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Former Iranian minister praises Trump assassination fatwa as daughter lives in New York

While former Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki praised in a Persian-language television interview the issuance of a fatwa calling for the killing of U.S. President Donald Trump, his daughter is living in New York City with her husband, an Iranian diplomat serving at the permanent mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations, Fox News digital confirmed.

Mottaki, who served as Iran’s foreign minister from 2005 to 2010 under then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and remains a prominent figure in Iran’s political establishment, said Iran’s Supreme Leader had determined that Trump was a criminal and suggested Iran’s judiciary should act, according to a video reviewed by Fox News Digital. 

He also described as a ‘brave and significant act’ a religious ruling calling for the killing of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mottaki’s daughter, Zahra Assadi Nazari, is married to Nasser Assadi Nazari, who is listed as a third counselor at Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York.

The situation echoes previous controversies involving relatives of senior Iranian officials living in the United States. 

In January, Emory University dismissed Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, the daughter of Iranian official Ali Larijani, from a teaching position after protests over her employment at the university’s medical school.

On Sunday, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Saeid Iravani, sparred with U.S. envoy Mike Waltz during a Security Council session, telling the American ambassador to ‘be polite,’ a remark that drew a sharp rebuke.

‘I have one word only: I advise the representative of the United States to be polite,’ Iravani said during the meeting.

Moments later, Waltz responded: ‘Frankly, I’m not going to dignify this with another response, especially as this representative sits here in this body representing a regime that has killed tens of thousands of its own people and imprisoned many more simply for wanting freedom from your tyranny.’

Fox News Digital contacted Iran’s mission to the United Nations asking whether it could confirm the relationship. The mission declined to comment.

Fox News Digital also requested comment from the U.S. Mission to the United Nations regarding Mottaki’s remarks and the broader implications of a former senior Iranian official appearing to endorse violence against the sitting U.S. president while his immediate family resides in New York. No response was received by the time of publication.

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Democrats pressure Mike Johnson to keep House in Washington over ‘rapidly developing’ Iran operation

A group of Democrats is demanding that Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., keep the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., next week in light of the ‘rapidly evolving’ situation in Iran.

‘The attacks have resulted in heightened threat assessments around the globe as well as multiple deaths, including the tragic loss of six U.S. service members. At this sensitive time, we believe it is in the best interest of our constituents if we remain in session as events continue to develop,’ they wrote to the chamber’s leader on Friday.

The letter is being led by Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., and nine other members of the House Democratic Caucus, and comes nearly a week after the U.S. and Israel first launched strikes targeting Iran’s senior leadership and military assets.

They’re calling on Johnson to not only keep the House in session but encourage meetings of the committees relevant to U.S. national security in light of the heightened threat environment.

‘By the President’s own admission, current military operations against Iran could be sustained for weeks. The rapid developments of such an operation, and its potential impact here at home, require a firm commitment to legislative engagement,’ the Democrats wrote.

‘If the House of Representatives is absent during such a pivotal moment in our foreign policy, we will be failing our constituents. We urge you to cancel next week’s recess so that we may fulfill our oversight duty.’

Democrats and Republicans’ responses to the operation have largely fallen across party lines.

Democrats have accused the administration of plunging the U.S. into another Middle East conflict without a clear ending while running roughshod over Congress’ constitutional authority. Republicans, meanwhile, maintain that the White House is acting within its authority in the best interests of the country.

The House is out all next week as Republican lawmakers head to President Donald Trump’s Doral golf club in Florida for their annual member retreat, where they will continue to monitor developments in Washington while discussing policy for the remainder of this year.

Democrats had their own annual retreat in late February.

But as Democrats hammer Johnson for leaving D.C., Republicans are accusing them of playing politics with the national security situation themselves.

House GOP leaders held a vote on funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) using a bipartisan bill that Democrats had already walked away from weeks ago, arguing it did not do enough to rein in Trump’s immigration crackdown.

Republicans argued that the ongoing situation with Iran is worsening the effects of the ongoing DHS shutdown, which began after Democrats shunned the initial bipartisan deal.

All but four House Democrats voted against the bill on Thursday.

‘They do not want to fund the agencies whose job it is to keep Americans safe at this time of this heightened threat environment that we’re all living in,’ Johnson said after the vote. ‘We’re concerned about sleeper cells in the country. We’re concerned about the safety of every American. And the Democrats are playing politics here.’

A House GOP leadership aide told Fox News Digital in response to Moskowitz’s letter, ‘Bipartisan majorities in both chambers of Congress just voted to support President Trump and Operation Epic Fury because they know the Iranian regime is a real threat to American security and Middle East stability. By contrast, most House Democrats, including Rep. Moskowitz, voted to keep the Department of Homeland Security closed in order to protect the criminal illegal immigrants they allowed into our country.’

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Shadow fleet under fire: Iran’s strait shutdown could squeeze Russia’s war chest, China’s oil lifeline

Tehran’s strike campaign threatens to disrupt shadow shipping networks and sanctions-evasion routes, raising energy costs for Moscow and Beijing and potentially squeezing Russia’s war funding and China’s industrial and military supply chains.

As of Monday, the Iranian regime declared the crucial Strait of Hormuz — between Hormuz Island, Iran, and the Omani enclave of Khasab — closed, under threat of vessels being ‘torched.’

Oil tanker traffic immediately fell sharply as merchant seamen now fear missile strikes, but the conflict has also affected the so-called ‘shadow fleet’ of unflagged or surreptitiously flagged oil tankers connected to economically isolated countries like Cuba, Iran and Russia.

The U.S. has already set up a quasi naval quarantine of oil imports to Cuba, while countries like Mexico have been warned against sending oil to malign regimes.

European partners have also taken action against ‘shadow fleet’ vessels, tightening the vise on China and particularly Russia amid the new unrest.

Belgium’s army on Monday interdicted a shadow-fleet tanker called the MT Ethera as it transited the North Sea.

Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken told GCaptain News that the tanker was redirected to Zeebrugge by an escort and would be seized by Brussels.

‘Operation Blue Intruder was carried out by a team of exceptionally brave service members. Excellent work,’ he said, as the outlet also reported the ship was tied to a confidant of Khamenei.

The MT Ethera is reportedly linked to the son of senior political adviser Ali Shamkhani, whose family reportedly controls an entire fleet of tankers that may be used to facilitate Iranian and Russian oil trade.

A consortium of Western powers also enforces the Ural Price Cap, which was dropped to about $44 per barrel last month. Named for the Ural Mountains, the price cap is meant to keep Russian oil below free-market rates.

This newly emboldened Western targeting of the so-called ‘gray market’ of shadow-fleet oil indicates potential problems for nations that rely on it, such as China and Cuba.

China reportedly relies heavily on Iran for otherwise sanctioned oil, while Russia could see further belt-tightening that could adversely affect the cash flow needed to continue its war in Ukraine.

Additionally, CENTCOM this week posted a video of a U.S. strike on a drone-carrying Iranian ship, and Cmdr. Brad Cooper said more than 30 such Tehran-linked vessels have been sunk since the offensive began, according to Naval Today.

‘In the last few hours alone, we struck an Iranian drone carrier roughly the size of a World War II-era aircraft carrier, and it is currently on fire,’ Cooper told the outlet.

The reported obliteration of the Ayatollah and the next 48 successors, by President Donald Trump’s count, along with the arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, leaves not only the shadow fleet but also its customer nations’ suppliers in shambles.

Marco Rubio explains in ‘simple English’ why US struck Iran

Just as OPEC rate hikes affect American energy prices, the deconstruction of the shadow fleet could also lead to inflation in China.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Treasury Department for more information on the effects of the shadow fleet, as it oversees the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

In the past few weeks, OFAC has sanctioned 30 people or entities tied to enabling illegal Iranian oil sales and/or benefiting its weapons production as part of Trump’s ‘maximum pressure’ campaign.

‘OFAC targeted additional vessels operating as part of Iran’s shadow fleet, which transport Iranian petroleum and petroleum products to foreign markets and serve as the regime’s primary source of revenue for financing domestic repression, terrorist proxies, and weapons programs,’ the agency said in a statement.

‘Iran exploits financial systems to sell illicit oil, launder the proceeds, procure components for its nuclear and conventional weapons programs, and support its terrorist proxies,’ added Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

‘Treasury will continue to put maximum pressure on Iran to target the regime’s weapons capabilities and support for terrorism, which it has prioritized over the lives of the Iranian people,’ Bessent said.

OFAC then listed off a dozen ships they confirmed to be ‘shadow fleet’ vessels under sanction.

‘Instead of allocating this revenue for the benefit of the Iranian people, the regime ultimately siphons it off to fund regional terrorist proxies, weapons programs, and repressive security services, rather than the basic economic needs the Iranian people have repeatedly and courageously demanded,’ the Treasury said.

Ships flagged from Panama, Barbados, Palau, Comoros, Iran and Vanuatu were found by the U.S. to have transported millions of barrels of Iranian crude in recent years.

The Treasury Department, which oversees OFAC, did not respond to inquiries for this story.

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Women’s basketball conference tournaments live: Scores and highlights

The top four seeds in the Power 4 conferences will begin their March Madness road Friday

The ACC, Big 12, Big Ten and SEC’s top teams take the court in their respective conference tournaments after earning double byes. South Carolina (SEC), UCLA (Big Ten), Duke (ACC) and TCU (Big 12) each earned No. 1 seeds and double-byes in their respective conferences and have the easiest path to winning their postseason tournaments. All four teams won their conference tournament last season and are looking to repeat.

The 2026 NCAA Tournament begins on March 18 and the conference tournaments will go a long way in figuring who is in and who is out. Conference tournament winners get an automatic an bid. Every other team will have to sweat it out on Selection Sunday on March 15 to see if they received at-large bid.

Thursday saw a boatload of upsets, but none bigger than Maryland’s loss to Oregon and Michigan State’s to Illinois. Both teams had been projected to be in the top 16 seeds and host first- and second-round games. Being upset in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament leaves to door ajar for Kentucky, WVU and UNC to host instead.

USA TODAY Sports is following along with the Power Four conference tournaments. Follow along for live updates, highlights and results here:

Hit the Griddy

Kansas State celebrated becoming the first No. 12 seed to make it into the Big 12 Conference quarterfinals with a dance from coach Jeff Mittie.

No. 9 BYU vs. No. 1 TCU, 2:30 p.m. | ESPNU

BYU Cougars starting lineup

Head coach: Lee Cummard

  • 2 Sydney Benally | G 5-9 – Freshman
  • 11 Delaney Gibb | G 5-10 – Sophomore
  • 13 Lara Rohkohl | F 6-3 – Senior
  • 14 Kambree Barber | G 6-0 – Sophomore
  • 24 Brinley Cannon | G/F 6-1 -Sophomore

TCU Horned Frogs starting lineup

Head coach: Mark Campbell

  • 1 Taylor Bigby | G 6-1 – Senior
  • 4 Donovyn Hunter | G 6-0 – Junior
  • 5 Olivia Miles | G 5-10 – Senior
  • 7 Marta Suarez | F 6-3 – Senior
  • 17 Clara Silva | C 6-7 – Sophomore

No. 5 Oklahoma vs, No. 4 LSU, 2:30 p.m. ET | ESPN

LSU Tigers starting lineup

Head coach: Kim Mulkey

  • 13 Kate Koval | C 6-5 Sophomore
  • 11 ZaKiyah Johnson | G 6-0 Freshman
  • 30 Jada Richard | G 5-7 Sophomore
  • 12 Mikaylah Williams | G 6-0 Junior
  • 4 Flau’jae Johnson | G 5-10 Senior

Oklahoma Sooners starting lineup

Head coach: Jennie Baranczyk

  • 2 Aaliyah Chavez | G 5-10 Freshman
  • 3 Zya Vann | G 5-9 Sophomore
  • 6 Sahara Williams | F 5-11 Junior
  • 12 Payton Verhulst | G 6-1 Senior
  • 15 Raegan Beers | C 6-4 Senior

Halftime: Notre Dame 40, NC State 32

NC State had a much better second quarter, shooting 53.8% in the period. However, nine turnovers were the Wolfpack’s undoing. Khamil Pierre is trying her hardest to keep NC State Close in it with a double-double at the half (10 points, 11 rebounds) on 57% shooting, but she needs some more help. No other NC State player is in double figures.

For Notre Dame, it’s been a one-two punch with Hannah Hidalgo and Iyana Moore. The duo has 33 of Notre Dame’s 40 points. Friday’s matchup is Hidalgo’s 12th 15-point first half of the season. −Meghan L. Hall

Final: Kansas State 74, Oklahoma State 73

Kansas State pulled out another comeback upset win against Oklahoma State on Thursday to become the first No. 12 seed to advance to the semifinals in Big 12 Tournament history.

After going on a 21-0 run to upset Texas Tech on Thursday, the Wildcats used another lengthy run to take down No. 4 Oklahoma State. Kansas State took its first lead since the first quarter after Aniya Foy knocked down a 3-pointer with 3:12 remaining in the game, sparking at the Wildcats’ 9-0 run.

Oklahoma State senior Haleigh Timmer knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to two points with 46 seconds remaining, but then Kansas State freshman guard Jordan Speiser entered the chat. Speiser knocked down a 3-pointer to extend their lead to five with 15.7 remaining.

Chaos ensued. Timmer knocked down two free throws to cut the Cowgirls’ deficit to 73-70 with 14 seconds left. Kansas State then attempted to inbound the ball to Taryn Sides with 12 seconds remaining and a jump ball was called. The Cowgirls got the ball and Timmer knocked down a 3-pointer with five seconds left to tie it up.

As Kansas State was bringing up the ball, Oklahoma State junior Stailee Heard was called for a reach-in foul on Tess Heal. Heal knocked down a free throw to seal the win and intentionally missed the second so time could expire.

Speiser has ben a breakout star for the Wildcats at the Big 12 Tournament, recording a career-high 21 points off the bench, shooting 8-of-13 from the field and 5-of-10 from the 3-point line. Speiser is 13-of 25 from the 3-point line through three games at the tournament.

“That was a lot of emotions in a very short period of time. We just stuck together. Never got too high or too low on ourselves,” Speiser said. “It’s a game. … We knew we would come up on the right side. … We’re trying to keep it going as long as we can.” — Cydney Henderson

No. 4 Minnesota vs No. 5 Ohio State, 2:15 p.m. ET | Big Ten Network

Minnesota starting lineup

Head coach: Dawn Plitzuweit

  • 25 Grace Grocholski | F/G 5-10 Junior
  • 52 Sophie Hart | C 6-5 Graduate
  • 3 Amaya Battle | G 5-11 Senior
  • 10 Mara Braun | G 6-0 Junior
  • 14 Tori McKinney | G 6-1 Sophomore

Ohio State starting lineup

Head coach: Kevin McGuff

  • Jaloni Cambridge | G 5-7 Sophomore
  • Ava Watson | G 5-8 Sophomore
  • Chance Gray | G 5-9 Senior
  • Kennedy Cambridge | G 5-8 Junior
  • Elsa Lemmila | C 6-6 Sophomore

NC State’s Zoe Brooks beats buzzer

Zoe Brooks dashed to the basket to cut into Notre Dame’s lead just before the first quarter buzzer. The basket was much needed. NC State shot 33% after the first period. −Meghan L. Hall

Final: South Carolina 87, Kentucky 64

Joyce Edwards scored 21 points as the top-seeded Gamecocks defeated the Wildcats in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament on Friday in Greenville, South Carolina.

Edwards shot 8-of-12 from the floor and also grabbed four rebounds in the 11th consecutive win for South Carolina (30-2). It’s the fifth straight season the Gamecocks have won at least 30 games. The Gamecocks also got 15 points from Tessa Johnson, a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds from Madina Okot, and 11 points and six assists from Ta’Niya Latson.

Amelia Hassett led Kentucky (23-10) with 15 points. The loss for the Wildcats could prevent it from getting a top 16 seed in the NCAA Tournament, granting it hosting rights in the opening weekend of March Madness. Kentucky will be watching closely at how North Carolina, West Virginia, Minnesota and Ohio State play in their respective conference tournaments.

Regardless of seeding, Kentucky coach Kenny Brooks remains optimistic in his team reaching their postseason goals.

“We’re going to be the best 5 or 6 seed in the history of 5 or 6 seeds,” Brooks said Thursday. “I think we’re going to be positioned very well as we head into the NCAA Tournament. … We’re going to be very, very confident.”

The Gamecocks never trailed after a 9-0 run in the first quarter. South Carolina shot 19-of-25 from the free throw line and scored 25 points off 19 Kentucky turnovers.

South Carolina will face the winner of No. 5 Oklahoma and No. 4 LSU at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN2. −Mitchell Northam

Final: UCLA 78, Washington 60

Washington kept it close for three quarters, but top-seeded UCLA used a 29-point fourth quarter to pull away in the final minutes.

The Bruins powered through a tough day beyond the arc, shooting 1-of-10 from 3-point range, with 54% shooting from the field. They dominated inside with 52 points in the paint and 35 rebounds, including 11 offensive boards for 12 second-chance points. Lauren Betts led UCLA with 26 points and eight rebounds.

Avery Howell paced Washington with 18 points.

UCLA will play the winner of No. 5 Ohio State/No. 4 Minnesota in the semifinals at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday. – Chloe Peterson

Notre Dame has early 10 point lead against NC State

It’s been all Notre Dame in the first minutes of the opening quarter.  At the 3:46 mark, The Fighting Irish lead 19-9 behind eight points apiece from Hannah Hidalgo and Iyana Moore. Notre Dame is also shooting 73% from the field. −Meghan L. Hall

Clemson makes last pitch to be in NCAA Tournament

Clemson head coach Shawn Poppie hopes the Tigers can make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in over 20 years. After Clemson’s 60-46 loss to Duke, he made one last pitch to the selection committee.

‘We’ve won 21 games, 11 conference games, 12 if you count yesterday. We have zero bad losses on our resume. We’re as competitive as anybody,’ Poppie said.

‘So I think we can compete with anybody in the country. I think there’s no doubt when you give us now ― whatever this is going to be ― 10, 12 days of rest to get all the way healthy, we’ll be a team that is very, very hard to beat in the tournament.’ −Meghan L. Hall

Kim Mulkey fit check

As always, LSU coach Kim Mulkey reminds nothing goes together like basketball and sparkles. Her Tigers face Oklahoma at 2:30 p.m. ET at the SEC Tournament on Friday.

No. 5 Notre Dame vs. No. 4 NC State, 1:30 p.m. ET | ACC Network

NC State Wolfpack starting lineup

Head coach: Wes Moore

  • 2 Qadence Samuels | G 6-0 – Junior
  • 3 Zamareya Jones | G 5-7 – Sophomore
  • 12 Khamil Pierre | F 6-2 – Junior
  • 18 Tilda Trygger | F 6-6 – Sophomore
  • 35 Zoe Brooks | G 5-10- Junior

Notre Dame Fighting Irish starting lineup

Head coach: Niele Ivey

  • 3 Hannah Hidalgo | G 5-6 – Junior
  • 2 Vanessa De Jesus | G 5-8 – Senior
  • 23 Iyana Moore | G 5-8 – Senior
  • 8 Cassandre Prosper | G 6-3 – Senior
  • 5 Malaya Cowles | F 6-3- Senior

Final: Duke 60, Clemson 46

Duke’s 14-point win over Clemson was enough to push them into the ACC semifinals to play the winner of No. 4 NC State vs. No. 5 Notre Dame. The Blue Devils didn’t shoot as well in the second half (31% from the field) after building a 25-point lead in the third, but it was enough to move past the Tigers. Kara Lawson’s team forced 20 Clemson turnovers, scoring 14 points off the giveaways. 

The Blue Devils advance with three players in double figures, including Toby Fournier, who had a 17-point and 10-rebound double-double along with three blocks. Fournier’s last block tied her for 10th all-time in single-season blocks in Duke history.

For Clemson, team-leading scorer Mia Moore did most of the heavy lifting Friday, and there weren’t any other Tigers in double figures until just under four minutes remaining in regulation. Moore finished with 17 points and four rebounds. Taylor Johnson-Matthews added 12 points. As a team, Clemson shot 35% from the field. −Meghan L. Hall

Halftime: South Carolina 44, Kentucky 27

South Carolina has a comfortable 17-point lead over Kentucky heading into halftime.

The Gamecocks are shooting a staggering 47% from the field and 57% from the 3-point line, led by a game-high 12-point performance by Tessa Johnson. Johnson is 4-of-8 from the field and 2-of-3 from 3. Madina Okot has already recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, nearly half of South Carolina’s 21 total rebounds.

South Carolina’s defense has been just as active and turnovers are starting to pile up for Kentucky. The Wildcats have surrendered 10 turnovers that have led to 13 points for the Gamecocks.

Clara Stack and Amelia Hassett each have six points for Kentucky, which is shooting 41% from the field and 38% (3-of-8) from 3. −Cydney Henderson

Halftime: Oklahoma State 33, Kansas State 31

Oklahoma State has a two-point advantage over Kansas State following a back-and-forth first half in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal matchup in Kansas City.

Jadyn Wooten has been borderline unstoppable for Oklahoma State, scoring 14 of the Cowgirls’ 33 points while shooting 6-of-8 from the field and 2-of-2 from the 3-point line. Stailee Heard is closing in on a double-double with nine points and seven rebounds, while Amari Whiting added seven points and four rebounds.

The Cowgirls are controlling the boards early, outrebounding the Wildcats 20-13, including six offensive rebounds.

Taryn Sides leads Kansas State with eight points and two rebounds. Nastja Claessens has seven points and three rebounds. The Wildcats are hot from the 3-point line (6-of-15) so far, continuing a trend after setting a Big 12 Tournament record with 17 made 3-pointers in their first round win vs. Cincinnati. −Cydney Henderson

Halftime: UCLA 27, Washington 24

Top-seeded UCLA was in trouble in the first quarter, scoring six points in the first 10 minutes. The Bruins trailed by as many as 12 points but recovered from that slow start to score 21 in the second quarter, going on a 15-2 run over the final six minutes of the half at the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis.

Neither team is shooting well from 3-point range so far; UCLA is 0-for-3 from range, while Washington is 2-for-12. The two teams also have 18 combined turnovers.

Big Ten Player of the Year Lauren Betts is leading UCLA with 10 points on 5-of-10 shooting. −Chloe Peterson

Oklahoma State goes on 13-0 run vs. Kansas State

Oklahoma State is settling in. After falling into a 17-11 deficit against Kansas State, the Cowgirls took control of the game and went on an 13-0 run to take a seven-point lead with 8:27 remaining in the second quarter, their largest of the game.  −Cydney Henderson

Duke’s lead is over 20, Ashlon Jackson scores

After Clemson came up empty of the first four possessions of the second half, Duke extended its lead with the help of two timely scores from Ashlon Jackson. Jackson helped extend Duke’s 22 point lead. −Meghan L. Hall

No. 12 Kansas State vs. No. 4 Oklahoma State, noon | ESPNU

Kansas State Wildcats starting lineup

Head coach: Jeff Mittie

  • 3 Brandie Harrod | G 6-1 – Freshman
  • 4 Nastja Claessens | F 6-1 – Junior
  • 6 Gina Garcia | G 5-10 – Freshman
  • 11 Taryn Sides  | G 5-7 – Junior
  • 34 Tess Heal | G 5-10 – Senior

Oklahoma State Cowgirls starting lineup

Head coach: Jacie Hoyt

  • 1 Amari Whiting| G 5-10 – Junior
  • 3 Micah Gray | G 5-8 – Senior
  • 11 Achol Akot | F 6-1 – Junior
  • 13 Haleigh Timmer | G 5-11 – Senior
  • 32 Stailee Heard | G 5-11 – Junior

No. 9 Washington vs. No. 1 UCLA, noon | Big Ten Network

UCLA Bruins starting lineup

Head coach: Cori Close

  • 1 Kiki Rice | G 5-11 Senior
  • 5 Charlisse Leger-Walker | G 5-10 Graduate
  • 8 Gianna Kneepkens | G 6-0 Graduate
  • 11 Gabriela Jaquez | G 6-0 Senior
  • 51 Lauren Betts | C 6-7 Senior

Washington Huskies starting lineup

Head coach: Tina Langley

  • 0 Sayvia Sellers | G 5-7 Junior
  • 1 Hannah Stines | G 5-11 Senior
  • 2 Avery Howell | G 6-0 Sophomore
  • 24 Elle Ladine | G 5-11 Senior
  • 21 Brynn McGaughy | F 6-3Freshman

Halftime: Duke 38, Clemson 19

Duke might have avenging its February 22 loss to Clemson on its mind. The Blue Devils are shooting 47% from the field and 56% from deep at halftime. Duke also has two players in double figures, including standout Toby Fournier. Fournier leads all scorers with 12 points. Surprisingly, 3-point specialist Ashlon Jackson has yet to score.

For Clemson, Duke’s length and size are giving the Tigers trouble. Clemson can’t get past the Blue Devils’ sweltering defense, forcing it to shoot just 36% from the field. The Tigers also have 11 turnovers. −Meghan L. Hall

Duke builds 17-point lead in second quarter

Duke’s clicking on all cylinders as they force Clemson into touch shots and turnovers with its length and size. What’s more, they’ve built their lead all without starter Ashlon Jackson scoring.

No. 9 Kentucky vs No. 1 South Carolina, 12 p.m. ET | ESPN

Kentucky Wildcats starting lineup

Head coach: Kenny Brooks

  • 5 Tonie Morgan | G 5-9 Senior
  • 8 Asia Boone | G 5-8 Junior
  • 7 Teonni Key | F 6-5 Senior
  • 32 Amelia Hassett | F 6-4 Senior
  • 13 Clara Strack | F 6-5 Junior

South Carolina Gamecocks starting lineup

Head coach: Dawn Staley

  • 25 Raven Johnson | G 5-9 Senior
  • 00 Ta’Niya Latson | G 5-9 Senior
  • 5 Tessa Johnson | G 6-0 Junior
  • 8 Joyce Edwards | F 6-3 Sophomore
  • 11 Madina Okot | C 6-6 Senior

Duke’s Toby Fournier shows off shooting skills

Duke’s Toby Fournier has the hot hand early from deep. Fournier had already sank two huge 3-pointers to help Duke go up 20-14 over Clemson.

No. 9 Clemson vs. No. 1 Duke 11:00 a.m. ET | ESPN2

Duke Blue Devils starting lineup

Head coach: Kara Lawson

  • 4 Riley Nelson | G 6-2 – Sophomore
  • 3 Ashlon Jackson | G 6-0 – Senior
  • 12 Delaney Thomas | F 6-3 – Junior
  • 22 Taina Mair | G 5-9- Senior
  • 35 Toby Fournier | F 6-2 – Sophomore

Head coach: Shawn Poppie

  • 10 Taylor Johnson-Matthews | G 5-9 – Senior
  • 11 Rusne Augustinaite | G 6-0 – Junior
  • 14 Rachel Rose | G 5-7 – Senior
  • 25 Demeara Hinds | F 6-2- Senior
  • 32 Raven Thompson | F 5-10 – Senior

ACC Tournament schedule, bracket, scores

March 4

First round

  • Game 1: No. 12 Miami 83 vs. No. 13 Stanford 76
  • Game 2: No. 10 Cal 75 vs. No. 15 Wake Forest 52
  • Game 3: No. 11 Georgia Tech 72 vs. No. 14 Florida State 60

March 5

Second round

  • Game 4 No. 9 Clemson 63 vs. No. 8 Virginia 50
  • Game 5: No. 5 Notre Dame 69 vs. No. 12 Miami 54
  • Game 6: No. 7 Syracuse 70 vs. No. 10 California 59
  • Game 7: No. 6 Virginia Tech 62 vs. No. 11 Georgia Tech 54

March 6

Quarterfinals

  • Game 8: No. 9 Clemson vs. No. 1 Duke (11:00 a.m.; ESPN2)
  • Game 9: No. 5 Notre Dame vs. No. 4 NC State (1:30 p.m.; ACCN)
  • Game 10: No. 7 Syracuse vs. No. 2 Louisville (5:00 p.m.; ESPN2)
  • Game 11: No. 6 Virginia Tech vs. No. 3 UNC (7:30 p.m.; ACCN)

March 7

Semifinals

  • Game 12: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 8 (Noon ET; ESPN2)
  • Game 13: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 10 (2:30 p.m. ET; ESPN2)

March 8

  • Championship: Winner Game 12 vs. Winner Game 13 (1:00 p.m. ET; ESPN)

SEC Tournament schedule, bracket, scores

Wednesday, March 4 – First round

  • #9 Kentucky 94, #16 Arkansas 64
  • #12 Florida 86, #13 Mississippi State 68
  • #15 Auburn 50, #10 Texas A&M 49
  • #11 Alabama 65, #14 Missouri 48

Thursday, March 5 – Second round

  • #9 Kentucky 76, #8 Georgia 61
  • #5 Oklahoma 82, #12 Florida 64
  • #7 Ole Miss 73, #15 Auburn 57
  • #11 Alabama 76, #6 Tennessee 64

Friday, March 6 – Quarterfinals

  • Game 9 | #9 Kentucky vs. #1 South Carolina | 12 p.m. ET | ESPN
  • Game 10 | # 5 Oklahoma vs. #4 LSU | 2:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
  • Game 11 | #7 Ole Miss vs. #2 Vanderbilt| 6 p.m. ET | SEC Network
  • Game 12 | #11 Alabama vs. #3 Texas | 8:30 p.m. ET | SEC Network

Saturday, March 7 – Semifinals

  • Game 13 | G9 winner vs. G10 winner | 4:30 p.m. ET | ESPN2
  • Game 14 | G11 winner vs. G12 winner | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN2

Sunday, March 8 – Championship

  • Game 15 | G13 winner vs. G14 winner | 3 p.m. ET | ESPN

Big Ten Tournament schedule, bracket, scores

The 2026 Big Ten women’s basketball tournament unfolds over five days during March, with all games played in Indianapolis.

Here’s the daily schedule:

Wednesday, March 4 – First round

  • #13 Indiana 72, #12 Nebraska 69
  • #10 Illinois 82, #15 Wisconsin 70
  • #11 Oregon 71, #14 Purdue 65

Thursday, March 5 – Second round

  • #8 Washington 76, #9 USC 64
  • #5 Ohio State 83, #13 Indiana 59
  • #10 Illinois 71, #7 Michigan State 69
  • #11 Oregon 73, #6 Maryland 68

Friday, March 6 – Quarterfinals

  • Game 8 | #1 UCLA vs. #8 Washington | 12 p.m. ET | BTN
  • Game 9 | #4 Minnesota vs. #5 Ohio State | 25 minutes following Game 8 | BTN
  • Game 10 | #2 Iowa vs. #10 Illinois | 6:30 p.m. ET | BTN
  • Game 11 | #3 Michigan vs. #11 Oregon | 25 minutes following Game 10 | BTN

Saturday, March 7 – Semifinals

  • Game 12 | G8 winner vs. G9 winner | 2 p.m. ET | BTN
  • Game 13 | G10 winner vs. G11 winner | 4:30 p.m. ET | BTN

Sunday, March 8 – Championship

  • Game 14 | G12 winner vs. G13 winner | 2:15 p.m. ET | CBS

Big 12 Tournament schedule, bracket, scores

All times Eastern

March 4

First Round

  • Game 1: No. 12 Kansas State 91, No. 13 Cincinnati 66
  • Game 2:No. 9 BYU 76, No. 16 Houston 66
  • Game 3: No. 10 Arizona State 54, No. 15 Arizona 51
  • Game 4: No. 11 Kansas 56, No. 14 UCF 35

March 5

Second Round

  • Game 5: No. 12 Kansas State 58, No. 5 Texas Tech
  • Game 6: No. 9 BYU 70, No. 8 Utah 52
  • Game 7: No. 10 Arizona State 77, No. 7 Iowa State 68
  • Game 8: No. 6 Colorado 55, No. 11 Kansas 48

March 6

Quarterfinals

  • Game 9: No. 12 Kansas State vs. No. 4 Oklahoma State | noon (ESPNU)
  • Game 10: No. 9 BYU vs. No. 1 TCU | 2:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
  • Game 11: No. 10 Arizona State vs. No. 2 West Virginia | 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
  • Game 12: No. 6 Colorado vs. No. 3 Baylor | 9 p.m. (ESPN+)

March 7

Semifinals

  • Game 13: Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 10 | 4:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
  • Game 14: Winner of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 12 | 6:30 p.m. (ESPN+)

March 8

  • Championship: Winner of Game 13 vs. Winner of Game 14 | 5:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
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Former Pro Bowl lineman splits with NFC team over contract talks

Taylor Decker will be back in the NFL in 2026 – just not with the Detroit Lions.

Ten days after first announcing he would play again next season, the former Pro Bowl left tackle announced on Instagram on Friday, March 6 that he had requested and would receive his release from the Lions, the team for which he has played for his entire career.

Decker indicated that talks in the last week-and-a-half around a contract restructure had broken down between the two sides. He was due $18.2 million this year, including a $1.5 million bonus if he was on the roster on March 15.

‘I am opting for a clean and amicable close to what has been such a beautiful 10 years going to war as a Lion,’ Decker wrote.

Decker, 32, started all 140 games he played for the franchise and earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2024. After the season, he acknowledged he was considering retirement due to the significant pain he felt after a June shoulder surgery. Ultimately, however, he opted to play for another year.

Prior to Decker’s decision to return, Lions coach Dan Campbell said the organization would need to consider options beyond him for both the short- and long-term benefit of the team.

‘Look, if it’s not (Decker), then we’ve got to find a guy,’ Campbell said Feb. 24 at the NFL scouting combine. ‘But if it is, we’re still going to find a guy. Because as much as I love ‘Deck,’ he’s got some things that are going to need some management. That’s kind of where we’re at. One way or another, we’re going to need somebody that can play over there and that can help us if we need them in a crunch or we need them as a starter. That’s important.’

Decker’s exit is the latest significant shift for the Lions’ once formidable front. Starting center Graham Glasgow was released on Monday in a cap-saving move. Backup offensive tackle Dan Skipper also retired and joined Detroit’s staff as an offensive assistant. Now, All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell is the only offensive line starter remaining from the 2024 group that earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.

In his latest mock draft, USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis projected Detroit to pick Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling with the No. 17 overall pick.

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

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Buyer beware: Eight riskiest NFL players set to hit free agency

In NFL free agency, spending sprees don’t quite elicit the same level of shaming they once did.

Every year, the pool of available talent thins out considerably in advance of the new league year, as extensions and franchise tags prevent elite players from hitting the open market in full. But that doesn’t prevent a handful of teams from using their war chest of available cap space. And with the salary cap continuing to swell annually – this year to $301.2 million – teams can move on from free-agency misses while still finding ways to absorb sizable dead-cap hits.

Still, whiffing on a big contact for an outside acquisition can be a painful setback for a general manager. And more than a handful of notable players this year come with a good degree of caution for any team considering signing them.

Here are eight free agents who could be among the riskiest players to sign on the open market this offseason, with their place on USA TODAY Sports’ top 100 free agent rankings in parentheses:

Rasheed Walker, OT, Green Bay Packers (9)

Any team looking to safeguard its quarterback with free-agent reinforcements is probably going to have to pay the offensive tackle tax. And they’re not going to like it.

At a position where demand always outpaces supply, top players seldom hit the market, and serviceable starters get elevated to priority status for those with room to spend. That setup has led to some of the more surprising – and regrettable – free-agent contracts in recent years, including Dan Moore Jr. (four years, $82 million from the Tennessee Titans) and Jaylon Moore (two years, $30 million from the Kansas City Chiefs) last offseason.

The latest blocker to benefit from this dynamic figures to be Walker. In his three years as a starter at left tackle, the 26-year-old established himself as an average-to-above-average pass protector who hasn’t moved the needle – or people – in the run game. But coming off a year in which he ranked 11th in pass-block win rate at 93.8%, he’s positioned himself as the premier offensive tackle on the market. And accompanying that should be a payday that will catch many by surprise.

Still, Walker has had his fair share of lapses, including surrendering six pressures and committing two penalties in a wild-card loss to the Chicago Bears. Those sort of setbacks were tolerable for a player on a rookie contract, but they’ll be hard to stomach for a team shelling out more than $20 million per year.

Nahshon Wright, CB, Chicago Bears (22)

Credit Wright for finding a way to make things click at the third stop in his career. Signed by the Bears last April as essentially an afterthought, the 6-4, 199-pound cover man tied for second in the NFL with five interceptions, fueling a defense that depended on generating turnovers. He also added three recoveries for a league-high total of eight takeaways while adding two forced fumbles and 11 passes defensed.

That ball production, however, belied his overall performance in coverage. Wright surrendered more yards (696) last season than all but five other cornerbacks. If opposing quarterbacks opt to be a bit more discerning in attacking a player with fairly pronounced strengths as well as weaknesses – Wright’s build makes it difficult for him to stick with shiftier receivers who can redirect suddenly – then much of his appeal will be wiped out. He still could find success in a scheme that allows him to use his length and timing to close in on throws from off coverage, but expecting him to reprise his breakout season seems likely to end in disappointment.

Riq Woolen, CB, Seattle Seahawks (32)

Since arriving in the NFL, Woolen has been the embodiment of volatility in coverage.

He’s long been chasing the rookie form that allowed him to snag six interceptions and a Pro Bowl nod. And while there’s understandable appeal in trotting out a 6-4, 210-pound cornerback with elite straight-line speed, Woolen has too often been undone by his own lack of discipline. The issue came to a head in the NFC championship game this year, when he followed up a taunting penalty by allowing Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua to burn him for a 34-yard touchdown strike. The Seahawks stood by him, but a change in scenery might be best for all parties.

Woolen allowed the fewest yards per target (2.7) in man coverage of any player targeted at least 20 times this season, according to Next Gen Stats, so a shift from the Seahawks’ zone-heavy scheme would serve him well. Patience will be a necessity for whichever staff ends up with a player responsible for 30 penalties – and a host of other missteps – in the last four years. There’s considerable upside to be tapped into if Woolen can harness his playmaking streak, but it might not take much to send his next arrangement sideways.

Jamel Dean, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (29)

You might be noticing a theme by now: Cornerbacks tend to be shaky investments, particularly for any team buying high. And pursuing Dean will certainly entail paying for a player coming off several career highs.

The seven-year veteran allowed the second-lowest catch rate (43.1%) of any player with at least 50 targets last season, according to Next Gen Stats. He also posted personal bests with three interceptions and a 41.3 passer rating allowed when targeted.

But Dean, who will turn 30 in October, has been nagged by injuries in the past few years, missing at least three games in each of the last three campaigns. It also might prove difficult for him to recapture his 2025 form, let alone improve on it.

Devin Lloyd, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars (16)

It’s a good time to be on the hunt for an off-ball linebacker, with a robust set of options at the position both in free agency and the draft. That should create a buyer’s market, but Lloyd still could be poised to cash in.

The 2022 first-round pick finally put things together in a Pro Bowl campaign last year in which he recorded five interceptions. The 6-3, 235-pounder boasts the requisite athleticism to hold up in coverage and make plays as a blitzer. With a dearth of playmakers up for bidding, it’s easy to see why teams might gravitate toward him.

But it’s difficult to say with much certainty that Lloyd was a true catalyst rather than someone who benefited from an opportunistic scheme intent on creating havoc. Chasing traits here can be dangerous, and there’s no need to splurge for players who will only go so far in altering the bottom line for a defense. Lloyd isn’t Fred Warner – who is? – so teams should be wary of approaching the top of the market with a deal heavy on guarantees.

Nakobe Dean, LB, Philadelphia Eagles (53)

Between his return from a torn patellar tendon suffered in the 2024 playoffs and a hamstring injury in December, Dean was limited to just eight starts last season. That alone might be enough to give some decision-makers pause in pursuing the talented 25-year-old. But the real concern here is one of fit.

Dean makes a true difference as a blitzer, having generated four sacks and 11 pressures last season on just 27 pass-rush reps, according to Next Gen Stats. But the 6-0, 235-pound remains an uneven coverage presence and can be wild when triggering downhill against the run. Those vulnerabilities could leave him susceptible to breakdowns if not utilized properly. His ideal fit might be with the Dallas Cowboys, whose new defensive coordinator, Christian Parker, came over from Philadelphia this offseason.

Rashid Shaheed, WR, Seattle Seahawks (10)

Teams will pay a premium for big plays, no matter what form they come in. Shaheed has carved out a distinct place for himself thanks to his ability to deliver on that dynamic. Though his direct contributions to the Seahawks were sporadic after his midseason arrival via trade, he still reeled off punt- and kick-return touchdowns to underscore his game-breaking ability.

Shaheed is a true force multiplier for an offense, as his mere presence as a field-stretching threat forces defenses to approach passing attacks differently. But any potential buyer shouldn’t view him as someone who will single-handedly overhaul the explosiveness of a unit. He had just 18 catches in 12 total games (including the postseason) with the Seahawks, and his 11.6 yards-per-catch average was the lowest of his career. In a so-so market for receivers, his payout could get inflated well past a point that’s proportional to his actual value.

K’Lavon Chaisson, OLB, New England Patriots (77)

Can he be the next Haason Reddick as a former first-round edge rusher who revives his career after a rough start? Chaisson inspired some hope last season as a scrap-heap signing by the Patriots, who were his third stop in six seasons. Beyond logging a career-high 7 ½ sacks, he nearly doubled his previous career high in pressures from 29 to 54, according to Pro Football Focus.

It’s not yet clear, however, if this is a genuine resurgence or an aberration. Teams might be inclined to bet on the former, but the 6-3, 246-pounder has a feast-or-famine style given that he can stall out when bigger blockers lock onto him. He also remains a liability against the run, so earning his keep with splash plays will be essential.

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Packers standout stirs confusion by deleting farewell Instagram post

Long-time Green Bay Packers edge rusher Rashan Gary appeared to announce in a March 6 Instagram post his time with the franchise had come to an end.

But just minutes after Gary’s heartfelt goodbye to Packers fans was posted, it was deleted.

The reason? Gary’s Instagram account was hacked, according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky; and the Packers have not yet traded or released the seven-year veteran, as ‘both options remain on the table,’ according to The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman.

The 28-year-old’s post had already been widely circulated before it was deleted. Several NFL insiders, including NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, posted screen shots of the veteran’s tribute across social media.

The message posted to Gary’s account started with an acknowledgement he would be leaving the team.

‘When I got the call in 2019, it was one of the greatest moments of my life, and it always will be,’ Gary wrote. ‘The opportunity to represent Green Bay and Packers Nation across the country and around the world is something I will never forget.’

‘Like all chapters in life, this one has come to an end,’ he added.

The post to Gary’s account did not specify in his post whether he would be traded or released. It simply showcased the first-round pick expressing gratitude to the fans that cheered for him across seven years in Green Bay.

‘I want to thank everyone who supported me and my family throughout the years,’ Gary wrote. ‘The love, the energy, and the memories mean more than words can explain.’

‘On to my next stop,’ Gary concluded. ‘Nowhere near done yet.’

It isn’t clear whether the post was crafted by Gary and his representation or if it was created by the alleged hacker.

Rashan Gary contract details

Gary is in the penultimate season of a four-year, $96 million contract extension he inked with the Packers during the 2023 NFL season. He is set to carry a cap hit of $28.1 million in 2026, per OverTheCap.com, while parting with him would net the Packers roughly $11 million in cap space.

Gary has been productive for the Packers – making the Pro Bowl in 2024 and posting at least six sacks in five consecutive seasons – but he has never logged double-digit sacks with the team.

If Green Bay does move on from Gary, it could be related to the disconnect between his pay and sack production. But for now, Gary remains under contract as a Packer through the 2027 NFL season.

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Bracketology: Making sense of messy NCAA men’s tournament bubble

  • The group of teams on the bubble for the NCAA men’s tournament is considered weaker than in previous years.
  • Teams like UCLA, Santa Clara, Auburn, and New Mexico are projected as the ‘last four in’ despite having unimpressive records.
  • Indiana, Virginia Commonwealth, Cincinnati, and California are currently projected just outside the tournament field.

This year’s NCAA men’s tournament bubble leaves much to be desired.

While there are some name brands hovering around an at-large bid, few have compiled the résumé to break out the first-four-out range and into the bracket.

Take the latest USA TODAY Sports stab at bracketology, where teams such as Indiana, Virginia Commonwealth, Cincinnati and California are on the outside looking in despite an unimpressive group in our last four in: UCLA, Santa Clara, Auburn and New Mexico.

The Bruins earned their way back into the field thanks to an impressive home win against current No. 3 seed Nebraska. But UCLA is still a pedestrian 10-10 in games against Quad 1 and Quad 2 competition.

Santa Clara has just one Quad 1 win, against conference rival St. Mary’s, but is 7-1 against Quad 2 teams. New Mexico remains in the bracket despite dropping two of three but it’s hold is precarious. And nothing speaks better to this year’s flimsy bubble than Auburn earning an at-large spot at 16-14 overall, 2-7 on the road and 4-11 against in Quad 1 games.

But that’s still much better than, say, Indiana. The Hoosiers are a miserable 5-12 in Quad 1 and 2 games and lost at home to Northwestern late last month. They do have wins against UCLA, Purdue and Wisconsin, though.

One bubble team to watch is Cincinnati, which seemed to have its tournament hopes extinguished after losing at home to West Virginia on Feb. 5 to fall to 11-12 overall and 3-7 in the Big 12. The Bearcats have since rebounded to take seven of eight, including key wins against Central Florida, Kansas and Brigham Young.

March Madness bracketology: NCAA Tournament projection

March Madness last four in

SMU, Santa Clara, Auburn, New Mexico.

March Madness first four out

Indiana, Virginia Commonwealth, Cincinnati, California.

NCAA tournament bids conference breakdown

Multi-bid leagues: SEC (11), Big Ten (9), ACC (8), Big 12 (8), Big East (3), West Coast (3), Mountain West (2).

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Trump rallies defense titans to surge weapons output as Iran War rages

President Donald Trump is meeting Friday with top U.S. defense industry executives as his administration looks to accelerate weapons production while military operations against Iran continue.

The White House emphasized the session was scheduled weeks ago and was not convened in response to immediate battlefield shortages. Officials described the meeting as part of a broader effort to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and speed production of American-made weapons.

‘The US military has more than enough munitions, ammo, and weapons stockpiles to continue demolishing the Iranian regime and finish Operation Epic Fury, no matter how long it lasts,’ White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to Fox News.

‘Nevertheless, President Trump has always been intensely focused on strengthening our military, which is why this meeting with defense contractors was scheduled weeks ago. The President will continue to call on these US companies to more speedily build American-made weapons, which are the absolute best in the world.’

Companies attending are Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX Corporation, Boeing, Honeywell and L3Harris Technologies. 

The meeting comes as U.S. forces remain engaged in Operation Epic Fury, a campaign targeting Iranian military assets following coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes. Administration officials have maintained that U.S. readiness remains strong, even as the pace of missile defense operations has drawn scrutiny on Capitol Hill.

During the 2025 12-day Iran conflict, U.S. forces fired more than 150 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors — roughly a quarter of the global inventory — to shield Israel and U.S. assets from Iranian missile attacks, according to defense assessments. Patriot PAC-3 MSE missiles are currently produced at a rate of roughly 600 to 650 annually, with replenishment timelines measured in months or years rather than weeks.

U.S. and Israeli officials previously estimated that Iran had a large ballistic missile arsenal — roughly 2,000 to 3,000 missiles of various types at the outset of the conflict. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper said Thursday Iran’s missile attacks have decreased 90% since the start of the conflict.

Defense planners have described missile defense inventories as part of a broader strategic balancing act. The same high-end systems used to protect U.S. bases and partners in the Middle East are also supplied to Ukraine and positioned in the Indo-Pacific, creating what some analysts characterize as a ‘zero-sum’ competition for inventory across theaters.

Lawmakers emerging from recent classified briefings have raised questions about sustainability if operations expand. 

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., warned the campaign could become a ‘math problem,’ balancing incoming missile volumes against finite interceptor supplies and production capacity. 

Other members, including Republicans briefed on the operation, have said officials assured Congress U.S. forces remain in strong shape.

Current and former defense officials have drawn a distinction between offensive strike weapons — which can often be surged from prepositioned stocks — and defensive interceptors such as Patriot and THAAD systems, which require longer production timelines and cannot be rapidly manufactured at scale.

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Mullin promises to earn Dem votes as GOP colleagues pounce on his seat

President Donald Trump’s move to fire Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and tap Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., as her replacement triggered a domino effect in Congress.

Before Mullin can take the helm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), he has to be confirmed. And once confirmed, someone will have to take his seat. Both caveats come with their own hurdles.

Senate Democrats may try to toss a wrench into the confirmation process and extract promises for reforms to the agency, particularly Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). DHS has been closed for three weeks, and the shutdown will likely continue for at least a month.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has vowed to oppose Mullin and argued that changes need to be made regardless of who runs the agency.

‘It’s a question of policy, not personnel,’ Schumer said. ‘The Senate should not consider any DHS secretary nominee until DHS and ICE are reined in.’

Mullin has staunchly opposed Democrats’ demands to reopen the agency and whether he’ll budge to get their votes remains to be seen.

But he’s open to speaking with Schumer and his caucus and wants to earn their votes. Whether he can do that before Trump’s March 31 deadline is up in the air.

‘The Department of Homeland Security is to keep everybody — regardless of whether you support me, if you don’t support me, regardless of what your thoughts are — I’m here to enforce the policies that Congress passed,’ Mullin said.

Then there’s the race for succession. Mullin, who is currently near the end of his first term in the upper chamber, was in the midst of running for re-election. With his appointment by Trump, that seat is now wide open for Republicans hungry to reach the Senate.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, will choose who fills Mullin’s Senate seat in the short term. But it’ll be up to voters in the Sooner State to pick their next senator.

‘I will be looking to appoint a strong, small-government conservative voice to support President Trump and protect Oklahomans’ way of life,’ Stitt said on X.

And GOP hopefuls have already begun crowding the potential primary race for his seat within hours of Trump’s announcement.

Reps. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., and Kevin Hern, R-Okla., are already showing interest, Fox News Digital was told.

A source close to Bice told Fox News Digital that she was considering running for the likely open Senate seat first, which Bice followed with her own public statement on Thursday evening.

‘President Trump has made an excellent choice. Markwayne is a great friend and a fierce advocate for the America First Agenda. I’m excited for him to take the helm at DHS,’ she posted on X. ‘It’s the honor of a lifetime to stand side by side with President Trump for the people of Oklahoma. I’ve received encouragement from every corner of this great state to run for the U.S. Senate. And it’s something I’m carefully considering.’

Meanwhile, Fox News Digital was told that Hern — who currently serves in House leadership in the role of GOP Policy Committee chairman — already began calling players within the Republican orbit to get their support.

Multiple people familiar with Hern’s thinking told Fox News Digital that he intends to run.

Hern is also generating buzz among Senate Republicans. Sens. Jim Banks, R-Ind., Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., and Ron Johnson, R-Wis., have all come out in support of him.

Neither Hern nor Bice is interested in being appointed by Stitt, however, likely due to Oklahoma’s unusual laws dictating how Senate vacancies must be filled.

A mid-term vacancy is traditionally filled by the state’s governor, after which an election occurs at the next pre-scheduled race date. The governor’s appointee must sign an affidavit swearing they will not run in that election.

In this case, Mullin was up for re-election in November, so anyone seeking the office will have to run in a June primary and then be up for a full six-year term at the end of this year.

But that also means that Bice and Hern will both be able to run for Mullin’s current seat without risking the House GOP’s own razor-thin majority.

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Schumer weaponizes Mullin nomination to demand DHS overhaul, says
Schumer weaponizes Mullin nomination to demand DHS overhaul, says ‘rot’ goes beyond Noem
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