| The Story Is with Elex Michaelson | |
|---|---|
| Genre | News |
| Presented by | Elex Michaelson |
| Production | |
| Production locations | CNN Los Angeles bureau,Burbank, California |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 120 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | CNN |
| Release | October 27, 2025 (2025-10-27) – present |
| Related | |
The Story Is with Elex Michaelson is an American late-night news program onCNN. Premiering on October 27, 2025, and airing from 9 p.m.–11 p.m.PT (12 a.m.–2 a.m.ET) on weeknights, the program is anchored byElex Michaelson from CNN's Los Angeles bureau inBurbank. The program is also aired globally onCNN International.
In January 2025, it was reported thatJim Acosta had declined an offer by CNN to anchor a newlate-night news program for the network out of Los Angeles. Some CNN employees believed that the program was a ploy to move Acosta (who, at the time, hosted a midday hour ofCNN Newsroom) to a lesser-viewed timeslot due to his history of being critical towards the presidency ofDonald Trump, amid attempts by the network underWarner Bros. Discovery ownership to attract conservative viewers.[1][2] On January 23, CNN announced a new schedule that replaced Acosta's program withThe Situation Room; five days later, Acosta announced that he had departed the network.[3][4]
In August 2025, long-timeKTTV Fox 11 anchorElex Michaelson announced that he was departing the station to pursue a new opportunity; Michaelson had hosted KTTV's weekly public affairs showThe Issue Is, and had become prominent for his interviews and discussions with local, state, and national political figures.[5][6] On September 11, 2025, CNN announced that Michaelson had joined the network, and would host a new late-night program from Los Angeles on CNN andCNN International beginning in October.[7] The title of the program was later announced asThe Story Is with Elex Michaelson, with a premiere set for October 27.[8][7] CNN stated that the program would feature panel discussions, as well as coverage of "sport, health, technology, entertainment and more".[8]
Michaelson had pitched a Los Angeles-based late-night newscast to CNN in the past, whileThe Los Angeles Times noted that California state politics had become increasingly prominent in national news, including a2025 proposition to redistrict the state amidgerrymandering pushes ahead of the2026 midterms, as well as GovernorGavin Newsom and former vice presidentKamala Harris being considered potential figures in the2028 presidential elections. Michaelson explained that "although it’s a fight in California, the impact will be felt not just around the country but around the world."[7] Of Michaelson's previous tradition of giving his guests baked goods from his mother, he noted that due to the show's length and number of nightly guests, "we may need to revise that".[7]
The Story Is is currently the only regularly-scheduled program to air live after midnightET across the major UScable news channels (a daypart that had typically been populated by reruns of their respective primetime programs);Fox News @ Night had previously aired at midnight ET, but moved to 11 p.m. after a 2023 realignment of its prime time schedule. It is also CNN's first Los Angeles-based program sinceLarry King Live.[7][8][9]
| Preceded by | CNN Weekday lineup 12:00 am – 2:00 am | Succeeded by |
