CBS News Sunday Morning: Your Guide to the August 23, 2026 Episode

Quick Show Facts

• Show: CBS News Sunday Morning (Emmy Award-winning!)
• Air Time: Sundays at 9:00 a.m. ET on CBS
• Streaming: CBS News app at 11:00 a.m. ET (Download here)
• Guest Host: Steve Hartman
• Executive Producer: Rand Morrison

Cover Story: The Tick Explosion & Alpha-gal Syndrome

Reporter: David Pogue
The Big Idea: Tick bites are sending more people to the ER than ever before. Even scarier? One bite from a lone star tick can give you Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) — a sudden, violent allergy to red meat (beef, pork, lamb).

What Happened on Martha’s Vineyard

• The island is facing an epidemic of Alpha-gal cases
• Locals are teaming up with scientists to fight back
• Experts share the best ways to avoid tick bites

How to Protect Yourself (Simple Steps)

1. Wear permethrin-treated clothing (kills ticks on contact)
2. Do daily tick checks — especially in hidden spots (behind knees, ears, waist)
3. Use EPA-approved repellents (DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus)
4. Shower within 2 hours of coming indoors
5. Tumble dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes to kill hitchhikers

Important Callout: Alpha-gal reactions can happen 3–6 hours after eating red meat — unlike typical food allergies that strike fast. Symptoms: hives, stomach pain, trouble breathing. See a doctor if this happens to you!

Expert Resources

• TickEncounter Resource Center (University of Rhode Island) — tickencounter.org
• Dr. Thomas Mather ("The Tick Guy") — URI Profile
• Dr. Sam Telford III (Tufts University) — Profile
• Local Help: Tick Center at Martha’s Vineyard Medical | Tick Free MV | TickWiseMV on Instagram

Almanac: August 23 in History

A look back at notable events that happened on this date. Watch the video segment.

Design: Luna Parc — A House That’s a Work of Art

Reporter: Serena Altschul
Location: Sandyston, New Jersey
Artist: Ricky Boscarino

For 35+ years, Ricky has transformed his home and 8.5 acres into a wonderland called Luna Parc:

• Sculptures everywhere
• Ceramics & mosaics covering surfaces
• "Electric Garden" — outdoor art that glows and moves
• Whimsy around every corner

Think: If Dr. Seuss and Gaudí built a house together.

Watch the tour

Photography: The Most Famous Jazz Photo Ever

Reporter: Mo Rocca
Photo: "Harlem 1958" by Art Kane
The Story: In 1958, photographer Art Kane gathered 57 jazz legends on a Harlem brownstone stoop. The result? One iconic image featuring:

• Thelonious Monk
• Dizzy Gillespie
• Count Basie
• Charles Mingus
• …and dozens more

Guests:

• Jonathan Kane (Art’s son) — shares behind-the-scenes stories
• Ron Carter (legendary bassist) — played with almost everyone in the photo!

Watch the segment

Arts: Origami Koi Rising from the Ashes

Reporter: Tracy Smith
Artist: Robert Lang — former NASA laser physicist turned origami master

The Journey

1. 1990s: Lang pioneers math-based origami (using algorithms to design complex folds)
2. 2025: Altadena wildfire destroys his home — and a lifetime of folded paper art
3. Rebirth: Lang starts recreating his designs
4. Community: The global origami family joins in to help fold replacements

Featured Work: "Vertical Pond III: From the Ashes"

• Origami koi (carp) installation at Descanso Gardens (California)
• Symbolizes resilience, renewal, and beauty after loss

Watch the story
See Lang’s 2007 Sunday Morning debut — he shows how to fold animals, insects & mythical creatures!

Passage: In Memoriam

This week we remember notable figures who passed away, including actress Hayden Panettiere (Nashville, Heroes). Watch the tribute.

Arts: Casa Verdi — Where Musicians Retire in Harmony

Reporter: Chris Livesay
Location: Milan, Italy

Giuseppe Verdi (famous opera composer) used his fortune to build a retirement home for musicians who fell on hard times. Today at Casa Verdi:

• Residents share lifetimes of artistry with each other
• They give master classes to young musicians
• A living legacy of music, mentorship, and community

Hartman: Fletcher Merkel’s Bedroom

Reporter: Steve Hartman
Context: 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel was one of two students killed when a gunman fired into Annunciation Catholic Church (Minneapolis, August 2025).

Steve Hartman (Oscar-winning filmmaker for "All the Empty Rooms") visits Fletcher’s parents, Jesse & Mollie, to see the sacred space their son left behind — his bedroom, preserved exactly as it was.

Interactive Experience: Explore the bedrooms of kids killed in school shootings — "Everything as it was"

Music: The Real No-Shoes Kenny Chesney

Reporter: Lee Cowan
Location: Florida Keys
Book: "Heart Life Music" (memoir with Holly Gleason)

Kenny Chesney opens up about:

• From Knoxville, Tennessee to No Shoes Nation
• Life as a laid-back local in the Keys
• Family, touring, and fame
• Hitting a wall at a 2009 concert — and how he recovered

Bonus: New Music!

Watch Kenny perform "Silver Sands Marina" (from upcoming album)
Extended interview
Read a book excerpt

Books: Robin Wall Kimmerer — Braiding Science & Indigenous Wisdom

Reporter: Martha Teichner
Author: Robin Wall Kimmerer (Citizen Potawatomi Nation, botanist, bestselling author)

Books:

• "Braiding Sweetgrass" — NYT bestseller
• "The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World" — new release

Core Message: We thrive when we combine Western science + Indigenous knowledge — and live in reciprocity with the Earth (give back what we take).

Read an excerpt from "The Serviceberry"

Get the Book

Related Organizations

• Plant Baby Plant — tree planting initiative
• Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians
• Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
• Little Traverse Conservancy

Gallery: Photos of the Week (Aug 23)

Evocative images captured around the world this past week. View the gallery (link inferred from context)

NEW! Live Events Series at 92nd Street Y (NYC)

Launching: September 28, 2026
First Guest: Sylvester Stallone
What: CBS Sunday Morning brings live conversations with big names in arts, politics & culture to the stage — streamed online for everyone!

Read the announcement

Web Exclusives (Online Only)

Marathon: The Splendor of the Rocky Mountains

A curated playlist of Sunday Morning stories & Nature videos from the Rockies:

• John Fielder’s photography (2015)
• Canadian Rockies (2021, 2018)
• Yellowstone & National Park origins (2025)
• Geysers, elk rutting, avalanche control, historic inns…
• 17+ segments spanning decades! Watch on YouTube

Tommy John: The Man Behind the Surgery

Tommy John (former Yankees pitcher, surgery namesake) died Aug 15, 2026 at age 83.

• 1981 Interview: Comeback after surgery + baseball’s return from strike Watch
• 2024 Reflection: On his injury, the surgery, and its legacy for athletes Watch

Gallery: Notable Deaths in 2026

54 photos honoring those we lost this year — innovators, creators, humanitarians.

Summary: What You Missed This Week

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

1. What is Alpha-gal syndrome, and how do I know if I have it?

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is an allergy to alpha-gal, a sugar found in red meat (beef, pork, lamb) and mammal products. It’s triggered by a lone star tick bite. Symptoms (hives, nausea, trouble breathing) appear 3–6 hours after eating meat — unusually delayed. If you suspect it, see an allergist for a blood test.

2. Can I watch Sunday Morning if I don’t have cable?

Yes! Stream it free on the CBS News app (starts 11:00 a.m. ET Sundays) or watch full episodes on demand at CBSNews.com, CBS.com, or Paramount+ (works on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, etc.).

3. Who is Steve Hartman, and why is he hosting?

Steve Hartman is a longtime CBS correspondent known for his "On the Road" segments and the Oscar-winning short documentary "All the Empty Rooms" (about bedrooms of shooting victims). He’s guest hosting this episode.

4. What’s the deal with Kenny Chesney’s "No Shoes Nation"?

It’s his fan community — named after his hit song "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems." It represents a laid-back, beachy lifestyle. His memoir "Heart Life Music" traces his journey from Tennessee to stadium tours to finding peace in the Florida Keys.

5. How can I submit my "sun art" to the show?

Email your sun-themed artwork to SundayMorningSuns@cbsnews.com — they feature viewer submissions on air!

Stay Connected with Sunday Morning

• Website: cbssundaymorning.com
• Podcast: Free audio version on Apple Podcasts or Play.it
• Social: Twitter/X • Facebook • Instagram • YouTube • TikTok • Bluesky

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