CBS Evening News, August 25th, 2020
Hurricane Laura could make landfall on Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm; Hospital guard turned medical student strives to help others achieve their dreams
Jerry Falwell Jr.
Liberty University announces probe of Jerry Falwell Jr. amid scandal
The evangelical university has hired a forensic firm to investigate Liberty's operations during Falwell Jr.'s tenure as president, including financial and real estate dealings.
Liberty University accepts Jerry Falwell Jr. resignation
The evangelical leader is facing allegations of sexual impropriety involving a business associate.
Liberty University president forced out of job over sex scandal
Jerry Falwell, Jr. told CBS News he is stepping down as president of Liberty University in the wake of salacious allegations. Jericka Duncan reports.
Confusion over Jerry Falwell Jr. resignation
Taking over for his father thirteen years ago, Jerry Falwell Jr.'s reign as president of Liberty University may be ending. The news comes amid reports of his wife's alleged affair with a business partner that the couple met in 2012. Jericka Duncan reports.
Liberty University says Falwell Jr. "withdrew" his resignation
There were contradictory reports about Falwell's future at the evangelical school after a business associate alleged an inappropriate relationship.
2020 Republican National Convention kicks off
The Republican National Convention is beginning on Monday and President Trump appears in full control of the message. CBS News' Major Garrett and CBSN political reporter Caitlin Huey-Burns join CBSN's "Red & Blue" with a look at what to expect this week.
Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. placed on leave
Falwell has politicized the university, a conservative Christian school in southwest Virginia.
Liberty University wants reporters charged over coronavirus stories
School led by big Trump backer Jerry Falwell Jr. seeking trespassing counts against them for doing stories on Liberty staying partly open during pandemic.
Liberty's Falwell says he's target of "attempted coup"
Falwell says he believes he's partly being targeted for his loyalty to President Trump
Falwell says he has been asked to lead higher ed task force
The Liberty University predient was an early supporter of President Trump, and he said in Nov. that he had been offered the job of education secretary
Jerry Falwell Jr.: I turned down Cabinet position
The Liberty University President said the president-elect offered him the job of Secretary of Education, but he turned it down for personal reasons
Exclusive
Army survivors of deadly attack in Kuwait dispute Pentagon's account
Survivors of an Iranian attack that killed six U.S. service members have disputed the Pentagon's description of events and said their unit in Kuwait was left dangerously exposed.
Exclusive
See messages Brian Hooker sent his friend after wife's disappearance
Brian Hooker exchanged Facebook messages with a friend, which CBS News exclusively reviewed, after his wife vanished in the Bahamas over the weekend.
Live
Trump warns Iran against charging tolls to go through Strait of Hormuz
Only about a dozen ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the first two days of the ceasefire, far below normal traffic levels before the war, data shows.
First lady Melania Trump slams "baseless lies" tying her to Jeffrey Epstein
First lady Melania Trump delivered a televised statement denying a relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
White House staff received email warning not to place bets on prediction markets
White House aides got an email last month telling them not to place bets on prediction markets with nonpublic information, multiple administration officials told CBS News.
Judge says Pentagon must restore press access
A federal judge blocked a restrictive new Defense Dept. press policy instituted after previously he ruled Pentagon press restrictions issued last year were unlawful.
First on CBS
California officials make arrests in L.A. hospice fraud crackdown
California's attorney general filed charges against 21 suspects, accusing the group of defrauding the state of $267 million. Arrests come after a CBS News investigation into hospice fraud.
Inside Pam Bondi's aggressive push to crack down on animal cruelty crimes
A politically connected nonprofit animal shelter helped steer Bondi on DOJ's approach on animal cruelty crimes and their prosecution.
Independence Arch, or "Arc de Trump," plans include taxpayer funds
The president says the arch will commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary.
U.S.
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White House staff received email warning not to place bets on prediction markets
White House aides got an email last month telling them not to place bets on prediction markets with nonpublic information, multiple administration officials told CBS News.
Judge says Pentagon must restore press access
A federal judge blocked a restrictive new Defense Dept. press policy instituted after previously he ruled Pentagon press restrictions issued last year were unlawful.
As Artemis II heads back to Earth, crew is staking their lives on the heat shield
Despite problems during the unpiloted Artemis I reentry, the Artemis II crew is confident their heat shield will protect them during a fiery descent to Earth.
Exclusive
See messages Brian Hooker sent his friend after wife's disappearance
Brian Hooker exchanged Facebook messages with a friend, which CBS News exclusively reviewed, after his wife vanished in the Bahamas over the weekend.
Inside Pam Bondi's aggressive push to crack down on animal cruelty crimes
A politically connected nonprofit animal shelter helped steer Bondi on DOJ's approach on animal cruelty crimes and their prosecution.
MoneyWatch
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Strait of Hormuz still seeing significantly lower traffic despite ceasefire
Few ships passed through the waterway Wednesday and Thursday despite a ceasefire agreement that was supposed to open the waterway key to transiting oil across the globe.
Property taxes are surging. See what homeowners pay by state and county.
The average U.S. property tax bill rose 3.7% last year to $4,427, outpacing inflation even as the typical home lost value.
DOJ probing NFL over games on paid platforms, sources say
The NFL is being investigated for practices that allegedly harm consumers for licensing games to multiple platforms — paid streaming platforms, paid cable networks, and others, sources said.
USPS halts contributions to pension plan after warning of "cash crisis"
The U.S. Postal Service, which lost $9 billion in 2025, recently warned that it could run out of money within 12 months.
CPI report may show inflation hitting 2024 levels amid soaring gas prices
Economic forecasts show that this week's March Consumer Price Index could show prices climbing at their fastest pace in nearly two years.
Politics
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White House staff received email warning not to place bets on prediction markets
White House aides got an email last month telling them not to place bets on prediction markets with nonpublic information, multiple administration officials told CBS News.
Judge says Pentagon must restore press access
A federal judge blocked a restrictive new Defense Dept. press policy instituted after previously he ruled Pentagon press restrictions issued last year were unlawful.
Inside Pam Bondi's aggressive push to crack down on animal cruelty crimes
A politically connected nonprofit animal shelter helped steer Bondi on DOJ's approach on animal cruelty crimes and their prosecution.
U.S. to lead ceasefire talks between Lebanon and Israel in D.C.
The U.S. is convening hastily arranged diplomatic talks next week in Washington, D.C., aimed at crafting a ceasefire in Lebanon.
First lady Melania Trump slams "baseless lies" tying her to Jeffrey Epstein
First lady Melania Trump delivered a televised statement denying a relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
HealthWatch
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Medicaid work rules will stress states' staffing capacity
Some states already don't have enough staff to quickly process Medicaid applications and answer enrollees' phone calls. Researchers say they may not be prepared to handle new Medicaid work rules, predicting people will lose coverage as a result.
Exclusive
2 more drug companies to officially launch on TrumpRx
Two more drug-making giants, Abbvie and Genentech, will start selling popular medications on the White House's discounted pharmaceutical site as soon as Monday.
Social media driving teens toward steroids, extreme body transformations
Behind some of the viral physiques lies a troubling trend: the use of a powerful drug never approved for humans.
Scientist with rare ALS genetic mutation looks to experimental treatment
Every few months for the past three years, Jeff Vierstra has been receiving infusions in his spine that target and disable a mutated gene that made it likely he would develop ALS.
New ALS treatment brings hope to patients
"CBS Saturday Morning" looks at an experimental treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, that is bringing hope to some patients suffering from the neurodegenerative disease. To inquire about possible participation in Silence ALS, an initiative to develop individualized gene-based therapies for patients with other rare genetic forms of ALS, please write to silenceals@cumc.columbia.edu.
World
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Strait of Hormuz still seeing significantly lower traffic despite ceasefire
Few ships passed through the waterway Wednesday and Thursday despite a ceasefire agreement that was supposed to open the waterway key to transiting oil across the globe.
Exclusive
See messages Brian Hooker sent his friend after wife's disappearance
Brian Hooker exchanged Facebook messages with a friend, which CBS News exclusively reviewed, after his wife vanished in the Bahamas over the weekend.
Putin declares 32-hour ceasefire in Ukraine for Orthodox Easter
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has declared a ceasefire in Ukraine over the Orthodox Easter.
U.S. to lead ceasefire talks between Lebanon and Israel in D.C.
The U.S. is convening hastily arranged diplomatic talks next week in Washington, D.C., aimed at crafting a ceasefire in Lebanon.
A man stole a handbag outside a London pub. Inside was a Faberge egg and watch.
A man who stole a handbag containing a Faberge egg and watch worth at least $2.8 million from a London pub was jailed for more than two years.
Entertainment
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Entertainment
BTS kicks off comeback world tour
K-pop supergroup BTS hit the stage on Thursday, kicking off their comeback world tour after a four-year hiatus. Nicole Fell, assistant editor at The Hollywood Reporter, joins "The Daily Report" to discuss.
How realistic is "Project Hail Mary"?
Ryan Gosling's new movie, "Project Hail Mary," is raising questions about the future of the Sun. CBS News contributor Janna Levin joins with more details.
"Survivor 50" castaway talks elimination
(Spoilers ahead) The latest castaway voted off "Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans" joins "CBS Mornings" to discuss being eliminated from the game, this season's challenges and being the first member of the jury.
NASA drops Artemis II moon mission playlist with astronauts' wake-up songs
The moon music tradition started more than 50 years ago, NASA said as it shared the Artemis II crew's playlist this week.
Kanye West's upcoming Italy gig sparks debate after U.K. denied rapper entry
The rapper formerly known as Kanye West being denied entry into the U.K. has raised questions over the star's upcoming performance in Italy.
Technology
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Technology
Behind Anthropic's alarming AI model
Anthropic announced its new AI model is too powerful for public release. Puck's Ian Krietzberg joins CBS News with more.
Analysis finds AI will reshape 50-55% of jobs
Researchers at Boston Consulting Group estimate that AI will "reshape" between 50-55% of U.S. jobs over the next three years. They note that while AI integration will likely change the nature of the work, it doesn't necessarily mean job losses in every case. CBS News MoneyWatch reporter Megan Cerullo has more.
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.
Anthropic claims new AI too powerful to release
Anthropic says its newest AI model, Claude Mythos, is too powerful and dangerous to be released to the public. Tech journalist Jacob Ward joins CBS News to discuss.
AI will affect more than half of all U.S. jobs, analysis finds
Artificial intelligence is more likely to change the nature of work than to supplant masses of workers, according to researchers.
Science
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First major forecast for 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is released
Colorado State University has released its annual Atlantic hurricane forecast, predicting 13 named storms and six hurricanes may develop during the 2026 season.
Creature thought to be world's oldest octopus isn't an octopus after all
Scientists have found evidence that a 300-million-year-old sea creature previously thought to be the world's oldest octopus is actually a nautilus relative.
March smashed heat records in several ways, federal data shows
Last month was the hottest March on record for the Lower 48 states, by the most for any month ever, federal data shows. And a forecast El Niño could heat Earth even more.
Emperor penguins listed as endangered species
The emperor penguin has been declared an endangered species as climate change pushes the icon of Antarctica a step closer to extinction, the global authority on threatened wildlife says.
Stunning photos from Artemis II show Earth, moon, eclipse from space
The astronauts aboard Artemis II are the first humans to see some parts of the far side of the moon with the naked eye.
Crime
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Crime
Police arrest 21 suspects in hospice fraud case
Police file charges against 21 suspects in what's described as a $267 million fraud case with zero legitimate patients. Adam Yamaguchi reports.
A man stole a handbag outside a London pub. Inside was a Faberge egg and watch.
A man who stole a handbag containing a Faberge egg and watch worth at least $2.8 million from a London pub was jailed for more than two years.
"Ketamine Queen" sentenced to 15 years
Jasveen Sangha, the woman described as the "Ketamine Queen," was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in federal prison for her role in the death of "Friends" co-star Matthew Perry. Carter Evans reports.
Husband arrested after wife falls overboard
Brian Hooker has been arrested by the Royal Bahamas Police Force after his wife, Lynette Hooker, apparently fell overboard from their dinghy and was swept away by currents. Hooker's lawyer denies any wrongdoing. CBS News' Cristian Benavides reports.
Doctor found guilty of attempted manslaughter
Gerhardt Konig, the anesthesiologist accused of trying to kill his wife in Hawaii last year, was found guilty Wednesday of attempted manslaughter based upon extreme mental or emotional disturbance.
Space
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As Artemis II heads back to Earth, crew is staking their lives on the heat shield
Despite problems during the unpiloted Artemis I reentry, the Artemis II crew is confident their heat shield will protect them during a fiery descent to Earth.
NASA drops Artemis II moon mission playlist with astronauts' wake-up songs
The moon music tradition started more than 50 years ago, NASA said as it shared the Artemis II crew's playlist this week.
NASA gears up for Artemis II crew's return to Earth
With Artemis II astronauts closing out on-board tests, flight controllers are prepping for reentry and splashdown Friday.
Stunning photos from Artemis II show Earth, moon, eclipse from space
The astronauts aboard Artemis II are the first humans to see some parts of the far side of the moon with the naked eye.
Artemis II crew on path back to Earth after historic trip around the moon
The Artemis II crew flew farther from Earth than any humans in history as they passed over the far side of the moon on Monday night.
Latest Galleries
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Notable Deaths in 2026
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
Evidence in the Barbara Kendhammer case
Does the evidence show a cover-up, or was Todd Kendhammer wrongfully convicted for the murder of his wife?
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.
Latest CBS News Videos
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Latest CBS News Videos
Spilling the tea on D.C.'s hottest gossip
Juliegrace Brufke, host of the "Sources Say Podcast" joins Major Garrett for a talk about the hottest gossip coming out of the nation's capital.
4/9: The Takeout with Major Garrett
President Trump says he asked Netanyahu to scale back Lebanon strikes; Melania Trump makes a rare statement denying relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
What will happen with Artemis II after splashdown
The Artemis II mission is scheduled to splashdown near San Diego Friday evening. CBS News reporter Jared Ochacher has more.
Survivors speak out on deadly Iranian attack
U.S. service members spoke to CBS News' Jonah Kaplan about the deadly Iranian drone strike in Kuwait and recalled the moment an explosion hit the unit. The survivors described the heroism after the war's deadliest strike against the U.S. and disputed the Pentagon's description of the events.
BTS kicks off comeback world tour
K-pop supergroup BTS hit the stage on Thursday, kicking off their comeback world tour after a four-year hiatus. Nicole Fell, assistant editor at The Hollywood Reporter, joins "The Daily Report" to discuss.