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The Story Is with Elex Michaelson
Progressive Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan Democratic Senate Primary; Meta A.I. Model Hacks Another Company During Testing; Palestinians Bid Final Goodbye to Victims Killed in 2023; Russian "Black Widow" Scam; Russian 'Black Widows' Allegedly Marrying Soldiers for Money; El-Sayed Stuns Dem Establishment with Senate Primary Win; Feds Investigate Man Arrested at Trump's California Golf Course; Is It Ever OK to Wear Shorts to the Office? Aired 12-1a ET
Aired August 06, 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]
COATES: I'm not wonderful, you're wonderful. Thank you, Harry.
And thank you all for watching. "THE STORY IS" with Elex Michaelson, another wonderful person, is next.
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Elex Michaelson live in Los Angeles. Welcome to THE STORY IS. Here are the big stories making headlines at this hour.
Democrat divide. Abdul El-Sayed is the nominee in Michigan. Now, the hard part, bringing the party together.
Also, THE STORY IS, we take you to A.I. and a agents going rogue. Meta announces that their own product attacked another company. Jacob Ward live with us with that.
And we'll talk about what's happening in Russia, and a story of brides potentially marrying for money.
That and more as THE STORY IS starts right now.
ANNOUNCER: Live from Los Angeles, THE STORY IS with Elex Michaelson.
MICHAELSON: Our top story is in Michigan, where Democrats are scrambling to get behind their new nominee for the U.S. Senate with less than three months to go until the midterms. Progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed stunning the Democratic establishment, beating his more moderate opponent, Congressman Haley Stevens, in Tuesday's hotly contested primary.
It was a very tight race. More than 1.5 million votes cast. El-Sayed, winning by less than 15,000, will now face former House Republican Mike Rogers in November Senate race. Earlier, El-Sayed speaking with CNN's Kaitlan Collins about what he hopes to accomplish.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ABDUL EL-SAYED, MICHIGAN DEMOCRATIC U.S. SENATE NOMINEE: We have an opportunity right now to come together to embrace the idea that we can have an America that is affordable because Michiganders right now are suffering. We can actually address the housing crisis. We can address the fact that too many people worry about the fact that they might get sick and don't have the health care that they need and deserve.
Mike Rogers is exactly the opposite of that. They want America to be small. I believe that America is big. It's open minded. It's big hearted. It can include any of us, regardless of how we pray, regardless of where our families come from, regardless of who we love or how we identify. That's the America we're building. And I think America, in Michigan in particular, has an opportunity to remind us just how big we are.
Look, I think we built a movement around the idea that we can get money out of politics, put money in pockets, passed Medicare-for-All.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: The big challenge now for the progressive former public health official is trying to get as much Democratic support as he can and mend the growing rift within the party. El-Sayed is competing for the seat held by Gary Peters. Earlier, the outgoing senator, who had endorsed Haley Stevens, talked about the work that lies ahead for everyone involved.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. GARY PETERS (D-MI): We have to come together and understand that whatever differences existed between Haley Stevens and Abdul, those are very small compared to the difference between Abdul and Mike Rogers. And we're going to make sure that our Democratic Party comes together in Michigan and reach out to independent voters to win the race.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: President Trump was quick to attack El-Sayed after his win, posting on Truth Social, quote, "Great news for the Republican Party." The president accused El-Sayed of hating Jews and Israel and mocked his party, saying the Dumocrats' crazy policies will only get worse. He made even bolder remarks in a speech in Las Vegas earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And the polls were wrong again last night when they thought it would be a landslide victory for a hater of Jews and a hater of Israel. This guy hates Jews. Somebody said, oh, that's a little strong. No, he hates Jews and he hates Israel. Abdul El-Sayed, can you believe this? This could only happen to me.
Abdul El-Sayed, a lovely gentleman. He's a man of hate. And now he's going around saying, no, I love everybody. I love -- he doesn't love everybody. Put him in office. You're going to find out what he loves. When I watch Abdul, he's full of (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: The National Republican Senatorial Committee releasing a new ad criticizing El-Sayed calling him a radical candidate and an extreme socialist.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Abdul Rahman Mohammed El-Sayed, the most radical Senate candidate in America.
EL-SAYED: I'm pretty damn dangerous.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Abdul El-Sayed, too radical, too dangerous. Wrong for Michigan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: You'll notice that ad referenced El-Sayed using his full name. Here's how he responded to that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EL-SAYED: You know, they think they want to use my whole name against me. Mike, listen, man, if you can't say the name, it's Abdul Rahman, keep the name out your damn mouth. I'll be happy to give you lessons.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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MICHAELSON: Mike Rogers posting his own reaction on X, saying, quote, "Abdul isn't just another liberal. He's an extremist."
Joining me now from Michigan is Maya Berry, executive director of the Arab American Institute.
Welcome to THE STORY IS for the first time.
MAYA BERRY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ARAB AMERICAN INSTITUTE: Thank you, Elex.
MICHAELSON: I want you to listen to what Senator Ted Cruz told FOX News.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX): El-Sayed is also an Islamist, as is Mamdani. And look, you see the green-red convergence where the communist and the Islamists, they want Sharia law. They hate Jews. They hate Christians. They hate capitalism. They hate America. All of this is coming together in a way that is really a toxic, toxic stew.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: To clarify, he says that he does not hate Jews, that he is in fact a capitalist. Do you think that this is all Islamophobic?
BERRY: Elex, the amount of disinformation and downright bigotry and the entire intro segment here is deeply disheartening to I think anybody who cares about the wellness of our inclusive democracy. It's really difficult to actually respond to this type of rhetoric from anyone, but when it comes from our elected officials about a public servant who just sought a competitive race to become the senator from the fine state of Michigan, to see that he's won his primary and he's ready to take on the opponent from the other party with a discussion about policies.
And yet we are here going back to things like anti-Arab racism and anti-Muslim bigotry. And it's really quite disheartening. And you and I and the rest of our viewers will remember the last time that this party attempted to talk about someone using their full name to scare constituents. So it didn't work with Barack Hussein Obama. And I don't think it's going to work with the candidate as qualified as Abdul is.
MICHAELSON: I mean, is there any other reason to use his full name other than that?
BERRY: No. And here's the thing. It's -- this is something that's gotten old at this point. Voters are understanding what's happening. We're seeing it. I mean, Senator Ted Cruz today hosted a hearing using taxpayer dollars in the Senate to basically sow fear of American Muslim communities. So when you introduce this concept and you attempt to kind of talk about individual candidates this way, it's transparent bigotry and voters are rejecting it.
And so I don't (INAUDIBLE). The challenge, though, is, again, there are need -- there's a need to have conversation about the difficult issues that are facing our country right now. And instead, what they end up doing is engaging in a process that says, look, this is a Muslim, this is an Arab, and you should fear them.
MICHAELSON: Let's talk about this on a positive note. He would be the first Muslim American senator ever in American history. Can you talk about the emotion of what this moment means for you and your community, and for folks that look like him, who saw him on that stage last night?
BERRY: Yes, I mean, I appreciate that very much because I think that is what we ought to be talking about. So to be clear, he'd be the first American Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate, but he would not be the first Arab American. We've had other Arab Americans serve in that body. And look, I think I'm here in Michigan. We're based in D.C., but I'm here in Michigan specifically for this election we run.
We're nonpartisan institution that runs a voter engagement project called Yellow Vote. We were here talking to voters. We were outside of precinct. And these young kids that are running around with these Abdul for Senate T-shirts are -- I mean, they're not old enough to vote, but they -- but, you know, they're showing this level of excitement because, you know, their name is Abdul. Their name is Mohammed. Their name is Ali. They're just excited about the possibility that someone that's like
them can serve in the U.S. Senate. Someone like them has garnered millions of votes of their fellow Michiganders. It's an incredibly important thing for a community and frankly for a state that's had a level of attention generally when it's negative versus when it's something positive like this.
MICHAELSON: As we've seen for so many groups, especially minority groups, representation matters in such a big way and can make changes for generations.
Maya Berry, thank you for joining us in a historic moment for Muslim Americans in politics. We appreciate it.
BERRY: Thank you, Elex.
MICHAELSON: Key Republican senators are refusing to reveal whether or not they will vote for President Trump's personal lawyer -- former personal lawyer to become the U.S. attorney general.
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Todd Blanche met with holdouts Lisa Murkowski and Bill Cassidy earlier, but both remained fairly tight lipped about what they're going to do. Final vote is expected later this week. Blanche can only afford to lose one more Republican vote since all the Senate Democrats are expected to oppose his nomination. Cassidy, who President Trump effectively ousted by endorsing his opponent in the primaries, spoke about Blanche's nomination earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BILL CASSIDY (R-LA): I've got to be convinced that he is an attorney general who just happens to have once been President Trump's personal attorney, as opposed to person -- as opposed to President Trump's personal attorney, who is now the attorney general. I am very concerned about so-called lawfare, people being prosecuted not for a valid reason beyond somebody in high office being angry at them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: In the coming day, a Senate committee will vote on whether to hold the man who guided America through the COVID-19 pandemic in contempt of Congress. Dr. Anthony Fauci took the Fifth through his testimony last week. His refusal to be drawn back into that long running battle over the origins of the virus angered Republican chairman Rand Paul.
When asked why just the panel and not the full Senate would vote on contempt charges, Paul claimed a vote in favor of charges would be just a suggestion to the Justice Department. Contempt resolution is almost certain to fail in the full Senate.
Dr. Fauci had already received a preemptive pardon from President Biden before he left office, as well as a presidential commendation from President Trump back in 2021. But some Republicans accused the former top government scientist of illegal conduct, which he has repeatedly denied.
President Trump visiting Las Vegas, as we mentioned, to promote his economic agenda ahead of the November midterm elections. He struggled a bit to stay on message, but did highlight efforts to lower prescription drug prices and eliminate taxes on tips.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: People are making a lot of money, no tax on tips, and it's great. The Democrats created the worst inflation in 48 years. They had the worst inflation. I inherited those high prices just so you understand. I inherited them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Yet inflation remains high during his second term due to, in part, to those tariffs. President's trip comes as voters' frustration with the economy grows and his approval rating hits record lows.
Another tech giant is now grappling with A.I. agents going rogue. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, says one of its A.I. models hacked into another company's systems during testing. Meta, blaming the breach on a mistake by its testing partner, which allowed the A.I. model to access the internet. It's similar to another incident in recent weeks involving OpenAI and Anthropic.
Meta says, quote, "We are currently investigating and will issue a full retrospective once we have all of the facts."
Now, the potential dangers of A.I. and how to regulate it were the focus of a White House meeting this week. A live picture from the White House where it's just after midnight. U.S. officials sat down with staffers from the biggest A.I. companies. Sources tell CNN the White House is planning to review advanced A.I. models before they are released, except for so-called open source or open weight models.
The voluntary review process will only cover closed models, which cannot be customized by users like ChatGPT.
Joining me now is CNN contributor and technology journalist Jacob Ward, the host of the "Rip Current" podcast.
Jacob, welcome back to THE STORY IS.
JACOB WARD, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Hi, Elex. Great to see you.
MICHAELSON: OK, so a lot of what I just said is very confusing to most people. So if you can, break it down in terms of what is the issue at play at the White House. What's this really about and how does it affect the average person?
WARD: Well, so the thing to know, the big takeaway here is that in the United States, there are no rules whatsoever at the federal level governing A.I., no matter what weird thing you read about it doing, whether it's Meta's thing going rogue or Anthropic's before that, or OpenAI's before that, there are no laws that cover this stuff in terms of the, you know, the weirdness of A.I. that we are seeing right now.
So the White House for a long time was all in on this totally unregulated idea. And you had President Trump referring to it, I think, as like a beautiful baby. And you shouldn't do something with the baby. I don't remember what his allegory was. But basically it was the whole notion from the White House was, hands off. We're not going to touch this stuff at all.
And then we saw several months ago Anthropic's most sort of elite model called Mythos, it began to be tested and was shown to a number of people. And it suddenly seems to have set off alarm bells in the White House.
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A number of executives were basically pulled out of a fancy dinner by the treasury secretary and the chief of staff, and suddenly the White House's tune has sort of changed such that they now say they want to be able to see a frontier model, as it's called, a cutting edge piece of A.I. before it's released to the public. But here's the thing to understand, Elex, is that this is not really a rule. These are voluntary pre-reviews, as they're called. You don't have to do this as a company. And the White House would have no actual authority to shut anything down.
In addition, and this is the weird part for me, Elex, is that there is supposedly some sort of framework the White House is going to be running these models through, but we have no idea what that is. It's not being made public. Is it technical? Is it ideological? Is it idiotic? You know, we just don't know. And so there's just a very -- it's a confused moment where clearly the White House is no longer satisfied with the idea that they won't have anything to do with A.I. because they've seen what it can do.
But it's not at all clear that this is the kind of regulation that's going to make any difference when it comes to the kinds of headlines we've been seeing.
MICHAELSON: Yes. And nobody wants the idiotic model. But what seems to be pretty smart is A.I., and it does feel like we're at the beginning of one of those science fiction episodes where all of a sudden the robots start getting loose because now we have yet another story today, Meta and its A.I. model essentially going rogue and attacking another company. What's going on here? And are you worried about it?
WARD: You know, what's -- so what's weird to me about this is, first of all, the technological capability of an A.I. that basically doesn't ask permission and just goes out to solve a problem in the most creative and surprising way it possibly can is, in fact, the whole pitch of these A.I. companies, right? The whole notion of agentic A.I., as they call it, an A.I. agent, is it's supposed to be able to go off and make your dinner reservations and negotiate a better price on your car and do all of this stuff.
So that is exactly the same technological notion as a bot that says, hey, I don't need to be stuck in this cage. I'm going to break out and go do this and that and the other, which is what's going on with all of these different models. So I would just say like, this is an enthusiasm of these companies when it's doing it, you know, in a way that isn't embarrassing.
The other thing I would just say that I have to say is just a little weird is like, isn't it interesting that each of these companies now is coming out with these reports from, you know, several months ago, in some cases. It just -- it feels to me a little bit like these companies don't want to be left out. It's almost bragging rights to be able to say that your thing was so smart that it broke out and did something fancy, because that is kind of the premise of A.I. right now, is that it's supposed to be able to be inventive.
It's supposed to surprise you with how efficient it is at getting things done. And so no real surprise here that in an environment where all the safeguards are turned off, which is how they do these hacking tests, it gets real scary real quick, begins impersonating people, attacks individuals, attacks companies. And that's what we're seeing over and over again here, Elex.
MICHAELSON: I don't know why I'm having a visual of "Jurassic Park" when the dinosaurs get out of the cage.
WARD: Yes.
MICHAELSON: It's so --
WARD: You -- what does he say? You did it before you thought you -- whether you should, right? That is exactly the weird moment we're in here right now. I feel that way, too.
MICHAELSON: Yes. All right. Jacob Ward, breaking that down like nobody else can. Thanks so much for being with us. I learned a lot in what you just said.
WARD: Appreciate it.
MICHAELSON: There is progress on talks aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Why one Gulf official says there's a 50-50 chance Iran and Oman will reach a deal by the end of this week. More on that ahead. Plus concerns growing in Russia over so-called Black Widow scams. Women accused of duping Russian soldiers into marriage and collecting their death benefits if they're killed in battle.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:23:17]
MICHAELSON: Palestinians in Gaza have just bid a final goodbye almost three years in the making.
CNN's Jeremy Diamond explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Draped in Palestinian flags, the remains of 112 people are carried through the war torn streets of Gaza City. This funeral procession is nearly three years overdue.
The 112 men, women and children being buried today were killed in November 2023 when Israeli bombs struck a residential block in this same city. Search and rescue teams were only able to begin recovering bodies from the rubble last month. Nearly three weeks later, Gaza's civil defense spokesman says they recovered the remains of 112 people. Dozens more could not be found.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through text translation): Those we didn't manage to recover, we couldn't find any signs of them. Where did their bodies disappear to? Were they taken by stray dogs? Did they disappear? Were they torn apart?
DIAMOND (voice-over): Praying over his cousins' bodies, Issam Abu Shariaa has a different question. Who will he play with?
ISSAM ABU SHARIAA, LOST RELATIVES IN NOVEMBER 2023 AIRSTRIKE (through text translation): They are gone. We don't play anymore. We need to play hide and seek and everything. I am sad because I have no one left to play with.
DIAMOND (voice-over): Hundreds have come to bid farewell. Nearly every person killed in that November 2023 attack hailed from two large Palestinian families, one of which is tied to the Mujahedeen Brigades, a Palestinian militant group.
The Israeli military has not publicly identified any militants killed in that strike. Many more bodies are still trapped beneath the rubble. Some 8,000 according to Gaza's civil defense.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: That was CNN's Jeremy Diamond reporting for us.
[00:25:01]
Iran is pushing back on President Trump's claim that negotiations are underway. Senior Iranian official says there are no talks with the U.S. over the Strait of Hormuz, and calls that claim false. Those comments coming after President Trump said, quote, "very good discussions were taking place with Tehran." And then there were these remarks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I'd rather make a deal because I don't want to kill people. I do not want to kill people. But at some point, we're going to -- we had -- we were set for the biggest attack of any attack. And we've hit them very hard for the last few months. But we were -- we were all set for the biggest attack since World War II, and they called me, and they said, please don't do it. Let's talk. And then they don't -- they say, we never said that. You know what? The fake news knows they did say that. But we are talking. Let's see what happens. But they respect us. They respect us. (END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Iran says it has received messages from Washington expressing interest in renewing previous commitments. But Tehran has not decided whether to move forward. Right now, Iran is reporting progress on ongoing talks with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, and says that they are close to finalizing a proposed framework.
Transit levels in the strait remained low on Wednesday. Marine Traffic data showed at least 10 commercial ships passed through the critical waterway over a 24-hour period.
Ukraine's president is pleading with allies for more air defenses or at least new sanctions against Moscow. He spoke after more than two dozen Russian missiles hit the Kyiv region, but Ukraine was unable to shoot down a single one of them. At least 17 people were killed and dozens wounded overnight into Wednesday. Ukraine is facing a shortage of U.S. made Patriot interceptors, which can shoot down some of Russia's most advanced missiles.
Meanwhile, the CEO of a plant that makes Russian military drones, Vladimir Tkachuk, is fighting for his life, and state news agency says he was wounded in a car explosion on Wednesday. Moscow has blamed Ukraine for a number of earlier attacks on figures linked to Russia's war effort.
In Russia controversy is growing around so-called "Black Widow" scams. Women allegedly entering sham marriages with soldiers to claim death benefits if they're killed.
CNN's Matthew Chance with the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CHIEF GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A mass wedding of Russian soldiers before their packed off to the front lines.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I want to shake your hand and thank you for not running away, for not being scared.
CHANCE (voice-over): But not all marriages are for love. Russian military wives get thousands of dollars compensation if their husbands are killed in action, and officials say ruthless scammers dubbed "black widows" and now tricking vulnerable recruits into wedlock.
The father of Maria, from St. Petersburg, died after being shot in Ukraine last year. She told me she only found out her dad had joined the army after he was killed, and only then did he had any wife.
How did you feel when you found out that your dad had gotten married just days before he went off to war?
MARIA, DAUGHTER OF RUSSIAN SOLDIER (through translator): It felt unreal. When I was being issued the death certificate, they asked if he was married. I said no, but they told me he was. I never even managed to contact the woman. I simply didn't know what to say to her because I suspected it was a scam.
CHANCE (voice-over): It's just one suspected case in a growing number scandalizing Russia. '
With the war in Ukraine now in its fifth year and casualty rates at catastrophic highs it's hard to imagine there are people out there marrying vulnerable men and encouraging them to join the military just so they might financially benefit if they're killed on the front lines. No wonder there's outrage across Russia at the spread of these "black widow" scams.
(Voice-over): There are numerous allegations of recruits honey trapped before dying on the front lines, even marrying on their death beds in hospital. This woman who married a soldier 10 days after meeting him, then posted images of herself with other men, was branded a "black widow" in the Russian media and denied compensation when her husband was killed before their divorce went through. She denied any wrongdoing, saying the allegations had blackened her name.
But there's growing public anger at how cynical some Russians have become about the war, the Kremlin calls its special military operation. "If I want an apartment, where am I supposed to get the money?" The host of this podcast asks. "It's simple." The guest who's a real estate agent, responds, "Find a man serving in the special military operation. And when he's killed, you get eight million rubles," she laughs.
[00:30:14]
The podcasters were prosecuted and forced to apologize: a rare intervention by the Russian courts.
Back in St. Petersburg. Maria takes us to the block where her dad's old apartment has now been sold off, convinced he was also scammed out of his home.
CHANCE: Do you know who the new owner is?
How long? How many years did your dad live here?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
CHANCE: Five years.
This is it. It's open.
CHANCE (voice-over): Behind the broken door, the new occupants insist it was a legitimate sale and that they never even met the seller.
It means the money and the widow, just like Maria's dad, are now long gone.
Matthew Chance, CNN, in St. Petersburg.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Our thanks to Matthew Chance for that.
We'll return to our top story after the break. My political panel, standing by live to talk about Abdul El-Sayed's win in Michigan. The Republican reaction, what it all means for Democrats. Kevin Liao, Jon Fleischman, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
J.D. VANCE, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: We don't want the next administration, whoever -- you know, God forbid you're going to have President El-Sayed in three years. We don't want him to undo all the incredible work that we've been doing when we've been taking out the fraudsters and saving the American people money.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Let's talk more about the Michigan Senate primary and the big win for Dr. Abdul El-Sayed.
Kevin Liao is a Democratic strategist and serves as principal at Front Runner Strategies. Jon Fleischman is a political strategist and former executive director with the California Republican Party. Welcome to you both. Good to see you.
Welcome to the show for the first time, Kevin.
KEVIN LIAO, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Thank you.
MICHAELSON: Good to have you here. You've worked with a lot of big- name Democrats in the past, from Tom Steyer to Elizabeth Warren. Right? And Jennifer Granholm and others. And it's great to have you here with us on the show.
So, as the Democrat who's worked on press and comm strategy and been in the room where it happens, determining what to go out there and say, I'm curious about the thinking in the El-Sayed camp right now.
Here's what he said to Kaitlan Collins earlier on CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABDUL EL-SAYED (D), MICHIGAN SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: Mike Rogers is an existential threat to the affordability of Michiganders, which is already pretty low. That taking on Donald Trump and holding him accountable for his abuses of power is a critical goal. And that addressing the fact that people deserve healthcare, and housing, and good schools is a key goal that we all share.
So, we're coming together, as we need to do, to defeat Mike Rogers and -- and defeat Trumpism.
(END VIDEO CLIP) MICHAELSON: So, everybody's trying to set expectations on day one.
What's the Democratic strategy?
LIAO: I think, No. 1-- you heard him say it first -- Donald Trump. Trump, both nationally and in Michigan, his approval ratings in the mid-30s. That's going to really tank Republican candidates around the country. And that's, you know, I think the first part of the message he's trying to accomplish.
The other thing that El-Sayed did yesterday in his speech last night, which I thought was interesting, was sort of tied his personal story and wrapped himself around the American flag, not unlike Barack Obama famously did in 2004, saying, only in America is my story possible.
El-Sayed talked about he's the son of immigrants. He was able to go to medical school because his -- you know, got that good public-school education.
Because of those attacks he's going to get because he's Muslim, because of his name, he is trying to insulate himself from that, to say, I'm just like the rest of you. I'm just part of the American fabric, like everyone else here in Michigan.
MICHAELSON: Well, the NRSC, which is the Senate Republicans, Jon came out with a subtle ad about El-Sayed. Nothing subtle about it. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, the most radical Senate candidate in America.
EL-SAYED: I'm pretty damn dangerous.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: El-Sayed pledged support for the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, a designated foreign terrorist group.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: So, what's the very clear strategy there?
JON FLEISCHMAN, FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY: Well, I'm not a strategist for that -- that group. But I would tell you that the clear strategy for Republicans is to make sure -- you know, Sayed is -- El-Sayed is a very extreme socialist-adjacent candidate who believes in Medicare for all. He doesn't believe that there should be a Jewish home state. He doesn't believe -- you know, he believes there should be a natural [SIC] -- a national gender transition strategy. I mean, these are all very extreme positions.
MICHAELSON: Has he said that there shouldn't be a Jewish home state? I mean, he has -- he's certainly not a big fan of Israel. I don't know if he's gone that far.
FLEISCHMAN: Well, what he said is that you should not have a -- a country whose basis is a religion. And so -- and so, yes, he's basically said that. So, but strategy-wise is you want to keep him from expanding his base.
He's the extreme candidate who barely won. And -- and you want to come in and introduce Mike Rogers as somebody who is a reasonable person that can appeal to a lot of those center Democrats who think that this guy is, you know, cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.
MICHAELSON: I mean, saying his whole name like that, laying that out with all the dark music --
FLEISCHMAN: Well, I'm not a big fan of -- I'm not a big fan of that particular strategy.
[00:40:01]
MICHAELSON: I mean, is that -- I mean, is that -- that's racist and Islamophobic. No?
FLEISCHMAN: I -- I -- that's not an ad that you would catch me ever running.
But again, at the end of the day, there's a reason why, like last night, I was watching, you know, and you get, you know, these folks like Chris Cillizza and Chuck Todd who are like the -- the people that follow politics. And they're all like, well, this -- Michigan was -- was really not on the radar. And now, it's going to be the most expensive battleground state in the country.
And they're saying that, because Democrats did not put forward the safe nominee. They put forward someone who's very extreme. And obviously, if he wins, it's going to be a big news for socialists around the country.
MICHAELSON: That sounds like that same thing could be said for Republicans in Texas, where John --
FLEISCHMAN: I won't disagree with that either.
MICHAELSON: John Cornyn would have been the safe nominee.
FLEISCHMAN: Yes.
MICHAELSON: And now there's money spent in that race, as well.
FLEISCHMAN: Yes.
MICHAELSON: At a year when people are --
FLEISCHMAN: There's a mirror image there.
MICHAELSON: -- are frustrated by incumbents and the establishment and are trying to send a middle finger to people in power, whatever party that you're on.
But the -- the -- the clear anti-
FLEISCHMAN: You hear that, Kevin. You can say "middle finger" on here. LIAO: You just can't show it. Yes.
MICHAELSON: I was just upset that you weren't watching us last night, but you were watching them. But that's OK.
In terms, though, of clearly bringing up his religion, his name, this -- dark undertones of that, how do you combat that?
LIAO: I think it is what he started to do in that speech last night, really, to -- to show, hey, yes, my name may sound different than most others in the state of Michigan. But his story, the fact that he worked hard. He went to the University of Michigan. He went to medical school, served the community as the public health director in Wayne County. Those are the types of things that match a more traditional political resume.
Plus, I think the reason he rose in this campaign -- started in third place and defeated some, you know, establishment Democratic figures -- is he is a talented communicator. He was able to motivate this grassroots base of Democrats who are really upset at the establishment, who wanted something different.
And that's why he rose to the top. And I think that's what's going to drive him to victory.
MICHAELSON: And wearing schmedium shirts, showing that -- that --
LIAO: Really hitting the gym.
MICHAELSON: -- that he hits the gym.
LIAO: Yes.
MICHAELSON: And there may be more alpha version of some of the Democratic messaging, which hasn't always been in that way, as well. Images matter.
Meanwhile, Todd Blanche, the current acting attorney general who wants to be the full-time attorney general of the United States. It's not clear if he is going to get there or not. He can only afford to lose two Republicans, assuming that Mitch McConnell doesn't somehow speak in the next few days, much less show up at the Senate.
And he's already lost one: Susan Collins out of Maine. Lisa Murkowski, senator from Alaska, has said she's not clear what she's going to do. Unclear also what's going to happen with Bill Cassidy from Louisiana, who is leaving, because Trump didn't want him to stay there.
SCHNEIDER: Cassidy would be -- Cassidy would be the big worry point. I've watched the senator from Alaska for a long time. If she's a "no" vote, she comes out early.
When she plays this game, she's got a little notepad of things she wants for the state of Alaska, and she's working it out with Jon Thune. And, you know, and then the other members of the Senate Republican
conference will be, like, we don't get it. We -- we're loyal, and we don't get all this give-away stuff.
So -- so Cassidy is a very real deal.
The president made some political decisions to get involved in Senate primaries and has retired a few incumbents. And so, those incumbents don't have a lot of love for this president.
And so, I do -- I do think it's a -- it's a very real issue. And I think that there's a concern that this was the personal legal advisor to the president of the United States. Now he's the attorney general.
And we had that kind of self-dealing fund issue where the president got a tax -- so I -- it'll be interesting to see whether or not he can make his case.
MICHAELSON: We're out of time, but yes or no. Does he get there?
FLEISCHMAN: Yes.
MICHAELSON: Does he get there?
LIAO: Yes.
MICHAELSON: Yes. And by the way, Lisa Murkowski knows leverage just about as good as anybody.
FLEISCHMAN: A hundred percent.
MICHAELSON: Any senator ever. I mean, it is pretty good for getting things back for her constituents.
All right, gentlemen. You guys are sticking around. There's more to talk about in our next hour. So, thank you both for being here.
We're also learning new details about the man arrested at President Trump's golf course right here in Southern California. What federal investigators found inside the man's home. Nick Watt is there, next.
And later, the mercury's soaring across parts of Europe this summer. Some professionals are wondering, can I possibly wear shorts to the office? We hit the streets of London to find out that answer. That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:49:15]
MICHAELSON: Welcome back to THE STORY IS. I'm Elex Michaelson. Let's take a look at today's top stories.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration giving the go-ahead for the first mRNA-based flu vaccine. The shot, made by Moderna, requires less time between selection of the flu strain used and public release of the vaccination.
Experts hope it will offer a closer match between the immunity conferred by the drug and the circulating flu strains.
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Schwartz is a former deputy surgeon general and retired U.S. Coast Guard officer.
The previous director was removed less than a month into the job after clashing with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Pope Leo is set to visit Peru in November. It will be his first trip to Latin America as pontiff. The pope served as a missionary, teacher, and bishop for nearly two decades in Peru, where many see him as one of their own.
A federal court appearance canceled Wednesday for the man arrested at President Trump's golf club here in Southern California. Our Nick Watt takes us there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK WATT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Was this man planning to kill the president? The Secret Service now investigating. Jeanine John Taele from the nearby city of Downey was detained Sunday at Trump National in Palos Verdes, authorities say with ammunition in his pockets and a loaded gun in his pickup truck.
His arrest announced Tuesday while the president was in the air, en route to a fundraiser here at the golf club that went off without incident last night.
Here's what we know from the L.A. County sheriff and the FBI.
Friday, federal agents spotted a suspicious man wandering on the course wearing an earpiece, taking pictures and video of security preps for the president's visit.
Sunday, the man was back, approached federal agents, told them he was with the State Department. A background check revealed a warrant for a previous robbery, and a pat-down revealed a 16-round magazine filled with hollow-tipped rounds in his pocket.
In his car, deputies found a loaded pistol, binoculars, and a badge that read "Security Protection Agent."
Monday, during a search of Taele's home, law enforcement say they found an illegally modified AR-15-style rifle, a pistol, body armor, more ammunition, and multiple notebooks containing concerning statements, and another badge.
There was no immediate indication Taele was plotting to attack Trump, a federal law enforcement source told CNN. The investigation goes on, including a search of Taele's phone, in search of an explanation for why he was armed and at that golf club. "There is no room for error," said an FBI assistant director, "particularly in light of the previous attempts on the president's life."
A would-be assassin set up a sniper's nest on the edge of another Trump golf course in Florida in the late summer of 2024.
And of course, that failed attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, just a few months prior.
WATT: So far, Taele has pleaded not guilty to four local charges, three of them weapons, one robbery. He is facing one federal weapons charge right now. Of course, more charges could be added.
At this point, we just don't yet know whether this was, indeed, a serious threat to the president or if this was perhaps somebody suffering some kind of mental health crisis. When we get information about those concerning statements in his notebooks, that might shed some light.
Nick Watt, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: GOP Congressman Max Miller is vowing to stay in the race for reflection [SIC] -- reelection in Ohio, despite his abuse allegations. Find out what House Speaker Mike Johnson is saying about the Miller controversy. His comments ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:58:01]
MICHAELSON: It's been a hot summer in Europe. And that begs the question, is it OK to wear shorts to the office? Our Anna Stewart hit the streets of London to find out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNA STEWART, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Something's got the city hot and bothered.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel strongly that that should be allowed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It just feels a bit odd, a bit unprofessional.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely.
STEWART: Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Why not?
STEWART (voice-over): In a heat wave, is it appropriate to wear shorts in the office? There's one way to find out.
Welcome to the CNN catwalk, where the commuters are the models, and the judging is ruthless.
STEWART: Tailored shorts. I think this works for the office.
DANIEL JOHNSON, STYLIST: We're going to disagree all day.
STEWART (voice-over): Daniel Johnson is a stylist specializing in menswear.
Next up we have Hayden. Thankfully, only sightseeing today.
JOHNSON: A little too short for the office.
STEWART: Not for the office.
STEWART (voice-over): Hubert gets a big thumbs up for his Gordon Gekko style, but is he suffering in trousers and socks?
STEWART: Hubert says he's too hot.
JOHNSON: It's going to be the case for anyone in this heat, is it not?
STEWART: But you'd rather he suffered?
STEWART (voice-over): For this stylist, the rules are quite simple.
JOHNSON: No shorts whatsoever.
STEWART: What if they're tailored?
JOHNSON: Not even if they're tailored, I'm afraid. Legs are not for the office.
STEWART: OK, how about should you show your toes or not?
JOHNSON: Not at all.
STEWART: Never show your toes?
JOHNSON: Never show your toes.
STEWART (voice-over): Fashion is subjective. And on London's famous Savile Row, hemlines are rising.
DOMINIC GAMER, STORE MANAGER, CAD AND THE DANDY: Something like this. This is sort of a mid-thigh kind of short, slightly higher-waisted with a pleat.
STEWART (voice-over): At Cad and Dandy, short sales are up 200 percent, compared to last year.
STEWART: Does it matter how short the shorts are, in terms of the workplace?
GAMER: I think so, yes. I think there comes a point. You don't want something that looks like, you know, your dad would wear, you know, on a weekend sort of below the knee, but at the same time too short is too short.
STEWART: What are the rules for women?
GAMER: I think the general sort of rule of thumb is that something elegant, something discreet, something tailored. I'd say as much so for women as for men.
