This year's Kennedy Center Honors will be hosted by President Trump in December and broadcast on CBS. Honorees include Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, Gloria Gaynor, Michael Crawford and rock band KISS.

Washington

Richard Grenell, president of the Kennedy Center and U.S. Presidential Envoy for Special Missions, announced the honorees for this year's Kennedy Center Honors: Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, Gloria Gaynor, Michael Crawford, and KISS. Grenell highlighted the positive public response to the lineup and noted increased participation from artists and sponsors.

He addressed financial challenges facing arts institutions, referencing recent reports on declining attendance and revenues. Grenell outlined a strategy to ensure all Kennedy Center shows are revenue neutral, relying on ticket sales and corporate sponsorships. He stated that no shows have been canceled due to politics and emphasized inclusivity. Grenell also mentioned a significant increase in fundraising, with recent events surpassing previous records.

Richard Grenell discusses lineup for Kennedy Center Honors

President Trump will be hosting this year's Kennedy Center honors ceremony in December, which will air right here on CBS We're proud to say the honorees are Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, Gloria Gaynor, Michael Crawford, and KISS. We're joined now by, it's a very good lineup, very good lineup. We're joined now by the president of the Kennedy Center, who's also the U.S. Presidential Envoy for Special Missions, Richard Grinnell, Ambassador Grinnell. Thank you very much for being here. Thanks for having me. So, clue people into what's going on with the Kennedy Center, because the president's gonna be hosting the ceremony this year, and he's the chairman of the Kennedy Center board, but earlier in his administration, his first term, he didn't go to the honors. He hasn't been involved. So what's his role? How'd this come about? Well, first of all, we are ecstatic to have these honorees because the public has responded really well. People have been asking for George Strait for a long time. My all-time favorite. And the people that are coming forward to say, I want to sing, I want to participate to honor George Strait, Gloria Gaynor, others, it's gonna be a phenomenal show. I think what we've decided to do at the Kennedy Center is confront what I think the New York Times did earlier this week, which is to say Broadway is dying. The arts are dying. Every arts institution, most every, across the country are financially in disrepair. We've got to confront that, and I think the New York Times piece on how Broadway shows, people aren't going, they're not participating, we've decided to confront that, and President Trump, as someone who really understands corporate America, has decided that we're gonna do big shows, big programming, that fill as many seats as possible, and if we can't fill enough seats to make sure we're revenue neutral, we're gonna ask for corporations to step in so that we can get every single show with a sponsor, enough ticket sales, to revenue neutral, so that we are not losing money on these shows. And I think it's already proven to be a winning combination because we've never raised more money at the Kennedy Center than we have. For instance, Saturday night, our National Symphony Orchestra gala has exploded the budget in terms of fundraising. We usually raise about 1.5 million. We're already up to 2.5 million. We haven't even started the show. Why do you think that is, Rick? Because when it was first announced, many people, not many, but some artists pulled out and said, I don't want to participate. They were concerned about the political leanings of it. Can you say to people that there really are no politics involved in the Kennedy Center honors? Look, we want every single person to come. Harvey Fierstein, for instance, came out and said, I'm banned from the Kennedy Center. Not true. No one is banned. I haven't canceled a single show. You have not? Not a single show. But let's be honest about this. Many on the left can't come and perform for conservatives because, whatever reason, they're political. We want to play for... But you're saying they're welcome. Of course. Everyone is welcomed at the Kennedy Center. The only change that we've done, we haven't canceled a single show. Hamilton pulled out because they didn't want to play for Republicans. What I have been clear about is every single show must become revenue neutral. We haven't canceled anyone. But if you don't sell enough seats, and you can't get corporations to pay the bill, then you're on the hook. And if you can't be on the hook for that, don't ask us to go into more debt. When I arrived at the Kennedy Center, we were paying the staff with debt reserves. We were literally having zero money in the bank. You see that changing already based on what you're saying? Dramatic fundraising increase. We've made some hard cuts. We've had to make changes. But again, look at the New York Times piece earlier this week. Every single arts institution has been having these problems. What I would say, Gail, is there are a lot of media that all they want to do is focus negatively on the conservatives. And let me give you an example. The arts reporters covering the Kennedy Center have never done a story about ticket sales until we got there. Are ticket sales struggling? Of course they are. Every arts institution. And look at the New York Times said, Broadway is closing and in financial disrepair because people aren't going. But it sounds like you want to change that. Which is good. We want to change that. And you are doing. President Trump is the one. Ambassador, before you go, really quickly, the president of Venezuela offered to engage in direct talks with the U.S. What are you going to do? Are you going to engage with Venezuela over these drug trafficking boats that the president has? So I've already been engaging at the direction of President Trump. I've spoken to Mr. Maduro. I've gone down to Venezuela and I continue to talk to his team. Love it. All right, Richard Grinnell. Thank you very much. Appreciate being on. Thank you. Be sure to watch the Kennedy Center Honors on CBS and streaming on Paramount Plus.

The widow of one of the 60 passengers aboard the American Airlines regional jet involved in the deadly midair collision near D.C. in January has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against American Airlines, the FAA and the U.S. Army.

D.C. midair collision victim's family sues airline, FAA and Army

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was found not guilty of receiving illegal campaign financing from late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi for his successful 2007 presidential bid, but was pronounced guilty of criminal conspiracy in the same case.

Paris

France ex-President Sarkozy convicted of criminal conspiracy

China led several countries in announcing new climate plans on Wednesday and offered a veiled rebuke of the U.S. president's anti-climate rhetoric a day earlier at the U.N. General Assembly.

Beijing

China sets new emissions goals after Trump rejects climate change

World leaders have launched an initiative, “Democracy Now,” on the sidelines of the UNGA to counter far-right extremism and defend multilateralism. As the UN faces skepticism, a new initiative by Brazil, Spain, Chile, Uruguay, and Colombia is gaining support among member states.

New York

Leaders at the U.N. push reforms to counter authoritarian rise

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. The meeting came a day after President Trump appeared to soften his language on the Ukraine war, raising questions about U.S. policy direction.

Manhattan

Ukraine Invasion

Rubio meets Russia's Lavrov after Trump shifts tone on Ukraine war

The family of one of the 67 people killed earlier this year when an American Airlines plane and a  U.S. Army helicopter collided over Washington, D.C., filed a lawsuit against the government and the airline.

Widow of D.C. plane crash victim sues American Airlines, federal gov.

The new Paramount+ documentary "Bodyguard of Lies" highlights the efforts across four presidential administrations to conceal the challenges the U.S. faced during the Afghanistan

New documentary uncovers gov. deception during Afghanistan War

In his address to the U.N. General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia wants to expand the war beyond Ukraine.

Putin wants to expand war beyond Ukraine, Zelenskyy warns U.N.

The Trump administration is rehiring hundreds of federal employees who were laid off during cuts made by the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. CBS News' Olivia Rinaldi has more details.

Trump administration rehires hundreds laid off during DOGE cuts

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy faces up to 10 years in prison if a Paris court convicts him of secretly using funds from the Libyan government of late dictator Moammar Gadhafi to finance his presidential campaign in 2007.

Ex-French President Sarkozy awaits verdict in trial

An international aid flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza said on Wednesday (September 24) it was attacked overnight by drones in international waters off Greece, prompting Italy to send a navy ship to come to its assistance.

Middle East Conflict

Italy sends navy ship to help Gaza aid flotilla after drone attack

At least three people were shot at a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Wednesday morning, officials said. One victim was killed, while two others are injured. The shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Dallas

Three people shot at ICE facility in Dallas, officials say

The U.S. has long argued China should give up the developing-country status because it is the world’s second-largest economy.

China gives up WTO developing-country status as tariff tensions linger

U.S. President Donald Trump reversed his stance on the Ukraine war after meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky at the UN General Assembly, now expressing confidence that Ukraine can reclaim all its territory.

Trump reverses stance on Ukraine after meeting with Zelenskyy

After a six-day suspension, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel broke down in tears during his return to TV with a monologue focused on the importance of the maintaining the right to free speech while still poking fun at the Trump administration.

Los Angeles

Jimmy Kimmel makes emotional return with monologue about free speech

Typhoon Ragasa, the world's most powerful tropical cyclone this year, struck the southern Chinese city of Yangjiang on Wednesday after lashing Taiwan and Hong Kong with ferocious winds and heavy rains.

Yangjiang

Typhoon Ragasa lashes Hong Kong, Taiwan, southern China

Mainland China is bracing for Super Typhoon Ragasa, after the powerful storm caused widespread destruction across the region. In Taiwan, at least 14 people have died in flooding triggered by the cyclone.

Kowloon

Typhoon Ragasa sweeping towards China, 14 killed in Taiwan

A jury has convicted Ryan Routh of attempting to assassinate U.S. President Donald Trump on his Florida golf course last year. He was found guilty of all five charges, which included attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer.

West Palm Beach

Ryan Routh found guilty of trying to assassinate Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday (September 23) spoke with reporters while meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

Trump takes questions during meeting with Zelenskyy

Chipmaker Nvidia said it would invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, as part of a strategic partnership. CBS MoneyWatch correspondent Kelly O'Grady has more details.

Santa Clara

Rise of AI

Nvidia to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI

For the first time in more than half a century, astronauts will soon be heading back to the moon. CBC's Nicole Mortillaro breaks down the preparations for the mission, Artemis II, which will send astronauts on a historic loop around the moon.

Houston

NASA prepares to send astronauts around the moon

U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, where he pushed back on countries that have formally recognized a Palestinian state. Trump also touted U.S. immigration policy.

Trump delivers address at U.N. General Assembly

Southern China and Hong Kong are bracing for Super Typhoon Ragasa as authorities evacuate hundreds of thousands of people. CBS News' Anna Coren has more details.

Hong Kong Island

Super Typhoon Ragasa targets Southern China, Hong Kong

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to voluntarily maintain the limits on deployed strategic nuclear weapons set in the 2010 New START accord after it expires in February if the U.S. agreed to do the same.

Moscow

Putin offers Trump one-year extension to nuclear weapons treaty

President Trump announced Monday the FDA believes pregnant women should not take acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, claiming there could be a link between the medication and autism, despite objections from medical experts.

Trump, FDA tell pregnant women not to take Tylenol

ABC announced Monday that "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" will return to the air Tuesday night (September 23). The network pulled the show last week following a remark from Kimmel about the death of Charlie Kirk.

Jimmy Kimmel returning to air

As leaders from around the globe come together at the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine continue to rage.

World leaders come together at UNGA as global tensions rise

Monday marks the second day of strike action after a similar walk-off was called on Sunday by the southern European country's largest trade union, the Italian Confederation of Labour (CGIL).

Rome

Thousands strike across Italy in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza

The Trump administration is adding $100,000 to the existing fee for H-1B visa applications, taking aim at a program that is used to attract highly skilled workers to the U.S.

Trump administration to add $100,000 fee for H-1B visas

President Donald Trump urged Attorney General Pam Bondi in a social media post to move forward with cases against several people connected to the U.S. government. CBS News justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane has more.

Breakdown