Defense secretary breaks with Trump over military force
President Trump and Defense Secretary Mark Esper are at odds over the president's threat to use active duty troops to rein in protests. Paula Reid reports.
Mark Esper
6/3/20: Red and Blue
Growing scrutiny over handling of protesters; Prepping for a safe election in November
Esper on fallout from Navy captain's firing
Defense Secretary Mark Esper joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss the military's role in aiding the country through the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to health care workers, service members are on the front lines providing support to overwhelmed hospitals. Esper also reacts to the fallout from the recent firing of Navy aircraft carrier Captain Brett Crozier, who sent a letter that was later leaked about the severity of the virus threat on his ship.
Public health officials say the worst is yet to come
With the U.S. coronavirus death count at more than 9,000, President Trump and top officials are warning that the toughest week is still ahead. Health officials are also pleading to the public to take social distancing measures even more seriously than now. Nikole Killion reports.
1/6/20: CBSN Evening News
Defense Secy: No plans to pull troops out of Iraq; Young girl defies disability to become musician
11/09/20: Red and Blue
Pres. Trump fires Defense Secretary Mark Esper; Vice President elect Kamala Harris makes history
Trump fires Secretary of Defense Mark Esper
President Trump has fired Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. Christopher Miller, the head of the National Counterterrorism Center, has been named as acting secretary. Ben Tracy reports.
Trump fires Esper as defense secretary 6 days after election
"Mark Esper has been terminated. I would like to thank him for his service," the president said.
Pentagon rescinding order to shutter Stars and Stripes newspaper
President Trump vowed to continue funding the paper in a tweet last week.
Trump on 2015 McCain comments: "I say what I say"
Trump speaks to reporters a day after an article in The Atlantic alleged he had called American service members who died fighting "suckers" and "losers."
Washington ponders next move on Iran
The day after at least a dozen Iranian rockets slammed into two military bases with U.S. troops in Iraq, the Trump administration is pondering its next move. U.S. allies are condemning Iran, which in turn claims this attack concluded their "legal and proportionate" response to the targeted killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. CBS News State Department reporter Christina Ruffini joins CBSN with the latest from Washington.
House hearing on Russian bounty intel reports
Defense Secretary Mark Esper testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee to discuss intelligence reports alleging Russia may have paid the Taliban to kill U.S. troops. John Gans, the director of communications and research for the University of Pennsylvania's Perry World House global policy center, and former chief speechwriter for Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, joins "Red and Blue" with key takeaways from the testimony.
U.S. to withdraw 12,000 American troops from Germany
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said 5,600 troops would be redeployed to other NATO countries and 6,400 would return to the U.S.
New Pentagon policy effectively bans Confederate symbols
Trump has insisted that the Confederate flag should be protected under "freedom of speech."
Confederate symbols effectively banned at military sites
On Friday, Defense Secretary Mark Esper effectively banned the usage of Confederate flags at U.S. military installations. Esper issued a memo that listed flags that can be displayed, and the Confederate flag was not on that list.
Esper defends use of National Guard in helping with civil unrest after George Floyd death
Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley testified before lawmakers Thursday.
Trump demanded 10,000 active-duty troops deploy to streets
In an attempt to satisfy Mr. Trump's demand, Esper and Milley used the call with the governors later that morning to implore them to call up the National Guard in their own states, the official said.
Mattis, Esper speak out against Trump
Former Trump administration Defense Secretary James Mattis issued a scathing statement denouncing Mr. Trump's divisive tactics, while current Defense Secretary Mark Esper publicly disputed the president's comments about using the military to quell protests. CBS News White House correspondent Weijia Jiang joins CBSN to talk about the latest.
Mattis criticizes Trump's protest response
Former Secretary of Defense James Mattis is accusing President Trump of dividing the country. Current Secretary of Defense Mark Esper is also at odds with the president, saying active duty forces should only be used to stop protests as a last resort. Weijia Jiang reports.
Former presidents react to George Floyd's death
Every former living president has now issued a statement on the death of George Floyd. New charges against the officers involved in the incident which led to his death were also filed Wednesday. CBS News' Natalie Brand, CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett and Washington Post political reporter Eugene Scott join CBSN's "Red & Blue" to discuss.
Defense chief opposes sending troops to quell protests
Esper's comments contradicted President Trump, who threatened to deploy the military to quell protests on Monday.
Esper differs with Trump on Insurrection Act
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper says he does not support the idea of sending the military into states to control protests, as President Trump has suggested. CBS News White House correspondent Weijia Jiang spoke to CBSN's Tanya Rivero about the implications of that disagreement.
D.C. religious leaders criticize Trump visits
President Trump is facing backlash from local religious leaders for his visits to a historic church and national shrine amid the protests this week over George Floyd's death. CBS News White House correspondent Weijia Jiang joins CBSN to break down the latest developments.
Shanahan withdraws Defense Secy. nomination
Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan is withdrawing from the confirmation process after accusations of domestic violence by his ex-wife. Secretary of the Army Mark Esper will be taking his place. This comes as the Pentagon also announced it will be sending 1,000 more troops to the Middle East. CBS News national security correspondent David Martin joined CBSN with more.
Trump struggles to facilitate talks with Iran
President Trump is calling John Bolton a "hawk" but says he still has confidence in his national security adviser despite calling off a planned strike on Iran. This comes as the president gears up for high-stakes talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Japan next week. White House columnist for The Hill, Niall Stanage, joins CBSN to break down the latest developments.
Correspondents' dinner suspect charged with trying to assassinate Trump
Cole Allen, the man accused of opening fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, was charged with trying to assassinate President Trump.
Court document reveals new details about correspondents' dinner shooting
An FBI affidavit filed in federal court lays out more details about Cole Allen's alleged actions before and during the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
Trump reacts to alleged gunman's "manifesto," and more interview highlights
The day after a gunman attempted to storm the White House Correspondents' Dinner, President Trump sat down with CBS News' Norah O'Donnell for a "60 Minutes" interview to talk about his experience.
King Charles arrives for visit with Trump at a fraught time
King Charles III and Queen Camilla are aiming to strengthen the "special relationship" the U.S. and United Kingdom have had since World War II.
Live
Oil prices rise as U.S. and Iran appear locked in a costly stalemate
Energy prices keep rising with no sign of progress toward a deal to end the U.S.-Iran standoff and Hezbollah rejecting the Lebanon ceasefire.
The security apparatus at the "Hinckley" Hilton where correspondents' dinner is held
On March 31, 1981, when President Reagan was shot by John Hinckley, Jr., the Washington Hilton ceased to be just another venue for the Secret Service.
Trump calls for Kimmel to be fired over jokes made before correspondents' dinner
First lady Melania Trump said that jokes Jimmy Kimmel made on his show days before the White House Correspondents' Dinner were "hateful and violent rhetoric."
Brother of suspect in deaths of 2 Tampa students: "We tried to warn police in the past"
Ahmad Abugharbieh, the younger brother of the man suspected of killing two University of South Florida doctoral students, told CBS News, "My entire family feels so much shame and guilt."
Pentagon can require reporters to be escorted during appeal process, judges rule
An appeals court has ruled that the Defense Department can require journalists to be escorted on Pentagon grounds while the Trump administration appeals a judge's decision to block its enforcement of a press access policy challenged by The New York Times.
U.S.
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CBS News poll on California governor's race: What are primary voters looking for?
Ahead of Tuesday's debate in the California governor's race, it's still a wide-open contest, CBS News' latest poll finds.
Brother of suspect in deaths of 2 Tampa students: "We tried to warn police in the past"
Ahmad Abugharbieh, the younger brother of the man suspected of killing two University of South Florida doctoral students, told CBS News, "My entire family feels so much shame and guilt."
Actor Nathan Chasing Horse sentenced to life in prison for sexual assault
The "Dances With Wolves" actor was accused by three Indigenous women and girls, including one who was 14 when the assaults began. He was convicted in January on 13 of the 21 charges he faced.
82nd Airborne soldiers train on drone-countering maneuvers used in Ukraine
Soldiers are training for drone-on-drone combat using Bumblebee drones, which have been used in Ukraine and are being sent to U.S. training centers in the Middle East.
Google workers urge CEO to refuse classified AI work with Pentagon
In an open letter, Google workers say doing a deal with the Department of Defense would hurt the tech giant's reputation.
MoneyWatch
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Google workers urge CEO to refuse classified AI work with Pentagon
In an open letter, Google workers say doing a deal with the Department of Defense would hurt the tech giant's reputation.
Musk and Altman face off in federal court. Here's what to know.
The trial comes at a pivotal moment for AI, a technology poised to bring advancement that could also drastically reshape humanity.
California billionaire tax secures enough signatures to make ballot
The measure would impose a one-time, 5% tax on the state's roughly 200 billionaires to fund public programs.
United Airlines CEO says he approached American Airlines about merger
Kirby argued that a merger would create jobs, offer more affordable flying options and allow the airline to compete with foreign carriers.
Prediction markets in hot seat over rogue bettors and insider trading
Incidents in which people apparently used exclusive knowledge to score handsome profits raise the question: Are prediction markets safe places for news junkies to bet on events - or dens of insider trading?
Politics
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Pentagon can require reporters to be escorted during appeal process, judges rule
An appeals court has ruled that the Defense Department can require journalists to be escorted on Pentagon grounds while the Trump administration appeals a judge's decision to block its enforcement of a press access policy challenged by The New York Times.
CBS News poll on California governor's race: What are primary voters looking for?
Ahead of Tuesday's debate in the California governor's race, it's still a wide-open contest, CBS News' latest poll finds.
82nd Airborne soldiers train on drone-countering maneuvers used in Ukraine
Soldiers are training for drone-on-drone combat using Bumblebee drones, which have been used in Ukraine and are being sent to U.S. training centers in the Middle East.
Court document reveals new details about correspondents' dinner shooting
An FBI affidavit filed in federal court lays out more details about Cole Allen's alleged actions before and during the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
Democratic senators launch investigation into Kuwait strike that killed U.S. troops
Surviving troops disputed Pentagon's account of the attack on the command post in Kuwait, saying the unit "was unprepared" to defend itself.
HealthWatch
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Big companies position themselves for payday from $50B federal rural health fund
A $50 billion federal fund is supposed to modernize rural healthcare. But community clinics and advocates fear that the contractors administering the money for states will bite off a big chunk before it reaches patients.
A 13-year-old's kidney was failing. Then a stranger stepped in.
Tim Fitzpatrick, a father of a chronically ill child, saw the story of a boy in need of a new kidney and felt compelled to help.
Ben Sasse is on extended time. He credits "providence, prayer and a miracle drug."
The former U.S. senator from Nebraska opened up about his terminal diagnosis, his family and the state of American politics in a "Things That Matter" town hall.
Exclusive
Johnson & Johnson to launch on TrumpRx with 4 of its prescription drugs
Drug-making giant Johnson & Johnson will officially start marketing four of its medications on the Trump administration's TrumpRx website on Friday, CBS News exclusively learned.
Medigap premiums leap, and consumers have few alternatives
Millions of people rely on the supplemental insurance to offset the deductibles, copayments, and other costs faced by enrollees in the traditional Medicare program.
World
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Democratic senators launch investigation into Kuwait strike that killed U.S. troops
Surviving troops disputed Pentagon's account of the attack on the command post in Kuwait, saying the unit "was unprepared" to defend itself.
AI used to reveal face of victim fleeing Mount Vesuvius eruption
Archaeologists found the victim holding a terracotta mortar, which they interpret as an improvised attempt to shield his head.
In a first, endangered orangutan seen using canopy bridge to cross road
Rapid development has been shrinking the jungle habitat of the critically endangered species, and fatal conflicts with people have been increasing.
Live
Oil prices rise as U.S. and Iran appear locked in a costly stalemate
Energy prices keep rising with no sign of progress toward a deal to end the U.S.-Iran standoff and Hezbollah rejecting the Lebanon ceasefire.
22 Buddhist monks arrested at airport after record drug bust
The group, returning home after a vacation in Thailand, had Kush -- a potent strain of cannabis -- hidden in their luggage, officials said.
Entertainment
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Trump calls for Kimmel to be fired over jokes made before correspondents' dinner
First lady Melania Trump said that jokes Jimmy Kimmel made on his show days before the White House Correspondents' Dinner were "hateful and violent rhetoric."
Eve Plumb reflects on life in the spotlight
Eve Plumb starred as middle child Jan Brady on the classic sitcom "The Brady Bunch." While reflecting on her career, she told "CBS Mornings" the beloved show "put me where I am today." Plumb also addressed "The Brady Bunch" not being an instant hit and why one of her iconic lines bothered her, which she discusses in her new memoir.
4/26: Sunday Morning
Hosted by Jane Pauley. Featured: America's adversarial relationship with Cuba; singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves; Rep. Jim Clyburn; reviving a Welsh soccer town; tree lovers; artist Jenny Saville; and rescuing Venus fly traps.
Kacey Musgraves on writing lyrics: "There is no greater drug"
A couple of years ago, the Grammy-winner went home to East Texas to heal from a breakup. She talks about how her "Dry Spell" led to a creative monsoon – her latest album, "Middle of Nowhere."
Extended interview: Kacey Musgraves
In this web exclusive, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves talks with correspondent Anthony Mason about her latest album, "Middle of Nowhere," a record inspired by loneliness following a breakup, and how she grew to feel empowered by the concept of liminal space.
Technology
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Technology
Jury selection begins in Musk-Altman legal battle
Jury selection began Monday in the legal battle between tech leaders Elon Musk and Sam Altman. CBS News senior business and technology correspondent Jo Ling Kent has the latest.
How the AI-driven data center boom is leading to skyrocketing energy bills
A CBS News analysis found that Georgia Power, the largest energy provider in the state, imposed six rate hikes in the last three years.
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 data centers are impacting Americans
This week, Maine's governor vetoed a bill that would have made the state the first to ban the construction of new data centers. Shanelle Kaul reports.
Sam Altman apologizes for not flagging authorities to mass shooter's ChatGPT account
The ChatGPT account of the shooter, who killed eight people in a small British Columbia community, had been banned about eight months prior to the massacre.
Science
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AI used to reveal face of victim fleeing Mount Vesuvius eruption
Archaeologists found the victim holding a terracotta mortar, which they interpret as an improvised attempt to shield his head.
In a first, endangered orangutan seen using canopy bridge to cross road
Rapid development has been shrinking the jungle habitat of the critically endangered species, and fatal conflicts with people have been increasing.
Saving the Venus fly trap
The carnivorous Venus fly trap is native to the Carolinas, but its population is dwindling due to loss of habitat. Correspondent Seth Doane talks with botanist Julie Moore, who has spent much of her life helping to save these remarkable plants; and with Damon Waitt, director of the North Carolina Botanical Garden, who discusses the unusual traits of a species that Charles Darwin called the most interesting plant in the world.
From 1990: NASA launches Hubble Telescope
On April 24, 1990, NASA launched the Hubble Space Telescope from the Space Shuttle Discovery after seven years of delays. Watch CBS News' coverage from that day.
60-foot octopus ruled the seas during age of dinosaurs, fossils show
New analyses of fossilized jaws reveal that massive, kraken-like octopuses once hunted alongside other marine predators.
Crime
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Brother of suspect in deaths of 2 Tampa students: "We tried to warn police in the past"
Ahmad Abugharbieh, the younger brother of the man suspected of killing two University of South Florida doctoral students, told CBS News, "My entire family feels so much shame and guilt."
New evidence in apparent murders of USF students
Investigators are looking into the apparent murder of two University of South Florida doctoral students, and are now revealing evidence from the suspect's bedroom and his search history. Cristian Benavides reports.
Actor Nathan Chasing Horse sentenced to life in prison for sexual assault
The "Dances With Wolves" actor was accused by three Indigenous women and girls, including one who was 14 when the assaults began. He was convicted in January on 13 of the 21 charges he faced.
Ex-Secret Service official on dinner shooting
The Trump administration has ordered a review of its security protocols after Saturday's shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. A. T. Smith, former deputy director of the U.S. Secret Service, joins CBS News with analysis.
CBS News analyst on dinner shooting
The man accused of rushing the White House Correspondents' Dinner armed with a shotgun, pistol and three knives has been charged with trying to assassinate President Trump. CBS News national security analyst Aaron MacLean, who attended the dinner, joins to describe what he witnessed.
Space
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Mars rover carries out chemistry experiment never done beyond Earth
"This experiment's never been run before on another world," said Amy Williams, an astrobiologist working on the Curiosity mission.
Blue Origin New Glenn rocket puts satellite payload into wrong orbit
The launching appeared to go off without a hitch, but a problem prevented the rocket's upper stage from putting its payload into the correct orbit.
Artemis II crew on historic moon mission and what it means for Earth
"We are carrying back everything we learned, not only about where we went but ourselves," mission specialist Christina Koch told "CBS Evening News" anchor Tony Dokoupil.
Artemis II astronauts still awed by moonshot experience: "It was otherworldly"
The four Artemis II astronauts struggled to describe the view and overall experience of flying around the moon's far side and witnessing a solar eclipse in deep space.
"God of chaos" asteroid will pass close to Earth in 3 years, NASA says
People on the ground in the Eastern Hemisphere will be able to observe the asteroid with their own eyes, weather permitting, according to NASA.
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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
4/27: CBS Evening News
Correspondents' dinner shooting suspect charged with trying to assassinate the president; Georgia wildfire battle enters second week.
4/27: The Takeout with Major Garrett
Suspect in White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting appears in court; King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in U.S. for state visit.
Poll: California governor primary is wide open
A CBS News poll finds a wide-open contest as voters weigh in on what they want in the state's next governor. CBS News executive director of elections and surveys Anthony Salvanto breaks down the findings.
National security expert on dinner shooting
The Secret Service is facing questions about its handling of security at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Professor Philip Bobbitt, director of the Center for National Security at Columbia Law School, joins CBS News with analysis.
Charles, Camilla kick off state visit to U.S.
Despite Saturday's attack, Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in Washington, D.C., on Monday for a four-day trip to the U.S. CBS News royal contributor Amanda Foreman joins CBS News with analysis.