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Marcus Jordan jailed on DUI, cocaine possession in Orange County

NBA-star Michael Jordan’s 34-year-old son was arrested in Central Florida late Monday, local officials confirmed to USA TODAY Tuesday.

Marcus James Jordan was booked into jail on Tuesday, Orange County Corrections Department online records show.

The 34-year-old man, whose home address is listed in Orlando online, was arrested on charges including DUI, cocaine possession and resisting arrest, an Orange County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson told USA TODAY Tuesday morning.

Jordan remained jailed Tuesday morning, but was expected to be released later on Tuesday after posting a $4,000 bond, the sheriff’s office spokesperson said.

Details about what led to the arrest and where it took place in the Orlando area were unclear and it was not immediately known whether Jordan had obtained an attorney in the case.

An arraignment date on the charges had not been set as of Tuesday morning, the spokesperson said.

Who is Marcus Jordan?

Marcus Jordan is one of Michael Jordan’s five children and a contestant on the ‘Traitors’ Season 2, a reality TV competition steaming on Peacock.

He’s a former guard for the Central Florida Knights basketball team.

Last year, the couple called it quits, USA TODAY previously reported.

This is a developing story.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

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Technology won’t solve all of NFL’s officiating controversies

NEW ORLEANS – With a microchip inserted into a player’s shoulder pads, it can be determined that a receiver topped 20 miles an hour on a jet sweep to the end zone.

It’s the technology.

With at least 30 cameras installed in each NFL stadium covering every boundary, and microchips inserted at both pointed ends of the football, the exact point where a punt flew out of bounds can be instantly relayed to an official wearing a portable device on their wrist similar to a smartwatch.

Technology.

With an AI-based betting analogy detection system, abnormal patterns that might suggest an official has a bias – or perhaps a vested interest in a particular team – can quickly prompt the NFL to look deeper.

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That’s technology, too.

Yet when everyone watching at home agrees with the TV analyst, the officiating talking head, the out-of-luck coach and the rest of the rabid fan base that swears the quarterback – let’s say Buffalo’s Josh Allen – really converted the fourth-and-inches stretch, well…

Technology still isn’t the final answer.

“It is complicated,” Roger Goodell said on Monday afternoon.

It’s a matter of integrity. If the NFL wants to avoid (or at least reduce) the perception that, for instance, the Chiefs are getting some special favor from the officials – “a ridiculous theory,” Goodell said – it can do itself a favor by using technology to better support the controversial calls.

Goodell undoubtedly is warm to the theme – and he’d better hope that Super Bowl 59 doesn’t come with a fresh dose of controversy when the Eagles try to extinguish the Chiefs’ bid for a three-peat crown at the Superdome.

“We want to use technology to assist and support the officials in getting it right,” he said.

He pointed to the benefits of the league’s “replay assist” initiative, which has enabled officials stationed at league headquarters to rule on obvious calls quickly, allowing coaches to keep timeouts in their pocket while efficiently flowing within the game. He expects that other types of plays, such as facemask calls (or non-calls) could be adjudicated by “replay assist.”

Yet the Commissioner still puts up a caution flag when it comes to using technology with Sony’s Hawk-Eye system, which the league utilizes for virtual line-to-gain measurements, to definitively rule whether Allen (or anyone else) made the first down or not.

Goodell mentioned the shape of “The Duke” (uh, football) is a factor.

Bottom line: More technology is coming, but maybe not for the situation that caused the confusion in the AFC title games.

Kimberly Fields, senior vice president of football operations, told USA TODAY Sports on Monday that, pending a recommendation from the competition committee, she expects that technology could indeed be incorporated to a greater degree next season in line-to-gain situations.

Yet like Goodell, Fields drew a line. She maintained that the human element involving officials will remain when it comes to spotting the football. In other words, after the ball is spotted – and officials determine where forward progress stopped – technology could then be used to determine whether a first down was achieved.

No, it’s not as simple as the computer-generated graphics that tell us whether that sizzling serve on the tennis court landed inside the line.

“Unlike tennis, we have body parts, arms and legs involved, where you can’t see where the ball is,” Fields said, describing a routine pileup…or the Eagles’ vaunted “Tush Push.”

If you think the chain gang is on virtual life support, think again. Even if the NFL advances to the point where it uses technology after the ball is spotted, Fields said: “The chain crew will always have a role. You still need a Plan B and Plan C to back up the technology.”

Since 2017, the NFL has used footballs with Zebra microchips, which enable the data used for the advanced statistics, Next Gen Stats, and supports other uses by teams. So a big piece has been in place for years.

Yet it can be a bit frustrating, or at least confusing, when viewers watch games with first-down lines superimposed on the screen but realize that officials on the field are operating under a different standard.

The testing the NFL conducted during the entire preseason with select regular-season games was a critical step toward implementing more technology.

“You have to be right when you do it,” Goodell said.

Fields indicated the data collected this season, including the preseason, answered key questions. On the 12 line-to-gain measurements averaged each week across the league with the tests, the measurement time was reduced to 35 seconds from the 75 seconds used with the chain crew.

“It’s about process,” Fields said. “This definitely checked that box.”

She also maintained that the accuracy rate in using the technology for marking punts out of bounds was 100%.

Still, the human element won’t ever go away.

That, too, can fuel suspicions that has added more fuel in recent years with the proliferation of legalized gambling. The NFL hasn’t had the type of officiating gambling scandals that have struck in other sports.

Yet a ramped-up conspiracy theory – or worse – might be one blown call away. Plus, a league that once considered any association with the gambling industry as taboo now embraces close associations.

It was merely a coincidence that on a day that Goodell defended the league’s game officials, Major League Baseball banned an umpire for violations of its gambling policy.

Goodell wasn’t asked about that MLB case or the ethics of his officials, but he was certain to vouch for the credibility of NFL crews. And, well, he hinted that the league is watching. Just in case.

“Our officials are evaluated in several ways,” Goodell said. “Not just the performance on the field, it’s things that go on in their own lives…We monitor that very closely in various ways.”

After all, the NFL is a long way from using robots.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Americans expected to legally wager record $1.39B on Super Bowl 59

While millions of Americans will be eating wings, drinking their favorite alcoholic beverages, and taking in everything Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans offers this Sunday, millions more will be going to their sportsbooks or on their electronic devices to wager on the game.

The American Gaming Association says gamblers in the United States will legally wager a record $1.39 billion on Super Bowl 59 between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.

‘No single event unites sports fans like the Super Bowl, and that excitement extends to sports betting, with this year’s record legal handle reflecting its widespread appeal,’ AGA President and CEO Bill Miller said in a statement. ‘This figure underscores the positive impact of the legal market – from protecting consumers to generating tax revenue that benefits communities across the country – while enhancing the game experience for all.’

Since the United States Supreme Court overturned a 1992 federal law banning sports betting in May 2018, 38 states and the District of Columbia have made it legal to place bets on live sports. This has eliminated a business that saw an estimated $150 billion in illegal wagers before the law was struck down.

The AGA said last year that nearly 68% of American adults wagered on Super Bowl 58, which was played in Las Vegas, considered the gambling capital of the world.

Expert Super Bowl picks: Unique betting insights only at USA TODAY.

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Equestrian athlete disqualified for using eye drops on sick dog

An Olympic equestrian athlete had his results from the Paris Olympics thrown out after he inadvertently tested positive for a banned substance after giving his sick dog eye drops.

The results of The Belgium Team, which finished fifth in the Dressage Team Grand Prix, were not disqualified.

Michiels provided a sample after his competition, and it found dorzolamide, a banned substance.

Dorzolamide is classified as a diuretic and masking agent by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

‘The athlete was able to establish that dorzolamide entered his body inadvertently when he administered eye drops containing dorzolamide to his dog to treat the dog’s illness,’ the ITA said in a statement.

The agency said that because Michiels did not put dorzolamide in his own eyes, which is considered a permitted route, the presence of dorzolamide in his sample and any other administration of the substance, whether oral, topical, or transdermal, constitutes an anti-doping rule violation.

The ITV said Michiels was able to establish that he bore ‘No Fault or Negligence’ for the anti-doping rule violation.

‘I accept the decision that acknowledges that I was not negligent and had no intention to cheat or break the rules,’ Michiels said in a statement. ‘I now look ahead to continue to give the best of myself in equestrian sports in the future.’

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

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Super Bowl Opening Night highlights: What Chiefs, Eagles said

The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles got their first full exposure this week to the Super Bowl spotlight, as both teams headed to the Caesars Superdome to answer a variety of questions. The Eagles were first up, with the likes of Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and A.J. Brown drawing sizable crowds. But paled in comparison to the swarm of media that flocked to Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Andy Reid.

Here’s a look back at the notable highlights from the night:

Travis Kelce talks Taylor Swift’s influence

It wouldn’t have been Super Bowl Opening Night without a few questions about Taylor Swift for Travis Kelce.

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The Chiefs tight end was asked about how he tries to match the energy of the pop superstar, whom he has been dating since 2023.

‘I better hold up my end of the bargain, right?’ Kelce said. ‘If she’s out here being the superstar she is, never taking no for an answer, and always working her tail off, I better match that energy for sure.’

Travis Kelce opens up on playing in Super Bowl after Jason’s retirement

Super Bowl 59 is a rematch of the Chiefs and Eagles’ title showdown from two years prior, but Jason Kelce’s absence is one of several notable differences from the initial meeting.

The six-time All-Pro center for the Eagles came up on the losing side of the sibling rivalry in the last Super Bowl matchup, and he retired after last season. With Jason now embarking on his broadcasting career with ESPN, Travis said he misses facing off against his brother but understands the decision to step away from the game.

‘Of course I wish Jason was at there,’ Travis Kelce said. Being at the mountaintop with your brother is something special that I’ll never forget. … I wish he would have played another year, but he’s very content where he is in life right now and I’m happy as hell for him. He gets to be around his family and his baby girls a little bit more.

‘I’ll go out there and try to represent the family as best I can.’

Patrick Mahomes explains shock at Luka Doncic trade

Like everyone else, Patrick Mahomes couldn’t believe that the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers this weekend.

The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback – who is a Whitehouse, Texas, native and avowed Mavericks fan – explained his stunned reaction on Monday night after initially writing ‘I’m sick rn….’ in reference to the deal.

‘It’s tough, you know, because I’ve watched (Doncic) since he was 18 years old,’ Mahomes said at Super Bowl Opening Night. ‘I remember going to a practice and it was Dirk (Nowitzki) and Luka, and seeing his maturation and how great of a basketball he has became (sic), it’s been fun to watch.

‘As a Dallas fan, it hurts me. But I’m happy for him that he’s going to be able to go out there and be in LA and try to achieve his dream of winning a championship. He did so much, not only for the basketball team but for the city of Dallas, so I’ll always be appreciative of those years. But I’m excited for the Mavericks moving forward and the guys they brought in.’

Carson Wentz remembers Philly days fondly

The last time Carson Wentz reached the Super Bowl stage, he was sidelined by a torn ACL suffered during the Eagles’ title run in the 2017 season.

Wentz will be facing his former team in Super Bowl 59 as Patrick Mahomes’ backup, but he said he holds no ill will against the Eagles after his 2021 trade to the Indianapolis Colts.

‘Obviously it was a tough ending, without a doubt,’ Wentz said in an interview with CBS Philadelphia. ‘It was a COVID year, too, so everything about it was weird with the way it unfolded. But a lot of great memories. … There’s definitely no hard feelings. You wish it would have went a different way and all those things, but you can’t really have regrets on that front.’

A.J. Brown gives Cliffs Notes on his sideline book habit

A.J. Brown created quite a stir when he was spotted reading a book on the sideline during a game, but the Eagles’ star receiver said it was something he began to develop his focus.

‘One day, I just brought the book out – I think the Cleveland week,’ Brown said. ‘We played Cleveland and I brought it out. That was my first game back, and I was just trying to stay locked in and let the game come to me. As receivers, we want the ball and we want to do this, we want to do that. But there’s so much out of our control. … I know it’s unorthodox. You don’t see stuff like that. But to be honest, I don’t really care how people may perceive it.’

Jeffrey Lurie shoots down Celtics rumors

Don’t expect Jeffrey Lurie to be expanding his empire into another sports league.

The Eagles owner and Boston native shot down speculation that he could buy the defending-champion Boston Celtics, who have been put up for sale.

“I would never say never, but I’m not looking to own another sports franchise,’ Lurie said on Monday, according to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe. ‘The Celtics again are exceptional, they’re so well run, they’re so talented, it’s my childhood team. However, I do not expect that to happen.”

Saquon gets another shot in on Giants

Jameis Winston already can eat a W with one of his first acts as a digital correspondent for Fox Sports at the Super Bowl.

The quarterback, who is set to be a free agent, asked Saquon Barkley which team he should sign with this offseason.

Barkley: ‘I think New York needs a quarterback right now.’

A surprise Ochocinco sighting

Super Bowl Opening Night is full of hijinks, and a former NFL great got in on the act on Monday evening.

Chad Johnson decided to interrupt Eagles coach Nick Sirianni’s session to show some love.

Saquon Barkley’s impact hard to overstate

Even though his Eagles teammates watch him in practice every day, the feats of Saquon Barkley aren’t lost on his peers.

‘We have a superstar running back who’s incredible,’ wide receiver A.J. Brown said. ‘We’re trying to do everything possible to make sure he’s doing what he’s supposed to do. … The team has just bought in, win after win, and here we are. We’re just trying to finish.’

Said right tackle Lane Johnson: ‘It’s a lot of fun when you have a guy with the capability to take it to the house every time he touches it.’

Barkley, who is playing in his first Super Bowl after spending the first six seasons of his career with the New York Giants, said reaching this stage would be a highlight in a season full of personal achievements, including coming within striking distance of Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record. Winning the NFC title game while surrounded by family only amplified the significance of the moment, Barkley said.

‘Those are people that have been with me this whole time, so hopefully we can create another special moment,’ Barkley said.

Eagles up first at Super Bowl Opening Night

The action at Caesars Superdome has officially begun, with the Eagles first to meet the media.

More Roger Goodell takeaways

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was asked about an array of topics at his pre-Super Bowl news conference, including an 18-game season, the possibility of an international Super Bowl and more.

For Goodell’s comments on league officiating and six takeaways from the session, check out Chris Bumbaca’s story from New Orleans.

Roger Goodell sees no problem with Tom Brady’s handling of dual announcer/part-owner role

When Tom Brady’s minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders was finalized in October, many questioned how he would avoid what seemed like inevitable conflicts of interest given the continuation of his broadcast duties with Fox.

But NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says that he has been pleased with how Brady has navigated the guardrails the league has enacted to combat any potential issues.

‘Tom has been incredibly cooperative,’ Goodell said. ‘He calls frequently about it and says, ‘Am I doing OK?’ And I think he’s serious about making sure he separates these two (jobs) and doesn’t put the league or anyone in a position of conflict.’

Roger Goodell: ‘Ridiculous’ to think NFL officiating benefits Chiefs

In his news conference Monday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the theory that that officiating was repeatedly benefitting the Kansas City Chiefs was ‘ridiculous.’

‘This sort of reminds me a little bit of the script, right? … A lot of those theories are things that happen in social media,’ Goodell said.

Super Bowl’s all-time greatest players, games and teams

Before getting deep into Super Bowl 59, let’s embark on a history lesson.

USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis has given a thorough breakdown of the greatest players, games and teams that the Super Bowl stage has ever seen. The Chiefs, in particular, figure prominently in all three lists, though the Eagles also have had their share of signature moments.

Check out all three before Super Bowl Opening Night begins.

Greatest Super Bowl games: Ranking all from 1-58
Greatest Super Bowl teams: Not all were winners
Greatest Super Bowl players: Who from Chiefs, Eagles made cut?

When is Super Bowl Opening Night?

Super Bowl Opening Night is set for Monday starting at 8 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast on NFL Network and streamed on Fubo.

Who’s set to speak at Super Bowl Opening Night?

All players and coaches from both teams will be available for interviews, but 11 from each side will be chosen to speak at risers.

Eagles

1. WR DeVonta Smith
2. WR A.J. Brown
3. QB Jalen Hurts
4. RB Saquon Barkley
5. T Lane Johnson
6. T Jordan Mailata
7. TE Dallas Goedert
8. LB Zack Baun
9. CB Darius Slay
10. HC Nick Sirianni
11. DE Brandon Graham

Chiefs

1. DT Chris Jones
2. LB Nick Bolton
3 QB Patrick Mahomes
4. TE Travis Kelce
5. S Justin Reid
6. CB Trent McDuffie
7. RB Isiah Pacheco
8. K Harrison Butker
9. WR DeAndre Hopkins
10. HC Andy Reid
11. WR Xavier Worthy

When is Super Bowl 59?

Super Bowl 59 will kick off Sunday, Feb. 9, at 6:30 p.m. ET in New Orleans.

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‘Exciting chapter’: Interior Sec takes aim at Biden oil lease ban, ‘coercive’ climate policies in Day 1 orders

President Donald Trump’s administration is taking aim at various Biden-era environmental rules and regulations by stripping the energy sector of ‘coercive’ climate policies and oil lease bans, and launching internal investigations into agency actions that ‘burden’ energy development.

Secretary of Interior Doug Burgum, who was sworn-in on Friday, spent his first full day on the job implementing six new orders that reinforce Trump’s agenda and set the tone for the department over the next four years.

The secretary’s orders include examining ways to eliminate ‘harmful’ and ‘coercive’ climate policies, lifting Biden-era bans on oil and gas leases, and conducting a review of the legislation that funded the former administration’s green energy agenda, known as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

‘Today marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for the Department of the Interior,’ Burgum said in a statement. ‘We are committed to working collaboratively to unlock America’s full potential in energy dominance and economic development to make life more affordable for every American family while showing the world the power of America’s natural resources and innovation.’

In a press release issued on Monday, Burgum announced the department’s first initiatives.

The DOI pledged to expedite the completion of all authorized infrastructure and environmental projects to address the National Energy Emergency, which was declared by Trump on Inauguration Day.

The department will also conduct a review of all appropriations from the IRA, after former President Joe Biden spent the remaining months of his presidency trying to rapidly dish out funds from the bill to fund green energy projects across the country. 

Additionally, the DOI said that for every new regulation issued, the department will eliminate at least 10 existing ones as part of Trump’s ‘deregulation agenda.’

Burgum also demanded ‘immediate compliance’ with Trump’s overturning of Biden’s oil and gas lease ban, specifically in the Outer Continental Shelf, and said the department will be conducting a review of all agency actions that ‘potentially burden the development of domestic energy resources.’

The DOI, on Monday, also withdrew a June 2021 Biden administration order that halted oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a coastal plain that the first and second Trump administrations have eyed as an oil and gas resource. 

‘Together, we will ensure that our policies reflect the needs of our communities, respect tribal sovereignty, and drive innovation that will keep the U.S. at the forefront of energy and environmental leadership,’ Burgum said in a statement.

Climate activist groups, however, have not been supportive of Burgum’s nomination.

‘From opening more public lands for extraction to attacking countless protections of lands, water, and wildlife, it’s clear that President Trump is committed to expanding fossil fuels and catering to industry at the expense of our climate, public lands and waters, and wildlife,’ Earthjustice, an environmental law group, wrote in opposition to Burgum’s nomination.

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Abortion pill mifepristone sparks new pro-life debate as some doctors stress safety concerns

Pro-choice lawmakers, doctors and advocates have argued the science is settled when it comes to the controversial abortion pill mifepristone. They say the drug is safe and needs to be widely available with virtually no restrictions. Even some GOP lawmakers have shown support for retaining women’s access to the pill, which is much more widely available today than it was just a few years ago. 

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has yet to stake out a formal position on how he will approach the controversial abortion pill. Although he took several measures in his first few days in office to prevent taxpayer dollars from funding or promoting abortion, he has yet to respond to pro-life demands to reinstate specific restrictions on mifepristone.

‘The potentially tragic results of these drugs have been illustrated by the recently reported deaths of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller,’ Dr. Christina Francis, CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life OBGYNs, told Fox News Digital. ‘Denying the risks of mifepristone will only ensure that more women like Amber and Candi are left to undergo painful and potentially dangerous drug-induced abortions without the bare minimum quality of medical care.’

While pro-choice advocates have suggested the deaths of Thurman and Miller were the result of anti-abortion laws and the chilling effect they have incurred on women seeking abortions, Francis said their deaths were instead the result of a powerful medication that lacks the necessary safeguards. 

‘Many of the studies that abortion advocates like to quote to state that mifepristone has very few complications don’t actually reflect real world use of mifepristone,’ she said. ‘Most of those studies, women will have had an in-person visit, as well as an ultrasound, actually documenting how far along they are in their pregnancy, as well as ensuring that they did not have an ectopic pregnancy before they receive those drugs. When, in fact, that’s not real-world use right now.’

Francis pointed out that real-world use actually ‘means that they order them online.’

 

When mifepristone was first approved in 2000 by the Food And Drug Administration (FDA), numerous safeguards were put in place. Those included requirements that the medication be dispensed in-person and that patients receive appropriate follow-up care. It also limited the gestational time frame during which pregnant women could use the pill to seven weeks. However, over time, those restrictions were loosened more and more. By 2021, women could get mifepristone without in-person visits, and it was left up to the doctor to trust the patient’s account of how far along her pregnancy was.

‘They’re not seen by any kind of medical professional to confirm their gestational age or to rule out an ectopic pregnancy, which we know happens in one in 50 pregnancies,’ Francis said. ‘If you look at the FDA’s own label – and again, this was when there was still the in-person dispensing requirement – their own label says that one in 25 women will go to the emergency room due to complications related to these drugs. That is not a safe drug. Safe drugs don’t send one in 25 people to the emergency room.’

‘The only way to tell the bleeding, cramping, and pain is from a miscarriage, the abortion pill, or even from an ectopic pregnancy, is to actually do an ultrasound,’ Dr. William Lile, a pro-life OB-GYN who has delivered more than 5,000 babies, told Fox News Digital.   

The removal of in-person visits is a major aspect of the more lax restrictions that people like Francis and Lile want to see reversed. A big reason for that is due to the similarity of the side effects exhibited by both mifepristone usage and life-threatening ectopic pregnancies, which have increased due to the growing prevalence of Intrauterane Devices (IUDs) and sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia and gonorrhea, Francis wrote in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal.

‘If she has an ectopic pregnancy that’s undiagnosed, she starts having these symptoms. She’s going to think that it’s the result of the abortion drugs that she took, and it’s normal, and she’s going to stay home while she’s bleeding into her abdomen and losing precious time. That could be the difference between life and death,’ Francis said. 

Mifepristone is also prone to causing retained tissue and atypical sepsis as well, something Thurman suffered from before her death.

‘When we know that this drug carries these kinds of complications, we are saying women deserve better care and better oversight when they’re being given these drugs,’ Francis said. ‘These are not benign drugs. Women deserve follow-up care. They deserve ongoing care.’

Pro-choice advocates argue that mifepristone is safe, citing numerous studies showing its safety and effectiveness, including for treating miscarriages, from as far back as 1988. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists call the drug safe and effective for abortion and miscarriage care. 

Autumn Katz, interim director of litigation at the Center for Reproductive Rights, called claims against mifepristone ‘false,’ noting they have been ‘thoroughly debunked.’ 

‘It has been used in combination with misoprostol by over 5.9 million patients in the U.S.,’ she said. ‘Numerous studies have repeatedly proven its safety and effectiveness for ending an early pregnancy, and mifepristone is also frequently used as a safe and effective treatment for early miscarriage.’

Fox News Digital spoke to a pro-life emergency room doctor who said he uses mifepristone in conjunction with other drugs to remedy miscarriages. However, according to Lile and Francis, mifepristone’s assistance is not statistically significant, or necessary when treating miscarriages. Neither does it remove the need for in-person visits, they said. 

‘When people think of it outside of the abortion context, they understand how important that in-person evaluation is, how important it is to know exactly how far along someone is,’ Francis said. ‘So that’s what we’re calling for, and [in-person evaluations] being put back into place would not impact a physician’s ability to use that drug to treat miscarriage, if that is their protocol for treating miscarriage.’ 

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White House expecting ‘spike’ in federal resignations as at least 20K take buyouts

The White House is expecting a ‘spike’ in federal resignations ahead of a Thursday deadline for a buyout offer, Fox News Digital has learned. 

Nearly all federal employees were offered a buyout as part of President Donald Trump’s plan for government employees to physically work out of their offices, following years of remote work stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Government employees have until Thursday to take the offer, with the Trump administration expecting an influx of resignations in the next two days. 

‘The number of deferred resignations is rapidly growing, and we’re expecting the largest spike 24 to 48 hours before the deadline,’ a White House official told Fox News Digital on Tuesday morning. 

Axios reported earlier Tuesday that roughly 20,000 federal employees have taken the offer, accounting for about 1% of the federal government’s workforce. The White House official told Fox News Digital following the report’s publication that the 20,000 figure ‘isn’t current.’ 

The Office of Personnel Management, which operates as the federal government’s human resources department, notified roughly 2 million federal employees on Jan. 28 that they would be required to work out of their respective offices five days a week, or they could leave their roles through the equivalent of a buyout offer. 

Those who choose to take the offer will retain all pay and benefits and be exempt from in-person work until Sep. 30. 

‘We think a very substantial number of people will not show up to work, and, therefore, our government will get smaller and more efficient,’ Trump told reporters of the plan in late January. ‘And that’s what we’ve been looking to do for many, many decades.’ 

The buyouts do not apply to positions such as military personnel, the U.S. Postal Services or positions related to immigration enforcement and national security. 

The White House has previously said it anticipated 5% to 10% of the federal workforce to resign. 

The buyout deadline comes as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is led by tech billionaire Elon Musk, has taken a hatchet to various government agencies and departments, as the team works to cut overspending and alleged corruption within the highest echelons of the U.S. government. 

The United States Agency for International Development is the latest agency to land under DOGE’s microscope. Hundreds of USAID employees reported they were locked out of the agency’s computer system, while its headquarters in Washington, D.C., was closed on Monday. 

On X, Musk has railed against the organization as rife with ‘marxists’ and is operating as a ‘criminal organization.’ 

‘USAID is a criminal organization,’ Musk posted to X on Sunday. ‘Time for it to die.’ 

‘USAID was a viper’s nest of radical-left marxists who hate America,’ he said in another message. 

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Denmark PM repeats Greenland ‘not for sale,’ but would welcome more American troops on Arctic island

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen repeated on Monday that Greenland is ‘not for sale,’ but she remained open to bolstering the American ‘footprint’ on the Arctic island.

As European Union leaders convened for a meeting in Brussels, Frederiksen addressed President Donald Trump’s prospect of acquiring control of Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark, a U.S. ally, through military or economic force. 

‘I think we have been very clear from the Kingdom of Denmark, with great support from the European partners and the European Union, that everybody has to respect the sovereignty of all national states in the world, and that Greenland is today a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, it is a part of our territory, and it’s not for sale,’ Frederiksen told reporters, speaking in English. ‘The chairman, the leader of Greenland, has been very clear that they are not for sale.’ 

Frederiksen signaled that Denmark would welcome Trump sending more troops to Greenland, where the U.S. Space Force already has a base to monitor missile threats. 

‘I totally agree with the Americans that the High North, that the Arctic region is becoming more and more important when we are talking about defense and security and deterrence,’ Frederiksen said, as China and Russia have both been increasingly active in the region. ‘And it is possible to find a way to ensure stronger footprints in Greenland. They [the U.S.] are already there, and they can have more possibilities. And at the same time, we are willing to scale up from the Kingdom of Denmark. And I think NATO is the same. So if this is about securing our part of the world, we can find a way forward.’ 

Frederiksen also responded to Trump’s threat of implementing tariffs on imports from the European Union. The Danish leader said EU members ‘are willing to help each other and to stick together, and I will never support the idea of fighting allies, but of course, if the U.S. puts tough tariffs on Europe, we need a collective and robust response.’

Last week, her government announced a nearly $2 billion agreement with parties, including the governments of Greenland and the Faeroe Islands, to ‘improve capabilities for surveillance and maintaining sovereignty in the region.’ It would include three new Arctic naval vessels, two additional long-range surveillance drones and satellite capacity, the Danish Defense Ministry said.

Meanwhile, European Council President Antonio Costa, noting that the EU has stood beside Ukraine in defense of its borders, said of Greenland on Monday: ‘Of course, we will stand also for these principles, all the more so if the territorial integrity of a member state of the European Union is questioned.’

Trump has said the United States needs control of Greenland, as well as the Panama Canal, for ‘national security purposes.’ While Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Panama this week, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino pledged to end his country’s key Belts and Road project agreement with China. Trump had lamented Beijing’s increased control of the strategic waterway, built by the United States, connecting the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

In Brussels on Monday, Frederiksen also reacted to Vice President JD Vance recently asserting that Denmark has ‘not been a good ally.’ In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Vance repeated that Greenland is ‘really important to our national security,’ as China and Russia increasingly traverse sea lanes near the island, and ‘frankly, Denmark, which controls Greenland, it’s not doing its job, and it’s not being a good ally.’ 

‘You have to ask yourself, how are we going to solve that problem, solve our own national security if that means that we need to take more territorial interests in Greenland? That is what President Trump is going to do, because he doesn’t care about what the Europeans scream at us. He cares about putting the interests of America’s citizens first,’ Vance said, adding, ‘You’ve got probably 55,000 people living on Greenland who are not actually happy with Danish government. They’ve got great natural resources there. They’ve got an incredibly bountiful country that the Danes aren’t letting them develop and explore. Of course, Donald Trump would take a different approach if he was the leader of Greenland.’ 

Speaking in Danish, Frederiksen told reporters that Danes ‘have fought side by side with the Americans for many, many decades,’ according to reports and an online translation. 

‘We are one of the United States’ most important and strongest allies – and I will not accept the notion that Denmark is a bad ally. We are not, we never have been, and we never will be in the future. The Arctic Cooperation is important. It is something we are willing to prioritize,’ Frederiksen said, arguing that it would align with the interests of Denmark, the U.S. and NATO. 

‘It is sensible, but it is also important that we work together against terrorism, against the destabilization we see in the Baltic Sea right now with sabotage, and it is important that we work together on NATO’s Eastern flank and thereby holding firm in relation to Russia,’ she added, turning to the Ukraine war. ‘So we would be able to work together in many ways, but I do not want to be sitting on Denmark’s name and remuneration that we should be a bad ally, because we are not.’ 

Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., visited Greenland’s capital Nuuk, to meet with locals last month, weeks before his father took office.

Trump’s 10% tariffs on Chinese imports into the U.S. took effect this week, as the administration aims to hold Beijing accountable for precursor chemicals said to be fueling the fentanyl crisis. He agreed to suspend a 25% additional tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tax on energy imported from Canada, including oil, natural gas and electricity, by 30 days after both countries agreed to send additional troops to their borders with the U.S., among other stipulations. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Politics

Tulsi Gabbard scores key committee Republican’s support ahead of pivotal vote

Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., came out in support of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence (DNI), just hours before her crucial committee vote. 

In a statement to Fox News Digital, the senator said, ‘American intelligence officers around the globe deserve our respect and support. I appreciate Tulsi Gabbard’s engagement with me on a variety of issues to ensure that our intelligence professionals will be supported and policymakers will receive unbiased information under her leadership.’

‘I have done what the Framers envisioned for senators to do: use the consultative process to seek firm commitments, in this case commitments that will advance our national security, which is my top priority as a former Marine Corps intelligence officer. Having now secured these commitments, I will support Tulsi’s nomination and look forward to working with her to protect our national security,’ he added. 

Gabbard will need the support of all Republicans on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in order to advance to the floor for a confirmation vote. 

That is assuming she does not get the votes of any Democrats. No Democrats on the committee have endorsed her for the role.

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