Sports Betting Surge, Lucas Museum Opening, and Smithsonians Lonnie Bunch Retirement Highlight CBS News Sunday Morning

The Emmy Award-winning television program "CBS News Sunday Morning," hosted by Jane Pauley, dedicated its broadcast to a diverse array of cultural, political, and societal developments, ranging from the rapid expansion of digital sports wagering to major new cultural institutions and high-profile retirements.

A central focus of the broadcast examined the explosive growth and financial consequences of sports betting applications such as DraftKings and FanDuel. According to data highlighted on the program, legally wagered money on sports gambling has surged to $167 billion annually since its legalization beyond Nevada in 2018. Data cited by CBS News indicate that states permitting online gambling have experienced a 25% increase in bankruptcies and credit card delinquencies. Correspondent Jim Axelrod reported on the trend, interviewing a gambler wagering his entire annual income and examining how online betting platforms interact with consumers amid ongoing lawsuits regarding app design.

In the arts sector, the broadcast covered the opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles' Exposition Park. Founded by filmmaker George Lucas and his wife, businesswoman Mellody Hobson, and designed by architect Ma Yansong, the 300,000-square-foot institution is dedicated to visual storytelling across magazines, comics, fantasy art, and motion picture design. Correspondent Norah O'Donnell spoke with Lucas and Hobson about the emotional resonance of narrative art.

The program also addressed technology and artificial intelligence through an interview between correspondent Jo Ling Kent and Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang at the company's headquarters in Santa Clara, California. Huang, recently dubbed by The Atlantic as "the most powerful man in AI," addressed ongoing safety and regulatory debates, explicitly rejecting AI extinction warnings as "doomsday narratives."

In public history and governance, correspondent Mo Rocca profiled Lonnie Bunch III, who announced his retirement at age 73. In 2019, Bunch made history by becoming both the first historian and the first African American to serve as Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. During his interview, Bunch discussed fulfilling the Smithsonian's mandate, protecting history to give America a full picture of itself, and navigating political pressures from the Trump White House regarding the patriotism of museum staff.

Additional segments featured on the program included a report by Anthony Mason on "Return of the Buffalo: Tatanka Owe Akupi," a public art project by St. Ann's Warehouse that brought a herd of 40 life-size puppet buffalo through the streets of Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. Correspondent Mark Phillips sat down with Charles Spencer for his first interview regarding his new book, "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," discussing Princess Diana's life and the royal fallout following her death, including reflections on Prince Harry's grief.

Literary and political features included Turner Classic Memorable host Ben Mankiewicz interviewing Hollywood superagent and TKO Group Holdings executive chairman Ari Emanuel about his new memoir, "Roll the Calls." National correspondent Robert Costa spoke with two-term Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear about his book, "Go and Do Likewise: How We Heal a Broken Country," exploring how Democrats can connect with voters in red states through faith and progressive politics. Additionally, the program paid tribute to nine-time Emmy-winning costume designer Bob Mackie, who passed away on September 14, 2026, at age 87, remembering his iconic work with performers like Cher, Carol Burnett, and Diana Ross.

Finally, "CBS News Sunday Morning" announced a new live event series in collaboration with the 92nd Street Y in New York City, launching on September 28 with actor Sylvester Stallone, expanding the broadcast's conversations with cultural and political newsmakers to the live stage and online streams.