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The Story Is with Elex Michaelson

Iran Vows Revenge For Security Chief Larijani's Killing; Trump Says U.S. Doesn't Need Allies To Reopen Strait Of Hormuz; Iran Negotiates Strait Passage For Yuan-Traded Oil with 8 Countries; Cuba Struggles To Revive Obsolete Power Grid After Nationwide Blackout; Passengers Wait In Long Lines As TSA Callouts Rise; Top Trump Intelligence Official Resigns over Iran War; Dubai Airports CEO Discusses Travel Disruptions; United Farm Workers Union Cancels Cesar Chavez Event; Florida Republican Wants Adult Content Creators to Pay; Venezuela: World Baseball Classic Champs. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired March 18, 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: Baseball bragging rights as the U.S. loses its second straight World Baseball Championship and second straight losing by a total of 3 to 2.

Thanks for watching this hour of The Story Is. The next hour starts with breaking news.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN Breaking News. And welcome to The Story Is. I'm Elex Michaelson live in Los Angeles. That breaking news, the war with Iran. Here's the very latest.

Iran is vowing revenge against Israel for an attack that killed its top national security official, Ali Larijani, the leader of Iran's paramilitary force was also killed. Commander in chief of Iran's army says the response will be decisive and regrettable.

In central Israel, officials say at least two people have been killed by a ballistic missile attack. CNN cameras captured what appeared to be a cluster munition exploding in the sky above. And the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, coming under fire from Iran for the second day in a row.

Local security officials tell CNN the area was targeted by at least four projectiles, including two drones with at least one landing in the vicinity of a compound.

Earlier Tuesday, air defense systems intercepted another projectile aimed at the embassy. There is some damage around the embassy, but no reports of casualties. Let's bring in CNN's Mike Valerio tracking the latest developments from Beijing. Mike, what are you hearing?

MIKE VALERIO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Elex, I think we can group what we have seen overnight in the Middle East and of course, we're awake on this side of Asia, into three main storylines. There's the Iranian retaliation for the death of Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani. There's the Israeli response. Israel, of course, not done yet. And then there's what the United States has done over the past 24 hours and hopes to do for the Strait of Hormuz.

So let's continue into the Iranian response, as we saw from our CNN cameras at the top of the show a couple seconds ago, these Khorramshahr missiles, among the most powerful in Iran's ballistic missile arsenal.

Our own Jeremy Diamond, our Jerusalem correspondent, showing cluster, what appear to be cluster of bomblets from those Khorramshahr missiles exploding over the skies of Tel Aviv, suburban Tel Aviv, the cities that are right next door to the gleaming metropolis in the center of Israel.

So this attack is in response to the death of Ali Larijani, top security official in Iran, and Gholamreza Soleimani. So let's talk about Soleimani first. He was the leader of the Basij militia, which if you're trying to keep track of everything that is part of the Iranian security apparatus, that is essentially the volunteer militia of people who are trying to keep the Iranian populace in line with the regime and suppress dissent. So that guy in charge of that operation.

Ali Larijani, in charge of the security apparatus writ large and also one of the main figures in nuclear negotiations. So this is an attack in response to the death of those two people. We heard from Prime Minister Netanyahu earlier today, and he said essentially that they are not done and that they could be true targeting. Certainly he is not off limits. The new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. Listen to a soundbite from the prime minister of Israel.

He references Nowruz, which is the Persian New Year, which comes up first day of spring on Saturday, in addition to the Fyre festival, which is celebrated right before Persian New Year. Let's listen to what he said. We'll talk about it on the other side.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENHAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: In the past 24 hours, we knocked out two of the terrorist chieftains, the top terrorist chieftains of this tyranny. Our aircraft are hitting the terror operatives on the ground in the crossroads in the city squares.

This is meant to enable the brave people of Iran to celebrate the festival of fire. So celebrate and happy Nowruz. We're watching from above.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VALERIO: So again, this is him conveying that not just military targets and economic targets in Iran are being sought after, but as many high upper echelon people in the regime as possible. But of course, you know, that leads our analysts and people who we speak to when we interview them CNN all 24 hours of the day to really ask who is going to replace these officials. And as we enter day 19, Elex, that's really what we're watching for.

What does it say about Iran if the regime is going to become more hardline based on who, if anybody, is announced taking the place of these two individuals?

[01:05:09]

What does it say about where the regime, such as it is going? And then our final point that we want to talk about what America is doing, very interesting, attacking these Iranian military sites close to the Strait of Hormuz with 5,000 pound GPS guided bombs. And our own Brett McGurk, a CNN analyst who served in the White House since the George W. Bush administration and all White Houses since up until this administration has said that is certainly aimed at taking out anti- ship missiles that are along the Strait of Hormuz. But you got to think Iran has thousands of boats that could potentially lay mines or do damage.

And you know, all analysts who we talk to say, Elex, as I'm sure they tell you as well, it only takes one, it only takes one catastrophe to wreak havoc, send the price of oil sky high. So we do have this attack, very interesting with these 5,000 pound bombs. But a lot could still be done in the next few weeks. Brett McGurk is saying this could be the start of a three week campaign. Elex.

MICHAELSON: Such serious business, high stakes. Mike Valerio in Beijing. And on a much lighter note, where we are in Los Angeles, it's still Mike's birthday. So happy birthday, Mike.

President Trump is lashing out again at U.S. allies who are refusing to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. They met on Tuesday at the White House with Ireland's prime minister where he said he's not ready to end the war with Iran just yet.

Claim the U.S. will be leaving in the near future. U.S. military says it dropped 5,000 pound guided bombs on Iranian missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. And President Trump now claims the U.S. no longer needs any help in getting the vital oil shipping route reopened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: I think NATO is making a very foolish mistake and I've long said that, you know, I wonder whether or not NATO would ever be there for us. So this is a -- this was a great test because we don't need them, but they should have been there.

UNIDENATIFIED FEMALE: Are you rethinking the United States relationship with NATO, possibly getting out?

TRUMP: When they don't help us. I mean, it's certainly something that we should think about.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAELSON: President Trump has confirmed that his planned trip to China this month is now postponed amid the war with Iran. He told reporters on Tuesday the new meeting date will take place in five or six weeks. All this comes as the U.S. has urged Beijing to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, but China, Xi Jinping has not committed to that.

Meanwhile, an Iranian source tells CNN that Tehran has been speaking with eight countries outside the Middle East to offer safe passage of oil traded in the Chinese currency, the yuan.

Let's bring in Jeffrey Gerrish, partner at Schagrin Associates, former deputy U.S. trade representative. He joins us live from Washington, DC. Thanks for staying up late with us and welcome to The Story Is for the first time.

JEFFREY GERRISH, FORMER DEPUTY U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE: Great. Thanks very much for having me on.

MICHAELSON: So, what happens if shipping in the Strait is all done in Chinese yuan? What does that do, and does the U.S. lose leverage in that situation?

GERRISH: Well, potentially this is something that, of course, would reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar and do what some nations around the world have been trying to do, which is move to a different currency for transactions and reduce U.S. influence throughout the world.

I think those efforts thus far have been fairly limited and not successful, but it is something that could spark a move in that direction like we haven't seen before.

MICHAELSON: From a sanctions and trade enforcement perspective, if oil starts moving under alternative currency, how difficult would it be for the US to monitor those transactions?

GERRISH: Well, it would be very difficult for them to do that. I think they've already tried to do that to some degree because China's been getting around the sanctions that the U.S. has imposed by trying to funnel transactions through Malaysia and other countries.

But it would certainly pose some real difficulties for the U.S. to try to enforce its sanctions. And that's something that the U.S. over the years has used. It's used the reliance on the U.S. dollar as a basis to impose sanctions and make them effective and strong.

And if there are movements to try to transact purchases of oil or other goods in currencies other than the dollar, it's going to become a real problem for the U.S. in terms of its ability to enforce its sanctions regimes.

MICHAELSON: Iran says the strait is technically open, but in practice, we know a lot of ships are avoiding it, concerned about security.

[01:10:04]

Do you think the strait right now is safe? If you were advising a company, would you tell them send your ship through? GERRISH: I would be, I think, very cautious in trying to get ships

through the Strait of Hormuz. At this point, I don't think it is safe. And particularly for ships that are not under, you know, the flags of friendly nations to Iran, they are letting some ships through that are, if you want to call them Iran friendly nations. There have been reports that certain vessels from India and Pakistan have gotten through the strait.

But otherwise right now, I think it's a very dangerous situation and certainly a choke point right now for shipments going through. And it's affecting key countries around the world, particularly Asian countries. You have Japan and Korea in particular, China, which are heavily reliant on Middle Eastern oil. And for Japan in particular, they get about 95 percent of their oil from the Middle east and 70 percent has to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

So it's creating real problems with oil trade and that could really have an impact on those economists.

MICHAELSON: So as a deputy trade representative, you know a lot about leverage. What kind of leverage does the U.S. have right now to get things moving through the strait? And if they don't get moving through the strait, is there an alternative way to make up for all this?

GERRISH: Yes, the U.S. has a great deal of leverage economically and trade relationships, and they've used that leverage quite effectively. I think in the military context though, and security context that influences weaken somewhat.

And I think that the strain on our relationships with our allies has really obviously come to the forefront here because the calls upon our allies to supply warships to the region have seemingly fallen on deaf ears.

Now, I do think there's going the President's going to continue to ramp up his efforts to try to get them to take some steps to assist in the effort. And there are things that countries can do short of supplying warships. And I think Japan in particular is going to come under pressure this week because you have Prime Minister Takeichi coming to the U.S. to meet with President Trump.

And I think she's going to get, you know, a lot of pressure from the President to do more and they can do more short of sending warships to the region. Japan has world class minesweeping capabilities. They could provide that, provide surveillance and intelligence, among others. And I think there's going to be a lot of pressure brought to bear by the United States.

And of course, President Trump loves to use the trade leverage that the United States has to try to get countries to take action and they may do that as well.

MICHAELSON: Yes. It may be one thing to be able to avoid a phone call, but if you're having a face to face meeting, that is going to be a lot of pressure coming from President Trump this week. Jeffrey Gerrish, thank you so much for your insights. Really appreciate it. GERRISH: Great. Thanks very much.

MICHAELSON: To Cuba now and a new warning to the Trump administration. Cuba's president says that any attempt by the U.S. to take control of that island will be met with, quote, impregnable resistance. He says the U.S. is now using economic weakness as an outrageous pretext to seize Cuba.

That message comes after President Trump on Tuesday suggested potential U.S. action could be happening soon. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also says it's time for Cuba to change its leadership.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARCO RUBIO, U.S. STATE SECRETARY: The bottom line is their economy doesn't work. It's a non-functional economy. It's an economy that has survived that revolution. It's not even a revolution. That thing they have has survived on subsidies from the Soviet Union and now from Venezuela. They don't get subsidies anymore.

So they're in a lot of trouble. And the people in charge are, they don't know how to fix it. So they have to get new people in charge.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Cuba is struggling to restore electricity following a nationwide blackout. The country's power grid collapsed Monday. Weeks of a U.S. blockade of oil effectively shut off supplies to Cuba. The island of around 10 million people heavily relies on oil for generating electricity.

As the partial government shutdown in the United States continues, we're seeing more frustrated passengers across the country. The TSA reports more than 360 agents have quit since the shutdown began more than a month ago. Some airports have advised passengers to arrive hours early to make it through backlog security lines. And the issues could get even worse. CNN's Marybel Gonzalez has more.

[01:15:02]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ADAM STAHL, ACTING DEPUTY TSA ADMINISTRATOR: If this continues, it's not hyperbole to suggest that we may have to quite literally shut down airports.

MARYBEL GONZALEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over) TSA's Acting Deputy Administrator Adam Stahl told Fox News that with the government agency fully stretched, some smaller U.S. Airports may be forced to shut down as the partial government shutdown drags on.

RICKY SMITH, GENERAL MANAGER, HARTSFIELD-JACKSON ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: TSA employees went through this just back in October, 43 days, the longest shutdown in the history of the country. And, and again, we're now 30 days into this one. GONZALEZ (voice-over): Ricky Smith, the general manager of Hartsfield-

Jackson Atlanta International Airport, encouraged travelers to show up three hours ahead of their scheduled flight.

SMITH: We're experiencing about 36 percent call out for TSA employees here.

GONZALEZ (voice-over): He says the airport is doing what it can to help.

SMITH: We're giving them food vouchers. We have our concessionaire partners that are also providing meals to them. We're providing free parking.

GONZALEZ (voice-over): But a TSA officer in Colorado described the situation as complete chaos.

ANGELA GRANA, TSA OFFICER: A lot of them are not calling out because they're wanting to call out. A lot of them are calling out because they can't afford the gas to come to work. On the flip side of that, I have some officers that are spending the night in the airport so that they don't spend any money going home.

GONZALEZ (voice-over): She urged lawmakers to do their job so they can do theirs. And Democratic Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman agrees.

SEN. JOHN FETTERMAN (D-PA): As far as I know, I'm the only Democrat that says we got to reopen this and it should have never happened.

GONZALEZ (voice-over): I'm Marybel Gonzalez reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAELSON: The story is the weather and a record breaking heat wave here in L.A. and throughout the west coast we have summer like temperatures we've never experienced this early in the year. From California to Texas, all the way to Montana, some places will see temperatures 20 to 40 degrees above normal.

These would be all time records for the month of April, but it's only March as we look live outside our window here in Burbank at the iconic Warner Bros. Tower. We've never hit triple digits in March, but we could reach 100 degrees for three straight days starting on Wednesday.

Good day to go to the beach and call out sick if you can. I'll be here tomorrow though. We have more to come, including a live look right now at the port in Hong Kong. How rising costs due to the war with Iran could soon be felt well beyond the gas pump. Our Ivan Watson will be right there, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[01:21:44]

MICHAELSON: The U.S. military says it struck Iranian missile sites near the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump is lashing out at NATO allies for not in reopening that vital waterway. He claims Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are on board to help, but he hasn't said in what capacity. Now that strait has been effectively closed since the conflict began due to threats from Iran. CNN's Eleni Giokos has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Strait of Hormuz really closed. Marine traffic shows tankers are turning off their tracking data before entering the narrowest part of the strait, then went through the strait. Tankers reappear on the other side. Only 90 tankers have transited through the Strait of Hormuz since March the first, and that's according to Lloyd's List Intelligence.

RICHARD MEADE, EDITOR-IN- CHIEF, LLOYD'S LIST: On a daily basis. You would normally expect to see 65, 70 tankers pass on a daily basis. So, we really are seeing a trickle of the normal volumes of traffic.

GIOKOS: The Strait handles around 20 percent of the world's oil supply. So who's getting through Lloyd's list data reveals most are part of shadow fleets. It's a group of ships that usually operate outside of normal international shipping rules, in this case mostly carrying sanctioned Iranian oil and likely headed to China.

Data also shows traffic is dominated by Iranian linked vessels. A much lower number of compliant fleets have moved. Through around March 13th or 14th, two India flagged LPG carriers and a Pakistan flagged crude oil tanker on March 15. So how are they doing it? Iran says it has given clearance to some vessels. It's not clear what the process is, but Iran says it will only target American and Israeli linked tankers. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reports 21 vessels have been attacked since the start of the war and that's a threat to shippers.

MEADE: It's the Iranians who are in control of the Strait of Hamas. It's as simple as that. You are not seeing ships move because there is a direct threat to vessel safety.

GIOKOS: Trump is trying to find a way out of this oil supply shock and the U.S. has realized it cannot do it alone, reaching out to allies to create a coalition to assist with naval escorts. Experts say this is a clear signal the Trump administration didn't fully calculate the economic hit the world would feel from the impact of the closure of the straits. Eleni Giokos, CNN, Dubai.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAELSON: So we go from Dubai to Hong Kong. CNN's Ivan Watson has our best live shot location of the day. He's checking out how the Strait is impacting global shipping. What are you seeing there?

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I want to give our viewers a close up look at the kind of ships that have been impacted by this war and why you're starting feel the pain at the gas pump or if you're trying to buy plane tickets.

This is an LPG tanker. It's about 159 meters longer than a football field and it was in the Gulf in February and transited the Strait of Hormuz before the war began. A vessel like this costs tens of millions of dollars.

[01:25:00]

It's big, and it's an easy target for an Iranian drone or missile or if it hits a sea mine. And there used to be about 140 of these crossing back and forth through the Strait of Hormuz before the war erupted. Now you've got hundreds of ships on both sides that can't move back and forth.

And as you just heard from the previous report by Eleni, that's about 20 percent of the world's oil that's trapped on the other side of the strait. The ships like this are the lifeblood of the global economy. And that's been blocked right now at this choke point. And Iran has made it clear that ships like this will continue to be targeted. They've hit at least 16 of these ships.

Attacks reported tankers off the coast of Iraq that were burning and on fire after Iran claimed to hit them with undersea drones. A cargo ship from Thailand hit just last week trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Three of its Thai crew members still missing a week later.

And Iran has made it clear that this is likely to continue. Look at this statement by the speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Quote, the Strait of Hormuz situation won't return to its pre-war status. Ships like this come through Hong Kong every day, cargo ships, container ships, and they used to travel from the Gulf in and out through the Strait of Hormuz. That strategic channel is now choked off.

The Trump administration wants to reopen it. President Trump himself has called on other countries like China, Japan, South Korea, NATO member states to help out with it. He's actually used the words, it's a very small endeavor to reopen it. That's not true. The experts I've talked to say.

I spoke with a former Australian Royal Navy officer who was involved in these types of escort operations in 2019, 2020. She said that a ship like this would need fighter planes overhead, it would need reconnaissance aircraft, it would need warships as well.

And you could only begin that kind of escort of a vessel like this through the Strait of Hormuz after the U.S. had neutralized Iran's asymmetric threats. Drones, sea mines, speedboats, and these underwater submersibles that helped neutralize Russia's Black Sea fleet in the Ukraine war. All examples of how marine and naval warfare has changed in just the last couple of years.

What we have seen, Elex, is some governments negotiate side deals. India and Pakistan both got tanker ships out through the Strait of Hormuz safely within the last week. A Hong Kong ship went in just the last two days. Iran has indicated it might let other countries negotiate passage of their tankers or provided the oil is paid for with Chinese currency. They're trying to impose their own conditions on this vital waterway. Elex. MICHAELSON: Ivan Watson reporting for us from Hong Kong. Ivan, thank you so much. What a beautiful shot. We'll be back with more of the story is including a look at how all this is impacting one of the world's busiest airports.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[01:32:55]

ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: A top U.S. Intelligence official has abruptly resigned over the war with Iran. Joe Kent, who was appointed by President Trump, had been serving as the director of the National Counterterrorism Center.

In his resignation letter, Kent said he couldn't support the ongoing war and that, quote, "Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation". The source says Kent met with Vice President JD Vance and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Monday as he explained why he planned to step down.

Kent's resignation marks the highest profile rebuke yet of the war from inside the Trump administration.

The head of Dubai's airport authority says about 40 to 45 percent of flights are running despite attacks from Iran. Flights at Dubai International Airport, one of the world's busiest, were briefly suspended Monday after a drone struck a nearby fuel tank and caused a fire.

Part of the UAE's airspace was also closed for a few hours overnight due to incoming missiles and drones from Iran. The Dubai airport CEO says operations remain safe and resilient despite those threats.

He spoke with CNN's Becky Anderson in an exclusive interview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: We speak Tuesday mid-day, 18 days into this. the airport's on the move but earlier on, the airport's operations were suspended. The airspace closed for a period of time.

So for people who will be watching this, who may have a real worry about safety and security, what's your message? And just walk us through how difficult this sort of stop-start kind of, you know, atmosphere is.

PAUL GRIFFITHS, CEO, DUBAI AIRPORTS: Well firstly, the ability to detect and respond to threats as they've unfolded have been very, very effective and efficient. We've closed airspace, we've opened it as the threat level has changed and we've been able to keep aircraft in the air.

[01:34:51]

GRIFFITHS: And obviously through routes and through corridors that are properly designated by the GCAA across here. And obviously holding aircraft at outstation, making sure that they can be safely diverted if there is a threat.

We facilitated the journeys of over a million passengers over the last 17 days. And the recovery rate is significant. We're back up to about 40 -- 45 percent of normal traffic movements.

ANDERSON: Talk to me about what you've been doing very specifically to support passengers.

GRIFFITHS: Well, first of all, when schedules are disrupted and, you know, in a normal day, we would handle something like 320,000 customers through DXB. So when that supply chain gets interrupted, it's incredibly important that we keep people informed, keep people already at the airport safe and secure whilst we dealt with the backlog and got people to the places they needed to be, and also provided the information to make sure that people only came to the airport when they needed to be.

That seems to have worked pretty well. The airport has remained calm and composed. And the many different comments we're getting from our customers, I think suggests that, for the most part, we're doing a reasonably good job.

ANDERSON: Talk to me about the collaboration with other airports to ensure that you are getting as many people on the move as possible.

GRIFFITHS: So what we've done is we've worked closely with all of the other airports in the region to make sure that the number of flights is carefully scheduled and predicted in advance, so that we can make the best use of the limited capacity that is available, which has enabled us to minimize delays and to get as many people moving as we possibly can.

ANDERSON: Operational recovery isn't just about restoring flights, it's about ensuring the stability and security of the entire ecosystem. Can you just speak to that as a challenge?

GRIFFITHS: Indeed. Well, if you look at the fact that from when an aircraft takes off from an overseas origin and lands here in Dubai, the amount of steps in that journey and the number of people and different organizations involved is quite incredible.

And obviously, we've got a duty of care to make sure that that supply chain is working as effectively and efficiently as possible. And the liaison we've had with air traffic controllers, with all of the different government organizations that have managed to you know, keep all those airways open and yet safe and secure has been incredible.

The liaison we've had with the airlines, the handling companies with civil defense, all of our operations teams, everyone. The retailers that have kept the food on, you know, in our restaurants and bars here in the airport I mean, everyone has played an incredible part.

And we're always reminded that this is a magnificent team effort. And when times of crisis hit us, the way we respond, I think has reminded us of the sheer dedication and commitment of our people ANDERSON: There are airlines who have suspended flights. I think

British Airways through July and others who have suspended flights for the time being. What is your message to the aviation industry at that -- at this point?

GRIFFITHS: I think most of the problem has been insurance and I think if foreign governments would underwrite, which surely for them should be a relatively easy thing to do, the operation of their airlines to the UAE, then obviously we'll do everything we can to facilitate those.

But I think that's the attitude that's been shown by a lot of airlines coming in, that they are getting that support from governments to underwrite their insurance policies.

ANDERSON: So are you prioritizing Emirates at this point? The flag carrier here.

GRIFFITHS: So we're not turning anyone away that wants to mount an operation. Obviously with the limited capacity, particularly through the air corridors, we've got to do things to limit the delays. And we are working very, very closely with all the stakeholders.

ANDERSON: How are you managing, for example, with an incident like the fuel tanks being hit either by a rocket or by debris and the fires that ensued? I mean, that was very close, of course, to this airport.

GRIFFITHS: Well, the first thing obviously, is safety and security and the communication down our lines of command has been so effective and efficient we've been able to get everyone to a place of safety very, very quickly. The civil defense were there within minutes and to contain the situation. And, you know, the normal operation, I think, resumed fairly shortly thereafter.

ANDERSON: I used the airport in Abu Dhabi very early on Sunday morning. It was a seamless experience. I flew back into Dubai that same day. I have to say a seamless experience -- very efficient, very effective.

[01:39:53]

ANDERSON: So as a -- as a resident here who was coming home, I have to say I have first-hand experience of the way that this airport is operating. It was good to see the shops open, the restaurants open.

What sort of impact do you believe this might have on the operations here going forward? I'm thinking a little bit more long term. How do you bounce back from this?

GRIFFITHS: The aviation ecosystem in the Middle East is incredibly important to the world. When you consider the amount of capacity that comes through the hubs in the region, the world cannot do without that.

I mean, one-third of the world's population lives within four hours' flying time of Dubai and two-thirds within eight hours' flying time. So that capacity in world terms is incredibly important.

And we will bounce back from the current situation very, very quickly. Of that, I'm very, very convinced.

ANDERSON: When the missiles stop and they haven't yet, thankfully there are less inbound and they are being intercepted at an incredibly efficient rate. When they stop, how quickly can you bounce back to normal operations?

GRIFFITHS: We are doing everything we can to preserve both the capability and the confidence to bring our operations up to 100 percent capacity as quickly as we possibly can.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAELSON: Our thanks to Becky Anderson for that comprehensive, deep- dive into what's happening there.

You are watching THE STORY IS. For our international viewers, "WORLDSPORT" is up next. For our viewers in North America, I'll be right back with a really interesting story concerning OnlyFans.

Stay with us.

[01:41:36]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MICHAELSON: The nation's largest farm labor union will not be observing Cesar Chavez Day over what it calls serious allegations. United Farm Workers of America, co-founded by Chavez, did not specify the accusations, but called them deeply troubling.

They said in a statement to "The L.A. Times that it may involve abuse of young girls, but did not get into any of the details.

Chavez died in 1993. He was a Mexican-American farm labor leader, civil rights activist. Cesar Chavez Foundation said it is deeply shocked and saddened by the quote, "disturbing allegations" and is working to support people who may have been harmed.

He is one of the most beloved civil rights leaders in the history of California, with statues on his name all over the state. So this is quite a moment.

Controversial Republican gubernatorial candidate in Florida is taking aim at adult content creators. He's proposed a 50 percent sin tax specifically aimed at people making material for OnlyFans, a subscription-based Web site known for its sexually explicit content.

CNN's Donie O'Sullivan has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONIE O'SULLIVAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: OnlyFans has made some women millionaires. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have just hit $100 million.

O'SULLIVAN: $100 million.

But in Florida, a Republican candidate for governor wants to bring in what he calls a 50 percent sin tax.

JAMES FISHBACK, FLORIDA REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR CANDIDATE: On whatever you so-called earn via that online degeneracy platform.

O'SULLIVAN: Now a political target, OnlyFans women are speaking out.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Before you want to tax thousands of women just because we actually took this into our own hands, start texting the companies that are flooding into here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A Florida politician trying to start beef with me for clout.

O'SULLIVAN: So I'm driving across the sunshine state to meet the OnlyFans creators and the candidate for governor who are in the middle of a very public debate about the adult entertainment industry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't want to catfish any of you, even though I was on tinder last week. And I joined it and I said, I want to meet young female voters where they are, I said.

O'SULLIVAN: James Fishback wants to be the next governor of Florida. He's running in the Republican primary against Trump-endorsed and heavy favorite Congressman Byron Donalds.

Do you think, for the voters of Florida that OnlyFans is really a major issue?

FISHBACK: We don't want our women in Florida to feel as if the only way they can make a living is by selling nude images or videos on the Internet to complete strangers.

And the men who spend their money, their time, their resources. I'm not letting them off the hook either. I think they are just as complicit by handing over money to see these nude images.

My view is really simple. If OnlyFans did not exist in Florida, we would be better off for it. I will not tolerate cultural filth and moral degeneracy in my state.

O'SULLIVAN: OnlyFans is an online subscription platform for creators, but it's especially popular for women who make pornographic content like Anya Lacey.

ANYA LACEY, ONLYFANS CONTENT CREATOR: You guys are going to get a kick out of this one. Make America great again.

O'SULLIVAN: Anya is 20 years old and calls herself a red-blooded conservative.

How quickly did your OnlyFans grow?

LACEY: Oh, it was pretty, pretty big even that first day. I mean, I made like more money than I thought I would.

O'SULLIVAN: When did you first hear about James Fishback? And how about his sin tax?

LACEY: I think it's grandstanding. I think it's a publicity thing which has worked. I mean, you guys are here. I mean, the state is covered in strip clubs. It's silly to say like, oh, were going to have morals now.

O'SULLIVAN: A lot of your volunteers here are young men especially. What is it about you that has drawn interest from them?

FISHBACK: I'm speaking the truth -- singular not plural. Masculinity is not toxic. There's nothing toxic about hanging out with your guy friends. I've been toxic about watching football.

What's toxic is telling young men that they are responsible for the sins and the ills of society.

O'SULLIVAN: Fishback has also gained support from influencers in the online manosphere like Sneako and Nick Fuentes, figures known for anti-Semitism and misogyny.

One of the world's most famous OnlyFans creators also lives in Florida.

You're going to stay a Florida girl.

[01:49:47]

SOPHIE RAIN, ONLYFANS CONTENT CREATOR: We'll see if James Fishback becomes governor. Might push me out.

O'SULLIVAN: Sophie Rain has been singled out by Fishback, who says she would owe $42 million if he becomes governor.

And so you know, there is a thriving space online that like actively despises women, right. I mean, what do you have to say about toxic masculinity?

RAIN: It's sad. That word just sends chills down my spine, if I'm being honest. I think it's the same kind of boat weaponized incompetence, you know what I mean? Like, there's -- there's no reason to be acting like this. We are all adults at the end of the day.

And I think that there are bigger problems in this world that we need to be focused on, instead of trying to regulate women's bodies.

O'SULLIVAN: OnlyFans it's freedom of speech though, right? I mean if you want to go on there and you want to express yourself in this way or make money this way.

FISHBACK: This is not an argument about the first amendment or free speech. This is an argument about what kind of society we want to live in. Sophie Rain could be doing so much more.

O'SULLIVAN: Actually both Anya and Sophie say the platform has done a lot for them. It's helped make their lives better.

LACEY: It just has created so many opportunities for me and I'm so thankful to even be here. It helped me build a business.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAELSON: Our thanks to Donie for that interesting story.

Coming up on THE STORY IS, the showdown between the U.S. and Venezuela for the World Baseball Classic championship.

[01:51:08]

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DONOVAN CAMPBELL, WSVN SPORTS REPORTER: Oh, I'll tell you what. I can't hear nothing. Whatever you guys said, this game lived up to all the hype, and you can see who actually won the game because his crowd never sat down the entire game.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAELSON: That was the scene in Miami following Venezuela's hard- fought win over the U.S. in this year's World Baseball Classic final. Venezuela's athleticism got the team out to an early two run lead. In the bottom of the eighth the U.S. tied the game with a two-run homer.

Venezuela would ultimately claim the lead in the ninth inning, driving home a run to steal the victory 3 to 2. the play on the field was only rivaled by the simmering politics between the two countries. For now, Venezuela holds bragging rights as the U.S. loses its second straight WBC championship.

But what a win for Venezuela and what a win for that tournament. Record ratings, so much interest around the world. Baseball is back.

Thanks for watching. I'm Elex Michaelson. We'll see you tomorrow for more of THE STORY IS.

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