>> norah: what does the revelation from the star witness mean for the state's case? the "cbs evening news" starts right now. ♪ ♪ tonight, a dramatic day in court. good evening. i'm norah o'donnell. and thank you for joining us. the first-ever criminal trial of a former american president is nearing an end. late today the prosecution has rested and now donald trump's legal team has a case. closing arguments could begin in about a week and then the former president's fate will be in the hands of a jury. witnesses on the stand today made for what some experts are describing as a "wild day." michael cohen, trump's former fixer admitted under oath to stealing money from the trump organization during an intense cross-examination. and then fireworks during testimony of a defense witness that led to the judge clearing the court room. and reprimanding the witness for rolling his eyes and making comments under his breath. well, there is still one big question tonight, will donald trump take the stand in his own defense? here is cbs's robert costa who was inside the courthouse. >> reporter: michael cohen has already had his credibility challenged. and then came today's admission that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from donald trump and his company. cohen testified in 2017 the trump organization owed a technology company $50,000, and that he paid them about $20,000 in cash in a brown paper bag, but kept the rest. you stole from the trump organization, right? as trump attorney todd blanche? yes, sir, cohen said. michael cohen has admitted to stealing from the trump organization, doesn't matter for the case? >> it may matter a lot to some jurors and it may matter not at all to others. michael cohen is such a proven liar that why would it surprise us that he is also a thief? >> reporter: cohen defended his action saying that he was angry his bonus was cut and felt like he was owed the money. "i almost felt like it was help help he said." and link to the hush money payments made to star stormy daniels that are at the heart of the case. trump has been charged with falsifying business records to conceal the transactions. speak with a marked at legal. >> reporter: blanche marked him as someone who'd used trump's name to help himself. discussing a tv show about himself called "the fixer." i have fix things, but i am no longer your fixer, mr. trump. >> reporter: with the defense repeatedly calling cohen's credibility into question. susan hoffinger reminded the jury that michael cohen is not the defendant. are you actually on trial in this case, she guessed, cohen's answer "no." late today trump lawyer todd blanche move to dismiss the entire case, telling me they don't expect trump at this point to take the stand. they see too many potential vulnerabilities. should he ever get up there as a witness. norah. >> norah: robert costa, thank you very much prayer tonight the world is watching closely, what happens next in iran after the country's ultraconservative leader was killed in a helicopter crash. the state department tonight is calling him a brutal participant in the repression of the iranian people. and as cbs's charlie d'agata reports, who succeeds him has global consequences. >> reporter: in the dense fog at first light, iranian state media showed what was the crash site, a trail of twisted metal and debris, rescue teams pulled bodies from the wreckage, all eight people killed when the chopper came down in remote mountainous terrain where ebrahim raisi and the foreign minister had been on a trip around the border with -- mourners came through in tehran and across the country. but in cities like berlin and london, uranian demonstrators celebrated the death of the former prosecutor known as the butcher of tehran. on his watch as president enforcing that butyl cracked down on dissidents following the death almost two years ago a 22-year-old mahsa amini who was detained for allegedly not wearing a headscarf properly. and that massive drone and missile attack against israel just last month, in addition to backing hamas, hezbullah, and, and houthi rebels. seen as a possible successor to the supreme leader ayatollah ali khamenei. but not the only one. the sun mojtaba is also considered a front runner and now possibly a favorite. the usa state department said iran asked for usa assistance after the crash, but was unable to provide it for logistical reasons and dismissed accusations that u.s. sanctions were to blame for restricting aviation marks. >> ultimately it's the iranian government that is responsible for a decision to fly a 45-year-old helicopter and what was described as "poor weather conditions." >> reporter: today defense secretary lord austin was worried if iran would blame u.s. for the crash, norah. he said the united states had no part to play in that crash. that is a fact plain and simple. >> norah: charlie d'agata, thank you. now to some breaking news out of the white house, president biden not holding back sharply criticizing the request for an arrest warrants for israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu from an international criminal court prosecutor. >> but let me be clear, contrary to allegations of israel made from the court of justice with is happening is not. we reject that. >> norah: cbs's mts tie up has more now from jerusalem. >> no foot soldier, no commander, no's million muslim and civilian leader, no one can act with impunity. >> reporter: the icc's chief prosecutor kareem khan making it clear that the october cement attack and israel's response to it allegedly breached war. benjamin netanyahu named alongside administer you if go on for war crimes against humanity responded with fury. >> what a travesty of justice, what a disgrace. >> reporter: the potential arrest warrant comes as netanyahu is undergoing political pressure at home. still reaction at this demonstration to the potential an arrest warrant where prime minister one out of power is mixed. what is your reaction? >> i want it on both cheeks. >> reporter: you think that benjamin netanyahu should be tried? >> yes. >> reporter: what's your reaction? >> there's no way that you can compare hamas leaders to anything that our leaders have done. definitely, there is just no match. >> reporter: three of hamas' leaders may also face a icc arrest warrants for crimes including extermination, murder, hostage taking, and sexual violence, and torture. prominent human rights lawyer amal clooney admitted she was a part of the panel of legal experts that recommended the arrest warrants. neither the u.s. nor israel recognize that iccs authority, but just like vladimir putin for his actions in ukraine, netanyahu could have a warrant out for his arrest in more than 100 countries. but it could take up to two months for any potential arrest warrants to be issued as the court has to decide not only whether to do so, but also if the case against the leaders of edges were real and hamas can proceed. norah. >> norah: thank you very much. the israel, hamas war is a big issue on the campaign trail as president biden saw firsthand and the crucial battleground state of georgia where he gave a commencement state address at morehouse college. both are trying to fire up their basis with six months to election day, cbs's weijia jiang has the latest. >> reporter: over the weekend as president biden delivered a commencement address at morehouse, and all male historically black college in georgia, several students refuse to stand, some even turn their backs. biden acknowledge their feelings about gaza as well as challenges here at home. >> what does it mean, as you have heard before, it will be a black man who loves his country, even if it does not love him back in any measure. >> reporter: black voters especially men helped to abide and win four years ago from georgia to a campaign stop at the naacp in michigan, another critical swing state, biden made his case against former president trump. >> you are the reason donald trump is going to be a loser again! >> reporter: in dallas, trump focused on his base too with a fiery speech at the national rifle association convention. >> my second term, we will roll back every biden attack on the second amendment. rico trump boasted about his poll numbers. >> like "the apprentice" joe, you are fired. >> reporter: the pole and two key states shows trump leading by nine points in florida and five points in arizona where immigration is a major issue. many democrats are urging biden to talk more about border security including michigan center gary peters. >> absolutely, and that's what i campaign is about and a campaign to make sure that people have that affirmation. >> reporter: just this morning biden issued a new statement urging congress to pass a border bill. he and trump are preparing to face off in their first debate of 2024, now just about five weeks away. norah. >> norah: weijia jiang, thank you so much. now a new lineup powerful storms is targeting the heartland with a threat of tornadoes, high wind, and hale for tuesday. for more let's bring in meteorologist mike bettes from our partners at the weather channel. good evening, mike. >> reporter: norah, good evening. it's tearing down a multi-day severe weather threat across the plains and midwest, this is the area on tuesday to watch along iad, des moines over towards the quad cities, but more areas could be affected. west strong, low level winds and upper level winds that will lead to a straight-line wind event especially as a system unfolds tomorrow. also watch for ones that could be a 75 miles per hour or greater, their hurricane winds could be possible from the storms with a lot in the morning, the flood risk will be prevalent, but more storms to the afternoon as a whole system races through the upper midwest, look at that big squall line that stretches from the great lakes all the way through to the midsouth, as i alluded to, because so much heavy rain is coming out of the storm system we will watch for a flooding from the midwest all the way down through north smith, arkansas. >> norah: mike bettis, thank you. mild milestone towards renewing the port of baltimore, showing the massive cargo ships that brought down the francis scott key bridge nearly eight years ago being towed into port. the front of the ship still holds large pieces of steel and concrete from the accident. to the crew mostly from india remained stuck aboard the ship, many with expired visas. now to our historic interview with pope francis where we discussed a wide range of issues impacting the world. you saw some of it on last night's 60 minutes including his views on the war in gaza, migrants, and same-sex couples. tonight we will have much more with the pope and a one-hour special including one topic he has been very outspoken about, climate change. how worried are you about climate change? >> unfortunately we have gotten to a point of no return. it's sad, but that's what it is. global warming is a serious problem. climate change at this moment is a road to death, road to death. and it is an artificial climate change, no? something provoked, not the normal climate change, right? >> norah: you have placed blame on wealthy countries. >> in great measure, yes, because they are the ones that have more than economy and an energy based on fossil fuels that are creating the situation, right? they are the countries that can make the most difference given their industry, aren't they? but it is very difficult to create an awareness of this. they hold a conference, everyone is in agreement, they all sign and then bye-bye, but we have to be very clear, global warming is alarming. >> norah: and you can watch more of our extensive interview with pope francis tonight at 10/9 central right here on cbs and streaming on paramount+. once america's favorite seafood chain, red lobster files for bankruptcy protection, we have the details next. s making you uncomfortable? 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[honk!] they're all yours! we're here! hey, i knew you were comin'... so i weatherteched the car! can we get ice cream? we can now. kid proof your vehicle with american made products at weathertech.com. first psoriasis, then psoriatic arthritis. it was really holding me back. standing up... even walking was tough. my joints hurt. i was afraid things were going to get worse. i was always hiding and that's just not me. not being there for my family, that hurt. woo! i had to do something. i started cosentyx®. i'm feeling good. watch me. cosentyx helps people with psoriatic arthritis move, look, and feel better. it targets more than just joint pain and treats the multiple symptoms, like joint swelling and tenderness, back pain, helps clear skin, and helps stop further joint damage. serious allergic reactions, severe skin reactions that look like eczema, and an increased risk of infections, some fatal, have occurred. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms, had a vaccine or plan to, or if ibd symptoms develop or worsen. it's good to be moving on. watch me. move, look, and feel better. ask your rheumatologist about cosentyx. >> norah: america's largest seafood restaurant chain red lobster is in a serious pinch, filing for bankruptcy protection. nikki battiste reports on wanda once popular chain has struggled to realign customers. >> live maine lobster, just the way like it. >> after a 560 cultural claim -- ♪ red lobster for the seafood loved her in you ♪ >> reporter: red lobster is having trouble staying afloat. the casual dining hot spot has struggled since a pandemic, it is lost 30% of its customers and this had at least four ceos in last five years. >> ultimate and less shrimp is here. >> reporter: an attempt to lure more customers and backfired costing the company $11 million. diner shared their tallies on social media. >> 61, wow. if you are a shrimp lover -- >> it's a pretty good deal. >> i set a new record at my local red lobster. >> reporter: they blamed failed initiatives and increased competition within the restaurant industry. red lobster's downfall comes at a time when eating out is more expensive than ever with restaurant prices climbing higher and faster than grocery costs. in an effort to bring back inflation-we are a consumer's, mcdonald's is planning to offer a $5 meal this summer and target has dropped prices on 5,000 items. >> if you are in the business of luring people into kind of have a little bit of splurge, these are not the times where people feel like they can splurge. >> reporter: there are 550 restaurants across the u.s., so far 93 have closed. red lobster says it hopes to keep open as many locations as possible through the bankruptcy process. norah. >> norah: nikki battiste outside of red lobster, thank you. is climate change to blame for putting the lives of california birds at risk? cbs's carter evans investigates. >> reporter: if these pelicans want in this wildlife resource center, they might not survive in the wild, not because they are stick, because they are starving. and scientists are trying to understand why. the story is coming up. ♪ ♪ t be to blame. over-the-counter eye drops can provide temporary relief. xiidra can provide lasting relief. it targets inflammation that can cause dry eye disease. xiidra? no-o-o! xiidra treats the signs and symptoms of dry eye disease. don't use if allergic to xiidra. common side effects include eye irritation, discomfort or blurred vision when applied, and unusual taste sensation. why wait? ask your doctor about a 90-day prescription and pay as little as $0. xiidra. 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