60 Minutes CBS “Choke Point, Laser Focus, Growing Up Behind Walls” March 15 2026
CBS’s 60 Minutes returns on Sunday, March 15, 2026, with two in-depth reports that examine global tensions and a story of resilience in one of the world’s most troubled regions. Airing from 7:00 to 8:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+, the broadcast explores the impact of geopolitical conflict on global energy markets and the daily realities of life in Haiti amid ongoing instability. Correspondents investigate the consequences of disruptions in a critical shipping corridor and offer a rare look at a humanitarian effort providing safety and hope to vulnerable children.
Choke Point
The program begins with a report on rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most strategically important waterways in the world. This narrow passage connects oil-producing nations in the Persian Gulf to international markets and serves as a vital route for the global energy supply. Recent attacks on oil tankers and cargo ships attributed to Iran have disrupted traffic through the strait, raising concerns about the stability of global trade routes.
The segment examines how these incidents could have far-reaching economic consequences, including the potential for sharply higher fuel prices in the United States and around the world. Experts warn that even brief interruptions in the movement of oil through this corridor can ripple through international markets. The report looks at the broader geopolitical implications of the attacks and how governments and shipping companies are responding to the growing threat in one of the world’s most volatile maritime regions.
Laser Focus
Another report shifts attention to the evolving nature of warfare in the Persian Gulf. Correspondent Lesley Stahl looks at the widespread use of inexpensive drones by Iran during the conflict, which have posed a persistent threat to U.S. forces and allied military installations in the region.
Drones have become a favored tool in modern warfare because they are relatively cheap, difficult to detect, and capable of causing significant disruption. Their increasing use has created an urgent need for new defensive technologies capable of neutralizing large numbers of small aerial threats quickly and efficiently.
Stahl visits a Pentagon contractor working on one possible solution: laser-based defense systems designed to shoot down drones with concentrated beams of energy. The report explores how these advanced systems function, the science behind directed energy weapons, and whether they are ready for real-world deployment.
The segment also examines the advantages and limitations of laser technology compared with traditional missile-based defenses. As military planners prepare for future conflicts that may rely heavily on unmanned aircraft, the development of these systems could play an important role in protecting both military personnel and critical infrastructure.
Shachar Bar-On and Jinsol Jung are the producers of this report.
Growing Up Behind Walls
The second report turns to Haiti, where correspondent Anderson Cooper travels to the capital city of Port-au-Prince to examine conditions sixteen years after the devastating 2010 earthquake. The country continues to face deep instability, with government authority weakened and armed gangs controlling large areas of the city. Violence, shortages, and uncertainty have become part of everyday life for many residents.
Amid the turmoil, the report focuses on a rare place of safety for children. An orphanage operated by bestselling author Mitch Albom through the organization Have Faith Haiti provides shelter and stability for young residents who might otherwise face extreme hardship. For more than four years, the children living there have been largely protected from the chaos outside the facility’s walls.
The program explores how the orphanage provides structure through education, routine, and a supportive community. Staff members work to ensure that the children not only remain safe but also have opportunities for the future, including pathways to higher education. Albom describes the effort as a small but meaningful contribution in a country facing overwhelming challenges.
The story highlights the contrast between the violence surrounding Port-au-Prince and the sense of hope cultivated inside the orphanage. While Haiti’s broader crisis continues, the program shows how targeted humanitarian work can create opportunities for some of the country’s most vulnerable young people. The segment is produced by Denise Schrier Cetta.
