60 Minutes

In its ongoing mission to shrink the federal government, the Trump administration has cut more than a thousand jobs and billions in research grants from America’s crown jewel of medical research - the National Institutes of Health. While other administrations have tried to downsize the NIH before, leaked Trump administration documents show plans to reduce the NIH budget by more than 40 percent, sending shockwaves throughout the scientific community. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi sits down with the former director of the NIH, Dr. Francis Collins, as well as a researcher and an NIH insider who all say these measures could jeopardize the health of Americans for generations to come. Evidence has emerged that could change our understanding of the 9/11 terrorist attacks more than two decades ago. A 60 Minutes investigation has found that crucial information, initially turned over to the FBI shortly after the attacks, was never shared with the bureau's own field agents or senior intelligence officials. Correspondent Cecilia Vega reports on this evidence, which has come to light amid a lawsuit against the Saudi government filed by families of the nearly 3,000 victims and includes a video of a Saudi national filming the U.S. Capitol, thought to be al-Qaeda's fourth target. The world’s population may have recently surpassed eight billion, but it’s a misleading figure. Growth is unevenly distributed, and many countries are experiencing a decline in population—in some cases, steeply. Consider Japan. The country with the fourth largest economy is now facing a rapidly declining birth rate, and a population projected to shrink in half by this century's end. Correspondent Jon Wertheim reports from Japan, examining how these demographic changes are affecting the country and its culture. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bird flu, which has long been an emerging threat, took a significant turn in 2024 with the discovery that the virus had jumped from a wild bird to a cow. In just over a year, the pathogen has spread through dairy herds and poultry flocks across the United States. It has also infected people, resulting in 70 confirmed cases, including one fatality. Correspondent Bill Whitaker spoke with veterinarians and virologists who warn that, if unchecked, this outbreak could lead to a new pandemic. They also raise concerns about the Biden administration’s slow response in 2024 and now the Trump administration’s decision to lay off over 100 key scientists. Demis Hassabis, a pioneer in artificial intelligence, is shaping the future of humanity. As the CEO of Google DeepMind, he was first interviewed by correspondent Scott Pelley in 2023, during a time when chatbots marked the beginning of a new technological era. Since that interview, Hassabis has made headlines for his innovative work, including using an AI model to predict the structure of proteins, which earned him a Nobel Prize. Pelley returns to DeepMind’s headquarters in London to discuss what’s next for Hassabis, particularly his leadership in the effort to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI) – a type of AI that has the potential to match the versatility and creativity of the human brain. One of the most awe-inspiring and mysterious migrations in the natural world is currently taking place, stretching from Mexico to the United States and Canada. This incredible spectacle involves millions of monarch butterflies embarking on a monumental aerial journey. Correspondent Anderson Cooper reports from the mountains of Mexico, where the monarchs spent the winter months sheltering in trees before emerging from their slumber to take flight. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Correspondent Scott Pelley interviews Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kryvyi Rih, his hometown, where last week nine children were killed on a playground in a missile attack. They discuss U.S. support for Ukraine, the state of the war, and the Oval Office dust up with the Trump administration. Until President Donald Trump expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, the Danish-controlled territory had long been overlooked. Now, the world's largest island, home to a majority Indigenous Inuit population of 57,000 residents, has suddenly become a reluctant focal point in global geopolitics. Correspondent Jon Wertheim bundles up to explore the rich history and breathtaking landscapes of a bitingly cold region that has found itself at the center of a rapidly evolving hotspot. Something unusual is going on in Major League Baseball stadiums across the country this season, and it isn’t traditional baseball. Correspondent Lesley Stahl reports from Savannah, Georgia on the dancing, back-flipping, lip-syncing almost-baseball team, the Savannah Bananas. They’ve created a new twist on the sport, which they call Banana Ball. Among its rules: a 2-hour time limit; no bunting, walks, or mound visits; and if a fan catches a foul ball, it’s an out. Stahl meets Banana Ball’s unorthodox, yellow-clad founder, Jesse Cole, and discovers the electric, circus-meets-sporting-event atmosphere that is selling out ballparks. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Correspondent Scott Pelley reports on an American doctor who volunteers in Gaza, and from Doha where medical teams work to rehabilitate children injured in the war. Who are the men President Trump sent to a notorious maximum-security prison in El Salvador using a wartime law dating back to 1798? The Trump administration says they are all violent gang members and terrorists. But after obtaining internal government documents, 60 Minutes could find no criminal records for most of the prisoners. Correspondent Cecilia Vega reports. With a history spanning two thousand years and still playing a vital role in global commerce, the oak barrel, as correspondent Bill Whitaker discovers, is much more than just a container. Barrels are a vital ingredient, especially in the production of Bourbon Whiskey — giving it all of its distinctive color and much of its taste. Whitaker takes us inside the largest maker of wooden barrels to glimpse the magic and mystique of this essential tradition. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Correspondent Lesley Stahl dispatches to Israel for her 5th report since the Oct. 7 terror attack to interview freed Israeli and American hostages, including Yarden Bibas and Keith Siegel, who are speaking out to share their experiences in captivity and what they witnessed at the hands of Hamas. Correspondent Bill Whitaker reports on Voice of America (VOA), the U.S. government-funded international broadcaster that is now off the air thanks to a Trump administration executive order and lockout of hundreds of its employees. Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi goes behind the scenes of the Environmental Protection Agency's massive cleanup effort after wildfires tore through several Los Angeles neighborhoods three months ago. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Correspondent Cecilia Vega reports from the U.S.-Canadian border – the longest international land border in the world – near the Chazy River, where migrants are crossing with the help of human smugglers who openly promote their services on popular social media platforms. Vega speaks with one of those smugglers, a Sinaloa cartel member who claims that there will always be ways to bypass barriers, no matter what steps the two countries take – and with an American sheriff who has seen the impact of President Trump’s policies to reduce illegal immigration from the north. Frank Larkin’s commitment to America is remarkable. A former Navy SEAL, he served in the Secret Service, at the Pentagon and as sergeant-at-arms of the U.S. Senate. However, as correspondent Scott Pelley reports, Larkin’s most significant contribution may be what he’s done since his son, Ryan, took his own life. Ryan was, like his father, a decorated Navy SEAL, and his death by suicide was attributed to depression. But Frank Larkin did not accept this explanation, and when pathologists discovered Ryan suffered from scarring in his brain, likely due to repeated low-level blast exposure, this father campaigned for a change in how Special Operations and the rest of the military train and protect their service members. Correspondent Jon Wertheim goes behind the scenes as George Clooney makes his Broadway debut, starring in an adaptation of the 2005 Oscar-nominated movie “Good Night, and Good Luck.” Clooney co-wrote both the original screenplay and this play, which tell the story of pioneering journalist Edward R. Murrow, who took on Senator Joseph McCarthy. Clooney calls it a fight for the ages and says the plot, which revolves around themes of truth, intimidation and courage in corporate media, resonates today. At 63, the actor tells Wertheim why he finally feels ready to take on the role of Murrow himself. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With news of mysterious drones flying over New Jersey and concerns about spying, this week’s 60 MINUTES investigates a surprising story about another drone incursion. Correspondent Bill Whitaker reports what happened 15 months ago over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, which houses nearly half of the most advanced U.S. stealth fighter jets, the F-22 Raptor, and how it is part of a series of brazen overflights of sensitive military sites. Young dreams were dashed when the U.S. Marine Band followed orders to cancel a concert featuring middle and high school musicians of color, a result of the Trump administration’s executive order ending DEI initiatives. Correspondent Scott Pelley speaks with performers of The Equity Arc Wind Symphony about the importance of supporting all talented, aspiring musicians. The name Werner Herzog may not be as recognizable as Spielberg or Scorsese, but over the last six decades, the German filmmaker has had a profound and far-reaching influence on the world of cinema. He’s made over 70 features and documentaries, which are often dream-like explorations of nature’s power, human frailties and the edges of sanity. Correspondent Anderson Cooper sits down with the enigmatic director to discuss his films, and his other roles as writer and actor. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The chief of the watchdog agency that protects federal workers and whistleblowers, Hampton Dellinger, was one of the first to be fired by President Trump. So were eighteen inspectors general and the chief of the board that protects federal workers. What is happening to independent watchdogs and why are they being dismantled? Correspondent Scott Pelley sits down with Dellinger and others to find out. Five years after it declared bankruptcy, Purdue Pharma and its wealthy owners, members of the Sackler family, have agreed to pay up to $7.4 billion in a proposed settlement that would deliver funds to victims of the opioid crisis. Correspondent Cecilia Vega investigates how this deal—potentially one of the largest opioid settlements ever—will affect the individuals and families who say Purdue’s opioids harmed them. With the NCAA basketball tournament, famously known as “March Madness,” tipping off this month, the University of Connecticut men's team is aiming for a historic three-peat. Correspondent Jon Wertheim provides an inside look at coach Dan Hurley's preparations, his strategies for managing a changing roster, and his pre-season rituals. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

During his campaign, President Donald Trump promised to bring peace to Ukraine. That hasn’t happened yet. However, he has changed how the United States deals with Russia. Correspondent Scott Pelley travels to Washington, D.C. to speak with members of Congress who argue America should not abandon Ukraine. 60 Minutes reports on how the flight logs found in a plane in Fort Lauderdale, FL uncovered Argentina’s notorious death flights during its dictatorship in the mid-1970s – serving as key evidence of the state’s lethal scheme that “disappeared” thousands of innocent citizens who they viewed as a threat to the state. Correspondent Jon Wertheim revisits this dark and traumatic period in Argentine history, meeting the pair of investigators who discovered the plane, and families of the victims who were thrown to their deaths. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Clint Hill, a former U.S. Secret Service agent on duty the day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, has died at age 93. Veteran 60 Minutes correspondent Mike Wallace once said that, in all his years as a journalist, very few interviews stayed with him like his time with Clint Hill. During that interview, Hill stunned Wallace -- and the nation -- by admitting he felt responsible for the president's death. Hill would later say it was the first time he had ever spoken publicly about that day, and that his emotional reaction surprised even him. Hill told "60 Minutes: A Second Look" why he spoke so candidly for an audience of millions, and how that interview with Mike Wallace may have changed the course of his life. This episode of "60 Minutes: A Second Look" originally released in October 2024. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Correspondent Scott Pelley reports on the recent firings and resignations at the U.S. Department of Justice. Correspondent Lesley Stahl reports on President Trump’s efforts to halt the work and cut the funding of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an enforcement agency that was created in response to the 2008 financial crisis. Host John Oliver's highly lauded show, "Last Week Tonight," gives him a Sunday night platform to unleash searing, satirical takes on the politics and problems of America, his adopted homeland. So how did this Brit become one of this country's sharpest comedians? Correspondent Bill Whitaker travels to the U.K., and goes behind-the-scenes in New York, to trace Oliver’s comedic journey. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Correspondent Scott Pelley reports from Washington, D.C., on whether President Trump’s dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) without Congress’ approval is legal. In the United States, most of what anyone says, sends or streams online, even if it’s hate-filled or toxic, is protected by the First Amendment as free speech. But as correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi reports, Germany is trying to bring order to the unruly World Wide Web by policing it in a way most Americans could never imagine. When Timothée Chalamet was offered the chance to play Bob Dylan in a film based on the legendary musician, a lot of people told him not to take it. Chalamet didn’t know much about playing the guitar or harmonica, or about Dylan himself. 60 MINUTES spends a couple of days with the 29-year-old actor to find out how he prepared for over five years to play one of the most enigmatic and revered musicians of our time for his film “A Complete Unknown,” which earned him his second Oscar nomination for best actor. Correspondent Anderson Cooper visits Chalamet’s childhood home and Dylan’s old haunts in New York City and discovers some of the parallels between the two artists. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Correspondent Anderson Cooper profiles Kevin Hart, one of the highest grossing comedians today and a bankable movie star, who is now adding a new title to his resume – entertainment and business mogul. Anderson Cooper profiles Jeff Koons, one of the most prominent and polarizing artists in the world. Known for making sculptures and paintings inspired by everyday objects or famous characters, his works can take decades to make and push the boundaries of technology and sometimes taste. Anderson Cooper talks with Dua Lipa about her journey from unknown songwriter to international sensation, with her songs streaming more than 45 billion times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now that President Donald Trump has retaken the White House and is shaking up Washington with an onslaught of executive orders and controversial nominees for his Cabinet, correspondent Lesley Stahl profiles the longest-serving Senate party leader, Mitch McConnell, on his life, legacy and what he will do next since stepping down from Senate leadership. Tariffs were a signature of President Trump’s campaign and are now part of his economic agenda promising to protect American trade and recover manufacturing jobs. Correspondent Scott Pelley interviews Robert Lighthizer, the top trade negotiator during Trump’s first term who continues to be an informal advisor and confidant of the president. Last year, the Veterans Administration announced it would begin funding clinical trials to explore the use of psychedelic drugs for treating post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and addiction. However, these trials are small, and even if successful, it will likely be years before veterans can access psychedelics at the VA. Many U.S. veterans struggling with PTSD aren’t waiting. Thousands of veterans are traveling overseas seeking relief at psychedelic retreats where these substances are legal to use, mostly in indigenous ceremonies. Correspondent Anderson Cooper follows nine veterans on a psychedelic journey to the west coast of Mexico, where they hope to find healing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This weekend, four NFL teams will fight for their chance to play in the Super Bowl. To celebrate NFL conference championship Sunday, we're digging into the 60 Minutes archive and sharing three unforgettable football-themed stories. Steve Kroft's 2010 interview with NFL star Drew Brees, the then-New Orleans Saints quarterback, who led his team in 2010 to their first Super Bowl championship. Scott Pelley's 2011 profile of pro football agent Drew Rosenhaus, who - at the time - represented more NFL players than any other agent. The movie character Jerry Maguire was largely based on Rosenhaus. Jon Wertheim's 2022 report on the NFL kicker. Includes interviews with Justin Tucker, a Baltimore Ravens kicker; John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens coach; Calais Campbell, defensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens; Morten Andersen, former placekicker for the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons; and Connor Barth, who kicked for four NFL teams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bill Whitaker covers the catastrophic Los Angeles fires from the ground and the air. As Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray prepares to step down before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, correspondent Scott Pelley speaks with him for his only broadcast exit interview. Wray, whom Trump nominated in 2017, reflected on his decision to depart early, the Bureau's future, and the threats America faces. Former State Department officials criticize the U.S. handling of the war in Gaza. Officials told Cecilia Vega that U.S. policy runs counter to American values and threatens national security. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This past May, Norah O'Donnell met Pope Francis for a rare and historic interview at his home, the Santa Marta guest house in Vatican City, a week before the Catholic Church hosted its inaugural World Children's Day. The 88-year-old, Argentinian-born pope, the first named Francis and first from the Americas, is known for his dedication to the poor and marginalized, and for being the most unconventional head of the Church in recent memory. He spoke candidly with O’Donnell about the wars in Israel and Gaza, Ukraine, and the migration crises around the world and on the U.S. southern border. Their wide-ranging conversation also touched upon the Church's handling of its own sexual abuse scandals; Francis' deep commitment to inclusiveness within the Church; the backlash against his papacy from certain corners of U.S. Catholicism; and an exploration of his thinking on surrogate parenthood. Last month, the arched doors of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris opened to the public for the first time since April 2019, when a devastating fire nearly destroyed the great Gothic church. Correspondent Bill Whitaker had a first look inside a modern miracle of repair and restoration by workers and artisans who made possible French President Emmanuel Macron’s impossible-sounding pledge to complete the rebirth in five years. As Macron told Whitaker, “The decision to rebuild Notre Dame was…about our capacity to save, restore, sometimes reinvent what we are by preserving where we come from.” Correspondent Scott Pelley travels to Ethiopia to witness the Christmas vigil at Lalibela, a mysterious holy place, where churches are situated on a 42-acre site and are said to be built by angels. Pelley witnesses 200,000 Ethiopian Orthodox Christians who pilgrimage on Christmas Eve to celebrate its origins and speaks with Fasil Giorghis, an Ethiopian architect and historian, who tells Pelley, “coming here as a devout Christian is a very strong sign of their belief…some people travel hundreds of kilometers here on foot, and they have been doing it for several centuries." To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Donald Trump delivered a birthday toast to power lawyer Roy Cohn, back in 1986, 60 Minutes was there to record the future president's tribute to Cohn's loyalty. Much has been written about Cohn's influence on the young Trump and by listening through 60 Minutes' two interviews with Cohn, you can hear why the notorious lawyer is the subject of so much fascination. In never-before-broadcast conversations with Mike Wallace and Morley Safer, Cohn explains his fighter mentality and obsession with winning at all costs -- from his earliest days working alongside Senator Joseph McCarthy to his final months spent denying he was dying of AIDS. For more episodes like this one, search for "60 Minutes: A Second Look" and follow the show, wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For decades, prolific Cuban spies working in the U.S. government, serving in high profile positions with top security clearances, have evaded American intelligence officials. Correspondent Cecilia Vega reports from Washington, D.C. and Miami on the stories of two such undercover agents, former U.S. Ambassador Victor Manuel Rocha and onetime Pentagon official Ana Montes. Cuba continues to supply one of the most dangerous exports to American adversaries around the world: American secrets. This year, computer chip maker Nvidia soared to the top of the stock market, briefly surpassing Apple as the world’s most valuable public company. Nvidia ushered in the artificial intelligence revolution with its groundbreaking software and graphics processing unit, a chip that enables AI by accelerating the processing power of computers. Correspondent Bill Whitaker meets Nvidia’s CEO and co-founder, Jensen Huang, to discuss the company’s innovations and the rapidly expanding range of AI applications, including drug development, weather pattern prediction, and more. Ahead of last year's Academy Awards, correspondent Scott Pelley joined enigmatic actor Cillian Murphy in Ireland for a candid interview before winning Best Actor in the blockbuster film OPPENHEIMER. Pelley talked to the Oscar winner about how he transforms for roles, acts on instinct, and how his Irish identity has defined him. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's rare that 60 Minutes interviews someone once, practically unheard of to interview the same person three times, but that's what happened with Denzel Washington. As he prepares to star in one of the most anticipated films of the year, Gladiator II, we look back at his journey from stage actor to blockbuster star, director and producer. For more episodes like this one, search for "60 Minutes: A Second Look" and follow the show, wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices