Attorney General Merrick Garland denounced what he called “an escalation of attacks” against the Justice Department during a Thursday speech that got fiery and emotional at points. Garland’s comments come amid a rise in threats against not only Justice Department employees but also other law enforcement officials and members of Congress. CBS News congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane has more. Source

A 4.7 magnitude earthquake rocked parts of Southern California on Thursday. Meanwhile, more than a dozen wildfires continue to burn in the state. CBS News’ Ben Tracy is on the ground. Source

Three massive wildfires are burning in Southern California, including the Airport Fire, which has torched about 36 square miles in Orange and Riverside counties. Robert Lucas told CBS News that when the flames arrived at the door of his home, it felt like a “war zone.” Ben Tracy reports. Source

Francine made landfall Wednesday evening as a hurricane in coastal Louisiana, causing widespread flooding and downing trees and power lines. New Orleans was inundated with three times the amount of rain it normally receives in a typical month. Dave Malkoff has the latest. Source

Francine has significantly weakened to a post-tropical cyclone after slamming Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane on Wednesday. More than 251,000 people remain without electricity in the Pelican State as of Thursday evening. CBS News national correspondent Dave Malkoff reports from Houma, Louisiana. Source

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to battleground states Thursday for the first time since their debate earlier this week. Before speaking at a rally, Trump took to social media to announce he would not debate Harris again, although the former president has changed his mind about debating in the past. CBS News political correspondent Caitlin Huey-Burns has more. Source

Coming on the heels of his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he won’t agree to a second, writing on social media that “when a prizefighter loses a fight, the first words out of his mouth are, ‘I want a rematch.'” Nancy Cordes reports from the campaign trail in North Carolina. Source

Here’s a look at the top stories making headlines on the “CBS Evening News” with Maurice DuBois. Source

A look at the features for this week’s broadcast of the 2023 News & Documentary Emmy-winner for Outstanding Recorded News Program, hosted by Jane Pauley. Source

The Department of Justice has come under fire in recent years for its handling of various investigations, including into both former President Donald Trump and President Biden. On Thursday, Attorney General Merrick Garland condemned threats against the DOJ, saying that officials will not be intimidated. CBS News congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane has the details. Source