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The Story Is with Elex Michaelson
Trump Returning to Texas for San Antonio Rally; Susan Collins and Troy Jackson Face Off in First Maine Senate Debate; Student Protests in France Turn Violent; Georgia Governor Candidates Clash in Debate; New Book Showcases George Harrison's Photography; Messi Bids Farewell to Argentina. Aired 12-1a ET
Aired October 07, 2026 - 00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[00:00:29]
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Elex Michaelson live in Los Angeles.
Coming up, THE STORY IS back to Texas. President Trump headed to the Lone Star State for another rally. Republicans are increasingly concerned about the midterms. We're live in Dallas. Plus, former congressmember Adam Kinzinger live with me on set.
THE STORY IS taking it to the streets. High schoolers across France protesting the lack of educational funding. But they've been met by force from police.
And THE STORY IS George Harrison behind the lens. The famed Beatles guitarist had another passion besides music. His widow, Olivia Harrison, sitting down with me to show us his photography from around the world.
ANNOUNCER: Live from Los Angeles, THE STORY IS with Elex Michaelson.
MICHAELSON: Our top story is President Trump's red state blitz. With less than four weeks to go until the last day to vote in the midterms, the president is crisscrossing the country, hoping to boost Republican candidates and the party's voter turnout.
While a growing number of polls show the Democrats making big gains in crucial battleground and traditional Republican strongholds, the president due back in Texas in the day ahead for the second time in less than a week, this time for a rally in San Antonio. A source says Ken Paxton, the state's Republican Senate nominee, is also expected to attend. Paxton has been publicly praising the GOP's midterm convention held last month. But according to "The New York Times," he privately told donors the event did not help his campaign.
That is not what the president wants to hear, though. He spent part of Tuesday in Baltimore announcing a multibillion dollar investment partnership on a new shipyard facility. He later told reporters his rally appearances are benefiting everybody.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Ken is doing much better now that I've -- everybody is. Since starting three or four days ago, since starting the rallies, it's brought a whole new awareness to how great the Republicans are doing, how great the economy is doing, and --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Let's bring in Joe Lovinger, Texas reporter for Bloomberg News live for us in Dallas.
Joe, your reporting is that Governor Greg Abbott, the Republican governor of Texas, is not going to be there with President Trump. Why not? And what does that tell us about President Trump's standing in the traditionally ruby red state of Texas?
JOE LOVINGER, TEXAS REPORTER, BLOOMBERG NEWS: That's right. If you ask the governor, he says that he had preexisting campaign plans. He's going to be speaking in College Station to a group of local Republicans at a barbecue dinner that night. But it obviously does, you know, raise some questions. This is an extremely close race that Governor Abbott is facing. He is not someone who's faced many close races for reelection in the past.
But Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic challenger for governor, has really challenged him, particularly on the issue of data centers on which Governor Abbott and President Trump have recently disagreed. President Trump has been pro-data center development, but we've seen it become a real flashpoint in Texas politics as rural voters rebel against the idea of building these large developments on their land.
And so, Governor Abbott has passed new rules to try to slow development. And this, you know, is the latest instance where we're seeing Governor Abbott put a little bit of distance between himself and the president as he faces this close race.
MICHAELSON: Texas has not had a Democratic governor in decades, has not had a Democratic senator in decades either. And that race, of course, is perhaps the most closely watched Senate race in the country, James Talarico versus Ken Paxton.
What are you hearing from your sources in terms of where this race actually is right now? And is Talarico actually ahead?
LOVINGER: I would say that every -- everyone involved is treating this like a true tossup, which in itself is stunning in Texas. People remember the 2018 Senate race when Beto O'Rourke came within three points of defeating Ted Cruz. And people I'm talking to are saying that this is even closer than that. At this point in the race, Beto was trailing Cruz in polls, but we have not seen Paxton lead Talarico in a poll since early August, at least from a major pollster.
So the data would suggest that Talarico has a slight lead. But this is Texas, and we've seen the cavalry really come in behind Ken Paxton.
[00:05:02] Senate leadership and President Trump and Elon Musk have given, you know, $190 million in television bookings on behalf of Ken Paxton in recent weeks. That is just a wild amount of money that we have not seen the Democrats able to match.
James Talarico has been taking to the campaign trail and getting out there on TV with his message as well. But, you know, in the closing weeks, I think what we're going to be watching is whether we see any changes in the polls as a result of all of this money that's flowing into the race. We have not seen that yet. But as I said, tens of millions of dollars are being spent on this race, and you can't watch a football game without seeing ads from both of these candidates.
MICHAELSON: As we learned, though, here in California in the primary, when we had a guy named Tom Steyer spend $200 million, he didn't even make it past the primary. So sometimes spending a lot of money, if you don't have a great message doesn't always work. We'll see what happens with Ken Paxton in the weeks ahead.
Joe Lovinger, getting us started in Dallas. Thank you so much, Joe. Always appreciate your perspective.
Joining me now live here on the set is Adam Kinzinger, a CNN senior political commentator, former congressman from Illinois but now somebody who is a Texas resident, who's voting in Texas.
ADAM KINZINGER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: That's right.
MICHAELSON: Who recently endorsed James Talarico. Of course, you come from a Republican background, not a big fan of President Trump, and a fan of James Talarico. How do you see the state of this race as a Texan, and what's going on with your party?
KINZINGER: Yes, I mean, look, I think Talarico is in the catbird seat, but it is really important to remember that when you get towards an election day, people default to their sides. So that's a reality. But this feels a lot to me like 2010. I ran and won in 2010. And what you started to see about now was Republicans really -- this was the Tea Party wave, really running away with it. And you started to get this feeling 30 days out from an election like, wow, we're going to crush it. And all the undecideds were breaking our way.
I feel like that. Now, if you're an undecided voter in Texas, chances are probably two out of three will vote for Talarico because they know enough about Paxton. That's part of the problem with having $200 million spent already. It's not like there's anything left for you to learn about Ken Paxton. I've seen all these commercials, by the way. They're redundant. The same thing over and over.
And, I mean, certainly it's an advantage to have that money spent on your behalf. But I feel like you're just kind of trying to squeeze juice out of a turnip at this point.
MICHAELSON: Meanwhile, Susan Collins trying to hang on for dear life in her Senate race in Maine.
KINZINGER: Right.
MICHAELSON: She, of course, is a Republican who keeps on winning in a Democratic state despite headwinds against her multiple times. She's on the debate stage against Troy Jackson, the former president of the state Senate there. Let's watch some of that from tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. SUSAN COLLINS (R-ME): Maine has the fourth highest electricity rates in the country. It has some of the highest housing costs in the entire country. Those are all due to Augusta's failed policies under the failed leadership of Troy Jackson.
TROY JACKSON (D), MAINE DEMOCRATIC SENATE NOMINEE: Senator Collins is like an arsonist who helped set the fire, and then she wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put it out. All of her Republican colleagues called her a team player. She stood with Donald Trump whenever he wanted that. 96 percent of the time she votes with him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: What are the two strategies at play there?
KINZINGER: So I think Troy Jackson's best strategy would be to say, look, she is never the deciding vote that takes any of Donald Trump's stuff down. She'll vote no if there are just enough people to pass something every time, by the way. And I think he makes -- and also pointing, you know, what is she offering that she hasn't been able to do since she's been in the Senate anyway?
Obviously, she is pointing to his state leadership and his role in the state, and I think she is -- I kind of put her of every incumbent that's being challenged. She's probably in the strongest position to win again because I do think there is a level of respect that people have for people that are willing to stand up to their party, even though I would argue, again, she only stands up when she has the -- you know, when it's not going to make a real impact.
I think in Maine, they kind of respect that independent streak. So this one could legitimately go either way. But we'll see.
MICHAELSON: So you obviously stood up to your party, as did Liz Cheney. And both of you were part of the January 6th Commission. Susan Collins took a swipe at Liz Cheney recently in an interview she did with Jonathan Martin, talking about that approach that both of you took in terms of what to do. Let's remind folks of what that looks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: With the case of Liz Cheney, what influence does she have today? Really, none.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[00:10:01] MICHAELSON: So her argument is, I do what I got to do, but it's kept me in the room where it happened. Whereas you and Liz Cheney are outside the room where it happens. You're not in office anymore, and so it's better to be in the tent than outside the tent.
KINZINGER: I've heard so many people make that argument. It's like, if you can look at yourself in the mirror for that, that's fine. Like honestly, you know, in politics, some of it is just reflecting what it takes to get reelected. For me, the fact that I'm a father, that I have a son that I have to talk about doing the right thing to someday I could not live like that.
And, you know, I wear on my wrist the name of Andreas O'Keefe, a friend of mine who died for this country. I ran right after coming back from Iraq. And I just remember thinking, if I'm going to take votes that are going to affect the future of this country, including asking young people to be willing to die for the country, I have to be willing to take a career-ending vote on an oath keeping thing.
And I never knew it would be January 6th. But I struggle to see how somebody can, you know, salute people that have passed defending this country, but then go to D.C. and take a vote they know to be wrong simply so that they can keep their job. Again, if she can look at herself in the mirror, good on her. But to me, taking an oath, you know, being in the Senate, being in the House is about way more than, can I survive to be around for the conversation later?
MICHAELSON: You know, it's interesting that Senator Thom Tillis, who is retiring on the way out, has taken a lot of shots at folks in your party in the process, says in a new book that voting for Pete Hegseth was his biggest regret.
KINZINGER: Yes.
MICHAELSON: And he is basically taking responsibility for some of the folks that he voted for in the Cabinet. How do you interpret that?
KINZINGER: Oh, man, I struggle with this one because I'm glad he's speaking out. And I don't want to discourage him from speaking out. But as this book was being printed, so he had already written these words down, right? He voted for Todd Blanche for attorney general. So he says his biggest regret is Pete Hegseth, RFK Jr., and as that is printing, he says, I'm a yes, I'm a yes on Todd Blanche. And that's what I don't understand.
You know, he wrote down the words about, boy, I wish I'd have taken the stance and then puts in the worst attorney general we've had in a generation. And I think he'll say that when he's out of office. I don't understand it. Glad he's speaking out. Whatever.
MICHAELSON: Well, Senator Tillis is going to be here on the set in that chair in a few days.
KINZINGER: Good. All right.
MICHAELSON: So we can play that for him and maybe get his answers. KINZINGER: I'm keeping it warm for him.
MICHAELSON: Get his answer to that. In the meantime, you've spoken out so much about Russia and Ukraine. It's been one of your top causes. This week word of a potential pneumonic plague happening in Russia. A scientist who may have gotten this working in a lab, it's not really clear because they haven't put out that much information about what exactly happened.
KINZINGER: Right.
MICHAELSON: The Secretary of State Marco Rubio talking about that today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE: It's incumbent upon Russia to obviously share more information with the world. The more we can learn about what happened, then -- the better all of us can be in a position of responding, and maybe, you know, there's nothing there. Maybe it's bigger than we thought. We don't know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Do you trust what Russia is saying? And assuming you don't, what sort of leverage does the U.S. and the rest of the world have to get good information so this doesn't turn into a health crisis?
KINZINGER: Yes. I mean, you said it. I clearly don't trust Russia. It's interesting because Trump under COVID, he constantly called it the China virus, if you remember. Every time he talked about it. Here they're giving Russia seemingly the benefit of the doubt a little bit, although I'll be honest, they are saying they're watching it.
What leverage do we have? Well, first off, you can ban flights to and from Russia and to and from countries that allow flights to and from Russia. I mean, this is serious enough, especially the fact that we know that the Russians, under the Soviets at least, were developing a bio weapon of the plague that's more transmittable, that is resistant to antibiotics. And so there's concerns were they really -- was this an investigate, a defense play? You know, what was it?
And the whole broken vial theory sounds kind of weird. So I do think there are ways they can do that. But ultimately we're going to have to just take defensive measures against Russia, because I don't think we will ever be in a place where we know whether or not the story is true until it disappears. And let's hope it is. Let's hope this is an overreaction. But I would much rather overreact to a friggin plague than underreact to it.
MICHAELSON: Thankfully, as far as we know, there's only one person that's been affected by this.
KINZINGER: That's right. MICHAELSON: The other folks in that person's life are being monitored,
are in quarantine right now. Let's hope this does not become a bigger story.
KINZINGER: I would like to point out that remember the conspiracy theories about the biolabs in Ukraine? It's interesting that this is actually coming out of Russia now.
MICHAELSON: Yes. There were conspiracy theories about what was happening in China in terms of the Wuhan lab.
KINZINGER: That's right. Yes. Yes.
MICHAELSON: And now it looks like a lot of those conspiracy theorists were correct.
KINZINGER: True.
MICHAELSON: So we'll see what happens down the road.
Congressman, thanks so much for being here. First time on THE STORY IS.
KINZINGER: It's great being here. Thank you.
MICHAELSON: Great to have you in -- on our set.
KINZINGER: You bet.
MICHAELSON: Now to this story. Attorneys for the woman who survived Tennessee's attempt to execute her say she is now conscious and speaking.
[00:15:01]
They say despite the severe damage Christa Pike suffered to her arm, she is still handcuffed and shackled to a bed and continues to receive critical medical care. The lawyers are expected in court in the coming hours as they seek a court order to preserve evidence of the botched execution.
Pike survived two lethal injections during her planned execution last week in a chamber similar to the one in this video. She had been sentenced to death for the 1995 murder of a classmate.
Turning now to Israel where memorials are taking place across the country to mark the third anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attacks.
We've got live pictures right now from a memorial at the Nova Festival site, where more than 360 people were killed and dozens taken hostage on October 7th. The ceremony began in the last hour at the moment when the Hamas attack began. Of course, it is October 7th in the morning in Israel right now. The anniversary comes at an inflection point for Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political future. In less than three weeks, Israel will hold a national election. This
marks the country's first vote since the October 7th, 2023 Hamas attack. Prime Minister Netanyahu has faced a lot of scrutiny in those three years over those attacks. Recent reports allege that the United Arab Emirates and Egypt had warned Netanyahu of a major Hamas operation days before the October 7th attack.
Just ahead, chaos erupting in France. Police fired tear gas at crowds of teenagers during student-led protests.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are young enough to be kicked, to be gassed, but we are not old enough to be listened. So that's pretty crazy. I mean, we should be listened.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[00:21:10]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MANES NADEL, FORMER PRESIDENT, UNION SYNDICALE LYCEENNE: The strategy of the government since the beginning, without giving any answer, any political answer, any real discussion to the social movement, they are just creating violence. And the methods used by this power to repress this movement is unknowingly violent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: Protesters in France accusing the government of ordering police to crack down on student-led demonstrations. Teachers, parents, union members joining Tuesday's nationwide protests over teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms and a lack of resources. More than 400 people were detained. Organizers say 450,000 people took part in protests across the country.
All this addressing parliament on Tuesday, France's prime minister denied trying to silence student protesters and condemned what he called extreme violence. He also urged officials to listen to students' concerns and demands. More protests are planned for Thursday.
We're joined now live on set by CNN European affairs commentator Dominic Thomas, who is just back from several months in France.
You watch sort of this start to percolate over the months. Interesting that President Trump is weighing in on this day. We want to show what he posted on Truth Social. He wrote, quote, "What's happening in France is nothing less than out of control mass migration. This isn't about schools. This is about Islam wanting to take over a once great country. President DJT."
Is that true?
DOMINIC THOMAS, CNN EUROPEAN AFFAIRS COMMENTATOR: No. He could not be further from the truth, Elex. I mean, this has absolutely nothing to do with that. First of all, if we really want to look at just the facts, net migration in France, net migration in the European Union is down over the last five years, precisely because the question of immigration has been so crucial in European politics that the endeavor to control it has taken attention.
So there's no argument there. And when it comes to stigmatizing immigrants and Muslims, they have absolutely nothing to do with this. And there is no evidence. This is a real far-right sort of playbook, which is distracting from the real attentions upon which the students and the unions are trying to shine some light here, Elex.
MICHAELSON: Well, and the students met with some officials in the last few days. What is the main message from the students?
THOMAS: Well, I think there's the message and then there's the broader context. I think, first of all, it's impossible to understand what's going on here without looking at the broader political context of disaffection after 10 years of Emmanuel Macron being at the helm of the presidency. The meeting is about classroom conditions, schedules, having adequate teachers, supports, access to higher education, and so on.
But the broader context is real concern, too, about the simple future, job opportunities, the implications of A.I. and so on, but really also a sentiment that there are those in French society that are winning in the education system, in those wealthy sectors that are supported versus those that are being left behind. And that's ultimately what they've done by taking to the streets to voice their disaffection here.
MICHAELSON: And the educational system has not exactly had continuity. Right?
THOMAS: No. Absolutely not. So since Emmanuel Macron was elected in 2017, we're now on the eighth, the eighth education minister, of which five of them lasted less than a year.
MICHAELSON: Wow.
THOMAS: So in terms of continuity, in terms of enacting policy and having a firm agenda, it's simply not been there. Education has been left behind by Emmanuel Macron.
MICHAELSON: It's almost like the British prime minister and what's happening in terms of that. So there's been some allegations, we're looking at some of these pictures. We see the flames. We see law enforcement out there. Some allegations of police brutality. From what you've seen, is that what's going on here?
THOMAS: Yes, unambiguously and not just here, but this is an outgrowth of something that's been taking place in France since let's just say the Yellow Vest protests all the way back in 2018, which is a real militarization of the police.
[00:25:04] The streets have been turned into war zones. The authorities, the police, the riot police, which is a specific force in France, are using tear gas grenades, spraying students, batons, rubber bullets and so on. Yes, of course, there are clips in which there are scenes of violence, fires being started, and so on and so forth. But the escalation, the provocation, these are young people we're talking about here. They're not even college students.
We're talking about high school students here joined on the streets upon which this violence has been enacted. It's unacceptable. And it corresponds simply and unambiguously to a militarization of the police force here. And the authorities are eager to stamp down on this precisely because it's a problem for them to have this kind of attention shining on these issues in an election year.
MICHAELSON: Well, and so let's talk about that election year. Where are we at?
THOMAS: Well, we're less than six months away from the end of Emmanuel Macron being president. The first round would be in April, the second in the beginning of May. Essentially, as we've seen in the last several elections, the far-right is well-positioned to make it through to the runoff stages. What is absolutely clear here is for the legacy of Macron era. Two of the main candidates that are running, representing essentially his agenda, are former prime ministers in his administration.
How on earth are they going to walk away from what's unfolding in French society? So there's a sense of urgency here that what's happening here is not simply about the schools. It's really a reassessment of 10 years of Emmanuel Macron's rule. And they've got six months here to sort of right the ship and to try and address these questions. But my feeling is this is a tremendous boon to the far-left and to the far-right as they move forward, who can both use this argument to fuel a kind of populist argument about what is going on, and also about a society that has become profoundly inequitable, and that they are best served to address these particular issues, rather than someone out of Emmanuel Macron's administration.
MICHAELSON: So much good information. Dominic Thomas, thank you so much for your insights. It's great to have you back in the United States.
Still to come, the candidates to be Georgia's next governor face off in their first and only town hall debate before election day. Our political panel is here to break it all down.
Brian Tyler Cohen and Elisha Krauss live next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. I'm Elex Michaelson. Let's take a look at today's top stories.
[00:32:08] The mega merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery is now official. The newly combined company, called Skydance, plans to use technology to transform the entertainment industry. With Warner's assets coming aboard, Skydance will reach more than 200 million streaming subscribers globally.
The merger also unites two of the five biggest Hollywood studios, dozens of TV channels, and two of the biggest U.S. TV news divisions, CBS News and us, CNN.
President Trump is set to return to Texas for the next stop on his red-state blitz ahead of the midterm elections. He'll attend a rally in San Antonio on Wednesday.
Sources tell CNN that Ken Paxton will also be there. The Republican nominee for U.S. Senate is in a tight race with Democratic challenger James Talarico.
Voters in Georgia saw one of two high-profile midterm debates wrap up just a few hours ago in the state's race for governor, Republican Rick Jackson and Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms took questions from voters at their only scheduled debate before election day.
On Thursday, Georgia will have a U.S. Senate debate between Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican challenger Mike Collins.
Let's bring in our political panel. Brian Tyler Cohen is host of the "No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen" podcast and author of "The Day After: How to Wield Power in a Post-Trump World"; and conservative commentator Elisha Krauss is an op-ed writer at "The Washington Examiner."
Welcome to THE STORY IS, back to both of you. ELISHA KRAUSS, OP-ED WRITER, "THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER": Thank you.
COHEN: Great to have you as a pair for the first time on this show.
Elisha, let's start with what's happening in governor -- in the governor's race in Georgia tonight. Here's Keisha Lance Bottoms versus Rick Jackson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS (D), GEORGIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: My opponent has said he wants to be Trump's favorite governor. He wants to be Trump with a Southern tone. He said there's not a single policy that he disagrees with Trump on. I will sue the federal government when appropriate. I will stand up to Donald Trump when necessary.
RICK JACKSON (R), GEORGIA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: I don't owe anybody anything. Nobody's ever told me what to do. My No. 1 priority is Georgians. It's you. And I will stand up to anybody, just like Brian Kemp has done. He works with both parties, both presidents, and he stands up when he disagrees.
(END VIDEO CLIP) MICHAELSON: Georgia, traditionally a red state. It's a state that has gone for and against President Trump. Obviously, when it went against him, it was very, very close.
Brian Kemp, the current governor, has not always gone with President Trump, more than almost any other governor in the country. What do you make of the way that Trump is playing in this election?
KRAUSS: It will be interesting to see, like, what the outcome actually is, but I would push back a little bit and say that I think that Georgia is a purple state. It is much like Arizona and Michigan have become, where you don't always know the way that the constituency is going to go.
MICHAELSON: It used to not be.
KRAUSS: It used to not be. And it is a failure of the Republican Party, specifically in that state, of -- of not really solidifying it.
Of course, we've had some horrible Senate races there, as well, in which we didn't always put up the best candidates.
[00:35:03]
I love her outfit. Don't agree with what she's saying. She's kind of doing this like Mamdani thing where it's like, I'm going to stick it to Trump.
And I think his answer, even though he isn't as polished and clear as she is, is -- is a good point. His job, or the governor's job there is to represent the constituents of Georgia and do what is best for them. And you need to work with whoever is in the White House.
And I think Democrats that are smart on this, like Grisham from North -- New Mexico, or Whitmer from Michigan, have gone to the White House and have worked with President Trump; because they recognize that their job is to do what is best for their constituents.
MICHAELSON: Yes. Or the mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, who has done it more than anybody.
KRAUSS: Yes. I mean, I love his memes. They made my weekend.
MICHAELSON: Yes, but it's probably good for the people in New York. And he's gotten some money out of the process. Yes.
Your thoughts on Georgia?
BRIAN TYLER COHEN, HOST, "NO LIE WITH BRIAN TYLER COHEN": Look, I think that we hear the same story from these Republicans who are now running, recognizing the extent to which Trump is an albatross around their necks.
There is no empirical evidence to suggest that any of these Republican candidates are going to be independent from Donald Trump. They all kowtow, grovel, pander to Donald Trump at every single turn. Only now, when it's election time and Donald Trump is sporting a 31,
32 some odd approval rating, and -- and suddenly Kansas is up for grabs. Iowa is up for grabs. Alaska is up for grabs.
Do these Republicans suddenly rediscover their independent bona fides?
MICHAELSON: Well --
COHEN: But whenever these people say that they're going to be independent, I don't believe it.
MICHAELSON: In fairness, though, Brian Kemp has not always been with --
KRAUSS: Yes, yes.
MICHAELSON: -- with Donald Trump.
COHEN: Hold on.
MICHAELSON: He is the governor of -- of Georgia.
COHEN: Brian Kemp deigning to acknowledge objective reality that you cannot hand over nonexistent votes, 11,780 votes that didn't exist, doesn't make him some hero.
This is still the same Brian Kemp, by the way, who backed SB-202 that prevented people from eating and drinking while they were waiting on line for the poll. So, this isn't exactly some moderate hero either.
But him coming forward and saying, Oh, OK, I'm not going to give Donald Trump votes that don't exist.
KRAUSS: No. I think --
COHEN: You know, that's a low bar to clear.
KRAUSS: I need to go back and reread that legislation, but I'm pretty sure it was actually like they didn't want outside groups providing food and drink to people waiting in line.
COHEN: God forbid.
KRAUSS: If I brought my own --
COHEN: God forbid.
KRAUSS: -- they weren't going to be, like, get that out of her hand. She's not allowed to vote.
COHEN: God forbid somebody have water on line for -- online while they're waiting to vote. God forbid.
KRAUSS: It's really an exaggeration there. People were able to have water in line. It was outside groups that were not able to campaign and -- and politicize it. MICHAELSON: And apparently, Larry David in "Curb Your Enthusiasm,"
when he went to give water, and then fought it, which was a whole season of that -- of that show. But let's -- let's go -- let's talk about another race.
Susan Collins, the survivor.
KRAUSS: Teflon queen.
MICHAELSON: Who is in a -- a Democratic state, running for reelection in the Senate. And -- and one of the main issues in this race is the issue of abortion, because she interacted with Brett Kavanaugh.
He told her that it was settled law. She voted for him. He gets on the Supreme Court, and I guess it wasn't settled law. He helps to overturn Roe v. Wade. And so, that issue at issue tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TROY JACKSON (D), MAINE SENATE CANDIDATE: Eight years ago today, Maine women went to D.C. and begged Senator Collins not to confirm Brett Kavanaugh, but she did it anyways, even though they begged her.
He helped overturn Roe versus Wade. And today, she says she has no regrets.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You said at the time that he said that he considered Roe v. Wade settled law. Do you feel at any level that Brett Kavanaugh lied to you on that day?
SEN. SUSAN COLLINS (R-ME): I do not feel that he lied. But I think that he should not have said it was settled law, because to me, that meant that it would not be overturned.
But to be fair, you cannot ask a nominee how he might vote on some hypothetical future case.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: A reminder that the Supreme Court very much at issue in this. Most likely, if the Democrats win the Senate, I cannot imagine that they would have a hearing for a Republican President Trump nominee after what happened with Merrick Garland.
So, the Supreme Court very much at stake here, Susan Collins, as we know, votes for the Republican nominees, in some instances.
COHEN: I mean, this claim that you can't ask a Supreme Court nominee whether they would support certain rulings one way or the other, where -- where does that exist? People have always asked Supreme Court justice nominees whether they would support something. She is just --
MICHAELSON: It's inappropriate for judges to talk about -- about --
KRAUSS: It has historically been --
COHEN: OK, but -- but he did.
KRAUSS: It's just like --
COHEN: But -- but he did. He gave the answer. Sure, it's inappropriate, but she -- but she asked him.
KRAUSS: There are things like when they're sitting at this at the State of the Union, they're not supposed to applaud or stand or cheer or make faces, pro or con, no matter who the sitting president is.
COHEN: But she asked him, and he answered. And he said that this was established precedent.
So, when she says he didn't lie, but he shouldn't have said that it was established precedent if he doesn't believe it, she's basically saying he didn't lie except for the part that he lied in.
[00:40:06]
KRAUSS: I actually think that this is a perfect example of, like, how this entire election cycle, I've been looking at Maine and going, Wow, Democrats are really so desperate for an extra seat so they can make sure that Trump doesn't get another SCOTUS nominee, that they're willing to go against an incredibly moderate Republican who has been pro-abortion and is not this, like, insane MAGA radical that they've tried to make her out to be.
COHEN: Yes, but --
KRAUSS: And they keep putting up horrible candidates after horrible candidates.
MICHAELSON: But -- but let's -- you don't think that if there was --
COHEN: So --
MICHAELSON: -- a Democratic senator in that seat, that that person would have voted against Brett Kavanaugh, and that Roe v. Wade may not have been overturned?
KRAUSS: Potentially, who knows? But I think that it's really interesting that we're now going back, and we're trying to, like, make news out of something that has already happened instead of actually paying attention to what the voters on the ground in Maine care about.
Maybe abortion is one of the things. But I think it's -- when you look at the polling and the data, they have the same concerns that voters in Texas and California and Michigan and Georgia and everywhere else has, that we've talked about on this show a lot.
MICHAELSON: Right.
KRAUSS: It is the safety and security of their physical selves and their financial security of their bank accounts, and how the economy is affecting that. COHEN: And let me ask on that point, on affordability. I mean, we have
Republicans that are in control of government in the House, the Senate, the White House. How is that going? Is there any --
KRAUSS: Oh, it isn't. This is something that I've been saying for over a year now. I think, unfortunately, Republicans this time around have screwed themselves, because we do not have the 80/20 social issues on our side this time around.
And you have a lot of people that are looking at the Trump administration as a whole.
Now, states like Florida and Texas and others where you -- I like to say you have blue cities, but red states -- have been doing very well in this economy. Blue states and blue cities have not been doing so well.
But nationally, as well, you have President Trump's poor approval ratings and poor economy. And it hurt Joe Biden in 2024. And it's going to hurt Republicans this time around.
MICHAELSON: But to that point, Brian, really quickly, why do you think Susan Collins keeps winning? Why is she so competitive in this race, despite all of the headwinds against her?
COHEN: Yes, I mean, I think there's some things to consider.
First of all, Maine is one of the, if not the oldest state in the entire country. And so, the electorate looks different than the electorate in a nearby [SIC] state like Michigan, for example.
And she has been able to coast on this on -- on -- on this branding as being a moderate. But again, you don't get credit for being a moderate if the outcomes that you usher in are anything but. And I think Kavanaugh is --
KRAUSS: Clearly, you don't get credit if you do anything that Tyler disagrees with.
MICHAELSON: Yes.
COHEN: Brian.
KRAUSS: Sorry.
MICHAELSON: Brian Tyler. But, yes. Well, we'll see who voters decide. Maine is going to be really important, as these Senate races could be really close.
You guys are going to be back to talk about the Texas Senate race at the top of the hour. Looking forward to that.
Still ahead, though, a personal view of the world from one of the biggest stars in the history of music. We'll take you inside George Harrison's extensive library of photographs, including the early days of the Beatles and what they show us about his perspective. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAELSON: And this was the selfie before the selfies.
OLIVIA HARRISON, GEORGE HARRISON'S WIDOW: I love this, and I love this quote: "I like cameras, because you can see things in a different way. And you can make things look how they feel instead of how they are."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:47:59]
MICHAELSON: The Emmys, which started as a celebration of broadcast TV, are leaving broadcast TV.
Under a six-year deal, the awards show will now stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video starting in September of 2027. It will be free, with no subscription needed.
The move ends a network run dating back to 1955. It follows the Oscars departure from ABC for YouTube, starting in 2029.
The Grammys will move to Disney's ABC, Hulu, and Disney+ starting next year.
Well, George Harrison gained international fame as the Beatles lead guitarist and for writing songs like "Something," "Here Comes the Sun," and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."
But now, we're learning that photography was also a big part of his life.
Harrison died of cancer back in 2001 at the age of 58. Twenty-five years later, we're getting a glimpse of the world through his eyes.
I got the chance to speak with his widow, Olivia Harrison, who put together a new book of George's photos, just published today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON (voice-over): George Harrison was one of the most photographed men of the 20th century, as a quarter of the iconic rock group the Beatles. But through his entire journey, Harrison was constantly taking his own pictures.
HARRISON: I'm so happy they captured these moments.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Harrison's widow, Olivia, first found a box of his photos in a cupboard decades ago. She's turned them into a new book called "The Third Eye: Early Photographs by George Harrison."
MICHAELSON: So many people know George the musician. Who is George the photographer?
HARRISON: He was not only looking what was outside of him, but I think it led him to what really was inside of him.
MICHAELSON: Can we take a look at some of it?
MICHAELSON (voice-over): We sit down with Olivia and flip through the pages.
MICHAELSON: And this was the selfie before the selfie.
HARRISON: I love this, and I love this quote: "I like cameras, because you can see things in a different way. And you can make things look how they feel instead of how they are."
[00:50:04]
MICHAELSON (voice-over): She says George always had a camera in his hand.
HARRISON: George was looking for the real big picture.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): The book includes pictures of the early days of the Beatles.
HARRISON: They were so chic.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Yes.
HARRISON: As George, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and Ringo Starr became a worldwide phenomenon.
MICHAELSON: In some ways, is there a love story between them that you see on the pages?
HARRISON: Of course. Those four, you know, they were just like an entity.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): All four of them often had cameras in their hands. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr have already released books of their own photographs.
With this book, Olivia wanted to ensure George's perspective was represented.
MICHAELSON: What stands out to me, looking at this, is the intimacy of these pictures that you wouldn't get if -- even if you hired a professional photographer.
HARRISON: That's what's unique about these photographs. They're just there with one another. So, they're just so relaxed.
MICHAELSON: Is there something in this book about the fact that everybody always was grabbing them? Everybody wanted something from them, probably weren't a lot of people they could trust, but that they could trust each other. They're the only other people that could understand this journey.
HARRISON: Well, that goes without saying. I mean, what happened to them was extraordinary.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Here they're in Australia, drawing a massive crowd at the height of Beatlemania.
HARRISON: George, he told me he couldn't believe it.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Here, they're riding horses, wearing matching outfits, something George later laughed about.
HARRISON: George said to me once, We were very obedient.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): In this picture, they're stuck in India after an airline sold their seats on a plane.
MICHAELSON: This is a selfie at the Taj Mahal.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Traveling to India would change George's life forever.
HARRISON: He loved it, because everywhere you looked, there was something to remind you, he said, of like, the inner journey.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): He took this photograph in an Indian market.
MICHAELSON: What do you think George wanted us to feel, looking at this picture?
HARRISON: A different way of life, how other people live.
MICHAELSON (voice-over): Olivia says the pics towards the end of the book show George more focused on meditation and spirituality.
HARRISON: There's nothing mystical about what he was trying to achieve with -- you know, he said, People say I'm the one who changed the most. You have to change. You have to keep evolving.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAELSON: Our thanks to Olivia Harrison. "The Third Eye" by George Harrison is available now wherever you get your books.
It is the end of an era for Argentina's national soccer team. Still ahead, a closer look at superstar Lionel Messi's final match in Buenos Aires.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Messi, Messi. Power, power. Messi, Messi. Power, power. Messi power!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:57:37] MICHAELSON: Authorities are charging a California couple with child abuse after investigating a surrogacy scheme involving at least 21 children.
Prosecutors say the couple ran a surrogacy agency out of what they called a house of horrors. They allegedly oversaw the abuse of children ranging in age from just a few months to 13 years old.
At least eight women claim the couple aggressively pursued them to serve as surrogates.
Their attorney says the couple's goal was to raise the children to become productive adults.
A live picture right now from LAX, where there's lots of traffic as we approach 10 p.m. at night. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a wing of a Delta Airlines plane there hit the tail of an Air Canada jet at LAX.
Photos posted on social media of the planes, which are being inspected, show minor damage.
There were 275 passengers and 15 crew aboard Delta Flight 7, which was taking off for Tokyo. The Air Canada plane had just landed from Toronto.
Soccer legend Lionel Messi bid an emotional farewell to Argentina in his final match playing with the national team. He ended his career there on a high note, with Argentina winning three-nil in an international friendly against Benin.
Despite a slow first half and some narrow misses, Messi walked away with a penalty kick, and goal, and two assists. So, CNN's Cecilia Dominguez brings us the latest reaction from Argentina's fans.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CECILA DOMINGUEZ, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We didn't think this moment would ever become a reality, but tonight Lionel Messi said goodbye to the Argentine national team after 20 years wearing this jersey.
And he did it in front of a stadium packed with people not only from Argentina but from all over the world, who came here to -- to say goodbye to their captain.
And tonight, I saw two very different reactions to Messi's retirement. On one side, people who are heartbroken. They are really saying they are going to miss him.
And then there are others who are also sad, but they are smiling. They are grateful.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Messi!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love Messi. Of course! I have him on my back. DOMINGUEZ: What do you like about Messi the most?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He is so humble. He's so kind and he's a really good technical player. He's very, very good, the best in the world.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Messi, Messi. Power, power. Messi, Messi. Power.
DOMINGUEZ: And perhaps nothing captures what Argentina means to -- to Messi better than these words: "Thank you, God, for making me Argentine."
