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Latest developments and key stories from across the United States
Stephen Colbert hosted the final episode of "The Late Show" on May 21, 2026, marking the end of the show’s 33-year run and his 11 years as host. The finale featured celebrity guests and honored the show's history, while CBS said it canceled the show due to financial reasons amid a difficult late-night TV landscape.
Key Facts
"The Late Show" ended after 33 years, with Stephen Colbert hosting the final episode.
Colbert had been host since September 2015, following David Letterman's retirement.
The finale included surprise appearances by celebrities like Ryan Reynolds, Paul Rudd, and Paul McCartney.
Paul McCartney previously performed at the Ed Sullivan Theater with The Beatles for their U.S. TV debut in 1964.
CBS stated the show's cancellation was a "purely financial decision" due to challenges in the late-night TV market.
Some viewers and critics speculated if political reasons influenced the cancellation because Colbert criticized President Trump.
The set from "The Late Show" will be donated to the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.
Byron Allen's "Comics Unleashed" will replace "The Late Show" in the 11:35 p.m. time slot on CBS.
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The US is pausing a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan to save ammunition for its conflict with Iran. President Donald Trump has not yet decided to approve the sale, which would be the largest-ever weapons transfer to Taiwan.
Key Facts
The US is holding back on a $14 billion weapons sale to Taiwan to keep ammo ready for a conflict with Iran called "Epic Fury."
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told the Senate this pause is temporary and the sale could resume if officials agree.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will decide when or if the sale moves forward.
The US Congress already approved the deal in January, but President Trump must sign off on it.
If approved, this sale would exceed a previous $11 billion arms package to Taiwan signed in December by President Trump.
Taiwan plans to keep buying weapons despite the pause, according to Taiwanese officials.
President Trump spoke with Chinese leader Xi Jinping about the arms sale during a recent visit to Beijing.
The US supports Taiwan’s defense under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act but does not formally recognize Taiwan as a separate country.
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Republican senators questioned Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche about a new $1.776 billion Justice Department fund that will pay people who claim the legal system has been unfairly used against them. The fund is part of a deal between President Donald Trump and the government to settle his lawsuit over leaked tax returns, but many lawmakers remain unclear about how it will work and who will qualify for payments.
Key Facts
The Justice Department announced an "anti-weaponization fund" worth $1.776 billion to compensate people alleging misuse of the legal system.
The fund is connected to a settlement between President Trump and the IRS/Treasury over leaked tax returns.
A commission of five people, appointed by the attorney general and with some input from Congress, will manage the fund.
There are no political restrictions for who can apply for the fund.
Some Trump supporters and Jan. 6 defendants have said they might seek payments from the fund.
Republican senators criticized the administration for poor communication and lack of clarity about the fund.
The announcement of the fund delayed a Senate vote on a bill funding Border Patrol and ICE.
Acting Attorney General Blanche told senators that people who attacked law enforcement officers would not get compensated.
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John Bolton, a former national security adviser, urged President Donald Trump to stop the U.S. ceasefire with Iran. Bolton said negotiating with Iran is useless because they are unlikely to agree to terms the U.S. would accept.
Key Facts
John Bolton was the White House national security adviser.
Bolton made his comments on a Bloomberg interview.
He called the current U.S. ceasefire with Iran a mistake.
Bolton said negotiating with Iran is a waste of time.
He believes Iran will not agree to acceptable deal terms.
Bolton is urging President Trump to end the ceasefire.
The ceasefire was in place to reduce tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
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Spencer Pratt, known for his reality TV fame, is now running for mayor of Los Angeles. He has shifted from entertainment to politics, focusing on addressing problems in the city after losing his home in the 2025 wildfires.
Key Facts
Spencer Pratt became famous on the reality show "The Hills" in the 2000s.
He also appeared on other reality shows like "Big Brother" and "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!"
Pratt married pop star Heidi Montag, and they have two children together.
He earned a political science degree from the University of Southern California.
Pratt is running for mayor of Los Angeles as an independent candidate, although he is a registered Republican.
He began his campaign after the 2025 wildfires destroyed his home and thousands of others in the city.
Pratt has used social media to share his experience and encourage support by promoting his wife's music.
His campaign message focuses on making real changes to fix problems he sees in Los Angeles.
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A recent poll shows Vice President Kamala Harris leading against several Republican candidates, including Senator JD Vance and Senator Marco Rubio, in potential matchups for the 2028 U.S. presidential election. Other Democrats like Governor Gavin Newsom and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also show notable support in early polling.
Key Facts
Kamala Harris leads JD Vance with 47% to 38.9% in a recent poll.
Harris also leads Marco Rubio with 46.9% to 38.9%, and leads Ron DeSantis and Ted Cruz by similar margins.
Pete Buttigieg trails Harris but leads Vance, Rubio, DeSantis, and Cruz in hypothetical matchups.
Gavin Newsom leads all tested Republican candidates in polling, including Vance, Rubio, and Cruz.
The poll surveyed 893 likely voters on May 21, with a margin of error of 3.8%.
Another poll shows Harris at 22% support among potential Democrats, with Newsom at 21%, Buttigieg at 12%, and Ocasio-Cortez at 10%.
Republicans in that poll showed Vance leading with 42%, followed by Rubio, Donald Trump Jr., and DeSantis.
No candidate has officially announced their run for president in 2028.
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Jim Acosta, a CNN journalist, said that the Department of Justice should pay him from its new “anti-weaponization” fund. He claims that in 2018, President Trump took away his White House press pass, which Acosta says violated his rights and hurt his career.
Key Facts
Jim Acosta is a former CNN chief White House correspondent.
He lost his White House press pass in 2018 during President Trump’s administration.
Acosta says this action violated his First and Fifth Amendment rights.
The First Amendment protects freedom of speech and press.
The Fifth Amendment protects against unfair government treatment.
The Department of Justice has created an “anti-weaponization” fund.
This fund aims to address government misuse or abuse of power.
Acosta questioned why he isn’t being compensated from the fund for his experience.
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President Donald Trump asked South Carolina Republicans to vote against David Pascoe in the GOP primary for state attorney general. Trump criticized Pascoe for switching from the Democratic to the Republican Party and called him a “total fraud.”
Key Facts
President Trump made his statement during a public appeal to South Carolina voters.
David Pascoe is running in the Republican primary for South Carolina state attorney general.
Pascoe was previously a longtime Democrat before switching to the Republican Party last year.
Trump described Pascoe as a “RINO,” which means “Republican In Name Only.”
Pascoe had previously supported Joe Biden, whom Trump calls “Crooked Joe Biden.”
The upcoming primary will decide the Republican candidate for the attorney general position in South Carolina.
Trump’s remarks highlight his opposition to candidates he sees as insufficiently loyal to the Republican Party.
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Two teenage gunmen attacked the Islamic Center of San Diego, killing three people in what police call a hate crime. The shooting shocked the local Muslim community, which responded with grief and calls for unity. A large funeral prayer was held to support the victims’ families and the community.
Key Facts
The shooting happened at the Islamic Center of San Diego, which also has a school for children.
Three people died: a security guard, a school teacher’s husband, and a shopkeeper who called 911.
The two suspects, aged 17 and 18, shot one another before police arrived; one later killed himself.
Investigators found a manifesto with hate-filled writings against Muslims, Jewish people, and women.
The FBI seized 30 guns and a crossbow from homes connected to the suspects.
The Muslim community in San Diego is less than 1% of the population.
Thousands attended a public funeral prayer to show support and solidarity.
The attack has led the community to emphasize resilience and coming together against hate.
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Muhammad Abdulqadir Omar, a Minnesota man, was arrested for allegedly leading a large healthcare fraud scheme involving Medicaid-funded housing services. He tried to escape by jumping from a balcony but was caught after a federal investigation uncovered about $90 million in fraudulent claims across the state.
Key Facts
Muhammad Omar is charged with conspiracy and multiple counts of healthcare fraud.
He co-owned two companies accused of submitting false or inflated Medicaid claims.
The fraudulent claims mostly involved Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services program, aimed at helping vulnerable residents.
Omar’s companies allegedly billed around $3.8 million and received payments for services not fully provided.
He attempted to flee from federal agents by jumping from a fourth-floor balcony but was arrested hours later.
The charges come as part of a larger Department of Justice effort targeting widespread healthcare fraud in Minnesota.
The broader investigation includes 15 new indictments related to about $90 million in false claims.
This operation is connected to ongoing probes of pandemic-era relief and public assistance fraud in the state.
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President Donald Trump supported a recent vote by the House Energy and Commerce Committee to advance a bill that would keep daylight saving time all year. The bill, called the Sunshine Protection Act, was introduced by Florida Republicans and is part of a larger transportation funding plan.
Key Facts
The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 48-1 in favor of reporting the Sunshine Protection Act.
The bill aims to make daylight saving time permanent, ending the twice-yearly clock changes.
Senators Rick Scott and Representative Vern Buchanan from Florida introduced the bill.
The Sunshine Protection Act is included in a larger transportation funding package.
President Donald Trump publicly praised the committee’s vote on Thursday.
Daylight saving time currently involves changing clocks forward in spring and back in fall.
Making daylight saving time permanent would eliminate these seasonal clock changes.
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Funding for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and border patrol was blocked due to disagreements over a $1 billion proposal for security upgrades to President Donald Trump’s White House ballroom and a separate $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. Some Republican senators are worried that spending taxpayer money on these projects could upset voters before the midterm elections.
Key Facts
The US Senate will not pass the $70 billion immigration and security funding bill before the June 1 deadline set by President Trump.
Republican lawmakers object to using taxpayer money for Trump’s “East Wing modernization” ballroom project.
There is controversy over a $1.8 billion fund critics call a “slush fund” to compensate Trump allies related to a dropped IRS lawsuit.
President Trump argues the ballroom security improvements are necessary for national security.
Some Senate Republicans fear voter backlash due to rising living costs and these spending decisions.
The article also mentions other actions by the Trump administration, such as firing health leaders and changing EPA rules, but the primary focus is on the stalled funding bill.
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President Donald Trump announced the US will send 5,000 more troops to Poland, a week after the Pentagon canceled a planned deployment of 4,000 troops there. The move reflects the US relationship with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, though details on the deployment remain unclear.
Key Facts
President Trump said the US will send 5,000 additional troops to Poland.
This announcement came after the Pentagon canceled plans to send 4,000 troops to Poland.
Trump cited his support for Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki, who he backed in last year’s election.
The White House plans to reduce overall US troop numbers in Europe as part of an "America First" policy.
Earlier, the US announced it would withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany following disagreements with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
It is unclear if the troops going to Poland are from those withdrawn from Germany or a separate group.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the cancellation of the initial troop deployment was temporary and the US will keep a strong military presence in Poland.
Some Republican lawmakers criticized the troop withdrawal from Germany, fearing it could send the wrong message to Russia.
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The last group of Australian women and children linked to Islamic State are reportedly leaving a camp in Syria and may soon return to Australia. Some women could face terror-related charges, while the Australian government has said it will prosecute anyone who broke the law.
Key Facts
Seven women and 14 children, all Australian citizens, have left the al-Roj camp in north-east Syria heading toward Damascus.
This group travels with a Syrian government escort and is expected to book flights back to Australia soon.
One woman has a temporary exclusion order preventing her re-entry to Australia.
The group includes wives, widows, and children of Islamic State fighters, some held in the camp for over six years.
Previous groups of Australians have been repatriated from Syrian camps since 2019.
Some women arriving earlier were arrested and charged in Australia with offences such as joining terrorist organizations and slavery.
The al-Roj camp is controlled by Kurdish-led forces and is being closed before its handover to the Syrian government.
The Australian government states it does not assist returns but will prosecute those who committed offences under Australian law.
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The U.S. Justice Department has created a $1.7 billion fund to compensate people who say the Biden administration unfairly targeted them. Several allies of President Donald Trump, and many involved in the January 6 Capitol events, are preparing to apply for money from this fund.
Key Facts
The fund is called the "Anti-Weaponization Fund" and totals about $1.776 billion.
It aims to compensate those who say they were wrongly targeted by government actions during the Biden administration.
Mike Lindell, CEO of My Pillow and a Trump supporter, plans to apply for compensation for his employees.
Lindell claims his company lost $400 million due to lawsuits and investigations linked to the 2020 election.
The fund came about as part of a deal where President Trump dropped several lawsuits against government agencies, including a $10 billion suit against the IRS.
House Democrats criticize the fund, saying it is outside legal authority and unconstitutional.
An official process to submit claims will be established within 30 days by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who will also appoint five commissioners.
Some Senate Republicans worry the fund could harm their chances in upcoming elections.
Lawyers representing many January 6 defendants are preparing to file claims, expecting different compensation amounts depending on how severely clients were affected.
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Stephen Colbert hosted his final episode of "The Late Show," ending the show's 33-year run on CBS. The network said the decision to end the show was based on financial reasons during a tough time for late-night TV.
Key Facts
Stephen Colbert took over "The Late Show" in September 2015 after David Letterman retired.
The "Late Show" has been on CBS for 33 years.
CBS announced last summer that the show would end.
They said the cancellation was due to financial challenges in late-night television.
Fans queued outside the Ed Sullivan Theater to see Colbert’s last show.
Colbert’s final episode marked the end of the show’s long history on CBS.
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The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has published a detailed report analyzing why the party lost the 2024 election. The report reviews what went wrong and suggests changes to improve future election results.
Key Facts
The DNC released an autopsy report after the 2024 election loss.
The report examines reasons behind the election defeat.
It offers recommendations to strengthen the party's strategy.
CBS News political contributor Joel Payne explains the report.
The analysis is meant to help Democrats prepare for upcoming elections.
The report focuses on voting patterns and campaign effectiveness.
It addresses challenges faced by the Democratic party in 2024.
The full report is available through CBS News channels.
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House Republicans canceled a planned vote on a resolution that would limit President Donald Trump’s war powers and require ending the U.S. military conflict in Iran. The vote was postponed until June, and the resolution is expected to pass when lawmakers return.
Key Facts
House Republicans called off a vote on a war powers resolution targeting U.S. involvement in Iran.
The resolution aimed to force President Trump to end the military conflict in Iran.
House Democrats criticized the cancellation and said the war was reckless and lacked clear goals.
The vote was postponed until after the congressional recess in June.
Some Republicans, including Brian Fitzpatrick and Thomas Massie, support ending the war and expect the resolution to pass soon.
Thomas Massie recently lost a primary election to a Trump-backed candidate, partly due to his criticism of the war and role in releasing FBI files on Jeffrey Epstein.
Four Senate Republicans joined Democrats to advance the resolution, marking multiple attempts to move it forward in the Senate.
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The US Senate Republicans delayed a vote on a $72 billion immigration funding bill after disagreements over two issues linked to President Donald Trump. The disputes involved a $1.8 billion fund set up as part of a lawsuit settlement and a $1 billion request for a White House ballroom, which led to tension within Trump’s own party.
Key Facts
Senate Republicans postponed a vote on a $72 billion bill for immigration enforcement.
The Trump administration created a nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponisation” fund to compensate people treated unfairly by the government in a lawsuit settlement.
Critics say the lawsuit and the fund create a conflict of interest because Trump sued the IRS and settled with his own appointees.
Some Senate Republicans, including Senators Don Bacon and Thom Tillis, criticized the fund and expressed losing support for Trump.
Trump requested $1 billion in funds to build a White House ballroom, which he first said would not need taxpayer money.
Senate Republican leaders removed the ballroom funding from the bill to keep the immigration funding process simpler and possible through budget reconciliation.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the bill became more complicated because of these issues.
The House delayed a vote on a resolution requiring Trump to get congressional approval for a US-Israeli war against Iran until June.
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