Facts about the debt
CBSNews.com takes a look back at 70 years of debt, spending and default in the U.S. budget
America's Debt Battle
Debt debate furloughs FAA employees
Funding for the Federal Aviation Administration has expired, furloughing nearly 3,500 employees, and stopping construction projects in their tracks. Other government agencies may face a similar fate, reports Sharyl Attkisson.
Boehner debt bill delayed
A half hour before its scheduled vote, the debt reduction bill was tabled in the House. As Nancy Cordes reports, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says even if the House bill passes, it will be dead on arrival in the Senate.
Default could spike mortgage costs
Interest rate increases are nearly certain if Congress cannot reach a deal and the U.S. defaults on its debts. That could cause a spike adjustable rate mortgages, reports Dean Reynolds.
McCain: U.S. will not go into default
Bob Schieffer speaks to Republican Sen. John McCain and asks whether there has been any progress on the debt chaos in Congress, which he referred to as "bizzaro."
What has White House accomplished in debt talks?
Chief White House correspondent Norah O'Donnell asked White House Press Secretary Jay Carney on Thursday what victories have President Obama scored in debt talks.
GOP Freshman: Boehner's plan gives us heartburn
Freshman Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wisc.) held a news conference on Thursday to express support for Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) debt plan although he deems it "less than perfect."
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The White House that stole Christmas?
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said on Thursday a short-term debt deal would hurt the economy during the busiest retail seasons.
LaHood blasts Congress for failing to pass FAA funding bill
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood spoke to reporters Thursday during at the White House press briefing and urged Congress to put thousands of furloughed employees back to work.
Letterman, Fallon, Leno mock debt stalemate
As negotiations continue in congress over raising the debt ceiling, late night comics Jimmy Fallon, David Letterman and Jay Leno have taken to poking fun at the stalemate.
McCain & Wall Street Journal anger Tea Party
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) read an editorial from the Wall Street Journal on the Senate floor Wednesday that called Tea Party supporters, House members "hobbits."
Lawmaker struggles with debt decision
CBS News correspondent Whit Johnson reports from Capitol Hill on freshman Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), a fiscal conservative backed by the Tea Party, who is wielding his unexpected political power in the debt ceiling debate.
Boehner to GOP: "Get in line" on debt bill
With only five days left for Congress to cut a budget cutting plan, Speaker Boehner is calling for House Republicans to vote for his bill to raise the debt ceiling. Nancy Cordes reports.
Debt threat on Wall Street
With the debt crisis looming in Congress, business and economics correspondent Rebecca Jarvis reports on what a possible default or deal would mean on Wall Street.
Rep. Walsh on debt talks: Default is not an option
Tea Party Rep. Joe Walsh, R - Ill., speaks to Erica Hill about the upcoming vote for Speaker Boehner's debt ceiling bill and the pressure in Congress to cut a deal before the Aug. 2 deadline.
Can Boehner get his debt bill passed?
If Speaker Boehner can convince enough members of his own party to vote for his deficit reduction bill, there is a possibility that Congress could finally put an end to the debt debate. But, can he pull it off? Nancy Cordes reports.
Default's impact on credit card interest rates
The variable interest rate on consumer credit cards is likely to rise if Congress fails to reach a deal to raise the debt limit. As Chip Reid reports, rates could go up between one and five percent.
Uncertain economy hindering small business
Uncertainty about the economy is causing small businesses to hold back on hiring and expanding. Elaine Qujiano speaks to a furniture store owner whose business is up and hope is down.
Threat of U.S. credit downgrade rising
America's credit rating has never fallen below AAA, but with Congress unable to reach a debt deal and looking increasingly dysfunctional, economists see the threat of a downgrade as "high and rising," reports Anthony Mason.
Why does Obama want debt deal through 2012 election?
In Wednesday's press briefing, CBS News chief White House correspondent Norah O'Donnell asked press secretary Jay Carney why President Obama insists on a deal through the next presidential election and not in the short term.
McConnell: Obama worried about 2012
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on the Senate floor Wednesday that President Obama does not support like a GOP debt plan because it does not guarantee his return to the White House.
Reid warns Boehner's debt bill is DOA in Senate
On the Senate floor Wednesday, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) warned that top Republican John Boehner's short-term debt plan will die in the Senate.
"Raise the Debt Ceiling" rap goes viral
Erica Hill and Chris Wragge discuss the "Raise the Debt Ceiling" rap video by comedian, Remy, that is taking the internet by storm.
Boehner postpones his debt plan vote
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) has postponed a vote on his debt limit plan - a bill that the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office determined that his bill would cut only $850 billion in spending, not the $1.2 trillion promised. CBS News Congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes reports.
Debt ceiling debate: Short-term compromise?
CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante reports on President Obama's wait for a debt limit compromise, which could lead to a short-term increase and a continuation of the debate into next year.
Politics
Erika Kirk endorses JD Vance for president
Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk endorsed Vice President JD Vance for president in 2028 at the organization's annual youth conference.
Noem says Brown suspect got U.S. visa through diversity lottery, pauses program
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem says the Trump administration will pause the diversity visa lottery program, which she said was used by Brown University shooting suspect Claudio Manuel Neves Valente.
U.S. strikes 2 more alleged drug boats, bringing total death count to over 100
The U.S. military says it struck two more alleged drug-carrying boats on Thursday, bringing the total death toll from the Trump administration's monthslong campaign to upwards of 100.
Exclusive
Trump administration pauses immigration cases for people from another 20 countries
The U.S. government has expanded a sweeping pause on legal immigration applications to include those filed by people from an additional 20 countries, a U.S. official told CBS News.
Milwaukee judge found guilty of obstruction after allegedly helping migrant evade arrest
A jury convicted a Milwaukee judge on one count of felony obstruction Thursday, the Associated Press reported, after she was accused of helping a man who was in the U.S. illegally evade federal immigration authorities.
TikTok signs deal for sale of U.S. operations to American investors
TikTok's China-based parent company ByteDance must sever ties with TikTok or lose access to U.S. app stores and web-hosting services
Who is Erica Knight, the FBI's so-called "Kash Whisperer?"
An FBI media adviser has emerged as one of Kash Patel's fiercest public defenders and promoters of the bureau under his leadership.
Trump administration unveils proposals to cut off transgender care for minors
The proposals run counter to the recommendations of most major U.S. medical organizations.
Kennedy Center Board votes for new name to be Trump-Kennedy Center, White House says
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Kennedy Center's Board of Trustees voted unanimously to change its name.
Democrats push for last-minute vote on expiring health care subsidies
House Democrats called for GOP leaders to hold a last-minute vote on extending the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits Thursday.
Witkoff to meet with Kremlin envoy in Miami on U.S. peace plan for Ukraine
A U.S. official says a Kremlin envoy will travel to Florida to discuss a U.S.-proposed plan to end the war in Ukraine.
House Democrats release 68 more photos from Epstein estate
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have released a new batch of 68 photos obtained from Jeffrey Epstein's estate. Follow live updates here.
Exclusive
N.C. Republicans redrew a GOP district. A Democrat is looking to take advantage.
North Carolina was among the GOP-led states this year that redrew congressional lines mid-decade in an attempt to benefit Republicans.
D.C.'s homeless hide in plain sight, growing sicker and costing taxpayers more
The White House says encampment sweeps have enhanced the capital, but city leaders estimate nearly 700 homeless people roam by day and bed down outdoors by night.
U.S. strikes another alleged drug boat in Eastern Pacific, killing 4, Pentagon says
The U.S. military says it has conducted 26 strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Eastern Pacific or Caribbean since early September, killing at least 99 people.
Trump claims he's brought down prices, touts military bonuses in year-end address
President Trump's speech Wednesday night looked back on his first year and ahead to the next three. He touted new military bonuses, his tariffs and economic policies in a brief address.
Ghislaine Maxwell asks court to toss out her conviction
Ghislaine Maxwell asked a federal judge on Wednesday to vacate her 2021 conviction on sex trafficking charges, just two days before the federal government is expected to release a massive trove of documents on Jeffrey Epstein.
Judge blocks ICE from requiring lawmakers to provide notice before jail visits
A federal judge temporarily blocked a Trump administration policy that sought to require members of Congress to submit requests a week before visiting ICE detention facilities.
U.S. government lawsuit accuses Virgin Islands of obstructing Americans' gun rights
A Second Amendment clash has erupted between the federal government and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Poll: Americans say holidays are costing them more, some are scaling back
Negative views of the nation's economy persist as 2025 draws to a close.
U.S.
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Noem says Brown suspect got U.S. visa through diversity lottery, pauses program
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem says the Trump administration will pause the diversity visa lottery program, which she said was used by Brown University shooting suspect Claudio Manuel Neves Valente.
What we know about the suspect in the Brown and MIT professor shootings
Officials say the same gunman who opened fire at Brown University also killed an MIT professor two days later. Here's what we know about the suspect, who was found dead Thursday night.
Kathy Bates says Rob Reiner "changed the course of my life" with "Misery" role
Kathy Bates rose to prominence with her Oscar-winning breakout role in Rob Reiner's adaptation of Stephen King's "Misery" in 1990.
Brown University shooting suspect found dead, also killed MIT professor, officials say
The Brown University shooting suspect was found dead in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire. Authorities believe he is also responsible for killing an MIT professor.
This week on "Sunday Morning" (Dec. 21)
A look at the features for this week's broadcast of the Emmy-winning program, hosted by Jane Pauley.
MoneyWatch
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TikTok signs deal for sale of U.S. operations to American investors
TikTok's China-based parent company ByteDance must sever ties with TikTok or lose access to U.S. app stores and web-hosting services
Instacart to pay $60M in refunds over allegations it deceived customers
Instacart's "unlawful tactics" hurt shoppers and raised the cost of groceries, according to the FTC.
Trump announces "warrior dividend" for military. Here's what to know.
The president announced the one-time payments during his White House address on Wednesday. Here's what to know about timing, taxes and more.
Small businesses face affordability crunch as tariff and other costs rise
Some small business owners say they're struggling to stay afloat because of higher tariff, health insurance and energy costs.
CPI report shows the inflation rate rose at a 2.7% pace in November
Economists had expected CPI to rise at an annual rate of 3% last month.
Politics
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Erika Kirk endorses JD Vance for president
Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk endorsed Vice President JD Vance for president in 2028 at the organization's annual youth conference.
Noem says Brown suspect got U.S. visa through diversity lottery, pauses program
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem says the Trump administration will pause the diversity visa lottery program, which she said was used by Brown University shooting suspect Claudio Manuel Neves Valente.
U.S. strikes 2 more alleged drug boats, bringing total death count to over 100
The U.S. military says it struck two more alleged drug-carrying boats on Thursday, bringing the total death toll from the Trump administration's monthslong campaign to upwards of 100.
Exclusive
Trump administration pauses immigration cases for people from another 20 countries
The U.S. government has expanded a sweeping pause on legal immigration applications to include those filed by people from an additional 20 countries, a U.S. official told CBS News.
Milwaukee judge found guilty of obstruction after allegedly helping migrant evade arrest
A jury convicted a Milwaukee judge on one count of felony obstruction Thursday, the Associated Press reported, after she was accused of helping a man who was in the U.S. illegally evade federal immigration authorities.
HealthWatch
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Trump administration unveils proposals to cut off transgender care for minors
The proposals run counter to the recommendations of most major U.S. medical organizations.
Measles outbreaks worsen in South Carolina, Arizona and Utah
Nationally, the measles case count is nearing 2,000 for a disease that has been considered eliminated in the U.S. since 2000, a result of routine childhood vaccinations.
He made his brothers see a cardiologist. Each had advanced heart disease.
Kevin Murray was his family's health watchdog. His vigilance helped his brothers "avoid a real catastrophe."
Millions of Americans could see health plan costs double as ACA credits vanish
"I don't know how I'm going to pay for this," said one person with an Affordable Care Act plan that will cost her $1,100 a month starting in January.
Vaccine vote signals turbulence for immunization policy, public trust
Clinicians and epidemiologists warn the decision could unravel decades of progress and expose newborns to a deadly, preventable disease.
World
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TikTok signs deal for sale of U.S. operations to American investors
TikTok's China-based parent company ByteDance must sever ties with TikTok or lose access to U.S. app stores and web-hosting services
Witkoff to meet with Kremlin envoy in Miami on U.S. peace plan for Ukraine
A U.S. official says a Kremlin envoy will travel to Florida to discuss a U.S.-proposed plan to end the war in Ukraine.
Texas rabbi shot trying to help faces long recovery after Australia attack
As the youngest Bondi Beach shooting victim is mourned, a Texas couple tell CBS News about their "quick thinking" son's bid to intervene, and his road to recovery.
Teen inmate captured weeks after escaping prison with bedsheets
The inmate and another detainee fled an overcrowded jail after sawing through their cell bars with blades that investigators suspect were delivered by drone.
China fumes as White House announces record $10B in arms sales to Taiwan
The Trump administration's announcement of plan to sell Taiwan a record $10 billion worth of weapons draws an angry response from China.
Entertainment
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Kathy Bates says Rob Reiner "changed the course of my life" with "Misery" role
Kathy Bates rose to prominence with her Oscar-winning breakout role in Rob Reiner's adaptation of Stephen King's "Misery" in 1990.
Jelly Roll pardoned by Tennessee governor for robbery, drug convictions
Jelly Roll had said a pardon would make it easier for him to travel internationally for concert tours and to perform Christian missionary work without requiring burdensome paperwork.
Gloria Gaynor on how "I Will Survive" empowered her through a dark time
Gloria Gaynor told "CBS Mornings" her hit 1978 song gave her hope during one of the most difficult periods of her life.
Neil Patrick Harris talks new game show
Neil Patrick Harris says he's always loved game shows. He talks to "CBS Mornings" about how his passion started during his childhood and what it's like now hosting his own game show, "What's in the Box."
How Gloria Gaynor became the queen of disco
Gloria Gaynor's 1978 hit "I Will Survive" has been a motivational anthem for decades. The "Queen of Disco," a 2025 Kennedy Center Honoree, spoke to "CBS Mornings" about how the iconic song changed her outlook on life.
Technology
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Instacart to pay $60M in refunds over allegations it deceived customers
Instacart's "unlawful tactics" hurt shoppers and raised the cost of groceries, according to the FTC.
Helping teens develop healthy phone habits
Helping teens develop healthy habits around social media use and screen time is important when they first receive a smartphone. Pediatric psychologist Ann-Louise Lockhart, an Instagram brand spokesperson and author of the new book "Love the Teen You Have," joins "CBS Mornings" to share some advice and tools, such as Instagram Teen Accounts, that parents can use to help their teens. For more information on Instagram Teen Accounts, visit familycenter.meta.com. (Sponsored by Instagram)
How AI powered robots are helping small farms
From labor shortages to environmental impacts, farmers are looking to AI to help revolutionize the agriculture industry. One California startup, Farm-ng, is tapping into the power of AI and robotics to perform a wide range of tasks, including seeding, weeding and harvesting.
How artificial intelligence grew in 2025
In 2025, the integration of artificial intelligence into the U.S. economy and people's everyday lives grew to historic levels. CBS News senior business and technology correspondent Jo Ling Kent joins to recap how the transformative technology expanded over the past year, and what we can expect in 2026.
OpenAI, Amazon in talks over $10B investment
OpenAI, the developer for ChatGPT, and Amazon are in talks over a possible $10 billion investment. Mark DeCambre, editor-in-chief for MarketWatch, joins with more.
Science
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Major climate research center on Trump administration chopping block
The Trump administration intends to dismantle one of the world's leading climate research institutions, in Boulder, Colorado, over what it said were concerns about "climate alarmism."
Researchers capture video of rare polar bear adoption
The footage of a bear caring for an adopted cub was captured during the annual polar bear migration along the Western Hudson Bay in Churchill, Manitoba.
Dinosaur tracks showing "herds moving in synchrony" found in Italy
Most of the footprints are elongated and made by bipeds. The best-preserved ones bear traces of at least four toes.
Interstellar comet is making its closest approach to Earth
NASA continues to aim its space telescopes at the visiting ice ball, estimated to be up to 3.5 miles in size.
Fossil footprints in Bolivia reveal dinosaurs' awkward attempts to swim
Paleontologists have discovered and documented 16,600 footprints left by theropods, the dinosaur group that includes the Tyrannosaurus rex.
Crime
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Podcast clips shed light on Nick Reiner's struggles with addiction
Nick Reiner said he destroyed his parents' guesthouse and had a "cocaine heart attack" in a 2018 episode of the "Dopey Podcast."
What we know about the suspect in the Brown and MIT professor shootings
Officials say the same gunman who opened fire at Brown University also killed an MIT professor two days later. Here's what we know about the suspect, who was found dead Thursday night.
Officials: Brown shooter killed MIT professor
The gunman behind the shooting at Brown University also killed an MIT professor on Monday, according to Leah Foley, U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts. See Foley's full remarks from Thursday night.
Brown University shooting suspect found dead
The suspect in the Dec. 13 mass shooting on the campus of Brown University was found dead in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, Thursday night. Jessi Mitchell anchored CBS News' special report.
New Hampshire search connected to Brown shooting
Police searched an area in Salem, New Hampshire, Thursday night in connection with the recent killings at Brown University and MIT, sources told CBS News Boston. CBS News' Katrina Kaufman reports and retired FBI special agent and profiler Mary Ellen O'Toole joins with analysis.
Space
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Jared Isaacman, billionaire who's flown with SpaceX, confirmed to lead NASA
President Trump withdrew Isaacman's nomination for NASA administrator in April, before nominating him again in November.
Interstellar comet is making its closest approach to Earth
NASA continues to aim its space telescopes at the visiting ice ball, estimated to be up to 3.5 miles in size.
"Wet lava ball" exoplanet may have an atmosphere, evidence shows
Super-Earth TOI-561b is about 40 times closer to its host star than Mercury is to the sun.
NASA says Maven spacecraft that was orbiting Mars has gone silent
NASA has lost contact with a spacecraft that's been orbiting Mars for more than a decade.
Black hole spotted blasting winds at 130 million miles per hour
The European Space Agency said that the black hole inside the spiral galaxy NGC 3783 has the mass of 30 million suns.
Latest Galleries
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Notable Deaths in 2025
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
The life & near death of prizefighter Christy Salters-Martin
Christy Salters-Martin dominated in the boxing ring but faced her toughest challenger at home.
Timeline: The disappearance of George Smith
Family seeks answers in death of newlywed who disappeared in 2005 while on Mediterranean honeymoon cruise.
Who is Alix Tichelman?
Meet the tattooed beauty charged in the death of Google executive Forrest Hayes.
"Son of Sam": A serial killer's reign of terror
Calling himself the "Son of Sam" in a letter left at one of the crime scenes, David Berkowitz claimed voices were ordering him to kill -- starting in the summer of 1976, he went on a 13-month spree of impulse killings in New York City that left six dead and seven injured
Latest CBS News Videos
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Latest CBS News Videos
The Uplift: Made with love
Visit a Uyghur restaurant in Southern California, where culture is shared and the food is made with love. Plus, a man who wanted to save his friends life by donating a kidney ends up saving his own life.
Officials: Brown shooter killed MIT professor
The gunman behind the shooting at Brown University also killed an MIT professor on Monday, according to Leah Foley, U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts. See Foley's full remarks from Thursday night.
Brown University shooting suspect found dead
The suspect in the Dec. 13 mass shooting on the campus of Brown University was found dead in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, Thursday night. Jessi Mitchell anchored CBS News' special report.
Breaking down the November CPI report
Geoeconomics correspondent Erin Delmore joins CBS News to discuss the latest numbers on inflation.
New Hampshire search connected to Brown shooting
Police searched an area in Salem, New Hampshire, Thursday night in connection with the recent killings at Brown University and MIT, sources told CBS News Boston. CBS News' Katrina Kaufman reports and retired FBI special agent and profiler Mary Ellen O'Toole joins with analysis.