Shares of Paramount are set to open higher Friday after long-awaited FCC approval for its merger erased a big question mark hovering over the company's future, but amid ongoing uncertainty about its strategic plans under Skydance Media.

Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart unloaded on their corporate bosses and Donald Trump this week, but that turned out to be just the appetizer. "South Park" delivered the entrée, brutalizing Paramount Global and the president with the irreverent,

Plus, Hulk Hogan, the pro wrestler who brought the sport to new heights of mainstream popularity, died at the age of 71.

"New York Times" White House correspondent Peter Baker on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" expressed his displeasure with the Trump administration for approving the Skydance-Paramount merger. JOE SCARBOROUGH, HOST: It took a while.

McCarthy became co-CEO of Paramount, alongside George Cheeks and Brian Robbins, in April 2024. The trio took on the role after the ouster of Bob Bakish as the company was in its first round of negotiations with Skydance. McCarthy is also president of Showtime/MTV Entertainment and oversees the company’s streaming platforms Paramount+ and Pluto TV.

In addition to telling time, smartwatches can track your steps, heart rate, blood pressure and sleeping patterns. Now, a smartwatch has helped search and rescue teams locate a small plane after it crashed into the dense forests near West Yellowstone, Montana. Here’s what else you need to know to get up to speed and on with your day.

A Justice Department official met with Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. How close were Trump and Epstein? Trump’s friendship with the late sex offender began in the 1980s, but it soured in the 2000s. Scroll through the fascinating timeline here.