Today's five.

The Democratic National Committee released its full, unredacted autopsy of the 2024 presidential election Thursday after months of mounting pressure on DNC Chair Ken Martin, who had kept the report secret, citing a need to maintain party unity and focus on the 2026 midterms. Martin released the document alongside an apology but said he did not personally endorse its findings. The report, authored by veteran Democratic strategist Paul Rivera, omits mention of Gaza or Joe Biden's age — notable gaps that drew immediate criticism. Former DNC Vice Chair David Hogg was among senior Democrats who publicly blasted Martin's handling of the matter, and the episode has triggered a broader crisis of confidence in his leadership as the party continues to debate what went wrong in 2024.

Hundreds of fans lined up outside the Ed Sullivan Theater in Manhattan for Stephen Colbert's final episode of *The Late Show*, with some hoping to get inside and others simply seeking a glimpse of the occasion. The turnout, which included at least one person dressed as a pope, marked the end of a late-night franchise that ran on CBS for 33 years — first under David Letterman, who held the role for three decades before retiring in 2015, and then under Colbert. CBS announced last summer that the show would be cancelled, citing the decision as financial amid a challenging environment for late-night television.

The Justice Department's newly announced $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund," intended to compensate those who allege they were wrongly targeted under the Biden administration, is already drawing legal scrutiny and a flood of potential applicants. Jan. 6 defendants, Trump allies including My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell and Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, and figures such as George Santos, Mark McCloskey, and Rod Blagojevich have expressed interest in seeking compensation. Legal analysts have raised serious concerns about the fund's structure, describing the settlement agreement as "practically a blank check" and questioning whether it complies with federal appropriations law. The arrangement's legal footing remains contested, with critics arguing it sidesteps established constitutional limits on how public funds are disbursed.

Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion widely regarded as one of the sport's greatest competitors, died Thursday at age 41 following a severe illness. His family announced his hospitalization earlier that day, noting he would not compete in the scheduled weekend race in Charlotte, North Carolina. No cause of death was given. NASCAR confirmed the news in a statement, expressing condolences to Busch's family, Richard Childress Racing, and the broader motorsports community. Busch was in his 22nd full-time NASCAR season and had recorded 63 Cup Series victories. His death marks a significant loss for the sport at a moment when he remained an active competitor.

Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will pay $485,000 to former biologist Brittney Brown, who was fired in September after reposting a meme on her personal Instagram account following the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The meme claimed Kirk would not have cared about children being shot in classrooms. FWC Executive Director Roger Young agreed to the settlement Thursday, averting a federal trial. Brown had filed suit seeking reinstatement and damages, citing difficulty finding other employment after her termination. The settlement raises broader questions about the limits of public employees' free speech rights on personal social media accounts.