Are affected by mental illness. Together we can help them with three simple words. My name is chris noth and i will listen. The only thing better than playing a hero in the movies, is being a hero in real life. Like the 50,000 veterans who returned from iraq and afghanistan with devastating injuries. They are true heroes. And theyre why im proud to support paralyzed veterans of america. They make sure veterans with spinal cord injuries get the care and support they need at no cost to them. To learn more, visit pva. Org. Thats pva dot org. Far too many young women around the globe lack crucial medical care, access to education, and a safe place to call home. They need to be empowered and supported. Learn how you can help at girlup. Org. President trump has waded into the russia investigation again, raising new questions about obstruction of justice. And his legal team came up with their own definition of it. Here is chief White House CorrespondentMajor Garrett. I feel badly for general flynn. I feel very badly. Reporter President Trump empathized with Michael Flynn who admit to lying to the fbi about his contacts with russian officials. I think its a shame. Reporter over the weekend mr. Trump tweeted he fired flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the fbi the white house had said the president fired flynn only because he misled Vice President pence. The tweet sparked new questions about whether the president has obstructed justice. Shortly after firing flynn, mr. Trump told then fbi director james comey he hoped comey could let the Flynn Investigation go. The president later fired comey. One of the president s lawyers john dowd argued the president cannot obstruct himself with power and discretion over the justice department. Shocking surprise to president clinton, a president cannot be prosecute for obstruction of justice. A former assistant attorney general under george h. W. Bush, disagrees. The statements that have been made by President Trumps lawyers basically amount to the claim that the president is above the law. That the president can, is not bound by the constitution, is not bound by the rule of law. Reporter obstruction of of justice was part of the articles of impeachment filed against both president clinton and president nixon. Jeff. Major garrett, thank you. Bring in your white house colleague, margaret brennan, had a very interesting conversation with the new Russian Ambassador about the investigation. Margaret to you. Mr. Trump made it clear many times he would look to improve russianamerican relations. But till now, i couldnt say that our relations become more better. The ambassador told us the russia investigation severely complicates his work. Many u. S. Officials even refuse to meet him. How do you possibly get past the mistrust around the 2016 election . That is very difficult to try to find a black cat in darkroom where it is not any cat at all . No story there . There is not any proof. Regarding russian interference into your election. Hours before the interview. Former Trump National security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the fbi about his contacts with the predecessor. I dont understand why any officials has not any right to speak to Russian Ambassador. What do you make of that . It seems to me serious charges involving your previous ambassador. Yes, he is a talented. Complicates things. Smart, talented diplomat. Very much surprised that some mass media decide to blame him as a spy. Stupid and nonsense. This the fbi. Come on, you say that. His primary goal he said is to restore relations between the u. S. And russia. What we want, we want to be together. Fighting terrorism. To protect nonproliferation and maybe to start negotiations about negotiations regarding nuclear disarmament. The ambassador who has broke end arms control deals with the u. S. Said before, he wants to collaborate on cybersecurity. An offer that so far the u. S. Has the not taken up. Jeff. Margaret. Thank you very much. Former access hollywood host, billy bush accused President Trump of revisionist history, for reportedly saying it is not his voice on that infamous video making a crude remark about women. In an oped in the new york times, bush wrote of course he said it. Bush was interviewed this evening by stephen colbert. Look, he last week, for some reason, came out with, thats not my voice on the tape. Like i said you cant say that. That is your voice. I was there. You were there. Thats your voice on the tape. But then you have got 20 women at the time, i dont know what the exact number is, there is more. 20 women who, used their names, we have got powerful people being held accountable now. And sometimes anonymous sources. All of these women came out, with their names, and told their detailed accounts. And as i read these, i said, 20 women dont get together and say, you know it would be fun, take down a powerful guy together have . Ha. No they dont. And their names, i said, okay, you are reopening wound on them too. And enough is enough. Stop playing around with the peoples lives. That upset me. Quick look at some other stories in the evening news feed. The president today tweeted his endorsement of Alabama Senate candidate roy moore despite Sexual Assault allegations against moore. Eight days before the special election republican moore, leads Democrat Doug Jones by 6 points. In 1980, illinois congressman, John Anderson lost the republican president ial nomination to Ronald Reagan and ran independent. Andersen debated reagan oneonone when jimmy carter declined to join them. John andersen died last night. He was 95 years old. There was Something Special in the sky last night as the moon made its closest approach to earth and created a super moon. It appeared 14 larger and 30 brighter than normal. The next super moon will rise on new years night. The National Monument declared. 85 could be taken away. Joe taft has been rescuing big cats for 26 years. Many come here in poor health. He is going to feel a lot better after this is done . Absolutely. Scared me. It says you apply the blue one ok, letto me. This. Here . No. Have a little fun together, or a lot. Ky yours and mine. Two sensations that work together, so you can play together. Garden party for her birthday. A fabulous so i mowed the lawn, put up all the decorations. I thought i got everything. Almost everything you know, 1 in 10 houses could get hit by a septic disaster, and a bill of up to 13,000. But for only 7 a month, ridx is scientifically proven to break down waste, helping you avoid a septic disaster. Ridx. The 1 brand used by septic professionals in their own tanks. Its a like, a dagger . A worm a tiny sword . Bread. Breadstick . A matchstick a lamppost coin slot no . Uhhh. 10 seconds. A stick a Walking Stick eiffel tower, Mount Kilimanjaro ding time sorry, its a tandem bicycle. What . What . as long as sloths are slow, you can count on geico saving folks money. Fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance. Shes had a tiny cough. See you at 5 seriously . Protection. Lysol kills over 100 illnesscausing germs and viruses, even those that may cause coughs. Lysol. What it takes to protect. President trump flew to utah to sign proclamations that shave 2 million acres. That could open the land to mining and grazing. Jamie yuccas is also there. Reporter the view its breathtaking. A land of cultural richness, beauty, and solitude. For mary banelli bears ears is home. This place is so sacred to native americans. People need to be here to see it. And, feel the healing. Reporter a descendant of the navaho and hopi among the tribes that convinced president obama to set aside more than a million acres to create bears ears National Monument. Look at us, we did this. Somebody actually listened to us in washington. Reporter and now . And did what we ask. And now this. Reporter this is the move by the Trump Administration to drastically shrink the amount of land protected at bears ears from 1. 35 million acres to just over 200,000. And the equally stunning Grand StaircaseEscalante National montana by half. There are those who prize what lies under the land. Oil, gas, uranium, which is why the quiet land its now surrounded by so much noise. So do you, President Trump, and secretary zinke are . Two of the greatest people i have ever been able to associate myself with. Bruce adams says the federal government which owns 2 3 of the land in utah has overreached and residents should have more control. What about the native americans who say this is their land . And sacred ground . I applaud the fact that they want that protection. I just simply think that that protection exists. I cherish the land. But for navaho elder, willie gray eyes, stripping protection would leave a deep scar. Not only with myself but my nation and, and, probably all of the native americans . This is Grand Staircase escalante. Former president clinton declared this a monument two decades ago. Just like bears ears it took years to get that status. Now, tribes and environmental groups say it could be years of a legal fight before it is resolved. Jeff. Jamie, thank you very much. Up next, times short list for person of the year and last years winner is on it. Fredget in, fred thing for his daughter. Even if it means being the back half of a unicorn. Fear not fred, the front half washed his shirt with gain. And that smell puts the giddy in giddyup ah. The irresistible scent of gain flings laundry detergent. You cant help but smell happy. Not all Fish Oil Supplements provide the same omega3 power. Introducing megared advanced triple absorption it supports your heart, joints, brain, and eyes. And is absorbed by your body three times better. So one megared has more omega3 power than three standard fish oil pills. Megared advanced triple absorption. It says you apply the blue one ok, letto me. This. Here . No. Have a little fun together, or a lot. Ky yours and mine. Two sensations that work together, so you can play together. I had this chest cold, but my medicine kept wearing off. coughah i missed you then i discovered mucinex. One pill lasts 12 hours,and im good. Why take 4hour medicine . One mucinex lasts 12 hours. Lets end this. Time will name its person of the year on wednesday. Today put out the short list today put out the short list including th e chinese president , amazon ceo, dreamers undocumented immigrants brought to this country as children, wonder woman director, north korean dictator, kim jongun, quarterback collin kaepernick, the me too movement, special counsel, mr. Mueller, and last years winner President Trump. The anniversary of the text message first sent from computer to cell phone. The british engineer wrote, merry christmas. There was no reply. The phone could not send messages. Pizza party in space. Italian astronaut said he missed pizza. Nasa sent up all the fixings. The crew had fun tossing the pies around. One called them flying saucers of the edible kind. Coming up next here, the bravest dentist you will ever meet. Announcer this portion sponsored by ancestry. We end tonight with a trip to the dentist. Like none you have ever seen. Here is chip reid. Joe taft has been rescuing big cats for 26 years. He has been caring for these tigers since they were born. Oh, does everybody want attention. Not everyone at the Exotic Feline Center in indiana is such a cool cat. Scared me. Thats because most of the 200 big cats here were rescued from abusive conditions. Many come here in poor health. Some in agonizing pain from dental disease. Lift. Twice a year cats who are showing symptoms of lion sized toothaches are tranquilized. He is out for the count. But he is growling. Its that normal . No. Theyre transported to make shift operating rooms where four dozen volunteers, doctors, dentists and medical technicians are waiting. First the Anesthesia Team in blue administers drugs to make sure the sleeping beauties stay that way as long as necessary. They insert breathing tubes as long as baseball bats and keep close track of their vitals. Next, the green teams take over. Dentists, technicians from all over the country. Working on a tiger named zeni in one room. And in the other room jababi the lion appears to have been in excruciating years. All four canine teeth were cut, filed down and infected. What are you going to have to do . Currently four root canals. At the same time. All at the same time because the speed is essential. Keeping them under for too long could threaten their health. Necrotic debris out of the canines here. He is going to feel a lot better . Absolutely. Reporter most come here every year, some have been here dozen of times. They do it out of love. You want to come see me . Hi. Give these magnificent creatures a chance to live painfree. Chip reid, cbs news, centerpoint, indiana. Thats the overnight news for tuesday. For some of you the news continues. For others check back later for the morning news and cbs this morning. From the Broadcast Center in new york city, im jeff glor. Thank you for watching. This is the cbs overnight news. Hi, welcome. The biggest rewrite of the u. S. Code in 30 years takes place behind closed doors. Republican leaders of the house and Senate Working to reconcile versions of the tax package. They hope to get it on the president s desk by christmas. Meanwhile a partial Government Shutdown is looming friday. Nancy cordes has the story. Massive, massive tax cuts. President trump closing in on his first major legislative victory. Now that the senate and house have both passed gop tax plans. On this vote the yeas are both bills reduce individual rates across the board. While roughly doubling the child tax credit, and the standard deduction. In exchange, both plans eliminate deductions for interest on student loans, for state and local income taxes, and both plans cap the property Tax Deduction at 10,000. We can reach an agreement gop leaders say it will take a week to iron out key differences between the two bills. The house bill for instance eliminates the alternative minimum tax. The senate bill does not. The house bill makes the new lower tax rates permanent, while the senate bill allows them to sunset in 2025. And, House Republicans like that the senate bill repeals the individual Health Insurance man date. Which would allow the gop to finally chip away at obamacare. But democrats say republicans are rushing and making mistakes. I want you to take a look at this, folks, your government at work. The bill that passed the senate early saturday had illegible changes scribbled in the margins. Conversion for a corporation something, c corporation, paren dangerous. That cant be right. While studies show the wealthy would be the biggest winners, republicans insist all taxpayers would come out ahead. This is what this bill is about. Take home pay. More money for the american people. Republicans do not have the luxury of focusing just on taxes. The governments funding is set to expire at the end of the week. Which raises the specter of a Government Shutdown if the two parties cant cut even a short term deal over military and domestic spending. President trump endorsed republican roy moore in next weeks election in alabama. Moore dogged by accusations of Sexual Misconduct. The president fired more shots at the fbi Major Garrett begins our coverage. I feel badly for general flynn. I feel very badly. Reporter President Trump empathized with Michael Flynn who admit to lying to the fbi about his contacts with russian officials. I think its a shame. Reporter over the weekend mr. Trump tweeted he fired flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the fbi the white house had said the president fired flynn only because he misled Vice President pence. The tweet sparked new questions about whether the president has obstructed justice. Shortly after firing flynn, mr. Trump told then fbi director james comey he hoped comey could let the Flynn Investigation go. The president later fired comey. One of the president s lawyers john dowd argued the president cannot obstruct himself with power and discretion over the justice department. Shocking surprise to president clinton, a president cannot be prosecuted for obstruction of justice. A former assistant attorney general under george h. W. Bush, disagrees. The statements that have been made by President Trumps lawyers basically amount to the claim that the president is above the law. That the president can, is not bound by the constitution, is not bound by the rule of law. Reporter obstruction of of justice was part of the articles of impeachment filed against both president clinton and president nixon. Overseas, tensions are high. The United States and south korea launched largescale military exercises. North koreas leader, kim jongun, says they pushed the region to the brink of nuclear war. Ben tracy has the story from tokyo. The military exercises involve 230 aircraft. We went to the u. S. Air base and we flew with the 35th fighter wing to see how theyre preparing for the increasing threat from north korea. I flew in the back seat of the f16 figh