CBS Weekend News, August 6, 2022
Senators consider Inflation Reduction Act in rare Saturday session; Youth wrestling program teaches kids skills on and off the mat
Trial
Alex Jones to pay nearly $50M to Sandy Hook family
Far-right radio show host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was ordered to pay nearly $50 million in damages to the family of a Sandy Hook massacre victim. Jones still faces two more defamation trials brought by other Sandy Hook victims. Michael George has more.
Jury orders Alex Jones to pay $45.2 million
A Texas jury has ordered conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay the parents of a victim of the Sandy Hook school shooting $45.2 million in punitive damages. That’s in addition to $4.1 million in compensatory damages that the families were awarded after Jones had been found liable for defamation by a judge over his claims the shooting was "a hoax." Michael George has the latest.
Alex Jones ordered to pay $45.2M in punitive damages
A jury has ordered conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay the parents of a victim of the Sandy Hook school shooting $45.2 million in punitive damages. That's in addition to $4.1 million in compensatory damages. Jones falsely claimed the massacre was a hoax.
Alex Jones ordered to pay over $4M in damages
A jury in Texas has ordered the right-wing conspiracy broadcaster Alex Jones to pay over $4 million in compensatory damages to the family of a 6-year-old boy killed in the Sandy Hook school shooting. They sued him for defamation and testified that his false claims that the shooting was a hoax made their lives "a living hell." CBS News legal contributor Jessica Levinson joins Robert Costa with more on the breaking news.
Parents address Alex Jones in defamation case
Parents of Sandy Hook shooting victims led a day of charged testimony in the defamation trial against conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. The judge scolded Jones for not being truthful with some of what he said under oath. Janet Shamlian has more.
Depp-Heard jury deliberations resume Tuesday
Jury deliberations resume Tuesday in the highly publicized trial between actor Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Depp is suing his ex-wife for defamation over an op-ed she wrote in which she called herself a "public figure representing domestic abuse." CBS News' Lana Zak chats with Rachel Fiset, a managing partner for Zweiback, Fiset and Coleman LLP, about what the jury needs to consider, how social media played a role in the trial, and how the trial's outcome could impact victims of domestic abuse.
Grieving father erupts at Parkland school shooter's trial
A grieving father erupted in anger as he told jurors about the daughter school shooter Nikolas Cruz murdered along with 16 others four years ago.
Jan. 6 rioter sentenced to 7 years in prison
A Texas man who was found guilty of bringing a gun to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and other charges has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison. CBS News congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane joined CBS News' Lana Zak to discuss Guy Reffitt's case, plus the latest on the burn pit legislation on Capitol Hill.
Brittney Griner trial on tap in Moscow
The trial for WNBA star Brittney Griner began Friday, the 135th day of her detainment in Moscow. A second person this week has been attacked by a bison at Yellowstone National Park - a 71 year old Pennsylvania woman who sustained non-life-threatening injuries. And conservationists say at least 11 sharks – some of them great whites – have been spotted in the Cape Cod area in the last week.
Aaron Hernandez' fiancee takes stand
Ex-NFL star Aaron Hernandez is standing trial in a 2012 South Boston double murder. His fiancee Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez testified Thursday, March 30, 2017 as Hernandez looked on.
Teens on trial in bathroom fight
Three teens were tried as juveniles in a 2016 high school bathroom fight that left 16-year-old Amy Joyner-Francis dead. The victim's family reacts outside the courtroom April 11, 2017.
Former Clinton campaign attorney acquitted
Michael Sussmann, a former attorney for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, was found not guilty of allegations that he lied to the FBI. The charges were brought by special counsel John Durham in an investigation that started during the Trump administration. CBS News legal contributor Jessica Levinson, a Loyola Law School professor, discussed the breaking news.
House Jan. 6 committee prepares presentation
The House committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol is planning on giving a multimedia presentation about how the events unfolded. CBS News chief election and campaign correspondent Robert Costa joins Elaine Quijano and Caitlin Huey-Burns on "Red & Blue" with the latest on the investigation.
First day of Trump impeachment trial
The first day of the Senate impeachment trial against former President Donald Trump ended with a vote to affirm the constitutionality of the process. Six Republicans joined Democrats to approve continuing. CBSN political reporter Caitlin Huey-Burns, Washington Post White House reporter Sean Sullivan and Los Angeles Times White House reporter Eli Stokols joins CBSN's "Red & Blue" host Elaine Quijano to discuss the first day of the proceedings and what comes next.
AOC staffer testifies in trial on threats
A staffer for New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took the stand in Brooklyn federal court Monday to testify about their office's response to alleged threats from Brendan Hunt. Hunt is on trial after being accused of making violent statements targeting several lawmakers. CBS News reporter Cassidy McDonald joins CBSN's "Red & Blue" anchor Elaine Quijano with more on the trial and the latest in the federal investigation into the Capitol riot.
Feds, Penguin Random House square off over Simon & Schuster deal
Writer Stephen King will be the government's star witness in trial to block $2.2 billion publishing merger.
Alex Jones' media company files for bankruptcy amid defamation trial
The trial seeks to force Jones to pay $150 million or more to the family of one of the children killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School attack.
Meet the associates behind Johnny Depp trial
In a "CBS Mornings" exclusive, co-host Gayle King interviews the young associates behind Johnny Depp's defamation trial win against Amber Heard. Attorney Camille Vasquez, who rose to fame following the televised trial, also addresses appeals and how the young perspective on their team helped build their case.
Parkland school shooter faces sentencing trial
Monday marks the start of the second week of the trial of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz. The jury will decide whether the 23-year-old receives the death penalty or life in prison without parole. CBS News' Tanya Rivero and Nikki Battiste talk with Joan Murray, a reporter for CBS News' Miami station, WFOR-TV, about the widely watched case.
Jury shown AR-15 rifle used in Florida school shooting
Jurors in the penalty trial of Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz have now seen the AR-15 rifle he used to murder 17 people.
Amber Heard to appeal $10 million judgment in Depp defamation case
Heard has notified a Virginia court that she intends to appeal the $10 million judgment she was ordered to pay her ex-husband during a high-profile defamation trial.
Teachers weep recalling students killed in Parkland shooting
Eyewitnesses to the killings of 17 people by Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz are giving heart-wrenching testimony at his penalty trial.
Twitter can expedite trial against Elon Musk
A Delaware judge is allowing Twitter to expedite its lawsuit against Elon Musk, fast-tracking a trial that is now set for October. The social media giant is looking to force the world’s richest man to complete his $44 billion offer to purchase the company. Elizabeth Dwoskin is the Washington Post’s Silicon Valley correspondent. She joins CBS News for more on this.
Jurors see graphic video of Parkland shooting as gunman's death penalty trial continues
The jury privately watched footage of the mass shooting, which was taken from security cameras at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Sen. Lindsey Graham dies after "brief and sudden illness"
President Trump paid tribute to the late senator, who was reportedly scheduled to do an interview on Sunday.
Live
U.S. conducts another round of retaliatory strikes on Iran, Pentagon says
U.S. forces conducted their third round of strikes on Iran this week, this time in retaliation for an attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz, the Pentagon said.
Margaret Brennan: I spoke with Lindsey Graham a day before he died
Fierce Ukraine supporter Lindsey Graham passed away Saturday on the heels of his tenth trip to the warzone, and at a key moment for one of the Republican senator's proudest accomplishments.
Keystone Pipeline operator agrees to pay $26.9 million over 2022 spill
A proposed settlement with the U.S. government would require the Keystone Pipeline system's operator to pay $26.9 million over a 2022 oil spill in Kansas.
Changing conditions cause expanded evacuation orders for Ferris Fire
Colorado officials expanded mandatory evacuation orders for residents near the Ferris Fire as conditions continued to change on Sunday.
How white supremacists staged the only successful coup in U.S. history
In 1898, Wilmington, N.C., was prosperous and integrated. But white supremacists took back control of the city's multi-racial government at gunpoint, and killed scores of Black residents - a little-known story retold in Lauren Collins' "They Stole a City."
Ukraine's prime minister resigns; Zelenskyy shifts several government roles
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has stepped down as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced fresh changes to Ukraine's government.
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.
Archaeologists uncover 3,000-year-old tomb near Egypt's Luxor
The burial site was identified as belonging to a man named Paser based on inscriptions.
U.S.
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Keystone Pipeline operator agrees to pay $26.9 million over 2022 spill
A proposed settlement with the U.S. government would require the Keystone Pipeline system's operator to pay $26.9 million over a 2022 oil spill in Kansas.
Turner says he hopes Senate will pass Russia sanctions as part of Lindsey Graham's legacy
GOP Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio said that he's hopeful the Senate will soon pass a Russia sanctions bill as "one of the legacies" of Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly Saturday.
40 million under alerts as heat dome peaks across western U.S.
Heat alerts were issued for millions across parts of the western U.S. Sunday as an unusually prolonged heat dome reached its peak.
What is the process for filling Lindsey Graham's vacancy in the Senate?
Sen. Lindsey Graham was running for reelection in November when he died suddenly on Saturday.
Sen. Scott on Lindsey Graham's role in "building bridges," including with Trump
Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina remembered Sen. Lindsey Graham as a "powerful leader" following his sudden death, while emphasizing Graham's role in "building bridges."
MoneyWatch
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High energy costs from Iran war heighten pressure on struggling farmers
As the agriculture industry in Louisiana contends with major energy cost hikes brought on by the Iran war, some farmers are unsure if their businesses will survive.
Bipartisan housing bill becomes law after Trump refuses to sign it
A landmark housing bill automatically became law overnight after President Trump declined to sign it.
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."
Household staff can earn up to $300,000 working for America's rich
Good help is hard — and expensive — to find, according to a recruiting firm for private chefs, chauffeurs and other household workers.
Gas prices start climbing again as U.S.-Iran tensions flare
Prices at the pump sank following a June ceasefire. But renewed conflict in the Middle East and other factors are driving fuel costs back up.
Politics
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Transcript: Rep. Mike Turner on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," July 12, 2026
The following is the transcript of an interview with Republican Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on July 12, 2026.
Transcript: Rahm Emanuel on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," July 12, 2026
The following is the transcript of an interview with former White House chief of staff and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on July 12, 2026.
Transcript: Michael Leiter on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," July 12, 2026
The following is the transcript of an interview with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Leiter that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on July 12, 2026.
Turner says he hopes Senate will pass Russia sanctions as part of Lindsey Graham's legacy
GOP Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio said that he's hopeful the Senate will soon pass a Russia sanctions bill as "one of the legacies" of Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly Saturday.
Transcript: Frank McKenzie on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," July 12, 2026
The following is the transcript of an interview with retired Gen. Frank McKenzie that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on July 12, 2026.
HealthWatch
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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.
U.S. citizen working in Congo tests positive for Ebola, CDC says
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said the outbreak is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak recorded on the continent.
Pregnant mom diagnosed with Stage IV cancer after symptoms were dismissed
Jenney Bitner feared she wouldn't get to see her children grow up after a tumor in her brain revealed she had Stage IV melanoma.
Michigan's cyclosporiasis outbreak grows to more than 1,500 cases
Michigan health officials say the state's cyclosporiasis outbreak has grown to more than 1,500 cases.
World
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Archaeologists uncover 3,000-year-old tomb near Egypt's Luxor
The burial site was identified as belonging to a man named Paser based on inscriptions.
Transcript: Rep. Mike Turner on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," July 12, 2026
The following is the transcript of an interview with Republican Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on July 12, 2026.
Ukraine's prime minister resigns; Zelenskyy shifts several government roles
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has stepped down as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced fresh changes to Ukraine's government.
Transcript: Rahm Emanuel on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," July 12, 2026
The following is the transcript of an interview with former White House chief of staff and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on July 12, 2026.
Transcript: Michael Leiter on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," July 12, 2026
The following is the transcript of an interview with Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Leiter that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on July 12, 2026.
Entertainment
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Entertainment
7/12: Sunday Morning
Hosted by Tracy Smith. Featured: The only successful coup in U.S. history; Behind the scenes of "The Pitt"; Trump's monumental reimagining of Washington, D.C.; singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams; "Take Me Home, Country Roads"; and a Tuscany tradition: wine barrel races.
Milepost: David Attenborough
This week, British documentarian Sir David Attenborough, who turned 100 years old in May, broke the record for oldest nominee for a Primetime Emmy Award, earning two nominations this year.
Grace notes: Art as a reverie of gentle sounds
French artist and composer Céleste Boursier-Mougenot's "Clinamen," at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City, is a mesmerizing installation in which porcelain bowls floating in giant basins of water collide, producing chiming sounds that reverberate in the 55,000-square-foot hall, to foster a state of grace. Tracy Smith reports.
Behind the scenes of "The Pitt"
The Emmy-winning HBO Max drama "The Pitt" immerses viewers in the hour-by-hour struggles faced by the overworked-yet-superhuman emergency room staff at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook visits the series' hyper-realistic set at Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, Calif. (where cast members undergo a two-week medical boot camp), and talks with star, writer, director and executive producer Noah Wylie about why the former "ER" actor returned to the medical drama genre. (The series just received 25 Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, the most of any program.) [Originally broadcast Jan. 4, 2026.]
Passage: In memoriam
"Sunday Morning" remembers some of the notable figures who left us this week, including "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" actress Louise Lasser, and singer Bonnie Tyler, best known for "Total Eclipse of the Heart."
Technology
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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.
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.
MSG tracked celebrities, WIRED reports
A major database breach at James Dolan's Madison Square Garden arena revealed an apparent internal list tracking nearly 40,000 celebrities, according to a new report from WIRED. The report alleges that surveillance labels included "LGBTQIA," "DO NOT HOST," and evaluated individuals on a "risk" level. MSG claims the report is inaccurate. WIRED contributing editor Noah Shachtman joins "CBS News 24/7" to discuss his reporting.
Breaking down the Texas app store age law
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court said it would allow Texas to enforce a law requiring app stores to verify users' ages while the issue plays out in the lower courts. CBS News legal contributor Jessica Levinson breaks down the constitutional question.
Science
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Science
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.
The American innovation that made millions of others possible
From the lightbulb to the airplane, to medical breakthroughs and the internet age, the past 250 years have been defined by America's intrepid intellect.
Crime
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Kansas woman convicted of double murder after three trials
Mike Sisco and his girlfriend Karen Harkness were gunned down in her Topeka, Kansas, home in 2002. Authorities believed it was a crime of passion. Sisco's daughter set out to help prove it was her mother, Dana Chandler, who was responsible.
Apalachee High School shooting suspect set to change plea, documents show
Colt Gray is scheduled to appear in Barrow County Superior Court on July 24 for a plea hearing, court documents show.
Nolan Wells' parents speak out
Teen football player Nolan Wells was found dead on a Mississippi island days after he vanished during a July Fourth outing. Wells' parents are searching for answers, saying that they don't believe their son would have stayed behind on the island by choice.
Takeaways from weeklong Tyler Robinson hearing
The weeklong pre-trial hearing for the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk wrapped up on Friday with the defense calling one final witness to the stand. CBS News legal contributor Jessica Levinson joins with analysis.
Indictments in White House UFC attack plot
Eight people have each been charged with conspiracy counts over a planned attack at the UFC event that was held at the White House in June. CBS News' Jake Rosen reports.
Space
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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.
Astronomers find 2 gigantic planets lighter than cotton candy
The featherweight pair — orbiting a star 1,110 light-years away — are the biggest exoplanets found to have less density than cotton candy.
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
Sen. Dick Durbin on Lindsey Graham's legacy
Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois joins CBS News 24/7 to discuss his friendship and political clashes with Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly this weekend.
How Sen. Graham's seat will get filled
Longtime South Caroline Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham died at 71 after a "brief and sudden illness," his office said early Sunday morning. CBS News' Major Garrett breaks down how his Senate seat will be filled.
Sen. Lindsey Graham's political impact
Sen. Lindsey Graham's sudden death has shocked Washington, D.C. Political strategist Kevin Sheridan joins CBS News 24/7 to break down Graham's impact on U.S. politics.
Sen. Lindsey Graham's final Kyiv visit
Sen. Lindsey Graham was in Kyiv, Ukraine, one day before his death. CBS News' Margaret Brennan recalls her final conversation with Sen. Graham on Friday, during which he touted progress on Russian oil sanctions.
Nancy Mace on Sen. Lindsey Graham's death
South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace joined CBS News 24/7 to reflect on Sen. Lindsey Graham's political impact after his sudden death, saying she and other members of Congress are "in a state of shock."