President Trump met with New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House and, despite months of public barbs, struck a cooperative tone, focusing on shared goals for the city such as reducing crime, building housing and lowering rents. Trump, who had criticized Mamdani as a “communist” and threatened to withdraw federal funding, praised aspects of Mamdani’s agenda and said he hoped to help rather than hurt the mayor-elect. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, returned praise and emphasized cost-of-living concerns that resonated with voters. Their détente could reshape Congressional dynamics, where Democrats and Republicans previously reacted strongly to Mamdani’s election.
Thanksgiving travel surged as millions left for the holiday, with airlines and airports preparing for heavy traffic. Airlines were expecting record passenger numbers between now and the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Severe storms disrupted travel in parts of the country, notably delaying flights and causing cancellations around Dallas, while other hubs such as Miami and Philadelphia reported long TSA lines but moving traffic. Airlines warned that most congestion might occur the Sunday after Thanksgiving, when TSA expects record screening volumes.
A major weather system is also on the move. Meteorologists warned of storms affecting parts of the country before Thanksgiving, then a surge of Arctic cold could follow, bringing temperatures 15–20 degrees below normal from the Midwest to the East Coast the weekend after the holiday. Forecasters explained that disruptions in the polar jet stream could allow polar air to plunge south in what would be the season’s first significant cold blast.
Investigators in Florida are probing the death of 18‑year‑old Anna Kepner, found dead in her stateroom on the Carnival Horizon cruise ship. Law enforcement sources told CBS News the teenager may have been strangled during an altercation and that alcohol may have been involved. Court filings identified Kepner’s 16‑year‑old stepbrother as a suspect; he was reportedly staying in the same cabin. The FBI is reviewing access-card swipes, ship surveillance, and Kepner’s phone as part of the probe. The medical examiner has not released a cause of death, citing an active criminal investigation. A celebration-of-life was held in Kepner’s hometown as the investigation continues.
In other national and international headlines: the Federal Aviation Administration issued an air warning for flights over Venezuela amid heightened military activity after U.S. operations in the Caribbean that included B‑52 bombers and fighter jets. A Florida sheriff’s deputy, Terry Sweeting‑Mashkow, a 25‑year veteran, was killed during an eviction attempt; three others were wounded. President Trump pressed Ukraine to accept a U.S.-backed peace proposal with Russia — a plan that would force Ukraine to cede territory, reduce its military, and forgo NATO membership — with the White House urging a decision by Thanksgiving. Ukrainians remain in fierce combat while leaders debate the proposal, and President Zelensky has asked to work with allies to make a path to peace feasible.
A jury in Ohio found officer Connor Grubb not guilty of felonious assault in the fatal shooting of 21‑year‑old Tau’Kiya Young, who was suspected of shoplifting and was pregnant. Body-camera footage showed Young slow the vehicle while officers attempted to detain her; Grubb fired one shot at close range, killing her and her unborn child. The verdict, which deeply distressed Young’s family, highlights the challenges in prosecuting police shootings.
Two cousins, ages 11 and 13, were rescued after being trapped for hours in an elevator in an Atlanta high‑rise. The boys were stuck between floors; specialized rescue teams built a rope system to reach them from above and harnessed them out of a blind shaft several floors from the nearest access point. Firefighters described a careful, technical rescue and reunited the children with first responders.
Steve Hartman’s feature introduced Wade Milyard, a retired K‑9 officer in Frederick, Maryland, who launched Fresh Step Laundry. Milyard converted a bus into a mobile laundromat offering free wash-and-fold services to people experiencing homelessness, motivated after responding to a domestic dispute and hearing someone mention doing laundry in a creek. Using donations and his own resources, he performs dozens of loads weekly to help clients regain dignity and confidence through clean clothing.
CBS Evening News also previewed a 60 Minutes segment in which correspondents spent years documenting empty school rooms as a memorial to children lost to school shootings. The piece offers poignant portraits connecting families with physical reminders of their children, underscoring the lasting trauma of mass shootings.
That is the summary of tonight’s CBS Evening News.
