CBS Evening News, May 14, 2020
Whistleblower says Trump administration ignored warnings about coronavirus; 5-year-old aspiring teacher takes over kindergarten class
Richard Burr
Search warrant issued to Senator Burr
CBS News has confirmed that a federal search warrant was issued to North Carolina Senator Richard Burr as part of a probe of financial moves before the coronavirus outbreak sent the markets plunging. A U.S. official says the FBI obtained Senator Burr’s cellphone in connection to stocks he sold. CBS News chief congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes reports.
Harris quieted
At a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Senator Kamala Harris was interrupted by Chairman Richard Burr as she went head-to-head with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein over Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into the Trump campaign ties with Russia.
Senate's Russia probe
Sen. Richard Burr, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Sen. Mark Warner, the ranking member, spoke at a news conference about their investigation into Russian meddling in the U.S. election. It was in sharp contrast to the House committee, which is surrounded by controversy. Jeff Pegues reports.
GOP senators face punishment for impeachment vote
Already, Senators Richard Burr of North Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana have been censured by their respective state GOPs.
Burr faces censure by North Carolina GOP for voting to convict Trump
North Carolina GOP Chairman Michael Whatley said in a statement that Burr's vote to convict "in a trial that he declared unconstitutional is shocking and disappointing."
Justice Department closes investigation into Senator Burr
Senate financial disclosure records reveal Burr and his wife made at least 30 stock sales from January 31 to February 13, 2020 ranging from $600,000 to $1.7 million.
Trump accuses Dems of stealing staffers
President Trump lashed out at House Democrats who have re-launched investigations into him, accusing them on Twitter of "stealing people who work at the White House." CBS News intelligence reporter Olivia Gazis joined CBSN to discuss that, plus more of her exclusive interview with Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr.
Insight into the Senate's Russia investigation
CBS News intelligence reporter Olivia Gazis explains what she learned from Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr about why the Senate's investigation into Russian election meddling has taken so long
Justice Department drops probes into 3 senators' stock sales
Republican Senator Richard Burr, however, remains under investigation for his financial transactions.
Senate panel subpoenas Donald Trump Jr.
The fight between Congress and the White House is escalating. After the House Judiciary Committee voted to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt, the Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee issued a subpoena for the president's son, Donald Trump Jr. CBS News chief congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes joined CBSN to explain how it might end.
Rubio tapped as acting chairman of Senate Intel Committee
Rubio will serve as the acting chairman after Senator Richard Burr stepped down from the post during an investigation into his stock trades.
House to vote on $3 trillion coronavirus bill
The House is preparing to vote on a $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill aimed at giving Americans more financial help and supporting state finances. But Republicans oppose it, and some House Democrats also have concerns about the proposal. CBS News chief congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes joined CBSN with the latest.
How a 60 Minutes story is linked to FBI's investigation of Sen. Burr
Burr is under investigation for selling stock prior to the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Burr steps down as intel chairman amid FBI probe into stock sales
The move comes after FBI agents seized Burr's cell phone as part of an investigation into his stock sales.
Senators sold off stocks before market spiral
Four U.S. senators reportedly sold stocks before the coronavirus sent markets plunging. Republican Senator Richard Burr sold up to roughly $1.7 million in mid-February, days after penning an op-ed assuring Americans that the U.S. was prepared to handle the disease. No charges have been filed and there is no evidence any of the four senators had insider information. Nancy Cordes reveals who the other Senators are and breaks down the details surrounding the accusations.
Expert warns of "darkest winter" if COVID-19 rebounds
One of the nation's leading vaccine experts says the U.S. ignored warning signs in the early phases of the coronavirus outbreak. Dr. Rick Bright, the former director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, testified before the House on Thursday. Politico White House correspondent and associate editor Anita Kumar joins CBSN's Elaine Quijano to discuss this and the rest of the day's political headlines.
Burr steps down amid probe into stock sales
Senator Richard Burr is stepping down as chair of the Intelligence Committee while he is being investigated for selling $1.7 million in stocks before the market plunged due to the coronavirus pandemic. Jeff Pegues has the latest.
GOP senator's phone seized in FBI insider trading investigation
Burr sold up to $1.7 million in stocks over several weeks before the stock market plunged, amid mounting warnings of a coronavirus pandemic.
Senator Richard Burr's phone seized by FBI
The FBI has issued a search warrant and seized Senator Richard Burr's cellphone as part of an investigation into the North Carolina Republican's selloff of stocks before the coronavirus outbreak crippled the global economy. CBS News chief congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes joins CBSN with the latest developments.
Burr and other senators sold lots of stock as virus fears started
Senate records show the transactions involving Richard Burr and Georgia's Kelly Loeffler, among others, came as lawmakers were getting private briefings on the possible outbreak.
Senators play with fidget spinners during Trump impeachment trial
Several Republican senators were spotted playing with the toys while Democrats presented their opening statements.
Senate report details "unprecedented" Russian activity in 2016 elections
The committee says that though the country was unprepared in 2016 for the Russian attacks on its election infrastructure, the U.S. has learned "much more" about the nature of Russian cyber meddling and better understands the threat it poses
Donald Trump Jr. appears before Senate Intelligence Committee
The Trump son testified before the committee once before in 2017
Senate Intelligence Committee sets date for Donald Trump Jr.'s testimony
Trump Jr. agreed to appear before the Republican-led committee in May, after receiving a congressional subpoena
Live
Oil prices surge as Trump suggests U.S. fees on Strait of Hormuz
Trump's declaration that the U.S. will control the Strait of Hormuz and charge fees on cargo has sparked a second day of oil price rises.
Man fatally shot by ICE in Maine wasn't intended target of warrant, lawmakers say
Maine Sen. Angus King said he told Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin that he wanted a transparent investigation into the shooting in Biddeford.
Trump says Reflecting Pool has been drained for repairs
President Trump said the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was drained for repairs, after weeks of railing against alleged vandals.
States call out big businesses with employees on Medicaid
With the federal Medicaid work requirement looming in January, Democrats are considering state legislation to call out big companies that employ workers enrolled in the safety net health program.
Deputy U.S. marshal shot dead serving arrest warrant in Louisiana, agency says
A deputy U.S. marshal was shot and killed while serving an arrest warrant on a fugitive in Louisiana, authorities say. The suspect is in custody.
U.S. uses sea drones in combat for first time to attack Iranian port
The U.S. military shared video of what it said was its first use of sea drones in combat, to attack an Iranian submarine and ship maintenance facility.
First on CBS
Video shows NBA's Brandon Clarke stopped by police 6 weeks before his death
Arkansas police said they found bags of capsules containing a green powdery substance in Brandon Clarke's car, which he told them was kratom.
Sen. Lindsey Graham just died of aorta disease. My husband did too.
Lindsey Graham's aorta tore at 71. Grant Wahl's burst at 49. One is common and age-driven; the other is inherited, silent, and findable.
Judge rebukes Trump and DOJ over IRS lawsuit in scathing decision
U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams said President Trump's lawsuit against the IRS had been filed for an "improper purpose."
U.S.
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Inflation eased more than expected in June, CPI report shows
Lower gasoline prices slowed inflation in June, though many household costs remained stubbornly high.
Trump says Reflecting Pool has been drained for repairs
President Trump said the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was drained for repairs, after weeks of railing against alleged vandals.
New York temporarily bans construction on new data centers
There will be a one-year pause on building new data centers across New York to allow state officials to establish guidelines protecting residents and the environment.
Why gaining full control of Strait of Hormuz has proven so hard for U.S.
Restoring oil tanker traffic in the vital Middle East shipping corridor to prewar levels likely will require a much bigger armada of U.S. warships if not tens of thousands of American troops on Iranian soil, experts say.
Deputy U.S. marshal shot dead serving arrest warrant in Louisiana, agency says
A deputy U.S. marshal was shot and killed while serving an arrest warrant on a fugitive in Louisiana, authorities say. The suspect is in custody.
MoneyWatch
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Inflation eased more than expected in June, CPI report shows
Lower gasoline prices slowed inflation in June, though many household costs remained stubbornly high.
States call out big businesses with employees on Medicaid
With the federal Medicaid work requirement looming in January, Democrats are considering state legislation to call out big companies that employ workers enrolled in the safety net health program.
AI companies are creating "generative ghosts" of deceased loved ones
Startups are using emails, photos and voice recordings to create AI simulations that family and friends can interact with after a loved one's death.
12 states sue to block Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger
The suit poses a new challenge to the $110 billion deal that would unite two of the nation's largest media companies.
Millions of Americans take on debt and drain savings to afford food
A quarter of working-age adults use credit cards to purchase groceries but struggle to repay their debts, a new study finds.
Politics
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Trump says Reflecting Pool has been drained for repairs
President Trump said the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was drained for repairs, after weeks of railing against alleged vandals.
Why gaining full control of Strait of Hormuz has proven so hard for U.S.
Restoring oil tanker traffic in the vital Middle East shipping corridor to prewar levels likely will require a much bigger armada of U.S. warships if not tens of thousands of American troops on Iranian soil, experts say.
States call out big businesses with employees on Medicaid
With the federal Medicaid work requirement looming in January, Democrats are considering state legislation to call out big companies that employ workers enrolled in the safety net health program.
Military action against Iran formally restarted last week, Trump told lawmakers
President Trump formally notified Congress that "military action" against Iran restarted last week in a letter obtained by CBS News, as a monthslong ceasefire comes to an end.
Sources: FBI fires 2 analysts who raised concerns about Georgia 2020 election probe
The two analysts expressed concerns that the 2020 election investigation in Fulton County, Georgia, was thin on evidence, sources said.
HealthWatch
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States call out big businesses with employees on Medicaid
With the federal Medicaid work requirement looming in January, Democrats are considering state legislation to call out big companies that employ workers enrolled in the safety net health program.
Sen. Lindsey Graham just died of aorta disease. My husband did too.
Lindsey Graham's aorta tore at 71. Grant Wahl's burst at 49. One is common and age-driven; the other is inherited, silent, and findable.
Common knee surgery may do more harm than good, 10-year study shows
A Finnish study followed patients for 10 years after they had a popular knee surgery. For many, the pain continued or even worsened.
New Jersey works to destroy firefighting foam laced with cancer-linked PFAS
New Jersey is one of more than a dozen states that are working to collect, remove and destroy all of their aqueous film-forming foam.
Departments getting rid of firefighting foam
Fire departments across the U.S. are changing how they extinguish fires. For decades, they used foam that contained so-called "forever chemicals" that are now linked to cancer. More than a dozen states are now working to collect, remove and destroy all of it. Mark Strassmann has more.
World
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U.S. uses sea drones in combat for first time to attack Iranian port
The U.S. military shared video of what it said was its first use of sea drones in combat, to attack an Iranian submarine and ship maintenance facility.
Astronomer's name deciphered from ancient Mayan ruins for first time
The name "White-chested Fox" was found in drawings dating from 400 BC to 900 AD at the San Bartolo-Xultun archaeological site.
Why gaining full control of Strait of Hormuz has proven so hard for U.S.
Restoring oil tanker traffic in the vital Middle East shipping corridor to prewar levels likely will require a much bigger armada of U.S. warships if not tens of thousands of American troops on Iranian soil, experts say.
Climbers found dead in Italian Alps week after going missing
The two climbers had not made contact since leaving a mountain refuge on July 9, according to authorities.
Music group "still shocked" after bandmates killed in small plane crash
Surviving members of the beloved Bahamian musical group Da Pond Band are speaking out about their friends who were killed when a small plane crashed in the Bahamas on Friday, killing 10 people.
Entertainment
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Entertainment
States sue to block Paramount-WBD merger
A coalition of a dozen states on Monday sued to block Paramount Skydance's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, posing a new challenge to the $110 billion deal that would unite two of the nation's largest media companies. Paramount Skydance is the parent company of CBS News. CBS News' Jo Ling Kent reports.
Mick Jagger on music and politics
Mick Jagger spoke with The New York Times recently about the role of politics in his music. Political strategists Erin Maguire and Dan Kanninen join "The Takeout" to discuss.
"Jurassic Park" star dies at 78
Actor Sam Neill, who starred in "Jurassic Park" and "The Piano," died Monday at the age of 78, his family said in a statement. Neill had been battling cancer, but his family said he had beaten it and his death was unexpected.
Extended interview: Sean Evans
Vladimir Duthiers speaks with Sean Evans about how he came to host "Hot Ones," his interview with Conan O'Brien, who he would like to see on the show and more.
Sam Neill, "Jurassic Park" and "The Piano" star, dies at 78
New Zealand actor Sam Neill, known for "Jurassic Park" and "The Piano," died Monday at 78, his family says.
Technology
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AI companies are creating "generative ghosts" of deceased loved ones
Startups are using emails, photos and voice recordings to create AI simulations that family and friends can interact with after a loved one's death.
Family says they're forced to sell home to help power data centers
Georgia Power says building a new transmission line will require acquiring more than 300 parcels of land, including residential properties.
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.
Apple sues OpenAI, accusing ChatGPT maker of stealing trade secrets
Apple alleges that OpenAI and two of its employees stole trade secrets and engaged in a "pattern of misconduct."
AI slop floods social media, report says
A new report from AI detector Pangram found that AI-generated content is flooding socials like X and Reddit, with LinkedIn accounting for nearly two-thirds of all AI content detected. Pangram CEO and co-founder Max Spero joins CBS News to discuss his findings.
Science
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Astronomer's name deciphered from ancient Mayan ruins for first time
The name "White-chested Fox" was found in drawings dating from 400 BC to 900 AD at the San Bartolo-Xultun archaeological site.
Disclosure Foundation head on new UFO files
The Pentagon on Friday released a new batch of UFO files, spanning 19 videos and more. Jordan Flowers, executive director of the Disclosure Foundation, joins CBS News to discuss.
Watch: Pentagon releases 19 new UFO videos
The Defense Department released a fourth batch of UFO files on Friday, nearly one month after its third drop. These are all of the videos in the latest tranche, plus analysis from astrophysicist Avi Loeb.
2,000-year-old gold rings and human bones found by archaeologists
Archaeologists have discovered eight human skeletons, bronze and gold jewelry and other artifacts indicating a ceremonial burial of wealthy people.
Telescope spots most distant quasars ever discovered
Quasars — the brightest objects in the universe — are powered by supermassive black holes at the heart of early galaxies.
Crime
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Deputy U.S. marshal shot dead serving arrest warrant in Louisiana, agency says
A deputy U.S. marshal was shot and killed while serving an arrest warrant on a fugitive in Louisiana, authorities say. The suspect is in custody.
Police chase goes through Ohio golf course
Video from the Ohio State Highway Patrol shows the chaotic chase through a golf course for a suspect wanted in a stabbing last week in Ohio. Shanelle Kaul reports.
Investigation
Innocent bystander shot by police is one of dozens of cases nationwide
CBS News reviewed police records, body camera footage, court documents and local news reports to find more than 50 cases of innocent bystanders shot by police.
Investigating police shootings of bystanders
A CBS News investigation found that no federal agency is tracking police shootings of innocent bystanders, making it difficult to hold officers accountable. CBS News' Jonathan Vigliotti reports.
British counterterrorism police lead probe into murder of politician
British counterterrorism police are now leading the investigation into the death of Ann Widdecombe after "new information and evidence" came to light.
Space
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Astronomers discover sugar in space that's also found in raspberries
The sugar, called erythrulose, lurks in what's called the interstellar medium: thin clouds of gas and dust littered between stars.
Telescope spots most distant quasars ever discovered
Quasars — the brightest objects in the universe — are powered by supermassive black holes at the heart of early galaxies.
Mission launched to rescue a falling space telescope
Katalyst Space's LINK spacecraft is designed to capture and boost NASA's Swift observatory back to a safe altitude.
NASA astronauts operate on space station's broken robot arm
The orbital surgery on the International Space Station returned the Canadian-built robot arm to full health after its "wrist" joint failed last month.
NASA prepares to launch rescue to save telescope from falling to Earth
The $30 million salvage operation gets underway as soon as this week with the planned launch of a robotic lifesaver.
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.
Photos show celebrations at Obama Presidential Center
The Obama Presidential Center, museum and library opens in Chicago with a star-studded grand opening ceremony and public watch party on Midway Plaisance.
Summer music highlights of 2026
Summer is the time to enjoy live music, indoors and out. Scroll through our gallery of some of 2026's leading musical acts, featuring images by CBS News photojournalist Jake Barlow and photographers Ed Spinelli and Kirstine Walton.
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?
Timeline: The disappearance of George Smith
Family seeks answers in death of newlywed who disappeared in 2005 while on Mediterranean honeymoon cruise.
Latest CBS News Videos
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Latest CBS News Videos
U.S., Iran battle over Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. and Iran have traded strikes for the third night in a row and the U.S. used an explosive sea drone or the first time to attack an Iranian port. Meanwhile, President Trump has claimed the U.S. will control the Strait of Hormuz and impose a 20% fee on cargo. Weijia Jiang reports.
Man fatally shot by ICE in Maine
There's a demand for answers after a Colombian immigrant was shot and killed by ICE agents in Biddeford, Maine. An official says the man was not the target of an operation. Lilia Luciano reports.
Eye Opener: Protests over ICE shooting
Protesters gather in Maine to demand answers after a man was fatally shot by ICE. Plus, President Trump says the U.S. will charge a 20% fee to use the Strait of Hormuz. All that and all that matters in today's Eye Opener.
They Left NYC for a $13,000 House in Italy
Cassandra and her husband made headlines after leaving New York City to buy a home in rural Italy for just $13,000. She breaks down what motivated the move, how she's adjusted to life in a tiny mountain town, embraced a lower-cost lifestyle and whether trading the conventional American dream for a simpler life abroad was worth it. Plus, Jill and Mark explain what SpaceX's inclusion in Nasdaq index funds actually means for investors, and why one TikToker's recommended tax loophole is complete nonsense.
Surviving members of Da Pond Band discuss crash
Surviving members of the beloved Bahamian musical group Da Pond Band are speaking out about their friends and bandmates who were killed when a small plane operated by Flamingo Air crashed in the Bahamas on Friday, killing all 10 people on board.