Last Night on Late Night

Jimmy Kimmel covers Donald Trump’s proposal to turn his Florida golf club into a Camp David-style presidential retreat, his remarks about Iran targeting Los Angeles and San Diego, and Don Jr.’s reimbursed wedding trip. He also marks Fox News’ 30th anniversary before defending Guillermo’s unlikely Dancing with the Stars run from online critics.

A Closer Look examines Donald Trump’s expansive view of presidential power, allies urging him to take control of federal elections, and his refusal to rule out using the Insurrection Act. Seth Meyers also revisits Trump’s suggestion that Iran could attack Los Angeles and San Diego, framing the remarks as part of a broader pattern of incoherence and authoritarian posturing.

Michael Kosta covers a possible plague outbreak linked to a Russian research institute, abandoned mines causing sinkholes, and recalls involving contaminated frozen foods. Josh Johnson then joins him to argue that Americans would resist another quarantine, recalling the social isolation and strange coping habits of the COVID era.

Jimmy Fallon covers Democrats’ favorable midterm polling and the White House’s refusal to admit international election monitors, followed by a chaotic analyst bit about key races. The monologue also targets the Trump Mobile data breach, spoofs former representative Haley Stevens’ exuberant TMZ interview, and riffs on a string of vehicle, drink, and appliance recalls.

Jessica Chastain promotes the horror movie Other Mommy, opening Friday, and explains how she created the character’s painfully tense but inviting smile before coaching Jimmy Kimmel through it. She also recounts driving eight people around the Grand Canyon in a rented RV, including a foul-smelling gray water mistake and a welcome final night at a hotel.

Ben Affleck promotes Animals, a kidnapping thriller he directed and stars in, and recalls the fear and migraines surrounding his first directing job. He explains how Richard Linklater inspired his collaborative approach to actors’ dialogue, jokes about trying to look convincing while jogging on camera, and says his children are most impressed that he became a meme.

Sebastian Stan discusses Fjord, a film about a Romanian immigrant family fighting to regain its children after cultural and religious conflict brings them under scrutiny. He describes the project as a healing reconnection with Romania, argues for curiosity and compassion across differences, and reflects on fatherhood, emotionally constrained men, and choosing difficult roles with purpose.

Rosalía discusses the success of her album LUX and sold-out LUX Tour, including the lighter confession segments she uses to balance the show’s solemn songs. She recalls Bono asking her about invented Spanish for U2’s song “The Mirror Maker (Rosalía)” and tells how a carefully planned church visit ended with her being turned away because it was full. She also confesses to hiding from her bodyguard on tour.

Malcolm Gladwell discusses his book The American Way of Killing and argues that American cities are underpoliced, saying more officers could build community relationships and prevent violence instead of relying on aggressive enforcement. He also describes targeted homicide prevention in Baltimore and criticizes assault rifle bans as ineffective “gun control theater” that distracts from the broader causes of lethal violence.

David Byrne discusses his book Sleeping Beauties, using Roman concrete and Botticelli to show how valuable ideas and art can disappear before being rediscovered. He also reflects on career ups and downs and explains how he built lyrics for the documentary Musk from Elon Musk’s own quotations rather than writing a personal editorial.

Linda Cardellini promotes Crystal Lake, the Friday the 13th prequel in which she plays Jason Voorhees’ mother, and explains the origin of the franchise’s “ki-ki-ki, ma-ma-ma” sound. She also celebrates her Emmy win for DTF: St. Louis and unexpectedly sings “Pick a Little, Talk a Little” from The Music Man with The Roots.

Tate McRae introduces her new single Housewife, describing it as a song about a woman who cannot be contained and revealing that its title was hidden in her Lollapalooza set. She also discusses creating her Tate 01 perfume, Taylor Swift praising TIT FOR TAT, and the gold-slime bathtub stunt she devised for Lollapalooza.