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Former aides to President Barack Obama admitted on an episode of ‘Pod Save America’ they should have done ‘some of the stuff’ President Donald Trump is doing with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). 

When discussing DOGE’s initiatives to cut federal spending, the ‘Obama bros’ admitted to ‘lamenting’ their situation. Jon Lovett, a former Obama speechwriter, implied he ‘didn’t know’ the executive branch could radically cut federal spending as the Trump administration has done. 

‘Honestly, some of this is pretty annoying because it’s some of the stuff we should’ve done. We didn’t know you could do some of this,’ Lovett said. 

Jon Favreau, also a former Obama speechwriter, shared Lovett’s frustration, admitting the Obama administration tried to cut through bureaucracy and create government efficiency, but ‘it’s hard to do.’

‘We all know that government is slow. We all know government can be inefficient. We all know that the bureaucracy can be bloated. We all worked in f—ing the White House. We tried to reorganize the government. We tried to find efficiency. It’s hard to do,’ Favreau said. 

The liberal podcasters also complained about the federal government’s technology during the Obama era. 

‘The technology in the federal government, at least when we were there, sucked. There was no service in the basement of the West Wing. You couldn’t use your phone because there was no service.’ Favreau added. 

‘Pod Save America’ did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on which DOGE initiatives the Obama administration should have done. 

The podcast episode was released ahead of Trump signing an executive order on Tuesday directing agencies to coordinate with DOGE to reduce the size of the federal government. The executive order is the latest in a slew of government slashes these past few weeks, which have targeted everything from DEI funding to migrant hotel bills. 

The ‘Obama Bros’ have been on a media circuit in recent weeks, directing Democrats on how to politically engage during Trump’s second term. Former Obama spokesman and ‘Pod Save America’ co-host, Tommy Vietor, joined ‘Jesse Watters Primetime’ last month to discuss the future of the Democratic Party. 

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Senate Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus Chairwoman Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said she talks to Trump-aligned billionaire Elon Musk every couple of days as he spearheads the administration’s effort to slash wasteful spending. 

‘We communicate back and forth every few days or so,’ she told Fox News Digital in an interview. ‘I’ll send additional ideas that we come up with.’

According to Ernst, during a meeting at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in November, she gave Musk ‘an eight-page memorandum blueprint with a number of cost-saving ideas.’

‘He literally is taking that and running with it,’ the Iowa Republican remarked. 

She said she simply sends new ideas directly to Musk, and ‘pretty soon you’ll see a tweet out on X.’

When asked whether she thought she would ever be working to audit the government with the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, as well as the owner of X, Ernst laughed, ‘Never in a million years.’

Since Trump took office last month, DOGE has taken swift action to audit agencies and departments within the executive branch, rooting out contracts, programs and spending that Trump and Musk consider unnecessary or wasteful. 

The effort has been met by Democrats with protests, as lawmakers have shown up outside the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Treasury and the Department of Education to demonstrate. Some Democrats have even attempted to enter the buildings, but were prevented. 

On the other hand, Republicans have cheered the initiative. For example, Ernst told Fox News Digital that DOGE’s actions so far have been ‘tremendous.’ 

As for criticisms of how DOGE’s staffers are conducting their audit and what information they are gaining access to, the Iowa Republican maintained that it is completely legal in her opinion. ‘This is the executive branch and they are scrutinizing the executive branch. So, of course, it’s legal,’ she said. 

‘There is nothing in the Constitution that says the president cannot scrutinize the expenditures, especially when those dollars are going to programs that members here in Congress did not anticipate,’ she noted, referencing jaw-dropping programs being uncovered by DOGE, showing significant money going towards Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), among other initiatives. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Musk’s DOGE for comment.

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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told allies at NATO headquarters Wednesday that ‘returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective,’ as President Donald Trump is working to bring an end to the war. 

Hegseth, speaking to the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Belgium, also said ‘stark strategic realities prevent the United States from being primarily focused on the security of Europe’ because the U.S. is focusing on ‘securing our own borders’ and ‘deterring war with China in the Pacific.’ 

‘President Trump has been clear with the American people — and with many of your leaders — that stopping the fighting and reaching an enduring peace is a top priority,’ Hegseth said about Ukraine, noting that the war is approaching its third anniversary. 

‘He intends to end this war by diplomacy and bringing both Russia and Ukraine to the table.  And the U.S. Department of Defense will help achieve this goal,’ Hegseth continued. ‘We want a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine. But we must start by recognizing that returning to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective. Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering.’ 

In early 2014, Russia first invaded Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula before annexing the region. Russian President Vladimir Putin then launched a larger military conflict with Ukraine in 2022, which remains ongoing. 

‘A durable peace for Ukraine must include robust security guarantees to ensure that the war will not begin again,’ Hegseth said Wednesday. ‘The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement. Instead, any security guarantee must be backed by capable European and non-European troops.’

‘If these troops are deployed as peacekeepers to Ukraine at any point, they should be deployed as part of a non-NATO mission and not covered under Article 5. There also must be robust international oversight of the line of contact,’ he continued. ‘To be clear, as part of any security guarantee, there will not be U.S. troops deployed to Ukraine.’ 

Trump, during an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier on ‘Special Report,’ said ‘tremendous progress’ has been made over the last week when it comes to a Ukraine-Russia peace deal. 

‘They have tremendously valuable land in terms of rare earth, in terms of oil and gas, in terms of other things. I want to have our money secured because we’re spending hundreds of billions of dollars,’ Trump said about Ukraine. ‘And, you know, they may make a deal. They may not make a deal. They may be Russian someday, or they may not be Russian someday.’

‘I told them that I want the equivalent, like $500 billion worth of rare earth. And they’ve essentially agreed to do that. So at least we don’t feel stupid. Otherwise, we’re stupid,’ Trump added. ‘I said to them, we have to, we have to get something. We can’t continue to pay this money, you know.’ 

In an interview this week with The Guardian, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said ‘There are voices which say that Europe could offer security guarantees without the Americans, and I always say no’ and that ‘Security guarantees without America are not real security guarantees.’

Hegseth also said he is in Brussels today to ‘directly and unambiguously express that stark strategic realities prevent the United States from being primarily focused on the security of Europe.’  

‘The United States faces consequential threats to our homeland. We must — and we are — focusing on securing our own borders,’ he said. ‘We also face a peer competitor in China with the capability and intent to threaten our homeland and core national interests in the Indo-Pacific.’  

‘The U.S. is prioritizing deterring war with China in the Pacific, recognizing the reality of scarcity, and making the resourcing tradeoffs to ensure deterrence does not fail,’ Hegseth added. ‘As the United States shifts its attention to these threats, European allies must lead from the front.’ 

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NEW ORLEANS – For 31 NFL teams and their players (current and soon-to-be former), Super Bowl 59 is already a fading memory. That’s because the machinery of the league remains in near-constant motion.

Next week, the 14-day window for teams to issue franchise tags opens. The scouting combine commences at the end of the month, and full-on free agency officially starts March 12 following a 52-hour window for players with expiring contracts to enter into negotiations with teams other than their own.

While free agency and the draft effectively unfold in parallel anymore for a 24/7/365 operation, it’s the veterans who will take precedence first – and it’s already on their minds and those of established teammates with secured futures (by NFL standards anyway).

For instance, take Sam Darnold. After a breakout 2024 campaign, Viking All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson wants his quarterback to return.

“I would love to have Sam back and try to do it again,” Jefferson told USA TODAY Sports during Super Bowl week. “It would be phenomenal to have him back as the quarterback.

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“Having 14 wins in this league is not easy, and really only losing to two teams throughout the whole entire year – Detroit and Los Angeles (Rams),” he continued. “To bring us to a playoff game, to win 14 games and only to lose three, that’s something that’s difficult to do. So I wouldn’t mind having him back in that building.”

And while signals have already gone up that some superstars who are still under contract could be on the move – Myles Garrett, Aaron Rodgers, Deebo Samuel, Cooper Kupp at the head of what’s sure to be a longer list – Darnold will be near the top of what’s shaping up as a decent class of free agents, albeit one likely to be altered once tags have been dispensed and trade proposals broached.

But as matters currently stand, this group of 25 projects as the top 25 (currently scheduled to be) unrestricted free agents available in 2025:

1. WR Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

He’s never had to really produce like a No. 1 receiver – Ja’Marr Chase’s sidekick for most of his career – and has only played a full season twice in his five seasons. But the talent is more than evident when Higgins is on the field, and he’s a beloved figure in Cincy’s locker room – all reasons why Bengals QB Joe Burrow and Chase desperately want him back. (And Higgins has hired the agent who represents Chase, who’s also seeking the massive contract extension he didn’t get last year.) But barring a second franchise tag – and that might be a precursor to a trade – Higgins, 26, is likely to command a pact averaging $30 million or more based on his ability, a position that’s warranted top dollar in recent years and a draft that won’t be nearly as strong at wideout as it was in 2024.

2. QB Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings

The 2024 season had a suboptimal ending with convincing losses to the Lions and Rams in Week 18 and the playoffs, respectively. Prior to that, Darnold, 27, was something of a belated revelation six years after he was drafted third overall by the Jets – driving the Vikes to the cusp of the NFC’s No. 1 seed during a 14-3 campaign that earned him Pro Bowl recognition for the first time as he passed for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and a 102.5 rating, all easily career bests. And now, like Higgins at his respective position, Darnold could be the financial beneficiary of a thin class of quarterbacks in the draft at a time when at least a half-dozen teams seem solidly in the market for an answer behind center … assuming Minnesota lets him walk.

3. OLB Josh Sweat, Philadelphia Eagles

At 6-5, 265 pounds, he’s built to man the edge, whether as a base end or stand-up linebacker. Just 27, Sweat has averaged better than eight sacks and 26 pressures over the four seasons since he was named a Pro Bowler in 2021. And, unlike Darnold, Sweat, who already mans a highly coveted post, should get a postseason premium attached to his negotiations as a guy who’s played in two Super Bowls over the past three seasons. All he did in Sunday’s rollover of the Chiefs was generate 2½ sacks and seven pressures (per Pro Football Focus) of QB Patrick Mahomes – the kind of numbers that could especially make prospective contenders salivate.

4. CB Byron Murphy Jr., Vikings

He erupted in 2024, named a Pro Bowler for the first time after recording career highs for interceptions (6), passes defensed (14) and tackles (81) – all while often working on an island given Minnesota’s propensity to blitz. Quarterbacks only managed an 80.5 rating when targeting him. Murphy, 27, should be especially valuable given he’s comfortable lining up wide or playing in the slot.

5. G Trey Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

One of Mahomes’ most reliable bodyguards, Smith, 25, has missed one game in his four-year career and rarely takes a snap off. Given how much trouble K.C. had protecting its legendary quarterback in 2024, the Chiefs will surely try to keep Smith in house. But given the likelihood he’ll reset a guard market in which the best players average more than $20 million annually, a team that currently has about $11 million available for free agency (per Over The Cap) and a fair amount of cash already tied up in fellow G Joe Thuney has financial work to do to make that happen.

6. LB Zack Baun, Eagles

Relegated to special teams and spot defensive duty during four seasons with New Orleans, he found a home at off-ball linebacker with Philadelphia in 2024 and absolutely flourished. Rated No. 1 by PFF at his position – if merely the underappreciated defensive version of running back – Baun, 28, nevertheless blossomed not only into an All-Pro but a Defensive Player of the Year finalist. A tackling machine who managed 3½ sacks for a unit that rarely blitzed while forcing five fumbles in the regular season, Baun was truly dastardly in coverage – his interception of Mahomes right before halftime of the Super Bowl arguably the final nail in Kansas City’s coffin. Not every team is willing to invest in Baun’s position – even the Eagles had no idea what they were truly getting on a one-year deal that hit the lottery for them – but he could score something in the $20 million-per-year range from those that value his skill set.

7. LT Alaric Jackson, Los Angeles Rams

A starter the past two seasons, a span during which he’s allowed four sacks and committed just one holding penalty, he should cash in nicely since trustworthy left tackles don’t grow on trees – and are rarely available in the draft or free agency … especially when they’re 26.

8. S Jevon Holland, Miami Dolphins

On the plus side, he’ll be 25 at the start of next season and – when on top of his game – he’s an impact player, whether as a pass rusher or for finding the ball, Holland responsible for nine takeaways in his four seasons to go along with five forced fumbles. But consistency has been an issue at times, and he’s missed seven games over the past two seasons. Regardless, good bet Holland lands financially at the summit of the safety market currently topped by Antoine Winfield ($21 million per season).

9. DT Milton Williams, Eagles

Yet another Philly player in line for a Lombardi bump, Williams excelled in 2024, when he played a career-high 501 snaps and responded with a personal best five sacks to go along with 28 hurries (per PFF). Williams, 25, a third-round pick in 2021, has started 17 times over the past two seasons but appears to be in line for a starter’s snap count. And a starter’s money.

10. CB D.J. Reed, New York Jets

Still only 28, he also mans a position where demand always outstrips supply. Reed has averaged double-digit passes defensed over the past four seasons even if he’s not necessarily a ball hawk (four total INTs over that stretch). But he’s durable and a willing tackler, a trait that distinguishes him from many of his peers. However penalties have been an issue in recent years, and he has had the benefit of playing opposite of Sauce Gardner the past three seasons.

11. S Justin Reid, Chiefs

He posted one of his best seasons in years in 2024. Reid, who turns 28 on Saturday, is an extremely bright player, a reliable tackler and the last line of defense coordinator Steve Spagnuolo can count on with confidence. Yet he generally doesn’t make a ton of splash plays – i.e. generating turnovers or as a blitzer – and it would stand to reason K.C. would prioritize Smith.

12. C Drew Dalman, Atlanta Falcons

Looking for a highly reliable snapper to anchor your line who’s only 26 and has Stanford smarts? Then Dalman might be your guy, though he did miss eight games last season with an ankle injury. Doesn’t mean he won’t get a deal that pays him at least $15 million annually.

13. LT Ronnie Stanley, Baltimore Ravens

He’s the most talented blind side protector on the market and just played a full season for the first time in his nine-year career, attributes that should fetch him a fat bag. He is also almost 31 … and just played a full season for the first time in his nine-year career, attributes that may give many teams pause.

14. LT Cam Robinson, Vikings

Stanley is more gifted when it comes to safeguarding quarterbacks. But Robinson, 29, is slightly younger and generally more likely to remain in the lineup – though he was suspended four games at the start of the 2024 campaign, while in Jacksonville, for violating the performance-enhancing substances policy.

15. CB Carlton Davis, Detroit Lions

A solid player who’s just 28 and has 17 takeaways in seven NFL years. However Davis tends to get banged up, having never played a full season – a broken jaw cutting his first year in Motown short.

16. WR Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

He was having a monster season in 2024 – and on pace for a career year – with 50 catches for 576 yards and five TDs in seven games. But Godwin, who’s about to turn 29, suffered a dislocated ankle in October that obviously required surgery and put him on the shelf. Such an injury is especially concerning for a middle-aged (by NFL standards) wideout. But maybe it will be offset by the fact Godwin can line up anywhere and is tough as nails.

17. QB Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers

He was named a Pro Bowler for the 10th time this season … though only after enough AFC quarterbacks declined the invitation. Overall, Wilson’s passing numbers in 2024 (63.7% completion rate, 2,482 yards, 16 TDs, 5 INTs, 95.6 rating), his first in the Steel City, were generally in line with his career norms. But the 36-year-old’s late-season decline also mirrored the Steelers, who lost their final five games and weren’t competitive in most of those. He’s basically no longer a threat with his legs, either, which can amplify his tendency to struggle from the pocket. Still, Wilson might still find an opportunity to start – a reunion with Pete Carroll in Las Vegas? – even if those days appear decidedly numbered … and the possibility that Steelers backup Justin Fields, 25, might be a more attractive option in Pittsburgh if not elsewhere.

18. S Talanoa Hufanga, San Francisco 49ers

Two years ago, he looked (literally) like the next Troy Polamalu, earning All-Pro honors while wreaking havoc all over the field. Hufanga has yet to regain that form since suffering a torn ACL late in the 2023 season, but this might be the right time to invest in a guy who recently turned 25.

19. CB Charvarius Ward, 49ers

Like Hufanga, Ward, 28, is coming off a disappointing season with San Francisco. However given he was dealing with a knee injury and, more importantly, the death of his 1-year-old daughter, Ward’s struggles were more than understandable. He was a dominant player in previous seasons and very well could be again.

20. DE Chase Young, New Orleans Saints

Despite the outlandish pre-draft comparisons in 2020, he’ll never become the next Lawrence Taylor. But the Saints may have hit on something, solely using Young as a situational pass rusher in 2024. He responded with 5½ sacks and a career-best (by far) 34 pressures. Young, still only 25, may not break the bank, but he should do better than having to settle for another one-year deal.

21. RB Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys

Is he the next Saquon Barkley? Hardly. But Dowdle, 26, did explode for a career-best 1,328 yards from scrimmage (on 274 touches) when finally given a chance to play in 2024 – and the Cowboys almost certainly would have been better off had they given him more reps rather than force Ezekiel Elliott into the rotation early in the season. Newly promoted head coach Brian Schottenheimer has already expressed his hope that Dowdle, who ran with maximum effort after finally getting his NFL opportunity, returns to Dallas. But he might fetch more money – whether as a starter or change-of-pace back – elsewhere … and might be especially attractive given his relative lack of usage (387 career touches) since the Cowboys signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2020.

22. RB Najee Harris, Steelers

23. LB Nick Bolton, Chiefs

He’s unlikely to sniff whatever Baun rakes in. But Bolton has been a staple in K.C. the past four seasons, his touchdown in Super Bowl 57 the turning point of that contest. And for anyone looking to steal a little Chiefs magic, why not poach a productive backer who turns 25 next month?

24. WR Amari Cooper, Buffalo Bills

He’s coming off the least productive season of his 10-year career, a campaign split between a team with quarterback issues (Cleveland) before Cooper tried to learn a new system on the fly after being traded to Buffalo, where injuries also hindered him. He is 30 but could be a better option for teams searching for a trusty WR2 given he’s younger and seems generally fresher than fellow vet wideouts like Stefon Diggs, DeAndre Hopkins and Keenan Allen, who are also on expiring contracts.

25. OLB Haason Reddick, Jets

Between 2020 and ’23, he averaged better than 12½ sacks and nearly 36 pressures per season, eye-popping numbers for teams looking for pass-rush enhancement – and precisely why the Jets traded for Reddick last year. However his obstinate holdout in 2024 didn’t shed him in the best light, and that was exacerbated by his complete lack of production (1 sack and 7 pressures in 10 games after he reported to the team). Reddick will be 31 in September, and his relative age might create a better market for him than, say, soon-to-be 34-year-old free agent Khalil Mack. But hard to believe there won’t be a buyer-beware label Reddick will have to overcome.

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The Super Bowl may be over, but the Super Bowl of dog shows has arrived. And no, we’re not talking about the 2025 Puppy Bowl. We’re speaking of America’s most iconic dog show.

The 149th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show returned to Madison Square Garden for the first time in five years and one dog stood above the rest. Monty the Giant Schnauzer was named Best in Show on Tuesday, besting more than 2,500 dogs across 200 breeds during two days of competition.

Third time’s a charm! Monty, a 5-year-old male from New Jersey, won the Working Group three consecutive times, but fell short of the top honor the two previous times, until now. His win made history. Monty is the first Giant Schnauzer to ever win Best in Show and the first Working Group dog to win Best in Show since 2004, ending the longest drought of any particular group. The winner was selected by Best in Show judge Paula Nykiel out of Washington, Missouri.

‘He always tries so hard. I’m just so proud of him. I call him my Secretariat because he never stops,’ Monty’s handler, Kate Bernadin, said after the win, while holding back emotions. ‘Puppy did the (expletive) thing.’

Bourbon the Whippet, who came out of retirement at 9.5 years old for the competition, was named the Reserve Best in Show, the runner-up to the greatest dog in America. It marked Bourbon’s third Reserve Best in Show honor, after finishing second at Westminster in 2020 and 2021. 

Here’s a full recap of all the action at Tuesday’s Westminster Dog Show Best in Show event:

Watch: Monty the Giant Schnauzer wins Best in Show

Watch: Best in Show competition

Group Winners: Best in Show dogs

These fine dogs from the seven groups will compete for the Best in Show.

Hound Group: Bourbon (Whippet)
Non-Sporting Group: Neal (Bichon Frisé)
Toy Group: Comet (Shih Tzu) 
Herding Group: Mercedes (German Shepherd) 
Sporting Group: Freddie (English Springer Spaniel)
Working Group: Monty (Giant Schnauzer)
Terrier Group: Archer (Skye Terrier)

Here’s a closer look at each group winner from Westminster Dog Show 2025: 

Terrier Group: Archer the Skye Terrier

Last but not least, the Terrier Group. The Terrier Group has produced 47 Best in Show winners, the most out of the seven groups. Archer the Skye Terrier won the group in his ‘retirement show,’ his handler said.

Working Group: Monty the Giant Schnauzer

Third time’s a charm? Monty, a 5-year-old Giant Schnauzer from New Jersey, has won the Working Group for the third consecutive time. Can Monty make history? A Giant Schnauzer has never won Best in Show. The Working Group has won Best in Show 15 times before, most recently in 2004 with a Newfoundland.

Sporting Group: Freddie the English Springer Spaniel

Freddie, an English Springer Spaniel from Milan, Illinois, won the Sporting Group, besting 34 other dogs. The breed excels in hunting and performance and has won Best in Show six times, most recently in 2006. Fun fact: George H. W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States, had an English Springer Spaniel named Millie.

Hound Group: Bourbon the Whippet

Bourbon the Whippet wasn’t originally scheduled to compete this week. The 9-year-old has been retired since 2021, but she came out of retirement on a whim. “Since (retirement) she’s been a mom. She’s had puppies. She’s been our companion and pet. She got here (at Westminster) and she was ready to go, so we decided to give it a go,’ her handler revealed. Bourbon now has a chance at Best in Show. She previously won Reserve Best in Show twice (2020, 2021) at Westminster, but never the main prize.

Non-Sporting Group: Neal the Bichon Frisé 

Neal, a Bichon Frisé from Mabank, Texas, won the Non-Sporting Group. A Bichon Frisé has won Best in Show two times, most recently in 2018. Neal is one of 16 Bichon Frisé that entered the competition this year.

Toy Group: Comet the Shih Tzu

Herding Group: Mercedes the German Shepherd

Mercedes, the German Shepherd from Bethesda, Maryland, was named last year’s Reserve Best in Show. Mercedes has another chance at winning big after topping the herding group for the second consecutive year. German Shepherds have experienced great success at Westminster with wins in the Herding Group in 2016, 2017, 2022, 2024 and now 2025.

What is the 2025 Westminster dog show schedule?

Tuesday, Feb. 11: Preliminary judging continues in the remaining three groups (Javits Center), with the top finishers advancing to the Best of Breed competition (Madison Square Garden).

Best in Show honors will be announced after the judging concludes on Tuesday night.

Dog Show Day 2

8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center

Breed Judging (Sporting, Working, Terrier)
Junior Showmanship Preliminaries

7-11 p.m. ET, Madison Square Garden

Group Judging (Sporting, Working, Terrier)
Junior Showmanship Finals
Best In Show

The dog show will be broadcast on FS1 and FS2.

Where is the 2025 Westminster dog show being held?

This year, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show returns to Madison Square Garden and the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York.

For the past two years, it has been held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center – site of the U.S. Open – in nearby Flushing Meadows with the Best in Show winner crowned on the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Westminster was previously held at Madison Square Garden until 2020, but moved to the Lyndhurst Estate in Tarrytown, New York, in 2021 and 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic. — Steve Gardner

What breeds are in the competition?

More than 2,500 dogs from 201 different breeds will take part in this year’s Westminster Dog Show.

The participating dogs are divided into seven categories:

Hound
Toy
Non-sporting
Working
Sporting
Terrier
Herding

The first four groups are judged on Monday; the remaining three are judged on Tuesday.

How does judging work?

The seven different breed groups are evaluated based on the standard set by their parent club, meaning competing dogs aren’t compared to other competitors but to the ideal proportions, weight and size, head shape, gait and other qualities of the breed.

Once a dog wins its breed, it is judged within its group. Group winners then move on to the Best in Show category. — Steve Gardner

Who won Best in Show last year?

‘Sage,’ the Miniature Poodle, won the Best in Show honor at the 148th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last May, beating over 2,500 dogs of more than 200 different breeds for the ultimate prize. Sage, a 3-year-old from Houston, was handled by Kaz Hosaka in the final show of his career. 

Sage was the first poodle to win Best in Show since 2020. 

When is the Westminster Dog Show Best in Show?

The Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show event takes place on Tuesday, Feb. 11 with the TV broadcast airing on FS1.

All times Eastern.

Pre-show coverage: 7-7:30 p.m.
Best in Show: 7:30-11 p.m.

Westminster Dog Show TV channel: How to watch Best in Show

TV channel: FS1

FS1 will have TV coverage from Madison Square Garden on the crucial Day 2 of the event. That includes a pre-show kicking off at 7 p.m. ET, followed immediately by the main event in the Best in Show.

Westminster Dog Show stream: How to stream Best in Show

All FS1 and FS2 telecasts will be available for subscribers on the FOX Sports app. You can also catch the event on Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.

Watch Westminster Dog Show on Fubo

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Durant got to 30,000 with his 26th point Tuesday. He finished with 34 and now has 30,008 career points. He trails Wilt Chamberlain (31,419) and Dirk Nowitzki (31,560) for seventh and sixth place, respectively, on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

Had Durant not missed the 2019-20 season recovering from an Achilles rupture and not been limited to 35 games in 2020-21 and 47 games in 2022-23, he would already be higher on the list with a chance to become a top-three scorer behind LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Durant is now tied with Abdul-Jabbar as the third-fastest to 30,000 points, achieving the feat in his 1,101st game.

Even with those missed games, Durant still has an opportunity to finish above Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, depending on how much longer he plays.

At 6-foot-11 with a spectacular jump shot and shooter’s touch, Durant has been able to score from all spots – inside, mid-range and 3-point distance. For his career, he shoots 50.1% from the field, 38.7% on 3s and 88.2% on free throws.

Durant is a four-time scoring champ with a career average of 27.2 points. He earned the 2013-14 MVP and is a two-time Finals MVP with Golden State in 2017 and 2018. He has made the All-NBA team 11 times and this season became the seventh player to earn at least 15 All-Star selections.

Among players who have played at least 800 games, Durant has the fourth-highest scoring average behind Jordan, Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor.

NBA’s all-time leading scorers

LeBron James: 41,623 points
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: 38,387
Karl Malone: 36,928
Kobe Bryant: 33,643
Michael Jordan: 32,292
Dirk Nowitzki: 31,560
Wilt Chamberlain: 31,419
Kevin Durant: 30,008

This story was updated with new information.

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Former Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is no longer facing warrants for his arrest in Texas after Peterson recently made an online court appearance in one of his child-support cases, according to court records in Fort Bend County, Texas.

The warrants were issued in December when Peterson, 39, failed to appear in court for the cases. After he appeared for a court proceeding last week via Zoom, the court withdrew the “capias” warrants in two child-support cases. Both cases were resolved with qualified domestic relations orders (QDRO) that arranged for Peterson to pay the owed child support from his NFL retirement savings, according to records. The two cases listed women from Minnesota as the custodial parents.

“A capias was previously signed for Mr. Peterson when he did not appear in person at the last court date,” the court docket said. ‘OAG (Texas attorney general’s office) announced they are withdrawing the capias and an agreed Qdro will be submitted to the court.”

His publicist said in December the issue “related to a misunderstanding regarding Adrian’s court appearances as it relates to child support.”

This removes at least one of Peterson’s legal problems, with another big one still pending.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

How much debt does Adrian Peterson have?

Peterson earned more than $100 million in his NFL career from 2007 to 2021 and is considered a future Pro Football Hall of Famer. But he took a big risk in October 2016 that is still haunting him financially. He took out a $5.2 million loan that year from a Pennsylvania lending company and promised to pay it back in five months, in March 2017, at 12% interest.

An exhibit attached to the loan document in October 2016 indicated he was seeking an advance on an $18 million contract that he expected to come from the Vikings.

But Peterson was coming off a knee injury that year, and the Vikings declined to pick up the $18 million option in February 2017, turning Peterson into a free agent. His earnings fell dramatically after that, never exceeding $3.5 million a year. He hasn’t played in the NFL since 2021 and hasn’t paid back that loan, which has since swelled to more than $12 million in debt,  including interest.

In September, a judge in Houston issued an order for him to turn over numerous assets to help pay that debt. A court-appointed receiver also has been trying to seize his assets and even intercepted an auction of his NFL trophies and clothes last year, according to court records. The auction was suspended as a result and is still on hold, according to the auction company.

Peterson has cast blame for the debt on his former financial advisor, who could not be reached by USA TODAY Sports.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

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The opening game of the 4 Nations Face-Off will answer the question of whether opponents can shut down Canada’s high-powered offense.

It also will answer whether Canada’s goaltenders can shut down opponents.

Canadian goaltending is considered a weakness at the tournament, and St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington will get the call against Sweden on Wednesday night to try to show otherwise. None of the three Canadian goalies has a save percentage above .900, but Binnington and Adin Hill have won Stanley Cup titles.

Canada-Sweden is the lone game on the schedule Wednesday. The USA and Finland play Thursday night.

4 NATIONS FACE-OFF: 12 players to watch

Here’s what to know about the opening night of the 4 Nations Face-Off and the schedule for the full tournament:

When is 4 Nations Face-Off Canada vs. Sweden?

Canada and Sweden will play at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday at Montreal’s Bell Centre.

How to watch 4 Nations Face-Off Canada vs. Sweden

The Canada-Sweden game will be broadcast on TNT.

How to stream 4 Nations Face-Off Canada vs. Sweden

4 Nations Face-Off schedule, TV

(Times p.m. ET)

Wednesday, Feb. 12:  Canada vs. Sweden at Montreal, 8, TNT
Thursday, Feb. 13: USA vs. Finland at Montreal, 8, ESPN
Saturday, Feb. 15: Finland vs. Sweden at Montreal, 1, ABC
Saturday, Feb. 15: USA vs. Canada at Montreal, 8, ABC
Monday, Feb. 17: Canada vs. Finland at Boston, 1, TNT
Monday, Feb. 17:  Sweden vs. USA at Boston, 8, TNT
Thursday, Feb. 20: Championship game at Boston, 8, ESPN

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Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., said in a statement on Tuesday that a complex partial seizure was ruled as the cause of the episode where he paused during a House floor speech on Monday.

While delivering his speech, the long-serving lawmaker abruptly stopped speaking for several seconds, before uttering a few words and then proceeding to stand silently for around 14 seconds. 

When he resumed speaking, his remarks were halting and punctuated with awkward pauses.

After the incident occurred on Monday, Larson’s office indicated in a statement that ‘he had what was likely an adverse reaction to a new medication and is having tests administered by the House Attending Physician out of an abundance of caution.’ The statement indicated that the lawmaker ‘later participated in multiple meetings in his office and was alert and engaged.’

Then Larson’s statement on Tuesday indicated that a complex partial seizure was ruled as the cause of the incident.

‘Yesterday, at around noon, I experienced a medical incident on the House floor, when my speech momentarily paused. Following the incident, I saw the House Attending Physician, Dr. Monahan, who referred me for further evaluation. After a round of tests, it was determined that the cause of the brief pause in my speech was a complex partial seizure,’ the congressman explained.

The 76-year-old lawmaker has been a House member for more than a quarter-century — he took office in 1999.

‘Fifteen years ago, I had a heart valve replacement due to a variation in the shape of my aortic valve that I was born with. Sometimes, people with this condition can later develop symptoms such as the momentary change in speech or movement that was apparent yesterday,’ Larson continued. 

‘The doctors have prescribed medication that, according to them, will greatly reduce the chance of this happening again. I will be able to resume an active schedule, including my duties as a Member of Congress, beginning tomorrow, when I plan to be present and voting on the House floor,’ he noted. 

‘I am grateful to Dr. Monahan and the staff, and I extend my deepest appreciation to my family, friends, colleagues, constituents, and everyone who reached out with their well wishes and offers of support. I am looking forward to getting back to work for the people of Connecticut’s First District.’ 

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Sparks are expected to fly at Congress’ first Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) subcommittee meeting Wednesday, according to one Democratic lawmaker in the House of Representatives.

Democrats have blasted billionaire Elon Musk, who President Donald Trump tapped to lead DOGE, over the past week for trying to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in federal spending and trim the more than 2-million-person federal workforce.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, told Axios that she plans to use the hearing to ‘clarify for the American people’ why DOGE’s actions are ‘illegal’ and why ‘Elon Musk has no official role to do this.’ 

‘I think it’s going to be a sh–show. I don’t really anticipate anything productive coming out of this,’ Crockett said. ‘I don’t anticipate that it’s going to be nice. I anticipate full-on combat, because DOGE is clearly the devil right now.’

DOGE subcommittee chair Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., told the outlet she has ‘high hopes’ that Republicans and Democrats will engage productively during the hearing, which she said will focus on ‘Medicaid improper payments.’

‘We’re going to be talking about solutions, there are going to be big savings,’ she said, adding that she feels the issue is bipartisan.

On Tuesday, Musk appeared with Trump in the Oval Office as the president prepared to sign an executive order concerning the billionaire’s work leading DOGE.

Musk, in some of his first public comments on leading DOGE, told reporters that there are some good people in the federal bureaucracy, but that they need to be accountable, and the budget deficit needs to be addressed.

He also pushed back against critics who have accused him of mounting a hostile takeover of the government, saying he wants to add ‘common-sense controls’ to federal spending and that cutting government waste is not ‘draconian.’

‘The people voted for major government reform, and that’s what the people are going to get,’ Musk said. ‘That’s what democracy is all about.’

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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