CBS News
Kratom, often marketed as a health product, faces scrutiny over danger to consumers
Nearly 2 million Americans in 2021 used the herbal supplement Kratom to treat pain, anxiety and opioid withdrawal, according to the Food and Drug Administration. But the substance is also blamed for addiction, seizures and deaths — like that of Dustin Hernandez.
Hernandez’s death was caught on security video, which showed him collapsing and having a seizure before he died.
Toxicology testing by the medical examiner blamed the “toxic effects of mitragynine,” which is typically marketed as kratom.
Hernandez’s sister, Dusti Young, said her brother took kratom for his anxiety.
“He was in denial about it being addictive,” she told CBS News.
Kratom is commonly marketed as a wellness wonder, and is widely sold online and in gas stations. But the FDA says the substance is addictive and warns not to use kratom because of the “risk of serious adverse effects.”
The agency has been trying to bar kratom from being imported since 2014.
“Every bag of kratom on the shelf got here by people who are fraudulently saying it’s something else,” Talis Abolins, an attorney who represents Hernandez’s family, said.
“What makes it even worse is that they’re selling it like it’s coffee or tea,” Abolins added.
The American Kratom Association admits there are many illegitimate kratom products. The group’s spokesman, Mac Haddow, told CBS News that out of about 8,000 players in the kratom industry, only around “three dozen” are legitimate.
Haddow blames the FDA. “They simply say, ‘We’re not gonna regulate. We wanna ban it,'” he said. “They should be regulating and protecting consumers.”
The American Kratom Association is pushing for the Kratom Consumer Protection Act, which it calls a best practices standard. Local versions of the act have already been passed in 11 states.
But critics say the issue is kratom itself.
“This kratom product is associated with seizures, coma and death. And if that had been on the bag, a lot of lives would be saved,” Abolins said.
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CBS News
Kamala Harris will speak with “60 Minutes” tomorrow. Here’s what to know for the interview.
Voters will get the chance to hear from Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday as she presents her case for why she should be president in a “60 Minutes” election special.
For decades, “60 Minutes” has featured both Republican and Democratic nominees for presidents, but this year, former President Donald Trump backed out after previously indicating he would be on the show. Correspondent Scott Pelley, who’d been set to interview Trump, will instead travel to Arizona’s Maricopa County, home to more than 60% of Arizona’s voters and a critical battleground in a key swing state.
One thing is certain about the election; with the U.S. deeply involved in both the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, whoever wins on Nov. 5 will become a wartime president.
What Harris will discuss
Israel’s war started one year ago after Hamas launched a surprise terror attack and correspondent Bill Whitaker will discuss the ongoing war with Harris.
Harris will also discuss the economy, immigration, her record as vice president and the differences between herself and Trump.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz will also appear.
Whitaker joined the Democratic ticket on the campaign trail this week to gain insight into their platform’s priorities and values, and what the candidates believe voters should know.
Why Trump pulled out of the “60 Minutes” interview
Leading up to the candidate hour, Trump, through campaign spokespeople, was the first candidate to accept the “60 Minutes” request to be interviewed for the special, according to CBS News. It had been agreed that both candidates would receive equal time during the broadcast.
Trump last sat down with 60 Minutes in 2020. He walked out during the interview with Lesley Stahl. Trump referenced the incident on Tuesday night at a Milwaukee press conference when asked about his decision not to participate in the Oct. 7 “60 Minutes” election special.
“Well, right now, I went to – they came to me and would like me to do an interview, but first I want to get an apology, because the last time I did an interview with them, if you remember, they challenged me on the computer,” Trump said. “They said the ‘laptop from hell’ was from Russia, and I said it wasn’t from Russia. It was from Hunter, and I never got an apology, so I’m sort of waiting. I’d love to do ’60 Minutes.’ I do everything.”
The Republican nominee for president emphasized that he felt he was owed an apology from “60 Minutes.”
“Let’s see if they do it. I wouldn’t mind doing 60,” Trump continued. “I’ve done ’60 Minutes’ a lot.”
In a statement on Tuesday, Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung said that Trump’s team had not agreed to an interview.
“Fake News,” Cheung said in a post on X. “60 Minutes begged for an interview, even after they were caught lying about Hunter Biden’s laptop back in 2020. There were initial discussions, but nothing was ever scheduled or locked in. They also insisted on doing live fact checking, which is unprecedented.”
Previous Trump, Harris appearances on 60 Minutes
Trump previously sat down with “60 Minutes'” Mike Wallace in 1985, Pelley in 2015 and Lesley Stahl twice in 2016, first in July of that year and then again in November of 2016. He also spoke with Stahl again in 2018 and 2020.
Harris previously sat down with Whitaker last year. She also was interviewed by Norah O’Donnell, “CBS Evening News” anchor and “60 Minutes” contributing correspondent, in 2020.
