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The Story Is with Elex Michaelson

Deadly 6.5 Earthquake Strikes Japan; U.S. Forces Thwart "Surprise" Iranian Missile Attack; Netanyahu and Zelenskyy Attend Lindsey Graham's Funeral in Washington; Strong Storms Threaten Flash Flooding in Northeastern U.S.; France Battles Flames Around Historic Bordeaux; Kentucky Governor Calls on Mitch McConnell to Disclose Health Status or Resign. Aired 12-1a ET

Aired July 29, 2026 - 00:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[00:00:00]

ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: And sat next to a robot.

COATES: Well --

MICHAELSON: Although I may be an alien, but that's just my guesses about certain people I've met. I don't know.

COATES: OK. Let's have it. What is your biggest airline pet peeve?

MICHAELSON: So I'm a taller person at 6'5" and I don't understand the seats -- the legroom is just such an issue. I just physically do not fit in an airline seat. And so that's my issue. What's your issue?

COATES: My issue is people on the window seat, they close the window. It's a window. Why do you have a window seat? It's a window. Open it.

Have a great show, Elex.

MICHAELSON: Well, what if people are trying to sleep?

COATES: What -- OK.

MICHAELSON: OK. We're not trying to put any -- we're not trying to put anybody to sleep.

COATES: A face mask.

MICHAELSON: We want them to stay up.

Laura, thank you.

Let's start the serious news on THE STORY IS right now.

THE STORY IS the search for survivors after a massive earthquake hits southern Japan. Right now, rescue teams are searching through the rubble of a collapsed shopping mall. We'll go live to the region.

THE STORY IS the northeast underwater from submerged cars in New Jersey to flight cancellations up and down the East Coast. A dangerous flood threat is growing as the storms push north.

And THE STORY IS the war with Iran. It's been five months since a strike on an Iranian elementary school killed nearly 200 people, mostly kids, according to Iranian state media. Ahead, the stories from victims you have not heard.

ANNOUNCER: Live from Los Angeles, THE STORY IS with Elex Michaelson.

MICHAELSON: I'm Elex Michaelson. Thanks for being with us.

We begin with breaking news in Japan. A jump in the death toll after a powerful earthquake. The prime minister says at least 13 people are confirmed dead so far. The 6.8 magnitude tremor struck Japan's southern prefecture earlier today. Japanese media report two of the victims were young women who died in the partial collapse of a shopping mall, where there was an explosion and where it's believed others are currently trapped.

There are also reports of people missing at a paper factory that suffered extensive damage. Aerial footage has shown buildings on fire. Transportation services are disrupted and thousands of military personnel have been mobilized to expedite rescue efforts.

CNN's Kristie Lu Stout tracking all this live from Hong Kong.

Kristie, a serious situation.

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and Elex, you and I know all too well just the frightening power of earthquakes. And the race is on to find survivors in this shopping center that was partially collapsed in an explosion after this devastating 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit a southern prefecture in Japan on Tuesday.

This earthquake was so powerful it brought down bridges. It brought down buildings. It brought down rail lines. And it's also taking lives. At least 13 people are dead. Dozens more have been injured. We have also learned that tens of thousands of people, if not more, are without power, including patients seeking care at a hospital. We've also learned some 300,000 people have been told to go to evacuation centers.

Now we are also keeping a close eye on rescue efforts at this building, this collapsed shopping mall, and the scenes of the aftermath. You're looking at aerial video there are absolutely apocalyptic. After the quake hit, an explosion there ripped through the building. As you can see, one side of that mall was ripped away in the blast, and you could see the exposed steel beams and the debris that is everywhere.

We also have this video. I want to bring up dash cam video that shows you the moment of explosion that took place after the earthquake. Horrifying video where you can see the explosion ripping through this major shopping center that has some 200 stores there. Officials say it appears that a gas leak is to blame. And at the moment, it is not clear how many people remain trapped in the rubble. Now, we're also keeping an eye on another site in the quake zone. A

paper factory where a major large industrial chimney has collapsed. And we have aerial video of this scene. What you're looking at is Nippon Paper Industries in Yatsushiro City, and there is extensive damage here, and several people are unaccounted for.

Now, the Japanese prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has been providing regular updates of the disaster and the government's response to it, and she has pledged that that response will become, quote, "full force." Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SANAE TAKAICHI, JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER (through translator): Power outages have occurred in some areas. I ask everyone to take action to protect themselves, including evacuating to a safe location, while also taking precautions against heat stroke.

The Takaichi administration will do our utmost. We will respond with the full force of the government prioritizing human lives above all else.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Now, there is also a nuclear power station in the area, but according to the IAEA, this is, of course, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, there is thankfully no cause for concern.

Back to you, Elex.

[00:05:11]

MICHAELSON: Kristie Lu Stout, thank you so much for that.

And a reminder that an earthquake can hit any time and to always be prepared, especially those of us living in the Pacific Ring of Fire.

We are also following big developments in the Middle East, where the U.S. military says there has been new strikes on U.S. forces. U.S. Central Command says the military successfully thwarted a surprise attack from Iran. Video obtained by CNN appears to show interceptors stopping Iranian missiles over Jordan, where U.S. troops are now based and where three U.S. service members were killed in an Iranian strike earlier this month.

CENTCOM also reporting joint strikes by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia together against Iran backed groups in Iraq. Saudi Arabia says those militias were linked to attacks on Saudi oil facilities. The U.S. president hosting the Israeli prime minister in a closed door meeting at the White House on Tuesday. U.S. and Israeli officials are calling the discussions between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, quote, "positive and productive."

An Israeli military official says the two leaders discussed the partnership between their countries, quote, "which is stronger than ever." Netanyahu is also touting his close ties to President Trump. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): I have just finished an excellent meeting with President Trump. When I say excellent, it's not just lip service. It was a conversation of full partnership, of mutual support with an understanding of the shared goal to ensure that Iran will not have nuclear weapons, and also other goals. It was one of the best conversations I've had with the president of the United States, our friend, Donald Trump.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAELSON: The Israeli prime minister also attended the funeral of the late U.S. senator Lindsey Graham, who he called one of Israel's, quote, "greatest friends."

President Trump, also meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, says they had a good meeting, discussed air defense ideas and reviving diplomacy with Russia. Zelenskyy also attended Lindsey Graham's funeral, who he called a true friend of Ukraine.

U.S. senators invited Zelenskyy to watch the vote on a new Russia sanctions bill. That measure, which was backed by the late Senator Graham, advanced with a vote of 86 to 12. The sanctions would be paired with tariffs against the top five importers of Russian oil and natural gas, including India and China.

Zelenskyy, thanking the U.S. lawmakers for their support.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: This bill is very important. Sanctions pressure on Russia is very important and really gives -- it's not only about money, how Russia, how to stop to finance this war, but it's also a big signal to Europe, big signal to Ukraine, big support of our people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAELSON: Joining me now live is Christopher Hill, former U.S. ambassador and assistant secretary of state. He served as a U.S. ambassador for five presidents, including Democrats and Republicans.

Welcome back to THE STORY IS.

CHRISTOPHER HILL, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR: Thank you very much.

MICHAELSON: There's a lot going on right now. But let's start with a post from CENTCOM on X tonight. We can maybe bring this up on the screen. It says U.S. and Saudi fighter aircraft struck multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq in a strong response to over 30 IRGC directed aerial drone attacks in the last 72 hours.

Mr. Ambassador, what do you make of the fact that U.S. and Saudi Arabia are teaming up on this? HILL: Yes, there is a lot going on and you could add to the mix the

fact that the Iraqi prime minister was just in Washington the last couple of weeks, telling President Trump that he's going to hit these Iran based -- Iran backed groups very hard. So we have a situation where, instead of Iraqi forces hitting these Iraqi militants, it's the Saudis coming in. And that can't be welcomed at all by the Iraqis, who just had a conversation with the president two short weeks ago.

So the issue, of course, with the Saudis is complicated because about a week ago it looked like the U.S. was launching a full nuclear -- civil nuclear deal with the Saudis. And clearly, the president got cold feet about it and he said one condition is the Saudis have to recognize Israel. Well, that wasn't going to work. So a lot going on there. And now perhaps, to some extent, the U.S. is trying to reconcile with the Saudis and do some things together.

But meanwhile, of course, we have Netanyahu feeling very lonely and coming to Washington. I must say this, Lindsey Graham's funeral has done a lot of diplomacy in terms of bringing Netanyahu and Zelenskyy to Washington probably as much as Lindsey Graham could have done if he were alive.

[00:10:13]

MICHAELSON: Yes. I mean, that is sort of a testament to Lindsey Graham, and that moment that we just showed of Zelenskyy on Capitol Hill, as this sanctioned deal passes, something that Lindsey Graham was pushing for.

What will that actually do to change the equation in the war with Russia and Ukraine if anything?

HILL: Well, I don't think it's just the words here. I think it's the music. And I think president is looking at Zelenskyy in a wholly different situation than a year ago. I mean, the Ukrainians are doing a lot of damage to the Russians. And so I think it was very important to get that sanctions bill passed to show continued and strong U.S. support. But I think it's also very important to see that the president is now in a much more civil relationship with Zelenskyy.

For Zelenskyy, he needs to show the president there's a lot more fight in the Ukrainians. They are prepared to do whatever they need to do, but they're also interested in peace. And I think he made that clear to the president today. So I think, you know, compared to that meeting, that awful meeting some year ago when Zelenskyy was even criticized for the suit that he was wearing, it's a whole different world in terms of Trump and Zelenskyy.

MICHAELSON: Sure. Well, President Trump in that meeting famously had the cameras in there and lectured him about the fact that he didn't have the cards to win. Now we're in a situation where the meetings, both with Zelenskyy and Netanyahu were behind closed doors, which is not something that Donald Trump does very often. We know, as the media, we're appreciative that he usually brings in the cameras, usually answers questions from reporters. That didn't happen. He didn't even talk about the meetings. He allowed both Zelenskyy and Netanyahu to talk about the meetings afterwards.

What do you read into that?

HILL: Well, I think it's a much more serious way to conduct diplomacy. I mean, to open the doors and bring in the press was rather odd, especially in the context of a difficult meeting that that he had with Zelenskyy. So I think it's a much more serious effort. And I think they probably discussed some very serious subjects, namely, how quickly can the Ukrainians start building or fabricating Patriot missiles so that they can defend themselves against Russian missile attacks?

And this is not something that he wanted to have live on CNN or any other network. So I think it's a serious effort. It's very interesting, of course, about Netanyahu because he has been really pushed away from the U.S. administration in recent weeks. So now he's trying to kind of fix that. He's saying, oh, we had the greatest meeting of his life, et cetera. But I think there's a lot of repair work that needs to be done in the U.S.-Israel relationship.

MICHAELSON: Ambassador Christopher Hill, thank you for all the insight on a very, very busy day for diplomacy in Washington. We appreciate it.

Meanwhile, the story of severe weather across the northeastern United States, more than 36 million Americans are currently under flood watches at thunderstorms slowly churning across the region. Places like Orange, New Jersey, already feeling the effects, with cars submerged in flood waters. Look at all this video here. Heavy rainfall set to continue through Wednesday with one to three inches per hour possible in New York City.

More than 12 million people along the East Coast are under severe thunderstorm watches as well. The most at risk areas for flooding will shift further north into New England in the coming hours. We are already seeing travel impacts from the weather. More than 2300 flights canceled in the U.S. today, according to the tracking Web site FlightAware, and more than 200 already canceled for Wednesday.

Joining me now from Centerville, Massachusetts, Chris Gloninger is a meteorologist and climate scientist.

Thanks so much for being with us. What can we expect in the day ahead?

CHRIS GLONINGER, METEOROLOGIST AND CLIMATE SCIENTIST: Elex, as we go from the tornado threat, now it will be that flash flood threat that you mentioned, but earlier, 23 tornado warnings, one preliminary report of a tornado in Maryland earlier today, but now its focused across parts of western Massachusetts, the Catskills Region of New York, where we could see six, even 10 inches of rain. A very vulnerable area with higher elevations.

As air travels up the mountains, it rings out even more moisture, and these areas are used to flooding. You think back to Hurricane Irene back in 2011. That's the kind of setup we may see in some communities. Again, Catskills and into the Berkshires. [00:15:03]

As we go into the afternoon tomorrow, that threat will then pivot a little bit farther east across the Connecticut River Valley and often to the Worcester Hills as well.

Again, these heavy downpour days, Elex, are just getting heavier and heavier. The top rainfall days that we see have increased by about 60 percent when it comes to total rainfall. As we continue to burn oil, coal and gas as the atmosphere warms. So for every degree Fahrenheit of warming, we see the atmosphere holds 4 percent more moisture. And these are the sites that it looks like when you ring it all out.

MICHAELSON: Here's a live picture from New York. And it's hard to see much of anything. Usually that's a beautiful shot and it looks pretty foggy right now.

Chris, what are you sort of most concerned about in the coming hours? Where are you most worried about right now?

GLONINGER: At this point, the heaviest rain falling across the lower Hudson Valley up into the Catskills Region of New York. Again, higher elevations of the Catskills could really see some of the highest rainfall totals. The problem is with flash flooding. You see images like that, you can't see a whole heck of a lot. And when you have flash flooding at night, people oftentimes turn their phones off. They don't get the wireless emergency alerts. And that's when flash flooding certainly can turn deadly.

It's the overnights that we really are concerned about. As we shift into the day tomorrow, though, as you can see daylight, that threat will continue. But at least people are awake and aware of what's going on. As I mentioned, though, then the threat will then shift into parts of western and central Massachusetts, down through central Connecticut, where we may see six to 10 inches of rain with these thunderstorms that develop.

Less of a severe threat tomorrow, but certainly the main story here is going to be the flash flood risk into the afternoon all the way through the afternoon tomorrow.

MICHAELSON: And of course, as we know, some of these are -- some of the most populated areas in the United States.

Chris, thanks so much for being with us. We appreciate it. Thanks for staying up late for us.

Meanwhile, THE STORY IS in Europe, where yet another intense heat wave is settling in across Spain and France, meaning more challenging conditions for crews that are battling those wildfires. And making matters worse, there's absolutely no rain in the forecast. They wish they had some of that rain in New York.

In Spain, the country's largest ever wildfire has now burned about 124,000 acres in the southern area. Some good news for residents near Madrid, nearly 40 percent of the 63,000 people who were evacuated can now return home. In southwestern France, heat warnings have been issued in the wildfire areas, with temperatures expected to peak in the hours ahead.

CNN's Nada Bashir has the latest from France.

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. We are expecting to see peak temperatures on Wednesday as the temperatures intensify, as the heat wave settles in, potentially nearing 40 degrees Celsius, soaring past 100 degrees Fahrenheit. And that is the key concern here that those intense temperatures could lead to further fires spreading across this part of southwestern France, could intensify the wildfires that are already blazing through forests and land across this region.

Now, we have seen firefighters and first responders working around the clock in this region to try to battle and contain the fires that are currently tearing through this particular Gironde region of southwestern France. And we have seen the impact firsthand. Just a little earlier today, we were on a brief tour with the firefighters as they were going through this particular region, and we saw firsthand the miles and miles of forest destroyed by the fires, blackened earth, the scorched trees and of course, homes as well that have been destroyed by the blaze.

And what we've been hearing today from authorities is that they have seen at least 14 incidences of fires rekindling where they once had been contained. It is understood that those restarted fires have once again been contained. But, again, there is a concern that we could see this situation once again tomorrow and that will only exacerbate the current struggle that these first responders are facing.

And for the residents of this region, that will also be a huge concern. We've already seen at least 200,000 people evacuated from this region, forced to flee their homes, with no certainty as to when they'll be able to return home, whether their homes will still be standing when they do return.

There has been some positive news today. We've been speaking to officials who have told us that at least three of the towns which had been told to evacuate have now been given the all clear. So around 60,000 residents have been given the green light to return home. But there are still 20 other towns and cities that are under that evacuation order and that evacuation zone could continue to expand if the situation worsens.

And, of course, there are thousands of people working around the clock as part of this response effort. We're talking about 2,500 firefighters, 1,500 military personnel, as well as 1,200 police officers as well, and we've seen that presence on the ground.

[00:20:06]

And I have to underscore, this really is a ghost town. Now, this is an area which would typically be very busy with holidaymakers, this entire region, during the summer months. But it is a ghost town populated solely by first responders at this current point in time. And there isn't any clarity on when exactly these fires will be brought under control.

MICHAELSON: Nada Bashir for us in France. Nada, thank you.

Questions are growing about Senator Mitch McConnell's health and wary whether he has the ability to remain in office. Tonight the governor of Kentucky is speaking with CNN. We'll hear from him. Plus, the Senate narrowly confirms President Trump's pick for director of National Intelligence. Details on that when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:25:18]

MICHAELSON: Political leaders joining family, friends and constituents of Senator Lindsey Graham to honor his life. Funeral services for the South Carolina Republican who died on July 11th at age 71 held Tuesday at Washington National Cathedral in Washington. Military pallbearers carried Graham's casket into the cathedral, followed by honorary pallbearers.

Senate majority leader John Thune among the speakers, remembering his former colleague. He called him a towering figure in the Senate.

President Trump also delivering remarks paying tribute to Graham and highlighting his decades of service.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: For more than 30 years, nothing of consequence happened in this Capitol without Lindsey Graham knowing about it. Nothing of significance happened anywhere in the world without Lindsey Graham having a view on it. And no bill became law in the most exceptional Republican human history without Lindsey Graham having a say in it.

No matter how heated things got in Washington, virtually everyone, Republican or Democrat, liked Lindsey. Well, not everybody. But it sounds good. Not everybody. He was a tough cookie. OK, I have to be -- I have to veer from this for a second. He was a tough cookie, Darline. But he was beautiful.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAELSON: After the service, Graham's casket was carried out of the cathedral and his body was returned to his home state of South Carolina. In a few hours, he'll be honored with a procession at the statehouse in Columbia before a private burial.

In a 51 to 47 vote, the Senate has officially confirmed President Trump's pick for director of National Intelligence, Jay Clayton. His appointment comes despite his reluctance to answer questions about the 2020 presidential election during a Senate hearing earlier this month.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JON OSSOFF (D-GA): -- won the 2020 election? JAY CLAYTON, NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTOR: I have answered it.

OSSOFF: Answer it. What is your answer?

CLAYTON: I've given you my answer.

OSSOFF: What is your answer? You refuse to answer a basic question about who won a presidential election?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAELSON: Clayton with Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff there.

Clayton inherits a shrinking office of National Intelligence. The former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York will replace interim director Bill Pulte who oversaw sweeping staff cuts ordered by President Trump during his 40 days in that job.

Meanwhile, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has issued an ultimatum to Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky to disclose details about his health or resign. McConnell has not been seen in public for 43 days since he was hospitalized. McConnell's office released another photo on Monday showing the senior senator and his wife.

The governor repeated his message on CNN, talking to Kaitlan Collins tonight, calling on McConnell to directly and verbally address the people of Kentucky and provide proof that he's able to do his job.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. ANDY BESHEAR, KENTUCKY: But it is incumbent upon him to have enough respect from the people of Kentucky and the United States of America to do the bare minimum and be honest and transparent. We don't have any timetable for when he might get back. And so it's not like we are asking a lot. We're asking the bare minimum. And if he won't do it, it is up to John Thune and the majority in the Senate to make him do it.

I think that the Senate majority leader has a responsibility to ensure that all of the members have the capacity to serve.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAELSON: Let's get some insight on this and more from our political panel. Joining us live in studio, Dina Doll, legal analyst for Midas Touch, and John Ziegler, host of the podcast "The Death of Journalism."

Welcome to you both.

Dina, let's start with you. Your thoughts on Mitch McConnell and does John Thune have responsibility to do something?

DINA DOLL, MEIDAS TOUCH LEGAL ANALYST: I mean, absolutely. The Republican Party is showing that their bar for an effective senator is very low. I mean, as Governor Beshear said, we have not heard one word from him despite this major online speculation. And the Republican Party is very quiet. This is OK. Voters are going to the polls not too long from now. They should be getting this message.

MICHAELSON: Did you say the same thing when Dianne Feinstein was barely functioning as a United States senator?

DOLL: Did I personally say this thing?

MICHAELSON: Yes. Yes.

DOLL: Well, I wasn't on your show then given the chance to say the same thing. But the bottom line is both parties. But I think Democrats are actually quite good at cleaning up their own house. Republicans, I have not heard one piece.

MICHAELSON: But she died. Yes. I mean, I mean, is there some hypocrisy, though, John, for Republicans who called on Joe Biden for all of his problems, and now all of a sudden they're so concerned?

[00:30:00]

JOHN ZIEGLER, HOST "THE DEATH OF JOURNALISM" PODCAST: There's hypocrisy everywhere. I think your two examples are really good. I'm very familiar with Mitch McConnell. Back in the dinosaur era, I was a radio and T.V. talk show host in Louisville, Kentucky and had some dustups with him. No love there.

And -- and look, I -- I think that this is a pretty simple problem to solve. I know he's 84 years old, but there's got to be a cell phone around there somewhere. But --

MICHAELSON: Well, apparently he's calling -- he's calling Scott Jennings and other people.

ZIEGLER: Right.

MICHAELSON: So, he has an ability to call.

ZIEGLER: Yes. I'm not a hundred percent sure I'd buy the content of those calls with Scott Jennings, but I'll take Scott at his word. I know Scott, oh, so for my --

MICHAELSON: You like Scott.

ZIEGLER: -- days in Louisville, Kentucky. But I think this is an easy problem to solve.

I will say this, if this was a ransom situation, a kidnapping, and this was a proof of life circumstance, the people that were being asked for the money would not hand over the money based upon the information we currently have. There's not enough proof of life. And it should be an easy problem to solve, especially in the cell phone era.

MICHAELSON: But -- but have -- have we just sort of gotten used to this? Because there was Feinstein, there was Strom Thurmond, there was Robert Byrd. There's been a lot of senators over the years who have been great senators in their time.

Mitch McConnell is one of, agree with him or not, one of the most successful legislators in the history of the United States Senate. And so people just give them grace and sort of let them do this, even if they cancel.

Is that something we're just OK with?

DOLL: I mean, this is different. This is different than maybe showing up with a hearing and not being very effective, not hearing something well or being articulate. That's different.

I mean, he's not showing up at all. He's evidently still in a hospital. You have, I mean, zero idea. Most likely, he cannot talk. Or why else wouldn't you talk?

ZIEGLER: Right.

DOLL: So, we're talking about a level that is a lot more extreme than just the ageism and people holding on a little bit too long.

MICHAELSON: Another topic that is trending right now, of course, we're already talking about the 2028 presidential election. And one of the frontrunners is Gavin Newsom, the governor of California.

And not a great day for him. The -- in "Vanity Fair" today, they published an essay by Ruby Rippey. And here's the CNN headline on cnn.com right now.

"Ruby Rippey, a former Newsom staffer, offers new details on their affair two decades ago."

This was back in 2007. He was the mayor of San Francisco. He was not married at the time. Um, but his campaign manager, a guy named, Alex Tourk, was married to his appointment secretary, Ruby Rippey.

And Newsom and Rippey had an affair. Both of them say that a lot of it had to do with a lot of alcohol during multiple occasions together. Newsom described it as the briefest of affairs in his book.

Ruby Rippey, let's put this up on the screen, says, "For my former boss, it was a footnote in a longer arc of ascent. For me, it is the fracture that split my life into before and after."

And Izzy Gardon, whose governor Newsom's spokesperson, put out this statement to CNN today, quote, "The governor acknowledged his role and publicly apologized nearly two decades ago when he was still the mayor and the time since. He met his wife, started a family, and is focused on serving Californians. He addressed this chapter of his life, including in his memoir, out of respect for everyone involved, does not have anything to add."

John, does this matter in sort of as we think about Gavin Newsom, his character?

ZIEGLER: I wish that it did. One of the reasons I'm a conservative that doesn't like Donald Trump is that Donald Trump has taken away the ability of the Republican Party to accuse anyone of immorality or hypocrisy.

This is a clear Me too violation, what Newsom did here.

MICHAELSON: Is it? She doesn't even say that it is.

ZIEGLER: Well, she was working for him.

MICHAELSON: Yes.

ZIEGLER: And she was married to his best friend.

MICHAELSON: But she literally --

ZIEGLER: That's a Me Too violation.

MICHAELSON: She literally says in the article that this was not a Me Too violation, that it was consensual.

ZIEGLER: That's not her decision to be made.

MICHAELSON: OK.

(CROSSTALK)

ZIEGLER: Hold on a second. Hold on. Let's be clear. Let's be clear.

MICHAELSON: She doesn't have a say?

DOLL: Yes.

ZIEGLER: No, let's be clear. Newsom is getting the handsome man pass. I mean, you don't need it, Alex, but you get the handsome man pass. You know -- you know all about that. I don't.

But the handsome man pass, which you guys on the left give people all the time, Newsom is getting a pass here over something that should be death to a presidential campaign.

DOLL: I mean, to be honest, there's two people involved in that. I think the woman should be the one to define what -- if she's a victim in that or not. And she does say in the "Vanity Fair" article that she didn't quite feel as if the Me Too movement apply to her.

She did say she felt like she suffered the consequences worse. And I think that that was -- we should be following her lead. It was her relationship.

ZIEGLER: You know what the most dangerous thing about this for Gavin Newsom and the democratic primary is? It's actually the fact that his first wife was Kimberly Guilfoyle.

When democratic voters find out that he was married to a woman who ended up being a whack job on Fox News Channel and the fiance of Donald Trump Jr., and that they took some of the craziest pictures together for a magazine shoot ever, that's going to be a huge problem for Gavin Newsom.

MICHAELSON: Well, he hasn't been with her for a long time.

ZIEGLER: No, but that's who he is. It was his first wife. That's part of his decision making.

[00:35:01]

MICHAELSON: Yes.

DOLL: The -- the thing is, none of this is new. I mean, this has been litigated again and again and again.

MICHAELSON: We heard from her for the first time today.

DOLL: We've heard from her.

MICHAELSON: Yes. Does that -- but you don't think it matters?

DOLL: But -- well, not that it doesn't matter. But when he ran for governor, the first time, this was a major, major story.

MICHAELSON: Yes.

DOLL: And it was used to try to take him down, not by her, but by others. And it didn't take him down. I don't know if there's anybody who hasn't heard about this before.

MICHAELSON: Right.

DOLL: So, the fact that --

ZIEGLER: Oh, come on. Nobody outside of California has heard --

DOLL: Well, I --

ZIEGLER: -- about this before. Nobody.

MICHAELSON: Well, some of our friends who watch Fox News Channel have heard about this story --

DOLL: Yes.

MICHAELSON: -- a few times over the years as they talk about him almost every night.

ZIEGLER: Outside of Fox News.

MICHAELSON: Yes. In terms of the presidential contest, it is early, but not that early. How do you see things as a democratic voter?

DOLL: I mean, it is --

MICHAELSON: Who are you excited about?

DOLL: Yes. I mean, there's a few people I'm excited about. It is very early. I think we're in a rapidly changing environment. So, I'm definitely going to catch it.

But the two people I see connecting with democratic voters online is Senator Ossoff and AOC.

MICHAELSON: John Ossoff and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Two different ends of the Democratic Party. It'll be interesting to see. And you're not voting in the Democratic Party.

ZIEGLER: It's not going to be Andy Beshear from Kentucky are going to show you that his chances are about the same as Graham Platner. And that's what part of what he's doing with Mitch McConnell.

MICHAELSON: Why is that? Why is that? Because you don't think --

ZIEGLER: Because he's a straight white, a non-celebrity male from Kentucky. That's not going to win the democratic primary in 2028.

MICHAELSON: Well, we'll see. It serves the seems like he's interested in running.

John and Dina, you both are going to be back with us next hour to talk about Anthony Fauci and some very interesting testimony in the hours ahead, which is going to be something else.

We're going to break that down with both of you. It's pretty coming up shortly.

Also coming up, prosecutors say a Georgia teen carried out a deadly school shooting to become famous. And he wanted people to remember the pain that he caused. That teen has now learned his fate.

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[00:40:38]

MICHAELSON: Welcome back to "The Story Is." I'm Elex Michaelson. Let's take a look at today's top stories.

The powerful earthquake that jolted Japan's prefecture has now claimed at least 13 lives according to the prime minister. The 6.8 magnitude quake also caused major transportation disruptions, toppling trains, buckling roads. Rescue efforts are underway at a shopping mall where it is believed to that the quake set off an explosion.

America's former top infectious disease expert set to appear on Capitol Hill, what is likely to be a combative hearing. Dr. Anthony Fauci expected to appear Wednesday before the Senate. Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee chaired by Republican Rand Paul. Fauci and Paul had previously clashed over the origins of COVID- 19 and the U.S.'s response to the pandemic.

Peru has sworn in its new president, the country's first-ever elected female head of state. She is the daughter of former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori and Peru's 10th president since 2016. Fujimori is the latest in a string of conservative leaders elected by voters across Latin America, frustrated by crime, weak economic growth, and political instability.

The teenager who carried out the deadliest school shooting in the state of Georgia's history has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. Colt Gray killed two teachers, two students, and wounded nine others at Apalachee High School nearly two years ago. Gray surrendered to police that day and has been in custody ever since. The now 16-year-old pleaded guilty to 55 charges last week, including four counts of murder.

His defense attorney had requested life in prison with the possibility of parole, saying Gray had a rough home life. And that due to his young age, he was not he retrievably broken. The district attorney disagreed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRAD SMITH, BARROW COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: And he's the only one in the history of Georgia who was ever taken an assault rifle into a public school and opened fire on perfect strangers, simply so he could be famous.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAELSON: Gray's father, Colin, found guilty of murder and manslaughter charges earlier this year for buying his son the AR-15 style rifle used in the shooting and leaving it unsecured in their house. He had been warned his son was a danger to others. Colin Gray's sentencing is set for Thursday.

After five months, the U.S. government has remained quiet about a strike on a school in Iran.

Coming up, Jake Tapper takes a closer look at the tragic incident as families mourn those who die. His special report, next.

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[00:45:55]

MICHAELSON: Back on February 28th, the first day of the Iran war, a U.S. missile struck an Iranian elementary school.

Now, five months later, the Pentagon and the Trump administration have yet to update the public on the circumstances surrounding that attack. At least 168 children and 14 adults were killed, according to Iranian state media.

CNN's Jake Tapper has more on the victims who lost their lives that day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): This is Atena Chameli Nejad singing a Persian children's poem, smiling and making faces at the camera while her mother fixes her hair. Her family shared these videos to remember her. Atena was killed on February 28th, one of 168 children, according to Iranian state media, who lost their lives when a U.S. Tomahawk missile struck the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab, Iran, on the very first day of the war, five months ago.

In Iran, the parents, the families, and the city of Minab still grieve for those who were killed. They call them the martyrs.

[00:50:01]

This is Mahdis Nazari. Mahdis' body, and one of her classmates, were found in the embrace of their teacher beneath the rubble of school, according to the head of public relations from the Iranian Ministry of Health.

He wrote that the teacher held Mahdis and her classmate, quote, "Tightly in her arms, as if she had tried with her own fragile body to become a shield against the onslaught of stone and iron."

Fourteen adults were also killed that day, according to Iranian state media.

For Omar's (ph) Pegah lost both his daughter, Adrina, and his wife. He describes how it felt to receive both of their bodies, calling his wife his pillar and his daughter his hope and aspiration.

Adrina and her mother were together on the stairs of the school when they were killed. Her teacher who survived the strike told the BBC.

In addition to what we gleaned from other news media, our own information sources are limited to the families whose social media posts we found through anti-regime human rights activists and Iranian media.

That's because the Trump administration and the Pentagon have revealed nothing about the lives they took, apparently, by accident.

Critical and costly mistakes happen in war. This tragedy happened five months ago, but today, the U.S. military and its top leaders and the commander-in-chief have yet to even acknowledge the errors that led to the deaths of nearly 200 children and adults in Iran on day one of this war.

CNN's Zach Cohen reported earlier this month that according to three sources, "Senior U.S. military commanders bypassed warnings in critical databases that intelligence about potential targets in Iran was severely out of date and approved some strikes," including the one that hit the school in Minab.

Two of the sources said, "The decision by senior commanders to ignore the warnings was made for expediency in a rush to provide targets to start the war."

Messages indicated the targets for the strike list were based on intelligence that was more than 10 years old. Three sources now tell CNN's Cohen that the investigation into this strike still sits with military command. The first two stages of the review, "focused on answering basic questions, including whether the strike hit and damaged the intended target had been completed, indicating that the U.S. was responsible for striking the Shajareh Tayyebeh School in Minab, the sources said."

The third stage, a more holistic review of what took place and its impact on the overall mission, was not ordered. "That review would almost always be conducted in the immediate aftermath of a noteworthy strike, they said, but it had not begun as of early July."

We reached out to the Pentagon with questions about the status of the review. An official told us the investigation is ongoing and there are no updates at this time.

Meanwhile, President Trump's own downright refusal to acknowledge the U.S.'s responsibility for the strike continues to evolve.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are images from this site that show fragments that appear to be from U.S. Tomahawk missiles.

Is it possible that old intelligence or a mistake during a very active time in the war led to this event?

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It is. But it's also possible that those images that you have are A.I. generated because a lot what they do is A.I. generated. They're actually very good at it.

So, I don't think that anybody -- you know, I know we're waiting for a conclusive report. I don't think they can be a conclusive report.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will you release the report when it is finished.?

TRUMP: I guess so. I mean, I have to ask the military people. There might be a reason why they can't.

TAPPER (voice-over): In a statement to "The Lead" this afternoon, the White House said this investigation is ongoing. As we have said, the United States does not target civilians.

For the families of Atena, Mahdis, Adrina, and the nearly 200 others, most of them children who were killed five months ago, images from before February 28th, are now what they rely upon to keep their memories alive.

A photo of Atena and Mahdis holding hands hangs here on a banner outdoors that reads in Persian "Heavenly angels, may your martyrdom be honored."

As of now, the Pentagon and the Trump administration have not come even close to honoring the memories of the 168 children and 14 adults, that by all credible accounts, were accidentally killed by the Trump administration five months ago.

Jake Tapper, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE) MICHAELSON: Our thanks to Jake, anchor of "The Lead" every day on CNN.

Just ahead, the latest on the deadly earthquake that struck Japan, including the ongoing rescue and relief operations. Update on that breaking news, next.

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[00:55:22]

MICHAELSON: Bumping in on live pictures and what a sight. Look at this, a live shot of lava flowing from the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii, which is clearly active right now. In Hawaii, it's just about to be seven o'clock in the evening. And what a beautiful picture that is.

Speaking of beautiful pictures, an American wildlife refuge has now earned international recognition. UNESCO has designated the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge as a World Heritage Site.

Refuge spans nearly half a million acres across Georgia and Florida. It's home to the largest freshwater swamp in North America. It's about more than 850 plant species, nearly 50 mammal species, and 90 species of reptiles and amphibians. Congratulations to them.

Thanks for watching the first hour of "The Story Is." The next hour starts right now.