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What’s next for DOGE after Elon Musk’s departure? ‘Only just begun’

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk bid farewell to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in a Wednesday night X post, ending his tenure as the face of the agency as it shifts to a new phase in President Donald Trump’s second term. 

‘As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,’ Musk said on X. ‘The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.’

Musk has been the public face of DOGE since Trump signed an executive order establishing the office on Jan. 20. DOGE has since ripped through federal government agencies in a quest to identify and end government overspending, corruption and fraud.

After Musk’s departure, a senior White House official told Fox News Digital that DOGE will operate as it has always operated and that the agency is ‘part of the DNA of this federal government.’

The official added that DOGE now operates in ‘nearly every federal government agency department’ with the ‘sole job’ of cutting waste, fraud and abuse with the goal of efficiency.

‘The DOGE employees at their respective agency or department will be reporting to and executing the agenda of the president through the leadership of each agency or department head,’ the official said. 

In a post on X, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller said, ‘The work DOGE has done to eliminate government waste and corruption — the rot embedded deep within Washington — is among the most valuable services ever rendered to government. And the work has only just begun.’

While Musk has been the public face of DOGE for months, he was not an employee of the United States DOGE Service and did not report to the acting DOGE administrator, Amy Gleason, according to a court filing in March that shed additional light on the internal workings of the office.

Gleason, who has been described by her peers as a ‘world-class talent,’ previously worked for the United States Digital Service, which was founded in 2014 by former President Barack Obama as a technology office within the Executive Office of the President.

DOGE is a temporary cross-departmental organization that was established to slim down and streamline the federal government. The group itself will be dissolved on July 4, 2026, according to Trump’s executive order.

Musk’s tenure with DOGE resulted in an estimated $175 billion in savings through a combination of asset sales, contract cancellations, fraud payment deletion and other cost-cutting measures, according to the agency’s website, which was last updated on May 26.

The savings amount to $1,086.96 per taxpayer, according to the website. 

Amid Musk’s work with DOGE, Democrats and activists have staged protests against the tech billionaire and his companies, including working to tank Tesla stocks. 

Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton and Elizabeth Pritchard contributed to this report.

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Hamas faces ‘legitimacy crisis’ as desperate Gazans flock to US-backed aid centers

The terrorist group known as Hamas has long plagued the Gaza Strip but is facing a point of crisis as its influence and support, which was already far from sweeping, continues to drop amid internal pressure to end the war and return the hostages taken during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks.

‘Hamas’s current posture reveals a critical inflection point in its grip over the Gaza Strip,’ Joe Truzman, a senior research analyst and editor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies ‘Long War Journal’ and an expert on Palestinian terrorist groups, told Fox News Digital. ‘By opposing the new aid distribution mechanism, one that is coordinated by the U.S. and Israel, Hamas is signaling that its primary concern is not the well-being of Palestinians but the preservation of its authority.’

Despite the monthslong aid blockade on the Gaza Strip by Israel and the images of starvation, Hamas this week threatened any Palestinian civilians who accept food aid for their families and warned they ‘will pay the price, and we will take the necessary measures.’

Despite the threats, Palestinians have flooded the aid sites erected by the U.S.-Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), reportedly resulting in scenes of chaos as desperate civilians overran one distribution location on Tuesday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its ‘troops fired warning shots in the area outside the compound,’ adding, ‘Control over the situation was established … and the safety of IDF troops was not compromised.’

The U.N. Human Rights Office claimed some 47 people were injured during the gunfire, while the Hamas-run health ministry said one person was killed and 48 others were wounded, reported the BBC, though Fox News Digital could not independently verify the casualty count.

On Wednesday, GHF said in a statement that, contrary to reports, no Palestinians have been questioned or detained while receiving aid. Additionally, GHF said that no Palestinians had been shot or killed while trying to get aid.

‘As we have repeatedly cautioned, there are many parties who wish to see GHF fail. Their goal is to force a return to the status quo, even if it means risking lifesaving aid to the people of Gaza,’ the GHF said in a statement. ‘Reports to the contrary originated from Hamas and are inaccurate.’

Truzman explained that it is in Hamas interest to portray the aid delivery as negatively as possible, and to use the chaos to promote its return to power. 

‘Hamas had significant influence over aid flows, which it used not only for governance but also as leverage to reinforce loyalty, reward patronage networks, and maintain internal control,’ the expert explained. ‘The erosion of this influence poses both a symbolic and operational threat to the group.

‘With Hamas becoming sidelined from the aid process, the group is facing a legitimacy crisis,’ Truzman added. 

Despite the chaotic scenes that arose as aid finally returned to Gaza, the GHF said Tuesday that it had distributed about 8,000 food boxes totaling 462,000 meals so far. 

On Wednesday, eight trucks worth of aid were delivered, which equates to some 378,262 meals. 

‘Operations will continue to scale up tomorrow,’ the GHF confirmed.

One Gazan told the Center for Peace Communications that the failure of Hamas, which serves as the local government, to secure affordable and accessible food has driven civilians to the American distribution site. 

‘In fact, they were good to us,’ he said. ‘They were handing out rations cards and started to tell us to take them. Unlike those ruling Gaza who don’t do anything for us.

‘We, as a people, are telling you that we need anyone, anyone who can provide us with these necessities,’ he added. ‘Otherwise, no one would be going to the American distribution point. If Hamas is listening to us, get off the people’s backs.

‘The people are dying,’ the man added.

In recent months, civilian populations have not only been turning to external actors for relief where possible, they have increasingly called on Hamas to return the hostages, stop the war and even leave the Gaza Strip. 

‘This shift undermines Hamas’s image as the authority in Gaza and exposes its weakened state,’ Truzman said. 

‘However, any assumption that Hamas might yield under these conditions must be tempered by the nature of its surviving leadership,’ he warned. ‘Those who remain at the helm are among the most ideologically entrenched and militarily committed members of the organization.’

Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in 2007 after it defeated its rival party, Fatah, which is part of the Palestine Liberation Organization. 

Despite the plurality vote nearly two decades ago, Hamas has struggled to maintain control and stability for years and its support – even in the lead up to the 2023 attacks that prompted the largest-ever war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza – was reportedly lacking and its leadership growing increasingly unpopular. 

Israel and Egypt have limited the flow of goods into the Gaza Strip for the last two decades, and border crossing restrictions have been heavily enforced since the 1980s. Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2025.

However, according to a report by the Wilson Center, only a fraction of the population prior to the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks blamed food shortages on external factors like sanctions, while a third blamed the Hamas-run government for mismanagement, while another quarter of the population blamed inflation.

The report also found that nearly half of Palestinian civilians said they had no trust in Hamas’ leadership, while roughly a third of the population threw their support behind the group.

Support is believed to have dropped in the nearly 600 days that followed the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attacks, and the subsequent devastation brought to the Gaza Strip. 

‘If the new aid mechanism succeeds in improving living conditions for Palestinians, surpassing what Hamas has been able to provide during wartime, it is unlikely to reverse the growing public dissatisfaction with the group,’ Truzman told Fox News Digital. ‘Even an imperfect but externally managed aid system may further expose Hamas’s governance failures, particularly its prioritization of power retention over the welfare of the population. 

‘While tangible improvements will take time to materialize, the mere perception that life can improve without Hamas may be enough to shift public attitudes further against the group,’ he added. 

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California state track meet makes changes after Trump’s objections

There could be two winners in some girls events this weekend at the California state high school track and field meet − a transgender athlete and a cisgender athlete.

The scenario is part of rule changes made after President Donald Trump demanded a transgender athlete not be allowed to compete in girls track and field events.

The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the state’s governing body for high school athletics, clarified the new rules in a press release May 28.

A new division will not be created to separate transgender athletes from cisgender athletes. But athletes assigned female at birth will receive medals based on where they would have finished if a transgender athlete had not competed in the same event − part of what the CIF is calling a ‘pilot entry process.”

Governor Gavin Newsom’s spokesman, Izzy Gardon, in a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports, said, “CIF’s proposed pilot is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness. The Governor is encouraged by this thoughtful approach.”

AB Hernandez, a 16-year-old transgender athlete, won titles in the triple jump and long jump at the southern California regional championship last weekend and is scheduled to compete in those events and the high jump in girls’ varsity.

On May 27, Trump threatened to withhold federal funds from California if the state does not follow an executive order seeking to bar transgender athletes from women’s sports. His post on social media referred to a trans athlete who competes in girls track and field.

Later in the day, the CIF changed the rules for the championship, which will be held May 30-31 in Clovis.

‘The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law and Education Code,” the federation said in a statement. ‘With this in mind, the CIF will be implementing a pilot entry process for the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships.

As part of the changes, additional female athletes were invited to compete in the 2025 state championships.

Medals at the state meet

Hernandez, a top contender in the girls triple jump and long jump, could end up standing on the medal podium next to the athlete who finishes second in the overall standings. Both would receive a first-place medal.

A duplicate medal would be created to accomodate the two athletes.

Hernandez would receive a medal based on her finish in the overall standings while the other athletes will receive medals based on their finish in the standings excluding Hernandez’s results.

The CIF awards nine medals to the top boys and girls finishers in each event. (By contrast, other states create up to five divisions for each event to accomodate the athletes representing schools with a wide range of enrollments.)

Hernandez also is expected to contend for a medal in the high jump.

Also, as part of the rule changes, the CIF said in a statement that it would invite ‘any biological female student-athlete who would have earned the next qualifying mark’ to compete in the state championships.

“Under this pilot entry process, any biological female student-athlete who would have earned the next qualifying mark for one of their Section’s automatic qualifying entries in the CIF State meet, and did not achieve the CIF State at-large mark in the finals at their Section meet, was extended an opportunity to participate in the 2025 CIF State Track and Field Championships,” the CIF said in a statement. “The CIF believes this pilot entry process achieves the participation opportunities we seek to afford our student-athletes.”

The CIF did not say how many athletes that could impact.

Trump’s post on social media

Although the CIF did not cite Trump, the rule changes took place hours after his social media post that in part read, ‘THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS.’

Trump isn’t the only one who has sounded off on the matter. So has Hernandez.

 “I’m still a child, you’re an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person,’’ she told Capital & Main in a story published May 15.

Certain things remain unknown. Such as how many female athletes will be impacted by the new rules and whether they’ll be applied only in events in which Hernandez is competing.

The CIF did immediately respond to requests for information submitted by USA TODAY Sports.

In March, Newsom said on his podcast that it is ‘deeply unfair’ to allow transgender girls and women to compete in women’s sports.

California law prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, including at schools. State law also allows trans student athletes to compete on sports teams that align with their gender identity.

Last month Democratic state lawmakers blocked two bills that would have banned transgender athletes from girls sports.

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Trump’s drastic NSC cuts spark debate: Does fighting the ‘Deep State’ put national security at risk?

As the White House trims over 100 aides from its National Security Council staff, some former officials and analysts are asking if the smaller team can meet the demands of a fast-moving and dangerous global security environment.

Roughly half of the NSC’s 350-person team will depart in what the White House is calling a ‘right-sizing’ of a historically bureaucratic body composed largely of career diplomats – many of whom are seen as out of step with the president’s agenda.

Aides originally on loan from agencies like the State Department and the Pentagon are being sent back to their home departments. Political appointees placed on administrative leave have been told the White House will find other roles for them elsewhere in the administration.

Some former NSC officials told Fox News Digital it’s too early to tell whether the overhaul will result in a more efficient agency – or one ill-equipped to deliver timely intelligence for national security decisions.

Privately, national security sources questioned whether Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is currently serving as interim national security advisor, might be paring back the agency to avoid internal power struggles once he returns to his original post.

Michael Allen, a former senior director at the NSC, said the staffing changes reflect President Donald Trump’s desire for direct control over key decisions.

‘I think he wants people to bring decisions to him earlier than previous presidents,’ Allen told Fox News Digital.

The NSC has charted rocky waters since it lost national security advisor Mike Waltz following the inadvertently publicized Signal chat. His deputy, Alex Wong, also recently departed the agency, and other aides who had a large impact on the administration’s early foreign policy decisions were pushed out in Friday’s restructuring.

Eric Trager, the senior director for Middle East issues who traveled with envoy Steve Witkoff for some of his Iran negotiations, is out. So is Andrew Peek, senior director for Europe and Eurasia, who helped coordinate the approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 

Additionally, the restructuring will move Andy Barker, national security advisor to Vice President JD Vance, and Robert Gabriel, assistant to the president for policy, into roles serving as deputy national security advisors. 

‘This happens naturally on NSCs, the kind of stasis we saw in the Biden administration is highly untypical,’ said Victoria Coates, former deputy national security advisor to Trump. 

She noted that President Ronald Reagan had six national security advisors over two terms as president, in addition to two acting NSAs. 

‘For the president, he has legitimate concerns about the NSC from the first term, given what happened, and then, you know, there’s no sugar-coating it: the situation with Signalgate was a problem for NSA Waltz,’ Coates went on. ‘The president is taking actions to get the NSC into a condition that he would have complete confidence in it.’

With a slimmer NSC, the president is expected to lean more heavily on Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard for his daily intelligence briefings.

‘One thing that makes this administration unique is that it’s the president himself and a small circle of advisors who truly matter and make decisions,’ said Brian Katulis, a former NSC official and fellow at the Middle East Institute. ‘They just don’t see the need for ongoing interagency meetings like in previous administrations.’

Katulis added that the biggest risk isn’t necessarily a lack of intelligence – but a lack of coordination.

‘Rather than gaps in intel or knowledge, what I’d worry more about is whether different agencies are singing from the same sheet of music,’ he said.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment on Friday’s cuts and their intent. 

Others argue that the NSC has become bloated and is in need of a reset.

‘The NSC under Democratic presidents grows to 300, 400 people,’ said former Trump NSC official Alex Gray. ‘It becomes its own department.’

‘When I was there, we took it down to about 110 people doing policy – and it could probably go down another 50 and still be effective,’ he said.

‘Do you want an NSC that formulates and directs policy, or one that gives the president advice, lets him decide, and then implements it? You don’t need hundreds of people to do that.’

But the NSC is the primary agency tasked with making sure other agencies are in line with the president’s agenda. 

‘Rather than preparing options for him, they should take his direction and implement it,’ said Coates.  But, she added, ‘if you take it down too far, it’s not going to have the manpower to implement those directions from the White House into the departments and agencies which are always bigger and better funded than the NSC.’ 

‘How many heads do you have to bash together to get them to do what the president wants them to do? Our experience was in the first term that we needed a fair amount of heft on our end to get them to do stuff they didn’t want to do, like designate the IRGC as an FTO, for example,’ Coates added. 

Even with a leaner staff, the NSC remains responsible for managing critical global challenges – from Iran nuclear talks and the war in Ukraine to military competition with China.

That puts added pressure on Rubio, who will bear the blame if any crucial intelligence slips through the cracks.

‘The big issue is the national security advisor needs to make sure the president has all the information he needs to make a decision,’ Allen said.

Fox News’ Diana Stancy contributed to this report. 

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GOP rails against ‘blatantly false’ Dem claims about Medicaid reform in Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’

House Republicans are celebrating Medicaid reform in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which the House GOP says eliminates waste, fraud and abuse to deliver for Americans who need coverage most. 

Meanwhile, Democrats have railed against possible Medicaid cuts since President Donald Trump was elected in November. Now that his ‘big, beautiful bill’ has passed in the House of Representatives, Democrats are defining Medicaid cuts as a driving issue ahead of competitive midterm elections in 2026. 

Republicans say there is more to the story. 

‘The One, Big Beautiful Bill puts Americans first. We’re securing the border. We’re protecting benefits for the most vulnerable. We are investing in American manufacturing. We’re investing in our own energy production,’ Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind., told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview. 

‘The Democrats have been focusing on this specific line of attack that 13.7 million Americans are going to lose their health care, and that’s just blatantly false.’

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), a nonpartisan analysis for the U.S. Congress, estimates that 8.6 million people in the United States will lose health insurance by 2034 through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s Medicaid reform. 

‘Five million of those people are receiving a tax credit under the Affordable Care Act that was passed by the Democrats with a sunset date that was implemented by the Democrats. We’re simply allowing the sunset date to expire as the Democrats originally intended,’ Houchin said. 

CBO estimates that 13.7 million Americans will lose coverage by 2034, which also includes the 5 million Americans who were already set to lose coverage. A number of Democrats have already deployed the figure in campaign messages rejecting Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ passing in the House.

‘I don’t trust the CBO score, nor should the American people, because it’s been proven again and again to be wildly off,’ added Houchin, who served on three major committees leading budget markup, including the House Rules, Budget and Energy and Commerce committees. 

The American Accountability Foundation, a conservative government research nonprofit, found that of the 32 staff members on CBO’s Health Analysis Division, 26 of them have ‘clearly’ verified liberal partisan biases, as a Democrat donor, registered Democrat or a Democratic primary voter, as Fox News Digital reported this month. 

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act does not cut Medicaid for the most vulnerable, according to Houchin. Instead, she says targeting waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicaid program cuts benefits to illegal immigrants, those ineligible to receive benefits who are currently receiving benefits, duplicate enrollees in one or more states and those who are able-bodied but are choosing not to work. 

‘If you have to think about the four things that we’re doing in Medicaid to strengthen it, we’re removing anybody that is illegal, ineligible or duplicate, and we’re ensuring that able-bodied adults, on the expansion population, have a very modest work requirement, in exchange for receiving benefits. Those things are overwhelmingly supported by the American people, yet the Democrats continue to lie about what this bill is actually doing,’ Houchin said. 

Republicans say they are cleaning up the program to ensure working families and the most vulnerable Americans can rely on the program for generations to come. 

‘What we’re trying to do is protect precious Medicaid dollars for those who need it most,’ Houchin said. ‘That’s what we’re doing. No one in the traditional Medicaid population needs to worry. And even if you’re in the able-body expansion population, there are many opportunities to comply to participate in Medicaid.’

However, Democrats have already designated Medicaid cuts as a defining issue in 2026. 

‘House Republicans’ giant tax scam will kick millions of people off their health insurance,’ Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) spokesperson Viet Shelton told Fox News Digital. ‘It is fact. Independent analysts say it. Health care professionals say it. Hell, even Republican senators say so. Their saying anything to the contrary is just them trying to protect their already in danger majority.’

After weeks of negotiating through budget reconciliation, House Republicans finally reached a consensus and passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last week. The bill passed just 215 to 214, and all Democrats voted against it. Republicans’ slim majority managed to deliver a legislative win for Trump. 

However, the ‘big, beautiful’ fight is far from over as the Senate is tasked with drafting their own version of the bill. Senate Republicans have indicated they do not support the bill in its current form. 

‘I don’t want to see rural hospitals close their doors because funding got cut. I also don’t like the idea of a hidden tax on the working poor. That’s why I’m a NO on this House bill in its current form,’ Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said. 

The sweeping, multitrillion-dollar legislation advances Trump’s agenda on taxes, immigration, energy, defense and the national debt. The bill includes Trump’s key campaign promises, including no tax on tips and overtime, and it seeks to permanently extend his 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. 

‘By passing the largest cut to Medicaid in history, Republicans are ripping away health care from millions of Americans and levying a de facto hidden tax on working-class families,’ DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said in a statement after the bill passed. ‘Now that vulnerable Republicans are on the record voting for it, this betrayal of the American people will cost them their jobs in the midterms and Republicans the House Majority come 2026.’

While Democrats target vulnerable Republicans for supporting Medicaid reform in Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill,’ Republicans are taking aim at Democrats for voting against the bill’s tax cuts.

‘House Democrats voted for the largest tax increase in generations while giving taxpayer-funded freebies to illegal immigrants. The NRCC will make sure voters don’t forget how they betrayed working families,’ National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) spokesman Mike Marinella said in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

As House members return to their home states and communicate with constituents during the congressional recess, the NRCC is encouraging House Republicans to go on the offense on Medicaid reform. 

‘We’re encouraging all of our caucus, our conference members to continue to communicate with the local and national media to reiterate what we know to be true about this One Big Beautiful Bill,’ Houchin said. 

‘It puts Americans first and will ensure that these programs will be around for the next generation, because we’re not wasting any tax dollars, any precious benefits on people who are illegal, ineligible, enrolled in multiple states or are able-bodied and could be working. These programs were designed for our most vulnerable Americans, and the One Big Beautiful Bill protects benefits for those people.’

Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Elkind and Louis Casiano contributed to this report. 

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SCOOP: GOP push for new House committee to probe Biden decline ‘cover-up’ gains steam

House Republicans are mounting a push to start a new select committee focused on investigating the Biden administration for allegedly ‘covering up’ signs of the 82-year-old former president’s decline.

Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., is introducing legislation Thursday that would establish a panel of congressional investigators to ‘investigate and report upon the facts of President Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.’s cognitive and physical health decline and the potential concealment of information from the American public,’ according to bill text obtained by Fox News Digital.

As of Thursday morning, the resolution had four co-sponsors in addition to Carter: Reps. Mark Alford, R-Mo., John Rose, R-Tenn., Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., and Barry Moore, R-Ala.

Republicans have unleashed a tidal wave of scrutiny on the previous Democrat White House as new reports – as well as old concerns previously dismissed by mainstream media – surface about Biden’s mental state while in office and what lengths those closest to him took to allegedly hide it from others. 

Carter’s text calls to investigate former Vice President Kamala Harris and former first lady Jill Biden as well as whoever took part in keeping the audio tapes of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s interview with Biden from the public.

The select committee would also focus on whether Biden allies ‘concealed’ his prostate cancer diagnosis before it was announced publicly last week. 

Biden’s spokesperson denied prior knowledge of the diagnosis in a statement to the New York Times.

The resolution also specifically called for a probe into the use of the autopen in Biden’s White House to sign meaningful legislation.

‘This is potentially the biggest political scandal of our lifetime, and the American people deserve to know the truth about who was really running the White House during Biden’s tenure as president,’ Carter told Fox News Digital of his legislation.

‘From using the autopen to pardon his own family members to likely concealing a cancer diagnosis, our government must restore trust with the public by fully investigating the former administration’s lies and getting to the bottom of one of the most consequential coverups in history.’

Carter, who is currently running for Senate in Georgia, was among several Republicans who demanded Biden take a cognitive test last year.

‘The American people can no longer be left to wonder about their safety and security because of the President’s deteriorating mental state,’ Carter wrote in a June 2024 letter to the White House.

His new resolution comes on the heels of House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., opening his own investigation into revelations surrounding Biden’s cognitive decline.

Comer spent much of the last Congress investigating whether Biden and his family unjustly profited from foreign cash.

The House Oversight chair sent letters to former senior White House aides, including Biden’s doctor, Kevin O’Connor, announcing a probe into ‘the role of former senior Biden White House officials in possibly usurping authority from former President Joe Biden and the ramifications of a White House staff intent on hiding his rapidly worsening mental and physical faculties.’

Meanwhile, first-term Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Fla., called for a similar select committee on Wednesday.

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How to watch Scripps National Spelling Bee 2025 finals

An orthographic, prepubescent champion will be crowned Thursday when the 2025 Scripps Spelling Bee wraps up with its final round outside of Washington D.C. 

Nine spellers, ages 12-14, advanced to the final round over the first two days of the national competition. That is a cutdown from the 99 who made it to the quarterfinals Wednesday, with 57 advancing to the semifinals.  

The remaining nine will square off in the finals beginning at 8 p.m. ET on ION with The Scripps Cup (and a $50,000 cash prize) on the line. Faizan Zaki, the 2024 runner-up, is among the group from which a champion will be named during the Bee’s 100th anniversary celebration. 

Scripps National Spelling Bee finals live stream, TV channel

The Bee’s finals will air on Scripps-owned channel ION. The finals will also air on Scripps’ other national networks: Bounce, Grit, ION Mystery and Laff, as well as its free, ad-supported streaming channels ION Plus, Scripps News, Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, Laff More and spellingbee.com. 

Scripps National Spelling Bee finals start time 

The finals begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. 

Fans can head to spellingbee.com/watch and enter their zip code for instructions on how to watch the Bee in their specific area. 

Who will win the 2025 Spelling Bee? 

Zaiki, a 13-year-old from Dallas, Texas, is a strong candidate based on track record. He’s the lone returning finalist and is competing in his fourth Bee. He advanced to the quarterfinals with a perfect score of 35 in the Round 3 preliminaries test Tuesday afternoon (the minimum score needed to advance was 13).

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Will KAT play for the Knicks? Star’s status in question vs. Pacers

The New York Knicks are looking to save their season Thursday night, but will they have their second-best offensive weapon?

Center Karl-Anthony Towns suffered a left knee contusion late in Tuesday night’s Game 4 loss in the Eastern Conference finals against the Pacers when he crashed knees with Indiana guard Aaron Nesmith.

“I’m only thinking about the loss,” Towns said Tuesday night when asked about the injury. “I’m not thinking about that right now. It’s disappointing when you don’t get a win and we didn’t do enough to get the job done tonight.”

New York, which trails 3-1 in the series, will look to stave off elimination Thursday night at home (Game 5, 8 p.m. ET, TNT).

Here’s everything you need to know about Karl-Anthony Towns’ injured left knee and his playing status for Thursday night in the Eastern Conference finals:

Is Karl-Anthony Towns playing tonight?

His status is still up in the air. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said Tuesday night that Towns would be evaluated ahead of Game 5 to determine his availability. The Knicks officially listed Towns as questionable on Wednesday’s injury report with a left knee contusion.

Assuming Towns does not suffer any setback ahead of Thursday afternoon, the Knicks could opt to run Towns through pregame treatment before his hitting the court for shootaround, to see how his knee responds before making a determination on his playing status.

The five-time All-Star has averaged 25.8 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists through four games of the Eastern Conference finals. He had a team-high 24 points in the Knicks’ Game 3 comeback win, when he scored 20 of his 24 in the fourth quarter as the Knicks overcame a 20-point deficit.

How did Karl-Anthony Towns get hurt?

With a little more than two minutes to play in Game 4, Nesmith fielded a pass and then drove to the basket, where he met Towns, who stepped up to help on defense. Nesmith’s right knee crashed into Towns’ left, sending Towns crumpling to the floor in obvious discomfort.

Trainers examined Towns on the bench during a timeout, as he continued to exhibit pain. Eventually, however, Towns would return and would finish the game, something Thibodeau called a “good sign” for his status for Game 5.

Towns, though, labored up the floor following the injury, clearly favoring his left leg. It is an injury to the same knee he had surgery on to repair a torn meniscus during the 2023-24 season when he was with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He missed a month, but was able to return for the playoffs.

(This story will be updated with new information.)

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Thunder vs. Timberwolves highlights: OKC headed to NBA Finals

Four victories. That’s what the Oklahoma City Thunder need to win the franchise’s first championship since 1979 when they were the Seattle SuperSonics.

The Thunder reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-94 Wednesday in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.

Game 1 of the NBA Finals is Thursday, June 5, in Oklahoma City (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC), and the Thunder will play the winner of the Indiana-New York series.

Oklahoma City dominated from start to finish, jumping to a 26-9 first-quarter lead and never letting up until the outcome was guaranteed. The Thunder led by as many as 39 points, and it was never a competitive game on the scoreboard.

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NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got it started with a hand in the Thunder’s first 11 points, assisting on four made field goals and making the other one, and he assisted on or scored 24 of their 26 first-quarter points.

He finished with a game-high 34 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and two steals – marking his seventh game with at least 30 points in the past eight games. Chet Holmgren had 22 points, seven rebounds and three blocks, and All-NBA forward Jalen Williams generated 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal.

Oklahoma City’s league-best defense stumped Minnesota again, holding the Timberwolves to 41.2% shooting.

The Timberwolves exit the conference finals for the second consecutive season, and while deep playoff runs are the sign of a quality team, the Timberwolves aren’t yet Finals material. They didn’t have the personnel – even after trading Karl-Anthony Towns to New York for Julius Randle – to stay with the Thunder. Turnovers were a problem throughout the series.

Randle scored a team-high 24 points, and All-NBA star Anthony Edwards had 19 points.

Opinion: Sorry Pacers, Knicks. Thunder are your NBA champions

The Oklahoma City Thunder are your 2025 NBA champions.

Well, not officially.

Officially, they are just the 2025 Western Conference champs after eliminating the Minnesota Timberwolves in a five-game conference finals.

But you know where this is headed. The Thunder were the best team during the NBA’s regular season. They won the Western Conference in dominating fashion. Game 5 was a demolition – a 124-94 Thunder victory that left no doubt.

Read Jeff Zillgitt’s column here.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder Game 5: Highlights

Final: Thunder 124, Timberwolves 94

Oklahoma City dominated from start to finish, jumping to a 26-9 first-quarter lead and never letting up until the outcome was guaranteed. The Thunder led by as many as 39 points, and it was never a competitive game on the scoreboard.

End of 3Q: Thunder 88, Timberwolves 62

The Timberwolves outscored the Thunder 30-23 in the third period, but Oklahoma holds a comfortable lead.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads the Thunder with 28 points, shooting 12-of-23 from the field. He also has seven assists, six rebounds and two steals in 31 minutes of play.

Julius Randle added 13 of his 21 points in the quarter for the Timberwolves. He didn’t miss a shot in the period. Anthony Edwards scored 19 points through the first three quarters. He’s shot 7-of-17 from the field and has struggled from the 3-point line, going 1-for-7.

Halftime: Thunder 65, Timberwolves 32

The Thunder need just two more quarters of solid basketball, and they will be headed for the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012.

Oklahoma City did not mess around in the first half, sending a message early and taking a 65-32 lead into halftime against the Timberwolves.

NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has 20 points, five assists, four rebounds and one steal. Chet Holmgren has 15 points for the Thunder, who shot 50% in the first half. Jalen Williams has 15 points and six rebounds, and Alex Caruso added eight points and three steals in 13 minutes.

Turnovers are once again a problem for Minesota, which committed 14 leading to 14 Thunder points. Anthony Edwards has a team-high nine points on 3-for-10 shooting for the Timberwolves (31.6% from the field, 27.8% on 3-pointers).

Thunder pouring it on

Another Thunder scoring spurt and another Timberwolves timeout. Minnesota called a timeout after Jalen Williams’ layup gave the Thunder a 36-14 lead with 9:04 left in the second quarter.

Oklahoma City is 14-for-27 from the field, and Minnesota is 5-for-23, including 2-for-10 on 3-pointers – and Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle are the only Minnesota starters who have scored.

1Q: Thunder 26, Timberwolves 9

The Thunder produced a dominant performance in the opening quarter, limiting the Timberwolves’ offense to just nine points. It was the fewest points the Timberwolves had scored in any quarter this season.

Anthony Edwards scored six points and Julius Randle scored three points in the first quarter for the Timberwolves. Jaden McDaniels went 0-for-6 from the field and 0-for-3 from the 3-point line.

Mike Conley was optimistic about the Timberwolves’ outlook for the final three quarters of play when talking with ESPN.

“It’s all heart right now. … That’s all we are preaching right now to try and get back into this game,” Conley said.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to meet the standard as the regular season MVP, leading the game with 12 points, five assists and three rebounds for the Thunder. Chet Holmgren added seven points.

Thunder off to fast start

The Thunder have an 11-3 lead with 7:11 remaining in the first quarter, forcing Timberwolves coach Chris Finch to call a timeout after Chet Holmgren’s second dunk of the game. Holmgren has seven quick points, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is responsible for all 11 points. He has assisted on four of the Thunder’s five made field goals and made the other shot.

What time is Timberwolves vs. Thunder?

Game 5 of the Western Conference finals between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder will tip at 8:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.

What channel is the NBA game on tonight? How to watch NBA playoffs

The Thunder take on the Timberwolves at 8:30 p.m. ET with coverage on ESPN.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder predictions: Expert picks for Game 5

USA TODAY: Thunder is the unanimous pick

Scooby Axson: Thunder 121, Timberwolves 114
Jordan Mendoza: Thunder 116, Timberwolves 104
Lorenzo Reyes: Thunder 124, Timberwolves 97
Heather Tucker: Thunder 112, Wolves 90
Jeff Zillgitt: Thunder 119, Timberwolves 104

Fox Sports: Thunder 118, Timberwolves 107

Fox Sports expects the Thunder to not only win but cover the -8.5 spread in Wednesday’s Game 5. They point at Oklahoma City’s 83.3% win rate as the favorites this season as a big reason they are riding with the Thunder.

Dimers: Thunder 114, Timberwolves 106

The Thunder are expected to win the series against the Timberwolves according to Dimers. Their model gives the Thunder a staggering 76% chance to win Wednesday night, leaving the Timberwolves just a 24% chance of extending the series.

Timberwolves vs. Thunder odds, lines:

The Thunder are favored to beat the Timberwolves in Game 5, according to BetMGM.  Here is a look at the latest spread, moneyline and points total for the contest:

All odds as of Wednesday, May 28.

Spread: Thunder (-8.5)
Moneyline: Thunder (-375); Timberwolves (+290)
Over/under: 221.5

Where to watch Timberwolves vs. Thunder Game 5: TV, stream

Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Location: Paycom Center in Oklahoma City
TV: ESPN
Stream:  ESPN+, Fubo

Watch Timberwolves vs. Thunder Game 5 on Fubo

Minnesota Timberwolves Game 5 starting lineup

Jaden McDaniels
Julius Randle
Rudy Gobert
Anthony Edwards
Mike Conley

Oklahoma City Thunder Game 5 starting lineup

Jalen Williams
Chet Holmgren
Isaiah Hartenstein
Lu Dort
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Timberwolves star duo must step up

Anthony Edwards and Julius Randall were limited to just a combined 21 points in the Game 4 loss to the Thunder. The Timberwolves managed to get the best of the Thunder of in Game 3 after the duo combined for 54 points.

Timberwolves face difficult scenario

The odds are against the Timberwolves who trail 3-1 in the West finals. Just 13 teams have come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a series. Denver was the last team to do it, eliminating two 3-1 deficits in the 2020 bubble playoffs. The last team to do it in a normal season is Cleveland in the 2016 NBA Finals against Golden State.

“I don’t sense any panic in the group,’ Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said before Game 5. ‘A lot of positivity, a lot of connectivity, a lot of belief.’

Thunder keeping focus on Game 5

The Thunder are one victory from reaching the NBA Finals. But OKC coach Mark Daigneault isn’t concerned about that.

“It’s a distraction,” Daigneault said about two hours before tip-off. “It’s obviously something positive, but it’s a distraction nonetheless because it’s something that can take us out of the present moment, the next possession, the next game and that’s how you stack up to whatever you want to accomplish. That’s what we have to do tonight. This team’s done a great job of growing through those types of experiences and staying present in those types of circumstances. Tonight’s a new challenge, and that’s what we have to do if we want to win the game.”

Where is Timberwolves-Thunder Game 5?

The Thunder will host the Timberwolves from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals. 

NBA championship odds 

BetMGM odds forNBA Finals winner as of Wednesday, May 28: 

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (-425) 
2. Indiana Pacers (+450) 
3. New York Knicks (+3000) 
4. Minnesota Timberwolves (+5000) 

When are the 2025 NBA Finals? Schedule

*-if necessary

Game 1, June 5: 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 2, June 8: TBD, ABC
Game 3, June 11: TBD, ABC
Game 4, June 13: TBD, ABC
Game 5, June 16: TBD, ABC*
Game 6, June 19: TBD, ABC*
Game 7, June 22: TBD, ABC*

NBA conference finals bracket 

Eastern Conference finals 

No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 4 Indiana Pacers (Indiana leads series 3-1) 

Western Conference finals 

No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves (OKC leads series 3-1) 

NBA conference finals schedule 

New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers (Pacers lead series 3-1)

Game 1: Pacers 138, Knicks 135 
Game 2: Pacers 114, Knicks 109 
Game 3: Knicks 106, Pacers 100 
Game 4: Pacers 130, Knicks 121
Game 5, May 29: Pacers at Knicks | TNT, Sling TV | 8 p.m. 
Game 6, May 31: Knicks at Pacers | TNT, Sling TV | 8 p.m.* 
Game 7, June 2: Pacers at Knicks | TNT, Sling TV | 8 p.m.* 

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (Thunder win series 4-1)

Game 1: Thunder 114, Timberwolves 88 
Game 2: Thunder 118, Timberwolves 103 
Game 3: Timberwolves 143, Thunder 101 
Game 4: Thunder 128, Timberwolves 126 
Game 5: Thunder 124, Timberwolves 94

NBA’s new era of parity

If the impending NBA Finals matchup of the league’s 23rd and 27th-ranked media markets is supposed to spell doom for the league, it is a doom the NBA’s owners intentionally brought on themselves. 

While two glitz-free Midwestern cities in the Finals might not have the celebrity pull the NBA has largely enjoyed through its historically successful franchises, it was an inevitable outcome once the league designed a collective bargaining agreement that dismantled its traditional cycle of superteams and dynasties. 

Welcome to the new NBA, where championship windows are smaller, the life cycle of a roster is shorter and the number of teams that can win a title in any given year is beyond anything we’ve seen in our lifetimes. — Dan Wolken

Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards in Game 4

Edwards had 16 points on 5-for-13 shooting and was just 1-for-7 on 3s. That’s not enough – the Timberwolves need more shooting and scoring from Edwards. It’s the second time Edwards, who averaged 27.6 points during the regular season, has scored fewer than 20 points in this series.

Oklahoma City executed another strong defensive gameplan, keeping Edwards from dominating.

Jalen Williams shines before Game 5

Williams surpassed his previous playoff high (32 points against Denver in overtime earlier this month) with 34 points – 14 coming in the fourth quarter when the Thunder needed his offense to hold off a Minnesota rally. He was 13-for-24 from the field and 6-for-9 on 3-pointers, including a key 3 with 3:34 left in the fourth quarter that pushed OKC’s lead to 116-109 and another with 1:21 to play that gave the Thunder a 123-116 lead. He also had five assists, three rebounds and three steals.

Find out more about Thunder-Timberwolves winners and losers with Jeff Zillgitt’s breakdown of Game 4.

Anthony Edwards pushes back against struggle narrative

After going just 1-of-7 Monday night, Edwards is 5-of-24 (20.8%) across the three Timberwolves series losses.

It’s difficult to see the Timberwolves becoming the 14th team in NBA playoff history to overcome a 3-1 deficit without Edwards drastically improving his 3-point efficiency.

Minnesota must also fix its turnovers issue, after committing 23 Monday night, five by Edwards.

“I don’t look at it like I struggled,” Edwards told reporters after the game. “They had a good game plan, making us get off the ball — especially for me, man, they was super in gaps. I made the right play all night. So I don’t look at it like I struggled. I didn’t get enough shots to say I struggled. That might be how you guys look at it, but, yeah, I didn’t struggle at all, I made the right play.” More from Lorenzo Reyes on Anthony Edwards in Game 4.

NBA star Russell Westbrook expands role in giving back to Oklahoma City

Westbrook, despite leaving in 2019 to join the Houston Rockets in a trade, continues to shape the future of Oklahoma City. His partnership with Echo, a multi-strategy investment firm, helps to continue to grow the city’s sports and entertainment investments, particularly its future professional soccer team’s stadium. He has also taken on an expanded role as the creative director for the stadium district. — Elizabeth Flores

2025 All-NBA team 

Oklahoma City Thunder guard and league Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic were unanimous selections from a panel of 100 global reporters and broadcasters who cover the NBA and voted on the squad. View the complete list. 

NBA champions by year

Winners over the past 20 years. For a full list of champions, visit NBA.com.

2023-24 — Boston Celtics 
2022-23 — Denver Nuggets
2021-22 — Golden State Warriors
2020-21 — Milwaukee Bucks 
2019-20 — Los Angeles Lakers 
2018-19 — Toronto Raptors 
2017-18 — Golden State Warriors 
2016-17 — Golden State Warriors 
2015-16 — Cleveland Cavaliers 
2014-15 — Golden State Warriors 
2013-14 — San Antonio Spurs 
2012-13 — Miami Heat 
2011-12 — Miami Heat 
2010-11 — Dallas Mavericks 
2009-10 — Los Angeles Lakers 
2008-09 — Los Angeles Lakers 
2007-08 — Boston Celtics
2006-07 — San Antonio Spurs 
2005-06 — Miami Heat 
2004-05 — San Antonio Spurs 

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Baylor defensive lineman Alex Foster dies after shooting

Baylor defensive lineman Alex Foster has died after being shot multiple times in Greenville, Mississippi, the Washington County Coroner’s Office confirmed to the Clarion Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network. He was 18.

‘We are heartbroken by the unexpected loss of Alex Foster, a beloved teammate, friend and a cherished part of the Baylor Family,’ vice president and director of athletics Mack B. Rhoades and head football coach Dave Aranda said in a joint statement on Wednesday. ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with Alex’s family and all those who loved him.’

Authorities responded to a call of shots fired in the early morning of May 28 at 12:11 a.m., the Greenville Police Department confirmed to the Clarion Ledger. Officers found a male victim who had been shot multiples times in a car at the scene. He was transferred to Delta Health Center, where he died from his injuries less than an hour later.

‘In this time of deep sorrow, we draw strength from our faith and the unwavering love of the Baylor community,’ the university added in a statement. ‘Our immediate focus is on supporting Alex’s family and his teammates through this devastating loss. Alex’s memory will forever be a part of Baylor University.’

The 6-foot-5, 292-pound defensive lineman is a native of Greenville, Mississippi and attended St. Joseph High School, where he was a three-star recruit and the No. 13 overall recruit in Mississippi, according to 247sports. Foster received offers from multiple colleges, including Georgia Tech, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Kentucky and Texas before ultimately signing with the Baylor Bears in July 2023. He redshirted his freshman year and was set to enter his sophomore year this season.

John Baker, head coach of the St. Joseph Catholic football, told the Clarion Ledger that Foster was back home in Greenville for summer break. Baker added that Foster was scheduled to return to Baylor in Waco, Texas this weekend.

‘He was just a great guy,’ Baker told the newspaper. ‘Real quiet, soft-spoken guy, you know. Had his head on right and was wanting to make it out. He was a good dude, man.’

In a follow-up posted on X, Aranda described Foster as a ‘beloved member of our Baylor Family.’ He added, ‘In his time at Baylor he made a long-lasting impact on all of us in the program. Our hearts are broken, and our prayers are with his family, friends and all those who loved him so deeply.’

The Big 12 also shared condolences, writing, ‘The Big 12 Conference extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Baylor football student-athlete Alex Foster. We are deeply saddened by his passing and join the entire Baylor community during this time of mourning.’

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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