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Foreign ambassador to leave US post after Trump criticism

Australia’s ambassador to the U.S. who criticized President Donald Trump is leaving his post early. The announcement comes just a few weeks after the U.S. president made a cutting remark about the diplomat.

‘It is with deep appreciation for his tireless contribution to our national interests over the last three years in Washington that we today announce the Hon Dr. Kevin Rudd AC will conclude his posting as Australia’s Ambassador to the United States at the end of March 2026,’ a joint statement issued by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese MP and Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong read.

In their statement, Albanese and Wong seemed to defend the work that the Hon. Dr. Kevin Rudd AC had done in his position. In what could be seen as a swipe at the Trump administration, the two said that Rudd ‘delivered concrete outcomes for Australia – during both Democrat and Republican Administrations – in collaboration with our closest ally and principal strategic partner.’ 

They also highlighted his knowledge of U.S.-China relations, which is particularly relevant as he takes the helm of the Asia Society, a nonprofit headquartered in New York, which aims to foster relationships between the U.S. and Asia.

Rudd, who previously served as Australia’s prime minister, thanked Albanese and Wong for their ‘kind remarks’ ahead of his departure and gave some insight into his new role.

‘I will be remaining in America working between New York and Washington on the future of U.S.-China relations, which I have always believed to be the core question for the future stability of our region and the world,’ Rudd wrote in an X post from his unofficial account.

On his official X account, Rudd said that ‘It has been an honor to serve as Australia’s Ambassador to the United States over the last three years. I thank the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister for their kind remarks today.’

Rudd is no stranger to Asia Society, as he served as the organization’s president and CEO 2021-2023. He was also the inaugural President of the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) for nearly 10 years, holding the position from 2015 until 2023. Now, he is set to serve as the president and CEO of the organization and will hold a leading role in the ASPI’s Center for China Analysis, which he established in 2022, according to Asia Society.

In October, when Albanese visited the U.S., Trump was asked about Rudd’s remarks, with one reporter wondering if the comments were the reason why the meeting in Washington was so late in the year. Trump said that he did not know what the ambassador had said before asking Albanese if Rudd was still working for him. In response, Albanese pointed at Rudd who seemed to stumble as he tried to explain the remarks he made, first clarifying that he said them before he took the position as ambassador to the U.S. However, Trump quickly cut him off, saying, ‘I don’t like you either. I don’t and I probably never will.’

Rudd made headlines in November 2024 when he deleted a series of tweets that were critical of Trump after the U.S. president won his second term. Rudd had described Trump in a 2020 post as ‘the most destructive president in history,’ according to reporting from NDTV. Rudd made the comments while serving as the chair of the ASPI. Rudd’s office said that the posts were deleted to prevent others from taking them as remarks made in his capacity as ambassador

‘This has been done to eliminate the possibility of such comments being misconstrued as reflecting his positions as ambassador and, by extension, the views of the Australian Government. Ambassador Rudd looks forward to working with President Trump and his team to continue strengthening the US-Australia alliance,’ a statement from Rudd’s office that was shared with Fox News Digital in November 2024 read.

It is not immediately clear whether these past remarks played a role in Rudd’s departure. However, a Trump administration official told Fox News Digital that Rudd ‘worked well with President Trump and the administration.’ The official added that ‘We wish him well.’

Fox News Digital reached out to Rudd and the White House for comment.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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As Iran weakens, questions grow over Mohammed bin Salman’s regional ambitions

As Iran weakens, a power vacuum is emerging across the Middle East — and Saudi Arabia is moving to fill it by recalibrating relations with former rivals, hedging global partnerships and asserting a more independent foreign policy, according to several experts.

Javed Ali, former senior official at the National Security Council and professor at the University of Michigan, told Fox News Digital that ‘Since Iran’s 1979 revolution, both Saudi Arabia and Iran have vied for influence across the broader Muslim world. Mohammed bin Salman’s consolidation of power in the kingdom has also introduced a markedly different vision from that of his predecessors.’

Riyadh’s recent moves, from Yemen to Turkey, are fueling debate over whether Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s expanding regional role still aligns with U.S. interests. As part of that recalibration, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 9 that Turkey is seeking entry into the Saudi–Pakistan mutual defense pact signed four months earlier, according to people familiar with the talks.

Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said Saudi Arabia’s current trajectory must be viewed through years of accumulated frustration with U.S. policy.

‘To be fair to MBS, previous U.S. administrations did not uphold their end of the bargain either,’ Rubin told Fox News Digital, pointing to repeated Houthi attacks on Saudi territory. ‘The Houthis launched hundreds of drones and rockets that the Obama administration ignored.’

Rubin said tensions deepened as Mohammed bin Salman pursued reforms long urged by U.S. policymakers, only to face sharp criticism from Washington. He cited the Biden administration’s decision to remove the Houthis’ terror designation.

‘By no objective measure should Secretary of State Antony Blinken have removed the terror designation from the Houthis,’ Rubin said, calling the move ‘pure spite directed at MBS and Donald Trump.’

Rubin said that decision marked a turning point. ‘MBS calculated that if the United States did not have his back, he would need to embrace a Plan B,’ he said, describing outreach to Russia and China as tactical signaling rather than ideological realignment.

Saudi geopolitical researcher Salman Al-Ansari rejects claims that Riyadh is drifting ideologically or embracing Islamist movements, framing Saudi policy as interest-driven.

‘Saudi Arabia does not base its foreign policy on ideological alignment, but on pragmatic considerations aimed at stability and development,’ Al-Ansari told Fox News Digital. He said outreach to Turkey reflects an effort to de-escalate rivalries. ‘The rapprochement with Turkey reflects this diplomatic approach, which seeks to transform the Middle East from a region of chronic conflict into one of greater stability.’

Al-Ansari said the shift has already delivered results. ‘This shift has given Riyadh increased flexibility in engaging regional powers, a change Ankara quickly recognized and that has translated into expanding economic cooperation.’

He rejected claims of alignment with the Muslim Brotherhood. ‘Saudi Arabia designated the group as a terrorist organization in 2014, and this position remains unchanged,’ he said.

Those competing interpretations of Saudi intent are now colliding most visibly in Yemen where the Saudi-Emirati alliance originally formed to counter Iran’s Houthi proxy. While both entered the war to roll back Iranian influence, their strategies diverged. Riyadh backs a unified Yemeni state under the internationally recognized government, arguing fragmentation strengthens Iran. The UAE has supported southern separatists, including the Southern Transitional Council, prioritizing control over ports and security corridors.

In the last few days, Saudi and Yemeni government forces have largely recaptured southern and eastern Yemen from the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), and the STC’s leader reportedly fled to the UAE amid the group’s reported dissolution, highlighting a sharp rift involving Emirati support for separatists

Rubin called Yemen the clearest warning sign. ‘This is best seen in Yemen, where he has been supporting the Muslim Brotherhood faction militarily and attacking the more secular Southern Forces in a way that only empowers al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and the Houthis,’ he said.

Al-Ansari countered that ‘differences with the UAE stem from its backing of separatist armed actors in Yemen, which complicates the political process, fragments the anti-Houthi front, and ultimately benefits the Iranian-backed Houthi militia.’

Rubin warned of long-term consequences. ‘By ‘blowback’ I mean the same Islamists MBS cultivates today will end up targeting Saudi Arabia in the future,’ he said.

With Iran weakened and regional power shifting, Washington now faces a central question: whether Saudi Arabia’s expanding role will reinforce U.S.-backed stability, or redefine the balance of power in ways that test the limits of the long-standing partnership.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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Colorado coach Deion Sanders loses elite player to transfer portal

Offensive tackle Jordan Seaton has entered the transfer portal, leaving the Colorado football program.
Seaton was a five-star prospect who played two seasons for coach Deion Sanders.
He is now ranked as the top uncommitted player in the transfer portal, according to 247Sports.

This one is going to sting for Colorado football coach Deion Sanders. He just lost offensive tackle Jordan Seaton to the transfer portal – a huge blow for Sanders as he tries to remake his roster after 3-9 season in 2025.

Seaton announced his decision on Instagram on Jan. 12. By entering the transfer portal, he instantly became the top uncommitted player available and is likely to attract a big paycheck for it. He is ranked as the No. 4 overall transfer recruit this year behind three quarterbacks, according to 247Sports. New LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt is ranked No. 1 after transferring from Arizona State.

“As I reflect on my time at Colorado, it’s hard to put into words what this chapter has truly meant to me,” Seaton said on Instagram. “I never imagined this journey would come to a close in this way, but I am deeply grateful for every moment that led me here.”

Jordan Seaton thanked Deion Sanders and teammates

Seaton played two seasons at Colorado after being recruited there as a five-star prospect out of IMG Academy in Florida. He is expected to play only one more season of college football before he leaves for the NFL draft, where he likely will be a first-round pick.

He thanked Deion Sanders in his farewell message.

“To my brothers who will be on that field next season, keep grinding, keep believing, and keep rolling,” Seaton wrote. “And to the fans of Colorado, thank you for welcoming me with open arms and supporting me every step of the way.

‘This chapter may be closing, but the impact of this experience and the people who helped shape it will stay with me for life.”

What this means for Deion Sanders

This is his biggest transfer portal loss at Colorado after already losing more than 30 other scholarship players to the transfer portal after the 2025 season. Sanders also is bringing in more than 30 transfers in a class that ranks No. 22 nationally in the transfer class rankings, according to 247Sports.

But Seaton had been expected to be a key piece of Colorado’s foundation on offense, along with freshman quarterback Julian Lewis. He leaves a massive void at left tackle on an offensive line that ranked last in the Big 12 Conference in 2025 with 38 quarterbacks sacks allowed.

The decision likely was a matter of money. It wasn’t about playing time or not liking Colorado. Former Colorado receiver Omarion Miller hinted at this in reaction to Seaton’s message on Instagram.

‘Get yours brudda,’ Miller wrote to him.

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

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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NFL divisional round odds and expert predictions for every matchup

The NFL playoffs’ divisional round matchups are set in what’s expected to be an eventful weekend of football.

The divisional round kicks off with the Buffalo Bills visiting the Denver Broncos. The San Francisco 49ers travel to the Pacific Northwest to take on the Seattle Seahawks in an NFC West playoff bout.

Sunday begins with the Houston Texans and New England Patriots. The divisional round ends with the Los Angeles Rams taking on the Chicago Bears in the Windy City.

USA TODAY Sports provides the early predictions for the divisional round of the playoffs:

NFL divisional round predictions, picks

Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos

Date: Saturday, Jan. 17

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET

Location: Empower Field at Mile High, Denver

TV: CBS

Streaming: Paramount+

Spread: Bills (-1)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Bills 22, Broncos 20

Denver’s stingy defense versus Josh Allen and the Bills offense. The Broncos defense will play well and slow down Allen and the Bills. But Denver’s offense ended the year stagnant and will make a couple costly turnovers, which will put its defense in a tough spot.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks

Date: Saturday, Jan. 17

Time: 8 p.m. ET

Location: Lumen Field, Seattle

TV: FOX

Streaming: FOX One

Spread: Seahawks (-7.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Seahawks 25, 49ers 20

The injury-riddled 49ers deserve a lot of credit for advancing to the divisional round. George Kittle’s Achilles injury was a sobering reminder of what a healthy 49ers team would’ve looked like. At some point injuries are going to catch up to Kyle Shanahan’s team. A well-rested Seahawks team gets the victory.

Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots

Date: Sunday, Jan. 18

Time: 3 p.m. ET

Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

TV: ESPN/ABC

Streaming: ESPN App

Spread: Patriots (-2.5)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Texans 20, Patriots 16

The Texans have a Super Bowl-caliber defense. C.J. Stroud and the offense just have to make timely plays and avoid game-changing turnovers. Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Derek Stingley Jr. and the Texans defense contain Drake Maye and the Patriots in New England.

Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears

Date: Sunday, Jan. 18

Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

Location: Soldier Field, Chicago

TV: NBC

Streaming: Peacock

Spread: Rams (-4)

Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Rams 27, Bears 20

The Bears ranked 31st in pass rush win rate during the regular season, per ESPN. That’s bad news for Chicago as they try to slow down Matthew Stafford and the NFL’s top offense. The Rams’ prolific offense will be too much for a subpar Bears defense.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Texans stifle Steelers, ignites offseason of Rodgers speculation

PITTSBURGH – Wired headphones inserted into his ears and the hood of his gray sweatshirt flipped up – not long after he ended his news conference with a f-bomb – one of the best to ever step foot on a football field was on his way toward the exits of Acrisure Stadium following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ loss to the Houston Texans, 30-6, in the final game of the NFL wild-card round. 

Whether it was the final time Aaron Rodgers departed a locker room as a NFL player figures to be an offseason-long question. For the second straight year, Rodgers will take his time contemplating his next steps. There’s the possibility of retirement after 21 NFL seasons, four MVPs, a Super Bowl MVP and more lines than necessary to collate a Hall of Fame resume. He could sign with a different, expected contender. Returning for another go-round with the Steelers and head coach Mike Tomlin is certainly on the table. 

In his postgame news conference, Rodgers lamented not doing much with the amount of opportunities provided to the Steelers’ offense by the defense, which forced three turnovers, on Monday. He also warned that he’d be avoiding any emotional decisions. 

“I’m disappointed. Obviously, it was such a fun year. A lot of adversity, but a lot of fun.” 

Rodgers said that the 2025 season marked an “overall” great year in his life. He got married. He made the postseason for the first time since the 2021 season.  

“This is a really good part of that, coming here and being part of this team, so it’s disappointing to be sitting here with the season over.”

Asked point-blank if he’d want to continue playing in Pittsburgh should he decide another season in the NFL was what he wanted, Rodgers replied: “I’m not going to talk about that.” 

Rodgers said he’ll “get away” – coming to a darkness retreat near you – have the “right conversations” before making any grand plans. 

“I’ve answered this before,” Rodgers said. “Every game could be my final game.”

Backup Mason Rudolph replaced Rodgers for the Steelers’ final offensive drive of the game, which became a blowout thanks to two fourth-quarter touchdowns by the Texans’ defense. Rodgers was sacked four times. Potentially, Rodgers’ last pass in the NFL was a pick-six returned 50 yards by Calen Bullock. Rodgers was 17 of 33 passing for 146 yards and the pick, with one fumble lost that was returned for a touchdown in the fourth quarter by Sheldon Rankins, the dam breaking on the Steelers’ season. 

Did loss to Texans mark end of Tomlin era in Pittsburgh?

Tomlin, the Steelers coach, now finds himself at a career crossroads, it seems. 

“I’m not even in that mindset as I sit here tonight,” Tomlin said from the podium. “I’m more in the mindset of what transpired in this stadium and certainly what we did and didn’t do – not a big-picture mentality as I sit here tonight.” 

Tomlin, 53, won a Super Bowl in his second season with the Steelers and was back in the big game two years later. He’s now lost seven straight playoff games and owns an 8-12 postseason record. The last win came after the 2016 season. 

“I don’t necessarily compare it to any other moment,” Tomlin said. “It’s the here and now, and certainly it’s difficult. But that’s what we sign up for. That’s the life we live.”

Tomlin said he always feels optimistic in terms of building a roster that can win in both the regular season and playoffs. 

“When you don’t get it done, words are cheap. It’s about what you do or you don’t do … people talk too much in our business,” Tomlin said. “You either do or you don’t.” 

Steelers’ defensive end Cam Heyward said the outside noise doesn’t affect him because nobody outside of the Steelers’ building can comprehend the effort Tomlin puts into his team and the entire operation. 

“Coaches can only do so much,” he said. “Players have to play better. In those critical moments, players have to step up.”

Once again, the class of the conference existed tiers above what the Steelers were capable of reaching. Even with a future Hall of Famer at quarterback, the Steelers needed until the final game of the regular season to wrap up the division against an opponent that fired their head coach, as John Harbaugh had been employed by the rival Baltimore Ravens for 18 years before his dismissal. Harbaugh was the only coach who rivaled Tomlin’s longevity of 19 seasons in the same place. Never has he turned in a losing campaign, including a 10-7 mark this year.  

Will Year 20 – if there is one to be had for Tomlin in Pittsburgh – bring more of that same standard? Or can they take the next step? The fans at Acrisure Stadium who didn’t wait for the final horn – at least half of the black-and-yellow-clad crowd – might not want to answer that question.

In fact, noticeable “Fire Tomlin!” chants permeated the brisk air as the final minutes ticked away. The boos were louder. 

The classic Twitter “Mike Tomlin/Steelers voodoo dark magic” jokes don’t even hit the same anymore, especially if the result is, at best, a first-round exit.

C.J. Stroud and the Texans tried to give the game away by consistently fumbling the football, but neither Steelers’ unit took advantage. Pittsburgh’s defense is the most expensive one in football. Neither the stats nor the tape made that make sense throughout the season. 

Offseason of Aaron Rodgers speculation begins

Rodgers himself dropped to 11-11 as a starter in the postseason. He has stated throughout the year that he’s enjoyed his time with Tomlin and the Steelers. NFL Media reported that the team would be open to bringing him back next season. He looks rejuvenated compared to the version of the future Hall of Famer that played last season on the New York Jets, one season after he tore his ACL on the fourth play of the season during his “Gang Green” debut. 

The arm strength remains. He had no problem overthrowing Calvin Austin III on a go route in the third quarter, with the ball traveling about 60 yards through the air with ease. Or an intermediate threading of the needle to Adam Thielen to start a drive later that quarter. 

But tailoring the offense to Rodgers’ wants and needs reaches a point of diminishing returns. Early in the game, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith moved the pocket for Rodgers, who rolled left, flipped hips, found a wide-open DK Metcalf on an intermediate crossing route for a pickup of 25 yards. Rodgers went back to him on the next play and drew a defensive pass interference call. 

The Steelers did their best to bring in components that helped in the effort to distribute the ball quickly. Kenneth Gainwell earned Rodgers’ trust through an ability to seemingly always make the first tackler miss. Metcalf, when available, put his YAC-prowess to use. Tomlin and the front office placated Rodgers by signing veterans Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. 

Tomlin’s patience last offseason netted him Rodgers under the presumption that the Steelers were simply competent quarterback play away from being contenders. 

Rodgers said the Steelers have the pieces in place to remain in the playoff race. Metcalf is under contract for the next handful of seasons. The team will have to keep Gainwell in the building, Rodgers advised. 

Coming together as a team during training camp in Latrobe, Pennsylvania is one of the many fun moments of the 2025 season Rodgers will return to with fondness, he said. 

“We faced a lot of adversity. But there’s a lot of special moments that I’ll think back on,” Rodgers said. “Right now, it’s just disappointment. But thankful to put the colors on and run out of the tunnel and be a part of this organization.”

Fueled by frustration from having to constantly answer the same question – what did he learn about Tomlin this year? – Rodgers said as much, dropped an expletive, and got up from his seat at the microphone to end his press conference. 

Rodgers then strolled toward the exit, hood up and headphones in, stopped to talk with right guard Mason McCormick and a few Texans players outside of the visitor’s locker room, and then was on his way. 

To where is a question that has an answer nearly as complicated as the guy it is about.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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NCAA women’s hockey power rankings: This player made a dazzling assist

The NCAA’s top programs were all in action this week as all 15 nationally ranked women’s college hockey teams played. 

For Northeastern, Boston University, Harvard and Boston College, it was also a final chance to tune up ahead of the 2026 Beanpot tournament that begins Tuesday, with the finals next week at Boston’s TD Garden.

For the first time, programs like Yale, Clarkson and Colgate showed they might soon move into these national power rankings as well.

While familiar squads lead the top three, Penn State and Minnesota-Duluth swapped places in the top 10 from last week.

Here’s a look at the top 10 NCAA women’s hockey programs this week:

Women’s college hockey power rankings

1. University of Wisconsin (WCHA)

After returning a week later than other programs in 2026, Wisconsin stumbled out of the gate, tying Minnesota-Duluth 1-1 and losing in the shootout. They looked more like themselves in Game 2 of the weekend series as stars Laila Edwards, Caroline Harvey, Kirsten Simms, Kelly Gorbatenko and Adela Sapovalivova found the back of the net in a balanced 5-1 win. Wisconsin has been so consistent this season that it was bound for a blip.

2. Ohio State University (WCHA)

Kaia Malachino has added another threat to Ohio State’s forward group. Coach Nadine Muzerall seemingly gets a contribution from someone new each game as they had nine different goal-scorers across their 4-0 and 5-1 sweep of WCHA conference rival St. Cloud State. Rookie Hilda Svensson continues to lead the Buckeyes in scoring and sits third nationally behind only American Olympians Abbey Murphy (Minnesota) and Caroline Harvey (Wisconsin).

3. University of Minnesota (WCHA)

Can anybody stop Minnesota captain Abbey Murphy? She pushed her nation-leading goal and point totals to 28 goals and 50 points in 22 games after scoring four goals and seven points in a sweep over conference rival Minnesota State this weekend. While she recorded a hat trick, it was her highlight-reel, lacrosse-style assist that drew attention.

4. University of Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA)

After a troublesome trip to Northern Ireland for the Bulldogs, they answered in a big way, beating Wisconsin in a shootout to open their weekend before falling 5-1 on Saturday. Eve Gascon made 38 saves and stopped all shootout attempts on Friday’s shootout win, and she did it only hours after finding out she had been cut from Canada’s Olympic team. The response from their team, and one of the top goalies in the nation, was strong. 

5. Quinnipiac (ECAC)

The Quinnipiac Bobcats continued to roll this past weekend, beating RPI and Union by identical 5-1 margins after returning from a positive showing at the Friendship Series in Belfast. Forwards Kahlen Lamarche and Emerson Jarvis continued to power Quinnipiac’s offense. No goaltender in NCAA hockey has played more than Felicia Frank, and few have played as well as she sits third in the nation in goals-against average (1.38) and save percentage (.943).

6. Penn State (Atlantic Hockey America)

Mercyhurst has been a thorn in Penn State’s side recently. That continued last weekend as Penn State shut out the Lakers 3-0 before falling 4-3 in overtime. It’s just not an outcome the Nittany Lions can accept if they want to prove they can compete with the best programs from ECAC and the WCHA. The program is set to lose Tessa Janecke, Kendall Butze, Maddy Christian, Katie DeSa, Katelyn Roberts and Leah Stecker after this season.

7. Cornell (ECAC)

Cornell tied Clarkson but won the shootout and beat St. Lawrence. What was promising about the results was that the typically offensively starved Big Red scored 10 goals in two games. Their tie against Clarkson coincided with an uncharacteristic off-night from netminder Annelies Bergmann, who has been one of college hockey’s most consistent goaltenders for three seasons.

8. Princeton (ECAC)

Issy Wunder had five goals in two games as Princeton beat Union and RPI. They’ve got another tune-up week against a pair of Ivy League schools this week before they return to matchups against nationally ranked programs.

9. Northeastern (Hockey East)

After being shut out by Yale in a mid-week game, Northeastern bounced back, beating Providence 5-2. Rookie Stryker Zablocki led the way with her second hat trick of the season. Providence, however, outshot Northeastern. They won’t dip far in the national rankings, but they powered down this week, not up.

10. Connecticut (Hockey East)

UConn swept Maine, but it wasn’t convincing. Maine outshot them on the weekend, and UConn narrowly held on for 2-1 and 4-3 wins. After Yale posted back-to-back shutouts over Northeastern and Dartmouth, UConn will need a stronger showing this week against Merrimack to stay in the top 10.

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Aaron Rodgers defends job futures of Mike Tomlin, Matt LaFleur

Aaron Rodgers believes the idea of firing coaches like Mike Tomlin or Matt LaFleur would have been unthinkable earlier in his career.
Rodgers criticized the influence of social media and TV experts on NFL coaching decisions, calling it a ‘joke.’
He stated that when a team has the right coach and culture, changes should not be considered despite outside pressure.

PITTSBURGH – Back in Aaron Rodgers’ day, aka the 2000s, the idea of firing either the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Tomlin, or the Green Bay Packers’ Matt LaFleur would be considered asinine, the 42-year-old quarterback believes. 

Rodgers acknowledged that bias, since he played for both of the coaches, played a part in his stance. But he knows how he’d run things if it were his call to make. 

“This league has changed a lot in my 21 years,” Rodgers said following the Steelers’ wild-card loss to the Houston Texans, 30-6, on Jan. 12. “You know, when you hear conversation about the Mike Tomlins of the world, Matt LaFleurs of the world – those are just two that I’ve played for – when I first got in the league, there wouldn’t be (a) conversation about whether those guys were on the hot seat.”

The way in which the NFL is covered now, Rodgers said, and the “snap decisions” that are made in accordance with the larger discourse is an issue. 

“The validity given to the Twitter experts and all the experts on TV now who make it seem like they know what the hell they’re talking about, to me, that’s an absolute joke,” Rodgers said. “For either of those two guys to be on the hot seat is really apropos of where we’re at as a society and as a league.” 

LaFleur’s season ended Saturday when his Packers collapsed in the second half against the Chicago Bears and lost. Despite a NFL Media report from the end of the regular season saying a contract extension could be in the works, which was mirrored by an ESPN report Monday that LaFleur’s job was safe, speculation spread that Green Bay could be looking to move on from the seventh-year head coach. 

Tomlin, meanwhile, lost his seventh straight playoff game June 12 with Rodgers as his quarterback to wrap up the duo’s first – and perhaps only – season as a coach-QB duo. 

“Obviously, Matt has done a lot of great things in Green Bay, and we had a lot of success,” said Rodgers, who won his third and fourth MVPs while being coached by LaFleur. “‘Mike T.’ has had more success than damn near anybody in the league for the last 19, 20 years. 

“More than that, though, when you have the right guy and the culture is right, you don’t think about making a change. But there’s a lot of pressure that comes from the outside, and obviously that sways decisions from time to time. But that’s not how I would do things and not how the league used to be.” 

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Will Aaron Rodgers’ last NFL pass be a pick-six?

On Jan. 12, the future Hall of Fame QB’s final pass against the Houston Texans ended in a touchdown – for the opposing team.

Texans defensive back Calen Bullock returned Rodgers’ final pass of the wild-card matchup in Pittsburgh for a pick-six, sealing Houston’s eventual 30-6 win.

Rodgers didn’t return for the Steelers’ final drive, begging the question, is this the last pass of his storied career?

While that question, along with many more surrounding the future of the Steelers, will be answered in the offseason, Rodgers’ final game of the 2025 season was a disappointment by any standard. The Steelers’ most recent playoff loss of the Mike Tomlin era saw Rodgers finish 17-of-33 passing for 146 yards, one interception and zero touchdowns.

Rodgers was sacked four times, fumbled twice, and posted a passer rating of 50.8.

The image of Rodgers walking off the field in defeat is a far cry from the highs of his years with the Green Bay Packers. Will it be the last fans see of him on an NFL field? Only time will tell.

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Watch: Aaron Rodgers demolished on strip-sack

Aaron Rodgers is taking a beating.

The four-time NFL MVP is playing in what might be the final game of his career on ‘Monday Night Football’ in the wild-card round against the Houston Texans. It’s safe to the say the visitors are trying to crash the Pittsburgh Steelers’ party at Acrisure Stadium.

Rodgers has been under pressure all night long and in the fourth quarter, the Texans finally got the turnover they were looking for.

Facing a third-and-12 with over 11 minutes left down by four, Rodgers dropped back to pass. He was promptly met by multiple Texans, mainly Will Anderson Jr., who led the charge.

The 42-year-old quarterback was devoured by the pass rush and coughed up the ball, which Sheldon Rankins returned for a Houston touchdown.

It extended the Texans’ lead to 11 with 11 minutes to go, a seemingly insurmountable deficit for the offensively-challenged Steelers against arguably the league’s best defense.

The four-seeded Steelers backed into the playoffs thanks to a missed field goal by the Baltimore Ravens’ Tyler Loop in the final game of the regular season.

If it wasn’t for that, Rodgers and co. would’ve been home watching their rivals in this contest.

Instead, it’s the Steelers that are getting clobbered by a lethal pass rush.

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Iran protests spark regime survival question as exiled dissident says it feels like a ‘revolution’

As protests spread across Iran and the government responds with lethal force, amid increasing reports claiming thousands have been killed, a growing question is being debated by analysts and Iranians alike: Is the Islamic Republic facing its most serious threat since the 1979 revolution, or does it still retain enough coercive power to survive?

For Mehdi Ghadimi, an Iranian journalist who spent decades protesting the regime before being forced to leave the country, this moment feels fundamentally different from anything that came before.

‘From 1999, when I was about fifteen, until 2024, when I was forced to leave Iran, I took part in every street protest against the Islamic Republic,’ Ghadimi told Fox News Digital. ‘For roughly half of those years, I supported the reformist movement. But after 2010, we became certain that the Islamic Republic is not reformable, that changing its factions is a fiction.’

According to Ghadimi, that realization gradually spread across Iranian society, culminating in what he describes as a decisive shift in the current unrest.

‘For the first time in the 47 years of struggle by the Iranian people against the Islamic Republic, the idea of returning to the period before January 1979 became the sole demand and the central point of unity among the people,’ he said. ‘As a result, we witnessed the most widespread presence of people from all cities and villages of Iran in the streets, on a scale unprecedented in any previous protests.’

Ghadimi claimed the chants on the streets reflected that shift. Instead of demanding economic relief or changes to dress codes, protesters openly called for the fall of the Islamic Republic and the return of the Pahlavi dynasty.

‘At that point, it no longer seemed that we were merely protesting,’ he said. ‘We were, in fact, carrying out a revolution.’

Still, Ghadimi was clear about what he believes is preventing the regime’s collapse.

‘The answer is very clear,’ he said. ‘The government sets no limit for itself when it comes to killing its own people.’

He added that Tehran appears reassured by the lack of consequences for its actions. ‘It has also been reassured by the behavior of other countries that if it manages to survive, it will not be punished for these blatant crimes against humanity,’ he said. ‘The doors of diplomacy will always remain open to them, even if their hands are stained with blood.’

Ghadimi described how the regime cut off internet access to disrupt coordination between protesters and opposition leadership abroad. He said that once connectivity was severed, the reach of video messages from the exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi dropped dramatically.

While Iranian voices describe a revolutionary moment, security and policy experts caution that structural realities still favor the regime.

Javed Ali, an associate professor at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, said the Islamic Republic is facing far more serious threats to its grip on power than in years past, driven by a convergence of military, regional, economic and diplomatic pressures.

‘The IRGC is in a much weaker position following the 12-day war with Israel last summer,’ Ali said, citing ‘leadership removals, ballistic missile and drone capabilities that were used or damaged, and an air and radar defense network that has been significantly degraded.’

Ali said Iran’s regional deterrence has also eroded sharply. ‘The so-called Axis of Resistance has been significantly weakened across the region,’ he said, pointing to setbacks suffered by Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and Shiite militias allied with Tehran.

Internally, Ali said demographic pressure is intensifying the challenge. ‘Iran’s younger population is even more frustrated than before with deteriorating economic conditions, ongoing social and cultural restrictions and repeated violent crackdowns on dissent,’ he said.

Ali also pointed to shifting external dynamics that are limiting Tehran’s room to maneuver, including what he described as a stronger U.S.-Israel relationship tied to the Netanyahu-Trump alliance. He added that there are ‘possible joint operations already underway to support the protest movement inside Iran.’

Israeli security sources, speaking on background, said Israel has no such interest in intervening in a way that would allow Tehran to redirect domestic unrest outward.

‘Everyone understands it is better to sit and wait quietly and not attract the fire toward Israel,’ one source said. ‘The regime would like to make this about Israel and the Zionist enemy and start another war to repress internal protests.’

‘It is not Israel against Iran,’ the source added. ‘We recognize that the regime has an interest in provoking us, and we do not want to contribute to that.’

The source said a collapse of the Islamic Republic would have far-reaching consequences. ‘If the regime falls, it will affect the entire Middle East,’ the official said. ‘It could open a new era.’

Ali said Iran is increasingly isolated diplomatically. ‘There is growing isolation from Gulf monarchies, the fall of Assad in Syria and only muted support from China and Russia,’ he said.

Despite those pressures, Ali cautioned that Iran’s coercive institutions remain loyal.

‘I think the IRGC, including Basiji paramilitary elements, along with the Ministry of Intelligence, are still loyal to the regime out of a mix of ideology, religion, and self-interest,’ he said, citing ‘power, money and influence.’

Whether fear of collapse could drive insiders to defect remains unclear. ‘Whether there are insiders willing to flip because of a sense of imminent collapse of the clerical structure is hard to know,’ Ali said.

He placed the probability of an internal regime collapse at ‘25% or less,’ calling it ‘possible, but far less probable.’

For now, Iran appears caught between two realities: a population increasingly unified around the rejection of the Islamic Republic, and a security apparatus still willing to use overwhelming force to preserve it.

As Ali noted, pressure alone does not bring regimes down. The decisive moment comes only when those ordered to enforce repression decide it is no longer in their interest to do so.

Despite the scale of unrest, Ghadimi cautioned that the outcome remains uncertain.

‘After these four hellish days, without even knowing the fate of our friends and loved ones who went into the streets, or whether they were alive or not, it is truly difficult for me to give you a clear assessment and say whether our revolution is now moving toward victory or not,’ he said.

He recalled a message he heard repeatedly before leaving Iran, across cities and social classes.

‘The only thing I consistently heard was this: ‘We have nothing left to lose, and even at the cost of our lives, we will not retreat one step from our demand for the fall of the Islamic Republic,’’ Ghadimi said. ‘They asked me to promise that now that I am outside Iran, I would be their voice.’

‘That spirit is what still gives my heart hope for victory,’ he added. ‘But my mind tells me that when mass killing carries no punishment, and when the government possesses enough bullets, guns and determination to suppress it, even if it means killing millions, then victory would require a miracle.’

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