Good Morning. Late night's top-rated host just got canceled, and his next gig is writing Lord of the Rings. We break down Colbert's final bow.
Plus, a $250M fraud sentence, a 1,000-watt hiking exoskeleton, and a record weight-loss drug (forwarded this email? Join 523k readers).
TOP STORY TODAY
Colbert Signs Off
Stephen Colbert hosted his final CBS "Late Show" last night, ending a more than two-decade run in late night and retiring a franchise David Letterman launched in 1993. CBS announced the cancellation months ago, calling it a financial decision (NYT).
Colbert was the highest-rated host in his time slot for most of his tenure. His two shows tracked two political eras: the character-driven "Colbert Report" that parodied cable punditry from 2005, and "The Late Show," which leaned openly political and pulled ahead of "The Tonight Show" after 2017.
His next project marks a sharp turn. Colbert, a longtime Tolkien devotee, is writing a script for a Peter Jackson "Lord of the Rings" film, trading nightly political comedy for Middle-Earth. Watch Colbert’s final monologue here.
$250M Fraud
A federal judge sentenced Aimee Bock, former head of the Minnesota nonprofit Feeding Our Future, to roughly 42 years in prison yesterday. She was convicted last year of masterminding a $250 million scheme, the largest pandemic-era fraud case in the country.
The 500-month sentence came with an order to repay $242 million. The judge said Bock acted as a gatekeeper, planned the scheme, and committed perjury at trial. Prosecutors had sought 50 years; her attorney requested three.
Nearly 80 people have been charged since 2022, with more than 60 convicted so far. Federal officials announced charges against 15 additional defendants the same day. Only about $50 million has been recovered. Court filings detail Bock leaking documents from jail.
NASCAR Mourns Kyle Busch
NASCAR driver Kyle Busch died yesterday at 41, the sport, his family, and Richard Childress Racing announced in a joint statement. He had been hospitalized earlier that day with a severe illness. No cause of death was given.
Busch won more races than any driver across NASCAR's three national series, including a record 102 in the Xfinity tier and 69 in trucks. He took Cup Series titles in 2015 and 2019, ranking ninth all-time with 63 Cup wins across 22 seasons.
Known as "Rowdy" for his aggressive style, Busch had been set to race the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte three days later. He is survived by his wife Samantha and their two children. Kyle Busch's Top 10 NASCAR Moments.
TOGETHER WITH 80,000 HOURS
A guide to finding a fulfilling career that does good.
You have about 80,000 hours in your career: 40 hours a week, 50 weeks a year, for 40 years.
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Choose poorly and you risk decades of meaningless, soul-sucking work.
80,000 Hours is the first book to explore what the research actually says about which careers have an impact.
Based on over a decade of research from the nonprofit of the same name, founder Benjamin Todd introduces a framework that's already helped thousands change paths.
Out 26 May — get your copy here.
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TODAY’S LIFE ADVICE
Make This Long Weekend Count
Memorial Day 2026 lands Monday, May 25. Most people treat it as the first cookout of summer and forget the rest. Here's how to get more out of all three days.
Three moves worth making:
Hit the 3 p.m. pause. A National Moment of Remembrance runs nationwide at 3 p.m. local. Stop for 60 seconds, kids included. It anchors the whole weekend.
Get outside early. Many national parks waive entry on the holiday. Pick a trail, lake, or local parade before the afternoon fills up.
Name one person. Visit a cemetery, plant a flag, or just say a fallen service member's name at the table. That's the entire point of the day.
The cookout runs itself: one protein, charred corn with lime, a cooler people raid themselves. Here’s the perfect smash burger (and common mistakes).
A 15-Minute Side That Steals the Show
Forget the potato salad. This watermelon caprese is the sweet-salty plate everyone circles back to, and it takes 15 minutes with zero stove time.
Slice a small watermelon into half-inch squares.
Slice a mozzarella ball the same thickness.
On a platter, alternate watermelon and mozzarella, then sprinkle with fresh basil, flaky sea salt, and cracked pepper.
Finish with a drizzle of good olive oil and balsamic glaze. Serve right away.
Two rules: use a ripe melon and decent mozzarella, since five ingredients leave nowhere to hide. Prefer a tossed salad? Cube it all instead.
Got leftover watermelon? Freeze it for margaritas. Here's the full recipe.
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▲ Eli Lilly posts record 85-pound weight loss for triple-agonist drug, FDA filing expected this year
TOGETHER WITH PEAK SAUNAS
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Fun Links
Elon Musk, the world’s first trillionaire? [Blog]
Harrison Ford at the Actor’s Roundtable [Video]
Mental health benefits from chores [Blog]
Logan Roy-approved focus music [Music]
Why progressives defend prostitution [WSJ]
Vogue’s 73 questions with Adele [Video]
A guide to finding a fulfilling career [Book*]
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