In our nation's capital, you can see how crews were testing out a New Year's projection display on the Washington Monument early Tuesday morning. It's a part of Freedom 250 celebration of America's anniversary and will showcase some of the nation's history.
To the South.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Almost a year ago January 1st, the City of New Orleans was struck by an unspeakable act.
HUBBARD (voice-over): That New Year's Day ISIS inspired terror attack where a man drove a pickup truck into a crowd of revelers on New Orleans Bourbon street, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more. This year, New Orleans tightening security measures.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everything in that square of the French Quarter will be closed.
HUBBARD (voice-over): I'm Sherrill Hubbard reporting.
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MICHAELSON: Take you live to Las Vegas in about 15 minutes to see how they're preparing there. But let's talk about what's happening here in California right now.
As we speak, volunteers are pulling an all-nighter ahead of the 137th Rose Parade which will air for the first time ever right here on CNN. I headed to South Pasadena for a behind the scenes look at the floats and more.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): It's delivery day for some of the 18 million flowers featured in this year's Tournament of Roses Parade. Hundreds of volunteers from multiple generations hard at work on the city of South Pasadena's float, including 38-year-old Marissa Plessio.
MARISSA PLESSIO, VOLUNTEER: Some of my best memories are honestly volunteering here with my dad throughout my entire childhood.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Marissa started volunteering here as an 11- year-old alongside her dad, Santo. Santo passed away in 2018, yet Marissa returns year after year to honor his memory.
PLESSIO: It means so much to me.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): The city of South Pasadena first joined the parade in 1911. They have the oldest self-made volunteer built float. Ed Donnelly is this year's president.
ED DONNELLY, SOUTH PASADENA: So this is really a way for us to build community. Welcome to the crime scene.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Ants are stealing the food of a sleeping bear.
DONNELLY: The theme for the parade is the magic of teamwork. So we're looking at our team of ants who are going to be well fed tonight.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): And says it's a fun 14-month process to make this vision come to life. Every inch of flow required to be covered with natural materials. And that can be painstaking. For instance, each of these ants takes 70 hours to cover in black beans.
MICHAELSON: This right here is where the driver sits. His head would be covered by a cupcake on parade route drives about five to seven miles per hour. And right here is the steering wheel. They actually use the same vehicle every year to save money.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): It costs about $150,000 every year for South Pasadena's entry. It's one of 38 floats in the parade along with 17 equestrian teams and 19 marching bands, drawing an estimated 50 million TV and digital viewers around the world.
MICHAELSON: So this is the headquarters, Tournament house, right?
CANDY CARLSON, TOUR GUIDE: Yes, Tournament house.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Candy Carlson is our tour guide. The tournament's Pasadena headquarters, which is packed with history.
MICHAELSON: How did this parade start?
CARLSON: It was all the people who lived on the west coast and they wanted to show their friends how beautiful it was in California and that our flowers bloomed year round.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): The first parade back in 1890 featured horse drawn carriages covered in roses.
MICHAELSON: These are the tiaras over the years, right?
CARLSON: Yes.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): For over 100 years it's featured a royal court of local young women.
MICHAELSON: They call the Rose bowl the granddaddy of them all --
CARLSON: Yes.
MICHAELSON: Because it's the original bowl game. Right?
CARLSON: It is.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): They also host the Rose Bowl game, the first ever college football post season bowl game in the country. That game's hall of fame housed here. Celebrity grand marshals attend the parade and the game.
MICHAELSON: Every grand marshal in --
CARLSON: Yes.
MICHAELSON: -- Rose Parade history, right?
MICHAELSON (voice-over): From Shirley Temple to Frank Sinatra to sitting President Gerald Ford. This year's grand marshal is basketball legend Magic Johnson fitting for this year's theme, the magic of teamwork.
The parade attended by nearly a million spectators every year.
For Marissa, reconnecting with her inner child and her late father is the magic that keeps her coming back.
MICHAELSON: And you think of him when you do this? PLESSIO: Oh, 100 percent.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: We are thinking of him as well.
[01:25:00]
You can watch live coverage of the Rose Parade right here on CNN. New Year's Day hosted by myself and Coy Wire. Coverage begins at 8:00 a.m. here on the West Coast, 11 a.m. on the East Coast.
We'll be back though with more of The Story Is right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MICHAELSON: Thanks for watching The story IS. The Kennedy family is still in mourning following the death of Tatiana Schlossberg, daughter of Caroline Kennedy and granddaughter of JFK. The 35-year-old environmental journalist revealed just last month she was battling a rare form of leukemia. Schlossberg leaves behind a husband and two young children.
[01:30:00]
Major demonstrations have erupted across Iran over the country's worsening economic crisis. Shopkeepers and students are protesting the soaring cost of living and rising inflation. Protests come as Iran's currency plummeted to a record low.
Two trains carrying tourists to Peru's famed archaeological site of Machu Picchu crashed on Tuesday. At least one person was killed, about 30 others were injured. "Associated Press" reports the trains collided near another archaeological site. Police say rail service has been suspended along some routes to Machu Picchu as they investigate.
Taiwan is watching closely after China staged two days of military drills just off the island's coast. The live fire drills involved China's Army, Navy, Air Force and rocket units. Some rockets landed in the waters off of Taiwan. CNN's Will Ripley has more about the impact of those massive drills.
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WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: China's A.I.- generated vision of war, heavily armed drones swarming Taiwan, robot dogs opening fire, humanoid soldiers in urban combat, this menacing video as Beijing launches massive military drills surrounding this island democracy.
China's People's Liberation Army calls it Justice Mission 2025, testing its ability to blockade Taiwan and seize control of key ports and critical areas.
LIN WEI-MING, TEACHER (through translator): I think these drills are just meant to scare us, to intimidate us. Defiance on the streets of Taiwan's capital, Taipei.
STEPHANIE HUANG, INTERIOR DESIGNER (voiceover): We are our own country. We have a president. We have our own constitution and we have our own legislature. I believe we are a completely independent nation.
RIPLEY (voice-over): Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te expressed his strongest condemnation, calling the drills a blatant provocation, vowing not to back down in front of threats. In China's capital, Beijing, this man echoes the Chinese Communist Party line.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): It's our internal affairs that should not be interfered with, because we are not bullying the weak. It's about unification.
RIPLEY (voice-over): Chinese leader Xi Jinping has vowed to unify with Taiwan by force if necessary. U.S. military leaders say Xi told the PLA to be ready to take Taiwan by 2027, saying last week Beijing is getting closer to that goal.
DONALD TRUMP (R), U.S. PRESIDENT: Nothing worries me, nothing.
RIPLEY (voice-over): President Donald Trump downplaying the danger to Taiwan, saying he does not think China's largest show of force in months will lead to war.
TRUMP: I have a great relationship with President Xi, and he hasn't told me anything about it. I certainly have seen it, but he hasn't told me anything about it, and I don't believe he's going to be doing it.
RIPLEY: China's army, navy, air force and rocket force all mobilized.
Live fire drills declared in at least five zones encircling the island, seven zones announced by China's maritime authorities.
Taiwan's defense ministry says China fired 27 rockets in two waves, landing in waters north and southwest of Taiwan, some rockets landing closer than before compared to previous military drills, forcing flight cancellations and delays, emptying runways, impacting thousands of travelers.
In the first 24 hours, 130 Chinese warplanes and 22 warships operating around Taiwan, the island's defense ministry says, the second largest single-day deployment ever recorded. Taiwan scrambled its own fighters in response. Just days after the Trump administration announced a record $11.1 billion arms deal for Taiwan, including HIMARS rocket systems and loitering drones.
Military experts say this drill is explicitly rehearsing how China would block foreign militaries like the U.S. and Japan from coming to Taiwan's aid, Taiwan deploying its own air force and Coast Guard, bracing for a future when this may not be just a drill.
(On camera): After months of escalating rhetorical attacks on Taiwan's president, the timing of these drills is significant. They come just days after that massive $11 billion U.S. arms sale, a deal Beijing fiercely condemned. Also, weeks of tension between China and a key U.S. ally, Japan, the new prime minister suggesting Tokyo could respond militarily if China attacks Taiwan. Beijing's narrative is that could drag the U.S. into a dangerous, perhaps catastrophic situation.
Will Ripley, CNN, Bangkok.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: Thanks to Will. Check this out. Thieves in a Western German city made off with at least 10 million euros worth of money and valuables after breaking into a bank vault during the Christmas holidays. It's more than 11 million bucks. Police say the suspects drilled through a concrete wall before looting the bank's safe deposit boxes. Investigators are following several leads after witnesses spotted masks, men and vehicle leaving the scene.
[01:35:07]
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And so it begins.
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MICHAELSON: That's a little preview there of season two of the hit show, "The Pitt," which airs exclusively on HBO Max, the parent company of CNN. Pitt returns on Thursday, January 8th, which gives you time to start binging the first season now and get caught up on the remaining days of the holiday break. Of course, "The Pitt" isn't the only thing to watch right now for a new series, the ones you need to catch up on ahead of a new season. We want to bring in our film and TV critic Carla Renata, known as "The Curvy Critic." She joins us now with her top binge worthy shows. Carla, welcome to "The Story Is" for the first time.
CARLA RENATA: Thank you so much, Elex. I'm so excited to be here with you.
MICHAELSON: It's great to have you in the house for the first time.
RENATA: Look at you in the house. Come on now.
MICHAELSON: We've been talking for years. So, it's great to have you on this show. So, let's start with "The Pitt," not only because it's the company's show, but because it's a great show.
RENATA: It is a great show.
MICHAELSON: I mean, it won an Emmy for best show.
RENATA: It won an Emmy for best show.
MICHAELSON: You know, Noah Wyle won the Emmy for best actor.
RENATA: Katherine LaNasa. MICHAELSON: Katherine LaNasa won as well for supporting actress. And -- and season one available to binge right now.
RENATA: It is available to binge and it's so intense. It takes you through a 15-hour intense shift of what happens in the E.R. in a Pittsburgh E.R., which makes the show excruciatingly wonderful to watch., right? And I just love it because you're just riveted from one frame to the next.
MICHAELSON: And it is really binge worthy.
RENATA: It is.
MICHAELSON: I watched this after some of the episodes were out and you can watch it almost 15 hours in a row.
RENATA: Listen, I did. I was a mess. I was like, OK, I'll just -- I'll save a couple of it, yeah. It never happened.
MICHAELSON: It's like you're addicted to this show.
RENATA: It is.
MICHAELSON: It really is.
RENATA: It is like television crap.
MICHAELSON: Which is now if you start watching it one week at a time, that might be difficult to do.
RENATA: Yeah.
MICHAELSON: All right. "Bridgerton" is something you recommend, which we know was really, really hot in season one.
RENATA: Yes.
MICHAELSON: Really hot in Season Two.
RENATA: Yes.
MICHAELSON: With Jonathan Bailey. Haven't heard as much about Season Three.
RENATA: Listen, he's the sexiest man alive. You know, he doesn't have a whole bunch of time to be popping through "Bridgerton" these days.
MICHAELSON: Yeah.
RENATA: But Season Four is coming up.
MICHAELSON: To Netflix.
RENATA: To Netflix. And it is so yummy. I mean, dearest readers, get ready, because it's about to go down in Bridgerton. And I love it.
MICHAELSON: So Shonda Rhimes still has it.
RENATA: Shonda Rhimes still has it, and it features a different member of the family every season. So, we get to see a little bit more about how the family's secrets and personalities unfold as the show goes on.
MICHAELSON: And who's Season Four?
RENATA: I can't say. It's under embargo.
MICHAELSON: OK. You like it, though.
"Murdaugh: Death in the Family." This is a real story on Disney Plus.
RENATA: Yes. It's a real story based on the Murdaugh murders. Alex Murdaugh was accused of killing his wife and his son. And so it starts with their life before the incident happened, and what happens after when the trial hits. It's based on a podcast that a young lady who followed the trial got together. And so most of the facts in this TV series come from that podcast.
MICHAELSON: So, it's a TV series, not a documentary.
RENATA: No, it's not a documentary. It's -- there was a documentary.
MICHAELSON: Right, yeah.
RENATA: There were a couple of documentaries and a feature length film. But this is a mini-series that stars Jason Clarke and Patricia Arquette.
MICHAELSON: OK.
RENATA: It's really, it's quite lovely. And Patricia Arquette and Jason Clarke are doing the daggum thing. Jason Clarke is unrecognizable. You've seen him in a zillion different things.
MICHAELSON: So, many things, right.
RENATA: But you will -- he's unrecognizable in this. So this is -- he's so good.
MICHAELSON: All right. So, that's something to check out. Now, controversial recommendation you gave.
RENATA: OK. Which one is it?
MICHAELSON: "All's Fair" --
(LAUGH)
MICHAELSON: -- which is the Kim Kardashian Hulu show --
RENATA: Yes.
MICHAELSON: -- which has one of the biggest casts of all time.
RENATA: Yeah, it does.
MICHAELSON: Everybody -- Glenn Close is in this, and Sarah Paulson --
RENATA: Yes.
MICHAELSON: I mean, some really award-winning actresses.
RENATA: Yes.
MICHAELSON: This is the worst reviewed show of all time.
RENATA: Well, Ellis, it's not the worst reviewed show.
MICHAELSON: It's pretty close.
RENATA: It's kind of mixed. It's not the worst. It's mixed.
MICHAELSON: Well, who loves it is the audience, right?
RENATA: OK.
MICHAELSON: I mean, huge viewership for this thing.
RENATA: FYI.
MICHAELSON: It's already been renewed for Season Two.
RENATA: Yeah, it's already been renewed for Season Two. And FYI, but not really. Season Two starts filming in spring of 2026. But I was one of the people, when I watched the first episode, I was like, I don't know. But then I got hooked. I got hooked on the fashion. I got hooked on the dialogue. Some of the things that come out of Sarah Paulson's mouth, you would never hear on network television anywhere ever in your life.
MICHAELSON: Any person's say, because it's the most ridiculous, unrealistic dialogue that you just can't -- yeah.
RENATA: It's so kitschy. It is so campy.
MICHAELSON: It's so campy.
RENATA: And it's so -- and after the year that we've had in 2025, sometimes you just need to watch something that completely takes you out.
MICHAELSON: You want the popcorn and you want to do it.
Elizabeth Wagmeister sat on the set and said something similar to me. She said, just watch it. You'll get hooked.
RENATA: Exactly. Elizabeth, go with it, girl.
MICHAELSON: Yeah.
RENATA: I got you. MICHAELSON: I watched it. I was not hooked. But OK. She's thorough. One thing I was hooked on, which is great, which critics loved and audience loved, is the studio on Apple TV.
[01:40:06]
RENATA: How much do you love that show?
MICHAELSON: Seth Rogen is behind this one. And, I mean, it's very inside baseball for the industry.
RENATA: It is.
MICHAELSON: But it's very, very funny.
RENATA: It's very, very funny. And FYI, but not really, this show came to be because Frida Perez, who was Seth's assistant, helped develop this show with him. So, needless to say, she's no longer his personal assistant. She's now an Emmy-winning showrunner. But I love the fact that they got together. Seth Rogen's a real one.
He took his assistant, his Latina assistant, and was like, come on, let me help you create this show. And now she has an Emmy for it. And then --
MICHAELSON: And that's kind of part of the storyline in the show.
RENATA: Exactly.
MICHAELSON: Right.
RENATA: Exactly. And -- and I love that they just -- He just supports Hollywood. Yuriko, the makeup artist here, was telling me that during the strike, they had 300 people to do on the show, and that some people wanted to let these people go. And Seth was like, nope, we want everybody to be here. Because it was rough during the strikes. People were having a hard time making a living. And I love the fact that she shared that with me, and that he did that. Because that speaks loud to who he is, and what his character is.
MICHAELSON: Well, you're good people, too. It's great to have you part of this family.
RENATA: Thank you. Thank you so much, Elex.
MICHAELSON: Great to see you. Check her out, "The Curvy Critic." You can see her podcast, as well.
You are watching "The Story Is," for our international viewers. World Sport is next. For our viewers in North America, I'll be right back. We'll take you live to Vegas, and look at how they're bringing in the new year.
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[01:45:48] MICHAELSON: A live look from Las Vegas, where it is not quite New Year's Eve yet, but the sphere is going off tonight. 24 hours from now, it's really going to be going off. When people think of New Year's, they often think of the ball drop, but on the West Coast, Vegas is the biggest party of all. The entire Strip shuts down for what they call America's Party. Big crowds. Big fireworks. Stunning views from several locations. The best view of all, though, is The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower. And joining us now live from there is Skylar Dice, Senior Vice President and General Manager at the STRAT.
Talk to us about the view behind you right now.
SKYLAR DICE, GENERAL MANAGER, THE STRAT HOTEL, CASINO & TOWER: I'm sitting at 104 stories above the fabulous Las Vegas Strip at The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower. And this is going to be a scene of America's firework extravaganza tomorrow. We've got 10 rooftop firework displays going on tomorrow night, including here at The STRAT, so we're really excited to ring in the New Year. We're expecting 340,000 people in the city, so we're super excited to get this party started.
MICHAELSON: That is crazy. And that's the kind of view that usually would be like a fake background for somebody, but it's amazing that that's real and a live picture. So, what is that going to look like 24 hours from now? What do the fireworks look like? What does Vegas look like on New Year's Eve?
DICE: Tomorrow is going to be absolutely crazy. You're not going to be able to move because they close the Strip down tomorrow right behind me here. So, this is literally the best view that you're going to have.
You get the entire view of the entire Las Vegas Valley from the top of the STRAT and you've got the 10 firework displays from the top of the various casinos, including our own. So, you're going to see one of the best displays a choreographed musical firework display, a 600-drone show. So, really excited to see what the city's got in store for us this year. Great, great, great place for watching the New Year roll in.
MICHAELSON: So, obviously Vegas is not only a place for New Year's, it's a place people go all year long. We know that there's been such an issue with affordability and prices for everything on everything. What are we expecting in terms of Vegas in the New Year and how do you do Vegas without breaking the bank?
DICE: Come see us at the STRAT first and foremost. We position ourselves as affordable luxury. We've completely renovated this property over the last seven to eight years and come on down and see what we have. We've got some of the best restaurants in the world in this city. So, come down, stay at the STRAT. We've got a top of the world restaurant here as well. One of the top restaurants in the country. So, please come on down, check it out and see what the entire city has in store because it's not just the Vegas that you think of. It's such a great sports town, literally everything that you can imagine you can do here.
MICHAELSON: So, you guys are sold out for tomorrow night, right?
DICE: We -- we still have -- we still have a little bit of room at the party on our 108th floor tomorrow night for the best view in town.
MICHAELSON: Oh, OK.
DICE: So, if you have any of your listeners that are interested and come to visit, come on down.
MICHAELSON: Yeah, that's what I was going to say. Is it too late? I mean, because there are people, especially in this Western part of the U.S. who might be thinking about driving to Vegas. What would you tell them?
DICE: I would tell them to leave early. That traffic is not going to be fun. So, leave early, get in, and our friends at the Tower Party will be happy to take you in here. And again, you're going to get the best view that you're going to have of ringing in 2026 from the top of the STRAT.
MICHAELSON: And lastly, what's sort of the best part of New Year's in Vegas?
DICE: Everything. I mean, everything about it is so much fun. I think the party that goes all night long, just being able to watch the East Coast festivities at 9 o'clock, roll that in, and you just keep the party going from there. So, I think it's a lot of fun.
So, in addition to the firework display that you're going to see in the city, the great restaurants across the city, you've got the Las Vegas Bowl tomorrow. There's a lot of exciting things happening. I think they're going to be displaying on the Sphere various ball drops from around the world. So, there's going to be a lot of exciting things happening all around town.
MICHAELSON: Well, Skylar Dice, who has the perfect last name to run something in Vegas we appreciate you.
[01:50:05]
Happy New Year to everybody at the STRAT.
DICE: Happy New Year. Thank you, Elex.
MICHAELSON: Have fun tomorrow.
It is the opponent that no sportsman can defeat, Father Time. Tiger Woods is the latest to face him as the champion golfer turns 50. We'll explain what that milestone means for his career, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MICHAELSON: Tiger Woods turned 50 on Tuesday. It means the youngest man to ever win the Masters is now old enough to play on the seniors tour. Woods may not for a while, though. He's struggled with multiple injuries and hasn't played at all in 2025. Happy birthday, LeBron James, who turned 41 today as well.
As if playing chess wasn't challenging enough, how about playing the game underwater? That's exactly what these competitors did at this year's Diving Chess World Championships in Netherlands. Apparently, that's a thing. You use magnetic weighted boards and pieces and have to make each move on just one breath of air. Wow.
[01:55:04]
A live look from Seattle, where they are doing preparations right now for their New Year's celebration. How cool does the Space Needle look at night as it gets ready for that'll be happening about 24 hours from now?
Meanwhile, a live look from New York City, where Times Square is getting ready. You can see Times Square at the middle part of your picture there. Tomorrow night, of course, Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen will be hosting CNN's live coverage from Times Square, starting at 8 o'clock Eastern, 5 o'clock Pacific time. And then I will be hosting our New Year's Day coverage on the Rose Parade, live from Pasadena, along with Koy Wire. That starts at 8 a.m. Eastern, 8 a.m. Pacific time, 11 a.m. Eastern.
We will -- this show, "The Story Is," will be preempted tomorrow night because of the special New Year's Eve coverage, which I'll be a part of from Pasadena tomorrow night at this time. We'll be back with a new episode of "The Story Is" on New Year's Day.
Happy New Year's. Thank you to everyone who has watched us this year on "The Story Is" as we launched, and we look forward to hopefully a full year with you in 2026.
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