. >> i'm mark strassmann. l.a. is outraged.wo city councilmembers recorded in a racist conversation refuse to resign. >>> later, dino delivery. why these airline workers gave this unique passenger the vip treatment. >>> good evening. it's not even november, but turnout for the crucial 2020 midterms is already strong. election day is still 17 days away, but several states have seen a surge of voters casting early ballots. this is clark county, nevada, where in-person voting began today. there is a lot at stake, including control of congress and the future of president biden's agenda. cbs' christina ruffini is at the white house with more. >> reporter: across the country, more than 7 million americans have already cast their ballots as the candidates and the white house make their closing arguments. >> the polls have been all over the place. i think that we're going to see one more shift back to our side in the closing days. >> reporter: president biden trying to sound optimistic as the latest polls show democrats are losing some

mark strassmann, thank you. turning now to the devastation in florida, where rescues are still under way and expected to continue until tomorrow. president biden says this search operation is the largest in recent history. in orlando, entire neighborhoods remain under water after getting up to 14 inches of rain. and that's where we find cbs' meg oliver tonight. >> is there anybody in there? >> reporter: tonight, newly released video shows harrowing moments as sheriff's deputies formed a human chain to pull this woman to safety. >> you all right? >> reporter: after her car was swept away by floodwaters. >> come out the window. >> reporter: these two men were plucked from their floating car trapped when the waters quickly rose. tonight, many houses and apartment complexes are still completely surrounded by water. how high did the water come? >> okay, it was, like, about here. >> reporter: lidianys dedios stayed up all night as hurricane ian hit, watching the rising water creep up to her front door, knowing she has

norah. >> o'donnell: mark strassmann, thank you.e now just four weeks away from the midterms and election day, and one of the races that could determine- f the control of the senate is in georgia. republicans are trying to help anti-abortion rights candidate herschel walker fight off explosive allegations that hef explosive allegations that he paid for paid for a woman's abortion in 2009, and then later fathered a child with her. cbs's nikole killion is just outside atlanta. >> reporter: former football star-turned-senate nominee herschel walker teamed up with the senate's leading republicans, arkansas senator tom cotton and florida senator rick scott, making little mention of the controversy, framing it as an attack on him. >> you can see what they're doing-- they'll do whatever it takes, say whatever they have to say, because they want this seat right here. >> reporter: while scott and cotton are embracing walker, cbs news has learned g.o.p. leaders and strategists are increasingly concerned his troubles could cost him in the pivo

. >> o'donnell: mark strassmann, thank you. well, here in washington, cbs news was given first access to new audio from a meeting between one of the police officers injured during the january 6 attack on the capital and republican leader kevin mccarthy. plus, there's fallout tonight following some controversial comments from alabama's republican senator, tommy tuberville. here's cbs' scott macfarlane. >> reporter: d.c. police officer michael fanone was tased, beaten, and suffered a heart attack fighting to stop the riotous mob on january 6th. in a private meeting six months after the attack, fanone is heard arguing to top house republican kevin mccarthy about the role some political leaders played inciting the riot. >> i agree with you. the problem is it is political because it happened here on capitol hill and it involved a political movement. it involved a group of extremist, right-winged element of our american society which was mobilized by politicians, and that's just a fact. >> reporter: the mother of officer brian sickni

cbs's mark strassmann has more. >> reporter: america's zeitgeist, vulnerability. like this home invasion hammer attack on a politician's 82-year-old spouse. reinforcing where an anxious, often resentful bunch heading into midterms. >> now with joe biden there's a big thumb on top of you where you can't enjoy yourself. >> i just need to see some peace. and i think the only way to do this is voting. >> reporter: the economy, especially inflation, indisputably top of mind in voter anxiety. >> cost of groceries are outrageous. utilities are outrageous. it keeps going up. >> reporter: and gas prices. look at these in los angeles. right at $7 a gallon for regular. that would be nightmarish in most of the country but here in l.a. prices have actually been coming down in the last couple weeks. in our latest cbs news poll of registered voters, a majority blame president biden and the democrats for the economy and gas the president's fighting that perception. >> unemployment is not 6.5 but 3.5%, the lowest it's been in 50 years. >> reporter: republicans see inflation number

. >> o'donnell: mark strassmann, thank you. >>> well, we are now just four weeks away from the midterms and election day, and one of the races that could determine the control of the senate is in georgia. republicans are trying to help anti-abortion rights candidate herschel walker fight off explosive allegations that he paid for a woman's abortion in 2009, and then later fathered a child with her. cbs's nikole killion is just outside atlanta. herschel walker teamed up with the senate's leading republicans, arkansas senator tom cotton and florida senator rick scott, making little mention of the controversy, framing it as an attack on him. >> you can see what they're doing-- they'll do whatever it takes, say whatever they have to say, because they want this seat right here. >> reporter: while scott and cotton are embracing walker, cbs news has learned g.o.p. leaders and strategists are increasingly concerned his troubles could cost him in the pivotal senate race. what do you say to those in your party who have concerns? >> herschel walker lived the dream of this country. he's come from t

mark strassmann, thank you. >>> well, theng doortoay with rishi sunak the voteo ngdom. nrime minister of he'll b firer olorver to hold t. cbs's imtiaz tyab is in london with more on the man set to become uk's youngest leader in more than 200 years. >> i will make it my utmost priority to bring our party and our country together. >> reporter: in his first speech to the nation as prime minister, as britain's fifth leader in just over six years, the third this year alone, he fought off challengers including former prime minister boris johnson for the top job. >> let me tell you a story. >> reporter: when rishi sunak first ran this summer, he introduced himself as the son of indian immigrants. >> their story didn't end there, but that is where my story began. >> reporter: a story which saw him study at oxford and stanford and then land a plum job at goldman sachs. married to the daughter of an indian billionaire, they're worth an estimated $823 million, making him one of the richest members of parliament. >> tackling the costs of -- >> reporter: even then he was relatively

mark strassmann, thank you. well, the revolving door at london's 10 downing street took an historic turn today with rishi sunak winning the vote to become the new prime minister of the united kingdom. he will be the first person of color ever to hold that title. imtiaz tyab with more on the man set to become the u.k.'s youngest leader in more than two years. >> i will make it my utmost priority to bring our party and our country together. >> reporter: in his first speech to the nation as prime minister, as britain's fifth leader in just over six years, the third this year alone, he fought off challengers, including former prime minister boirs johnson for the top job. >> let me tell you a story. >> reporter: when rishi sunak first ran this summer, he introduced himself as the son of indian immigrants. >> their story didn't end there. but that is where my story began. >> reporter: a story which saw him study ford, and then land ab job at goldman sachs. married to the daughter of an indian billionaire, they're wort

norah. >> o'donnell: mark strassmann, thank you.in washington, to new audio from a meeting between one of the police officers injured during the january 6 attack on the capital and republican leader kevin mccarthy. plus, there is fallout tonight following some controversial comments from alabama's republican senator, tommy tuberville. here's cbs' scott macfarlane. >> reporter: d.c. police officer michael fanone was tased, beaten, and suffered a heart attack fighting to stop the riotous mob on january 6th. in a private meeting six months after the attack, fanone is heard arguing to top house republican kevin mccarthy about the role some political leaders played inciting the riot. >> reporter: the mother of officer brian sicknick, who died of natural causes a day after the attack, was also in the meeting, and asked mccarthy why then-president trump didn't call off the mob. >> e kne he hting for >> reporter: in his new book, published by an imprint of simon & schuster-- like cbs, a division of paramount-- fanone describes the physical

mark strassmann for us tonight.are dealing with their first snowstorm of the season. tonight freeze warnings or frost advisories are in effect for arizona -- from arizona to washington. colorado's keystone resort got its first significant snow of the season today. look at that. some mountainous areas could see up to two feet of snow. >>> well, first it was vincent van gogh. now claude monet has been targeted by food and fossil fuel-related climate protests. today activists hurled liquefied mashed potatoes at the monet painting at a museum near berlin. they also glued their hands to the wall. the museum representatives say the painting was not damaged. >>> there's a lot more news ahead on the "cbs overnight news." tical e non-profit tracks the i > pl, chlogy to tranm ♪ chlogy to tranm tomatoes into inking hey greg. uhh...hello? it's me, your heart! really? yes! recording an ekg in 30 seconds. tada! wow, that was fast. you know it! kardia offers the only personal ekgs that detect six of the most common arrhythmias in

cbs's mark strassmann has more. >> america's zeitgeist, vulnerability. like this home invasion hammer attack on a politician's 82-year-old spouse. reinforcing an anxious bunch heading into midterms. >> you can't enji -- enjoy yourself. >> i just need to see some peace. and i think the only way to do this is voting. >> the economy, especially inflation, indisputably top of mind in voter anxiety. >> cost of groceries are outrageous. utilities are outrageous. it keeps going up. >> and gas prices. look at these in los angeles right at $7 a gallon for regular. that would be nightmarish is most of the country, but here in l.a., prices have actually been coming down in the last couple weeks. in our latest cbs news poll of registered voters, a majority blame president biden and the democrats for the economy and gas prices. the president's fighting that perception. >> unemployment is not 6.5, but 3.5%. the lowest it's been in 50 years. >> republicans see inflation numbers and smell blood. red tsunami. >> crime is yet another voter worry, like last week's school s

mark strassmann reports from los angeles. >> reporter: america's zeitgeist, vulnerability, like thisck on a polici82-year-old spouse. reinforcing, we're an anxious, often resentful bunch heading into midterms. >> now with joe biden, there's a big thumb on top of you where you can't enjoy yourself. >> i just need to see some peace. and i think the only way to do this is voting. >> reporter: the economy, especially inflation, indisputably top of mind in voter anxiety. >> groceries are outrageous. utilities are outrageous. keeps going up. >> reporter: and gas prices, look at these in los angeles. right at $7 a gallon for regular. that would be nightmarish in most of the country, but here in l.a., prices are actually been coming down in the last couple weeks. in our latest cbs news poll of registered voters, a majority blame president biden and the democrats for the economy and gas prices. the president's fighting that perception. >> unemployment is not 6.5 but 3.5%, the lowest it's been in 50 years. >> reporter: republicans see inflation numbers and smell blood. >> not just a red wave,

mark strassmann, cbs news, los angeles. >>> the search for a missing georgia toddler has also turned into a criminal investigation, that's according to the police. the mother of 20-month-old quinton simon called to report her son missing. when she woke up, she told is the officers he was in his play pen inside the home outside savannah before she discovered he was gone. they do not think the biological father is involved. >> we understand people in chatham county and far beyond have become emotionally invested and they want answers. we're committed to finding those answers and committed to finding quinton. >> dozens of fbi agents are helping in the search. >>> the possibility of a nationwide rail strike is back on after the third largest u.s. railroad union rejected a new contract deal with freight railroads. the railroads and unions reached a last-minute tentative deal last month to avert a walkout. but all unions must ratify the contract by the middle of next month. more than half the workers of one union who voted to oppose the deal. both sides will now return to the bargaining ta

cbs' mark strassmann is in myrtle beach, where rescues are under way. >> reporter: that's the atlantic ocean right there, spilling here into the streets. >> o'donnell: the death toll in florida rises, and the miles and miles of devastation, as people return to what's left of their homes. cbs' omar villafranca got a tour of the damage. >> reporter: hurricane-force

staff at the newspaper are talking about it for the first time with mark strassmann. >> sheriff tells a punch in the face. >> reporter: glenn cook's awful news came in a phone call at the las vegas review journal, known locally as the rj. the executive editor's leading investigative reporter jeff german was dead. >> as distraught as i am, not even remotely considering the possibility that he's been murdered. not remotely. >> reporter: but rhonda prest got nervous. she announced homicide detectives had a briefing in german's neighborhood. >> i immediately called glenn. i think jeff's been murdered. >> reporter: awful had morphed into evil. german's body was found laying outside his house, stabbed seven times, four in the neck. >> a good man, a trusted ally in the newsroom, a good friend to a lot of people here. >> reporter: did it run through your mind right away who did he tick off? >> it's a line of people from here to los angeles. over the course of his career, he covered a ton of bad people who did a lot of bad things. >> a reporter columnist -- >> reporter: jeff german was the pap

. >> cbs news mark strassmann is in los angeles where protesters packed the council chambers tod. chambers today. > >> protesters crowded los angeles city council chambers demanding former council president martinez and other councilmembers resign immediate. resign immediately. the uproar, a response to martinez especially making profane and racist statements during a closed-door redistricting meeting that was secretly recorded. >> it's not us, it's the white members on the council in the heartbeat. >> reporter: the recording obtained by the la times captured martinez talking to local labor leader ron herrera and fellow councilmembers and kevin de leon. at one point, she she discusses the black child of of mike bunning, a white city councilmember, in spanish she calls the boy a little monk he. >> there's nothing you can do to to control him. >> reporter: she goes on to complain about the child's behavior at an mlk parade. >> a little white kid was was like, let me take him around the the corner and i'll bring him back. >> the dad who loves his son, in in ways that words can't capt

we begin our coverage with mark strassmann reporting from myrtle beach, south carolina. >> reporter: for days, even weeks to come, fort myers beach ismisery. >> everybody's tired. everybody's stressed. >> reporter: more than 800,000 floridans still have no power. more than 10,000 evacuees now stay in shelters. another crisis, drinkable water. in lee county, which includes fort myers, a water main break means the taps run dry for its 760,000 residents. in other communities, boil water advisories are tough to follow when there's no power. >> this is not just a 48-hour ordeal. this is going to be something that is going to be there for days and weeks. >> reporter: with ian's death toll climbing, a new blame game has its own fury. lee county leaders may have diterred before ordering evacuations last tuesday, a day later than neighboring counties. too late for many to leave before ian made landfall. a category 4 hurricane churning across central florida, with a wrath straight from the old testament. ian's second u.s. landfall, the sequel no one wanted to see, happened here in south caroli

mark strassmann for us tonight. thank you. >>> parts of the west are dealing with their first snowstorm of the season. tonight freeze warnings and frost advisories are in effect from arizona to washington. colorado's keystone resort got its first significant snow of the season today. look at that. some mountainous areas could see up to two feet of snow. >>> well, first it was vincent van .noet h been rg and fsi fuel-related climate protests. today activists hurled liquefied mashed potatoes at the monet painting at a museum near berlin. they also glued their hands to the wall. the museum representatives say the painting was not damaged. >>> well, straight ahead on the "cbs weekend news," a non-profit tracks the impact of a sharp divide in this political climate. >>> plus, tapping into technology to transform these tomatoes into drinking water. this is what people with eczema said about how their skin feels... ...when it comes to our skin, what if it could feel differently? say hello to opzelura for the treatment of m

cbs' mark strassmann is in los aes. reporr: ton, y mrown. hponir latina chosen tlead l.a.'s city council caught on tape making insulting, rist remarks last yeaapebt "l.a.mes". and she insults the black child of box, a white city council member. in spanish she says, "he said like a little monkey." this recording leaked over the weekend. within hours, martinez apologized. "i hold myself accountable for these comentsz. inar, i am sorry. not good enough for dozens of protesters converging on her home. they want her gone, off the city council all together, not just as president. >> this is a moment for us to draw a hard line in the sand. >> reporter: mike bonin, the farther of the child martinez insulted, said he's disgusted that nury martinez attacked our son with horrific racist slurs. it's vile, abhorrent and utterly disgraceful. she is unfit for public office. >> what a-- they claim to represent us. they don't represent us. >> reporter: who recorded that tape, what leaked it and why is all unclear. but there's a growing clamor here for more resignations. the other two city c

ahead on cbs mornings, mark strassmann has an an exclusive with reporters whod who helped solve one one of their own. how they try to honor his memory while coverg the story. > >> we will talk to the attorney after all charges were dismissed dismissed for the murder of his. his ex-girlfriend. > >> and award-winning actress here to discuss her new drama, so help me todd. her own real life experience fo naomi: every year the wildfires, the smoke seems to get worse. jessica: there is actual particles on every single surface. dr. cooke: california has the worst air pollution in the country. the top 2 causes are vehicles and wildfires. prop 30 helps clean our air. it will reduce the tailpipe emissions that poison our air kevin: and helps prevent the wildfires that create toxic smoke that's why calfire firefighters, the american lung association, and the coalition for clean air support prop 30. naomi: i'm voting yes on 30. cotton candy. pink lemonade. bubble gum. when tobacco companies sell candy flavored products, they know exactly what they're doing because four out of five kids who use tob