News: This week: How Afghanistan fell; the father of the cellphone; and composer John Williams

Sunday, August 22, 2021

This week: How Afghanistan fell; the father of the cellphone; and composer John Williams

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August 22, 2021

Did you miss this week's "Sunday Morning"? Catch up now!

11 days in August: How Afghanistan fell

The rapid fall of the Afghan capital, Kabul, to Taliban fighters last week has shocked the world, most especially the United States, which saw 20 years' worth of blood and treasure collapse in a matter of days. CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports on how Islamic militants surged past Afghan security forces and routed the sitting government.

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The father of the cellphone

In the 1970s Marty Cooper, a former Navy submarine officer, engineer and executive at Motorola, maker of two-way radios, fought against archrival AT&T by proposing a network of transmitters that made possible the explosion in cellphones. Correspondent David Pogue talks with the visionary Cooper, now 92, about the world's first public cellphone call, on April 3, 1973, and about his unbridled optimism for the future.

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A ghost town's caretaker

Have you been socially-distancing? Not as much as Brent Underwood, who has lived during the COVID lockdown as the sole resident of a ghost town on the edge of Death Valley: the abandoned mining community of Cerro Gordo, California. Correspondent Luke Burbank talks with Underwood, who bought the 380-acre Cerro Gordo in 2018, and has featured it on his YouTube channel, "Ghost Town Living."

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Composer John Williams

John Williams is one of America's most celebrated musical talents – the best-known creator of music for films. He has written the scores for such revered classics as "Jaws," "Star Wars," "Superman" and "Schindler's List." In a story originally broadcast September 22, 2019, Correspondent Tracy Smith talks with Williams, and with violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter, who collaborated with the composer on an album of works for violin and orchestra adapted from his film scores, "Across the Stars."

Afghanistan wasn't all for nothing, says Army vet

Retired Staff Sgt. Travis Mills, who was severely injured by an IED during his third tour in Afghanistan, sums up the contributions and sacrifices of American and NATO forces in the country over the past two decades: We did good.

The singing doctor

CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook introduces us to Dr. Rich Krueger, a neonatologist who, in his spare time, is an acclaimed singer-songwriter.

A 101-year-old lobster lady

Virginia Oliver has been lobstering on and off since the age of seven – and is now, at 101, Maine's oldest lobster trapper. Three days a week, May through November, she is out working on Penobscot Bay, tackling one of the most hazardous jobs there is, alongside her 78-year-old son, Max. Steve Hartman joined the pair of old salts at sea.

An antique store like no other

In the heart of New Orleans' French Quarter is a small sign for a store with a big reputation. Owner Bill Rau wants nothing less than for M.S. Rau Antiques to be the best art, antique and jewelry gallery in the world. Correspondent Anna Werner checks out some of the priceless objects that can be found there.

The armless archer

One of the top-ranked archers in the country is 38-year-old Matt Stutzman of Fairfield, Iowa, who has medaled in a sport that many would have thought beyond his reach: he was born without arms. Lee Cowan finds out how, with a simple bow and arrow, a man who just wanted to provide for his family became an inspiration. (This story was originally broadcast on November 3, 2019.)

Passage: Remembering artist Chuck Close

"Sunday Morning" looks back at the life and work of the portrait painter whose pixelated squares illuminated the human face in oversized proportions.

Nature: Wildflower meadows

"Sunday Morning" visits wildflowers on Mount Rainier in Washington State. Videographer: Mike Griffith.

New England braces for Henri impact

Dangerous storm surges, flash flooding and power outages are the prospect for New England residents Sunday as Henri approaches. Meteorologist Jeff Berardelli reports the latest from Long Island.

Watch the full August 22 episode

Guests host: Lee Cowan.

Web extra: Anne-Sophie Mutter and John Williams recording "Schindler's List"

For their 2019 album for Deutsche Grammophon, "Across the Stars," virtuoso violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and composer John Williams collaborated on works for violin and orchestra adapted from some of Williams' most acclaimed film scores. "Sunday Morning" was present during the recording session for the theme from "Schindler's List," performed by the Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles.