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The Story Is with Elex Michaelson
Deal to Secure TikTok's Future in U.S. Finally Sealed; Trump: Greenland Deal Will Let U.S. Do Whatever We Want; Massive Winter Storm Threatens More Than Half of U.S.; Vance Justifies ICE's Detention of 5-Year-Old Boy; Former Special Counsel Defends Investigations into Trump; MVP Finalists: Allen, Lawrence, Maye, McCaffery, Stafford; U.S. Skater Maxim Naumov's Quest for Gold after Tragedy. Aired 12-1a ET
Aired January 23, 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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LAURA COATES, CNN ANCHOR: I mean, it had two Michael B. Jordans. Winner. Have a great show. Elex.
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Laura. THE STORY IS starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON (voice-over): THE STORY IS we have a deal. Who will now own TikTok in the U.S.?
THE STORY IS high-stakes negotiations. Why President Trump is feeling optimistic about peace in Ukraine.
THE STORY IS, ICE controversy. Congressmember Sydney Kamlager-Dove, with us to weigh in on the controversial ICE detention of a man and his 5-year-old son.
And THE STORY IS, NFL playoffs. Hall of Famer Edgerrin James with us live to break down the championship games this weekend.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: Live from Los Angeles, THE STORY IS with Elex Michaelson.
MICHAELSON: Welcome to THE STORY IS. I'm Elex Michaelson. The top story is breaking right now.
A deal just announced will allow TikTok to continue to operate in the U.S. The video sharing platform has now established a majority American-owned joint venture to run its U.S. business.
That deal, announced just one day before President Trump's deadline for the app's American assets to be spun off from Chinese parent company ByteDance.
This, of course, is a relief for more than 200 million American users who use TikTok for everything from dance challenges to cooking tutorials to my favorite, of course, CNN breaking news videos.
Let's get right to a great follow on whatever social media platform you have. Kristie Lu Stout live in Hong Kong to start things off.
Kristie, welcome back to THE STORY IS.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR/CORRESPONDENT: Good to see you, Elex. So, what --
MICHAELSON: So, talk to us. There's been so much of a -- a buildup to this. You know, what's the deal? What's the specifics here?
STOUT: Yes. So much buildup. You could call it even years in the making.
And now we know this: that TikTok is officially allowed to stay in the United States. The transaction has been completed. TikTok has sealed the deal with this new majority U.S. joint venture.
And in the last hour or so, we heard from the U.S. president, Donald Trump, who commended the deal. And he thanked his vice president, J.D. Vance. He thanked his administration.
He also thanked the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, saying this in Truth Social: quote, "I would also like to thank President Xi of China for working with us and ultimately approving the deal. He could have gone the other way, but didn't and is appreciated for his decision," unquote. And we are awaiting fresh comment from China.
Look, this deal, it comes after years of uncertainty. As you recall, back in year 2020, that was when U.S. President Donald Trump at the time threatened to put a ban on the Chinese app, on TikTok, for endangering national security.
And then you had that law that was passed in late 2024 that required the U.S. version of TikTok to be spun off, away from its parent company, the Beijing-based ByteDance, or face a ban in the United States.
Now, in a statement that was released late on Thursday, we heard from this new majority U.S. joint venture, and they talked about the national security implications. This is important. And in the statement, they said this. Let's bring it up for you.
Quote, "The majority American-owned joint venture will operate under defined safeguards that protect national security through comprehensive data protections, algorithm security, content moderation, and software assurances for U.S. users," unquote.
Now, some important points to raise here. The new entity plans to retrain the algorithm based on U.S. data. We also know that the U.S. tech giant Oracle will be responsible for overseeing the storage of the data.
Now, the user experience of TikTok in the United States is not expected to change. But with the algorithm being retrained, it could very well shift.
Now, this app, TikTok, has been one of the biggest success stories to come out of China in recent years. The TikTok app boasts, what, 1.5 billion users worldwide, according to the J.V. They say 200 million users are using it in the United States alone.
The secret to the sauce, of course, has always been that A.I.-powered algorithm.
MICHAELSON: Right.
STOUT: That's what's kept people hooked to their phones, looking at it. That's also been a source of concern. These national security concerns.
One more point, Elex, to raise here. Even though we have this new U.S. joint venture, the links between TikTok in America and China are still there. ByteDance, based in Beijing, will still be responsible for the TikTok shop. That's e-commerce, as well as advertising and marketing -- Elex.
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MICHAELSON: So, I mean, that is one of the key questions. Is -- is the experience for people going to change? You say no.
But the algorithm is the whole reason why TikTok has worked. That was the real concern in terms of national security, as well: that China might be able to use that to sort of propagandize certain issues. So, now they won't be able to do that. That's what you're saying.
STOUT: See, that was the concern there, that bipartisan agreement that led to that law being passed in 2024, that TikTok would be used to spy on Americans, that it would be used to conduct influence operations on Americans.
But according to this joint venture, in the statement that was released on Thursday, we learned that again, the data is going to be stored in the United States. And the algorithm is going to be trained, from this point going onwards, based on U.S. data.
That being said, China still has links to the American TikTok through the e-commerce site, the e-commerce platform that's embedded within the app, as well as the marketing and comms.
MICHAELSON: Well, the fact that 200 million Americans have signed up for this, they clearly weren't that concerned about national security issues.
Kristie Lu Stout, thank you for being with us. We'll continue to follow this developing story next hour here on THE STORY IS. We appreciate you joining us live to start things off.
Now another big story overseas: in the coming hours, negotiators will try to bridge the gaps in the effort to finally end Russia's war on Ukraine. President Zelenskyy says the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine will kick off
trilateral talks in the United Arab Emirates. It would be the first time that diplomats from all three countries are at the same table since Russia's invasion began. That's key.
Now, this meeting comes a day after top U.S. negotiator Steve Witkoff met with President Putin of Russia in Moscow, and one day after Mr. Zelenskyy's talk with President Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Earlier, an official said the only unresolved issue is, quote, "territory." But as we know, that's a pretty big issue. Mr. Zelenskyy also called out Europe for inaction when it comes to Ukraine, and he used a pop culture reference to make that point.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: Everyone remembers the great American film "Groundhog Day" with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. Yes, but no one would want to live like that. Repeating the same thing for weeks, months, and of course, for years.
And yet, that's exactly how we like -- how we live now. We have told our European partners multiple times to act now, act now. But Europe still remains in Greenland mode. Maybe someday someone will do something.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Zelenskyy was a comedian and actor before he was president of Ukraine.
President Trump, now back at the White House after telling reporters on Air Force One that the framework deal on Greenland will let the U.S. do whatever it wants. There are no details yet, but the president says more information will be coming in about two weeks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: We have a lot of great things in the deal. And don't forget, they're also good for Europe, because, you know, when we're good, they're good. And if we're not good, that's not very good for them, because we hold it all together. We're holding it all together.
We're all going to work together. And actually, NATO is going to be involved with us. We're going to be doing, in conjunction, parts of it in conjunction with Dana (ph), which is really the way it should be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Meanwhile, sources tell CNN there is no written document actually outlining the framework deal with NATO.
Greenland's prime minister says its sovereignty is a red line in any agreement with the U.S. Residents of the territory's capital are welcoming news of a deal, even in principle.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, but we -- you never know what he says next week. That's the problem with him, I think. We -- I don't know if we can trust him.
You know, Greenland is open for -- American can use the space.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, why not use it? I don't know why he wants to own it. Maybe because of the minerals.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Our Nic Robertson there in Greenland.
Michael Genovese is here in Los Angeles. He's the president of the Global Policy Institute at Loyola Marymount university. He joins me live right now. Welcome back to THE STORY IS.
MICHAEL GENOVESE, PRESIDENT, GLOBAL POLICY INSTITUTE: Great to be here.
MICHAELSON: You've said that this -- this whole trip to Davos and this whole experience has been a bit of a case study of President Trump and the way he works on the world stage. Professor, how do you grade him?
GENOVESE: An incomplete, especially because there are so many issues still on the table. The whole Greenland deal, is it a deal, and is he going to get anything other than what we already have?
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We already have a very good opportunity to have bases, to have more bases, to have more of a presence. And I think Donald Trump is going to declare victory and get just what he already has now.
But Donald Trump's big goal is to declare victory, to make himself look bigger and better, and that he's won. But I think that the deal is going to be exactly where we are today.
MICHAELSON: And -- and yet, if he can spin it as a win, maybe that's enough for him.
GENOVESE: He's magnificent at self-dramatization. The camera loves him. He's a bully with a bully pulpit. He's ubiquitous, and so he dominates the public space.
And so, when he speaks, people have to listen, and he gets the first chance to convince. And he does a very good job of it. He's very persuasive. He's very articulate on the screen. The television set, the screen loves him.
And so, you know, he has a built-in advantage. And he's been able historically to take advantage of that.
MICHAELSON: One of the great television performers of all time, really, if you think about it.
GENOVESE: He's fabulous.
MICHAELSON: So, in terms of the -- the Board of Peace, which is something that he's been talking about, which is this -- his effort to bring different countries together to deal with issues like Gaza.
Now, apparently Russia is a part of that. But he disinvited Canada after the leader of Canada said some not very nice things about him.
GENOVESE: Prime Minister Carney gave a highly regarded speech that is -- has won accolades across the globe.
MICHAELSON: For people that don't like President Trump.
GENOVESE: And even --
MICHAELSON: Folks in MAGA world don't love his speech. Yes.
GENOVESE: That's right. But -- but Europe loved it.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
GENOVESE: And he -- it was a direct challenge to Donald Trump. You just don't do that to Donald Trump. He's very thin-skinned. He just -- he will not take criticism. He doesn't take it well. And if you even look at him askance, he will go after you.
And he has the resources. And he has no -- no hesitation to destroy people.
So, I thought, Carney -- it surprised me, because he, you know, he's been under the protection of the American umbrella for decades, Canada. And now he's a target. And that -- that could backfire on Canada.
But it was a risk that I think he was willing to take, because he wanted to stand up to the bully.
MICHAELSON: I mean, it certainly seemed like, from all of the reporting of people we talked to that were at Davos, is that there was a lot of "S"-talking about American President Trump behind the scenes from some of these other leaders there, but not a lot of that was happening on camera.
What do you think, as somebody who studies this, has been the most effective way to stand up to President Trump in these situations? What's actually worked for these leaders?
GENOVESE: Not very much. I mean, Donald Trump is a bulldozer.
To the extent that world leaders believe that they can flatter him into submission, there's something to be said for that. Because if you think about the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute, one of those wars that Donald Trump settled --
MICHAELSON: The eight that he claims that he's settled.
GENOVESE: You know, he said, if you don't settle this, we're going to increase tariffs. So, they sign a contract, and then they just go back to business as usual.
But they think, if they just give him the treats, give him the public goodies, flatter him, he'll walk away and go on to the next shiny object. And historically, that's what he does.
And so, if you can outlast him, wait on him, flatter him, he'll move on to something else.
MICHAELSON: And it's interesting now, the fact that Canada choosing to not do that --
GENOVESE: Yes.
MICHAELSON: -- to not say the nice things, but would go straight at him. And we'll see if that turns out to be a better strategy for Canada, or if some of these other countries end up doing better as a result of it.
GENOVESE: It's a risk. It's a risk.
MICHAELSON: Michael Genovese, always great to see you. Thanks for your insights. Appreciate it.
Now to the weather, and that's a big story tonight. Tens of millions of Americans about to be impacted by a storm that could bring historic levels of snow and ice. Governors around the country trying to get the word out right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. GREG ABBOTT (R), TEXAS: Bottom line is, is that because the storm is coming in, because we know it's coming in, we have the ability for our fellow Texans to get prepared now. Don't begin getting prepared late tomorrow or think you can get around doing it on Saturday. It's going to be too late.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Now, this video of a salt distribution center in Maryland shows the extent of preparations for icy conditions. The Northeast expected to be hit rather hard. Both New York City and Philadelphia could see their first snowstorm of six inches or more in nearly four years.
Sherrell Hubbard has more now on how states across the country are preparing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHERRELL HUBBARD, JOURNALIST (voice-over): People in 46 states are under weather advisories, watches, or warnings for this potentially historic winter storm.
KEN GRAHAM, DIRECTOR, U.S. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE: Thirty-one years working for NOAA. There's only a handful of times that I can remember watches and warnings stretching 2,000 miles.
HUBBARD (voice-over): The storm's footprint will stretch from the Plains across the South and into the Northeast. In addition to the extreme and record-breaking cold, dangerous ice, and heavy snow are major causes of concern.
[00:15:06]
MATT REAGAN, LEAD METEOROLOGIST, NWS NASHVILLE: This is going to be a mixed bag of precipitation of sleet, freezing rain, and ice, all of which will impact travel, especially.
HUBBARD (voice-over): Parts of Tennessee were under an ice storm warning Thursday. The ice set to hit Southern states expected to cause treacherous road conditions and extended power outages. Some states, including North and South Carolina, have already declared states of emergency.
DANIEL JOHNSON, SECRETARY, NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: Some locations could see winter weather like they haven't seen in years.
HUBBARD (voice-over): In Texas, where the governor has made a disaster declaration, officials say they're confident the deep freeze won't wreak havoc on their power grid, but warned residents about the potential for slick roads.
MARC WILLIAMS, SECRETARY, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: Roads will be dangerous, so staying off the roads is always the safest option.
HUBBARD (voice-over): Record-breaking cold with dangerous wind chills as low as -60 in some spots expected this weekend.
CHRIS WARREN, CNN METEOROLOGIST: This is going to be dangerous just to walk out your front door in some cases, and traveling is essentially going to be a no-go by car or by plane.
HUBBARD (voice-over): I'm Sherrell Hubbard, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: Thank you, Sherrell.
To give you some insight into how cold it already is in some places, look at this. This is video from our affiliate WLS in Chicago. Cars literally frozen over a water main break Thursday morning. Some had icicles hanging from their undercarriage. Others had their tires frozen in place.
So, if you are planning to fly in the next couple of days, you might want to reschedule, if that's possible. Several airlines are now waiving rebooking fees, including Delta, Southwest and United. In a lot of ways, they'd rather you not fly over the next few days.
Other news now: the former U.S. special counsel is defending his investigations into President Trump. During his visit to Capitol Hill, Jack Smith at times made cases that he never got the chance to make in court, since his prosecutions were dropped after the president won reelection.
But Smith asked for this opportunity to publicly testify before lawmakers, insisting that President Trump, quote, "willfully broke the law and engaged in criminal activity."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK SMITH, FORMER SPECIAL COUNSEL: Our investigation revealed that Donald Trump was not looking for honest answers about whether there was fraud in the election. He was looking for ways to stay in power.
And when people told him things that conflicted with him staying in power, he rejected them, or he chose not even to contact people like that, who would know if the election was done properly in a state.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Now, much of his testimony centered on President Trump's role in efforts to overthrow the 2020 presidential election and the January 6th attack on the Capitol.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SMITH: Our investigation revealed that Donald Trump is the person who caused January 6th, that it was foreseeable to him, and that he sought to exploit the violence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Smith also pushed back hard against claims that he was a crooked prosecutor. He's repeatedly come under attack from Republican allies of President Trump and from the president himself, who called Smith deranged while he was testifying and called for him to be prosecuted.
Up next, I'm joined by Congressmember Sydney Kamlager-Dove, who was part of that hearing today. She will also weigh in on a controversial story in Minnesota tonight, as a 5-year-old is caught up in an ICE detention.
And later, we're just two weeks away from the winter Olympics in Italy. And for one American figure skater, a chance to honor the parents he lost in a tragic plane crash last year. CNN goes one-on-one with him, still to come.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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MICHAELSON: THE STORY IS in Minnesota, where U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance is blaming the massive presence of federal immigration agents in Minnesota on what he calls a lack of cooperation from local leaders.
Vance met with immigration enforcement officials in Minneapolis on Thursday. That city has been the center of recent unrest tied to the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
The V.P. says that failure to cooperate contributed to problems on the ground, including clashes between federal officers and protesters. And he argues that's why ICE needs a robust operation there.
He spoke after a memo obtained by the Associated Press emerged, authorizing ICE officers to forcibly enter homes without a judge's warrant, but instead use a narrow administrative warrant to arrest somebody with a final order of removal.
Critics say that violates the Constitution.
Vance defended the use of administrative warrants but acknowledged it may be up to the courts to decide.
Vance also acknowledged the need for investigations into the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent, along with other incidents involving alleged misconduct by federal officers.
We are learning more about the case of a 5-year-old boy who was taken from the driveway of his Minneapolis home by ICE agents. That boy, being held with his father at an ICE facility in Texas.
The vice president addressed that controversy, as well, during the visit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J.D. VANCE, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: I see this story, and I'm a father of a 5-year-old, actually, a 5-year-old little boy. And I think to myself, oh my God, this is terrible. How did we arrest a 5-year-old?
Well, I do a little bit more follow-up research, and what I find is that the 5-year-old was not arrested, that his dad was an illegal alien. And then they went -- when they went to arrest his illegal alien father, the father ran.
So, the story is that ICE detained a 5-year-old. What are they supposed to do? Are they supposed to let a 5-year-old child freeze to death? Are they not supposed to arrest an illegal alien in the United States?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[00:25:09]
MICHAELSON: Now the boy and his family are originally from Ecuador, and the family's lawyer says they came here legally, presenting themselves to border officers to apply for asylum in December of 2024.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MARC PROKOSCH, ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE FAMILY: This family was not eluding ICE in any way. They were following all the established protocols: pursuing their claim for asylum, showing up for their court hearings; and posed no safety, no flight risk, and never should have been detained.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: School district officials say Liam Conejo Ramos is one of four students detained by ICE in the last few weeks. The school board chair, who witnessed Liam's detention, rejected the vice president's justification.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARY GRANLUND, SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR, COLUMBIA HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS: I heard, what are you doing? Don't take the child. His mom -- like, there are people here that can take him. There was a -- another adult who lived in the home that was there saying, I will take the child. I will take the child.
Somebody else was yelling. They saw that I was there and said, the school is here. They can take the child. You don't have to take them.
And there were -- there were -- there was ample opportunity to be able to safely hand that child off to adults. And mom -- mom was there. She saw out the window, and Dad was yelling, please do not open the door. Don't open the door.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Now the case is drawing strong reaction from local and national political leaders.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ (D-NY): If I were a member of the United States Senate, I would not vote for funding this ICE. I would not vote. I would not vote for funding ICE. That's -- that's what I would do.
Any step in the direction of reining in and cutting the funding of an agency that is attacking U.S. citizens, that are kidnaping 5-year- olds, that are using them as bait to open doors, and that are privately circulating that they can violate everyday Americans' constitutional rights by busting into their doors, they deserve to be defunded
MAYOR JACOB FREY (D), MINNEAPOLIS: Peace is not spraying irritants and chemicals at peaceful protesters. It's not detaining a 5-year-old. It's not dragging a pregnant woman through the streets. You achieve peace by working directly with communities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Joining me now from Washington is Sydney Kamlager-Dove, a Democratic Congresswoman from here in California.
Congresswoman, welcome back to THE STORY IS.
REP. SYDNEY KAMLAGER-DOVE (D-CA): Good to see you, Elex.
MICHAELSON: What is your response to this story of this 5-year-old out of Minnesota?
KAMLAGER-DOVE: It is heartbreaking. I mean, 5-year-old Liam Ramos, returning home from preschool, is snatched up and arrested by ICE and then transferred to Texas. And it appears that he was used as bait to ensnare his parents, who were going through the asylum process.
It is heartbreaking. It is unlawful. It is unchristian. It is certainly inhumane. And I'm so glad that it's getting the attention that it deserves so people can see how ICE is being weaponized to terrorize. Now, 5-year-old children.
MICHAELSON: Of course, ICE says that he was not used as bait. They said the father was here illegally, that the father ran away from them, that the kid was essentially left out in the cold, that they just watched over the kid, and that the mother refused to accept custody of the child.
That's a very different story. I mean, V.P. Vance said, What are they supposed to do? Let the child out to freeze to death?
KAMLAGER-DOVE: Yes, I don't really trust what J.D. Vance or ICE says anymore. They called Renee Good a domestic terrorist, and the video showed that she was actually trying to leave when she was shot in the face by an ICE agent.
And I think, you know, J.D. Vance should actually pause and think that, if he were not the vice president, it actually could be his wife and his children that could be snatched up by these ICE agents. They are operating with impunity, with no accountability, with no transparency, and they are not being honest with the American people.
MICHAELSON: Are you suggesting that because his kids are Indian- American?
KAMLAGER-DOVE: I'm suggesting that this is an agency that is profiling people, terrorizing people, picking them up because of what they look like, rather than following the mandate that they told the American people they would follow, which was to go after folks who were here illegally creating crimes.
And Liam Conejo Ramos was not creating a crime when he was coming back from preschool. So, why was he detained, arrested, and then transported to Texas?
MICHAELSON: Some of your colleagues think that Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security, should be impeached. Are you one of them? Do you agree with that?
[00:30:04] KAMLAGER-DOVE: I am one of them. I wish she would resign. She won't. She should be impeached. She should certainly come back before the Judiciary Committee and explain to the American people and to Congress what she is doing.
You know, the Department of Homeland Security got $191 billion in the Big Ugly Bill. And we should know what they are doing with that money, because what we see on the TV scares us to death.
MICHAELSON: Another topic now. Today there's a big hearing, Jack Smith appearing before your committee. You were part of the questioning. Did you learn anything? Did anything come out of this?
KAMLAGER-DOVE: You know, I think when the American people woke up today, they were hoping that we would be talking about the price of groceries, why Donald Trump is going after Greenland and calling it Iceland, why he gave $40 billion to Argentina. You know, why he's using our taxpayer dollars to invade Venezuela. They're not that interested in Jack Smith.
But what we learned today is that Jack Smith is a decorated public service [SIC] who cares about the law, who is nonpartisan, and found evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that Donald Trump knew he lost the election and was calling folks, asking them to help him overturn it.
He was lying. He knew he was lying, and he was acting upon that lie to overturn the democratic process. That is a felony. And Jack Smith reminded the American people of that today.
MICHAELSON: Do you think that anybody's mind in either party was changed by what happened today?
KAMLAGER-DOVE: You know, I was flummoxed as to why Jim Jordan actually asked Jack Smith to show up today, because they were in pretzels. They couldn't ask a lot, because there's a gag order, because, you know, a Trump-appointed judge actually has an injunction.
And so, Jack Smith can't even talk about the findings in the classified documents. The files have not been released, just like the Epstein files have not been released. And Republicans knew that.
So, it just allowed Democrats to invite Jack Smith to retell the truth. And, you know, he did it in front of January 6th-ers who were there, Oath Keepers who were there, and Capitol Police officers who actually defended Republicans on January 6th from insurrectionists.
MICHAELSON: And he did it in front of you, one of the members of that committee, a member of Congress. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Democrat of Los Angeles. Thank you so much for joining us.
KAMLAGER-DOVE: Thank you.
MICHAELSON: Another live look at Capitol Hill, the building behind her, where Paris Hilton inside that building earlier today, taking her fight against deepfake porn to Congress. She's asking House lawmakers to pass a bill that would give victims
the right to sue those who create and then distribute A.I.-generated pornography.
Hilton shared her own experience with having intimate images of herself online without her consent.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PARIS HILTON, BUSINESSWOMAN AND MEDIA PERSONALITY: Before, someone had to betray your trust and steal something real. Now, all it takes is a computer and a stranger's imagination.
Deepfake pornography has become an epidemic. I know today that there are over 100,000 explicit deepfake images of me made by A.I.; 100,000 circulating the Internet. Not one of them is real. Not one of them is consensual.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: If you notice, her voice is lower and different than what you would hear on some of those shows. She said she basically was creating a character when she did that.
Hilton there teaming up with representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Laurel Lee to lobby the House for what's called the Defiance Act. The Senate has already passed the bill, so probably is going to pass the House, as well.
Well, this right here might look like a real pipe bomb, but it's actually a replica that the U.S. Transportation Security Administration found in a checked bag at the Boise, Idaho, airport in May.
It topped the agency's list of most unusual items detected at airport security checkpoints in 2025. Other items on the list included weapons, drugs and turtles. That's right, turtles were found in pants and even a bra at airports in Newark, New Jersey, and Miami.
So, I don't know what that says about you, if you're taking a turtle in your bra, but there we go.
All right. We are down to the Final Four teams in the NFL playoffs with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line this weekend. Look who we got standing by live for us to offer analysis: NFL Hall of Famer Edgerrin James. We'll talk about his picks for the games, the MVP race, and his future when THE STORY IS comes right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:39:42]
MICHAELSON: Welcome back to THE STORY IS. I'm Elex Michaelson. Here are stories making news right now.
In just a few hours, officials from the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine will all meet together for peace talks in the UAE. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced the talks after meeting with President Trump in Davos, Switzerland.
This is the first time all three parties have met since the Kremlin invaded Ukraine. An official said that territory is the only unresolved issue in the U.S.-led peace plan, which is a pretty big issue.
TikTok's future in the U.S. appears to be secure. The app announced that a majority American-owned joint venture is now in charge of its U.S. business.
That move complies with an order from Chinese-owned ByteDance to sell off its U.S. operations or be banned.
The new joint venture will still use TikTok's secret sauce, the algorithm, but it's going to change a little bit.
More than 160 million people in the U.S. are bracing for one of the most sprawling and menacing winter storms in years. That storm threatens to deliver historic amounts of snow and ice over a 1,500- mile path from Texas to the Northeast.
Major travel disruption expected through the weekend. Widespread, potentially long-lasting power outages also possible.
Let's talk sports now. The nominees are out for the NFL Awards, and as usual, quarterbacks leading the field for MVP. They include Josh Allen, the Buffalo Bills; Trevor Lawrence, the Jacksonville Jaguars; Drake Maye of the New England Patriots, and Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams.
Just one running back is on the list. That is Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers, one of three nominations for McCaffrey.
Now, two of those players will be on the field this Sunday. hoping to lead their teams to the Super Bowl. Drake Maye and the Patriots will be in Denver.
Broncos star quarterback Bo Nix will not be playing after he broke his ankle in last week's overtime thriller against the bills. And Matthew Stafford will lead the Rams into Seattle for the NFC title game against the Seahawks. Those teams split their regular season games, one game apiece.
Joining me now, live from CNN's headquarters in Atlanta, NFL Hall of Famer Edgerrin James, 1999 rookie of the year, two-time rushing leader. Edgerrin James, welcome to THE STORY IS for the very first time.
EDGERRIN JAMES, NFL HALL OF FAMER: Hey what's up? What's up, Elex, man? I appreciate you having me on, man.
MICHAELSON: What is -- So, who is your MVP?
JAMES: Well, this year, I think it has to go to Matthew Stafford. You know, you know you rarely get a rookie quarterback to come in and get the MVP. And Matthew Stafford and Drake Maye, they both -- they both deserve it. But I think right now, you're leaning on the veteran.
MICHAELSON: Yes. Drake Maye, what a second year he's had. So -- so the Rams versus the Seahawks. Matthew Stafford will be on the field. What do you see from that game? Who do you think's going to win?
JAMES: Well, they split during the regular season. The home team has won the game. So, I'm pretty much leaning towards the home team, because this is a game that could go either way. Both teams, they're stacked. They know each other.
And it's -- you know, it's one of those situations where who makes the least amount of mistakes, who -- whoever wins the turnover battle, that's the one that's going to pretty much come out in this game right here. And the 12th Man is out in Seattle. That's something difficult to play under.
MICHAELSON: Yes. So, the 12th Man, that's their crowd. They're known as the 12th Man, because they're so loud. Is that -- is Seattle the hardest place to play in the NFL?
JAMES: At times, it could be. It depends on the type of offense you have. If you have an offense that's been playing together, and they're familiar with each other, it won't be a factor.
But if you have to make a call or you have to make certain changes or adjustments on the fly, it's hard to actually hear. And you have to do everything based upon experience and being that you've played together.
MICHAELSON: I mean, that's where having somebody like Stafford with 17 years' experience is probably pretty helpful, right?
JAMES: Yes, that's going to be -- that works in their favor. And plus, they have Puka Nacua that's going to actually go out there and play.
But the interesting matchup that I see is on the other side. They have a former Ram. They have Cooper Kupp that used to play for the Rams. So, that's going to be interesting to see how it goes with that.
MICHAELSON: Yes. Cooper Kupp, one of the Rams' all-time great receivers, who was essentially discarded from the team over the past season to make room for Davante Adams, now lining up against his own team.
All right. So now, let's go to the other side. Patriots versus Broncos. There are some folks that feel like the Broncos are basically out, because Drake Maye, their quarterback, isn't playing.
We had Andrew Siciliano on earlier this week. He actually thinks the Broncos are going to win because of their defense. What do you think?
JAMES: Well, both teams, defensively, they're going to play well. They have two great defenses. They have some of the best defenses that's been playing this year. But with Jarrett Stidham, you know, he's a six-year veteran. When I
look at both -- both quarterbacks, neither one of them have playoff experience. So, there's no edge in that.
And it's just a matter of, you know, him getting out there playing and how much he's been in the system, how many reps he's been getting throughout the season. It's going to actually make the difference.
And he's known for the short throws, the quick throws, and as long as he's able to manage the game, I think the Broncos -- the Broncos have a chance.
MICHAELSON: I mean, Jarrett Stidham, who was the backup quarterback, who will be starting in place of Bo Nix, has not taken a single snap in a game all season. How much is that a factor?
JAMES: No, that's a big-time factor. You know, football, part of being in the pros, man, you've got to play. You've got to get out there. And you know, you've got to get familiar with the game, the speed of the game. That's something you can't get even in practice.
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So, that's one thing that I see that will be difficult.
But he's playing under a coach, Sean Payton, and he understands the game. And he may keep everything where it's like a pretty basic vanilla-type offense. And then also lean on their defense. And that's what makes it pretty -- pretty interesting.
And when you look at Drake Maye, you know, it's his first time playing in the playoffs. So, I don't know what you're going to get, because the playoffs, it's totally different when you go out there and play playoff football.
MICHAELSON: So, your -- another topic is your future. "The Athletic" just put out an article, basically saying you should be a broadcaster: "Is ready for TV analysis. His NFL peers support his authenticity."
What do you think? What's next for you?
JAMES: I think it would be pretty cool. You know, it's one of those things where it's a way to give back to the game.
And I have -- I have pretty much 40 years of football experience and sports. You know, that's pretty much your life.
And I never wanted to get into coaching. I didn't want to get into the thing where I had to represent players. You know, I kind of dabbled in that, but for me, it's more of maybe to give back to the fans and give back to, actually, the younger players through talking about the game, through my personal experiences.
MICHAELSON: Well, you look good on the CNN set. So, in that fashion, last thing, one word: who wins the Super Bowl?
JAMES: Oh, man, that's going to be a good one right there. But if I had to pick, I think Seattle's going to win it.
MICHAELSON: There you go. Edgerrin James offering his analysis right here on THE STORY IS. Great to see you. Thanks for staying up late for us.
JAMES: All right. Thanks for having me. These are my hours anyway.
OK. We'll be right back. So, join us again. We'll be right back.
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MICHAELSON: The Winter Olympics in Italy are two weeks away, and for one U.S. figure skater, it's a bittersweet time.
Maxim Naumov lost both of his parents in last year's horrific mid-air collision between an American Airlines plane and an Army Black Hawk helicopter.
CNN's Coy Wire spoke with him about his quest for gold after tragedy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAXIM NAUMOV, AMERICAN FIGURE SKATER: Life. Unfortunately, you know, made me grow up really fast.
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS (voice-over): On a fateful night in January of 2025, Maxim Naumov's life changed forever.
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news tonight, an urgent search for answers after a midair collision killed 67 people in the nation's capital.
WIRE (voice-over): Maxim's parents, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, were aboard American Airlines Flight 5342. After their tragic deaths, he was left devastated, but he found returning to the ice to be therapeutic.
NAUMOV: Lacing up those skates for the first time was one of the most difficult things I've ever done in my life. But as soon as I stepped onto the ice, I mean, again, just the overwhelming support, the hugs, you know, the tears.
The path to healing was in doing the difficult things. So, I knew I needed to pursue that if I wanted to get through, you know, one of the most difficult things in my entire life. And that's when I knew I had to. And it was for them, as well. I know they would have said the exact same thing.
WIRE (voice-over): A year after losing his parents, 24-year-old Maxim's perseverance is leading him to the Winter Olympics in Italy.
He won't be going alone, though. He held up pictures to honor his parents while waiting for his scores at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. NAUMOV: I really wish anything in the world for them to be there, so I
just told them that we did it. We -- we did it, and we made it. I pray they're smiling down on me now.
The value of resilience in our family. Never giving up. Pushing and gritting your teeth and fighting tooth and nail for every single thing that you possibly can. And I know that whatever it is that life throws at me, I'll be -- I'll be still standing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: That was CNN's Coy Wire, who will be reporting for us live from the game.
Here is our countdown clock: 14 days till the games kick off.
And ahead of the opening ceremony in Milan, the stars of "Heated Rivalry," Hudson Williams and Connor Story, will be among the hundreds to carry the Olympic torch on its trek through Italy.
"Heated Rivalry" is a Canadian-produced gay romance series involving hockey players. It streamed here in the U.S. on HBO MAX, a sister company of CNN, and it spent a significant amount of time as the No. 1 streaming product on all of HBO MAX. They are having a year.
The blockbuster, genre-defying film "Sinners" has broken records at the Academy Awards, earning 16 Oscar nominations.
Ryan Coogler's vampire horror period drama surpassed the previous record holders for most Oscar nominations for a single film. Those were "All About Eve," "Titanic," and "La La Land," which each had 14 nominations.
Now, despite critical acclaim and huge success at the box office, "Sinners" actually did not win for directing or for acting at the Golden Globes earlier this month. But maybe 16 Oscar noms will make up for that. An Oscar win would certainly make up for that.
Now, center -- "Sinners" is not the only film racking up big nominations. Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" scored 13, setting up a very competitive race between those two films for Best Picture.
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The winners will be revealed when the Academy Awards air on March 15th, with returning host Conan O'Brien.
And in our next hour, our film critic, Grae Drake, will be with me live to break down those nominations. Stay with us. Top stories and more when we come right back.
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MICHAELSON: Move over, Fresh Prince. Someone else now has the chance to own the famous TV home of Will Smith. That house from the '90s hit sitcom.
