What would surprise America's founders
Filmmaker Ken Burns, who's helped viewers understand American history, shared what he thinks would surprise the nation's founders 250 years after the Declaration of Independence.
Ken Burns
Ken Burns on America's origin story: "The most important event since the birth of Christ"
The documentary filmmaker, long a chronicler of the American experience, talks about his latest film for PBS, "The American Revolution," and why the end of the Revolutionary War did not mean the end of our nation's revolution.
Ken Burns on America's continuing revolution
Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns has long been a chronicler of the American experience. He talks with John Dickerson about his latest film for PBS, "The American Revolution"; the importance of studying history; and why the end of the Revolutionary War did not mean the end of our nation's revolution.
Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein on new docuseries
A 12-hour documentary series centered on the United States' war for independence is premiering on PBS in November. Co-directors Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein join "The Takeout" to discuss what went into making "The American Revolution" and what they discovered in the process.
Ken Burns: Attacks on PBS seem "foolhardy" and "misguided"
Filmmaker Ken Burns said it's "shortsighted" to eliminate funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, as public media has become a target of the White House.
Transcript: Ken Burns on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," July 6, 2025
The following is the transcript of an interview with documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and "CBS Evening News" co-anchor John Dickerson that will air on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on July 6, 2025.
Ken Burns on "Face the Nation"
As the U.S. celebrates 249 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, "CBS Evening News" co-anchor John Dickerson spoke with documentarian Ken Burns about his new film on the American Revolution and the importance of telling the story of American history.
Filmmaker Ken Burns on the American Revolution
The American Revolution was one of the most significant events in world history because it created a "new thing called a citizen," iconic filmmaker Ken Burns told CBS News, as the nation celebrates the Fourth of July exactly one year before its 250th birthday. "CBS Evening News" co-anchor John Dickerson spoke with Burns, whose upcoming film, "The American Revolution," is expected to air on PBS on Nov. 16.
Ken Burns on how the American Revolution "turned the world upside down"
Filmmaker Ken Burns says the American Revolution created a "new thing called a citizen."
Ken Burns on American Revolution's importance
Filmmaker Ken Burns explains the importance of the American Revolution, telling "CBS Evening News" co-anchor and CBS News chief political analyst John Dickerson that he thinks it's "the most important event since the birth of Christ in all of world history." Watch more of his interview Sunday on "Face the Nation."
Preview "The Vietnam War"
The documentary filmmakers' latest project, a 10-part series on the U.S. war in Vietnam, premieres Sunday on PBS.
Face the Nation, Sept. 17
This week on "Face the Nation," host John Dickerson interviews Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Senator John McCain to discuss the priorities at the United Nations General Assembly this week, and Ken Burns and Lynn Novick preview their ten-part documentary, "The Vietnam War."
Here Comes the Sun: Ken Burns and more
Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns sits down with Susan Spencer to discuss his new PBS documentary series "The U.S. and the Holocaust." Then, Mo Rocca travels to Crested Butte, Colorado, to learn about wildflowers. "Here Comes the Sun" is a closer look at some of the people, places and things we bring you every week on "CBS Sunday Morning."
Ken Burns on "The Takeout"
Documentarian Ken Burns discussed his new PBS docuseries "Muhammad Ali," which chronicles the life of the iconic boxer and his legacy on sports, politics and much more, on this week's episode of "The Takeout with Major Garrett."
Portrait of a genius: Ken Burns on Leonardo da Vinci
The acclaimed filmmaker behind the PBS documentary on the 15th century Italian artist and intellectual calls Leonardo da Vinci "one of the most incredibly interesting human beings who has ever walked the Earth."
America's failures in response to the Holocaust
A new PBS documentary series by Ken Burns, Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein, "The U.S. and the Holocaust," examines how United States policy was not always an open door for Jews in Europe who sought to flee Nazi persecution before and during World War II.
Ken Burns discusses his Muhammad Ali documentary
Burns says that he wanted to cover Ali's life from his boyhood in segregated Louisville until his death five years ago of Parkinson's Disease.
Ken Burns on America, selling his first film and more
The filmmaker known for his exhaustive documentaries on American subjects gives Scott Pelley a glimpse into how his films are made, the message he wants to convey with them and how he became the person he is today.
Ken Burns and Lynn Novick on filmmaking in a pandemic
On "Facing Forward," Margaret Brennan talks with documentary filmmakers Ken Burns and Lynn Novick about filmmaking during a pandemic and their new documentary Hemingway
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War escalates, energy prices spike after Israeli strike on Iran gas field
As Iran retaliates for an Israeli strike on the South Pars gas field, one analyst warns the war is "now hitting the plumbing of the global energy system."
Exclusive
We visited an LA building with 89 registered hospices. Here's what we found.
Advocates said the Van Nuys building looked like an example of "clustering" — a red flag for hospice fraud.
Comey subpoenaed in conspiracy case against ex-officials who investigated Trump
Former FBI Director James Comey has been subpoenaed by prosecutors in Miami as part of the Justice Department's investigation into Obama-era intelligence officials.
Trump brings up Pearl Harbor while meeting with Japan's prime minister
Asked why the U.S. didn't inform allies ahead of the Iran strikes, President Trump said, "Who knows better about surprise than Japan?"
Body of missing student James Gracey found in Barcelona, police say
The body of missing University of Alabama student James Gracey, who disappeared on a trip to Barcelona, has been found, Spanish officials said Thursday.
In voting process, photo ID gets wide support, CBS News poll finds
Few Americans feel they know a lot of the specifics about the SAVE Act.
Ex-FBI agents who worked on Trump 2020 election probe sue over firings
Two former FBI agents who helped investigate President Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results sued the federal government, alleging they were wrongfully terminated.
U.N. nuclear watchdog chief: "A lot has survived" of Iran's nuclear capabilities
In an interview with "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said there had already been damage done to Iran's nuclear sites.
"The Bachelorette" season with Taylor Frankie Paul canceled, ABC says
ABC has canceled its already filmed season of "The Bachelorette" starring Taylor Frankie Paul after a 2023 video surfaced.
U.S.
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In voting process, photo ID gets wide support, CBS News poll finds
Few Americans feel they know a lot of the specifics about the SAVE Act.
Mortgage rates rise as Iran war heightens U.S. inflation fears
Mortgage rates, though still well below their level a year ago, have edged up since the Iran war erupted. Here's why.
"The Bachelorette" season with Taylor Frankie Paul canceled, ABC says
ABC has canceled its already filmed season of "The Bachelorette" starring Taylor Frankie Paul after video surfaced of a 2023 incident in which she was charged with assault.
U.S. oil producers could get $63 billion boost from high crude prices
Domestic energy companies could benefit from high oil prices in the short-term, but take a hit if the Iran war drags on.
Comey subpoenaed in conspiracy case against ex-officials who investigated Trump
Former FBI Director James Comey has been subpoenaed by prosecutors in Miami as part of the Justice Department's investigation into Obama-era intelligence officials.
MoneyWatch
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Mortgage rates rise as Iran war heightens U.S. inflation fears
Mortgage rates, though still well below their level a year ago, have edged up since the Iran war erupted. Here's why.
U.S. oil producers could get $63 billion boost from high crude prices
Domestic energy companies could benefit from high oil prices in the short-term, but take a hit if the Iran war drags on.
Analysts warn oil prices could keep climbing as Iran war intensifies
Every 1-cent increase in gasoline prices reduces consumer spending by $1.5 billion annually, one economist says.
3 reasons the Federal Reserve's interest rate pause is worrying investors
Fed Chairman Jerome Powell used the phrase "we don't know" at least 14 times during his press conference. Investors are nervous.
Surging U.S. gas prices could erase bigger tax refunds, analysis finds
Stanford economists estimate that the typical U.S. household will spend an additional $740 on gas this year because of the jump in global oil prices.
Politics
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In voting process, photo ID gets wide support, CBS News poll finds
Few Americans feel they know a lot of the specifics about the SAVE Act.
Comey subpoenaed in conspiracy case against ex-officials who investigated Trump
Former FBI Director James Comey has been subpoenaed by prosecutors in Miami as part of the Justice Department's investigation into Obama-era intelligence officials.
Senators meet with border czar as lawmakers search for way out of DHS shutdown
Thursday's meeting with Tom Homan marked a key development as progress to date has appeared stagnant.
Trump brings up Pearl Harbor while meeting with Japan's prime minister
Asked why the U.S. didn't inform allies ahead of the Iran strikes, President Trump said, "Who knows better about surprise than Japan?"
U.N. nuclear watchdog chief: "A lot has survived" of Iran's nuclear capabilities
In an interview with "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said there had already been damage done to Iran's nuclear sites.
HealthWatch
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Judge blocks parts of RFK Jr.'s vaccine agenda, including revised schedule
A judge blocked a set of changes to the childhood vaccine schedule recommended by allies of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, dealing a setback to the Trump administration's efforts to overhaul federal vaccine policy.
Changes in organ donor status can fall through cracks in the system
Patchwork state policies and limited federal oversight have led to a fragmented system for tracking organ donor status.
A dad's colon cancer spread to lungs. He says what happened next was a miracle.
Spencer Laird was diagnosed with colon cancer at 26. At 30, he was told it had returned and spread to his lungs, with one tumor the size of a golf ball.
Dr. Oz pledges to tackle hospice fraud: "Do not steal from the American people"
The Trump administration's Medicare boss reacts to CBS News investigation into California's hospice fraud problems.
Millions of Americans skip meals, stretch medication to afford health care
Even people with six-figure incomes are making financial sacrifices to pay for medical care, a new study finds.
World
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Trump brings up Pearl Harbor while meeting with Japan's prime minister
Asked why the U.S. didn't inform allies ahead of the Iran strikes, President Trump said, "Who knows better about surprise than Japan?"
Iran hangs 3, including teen wrestler, in first executions over Jan. protests
Two sources confirmed to CBS News that Saleh Mohammadi, a young member of Iran's national wrestling team, was among the three men executed in Iran.
Divers find marble treasure possibly taken from Parthenon at Aegean shipwreck
Excavations at the site of the 1802 Mentor shipwreck uncovered a marble fragment that may have ties to the Parthenon in Ancient Greece, officials say.
Transcript: IAEA's Rafael Grossi on "Face the Nation," March 22, 2026
The following is the full transcript of the interview with International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi, a portion of which will air on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on March 22, 2026.
What can one of the world's happiest nations teach us about parenting?
U.S. author Jessica Joelle Alexander says Americans should consider adopting some of Denmark's "great parenting practices."
Entertainment
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Entertainment
Steve Hartman on filming "All the Empty Rooms"
Unmade beds and overdue books. That's some of what CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman found in his Oscar-winning documentary "All the Empty Rooms," which looks at the bedrooms of children killed in school shootings. Hartman joins "The Takeout" to discuss the making of the film.
"The Bachelorette" season with Taylor Frankie Paul canceled, ABC says
ABC has canceled its already filmed season of "The Bachelorette" starring Taylor Frankie Paul after video surfaced of a 2023 incident in which she was charged with assault.
Alessia Cara on new album
Grammy winner Alessia Cara is debuting a new album 10 years into her music career. Cara joined CBS News with details on her latest collaborations.
AI version of Val Kilmer to star in new movie
Val Kilmer was originally set to star in "As Deep as the Grave" before he died last year, never shooting a scene of the movie. But Kilmer will still star in the film thanks to generative AI, which is artificial intelligence that can generate new content by analyzing existing content. Jo Ling Kent has more.
"Survivor" contestant talks elimination
Spoiler alert! The latest contestant eliminated from "Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans" joins "CBS Mornings" to discuss his surprising elimination and if he has any regrets about how he played the game.
Technology
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Technology
AI version of Val Kilmer to star in new movie
Val Kilmer was originally set to star in "As Deep as the Grave" before he died last year, never shooting a scene of the movie. But Kilmer will still star in the film thanks to generative AI, which is artificial intelligence that can generate new content by analyzing existing content. Jo Ling Kent has more.
Risks of excessive screen time for adults
More than 80% of adults say they go online at least several times per day and research indicates that even adults' fully-formed brains can suffer negative consequences from excessive screen time. Dr. Sue Varma breaks down risks, tips to reduce your screen time and why adults are spending more time on screens.
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.
Inside NVIDIA's new chip
NVIDIA's GTC conference brought big crowds to Silicon Valley this week, with hundreds of companies showcasing products powered by NVIDIA's chips. Tim Werth, tech editor at Mashable, joins CBS News to discuss.
AI expert designs cancer vaccine for his dog
A tech entrepreneur in Australia, Paul Conyngham, said he used artificial intelligence to design a cancer vaccine for his dog Rosie. He joins CBS News with Páll Thordarson, director of the UNSW RNA Institute, who worked with Conyngham on the technology.
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Discovery of 1949 whale recording could unlock mysteries of ocean
The song is that of a humpback whale and was recorded by scientists in March 1949 in Bermuda, researchers said.
Sea levels higher than thought due to "methodological blind spot," study says
A new study in the journal Nature says most sea level rise research may have underestimated coastal water heights by an average of 1 foot.
NASA announces major overhaul of Artemis moon program "to take down risk"
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced significant changes to the agency's Artemis program, which aims to land on the moon in 2028.
What scientists will be looking for when government UFO files are released
Documents might help scientists shed light on unexplained phenomena and government secrets, experts said.
In a first, shark seen on camera in Antarctica waters, surprising researchers
A large shark was caught on camera for the first time in Antarctica's waters, surprising researchers. "There's a general rule of thumb that you don't get sharks in Antarctica," one said.
Crime
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Crime
Steve Hartman on filming "All the Empty Rooms"
Unmade beds and overdue books. That's some of what CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman found in his Oscar-winning documentary "All the Empty Rooms," which looks at the bedrooms of children killed in school shootings. Hartman joins "The Takeout" to discuss the making of the film.
New photos in Michigan synagogue attack
Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, has shared new images of the damage from last week's attack at the synagogue. A photo has also emerged of the attacker holding an AR-style rifle. CBS News' Anna Schecter has the latest.
Photo of Michigan synagogue attacker shows him with AR-style rifle
The man who attacked a synagogue in Michigan last week sent a photo of himself with the AR-style rifle he had during the attack to a family member in Lebanon, according to a U.S. official.
Joseph Duggar faces child sex abuse charges
Joseph Duggar, one of the stars of the reality show "19 Kids and Counting," has been arrested and is facing child sex abuse charges. He's accused of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl six years ago in Florida. Tom Hanson reports.
César Chávez sexual abuse allegations
More details are emerging about the allegations of abuse against the late Cesar Chavez. CBS News' Ed O'Keefe has more.
Space
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Repaired moon rocket heads back to launch pad for April 1 blastoff
After an overnight Thursday trip back out to the launch pad, NASA's Artemis II rocket will be readied for a historic flight to the moon.
Video shows meteor streaking across the sky
A meteoroid was spotted streaking across the sky in 10 states. In some areas, there was also a loud boom, similar to an explosion. NASA says the meteor, which was traveling 45,000 mph in the sky, fragmented - causing the bright fireball and loud boom.
7-ton meteor identified as likely cause of boom heard across Ohio
Some residents immediately feared the sound was an explosion, according to CBS affiliate WOIO, but weather service officials say it appears to have been a meteor.
Bill Nye on going from Boeing to science guy
Bill Nye the Science Guy sits down with CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett to talk about his life and career.
NASA targets April 1 for moon mission launch
NASA's huge Space Launch System rocket has been repaired and is ready for rollout back to the launch pad next week.
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
Two superfans transform LIU basketball home games
Two old high school pals went looking for a local New York school to root for during college basketball season. They found Long Island University. Tony Dokoupil has the story.
Photos show inside of charred Michigan synagogue
Newly released images show just how destructive a fire inside a Detroit-area synagogue was after a gunman armed with gasoline and explosives drove his truck into the building. Jonah Kaplan reports.
Missing U.S. college student found dead in Spain
The body of missing University of Alabama student James Gracey, who disappeared on a trip to Barcelona, has been found, Spanish police said. Leigh Kiniry has details.
TSA officer to lawmakers: "Pay us for what we do"
TSA workers missed their first full paycheck last week as parts of the Department of Homeland Security remain unfunded, and more are calling out sick. CBS News national reporter Kati Weis has more from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
Calls grow to fund TSA as frustration grows
Fliers were greeted with another day of long lines as TSA officers continue to work without receiving their pay. Skyler Henry spoke to travelers in Atlanta.