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The Story Is with Elex Michaelson
FBI Conducting An Extensive Search In Area Near Nancy Guthrie's Home; U.S. Congress Facing Friday Deadline To Fund DHS; Lawmakers Spar With Bondi Over Epstein Files; British Prime Minister Keir Starmer Takes Questions In Parliament; Six House Republicans Defy Trump To Block His Canada Tariffs; Canada Police Say 18-Year-Old Carried Out Mass Shooting. James Van Der Beek Dead at 48; Susan Powter on How Life Has Changed Since New Documentary; Olympic Pin Trading Tradition in Full Swing at Games; Seahawks Punter Talks About Pressures of Big Game; Buddhist Monks End 2,300-Mile "Spiritual Journal". Aired 1-2a ET
Aired February 12, 2026 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[01:00:00]
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: -- capping off their self-described spiritual journey, the group left Fort Worth, Texas in October. They brave brutal winter storms, icy roads and at times walk barefoot to spread a message of compassion and loving kindness. They'll head home on Thursday.
Thanks for watching this first hour of The Story Is. The second hour of The Story Is starts right now.
The story is ongoing search the FBI focused on a glove and a backpack in the search for Nancy Guthrie.
The story is Epstein fallout from Capitol Hill to Downing Street, politicians are reeling. With me, British Member of Parliament Sir James Cleverly here live in studio.
The story is speaking out. Gisele Pelicot gives her first live interview since her landmark criminal trial that ended in France.
The story is stopped the insanity. Fitness guru turns Uber driver turns celebrity once again. Susan Powder is here to talk about how a new documentary changed her life.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from Los Angeles, The Story Is with Elex Michelson.
MICHAELSON: And welcome to the story is. I'm Elex Michaelson live in Los Angeles, where it's 10 o'clock. The top story is in Arizona where it's 11 o'clock. There's an urgent search still underway looking for new evidence in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.
Investigators are combing through rough terrain around her Tucson area home. On Wednesday, a New York Post reporter told CNN of a potential clue, a black glove found about a mile and a half from Guthrie's home. It's unclear if authorities believe it is the same glove worn by the person in the doorbell camera video released by the FBI captured the night that Guthrie disappeared. That person was also seen wearing a backpack. That's what that looks like. Told investigators are trying to figure out what type of bag it is.
Meanwhile, TMZ says it received what it called a bizarre letter from someone claiming to know who Guthrie's kidnapper is. Harvey Levin, talking with Erin Burnett earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HARVEY LEVIN, FOUNDER OF TMZ: The letter essentially says, I've tried to get in touch with Savannah's brother and sister to no avail. And they sent it to us then. And they said if they want to get the name of the individual who is involved in this kidnapping, send the bitcoin. Send -- give us a bitcoin through this address. And they say time is more than relevant.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Joining me now live is CNN national security analyst Juliette Kayyem. Juliette, welcome back to The Story Is. Thanks for staying up late with us.
JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Thank you.
MICHAELSON: What do you think is the biggest, most important headline of the day?
KAYYEM: You know, I have to be honest with you. Obviously, the video is relevant. If this glove is real is relevant. But today was the day I felt like the signal, what we call in my field the signal to noise ratio really got out of kilter. In other words, there's now so much going on around this story.
Our potential, you know, witnesses or people who know what's going on, they're calling TMZ. You have a lot of sort of outside noise. And what's really going to be hard for investigators is to focus on, you know, the signal. What is the evidence telling them and can they link that evidence to an individual we saw last night with or two nights ago with the taking of a person of interest who then was released 12 hours later?
It does say seem that were they're sort of, they've got lots of clues, but maybe nowhere closer to determining who in fact has Nancy Guthrie and what her condition is.
MICHAELSON: Well, and to that point, you cover the national security beat at the highest level.
KAYYEM: Yes.
MICHAELSON: And on this case now, this is being dealt with at the highest level. I mean, Kash Patel, the director of the FBI, personally involved. It is clear that President Trump is personally involved and getting updates on this case.
How does that impact things down below --
KAYYEM: Yes.
MICHAELSON: -- the fact that there's so much pressure and attention from the top?
KAYYEM: That's a great question because I sometimes wonder that too, like whether Savannah Guthrie's frame, which may be tied to what's happening right now. We certainly don't know. You know, did the people who took her mother know that she had access to resources? Did they know that there would be this of publicity? Obviously this hunt and the people interested in a nation sort of riveted and horrified by what's going on is all because of her ties, because Nancy is Savannah's mother.
[01:05:00]
And that adds a lot of noise. It adds a lot of crazy people who are doing horrible things in this moment of dire distress for the family. But it also leads to the kind of focus that you're seeing from the FBI.
I do worry, though, that kind of pressure will lead to actions that may not be appropriate. I wonder what drew them to this person of interest. Was it pressure to get someone at least, you know, sort of under interrogation? And then they realized it was nothing.
But obviously, you know, when it started, the police said this has nothing to do with who Savannah Guthrie is. I just don't think that's true. I mean, I don't I'm not blaming her. Of course I just think that the interest, the ability of Google or the willingness of Google to sort of defy all of their, you know, technology to find an image and all of that is because of her, you know, of all of us knowing who she is. And then, of course, the political interest.
MICHAELSON: Yes, you've got the full sort of scope of all the best of what comes with that and some of all the worst of what comes with that as well --
KAYYEM: Yes.
MICHAELSON: -- with the nation totally riveted in a way that we haven't seen in a case in a long time. I mean, the ratings even for the TV networks last night were higher than they've been in a very long time.
KAYYEM: Yes.
MICHAELSON: People are transfixed on this case and they want to see hopefully a successful outcome. We all are praying for that happy ending for Savannah and her family. Juliette Kayyem, thank you so much for sharing your insights. Always great to talk with you.
KAYYEM: Thank you. MICHAELSON: Let's go to Washington now. U.S. lawmakers are facing a
deadline on Friday to fund the Department of Homeland Security. A live picture from Washington, where it's after one o'clock in the morning. Negotiations with the White House are underway, but Republicans are urging President Trump to play hardball with Democrats. They're pushing for changes within the department after federal agents shot and killed two U.S. citizens last month while cracking down on immigration.
Demands from the Democrats include raining and roving patrols requiring federal officers to use body cameras. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi is defending the Justice Department's handling of Jeffrey Epstein files.
Meanwhile, she testified before the House Judiciary Committee in what devolved into a shouting match, mostly with Democratic lawmakers that felt like a 90s talk show where somebody was about to throw a chair. CNN's Sherrell Hubbard has details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHERRELL HUBBARD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein at Wednesday's House Judiciary Committee hearing, which with a silent message for the Attorney General.
PRAMILA JAYAPAL (D-WA): Please raise your hands if you have still not been able to meet with this Department of Justice. Please know for the record that every single survivor has raised their hand.
HUBBARD (voice-over): The Justice Department under fire for months over its handling of the so called Epstein files. Wednesday, survivors slammed the recent release of more than 3 million pages related to the --
LIZ STEIN, EPSTEIN SURVIVOR: The release of these files by the DOJ riddled with improper redactions that expose the vulnerable and shield the powerful from accountability is not justice.
HUBBARD (voice-over): While she did not apologize over the DOJ's handling of the files, Attorney General Pam Bondi did apologize to survivors for the abuse they suffered.
PAM BONDI, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: I am deeply sorry.
HUBBARD (voice-over): And facing tough questions from Democrats.
REP. JAMIE RASKIN (D-MD): You're siding with the perpetrators and you're ignoring the victims.
HUBBARD (voice-over): Bondi's testimony quickly turned combative.
RASKIN: I told you about that Attorney General before you started --
BONDI: You don't tell me --
RASKIN: No, I did tell you because we saw what you did in the Senate.
BONDI: You're washed up, loser lawyer. Not even a lawyer.
HUBBARD (voice-over): When pressed why Epstein conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell was relocated from a Florida prison to a lower security prison camp in Texas. Bondi said she disagreed with the transfer but denied any involvement.
BONDI: That is a question for the Bureau of Prisons.
HUBBARD (voice-over): I'm Sherrell Hubbard reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: Meanwhile, pressure is building on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as he fights to keep his job. The Premier is pushing back on calls for his resignation after an official he appointed was mentioned in the Epstein files. Now he faces added pressure over another recent Labour Party appointee who was not mentioned in the Epstein files.
Joining now to discuss the struggle for power is Sir James Cleverly, a Conservative Member of Parliament in the House of Commons, currently a visiting Fellow at the University of Southern California, Schwarzenegger Institute here in LA. Welcome to The Story Is. Thank you so much for being with us. Our first, sir.
So, talk to us about what's going on with Keir Starmer. Should Keir Starmer resign?
[01:10:02]
SIR JAMES CLEVERLY, U.K. PARLIAMENT MEMBER: Well, his position is becoming increasingly untenable. He's losing a lot of support amongst the British people for a whole load of reasons, including mishandling of the economy. But his judgment is now being really called into question. He appointed Lord Mandelson to be the ambassador, U.K. ambassador to Washington, even though it was known at the time of the appointment that Mandelson had a long standing friendship with Epstein.
And just in the last couple of days, we found out he appointed a former member of his staff to the House of Lords, even though it was known that person had a long standing friendship with someone who had been arrested and convicted of having child sexual images in their possession. So there are real question marks over his -- over his judgment now.
MICHAELSON: Do you think that Keir Starmer should resign?
CLEVERLY: I think he should. I think he should. Because ultimately, as a Prime Minister, your job, your main job is to make tough decisions. And what we've seen now publicly is that he has clearly put personal friendships ahead of his good judgment. And if he's doing it in these areas that we can see, we can only assume that he's also doing in areas that we don't see. And that puts a question mark over his credibility.
MICHAELSON: What's going on privately right now behind the scenes in Parliament in terms of his future. And do you think that Keir Starmer has the votes to survive this?
CLEVERLY: Well, it's interesting. Over the weekend, the leader of the Labour Party in Scotland, and Scotland has traditionally been a part of the U.K. which has voted Labour more than other political parties, basically called upon Keir Starmer to resign. Someone from his own party.
Then there was some radio silence for a couple of hours and then one after another, his cabinet came out to support him online in what was obviously an orchestrated display of support that's kept him safe for the time being.
But we have local elections in May, the closest in the U.K. that we get to midterms. Labour will almost certainly do badly in those elections and I think a number of the people who are looking to take over want him to carry the can for that bad election result before they pounce in the spring. If I was a betting man, that's what I put my money on.
MICHAELSON: Essentially, you know, you're going to lose anyways. Let him be the fall guy because he's damaged goods.
CLEVERLY: Why would you want to step in just before a bad election result when you could step in just after a bad election result and blame it on the previous guy.
MICHAELSON: And be the savior. So in terms of the way that this is all going down here in the US. What do you make of that hearing we just saw with Pam Bondi? For so long, we at the United States have looked at the British Parliament and seen people going back and forth and thought, wow, that's an interesting thing. Our Congress is so much more, quote, unquote, civilized than that. And when you look at these scenes, this is more intense than what you guys do, right?
CLEVERLY: Yes. Well, everything about the British Parliament is geared up for a very confrontational style of politics. We sit opposite each other and it doesn't always come across on the TV, but we are really very close.
That said, I don't think I've ever seen a political exchange as heated and has as aggressive and as shouty as that hearing. I mean, I was watching. I didn't watch all of it. I watched the highlights. And even as a Brit, I'm finding it quite difficult to watch.
MICHAELSON: What is the U.S., U.K. Relationship like right now with President Trump and what do members of Parliament say about President Trump privately?
CLEVERLY: Well, what we recognize is President Trump is a fundamentally different style of U.S. President than what we used to. The U.S. has always been a very predictable ally. It's always been. It currently is, and I have no doubt will continue to be an incredibly important ally.
President Trump we find unpredictable and no one in politics like some predictability. There are times when he says and does things and, you know, we are desperate to cheer him on. And there are times when he says and does things and we put our head in our hands and that's uncomfortable.
That said, the U.S. is one of, if not the most important ally, trading partner, diplomatic partner that the U.K. has got. That's not going to change irrespective of who's in the White House. But a little bit of calm is always welcome.
MICHAELSON: Very interesting. And just real quickly, you are teaching right now at the USC Schwarzenegger Institute at USC, dealing with young people. What do you tell young people to give them hope about this moment in politics when so many things seem so chaotic?
CLEVERLY: Yes, look, I'm old enough and I've got a few gray hairs in the beard and a few more gray hairs on my head to remind the young people that I speak to that as turbulent and difficult as the world seems at the moment, there have been difficulties times in the past.
[01:15:10]
I was at the Reagan Library not that long ago being reminded of how scary the Cold War was. My father's generation dealt with the Cuban Missile Crisis, as did Americans of that era to so there are turbulent times, there always are. But things get better and there's plenty to be hopeful of. But you've got to work at these things. Nothing comes easy. Nothing of value comes easy. And so I try to be optimistic. I try to be a bit of a Reaganite.
But doing the research that I'm doing on housing and the built environment, which I'm going to take back to the U.K. for the job that I'm doing in the U.K., that is really important and giving people optimism and hope I think is ultimately the job of politicians.
MICHAELSON: Yes, indeed. We need more people to have that philosophy. Sir James Cleverly, thanks so much for coming in. Really appreciate it.
CLEVERLY: Thank you. Appreciate it.
MICHAELSON: That was great. The U.S. House has dealt a blow to President Trump by blocking his tariffs on Canada, at least for now. Six Republican lawmakers broke ranks to vote with Democrats and that is not going over well with the President. He warned on Truth Social quote, any Republican in the House or Senate that votes against tariffs will seriously suffer consequences come election time, and that includes primaries.
Keep in mind, even if the Senate agrees to the same House measure to block the tariffs, President Trump still has the power to veto it. House did not secure enough votes to protect a veto override.
New details are emerging from what's become one of Canada's deadliest mass shootings. Authorities say 18 year-old-female Jessie Van Rootselaar allegedly killed eight people on Tuesday. Police say the suspect was born and as a biological male who approximately six years ago began her transition to female and identified as female both socially and publicly.
Authorities report making multiple visits to the suspect's house due to mental health emergencies and firearm concerns. The family home is where the suspect's mother and stepbrother were found dead.
Six of the victims, mostly children, were fatally shot at the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Students who survived spoke of barricading themselves in classrooms. Canadian Prime Minister paid respects to the victims in Parliament.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK CARNEY, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: May the memories of those lost be a blessing. May this community, which has shown its resilience so many times before, once again find the strength to heal and may this house prove worthy of what Tumbler Ridge has always been by striving to Make Canada a better, kinder and safer place. Thank you very much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Still to come, quote, shame must change sides. Those words spoken by Gisele Pelicot, who survived years of sexual abuse. What she sang about taking back her life. An exclusive after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:22:24]
MICHAELSON: It is an image not seen in Venezuela in a long time. A high level U.S. official visiting the country and praising both nations. Energy Secretary Chris Wright became the highest ranking U.S. official to visit Venezuela in almost 30 years. He said major changes are coming to the country after meeting with acting President Delcey Rodriguez on Wednesday.
The U.S. does not formally recognize her government since capturing former leader Nicolas Maduro. But Wright still held talks on oil, natural resources and improving the power grid. Rodriguez declined to say if new elections will be held soon.
Gisele Pelicot is moving on with her life after being forced to come to terms with years of sexual assault by dozens of men. She's written a new book and gave her first televised interview since the very public rape trial that rocked France.
CNN's Saskya Vandoorne has more from Paris.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GISELE PELICOT, SEX ABUSE SURVIVOR (through translator): This book is a message of hope. SASKYA VANDOORNE, CNN PARIS BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Gisele Pelicot
is speaking on camera for the first time since the landmark criminal trial that shocked France and turned her into a feminist global icon.
With her new memoir out next week, Pelicot describes the moment the police delivered the bombshell that her former husband had been orchestrating her mass rape for almost 10 years.
PELICOT (through translator): I don't recognize myself in those photos. I said, that's not me. Then I put on my glasses and there I discovered this lifeless woman on her bed unconscious with the man she doesn't know. I think my brain disassociated.
VANDOORNE: Despite the ordeal her ex husband put her through, Giselle says she still plans to see him again.
PELICOT (through translator): I wasn't able to address Mr. Pelicot directly during the trial and we haven't spoken in over five years. That's part of my healing journey to go and have a conversation with him, look him directly in the eye and ask him why? Why did you do that?
VANDOORNE: She says she's been trying to rebuild her life, including finding love again.
PELICOT (through translator): This encounter I've had is incredible because I never imagined for a second that I would fall in love again or even want to. But I believe there are connections in the universe where, well, I met this man who's also been through hard times and it's changed our lives.
VANDOORNE: While her relationship to her son and daughter has been strained because of the revelations, Gisele Pelicot hopes the book will provide some answers that may help them. Saskya Vandoorne, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[01:25:06]
MICHAELSON: The U.S. government has lifted the surprise closure of the airspace around El Paso, Texas. Sources tell CNN it came about as the Pentagon planned to use a high energy anti-drone laser in that area. The administration has claimed a Mexican cartel drone crossing into the U.S. triggered those restrictions.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy is among those facing criticism of the last minute closure. He says the cartel threat has been neutralized. There's no danger to commercial aircraft and normal flights are resuming.
When we return, she's back. My interview with 90s fitness icon Susan Powder what her life has been like since her new documentary was released. You see her standing by there live. There's no one quite like Susan Powder. Plus, we will show you how Olympic pin trading works and hear from
some of the traders who are in Milan Cortina for the Winter Games. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:30:20]
JAMES VAN DER BEEK, ACTOR: Last year, you had the opportunity to go to Paris and study. Because of me you didn't.
KATIE HOLMES, ACTRESS: That wasn't your fault.
VAN DER BEEK: It was my fault. Because I should have made you go. And I was selfish, and I didn't want you to go. I wanted you to stay here with me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Fans are remembering actor James Van Der Beek, who died Wednesday at the age of 48. He is most widely remembered as a star of the 90s teen drama "Dawson's Creek", which you saw a clip of there. He was a star of "Varsity Blues".
He announced in November of 2024 that he was fighting stage three colorectal cancer. He's survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their six children.
A post on Van Der Beek's Instagram page on Wednesday reads, quote, "He met his final days with courage, faith and grace. There's much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now, we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother and friend."
Now to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUSAN POWTER, FITNESS ICON: One of the things I miss the most Was real food. And in this last couple of years me, being able to get to real food, come back and smell anything real and eat my own food was pure luxury.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: That is a clip from the documentary "Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter". It delves into the rise and fall of the 90s fitness icon, who is best known for her "Stop the Insanity" infomercials.
I spoke with Susan soon after that film was released. She told me she left Hollywood amid bad business deals and went back to her roots.
Well, now Susan is back with me to talk about how her life has changed since that documentary came out. It's a happy ending.
(CROSSTALKING)
Susan, welcome back to THE STORY IS.
POWTER: Thank you. Thank you.
MICHAELSON: For people that haven't seen the documentary, and they should, or maybe missed our last interview, can you sort of real concisely tell people about where you've been and what you've been up to?
POWTER: Long story short, I've been gone for 25 years, and a very tenacious, talented filmmaker, Zebariah Newman spent nine months looking for me, literally nine months.
I got a text saying "Susan Powter", and he -- and I was shocked, and he said, "I'm interested in doing a documentary". I said absolutely not. You know everybody who does anything fluorescent white teeth, extensions, every filler, I'm not going to embarrass myself at 68 years old.
I'm not going to do that. And I wasn't looking to get in front of the camera.
And he called, we met and he said, can I come and film you? And we filmed a documentary. Jamie Lee Curtis is the executive producer with John Redmond.
And I couldn't be more proud of and grateful for everything that's happened in the last year and a half. And it came out when I was here with you. It had just come out --
MICHAELSON: Yes. We were there like the night of or something like that.
POWTER: Yes, yes, like it was, it was it was breaking news, thrilled to say, and loved, loved. And the response has been phenomenal. Phenomenal. Phenomenal.
MICHAELSON: How has it changed your life?
POWTER: Completely and absolutely. And you will understand this. Nothing has changed. I've been driving for Uber Eats for nine years. I just did the final ride along of Uber Eats, but everything with Al Roker.
MICHAELSON: With Al Roker of "Today" show.
POWTER: Our national treasure in a big way. And thank you for -- I appreciate you watching that.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
POWTER: But nothing has changed but everything has changed, because there's so much possibility and hope and, you know, just possibility, hope. Hope changes everything when its real. So the gratitude I have for the response, and I can see it in real
time now. We didn't have the Internet with "Stop the Insanity". We didn't have it.
I can see in real time, love it, watched it four times, adore it. You know, my husband watched it. Somebody texted me ten minutes ago. I rented it twice and I just bought it because I want to watch it as much as I want to watch it.
It's that love that is very healing. It's very -- so every -- it's healing, literally healing.
MICHAELSON: And you're about to go on an RV tour around America?
POWTER: I -- you can come and have breakfast with me in the RV. I'll pull up right outside. You can come out after the show and we'll have a little dinner or something.
MICHAELSON: Yes. Why that? And how is that going to work?
POWTER: Well I'll tell you, because I'm going to do everything that I did before going on tour. And everybody who you know is buying the book, everybody who rented the movie, and I'm going to do it live.
I'm going to be online live, like actual reality. And I'm going to go and meet the fabulous out there. I'm going to meet the fabulous in America.
MICHAELSON: Does it feel like you're reborn?
[01:34:48]
POWTER: What it feels like is really living gratitude. I'm not a sit- in meditator. I'm not -- it feels like every breath is like it's ok. And millions of people are struggling in big, big, big ways it's not that she had millions and it's gone. That was not -- it's not the story.
That's not the story the movie tells. But isolation and invisibility and fear and family dynamics changing. And all those things can be seismically shocking and embarrassing And frightening. And that's what's real about this.
So what's changed is I made -- I survived it. Like my being is still this energy is real, and I'm like so ready to do what I've done before.
Literally what's happening now makes "Stop the Insanity" look like dress rehearsal. And I'm proud to say that -- proud, proud.
MICHAELSON: What is the lesson that the rest of us can learn from your story especially people who may be scared --
POWTER: Yes.
MICHAELSON: -- or feel embarrassed or don't want to go out there or don't want to put their foot forward.
POWTER: Yes.
MICHAELSON: What do you say to them?
POWTER: I die a thousand deaths behind the wheel of that car driving for Uber Eats for nine years. I had the privacy of being able to do gig work and being able to pay my bills, barely. But you know, I will work no matter what.
The fear is real. No shame, no blame. I know my lessons have been learned. I will be checking the bank balance every 30 seconds. I will be looking at the analytics of everything, everything that I own and sell and whatever. I will be directly connecting with the customer for the rest of my life.
And I'm grateful to be able to do that. But the fear is real. It's real. And I said it and I mean -- it's not trite. It's true. It's not trite, it's true.
Just hang the hell on. Just hang on, hang on because things do change. Things can change and believe me when I tell you magic can happen. And I don't say that lightly.
I don't say that as a pick yourself up, kids. It's hard and painful and embarrassing and shameful and shocking and hard. Hard.
MICHAELSON: But magic happened with you.
POWTER: Hang the hell on, kid.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
POWTER: Hang the hell on, kid.
MICHAELSON: You are a magical personality --
POWTER: Thank you.
MICHAELSON: -- and it really is inspiring to me. Congratulations.
POWTER: Thank you.
I love your show. Everybody on the staff is so lovely.
MICHAELSON: Thank you.
POWTER: You're a talented, good at what you do, good for you.
MICHAELSON: Thank you very much.
POWTER: Good for you.
MICHAELSON: I feel inspired now. Thank you for making it about me.
POWTER: Thank you. MICHAELSON: All right.
We want to go to the Olympics now. Another jam-packed day for the Winter Olympics in Milan.
France clinched the gold in the figure ice dancing event. Guillaume Cizeron became the first ice dancer to win back-to-back Olympic titles with different partners. They pushed out Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who had been undefeated all season long.
U.S.A. had to settle for silver, while the Canadian pair, who broke down in tears after completing their emotional routine, took the bronze.
And a historic alpine skiing super-G event, 24-year-old won gold in his Olympic debut. The Swiss skier previously clinched golds in the men's downhill and team combined events. He is now the first male alpine skier to win three golds at the same games since 1968.
Meanwhile, Team USA took home silver at the super-G event and another Swiss skier earned the bronze.
Now, the decades-old tradition of trading unique enamel pins is in full swing at the Olympic Games.
CNN's Antonia Mortensen is in Milan, Cortina participating. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANTONIA MORTENSEN, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: This is an Olympic tradition you might not know about. And it's been going on for decades. It's called pin trading.
So I'm about to do my first pin trade, never done one before. I bought my first pin this morning. This is the day of pin.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right.
MORTENSEN: And so what will you trade me for?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I will trade you anything that you'd like on here, but I have one I'll suggest. And that is a USA pin if you'd like that. Those are very popular.
MORTENSEN: Amazing. ok, I will accept.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some pins may go for $300, $400.
MORTENSEN: Wow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've seen pins as high as $2,000. And the exciting part about it for me is that it's a great way to meet people. Because if you think about it, if you walk down the street anywhere in the world, and you're just walking down the street, it's hard to go up to somebody that you don't know and have them accept you easily. TIMOTHY PUTTRE, PIN TRADER: That's my very first pin. I love
collecting the pins at the Olympics I go to. They're very special. So while I'm here, I try to get venue pins or mascot pins.
MORTENSEN: And how long have you been a pin trader?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been a pin trader since 1972. My first games was in Munich when I was ten years old. By the end of the game, I've lined over 60 pins.
Hi, I'm Andrew. I have a problem.
[01:39:49]
MORTENSEN: Would you do a trade with me?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll give you one.
MORTENSEN: You'll give me one?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. That's a torch relay pin from Vancouver 2010. And I actually ran with the torch.
That's what this is all about. You make friends right here in this room. All these different pin collectors, I probably know half of them.
MORTENSEN: The origins of the Olympic pins can be traced back to the first modern games of Athens in 1896 where delegations wore official cardboard badges. But the trading of pins first began in the 1980s and is still going strong.
Antonia Mortensen, CNN -- Milan.
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MICHAELSON: People love those pins.
The iconic doll company American Girl is celebrating its 40th anniversary with its first-ever novel for adults called "Samantha: The Next Chapter".
It focuses on beloved American Girl doll Samantha Parkington now all grown up and living in New York City. American Girl released original children's books based on the lives of Samantha and the other dolls who were first introduced back in 1986.
This new historical fiction, written by author Fiona Davis, is set to be released in October. That's wild.
You are watching THE STORY IS. For international viewers, WORLDSPORT is coming up next. For our viewers here in North America, I'll be right back with an interview with a Super Bowl champion, the punter for the Seattle Seahawks, who had one of the best seasons ever for a punter. Just won the Super Bowl, just participated in the team's parade. We'll talk to him from the Pacific Northwest up next.
Thanks for watching THE STORY IS.
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MICHAELSON: Bad Bunny may have scored the biggest win at the Super Bowl with his halftime show. Ratings showing that about 128 million people across the U.S. tuned in to watch the reggaeton superstar's performance. According to Nielsen ratings, figures make it the most watched program in the history of the National Broadcasting Company, NBC's entire 100-year history. That was the highest rated thing they ever put on.
THE STORY IS the Seahawks parade, the newly-crowned Super Bowl champs got the chance to celebrate with their fans during a massive parade through the streets of Seattle on Wednesday. Comes just a few days after the Seahawks beat the Patriots in a lopsided 29 to 13 game.
I spoke yesterday with Seahawks punter Michael Dickson. Here's part of our conversation.
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MICHAELSON: You had one of the best seasons for a punter ever in NFL history. And then you're holding the kicks of Jason Myers who had more field goals than anybody ever in Super Bowl history.
Does the pressure feel different in a Super Bowl? Are your hands trembling a little bit as the ball comes?
MICHAEL DICKSON, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS PUNTER: No, not really. It takes some takes some discipline to make sure your mind frame is in the right place the week leading up to the Super Bowl. But once game day came around, I feel like I did a good job throughout the week and pregame to feel -- to feel right.
MICHAELSON: I mean, what did you think of the five field goals?
DICKSON: Yes, I knew something good was going to happen because at the practice field a few days earlier, J My (ph) had a ladybug land on his cleat and we both looked at it. It was on his right foot and I said, something special is going to happen.
And it did. So I was like you need to get a ladybug tattooed on your foot for sure. I mean that's a special moment.
MICHAELSON: Talk to us a little bit about your journey coming from Australia, where we don't think of that much American football talent coming from to now being a Super Bowl champion.
DICKSON: Yes. It's crazy. Moved here in 2015 to play for the University of Texas and have been at the Seahawks since 2018 when I was drafted. And I never would have thought that, you know, back when I was growing up in Australia that I'd be over here playing American football. I ended up getting a ring.
So I'm very, very grateful.
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MICHAELSON: And what's the reaction been like there, where people watching the game. What are you hearing from friends and family back home?
DICKSON: Yes. A lot of -- a lot of -- the game has grown so much. So had a lot of friends, family, just Aussies all around definitely supporting me and showing their love to me for playing in the Super Bowl and getting the win. It's been really cool experience to get that support from Australia.
MICHAELSON: And lastly, let's talk about the 12s, which is the name for Seattle fans the 12th Man, the loudest fans in the entire country, the loudest stadium to play in on this week. What do they mean to you and how have they inspired you?
DICKSON: Yes, our fans are incredible. You know, I feel being a Seahawk this whole time, we don't get much national attention. We don't get much respect oftentimes when it comes to a lot of things.
So just to have that fan base and know that that's who we do it for. And these fans have supported us, you know, the whole way and to be able to get a win for the city, seeing everyone's faces.
And, you know, it's cool that we were able to get the trophy and bring it home.
MICHAELSON: Well, Michael Dickson, Super Bowl champion, I know that sounds sweet. Congratulations once again.
Thanks so much for joining us here on THE STORY IS.
We're be back with more right after this.
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MICHAELSON: A group of Buddhist monks will end their 2,300-mile walk for peace. Hours from now in Maryland. Earlier, thousands gathered along icy roads in Washington to witness the final leg of their journey across nine states.
CNN's Michael Yoshida was there.
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MICHAEL YOSHIDA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A message of peace in our nation's capital.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is what the country needs and country wants and we wanted to be here to support that.
YOSHIDA: A procession of 19 Buddhist monks taking over the streets of Washington, D.C.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need peace, and we need people to stand up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's just nice to be close with a lot of friendly strangers and just bask in the -- in their message.
YOSHIDA: The monks completing a 15-week, 2,300-mile walk for peace that started in Texas, facing winter weather and other challenges during the journey.
On Tuesday, attending and speaking at an interfaith gathering at the National Cathedral.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Peace is something that we are seeking for.
YOSHIDA: Their demeanor and message, capturing the attention of many along the way.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you. I just felt hopeful and that hopefully the country, you know, appreciates what's going on.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Total chills. Just really everybody's been so beautiful --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So kind, everyone in the crowd.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's not one nasty word. Everybody's helping each other.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And it was just beautiful to see them.
YOSHIDA: While marching through D.C., the monks were again greeted by a large crowd of supporters. While here in our nation's capital, the monks were going to submit a request to Congress to make Buddha's birthday a national holiday.
But again they stress that's not the goal of this walk for peace. They're encouraging people to promote peace through their daily actions and their open hearts.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was emotional because to me, peace is an emotional thing. It's personal and I'm all for peace.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I found it very spiritual. And even though there were a ton of people around us, I felt like -- I could just feel their walk and silence. I will take that with me for the rest of my life.
YOSHIDA: In Washington, Michael Yoshida reporting.
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MICHAELSON: Tomorrow, former NBA champ Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes will be here live. They host one of the top podcasts in the country. It's about a whole lot more than sports. Up in smoke on THE STORY IS.
Also live on set tomorrow, political analyst Frank Luntz and cultural commentator Nick Viall.
And Friday, I go one-on-one with Bill Maher. Plus, Larry Elder and Gloria Allred will both be here.
We've got quite a few shows coming up in the next few days. Hope you'll join us for that.
Thanks for being with us tonight. I'll see you tomorrow.
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