What is a Russian penal colony, and what are they like?
The vast network of labor camps was inherited by modern Russia: They used to be the Soviet Union's gulags, and there's little sign they improved since then.
Brittney Griner
U.S. slams Russia for moving Griner "to a remote penal colony"
Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison after being convicted for possession of a small quantity of cannabis oil.
Russia moves Brittney Griner to penal colony
Despite talks of a potential prisoner swap, Russia has transferred WNBA star Brittney Griner to a remote prison colony. As Ian Lee reports, the sprawling prison camps have a grim reputation.
U.S. diplomats granted access to Brittney Griner
U.S. Embassy officials in Russia visited imprisoned WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was sentenced to nine years in prison for drug possession. The U.S. is trying to get Griner and Marine veteran Paul Whelan released in a prisoner swap.
U.S. Embassy officials meet with Brittney Griner in Russia
"We are told she's doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
Biden on Griner appeal, COVID boosters
A Russian court on Tuesday rejected an appeal by WNBA star Brittney Griner of her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession. CBS News senior White House correspondent Weijia Jiang joins John Dickerson on "Prime Time" to discuss President Biden's response to that news, as well as his latest push for people to get updated COVID-19 booster shots.
President Biden addresses economic concerns
President Biden announced a series of actions aimed at giving American families "more breathing room" in the current economy. CBS News' Lana Zak and Tanya Rivero speak with chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes about his announcement, plus the ongoing efforts to bring Brittney Griner home and Mr. Biden's meeting today with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
Biden "not stopping" efforts to free Griner
Brittney Griner's nine-year sentence was upheld after a Russian court denied her appeal request. The WNBA star is expected to sent to a penal colony following the decision. CBS News chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes joins "CBS News Mornings" to explain how the White House is responding. Plus she takes a look at what's on the agenda as Israel's president travels to Washington to meet with President Biden.
Russian court upholds Griner's 9-year sentence
American basketball star Brittney Griner suffered a major setback after her appeal was denied by a Moscow court, upholding her 9-year sentence. She'll now be sent to a penal colony -- a type of labor camp known for brutal conditions. Weijia Jiang reports.
Russian court upholds Brittney Griner's 9-year prison sentence
Griner has been sentenced for drug possession after vape canisters containing cannabis oil were found in her luggage.
Russian court upholds Brittney Griner's sentence
A Russian court has upheld WNBA star Brittney Griner's nine-year prison sentence. CBS News anchors Lana Zak and Lilia Luciano spoke with William E. Pomeranz, director of the Wilson Center's Kennan Institute, about her case and what could happen next.
Moscow court denies Brittney Griner appeal
A Moscow court heard American basketball star Brittney Griner's appeal against her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession and denied the request to suspend her sentence. Griner, an eight-time all-star center with the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and two-time Olympic gold medalist, was convicted after police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. Imtiaz Tyab reports.
Gayle King on her interview with Griner's wife
WNBA star Brittney Griner remains imprisoned in Russia, awaiting an October 25 appeals hearing. "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King joins us to discuss her exclusive interview with Griner's wife Cherelle.
Wife says after call with Brittney Griner "I cried…for two or three days"
Brittney Griner remains in a Russian prison ahead of an appeal hearing on Oct. 25.
Brittney Griner's wife on WNBA star's detention
"CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King sat down with the wife of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who is imprisoned in Russia on drug charges and has an appeal hearing on Oct. 25. Cherelle Griner told King she hopes the U.S. can negotiate her wife's release before she is moved to a labor camp.
Brittney Griner is a "hostage," wife says in first interview since sentencing
More of Gayle King's interview with Cherelle Griner will air on "CBS Mornings" on Thursday, October 6.
Exclusive: Brittney Griner's wife speaks out
Brittney Griner's appeal of her nine-year prison sentence in Russia has been scheduled for October 25. "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King sits down exclusively with her wife, Cherelle Griner, for her first interview since Griner's sentencing. She says she feels like her wife is a "hostage."
Seven Americans freed in prisoner swap with Venezuela
Seven Americans have been freed in Venezuela in exchange for two imprisoned nephews of President Nicolás Maduro's wife. Five of the Americans were Houston-based Citgo oil executives being detained on corruption charges. Felicia Schwartz, U.S. foreign affairs and defense correspondent for The Financial Times, joined CBS News' John Dickerson to discuss.
Russian court sets Brittney Griner appeal date for Oct. 25
A Russian court has set a date for American basketball star Brittney Griner's appeal against her nine-year prison sentence for drug possession.
Biden meets with Brittney Griner's family
President Biden met at the White House on Friday with family members of WNBA star Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, both of whom remain jailed in Russia. This was the first in-person encounter between Mr. Biden and the families and happened amid unsuccessful efforts by the administration to secure the Americans' release. Christina Ruffini has the latest.
Biden meets with families of Brittney Griner, Paul Whelan
President Biden met with the families of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan Friday, both of whom are detained in Russia. The meeting comes as the Biden administration works to free the former U.S. Marine and WNBA star. CBS News chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes explains the measures being taken to secure their releases.
Biden meets with family members of Griner, Whelan
President Biden met with family members of WNBA star Brittney Griner and Marine veteran Paul Whelan as the administration works to secure their release from Russian prisons. The U.S. has offered a prisoner swap, but said Russia has not responded to the offer. Nancy Cordes shares more.
Biden meets with Griner and Whelan families
President Biden is meeting today with the families of two Americans jailed in Russia. It's the first time Mr. Biden is speaking face to face with the loved ones of WNBA star Brittney Griner and Marine veteran Paul Whelan. CBS News chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes joins us with more.
Biden to meet with Griner and Whelan families
The families of WNBA star Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan will meet with President Biden at the White House on Friday. Both Griner and Whelan are imprisoned in Russia as the Biden administration tries to negotiate a prisoner swap.
Trevor Reed on freedom after Russian prison
Trevor Reed, who was imprisoned in Russia for nearly three years and was released in a prisoner swap in April, joins "CBS Mornings" to discuss his experience in Russian labor camps and why it's crucial to secure the release of American basketball star Brittney Griner and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.
Live
Border czar Homan says feds will withdraw 700 law enforcement personnel
Since federal immigration agents fatally shot a man in Minnesota, the state's top corrections official told CBS News there have been "conversations" with the federal government
Man who tried to shoot Trump at Florida golf course gets life in prison
Ryan Routh, the man convicted in a 2024 assassination attempt of President Trump at his Florida golf course, has been sentenced to life in prison.
No suspect identified in disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mom
The disappearance of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie, is being investigated as a crime.
Exclusive
Anti-fraud task force targeting Calif., more states to be led by Vance: sources
President Trump is expected to sign an executive order putting JD Vance and Andrew Ferguson in charge of the group.
U.S.-Iran talks set for Friday in Oman after drone and tanker incidents
The talks are expected to be held after the U.S. military said it shot down an Iranian drone and Iranian forces threatened to seize a U.S.-flagged vessel.
Suspect in National Guard shooting in D.C. pleads not guilty
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, is accused of shooting two members of the West Virginia National Guard near the White House in November.
Tesla, Waymo execx defend self-driving cars before Senate committee
"Right now we have the Wild West. I want to see some rules of the road," said Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
Washington Post begins sweeping layoffs as it scales back news coverage
The storied newspaper, owned by Jeff Bezos, will eliminate its sports department and reduce its coverage of foreign news.
U.K. police investigating former ambassador to U.S. over Epstein ties
The Epstein files have yielded a police investigation, as former U.K. Ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson is accused of sharing state secrets.
U.S.
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Tesla, Waymo execx defend self-driving cars before Senate committee
"Right now we have the Wild West. I want to see some rules of the road," said Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
Millions of Americans face higher utility bills after rate hike approvals
Over 50 million Americans will face higher utility costs as a result of rate hikes approved in 2025, according to Powerlines.
Man who tried to shoot Trump at Florida golf course gets life in prison
Ryan Routh, the man convicted in a 2024 assassination attempt of President Trump at his Florida golf course, has been sentenced to life in prison.
Suspect in National Guard shooting in D.C. pleads not guilty
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, is accused of shooting two members of the West Virginia National Guard near the White House in November.
Democrats lay out demands for DHS funding, urging GOP to "get serious"
Democratic leaders outlined their demands for funding the Department of Homeland Security beyond next week.
MoneyWatch
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Millions of Americans face higher utility bills after rate hike approvals
Over 50 million Americans will face higher utility costs as a result of rate hikes approved in 2025, according to Powerlines.
Pinterest fired 2 engineers who built an internal layoff tracker
Pinterest says two engineers lost their jobs after writing custom scripts to identify employees who were cut in a recent round of layoffs.
Washington Post begins sweeping layoffs as it scales back news coverage
Martin Baron, former editor of The Post, told CBS News the scope of the paper's coverage will be "dramatically diminished" as a result of the cuts.
China banning hidden car door handles starting in 2027 due to safety concerns
China will ban hidden door handles on cars, commonly used on Tesla's electric vehicles and many other EV models, starting next year, due to safety concerns.
More companies are pointing to AI as they lay off employees
Although economists have generally downplayed the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs, some employers are highlighting their adoption of AI.
Politics
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Tesla, Waymo execx defend self-driving cars before Senate committee
"Right now we have the Wild West. I want to see some rules of the road," said Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal.
Suspect in National Guard shooting in D.C. pleads not guilty
Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national, is accused of shooting two members of the West Virginia National Guard near the White House in November.
Democrats lay out demands for DHS funding, urging GOP to "get serious"
Democratic leaders outlined their demands for funding the Department of Homeland Security beyond next week.
Exclusive
Anti-fraud task force targeting Calif., more states to be led by Vance: sources
President Trump is expected to sign an executive order putting JD Vance and Andrew Ferguson in charge of the group.
U.S.-Iran talks set for Friday in Oman after drone and tanker incidents
The talks are expected to be held after the U.S. military said it shot down an Iranian drone and Iranian forces threatened to seize a U.S.-flagged vessel.
HealthWatch
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Officials warn against drinking raw milk after baby dies from listeria
The New Mexico Department of Health said officials believe the baby contracted listeria after their mother drank raw milk during pregnancy.
5 ways to find affordable care without health insurance
Many Americans are expected to lose ACA or Medicaid coverage in the coming months and years, but doctors and researchers say there are still ways to find affordable care.
When health insurance costs more than the mortgage
As health care costs skyrocket and federal lawmakers pull back help on ACA insurance premiums, more middle-income families are facing tough choices on health care.
Extended Interview: Mel Robbins
In this web exclusive, author and podcaster Mel Robbins talks with Norah O'Donnell about "The Let Them Theory."
Book excerpt: "The Let Them Theory" by Mel Robbins
In her latest bestseller, the motivational speaker discusses how personal growth is only possible when you stop pouring energy into things you cannot control – which includes changing other people.
World
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Poland probing whether Epstein's "satanic circle" trafficked Polish girls
Polish leader Donald Tusk says his country will pore over the files for any evidence that Epstein's network trafficked women or girls from the country.
U.K. police investigating former ambassador to U.S. over Epstein ties
The Epstein files have yielded a police investigation, as former U.K. Ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson is accused of sharing state secrets.
Cold and doubt in Ukraine as 2nd round of talks with Russia kick off
U.S., Russian and Ukrainian negotiators are back around a table for a second round of technical talks, but in Kyiv, Russian bombs bring suffering and skepticism.
Ex-Prince Andrew moves out of royal home amid new Epstein revelations
King Charles' disgraced brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor moves from his royal mansion to a private estate after appearing in newly released Epstein files.
U.S.-Iran talks set for Friday in Oman after drone and tanker incidents
The talks are expected to be held after the U.S. military said it shot down an Iranian drone and Iranian forces threatened to seize a U.S.-flagged vessel.
Entertainment
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Entertainment
Ron Funches opens up about autism diagnosis
Actor and comedian Ron Funches talks to "CBS Mornings" about appearing on the reality show "The Traitors," how it led to his autism diagnosis and opening up to others about it.
2026 Super Bowl ads to look out for
Super Bowl advertisements are already making waves as companies seek a big win during the NFL's final football game of the season. Jeanine Poggi, the editor-in-chief at Ad Age, joins CBS News with more.
Susan Lucci on life after soap opera stardome
For decades, Susan Lucci starred in "All My Children." She speaks to "CBS Mornings" about her second memoir, which dives into her life after the soap opera series, the death of her husband and the resilience she found along the way.
Ransom note being investigated in Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, sheriff says
The sheriff says the note was sent to a local Arizona news station, which agreed not to report on it, following the disappearance of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie.
Miranda Lambert sells entire music catalog
Country star Miranda Lambert's entire catalog now belongs to Sony Music Publishing Nashville and Domain Capital Group. Jem Aswad, executive editor for music at Variety, joins "The Daily Report" to discuss.
Technology
More Technology
Pinterest fired 2 engineers who built an internal layoff tracker
Pinterest says two engineers lost their jobs after writing custom scripts to identify employees who were cut in a recent round of layoffs.
More companies are pointing to AI as they lay off employees
Although economists have generally downplayed the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs, some employers are highlighting their adoption of AI.
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.
Tech executive breaks down AI agents
Scott Hanselman, vice president of developer community at Microsoft, joins CBS News to explain the difference between an LLM like ChatGPT and an AI agent. He also explains how AI agents could become assertive if given too much access.
AI agents are using a social media platform
Moltbook, a social media platform for AI agents to interact, is growing. The Verge senior AI reporter Hayden Field joins CBS News with more details.
Science
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Scientists "quite surprised" to find one polar bear population thriving
After decades monitoring polar bears in Norway's far north, researchers say the animals have proven incredibly adaptable, but there are no guarantees for the future.
Mysterious dark matter seen in new map of distant galaxies
Dark matter doesn't absorb or give off light so scientists can't study it directly. But they can observe how its gravity warps and bends the star stuff around it.
Cow develops technique to scratch herself
"CBS Saturday Morning" learns more about Veronika, the clever cow who figured out multiple ways to scratch herself with a broom. It was the first time a cow was seen using a tool.
Almanac: January 18
"Sunday Morning" looks back at historical events on this date.
Fossils found at Dinosaur National Monument, first excavation in 100 years
The Dinosaur National Monument, which is located on the border between Colorado and Utah, was last excavated in 1924.
Crime
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Crime
Ryan Routh sentenced to life in prison
Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Trump in 2024 during his campaign for a second term, has been sentenced to life in prison. CBS News legal reporter Katrina Kaufman has the latest.
Poland probing whether Epstein's "satanic circle" trafficked Polish girls
Polish leader Donald Tusk says his country will pore over the files for any evidence that Epstein's network trafficked women or girls from the country.
Man who tried to shoot Trump at Florida golf course gets life in prison
Ryan Routh, the man convicted in a 2024 assassination attempt of President Trump at his Florida golf course, has been sentenced to life in prison.
U.K. police investigating former ambassador to U.S. over Epstein ties
The Epstein files have yielded a police investigation, as former U.K. Ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson is accused of sharing state secrets.
Nancy Guthrie investigation ramps up
The investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance has ramped up. This comes as an apparent ransom note was sent to a local Arizona news station on Monday, the Pima County sheriff confirmed. CBS News' Andres Gutierrez reports.
Space
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Space
What led NASA to delay Artemis II launch
NASA's first crewed moon mission in more than 50 years has been delayed until March at the earliest. During a routine dress rehearsal of the launch, persistent liquid hydrogen leaks were discovered in the Artemis II rocket. CBS News space consultant Bill Harwood breaks it down.
NASA hopes to fix Artemis II moon rocket leak with on-pad repair
NASA plans to test the planned leak repair with a second dress rehearsal fueling test later this month.
NASA delays Artemis II launch
NASA delayed the Artemis II moon rocket launch after a hydrogen leak was found during a wet dress rehearsal, the agency announced Tuesday. CBS News senior space consultant Bill Harwood has the latest.
NASA begins mission to map the boundaries of our heliosphere
A NASA mission is underway to map the heliosphere, which is a huge protective bubble around the solar system that was created by the sun.
NASA moon launch off until March due to issues during tests
NASA says it can't try until March at the earliest to send a crewed spacecraft on a flight around the moon and back, due to hydrogen leaks during testing of the Artemis II rocket.
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Notable Deaths in 2026
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Evidence in the Barbara Kendhammer case
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Timeline: The disappearance of George Smith
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Latest CBS News Videos
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Latest CBS News Videos
Inside the courtroom as Ryan Routh sentenced
Ryan Routh received a life sentence Wednesday for his 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump. CBS News legal reporter Katrina Kaufman has more.
Trump says he had excellent call with Xi
President Trump said Wednesday morning that he had an "excellent telephone conversation" with Chinese President Xi Jinping. CBS News' Ed O'Keefe has more.
Ryan Routh sentenced to life in prison
Ryan Routh, the man accused of attempting to assassinate President Trump in 2024 during his campaign for a second term, has been sentenced to life in prison. CBS News legal reporter Katrina Kaufman has the latest.
Fulton County requests seized documents
Fulton County officials are demanding the return of all 2020 election documents seized by the FBI last week. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul has more.
Where things stand for DHS funding
President Trump signed a House-approved funding bill on Tuesday to officially end the four-day partial government shutdown that began over the weekend. CBS News congressional correspondent Nikole Killion has the latest.