Friday, May 22, 2026 • 3 min read

Eleven years, more than 1,800 episodes, just one Stephen Colbert — and that’s a wrap on The Late Show. The final episode aired last night. Here’s what went down. 

Kyle Busch, NASCAR’s most successful driver across its three top series, has died at 41 after a “severe illness” that began about two weeks ago, his team said. In a statement, NASCAR said he was “a rare talent” and praised his “sharp wit and competitive spirit.” [Yahoo Sports]

GOP rebellions are challenging the Trump administration’s agenda. House Republicans pulled an Iran war powers vote to avoid likely defeat, while Senate GOP leaders delayed voting on an ICE funding bill over Trump’s controversial “anti-weaponization” fund. [CBS News/CNN]

The federal agency tasked with reviewing the "design and aesthetics" of all construction in the nation’s capital has rubber-stamped Trump’s “triumphal arch,” despite hundreds of public comments opposing it. The monument is set to stand 250 feet tall. [Yahoo News]

With less than two months until release, the cast of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey opened up about racist criticism of Lupita Nyong'o’s casting as Helen of Troy, what to expect from the epic and how much Nolan loves Zendaya. Watch the trailer. [Entertainment Weekly]

New York is out in front, after the Knicks secured another win — and 18 unanswered points — against Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals. "We don't really care who gets the shine, the shots, the minutes,” said Josh Hart. “We're focused on winning.” Read a recap. [BBC News]

With Jalen Williams and Dylan Harper likely sitting out Game 3 of the Western Conference finals due to injury, the Thunder play the Spurs at 8:30 p.m. ET on Peacock. Who will break the tie? [Yahoo Sports]

The wait is over: Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu marks the first big-screen return to the Star Wars universe in seven years. Read a review, and see where it fits in this ranking of all the Star Wars movies. [USA Today]

Romcom Ladies First, starring Rosamund Pike and Sacha Baron Cohen, is now on Netflix. The film imagines a parallel universe where society’s gender roles are turned upside down and women hold all the cards. Watch the trailer. [People]

After dropping nine of their last 11 games, the Cubs hope to regain their mojo as they open a series against the Astros at 2:20 p.m. ET on Apple TV. See the "Friday Night Baseball" schedule. [The Sporting News]

After an unlikely hero carried the Golden Knights to victory in Game 1, Vegas face the Avalanche at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. [AP]

Read your daily horoscope. Play the crossword. Check the forecast in your area.

In 1980, the arcade game Pac-Man was released in Japan, before arriving in the U.S. a few months later. A fun — and maybe surprising — fact: Critics at the time saw the game as a ploy to undermine the moral values of America’s kids. Here’s why. [Time]

Heather Porter is a single mother, fluent in American Sign Language and now the proud holder of a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling. She recently celebrated her amazing accomplishment with nine of her 11 children present. “I am a person of faith,” she said, “I just see miracle after miracle after miracle.” [People]

While you wait for your coffee or tea to brew in the morning, follow this trainer’s simple tip to increase blood flow and improve your mood. [Today]