60 Minutes CBS “The Family Farm, Collateral Damage, The Indomitable Margaret Atwood” November 9 2025
Sunday, November 9 brings a new hour of 60 Minutes to CBS and Paramount+, offering a mix of economic anxiety, political tension, and a portrait of one of the world’s most influential writers. The episode airs from 7:00 to 8:00 PM ET/PT and presents three distinct stories that explore the challenges shaping modern America and beyond. Each segment takes a closer look at people navigating uncertainty, whether on farmland under strain, in laboratories facing political headwinds, or within the creative mind of a literary icon who has spent a lifetime imagining the fragility of society.
The lineup covers timely issues unfolding across the United States. From trade fallout that continues to squeeze American agriculture, to the potential dismantling of scientific progress at elite universities, the episode highlights how national policy choices ripple through everyday lives and major institutions. It concludes with a profile of Margaret Atwood, whose impact reaches far beyond the page. Her voice remains as forceful as ever as she reflects on a career defined by cultural resonance and prescient storytelling.
The Family Farm
This week’s broadcast opens with a look at American farmers caught in the fallout of the long-running trade dispute between the United States and China. After China halted soybean purchases in response to the White House’s reciprocal tariffs strategy, many farming communities were left facing a financial cliff. Correspondent Cecilia Vega meets farmers in Tennessee and Missouri who describe rising production costs, shrinking profit margins, and a growing fear that their generation could be the one to lose the family farm. Their stories reflect the vulnerability of an industry built on tight margins and global market stability. Producer Michael Rey follows their daily challenges as they attempt to hold on to land that has shaped their families for decades.
The segment explores how the trade standoff continues to influence the economics of rural America long after the headlines faded. In conversations across fields and kitchen tables, farmers detail how uncertainty affects everything from planting decisions to loan repayments. The story offers a grounded look at what policy shifts mean for those whose livelihoods depend on predictable supply chains and international demand.
Collateral Damage
The second report turns to Harvard University, where the intersection of politics and scientific research has become a source of deep concern. President Trump has accused elite universities of harboring liberal bias and antisemitism and has threatened to pull federal research funding unless they make changes. Correspondent Bill Whitaker speaks with scientists who worry that these actions could compromise life-saving advancements. They describe a chilling effect that threatens not only ongoing projects but also America’s long-standing leadership in scientific innovation. Producer Sarah Koch documents how researchers are balancing their work with the uncertainty surrounding their funding.
The story examines the push-and-pull between political pressure and academic freedom. Scientists outline the potential consequences if federal agencies follow through on the threats, including stalled medical breakthroughs, interrupted clinical work, and a fractured research ecosystem. The segment underscores how dependent universities are on federal grants and how quickly decades of progress could unravel under sustained political scrutiny.
The Indomitable Margaret Atwood
The hour concludes with an in-depth profile of Margaret Atwood, who remains one of the most influential literary figures of the past half-century. At eighty-five, and with sixty-four books to her name, Atwood continues to shape cultural conversations through her sharp insights and unwavering voice. Correspondent Jon Wertheim visits the celebrated author to discuss her new memoir, Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts, a work that traces the experiences and observations that have molded her life and career. Producer Nathalie Sommer accompanies the story as Atwood reflects on how her writing has earned her a reputation as a “prophet of doom,” often anticipating societal upheavals before they become reality.
The segment also explores the enduring impact of The Handmaid’s Tale, which has been embraced as both literature and a cultural symbol. Atwood speaks about why the novel resonated so widely and how she views the recent attempts to ban her books. She remains steadfast in her commitment to addressing difficult themes and refuses to be silenced, even as debates over censorship intensify. Her interview offers a candid look at creativity, resilience, and the responsibility she feels toward readers navigating a tumultuous world.
This week’s 60 Minutes brings viewers into the worlds of farmers, scientists, and a writer whose influence spans generations. Together, the three stories form a portrait of a country grappling with major shifts in economics, politics, and culture, anchored by people striving to preserve the work that defines their lives.
