12/20/18: CBSN Evening News
House passes measure to fund government until February 8th; Santa's elves keep dreams alive in Indiana.
Republican Party
Mattis to step down in February
Just one day after the president said he's pulling U.S. troops out of Syria, Defense Secretary James Mattis submitted his resignation. Mattis said he is stepping down in February because of differences in viewpoints with the president. CBS News White House correspondent Weijia Jiang reports.
House passes spending bill, increasing likelihood of shutdown
Trump said Thursday that he would not sign the Senate bill passed one day earlier because it did not contain funding for a border wall
Ryan: Trump won't sign Senate spending bill
GOP lawmakers are scrambling to avoid a government shutdown after the president told House Republican leaders he won't sign the Senate spending bill, which lacks the funding he wanted for border security. The deadline is midnight Friday. CBS News' Weijia Jiang and Nancy Cordes explain where it goes from here.
GOP moves to protect Trump in 2020 primaries
Some states are taking steps to protect the president from an intra-party primary challenge ahead of the 2020 election. CBSN political reporter Caitlin Huey-Burns explains how the GOP is bracing for what's expected to be a highly competitive presidential election.
House to vote on temporary spending bill
The House is expected to vote on a spending bill today in hopes of avoiding tomorrow's government shutdown deadline. However, the measure doesn't include funding for President Trump's border wall. CBS News chief congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes takes CBSN through the latest.
Republicans move to protect Trump from primary challenges
One state is even considering canceling its Republican primary to help insulate Trump ahead of the general election in 2020
Senate approves stopgap spending measure to avoid shutdown
President Trump has recently said he would be "proud" to shut down the government to get funding for the border wall
Ryan bemoans "broken politics" in farewell address
Outgoing House Speaker Paul Ryan bemoans state of politics in America in his farewell speech today
Ryan laments "broken politics" in farewell speech
House Speaker Paul Ryan lamented "our broken politics" and decried the rise of "outrage as a brand" during his farewell speech Wednesday. He offered no answers but said it was a challenge he'd spend "more time wrestling with in my next chapter."
Democrats support McConnell's short-term spending proposal
Democratic leadership supports the legislation, and a top Trump aide said he may support it
Rep. Martha McSally appointed to finish McCain's term in Senate
McSally lost a race for the Senate in November to Democratic Rep. Krysten Sinema, but now both will head to the chamber
Rep. McSally appointed to fill Senate seat
Arizona Republican Congresswoman Martha McSally has been appointed by the governor to serve the rest of John McCain's term in the Senate. McSally ran for the state's other open Senate seat in November but lost. CBSN's Anne-Marie Green has more.
Court hearing scheduled for Rep. Chris Collins in insider trading case
The New York Republican, charged with insider trading, is accused of sharing information with his son about a biotech company in which he held the largest shares
James Comey slams Trump for calling Michael Cohen a "rat"
The former FBI director, fired by President Trump in 2017, testified before a House panel Monday. Afterward he commented on a Trump tweet in which he called his former personal lawyer a "rat"
What's on White House holiday wish list?
"Where Did You Get This Number?" podcast host Anthony Salvanto explores Beltway wish lists and digs into how NORAD tracks Santa
Funding deadline moves White House toward government shutdown
The White House and Congress have until the end of Friday, the winter solstice, to agree on a spending bill. If not, the government will essentially run out of money, and roughly a quarter of it will shut down ahead of Christmas. Errol Barnett reports.
Chair of House Dems' campaign arm: “We can’t just rent” flipped districts
The 2020 presidential nominee - whoever that is - needs to understand districts like mine, Rep. Cheri Bustos told CBS News
Scott Walker signs bill to limit successor's power
AP: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed a sweeping package of Republican-written legislation Friday that restricts early voting and weakens the incoming Democratic governor and attorney general
Chief Justice of California Supreme Court leaves Republican Party
California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye has re-registered as a nonaffiliated voter, citing Brett Kavanaugh
Jon Kyl resignation leaves Arizona governor to pick replacement
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey will again have to find a replacement for the late senator
Mattis, Pompeo brief House members on Khashoggi murder
The defense secretary and State Department Secretary Mike Pomeo briefed House members on Capitol Hill in a closed-door session a day after CIA Director Gina Haspel briefed a smaller group
Trump says Mexico will pay for wall; Mexican president says he didn't talk wall funding with Trump
Trump and Obrador spoke on the phone Wednesday about immigration
Border wall fight threatens gov't shutdown
Congress and President Trump have just over a week to prevent a government shutdown. The president wants $5 billion for a border wall but Democrats have offered no more than $1.6 billion. CBS News chief congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes joins CBSN to break down the latest.
Latest Michigan GOP move decried as "undemocratic"
Effort by Michigan Republicans is the latest proposal assailed by critics as an unconstitutional, lame-duck power grab from voters or incoming Democratic officeholders.
Trump official refers New York AG Letitia James for prosecution again
A Trump administration official has made new criminal referrals against New York Attorney General Letitia James to federal prosecutors in Miami and Chicago.
Live
White House says Trump will "unleash hell" if Iran doesn't make deal
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said talks between Washington and Tehran were ongoing, hours after Iran's state media said the regime rejected proosals by the Trump administration.
Meta and YouTube found liable on all charges in social media trial
The verdict, which caps a weeks-long trial in Los Angeles, could set a legal precedent for similar allegations brought against social media companies.
CDC's acting chief promises a return to stability in a tumultuous moment
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, head of the National Institutes of Health and interim leader of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told staff a permanent CDC director could be nominated soon. "I know that it has been such a difficult year," he said.
Senate funding deal stalls as DHS shutdown grinds on
A potential deal to end the DHS shutdown has stalled on Capitol Hill after Senate Democrats made their latest counteroffer.
Exclusive
White House turns down Elon Musk's offer to pay TSA workers during DHS shutdown
In a post on X Saturday, Musk offered to pay the salaries of TSA workers during the DHS shutdown.
Exclusive
DHS watchdog warned of risks in airport shoes-off policy. The report got buried.
An internal watchdog report in the Department of Homeland Security identified serious vulnerabilities in TSA's screenings at airports nationwide.
DOJ reaches financial settlement with Michael Flynn
Former Trump national security official and right-wing activist Michael Flynn sued the Justice Department for $50 million, alleging wrongful prosecution during the first Trump administration.
LaGuardia pilots have complained about close calls for years: "Do something"
CBS News reviewed dozens of reports dating back three decades about New York's LaGuardia Airport.
U.S.
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Wreckage of crashed Air Canada plane being cleared from LaGuardia Airport runway
Since Monday, much of the wreckage had remained on the tarmac, blocking access to one of LaGuardia's two runways at one of the country's busiest airports.
FEMA resumes disaster mitigation program following judge's order
FEMA will make $1 billion available for the BRIC program, which helps local governments harden against natural hazards like fires, floods, earthquakes and hurricanes.
Twin Cities residents missed work, school during Operation Metro Surge, survey finds
A survey of Minneapolis and St. Paul residents found the deployment of thousands of federal agents to their cities caused significant upheaval to their lives.
USPS to add temporary fuel surcharge for some postage prices
The U.S. Postal Service is raising some postage prices to help offset the federal agency's rising transportation costs as fuel prices surge.
Exclusive
White House turns down Elon Musk's offer to pay TSA workers during DHS shutdown
In a post on X Saturday, Musk offered to pay the salaries of TSA workers during the DHS shutdown.
MoneyWatch
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USPS to add temporary fuel surcharge for some postage prices
The U.S. Postal Service is raising some postage prices to help offset the federal agency's rising transportation costs as fuel prices surge.
$100,000 in Social Security benefits? New proposal would cap them.
With Social Security's trust fund sliding toward insolvency, one group wants to cap benefits for the wealthiest U.S. couples.
Trump waives summer gasoline regulations to ease fuel prices
Summer gasoline regulations will be waived for 20 days, and possibly longer to try to ease gas prices.
Meta and YouTube found liable on all charges in social media trial
The verdict, which caps a weeks-long trial in Los Angeles, could set a legal precedent for similar allegations brought against social media companies.
Record share of Americans carry credit card debt, can't pay off bills
About 111 million Americans are carrying credit card balances, a 17% increase in five years, new research shows.
Politics
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Trump says he doesn't call Iran conflict a "war" due to need for approval from Congress
President Trump suggested late Wednesday he's avoiding describing the military conflict with Iran as a "war" because of concerns around the fact that Congress hasn't authorized military force.
CDC's acting chief promises a return to stability in a tumultuous moment
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, head of the National Institutes of Health and interim leader of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told staff a permanent CDC director could be nominated soon. "I know that it has been such a difficult year," he said.
FEMA resumes disaster mitigation program following judge's order
FEMA will make $1 billion available for the BRIC program, which helps local governments harden against natural hazards like fires, floods, earthquakes and hurricanes.
Trump official refers New York AG Letitia James for prosecution again
A Trump administration official has made new criminal referrals against New York Attorney General Letitia James to federal prosecutors in Miami and Chicago for two cases of possible homeowner's insurance fraud, sources told CBS News.
Twin Cities residents missed work, school during Operation Metro Surge, survey finds
A survey of Minneapolis and St. Paul residents found the deployment of thousands of federal agents to their cities caused significant upheaval to their lives.
HealthWatch
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CDC's acting chief promises a return to stability in a tumultuous moment
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, head of the National Institutes of Health and interim leader of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told staff a permanent CDC director could be nominated soon. "I know that it has been such a difficult year," he said.
FDA says billionaire's claims about cancer drug Anktiva are misleading
Federal health officials posted a warning about misleading statements by biotech billionaire Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong about his company's bladder cancer drug Anktiva.
More parents are refusing routine newborn preventative care, study finds
Doctors fear that skepticism, fueled by anti-science sentiment and mistrust, is extending beyond vaccines to other proven, routine care.
Complex procedure saves officer with chest pain, heart condition
Transit Officer Paul DeGeorge thought his son was lying on him. Then he realized something much scarier was happening.
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.
World
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Trump says he doesn't call Iran conflict a "war" due to need for approval from Congress
President Trump suggested late Wednesday he's avoiding describing the military conflict with Iran as a "war" because of concerns around the fact that Congress hasn't authorized military force.
As Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz, it's borrowing from Ukraine's playbook
Trump says Iran's navy is "gone," so how does it still have a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz? Part of the answer may lie off Ukraine's Black Sea coast.
El Paso and LA among most polluted U.S. cities in 2025, report says
El Paso, Texas, and Los Angeles, California, had some of the worst air pollution in the U.S. last year, according to a new report.
Iranians who hoped war would bring change now say they feel "doomed"
Some Iranians who'd hoped for regime change say the realities of the U.S. and Israel's war have been a "rude awakening," and they just want it to stop.
2 NATO allies report drone impacts as Ukraine and Russia traded attacks
NATO members Estonia and Latvia say stray drones hit their territory amid one of Moscow's biggest assaults on Ukraine.
Entertainment
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Entertainment
New video of Taylor Frankie Paul arrest
A newly released video shows the police interactions with Taylor Frankie Paul in 2023 that led to charges, including domestic violence in the presence of a child. CBS News Shanelle Kaul has the latest.
"NCIS" star on show's 500th episode
Rocky Carroll, who has played the role of Director Leon Vance on "NCIS" for nearly two decades, joins to discuss the show's 500th episode, which aired Tuesday.
Rocky Carroll on major "NCIS" twist
(Alert: Spoilers ahead!) Actor Rocky Carroll, who has played beloved "NCIS" director Leon Vance for 18 season, talks with "CBS Mornings" about a shocking twist in the series in the show's 500th episode and what he would tell his younger self.
Makers of "The AI Doc" on tech's peril, promise
A new documentary examines the artificial intelligence boom and its potential risks to humanity, featuring interviews with top AI company CEOs and other experts. Co-director Charlie Tyrell and producer Ted Tremper join CBS News to discuss the making of the film, "The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist."
Patrick Ball on medical drama "The Pitt"
"The Pitt" star Patrick Ball tells "CBS Mornings" he had been auditioning since 2013 and didn't think his acting dreams were "ever going to happen" when he was cast in the medical drama. He also opens up about how the series is personal for him.
Technology
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Technology
New Mexico attorney general on win over Meta
A Los Angeles jury ruled against Meta and Google on Wednesday, finding the companies liable for reports of damage done to young people by social media. That verdict came less than 24 hours after a similar ruling in New Mexico, where a jury found Meta violated state consumer protection law and endangered children. New Mexico attorney general Raúl Torrez joins "The Daily Report" to discuss.
Why regulating AI is so difficult
For years, governments have attempted to regulate new, emerging technologies on a global scale. Roland Fryer, a CBS News contributor and author of the Wall Street Journal op-ed "The Economics of Regulating AI," breaks it down.
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.
Breaking down verdict in social media trial
In a landmark social media trial, Meta and YouTube were found liable for creating products that led to addictive behavior. CBS News senior business and technology correspondent Jo Ling Kent has the details.
Meta, YouTube found liable in addiction trial
A Los Angeles jury has found Meta and YouTube liable in a first-of-its-kind lawsuit that alleged the platforms knowingly made their services addictive and harmful to minors. CBS News contributor Jessica Levinson has more on the verdict.
Science
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600-year-old pinot noir grape seed found in medieval hospital
The seed reveals that people in France have been cultivating the popular variety of grape since at least the 1400s, scientists say.
Pit viper among new species discovered in cave in Cambodia
Researchers in Cambodia surveyed dozens of previously unexplored caves and found several species never seen before, including a pit viper that is still being studied.
How a fun nature app aids science
The iNaturalist cellphone app not only helps users identify plant, animal and insect species; it also provides invaluable data to scientists studying biodiversity, species decline, and habitat loss. It also provides opportunities for fun: David Pogue joins iNaturalist fan Martha Stewart in a "bioblitz" – a timed competition with other users to spot and ID species.
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.
Crime
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Crime
New video of Taylor Frankie Paul arrest
A newly released video shows the police interactions with Taylor Frankie Paul in 2023 that led to charges, including domestic violence in the presence of a child. CBS News Shanelle Kaul has the latest.
Savannah Guthrie gives first interview since mom vanished: "It is unbearable"
Savannah Guthrie said her family is in agony as she made a tearful plea for someone "to do the right thing" nearly two months after Nancy Guthrie disappeared.
Wife of Hawaii doctor testifies at his trial
Arielle Konig testified that her husband, anesthesiologist Gerhardt Konig, attempted to stab her with a syringe, and when that failed she said he repeatedly bashed her head with a rock during a birthday hike one year ago. Gerhardt Konig has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of his wife. Matt Gutman reports.
Verdict in landmark trial against Meta
A jury in New Mexico found Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, misled users about safety and enabled child sexual exploitation on its platforms. A judge has ordered the tech giant to pay $375 million in civil damages. Meta says it will appeal the verdict.
Cold case murder of K-9 officer's wife could hinge on dog's cause of death
Paul Kovacich's defense team contends that long-suppressed evidence debunks claims that he killed his dog weeks before his wife disappeared.
Space
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Fireball captured on video as meteor streaks across Pacific Northwest sky
As the number of people with cameras on their dashboards and doorbells has grown, so have reports of such sightings.
NASA to spend $20 billion on ambitious moon base
In an on-going overhaul of NASA's Artemis program, agency officials say it will take seven years to build a sophisticated base on the moon.
Artemis II back on launch pad for moon mission
NASA's Artemis II rocket is back on the launch pad after repairs inside the massive Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center. Early next month, NASA will try, for a second time, to send a crew of four on a flyby of the moon. Mark Strassmann has more.
Possible meteorite crashes into Houston area home, officials say
A possible meteorite crashed into a Houston area house on Saturday night, tearing through the roof and two stories of the home, officials said.
Eileen Collins on breaking barriers in space
Retired NASA astronaut and Air Force Col. Eileen Collins joins "CBS Saturday Morning" to discuss her groundbreaking journey to become the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle and the first to command a Space Shuttle mission.
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
3/25: The Takeout with Major Garrett
Long TSA lines continue continue across the country as DHS shutdown hits Day 40; White House says Trump will "unleash Hell" if Iran doesn't make a deal.
Doctor's nutrition tips for young athletes
As young athletes work to balance classes and competition, doctors are underscoring the need for proper hydration and nutrition. Gwen Baumgardner reports from Los Angeles, with updated guidelines about the water and carbs needed before taking the field.
Watch: Growing TSA lines around U.S.
Travelers around the country faced growing security lines on Wednesday as the partial government shutdown continued and TSA agents worked without pay.
Democrats flip district that includes Mar-a-Lago
In a Florida special election on Tuesday, Democrats flipped a state House seat in a district that includes President Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate. Political strategists Kendra Barkoff Lamy and Doug Heye join "The Takeout" with analysis.
Former DOJ workers accuse Trump of degrading department
Since President Trump took office for a second time, the Justice Department has undergone significant changes. Former DOJ litigator Stacey Young, founder and executive director of Justice Connection, joins "The Takeout" to discuss her organization's efforts to reform the Department.