Good to be with you. I’m Tony Dokoupil. Day 61 of the war with Iran — the Pentagon now says the fighting has cost $25 billion. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified under oath today for the first time since the conflict began, calling critics “reckless” and “defeatist.” Lawmakers pressed him on what the money has produced, the lack of timeline for an end, munitions shortages and shifting justifications for the campaign. Hegseth defended actions including personnel changes, saying new leadership was needed, and insisted the operation has been an “astounding military success.” Democrats and some Republicans questioned whether the U.S. is winning and pointed to security failures after an Iranian drone strike that killed six U.S. troops in Kuwait. Congressional correspondent Caitlin Huey-Burns reported Hegseth’s answers and the bipartisan questioning on costs and strategy.
Chief correspondent Matt Gutman reported on the accused White House Correspondents’ Dinner attacker. Surveillance footage and court filings show the suspect, Cole Allen, allegedly checking a presidential tracker, taking a selfie in a suit and shoulder holster, and streaming the event before sprinting toward the ballroom and firing a shotgun. Secret Service agents returned fire; the suspect fell near a guest and was captured on video. Former Secret Service officials told CBS the open ballroom doors and security gaps were critical failures. The Secret Service has opened a mission review.
Former FBI director James Comey turned himself in today on a federal indictment alleging he threatened the life of President Trump last year. At issue was a now-deleted social post showing shells arranged to form numbers and a phrase; prosecutors claim the combination constituted a threat. Comey says he meant no harm.
The Supreme Court issued a major ruling limiting race-based considerations in congressional redistricting. The decision struck down Louisiana’s majority-Black district as unconstitutional and will affect redistricting battles, especially in Southern states. Chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford explained the 6-3 ruling’s implications, noting conservative and liberal justices’ sharply different views and the decision’s likely long-term impact on minority representation and future maps.
Severe weather continues across the Central and Southern U.S. Tornadoes tore through Mineral Wells, Texas, flattening homes, damaging factories and injuring multiple people. Jason Allen reported from the hard-hit town, where a home security camera captured a violent tornado with estimated winds of 145 mph. Utility crews raced to restore power as residents began cleanup. The outbreak marked a week of relentless storms stretching from Texas into Louisiana and beyond.
Gas prices ticked up again, to the highest average in four years. The national average for a gallon of regular was $4.23, up following oil prices that hit $120 a barrel.
Transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave covered a near-miss between a United Airlines jet and an apparent red drone over San Diego as the plane approached Lindbergh Field. Pilots reported a small, bright red object. The FAA is investigating; drones are restricted below 400 feet because of risks to aircraft.
Also on airlines: a Delta passenger on a tarmac delay opened a cabin door from inside the aircraft, narrowly avoiding deployment of an emergency slide. The passenger faces federal charges for interfering with a flight crew.
From Washington: the Pentagon disclosed the $25 billion war tab during Hegseth’s hearing and faced questions about strategy, the Strait of Hormuz being closed at times and the drone strike in Kuwait that exposed security gaps. Lawmakers challenged Hegseth’s assertions about Iranian nuclear facilities and defensive postures. CBS cited survivors’ accounts to press Pentagon officials on apparent contradictions.
Rob and Michele Reiner’s son, Nick Reiner, appeared briefly in a Los Angeles courtroom on murder charges. He pleaded not guilty in the stabbing deaths of his parents. Prosecutors say autopsies and evidence remain pending; the case remains on hold while investigators and the defense await reports. Family members have spoken publicly about the devastation.
Federal Reserve news: the Fed left a key rate unchanged but signaled potential future cuts. Fed Chair Jerome Powell announced he will remain on the Federal Reserve Board when his term as chair ends next month, blocking the president from immediately appointing a replacement.
Local and human-interest: in Sydney, Australia, a Jack Russell terrier named Ellbie got stuck 13 stories up on a ledge. A drone located her; firefighters used ropes and pulleys to rescue the dehydrated but otherwise OK terrier. Ellbie’s owner was overcome with relief when reunited.
And The Good Stuff: retired Colorado man Lou Salas completed the world’s largest jigsaw puzzle — a 60,000-piece map of the globe that took more than four years. Lou and friends built a giant table and platform to assemble the 29-foot puzzle. He described the bittersweet feeling of finishing something that had become part of his daily life and reflected on the puzzle as a metaphor for life: piece by piece.
That’s another day in America. I’m Tony Dokoupil. We’ll see you right back here tomorrow. Good night.