Good to be with you — I’m Tony Dokoupil. Day 61 of the war with Iran: the Pentagon says the campaign has cost about $25 billion so far. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified under oath for the first time since the conflict began, calling his critics “reckless” and “defeatist” while defending recent personnel changes and the broader operation. Lawmakers from both parties pressed him on what the money has produced, shortages in munitions, the absence of a clear end date and shifting public justifications for the campaign. Hegseth insisted the U.S. effort has been a significant military success; Democrats and some Republicans questioned whether the United States is actually winning and pointed to security lapses after an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait that killed six U.S. troops. Congressional correspondent Caitlin Huey-Burns covered the hearing and the bipartisan scrutiny of costs and strategy.
Chief correspondent Matt Gutman reported on the man accused of attacking the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Surveillance video and court documents show the suspect, identified as Cole Allen, allegedly checking a presidential tracker, taking a selfie while wearing a suit and shoulder holster, and livestreaming before sprinting toward the ballroom and firing a shotgun. Secret Service agents returned fire; video shows the suspect collapsing near a guest. Former Secret Service officials told CBS that open ballroom doors and other security gaps were critical failures. The Secret Service has launched a mission review.
Former FBI director James Comey turned himself in on a federal indictment that alleges he threatened President Trump last year. Prosecutors point to a now-deleted social media image in which shells were arranged to form numbers and a phrase; they say the combination amounted to a threat. Comey has said he intended no harm.
The Supreme Court issued a major ruling limiting race-based factors in congressional redistricting, striking down Louisiana’s majority-Black district as unconstitutional in a 6–3 decision. Chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford explained how the ruling could reshape redistricting fights, particularly in Southern states, and the potential long-term effects on minority representation.
Severe weather continued across the Central and Southern United States. Tornadoes ripped through Mineral Wells, Texas, flattening homes, damaging industrial buildings and injuring multiple people. A home security camera captured an intense twister estimated to have winds near 145 mph, Jason Allen reported. Utility crews worked to restore power as residents began cleanup. The outbreak capped a week of relentless storms stretching from Texas into Louisiana and beyond.
Drivers saw gas prices climb to their highest average in four years. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline rose to about $4.23, following oil prices that reached near $120 a barrel.
Transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave reported on a close call over San Diego: a United Airlines jet and an apparent red drone nearly collided as the plane approached Lindbergh Field. Pilots described a small, bright red object; the FAA is investigating. Drones are restricted under 400 feet because of the risk to aircraft. In another airline incident, a Delta passenger on a tarmac delay opened a cabin door from inside the aircraft, narrowly avoiding deployment of an emergency slide. The passenger now faces federal charges for interfering with a flight crew.
Back in Washington, Pentagon officials faced detailed questioning about the $25 billion war tab, the intermittent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the Kuwait drone strike that exposed security gaps. Lawmakers disputed some Pentagon claims about Iranian nuclear sites and defensive postures; CBS referenced survivor accounts to press officials on apparent contradictions.
In Los Angeles, Nick Reiner, son of Rob and Michele Reiner, made a brief court appearance on murder charges. He pleaded not guilty in the stabbing deaths of his parents. Prosecutors say autopsy results and additional evidence remain pending; the case is on hold while investigators and defense attorneys await reports.
On financial policy, the Federal Reserve left a key interest rate unchanged but signaled the possibility of future cuts. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said he will remain on the Federal Reserve Board after his term as chair ends next month, a move that prevents the president from immediately naming a successor as chair.
A lighter note from Sydney: a Jack Russell terrier named Ellbie was rescued after becoming stranded on a ledge 13 stories up. A drone helped locate the frightened dog, and firefighters used ropes and pulleys to bring the dehydrated but otherwise unharmed terrier to safety. Ellbie’s owner was overcome with relief.
And The Good Stuff: retired Colorado resident Lou Salas completed the world’s largest jigsaw puzzle — a 60,000-piece map of the globe that took him and friends more than four years to assemble. They built a custom table and platform for the 29-foot puzzle; Salas described finishing it as bittersweet, saying the project had become part of his daily life and a metaphor for putting life together piece by piece.
That’s another day in America. I’m Tony Dokoupil. We’ll see you right back here tomorrow. Good night.