60 Minutes CBS “Disrupter U., Sculpting Evolution, Flight of the Monarchs” September 21 2025
CBS’s 60 Minutes returns this Sunday, September 21, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM ET/PT with a mix of hard-hitting journalism and updated feature stories. This week’s edition includes a timely revisit to a controversial American university, a cutting-edge approach to combating Lyme disease, and a visually stunning look at one of nature’s most magical migrations. While two of the segments have been updated from earlier airings, the episode also includes a brand-new report that breaks new scientific ground.
Disrupter U.: A University Challenging the Status Quo
Jon Wertheim revisits the University of Austin, a Texas-based institution that has stirred national debate by positioning itself as a haven for free speech. Originally reported in November and now updated following the recent assassination of political figure Charlie Kirk, the segment takes a deeper look into how this “anti-woke” startup university is responding to the national conversation on ideological openness.
Founders, faculty, and students speak openly about their desire to challenge the perceived limitations of modern academia. The university’s mission centers on protecting intellectual diversity, fostering civil discourse, and allowing students to explore competing ideas without fear of cancellation. Denise Schrier Cetta produced the segment, which touches on the tension between academic tradition and disruptive innovation.
Sculpting Evolution: Fighting Lyme Disease with Genetic Engineering
A brand-new segment this week introduces a potentially revolutionary effort taking place on the island of Nantucket. In Sculpting Evolution, CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook meets researchers who are testing an unprecedented method to reduce the spread of Lyme disease: genetically modifying wild mice to make them immune to the illness.
Instead of focusing on deer or ticks, which are commonly associated with Lyme disease, this approach targets the natural animal reservoir for the bacteria that causes it. By releasing immune mice into the wild, the team hopes to cut off the disease at its source. The segment highlights both the scientific possibilities and the ethical questions surrounding gene editing in wild ecosystems. Producers Katie Brennan and Denise Schrier Cetta guide viewers through the technical and emotional aspects of this first-of-its-kind experiment.
Flight of the Monarchs: Nature’s Epic Migration
Anderson Cooper returns with an updated version of Flight of the Monarchs, a visual and emotional exploration of one of nature’s most awe-inspiring journeys. Each year, millions of monarch butterflies travel thousands of miles from North America to the mountains of central Mexico, where they spend the winter clustered in trees.
Cooper takes viewers into the dense forests of Mexico to witness this annual phenomenon and speak with researchers and locals who monitor the butterflies’ fragile population. Environmental pressures and habitat loss have made this migration increasingly vulnerable, and the report reflects on the delicate balance between natural beauty and environmental responsibility. The segment is once again produced by Denise Schrier Cetta, bringing updated footage and new insights to the classic story.
A Thought-Provoking Mix of Science, Society, and Spectacle
This Sunday’s 60 Minutes lineup brings together science, societal challenges, and the beauty of the natural world. With one all-new segment and two timely updates, the broadcast blends investigative journalism with visual storytelling. Whether it’s rethinking higher education, exploring radical disease prevention strategies, or tracking a butterfly’s transcontinental journey, each story offers a unique lens on how individuals and institutions are shaping our world.
