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Trump’s FBI overhaul puts ‘untouchable’ feds on notice: former agent

President Donald Trump has promised to usher in a new era in America’s top investigative unit — the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) — with day one changes being implemented as key senior roles were reassigned.

The agency’s shakeup began when former FBI Director Christopher Wray, who was nominated by Trump in his first administration, announced last month that he would step down from his post. Hours before Trump was sworn in, acting director Paul Abbate similarly stepped down.

The Associated Press reported, citing a person familiar with the matter, that the longtime head of the Justice Department’s office of international affairs, Bruce Swartz, was reassigned along with as many as 20 other staffers. 

On Monday, the White House announced Brian Driscoll as acting director of the FBI. Driscoll’s time as acting director will presumably end when Kashyap ‘Kash’ Patel is confirmed as the FBI’s next director by the U.S. Senate.

Throughout former President Biden’s term, the FBI was entangled in repeated scandals, prompting President Trump to promise to root out corruption in the FBI and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Former FBI agent and Fox News contributor Nicole Parker told Fox News Digital that Abbate’s retirement was a ‘good idea.’ 

‘He had to have known that his days were likely very much numbered,’ she said. ‘It’s been widely publicized and well known that Paul Abbate was involved in pushing the raid at Mar-a-Lago. Also, he was very involved in pushing the Jan. 6 misdemeanor cases that were worked rigorously at the FBI.’

‘I imagine that he knew, rather than being removed upon Trump’s arrival, that it might be best in his interest to just move on. And I think that probably was a good idea on his part,’ she said.

On day one, President Trump signed a memorandum titled ‘Restoring Accountability for Career Senior Executives.’ He asserted that federal employees are able to be fired. 

‘I came from the private sector before the FBI, and I noticed such a contrast. The private sector, if you’re not doing your job, of course you’re going to get fired. But when you come to the federal government, there was almost this mood of, you know, we’re untouchable,’ Parker said. 

‘And I really believe that those days are over. You are working for the American taxpayers. It is their taxpayer dollars that need to be put to good use. And if you’re not doing your job, you really should be removed,’ she said. ‘I do believe that there will be people who may not be on board with Trump’s plans, and they’ll choose to walk away on their own.’

Driscoll is now heading the agency as Patel begins his Senate confirmation process. Patel’s Senate confirmation hearing is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Jan. 29. 

Driscoll, a veteran of the agency, joined in 2007, according to a statement on the White House’s website. Robert Kissane, the top counterterrorism agent in New York, will serve as acting deputy director, the White House said.

Prior to being appointed as acting director, Driscoll most recently served as the special agent in charge of the Newark Field Office. He also previously served as the commander of the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) and Critical Incident Response Group’s (CIRG) Tactical Section chief.

‘I think it’s good for the FBI, for somebody who has such an amazing background with tactical experience and HRT,’ retired FBI agent Scott Duffey told Fox News Digital. ‘It’s a tall order, and I wish him well.’

Before his career in the FBI, he was a special agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the agency said in a release. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Villanova University and a master’s degree in public policy and international relations from Pepperdine University.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the FBI and the Department of Justice for comment.

Fox News’ Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.

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Working ‘in tandem’: Republicans prep to make Trump executive orders permanent

House Republicans have no plans to allow President Donald Trump’s key executive orders to expire at the end of his four-year term.

Trump marked his first day in office Monday with dozens of new executive orders, and signaled that he is aiming to use the commander in chief’s unilateral power to enact policy when possible.

Executive orders, however, can be easily rescinded when a new administration enters the White House. They can also be subject to legal challenges that argue they run afoul of existing U.S. law, as is the current case with Trump’s order limiting birthright citizenship.

But several House GOP lawmakers who spoke with Fox News Digital are signaling they intend to stop that from happening for at least several of Trump’s key policies.

‘I see him doing things by executive action as a necessity to signal… but they’re not the best way to do things,’ former House Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry, R-Pa., told Fox News Digital. ‘The best way to do things is the legislative process with a signature on a bill.’

Perry suggested starting with Trump’s orders on the border and energy.

Meanwhile, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., confirmed at his weekly press conference that Trump’s orders will be a roadmap for the House.

‘This is an America First agenda that takes both of those branches of government to work in tandem,’ Johnson said. ‘And so what he’s doing is kickstarting what will ultimately be our legislative agenda.’

Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., a close ally of Trump, told Fox News Digital, ‘I think the executive orders are easy because it requires one person.’

‘Equally important in our discussions with him is the legislative piece, that we permanently enshrine some of these things or that we correct mistakes in the law that maybe have been abused in the past,’ Fry said.

Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Ala., suggested enshrining Trump’s rollback of Biden administration energy policies into law.

The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s border subcommittee, Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., said he wanted Congress to back up Trump’s immigration executive orders.

‘We need to codify what President Trump has put in place by executive orders – Remain in Mexico, doing away with the CBP One app,’ Guest said. ‘When President Trump leaves office in four years, those executive orders can be undone.’

Some have already taken steps to do just that. House Science Committee Chair Brian Babin, R-Texas, introduced a bill this week to limit birthright citizenship the day after Trump’s order.

Freshman Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, released a bill earlier this month to reinstate Trump’s Remain In Mexico policy.

‘I think the border crisis is so egregious and so harmful to American citizens that everybody can see it, whether you’re a Republican or Democrat,’ Gill told Fox News Digital. 

Former President Joe Biden rolled back several of Trump’s key executive orders on his first day in office and ended enforcement of Remain In Mexico – though that was challenged in court. 

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House Speaker Johnson calls Biden’s last-minute pardons ‘shocking’ and ‘disgusting’

House Speaker Mike Johnson says former President Joe Biden’s last-minute pardons of his family members were ‘shocking’ and ‘disgusting.’ 

‘It was shocking. I mean, it was shocking what President Biden did on the way out, pardoning his family for more than a decade of whatever activity, any nonviolent offenses. It was breathtaking to us,’ Johnson said Wednesday during the House Republican leadership’s weekly press conference. 

‘I don’t think that’s anything like that’s ever been anticipated. And by the way, go look at the tape. You know, four years ago when it was just implied that President Trump might do something similar, they were apoplectic. Joe Biden himself, Adam Schiff, Chuck Schumer, roll the tape. They all said that would be crazy and unconscionable. And now they’re cheering it along,’ Johnson continued. 

‘To us, it is disgusting. To us, it probably proves the point. The suspicion that, you know, they call it the Biden crime family. If they weren’t the crime family, why do they need pardons? Right?’ Johnson also said. ‘Look, there’s a lot of attention that’s going to be paid to this. And I think that is appropriate. And we will be looking at it as well.’ 

Biden pardoned his siblings just minutes before leaving office on Monday. 

The pardon applied to James Biden, Sara Jones Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, John Owens, and Francis Biden, the White House announced. The president argued that his family could be subject to ‘politically motivated investigations’ after he leaves office. 

‘I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics. But baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families,’ Biden said in a statement. 

‘Even when individuals have done nothing wrong and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage their reputations and finances,’ Biden added. 

The pardons have been widely criticized, with Trump-Vance transition senior adviser Jason Miller describing them to Fox News as ‘nonsense.’ 

‘I think for Joe Biden to do that, I thought that was nonsense,’ he said. 

Former Biden White House communications director Kate Bedingfield also called them a ‘disappointing move.’ 

Biden issued another wave of pre-emptive pardons earlier Monday morning, those going to Dr. Anthony Fauci, Gen. Mark Milley and people associated with the House select committee investigation on January 6. 

Since taking office, President Donald Trump signed off on releasing more than 1,500 charged with crimes stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol. 

‘The President has made his decision,’ Johnson said Wednesday when asked about those pardons. 

Fox News’ Chad Pergram, Anders Hagstrom, Diana Stancy and Jamie Joseph contributed to this report. 

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Mother of missing Marine veteran calls Trump admin a ‘breath of fresh air’ as she continues 12-year search

Debra Tice has spent more than 12 years searching for her son, Austin Tice, a Marine veteran and journalist who was kidnapped in Syria in August 2012. 

Through four presidential administrations, she has not lost hope that her son will come home alive. In fact, she calls the new Trump administration a ‘breath of fresh air.’

‘They are thinking about what they need to do, making suggestions, standing ready, having ideas. The burden isn’t on me the way it has been in the past,’ Tice told Fox News Digital, referring to the Trump administration.

The Marine veteran’s mother’s first trip back to Damascus, Syria, in over 10 years comes on the heels of a revolution within the war-torn country. Debra Tice has been in Syria for only a few days, but she has already managed to meet with the country’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the group that overthrew Bashar al-Assad.

‘It was really quite a surprise that we were able to get a meeting with al-Sharaa. It was a very good meeting,’ Tice said.

Hostage Aid Worldwide, a non-profit organization coordinating Tice’s visit to Syria, was able to take her inside some of the prisons that have been abandoned since the fall of Assad. She said that seeing the conditions in these prisons was ‘really challenging,’ but that she appreciated getting a sense of ‘what Austin was up against.’

Tice also issued a challenge to those in the U.S. government who ‘feel like Austin can wait’ to go see the prisons for themselves.

‘I think if they had to come over here – and I wouldn’t even ask them to spend the night in one of those prisons – but I think if they had gone to see what he may have gone through, maybe they would’ve been more motivated to get Austin out of there.’

During a press conference on Monday, Tice offered praise for the incoming Trump administration and confirmed that they have ‘already reached out’ regarding Austin’s case.

‘I haven’t experienced that in the past four years, but I am optimistic about their help and involvement. I believe they will act quickly,’ Tice said.

Tice also used the press conference to send an emotional message to her missing son. ‘Austin, if you can hear this somehow, I love you. I know you won’t give up, and I won’t give up either,’ Tice said.

Tice added she has ‘never had any doubt about the fact that Austin is going to walk free. It’s a matter of time, and in my faith it’s God’s timing.’

When speaking about her hope and optimism about finding her son, Tice credited her faith as ‘100 percent.’ She added that, ‘if I didn’t have my faith, I just think I would crumble into a bunch of really small pieces.’

A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital that ‘intensive efforts are still underway to find Austin Tice.’ Additionally, the spokesperson said that the department is ‘working to get U.S. officials into Damascus’ to aid in the search but is waiting for confirmation that the’conditions are safe and local authorities can accommodate the visit.’

‘We have used relevant information, as well as declassified intelligence, to inform the search efforts of Syrian and international partners on the ground in Damascus who are searching for Austin every day,’ the spokesperson added.

‘They have visited and searched numerous now-uncovered secret prisons, but to date they have not found Austin or any additional information that would help us locate him.’

Last month, after receiving a letter from Debra Tice, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to ask Assad for help finding Austin. However, as of now, there are no signs that this has happened.

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UN urges diplomacy as Iran hits nuclear ‘gas pedal,’ conservative commentator tells Trump ‘do not appease’

The United Nations atomic watchdog on Wednesday sounded the alarm that Iran has hit the ‘gas pedal’ on its nuclear development and urged diplomacy just two days after President Donald Trump re-entered the White House. 

The Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told world leaders at the Davos World Economic Forum that Iran has roughly enough uranium, if enriched further, to develop nearly five nuclear weapons.

Rafael Grossi warned that Iran currently possesses roughly 440 pounds of near-weapons grade uranium that has been enriched to the 60% purity threshold, shy of the 90% purity levels needed to develop a nuclear bomb. Roughly 92 pounds of weapons-grade uranium is enough to create one nuclear bomb, reported Reuters.

‘One can gather from the first statements from President Trump and some others in the new administration that there is a disposition, so to speak, to have a conversation and perhaps move into some form of an agreement,’ Grossi said.

Conservative allies of Trump have called on the president to continue with his maximum pressure campaign that was implemented against Iran during his first presidency. Mark Levin, host of Fox News show ‘Life, Liberty & Levin,’ on Tuesday urged the president to ‘not appease’ Tehran when it comes to its nuclear deal.

‘Do not embrace the discredited ‘diplomatic solutions’ of the Biden and Obama regimes and think deals can be made with mass murdering terrorists,’ Levin said in a post on X. ‘You do not negotiate with genocidal maniacs, pure and simple.  

‘Do not appease, as their bloodthirsty ideology cannot be appeased only destroyed,’ he warned. 

According to the Grossi, Iran has increased its production of uranium enriched to 60% purity levels from an average of 15 pounds each month to more than 65 pounds. 

‘I think this is a clear indication of an acceleration. They are pressing the gas pedal,’ Grossi told reporters, according to Reuters.

The IAEA chief said that while it will take time for Iran to develop the extra centrifuges needed to create more enriched uranium, he believes the international community can expect ‘to start seeing steady increases from now.’

It is unclear what comments issued by the new Trump administration led Grossi to believe that it might be open to diplomacy given Trump’s repeated commitments to hit Iran with stiff sanctions in a move to end Tehran’s support of state-sponsored terrorism and counter its nuclear program. 

Republicans have ardently objected to diplomatic efforts in the past, and Trump, in 2018, pulled the U.S. out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, an international deal that looked to limit Iran’s nuclear program.

Reports this week claimed that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had prohibited the development of a nuclear weapon in an apparent olive branch to Trump, though Fox News Digital could not independently confirm this. This alleged ban also would not necessarily prohibit Tehran from developing its nuclear program. 

Fox News Digital could not immediately reach the White House to confirm whether Trump plans to pursue any diplomatic efforts to counter Iran’s nuclear program. 

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Goldman Sachs rolls out an AI assistant for its employees as artificial intelligence sweeps Wall Street

Goldman Sachs is rolling out a generative AI assistant to its bankers, traders and asset managers, the first stage in the evolution of a program that will eventually take on the traits of a seasoned Goldman employee, according to Chief Information Officer Marco Argenti.

The bank has released a program called GS AI assistant to about 10,000 employees so far, with the goal that all the company’s knowledge workers will have it this year, Argenti told CNBC in an exclusive interview. It will initially help with tasks including summarizing or proofreading emails or translating code from one language to another.

“Think about all the tasks that you might want to complete with regards to a variety of use cases for all those professions that can be now at your fingertips,” Argenti said. The Goldman assistant is a “very simple interface that allows you to have access to the latest and greatest models.”

Goldman’s move means that, along with JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley, the world’s top three investment banks have aggressively released generative AI tools to their workforce, a remarkable development since ChatGPT went viral about two years ago.

Wall Street has embraced generative artificial intelligence faster than any other disruptive technology in recent years, experts say, because of how adept large language models are in replicating aspects of human cognition.

Today it can respond to queries, write emails and summarize lengthy documents, but expectations are high that future versions will exhibit so-called agentic abilities, meaning they can perform multistep tasks with little human intervention.

In speaking with CNBC about his vision for artificial intelligence at the firm, Argenti — who joined from Amazon in 2019 — repeatedly likened the AI program to a new employee that will absorb Goldman culture over the coming years.

Initially, the tool will mostly produce answers based on Goldman data that has been fed into AI models from OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini and Meta’s Llama, depending on the task, said Argenti. The bank is also looking at models from companies including Anthropic, Mistral and Cohere, he added.

“The AI assistant becomes really like talking to another GS employee,” Argenti said.

“As we progress, the second step is when you’re starting to have this agentic behavior, that is, ‘I’m completing a task on behalf of a Goldman employee, and I need to take a set of steps,’” he said. “That’s where the model is going to start to do things like a Goldman employee, not only say things like a Goldman employee.”

This helps explain why companies have forbid employees from using ChatGPT for work, instead moving to create their own platforms to tap the technology. It allows firms to not only keep their information secure, but to also craft AI platforms that increasingly resemble the best examples of their own workforce.

“For the AI to have a very specific identity that reflects the tenets, the values, the knowledge and the way of thinking of the firm is extremely important,” Argenti said.

In practice, that means that just as an experienced Goldman employee would know to double-check their work with multiple data sources or use a specific algorithm for a calculation, the AI will absorb those lessons, he said.

But Argenti says he is most excited by the prospect of what comes later, in perhaps three to five years, as AI models increasingly blur the lines between human and machine thinking.

This stage of AI at Goldman would have the model “actually reason more and become more like the way a Goldman employee would think,” he said.

So instead of being handed a run book, which is tech industry parlance for a set of step-by-step instructions for completing tasks or responding to incidents, the AI would be able to generate detailed plans “in the way that an experienced Goldman employee would do,” Argenti said.

The prospects of that future — and the fact that Wall Street’s workers are helping train a technology that may make some roles obsolete, while augmenting other jobs and creating new roles altogether — may send a fresh wave of anxiety through employee ranks.

Like at Goldman, other major investment banks are on target to give generative AI tools to their entire workforces in the coming months.

More than 200,000 JPMorgan employees currently have access to in-house generative AI tools, according to a person with knowledge of that bank who declined to be identified speaking about internal matters. Roughly 40,000 Morgan Stanley employees had access to it as of late last year, the bank said in October.

Finance and technology are seen as among the industries where employees are most prone to upheaval because of generative AI, allowing companies to potentially generate billions of dollars in additional profits. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg told podcaster Joe Rogan earlier this month that its AI will be capable of writing code as well as mid-level software engineers this year.

Global investment banks may shed as many as 200,000 jobs in the next three to five years as the companies implement AI, according to a report from Bloomberg’s research arm. The report, based on a survey of tech executives at major banks, said that support and operations roles known as the back and middle office were most at risk.

At Goldman, however, the official stance is that AI will empower employees to do more, not necessarily result in the need for fewer humans.

“The importance of having a phenomenal human workforce is actually going to be amplified,” Argenti said.

“In my opinion, it always boils down to people,” he said. “People are going to make a difference, because people are going to be the ones that actually evolve the AI, educate the AI, empower the AI, and then take action.”

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Who should be the 2025 NBA All-Star starters? Will LeBron start?

An NBA All-Star Game without LeBron James, Kevin Durant or Steph Curry in the starting lineups seems unfathomable.

This may be the last season when all three are there, and the day is coming soon when all three are not All-Star starters.

It probably won’t happen this season but the day is coming.

All-Star starters, which are determined by fans, players and media, will be announced Thursday on TNT before the 7:30 p.m. ET Milwaukee-Miami game. In the most recent disclosure of All-Star fan voting results, James, Durant and Curry were starters, and the final tally will be close.

USA TODAY Sports NBA writers Jeff Zillgitt and Lorenzo Reyes make their case for starters:

Who should be the 2025 NBA All-Star starters?

Jeff Zillgitt’s All-Star starters

Eastern Conference

Backcourt

Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, New York’s Jalen Brunson

Frontcourt

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Boston’s Jayson Tatum, New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns

The East is easier to pick than the West, and Cleveland, with its conference-best 36-6 record, deserves an All-Star starter. – Jeff Zillgitt

Western Conference

Backcourt

Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards

Frontcourt

Denver’s Nikola Jokic, San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis

Unlike NBA awards, players don’t need to meet a minimum games played for All-Star consideration. However, to draw a line somewhere and help determine who should start, it’s reasonable to pick an All-Star starter who has played in 80% of his team’s games. That puts Edwards in my starting five in the West. In the frontcourt, it came down to LeBron James or Davis, and Davis gets the slight edge for a better overall season. It was close, and the fan vote, combined with the player vote, might give the nod to James anyway, which would be his record 21st consecutive All-Star start. – Jeff Zillgitt

Lorenzo Reyes’ All-Star starters

Eastern Conference

Backcourt

Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, New York’s Jalen Brunson

Frontcourt

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Boston’s Jayson Tatum, New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns

I’m aligned in thinking the East is far easier to project, though I will say that the two-guard crop was a little underwhelming and Donovan Mitchell is the clear beneficiary. Mitchell’s numbers — 23.3 points, 4.6 boards and 4.5 assists per game — are solid, but they’re all lower than his production from last season. – Lorenzo Reyes

Western Conference

Backcourt

Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards

Frontcourt

Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers’ Anthony Davis

I am bumping Davis in over Victor Wembanyama because AD has been a little more consistent overall. But, there’s no doubt in my mind, Wemby’s days as an All-Star starter are coming soon, and they should be here for some time. – Lorenzo Reyes

How are NBA All-Star starters chosen?

Starting in 2017, NBA All-Star starters have been selected by a weighted vote from fans (50%), NBA players (25%) and a media panel (25%). From each conference, there are two backcourt starters and three frontcourt starters. If there’s a tie, the fan vote is the tiebreaker.

Per the NBA, ‘the formula to determine a player’s score is (Fan Rank * 2 + Player Rank + Media Rank)/4.’ For example, if Player A is second in fan voting, third in player voting and third in media voting, his weighted score is 2.5.

Last year, Damian Lillard and Brunson were tied for second with a weighted score of 3.75, but because Lillard was No. 3 in fan voting and Brunson No. 5, Lillard got the starting nod.

The All-Star Game is scheduled for Sunday, February 16, in San Francisco.

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No. 1 Sinner rolls at Aussie Open, Shelton slams ‘disrespectful’ media

With the backing of the entire nation behind him, eighth-seeded Alex de Minaur had ample momentum heading into Thursday’s quarterfinal at the Australian Open. But he was no match for top-seeded Jannik Sinner, falling in straight sets and extending the home country’s long wait for its next men’s singles champion.

Sinner, whose Grand Slam breakthrough came in last year’s tournament at Melbourne Park, cruised to a 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 victory and the Italian will take on American Ben Shelton with his sights set on a third major trophy after also winning the U.S. Open in September.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN BRACKET: Full schedule, results, TV times

De Minaur was looking to end Australia’s nearly half-century wait for a men’s champion since Mark Edmondson did it in 1976. The fans at a packed Rod Laver Arena gave him a standing ovation for his valiant effort.

‘He’s a tough competitor, an amazing player,’ Sinner said. ‘So many people came here for him tonight, but it was an amazing atmosphere.

‘We know each other quite well. We played so many times, we know each other’s game so we try to prepare in the best possible way. These matches can go quickly, but things can change fast.’

Sinner, 23, has never lost to De Minaur in their 10 career meetings. He showed no signs of the illness that made him struggle in his last match.

Ben Shelton slams media for being ‘disrespectful’

Australian Open semifinalist Ben Shelton has taken the Grand Slam’s on-court interviewers to task for being ‘disrespectful’ to players.

The American reached his first semifinal at Melbourne Park on Wednesday with a four-set win over Italian Lorenzo Sonego at Rod Laver Arena.

He was interviewed on court by Australian former Davis Cup player John Fitzgerald, who suggested no one would be cheering the American in his semifinal, with his opponent yet to be confirmed between defending champion Jannik Sinner or local hope Alex De Minaur.

On court, Shelton laughed off the comment, but he was scathing in his post-match press conference.

‘I’ve been a little bit shocked this week with how players have been treated by the broadcasters,’ Shelton told reporters.

‘I don’t think that the guy who mocked Novak (Djokovic), I don’t think that was just a single event.

‘I’ve noticed it with different people, not just myself.’

Tennis Australia, the tournament’s organizers, were contacted for comment.

Djokovic was annoyed by comments made by Australian broadcaster Tony Jones on TV, saying the Serb was ‘over-rated’ and a ‘has-been.’

Djokovic declined to do the customary on-court interview after his fourth-round victory over Jiri Lehecka on Sunday pending a public apology from Jones.

Shelton said he was also put off during his post-match interview after playing 38-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils in the fourth round.

‘There are some comments that have been made to me in post-match interviews by a couple of different guys, whether it was, ‘Hey, (Gael) Monfils is old enough to be your dad. Maybe he is your dad,” Shelton added.

‘Or today on the court, ‘Hey, Ben, how does it feel that no matter who you play in your next match, no one is going to be cheering for you?’

‘I mean, it may be true, but I just don’t think the comment is respectful from a guy I’ve never met before in my life.’

Shelton signed off by saying broadcasters should help grow the sport and help athletes who won matches on the biggest stage to enjoy one of their biggest moments.

‘I feel like there’s just been a lot of negativity. I think that’s something that needs to change,’ he said.

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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Star closer overcomes excruciating Hall of Fame wait: Happy it’s over’

For the fourth time in the past eight years, the 10th and final shot was on the money for a would-be-Baseball Hall of Famer.

Billy Wagner, faced with his last chance at earning enshrinement to baseball’s hall of immortals in Cooperstown, N.Y., finally vaulted the 75% mark to punch his ticket to athletic immortality, receiving a solid 82.5% of support in balloting released Tuesday evening by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, this one year after missing by a galling five votes.

Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.

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Suns, hoping to make a deal for Butler, acquire draft picks from Jazz

Searching for ways to improve their roster ahead of the NBA’s Feb. 6 trade deadline, the Phoenix Suns acquired three first-round picks from the Utah Jazz for a first-round pick.

With a roster that includes Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, Phoenix is 21-21 and in 10th place in the Western Conference. They are competing with eight other teams for a spot in the postseason – whether it’s the play-in game or a guaranteed spot in the playoffs

By acquiring three first-rounders, the Suns now have immediate first-round picks they can trade. Before this deal, the only first-round pick Phoenix had available to trade was a 2031 first-rounder because of an NBA rule that prevents teams from going consecutive seasons without a first-round pick on the books.

Now, the Suns acquired first-rounders from Utah in 2025, 2027 and 2029, according to ESPN, that they can now use to sweeten the pot in a trade for a star such as Jimmy Butler or another player who can improve Phoenix’s roster. Suns owner Mat Ishbia is intent on contending for a title with Durant and Booker and is willing to spend to make that happen.

ESPN first reported details of the trade.

What draft picks did the Phoenix Suns acquire?

The Suns acquired three draft picks from the Utah Jazz. Here are the specifics:

2025 least favorable first-round pick (Cleveland, Minnesota, or Utah (protected))
2027 least favorable first-round pick (Cleveland, Minnesota, or Utah)
2029 least favorable first-round pick (Cleveland, Minnesota (protected), or Utah)

How the Phoenix Suns could trade for Jimmy Butler

To make a deal for Butler work, it likely would involve multiple teams. A person with knowledge of the Suns-Jazz deal indicated to USA TODAY Sports this is the beginning of a process that sends Butler to Phoenix, and the Suns likely would sign him to a longer deal when he can become a free agent this summer. The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about Phoenix’s intentions.

Beal has a no-trade clause in his contract so that limits what Phoenix can do with him a trade. However, if Beal waives his no-trade clause, Phoenix has the draft capital to make a deal palatable for another team, even if it means taking on the two years and $110.7 million left on Beal’s contract after this season.

One team to watch as this unfolds is the Milwaukee Bucks who have scanned the market for perimeter help. As USA TODAY Sports noted in a story on a potential trades, Zach LaVine to the Bucks makes sense, and the Bucks have shown interest in the Chicago Bulls guard who is having a great shooting season.

If Beal waived his no-trade clause for a move to Milwaukee, that could open the door for Butler to Phoenix. The Bucks would need to make another trade first to get under the second apron so they can aggregate salaries in a larger trade.

What did the Utah Jazz get in the trade with the Phoenix Suns?

Utah gets Phoenix’s 2031 unprotected first-round pick which is aiming to be a valuable lottery-type pick especially if the Suns are in rebuild mode post-Durant and post-Booker. The Jazz have at least 11 first-round picks in the next seven drafts.

(This story was updated with new information.)

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