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The Story Is with Elex Michaelson
Tension Escalates Between Iran, U.S. Amid Deadly Protests; At Least 40 Dead, 119 Injured In Swiss Ski Resort Fire; Two Dead, At Least 12 Hurt In Southern Mexico Earthquake; Trump Shops for Marble For New White House Ballroom; New York Mayor Revokes Israel-Related Executive Orders; Angelina Jolie Visits Rafah Crossing, Meets Gaza Aid Workers; Rose Parade Banner Demands California AG Probe Deadly Wildfires; Fitness Trainer Sets World Record For 5K+ Lunges In 24 Hrs; Firefighters Safely Retrieve Dog From Icy Pond; aired 12-1a ET
Aired January 03, 2026 - 00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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ABBY PHILLIP, CNN HOST: I am surprised people still have weight loss resolution, right. Thank you very much for watching NewsNight. You can catch me anytime on your favorite social media, X, Instagram, and on TikTok. "The Story Is" with Elex Michaelson starts right now.
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN HOST: I'm Elex Michaelson, live in Los Angeles. "The Story Is" starts right now.
"The Story Is" tensions with Iran, President Trump sparking outrage from Tehran over protests there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: President Trump isn't saying exactly what is locked and loaded as he issues this threat towards Iran.
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Joining me live is the leader of Iran's 1999 Uprising.
"The Story Is" California wildfires. Survivors turn the Rose Parade into a protest. LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger joins me to respond.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATHRYN BARGER, SUPERVISOR, FIFTH DISTRICT, LA COUNTY: People deserve to have answers. There is no question about it.
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"The Story Is" sports. Legendary wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson is here live to talk about Indiana's remarkable college football run and the hottest team in the NFL.
"The Story Is" 2026 New Year's resolutions, Guinness World Record holding personal trainer Davey Fisher joins me to help you look more like him.
Live from Los Angeles. "The Story Is" with Elex Michaelson.
It might take more than a year to look more like him. Welcome to "The Story Is," I'm Elex Michaelson. Welcome to the weekend. "The Story Is" new tensions between Tehran and Washington, sparked by deadly protests in Iran.
Iranian officials are warning the U.S. to not interfere, after protests erupted this week over the country's slumping economy. This video shows protesters trying to break into a government building, according to Iranian state media. President Trump says the U.S. will step in if Iran kills peaceful protesters.
He wrote on social media, "We are locked and loaded and ready to go." Iran is now threatening to target American troops in the Middle East if President Trump follows through with that threat. Iran's Foreign Minister warned the country's armed forces, "Are on stand by and know exactly where to aim."
Speaker of Iran's Parliament says, "All American centers and forces across the entire region will be legitimate targets for U.S. in response to any potential actions." shopkeepers, bazaar merchants and students took to the streets in several Iranian cities this week, they chanted anti-regime slogans and demanded better economic conditions after Iran's currency hit record lows.
Joining me now is Roozbeh Farahanipour. He is an Iranian-American political activist who helped lead the Iranian student uprising back in 1999, he's now CEO of the West LA Chamber of Commerce. Welcome to "The Story Is" for the first time. What's your reaction to President Trump saying that America is locked and loaded?
ROOZBEH FARAHANIPOUR, LEADER OF IRANIAN STUDENT UPRISING IN 1999: First of all, thank you to have me on tour. We are so excited with the New Year's resolution with Iranian people. Try to overthrow this regime and Islamic Republic of Iran, they are looking for this kind of their reaction to tie the movement with the foreign countries, that's easier for them to crack down the movement.
The people of Iran, they are on the street. They fed up. They know the government is collapsed, the economy, the economy is collapsed. They try to -- the people try to overthrow the regime. Therefore the first time in history, I remember when we've been in the street, we chanting first time Death to Khamenei, Death to the Dictator. Until then 25 years later, the people with the braveness in all over the country with all over the people from the different backgrounds they are on the street try to move forward and overthrow this regime.
MICHAELSON: Yeah, and so let's talk about that back in 1999 and we may even have some images of this. You were in the streets trying to overthrow the regime. Back then, you were targeted by the regime so much so that there were death threats against you that you read about in the newspaper when you said it's time for me to go, and that's why you left the country, right?
FARAHANIPOUR: Yes, that's true. So that was the time.
MICHAELSON: So free speech, not a big thing in that country.
FARAHANIPOUR: The free of speech is guaranteed, but not freedom after a speech.
MICHAELSON: OK, you can say whatever, freedom speech, but not free of consequences to that speech, and the consequence of you speaking out against the regime was they said they're going to kill you.
FARAHANIPOUR: Yes, they arrest me. They tortured me. I was a victim of the torture. I escape the country.
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When I saw the footages, the people tried to break in in the government building on the footages and the media they already passed around. I remember those days myself and our friends, we break into the security of the interior secretary of the regime and break the door, so that was one of the main things. They attack us and target us for them.
MICHAELSON: And at one point you try to go back to the country. Some of your friends then were attacked. You ended up not getting back in there. So these folks now are really risking their lives, right?
FARAHANIPOUR: Yes.
MICHAELSON: In a big way. So what's your advice to them, having gone through that experience.
FARAHANIPOUR: Don't give up. Don't try to tie them with the foreign power of foreign countries. They try to be independent, and they need to be with the -- as much as power and independence they can on the street take over the control of the smaller cities.
MICHAELSON: And I mean, because what do you think of President Trump doing this? Because I know you feel that there may be is some risk that it actually could be counterproductive, that if it's seen as an American effort instead of an Iranian effort.
FARAHANIPOUR: Yeah, that's of course, the regime needs to see some sort of the consequences because of their actions. But when they talk about the military consequences, that's going to be first of all, dangerous for the U.S. national security. The regime is very dangerous. In other hand, remember, during the time of the apartheid regime in South Africa, when the international community together boycott the countries so the people get a chance to remove the regime apartheid regime.
MICHAELSON: So the economic boycott might be more targeted much better than a military intervention. Lastly, the folks in America, you speak to, certainly the Persian community here in Southern California and around the country, you say it's split on this?
FARAHANIPOUR: The people are split, like the American community, that's the people are divided half and half. 50 percent of the people they are -- loves whatever here from the media and administration. Other half try to criticize whatever they hear from the administration.
MICHAELSON: By the administration, you mean the Trump administration.
FARAHANIPOUR: Yeah, the Trump administration.
MICHAELSON: So about half the Iranians are pro Trump. Half the Iranians are not Trump, and focused on --
FARAHANIPOUR: Some people in the middle of course.
MICHAELSON: Yeah, all right. Well, thank you so much for coming in and sharing your views. We appreciate it.
FARAHANIPOUR: Thank you. Thank you for inviting me.
MICHAELSON: On to other news now. The shock of this ski resort fire in the Swiss Alps is still fresh and raw, but next week officials say people there will have a chance to grieve together at a special memorial ceremony.
At least 40 people were killed when flames ripped through a popular bar during a New Year celebration. Families now have the agonizing wait for news of loved ones. Authorities say it could take days to identify those killed. Around 119 people from nine European countries were also injured in that fire. Dozens of people are being transferred to another European country for specialized treatment.
Officials say sparklers in champagne bottles did likely spark that fire, igniting the ceiling and causing a possible flash over effect that is a surge of flames that ignited everything in the room almost simultaneously. Prosecutors have opened an investigation to possible criminal responsibility.
CNN, Nic Robertson has more from the scene.
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NIC ROBERTSON, INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR, CNN: Grief in this upscale Swiss ski resort is touching many inconsolable. A father searching for his son missing since the fire broke out early New Year's Day at Le Constellation Bar.
Laetitia Brodard-Sitre to searching for her 16-year-old son, Artur.
LAETITIA BRODARD-SITRE, MOTHER (translated): If you have seen him in hospitals, if you have seen him in the morgue, whether he is alive or deceased, please contact me. I don't know how severe his burns are. I don't know if he is recognizable. All I want is to find my child. All I want is to find my son.
ROBERTSON: Prosecutors zeroing in on these images of sparklers held high in champagne bottles, likely triggering the inferno. BEATRICE PILLOUD, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE VALAIS CANTON (translated): Everything points to the fire starting from sparklers or flares placed in champagne bottles that came too close to the ceiling, which very rapidly led to a flash over fire.
ROBERTSON: The basement bar packed with people celebrating only had one main exit leading to chaos and fear as the fire quickly spread.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (translated): We were trying to get out. I turned a table onto the floor and hid by the table to avoid getting burnt. We were trying to get out. It was chaos.
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ROBERTSON: At least 40 people are dead and 119 injured. I witness accounts of the aftermath, underscoring the challenge police still have identifying those dead and injured.
EDMUND COQUETTE, WITNESS: You saw the young people who were totally burnt in the face, who missed some fingers here laying on the streets. And the first verse eight was given to these people. And then you have to -- what was the worst is the screaming of these young people, the screaming of pain.
ROBERTSON: 17-year-old Leonor Marquez had planned to go to the bar with friends, but last minute dropped out. Now struggles to get news about five of them, two in hospital, the other three unknown.
LEONOR MARQUEZ, WAITING FOR WORD ON FRIENDS (translated): I don't know if they're alive, dead, doing well or badly. I can't do anything. I can do absolutely nothing.
ROBERTSON: Adding to her pain and confusion, she says, we see videos of the fire that are going around. They're horrible. I can't imagine what my friends went through.
MARQUEZ (translated): This will scar lots of people, teenagers. They were there just to have fun.
ROBERTSON: And the pain not just here. Police say of the 119 people injured, more than 40 were from other European countries, including France, Italy, Serbia, Bosnia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland. And while there are some answers coming, it is clear the suffering is only just beginning. Nic Robertson, CNN Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
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MICHAELSON: Thanks to Nic, at least two people were killed and 12 others hurt after a powerful 6.5 magnitude earthquake shook southern Mexico on Friday morning. The tremor felt as far as Mexico City, where a 67-year-old man died after tripping while leaving his second floor apartment. A woman in the state of Guerrero died when her home collapsed. President Claudia Sheinbaum appears to motion to journalists to evacuate the room when an alarm went off during her press conference, hundreds of aftershocks have been reported.
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RUSS FERGUSON, U.S. ATTORNEY: The defendant here is an 18-year-old named Christian Sturdivant. He was planning this attack in support of ISIS, and we have charged him with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
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MICHAELSON: Federal prosecutors in North Carolina have announced charges against the teenager accused of planning an attack near Charlotte. Officials say Christian Sturdivant communicated online with an undercover agent he thought was an ISIS member. He was arrested on New Year's Eve before he could carry out his alleged plan. Investigators say they seized knives and hammers Sturdivant planned to use, and say his attack would have been carried out in Charlotte's Mint Hill neighborhood. The FBI says people radicalized by ISIS usually don't wait long to act.
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JAMES C. BARNACLE, JR., FBI SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE: We have seen that most successful attackers radicalize in a time span of between one and four years, and they typically mobilize to act in less than three months.
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MICHAELSON: President Trump did some shopping on Friday, heading out to visit a stone importer near Mar-a-Lago in Florida to view samples of marble and onyx for his White House Ballroom. He says he'll pay for the stone personally. It's not clear how much it will cost. That planned ballroom has mushroomed in size since it was announced last summer, with cost estimates at $400 million. Of course, it's supposed to be paid for by private donors. The project and demolition of the East Wing sparked an outcry and criticism, especially from some on the left. It has led to legal challenges, which claim that Trump was bypassing the normal approval process.
To New York now, where the Mayor Zohran Mamdani is issuing new executive orders on his first day, many of these reversed, ones that had been made by his predecessor, Eric Adams, including one that expanded the definition of antisemitism. The mayor also reversed a directive that barred city employees and agencies from boycotting or divesting from Israel. These acts spark criticism, including from Israel's foreign ministry, which accused Mamdani of fueling antisemitism. The new mayor defended his actions during a news conference.
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ZOHRAN MADMANI, MAYOR, NEW YORK CITY: So I was proud yesterday to sign a number of executive orders that will give my administration a clean slate to get to work on delivering a new era for New Yorkers, one where they can envision living an affordable and dignified life. And my administration will also be marked by a city government that will be relentless in its efforts to combat hate and division, and we will showcase that by fighting hate across the city, and that includes fighting the scourge of antisemitism. When we speak about the IRA definition that you asked about. Protecting Jewish New Yorkers is going to be a focus of my administration, and I also know that a number, as you said, of leading Jewish organizations have immense concerns around this definition.
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And so what we will do is actually deliver on our commitment to protect Jewish New Yorkers in a manner that is able to actually fulfill that.
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MICHAELSON: Severe weather is forcing many Palestinians in Gaza to choose either risk their lives in the ruins of buildings that may collapse, be exposed to harsh condition and flimsy tents. Plus, here in California, fire victims turned the Rose Parade into a protest when the top officials leading the response. Joins me next to respond to that and explain why she thinks these fires were preventable.
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MICHAELSON: Welcome back. Angelina Jolie visited the Rafah crossing on Egypt's border with Gaza on Friday. The actor and former UN Special Envoy for refugees met with workers from the Egyptian Red Crescent and other local groups discuss ways to get more aid into Gaza. The people of Gaza are trying to survive a harsh winter amid the ruins of a place they once called home. CNNs Matthew Chance has their story.
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MATTHEW GERALD CHANCE, BRITISH JOURNALIST, CNN: The war in Gaza has eased, and it's the elements now pounding it's displaced from the skies. Severe weather has left 10s of 1000s of people exposed to the high winds, cold and rain, appalling conditions. We've left at least 25 people dead in the past month alone, including six children according to Gaza's Ministry of Health.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (translated): We woke up to find ourselves floating in the water. Says this woman. We got no food, no drink, no bedding. Everything we had has been ruined, she adds.
CHANCE: This man shows us inside the water logs tent where he lives with his baby daughter, inundated by the rains.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (translated): Everything is soaked, the clothes, the mattress, everything just wet, as you can see, he says.
CHANCE: 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, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I think it's going to begin pretty soon. He's looking forward to it. What a mess, what a mess it is.
CHANCE: A deadly mess, with dozens of bomb damaged buildings collapsing amid the severe weather over the heads of people inside, leaving gardens with a life or death choice the risk shelter beneath crumbling ruins endure the flimsy tents outside. Matthew Chance CNN, Jerusalem.
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MICHAELSON: Thanks to Matthew earlier this week, as I covered the iconic Rose Parade on New Year's Day here in California, there was one moment you may have missed. When two people on a float for wildfire survivors unfurled this banner for the world to see you see it there. It says, AG Banta Altadena demands an investigation after the float passed by cameras, one person walking with the float then confiscated that sign. Demonstrators, however, believe they got their message across to Attorney General, Rob Bonta.
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GINA CLAYTON-JOHNSON, EATON FIRE VICTIM: We had unfurled the banner at the moment. We hope that cameras would see it, and so once that happened, we were -- we felt satisfied with that. It is the Attorney General whose job it is to investigate where and when there have been violations of laws and the dispensation of emergency services, evacuation, evacuations, and also civil rights violations. Altadena is a historically black community that was underserved in this fire and people died.
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MICHAELSON: Nearly one year ago, the Eaton and Palisades fires killed more than 30 people and destroyed 1000s of homes in LA County. Many of those fire victims are still displaced. Earlier tonight, I filled in for Kaitlan Collins and anchored the source here on CNN, and I spoke with LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who oversees the county community, I should say of Altadena. I asked her about that protest and the overall fire response.
KATHRYN BARGER, LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERVISOR: I can only imagine the anger and frustration. I've talked to many survivors who some are rebuilding. One family I was at their home, they've moved into their home. There is a lot of angst and frustration within the community, and so I personally don't think it was a time or place, but let me just tell you that I'm not angry, I'm not upset, because they have to do what they have to do, and that is to display their frustration and anger. But I can tell you, we are doing a full investigation. Everything is going to be transparent, and I would welcome AG Bonta to review all the documents that we have as we move this investigation forward, because people deserve to have answers. There is no question about it.
MICHAELSON: Well, and our team reached out directly to Attorney General Rob Bonta's office. This is what they told us, that they're "Unable to comment on, even to confirm or deny potential or ongoing investigations." Do you believe wildfire survivors deserve more transparency than that statement, which sounds like it was written by a lawyer.
BARGER: Well, what I will tell you is, from LA County standpoint, the survivors need and deserve transparency and need -- and deserve answers.
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That is why we commissioned the McChrystal report. The McChrystal report came back, but we found that that report, which was commissioned by at my request, while the fire was still being fought, quite frankly, because we were having so many problems with the evacuation notification system, but that led us to ask more questions, and when the state released their report, there were huge gaps between the McChrystal report and what the state sent down as it relates to their review. So the fire Chief end of November is looking at both the personnel as well as a procedural issues as it relates to the fire department.
We are not going to leave any stone unturned. And so, again, I cannot blame or be angry with any of the survivors because they have suffered. They have lost their homes. They have lost some of them, everything, and it's important for me to hold up and keep my word as it relates to transparency. And I'm going to continue to do that, and I will hold my head high and say that I am fighting for every single survivor up there, and equity is an issue, east versus west Side and Altadena, and we're going to make sure that the people that feel that they were forgotten get answers. It may not be the answer they want to hear, but we will make sure that we provide all documentation and all support as it relates to what the findings are.
MICHAELSON: Now based off of what you have seen so far. Was this fire preventable?
BARGER: Well, I believe it was, based on what I know, and that is the line that was in the Eaton Canyon that's owned by Edison. Clearly, that is where the starting point was. And it is truly unfortunate that Edison did not -- did decommission that line. That night we had wins that were like nothing I've ever experienced, and I've lived here my whole life, exceeding 100 miles per hour in some cases and it should have been a common sense thing done by the utility company. So in my opinion, it could and should have been prevented.
MICHAELSON: Pretty remarkable admission there from the supervisor. Now to the story, musician who toured with Will Smith is suing the actor and his management company for wrongful termination and sexual harassment. Violinist Brian King Joseph claims he was dismissed after reporting an alleged hotel room intrusion. He says a note and other items were left in the room. The lawsuit alleges that tour managers accused Joseph of making false claims and then fired him. Attorney for Smith calls the allegations baseless and reckless.
A manhunt now under way in Ohio after a dentist and his wife were shot dead in their home. Spencer and Monique Tepe were found dead on Tuesday during a welfare check after Spencer failed to show up for work. Humple's young children were inside the house. They were not armed. Police found no sign of forced entry, no firearm. Detectives are investigating the shooting as a double homicide, not as a murder suicide.
Coming up. Let's have some fun. College football and the NFL are charging towards the playoffs. We'll talk it all at all with my next guest, Super Bowl Champ, NFL legend, world class talker Keyshawn Johnson live in the house. I mean, is that not true?
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MICHAELSON: Welcome back "The Story Is," I'm Elex Michaelson. Here are today's top stories. Iran threatening to target American troops in the Middle East. Comes after President Trump said the U.S. would intervene if Iran kills peaceful protesters. Iran's Foreign Minister warned that the country's armed forces "Are on stand by and know exactly where to aim." Demonstrations erupted across Iran this week over the country's slumping economy. Swiss authorities say sparklers in champagne bottles likely triggered the fast burning fire that killed dozens of people at an Alpine Resort bar on New Year's Eve, around 119 people were injured. Many are being transported to other European countries for specialized care, and many families are still waiting for news of their loved ones.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is using his first days in office to reverse many executive orders related to Israel put in place by his predecessor, Eric Adams. Mamdani revoked a directive that expanded the definition of antisemitism. He also reversed an Israel boycott band for city employees and agencies. Those actions spark criticism from some Jewish organizations, as well as Israel's Foreign Ministry.
Well, it is the best time of the year for American football fans. College football playoffs are under way. Now down to the semifinals. Meanwhile, the NFL playoffs just around the corner, followed by the Super Bowl here in California, just over a month away. Joining me now is retired NFL Super Bowl Champion, USC football legend Keyshawn Johnson. Welcome back to "The Story Is."
KEYSHAWN JOHNSON, RETIRED NFL SUPER BOWL CHAMPION: I'm glad to be here again, Elex.
MICHAELSON: All right, so the Rose Bowl just happened yesterday, a beat down Indiana. This program which two years ago, was like one of the worst programs in all of college football. Now, the number one ranked program in all of college football. Are they for real? Are you a believer? JOHNSON: Well, to start off, they got money now. Portal is important, and they're showing you that they can win by going in a portal and getting players and making them something different than they were at the universities they came from. They are for real. When you look at what they did to Oregon up in Eugene, they beat them by 10 points earlier in the year, and it was kind of like, well, let's see what they are.
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They had a comeback against Penn State. They were able to win that football game. They took care of business against the buckeyes at Ohio State. And then obviously, we saw what they highly destroyed the Alabama Crimson Tide because Nick Saban is not coming out of that tunnel anytime soon.
MICHAELSON: Yeah. They're not rolling and that tie.
JOHNSON: No, no. Not at all.
MICHAELSON: That tie did not roll. And they've got this quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy gives these very eloquent post-game.
JOHNSON: But enough press conferences.
MICHAELSON: You think it's boring?
JOHNSON: No, no, no. It's what I call practicing in the mirror. He's been practicing for a long time coming out of South Miami. He's probably, been standing in the mirror saying, if he ever had this opportunity a chance, and that's OK.
MICHAELSON: Yeah, but a lot of people love it. And do you think, though, that sometimes a great college quarterback is not necessarily a great pro quarterback. Do you think that there's a team that he could be effective starting for take them on a playoff run in the NFL.
JOHNSON: In particular, Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks don't succeed in a National Football League.
MICHAELSON: Some do. I mean, look at Jane Daniels and --
JOHNSON: No, they are some at Jane Daniels early in his career. He's there still early in their careers, but, I mean, over a long haul, it's been there where they kind of fell off. I do believe, based on size, his size, he's a big quarterback. He has a nice arm. He can run the football, which is, which is key international football league today, where 30 years ago, that wasn't the case, where the quarterback can use his legs.
Well, you see it all over the National Football League. Now, he's capable of doing that, right? He's a big strong guy. He's in a pro- style offense. He knows how to deliver the football quick, fast, and I heard he's not afraid. I mean, he likes the line like. So I do think that there are teams out there that can utilize his services. Now, it's the -- we get enamored with what we see on Saturdays, the coaches have yet to see him, though, meaning, like the NFL coaches, the scouts are seeing him.
The general managers haven't really studied him yet. The head coaches haven't studied him yet because they're still in their season. Once the season is over and they do deep dives into studying him and understanding who he is all the way from Cal to now in Indiana, they'll get a true understanding of what type of quarterback he can be. Just a quick observation for me. I say yeah, he can play in the National Football League. Circumstances, surroundings, in the right situations, make all quarterbacks in the National Football League, they just do.
If you get drafted to the wrong organization, you could fail like that. If you got the wrong head coach, you can fail like that. And you see it all the time in the National Football League. And what happens is the General Manager has to please the owner, and he tells the owner, well, I think we should get rid of this guy. And then you look up, and all of a sudden he's on another team, Sam Darnold Ish, where all of a sudden, or Baker Mayfield, or Geno Smith in Seattle. He can really play now.
MICHAELSON: Really throw.
JOHNSON: Yes.
MICHAELSON: And so you say it's a lot about coaching, and that's why, as we now look at the NFL picture, one of the most wide open seasons we've ever seen, we really don't know who the Super Bowl teams are going to be, but you say the hottest team right now, the Seattle Seahawks.
JOHNSON: Well, I think, I think when you look at Seattle, I like the quarterback, obviously, he's a Trojan and Sam Darnold, but I like what they do overall defensively. They got a defensive front that attacks you and can go get you. They can run the football well and they got a receiver from Ohio State that can go get it in Jackson Smith, they can go and actually get the football, even though, you know they're throwing it to him and they're good on the road, the extremely great in Seattle, because the weather they play -- so the elements is not going to affect them at all.
MICHAELSON: And it's a tough place to play for opponents.
JOHNSON: It's a tough place to play.
MICHAELSON: Their fans, the 12th man.
JOHNSON: Yeah.
MICHAELSON: It's a loud, loud state.
JOHNSON: Yeah, that is correct.
MICHAELSON: And it was a place where the Rams were not able to win. That was tough for them, but you still think the Rams have a shot, and a big reason for that is Puka Nacua, who is their wide receiver as a wide receiver yourself.
JOHNSON: Yes.
MICHAELSON: What makes Puka so special?
JOHNSON: Well, number one is his size. OK, he has athletic ability, and he catches the football with his hands. He's not a body catcher. He doesn't catch the football with his body is nearly as much as some other guys in the National Football League. He's not afraid. He gets it. He mixes it up at the line of scrimmage. If you want to run the football, you can run behind it. So when you're able to do both things, you're able to block. It opens things up for you in the passing game.
Now look, if they decide to take him out of the game, the Rams and Sean McVay has to come up with something else. Now Davante Adams certainly needs to get healthy, and he will once he's back on the field, things will continue to go smooth for Matthew Stafford and that offense. But I think when you look at Puka, Puka has got to be right now two, three in the National Football League in terms of receiver position.
MICHAELSON: Who's number one?
JOHNSON: I mean, you can. It depends on who you ask, right?
MICHAELSON: Well, I'm asking you?
JOHNSON: No, I'm saying just depends on who you ask.
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I always get caught into this thing. Is it Puka? Is it Ja'Marr Chase?
MICHAELSON: Yeah.
JOHNSON: Is it Justin Jefferson with the right quarterback? Like you start looking at those sort of things. But I would say Ja'Marr Chase, Puka one, two.
MICHAELSON: OK. And so in the NFC right now, you like the Seahawks, you like the Niners. You like the Rams. In the AFC, who do you like?
JOHNSON: AFC, I like the Denver Broncos, OK? Because first of all, at home, if they get homefield advantage and take care of business on Sunday and they get homefield advantage, that's a tough place to go in the Mile High, Jacksonville, the Jaguars have finally got it turned around, I think. And I think Trevor Lawrence is finally becoming something one of the things in getting Jakobi Meyers over from the Raiders, it has helped that offense tremendously in the things that do. Here's the third team. The Baltimore Ravens, because the Baltimore Ravens --
MICHAELSON: Who got it win or go home game on Sunday --
JOHNSON: Absolutely. MICHAELSON: -- against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the biggest game of the weekend in the NFL.
JOHNSON: In the last time they had a win or go home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers was a year ago, and a guy named Derrick King Henry rushed for 186 yards on 26 carries in two touchdowns. So we certainly know he can get it done. The reason I like them, though, is because what they do offensively is portable. That means they can go anywhere and play, because they can run the football. And when you can run the football, you can go into Denver and it's cold, or you can go into buffalo. You can go into places where other teams, like the chargers, a warm weather city in a dome, it's going to be difficult to go to those places and win.
MICHAELSON: And of course, they would have to go on the road, because they would not have home games in that scenario.
JOHNSON: Well, unless, well, the charge is definitely not. But the Baltimore Ravens, if they win the division, they get one home game, and then they go from there.
MICHAELSON: Yep, that'll be interesting. And if the Steelers lose, that's the end of the Aaron Rodgers era in the NFL.
JOHNSON: I mean, I think that's been over with for a while.
MICHAELSON: All right, Keyshawn, great to see you. Great analysis. Really appreciate it.
JOHNSON: I try every now and then.
MICHAELSON: Up next, Keyshawn knows a thing or two about exercising. Exercising more tops the list of New Year's resolutions for many people. Just ahead a top fitness trainer joins me on set to talk about the do's and don'ts of a good fitness routine. Do you want to look like that? We'll tell you how when we come back.
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MICHAELSON: Just this week fitness trainer Davey Fisher set a Guinness world record by lunging more than 5,000 times in 24 hours. It was all recorded on video and monitored by a Guinness representative. So Davey clearly knows something about getting in shape.
As we start a new year, once again, the number one New Year's resolution is to exercise more so you can look more like that. A new survey by the market research company YouGov shows that 25 percent of Americans are resolving to exercise more. 23 percent want to be happier, and 22 percent are resolving to eat healthier. Davey Fisher is here with to help us with our goals. Welcome to "The Story Is" for the first time, Happy New Year.
DAVEY FISHER, FITNESS TRAINER: Yeah, Happy New Year. Pleasure to be here. Thanks for having me.
MICHAELSON: And full disclosure, Dave is my trainer, so I'm friends with him and grateful for him and congratulations on this lunging thing. What's that about? What made you want to set the lunging record?
FISHER: Thanks. If it sounds random, it's because it came about just as randomly. I didn't necessarily foresee myself attempting a world record kind of like this, but a client of mine had texted me late October about some news article he saw some former Navy SEAL breaking the world record for the amount of lunges done in 24 hours. And he said something like, you think you could do that? And I thought to myself, I got to give it a shot, right?
MICHAELSON: Yeah.
FISHER: So it was kind of one of those things that came about somewhat spontaneously, and thought I would give it a try. And ultimately, did 5,000.
MICHAELSON: Which is wild, and towards the end of the day, as you has a little bit of doubt, your friends showed up, your family showed up right to cheer you on.
FISHER: There was a point that I thought I wouldn't get through it, and seeing all my friends and family show up on a rainy cold day, and standing there watching me do lunches for what was basically eight hours. Was a -- was all the motivation I needed to come.
MICHAELSON: And you're amazingly able to walk.
FISHER: Yeah, I walked in here. I'm still sore, as you can imagine, but it's getting better. And I think the worst has passed. I probably got a couple more days of soreness ahead of me so.
MICHAELSON: Yeah, yeah. So you did take breaks in the period of that, but you're able to.
FISHER: I did. You kind of have to partition them economically. If your goal is to get that number --
MICHAELSON: To get 5,000.
FISHER: There is no textbook to figure out what the optimal strategy is for going for something like that. But as with any ultra endurance competitive feet, your pacing is everything. So I think the average pace was somewhere between 10 and 12 lunges a minute for about eight hours.
MICHAELSON: So let's talk about pacing for the average person who wants to get in shape, which is maybe that. And you put together a list of the do's and don'ts, especially for people that are maybe not that physically active and are really wanting to get into it, which we often see at the beginning of the year. Let's put some of this up on the screen, in terms of the don'ts. You say don't cold turkey strategy, meaning, do everything at once. Don't do the crash diets over training and maybe don't do 5,000 lunges.
FISHER: Yeah, that last one I added in there for fun. I wouldn't recommend that one. But speaking from experience, working with clients for 15 years now in the fitness industry. Lot of people get overwhelmed when the new year rolls around, and I think they bite off more than they can chew, and that's kind of the wrong approach to take under the don't do thing that's at the top of the list, because I find I think a lot of people get a little overeager.
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They do the crash diet thing, severe caloric restriction for days on end. I'm not against intermittent fasting at all. In fact, I think that can be a good thing, but I think people take it to the extreme, and when it comes to working out, the same thing can come true.
MICHAELSON: And then they burn out, they get sick.
FISHER: They burn out, they get discouraged when they're not --
MICHAELSON: It's not sustainable.
FISHER: Correct.
MICHAELSON: And then a few weeks later, they're back to their old habits, if not worse, correct, because they have this caloric deficit, and then they want to eat a lot of food.
FISHER: Correct.
MICHAELSON: So what should you do? Let's put that up on the screen. Some of the do's include maybe try to get 10,000 steps per week. People try to do that per day. Let's start with per week. You try to get 30 pounds by summer, not in like a week, consume your body weight in grams of protein per day, and don't drink more than three alcohol with beverages per week. That's a night for a lot of people.
FISHER: Just to sketch out a few basic examples. I think ultimately, what it comes down to is prioritizing some major bullet points in your life and doing things that are realistic. They're attainable, they're trackable and unique to you, not everybody has the same fitness goals, right? So it's a journey with no finish line, and I think you really have to be methodical with your approach, not overdo it. Find goals that are attainable and measurable, trackable. I'm not a big fan of the qualitative goals of I want a six pack, but let's hone in on that and talk about that a little more specifically.
MICHAELSON: And for me, you've said, let's start with sleep, right? Talk about the importance of sleep.
FISHER: Sleep is crucial. I did not get a great sleep the night before the world record attempt. My son was crying a little bit during the night. But it kind of starts with some of those lifestyle factors. You can't give a lot of energy to your day if you're not recovering adequately and adequately at night. And that's just one puzzle piece of many when it comes to taking a holistic approach to your health. MICHAELSON: So it's the beginning of the year. Let's look at the trends for 2026. You say what's out is a lot of the virtual fitness stuff that happened during COVID. People want more community fitness events like the event HYROX, some people are familiar with. And then let's talk about these GLP-1s and peptides, which are a lot of controversy on both of those GLP-1s, people think of like Wegovy, other GLP-1s. Good thing, bad thing. Ozempic, one of them.
FISHER: Yeah. First of all, those are both peptides. GLP-1 is, is a peptide. It's naturally occurring versus something like BPC-157 which is a synthetic peptide. I would always defer to your clinician, your primary care provider, a doctor who writes a prescription for these things. They know your health on an individual level. And if you're going to partake in something like that, I would do your own due diligence as well. I think there are potentially some risk factors long-term with respect to GLP-1, there's a lot of positive evidence out there so far from what we know. But making sure everything comes from a compound pharmacy, that it's done through a board certified clinician and is done on a prescriptive level, is absolutely crucial.
MICHAELSON: But some trainers are like, no, don't do this. But you would say it does work for some people.
FISHER: I'm not anti GLP-1. I think we owe it to ourselves to take advantage of medical benefits that exist out there. I have a client who's lost well over 30 pounds with the help of GLP-1, but I also have a client who lost 60 pounds without it. It can be done the old fashioned way. That's kind of what I revert to as my primary methodology and what my practice is rooted in. But I do think it can be taken safely and effectively. Yeah.
MICHAELSON: Yeah. And lastly, some people may recognize you from hallmarks Finding Mr. Christmas, which was kind of a fun journey for you as well, right?
FISHER: It was. I have maybe somewhat of an unhealthy addiction to doing hard things. And acting has been one of these ventures I kind of stumbled into through the entertainment industry, which I'm lucky enough to be involved with as well, but it's an incredibly humbling process, and just like the gym and the fitness pursuit, you have to really work at it and get a lot of reps. And that was a great unique opportunity with the Hallmark network there to go up against a bunch of guys who are all vying for a leading role in a hallmark film.
MICHAELSON: All right, Davey, congratulations on all of it.
FISHER: Thanks.
MICHAELSON: Happy New Year. Thanks for all the tips. We'll be back with more of "The Story Is" right after this.
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK) MICHAELSON: Now to a heartwarming story about a freezing New Year's Day rescue. Firefighters in Rhode Island put on ice rescue suits and rushed into a frigid pond on Thursday, a Golden Retriever named Phoenix was struggling in the water after falling through the ice during a morning walk, firefighters made quick work of that rescue they and the dog were not harmed, and hopefully are all warm.
Now, hundreds of manatees cuddled up in one of Florida's springs to escape chilly wetter -- chilly water, I should say, warmer temperatures at three sisters springs in Crystal River drew the gentle giants after a recent cold snap. Manatees don't have blubber like seals do, and they can't survive for long if water temperatures go below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, or 20 degrees Celsius.
So the warm water in the springs help keep the manatees alive when the temperatures drop, most planets are tethered to their own stars. Well now scientists have confirmed findings and measuring a so called rogue planet floating free in space. It's about 70 times larger than earth, and 10,000 light years away in our Milky Way galaxy, all but invisible in the --
