Return to Transcripts main page
The Story Is with Elex Michaelson
Talks with Iran to Take Place in Pakistan; Lebanese Medics Risk Lives to Save other Amid Strikes; Trump Orders New Head of Homeland Security to Pay TSA Agents; Meta, YouTube Found Liable in Social Media Addiction Case; Asian Countries Grapple with Energy Crisis; Major League Baseball Season Underway; Bill Maher Tapped to Win This Year's Mark Twain Award. Aired 12-1a ET
Aired March 27, 2026 - 00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Elex Michaelson, live in Los Angeles. THE STORY IS starts right now.
[00:00:39]
MICHAELSON (voice-over): THE STORY IS Iran deal? We're live in Islamabad, Pakistan, which could be the site of negotiations this weekend between Washington and Tehran.
THE STORY IS social media verdict.
JULIANA ARNOLD, ADVOCATE FOR ONLINE CHILD SAFETY: This is the first time we actually feel that we are being heard.
Juliana Arnold claims that social media companies contributed to her daughter's death. She's here live to react to a historic verdict against Meta and YouTube.
And THE STORY IS baseball is back. NBC's Bob Costas live in our studio on opening night.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: Live from Los Angeles, THE STORY IS with Elex Michaelson.
MICHAELSON: And we begin with new CNN reporting the Pentagon is putting together options for President Trump if he decides that peace talks with Iran are going nowhere and he chooses a major escalation in the war.
All of this carries significant risk for U.S. forces. The president says he is pausing strikes on Iranian energy sites for another ten days, as talks with Tehran are ongoing. But he refused to answer questions about any plans for U.S. Forces to secure Iran's uranium.
Here's more of what he said about talks with Tehran.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT: They are begging to work out a deal. I don't know if we'll be able to do that. I don't know if we're willing to do that.
They want to make a deal. The reason they want to make a deal is they have been just beat to shit.
I mean, I read a story today that I'm desperate to make a deal. I'm not. I don't. If I was desperate, he'd be the first to know. Pete, let's get the hell out of there. I'm the opposite of desperate. I don't care.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: The president also said that taking over Iran's oil supply is an option, although he didn't want to talk about that. And he finally revealed what Iran's present to the U.S. was.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: You know, I told you about a present, right? Steve, can I reveal the present?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can do anything you want.
TRUMP: Thank you. They said, to show you the fact that we're real and solid, and we're there, we're going to let you have eight boats of oil, eight boats, eight big boats of oil.
Eight big tankers are going, loaded up with oil, right through. And I said, well, I guess -- I guess they were right. And they were -- they were real.
And I think they were Pakistani-flagged. And I said, well, I guess we're dealing with the right people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Now. The top U.S. diplomat will be discussing the war with allies in the coming hours at a G-7 meeting in France.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Paris a few hours ago. Those talks come as U.S. officials, including the vice president of the United States, J.D. Vance, say they are working to arrange a meeting with Iran in Pakistan as soon as this weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: There are intermediary countries that are passing messages, and progress has been made. Some concrete progress has been made, as you've seen and has been documented already.
There's a growing amount of energy that's been flowing through the straits, not as much as should be flowing, but some of it has picked up.
So, again, there's been some progress in regards to the exchange of messages. But that's an ongoing and fluid process. (END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: CNN senior international correspondent Ivan Watson has already arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Ivan, what do we know about this potential meeting?
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, I'm in what is described as the red zone of Islamabad. So, right next to the diplomatic corridor and where there are a lot of government ministries and buildings.
We're not seeing at this time any of the signs of additional security that would indicate that there are important foreign delegations coming here right now. No additional security checkpoints, for example.
So, at this point, it doesn't look like there's going to be any -- any major meeting here, certainly within the next 24 to 48 hours.
And the Pakistanis, while they say they are involved in communication between these warring enemies, have not given any signs or said -- confirmed that any meeting will immediately take place.
So, this feels very fluid right now and really not clear where anything is going to go.
[00:05:06]
President Trump, with his announcement that he's going to extend another deadline of ten days before targeting Iran's energy infrastructure, is sending a signal that he does not want to dramatically escalate an already very serious, very deadly, very costly regional war. Because Iran said it would retaliate in kind and target things like energy infrastructure all across the Gulf.
So, perhaps some of the Arab Gulf countries are breathing a sigh of relief. But the war very much continues.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps saying that it continues to fire missiles and drones at Israel and what it says are U.S. targets across the Gulf.
Also, issuing a warning to hotel operators that are hosting any U.S. troops that they, too, could be targeted.
Israel saying that it has carried out a fresh wave of attacks on Iran, reports of bombing in the Iranian capital in a Western neighborhood in the last couple of hours.
The death toll continuing to grow. We have reports from the UAE of a Pakistani and an Indian national killed this week by falling debris. At least 30 people killed across Arab countries in the Gulf since this war began.
And the death toll much, much higher in Iran, with more than 1,700 people reported killed. Also, this U.S.-based human rights activist new -- news agency claiming that more than 1,100 Iranian military personnel have been killed thus far, Elex.
No confirmation from inside Iran of the Israeli claims to have killed the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps naval commander on Thursday. That was Rear Admiral Alireza Tang [SIC] -- Tangsiri. So, we have not again gotten confirmation of that.
And meanwhile, the war continues between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, with the death toll continuing to rise in Lebanon as a result of that bombing campaign that has forced the displacement and made more than a million people homeless.
More than 1,100 people killed in Lebanon thus far. Among them, according to the Lebanese government, 121 children killed by Israeli bombardment in Lebanon, and 42 health workers killed by the Israeli bombardment of that country -- Elex.
MICHAELSON: Ivan Watson in Pakistan.
And it is notable that President Trump talked about the boats that were finally able to go through the strait, that they had Pakistani flags on them.. Shows Pakistan's key part in all of this.
Thank you so much.
Let's talk more about Israel, which is what Ivan just talked about, this idea of what's going on in Lebanon. Health ministry there says more than 1,100 people have been killed, as Ivan just mentioned.
About a million others have fled their homes because of an Israeli offensive in the South. As Nick Paton Walsh tells us, even some paramedics fear for their lives as they work to save others.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Shaken awake all night by blasts, the days aren't much better.
WALSH: A town like here, Nabatiyeh, kind of caught in limbo. A lot of the civilian population have left. You can see why.
And still, it's something of a hub for rescuers. The injured from all around brought here as the front lines get closer and closer.
WALSH (voice-over): A drone strike.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: In Kfar Rumman.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: A plane.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: Get closer, get closer. Do you see it?
WALSH (voice-over): Visible from the hospital on the Hill. But the rush to help here comes with a huge caveat.
Medics killed across the country two -- just two days ago here by an apparent Israeli strike mean they have to consider there not just the victims. Safety, too.
WALSH: It's a tough call for the medics when they respond after the recent deaths. But still heading in fast and still over there, too, despite the rain, some shelling picking up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: Artillery, that was artillery.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: They may have hit it from afar, because the sound was long.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: It had a long sound. No, it's not a drone.
WALSH (voice-over): Three units head down.
ALI HARIRI, LEBANESE MEDIC: Full of risk.
WALSH (voice-over): Nobody left to rescue here, though. Two men killed and stuck beneath the rubble.
HARIRI: About two homes are fully damaged.
WALSH: Yes.
HARIRI: Two houses.
WALSH (voice-over): Zayna (ph) lives with her father doctor in the hospital. Has her toy slime for fun, but knows what she fears.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
GRAPHIC: The darkness.
WALSH (voice-over): The elderly ferried out.
HARIRI: There are some people, yes. They're trying to leave, and they didn't find any shelter to go. The drones are flying over us, but we don't have any options. We have to go. Yes.
[00:10:10]
WALSH: It must be harder after the loss of your friend's son. Two days ago. HARIRI: Yes. It's very hard. But we don't have choices. We don't have
choices.
WALSH (voice-over): His friend, this rescuer, here on Tuesday, lost his son. One of two medics killed by an Israeli strike on a motorbike.
Israel hasn't responded to our request for comment.
They buried Jude Suleiman (ph), aged 16, on Wednesday, fearing it won't be the last.
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Nabatieh, Lebanon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: President Trump has directed his new head of Homeland Security to immediately pay TSA agents during the partial government shutdown. He is making the move in hopes of reducing the crazy lines we've been seeing at some of Americas busiest airports.
Sources say the funding would likely come from the Trump administration's so-called One Big, Beautiful Bill, which was the sweeping tax and spending legislation signed into law last year.
More than 46,000 officers with the Transportation Security Administration are on track to miss their second full paycheck this weekend. Hundreds have already quit, and thousands more are simply not showing up to work, leading to some of those hour-long waits at major airports.
Meanwhile, lawmakers are no closer to ending the more than 40-day shutdown as we look live at Capitol Hill, where it's after midnight now. Yet another vote to advance DHS funding has failed in the Senate.
Former TSA administrator John Pistole joins me now from Lewes, Delaware. Thanks so much for being with us.
JOHN PISTOLE, FORMER TSA ADMINISTRATOR: Good to be with you this evening.
MICHAELSON: So, is this idea of President Trump just saying, let's pay these people on our own? Is that feasible? Is that a real thing?
PISTOLE: Well, it's a great question. I -- and raises a number of issues.
First thing, if it is legal, I -- and I hope it is, it would be a great relief to the 50,000 plus TSOs, the transportation security officers, who have been unpaid for over five weeks now.
So, on the premise that it is legal -- I'm a recovering lawyer, so I'm not currently practicing. But my hope is that somehow, there is a provision to an executive order, something that overcomes the, obviously, Congressional appropriation that is needed to typically fund departments.
MICHAELSON: So, if it is legal, why not do this a month ago? Why make all these people suffer?
PISTOLE: Well, good question. And that's, I think, one of the key questions is, is Congress doing their job as Congress needed? If they can't get the job done, just wait five, six weeks, and then the president will intervene? It just doesn't make sense.
It's not good government. It's not good governance. And it just begs the question of why now? And is this legal?
MICHAELSON: Well, and the political pressure is obviously ramping up right now. And that may be why they're trying to find some sort of way out of all of this.
I can only imagine what it must be like for the current TSA administrator to be in this position with all of these sick-outs, with everything that's happening. If you were in that position now, what would you do? How do you manage a department like this?
PISTOLE: Well, I think that's the key question. I mean, the current TSA administrator, Acting Administrator McNeill, is doing a great job, given that her hands are tied, because she doesn't control the purse strings.
And so, with a new secretary in Markwayne Mullin, who has hopefully had some influence in this, perhaps made a recommendation to the president, whatever it is, the logjam has to break.
And it is, perhaps, coincidental that it is happening the day or two before all members of Congress go home for their spring recess, two weeks. So, they would not have the typical courtesies afforded them. And oh, what happens if they're waiting in line for 2 or 3 hours with their constituents next to them saying, why didn't you get this thing fixed?
MICHAELSON: Well, John Pistole, thank you so much for taking some time to share your expertise with us on a very big and somewhat confusing breaking news night when it comes to the TSA.
PISTOLE: You're welcome. We'll be interested in seeing the details.
MICHAELSON: Still ahead, big tech companies found liable in a social media addiction trial. Standing by live is Juliana Arnold. You see her right there.
She says that social media companies contributed to her daughter's death. She was in the courtroom almost every day. Her reaction to all this next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:19:16]
MICHAELSON: Critics of big tech are hoping this week's landmark social media addiction verdict will be a major turning point for how these companies operate. We told you about the case yesterday. A jury in California finding
YouTube and Meta knew that their platforms were dangerous and failed to warn users of the risks. The companies are now planning to appeal, but this verdict could set a precedent for hundreds of similar cases that have not yet gone to trial.
This is a photo of Juliana Arnold celebrating after the verdict. She blames her 17-year-old daughter's death on social media companies, and is a founding member of Parents Rise, an advocacy group looking to regulate social media.
Juliana joins me now live on set. Thanks for being with us and our condolences for the loss of your daughter.
JULIANA ARNOLD, FOUNDING MEMBER, PARENTS RISE: Thank you. Thank you.
MICHAELSON: Describe the emotions of this verdict, being in the courtroom. What went through your mind? How did you feel?
ARNOLD: Well, I have been there for a number of weeks, so I've been watching this trial, you know, day in, day out, and had a number of emotions running through us. But that last day when we got the verdict, we didn't know when it was coming. We were on the ninth day, I believe, of waiting for this verdict --
MICHAELSON: Of deliberations, yes.
ARNOLD: And everyone didn't know what that meant. It was good that it wasn't short, you know? But if you go too long, you don't know what the jury is thinking. And they had some -- some questions that would ask. No one knew. So, we really didn't know what was going to happen.
And I was sitting there with survivor parents with me that I work closely with, holding hands, and just like kind of bearing ourselves for what was going to come.
And then when we got the -- you know, the news, when the jury said, yes, yes, yes to all of these things that they had --
MICHAELSON: Liable for everything.
ARNOLD: For everything. It was like one. Yes. It was like, OK. Two, yes. It was like, OK. Three, yes. It was like, oh my gosh, this is just going to keep on going. And it went through all through Meta and through YouTube. And we didn't even know what to do.
But we had very -- the judge had told us very clearly, no, you cannot make any facial expressions, no noise. So, we had tears kind of coming down our eyes, because it was a mix of sadness and pain for what we had heard.
Because that these companies had knowingly, intentionally developed -- designed these products to addict and harm our kids. And that came out through the evidence.
But it was also one of hope. You know, so it was really bittersweet. It was of hope that, you know, an overwhelming feeling of hope that maybe we will be able. Everyone's told us that we can't, but maybe we will be able to end this.
MICHAELSON: And did you feel seen and heard?
ARNOLD: Totally.
MICHAELSON: And believed?
ARNOLD: And that was the first time, because we've been telling our stories forever. And people say, oh my gosh, this is horrible, but we haven't seen any action. So, that's what we're hoping now.
MICHAELSON: So, talk to us for people that may not be that familiar with your daughter's story. Tell us a little bit about what happened to her.
ARNOLD: Yes. So, a few days after Coco's 17th birthday, she was approached by a gentleman on Instagram and, unsolicited. He pretended to act like a friend, groomed her, lured her to meet him, offered her a Percocet, what she thought was a Percocet for her anxiety, because she did have anxiety.
And, yes, and it wasn't that. And it turned out to be fentanyl. And she died of fentanyl poisoning. Yes.
MICHAELSON: And so, this has been such an important cause for you ever since. Parents Rise as an organization that advocates for this around the country. You spent time in Washington, as well.
And you've said that this trial, where there were so much discovery, so much paperwork, so much behind the scenes of how the social media companies communicate to each other, that's going to Washington now.
ARNOLD: Oh, yes. I mean, that's what -- that was probably. There's two things that I think have been really monumental for us. Not just getting the verdict and having seen what happened in New Mexico, as well, but also the information that we're obtaining every time these trials go to discovery.
The thousands of documents that come out that really were the evidence and proof that everyone has access to, to see how these companies intentionally -- they knew the harms, and they decided to ignore them, and to move on to put profits over our kids -- protecting our kids. And it's just unheard of. It's unconscionable.
MICHAELSON: And you've been -- you've been working with lawmakers, including in the Senate, bipartisan leaders.
ARNOLD: Oh, yes.
MICHAELSON: Marsha Blackburn and -- and also, the senator from Connecticut.
ARNOLD: Blumenthal. MICHAELSON: Dick Blumenthal. And they passed, 93 votes. They passed the legislation you were advocating for, and it went nowhere in the House.
ARNOLD: Yes.
MICHAELSON: President Trump hasn't been behind this. What's your message to lawmakers after this trial?
ARNOLD: Well, I'm hoping that now we have the proof, you know, to -- to back up and validate the stories that we've been telling. And so, if our stories were compelling, I hope now that we have the evidence behind it, they're going to stop shielding big tech and realize they need to protect the American families and the kids of this country.
Because right now, there are no guidelines, guardrails or regulations on any of these companies, and there never has been.
MICHAELSON: What is the biggest change you want to see happen?
ARNOLD: We would like to see legislation passed that forces these companies to design their products with a duty of care, to keep our kids safe, like we do with all the other products that we have in this country.
This is the only industry that has not been regulated. And I say regulation in the widest of terms: setting guardrails, safety guardrails. That's all we're talking about. We re not talking about overregulation, but safety guardrails for kids.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
ARNOLD: I mean, these products were launched without any of that. And our kids -- unfortunately, as a parent, I didn't know anything about it when these products got introduced to us. And neither did our kids. We were the guinea pigs.
MICHAELSON: So, in New Mexico, there was a ruling against them for about over $300 million.
ARNOLD: Yes.
MICHAELSON: The ruling here in Los Angeles was just $6 million for these companies that are so big.
ARNOLD: Yes.
MICHAELSON: That doesn't cost them very much money. Was that disappointing? Were you hoping for a bigger number?
ARNOLD: Only because -- because it didn't affect me, whether -- you know, how much this young woman, I wanted her to get what she deserved. And I think -- so the amount wasn't -- it was more like show -- a showing, because they'd had the 375.
[00:25:11] But really, what I said is that this was like, in the court of public opinion, because it's brought all these issues front and center with parents. And now parents are learning and know what's really going on.
And it's time for parents to speak up and fight for their families, because I'm tired of hearing that the company is putting the blame on parents.
It is on them. They are -- they are developing and designing defective products, and they should not be being put in the hands of our children unless they are safe.
So, that's what we're after. We want to make sure that these products are designed safely, you know, for our kids, which is not anything that's really unusual. You know, I mean, it's just normal in this -- in this -- you know.
MICHAELSON: Sounds like a pretty bipartisan message.
ARNOLD: Yes, it is.
MICHAELSON: Juliana Arnold --
ARNOLD: Definitely.
MICHAELSON: -- thank you for speaking up.
ARNOLD: Thank you so much for covering this. We really appreciate it.
MICHAELSON: Still to come, a major new ruling from the International Olympic Committee. We'll tell you what it means for trans women hoping to compete in Olympic events.
And still to come, Bob Costas with us, live on set. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:30:49]
MICHAELSON: Countries across Asia are taking drastic measures as they grapple with the global energy crisis caused by the war with Iran.
The Philippines foreign minister tells CNN's Christiane Amanpour that the country only has about 40 to 45 days' worth of petroleum left.
Meanwhile, South Korea's president on Thursday announced a new emergency response system and urged citizens to do their part to conserve energy.
We go live now to Hong Kong. CNN's Kristie Lu Stout, keeping an eye on the region -- Kristie.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR/CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Elex.
The Philippines is certainly feeling the full force of the Iran energy shock, with transport workers today planning to strike, planning to protest over rising fuel prices.
We know transport workers like jeepney drivers in the Philippines capital of Manila have been struggling given the rising price of oil and fuel. So, they're gathering right now this hour in Manila. They plan to begin their protest at the top of the hour. They're going to march through Manila to the presidential palace.
And this is part of a wider action. This is a part of a two-day general strike that is taking place across the Philippines.
This comes just days after the Philippine president announced that national energy emergency, with the Philippines becoming the very first country in the world to do so.
This also comes after comments from the foreign secretary of the Philippines. In an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, she gave this dire countdown. She said that the country only has 40 to 45 days left of petroleum products. I want you to take a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIA THERESA LAZARO, PHILIPPINE FOREIGN SECRETARY: By this it well, we are looking from the aspect of supply and the prices. It seems that our supply for our petroleum needs is about -- about 40 to 45 days.
And this has really had an impact. Particularly in the -- we may have the supply, but the prices is -- really have gone high. Its already taking a toll on the ordinary Filipino. The transportation cost, the -- the price of food. Because it also affects the fertilizers that are being used for our food security. So, these are all now -- it has its cascading effect.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STOUT: The Philippines is vulnerable. In fact, the entire region is vulnerable. Asia relies more on oil and gas from the Middle East than any other part of the world.
We're also tracking, this day, the Asian trading day. Shares have been, in certain markets, trading lower following losses in the U.S. overnight.
U.S. markets had their biggest drop in share prices since the war began. And, if you take a look at how these two major buyers of imported energy -- Japan, South Korea -- are faring right now, you're seeing losses there, with the Nikkei in Japan down 3/10 of 1 percent. The KOSPI losing 1.7 percent.
We will also continue to keep an eye on Brent crude and see how that is trading, as well.
What's weighing on investor sentiment here is, of course, the protracted nature of the conflict in -- with -- with Iran. And on top of that, the specter of inflation.
A new report out from the OECD raising the inflationary outlook for the largest economies in the world and downgrading its growth forecast for global growth from 3.3 percent last year to 2.9 percent.
Elex, back to you.
MICHAELSON: It really is remarkable when we hear how every country in the world is impacted by this one decision, by 1 or 2 men. And now everybody else is dealing with it.
Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong, thank you so much for that reporting.
To New York's LaGuardia Airport now. That airport back open and the runway back open, where an Air Canada Express passenger plane plowed into a fire truck last weekend.
That's after the aviation authorities released video showing investigators gathering evidence at that site. Investigators have since allowed the plane to be moved into a hangar.
The runway closure forced the airport to cancel about a third of its flights.
Now, that jet was landing at 100 miles per hours on Sunday when it collided with the truck, which had been mistakenly cleared to cross the runway. Two pilots were killed. Dozens of other people were injured.
The investigation could take a year or longer.
[00:35:03]
A U.S. federal court judge says that he will not toss out the criminal case against Nicolas Maduro, despite a dispute over the ousted Venezuelan leader's ability to pay his legal fees.
The Trump administration is refusing to allow the government of Venezuela to pay the legal bills for Maduro and his wife, who are charged with narcoterrorism.
Federal prosecutors said allowing the Maduros to access that money would be, quote, "plundering the wealth of Venezuela."
Lawyers for the couple say that refusal effectively violates Maduro's right to counsel.
Other news now. Transgender women have been banned from competing in women's events at the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee announced that the new policy requires all those participating in women's events to undergo genetic testing. IOC President Kirsty Coventry explained the decision here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KIRSTY COVENTRY, IOC PRESIDENT: The policy that we have announced is based on science, and it has been led by medical experts with the best interests of athletes at its heart.
The scientific evidence is very clear: male chromosomes give performance advantages in sports that rely on strength, power, or endurance.
At the Olympic games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat. So, it's absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports, it would simply not be safe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: The new policy comes ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics, which will be held right here in Los Angeles.
You are looking live now at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. A guy who's very familiar with that is our next guest, Bob Costas, standing by live to talk about opening day in baseball. He's just back from Dodger Stadium.
BOB COSTAS, SPORTS BROADCASTER: True.
MICHAELSON: One of the great broadcasters of all time on our set. How did he end up here? That's next on THE STORY IS.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:41:31]
MICHAELSON: One down, 161 to go for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Major League Baseball champs showed off their World Series trophies ahead of their season opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
They capped off the night with an 8-to-2 victory.
The New York Mets got off to a roaring start at Citi Field against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Third baseman Brett Baty, with a bases-clearing triple, helped to chase N.L. Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes in the first inning. Mets 11, Pirates seven.
Now, what was the most important part of all that? Baseball was back on NBC.
COSTAS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: And joining me here in studio to talk about it is the host of that, Bob Costas, winner of 29 Emmys. Bob Costas, welcome to THE STORY IS for the first time.
COSTAS: Hi, Elex. It's nice to see you again.
MICHAELSON: It is great to see you. It is great to have baseball back on NBC. It's great to have basketball back on NBC. Great to have you back on NBC. All three of those things are great.
COSTAS: The response to all this has been terrific. Basketball fans associate the NBA on NBC with that great Michael Jordan era of the '90s.
MICHAELSON: Right. COSTAS: And I think that, leaning into some of that, the narrative
openings -- and we did a throwback game.
MICHAELSON: Right.
COSTAS: Brought back some of the -- the broadcasters associated with the '90s.
And even NBC's history with baseball. Now, it's been a long time. 2000 was the last time baseball was on big NBC. But really, it was the baseball network.
The first game ever televised, 1939, the first World Series, 1947. And you think about the voices: Red Barber, Mel Allen and Curt Gowdy, Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek, the great Vin Scully, Bob Uecker.
MICHAELSON: Right.
COSTAS: All part of NBC's presentation to baseball.
And even as every sport changes and modernizes, there's a history element, and there's a generational element. And therefore, a little bit of nostalgia, if you don't lean into it too heavily. And that's -- that's why I'm there now. I'm the emeritus guy.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
COSTAS: I'm the link from the then to the now.
MICHAELSON: And of course, one of the great moments in the history of the Dodgers was Kirk Gibson's home run in the 1988 World Series.
COSTAS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: Vin Scully on the call. You on the field, talking to Kirk Gibson.
COSTAS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: Let's talk about the current Dodgers.
COSTAS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: Because they are the two-time defending World Series champs. You're just back from Dodgers Stadium. You just broadcast this game.
COSTAS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: What do you think? Are they the overwhelming favorites? How do you see this -- this season?
COSTAS: This is the key point. The modern setup in baseball, with 12 playoff teams, six in each league, three wild cards. The Dodgers are virtually guaranteed to make it to October. But when you get to October, almost anything can happen. The Dodgers
had a 111-win team that lost in the postseason to the San Diego Padres, whom they finished 22 games ahead of in the same division.
And then the next year, the Arizona Diamondbacks, who wound up going all the way to the World Series out of a wild card spot, swept them in the division series. Goodbye, Dodgers.
In '24, the first of their two back-to-backs, they were down again, two games to one, to the Padres before they rallied to win two do-or- die games.
And even last year, when many people, because of the high expectations, would have said, if they lost the World Series, that somehow, you know, they came up short, the Toronto Blue Jays did everything but win that World Series.
MICHAELSON: Right.
COSTAS: So, once you get into that kind of roll of the dice.
The Dodgers had to win 13 October games last year, because they actually had to play in the wild card round. They only had the third best division winning record. So, they had to win two against Cincinnati.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
[00:45:00]
COSTAS: Then they won three against the Phillies. Then they swept four from the Brewers and then tooth and nail in a seven-game series to win four more against the Blue Jays. It's a gauntlet to run.
I don't care if you're the greatest team in the history of baseball, and the Dodgers are somewhere on that list. If you're talking about 162 games, I bet the Dodgers have the best record in baseball.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
COSTAS: But when you get to October, I would take the field against any one team.
MICHAELSON: Yes, interesting. And of course, the Dodgers also have the best player, Shohei Ohtani.
COSTAS: And the most unique player.
MICHAELSON: Who is an international phenom.
COSTAS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: I mean, the World Series is getting higher ratings in Japan than even in America. Shohei Ohtani, of course, the designated hitter and the pitcher.
COSTAS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: You have seen a lot of baseball players. You're a baseball historian, as respected as anybody. Is Shohei Ohtani the best player you've ever seen?
COSTAS: He's certainly uniquely great. Obviously, I never saw Babe Ruth, and there was a period of time that Babe Ruth was the best pitcher in the game and one of the best pitchers. Then he became the best slugger, but he didn't do both simultaneously for a sustained period of time at that high level of each.
That's what Ohtani has done.
Now, you could make an argument that, while he's a great hitter, he's not as great a hitter as Ted Williams or Joe DiMaggio or -- or not as great. He doesn't play the field, so he's not as great an all-round player in that respect as Willie Mays.
So -- but nobody has ever done what he's done as a hitter, plus, he stole 50 bases one season. And then, if he's not a Cy Young Award- winning pitcher, he's certainly one of the best pitchers in the game.
MICHAELSON: Pretty close.
COSTAS: You know, inning for inning. They watch his innings. He doesn't -- they try to protect him so that his arm doesn't blow out. And he's useful in October.
There's never been anybody like him. And as great as Aaron Judge is with the Yankees, he's won three MVPs of his own. Judge is a more productive hitter than Ohtani. But Judge ain't pitching.
MICHAELSON: Right.
COSTAS: So -- and the fascination with Ohtani is it's almost like some people who weren't basketball fans felt about Michael Jordan. They didn't know a pick and roll from a back cut, some of them.
You know, no little old lady in -- in Omaha has ever said, with all due respect, I can't play bridge with you tonight because I have to watch LeBron. as great as LeBron is.
But lots of metaphorical little old ladies said that about Jordan. There was just something about him.
And people are interested in Ohtani. People who aren't avid baseball fans talk to me about Ohtani.
MICHAELSON: And he is increasing the popularity of the sport around the world.
COSTAS: Yes, without question.
MICHAELSON: And in addition to that, baseball also making changes to the game in the last few years, which have really helped.
COSTAS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: They have a pitch count now. They have bigger bases, which has allowed for more stolen bases, and now we have a robo ump, essentially.
COSTAS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: An ability to go to the computer and challenge calls. Good thing?
COSTAS: I don't think they've overdone it. It's only a couple of challenges per game. Could be more because, if your challenge is successful, you retain it, but only a couple a game.
And so therefore, they'll have to use those challenges judiciously. And some strategy will come into it.
The batter may want to use it in the bottom of the second inning with two out and nobody on. But the manager. And the manager is not allowed to make the call. It's only the pitcher, the catcher, or the batter who can tap the cap and say, let's go to the -- in effect, let's -- let's go to the computer for it.
But there's going to be some judgment involved there. Do you save it for a more crucial time in the game?
MICHAELSON: Sure.
COSTAS: You know, you can't deny that the technology exists. They tested it in the minors, and it was successful. And I think that, because they're using it judiciously, it will be like the other recent changes.
Baseball is supposed to have a pleasing, leisurely pace. For too long, it had a plodding, lethargic pace, and that was testing the patience of even avid fans like myself.
MICHAELSON: Even you. Yes.
COSTAS: And now it's back to where it kind of belongs.
MICHAELSON: So, baseball seems to be going in the right direction.
COSTAS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: Basketball, due respect -- your coverage is amazing and all that -- seems to be going in the wrong direction in terms of the product.
A lot of folks, you know, don't love this just stand around and shoot threes thing that the NBA is doing.
COSTAS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: Certainly traditionalists. Do you think that basketball needs to do rule changes or that the league needs to do something to change the play?
COSTAS: I'm still a basketball fan and NBA fan, but I have heard suggestions, one of which -- this may be a little too inside basketball for a general news audience. Eliminate the corner three.
A lot of times now on a fast break, you'll see guys instead of trying to finish it off with a beautifully executed pass and layup, they go to the two respective corners to hang out for a three.
In the '90s, the average team took 7 or 8 three-pointers a game. Now the NBA average is 37.
MICHAELSON: Right.
COSTAS: And there have been games where two teams have combined for as many as 100 three-point attempts in the game.
So, some of the texture of the game, the mid-range jumper jumper, some of the passes.
MICHAELSON: Post-game.
COSTAS: The post-game, the inside play, it isn't -- it isn't there.
You can get too much of a good thing. You can eat too much ice cream. And maybe the league's a little bit too three-point dependent.
[00:50:00]
And also, the schedule is demanding. And when you have back-to-backs, and you're playing 82 games.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
COSTAS: And say what you will about too many three-pointers. There's so many athletic players now. It's more demanding just to play defense.
MICHAELSON: Sure.
COSTAS: Because you have to cover everybody. Guys lurking behind the three-point line, you've got to cover.
MICHAELSON: A lot of guys are getting hurt because of that.
COSTAS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: You were the face of the Olympics for so many years. This news today about the IOC --
COSTAS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: -- basically banning trans athletes: that there's going to be a genetic test.
COSTAS: Yes. MICHAELSON: Your reaction to that and this very complicated issue.
COSTAS: Give me enough time to address this, so I'm not misunderstood.
There are people who use this issue cynically for political purposes, and they're demonizing people who happen to be trans, who should be treated with respect and dignity and understanding.
However, common sense is not transphobic. There's a reason why the high school champions don't compete with the college champions. There is a reason why no trans man who was once a woman and has become a man, has ever competed successfully with men in the Olympics.
If Caitlin Clark could play in the NBA, everybody would applaud it. That would be an incredible thing. But if the last guy on the bench of an NBA team went to the WNBA and started averaging 40 points a game, everyone would know that is B.S.
There's a reason why Sugar Ray Leonard, who was a contemporary of Mike Tyson, didn't fight Mike Tyson. They were in different weight classes.
There is a reason why there are men's and women's sports, and why Title IX was one of the truly progressive pieces of legislation, in the best sense of the word "progressive," under the Nixon administration. It changed everything.
I had a sister who never played a single organized sport. One generation later, two children of my own. My daughter played just about as many organized sports as my son. That's a great thing.
It doesn't make any sense to have a swimmer who was the 472nd-ranked swimmer when he was a man at Penn, either winning or coming close to winning against women a year and a half after transitioning.
If that's what the person wants to do, that person should be treated with dignity and respect. But there ought to be common sense, and common sense is not transphobic.
MICHAELSON: And this policy is common sense?
COSTAS: Yes, this policy, the -- the way Kirsty Coventry laid it out from Lausanne --
MICHAELSON: Yes.
COSTAS: -- in the clip that you played is exactly correct.
MICHAELSON: And lastly, this is real quick, just something fun to end on. Baseball. Everybody's got a walk-up song. They announce their new walk-up songs for the start of the season.
COSTAS: Yes.
MICHAELSON: What is the Bob Costas walk-up song?
COSTAS: This is a question I've never had to consider, and I don't think I have a glib answer to that. What would my walk-up song be?
MICHAELSON: I don't know.
COSTAS: The last time I took an at-bat that mattered, it was in a fantasy game --
MICHAELSON: Yes.
COSTAS: -- against a bunch of Cardinal guys, and I actually hit a triple off Bob Gibson.
MICHAELSON: OK.
COSTAS: But I didn't have a walk-up song.
MICHAELSON: All right. We've got --
COSTAS: And I was kind of out of breath when I got to third base.
MICHAELSON: Well, who's your favorite musical artist?
COSTAS: Ah, you know, Paul Simon. You know, that's that -- that era.
MICHAELSON: All right.
COSTAS: What would be the Paul Simon song? You wouldn't play "Mrs. Robinson"?
MICHAELSON: No.
COSTAS: That mentions Joe DiMaggio, right?
MICHAELSON: "You and Julio Down by the Schoolyard."
COSTAS: That's good, that's good.
MICHAELSON: Bob Costas, thanks for coming in.
COSTAS: You stumped me.
MICHAELSON: You're the best. I -- I stumped one of the greatest questioners and interviewers ever. That's a thing.
COSTAS: Came up empty.
MICHAELSON: All right. We'll be back with more of THE STORY IS right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:58:15]
MICHAELSON: Just last week, the White House vowed that comedian Bill Maher would not receive the top American humor award, the Mark Twain Prize.
But the Kennedy Center has now set the record straight, announcing that the late-night host is, in fact, this year's recipient.
Maher has long been a thorn in the side of President Trump, even after they shared a dinner. But as CNN's Tom Foreman explains, their relationship is complicated.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BILL MAHER, HOST, HBO'S "REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER": This is the most macho administration we've ever had. Also, the gayest.
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Whether taking on President Trump's militaristic preening, his style or his policies, Bill Maher has long been a comedic critic of the commander in chief.
MAHER: When you talk about people like they're scum, and they're evil, you don't think eventually that translates into action?
FOREMAN (voice-over): And Trump has returned the favor, according to Maher, calling him --
MAHER: A lowlife, dummy, sleazebag, sick, sad.
TRUMP: This crazy Bill Maher. Bill Maher, you ever hear of this guy? He says, you know, he's not leaving.
FOREMAN (voice-over): So, news of the Kennedy Center giving the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to Maher may be a shock to both sides of the political spectrum, which howled just last year when the comic and president shared dinner at the White House, and Maher pushed back.
MAHER: Trump was gracious and measured. And why he isn't that in other settings, I don't know and I can't answer, and it's not my place to answer.
FOREMAN (voice-over): But when the dishes were cleared, Trump lashed out, taking to Truth Social to call the dinner a waste of time with a "highly overrated LIGHTWEIGHT" not much better than other comics Trump has tried to take down.
TRUMP: I sort of like Bill Maher. I must be honest, I do. I like him.
FOREMAN (voice-over): It hasn't always been this way. Long ago, Trump was a fan, and Maher has played the patient observer.
MAHER: I just think he's done a lot of things I absolutely hate, like DOGE.
Trying to put people in jail.
And everything with ICE. And I mean, I could go on with the list. There's also a shorter list of things.
