This week's "CBS Sunday Morning" (Sept. 13) leads with an investigation into dwindling U.S. missile stockpiles and the costly, years-long industrial surge required to rebuild them. Other highlights include Robert Ballard on deep-sea exploration, an interview with Anthropic's CEO on rapid AI advances, and an oral-history project that uncovered a dramatic Holocaust liberation story. The episode also features human-interest reports, an investigation into surrogacy protections, archival 9/11 pieces, and the launch of a live-event series at the 92nd Street Y.
This Week on CBS Sunday Morning (Sept. 13): Missile Shortages, Shipwrecks, AI and Human Stories
A long-range Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a surface-to-surface weapon that can strike targets approximately 500 kilometers away. / Credit: Darrell Ames/U.S. Army
The Emmy Award–winning CBS News program "Sunday Morning," hosted by Jane Pauley, airs on CBS each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. ET and streams on the CBS News app beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. Executive producer: Rand Morrison.
Cover Story — Missile Crisis: The Hard Truths About America's Arsenal
More than six months into the war with Iran, the U.S. has fired thousands of long-range, precision-guided missiles. As stockpiles dwindle, the Pentagon warns it may lack enough high-end munitions to sustain a confrontation with a major military power. The Defense Department has placed the defense industrial base on a "wartime footing," requiring a multibillion-dollar, multi-year surge in production. National security correspondent David Martin visits factories that are ramping up to rebuild the nation's missile and precision-weapons inventories.
For more information:
- Lockheed Martin: Missiles and Fire Control
- Mark F. Cancian, Center for Strategic and International Studies
- L3Harris; CoAspire
Almanac — September 13
"Sunday Morning" revisits notable events and anniversaries tied to this date in history.
World — Shipwrecks and the Tantalizing Allure of the Sea
Oceanographer Robert Ballard, famed for discovering the RMS Titanic in 1985, discusses how that discovery changed him and inspired ongoing work to map the ocean floor aboard the research vessel Nautilus. Correspondent Lee Cowan also speaks with Sophie Elmhirst, author of "A Marriage at Sea," about human vulnerability and the enduring fascination with shipwreck stories.
Correspondent Alina Cho and designer Diane von Furstenberg in Venice. / Credit: CBS News
References: Robert Ballard (Nautilus Live Ocean Exploration Trust); Sophie Elmhirst, "A Marriage at Sea."
Technology — Anthropic CEO on AI's Rapid Advance (Video)
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei tells CBS that he underestimated how quickly advanced AI would develop and urges perspective rather than panic. Jo Ling Kent reports.
For more: Anthropic
Passage — In Memoriam
Tributes to notable figures who passed away this week, with remembrance segments and archival footage.
World — Uncovering a Holocaust Survival Story
Former schoolteacher Matthew Rozell's oral-history project recorded interviews with World War II veterans and revealed the liberation, in April 1945, of roughly 2,500 Holocaust survivors from a so-called "death train." Correspondent Seth Doane speaks with Rozell (author of "A Train Near Magdeburg"), historian James Bulgin, and filmmaker Mike Edwards about preserving eyewitness testimony and why these stories matter.
/ Credit: Getty Images
Related resources: Matthew Rozell's book and documentary materials; Imperial War Museum archival collections.
Hartman — A Former Football Star's Backpack Becomes a Lifeline
In Austin, Indiana University graduate Jasper Steinmetz recognizes a familiar IU backpack on Sampson James, a former IU football player who fell on hard times after a knee injury and a bipolar disorder diagnosis. Steve Hartman reports on how that small connection helped spark a fresh start.
Fashion — Diane von Furstenberg on Life, Love, and the Wrap Dress
In Venice, correspondent Alina Cho visits Diane von Furstenberg, whose influential designs and the iconic wrap dress have empowered women for nearly five decades. Von Furstenberg reflects on her life and credits her mother, a Holocaust survivor, for shaping her resilience and outlook.
More: dvf.com
Headlines — Testing the Ethical Boundaries of Surrogacy
A yearlong CBS News investigation finds that commercial surrogacy in the U.S. often operates with few meaningful protections for surrogates. Correspondent Katrina Kaufman explores troubling cases and the legal and ethical gaps facing women who carry pregnancies for others.
Actor Sylvester Stallone and CBS News correspondent Tracy Smith. / Credit: CBS News
For perspective: Attorney Melissa Brisman
Food — Good Gourd! A Visit to the Pumpkin Capital
In Morton, Illinois — home of the annual Pumpkin Festival and the Libby's plant that produces roughly 85% of the world's canned pumpkin — correspondent Nancy Giles samples local flavors and explores the town's pumpkin-centered culture. Morton Pumpkin Festival: Sept. 16–19.
Nature — Monarch Caterpillars in New York
A brief nature segment highlights monarch caterpillars observed in New York and the conservation efforts that support their life cycle.
From the Archives
Rebroadcast segments include Jay Maisel on photographing the Twin Towers, Bill Geist on Ridgewood, N.J.'s 9/11 losses, reporting on Afghanistan and Al Qaeda after Sept. 11, profiles of jazz artist Cassandra Wilson, and past stories about Gloria Steinem.
Gallery — Notable Deaths in 2026
A look back at influential figures who shaped culture, politics, and the arts and who passed away this year.
Live Events — New Series at the 92nd Street Y
"CBS Sunday Morning" launches a live events series at the 92nd Street Y in New York City beginning Sept. 28, debuting with Sylvester Stallone. The series will feature conversations with prominent figures in arts, politics, and culture. Tickets: www.92ny.org.
Full episodes of "Sunday Morning" are available on demand at CBSNews.com, CBS.com and Paramount+, and on major streaming platforms and devices. Follow the program on social media and subscribe to the free "Sunday Morning" audio podcast on iTunes and Play.it. To submit sun-themed artwork for the "Sun Art" feature, email [email protected].
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