By Brian Stelter, CNN

(CNN) — Stephen Colbert gained a little help from his friends and late-night rivals on Monday, his first night back on “The Late Show” since announcing that CBS is ending the legendary show.

NBC’s Jimmy Fallon, HBO’s John Oliver, and Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart were among the faces in the “Late Show” crowd during a spoof of the now-famous “Coldplay cam.”

The fellow comedians didn’t speak and they didn’t have to: Being there was the point.

The “Late Show” cancellation raised concerns about the future of late-night comedy — and about something bigger. Are big TV networks going to keep supporting political satire and free speech at a time when President Trump’s campaign of retribution is rattling corporate America?

“Some people see this show going away as a sign of something truly dire,” Colbert acknowledged Monday night.

“And while I am a big fan of me, I don’t necessarily agree with that statement,” he said. “Because we here at ‘The Late Show’ never saw our job as changing anything other than how you felt at the end of the day.”

He also made some jokes about CBS saying the show was ending for “purely financial” reasons. Through humor, he raised an eyebrow at news reports about the show becoming unprofitable, though he didn’t directly dispute that.

“Folks, I’m going to go ahead and say it: Cancel culture has gone too far,” he quipped.

After the “Coldplay cam” spoof, which was led by Lin-Manuel Miranda and “Weird Al” Yankovic, Colbert pretended that CBS had just cancelled the song because it lost money.

The cameos were a testament to Colbert’s long-lasting relationships in the TV industry. Fallon and his NBC colleague Seth Meyers were seated together. Bravo late-night host Andy Cohen sat with his best friend, CNN’s Anderson Cooper. Actors Adam Sandler and Christopher McDonald were there with Robert Smigel and his Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.

‘Fear and pre-compliance’?

Beyond the partisan arguments about whether anti-Trump comics are funny is a broader fear about institutions caving to Trump and removing room for dissent.

There is a long history of American TV networks giving comics space to poke politicians and even network executives in the eye, despite the potential ramifications. Fans feel that tradition is under threat now.

Outside the “Late Show” studio, the Ed Sullivan Theater, on Monday, pro-Colbert and anti-Trump protesters held up signs criticizing CBS for cancelling the show. One sign read, “Silencing comedians is no joke.” Another read, “Colbert forever.”

Stewart spoke out about it from his own television perch, “The Daily Show,” on Monday night. Both shows are owned by the same company, Paramount Global, which has been in a perilous political position in recent months. Colbert catapulted to fame on Stewart’s show twenty years ago; the two men have remained friends ever since; and Stewart is now an executive producer of Colbert’s “Late Show,” so he has some visibility into the situation.

“If you’re trying to figure out why Stephen’s show is ending, I don’t think the answer can be found in some smoking gun email or phone call from Trump to CBS executives, or in CBS’s QuickBooks spreadsheets on the financial health of late night,” Stewart said on-air.

“I think the answer in the fear and pre-compliance that is gripping all of America’s institutions at this very moment — institutions that have chosen not to fight the vengeful and vindictive actions of our pubic hair-doodling commander in chief,” he said.

Stewart, whose “Daily Show” contract expires at the end of this year, added, “This is not the moment to give in. I’m not giving in! I’m not going anywhere — I think.”

Stewart also had a profane message for Paramount and other media companies: “If you believe, as corporations or as networks, you can make yourselves so innocuous, that you can serve a gruel so flavorless that you will never again be on the boy king’s radar, why will anyone watch you, and you are f***ing wrong.”

The ‘agonizing’ decision

“The Late Show” has been a cornerstone of the CBS programming schedule for decades, so fans and industry followers were shocked when the network announced its cancellation last Thursday.

Top executives at CBS said it was an “agonizing” decision but one that was unrelated to “other matters happening at Paramount.” In other words, the merger.

Paramount has been attempting to merge with Skydance Media, which means billions of dollars and some big egos are on the line. However, the deal requires approval from the Trump administration, and the review process has been taking longer than usual, which has raised concerns about political interference.

Earlier this month, while Colbert and “The Late Show” were on a mid-summer break, Paramount settled Trump’s legally dubious lawsuit against CBS News by agreeing to pay $16 million toward his future presidential library.

The settlement was widely criticized, and Colbert joined the chorus when he returned from vacation last week, likening the payoff to a “big fat bribe.”

Two days after that telecast, Colbert was informed that CBS was retiring “The Late Show” franchise. The move will take effect next May, when Colbert’s contract expires and the broadcast TV season ends.

Colbert referred to the settlement again on Monday night’s show. He cited the media leaks indicating that the “Late Show” was losing “between $40 million and $50 million a year.”

“Forty million’s a big number,” Colbert said. “I could see us losing $24 million, but where would Paramount have possibly spent the other $16 million… oh, yeah.”

Meantime, the founding host of “The Late Show,” David Letterman, weighed in on the franchise’s retirement on Monday by publishing to his YouTube channel a 20-minute highlight reel of his past jokes about CBS. The video caption read: “You can’t spell CBS without BS.”

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Singapore has claimed the title of the world’s most powerful passport, offering visa-free access to 193 out of 227 destinations worldwide, according to the latest Henley Passport Index.

The annual ranking, based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ranks passports according to the number of destinations their holders can enter without requiring a prior visa.

Asian countries continue to lead the global mobility race, with Japan and South Korea tied for second place, each providing visa-free access to 190 destinations.

RELATED: Air Passenger Demand Grows in March: IATA

Europe rounds out the Top 5, with seven EU countries — Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain — sharing third place with access to 189 destinations.

Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden follow closely behind in fourth with 188.

New Zealand, the only non-European country in the Top 5 outside of Asia, ties for fifth with Greece and Switzerland.

RELATED: Power of the Canadian Passport Slips

At the bottom of the ranking is Afghanistan, whose citizens can access just 25 countries without a visa — a gap of 168 destinations compared to Singapore.

India Climbs, U.S. Slips

India recorded the most significant jump in the latest rankings, climbing eight spots to 77th place — despite adding just two new destinations to its visa-free list, now at 59.

Saudi Arabia saw the largest gain in terms of visa-free access, adding four destinations to reach a total of 91 and moving up to 54th place.

The United Kingdom and United States have each dropped a spot since January.

RELATED: The Most (and Least) Powerful Passports of 2025

The UK now ranks 6th with 186 visa-free destinations, while the U.S. ranks 10th with access to 182 — its lowest position since the index began.

“The U.S. is now on the brink of exiting the Top 10 altogether for the first time in the index’s 20-year history,” the report stated.

Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, creator of the Henley Passport Index, says global mobility is increasingly earned through diplomacy.

RELATED: Alaska Airlines Cutting Flights Due to Trump Tariffs

“The consolidation we’re seeing at the top underscores that access is earned — and must be maintained — through active and strategic diplomacy,” he said.

“Nations that proactively negotiate visa waivers and nurture reciprocal agreements continue to rise, while the opposite applies to those that are less engaged in such efforts.”

UAE and China Redefining Passport Power

According to the report, more than 80 passports have improved by at least 10 positions over the past decade, with the average number of visa-free destinations nearly doubling — from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2025.

The United Arab Emirates stands out as the biggest success story, rising 34 places in 10 years to land at 8th, with visa-free access to 186 destinations.

China also gained 34 spots since 2015, now ranking 60th. While China has not yet secured visa-free access to the Schengen Area, it has significantly increased its openness to visitors — expanding visa-free entry from fewer than 20 countries five years ago to 75 today.

RELATED: US President Donald Trump Unveils New Travel Ban

Recent additions to China’s visa-free list include all Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, as well as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. These efforts have supported China’s tourism ambitions and contributed to the overall strength of Asian passports.

Travel Demand Growing, Especially in Asia-Pacific

According to IATA, global demand for air travel rose 5.8% in the first five months of 2025.

Asia-Pacific airlines led the way with 9.5% growth, fueled in part by strong regional mobility and easing visa policies.

“Importantly, despite economic and geopolitical uncertainties, consumer confidence appears to be strong,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

“Robust forward bookings for the peak Northern summer travel season give good reason for optimism.”

Traditional Powers Lose Their Edge

While many countries are seeing gains, 16 passports have fallen in rank over the past decade.

The most significant drop came from Venezuela, which fell 15 places to 45th.

RELATED: International Visitors Surge to Mexico During US Trump Slump

The U.S., UK, Vanuatu, and Canada also saw notable declines, with Canada dropping four places.

Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, says this trend is reshaping the investment migration landscape.

“Americans are now leading the demand worldwide for alternative residence and citizenship options, with British nationals also among the top five globally,” he said.

“Your passport is no longer just a travel document — it’s a reflection of your country’s diplomatic influence and international relationships.”

“In an era of growing inequality and mounting geopolitical uncertainty, strategic mobility and citizenship planning are more critical than ever,” he added.

Complete 2025 Henley Passport Index here.

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By Lisa Respers France, CNN

(CNN) — As she sings on “I’m Real,” Jennifer Lopez assures you what you see is what you get when it comes to her skin.

The actress and singer answered questions from followers in a video posted on her JLo Beauty Skincare account. Lopez addressed some comments, including praise for her moisturizer for feeling “like silk” and a complaint that her brand is too expensive.

But it was the question, “Do you use this every day or just when the cameras are on?” which tickled Lopez.

“That’s funny because I’m standing in my actual bathroom right now,” she said. “No, I use it. I use it every day.”

Lopez is not new to this beauty game.

She launched JLo Beauty in 2021.

Last year, she shared with Who What Where an important part of her routine.

“I’ve worn sunscreen every day since my early 20s, and I really, truly believe it is the key to keeping youthful-looking skin,” she said at the time.

In the recently shared video, Lopez said another question she gets a lot is, “Will this make me look like J. Lo?”

Sorry, people. While the products may help Lopez look like “the best version” of herself, she kept it real and encouraged customers to aim for the best version of themselves.

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By Christian Olaniran

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HARFORD COUNTY, Maryland (WJZ) — A Maryland woman has been sentenced to 180 years for setting a Harford County town home on fire, which killed three of her roommates and another woman, according to the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Bobbie Sue Hodge, 66, was found guilty of four counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree assault.

On May 9, 2019, around 2:30 a.m., firefighters responded to a residential fire at 1962 Simons Court in Edgewood.

The fire crews extinguished the fire and rescued occupants. Three residents died due to smoke inhalation and thermal injuries, while a fourth was rescued by firefighters but succumbed to her injuries eight months later, the State’s Attorney’s Office said.

During an investigation, officials learned Hodge lived in a room in the basement of the residence and had escaped the fire fully clothed with her belongings and personal documents.

They also learned Hodge was going to be evicted from the home, repeatedly left the kitchen stove on, and made comments that she should burn the home down.

Witnesses also reported spotting Hodge moving away from a couch on the second floor as the fire started.

The cause of the fire was determined to be incendiary, resulting from deliberate acts of introducing an open flame to combustibles.

Five other adjacent townhomes were also damaged as a result of the fire.

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By Kevin Rothstein

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BOSTON, Massachusetts (WCVB) — With no resolution in sight, the Massachusetts court crisis caused by bar advocates’ work stoppage is set to escalate this week as criminal defendants continue to go without legal representation.

In a new filing, the Committee for Public Counsel said there were 101 juvenile defendants, including one in the custody of the Department of Youth Services, who did not have legal representation as of July 18, raising the possibility that those cases could be dismissed. The juvenile cases are in Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Middlesex, Norfolk and Suffolk counties.

That comes on top of what the courts said in a filing Friday was a coming legal and logistical crisis. The filing, made by the state attorney general’s office representing several courts, warns that there is an enormous number of hearings that are needed soon for defendants still without attorneys to decide whether their criminal charges should be dismissed. The number of hearings is so great that the courts are asking for additional judges.

Boston Municipal Court expects about 130 cases to be heard for dismissal Tuesday and another 225 cases to be heard on Aug. 5. Other district courts, including in Middlesex County, estimate there are 447 defendants who will need hearings soon so a judge can decide whether to dismiss their charges.

The flurry of legal filings is the latest development in a constitutional crisis caused by the work stoppage of bar advocates, private attorneys who are appointed to represent indigent defendants. The advocates argue they are not being paid enough by the state.

The stoppage led the state’s highest court, the Supreme Judicial Court, earlier this month to enact an emergency measure known as the Lavallee Protocol to deal with defendants who did not have representation.

As part of the protocol, any defendant who has been in custody without counsel for seven days must be released. It also requires cases against defendants who have been without representation for 45 days to be dismissed, at least temporarily.

Since the protocol was put into place in Suffolk and Middlesex counties, 23 criminal defendants have been released from custody.

The 45-day deadline approaching for hundreds of defendants is what prompted the trial courts to request additional judges.

Under the procedures currently in place, one judge in each county has been designated to hear these cases. On Monday morning, the high court allowed that process to be amended, giving the counties leeway to add more judges and courtrooms to handle the growing number of cases.

In a statement on the eve of the hearings, a spokesman for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said:

“Since the beginning of this work stoppage our prosecutors have done their utmost to oppose the release of serious offenders. The 45-day mark represents a significant escalation in the threat to public safety, with cases involving serious assaults, domestic violence and other high-level offenses up for potential dismissal. The danger is only going to expand and compound as the stoppage drags on and additional defendants are released.”

A raise for bar advocates was not included in the state budget recently passed by lawmakers. According to the Senate Ways and Means Committee, what the lawyers are asking for amounts to a nearly 54% increase. Leaders on Beacon Hill said threats to federal funding have already required cuts in spending.

Gov. Maura Healey has expressed concern about the ongoing work stoppage, but has stopped short of saying whether her office would get involved to end it.

“It’s a matter of public safety, it’s also a matter of due process, and people are entitled to representation,” Healey said last week. “I continue to call for a swift resolution here so we can get beyond this so that people can be protected in court with counsel, and also that public safety is protected.”

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