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James Carville vows to abandon Democratic Party if far-left Hasan Piker becomes leading voice

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 17:40:22 -0400

Democratic strategist James Carville pledged to leave the Democratic Party if far-left streamer Hasan Piker becomes a leading voice in it and argued that an "overwhelming majority" of Democrats agree.

"I am not going to be in the same party with Hasan Piker," he said on "The Sunday Briefing."

"If he becomes a force in a Democratic Party, I'm out of here. I have no intention of ever being in the same political party with that guy," Carville continued.

Piker, a self-described socialist streamer who campaigned with Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, has emerged as a leading voice on the left as democratic socialists gain ground in elections across the country.

WISCONSIN DEMOCRAT DOWNPLAYS APPEARING ON HASAN PIKER'S SHOW, DOESN'T 'ENDORSE' EVERYTHING HE SAYS

Piker drew widespread criticism after saying "America deserved 9/11" during a stream in 2019. He later said in an interview that he "obviously" did not mean America deserved the attacks and defended the viral quote as a critique of U.S. foreign policy.

"I can't sit here and tell you for certain how this is going to turn out, but the one thing I can tell you for certain, Hasan Piker and James Carville are not going to be in the same political party. One of us is going to leave. It might even be me," Carville told Fox News.

Piker recently named Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., as his preferred Democratic presidential candidate for 2028 and argued there is "0% chance" the Democratic nominee will be pro-Israel in "any way, shape or form" as polling shows support for Israel has collapsed among Democrats.

CASH-STRAPPED DNC SHELLED OUT MORE THAN $800K TO NON-VOTING TERRITORIES LIKE VIRGIN ISLANDS WHILE IN DEBT

The rise of democratic socialism comes as the Democratic National Committee (DNC) faces internal challenges, with Chair Ken Martin grappling with mounting debt. Carville said the DNC will have to "un-constipate itself," adding that he "can’t help them."

With several DSA-endorsed candidates winning their respective primaries across the nation, socialism’s growing influence has intensified debate within the Democratic Party over its ideological direction.

"It may be that the two-party system is just going to be under tremendous stress here in the coming months," Carville said.

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Carville has raised concerns over far-left candidates, saying in a recent CNN interview that many of them are "too hard-headed to know that they’re not popular," adding that "people don’t like them."

Carville also warned that democratic socialists are dragging the party’s brand "through the mud."

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Fox News Digital reached out to Piker for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Off-duty trooper and armed citizen hailed as heroes after returning fire on In-N-Out gunman

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 16:34:34 -0400

Police identified the man accused of opening fire Saturday at a recently opened In-N-Out Burger location in Twin Falls, Idaho, revealing he was subdued by an off-duty state trooper and an armed citizen who returned fire during the shooting.

The suspected gunman, identified as Chad Williams, 24, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after fatally shooting an employee and a customer, according to Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks.

Authorities believe Williams acted alone in the attack. He was found dead near the restaurant.

IN-N-OUT PRESIDENT SAYS ‘HEART IS BROKEN’ AFTER EMPLOYEE, CUSTOMERS KILLED IN IDAHO SHOOTING

"We want to take a moment and commend the actions of the off-duty officer and the citizen and their heroic action to stop this incident," Hicks said during a news conference Sunday. "We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties."

Three people died, and seven others were wounded in the shootout, city spokesperson Josh Palmer previously said.

Authorities said two of the injured victims have been released from the hospital, while three are in stable condition and two remain in critical condition.

MULTIPLE PEOPLE KILLED IN SHOOTING AT IDAHO IN-N-OUT RESTAURANT, SUSPECT DEAD

Hicks described the incident as one of the most "chaotic" situations his department has faced, saying first responders encountered a scenario unlike anything many law enforcement officers experience in their careers.

The investigation has expanded to include multiple agencies, including local law enforcement partners and the FBI.

FBI Salt Lake City Special Agent in Charge Robert Boles said the bureau has committed its full resources to the investigation.

"We have committed the full weight of our resources to the Twin Falls Police Department, deploying every investigative and intelligence tool at our disposal," Boles said. "Our evidence response teams and victim services specialists are also on the ground, working tirelessly to support both the investigation and those impacted."

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Officials said officers from the Meridian, Caldwell and Nampa police departments were sworn in to assist the Idaho State Police with patrols in Twin Falls.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Early eating habits could have lasting effects on dementia risk, study suggests

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 17:18:05 -0400

Consuming less sugar during pregnancy and the first years of life may lower the risk of developing dementia decades later, according to new research.

A study published in Neurology found that people who were exposed to less sugar before birth and during their first one to two years of life had up to a 23% lower risk of developing dementia compared with those born after sugar became widely available again.

Researchers examined the health records of more than 64,000 people in the United Kingdom who were born before and after World War II sugar rationing ended in 1953.

People who experienced lower sugar intake before birth and through their first year of life had a 21% lower risk of dementia, while those whose sugar intake remained limited through age two had a 23% lower risk, researchers found.

DAILY EATING HABIT LINKED TO BETTER BRAIN HEALTH IN OLDER ADULTS, NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS

The study also found that people with lower sugar exposure early in life developed dementia an average of 2.6 years later than those who consumed more sugar.

"Our findings suggest that limiting sugar during the earliest stages of life may have lasting benefits for brain health," study author Jiazhen Zheng of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology said in the press release.

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Dariush Mozaffarian, director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University, who was not involved in the study, said the research raises an interesting question but cautioned against drawing firm conclusions.

"I'm impressed with the researchers' creativity, pulling together information across decades to look at this question, but the findings are not convincing," Mozaffarian told Fox News Digital.

He said many other factors likely differed between people born during and after wartime, including overall nutrition and calorie intake, making it difficult to know whether sugar alone explains the difference.

Still, Mozaffarian said the broader guidance for pregnant women remains the same.

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"Ultimately, we know from other research that women who are pregnant should consume the healthiest foods possible for both their own health and that of their baby," he told Fox News Digital.

He recommended focusing on minimally processed foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, fermented dairy products and fish while limiting ultra-processed foods high in sugar, starch and salt.

Researchers stressed that the study found only an association between early-life sugar intake and dementia risk and does not prove that reducing sugar directly prevents the disease.

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Researchers also noted several limitations, including that the study used exposure to a historical rationing policy as a proxy for individual sugar intake and could not eliminate the influence of other differences between the groups.

As a result, the findings cannot establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship between lower sugar intake early in life and a reduced risk of dementia.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has Tony Romo's back, believes he will 'work through' OWI arrest

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 16:56:31 -0400

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones believes his former franchise quarterback, Tony Romo, will "work through" his recent OWI arrest in Wisconsin.

Jones, who saw Romo under center for 13 seasons in Dallas, talked about him during a recent interview with KDFW Fox 4, saying he has been in contact with the quarterback-turned-broadcaster.

Romo was arrested on July 23 on charges of operating a vehicle while under the influence, as well as allegedly possessing an open container of alcohol in his vehicle and unsafe passing to the right.

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"I love him," Jones said. "I love what he’s about. I love his character. I love his love of sport. And he’s a very, very unique talent. And the real question is – and I don’t even have to ask what the answer is: Do you think Tony Romo knows how to get up when he gets knocked down? He had a life of that. And absolutely, that’s one of his greatest attributes, is that he can handle adversity.

"So this is something that he will work though. He is a unique talent.… So, obviously, I’m a big fan of his, big fan of his family, and let me tell you right now, he’s as real as he sounds. He feels every down time, he feels every up time."

TONY ROMO ARRESTED IN MILWAUKEE FOR ALLEGED OWI OFFENSE: REPORT

Romo’s case has been quite the NFL storyline as training camp began across the league last week, especially as police bodycam footage became available.

Romo, who was driving after playing a round in the Wisconsin Amateur Golf Championship, was seen telling police that he had "zero" drinks, and even questioned why they thought he was intoxicated.

"Because I’m coming from a golf course, you think I’m drunk?" Romo was heard saying.

Romo was detained by police and transported to a nearby station to conduct field sobriety tests after the arresting officer said she observed red, glassy eyes and smelled alcohol on Romo’s breath.

After completing the tests, Romo refused to take a breath test, telling the officer, "I've heard from all the lawyers don't ever do that."

NFL ANALYST TONY ROMO PLACED ON LEAVE BY CBS SPORTS FOLLOWING DRUNK DRIVING ARREST IN WISCONSIN

A week later, Romo was sidelined by CBS Sports as their top NFL analyst alongside play-by-play voice Jim Nantz. The network announced this past Friday that Romo "is on leave from his role at CBS Sports until further notice."

It is unclear how this leave will be observed for Romo, but former Houston Texans great defensive end J.J. Watt will be taking his place in the booth next to Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson.

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The 46-year-old became CBS’ top NFL analyst on April 4, 2017, which was the same day he announced his retirement from the NFL.

Romo threw for 34,183 yards, 248 touchdowns and 117 interceptions, completing 65.3% of his passes during his career.

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Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley make All Elite Wrestling debut

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 16:31:35 -0400

Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley made their All Elite Wrestling (AEW) debuts on "Collision" earlier this week as the show took place in the tag team’s hometown of Detroit.

Sabin and Shelley, collectively known as the Motor City Machine Guns, put the AEW tag team on notice and said they were with the company because it was where the best wrestle.

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"Did you really think we wouldn’t be here? There’s no place we’d rather be in than the greatest city in civilization," Sabin said. "The place we represented for 20 years. Because this is where the best wrestle."

The Motor City Machine Guns didn’t take long to make an impact.

After Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, Ace Austin and Juice Robinson – better known as the Bang Bang Gang – defeated Jon Moxley, Pac, Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta in an eight-man tag team match, they were attacked by Clark Connors and David Finlay.

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The Motor City Machine Guns came down to stave off the attack and embraced the Bang Bang Gang in the ring.

Sabin and Shelley are one of the most-decorated tag teams in pro wrestling. The team had stops in WWE, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. They’ve won tag team titles at every stop.

The two were recently seen in WWE for a near-two-year run. But they departed the company back in April.

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Now, their emergence in AEW bolsters the company’s tag team division.

Will Levis supremely confident he is capable of being NFL starter while battling for Titans' backup role

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 16:11:15 -0400

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis hasn't played a competitive snap of football since January 2025. Despite that fact, with questions about his health and the situation he currently finds himself in Nashville, the signal-caller has not lost one ounce of confidence.

Levis will likely find himself as the third-string quarterback for the Titans to begin the year, with former first-overall pick Cam Ward entering year two as QB1, but certainly isn't shying away from the tremendous challenge ahead of him of becoming a starting quarterback in the NFL again.

"There are not 32 quarterbacks in this league better than me. I know that for sure," Levis, who has made 21 starts for the Titans, told reporters in Music City on Saturday. "I know I’ve put the tape out there already that I’m a dang good quarterback in this league."

TITANS' WILL LEVIS FACED SEX TAPE HACK, SPENT 'EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF MONEY' TO INVESTIGATE, MOM SAYS

"I’m not worried about the competition per se or the amount of opportunities that they’re going to give me," he continued. "I just got to make sure that I’m ready for when they are given to me and just preparing to be the best at that as possible."

Levis isn't wrong in saying he has tape as an NFL starting quarterback, but his claim that it is "dang good" would be debated by most.

The former Kentucky star owns a 5-16 record as a starter while throwing for 21 touchdowns and 16 interceptions to go along with a whopping 17 fumbles.

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While the Titans' roster around him did him no favors during his time as the starting quarterback, Levis didn't exactly light the world on fire in the early stages of his career.

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The 27-year-old underwent season-ending surgery on his throwing shoulder in July 2025 and spent the year on the injured reserve list for Tennessee. Levis, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the 2026 NFL season, is battling against veteran Mitchell Trubisky for the backup role with the season fast approaching.

There is nothing wrong with Levis believing that he is a Top 32 quarterback in the NFL, but stating it while staring at the QB3 position on the depth chart in the early stages of training camp is overzealous.

Bernie Sanders blasts Fetterman as 'way out of touch' with Americans after Graham Platner rebuke

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 16:08:10 -0400

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., criticized Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., as "way out of touch" with Americans on Sunday after Fetterman recently accused him of showing no regret over endorsing scandal-plagued former Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner.

Sanders responded by citing Fetterman’s standing among Pennsylvania Democrats, arguing that the senator was disconnected from voters on Israel and other issues.

"Well, my response to Fetterman is last time I saw it, he was reflecting the views of about 19% of the Democrats in the state of Pennsylvania," Sanders said on "Meet the Press."

"I think probably lower than any other member of the Democratic Senate. Fetterman does his thing, and I think, on Israel, and many other issues, is way out of touch with the people of America," Sanders said.

SEN JOHN FETTERMAN PLEDGES TO BE 'LAST MAN STANDING' IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL

Sanders appeared to be referencing a July Quinnipiac University survey that found 19% of Pennsylvania Democrats approved of Fetterman's job performance, while 69% disapproved. The same survey found that 77% of Republicans approved of Fetterman, although his overall approval rating among registered voters was 48%.

When reached for comment on Sanders' Sunday commentary, Fetterman’s office pointed Fox News Digital to remarks he shared with Semafor on Thursday in which he intensified his criticism of Sanders over the collapse of Platner’s campaign. The Pennsylvania Democrat accused Sanders of promoting Platner amid multiple controversies and scandals before the former candidate withdrew from Maine’s Senate race.

"You were the carnival barker for an accused rapist. You should have taken my advice, since you and P-Hustle blew up the Maine race," Fetterman said. "Take responsibility and apologize."

FETTERMAN BRANDS NEW SOCIALIST FAVORITE 'PONTIAC PLATNER' AFTER 'OGRE' DIG

"After you just blasted the Maine race apart, you are in Michigan replicating it," Fetterman said, referring to Sanders' support of progressive Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.

The clash followed months of tension between the senators over Platner and the Democratic Party's approach to Israel.

"Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker played a clip in which Fetterman accused Sanders of helping elevate Platner despite controversies surrounding the former candidate.

"I would be frustrated with someone like Bernie Sanders," Fetterman said. "You know, why, why aren’t people angry why they promoted, you know, someone like Platner, an accused rapist."

"So really, Bernie, you have no regret endorsing and proud to stand with an accused rapist, a guy that roughs-up his ex-girlfriends, a guy that had a Nazi tattoo on his chest."

JOHN FETTERMAN ERUPTS OVER 'CREEPER' GRAHAM PLATNER, SUGGESTING HE'S A 'NAZI SYMPATHIZER'

Fetterman previously demanded that Sanders apologize to Maine voters and everyone who donated to Platner's campaign.

Sanders later called for Platner to leave the race after a former girlfriend accused him of rape, an allegation Platner denied.

Welker asked Sanders whether he regretted endorsing Platner before the allegation emerged. Sanders defended the campaign Platner ran, while acknowledging the seriousness of the accusation that prompted his withdrawal.

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"Well, you know, it’s easy to be a Monday morning quarterback," Sanders said. "Platner ran a very strong campaign and, in fact, many of the issues that he’s raised are resonating all over this country. A woman made very serious allegations against him, he withdrew from the race, period."

Ohio Rep Marcy Kaptur hospitalized after hit-and-run crash on way to church

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 14:48:01 -0400

Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, was hospitalized Sunday morning near Toledo following a hit-and-run crash that also left another person injured, police told Fox News Digital.

Kaptur was on her way to church when the wreck happened, her office said in a statement.

She suffered injuries that are not life-threatening.

"This morning, Congresswoman Kaptur was a passenger in a vehicle on her way to a church service when the car she was traveling in was struck. She is active, alert, and being treated for non-life threatening injuries," her office said.

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The Toledo Police Department told Fox News Digital the "hit-skip crash" happened at about 10:48 a.m. local time at the intersection of North Detroit and Central avenues.

The second person involved was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries that were also not life-threatening, according to authorities.

The investigation remains in its early stages, police said.

It is unclear if any suspects have been identified, or if there have been any arrests.

In a statement posted on X, Kaptur praised the police and fire departments for their quick response to the scene.

"We look forward to additional information from Toledo Police as they investigate the accident," the statement read.

"Congresswoman Kaptur is thankful for the quick actions of first responders from Toledo Police and Fire Departments who arrived promptly on scene, and the medical professionals helping to take care of those involved in the crash."

FORMER WISCONSIN JUDGE HANNAH DUGAN AVOIDS JAIL TIME FOR OBSTRUCTING ARREST OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT

Hundreds of Kaptur’s constituents reportedly reached out to the congresswoman following the incident.

"She expressed her deep gratitude to the hundreds of constituents who have reached out and looks forward to returning to a full schedule soon," her office said.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the Toledo Police Department and Toledo Fire & Rescue for more information.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Caitlin Clark, Fever finally run out of gas against Lynx after brutal WNBA travel schedule

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 15:58:30 -0400

The Indiana Fever finally ran out of gas Sunday afternoon.

It just took the best team in the WNBA, playing at home, to make it happen.

TRANS ACTIVISTS HARASS, HURL SLURS AT SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM SUPPORTERS BEFORE FEVER GAME IN MINNESOTA

The Minnesota Lynx defeated Indiana, 108-100, snapping the Fever’s five-game winning streak and improving to a league-best 25-6. Minnesota extended its own winning streak to 10 straight, while Indiana fell to 19-11.

The Lynx were clearly the better team on Sunday at the Target Center and made several huge plays when Indiana threatened to complete a furious fourth-quarter comeback.

But the WNBA certainly didn’t do the Fever any favors.

Indiana was playing its third road game in six days, with stops in Seattle, Portland and Minneapolis, and this one started roughly 36 hours after Friday’s late game in Portland.

Despite that, the Fever showed plenty of fight.

Minnesota appeared to put the game away when Courtney Williams’ jumper gave the Lynx a 98-84 lead with 5:39 remaining.

CHERYL REEVE SENDS CLEAR MESSAGE TO SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM OVER "TRANS KIDS BELONG" SHIRT AT FEVER-LYNX GAME

Indiana responded with a 14-2 run to pull within 100-98, forcing Minnesota to execute under pressure after seemingly having the game wrapped up.

Olivia Miles slowed the comeback, and Courtney Williams helped close it out.

Miles converted an and-one with 58 seconds remaining, pushing Minnesota’s lead back to 105-98 and effectively sealing the victory. The three-point play gave Miles 28 points on a ridiculous 11-of-14 shooting.

Williams added a clutch basket with 32 seconds left to put the game out of reach. She finished with 27 points on 12-of-20 shooting, meaning the two Minnesota guards combined for 55 points.

Indiana’s Big Three drove the action on the other end.

Kelsey Mitchell served as the scoring engine, pouring in 37 points on 14-of-21 shooting. She connected on six of her eight three-point attempts.

Caitlin Clark controlled the offense as a facilitator, finishing with 19 points and 10 assists for her eighth double-double this season. Aliyah Boston contributed across the board with 15 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

Together, Mitchell, Clark and Boston accounted for 71 of Indiana’s 100 points and 20 of its 27 assists.

The Fever shot 57% from the field and scored at least 100 points for the sixth consecutive game, extending the longest such streak in WNBA history.

Indiana’s offense wasn't the problem, but the team looked tired on the defensive end at times. Looking at their recent schedule, it's not hard to see why.

Indiana played Friday night in Portland in a game that didn’t begin until 10 p.m. ET. It ended after midnight on the East Coast.

The Fever then had Saturday to travel two time zones east before Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET tipoff in Minnesota.

That left roughly 36 hours between the final buzzer in Portland and the opening tip against the Lynx, with a travel day in between.

Technically, it wasn’t a back-to-back.

In practical terms, it wasn’t much better.

And the Portland-to-Minnesota turnaround was only the final portion of a demanding stretch for Indiana’s best players.

Clark, Mitchell and Boston all participated in the WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago last Saturday. The Fever then traveled across the country to play Seattle on Tuesday, remained in the Pacific Northwest for Friday’s game in Portland and flew east to Minnesota for Sunday’s matchup.

That’s an All-Star break followed by three road games in three different cities over nine days.

Some "break."

Clark raised concerns about the schedule immediately after the All-Star Game.

"It’s a tough turnaround, and the Fever probably have one of the quickest turnarounds," Clark said. "We played on Wednesday, and I’m going home tonight and I’m flying to Seattle tomorrow."

SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM FANS ALLEGE STORM PLAYERS, EXEC HECKLED GIRLS DURING GAME OVER SUPPORT OF WOMEN'S SPORTS

She wasn’t alone.

Several All-Star players questioned the lack of recovery time, including New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart.

"If you want it to be competitive, then there needs to be more time," Stewart said while discussing the All-Star Game. "I can’t play on Wednesday, and then I have a game on Tuesday, and you want me to go balls to the walls on Saturday."

The Fever’s subsequent schedule illustrated the larger problem.

ESPN reported during the broadcast that Clark had been "getting sick" before Sunday’s game.

The Fever didn't immediately provide additional information, and there’s no way to know whether it had anything to do with exhaustion, travel or an unrelated illness.

Still, Clark clearly wasn’t entering the game under ideal circumstances.

That made the league’s scheduling decision especially puzzling.

This wasn’t an ordinary regular-season matchup. It was a marquee Sunday afternoon national television game on ABC featuring the WNBA’s best team against its most popular team in an important weekend sports time slot.

The WNBA had every reason to want both teams, and especially its biggest stars, at their best.

Instead, it sent Indiana into the showcase less than two days after a late game on the other side of the country.

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The good news for the Fever is that the gauntlet is finally over.

Indiana is going home and doesn’t play again until Thursday against the Las Vegas Aces, giving the team three full days without a game after a stretch that sent its All-Stars from Chicago to Seattle, Portland and Minnesota.

The Fever earned the rest.

The WNBA should have given them more of it before Sunday.

Los Angeles Dodgers trade for Tarik Skubal higlights Major League Baseball's massive problem

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 15:55:38 -0400

Late Saturday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers did the expected, and the unthinkable, and traded for superstar starter and the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, Tarik Skubal.

The Dodgers sent a trio of young players to the Detroit Tigers, outfielder Zyhir Hope, pitcher River Ryan, and another minor league pitcher, Brady Smith. Hope ranked 26th overall in The Athletic’s latest prospect update, and Ryan ranked 41st. Smith was described by Fangraphs as having "nasty stuff," and as of last week, was striking out over 14 hitters per nine innings in the minor leagues.

To say the trade sent shockwaves through baseball fan social media would be a massive understatement. Outrage reigned supreme, with many bewildered "that’s all the Tigers got?" Along with the usual, "cancel the season," "cancel next season," "we want a lockout," and many other irrational seething diatribes.

DODGERS REPORTEDLY ACQUIRE ACE TARIK SKUBAL FROM TIGERS IN TRADE THAT STIRS UP MLB WORLD

But while the trade, like all deadline deals, is sure to have its critics and defenders, one thing about it is certain: Major League Baseball has a problem. It’s just not the one that the anti-Dodgers, cancel the season, lockout brigade thinks it is.

First, it’s important to define what this trade is, and isn’t, because many casual fans don’t seem to fully understand how it works. Yes, the Dodgers traded for Tarik Skubal. But for many, that implies he’ll spend the rest of his career in Los Angeles. That may or may not be the case, but that’s not what this trade determines.

Modern front offices, and dedicated fans, understand that for a player whose contract expires at the end of the season, any trade is not for the rest of their career, it’s for the remaining 9-10 regular season starts. That’s it. The Dodgers are overwhelming favorites to make the postseason, but should the unlikely happen and say, they lose 20 games in a row and miss out, they’ll have traded those players just for Skubal’s regular season starts. The return the Tigers got for 9-10 starts was outstanding, by that measure.

Hope has yet to reach the major leagues, meaning he has six seasons of team control ahead of him. He’s just 21-years-old, but dominating AA to the tune of 23 home runs and 18 steals in just 94 games. Overall, he’s hitting .293/.369/.530. Obviously that doesn’t mean he’ll replicate those statistics in the big leagues immediately, but the Tigers now have him in their organization for six major league seasons at well below market rates.

Ryan has started his major league service time clock, but prospect evaluators believe he’s ready to pitch in a rotation right now, with a "monster" fastball, per Fangraphs. He struck out nearly 11 hitters per nine innings in the minors, while walking less than two. Some bad luck on batted balls in play makes his ERA look worse, but his underlying metrics are impressive. He’s under control for years to come. Incredibly, in yet another testament to the Dodgers' front office, they acquired Zyhir Hope in a trade with the Cubs, and River Ryan from the Padres for a utility player who's now out of baseball.

Still, all this for maybe nine starts, and a five-day exclusive negotiating window, for a player represented by Scott Boras. Boras clients are well known for rarely, if ever, signing extensions, instead waiting for the open market to identify the highest bidder.

There’s an assumption the Dodgers will automatically sign Skubal to a long-term contract because of the trade. They may well try, but unless it comes in that five-day window, the trade will have nothing to do with it. The Dodgers traded for Manny Machado in 2018 and let him leave for the San Diego Padres. They traded for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner in 2021. Both left in free agency when their contracts expired. They traded for Yu Darvish in 2017, and he too left in free agency. Corey Seager, a homegrown Dodgers star, signed with the Texas Rangers after the 2021 season.

Given Boras’ track record, it’s a near-certainty the other 29 teams will have the same ability, if they so choose, to sign Skubal. Which is where the problem with this trade, and the reaction to it, starts. The Dodgers didn’t trade for Skubal because they outspend everyone. Any team in baseball could afford to take on the remainder of his salary. They got Skubal because, and this is where MLB’s big issue lies, they are one of a handful of teams that actually cares about winning.

Yes, the Dodgers gave up two very high quality prospects for Skubal. But teams like the Brewers, Rays, Braves or Cubs, may have been able to top LA’s offer. They weren’t willing to. Not because they don’t have quality prospects of their own, or because they couldn’t afford to pay his salary, but because they don’t seem to understand what should be the primary goal in competitive sports: winning is. Flags fly forever. Championship banners last forever.

You know what doesn’t last forever? Surplus prospect value.

Milwaukee has been the best team in baseball the last two years. They have a better record than Los Angeles thus far in 2026, and they finished four games ahead of the Dodgers in 2025. One playoff series, a ridiculously small sample size compared to nearly 300 games, doesn’t change that.

Their rotation though, will be missing Brandon Woodruff for the remainder of the season. Breakout starter Kyle Harrison is on the injured list, though is expected to rejoin the rotation soon. It’s a very good staff already, though not without some question marks. So who better to pair with the virtually unhittable Jacob Misiorowski in a playoff series than Tarik Skubal? A postseason rotation with Misiorowski, Skubal, Harrison, and another breakout, Logan Henderson, would be the best in baseball. Yes, even better than the Dodgers, particularly if Shohei Ohtani is unable to return to pitching thanks to his nagging knee injury.

Milwaukee also has a top two or three farm system in the league. They have the consensus number one overall prospect in Jesus Made. They are unlikely to be willing to sign Skubal in the offseason, making this their only opportunity to acquire him in a season where they already know they have an elite roster. If any team was set up to make a deal, considering his reasonable remaining salary, it was Milwaukee.

There’s just one problem. Their ownership does not care about winning.

Well, to be fair, they care, so long as it doesn’t interfere even slightly with the ability to rake in massive profits. Yes, if they gave up a top 30 overall prospect and two others, they might lose the surplus value calculation down the road. But if they have Tarik Skubal, they might win their first World Series…ever. Or even reach their first World Series since 1982.

Yes, Milwaukee needs prospects because they spend less money. But they’re the best in baseball at creating them from the draft and international signings. Go for it, even just once, and see if you make history and give your fans a lifelong memory. You’ll replace that prospect anyway. And again, flags fly literally forever.

But no, because down the road you might have surplus value from that prospect. Even though, of course, there are tens of millions of dollars in extra revenue available literally right now if you reach the World Series or win one.

Therein lies the problem, however. Most owners don’t think, "I’m going to maximize my chances of winning a World Series while I know my team is good." They think, "I’m going to maximize my future cost savings in excess prospect value." Or, more directly, "in 2031, there’s a 15% chance that this player produces $6 million worth of production while we’re only paying him $3 million, so we can’t possibly trade him to increase our chances of winning this season, even though we already know we’re extremely good right now and don’t know what our team will look like in 2031". Want to know what’s "ruining baseball?" That mindset right there.

The Dodgers don’t think like that, even though they’ve won two consecutive titles. Yes, partially because they have more money. But it’s not just that. It’s because they want to win, above all. How do we know? Because they spend a higher percentage of their revenue on payroll than almost anyone. They could easily, say, rake in their billions from ticket sales, television deals, advertising and merchandise, then simply…pocket it. They don’t have to spend $400 million on players to be popular in the massive, baseball-obsessed LA market, they choose to. Ownership wants to win, an apparent novelty in competitive sports, so they sacrifice hundreds of millions of dollars a year in increased profitability to boost their odds of doing so. They still turn a profit, to be sure, but just imagine how much more profit they’d make if they didn’t sign expensive players. That's exactly what the Brewers, Rays, Pirates, Marlins, Nationals, and on and on and on would do.

Milwaukee could have traded for Skubal, sold out every game he pitched the rest of the season, meaningfully increased their World Series odds, and still had a top three farm system. They cheaped out, as they always do, hoping that they get there anyway…and still enjoy the all-important one true beautiful purpose of baseball: saving a little bit of money.

LA, meanwhile, said, this is a luxury that moves our current World Series odds from 25% to 25.5%, even if we sacrifice years of controllable talent and more profitability, and did it anyway. The Brewers might have increased their odds from 10% to 15%, and said no.

Obviously when it comes to free agency, only a handful of teams operate on a semi-level playing field at the top of the market. Along with the Dodgers, the Mets, Yankees, Giants, Cubs, Red Sox, Phillies, Rangers, Angels, and Astros all play in huge markets and can afford to spend big money on free agents if they so choose. But even LA's spending doesn't always work. Kyle Tucker received a gigantic contract this offseason and has been a below average hitter this year. Edwin Diaz, their other big acquisition, has missed most of the season with an arm injury and has a 9.00 ERA in eight innings. The Mets, of course, have a payroll close to the Dodgers, and are one of the worst teams in baseball.

Milwaukee’s not going to compete with the Dodgers to sign Skubal as a free agent. The point though, is that they could compete with the Dodgers on a level playing field to trade for him right now. When they already know their team is good and in position to earn a first round bye. They chose not to.

The Cubs, who play in one of the three largest markets, have a massive national fan base, sell out game after game, and are in position to play either the Brewers or Dodgers in the NLDS. They need pitching, with Cade Horton out and some shaky back-end rotation options. Shota Imanaga, Tarik Skubal, and their elite offense though, would make them extremely dangerous in a short series. Not to mention meaningfully increase their chances of winning a three-game wild card series against Philadelphia.

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Instead? They sat on the sidelines and watched the Dodgers swoop in.

Again, none of this is to say that the Dodgers don’t have immense financial advantages. They absolutely do. This trade wasn’t about those advantages though. It was about LA’s front office and ownership group putting winning first. If the rest of the league cared about optimizing their chances of winning a championship instead of crying poor and pouting over giving up projected excess value, fans would have much less to complain about. A salary cap won’t fix cheap ownership, because the Brewers, Marlins, Pirates and so on will always spend the bare minimum. Whatever the floor is, those teams will spend one dollar more than that floor. Whatever the top end is, the Dodgers will spend at the top. Free agents would still choose LA, even if the financial offers are equal, because their owners will still do everything they can to win more games. While those other teams put profitability and buying that third yacht first.

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But maybe that’s the whole point anyway. Let uninformed fans complain and hope it leads to the ultimate and most cherished goal in the competitive sport they run: saving money.

Taylor Fritz got all hot and bothered talking about Sydney Sweeney while golfing

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 15:54:24 -0400

Taylor Fritz and his influencer girlfriend Morgan Riddle called it quits back in April after six years together. Following the split, Riddle announced she was done dating athletes.

When it comes to the tennis star, he's made no such promises about dating influencers or hanging out with them. He was even rumored to have been in a relationship with one, although those rumors proved not to be true.

While Fritz was enjoying the perks of his apparent single life, golfing with influencers Nick Nayersina, David Dobrik, and Josh Richards for content that ended up on YouTube a couple of weeks ago, the topic of celebrity crushes came up.

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These aren’t up-and-coming influencers. They know you slap a big name celebrity on a professional athlete, and you're picking up views left and right.

When asked about who his celebrity crush is, Fritz responds, "Sydney Sweeney." He confirms the selection with a head nod when asked if he's serious about his answer.

That's a name that's going to get some attention and if he didn’t end up working himself up over it, you could easily believe the whole interaction was part of a script.

KAI TRUMP REVEALS NEW CELEBRITY CRUSH AFTER DITCHING 'OUTER BANKS' STAR DREW STARKEY

Richards seems to think that the tennis star has a shot with the A-list actress and responds, "That's in the realm." There is the whole obstacle of her being in a relationship right now, but other than that, Fritz evidently has a shot.

A couple of the guys pointed out that Sweeney was a fan of their golf content and that she would now know that he was a fan of her.

After hitting a golf ball shortly after the exchange, Fritz admits he's a little hot and bothered by the discussion. He tells the camera, "We're talking about Sydney Sweeney, got me all f—-ng tee'd up!"

I'm sure that's not the first time nor will it be the last time that Sydney Sweeney got someone all tee'd up. It happens. Like I mentioned, she's currently in a relationship, so this was an airball as soon as it left his hand.

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But who knows what the future holds for Taylor Fritz? I'm going to wish him luck on and off the course and on and off the tennis court. Whatever is meant to be will work itself out.

He's currently scheduled to face Rafael Jodar in the final of the Mubadala DC Open on Sunday afternoon, although weather could delay the match.

WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night 2 preview, predictions and more

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 15:38:17 -0400

The second night of SummerSlam 2026 has the possibility of surpassing the first night – though, it will be a tough task.

On Saturday night, Randy Orton returned to cost Cody Rhodes a chance at the title, Nikki and Brie Bella turned on Paige and Oba Femi defeated Brock Lesnar in a Hell in a Cell. But those were only a few highlights in what was a solid night of professional wrestling.

Night 2 is poised to be even better with the card that has been laid out.

WWE fans can watch the SummerSlam broadcast on ESPN Unlimited.

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Tiffany Stratton vs. Jade Cargill vs. Chelsea Green vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Lash Legend in a ladder match for the Interim WWE Women’s Championship

Rhea Ripley’s injury has put forth the need for an interim WWE women’s champion. On Sunday night, five women will compete to hold that top spot on the SmackDown roster. Current women’s U.S. champion Tiffany Stratton, Jade Cargill, Chelsea Green, Charlotte Flair and Lash Legend will compete to hold that interim title in a ladder match. It’s a stacked field in what could be one of the more interesting matches of the night. When it comes to ladders, the women’s stars have proven they are willing to go above and beyond to get the belt or the Money in the Bank briefcase.

Prediction: Chelsea Green captures the Interim WWE Women’s Championship.

Penta (c) vs. Chad Gable for the Intercontinental Championship

The Intercontinental Championship may be the second-most prestigious singles title the WWE has to offer. Bret Hart vs. Curt Henning has been pointed to as one of the best matches in SummerSlam history and that was for the Intercontinental Championship in 1991. Penta and Chad Gable may reach that moment in Night 2. Penta has been the champion since March but Gable is coming in as the hero who apologized to Luchadores after he lost his mask as the Original El Grande Americano. Gable, in his home state, might put on a show.

Prediction: Chad Gable wins the title for the first time

Danhausen vs. Dominik Mysterio in a Human Monies on a Pole Match

Whenever Danhausen is in a match, you can expect some kind of silliness and there’s no doubt that will be the case on Sunday. Dominik Mysterio wants the money he paid to "curse" one of his opponents back from Danhausen. As their rivalry heats up, the money Mysterio is in need of will be on a pole for this one. Danhausen has been a fan favorite since joining WWE and will be over with the crowd in Minneapolis.

Prediction: Danhausen with a winhausen.

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Sami Zayn vs. Finn Balor

The No. 1 contender spot for the Undisputed WWE Championship is on the line when Sami Zayn and Finn Balor step into the ring. Zayn held the title for nine days before he lost to a returning CM Punk. Balor has been on a winning streak since he joined SmackDown. The fire in Zayn may be enough to propel him in this one, but Balor has the championship pedigree behind him. It’s really a toss-up on who wins this match.

Prediction: Sami Zayn gets the win here.

Trick Williams (c) vs. Baron Corbin for the United States Championship

Baron Corbin made his presence known with authority when he returned to the WWE earlier this month. Corbin inserted himself into the United States Championship picture when he interfered in a match between Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes earlier this month. Williams is putting the title on the line to vanquish Corbin, but one can’t help to think whether Hayes will be lurking to get some revenge.

Prediction: Trick retains the title.

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Roman Reigns (c) vs. Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship

As he promised, Roman Reigns has been around all summer. He’s retained the World Heavyweight Championship at every turn and managed to rebuild The Bloodline into the destructive force it always has been. Seth Rollins, who has always been a thorn in Reigns’ side, poses the latest challenge to his dominance. Rollins brought up the past and the possibility of their in-ring careers winding down as a reason to go at it one more time. Reigns and Rollins’ time in The Shield has been the biggest part of the lore between the two superstars. Expect a chair shot to the back at one point. But as for who wins? That’s anyone’s guess.

Prediction: Reigns walks out of Minneapolis as the champion.

Trump targets Biden-era billion-dollar Smithsonian budgets amid anti-'woke' push

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 15:34:16 -0400

President Donald Trump's effort to remake the Smithsonian is reaching the institution's bottom line, with the administration proposing its smallest budget request in years while pushing to eliminate what it calls "woke" ideology from federally funded museums and programs.

A Fox News Digital analysis of Smithsonian budget requests found the institution submitted steadily larger funding requests during the Biden administration, with annual requests rising from $1.11 billion in fiscal year 2021 to a record $1.24 billion in fiscal year 2024.

The fiscal year 2025 request also exceeded $1 billion before the Trump administration proposed reducing the institution's request below that threshold in its fiscal year 2026 and 2027 budgets—the first time since fiscal year 2020 that the Smithsonian's annual request has fallen below $1 billion.

The proposed funding reduction comes as the White House expands one of its most ambitious efforts to reshape a federally funded cultural institution, arguing the Smithsonian has promoted ideological narratives at odds with its mission and directing it to change its exhibits, programming, leadership and spending priorities.

FORMER DEMOCRATIC STAFFERS, DEI LEADERS SHAPE SMITHSONIAN LEADERSHIP AMID POLITICAL FIRESTORM

The White House's effort to root out what it calls "woke" ideology at the Smithsonian has grown into one of the most extensive reviews of the institution in decades.

Over the past 16 months, the administration has examined museum exhibits, educational programming, internal records and leadership statements, issued multiple document requests, interviewed curators and conducted on-site museum walkthroughs.

That review culminated in a 162-page White House report recommending sweeping reforms and a new round of executive actions aimed at implementing those recommendations.

The administration has ordered the Smithsonian to promote what it describes as a more accurate portrayal of American history while scrutinizing exhibits, programming and leadership across the museum complex.

INSIDE THE BEHEMOTH SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM NETWORK DRAWING FIRE FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

The Smithsonian oversees 21 museums, the National Zoo and nearly 157 million objects and specimens while receiving more than $1 billion annually in federal funding, in addition to private donations and other trust revenue.

The taxpayer-supported institution has become the latest battleground in a broader national debate over patriotism, historical interpretation and the role of federally funded cultural institutions in shaping how Americans understand the nation's past.

TRUMP ORDERS SIGNS OUTSIDE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM AMID ROW OVER ITS DEPICTION OF AMERICAN HISTORY

Whether Congress adopts the administration's proposed funding levels remains to be seen.

But alongside executive orders, museum reviews and a sweeping White House report, the budget proposal signals that the administration intends to use both policy and federal funding to reshape one of the nation's largest cultural institutions.

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The Smithsonian Institute did not immediately respond to Fox New Digital's request for comment.

Aaron Rodgers credits wife for family reunion after more than a decade of estrangement

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 15:20:11 -0400

Aaron Rodgers’ wife was a key piece in the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback reconciling with his family after over a decade without having a connection.

During an interview with NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt, Rodgers shared some details about the pictures that went viral with his estranged parents and brother, as he reunited with them for "another bonding week" last month.

Rodgers shared photos on Instagram of himself with his father, Ed Rodgers, and his mother, Darla Rodgers, and brother Luke Rodgers.

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He told Brandt that his wife, Brittani, deserves "a lot of credit" for the reunion taking place.

"I’m happy to be reunited and that part of my life is a really beautiful addition and I got to give my wife a lot of credit – not that she was pushing me, because she never was, but just the way that she loves and supports me," Rodgers explained.

"Having her by my side during this process has been really special, and I miss those relationships. And there’s reasons for it that don’t need to be talked about, but I’m thankful that that’s come all the way back around."

AARON RODGERS RECONCILING WITH HIS PARENTS AFTER NEARLY A DOZEN YEARS OF ESTRANGEMENT

The bonding week also included Luke’s children, daughter Evie and son Jack.

Rodgers was candid about being "very closed off about that part of my life," and he fully intends to "keep it that way."

"But there’s been a narrative that has gone on for too long that I wanted to kind of shut down," he said. "And it’s been really beautiful to reconnect with them – all of them.

"I got to spend a long weekend recently – [where] those pictures are from. – in Nashville with my parents and my brother and his sweet wife and their incredible two kids. So, I got to be an uncle, so it’s really special."

It’s unknown if Aaron has been in contact with his other brother, Jordan Rodgers, who became widely known for revealing the family issues with the four-time NFL MVP.

Jordan appeared on ABC’s "The Bachelorette," where he won and remains married to JoJo Fletcher, and he revealed that, "Me and Aaron don’t really have that much of a relationship."

"It’s kind of the way he’s chosen to do life," Jordan added.

In 2023, though, Aaron contacted his father for the first time in almost nine years during a Lake Tahoe golf event. Then, when he was inducted into the Pleasant Valley High School Hall of Fame, he invited his parents and thanked them for their support over the years.

As for Brittani, she remains a mystery in terms of appearance. Aaron was spotted with a wedding ring at his first Steelers training camp last year, where he revealed they got married in June 2025 "a couple months" prior.

"There’s been a lot of conversation about it outside of my own conversations for so many years," Rodgers said. "You know, a big part of it was getting married and having those conversations with my wife that allowed me to kind of open up to the possibility of coming together — it’s been a couple-year process now, the conversations with [my family]."

Brittani also played a role in Rodgers playing one last season with the Steelers. He recently doubled down at training camp, saying that new head coach Mike McCarthy was a main reason he returned, but also that conversations with Brittani led to one final year.

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And yes, this is it after 22 seasons in the league.

Rodgers is hoping his last ride includes another run with McCarthy at the helm. Last season under head coach Mike Tomlin, Rodgers reached the playoffs after throwing for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns. But Pittsburgh fell to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round at their home, Acrisure Stadium.

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Sydney Sweeney poses in lingerie for racy new mirror selfie photos

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 15:20:03 -0400

Sydney Sweeney shares a racy photo of herself to promote her lingerie brand, Syrn.

In a series of photos posted on Instagram, the 28-year-old actress posed for a mirror selfie in a white bra with little pink floral details on it, and a pastel green button up over it, left unbuttoned.

She paired the look with matching white underwear, which were poking out from under her pastel green shorts.

The actress posed alongside model Amélie Tremblay, who sported the yellow version of the bra Sweeney was wearing, and accessorized her look with a matching pastel pink set, which she buttoned up halfway.

SYDNEY SWEENEY DOUBLES DOWN WITH AMERICAN EAGLE AFTER CONTROVERSIAL 'GREAT JEANS' CAMPAIGN

Both Sweeney and Tremblay are all smiles in the photos, as they pose with their hands in the air, and jump around and dance to "Everybody Talks" by the Neon Trees in the video.

"Cosmo and Wanda think they slick 💚🩷" one fan wrote in the comments section, referencing characters from the animated show, "The Fairly Odd Parents" who wear green and pink.

"Love everything about this collection 💐💝💌" another fan wrote, while a third added, "Absolutely Positively Unequivocally Beyond A Shadow Of A Doubt Stunning!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥"

Sweeney is no stranger to posting risqué photos on social media, most recently sharing 20 images to Instagram from her latest trip to Australia, where she is filming Netflix's live-action "Gundam" movie.

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One of the photos featured her in a gray cardigan buttoned halfway down, which she paired with a pair of her SYRN underwear, which were blue with white lace. Another was a close-up shot of her in a black-and-white gingham printed bikini top, showcasing her stomach.

The actress also showed off her body in multiple provocative scenes during season three of "Euphoria." The season saw her journey as an OnlyFans model, which included her dressing up in a fetish-inspired dog costume, with many fans calling it "humiliating" for her.

Sweeney responded to the criticism by posting a slideshow of photos of her in some of the more controversial outfits from the show, captioning the post, "It's called... acting."

"Look, we're tackling this world of OnlyFans where women are being paid to, like, whisper into an ear-shaped microphone," "Euphoria" creator Sam Levinson told The New York Times in June. "There is a level of absurdity to it that is just fun, and we're always trying to come up with ways to make it feel authentic and humorous and dramatic and also speak to the larger wants and wishes of the character."

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He also revealed that he initially was thinking about not including any nudity in the storyline, but that Sweeney told him, "Are you kidding? I'm playing an OnlyFans model. You're telling me you're going to, like, skirt around it?"

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Bryan Kohberger's former defense expert calls for death penalty, says investigators missed key evidence

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 11:15:43 -0400

Admitted Idaho murderer Bryan Kohberger should get a new trial and face the death penalty, according to a digital forensics expert hired by the defense who says investigators missed damning evidence against the 30-year-old former criminology PhD student — evidence he told Fox News Digital investigators never properly analyzed or incorporated into the prosecution's case.

Sy Ray is a former Arizona homicide investigator who is now an expert on digital forensics, geolocation and similar data. Kohberger's lawyers hired him as an expert witness for the defense before Kohberger pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty for the home invasion murders of Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, also 20.

Kohberger, now serving four consecutive sentences of life in prison without parole, petitioned the court last week to withdraw his guilty plea and seek post-conviction relief, which could send the case to trial — and put the potential death penalty back in play.

KOHBERGER DEFENSE EXPERT WANTS HIS LAWYERS UNDER OATH AFTER KILLER CITES FINDINGS IN BID TO UNDO GUILTY PLEA

"Bring back the death penalty," Ray told journalist Brian Entin in a new podcast. "I am all for this."

He said he is confident that Kohberger would be convicted and claimed that Kohberger's smartphone data is much more incriminating than was revealed previously when police and the courts unsealed thousands of pages of evidence in the case.

"I 100% believe that the offender, who is Bryan Kohberger — there’s no alternative theory in my head at this point," Ray said in the 82-minute episode, which also included Goncalves’ parents, Kristi and Steve, and her older sister, Alivea. "I 100% believe he’s been in the house before."

BRYAN KOHBERGER'S CHOICE OF 'A HOUSE FULL OF WOMEN' MAY HOLD THE KEY TO THE IDAHO MURDERS' BIGGEST MYSTERY

Ray told Entin that the evidence he reviewed shows Kohberger potentially inside the victims’ home, or at least in proximity outside, and at other places when they were present prior to the murders.

He told Fox News Digital that he didn't have to address this evidence in his own expert report, filed by the defense in January 2025, because he based it only on the contents of the reports produced by prosecution experts, which left out something called a location database of record, or LOCDBOR report, that he alleges contains damning new information about Kohberger's movements in his semester at Washington State University.

Ray acknowledged that his January 2025 report appears different from his current public comments but said the report evaluated only the prosecution's work product, not the underlying AT&T records he says investigators never mapped.

"My summary of no evidence is based on that work product and the work product that the state had put together at that time," he told Fox News Digital. "I can't put in my defense report, 'Hey, if you guys would just go look at the LOCDBOR report here, you'll solve your case and have a really rock solid case.' But I can put, here are some follow-up items that I would expect you guys to do. And one of those things is you'll see repeated over and over, you have to map all the data. Please go map all the data."

Speaking on the podcast, Ray said the LOCDBOR report contains location data that he believes shows Kohberger stalked the victims. Fox News Digital has not independently reviewed the LOCDBOR report, either, as it is not among thousands of pages of unsealed court documents in the case.

"If you look at those precise measurements, there’s probably five that land directly on what would be the living room of the house," Ray told Entin. "Like the latitude-longitude is the physical house itself, and if you put the house back on the map, and you map those, the hits are inside the house."

IDAHO MURDERS: NEW BOOK ON KOHBERGER REVEALS PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN EVIDENCE, CLAIMS SHEATH COULD BE INADMISSIBLE

"I just want to make sure I understand correctly… because I haven't heard this before — so you're saying, based on the data you saw, the latitude-longitude for Bryan Kohberger’s Samsung was in the living room?" Entin asked.

"The AT&T-derived latitude-longitude from the AT&T’s network that it estimates a location, it lands in the house — and it's a 25-meter range, so we're talking 75 feet, so it could be anywhere in the house on any floor," Ray said. "It could technically be outside the house, it could [be] on the property, but it's showing in the immediate area. My personal opinion is when I look at those, and I map what's happening before and after and I'm looking at all the other evidence. I think these are accurate locations."

Speaking with Fox News Digital, he said he couldn't be certain that Kohberger actually went inside, but the geolocation data is damning in other ways.

"What's really telling is there's times where he's in that area, and then you'll see one of the victim's phones move over to this little A&W place, and then his phone moves over," Ray told Fox News Digital. "And the idea that, you know, these are just total random and there's no accuracy to it — we're actually seeing phones tracked together."

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Ray said on the podcast that his theory is that Mogen was Kohberger’s primary target due to the number of times he could trace their phones to similar locations — but he noted later that Mogen was often with Goncalves, and their phones moved together a lot.

"I believe Maddie was the target," he said, adding that repeated "collisions" between their phones placed them in roughly the same area at the same time, including at a Pullman party the first week of school and at the A&W store near the King Road crime scene.

He also flagged what he described as Kohberger’s broader "pattern of life," pointing to evidence of stalking before the murders.

Because the state's "work product" didn't use this data, he said, his report only pushed back on what the state's witnesses used, which he said is lacking and missed the phone "collisions" entirely.

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"I am unable to locate any period of time between June 23, 2022 and November 13, 2022 where Mr. Kohberger’s mobile device is in the same specific area as any of the deceased’s mobile devices," he wrote.

That pattern of life was also broken on the night of the murders, when Ray said he believes the plan to target Mogen went awry and resulted in him fleeing south, where he’d never driven before.

While prosecutors alleged that Kohberger had visited the crime scene a dozen times before the murders and at least once the morning after, they have not pointed to "collisions" with any of the victims the way Ray described in the podcast. In a news briefing after Kohberger's guilty plea, the case's lead investigators said they didn't know who the target was.

"The evidence suggested that there was a reason that this particular house was chosen," said then-Moscow Police Cpl. Brett Payne. "What that reason is, we don't know. We don't know who the target was, and we're not going to speculate on that up here today. But we can tell you that, for whatever reason, Mr. Kohberger chose that residence. Perhaps it's the location, layout, we do not know."

And when they were asked by Fox News Digital if they had a motive, lead investigators replied, "We don't."

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Ray has maintained that investigators missed the evidence and should go back and take another look in case Kohberger's attempt to withdraw his plea and appeal his conviction succeeds.

"They need to get experts who actually know what the hell they’re looking at, and they need to rebuild the case now," he said.

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Morgan Wright, another expert on digital forensics who is not connected to the case, said he is skeptical without seeing the LOCDBOR data firsthand.

"Show me the report. Show me the map," said Wright, the host of "Crime: Reconstructed" and the CEO and founder of the National Center for Open and Unsolved Cases. "Don't tell me, show me."

Wright, who has been following the case, said he hasn't seen LOCDBOR references in connection with the investigation prior to the podcast interview.

Ray argues the records speak for themselves if investigators are willing to revisit them.

After Kohberger’s guilty plea, Ray said he offered to do a debrief with the FBI to show the evidence he said he found and they missed. He said he got no response, but added that he has presented before hundreds of law enforcement agencies around the country going back to November, he said.

Last week, Kohberger filed a petition for post-conviction relief, claiming he had ineffective counsel from his defense team.

Ray also speculated that Kohberger’s post-conviction petition was part of a broader legal strategy by his lead defense attorney Anne Taylor despite the plea agreement’s waiver of most appeal rights.

Kohberger pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty.

"This can never be the standard investigation that we see in cases," Ray said. "This can never be acceptable."

However, he said he’s confident Kohberger would be convicted anyway at trial — if investigators introduced the evidence he found while working with Taylor.

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"The time is now to start this investigation over," Ray said.

Kohberger had followed other people in the Moscow-Pullman area, he said — a pair of college towns on the border of Washington and Idaho.

"I think he had multiple targets throughout the entire Moscow-Pullman area," Ray said. "Location information and pattern of life is by far the most telling."

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Ray said he has no doubt that Kohberger committed the murders.

"If he ever does walk, he will kill again," he said.

Hero sheepdog becomes unlikely rescue partner after unexpected move aids first responders

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 15:12:07 -0400

A Southern California sheepdog is being hailed as an honorary first responder after police drone video captured the hardworking pup helping clear the way for an emergency helicopter.

The Laguna Beach Police Department shared drone video Friday showing officers and firefighters responding to an emergency in the city's foothills as crews prepared a landing zone for a helicopter.

As crews worked on the ground, a hardworking white sheepdog sprang into action, herding a nearby group of goats away from the landing area and helping keep the helicopter's path clear.

Drone video released by the department shows the dog weaving behind the herd as dozens of goats move up the hillside and away from the helicopter's approach.

FBI, ATLANTA POLICE TARGET UNAUTHORIZED DRONES FLYING NEAR WORLD CUP VENUES

At one point, the camera zooms in on the pup happily trotting across the hillside with its tail wagging after completing its impromptu mission.

"The sheepdog stepped up and helped guide a group of goats out of the way so the units could work," the Laguna Beach Police Department wrote in a social media post. "That's a good boy."

Officials have not publicly released details about the emergency response or what prompted the helicopter deployment.

CRUISE PASSENGER HAILED AS HERO AFTER JUMPING INTO WATER TO SAVE 84-YEAR-OLD MAN

The feel-good video quickly won over social media, where viewers crowned the four-legged helper "Sgt. Sheepdog" and praised the pup for calmly guiding the herd of goats out of the way.

"Sgt. Sheepdog 🫡," one commenter wrote.

"Hero," another added.

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"Good dog," a third chimed in.

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The Laguna Beach Police Department appeared to agree, writing simply, "That's a good boy."

Fox News Digital reached out to the Laguna Beach Police Department and the Laguna Beach Fire Department for additional information about the emergency response, including what prompted the helicopter deployment and for comment.

Ms Rachel claims 'no one needs a billion dollars,' endorses Democratic progressives Abdul El-Sayed, Cori Bush

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 14:49:20 -0400

Popular children's YouTube educator Ms. Rachel backed a dozen progressive Democratic candidates on Friday, including former Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., and Michigan U.S. Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed, using her audience of more than 5 million followers to promote candidates she believes care about children.

"I think all kids and people should have medical care. I don’t think anyone needs a billion dollars ever, I think all kids should be safe from violence," Rachel Accurso said in a post on Instagram.

Accurso's slate covered House and Senate contests in eight states. It also included Vermont Rep. Becca Balint, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, Florida state Rep. Angie Nixon and former Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson.

YOUTUBE STAR MS RACHEL GIVES FUNDS TO DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST MICHIGAN SENATE HOPEFUL ABDUL EL-SAYED

"These are the folks I believe care about all kids," Accurso said.

Bush, who is seeking to reclaim her former St. Louis-area seat from Rep. Wesley Bell in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, is a Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member. In early July, Bush said in a post on X that she was proud to be re-endorsed by the DSA.

"Together, we’ll work to abolish ICE, deliver Medicare for all, end wars overseas, and achieve true economic justice," Bush said.

EX-'SQUAD' MEMBER FIGHTS FOR COMEBACK AS SOCIALIST WING RAMPS UP WAR ON DEM ESTABLISHMENT

El-Sayed rejected the socialist label during a Tuesday interview with MS NOW host Jen Psaki despite him receiving endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., El-Sayed spoke at six DSA events between 2017 and 2020.

"I’m simply not a socialist... I've studied a lot of the solutions that I fight for," El-Sayed said to Psaki. "Things like ‘Medicare-for-all,’ things like rethinking the way that our financial system implies that corporate CEOs are more interested in a quarterly bottom line than they are in the long-term sustainability of their business."

El-Sayed’s campaign platform calls for "Medicare-for-all," taxing billionaire wealth and banning corporate money in politics.

A federal filing also listed a $3,000 payment from Accurso to his campaign ahead of Tuesday’s Michigan primary against Rep. Haley Stevens. The filing did not specify whether the payment was a contribution or a loan.

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Accurso also connected her endorsements to the influx of what she described as outside money in Democratic primaries.

"I think politicians shouldn’t attack each other and I don’t think big groups should be able to use millions to attack candidates," Accurso said.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) previously criticized Accurso's financial support for El-Sayed, whose platform calls for an arms embargo against Israel.

NRSC spokeswoman Samantha Cantrell addressed the two in a statement to the New York Post in July.

"Abdul El-Sayed and Ms. Rachel are one and the same, forcing their socialist, they/them, anti-America agenda on our children," Cantrell said.

Accurso has increasingly used her platform, which includes a YouTube channel with more than 20 million subscribers, for political advocacy.

In June, Accurso visited Delaney Hall, an immigration detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, and traveled to Washington to urge Congress to end family detention and separation.

Accurso said on Wednesday that she is involved with politics because she cares "so much about kids and families everywhere," and said she could not watch them suffer and "not stand with them" in an Instagram post where she simultaneously endorsed El-Sayed.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Accurso, Bush, the DSA and El-Sayed for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.

Entire Squad endorses Abdul El-Sayed days before Michigan Democratic Senate primary

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 14:41:15 -0400

Every member of the "Squad," an informal left-wing congressional caucus, has endorsed Abdul El-Sayed ahead of Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, according to his campaign website.

The Squad is made up of Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., Summer Lee, D-Pa., Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., and Greg Casar, D-Texas.

Many of the squad’s current and former members have past or ongoing affiliations with the Democratic Socialists of America, an organization El-Sayed is attempting to distance himself from as he attempts to moderate ahead of a swing-state general election.

The unified endorsements sharpen the ideological stakes of the Tuesday primary, linking El-Sayed to the party’s most prominent progressive bloc even as he rejects the socialist label and seeks to present himself as a viable candidate in a battleground state. The support also gives Republicans an early line of attack should El-Sayed defeat the more centrist Stevens and advance to the general election.

DEM PRIMARY ERUPTS AS ESTABLISHMENT FAVORITE DISMISSES RIVAL AS ‘CELEBRITY CANDIDATE’

"The entire Squad has now endorsed Abdul El-Sayed to carry on its radical, socialist, anti-American agenda in the U.S. Senate, and they will be rejected by Michiganders at the ballot box," National Republican Senatorial Committee regional press secretary Samantha Cantrell told Fox News Digital.

Casar was the most recent Squad member to endorse El-Sayed, throwing his support behind him Thursday.

"Abdul El-Sayed is showing what it means to run a bold, pro-working class campaign," Casar said. "House progressives need strong partners in the Senate in order to put money in your pocket, get money out of politics, and win Medicare for All. I’m proud to endorse Abdul."

SOCIALIST-BACKED DEM WHO RIPPED THE WEALTHY CRACKS STATE’S TOP 1%, TAX RETURNS SHOW

Casar, Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib and Lee all have current or former Democratic Socialists of America affiliations. El-Sayed at one point even appeared at a Democratic Socialists of America event alongside Tlaib.

El-Sayed headlined that event, a fundraiser that brought in roughly $10,000 for the Detroit Democratic Socialists of America, and was photographed next to Tlaib behind a table with a poster on it depicting a hand labeled "DSA" choking a snake labeled "capitalism."

The Michigan Senate hopeful attended and spoke at six Democratic Socialists of America events between 2017 and 2020, Fox News Digital previously reported. Organizers affiliated with the socialist organization have described El-Sayed as "a longtime friend of Detroit DSA."

ABDUL EL-SAYED SAYS RALLYING WITH HASAN PIKER DOESN'T MEAN HE ENDORSES 'AMERICA DESERVED 9/11' REMARK

Despite pulling in endorsements from socialists and his longtime association with the Democratic Socialists of America, El-Sayed rejects the socialist label and has distanced himself from the group.

"I'm not technically or practically DSA," El-Sayed told The Wall Street Journal in early July.

In an interview with CNN, he said, "I am not somebody who is a socialist. I believe in capitalism, I just believe that capitalism has to be regulated."

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El-Sayed faces off against Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary Tuesday. Stevens is widely viewed as the more centrist of the two. Polls generally show El-Sayed leading Stevens by a comfortable margin, according to the New York Times.

The El-Sayed campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Fake ShinyHunters sextortion email uses Carnival breach data

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 14:20:10 -0400

Wayne P. of Evangeline, Louisiana, opened an email that would make almost anyone's stomach drop. The sender claimed to represent the ShinyHunters hacking group and demanded $2,000 in Litecoin within 48 hours. The message also claimed hackers had recorded intimate videos through Wayne's camera and planned to send them to his contacts.

Wayne paused instead of paying. He ran security scans on his phone and PC, then contacted CyberGuy.

Wayne's instincts were right. The email closely matches a widespread sextortion campaign that uses real breach information to support an invented device takeover. So, what gave this scam away, and what should you do if a threat like this lands in your inbox?

AMAZON RECALL TEXT SCAM COMES WITH RED FLAGS

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Fake ShinyHunters sextortion email targets Carnival customers

Wayne's email follows a familiar sextortion script. The sender claims hackers reached his phone and computer, then says they recorded intimate activity through his camera. However, the message offers no proof. Wayne received no screenshot, stolen file or sample of the supposed recording. The demand for $2,000 in Litecoin, the 48-hour deadline and the warning against contacting police all point to an extortion scam built to create panic.

The FBI has warned that emails signed with the ShinyHunters name may contain false claims about embarrassing photos or videos. In many cases, the material described in the message never existed. CyberGuy has covered similar sextortion emails that use personal details and Google Maps images to make a bluff feel disturbingly personal.

Carnival data breach gives the scam credibility

The scam contains one accurate detail. Carnival Corporation disclosed a data breach after an April 2026 social engineering attack. Carnival said its security team found unauthorized activity involving an employee account on April 14. The company blocked the activity and brought in outside security experts. On April 22, investigators determined that the attacker had copied personal information. The exposed data varied by person. Carnival listed names, home addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, birth dates and government-issued identification numbers. The company began sending notices on May 27. It also offered eligible people in the U.S. two years of complimentary credit monitoring.

CyberGuy previously explained how the Carnival breach may put your travel data at risk. Our report noted that nearly 6 million people may face phishing or identity theft risks after the breach. A scammer may know that you used Carnival or Holland America because your information appeared in leaked data. However, an email address alone gives the sender no control over your phone, camera, microphone or keyboard. The breach supplies the believable detail. The scammer invents the rest.

CyberGuy reached out to Carnival for comment, and a Carnival Corporation spokesperson provided us with the following statement:

"In April, we identified unauthorized access to a limited part of our IT system caused by a social engineering attack on a single user account. We immediately blocked the activity, engaged third-party security experts and alerted law enforcement. Our investigation found certain personal information was illegally accessed. We're notifying affected individuals and deeply regret any concern this causes. Protecting the privacy and security of personal data is a priority for us and we've added new layers of security and monitoring on top of the comprehensive protections already in place. We'll also continue advancing our defenses against evolving threats."

Warning signs reveal the fake extortion email

Wayne's message contains several signs of a bluff. First, it came from an unrelated address. The sender offered no screenshot, stolen file or other evidence of access. Meanwhile, the message demanded cryptocurrency and imposed a 48-hour deadline. It warned Wayne against contacting police and told him not to reset his devices. Those instructions create panic while discouraging outside advice.

The sender also promised to remove Wayne's information from the dark web after payment. The email provides no way to verify that claim. Paying could also confirm that the address reaches someone willing to respond. The FTC warns that blackmail emails may claim access to a computer or webcam. Some messages include information exposed in a data breach to make the story sound credible. The agency advises recipients to avoid payment.

COULD THE 7-ELEVEN BREACH AFFECT YOU?

Clean security scans provide some reassurance

Wayne's clean scans support the conclusion that the email contains an empty threat. Still, no single scan can evaluate every online account tied to an email address. Based on the message alone, Wayne has no reason to erase or factory-reset his devices. The situation changes if he clicked a link, opened an attachment or installed software.

Therefore, the next step involves checking accounts rather than wiping devices. Review the recent sign-in history for your email account. Then inspect forwarding settings and inbox rules for anything unfamiliar. A criminal with email access may create a rule that secretly sends copies of your messages elsewhere.

Ways to stay safe from sextortion email scams

A fake threat still deserves a calm security check. These steps can help you close possible openings and prepare for follow-up scams.

1) Do not pay or reply to the sender

Do not send cryptocurrency. Avoid replying to the email as well. A response confirms that someone reads the address. It may encourage the scammer to increase the pressure or send another demand.

2) Report and delete the sextortion email

Wayne did the right thing by forwarding the message to reportphishing@apwg.org. The Anti-Phishing Working Group accepts suspicious emails for analysis and archiving. When your email service allows it, forward the original message as an attachment. That method preserves more technical information. You can also report the message through the FTC's ReportFraud website at reportfraud.ftc.gov/ and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov/. IC3 accepts reports involving cyber-enabled fraud, online scams and other internet crimes. After reporting it, mark the email as phishing or spam. Then delete it.

3) Secure your Carnival and email accounts

Carnival's public notice omits account passwords from its list of exposed information. Even so, change your Carnival or Holland America password if you reused it somewhere else. Your email account deserves extra attention because password reset messages often land there. Use a long, unique password and turn on two-factor authentication. A trusted password manager can create and store unique passwords. That prevents one exposed password from unlocking several accounts.

4) Check sign-ins and hidden email forwarding

Open your email provider's security page and review recent logins. Look for devices or locations that you do not recognize. Check the dates and times as well. Next, check automatic forwarding and inbox rules. Remove anything unfamiliar. Then change the password and sign out of other sessions.

WHAT A SCAMMER SEES THE MOMENT THEY GOOGLE YOUR NAME

5) Watch for identity theft after the Carnival breach

Carnival said some exposed records contained government identification numbers. Anyone who received a breach notice should read it carefully and use the offered credit monitoring when eligible. Review bank and credit card statements for unfamiliar activity. You should also check your credit reports. For stronger protection, consider a credit freeze with all three major bureaus. CyberGuy's online security checklist at cyberguy.com explains more steps you can take after your information appears in a breach.

6) Remove your personal information from the web

Scammers often combine breach data with details from people-search sites and data brokers. That research can uncover your address, phone number, age, relatives or previous locations. Removing those records cannot stop every scam. However, it can reduce the information criminals use to personalize future messages. A data removal service can submit requests to data brokers on your behalf and continue checking for information that reappears. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com

7) Use strong antivirus protection

Wayne's email contained no link or attachment in the copy he shared. Future scam messages may include both. Strong antivirus protection can warn you about malicious websites and phishing pages. It may also flag unsafe downloads or scan supported devices for malware. Even with security software, avoid links and attachments in alarming messages. Instead, type the company's official web address into your browser. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

When a sextortion email requires more action

Take stronger action when you interact with the message.

Change exposed passwords immediately if you entered them on a linked page. Use a trusted device for the change. Then contact the affected company through its official website.
Run updated security scans if you opened an attachment or installed software. Also remove unfamiliar apps and review browser extensions.
If you sent cryptocurrency, contact the exchange or payment provider right away. A crypto transfer can be difficult to reverse. However, the provider may document the fraud or flag the receiving wallet.

Wayne reported no clicks or downloads. His scans also found no problems. Based on those facts, the message appears to rely on leaked information and fear rather than device access.

Kurt's key takeaways

Wayne handled the threat correctly. He avoided payment, checked his devices and reported the email before fear could take over. The Carnival breach may explain how the sender connected Wayne to the cruise company. Still, the message offered no proof that anyone accessed his camera, microphone or computer. Scammers often use one accurate detail to make a much larger lie feel believable. Secure the accounts tied to the exposed email address and review recent sign-ins for anything unfamiliar. Most importantly, slow down before reacting to an urgent demand. Once you look for real evidence, threats like this often begin to fall apart.

Have you received a threatening email that used real details about you? Write to us and tell us what it claimed in the comments below so we can help other readers spot the warning signs. Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Cheryl Reeve sends clear message to Sophie Cunningham with ‘Trans Kids Belong’ shirt during Fever-Lynx game

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 14:18:59 -0400

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve made her position clear Sunday afternoon.

Reeve wore a shirt reading "Trans Kids Belong" underneath her blazer while coaching against Sophie Cunningham's Indiana Fever at Target Center. There’s no reason to pretend the timing was coincidental.

TRANS ACTIVISTS HARASS, HURL SLURS AT SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM SUPPORTERS BEFORE FEVER GAME IN MINNESOTA

Reeve had already addressed the transgender-athlete debate before the game, saying she comes from "a space of inclusion," that "we need to protect trans kids" and that "every kid has a right to sports." Her comments came with another rally supporting Cunningham’s position taking place outside the arena before the Fever-Lynx matchup. Then, Reeve carried the message onto the sideline.

Of course, she has every right to wear the shirt. The Lynx have every right to support her. But it was also an unmistakable response to Cunningham, who has spent the past two weeks taking heavy criticism for saying girls and women shouldn’t have to compete against biological men or share locker rooms with them.

Why anyone feels the need to argue against Cunningham's common-sense take is another matter. But it's also important to note that Cunningham never said transgender kids don’t belong in sports, society or anywhere else. In fact, she said she had "never once" expressed hatred toward transgender people and argued that there is room for everyone. Her position was more specific: "I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men."

Reeve’s shirt collapsed that distinction into a progressive slogan.

By wearing "Trans Kids Belong" while coaching against Cunningham, Reeve implied that Cunningham’s position is about excluding transgender children entirely. It isn’t. Cunningham drew a line at participation in girls’ and women’s sports and access to female locker rooms.

That position is not only reasonable, but the position the majority of Americans hold.

FEVER SHUT DOWN SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM QUESTIONS, ABRUPTLY END PRESS CONFERENCE

To Reeve’s credit, she acknowledged before the game that the issue becomes more complicated after puberty and when Olympic spots or scholarships are involved. She argued that people should find common ground rather than make exclusion the answer. That is a more nuanced argument than the shirt conveyed.

Still, Cunningham didn’t say trans kids don’t belong. So, Reeve answered the argument she wanted Cunningham to make rather than the one Cunningham actually made.

That would have been an obvious subject to ask Reeve about after the game. Fox News Digital and OutKick tried to be there to ask those questions, but the Lynx denied our credential request.

The request was submitted July 30 for an Aug. 2 game. The Lynx’s stated deadline was 5 p.m. on Aug. 1, meaning the application arrived more than two days before the game and well before the deadline. The denial didn’t cite timing, capacity or any other specific reason.

After I posted about the denial on social media, several WNBA reporters and fans celebrated it. Some argued that local beat writers should receive priority. Others suggested that outlets should only receive access if their reporters regularly attend practices and ask questions about basketball.

The first point is reasonable. Local reporters who cover a team every day should be prioritized.

But "prioritized" and "exclusively credentialed" aren’t the same thing. Fox News Digital and OutKick regularly cover the WNBA, and I was credentialed for both the 2026 NBA Finals and the 2026 Final Four despite not working as a full-time beat reporter for the NBA or college basketball.

So, are regular-season WNBA games really a more exclusive media credential than the NBA Finals or Final Four?

More importantly, the "stick to basketball" defense completely fell apart the moment Reeve walked onto the sideline wearing that shirt. If reporters are only supposed to ask about basketball, why is the head coach using a WNBA game to make a statement about one of the country’s most contentious social debates?

WNBA SUDDENLY WANTS TO STICK TO BASKETBALL AFTER YEARS OF MAKING POLITICS PART OF THE PRODUCT

Reeve didn’t wear a shirt about transition defense. She didn’t promote rebounding or ball movement. She used the sideline to send a message about transgender children while coaching against the player at the center of the league’s transgender-athlete controversy.

Again, that’s her right. But once she makes the statement during the game, questions about that statement become relevant to the game.

The Lynx were asked whether Reeve’s shirt was intended as a response to Cunningham’s comments and whether the organization approved or coordinated the decision and endorsed the message. The team didn’t respond before publication.

Perhaps Reeve would have said the shirt had nothing to do with Cunningham. That would be difficult to believe given the opponent, her comments before the game and the controversy surrounding the Fever’s road trip, but she deserved the opportunity to explain it.

We also deserved the opportunity to ask.

Instead, WNBA defenders celebrated a credential denial while insisting reporters should focus on basketball, then watched a head coach turn the sideline into a platform for a social message. The league and its teams routinely promote inclusion, open dialogue and the importance of athletes and coaches using their platforms. Those principles seem to become much less important when the questions might challenge the preferred position.

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Reeve was free to wear the shirt. The Lynx were free to deny the credential. And WNBA reporters were free to cheer that decision.

But taken together, the message was clear: approved social statements belong on the sideline.

Uncomfortable questions don’t.

'Friends' stars Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox soak up the sun during Mallorca yacht getaway

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 14:00:16 -0400

Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox are soaking up the sun on a yacht off the coast of Mallorca.

The longtime friends were recently photographed while sunbathing and hanging out with their famous friends on a luxury yacht while vacationing off the Spanish island of Mallorca.

In the photos, Aniston, 57, is seen rocking a black bikini top and pink bottoms as she laid down on a beach towel next to Cox, 62, who was relaxing on a lounge chair in black bikini bottoms, a gray long-sleeve top and a black bucket hat.

Joining them on the lower level of the yacht was Aniston's boyfriend, wellness coach Jim Curtis, who was first spotted shirtless in blue swim shorts, but later reappeared wearing a black shirt.

SHAKIRA SOAKS UP THE MIAMI SUN AS BIKINI-CLAD NINA DOBREV, KIM KARDASHIAN SHOWCASE SUMMER GETAWAYS

Also enjoying time on the yacht were Judd Apatow, Leslie Mann and Emmy-nominated actor Pedro Pascal.

In addition to relaxing on the boat, the celebrity besties were also photographed taking a dip in the ocean and engaging in water sports.

Aniston was pictured covering up in a white tank top as she headed out onto the open water in a red pedal boat, while Cox sped off in a tender boat with Curtis.

The two were later seen putting on flippers and snorkel masks before going for a swim.

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Cox and Aniston began their friendship when they starred on "Friends" together for 10 years, starting in 1994, and remained close following the end of the show in 2004, with Cox even naming Aniston as her daughter Coco's godmother.

"To be friends with Courteney is to be family with Courteney," Aniston said during her speech congratulating Cox on getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

"You're one of the funniest human beings on the planet Earth," she later added. "Nothing makes me happier than a Courteney joke and always making us smile. And thank you for enriching our lives with your work. We are so proud of you. We love you."

Both Cox and Aniston became household names after starring in "Friends."

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While the show remains a staple in popular culture, finding a new generation of fans due to streaming services, Jerry Seinfeld, the star and creator of another iconic '90s sitcom, "Seinfeld," called out the show as a copy of his own.

"Here’s my theory on ‘Friends,’" Seinfeld told the crowd at the Netflix Is a Joke Festival in May, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "My show came on — ’89, ’90. ‘Friends’ came on a few years later."

He added: "I think NBC was watching my show and went, ‘Hey, this is working pretty well. Why don’t we try the same thing with good-looking people?’"

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Ohio GOP family feud explodes as Sen Bernie Moreno calls on Rep Max Miller to resign

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 13:51:40 -0400

A bitter family feud has spilled into Congress after Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, called on his former son-in-law, Rep. Max Miller, to resign, accusing the fellow Ohio Republican of abusive behavior and saying he poses a danger to Moreno's daughter and granddaughter.

Moreno's extraordinary statement on X Sunday marked the latest escalation in a years-long family clash that has spilled from a contentious divorce into national Republican politics. Miller, a Republican congressman endorsed by President Donald Trump, was married to Moreno's daughter, Emily.

Their divorce and ongoing custody battle have increasingly played out in public, culminating Sunday with Moreno's call for Miller to leave Congress just days before Ohio's Aug. 5 deadline to replace congressional candidates on the ballot.

FOX NEWS POLL: DEMOCRATIC UNITY, REPUBLICAN CROSSOVERS SHAPE OHIO SENATE RACE

On Sunday, hours after Miller publicly denied allegations stemming from the divorce, Moreno broke his public silence in a lengthy statement posted to X, saying his family had endured "pure hell" over the past two years and accusing Miller of increasingly "erratic and dangerous behavior."

"Out of concern for the safety of my family, I hoped to keep this matter private but Max Miller's increasingly erratic and dangerous behavior has made that impossible," Moreno wrote.

Moreno went on to call Miller unfit for office, writing: "If there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them. He should not serve in the House of Representatives."

The Ohio senator also alleged that Miller "needs serious psychological help" and wrote that he fears for the safety of his granddaughter while she is in Miller's custody. Miller has denied the allegations and has not been charged with any crime related to the dispute.

Sunday's post marked a dramatic shift for Moreno, who had previously avoided publicly commenting on Miller or the family's legal dispute. The statement came just days before Ohio's Aug. 5 deadline to replace a congressional candidate on the ballot.

Still, Moreno has been criticized online for not speaking up about the situation sooner. When asked by Notus last week, Moreno said he didn't "know" if Miller should stay in office.

A source close to the Moreno family told Fox News Digital that the senator had wanted to break his silence for months, and has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses as the legal battle between his daughter and Miller continues on.

But his daughter, the source said, didn’t want the lawmaker’s granddaughter to "eventually read about her grandfather attacking her dad."

That changed after Miller’s livestream, which the source characterized as an "unhinged meltdown."

SEN BERNIE MORENO CALLS FOR EX-SON-IN-LAW TO RESIGN FROM HOUSE, GET 'SERIOUS PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP'

Earlier Sunday, Miller posted a livestream denying allegations of domestic and child abuse related to the divorce.

During the livestream, Miller also alleged that his ex-wife has struggled with mental health issues and shared a Dropbox link containing court filings and other documents that he said support his version of events.

"Just want to be clear: no court, no agency has ever substantiated any allegation of abuse against me. No criminal charge has ever been filed against me," Miller said. "Every single one of these allegations were already investigated, and I cooperated fully every single time because I had nothing to hide and I have nothing to hide now."

GOP REP. MAX MILLER PUSHES BACK AGAINST ABUSE ALLEGATIONS: 'I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE'

Days before Sunday's public clash, Emily Moreno's attorneys sought restraining orders against Miller that would prohibit him from contacting or harassing members of her legal team.

Emily Moreno's spokesman, Stefan Mychajliw, accused Miller of trying to "save his political career" and rejected the congressman's characterization of the dispute.

"It is shameful that Max Miller decided to go on a bizarre and lie-filled rant about his ex-wife to desperately try to save his political career," Mychajliw said in a statement.

"There is a documented trove of evidence that Miller has a history of violent and dangerous behavior and no amount of victim shaming will change that," Mychajliw continued. "Miller can lie and spin on X, but he cannot do so under oath in a court of law. We are confident that justice will prevail in court."

Asked about the senator's public comments, Emily Moreno's attorney, Subodh Chandra, declined to engage with the allegations. "When adverse parties in litigation are setting themselves on fire, I do not provide them with a fire extinguisher," he told Fox News Digital.

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With neither side backing down, the bitter family feud appears far from over, setting the stage for more courtroom battles and political fallout in the weeks ahead.

Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Miller and Moreno for additional comment.

EXCLUSIVE: Ohio man's Puerto Rico murder leaves close friend reliving the call she never expected

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 13:42:10 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: One of Tyler Wilkin's closest friends told Fox News Digital that the moment she learned he had been found shot dead in Puerto Rico, "the whole room went cold."

Wilkin, 35, was reportedly killed "execution-style," found with a gunshot wound to the back of his head while on a camping trip on Playa La Selva in Luquillo.

Jules Santiago, who lives in Puerto Rico, told Fox News Digital she knew Wilkin for the last two years. He grew up in Ohio, but moved to the island in 2024.

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Her heart sank when she got the call.

"When I found out, I went into complete shock. My thoughts were paralyzed. I asked the same question three times just to make sure it was Tyler."

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Investigators discovered Wilkin with a single gunshot wound to the back of the head on July 10, reports say.

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The FBI confirmed to Fox News Digital that the agency is assisting in the investigation. Police in Puerto Rico reportedly have a person of interest in the homicide case, according to local outlet El Nuevo Dia.

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"I could never have imagined he would be murdered, that something like that could happen to him. The whole room went cold, the energy turned dark, and I started crying," Santiago said.

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A fundraiser for an investigation into Wilkin's death has generated tens of thousands as the mystery deepens.

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Jules said, "You usually hear about homicides tied to drugs, or people who weren't on the right path. Never someone full of life like Tyler."

Democratic socialist candidate brushes off concerns over DSA 'communists' as GOP 'noise'

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 13:41:56 -0400

Colorado Democratic congressional nominee Melat Kiros brushed aside concerns about communists inside the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) faction of the Democratic Party on Friday, arguing Republicans were using the issue to blunt the socialist movement's growing influence ahead of the midterm elections.

Host Margaret Hoover of PBS's "Firing Line," asked Kiros how she addressed criticism that some DSA members, including roughly half of its national leadership, identify as communists.

"Yeah. Well, some members of the Democratic Party are proudly proclaiming themselves as capitalists, and it’s a big tent, right?" Kiros said. "But again, at the end of the day, it’s up to the voters, right?"

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"Until a self-proclaimed communist actually wins an election, then it’s just noise from the Republican Party. There’s no one who’s actually winning with that."

Hoover asked Kiros directly whether she was a communist after citing President Donald Trump's characterization of the movement as "hardcore, godless communists."

"No, I’m not a communist," Kiros said.

Kiros attributed the Republican attacks to concern that the DSA's economic message was gaining support among voters.

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"Because I think the Republican Party, and frankly, the oligarchy that largely stands behind the Republican Party can see that our message of, in its most basic form, economic populism, is actually resonating with voters," Kiros said.

Kiros, 29, defeated 15-term Rep. Diana DeGette in the Democratic primary for Colorado's heavily Democratic 1st Congressional District. Kiros has become the 28th candidate endorsed by a far-left group to win a Democratic primary election this cycle. Those nominees could join 18 incumbent progressives to form a 43-member House bloc in January.

The DSA's 25-member National Political Committee serves as the organization's primary political leadership. The group's newly launched "Workers Deserve More" program calls for abolishing the Senate, replacing the president and Supreme Court with institutions selected by Congress, granting amnesty to all illegal immigrants and defunding the Department of War.

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Kiros said members did not necessarily support every plank approved by the organization.

"Our platform is one that is voted on in a democratic way through our members. And it’s one where it is almost certain that not every single member actually agrees with the entirety of the platform," Kiros said.

Hoover noted parts of the DSA platform that Kiros believed in, including "Medicare-for-all," universal childcare, while confirming Kiros rejected other parts such as abolishing the Senate, withdrawing from NATO and defunding the police. Kiros also said that she supported a 32-hour workweek, among several other issues.

Kiros also defended her political philosophy of socialism after Hoover cited Democratic criticism of the DSA.

"Socialism has proven to deliver on the values of the Declaration of Independence more than capitalism has," Kiros said.

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Kiros has also faced opposition over her positions on Israel. Denver Jewish leaders told Fox News Digital that her rhetoric had heightened their safety concerns, citing her initial refusal to characterize the 2025 Boulder firebombing as antisemitic and her accusations that Israel committed genocide and apartheid.

While the DSA continues to gain traction and popularity as new figures arise to leadership, such as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Darializa Avila Chevalier — who recently won the Democratic primary in New York’s 13th Congressional District — and others, a July Fox News poll found that 56% of registered voters still viewed the Democratic Socialists of America unfavorably, while 31% viewed the organization favorably.

The poll found that among Democrats, 59% had a favorable opinion of the DSA and 26% viewed it unfavorably.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the RNC, Kiros and the DSA for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.