60 Minutes - Season 48

First aired: 6/28/2015 55 episodes

Episodes

1. The Tax Refund Scam, Cleaning up the VA, Foo Fighters

Aired: 6/28/2015

Steve Kroft reports on a tax refund scam that's costing millions; then, hear from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on his personal mission to reorganize the troubled agency; and, Anderson Cooper and the Foo Fighters explore the roots of American music.

2. Hands off the Wheel, Patrick Kennedy, The Hidden Holocaust

Aired: 10/4/2015

Reporter Bill Whitaker explores self-driving cars. Also: an interview with former representative Patrick Kennedy, who discusses alcoholism and addiction; a portrait of Father Patrick Desbois as he searches to uncover the unknown victims of the Holocaust.

3. President Obama, 30 Years on Death Row

Aired: 10/11/2015

Steve Kroft questions President Obama on topics including Russia's incursion in Syria, ISIS and the 2016 presidential race; then, Bill Whitaker interviews a prosecutor who admits his cowardice and indifference led to a wrongful murder conviction.

4. Rare Earth Elements, Ending Life, All-American

Aired: 7/19/2015

Modern life's devices under China's grip? Lesley Stahl reports; then, Anderson Cooper on the end-of-life debate and a controversial case; and, Morley Safer profiles a billionaire investor who's pledging a good part of his fortune to save America's history.

5. Vice President Biden, Inside the Air War, The New Burma

Aired: 10/25/2015

Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, speak with Norah O?Donnell; then, 60 Minutes goes inside the U.S. command center for the air war against ISIS; and, as Burma heads to historic elections, Bill Whitaker reports on the country's democratic movement.

6. Heroin In The Heartland, Smart Guns, The Slave Ship

Aired: 11/1/2015

The faces of heroin include the young, middle-to-upper class and suburban. What was once thought of as an inner-city problem is now a national epidemic. Smart-gun technology is not new, yet these guns are not mass-produced or sold in the U.S., partly due to fears they are a backdoor to greater gun control. Scott Pelley reports on the Smithsonian and the Slave Wrecks Project's journey to recover the first artifacts known to be preserved from a slave ship.

7. Into Dangerous Hands, The Collider, Hamilton

Aired: 11/8/2015

Scott Pelley uncovers critical lapses in the U.S. security clearance process that millions must pass to work with America?s secrets; then, what else will the Large Hadron Collider reveal as it begins work at nearly double the power?; and, an unorthodox musical about the life of Alexander Hamilton.

8. The Paris Attacks, The Speaker of the House, Football and the Brain

Aired: 11/15/2015

Scott Pelley interviews survivors of the Paris terror attacks; then, newly-elected House Speaker Paul Ryan discusses his plans for the job he almost turned down; and, Steve Kroft examines the state of concussion safety and science in football.

9. Active Shooter, Common Enemy, The Future of Money

Aired: 11/22/2015

U.S. police departments are training officers how to respond to active shooter attacks; then, Lara Logan reports from the battle lines against ISIS in Iraq; and, a "mobile money" revolution has swept Kenya, where people can send and receive money on their cell phones.

10. The Last Prisoner, The Execution of Jospeh Wood, Taking on the Eiger

Aired: 11/29/2015

Alan Gross talks with Scott Pelley in his first interview about his five-year captivity in Cuba; Bill Whitaker reports on the longest execution in U.S. history; 60 Minutes cameras capture an extreme sportsman descending the Eiger in the Swiss Alps.

11. Confidential Informants, Bonobos

Aired: 12/6/2015

A report on young confidential informers used in the war on drugs; a visit to an orphanage in the Congo that cares for bonobos.

12. A New Direction on Drugs/The New Force Behind Star Wars/Lewis Hamilton

Aired: 12/13/2015

Top drug official Michael Botticelli says the old war on drugs is all wrong, and wants to refocus the country's drug policy; J.J. Abrams, the director of the latest "Star Wars" installment takes Bill Whitaker behind the scenes; A three-time world champion in Formula One racing describes driving multimillion-dollar cars, winning races all over the globe, and his rise to the top.

13. Inside Apple, Michael Caine

Aired: 12/20/2015

Apple CEO Tim Cook addresses issues concerning his company including encryption technology, corporate taxes, and manufacturing products in China; and, Michael Caine, the veteran British actor who's made dozens of films and won two Oscars over 50 years, is still going strong as a leading man at the age of 82.

14. Mob Stories

Aired: 12/27/2015

Stories of murder, mayhem and the Mafia on a special edition of 60 Minutes

15. Lost In The Bermuda Triangle, Agromafia, Little Jazz Man

Aired: 1/3/2016

Scott Pelley's report on the sinking of the El Faro shows video for the first time of the cargo ship 15,000 feet beneath the Atlantic; then, Bill Whitaker reports on food fraud in Italy; and, Anderson Cooper profiles 12-year-old jazz prodigy Joey Alexander.

16. Road to Syria, Life After Death Row, Hamilton

Aired: 1/10/2016

Bill Whitaker reports from inside the Syrian base from which Russia is launching air strikes in support of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad; then, three unjustly convicted people who spent years in prison and then were exonerated tell Scott Pelley how they are adjusting to being free; and, Charlie Rose reports on an unorthodox musical with a diverse cast about the life of Alexander Hamilton.

17. The Great Brain Robbery, Sean Penn, Mountain Lions of L.A.

Aired: 1/17/2016

Economic espionage sponsored by the Chinese government is costing U.S. corporations money and jobs; then, Sean Penn on his controversial meeting with the drug kingpin known as "El Chapo;" and Los Angeles is the only megacity in the world where mountain lions live side-by-side with humans.

18. Make-A-Wish, The Health Wagon, The Giving Pledge

Aired: 1/24/2016

Bill Whitaker reports on Make-A-Wish Foundation; Scott Pelley visits with nurse practitioners who provide healthcare services to uninsured working poor in Appalachia; Charlie Rose interviews billionaires Warren Buffet, and Bill and Melinda Gates, who plan on giving half of their fortunes to charity.

19. Heroin in the Heartland, Alive and Kickin', David Bowie

Aired: 1/24/2016

What was once thought of as an inner-city problem is now a national epidemic: heroin addiction; then, Lesley Stahl reports on a show in Harlem with a cast of singers ages 55 and up; and, unaired interview clips from the never-completed 60 Minutes profile on David Bowie.

20. Money Laundering; Greenland Melting

Aired: 1/31/2016

See what happens when hidden cameras capture New York lawyers being asked to move highly questionable funds into the U.S. Steve Kroft reports; then, Sharyn Alfonsi reports from the top of the world on one of the most significant efforts to study climate change happening today.

21. John Brennan, Danny Clinch, FIFA

Aired: 2/14/2016

The head of the CIA outlines the threat to America posed by ISIS and discusses other security concerns; then, not playing by the rules? Steve Kroft reports on the unfolding FIFA scandal; and, Anderson Cooper profiles photographer Danny Clinch who captures the music world's "in-between" moments.

22. Recapture of El Chapo, Elaine Weinstein, Danny Boyle

Aired: 2/21/2016

Bill Whitaker reports on the search and recapture of drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman; Lesley Stahl interviews Elaine Weinstein, whose husband, Warren, was kidnapped by al-Qaeda in Pakistan in 2011; Steve Kroft interviews director Danny Boyle and the cast of "Steve Jobs."

23. Preserving The Past

Aired: 2/28/2016

Scott Pelley reports on an African American museum in Washington, D.C.; Morley Safer looks at architectural treasures falling into disrepair in Italy; Lara Logan visits the Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona.

24. Dead Or Alive, Face Blindness

Aired: 2/28/2016

Thousands of errors to the Social Security Administration's Death Master File can result in fraudulent payments -- costing taxpayers billions. Scott Pelley reports; then, Lesley Stahl reports on face blindness, a puzzling neurological disorder.

25. Prime Minister Trudeau, King of Coal, Death Row in Livingston Texas

Aired: 3/6/2016

Justin Trudeau, the new, young leader and scion of Canadian political royalty talks to Lara Logan; then, Anderson Cooper reports on the landmark case against coal company CEO Don Blankenship; and, 60 Minutes cameras go inside the busiest death row in America.

26. Encryption, Aid in Dying, Starchitect

Aired: 3/13/2016

Lesley Stahl reports on a texting app favored by ISIS that features encryption; Dr. Jon LaPook reports on terminally-ill patients who can take a legally prescribed overdose of drugs to end their lives; Morley Safer profiles architect Bjarke Ingels.

27. The Resurrection of St. Benedicts, Presidente Macri, Cornel West

Aired: 3/20/2016

Their school motto is "Whatever hurts my brother hurts me" and their graduation rate is 98 percent. Scott Pelley reports on a unique school in Newark.

28. Make-A-Wish, The Health Wagon, The Giving Pledge

Aired: 3/27/2016

Bill Whitaker meets some of the people behind the popular organization that grants the wishes of seriously ill children; Then, Scott Pelley meets nurse practitioners who are providing badly needed health care to the uninsured, working poor in Appalachia; and, Charlie Rose reports on new club for billionaires.

29. Crime and Punishment, Christopher Wheeldon, Bubba

Aired: 4/3/2016

Privacy, weekend leave, keys...This is prison? Bill Whitaker reports on the German prison system; then, pro golfer Bubba Watson tells Sharyn Alfonsi he wants to improve himself, not his game; and, Lesley Stahl profiles a choreographer who is bringing ballet to Broadway -- and beyond.

30. 28 Pages, Rising in the East, Switching Teams

Aired: 4/10/2016

Top secret report may hold clues about Saudi support for 9/11; ?Hollywood, watch out,? says an American film producer on the rise of Chinese cinema; and, a transgender Harvard swimmer?s choice.

31. Not Paid, Rikers Island, Hacking Your Phone

Aired: 4/17/2016

Lesley Stahl investigates the life insurance industry; then, Bill Whitaker reports on a disturbing pattern of neglect and excessive force at Rikers Island; and, everything is hackable -- including your phone.

32. The Heroin Epidemic, Dialing for Dollars, and Gold Star Parents

Aired: 4/24/2016

Should heroin be treated as a medical or a legal problem? Bill Whitaker reports from Ohio on how the hard-hit state is handling the crisis; including its use of drug courts. Stop fundraising, start working, says Fla. Rep. David Jolly, who is seeking to ban federal-elected officials from dialing for dollars. They're called "Gold Star Parents" and, once a year, they come together to remember the military heroes who are their children and to share an intimate truth: life is lost, but love does not end

33. Strike-through, Fintech, The Children's Village

Aired: 5/1/2016

60 Minutes investigates medical gear sold during Ebola crisis; then, Lesley Stahl reports on what's being called the financial technology revolution; and, Bill Whitaker meets a "Mom" and "Dad" who have teamed up to nurture 94 Tanzanian children.

34. Russia's Dark Secret, The Killing Machine, Earthquake Alley

Aired: 5/8/2016

Russian doping at Sochi Winter Olympics exposed; then, Oklahoma's rise in quakes linked to man-made causes; and, exposing the ISIS killing machine.

35. Breakthrough Status, Collateral Damage

Aired: 5/15/2016

Scott Pelley follows patients in a Duke clinical trial of a new cancer therapy that the FDA has granted breakthrough status; and, Bill Whitaker reports on how the U.S. fight against Chinese espionage has ensnared innocent Americans.

36. Morley Safer: A Reporter's Life

Aired: 5/15/2016

A celebration of Morley Safer's career includes interviews with former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw, historian David McCullough and retired U.S. Brig. Gen. Joe Stringham.

37. All in the Family, Inside Edge, Valerie Jarrett

Aired: 5/22/2016

Morley Safer reports on the Antinori family of wine makers in Tuscany, Italy; Bill Whitaker interviews the analyst involved in helping bring down the Galleon hedge fund management firm; Norah O'Donnell profiles White House senior advisor Valerie Jarrett.

38. After Shock, $80 Million Con, The Last Vaquitas

Aired: 5/22/2016

David Martin reports on a National Guard recruiting program that was taken advantage of by some guardsmen; Anderson Cooper reports on the most lucrative art fraud scam in history; Sharyn Alfonsi reports on the world's most endangered marine mammal.

39. John Brennan, King of Coal, The Future of Money

Aired: 5/29/2016

Scott Pelley interviews CIA director John Brennan; Anderson Cooper reports on the case against former coal company CEO Don Blankenship; Lesley Stahl reports on M-PESA, a mobile phone-based payment system in Kenya.

40. A New Direction on Drugs, The Greatest, Little Jazz Man

Aired: 6/5/2016

Top drug official Michael Botticelli says the old war on drugs is all wrong; 60 Minutes revisits a classic 1996 segment on Muhammad Ali, who died at age 74; And, Joey Alexander plays jazz like a veteran, but he's just 12 years old.

41. Update on the Orlando Mass Shooting, Lost in the Bermuda Triangle, Hamilton

Aired: 6/12/2016

Scott Pelley's report on the sinking of the cargo ship El Faro; and, 60 Minutes director's cut of "Hamilton" offers more on the Broadway smash and may be last chance to see Lin-Manuel Miranda before he steps down.

42. Smart Guns, 28 Pages, Taking On The Eiger

Aired: 6/19/2016

Is the U.S. ready for smart guns? Lesley Stahl reports; then, top secret "28 pages"; may hold clues about Saudi support for 9/11 hijackers; and, an extreme sportsman uses a three-sport technique to descend the Eiger.

43. El Chapo, The Resurrection Of St. Benedict's Bubba

Aired: 6/26/2016

Bill Whitaker gives the inside story of the hunt for and recapture of "El Chapo"; then, Scott Pelley reports on a unique school in Newark; and, Sharyn Alfonsi shows how Bubba Watson wants to improve himself, not his golf.

44. A Night at the Movies

Aired: 7/3/2016

A special edition of "60 Minutes Presents" takes a look at the new force behind "Star Wars;" British veteran actor Michael Caine; and, the difficult task of making a film about Steve Jobs.

45. The Gaskos, The Execution of Joseph Wood; Danny Clinch

Aired: 7/10/2016

The execution of Joseph Wood, which took nearly two hours, the longest in U.S. history; federal law enforcement trackers discuss how they located and arrested gangster Whitey Bulger; photographer Danny Clinch.

46. The Republican Ticket, Bastille Day Tragedy, Mountain Lions of L.A.

Aired: 7/17/2016

Donald Trump and Gov. Mike Pence speak to Lesley Stahl in their first joint interview; Seth Doane reports from Nice, France; and, Bill Whitaker reports on the big cats some L.A. residents are calling neighbors.

47. The Democratic Ticket, Make-A-Wish

Aired: 7/24/2016

Hillary Clinton and her running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, speak to Scott Pelley in their first joint interview; then, Bill Whitaker meets some of the people behind the popular organization that grants the wishes of seriously ill children.

48. Life After Death Row, Top of the World, The Children's Village

Aired: 7/31/2016

Scott Pelley hears the story of three people who were exonerated after spending years in prison; then, Sharyn Alfonsi reports one of the most significant efforts to study climate change; and, Bill Whitaker meets the two legal guardians of nearly 100 children in Tanzania.

49. Heroin In The Heartland, Christopher Wheeldon, Bonobos

Aired: 8/7/2016

What was once thought of as an inner-city problem is now a national epidemic, Bill Whitaker reports; then, Lesley Stahl profiles one of the most celebrated ballet choreographers today; and, endangered primates live in female-dominated society and prefer to make love not war.

50. Not Paid, The Hidden Holocaust, Lewis Hamilton

Aired: 8/14/2016

Lesley Stahl reports on a life insurance industry investigation; then, a priest is determined to find forgotten victims of the Holocaust; and, Charlie Rose profiles three-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

51. Strike-through, Fintech, The Slave Ship

Aired: 8/21/2016

60 Minutes investigates medical gear sold during Ebola crisis; then, Lesley Stahl reports on what's being called the financial technology revolution; and, a journey to recover the first artifacts known to be preserved from a slave ship.

52. Anonymous, Inc., Switching Teams

Aired: 8/28/2016

Hidden cameras capture NY lawyers being asked to move highly questionable funds into the U.S.; and, Harvard swimmer Schuyler Bailar on coming out as transgender.

53. Hacking Your Phone, 30 Years on Death Row, The Collider

Aired: 9/4/2016

How cellphones and mobile phone networks are vulnerable to hacking; then, the wrongful murder conviction of a man sentenced to death; and, extra dimensions? Dark matter? A more powerful Collider hunts for clues.

54. The 9/11 Museum, Gold Star Parents, Earthquake Alley

Aired: 9/11/2016

Lesley Stahl reports on the National September 11 Memorial & Museum; then, parents of fallen heroes unite to cope with loss; and, Oklahoma's rise in quakes linked to man-made causes.

55. The Libertarian Ticket, The New Cold War (1), Rising in the East

Aired: 9/18/2016

Steve Kroft interviews the Libertarian candidates who are taking on the two-party system; then, 60 Minutes gets a rare look inside U.S. Strategic Command; and, Holly Williams reports on how the Chinese film industry aims to take on Hollywood.