In other news, President Biden has given Pope Francis the nation's highest civilian award,

the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction.

The citation describes Francis as a light of faith, hope, and love that shines brightly

across the world.

It's the first and only time Mr. Biden has made the award with distinction.

The President and the Pope spoke by phone today. They were to have met this weekend in person at the Vatican,

but Mr. Biden canceled the trip in order to focus on the deadly Los Angeles wildfires.

Late word tonight that Special Counsel Jack Smith has resigned from the Justice Department.

In a court filing late this afternoon, Smith said he had completed his work into the two criminal investigations of President-elect Trump.

The filing asked U.S. District Court Judge Aline Cannon to allow the quick release of Smith's final report

into the charges that Mr. Trump tried to overturn the 2020 election.

Some Justice Department officials fear that that report may never be made public

once Mr. Trump becomes president. And Sam Moore, half of the 1960s duo, Sam and Dave, has died

from complications following surgery. The pair recorded some of soul music's irrefining hits,

including Soul Man, You Don't Know Like I Know,

and I Thank You. Musicians from Al Green and Michael Jackson to Bruce Springsteen have cited

Moore as an influence. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. Sam Moore was

89 years old. Still to come on PBS News Weekend, the dangers of a toxic chemical most of us encounter

in our everyday lives and how to protect yourself from it.

And the growing popularity of short-form videos designed to be watched on your phone.

This is PBS News Weekend from the David M. Rubenstein studio at WETA in Washington, home of the PBS News Hour, weeknights on PBS.