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The Story Is with Elex Michaelson

Trump To Face E.U. Leaders In Davos Amid U.S. Tariff Threats; Indiana Football Defeats Miami, Wins National Championship; Federal Officials Investigating Renee Good's Partner; California State Senator Introduces Keep Courts Safe From ICE Act; Indiana Wins College Football Title, 27-21 over Miami; Italian Fashion Designer Valentino Dead at 93; Iowa Trump Voters Offer Clues Ahead of Midterm Elections; Bill Nye on Saving NASA's Budget; NFL Coaching Change. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired January 20, 2026 - 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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[01:00:10]

ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Some advice for everyone around the U.S. right now, go outside and look up. That's because across the country you may get a rare chance to see the northern lights. That is what they looked like. Let's show you what it looked like in Ireland earlier.

Look at that. Forecasters say the lights could be visible from California to New York, possibly as far south as Alabama, which is almost unheard of. All this thanks to a massive solar storm, the strongest in more than 20 years. Good luck finding them.

That's it for this hour of The Story Is but a lot to follow in the next hour of The Story Is, starts right now.

The story is in Greenland, where residents are reacting to President Trump's threats.

The story is in Miami. CNN's Coy Wire on the field of the college football title game.

The story is in Los Angeles. California Senator Susan Rubio here live, the new bill regulating courtrooms and ICE.

And the story is in fashion. Jo Z (ph) on our set to remember an icon Valentino.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from Los Angeles, The Story Is with Elex Michelson.

MICHAELSON: The top story is the escalating pressure campaign by the Trump administration to seize control of Greenland. As President Trump was leaving the national title game in Miami, he doubled down about his ambitions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: Look, we have to have it. They have to have this done. They can protect it. Denmark, they're wonderful people and I know the leaders are very good people, but they don't even go there. And you know, because the boat went there 500 years ago and then left, that doesn't give you title to property. So we'll be talking about it with the various people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAELSON: President Trump will soon be heading to Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum. And in the days ahead, he'll be coming face to face with many of the European leaders he's targeting with a new round of U.S. tariffs. Those latest threats come as key allies continue to challenge U.S. claims over Greenland.

E.U. officials are not ruling out economic retaliation, but continue to stress the need for more dialogue first. The president and CEO of the World Economic Forum struck a similar tone on Monday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BORGE BRENDE, PRESIDENT AND CEO, WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM: I think dialogue is a necessity, not a luxury. So we're trying to get the key people here. We have more than 65 heads of states and government chairs to even find common ground in time where everyone looks after their own self-interest.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAELSON: The European Commission president spoke with a U.S. congressional delegation in Davos, where she also stressed the need to respect Greenland's sovereignty. Now, all this comes as European NATO allies are sending military personnel to participate in joint military exercises around the Arctic island.

According to Denmark's military, there will be a, quote, substantial increase in the number of Danish troops positioned in Greenland, with deployments already underway. On Monday, a Danish MP warned what would happen if the U.S. attempted to take the territory by force.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RASMUS JARLOV, DANISH PARLIAMENT MEMBER: We will, of course, defend Greenland. If there is an invasion by American troops, it would be a war and we would be fighting against each other. We know that the Americans are stronger than us and you have a much stronger military than ours. But it is our duty to defend our land and our people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAELSON: That conversation with CNN's Jim Sciutto. CNN's Karin Caifa has more now on the fallout from President Trump's threats.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARIN CAIFA, CNN REPORTER (voice-over): President Donald Trump tying his pursuit of Greenland to a snub by Norway's Nobel Prize committee. In a text message to Norway's prime minister Sunday, Trump said, quote, considering your country not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped eight wars plus, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace. Trump's escalating threat shaking NATO allies, including Denmark, of which Greenland is an autonomous part.

JARLOV: We're not willing to give up the sovereignty and hand over 57,000 Danish citizens to become Americans against their will.

CAIFA (voice-over): Trump also threatened an additional 10 percent tariff on goods from several European countries that oppose his plan. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday called for tensions to cool off.

KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: The use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong. It is not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance.

CAIFA (voice-over): Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has had positive relations with Trump, also called the tariff threat a mistake.

GIORGIA MELONI, ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translator): I wanted to say that the prediction of an increase in tariffs against those nations that choose to contribute to the security of Greenland is in my opinion a mistake.

CAIFA (voice-over): The E.U. in retaliation considering a so called trade bazooka that would cut off U.S. access to key European markets and other economic countermeasures. Trump has previously insisted a U.S. Greenland acquisition is key to national security and keeping Russian and Chinese ships out of the region.

Greenland's premier said on social media Monday, quote, we don't let ourselves be pressured. We stand firm on dialogue, on respect and on international law. In Washington, I'm Karin Caifa.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAELSON: Joining me live here in Los Angeles. Discuss all this is CNN Europe parent affair European affairs commentator Dominic Thomas. Dominic, welcome back to The Story Is.

So the president's heading to Davos. President doesn't always go to Davos. This could be awkward, right? I mean what's that going to be like basically face to face with all of these people?

DOMINIC THOMAS, CNN EUROPEAN AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: Well, last time wasn't there but once again a round of tariff attacks had been launched and this time it's under the shadow of these renewed threats against European allies, NATO's allies over Greenland. So it's going to be complicated.

I think the one thing that everyone in this unpredictable environment hopes is that we'll move away from discussions around war and conflict towards finding some kind of solution here which is mandated by the NATO agreement, that peaceful resolution discussion will hopefully take place.

But from what we've heard President Trump say over recent days as he keeps doubling down on this need for territorial possession over Greenland and that is going to be a problem.

MICHAELSON: Because like the old school way of like a few centuries ago was like the biggest, baddest country that had the most military would just take stuff that they want. I want this territory. I'm going to go in and take it.

So if President Trump says we're taking Greenland whether you want it or not, if we got to send in troops, we're going to take troops. We got the biggest military in the history of the world. It's ours now.

What can Europe do? I mean what power does Europe have to fight back against the United States?

THOMAS: Well, there's been a lot of talk of President Trump's administration sort of essentially, you know, asymmetrical actions. And as I've said before, Venezuela is not Europe or the European Union. This is a massive trading partner with incredible consequences if this trade, tariff, war escalates even further for the United States, for Americans, for the American economy. Of course, this is something that Europe is desperate to avoid. That's number one.

Number two, given the fact that the European Union has been distracted over recent years by conflict to the east between Russia and Ukraine, the fact that Sweden and Finland joined NATO because of concern and that the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine-Russia war has been premised on there being deterrence, it will be absolutely essential for Europe to respond militarily to protect that particular territory.

Irony of course in this context is that the attack now would be coming from a NATO ally to the west, completely unanticipated, that a reaction will be necessary.

MICHAELSON: So you're saying that Europe would have to militarily fight back and get into a war with the United States of America.

THOMAS: It seems inconceivable, unconscionable that since World War II. We're talking about now 70, 80 years since the -- since this has happened, the success of the European Union and in promoting peace and prosperity, that they would have to go about doing this. Nobody wants to but there is no for sale up a sign up in Greenland. Nobody wants it to be the 51st United States state.

And Europeans are upset about it. Their leaders are hearing their constituents and they are concerned about this and they do not want to set a precedent. They want to make it loud and clear that this is unacceptable for the United States to do this and for Russia.

MICHAELSON: But could they win? Could they win against the United States?

THOMAS: That is we then getting into a discussion and a scenario about that I think completely transforms the world order that we've been living in. Now there is a possibility that will happen. Generations before us in the European context went through World War I, World War II. It's not inconceivable.

But I believe that there is a going to be a consequences on the American side where the general public does not support the idea of an incursion into a sovereign state like Greenland and that there will be pushback on both sides of resistance to prevent that worst case scenario.

[01:10:00]

MICHAELSON: Well, and our Nic Robertson is there on the ground in Greenland's been reporting there for the last week or so, talking to people every day. The people there don't support this idea of the U.S. coming in and they also don't think it's going to happen.

Here's what he spoke with one of the leading entrepreneurs in Greenland. Here's some of their conversation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: You don't think it's even a remote possibility that the United States is going to control Greenland at some point?

SVEND HARDENBERG, GREENLANDIC BUSINESSMAN: I don't think so.

ROBERTSON: Why not?

HARDENBERG: It's when I'm looking at how everything is transpiring, I don't see that as an option.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAELSON: And I talked with Nic in our last hour and he said everybody agrees with that, that nobody thinks this is actually going to happen. They're afraid that the possibility, but they don't think it's actually going to happen.

THOMAS: Well, I think they're downplaying or unanticipating the environment in which President Trump is operating. We recently had got to read the security strategy that was issued the vision of the world, this notion of resurrecting a 19th century idea of kind of a sphere of influence. And the fact is that this story is ultimately not really about protection of the Arctic. It's about access to mineral resources. And that form of undertaking needs to be highlighted. That's what's so problematic, the fact that he's upset that Europeans sent and deployed troops for military exercises.

Actually, I think further highlighted the fact that it's not really about that. And I think that the debate needs to shift and focus on that particular aspect. And I think that highlights this deep need of this administration and desire to conquer territories, taking us back to some kind of 19th century imperial expansionist model. This is a new era of American foreign policy. MICHAELSON: And of course in Venezuela the concept was that this was

supposed to be about drugs, but then as soon as the United States got in there, it didn't take very long to make it about oil and the American business interest there as well.

THOMAS: Yes.

MICHAELSON: So it's going to be fascinating to watch all of this. Dominic Thomas, UCLA, thank you so much for your a great analysis. I mean, it really is crazy if you think about what we're actually talking about as a real possibility.

THOMAS: And genuinely terrifying.

MICHAELSON: Yes.

THOMAS: I think creating enormous uncertainty for age old relationships that have lasted for a long time and been beneficial.

MICHAELSON: Dominic, thank you. Hopefully we don't get to that point in the meantime. That is so heavy. I think some people need a bit of escapism. So now the story is sports.

This was given a lot of people reason to smile. A perfect season. The Indiana Hoosiers are the new college football champions after their 27-21 victory over Miami. It's the first ever title for the Hoosiers, capping an undefeated 16-0 season.

The Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza had a rushing touchdown. Look at his strength here, willing himself into the end zone. 186 passing yards. Offensive player of the game, CNN World Sport anchor Coy Wire there on the field. For all of it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COY WIRE, CNN WORLD SPORT: This was the championship no one saw coming. Two teams overcoming the odds to reach this moment. Miami looking for their first national title in 24 years. On their home field tickets for nosebleeds were around $4,000. Indiana and their Heisman winning quarterback, Fernando Mendoza. Fernando had his moment. Heismandoza making his presence felt, sheer will and determination to put his team up by 10 in the fourth quarter.

But the Hurricanes jabbed back their superstar playmaker Malachi Toney, willing his way into the zone, bringing Miami within three after an Indiana field goal. Miami would have a chance to go for the win. But it's intercepted by Jamari Sharpe and the Hoosiers pull out the unthinkable. The team that had more losses than any team in college football history have climbed to the mountaintop.

I caught up with coach Curt Cignetti and some of the stars after the win.

CURT CIGNETTI, INDIANA HOOSIERS' HEAD COACH: champions made when nobody's looking. Our kids have great work ethic, great leadership. It's commitment to a worthwhile goal and just try to improve daily and anything's possible when you prepare the right way and have the right people on your staff and in the locker room.

JAMARI SHARPE, INDIANA HOOSIERS' DEFENSIVE BACK: All year we have been battling having games like this. We just fought to the end all year.

FERNANDO MENDOZA, INDIANA HOOSIERS' QUARTERBACK: I'm stuttering right now because you can't even use words today. They're my brothers for life. And it's been the most special brotherhood. I'm so emotional about it, I can't even process it. Usually I have both tattoos, but it's, I mean, they're my brothers for life and it's just a special group of guys. Know what I deal with.

WIRE: 27-21 is the final. The Indiana Hoosiers for the first time ever, are your college football national champions. Coy Wire, CNN, back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[01:15:00]

MICHAELSON: Thank you, Coy. Congrats to all the Indiana fans. Still to come, the Trump administration is not actively investigating the ICE officer who fatally shot Renee Good in Minnesota. What they're looking at instead, when we return.

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MICHAELSON: The story is in Minnesota, where sources tell CNN that the FBI had briefly opened a civil rights probe into the federal agent who shot and killed Renee Good in Minneapolis this month. But that investigation has shifted away from the agent, Jonathan Ross, and now focuses on Good herself and her widow.

Some inside the department see that as politically motivated switch.

[01:20:00]

At least six federal prosecutors in Minnesota have resigned because of it. Good's killing has sparked public outrage and kicked off days of protest against federal agents conducting immigration raids in Minnesota.

The Justice Department is also investigating anti-ICE protesters who disrupted a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota on Sunday. The demonstrators say one of the church leaders is an ICE official. Trump administration officials accused the protesters of violating the civil rights of Christians. But Minnesota's Attorney general says the protest was a First Amendment activity. CNN's Julia Vargas Jones is in Minneapolis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the video of that protest disrupting service in the church, you can hear quite clearly those protesters chanting ICE out and justice for Renee Goode, the 37 year old mother of three who was shot by ICE earlier this month. And we spoke to one of the organizers of that process to understand what was the impetus for going there and why they decided to disrupt that church service.

NEKIMA LEVY ARMSTRONG, ATTORNEY AND FOUNDER, RACIAL JUSTICE NETWORK: And so to think about someone claiming to be a pastor, I watched part of a sermon that he gave on Saturday that was online. You know, to see his demeanor, you know, looking calm, looking like he cared.

But then on the flip side, being an overseer for these agents that again are brutalizing people in our community. I mean, cutting women out of seat belts in their cars, dragging them out of cars, breaking their car windows, attacking children on school grounds, spraying them with pepper spray. I don't understand how you can reconcile the two.

JONES: She's talking about David Easterwood, an acting field office and Director of Enforcement and removal operations for ICE in St. Paul who's believed to also be a pastor in that church.

Now, CNN did reach out to DHS to confirm the identity of this officer. And DHS basically declined to confirm or deny. They said in a statement to CNN from Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin quote, DHS will never confirm or deny attempts to dox our law enforcement officers.

This after the Attorney General Pam Bondi had posted on X the night before on Sunday night that she had just spoken to the pastor in Minnesota whose church was targeted in attacks against law enforcement in the intimidation of Christians are being met with the full force of federal law.

Now I want to bring you to outside the Whipple Federal Building. This is where we are right now. It is now the fifth day of protests after on Friday a federal judge issued an order for those federal agents to stop using chemical agents such as pepper spray and tear gas onto the protesters. That had been for a couple of days straight clashing with police, with federal police. I should say that has since calmed down.

We're also seeing a very heavy presence of the sheriff's department here. But today we're hearing from the federal government that decision is now being challenged. This after the DHS secretary, Kristi Noem, saying that decision would have changed nothing in the conduct of these agents. Julia Vargas Jones, CNN, Minneapolis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAELSON: Thank you, Julia, in a very chilly Minneapolis. Obviously, this issue of immigration is a big national debate right now. And here in California, a state senator has introduced a bill that would protect immigrants from intimidation by ICE agents as they navigate the legal system. It's called the Keep Courts Safe From ICE Act, and it's written by Senator Susan Rubio, who joins me now live here on set.

Senator Rubio, welcome to The Story Is for the first time.

SUSAN RUBIO, CALIFORNIA STATE SENATOR: Thank you for having me here.

MICHAELSON: So what is this bill? How's it work? RUBIO: Well, it's very simple. I think all of us have seen some

horrific scenes in courts, and this bill really just intends to keep families safe. So, number one, we're intending to reduce the altercations that are happening across our nation, but this bill is particularly to California.

Number two, what's happening is that we see a lot of our families not going to court, so making sure that everyone has that access to due process and shows up in court. So we are going to allow for families to show up remotely so they don't have to face an immigrant agent or have these horrific scenes.

But I also want to share that we're seeing our children being traumatized. We've seen scenes where children are crying after their families, whether it's their father or mother. So if we don't have to put our children in those situations, this bill is going to do its job.

MICHAELSON: So essentially, somebody shows up for a court appearance that has nothing to do with immigration, right?

RUBIO: Correct.

MICHAELSON: They, they show up there and then there are ICE agents, potentially, they're waiting for them. So they're trying to do the right thing. They show up to be in court and then they potentially are detained and arrested. And in some cases, we've seen people deported in this situation, right?

[01:25:00]

RUBIO: Absolutely. And one of the things that I want to point out is that sometimes we tend to think of this bill as immigration, but this is not making our community safer. When we have people that are not coming forward speaking about a crime they saw or, you know, sometimes they're the only witness to a crime, we want to make sure that they have the confidence that they could testify remotely as well. So this is about showing up remotely to a case but also testifying.

MICHAELSON: So can anybody testify remotely? I mean, if you're here legally, do you also get that advantage or how does that? Because some people might say I'm following the law, but I don't want to go to court. I'd like to testify remotely or appear remotely.

RUBIO: That is a possibility. Anyone just has to. You just have to state that you are fearful for your life or you don't want to show up. And that's a possibility. If you choose to, you can ask.

MICHAELSON: You know, there's some people that will see this and think it's rewarding bad behavior. And if you're here illegally at all, you've committed a crime and you shouldn't be here and they're doing their jobs and getting people out. What do you say to that?

RUBIO: The law is not going to change. If someone's guilty of anything, the law won't do its job. But I'll tell you, this is not a new concept. I've been a victims' advocate for about seven years. I fought really hard to ensure that we have the system that works for victims of human trafficking and also domestic violence victims.

So I already passed a bill in 2021 that allows victims to show up remotely. I myself spent our last year in court and took advantage of it. Our victims sometimes are afraid to go to court and face their abusers. So all we're doing is extending that to anyone that fears for their life or doesn't want to show up to God.

MICHAELSON: Because for you, this is personal.

RUBIO: Absolutely it is.

MICHAELSON: Yes.

RUBIO: You know, most people have heard I -- was also deported when I was five years old. And so as I see these families and our children crying after their mom or dad, it brings me back. I think I was in kindergarten when this happened to me. And you don't forget. And it is very traumatic for a child to experience the devastation of not understanding, first of all what's happening, but having to leave school and a community that you know. So it is very personal to me.

MICHAELSON: And what a story to go from that now being the state senator for that same region. Thank you so much for coming in and sharing your perspective.

RUBIO: Yes. Thank you for sharing.

MICHAELSON: Thank you for sharing. Still ahead this hour, CNN's John King speaks with Trump voters in Iowa. We are now one year exactly into his second term. What they're feeling and the clues they're offering ahead of this year's pivotal midterm elections. Stay with us.

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[01:31:52]

ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Elation in Indianapolis as fans and students celebrate Indiana's first-ever college football championship. Their 27-21 victory over the Miami Hurricanes caps a perfect 16-zero season.

The quarterback Fernando Mendoza with a 12-yard touchdown run, 186 passing yards, offensive player of the game. Add that to a Heisman trophy he won back in December.

Here he was after the game.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FERNANDO MENDOZA, INDIANA HOOSIERS QUARTERBACK: It's victory so sweet for everybody, for the entire Hoosier Nation. But also, you know, it's super sweet to myself. I was a two-star recruit coming out of high school. I got declined a walk-on offer to the University of Miami. Full circle moment here, playing in Miami for all the friends and family.

I can't thank Curt Cignetti enough, and Coach Whitmer, and Coach Shannon for taking a chance on me and just give all the glory to God.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAELSON: Some sad news from the world of high fashion. Legendary Italian designer Valentino has died at the age of 93. He founded his own line in 1959 and became famous for his signature red dresses.

Joe Zee is standing by live to remember him.

But first the latest on his life from CNN's Barbie Nadeau.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBIE LATZA NADEAU, CNN REPORTER: Born in 1932 in the northern Italian city of Voghera, Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani was known by his first name only.

The designer got his start in Paris haute couture, arriving in Rome in 1959 to start his own line with his business and romantic partner Giancarlo Giammetti.

A rich scarlet shade became his signature Valentino Red, a color that came to define his style.

He met Elizabeth Taylor while she was shooting "Cleopatra" in Rome and went on to dress some of the world's most glamorous stars, from Audrey Hepburn and Joan Collins to Jacqueline Kennedy, who wore one of his couture gowns when she married Aristotle Onassis in 1968.

VALENTINO GARAVANI, ITALIAN FASHION DESIGNER (through translator): I imagined a very young woman, an easy woman, very feminine, glamorous and at the same time romantic. She wears clothes that she can mix together all the time. It's a solar woman who loves life and who is full of glamour and femininity.

NADEAU: In New York in the 1970s, he was part of an enviable circle of celebrities from Andy Warhol to Vogue editor, Diana Vreeland. His designs were known for their opulence, meticulous detail and luxurious fabrics, and his iconic V logo.

In the 1990s, his designs were favorites of supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer.

CLAUDIA SCHIFFER, SUPERMODEL: I think he just loves women. He loves to dress them. He loves to see them look beautiful and glamorous but always just really extremely elegant. Valentino is an elegant person himself, so it makes sense.

NADEAU: His designs were also an awards show staple. Julia Roberts wore vintage Valentino in 2001 and Cate Blanchett wore sunshine yellow Valentino in 2005, both winning top acting awards those years.

More recently, Anne Hathaway walked the red carpet in a Valentino gown accompanied by the designer himself.

[01:34:50] NADEAU: Valentino sold the company in 1998 but stayed on as designer until his final show in 2008. The designer had reportedly planned to make a reappearance in Rome in March of 2026 for the launch of the new line. His legacy synonymous with style will live on.

GARAVANI: Now, fashion goes to beautiful things. And I'm very happy. Because in my career I try to make women looking beautiful. And I am very happy that now couture and fashion goes back to beauty.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAELSON: Thanks to Barbie.

Joining me now on set celebrity stylist Joe Zee, who is a professor at Arizona State University's Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. Jo, welcome to THE STORY IS for the first time.

JOE ZEE, ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY FASHION INSTITUTE OF DESIGN AND MERCHANDISING: Of course, I'm happy to be here.

MICHAELSON: Great to have you here.

And Valentino really was the first Hollywood designer, right?

ZEE: Oh my gosh. I have to say, you know, we look at designers today in the court, Hollywood celebrities, and you see them on red carpets. But you have to understand, back then, European luxury designers did not like Hollywood, did not think Hollywood was classy or chic.

And he was really one of the first. I mean, probably outside of Shivani (ph) and Audrey Hepburn, he really celebrated Hollywood because he loved women. He loved the glamor, he loved everything that was attached to Hollywood. I think from the moment he launched his first collection, I think you saw in 1959.

In 1960, he immediately attached to Elizabeth Taylor and designed a gown for her to wear to her "Spartacus" premiere in Rome. And from there on, I mean, it was really the days of La Dolce Vita. And he immediately became best friends with Sophia Loren and Anita Ekberg and that whole world.

And you could really see that women would court him in a different way. And I think the most famous being Jackie O.

MICHAELSON: Yes.

ZEE: I think one year after President Kennedy was assassinated in 1964, she had asked to meet with him. And when she met with him, she ordered four black dresses to wear during her grieving period.

And then, of course, you saw when she married Aristotle Onassis, she asked him to make her gown.

MICHAELSON: Wow. And I mean, think about it. Those are the most beautiful women in the world, the most famous women in the world. He dressed all of them. ZEE: I mean, there wasn't a single person --

MICHAELSON: Yes.

ZEE: -- I mean, Nancy Reagan to Beyonce.

MICHAELSON: Yes.

ZEE: Yes, absolutely.

MICHAELSON: It's wild.

And that Valentino red became so synonymous with him, it literally became a color palette, right.

ZEE: And you think, how can a single fashion designer own a color like red.

MICHAELSON: It's like a primary color?

ZEE: Yes. And folklore is that he saw women wearing it in his teenage years at the opera, and he became so entranced by how captivating she was, and he wanted to design something in red in every collection, to a point where Pantone has now a Valentino red on its color chart.

MICHAELSON: What is it about that red?

ZEE: There was something joyful. There was something really elegant. I mean, if you look at the Pantone breakdown, it says it's part magenta, part black, part orange.

But the reality is that it really felt like him. It was elegance. It was glamor personified.

MICHAELSON: And his partner, Giancarlo Giammetti, they were really out of front of the openly-gay lifestyle at a time when most people were not.

ZEE: Nobody was. I mean, even fashion designers of that particular generation, I mean, in that world, you would think it would be easy, but they were not. And they were very, very much open. I mean, they were together.

They met probably a year after he had launched his collection. And I think Giancarlo said in the documentary that in 60 years together, I mean, they broke up in 1972, but in 60 years together, knowing each other, they were never apart more than two months.

MICHAELSON: Yes. So after they broke up, they continued to work together, right. And were clearly very close friends.

ZEE: Absolutely. Even to the very end, I mean. And then when Valentino retired out of his company in 2008 and Giancarlo left with him, they were still close, up to the very, very end.

MICHAELSON: And when he retired in 2008, you were there. ZEE: I was there.

MICHAELSON: Right, for the final show. What was that like? Take us there.

ZEE: Oh gosh. I mean, it's emotional because it is one show, but it's also a legacy show. You're celebrating a man, you're celebrating his career, you're celebrating the history of what he's done and his impact in the world of fashion.

And I think he's gone on to do many things after that. But I think in that moment, you could feel really the emotion of all those years built up in one singular collection.

MICHAELSON: How did he inspire you? What did you learn from him?

ZEE: To really stick to your guns. I think what he inspired me to do was that you don't chase trends. You create the trends.

In 49 years he was in business, he could have chased different trends all those years, from grunge to whatever. And he didn't. He stuck to knowing and loving femininity and elegance and that's what he wanted to do and he always did it. And he did it without apology.

And I think that's what I think everyone should walk away with. True and trust in yourself.

MICHAELSON: I mean, is that when you think of -- and teach, you literally teach fashion now to students, right? I mean, is he one of those Mount Rushmore figures? Is he there's sort of nobody else quite like him?

[01:39:47]

ZEE: I mean, I think when you want to count them on, there's -- probably you can count them on one hand. And I think to leave that legacy at 93, he has really impacted the world of fashion in an unspeakable way.

MICHAELSON: Yes, yes.

I mean, it really is a remarkable -- and when you make it to 93, that is a life well lived.

ZEE: And he lived a wonderful life. So do not --

MICHAELSON: A lot of reasons to celebrate him --

ZEE: Absolutely.

MICHAELSON: -- at this moment as well.

Well, Joe, it is great to have you and to celebrate you as well. I've been a big fan of you for a long time and grateful to have you here.

ZEE: And big fan of the show. So happy to be here. MICHAELSON: Thank you so much.

And thank you all for watching THE STORY IS with me. For our international viewers, WORLDSPORT is coming up next; for our viewers here in North America, I'll be right back.

We'll check in with John King with an amazing story from Iowa where he talks with Trump supporters.

Thanks for watching THE STORY IS. See you in a few.

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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: One year, I don't think there's been a term like it. I don't think any president has had a better first year than we've had in terms of success.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAELSON: That was President Trump a short time ago, touting the success of his first year back in office. Now, on the East Coast, it is officially January 20th, and it's one year exactly.

Some of the numbers not so great when it comes to polling. A recent CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds 58 percent of Americans say the first year of Trump's second term is a failure. In that same poll, Americans chose the economy as the country's top issue, and more than half say that Trumps policies have actually worsened economic conditions.

In a new all-over-the-map report, CNN's John King returns to Iowa, where voters there offered clues on what may happen in the November midterms.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Ebersole cattle farm, rural Kellerton.

How are you?

SHANEN EBERSOLE, EBERSOLE CATTLE FARM: Good to see you.

KING: How are you doing?

Calving season before election season.

EBERSOLE: And then they'll calve in a pasture just like this. These are all of our old mama girls.

KING: Shanen Ebersole speaks politely but plainly. There are signs of Trump-haustion.

EBERSOLE: We definitely have choices. We can we can say, calm down. We can say, talk nice.

KING: Ebersole was a Nikki Haley supporter but reluctantly backed Trump in the end. Three out of five is her first year first year grade. The economy feels a little better and illegal immigration is way down.

But Trump's big Argentina beef bailout didn't feel so America First. Nor does talk about somehow taking Greenland.

EBERSOLE: I don't agree with that in any way, shape or form.

KING: That's not what you voted for.

EBERSOLE: No.

KING: Ebersole's take on Washington. Trump picks too many fights. And people in Congress, she says, worry too much about money and power and too little about family farmers or finding compromise.

You're open to voting for a Democrat.

EBERSOLE: Of course. I think that you have to vote for the person that best meets your goals.

KING: The 2026 midterm stakes here in Iowa are enormous. The state is picking a new governor, a new United States senator, and all four of its House seats, of course, are on the midterm ballot.

Next up, Des Moines and its fast-growing suburbs.

BETSY SARCONE, IOWA VOTER: There's that saying Trump was right about everything. And that's kind of how I'm feeling right now.

KING: This breakfast conversation, our sixth visit with Betsy Sarcone dating back to August 2023. Her shift beyond dramatic -- a DeSantis, then a Haley voter. Said she would vote for Joe Biden if Trump won the Republican nomination. But she changed her mind.

SARCONE: I think Biden probably changed me more than Trump. I think watching nothing be done, you know, for four years about an open border. And I think that actually pushed me further to the right to want more law and order, to want stricter borders, and to want more control over this country.

KING: Back in 2024, Donald Trump won 94 of Iowa's 99 counties. So it is a steep climb for the Democrats.

But Iowa is a fascinating midterm test. Do the suburbs swing back the Democrats' way like they did in 2018 and critical in Iowa and elsewhere, can Democrats finally claw their way back to be a little bit more competitive in those critical rural areas?

That's a big test in Iowa and elsewhere.

Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAELSON: Yes, it is. John King, thank you.

Up next, Bill Nye the Science Guy. Stay with us.

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MICHAELSON: Four astronauts will soon take a trip around the moon, but don't expect a lunar landing right away. The ten-day mission, called Artemis 2, will lift off as soon as February 6th.

The upcoming flight is the first time that people will travel aboard the Artemis spacecraft. The crew will aim to soar beyond the far side of the moon. If successful, set a new record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from earth.

Earlier, I spoke with Bill Nye the Science Guy and the CEO of The Planetary Society, on how his work to save NASA from budget cuts proposed by the Trump administration made this possible, and the importance of space and lunar exploration to life here on earth.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL NYE, CEO, THE PLANETARY SOCIETY: First of all, the political people have been promised that they're going to go -- somebody's going to go back to the moon for the last 60 years. And so this is part of that.

And the other thing you might expect, a person might expect if you had water ice in the vacuum of space, it would evaporate. But there is apparently water ice in the south pole of the moon. It doesn't evaporate. There's some process that keeps it there.

And so that's some solid science that would be possible to execute if you can get astronauts on the surface with the capability to walk around and investigate this.

And furthermore, there's this engineering hypothesis dream that you could melt the ice, turn it into hydrogen and oxygen, and use a rocket -- for rocket fuel, just the way the space shuttle upper stage did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[01:54:49]

MICHAELSON: Now to the NFL and yet another coaching change. The Buffalo Bills fired head coach Sean McDermott on Monday. It comes after the Bills lost to Denver Broncos in the divisional round of the playoffs on Saturday. McDermott led Buffalo to five AFC East Division titles and eight playoff appearances in nine seasons, though they never made it to the Super Bowl.

With McDermott out, ten teams will have a new coach next season. A few of those vacancies already being filled late Monday. The Dolphins announced Jeff Hafley as their new head coach. He spent

the last two seasons as a defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers. Hafley will get a five-year contract with Miami, according to ESPN.

Also Monday, New York Giants introduced John Harbaugh as that team's next head coach. One of the winningest coaches in NFL history, Harbaugh goes to New York after 18 seasons in Baltimore, where he led the Ravens to a Super Bowl title.

In the NBA, it's hard to believe but LeBron James will not be a starter in next month's All-Star game that ends a record 21-year run, where James had been selected for the game's opening lineup.

It's a remarkable streak that spanned his time with three different teams -- the Cavs, the Heat and now the Lakers. James could still be picked as an All-Star reserve, that's going to happen.

NBA coaches make those selections. They'll be announced February 1st. The All-Star game, by the way, is right here in Los Angeles.

Tomorrow night here on THE STORY IS we will be joined in studio by Senator Alex Padilla, actress Mira Sorvino. Our political panel, Stephanie Miller versus Ashley Davis. All of that tomorrow on a busy night here on THE STORY IS.

Thanks for being here tonight on THE STORY IS. Have a good one.

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