“None of the above” trounced all other choices when a national poll asked U.S adult citizens to name “the best” late-night comedian on TV - yet another sign of viewers’ growing disdain for the hateful political commentary that has replaced entertainment. In a national survey conducted May 15-18, 2026, The Economist/YouGov asked: “Who do you think is the best late-night comedian on TV?” Fully 38% chose “None of the above” – three times the number who selected any of the top-rated hosts on NBC (Jimmy Fallon), CBS (Stephen Colbert), ABC (Jimmy Kimmel) and Fox News Channel (Greg Gutfeld), all of whom ended up in a virtual tie, garnering 11%-13% of the vote. Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart (8%) and HBO’s John Oliver (5%) drew single-digit percentages of the vote for best late-night comedian.  Former late-night host James Corden was named by 1% of those polled. The popularity of “none” is emblematic of the long-term trend of viewers losing interest in late-night shows. Taken together, late-night talk shows have not been profitable since 2022, with losses steadily increasing each year, according to analysis by LateNighter: “In 2015, the typical 11:30pm talk show brought in well over $200 million in revenue and made a healthy profit. By 2023, the same show was underwater, and by 2025, losses are well into the tens of millions of dollars—even with cost controls that have been put into place by most of the major shows in recent years.” “As for how we got here, the story begins and ends with the decline in linear ratings,” LateNighter explained, citing Nielsen Live+7 data: “CBS’s The Late Show, NBC’s The Tonight Show, and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!—have seen declines of 70–80% in the key 18–49 demographic since 2015. That year marked the beginning of a new era: Colbert took over from David Letterman, Fallon had just succeeded Jay Leno, and Kimmel had moved up to 11:35pm.” Across all demographics, Forbes reports that NBC has been the biggest loser of broadcast network late-night audiences over the last decade since the 2015-2016 season, Jimmy Fallon’s average “Tonight Show” audience has fallen 64% from 3.6 million viewers to 1.3 million in 2025. In 2016, Republican President Donald Trump began his first term in office, prompting many liberal late-night hosts to abandon actual comedy for increasingly hate-filled political attacks masquerading as humor, potentially alienating about half of the nation’s late-night viewers. Kimmel, for example, was suspended last September for making false and malicious comments on his show regarding the assassination of conservative Charlie Kirk. Even before he was pulled, about three-fourths of adults weren’t watching “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” At the time, less than half (43%) of adults said they had a “favorable opinion” of Kimmel, including a minority (45%) of Independents and just 12% of Republicans. Among Democrats, however, 76% viewed Kimmel favorably. What’s more, Kimmel’s ratings had fallen in each of the past 12 years. Meanwhile, CBS has announced that Colbert’s show is canceled as of May 21 of this year, which the network says is “due to purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.” “The timing, of course, is impossible to ignore. Colbert has been a known thorn in the side of Donald Trump,” LateNighter notes. Results reported this week by The Economist/YouGov reveal notable difference in late-night host preferences based on age, race and party identification. Younger adults were the most likely to say “None of the above,” with nearly half (46%) of those 18-29 making this choice, along with 42% of the advertiser-coveted 30-44 cohort.  In contrast, roughly a third of those 45-64 (34%) and 65+ (31%) didn’t name a host, opting instead for “none.” Greg Gutfeld, host of Fox News Channel’s late-night show on cable, was the most-popular late-night comedian among White adults (17%), while Kimmel was most-often selected as the best by both Blacks (27%) and Hispanics (17%). By party, just 20% of Democrats said “none,” compared to half (49%) of Republicans and 40% of Independents. Colbert (23%) and Kimmel (22%) were rated the best among Democrats, while Gutfeld topped all other hosts with Republicans (30%).

After calling for an armed “rebellion” against President Trump earlier in the week, ABC News co-host Sunny Hostin boasted about Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) plan to have black college athletes boycott their scholarships to southern schools. The View co-host touted how it would cause “economic damage and economic harm” to the south. Meanwhile, faux conservative Alyssa Farah Griffin called it “a very good idea” and noted, “the economy would crumble.” All as revenge for redistricting. After playing a soundbite of Jeffries announcing his plan, moderator Whoopi Goldberg didn’t seem to be a big fan of it. She wondered if it was putting to much of a burden on students who were trying to better their lives: GOLDBERG: So this could have a huge impact on college sports programs in the south. But is it putting a little too much burden on the students, because if you are someone who has just, you know, you getting to go to college and this is the school that's said ‘yes’ to you -- BEHAR: On scholarship, right? GOLDBERG: Maybe on a scholarship. Hostin was fine with the Jeffries’ idea because “you know, athletes have been involved in protests and politics for a long time.” She acknowledged that there was a lot on the line for the students because they “stand to get a free education, they stand to make money because of the NIL now.” Yet still, she argued that it would be better for them to give that up because of the damage and harm it would cause to red states.   Sunny Hostin boasts about the "economic damage and economic harm" Hakeem Jeffries wants to do to the south with his plan to have black students boycott their university athletic scholarships. Alyssa Farah Griffin calls it "a very good idea" because "the economy would crumble":… pic.twitter.com/KsW7ifDpvU — Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) May 20, 2026   “I think it's economic damage and economic harm has longtime been a very effective tool in the civil rights movement,” she proclaimed. Seemingly to encourage young athletes to take part in the boycott, Hostin suggested that the athletes were “the top of the top and so they're going to have a lot of other choices.” She also told them to think of themselves as Kylin Hill of Ole Miss: And I would suggest that if you think about Ole Miss, there was -- I think a running back, his name is, yeah, it was a running back. His name was Kylin Hill. He played at Ole Miss. You know, Ole Miss brings in a lot of money. He vowed not to play unless the state changed the confederate flag. The Confederate flag came down months later. Because college sports brings in so much money. Neither of Hostin’s two children were attending college on an athletics scholarship. “In theory, I think it's a very good idea! Let’s talk macro! If all black Americans boycotted any industry, it would -- the economy would crumble,” touted Farah Griffin in response, before agreeing with Goldberg: “but it's putting, in my mind, too much onus on the young people who did not create the problem that we’re in.” For her part, co-host Joy Behar ridiculously compared the situation to the Vietnam War. “Well, like teenagers, they're teenagers and they're going to have to give up a lot. The Vietnam War was basically halted by teenagers,” she suggested. Adding: “So, I'm not saying it's a great idea or it's not a great idea, I'm just pointing out it is young people who change the world.” So just like with Vietnam, Behar and Hostin would have other peoples’ teenagers make the sacrifice for their political cause. Maybe they should change the lyrics of Fortunate Son to “It ain't me, it ain't me. I ain't no View host's son, son.” The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read: ABC’s The View May 20, 2026 11:14:46 a.m. Eastern (…) WHOOPI GOLDBERG: So this could have a huge impact on college sports programs in the south. But is it putting a little too much burden on the students, because if you are someone who has just, you know, you getting to go to college and this is the school that's said ‘yes’ to you -- BEHAR: On scholarship, right? GOLDBERG: Maybe on a scholarship. SUNNY HOSTIN: Also there is money for athletes - for athletes now with the NIL BEHAR: What do you think? You think it’s too much or a burden on them? GOLDBERG: You know, I think it's really going to become a case-by-case basis because I don't know how many schools we're talking about. I don't know how many athletes we're talking about and I don't know this is the best way. It can be part of a bigger picture but I don't know if this is the only way to go. HOSTIN: Well, I agree with you on that I think there has to be strategy. I mean, you know, athletes have been involved in protests and politics for a long time. GOLDBERG: Yeah. HOSTIN: Remember the Olympics and you had [raises fist in the air] John Carlos and you had Muhammad Ali but these were athletes that were established already. These college athletes stand to get a free education, they stand to make money because of the NIL now, so I think it is asking a lot. But, I think it's economic damage and economic harm has longtime been a very effective tool in the civil rights movement. BEHAR: Resistance has a price. Let me give you some history. GOLDBERG: Yes, do. BEHAR: Well, like teenagers, they're teenagers and they're going to have to give up a lot. The Vietnam War was basically halted by teenagers. HOSTIN: Correct. BEHAR: Because it was 17 and 18-year-old kids who were going to go and fight this crazy war that they were doing. So, I'm not saying it's a great idea or it's not a great idea, I'm just pointing out it is young people who change the world. HOSTIN: If there's structure though don't you think this could possibly work? Because we're talking about just the state schools, Whoopi, we’re not talking about the SEC. The conference. FARAH GRIFFIN: Oh, that’s an important distinction. GOLDBERG: That's important to know. HOSTIN: So, we're talking about 13 schools. These kids are the top of the top and so they're going to have a lot of other choices. And I would suggest that if you think about Ole Miss, there was -- I think a running back, his name is, yeah, it was a running back. His name was Kylin Hill. He played at Ole Miss. You know, Ole Miss brings in a lot of money. He vowed not to play unless the state changed the confederate flag. The Confederate flag came down months later. Because college sports brings in so much money. FARAH GRIFFIN: In theory, I think it's a very good idea! Let’s talk macro! If all black Americans boycotted any industry, it would -- the economy would crumble. Arts, music, doctors, everything. Of course, that is a powerful way to protest but it's putting, in my mind, too much onus on the young people who did not create the problem that we’re in. (…)

Dave Itzkoff is a former culture reporter for The New York Times, but he's still dabbling as their Saturday Night Live correspondent. At the end of Season 51, "Ditzkoff" (his X handle) naturally loved the liberal-pleasing comedy bits in his "Best of SNL" list.  First, Ditz loves the horrendous Colin Jost impression of Pete Hegseth, which has all the comic panache of a guy who's watched Revenge of the Nerds a few too many times. Jost probably screams "Boooger!" into the mirror eight times in his dressing room before heading to the stage.  Recurring character of the season There are few comedians as good at impersonating President Trump as James Austin Johnson is, but does every cold open have to feature this character? It seemed like “S.N.L.” was going to test this theory, until it was handed a strange gift. After more than 20 years at the show, a dozen of them as an anchor at the "Weekend Update" desk, Colin Jost turned out to have just the right mixture of preppy looks and fratty rage to play Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, an increasingly visible figure during the invasion of Venezuela and the war in Iran. Like a shot of beer with a pint of whiskey dropped into it, Jost gave the cold opens a whole new flavor. Glad to see things are finally going his way. Let's agree that James Austin Johnson does a good impression of Trump and is actually funny doing it -- he speaks in perfect Trump-speak, and not every sentence sounds like a Bluesky bleat. In other words, he's the polar opposite of Alec "Shooter" Baldwin, who could only channel all his inner rage at Trump and call it an impression. That's the same spirit that Jost seems to be using.  Then there's Jeremy Culhane's Tucker Carlson -- it's a good impression, but it's performed from some sort of comedy time capsule, channeling the Fox News-hosting version of Carlson from about five years ago. Apparently, Team NBC doesn't want to mock the current Tucker, the Israel-hating conspiracist that Mark Levin calls "Qatarlson." Weekend Update desk character of the season In his rookie year on “S.N.L.”, Jeremy Culhane, a frequent face on the online comedy platform Dropout, has made entire meals out of seemingly single-serving Weekend Update characters: For example, Mr. On Blast, who punctuates his emphatic opinions with air-keyboard flourishes and entire dance routines. But Culhane’s pièce de résistance was his strangely hypnotic impression of Tucker Carlson, the conservative media personality, whom the actor successfully summed up with an adenoidal laugh and a few repeated conspiratorial turns of phrase. (“That’s the rule. That’s the goal now.”) And for good measure, we'll throw in Ditzkoff's love for a skit about a MAGA mom having second thoughts about Trump, but her liberal children are having trouble accepting her journey off the Trump trail.  Sketch of the season In the parlance of an earlier “S.N.L.” era, “Mom Confession” had everything: an inherently political conceit (conservative mother gingerly voices her regret about voting for Trump, and her liberal children freak out); clever camouflage to wrap this premise in the gentle guise of a family gathering; and — oh yes — the perfect, patient timing of Ashley Padilla to make said mom an instantly memorable (and meme-able) character.  The Times writer called this a "classic" as he began:  This year, in Season 51, with none of those [50-year anniversary] distractions to worry about, “S.N.L.” got back to the bits, characters and talent that make it what it is. It found clever ways to satirize the Trump administration without making President Trump the focal point of every segment, minting at least one classic sketch in the process.

The U.S. Department of Justice says Cuban ex-dictator Raul Castro has been indicted on charges related to the shooting down of two planes in international waters.Castro, 94, ruled over the communist government in the island nation until 2018 after his brother, revolutionary icon Fidel Castro, passed over control in 2008 over his health issues. Fidel Castro died in 2016 at the age of 90.'If you kill Americans, we will pursue you. No matter who you are. No matter what title you hold.'In an indictment unsealed Wednesday, the U.S. government charged that the surviving Castro should be held criminally responsible for the deaths of American citizens.On Feb. 24, 1996, the Cuban government fired upon and shot down two unarmed U.S. civilian aircraft, killing four Americans who were on a rescue mission, according to the indictment."For the first time in nearly 70 years, senior leadership of the Cuban regime has been charged in the United States for alleged acts of violence resulting in the deaths of American citizens," reads a statement from acting Attorney General Todd Blanche."President Trump and this Justice Department are committed to restoring a simple principle: if you kill Americans, we will pursue you. No matter who you are. No matter what title you hold."The four Americans were working with Hermanos al Rescate, or Brothers to the Rescue, a humanitarian operation that sought to aid Cubans trying to flee the communist regime.The DOJ alleges that the organization was infiltrated by communist agents who provided information to the Cuban military in order to plan the attack on the planes.The indictment alleges charges of conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, two counts of destruction of aircraft, and four counts of murder.In addition to Castro, the indictment also names five other Cuban officials who are allegedly partly responsible for killing the Americans.RELATED: 'I can do anything I want with it': Trump confirms he's eying another country for the 'taking' The U.S. nationals killed in the operation were Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre Jr., Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales."For 30 years these families have waited for answers — and this FBI never forgot," FBI Director Kash Patel said. "We will continue working with our Justice Department partners to bring to justice those who attacked our civilians."The defendants face a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment on the murder and conspiracy charges if convicted, the DOJ said.In response to the indictment, current Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez claimed in Spanish: "On February 24, 1996, Cuba acted in legitimate self-defense within its jurisdictional waters, following repeated and dangerous violations of our airspace by notorious terrorists — a fact of which the U.S. administration at the time was alerted on more than a dozen occasions, yet it ignored the warnings and allowed those violations to continue."Whether Castro and the other defendants will be extradited to the United States to face the charges is unclear. Blanche said of Castro: "There was a warrant issued for his arrest. So we expect that he will show up here, by his own will or by another way."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

BlazeTV host Jason Whitlock is sounding off on what he believes is one of the most revealing stories in modern sports: the Dallas Wings’ recent draft decision.According to Whitlock, the WNBA team prioritized cultural narratives and personal relationships over talent, as the LGBTQ agenda appears to always outweigh merit these days.“This should have been the biggest story in sports because it helps you understand just how fake and gay everything is in the sports world and who is actually controlling the sports world,” Whitlock explains.“The Dallas Wings drafted Paige Buecker’s girlfriend, number one overall, over Olivia Miles,” he says.“Azzi Fudd is Paige Buecker’s college girlfriend and current girlfriend,” he continues, pointing out the “organization’s run so unprofessionally” and is “dominated by the alphabet mafia and the LGBTQIA+.”“This is the equivalent of them drafting Azzi Fudd to satisfy Paige Bueckers and this gay love affair between these two and their promotion of this alphabet mafia LGBTQ agenda. They’re so invested and deep off into that, that they would pass up a far superior player who could help them win a championship so they would stay on narrative,” he says.“And the media isn’t allowed to discuss this,” he adds.Whitlock believes Miles is the “far superior player,” and calls the draft pick “the equivalent of the Portland Trailblazers taking Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan.”“If we weren’t all living in fear of the alphabet mafia, if fake and gay wasn’t dominating all of the sports world and all of America, you’d think that would be a story,” he adds.Want more from Jason Whitlock?To enjoy more fearless conversations at the crossroads of culture, faith, sports, and comedy with Jason Whitlock, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

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