Return to Transcripts main page
The Story Is with Elex Michaelson
Machado Gives Trump Nobel Peace Prize During Meeting; Trump Threatens Insurrection Act Amid Anti-ICE Protests; Los Angeles Recovery Efforts: One Year On; Tensions Grow as Potential U.S. Military Action Looms in Iran; Dream Wedding Renewal for Frances and Harold Pugh. Aired 12-1a ET
Aired January 16, 2026 - 00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Of a bill that's going to make news around the country that's coming out of California. We'll have exclusive details tonight, as well.
[00:00:08]
LAURA COATES, CNN ANCHOR: Well, now, I can't wait to hear all of that. So, have a great show, Elex.
MICHAELSON: Thanks, Laura. THE STORY IS starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THE STORY IS --
MARIA CORINA MACHADO, NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER: I presented the president of the United States the medal.
MICHAELSON: Could this gift from Maria Corina Machado change her odds of leading Venezuela?
THE STORY IS standoff. Protesters versus police in Minnesota. We'll take you on the ground.
THE STORY IS U.S. involvement in Iran. Why the mayor of Beverly Hills is speaking out for Iranians everywhere.
MAYOR SHARONA NAZARIAN (D), BEVERLY HILLS: This time feels a little different.
MICHAELSON: THE STORY IS rebuilding California. Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel lost his childhood home in the fires. He joins me tonight exclusively to deliver a strong message to Congress.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: Live from Los Angeles, THE STORY IS with Elex Michaelson.
MICHAELSON: And welcome to THE STORY IS. I'm Elex Michaelson. Our panel is standing by. We've got a big night of news ahead. We start, though, at the White House, where Venezuela's opposition
leader, Maria Corina Machado, gave President Trump her Nobel Peace Prize.
Of course, the president has long coveted the international award, but the Nobel committee says the prize is not transferable.
Apparently, in return, the president gave her a SWAG bag with his signature and a general statement of his support for a new genuine electoral process. Machado later explained why she gave away her medal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MACHADO: Two hundred years ago, General Lafayette gave Simon Bolivar a medal with George Washington's face on it as a sign of the brotherhood between the United States, people of the United States and the people of Venezuela in their fight for freedom against tyranny.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Now, despite the meeting with Machado, Venezuela is currently being run by acting President Delcy Rodriguez. Rodriguez was Nicolas Maduro's vice president.
Following Maduro's ousting, Trump said that Machado did not have enough support within the country to lead. The White House says that assessment still holds.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I think the president's assessment that you just pointed out was based on realities on the ground. It was a -- a realistic assessment, based on what the president was reading and hearing from his advisors and national security team. And at this moment in time, his opinion on that matter has not changed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: So, so far, it's unclear whether the meeting or the Nobel Peace Prize has swayed the president's opinion on Machado.
CNN's Kristen Holmes is at the White House for us -- Kristen.
KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Elex, it does seem as though President Trump is going to keep the Nobel Peace Prize presented to him by the Venezuelan opposition leader, Maria Machado.
HOLMES (voice-over): A source familiar with the matter says Machado left her prize here for the president at the White House.
HOLMES: Again, an indication that it is not going back to Machado.
This, of course, despite the fact that the Nobel Peace Committee has said that, sure, you can give -- HOLMES (voice-over): -- your medal to someone, but the winner of the actual Nobel Peace Prize cannot change. It is not transferable.
Machado really needed this meeting here to try and have a conversation with President Trump as she tries to shore up support from the president.
Just a reminder: this lunch is happening after President Trump declined to endorse Machado in the aftermath of capturing Maduro. And in fact, went further, saying that she - he didn't believe she had the support of the Venezuelan people in order to actually lead the country.
HOLMES: This comes as President Trump has begun working, and the administration has begun working with this kind of Maduro adjacent leader --
HOLMES (voice-over): -- the former vice president of Venezuela, now acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who President Trump himself has said is a terrific person and that they are working really well together.
And I do want to point out, too, another remark that we heard from the press secretary today, because it goes into all of these conversations around what's going to happen with the future of Venezuela and the future of Machado.
HOLMES: And Leavitt was asked specifically about elections and bringing democracy back into Venezuela and essentially said that she wouldn't go into a timeline; and that right now what they're doing is they're working with the current administration. The administration is doing everything that the United States wants. And so, that is what they are focused on at this time -- Elex.
MICHAELSON: Kristen Holmes at the White House for us. Thank you, Kristen.
President Trump is threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy troops over those protests in Minneapolis. They continued late tonight. A number of people have been arrested this week during demonstrations against immigration crackdown there.
[00:05:04]
Authorities in tactical gear used what appeared to be tear gas, pepper spray, and smoke to disperse protesters outside a federal building late tonight.
This comes after law enforcement and demonstrators clashed Wednesday after a federal agent shot and injured a man who allegedly assaulted that agent.
CNN's Shimon Prokupecz is in Minneapolis tonight.
SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN SENIOR CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Elex, here outside the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis. What's been happening through the night is that many of the protesters have been in a standoff with federal law enforcement. Some of them would sit here, blocking vehicles from coming in or coming out of the building.
We've seen many federal law enforcement come through this way. Some of them are ICE officers who are here operating. But this -- this is their office. This is where many of them have been gathering.
And so, many of the protesters have been trying to disrupt them, prevent them from coming in. We saw some protesters banging on cars. We saw one protester throwing a frozen water bottle at a car.
And eventually, we had seen federal law enforcement in tactical gear. They would move out. They would push the crowd back. In one case, they were targeting an individual and detained them.
Then also on the other side, there were other protesters gathering. And they were shaking the fence. And we watched as federal law enforcement, they deployed pepper balls in some cases. And then in one case, they sprayed pepper spray -- what appeared to be, at least, pepper spray in someone's eye here.
MICHAELSON: Shimon Prokupecz, thank you for that.
Joining us now live in studio, our panel. Fabian Nunez, a steering committee member for the Save America Movement, the former Democratic speaker for the California state assembly. We're also joined by Matt Klink, Republican strategist and owner and president of Klink Campaigns Inc. Welcome to you both, for the first time, here on THE STORY IS. Great to have you both.
MATT KLINK, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Thank you.
FABIAN NUNEZ, STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER, SAVE AMERICA MOVEMENT: Great to be here, Elex.
MICHAELSON: Let's talk about the issue of immigration and this question that some have been asking. Do you need to have proof of citizenship now in America to be on the streets? It's something that Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security, was asked about today. Here's what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why are we seeing Americans being asked on the street to provide proof of citizenship in Minnesota? Is that targeted enforcement? And are you advising Americans to carry proof of citizenship?
KRISTI NOEM, SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY: In every situation, we're doing targeted enforcement. If we are on a target and doing an operation, there may be individuals surrounding that criminal that we may be asking who they are and why they're there, and having them validate their identity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: What do you make of that? NUNEZ: Well, the first thing is there's no such thing as targeted
enforcement. I think when -- when this operation of ICE, when President Trump was elected and he began the process of looking for ways to make more deportations and increase the deportation numbers, what they did is they went through the list of people who had violated their visas.
And they would go to people's homes, knock on their door, folks with tactical gear, ICE agents. And then they found that the person didn't live there anymore. So, that wasn't really working.
So, now what they've done is they've just cast a much wider net. And the net that they've cast now, you know, used to be they would say, no, we're only going after the hard criminals. Well, the facts don't support that.
By the numbers that -- that -- that they themselves are providing, the vast majority of the people that are being accosted, arrested, mistreated, mishandled, their rights being violated are either U.S. citizens, lawful legal residents, or people who are working on becoming legal residents.
And the thing that's really interesting about what Kristi Noem is saying is, literally, that if you are a person of color in the United States, the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution no longer applies to you.
That the Supreme Court basically said that there has to be a reason, there has to be reasonable doubt. But the definition of reasonable doubt, the bar is so low on that, that it can't simply just be the color of your skin and the accent that you use to communicate, to be the determining factor for these ICE agents to violate, indiscriminately, your rights.
And what's happening here is a total breakdown of the American democratic system. The Constitution of this country, the -- the three different branches of government are all being tested. And we're showing under this president the weakness of the American democratic experiment.
MICHAELSON: Is that how you see it, Matt?
KLINK: No, quite the contrary. The breakdown of America is letting 30 million people into this country illegally and naively believing that nothing bad is going to happen from it.
I do not support what Kristi Noem said. First of all, if you're an American, you don't have to carry an I.D. However, if you are an immigrant, legal or illegal, you are required by law to carry an I.D.
And I've got to tell you, I was raised that, if you're stopped by a law enforcement officer, follow their direction.
[00:10:08]
If you're out at one of those protests, which is what I believe the secretary is talking about, and you get swept up, if you want to jam the law enforcement up, guess what? They're going to jam you up.
But if you're there illegally, and you don't have I.D., you're here illegally.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
KLINK: So, again, for Americans, of course you have the opportunity. I'm an American citizen. I don't have to show you my I.D., but you're going to get jammed up.
NUNEZ: How do you distinguish between somebody who's here legally or someone who's illegal resident, someone who's a citizen?
What's happening with these ICE operations is they are targeting people of color, particularly Latinos, Asians, and other nationalities, and they're discriminating against it. Because you have to believe in due process as an American. Do you not?
KLINK: I absolutely do. But the U.S. Supreme Court has said that race can be a factor, but not the factor.
NUNEZ: Well, that -- that's -- that's the distinguishing feature, race, right now in these ICE raids, in these operations, which are causing generational PTSD to Latinos in this country and people of other nationalities.
Their rights continuously are being violated by this -- this attitude, the cruelty with which they're doing this.
What happens to the legal system in this country? Do we not believe in a democratic form of government? What happened to the question of reading people their rights and people having rights?
KLINK: So, we just sometimes enforce the laws?
NUNEZ: Mass -- mass --
KLINK: Or something? We -- we pick and choose the ones we like?
These people are in the country illegally. They broke the law. They don't deserve to be here.
NUNEZ: And you know what's interesting about this, Elex, is the question of -- there is a question of people who come to this country illegally that are breaking the law.
The question is it's not a felony. It's illegal. It's a civil violation. But we're turning it into the biggest crime in the history of mankind and using it as a way to weaponize it and to repress millions of immigrants in this country in the way that it's the most unfair thing that I have ever witnessed in my entire life.
And by the way, this president and the Republican Party, who has been silent on this, will pay for the -- for the actions that they've taken. MICHAELSON: And that -- that's interesting to see what happens
politically, because, as you well know, here in California in the '90s, there was something called Prop 187, which was pretty tough on immigrants.
It passed, but then sort of awoke an entire generation of Latinos, including you, to get involved into politics. And since then, the Republican Party has not fared very well in this state.
And I'm curious what all this does in the midterms, how it impacts things.
It's interesting. The governor of this state, Governor Newsom, on his podcast today was Ben Shapiro, one of the top Republican thinkers on this. And they talked about the midterms. Let's show that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): Republicans have no chance in this midterm. Right?
BEN SHAPIRO, CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR: I think that they are in for a world of hurt right now in the midterms. I mean, they're the -- they're the incumbent party. They have a bare majority.
NEWSOM: Yes.
SHAPIRO: That alone would put them behind the eight-ball.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: You agree with that, Matt?
KLINK: I absolutely do. I mean, and it's not related to immigration.
It's -- first of all, it's related to the reality of virtually every election in the modern era. The -- the incumbent president's party in power loses an average of 22 seats in the midterm election just because people, they're never happy with the way things are going.
So, absolutely, the Republicans, the odds are that they will lose the majority. The question is, will it be a landslide, or will it continue to be a tight election?
Luckily, going for the Republicans right now, the only thing that's more unpopular than Republicans in Congress are Democrats in Congress.
NUNEZ: Well, I mean, you know, well, look, I think we have agreement on one thing here, which is the Republicans will lose --
KLINK: The House.
NUNEZ: -- the House of Representatives, and potentially the Senate.
KLINK: No way. NUNEZ: But for sure, they're going to lose the House. And the reason why they're going to lose the House, fundamentally, the president can, you know, hide the ball, and the propaganda campaign will continue, you know, to propagate all the lies and the misinformation that they're really good at propagating. You've got to give them credit for that.
But the reason why the president is going to fail, and the Republicans are going to lose the House is because they haven't solved the problems of the economy in this country. They continue to blame Joe Biden.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
KLINK: Well, Barack Obama did it for eight years.
NUNEZ: Trump has been president -- Trump has been president for a year, and they're continuing to say, well, no, the past president, the past president.
He's being judged. Those midterms, they're judging the sitting president. They're not judging the previous president. The economy is the No. 1 issue, and inflation is a problem.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
NUNEZ: This president has been disastrous on the economy and his handling of --
KLINK: 2.7 percent inflation under Donald Trump right now.
NUNEZ: Yes.
KLINK: Over 20 percent under Joe Biden.
NUNEZ: Well, cost of -- by the way -- by the way, the cost of meat --
MICHAELSON: COVID then, too. It was a little different.
NUNEZ: Well, the cost of --
[00:15:02]
MICHAELSON: Last -- last question, real quick, because we're out of time. And this is a yes or no. Maria Machado gives President Trump her Nobel Prize today. Does she get the presidency after giving him the prize, yes or no?
NUNEZ: She does not.
KLINK: Yes. Once they have the infrastructure to hold elections.
MICHAELSON: All right. Very interesting. Matt Klink, Fabian Nunez, great to see both of you. Thank you very much for weighing in.
NUNEZ: Thank you very much for having us. MICHAELSON: Big news for Dodger fans. The team has agreed to a four- year, $240 million deal with Kyle Tucker. That's according to reports from "The Athletic's" Ken Rosenthal and others.
Tucker, who turns 29 this weekend, was widely considered the top free agent in baseball this offseason. He's one of only six players since 2020 to record at least 100 home runs, 100 stolen bases, and 300 walks.
The outfielder spent eight seasons with the Houston Astros before being traded to the Chicago Cubs in December of 2024.
So, a reminder that in baseball, where there's no salary cap, sometimes the rich get richer. And the Dodgers will have more help as they go for a three-peat.
Speaking of L.A., this was a tough story here. Last year's L.A. wildfires destroyed so many homes, including Evan Spiegel's father. That was the original headquarters of Snapchat.
Evan Spiegel has been stepping up in a big way, donating millions, and leading an extraordinary nonprofit. He's our exclusive guest on set, next.
Later, anti-regime protests in Iran are getting some moral support from the city of Beverly Hills, the first city in the country to pass a resolution in support of them. The mayor of Beverly Hills is here live, and she says this effort is not a political move.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NAZARIAN: This is not politics. This is basic human rights.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:20:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EVAN SPIEGEL, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, SNAP: Help start the Department of Angels. Because recovery requires something that we can build together. Capacity, connection, and follow-through.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: That is Evan Spiegel, speaking at a recent art event hosted by a nonprofit he co-founded to help recover from L.A.'s wildfires last year. That's called the Department of Angels.
Evan's Dad's house in Pacific Palisades burned. That's where he once founded Snapchat. It was one of more than 16,000 structures destroyed by the fires almost exactly a year ago.
Evan Spiegel, co-founder and CEO of Snapchat and co-founder of the Department of Angels. Welcome to THE STORY IS for the first time.
SPIEGEL: Thanks so much for having me on and great to be here in Los Angeles with you.
MICHAELSON: Yes, thank you very much. And this story is so important to us here in Southern California.
You are an L.A. native, as am I. Bring us back to a year ago and what it was like to watch your dad's home, so many of your loved ones' home, burn in real time.
SIEGEL: Well, surreal just how fast it happened. I mean, I remember the day the fire started. I could see it out my office window, and it just looked like a small brush fire. You know, something that, of course, we could get under control. But within hours, it was burning out of control.
My wife was picking up the kids from school. We opened our home to our friends and our family, who were all evacuated. And of course, our company is headquartered in Santa Monica. So, we had a huge number of team members impacted.
And unfortunately, we have too much experience with evacuations. We had hundreds of team members in Ukraine that we had to move out with their families when the war broke out.
So, our team knew what to do. They jumped into action to help Snap team members and their family members move to safety as quickly as possible.
And in a -- in a wild turn of events, our office parking lot became the fire camp for firefighters from all over the country. A hundred and fifty trucks or more came to our office park in Santa Monica to help out, to help the firefighters get the blaze under control.
But it just happened so quickly.
MICHAELSON: But what did the Palisades and what did that house in particular mean to you?
SIEGEL: Yes, well, the Palisades is such a special community. It was such a gift to be able to -- to grow up there. You know, I remember just scootering down all the streets, you know, up to the park to play tennis or hang out with my friends.
And, you know, the -- the House where I grew up in was my mom's house, which was just one away from all the homes that burned in the -- in the Huntington.
I -- you know, I went a day or two later to put out the smoldering in her backyard; was miraculously still standing.
My dad's house was the one where we started Snapchat. There were seven or eight of us all living there together until my dad kicked us out. He'd had enough of a startup in his house.
But it has so many special memories, and it was just surreal to -- to see it burn to the ground on -- on TV.
MICHAELSON: So, obviously, you've been very successful, and you said, let's do something. You put a letter out that was -- it said basically, "Dear Los Angeles," and expressed your love for the city. You donated $5 million of your own money. "Dear Los Angeles, I love you."
And you helped to start something called the Department of Angels. There's a lot of people that were trying to do things to help. What makes the Department of Angels special?
SIEGEL: Well, it was really born out of a meeting of survivors and people who wanted to help in the couple of days following the fires.
We brought everyone together at our office. We were really fortunate. We engaged an organization called After the Fire that specializes in disaster recovery with megafires like this.
And we were just, like, we have no idea how to handle something like this. Help us; teach us what to do. So, we brought their expertise together with all the Angelenos community members who were impacted from all across L.A.
And what was so clear is that survivors really wanted to dig in and help out and lead the recovery, because we think it's so important that survivors are centered in the recovery.
But they were totally displaced throughout Los Angeles. They were just trying to get their kids to school, to take care of their families.
And so, we really needed to build the project -- project management infrastructure and the network to support survivors to lead their own recovery. And so, it was really from -- from listening to folks who were impacted and wanting to help that we found this opportunity.
[00:25:05]
MICHAELSON: And part of the way you listen to survivors is actually ask them questions. And you just commissioned this big survey talking to fire survivors.
And here are some of the results that you found. Seven in 10 are not back in their home. Eighty percent say their mental health is worse than during the fire. Ninety percent of survivors still, though, want to rebuild.
What stood out to you from that survey?
SIEGEL: Well, I think to me, beyond the numbers, it's the feeling of abandonment that comes through the survey.
You hear folks that say, I paid my insurance bill on time every single year for 20 years. And then they pulled my coverage at the last minute.
Or, I paid my bill for 20 years, and I'm still haggling with the insurance company about, you know, how much money I have to -- to have temporary housing or to start the -- the rebuilding process. I think you just see so much frustration and abandonment.
And at the same time, as you mentioned, what's so inspiring to us and what motivates us is how many people want to return home, want to rebuild, and want the support to do that.
The other thing that is just so clear in every single one of these surveys: the No. 1 source for reliable information and support are other neighbors.
And I think that's so clear to us, you know, in terms of the way that we support the recovery and making sure that it's survivor-led, because people trust their neighbors. In all of this chaos and destruction, I think neighborhoods have really come together in such a special way.
And by supporting block captains, so that every single person who was impacted by the fire has someone on their block that they can get in touch with, that they can get support from, I think it makes a big difference.
MICHAELSON: You guys have really led the way when it comes to soil testing, and even had a day of the community coming together to do soil testing together. What have you found when it comes to that?
SIEGEL: My wife really inspired me to tackle that one, because she said, all my friends are texting me and they're asking, is it safe?
MICHAELSON: Yes.
SIEGEL: Can we return? How close can we be? What happened?
Because, you know, with all these electronic gadgets and these sorts of things, you know, when they burn, they can put, you know, really toxic chemicals, or lead, or even some of these studies have found chromium six nanoparticles, which are incredibly dangerous.
So, the L.A. fire health study was designed to bring together. I mean, it started out, I think, in about eight institutions. Now it's far more than that, all collaborating together, whether it's Harvard or USC or UCLA.
So many different institutions and scientists have come together over a ten-year period to study not only what's happening right now, but what are the long-term health effects of the fire. And you can find all the latest research on their website, L.A. Fire Health.
MICHAELSON: So, is it safe?
SIEGEL: I think, you know, the -- the burn zones have become meaningfully safer. They are safe enough for -- for folks to return at this point.
But I think one of the challenges is that soil testing is still not widely available. And so, while your specific lot may be safe, something that may have burned in your neighbor's garage down the street might not be.
And so, I think it's so important for folks to have access to soil testing for their specific lot, to understand what harms might be there.
MICHAELSON: One of the big questions now is, is over federal funding. We know President Trump, Governor Newsom worked together in the early days. Governor Newsom has asked for $35 billion more in federal funding.
He was recently just with you guys at the Department of Angels, with Senator Schiff and Senator Padilla. And working the other side of the aisle.
What's your message to Congress and to the president right now?
SIEGEL: Well, first, so we're incredibly grateful to President Trump for the support that he's shown for this issue. The fact that he came out here to California at the beginning of his second term to survey the damage, to pledge his support.
I think it's time now for Congress to act. And I think, you know, if you look back at President Trump's first term, they allocated $40 billion to Puerto Rico, you know, in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. So, help on this scale is not new. It's something the federal government has been doing for a very long time.
And I think whether it's the L.A. fires, whether it's Texas, North Carolina, folks have dealt with incredible tragedy over the past year. And it is just so important that federal support starts flowing.
Because, as you know, at the federal government, these things take time. And so, it's just so important that Congress acts now to unlock federal dollars to help these folks rebuild, whether it's here in Los Angeles or in Texas or North Carolina.
MICHAELSON: If we don't get that money, what happens?
SIEGEL: I think the road just gets a lot longer. I mean, the scale of the damage. L.A. has been incredibly generous. I think philanthropy has raised more than $1 billion from all over the world. Folks who love Los Angeles and want to see it recover, who know how important it is to the American economy, but also to the global economy and want to help speed along that recovery.
But the scale of the damage -- more than $100 billion -- I think it's going to be very, very difficult for -- for Los Angeles to recover without federal support. And -- and that's what federal support is there for.
MICHAELSON: Right. Lastly, you just held a gathering recently where you got survivors together and showcased some of their artwork, and you had an opportunity to talk with them, as well. What was your big takeaway from that experience? What did you learn? SIEGEL: Well, I think one of the really important things is not
forgetting. You know, as time goes on, as you know, the people, you know, get a year away from the fires, I think they're not as present for folks, even though people who are survivors, who are still recovering, who are trying to rebuild, are dealing with the reality of it every single day.
[00:30:10]
And so, I think for us to honor, you know, this, this one-year mark, as a signpost to really reflect on how far we've come, how much more we have to do, but also to remind survivors that they're not alone, that we're here for them.
And I think that -- that, you know, moment and time to -- to grieve together, to remember together and reflect, but also to, you know, create and paint a dream for what we can build together, moving forward.
MICHAELSON: Yes. And it really is inspiring when you feel people's energy and you see their work right there.
Congratulations on this work. It's really important. And I've heard from so many people that there are a lot of different organizations stepping up, but yours is -- is one of the best and one of the ones that I think people appreciate the most. So, thank you for what you're doing.
SIEGEL: Well, thank you so much. Thanks for having me on. And it's time for Congress to act. Thanks.
MICHAELSON: We'll be back with more THE STORY IS right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:35:43]
MICHAELSON: Welcome back to THE STORY IS. I'm Elex Michaelson. Let's take a look at some of today's top stories making headlines.
President Trump is threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy troops over protests in Minneapolis. Federal officials say a number of people have been arrested this week during demonstrations against the immigration crackdown.
Authorities used what appeared to be tear gas, pepper spray, and smoke to disperse protesters outside a federal building Thursday night.
Federal prosecutors claim a possible leaker to "The Washington Post" admitted to officers that he mishandled classified information. That alleged leaker is a longtime government contractor.
Prosecutors say his activity prompted the Justice Department to conduct a controversial search of "The Washington Post" reporter's home and seize her electronics. That's according to a court hearing transcript obtained by CNN. President Trump says that he is backing the newly appointed Board of
Peace in Gaza. The technocratic government is supposed to run the enclave as part of phase two of the ceasefire deal.
Israel opposed the decision, saying Hamas is not following through on disarmament and it's yet to return the remains of one hostage.
Tensions are sky high in Iran, where President Trump is weighing potential military action over a crackdown on protesters. Right now, a U.S. carrier strike group is headed to the region. That's according to a source familiar with the matter. That's a big deal.
U.S.-based activists say at least 2,400 people have been killed since the protests began. The Iranian government says it's just a few hundred.
A cybersecurity watchdog says that Iran has been under Internet blackout for more than a week now, so the full death toll may not yet be known. Could be a lot higher.
At the U.N. Security Council, Iran said on Thursday that any military action will be met with a decisive and proportional response. But the U.N. ambassador made it clear that President Trump is keeping all of his options open.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE WALTZ, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: We all have a responsibility to support the Iranian people and to put an end to the regime's neglect and oppression of the Iranian nation.
Colleagues, let me be clear. President Trump is a man of action, not endless talk, like we see at the United Nations. He has made it clear all options are on the table to stop the slaughter.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Earlier this week, the city of Beverly Hills, California, became the first city in the country to pass a resolution supporting the Iranian people in their struggle against their own government.
That motion was led by the mayor of Beverly Hills, Sharona Nazarian, who fled Iran herself after the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Mayor Nazarian joins me now live in her first live TV interview. Welcome to THE STORY IS.
NAZARIAN: Thank you very much.
MICHAELSON: So, what was the main idea behind this resolution?
NAZARIAN: So, this -- Beverly Hills has global recognition, and it was -- we've always stood up for human rights, and it was important for us to be a voice for the Iranian people.
We have a very large Iranian community in the city of Beverly Hills, and this was our way of trying to show solidarity with the people of Iran.
MICHAELSON: And so many people in Beverly Hills fled Iran in 1979 and now have been living in Beverly Hills for 40 years, and their family members.
You say that this time, this particular standing up to the regime feels different. Why is that?
NAZARIAN: Yes, that's exactly right. You know, time and time again, the people of Iran have tried to stand up against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
And this time they -- you know, they're facing economic hardship. It's not only the suppression by the government. They're -- they don't have food to feed their children. They have nothing else left to lose.
So, that's why it feels a little different. They -- they are leading without fear.
MICHAELSON: You're the first Iranian American woman to lead Beverly Hills. And you got emotional during this meeting and got a very loud ovation from the people in the meeting when you spoke. Why is this so emotional for you?
[00:40:09]
NAZARIAN: It's quite humbling. You know, we -- we want to always be on the right side of history. We want to serve as a voice.
And as I looked out into the council chambers, it was full, full of so many women and -- and with their families there. They didn't know if they're still alive, if they're healthy. They haven't been able to connect with anyone. Elderly parents.
And it just -- the -- the look of hope in their eyes, the tears pouring down their face. I just -- it was overwhelming. I had to take a breath.
MICHAELSON: I mean, it really is emotional, and it is so meaningful for so many different people.
So, for folks who may get this message in Iran or in other regions around this world, you know, this -- this show airs in 200 countries around the world. What's the message you're trying to send to the people of Iran?
NAZARIAN: I think to the people of Iran, we want them to know that they're not alone; that we stand in solidarity with them; that we have hopes for them; that we want to see a free Iran.
A free Iran is not only good for the people of Iran, but it's great for the region. It's a world without terror. And we're so incredibly hopeful right now that we will be able to see a free Iran.
MICHAELSON: When you hear the news that a strike group is moving in, which usually is a precursor to military action -- doesn't mean it's going to be military action. It just gives the option to the U.S. to get involved militarily. Do you want the U.S. to get involved militarily to support the people of Iran?
NAZARIAN: I think that it's twofold. It's important for the federal government to step in, because I don't think that this is going to be able to be possible without the support.
But at the end of the day, it's going to be up to the people of Iran to set up how they want to proceed after that.
MICHAELSON: Mayor Sharona Nazarian, who was born in Iran and is now the leader of Beverly Hills, a city with worldwide recognition. Everybody loves Beverly Hills, 90210. Thank you so much. Really appreciate you coming in.
NAZARIAN: I really appreciate the opportunity. Thank you.
MICHAELSON: Officials from Denmark and Greenland are speaking with members of the U.S. Congress over President Trump's vow to acquire that territory.
Democrat Tim Kaine of Virginia, the latest senator to sit down with them on Thursday. He says he will co-sponsor a war powers resolution aimed at blocking U.S. military action in Greenland without congressional approval.
The White House says troops amassing in Greenland do not affect President Trump's push to take over the world's biggest island for national security reasons.
Germany, Sweden, France, Norway, and Finland have all confirmed that they are sending military personnel to Greenland this week. They're expected to participate in joint exercises with Denmark, which is responsible for Greenland's defense.
Here's what a member of Greenland's parliament had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AKI-MATILDA HOEGH-DAM, GREENLANDIC MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT: I feel that the Greenlandic population, even last year, were very concerned with seeing more military presence. You all have to remember, even if it's Danish military, if it's United States military or other, we are very aware that it's foreign military. It's not Greenlandic military. So, it does bring a sense of unease.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Well, coming up, finally, some good news for home buyers in the U.S. Mortgage rates hit a three-year low. We'll tell you what the average buyer could save, just ahead.
Plus, they're just a couple of kids who fell in love. So, what if they're in their 90s? They just had an actual church wedding. See all about it. We'll meet them, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:48:33]
MICHAELSON: Home buyers and owners in the U.S. are getting a big break on their mortgages.
Freddie Mac, the agency that underpins the industry, has announced that 30-year fixed mortgages have dropped to 6.0 percent, their lowest -- 6.06 percent -- their lowest levels in three years. That's a full percentage point lower than last year.
As a result, a buyer of a $450,000 home with 20 percent down would now save $230,000 -- $230 a month on a home loan; 230,000 would be quite something. Eighty-four thousand dollars over the life of that mortgage would be saved.
President Trump tried to push down the rates last month by calling for Freddie Mac to buy $200 million in mortgage bonds. Experts also point to more activity in the housing market.
President Trump has unveiled a healthcare proposal that is aimed at lowering prescription drug prices and reducing health insurance premiums.
The White House says it is a framework to help Congress craft legislation to tackle healthcare costs. The plan lacks details, but it proposes sending several federal premium subsidies directly to consumers, resuming federal payments for a second set of Obamacare subsidies, and requiring big insurance companies to disclose how much they spend paying claims and how often they deny care.
The president seems to be using the plan to show Americans that he is addressing their affordability concerns, but he's also said repeatedly that affordability is a Democrat hoax.
[00:50:03]
At least one health care analyst called the plan, quote, "a largely political exercise."
In other White House news, the NHL champions paid a visit to the White House. President Trump praised the Florida Panthers, calling them, quote, "an aura of winning" after they won back-to-back Stanley Cups.
The team brought with them the Stanley Cup itself, a Trump 47 jersey, two championship rings, and -- get this -- a gold hockey stick.
President Trump said one of the players told him it was good for slashing.
Well, who doesn't love a love story? Harold and Frances Pugh, a youthful 91 and 90 years old, respectively, exchanged vows again. A dream wedding renewal, but this time with friends and family in an actual church.
Joi Fultz reports from Hopewell, Virginia. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOI FULTZ, CBS 6 NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just inside of Cawson Street Church of Christ in Hopewell Saturday afternoon, guests arrive for a celebration seven decades in the making.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey, buddy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A big decision. Are you sure you want to get married?
FRANCES PUGH, BRIDE: I think I will.
FULTZ (voice-over): Ninety-one-year-old Harold Pugh all set to say "I do" to his 90-year-old bride, Frances.
F. PUGH: I just feel so blessed.
FULTZ (voice-over): It's a love story that began in the 1950s. The two met at a skating rink and then eloped in their 20s. And now, having made having made it to their 70th wedding anniversary, friends and family felt it was only fitting they renew their vows with the wedding they never had.
F. PUGH: Look at my handsome husband up there. After all these years, I still love him. I cherish him. I appreciate all he's done for me over the years.
FULTZ (voice-over): For the first time ever, the pair met at the end of the aisle, re-exchanging those very precious promises with each other.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To have and to hold.
F. PUGH: To have and to hold.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will you continue to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, continue to be faithful to her, so long as you both shall live?
HAROLD PUGH, GROOM: I do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If so, answer, "I do."
FULTZ (voice-over): Thousands of memories leading up to this meaningful moment.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You were traveling, riding roller coasters in your 90s, hosting Bible studies in your home. We see in you a pair of blessed by God with years of life and the wisdom to take advantage of every opportunity to live it.
FULTZ (voice-over): Loved ones serving as a witness to the deep care they've had all these years. Not just for each other, but for their community.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They would deny themselves everything and give to anyone that needs.
FULTZ (voice-over): Having overcome several health scares, the pair stand hand in hand at the altar.
F. PUGH: But I'm thankful for every year, for every day we've had together.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What God has joined together, let not man separate. Harold, you may now kiss your bride.
FULTZ (voice-over): For CBS 6 News, I'm Joi Fultz.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: What a great story. And well told, Joi Fultz. Thank you so much.
A new study is shedding light on the size and lifespan of the Tyrannosaurus Rex.
In the study, published on Wednesday, researchers used polarized light to reveal previously unseen growth rings from 17 fossilized T-rex leg bones.
Scientists discovered that the dinosaurs did not reach their maximum size of around eight tons -- eight tons -- until they were 35 to 40 years old. That means the animal's lifespans were longer than the 30 years previously thought.
Well, move over, Scarlett Johansson. There's a new highest grossing actor of all time. When we come back, details on the "Avatar" star who's making Hollywood history.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:58:39]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): In Rome? No, never.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Residents in Rome are reacting to new speed limits that went into effect on Thursday.
The Eternal City has lowered its speed limit to 30 kilometers per hour. That's about 19 miles per hour throughout the historic center. That is a sharp drop from the previous 50 kilometers per hour.
Officials say it's an effort to reduce traffic accidents and pollution.
Rome now joins other European capitals, like London and Paris, that have also enforced lower speed limits.
In Italy's city of Bologna -- Bologna, traffic fatalities dropped by about 50 percent after the speed limit was lowered in 2024.
Zoe Saldana is now the highest grossing actor of all time. That's according to the film analytics site The Numbers.
The Oscar winner moves to the No. 1 spot, thanks to the latest "Avatar" movie. "Fire and Ash" has generated more than $1.2 billion in ticket sales since its December release.
Saldana has starred in all the world's three top grossing films. Her total earnings at the international box office put her just ahead of Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson.
Think about how many movies Samuel L. Jackson has done. He says yes to just about everything.
Now to pop star Harry Styles. He will release new album on March 6th. It's called "Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally."
The 12-track record is produced by his longtime collaborator, Kid Harpoon.
Styles' last release, "Harry's House," featuring the mega-hit "As It Was" --
