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Fox Sports
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Paddock Buzz: David Malukas Gets Up-Close View of Practice Dustup
INDYCAR David Malukas had a surreal moment during Friday's NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear. While easing off the throttle to find space for a clean lap around the tight, 1.645-mile downtown street circuit, Malukas briefly felt as if he was in a virtual world – like iRacing rather than the real-life cockpit of his No. 4 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet for A.J. Foyt Enterprises. That illusion hit when, out of his peripheral vision, he noticed an unusual scene: Kyle Kirkwood's No. 27 Siemens AWS Honda being pushed down the track by Will Power's No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. 'I totally do that video game,' Malukas said. 'It was pretty cool to see them blast through and driving by going in the air. I was like, 'What the hell is going on?' I couldn't believe it. I thought something was wrong, and Power was towing him across like the 'Cars' movie. It was interesting at first, but then I realized it was not.' With qualifying simulations hinging on a clear, traffic-free lap, frustration was inevitable. Malukas slowed, Kirkwood got bottled up, and Power came barreling in. "Everyone is going slow around here,' Kirkwood said. 'The track isn't big enough to fit all the cars, and he got frustrated.' Power took matters into his own hands, literally, by pushing Kirkwood's car and then shoving him aside. 'I came around, and he (Kirkwood) slowed up in the middle and I made contact,' Power said. 'So, I thought I may as well get a gap now, so I just pushed him by the car in front, then booted him out of the way and got a nice gap. If I hadn't touched him already, I thought: 'Oh, well, I'm already touching him, I might as well keep pushing.' Kirkwood, who had a similar run-in with Santino Ferrucci during last year's practice, was less amused. 'It's whatever, I guess,' Kirkwood said. 'Does it give him the right to push my car through a couple of corners and almost cause a wreck? I don't think so ... Everyone's stopped. I don't know. I'm not upset. I don't care. I'll move on. I've never seen that before.' Despite the chaos, Kirkwood emerged fastest in the session with a lap of 1 minute, 1.7509 seconds. Power was third at 1:02.3862. 'Andretti has always done a great job preparing street course cars, and this is another example of that,' Kirkwood said. 'Hopefully we can continue this pace throughout the weekend.' Kirkwood earned NTT P1 Award honors on the streets of Long Beach and led 46 of 90 laps in victory in the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 13. He's the only driver not named Alex Palou to win a race this season. Hamilton Returns to Booth with New Knowledge Davey Hamilton's two-week 'vacation' from the INDYCAR Radio Network booth turned into one of the most hands-on learning experiences of his broadcast career. Swapping his analyst headset for a strategist's one, former INDYCAR SERIES driver Hamilton called the shots for Jack Harvey's No. 24 DRR CUSICK INVST Chevrolet during the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge. 'It was a learning curve,' Hamilton said. 'I was a little nervous coming into it. We got Jack from the back to the front. I worked hard. I think I overstudied a little bit, to be really honest with you.' Harvey began the race from the 26th starting position. Hamilton guided Harvey to stay out under an early-race caution, launching him up to fifth place on Lap 24 as one of just six drivers on that alternate call. The strategy worked well until a brake issue entering pit road derailed the run, dropping Harvey to a 22nd-place finish. While the race result may not have yielded a top finish, Hamilton walked away with a far greater understanding of today's NTT INDYCAR SERIES landscape that will enhance his storytelling and analysis from the booth, starting in this weekend's Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear. 'That's really going to help me a lot,' Hamilton said. 'I learned so much that's going to relate to the fan now that I can tell about the cars and what they're going through. I feel my strategy is going to be better in the radio booth now than it was before because you've got to take gambles starting in the back and risk it to take those gambles.' The strategist stint gave Hamilton an updated, first-hand view of the current generation of INDYCAR machinery. 'These cars, the hybrids, the aero settings, the extra weight – there's so many things,' Hamilton said. 'It kind of got me really up to speed.' Team Penske Keeps Indy 500 Timing Stand Personnel Team Penske is maintaining the same personnel on its three timing stands this weekend in Detroit as it did for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, where several leadership changes were made prior to the May 25 race. The changes stemmed from a rule violation in which two of the team's entries were found in violation of INDYCAR rules during '500' qualifying weekend. Team President Tim Cindric, INDYCAR Managing Director Ron Ruzewski and INDYCAR General Manager Kyle Moyer were released from the team, and all three also served as respective race strategists for Josef Newgarden, Power and Scott McLaughlin. Team Penske shuffled the timing stands for all three cars for the '500,' and those movements are in place for Sunday's 100-lap race. For Newgarden, Luke Mason is serving as strategist and Raul Prados from the Porsche Penske Motorsport sports car team is serving as the lead engineer. Ben Bretzman has moved from engineer to strategist for McLaughlin, with Malcolm Finch as the lead engineer. Porsche Penske Motorsport Managing Director Jonathan Diuguid is serving as Power's strategist, while Dave Faustino remains as Power's lead engineer. The short turnaround between races, plus IMSA's race at the same Detroit street course, enables a seamless integration of personnel from Penske's sports car program into the INDYCAR operation. McLaughlin was second fastest Friday while Power and Newgarden were third and fourth, respectively. 'Sort of a normal week,' Newgarden said. 'We prepped as much as we can.' Palou on F1 Drivers' Minds in Spain Alex Palou became the first Spaniard to win the '500.' With Formula One competing in Spain this weekend, Spanish drivers Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz Jr. expressed admiration for their countryman and his accomplishments. 'I always rated Alex very highly because I was his teammate in cadet, and he was very quick in cadet karting,' Sainz said. 'What he's doing in America is something really admirable. I think to dominate in the way he's dominating, you have to be very good at what you're doing. Then Formula One is a completely different discipline, different world, but I don't have anything else but respect and admiration for what Alex is doing in Indy.' Alonso made three '500' attempts, qualifying for the race twice, and believes Palou is elevating the country to new heights. 'Great for Spain,' Alonso said. 'Great for him to have the Indy 500 now after winning the INDYCAR (championship) for a few consecutive seasons and now leading the championship, as well. 'So, he's doing great there. I know that most of the drivers dream about a Formula One seat and having a career here. But he had the opportunity in INDYCAR, and he maximized every single day there. He's a legend in INDYCAR, and he will be a legend always in INDYCAR. So, I think he's not missing Formula One, and I'm very happy for him because he's a very, very talented driver. 'We are just following him from here with a lot of respect and as a fan, because I was watching on Sunday the race and just hoping that he would finally make it – and he did it. So, happy for him.' VeeKay Believes DCR Changes Will Boost Results Michael Cannon returns to Dale Coyne Racing after spending six years (2014-19) engineering for the organization. He served as an engineer in recent seasons for Chip Ganassi Racing and AJ Foyt Racing. Cannon will engineer Rinus VeeKay's No. 18 askROI Honda in part of a personnel shakeup that also returns Mike Colliver to the team to lead engineer Jacob Abel's No. 51 Blue Oval SK Honda. 'He's synonymous with success in INDYCAR,' VeeKay said of Cannon. 'Really good to have him around. He seems like he's at home. A lot of people already knew him in the team. I'm really excited. I think everybody's a little bit more afraid of this team now.' VeeKay is 12th in points with three top-10 finishes this season. He believes Cannon can take his team to the next level with all his experience and knowledge. That showed Friday with VeeKay ending up ninth in practice. 'He has a lot of info,' VeeKay said. 'Like this season, we were kind of struggling with our brakes. He's already found one solution and has a backup solution to that solution. He has a backup to the backup solution. He just knows a lot of stuff. He's done everything 10 times.' Grid Penalties for Rahal and Dixon Scott Dixon's No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda had an unapproved engine change prior to last Sunday's '500.' As a result, the team was in violation of Rule 16.1.2.3.2 because this his fifth engine used this season. Graham Rahal also changed engines on Miller Lite Carb Day, violating Rule 16.1.5.4: Once an Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Engine is fitted to the Car, removal prior to the Indianapolis 500 Race is an Unapproved Engine Change-Out, unless it is replaced for Repair. Both will serve six-position grid penalties for Sunday's 100-lap race. Teammates Rossi, Rasmussen Reach Different Milestones Alexander Rossi and Christian Rasmussen enter this weekend's race with very different trajectories but shared momentum from standout moments in last Sunday's '500.' Rossi led 14 laps, surpassing 1,000 INDYCAR SERIES career laps led, with 1,010 in 153 career races. However, his day was cut short by a mechanical failure after 73 laps, resulting in a 28th-place finish in the No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet. Rossi has been consistent on the streets of Detroit, finishing fifth in both races since the series returned to the downtown course. 'We need to minimize mistakes, execute in every session, and if we do that, there's no reason we can't be fighting for the podium,' Rossi said. Rasmussen, a second-year driver, made headlines by leading his first career INDYCAR SERIES laps – eight in total, at Indianapolis. He passed Rossi on the Lap 29 to lead his first career lap in the No. 21 ECR Splenda Chevrolet. 'Taking the early restart in second, I was thinking to myself, the smart thing here would probably be to stay in second,' Rasmussen said. 'Just stay behind and save some fuel. But coming to the green, I just couldn't help myself, so I came storming by Alex (Rossi). It was a cool experience and obviously special.' Energized by his Indy performances, Rasmussen eyes a good weekend in Detroit. 'Coming off a strong Indy 500, I'm really excited for the rest of the season,' Rasmussen said. 'The No. 21 Splenda Chevrolet crew has some solid momentum, and we're ready to build on that.' Country Star Wright To Sing Anthem, Perform at WWTR Country music singer Chase Wright was named as the national anthem singer for the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline on Sunday evening, June 15 at World Wide Technology Raceway. The Indiana native also will pay tribute to St. Louis-area first responders and relief workers by performing a free concert. Wright offered the gesture following last week's tornado that affected the region. Odds and Ends Andretti Global added Siemens to serve as the primary sponsor on Marcus Ericsson's No. 28 Siemens Honda at this event. The company sponsored Kirkwood for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and continues to sponsor Kirkwood this weekend, along with Amazon Web Services. Andretti Global, Team Penske and Arrow McLaren had eight of the top 12 times on Friday. Chip Ganassi Racing was led by Palou, who was 15th fastest. Dixon was 18th and Kyffin Simpson 20th in the No. 8 Ridgeline Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Next up is practice at 9 a.m. ET on Saturday, followed by NTT P1 Award qualifying at noon. Both sessions will air on FS1, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network. recommended
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Detroit Grand Prix: Narrow course causing trouble during practice laps
If you've ever gotten stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic downtown, the drivers in the Detroit Grand Prix are feeling your pain. During the first practice session for the IndyCar Series' Detroit Grand Prix on Friday, May 30 — the first time these racers drove on the 2025 course before Sunday's big race — IndyCar veteran Will Power latched onto the back of Kyle Kirkwood's car and pushed him through turns 5 and 6 in front of the Renaissance Center. It was an unconventional move, especially during a practice session, but Kirkwood had a quick explanation for Power's behavior: Advertisement "The track's not big enough to fit all the cars, and he got frustrated." Whether Power agrees with that is debatable — Power said he was just trying to "find a gap" — but it does mirror what many drivers are saying about the Detroit course: There's very little space to maneuver. At just under 1.7 miles in length, the course at the Detroit Grand Prix is the shortest street course on the IndyCar circuit. It's also narrower than many street courses, especially at the turns, giving these drivers very little space and room for error. "What makes it difficult here is it's such a short track. We have 27 cars going on a 1.6-mile track. It doesn't really add up," said Christian Lundgaard, who drives for Arrow McLaren. "It's frustrating, but at the end of the day, it's the same for everyone." Advertisement A.J. Foyt Racing's David Malukas was driving in front of the latch-on moment between Power and Kirkwood (though he initially thought it was Marcus Ericsson that Power had latched onto instead of Kirkwood) and said it was like something out of a film: Team Penske's Will Power enters Turn 2 as NTT IndyCar Series drivers compete during Detroit Grand Prix in downtown Detroit on Sunday, June 2, 2024. THE NEXT GENERATION: Grosse Pointe Indy NXT driver Nolan Allaer coming home for the Detroit Grand Prix "I couldn't believe it. I was very confused at the start. I thought, like, something was wrong with Ericsson, and Power was towing him across, like the 'Cars' movie." Malukas also spoke about how quickly the track can turn from wide to narrow: "I'll be surprised if there's not going to be a yellow (flag) for this race," he said. "Turn 1, it's very wide on entry and it looks inviting. And then all of a sudden it gets very, very tight on exit. And it happens a lot around this track." Advertisement In addition to the encounter between Power and Kirkwood, the practice session saw a collision from Juncos Hollinger racer Sting Ray Robb, whose front tires locked up as he glided softly into the tire barrier at Turn 1. Reigning Indianapolis 500 champion Álex Palou also turned out into a safe area when experiencing difficulties on the track, choosing to preserve his car instead of risking a wreck later on. It's not just the narrowness of the course that these drivers have to navigate. During a luncheon on Thursday, May 29, Detroit Grand Prix chair Bud Denker compared the difficulties of Detroit's track to a similar street course on the IndyCar circuit: "The Long Beach Grand Prix is almost the same distance as our race here. There are seven manhole covers on the Long Beach Grand Prix race track. We have 215." Though Denker says the Grand Prix has worked to try to smooth out the course's roughest edges, including those 215 manhole covers, the track has already played a big part in a dust-up two days before the big race starts. Advertisement Power appeared to smile when he reviewed the footage of his car pushing Kirkwood's during the practice lap. But Kirkwood, who finished with the fastest time among all drivers during the practice session, had the last laugh: "I'm not upset. I don't care," he said. "We had damage from that, too, so maybe we (could have been) a little bit faster." You can reach Christian at cromo@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Narrow course causes issue during practice laps at Detroit Grand Prix
NBC Sports
17-02-2025
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
Mission Possible? Jeff Gordon wants Tom Cruise to do 'Days of Thunder' sequel
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Jeff Gordon says he's trying to convince friend Tom Cruise to do a sequel to 'Days of Thunder.' The Hollywood Reporter noted last November that Cruise, also the star of the 'Mission Impossible' movies, was exploring a follow-up to his 1990 NASCAR film. Dustin Long, Cruise played 'Cole Trickle' in the movie. HIs role was loosely based on NASCAR driver Tim Richmond. 'I've absolutely talked to Tom about (a sequel) because I want him to do the project, and we want to be a part of it if it were to happen,' said Gordon, vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, after William Byron's Daytona 500 win. '(Cruise) seems to like to tease it, so I don't know. We'll see what happens. If that doesn't happen, I feel pretty confident there's a project out there that will get NASCAR back on the big screen, if not just a really cool docuseries or something beyond even what we're already seeing right now.' Nate Ryan, The 'Days of Thunder' movie was a seminal moment for the sport, giving it a big-screen presence as NASCAR's popularity began to rocket. Other movies followed. They included the 'Cars' movie franchise, which debuted in 2006 — the premiere was at Charlotte Motor Speedway — and had sequels in 2011 and '17. Will Ferrell starred in 'Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby' in 2006. Even if Cruise doesn't do another 'Days of Thunder' movie, future coming attractions could include a NASCAR-themed project. 'I am seeing just a lot more momentum in projects like coming through NASCAR and coming to Hendrick Motorsports and just more interest,' Gordon said. 'So that's good, right? It talks a lot about where the sport is at, where it's heading, the amazing crowd that was here all weekend, not just (Sunday), new TV partners. 'So I do think that there's this kind of resurgence, which is awesome, and there's also a whole new landscape of opportunities with streaming services and docuseries and also the big screen, which I think it would be amazing to do.'
Politico
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Meet the latest — and oddest — 2028 Democratic prospect
FIRST TAKE — When Democrats fade into their happy place — 2028 — there's a long roster of familiar governors, senators and other party officials that they run through for potential candidates. And in recent weeks, the buzz for another has taken off: Stephen A. Smith. Yes, that Stephen A. Smith, the one who's been at ESPN spewing takes, after takes, after takes, off and on since 2005. It seems implausible on its face. But so did Donald Trump, three years out from the 2016 election. And some are now wondering if Smith — maybe, just maybe — could bring together the hobbled Democratic party's splintered factions and channel a Trump type of energy and connection with disaffected voters. Smith is no regular pundit. He's become famous for his ability to take any anodyne topic and turn it into content that goes viral on social media — take his tirade about the Pixar movie 'Cars' or his impromptu performance of Beyoncé's smash hit 'Single Ladies'. He innately understands what gets the internet's attention. Right now, it's increasingly his burgeoning interest in politics. Throughout the 2024 presidential election, and even more so since November on his podcast, Smith made clear his frustrations with the Democratic Party's inability to beat Trump. He's rarely nakedly ideological, nor does he get into the weeds of policy discourse. What he does believe is that Trump is unbecoming of the presidency, and that Democrats have some work to do as well. His podcast, 'The Stephen A. Smith Show,' remains mostly sports-related content, listened to by a base of mostly non-political junkies (likely including many of the young men who defected from the Democratic Party in November). But recently, he's also been talking about Trump's executive orders and spending freezes, and even had Pennsylvania's Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro — a presidential prospect himself — on for an interview on Wednesday. In a recent appearance on 'Real Time with Bill Maher,' Smith, sitting alongside Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), ripped into former Vice President Kamala Harris and Democrats for their performance. 'The man was impeached twice. He was convicted on 34 felony counts. And the American people still said, 'He's closer to normal than what we see on the left.'' Smith said of the election results. 'Exactly,' Maher responded. Smith goes on in the interview to offer his take on the ways in which Democrats have lost a majority of America. 'What voter out there can look at the Democratic party at this moment in time and say there's a voice for us, somebody that speaks for us,' Smith said. 'They didn't do that. And that's why their behinds are home and that man is back in the White House.' He also insisted that former President Barack Obama's apparent palling around with Trump at former President Jimmy Carter's funeral was not a 'good look.' Last week, Khanna took to X in praise of Smith. '.@stephenasmith is one of the most talented and authentic communicators of our age. He speaks against the status quo with conviction and knows what ordinary people are thinking. Dems should listen to him.' Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) echoed that sentiment, responding to a post from Smith teasing a presidential run by saying, 'Don't underestimate this idea, @stephenasmith could win. In today's politics the best, tougher messenger usually wins.' House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was asked about the Smith boomlet on Thursday. '2028 is way off in the distance. House Democrats are engaged in hour by hour, day to day, week to week struggle on behalf of the American people,' Jeffries said, adding, 'There's a lot to like about Stephen A. Smith, including the fact that we are die hard Knicks fans.' Just last week, Smith also sparred on Fox News with Sean Hannity about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a discussion on DEI cuts. 'You have somebody like Hegseth, for example, your former colleague,' Smith said, as Hannity interjected and said to leave his friend out of it. 'I'm not bringing up anything personal. I'm simply saying, my god Sean, when you talk about people that are unqualified … When you're a weekend host on Fox News and now you're the Defense secretary … that is not qualified.' The result of these recent appearances has been an eruption of chatter on social media, serious and unserious, about Smith as a prospective 2028 Democratic nominee. 'F— it, we found our guy,' one X user posted, garnering 17,000 likes. One account, titled, 'Stephen A. Smith 2028,' picked up over 10,000 followers overnight last week. It now has over 24,000 followers (including newly anointed Democratic National Committee vice chair David Hogg). 'I know this whole thing might seem like a joke, but I should remind you that's exactly what they said about Trump at first too!' the owner of the account, who did not provide his name, said in an email to POLITICO. Fancams have been made, in the same vein of Harris and Tim Walz edits this summer. The ever-thirsty Smith has basked in the speculation about his presidential prospects, but has yet to take any steps to seriously suggest he's considering a bid. 'I doubt I'll ever run. It's not me,' Smith said earlier this month. 'I've a pretty good life and I don't want to ruin it by ever getting involved in politics. But I gotta tell y'all something, the Democratic Party looks so pathetic after this election, I might entertain running. I might just change my mind one day.' In an interview with CNBC on Wednesday, he added more fuel to the fire. 'I wouldn't mind being in office. But running for it is a problem. I'm not one of those dudes that's great at shaking hands and kissing babies, per say. I'm not a beggar.' Trump might have said the same in the years before he descended down the Trump Tower escalator to announce his longshot presidential bid. Now, Smith's fans see an opening within the Democratic Party for a similarly disruptive and unconventional candidate. 'In 2016, Trump freed the Republicans from their Obama-induced malaise in a sweep of dynamic charisma,' the account's owner said. 'As an outsider himself, Smith is very well positioned to do the same for the Democrats, who are in need of a redefinition.' Welcome to POLITICO Nightly. Reach out with news, tips and ideas at nightly@ Or contact tonight's author at bjohansen@ or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BenJohansen3. What'd I Miss? — Louisiana to end mass vaccine promotion, state's top health official says: The Louisiana Department of Health 'will no longer promote mass vaccination' according to a memo written by the state's top health official and obtained by The Associated Press. A department spokesperson confirmed Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham had ordered his staff to stop engaging in media campaigns and community health fairs to encourage vaccinations, even as the state has experienced a surge in influenza. — Vance meets with leader of far-right German political party backed by Musk: JD Vance met today with the leader of the far-right German political party being boosted by Elon Musk, according to a person familiar with the meeting granted anonymity to discuss the vice president's schedule. Vance was in Munich for a security conference, where earlier in the day he had blasted Europe over immigration and censorship of free speech that he suggested targeted right-leaning people and political parties. Vance met with the leaders of all four major German political parties, the person said — including Alice Weidel, the leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD. He also met this week with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier in the week in Paris. — American citizen arrested in Russia for weed gummies, state media says: An American was arrested in Russia last week after airport security found cannabis gummies in his luggage. The 28-year-old man, who arrived from Istanbul, was detained at Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport on Feb. 7, according to Russian state media, after a sniffer dog discovered the contraband. The man — who was not named in state media reports — explained he had been prescribed the gummies by a doctor in the United States. He was taken into custody and charged with drug smuggling, with a potential prison term of five to 10 years as well as a fine of 1 million roubles, which amounts to roughly $11,000. THE NEW ADMINISTRATION RED STATE REGRET — Republican lawmakers are pushing back against sweeping cuts to the federal government launched by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, as their downsizing crusade begins to hit GOP constituents. A growing number of GOP lawmakers are trying to intervene with the Trump administration and are weighing legislation to circumvent the changes. But with the Department of Government Efficiency and the Office of Management and Budget moving at a rapid clip and flouting federal law to carve up the government, the lawmakers face monumental challenges in getting the White House to spare their constituents from the ax. Idaho Republican Rep. Mike Simpson, a senior appropriator whose district is home to a number of national parks, said in an interview his staff is talking to the administration about how an OMB-directed, government-wide hiring freeze will affect the National Park Service. The park service fired 1,000 full-time staff Friday but said seasonal hiring is resuming, exempting 5,000 seasonal jobs from the hiring freeze. Sen. Jerry Moran, another GOP appropriator who represents the agriculture-heavy state of Kansas, has told the White House that DOGE's dismantling of USAID will impact constituents who have long relied on selling their crops to a government program that fights hunger abroad. TEMPORARY PAUSE — A federal judge today temporarily stopped the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from continuing mass firings of employees, throwing up an initial roadblock to President Donald Trump's fast-moving efforts to dismantle the agency. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson blocked the CFPB from terminating additional employees after the Trump administration this week fired dozens of agency workers, including an entire team of people scrutinizing Big Tech companies' financial products. The order blocks the CFPB from terminating any employee, other than for performance-related reasons or misconduct, or starting the process to lay off career agency employees. THE AGREEMENT — A chastened Eric Adams appeared today alongside Trump border czar Tom Homan on the president's favorite morning talk show to project what the New York City mayor said was a united front against violent criminals without legal immigration status. In the 20-minute rollercoaster TV interview, Adams vacillated between a grim countenance and awkward chuckles while Homan pressured him and the Trump-boosting Fox hosts grilled him. The mayor's face even fell mid-laugh as he appeared to process a barely veiled threat from Homan — the man the president has entrusted to carry out his immigration orders in the country's biggest 'sanctuary city.' 'If he doesn't come through,' Homan said, 'I'll be back in New York City, and we won't be sitting on the couch. I'll be in his office, up his butt, saying, 'Where the hell is the agreement we came to?'' AROUND THE WORLD ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES — Germany's likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said U.S. tech billionaire Elon Musk should be prepared to face consequences for meddling in the German election campaign if he takes office. 'What happened in this election campaign cannot go unchallenged,' Merz, the front-runner from the center-right conservative alliance, told the Wall Street Journal in an interview. 'It can be a political response. It can be a legal response. I want to analyze this calmly after this election campaign.' The country goes to the polls Feb. 23. Tesla chief Musk caused an outcry in Germany by throwing his weight behind the far-right Alternative for Germany in the run-up to next weekend's vote. When asked whether any government response post election could affect Tesla's gigafactory near Berlin, Merz said: 'I am deliberately leaving the consequences open for now.' YOU'RE NEXT — Russia is preparing to station up to 150,000 troops in Belarus this year that could be used against NATO countries, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday in Munich. 'This year, Russia will prepare 15 divisions for training and strengthening the situation in the Belarusian direction. It will be 100,000-150,000 people,' Zelenskyy said. 'And I am not sure that this group will go on the offensive against Ukraine. But it will go on the offensive,' Zelenskyy said. 'I am not intimidating anyone. They can simply go on the offensive into Ukraine, just like they went in 2022 … or they will go to Poland or the Baltic countries.' Nightly Number RADAR SWEEP SUPER SNIFFER — For decades, dogs have been used to search for criminals, identify explosives, illicit drugs and rescue humans. Using dogs for these tasks requires a vast amount of training because each dog can only be trained to detect one class of odor compounds, limiting the smells it's able to track. Canaery, a Florida startup, says the solution is combining canines with a nose-computer interface to decode the odors that an animal smells in real time. This neurotechnology would expand what dogs are able to discover without specialized training. The startup and its collaborators envision a future where dogs can detect anything from bombs and contraband to human diseases and environmental toxins. Canaery's goal is to bring the same brain-computer interfaces used for humans to dogs. For WIRED, Emily Mullin, writes about how an innovative technology could turn 'man's best friend' into a 'super detector.' Parting Image
