Fox News Latest Headlines
49ers, Raiders fans get into nasty brawl outside of Levi's Stadium as heated rivalry explodes in parking lot
Think of yourself on a "Family Feud" panel. When Richard Dawson, Louie Anderson, Steve Harvey or your game show host of choice ask you, "When is the best time to fight a stranger?" the No. 1 answer should always be, "At a sporting event."
It must be. After every NFL weekend, videos begin to trickle out on social media showing two strangers or a group of strangers wailing on each other. The bell rings after someone says something another person doesn’t like or two groups are simply wearing the wrong colored jerseys for your team.
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
It’s unclear what prompted Sunday’s parking lot fight outside Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It appeared to take place after the San Francisco 49ers trounced the Las Vegas Raiders 38-17.
One fight that went viral showed fans throwing punches and getting knocked out. One person folded like a lawn chair on the ground as his friends continued to brawl with each other.
At least two people were down for the count before another group broke up the melee.
The fight in the parking lot didn’t appear to be a one-off either.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE
Nearly a dozen people were arrested and 45 were ejected from the stadium for fighting, Santa Clara police told SF Gate.
"Incidents of violence at large-scale events in Santa Clara will not be tolerated," Santa Clara Police Department spokesperson Lt. Eric Lagergren told the outlet. "The Department strictly enforces the law and holds individuals accountable for criminal conduct. We will seek to arrest the individuals responsible for the fan-on-fan violence at the event."
Seven of the 11 people who were arrested were cited for disorderly conduct. Four were arrested for allegedly fighting in a public place and at least one received a drug possession charge.
The brawling was so apparent that 49ers defensive lineman Keion White said he believed he saw fans fighting in the stands as the game was going on.
The only real winning was done on the field. Everyone else will be 0-1 for the rest of their lives.
Hegseth rips impeachment push from outgoing Republican as 'farce,' 'stunt'
War Secretary Pete Hegseth, facing eight articles of impeachment in a privileged House resolution, remains defiant amid kinetic war and political warfare.
"What one disgruntled and defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight, it's not accountability. It's a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment," Hegseth said in a Tuesday morning conference. "Time for one man's final days in Congress to try to do damage to this president, this country and most irresponsibly, the warriors who defend it."
"It's a farce, and it's a stunt, and everybody knows it."
President Donald Trump defended his War Secretary against outgoing Rep. Thomas Massie's impeachment effort.
The president issued a Truth Social post on Monday slamming the Republican Kentucky congressman as "a total loser" while asserting that the war secretary "should be praised, not impeached."
"Defeated Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, a total loser, is trying to Impeach perhaps the most popular and successful military official in the Country, Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth," Trump declared Monday on Truth Social.
"With recruitment at an ALL-TIME HIGH, from an all-time low under Sleepy Joe Biden, and TWO VICTORIES, Venezuela and Iran, Pete Hegseth should be praised, not Impeached. Congress, stand up for Pete!!!" he added.
AI phishing scams turn your social posts against you
You post a few photos from a concert on Instagram. The next day, an email arrives that appears to be from the venue, offering you access to exclusive photos from the show. It mentions the artist you saw and even references the night you attended. Sounds legitimate, right? You might be tempted to click without giving it a second thought. But what if that email came from a scammer who used artificial intelligence to study your social media posts?
That's the alarming possibility researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington have uncovered. Their study shows how widely available AI tools can gather personal details from public social media accounts and turn them into highly convincing phishing emails. Even more concerning, the technology can generate these personalized messages at a scale that once required far more time and effort. Think about the photos and updates you've shared recently. Could someone use those details to convince you an email is legitimate? According to this research, the answer could be yes.
Missed CyberGuy LIVE? Watch the replay and discover 5 ways to travel smarter and save money.
Our free CyberGuy LIVE class, 5 Ways to Travel Smarter and Save Money, has ended, but you can still watch the full replay. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson walks you through five practical ways to protect your phone and personal information, avoid common travel scams, find better deals, save money on bookings and use technology to make your travels easier and less stressful. No technical experience is needed.
Watch the free replay + downloadable checklist now at CyberGuyLive.com.
AI-POWERED CYBERATTACKS FUEL 'BLACK OCTOBER' FEARS
You've probably seen your share of phishing emails. Maybe someone claims there's a problem with your bank account or a package couldn't be delivered. Many of these scams follow familiar patterns, and we've become pretty good at spotting the obvious ones. But AI is giving scammers a much more personal approach. Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington studied a technique known as context-aware spear phishing. In plain English, it means using details about someone's everyday life to create a scam that feels like it was written specifically for them.
Let's say you recently returned from a vacation in Brazil. You posted photos of the hotel and tagged a few places you visited. A scammer could use AI to analyze those posts and generate an email that appears to come from your hotel. The message might thank you for staying and offer a discount on your next visit. Everything seems to line up with your actual trip. However, the link could lead to a fake website designed to steal your password or credit card information.
Shirin Nilizadeh, an associate professor in UTA's Department of Computer Science and Engineering who led the study, explained why this is so concerning. "Anyone can be the attacker, and that makes it scarier," Nilizadeh said. And she's right. Someone using these tools may need very little personal knowledge about you. Your public posts can provide much of the information needed to create a believable message.
The research team, which included graduate student Elham Pourabbas Vafa and researcher Sayak Saha Roy, examined how AI could analyze public social media activity and generate personalized phishing emails. According to the research paper, the team studied 200 public Instagram accounts. They found that as few as 10 posts from an individual could provide enough information to create highly targeted messages.
The researchers evaluated more than 18,000 AI-generated emails and compared them with thousands of real-world phishing messages. The AI tools pulled information from travel photos and public updates about upcoming events. They also examined personal concerns people had shared online. From there, the technology created emails that appeared relevant to each person's recent experiences. The researchers even tested how AI could customize subject lines, sender names and links to make the messages more believable.
Consider something as simple as posting that you're excited about an upcoming concert. A scammer could use that information to send a fake ticket confirmation or an offer for upgraded seats. If you had recently complained about a delayed flight, an email offering compensation might arrive at just the right moment. These examples show how easily familiar details could be turned against someone. In a user study, participants generally rated the AI-generated emails as more convincing and less suspicious than the real-world phishing examples used for comparison.
However, the researchers evaluated people's reactions to the messages in a controlled setting. They did not measure how many people would actually click the malicious links during a real attack. Even with that limitation, the results raise serious concerns about how easily personal information can be used to manipulate someone's trust.
One of the most unsettling parts of this research is that scammers may never need to hack your social media account. If your profile is public, they can potentially collect details you've already shared with the world. And those details can make an otherwise suspicious message feel familiar.
An email mentioning a restaurant you visited yesterday might seem harmless. So could a message referencing a concert you attended over the weekend. When the timing and details are accurate, people may be less likely to question where the message came from. That's the advantage scammers are hoping to exploit.
This research adds another concern because AI can automate much of the work involved in creating personalized messages. There's also the problem of how polished these emails can sound. We're used to looking for spelling mistakes and awkward wording. AI can produce professional-sounding messages, so those traditional warning signs may be missing. You could receive an email that looks perfectly normal, references something you actually did and still comes from someone trying to steal your information.
A SCAMMER HAS YOUR NAME, PHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS. WHAT CAN THEY ACTUALLY DO?
Now, you might assume AI companies already have safeguards that prevent people from using their tools to create phishing scams. They do. But the researchers found that those protections had significant weaknesses. The team tested three widely used AI safety tools: Llama Guard, ShieldGemma and WildGuard. These systems attempt to recognize harmful requests before an AI model responds.
With their default settings, the tools detected only 0% to 19% of the requests to create personalized phishing attacks. That's a pretty troubling result, especially considering how quickly AI can generate these messages.
The researchers then explored whether more specific instructions could help the safety systems recognize these attacks. The improvement was substantial. After researchers adjusted the safeguards to identify context-aware phishing attempts, detection rates reached as high as 99% in their tests. That's encouraging because it suggests stronger safeguards are possible. However, those results came from a research setting. They don't guarantee that every malicious request would be blocked in the real world.
The researchers also left the exact instructions used to generate their phishing emails out of the public paper. They wanted to avoid providing criminals with a ready-made guide. Nilizadeh is urging AI companies to take these threats seriously and improve their protections against targeted social engineering attacks.
These findings show how easily scammers could turn everyday social media posts into convincing emails. You don't need to stop sharing your life online, but it's worth being more thoughtful about what strangers can see. And there are several practical ways to protect yourself if a suspicious message reaches your inbox.
Start by checking who can see your posts on Instagram, Facebook and other social media platforms. If your accounts are public, strangers may be able to view your photos and personal updates. Consider limiting access to approved followers and reviewing older posts that reveal more than you'd like. You can follow our guide on how to change your Instagram privacy settings. Keep in mind that people can still share or screenshot content from private accounts.
Posting vacation photos while you're still away can reveal where you are. The same goes for announcing upcoming travel plans or tagging yourself at an event. Consider waiting until you're home to share certain experiences. Also, check location tags and other details in your photos before posting them publicly. You don't need to stop sharing the things you enjoy, but a little discretion can make it harder for strangers to follow your activities.
If an email arrives from a hotel or another business referencing something you recently did, don't assume it's legitimate. Open the company's official app or type its website address into your browser instead of clicking the email link. You can also contact the business through a phone number you've independently verified. Be especially suspicious when a message asks you to sign in, provide payment information or respond urgently. Even a familiar-looking sender address can be spoofed.
Strong antivirus software can help protect your devices if you encounter a phishing attack. Some security tools can warn you about known dangerous websites and detect malware hidden in suspicious attachments or downloads. That's valuable protection if you accidentally click something malicious. However, antivirus software cannot guarantee that every phishing website will be blocked, especially if you voluntarily enter your information. Keep your security software updated and turn on its available protection features. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.
FAKE CHATGPT BILLING EMAILS CAN STEAL YOUR LOGIN
Scammers can learn more about you than you might realize. Data brokers and people-search websites may expose your home address, phone number and other personal details that criminals could use to make phishing emails more convincing. A personal data removal service can help find that information and request its removal from covered websites. While no service can erase everything about you online or remove your public social media posts, it can help reduce the personal information available to scammers. You can also request removals yourself for free, although doing so across multiple websites can take time. 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.
A scammer who steals one password may try using it to access other accounts. That's why every important account should have a unique, strong password. A trusted password manager can help you create and store them. Enable multifactor authentication wherever possible, preferably with an authenticator app or security key. Passkeys can offer even stronger phishing resistance on supported services. And never share a verification code with someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
Security updates help close vulnerabilities that criminals can exploit. Turn on automatic updates for your phone, computer and browser whenever possible. It's also worth checking that your email provider's spam and phishing filters are active. Gmail, Outlook and other major email services already block many suspicious messages, although some attacks can still get through. If you receive a suspicious email, use the built-in option to report it as phishing.
Accidentally clicking a phishing link doesn't automatically mean your device has been compromised. However, if you think you've encountered a scam, here's what to do next.
One final suggestion. When an email seems unusually well-timed or knows something personal about you, give it a second look. That little bit of hesitation could prevent a very expensive mistake.
I think most of us understand that sharing personal information online comes with some risk. But this research takes that concern in a direction many people probably haven't considered. You could share a perfectly innocent photo from dinner or a weekend getaway and later receive an email that seems to know exactly where you've been. I can see how someone might trust that message, especially if it arrives at the right time and looks like it came from a familiar business. That's what worries me. AI is making it easier for criminals to use our own experiences to earn our trust. And they may be able to do it without spending much time researching us individually. I'm encouraged that the researchers found ways to improve AI safety filters. I'd like to see companies put those findings to work. In the meantime, I think we all need to be a little more careful about what we post publicly and a lot more skeptical of unexpected emails, even when the details seem right.
Should AI companies be held responsible when their technology helps criminals create convincing scams? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Newsletter
Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Texas’ Democrat governor-elect has vowed to impose ‘emergency’ day-one policy and more top headlines
1. Texas’ Democrat governor-elect vows to impose day-one policy
2. Cockpit voice recorder recovered from deadly Learjet crash
3. Hegseth impeachment vote looms as House GOP warn it could pass
POWER AND SECRETS — Nvidia shareholders sue over CEO’s alleged Chinese spy ties as Trump confirms FBI probe. Continue reading …
BURNING QUESTIONS — College frat suspended after disturbing video captures two people engulfed in flames. Continue reading …
DARK SEAS — FBI investigating suspected homicide aboard popular cruise ship after sudden return. Continue reading …
END GAME — Iran claims US spreading ‘Fake News,’ demands surrender to deal conditions. Continue reading …
LONG ROAD AHEAD — Judge reveals when Charlie Kirk's accused assassin will finally face a jury. Continue reading …
--
CEASEFIRE WATCH — US pushes security shield for Kyiv as peace talks resume in Abu Dhabi after 9 months. Continue reading …
LOYALTY TEST — Rick Scott refuses to back John Thune until he proves he has a real plan. Continue reading …
CHANGE OF CONTROL — Jeffries vows to shut off funding for Trump’s ‘mass deportation machine’. Continue reading …
BUILDING MOMENTUM — Trump scores SCOTUS win as stalled Texas border wall project gets green light. Continue reading …
BALLOT BACKLASH — School choice CEO warns Democrats they're marching into a 2028 trap over parental rights. Continue reading …
DARK PUNCHLINE — Charlamagne reacts to Dave Chappelle saying he felt 'better' after Charlie Kirk's death. Continue reading …
PARTING GIFT — Scott Galloway says he defecated in his Tesla before selling it in protest against Musk. Continue reading …
GOING TO BAT — Sarah Huckabee Sanders tells Ana Navarro not to 'twist' her words on 'The View'. Continue reading …
HUGH HEWITT — Three big legal fights are looming, and Trump needs answers before January. Continue reading …
LIZ PEEK — Here’s how Trump can rebound and become one of the presidential greats. Continue reading …
--
COMEBACK KITCHEN — Wendy's plans major menu shake-up as fast-food chain looks to win back customers. Continue reading …
NOWHERE TO HIDE — Fergie maintains ties to ex-Prince Andrew as Epstein scandal takes new legal turn. Continue reading …
SNOUT & ABOUT — Golfer's desert run-in with roaming herd of unique animals causes him to whip out phone. Continue reading …
AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ – Test yourself on famous fragrances and concerning carry-ons. Take the quiz here …
Tune in as Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott joins the Rundown to unpack what went wrong for the GOP and why voters are anxious about things like affordability. Check it out...
'Ruthless' examines what comes next for Trump after the Republican midterm defeat. Check it out ...
What’s it looking like in your neighborhood? Continue reading…
Fox News Entertainment (FOX411)
Thank you for making us your first choice in the morning! We’ll see you in your inbox first thing Wednesday.
Vikings' Carson Wentz was historically awful in loss to Bills, posting a stat line difficult to comprehend
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz did not take advantage of the opportunity presented to him against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, to say the least. The signal caller looked more like a quarterback playing in his first organized football game than a guy making his 101st NFL start.
Wentz was handed the keys to the Vikings' offense after the team announced that Kyler Murray was dealing with a hamstring injury that head coach Kevin O’Connell described as a "week-to-week kind of thing." While the Vikings posted a 5-1 record with Murray under center early in the season, he's thrown five touchdowns and three interceptions, and the Vikings have leaned heavily on their defense to get the job done.
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
The hamstring, coupled with inconsistencies, led to a soft benching of Murray, opening the door for Wentz against the Bills. Instead of running through the open door frame, Wentz essentially walked up to it, shut the door, and sprinted directly into it.
TROY AIKMAN POKES FUN AT ESPN CONTRACT STANDOFF DURING BILLS-VIKINGS MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL BROADCAST
The 33-year-old finished the contest against Buffalo completing eight of his 25 pass attempts for just 81 yards in what was a 23-6 loss at home. He also managed to throw two interceptions.
When your interception total is one-quarter of your completed passes total, things are bad, very bad.
Wentz finished the contest with a passer rating of 8.9, which is the lowest by any player with at least 25 pass attempts since Sam Darnold posted a 3.6 passer rating against the New England Patriots in 2019, according to ESPN.
ESPN broadcaster Troy Aikman was even left bewildered at how the Vikings' offense has performed since Sam Darnold departed for the Seattle Seahawks.
"Just think how prolific this offense was a couple of years ago in 2024," he said. "I know the last couple of games, the Week 18 game, with Sam Darnold wasn’t great. They finish out 14-3. Because they lose that game to Detroit, they gotta go play in the wild card game. Doesn’t go well in L.A., they lose that game, but this was a prolific offense and they’ve been a shell of themselves ever since."
Maybe the most alarming statistic from the disaster is that Wentz completed just 36% of his pass attempts when he was not pressured, which is the worst mark of the current NFL season.
SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY OUTKICK NEWSLETTER
It's also worth pointing out that Wentz's disaster came against a bad Bills pass defense, with Buffalo allowing the fourth-most passing yards in the league per game at 238.8 yards per contest.
If the Vikings turn to Wentz again this upcoming Sunday, things may get even uglier on a trip to Green Bay to take on a Packers defense that is far more disruptive than what he saw against the Bills.
BOBBY BURACK: Dianna Russini wants sympathy without accountability in Mike Vrabel scandal
Dianna Russini announced Monday that she will return to media with a podcast for offshore gambling company BetUS. In her first interview since resigning from The Athletic in April, Russini delivered two messages.
First, her new show, "The Russini Report," will air each Wednesday. Second, she is a victim of "heartbreaking" lies.
Let's focus on that second point.
CRAIG CARTON ISSUES AN APOLOGY TO ANGEL REESE, "I MISS YOU!" - DOWNLOAD NOW
"The best way to describe what the last six months were like for me is heartbreaking," Russini told People. "At the beginning of this, it was a nightmare."
"The lies became so out of control," she continued. "This was a runaway train, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Once [my husband and I] realized nothing was going to stop this, it became unhealthy for us to read it because it wasn’t helping us heal. It was piling on and adding to what we were already dealing with."
What lies? Who told them? What is the truth?
Russini's account omitted answers to all three questions. Instead, she offered an appeal for sympathy and avoided any accountability.
For someone whose job relies on providing inside information to the public, that's a damning response to a seven-month-long scandal.
At a minimum, Russini violated her former employer's ethical standards. The Athletic said so in August.
"Russini’s relationship with Vrabel was in clear violation of The Athletic’s standards," Mike Semel of The Athletic said after an investigation into her reporting. "Regardless of whether the relationship was romantic, it was a breach and should have been disclosed."
That assessment leaves no room for dispute.
In April, Page Six published photos in April showing Russini alone with Vrabel at an adults-only resort in Arizona. She claimed, a day after the report, that they happened to run into each other while she was on a hiking trip with female friends.
Russini could have substantiated her explanation by providing photos from the supposed "girls' trip." She didn't.
She seemingly wants us to accept that she participated in the first-ever girls' trip that didn't produce a single photo.
Not one.
After the initial report, various outlets obtained other photos of Russini with Vrabel over the course of at least seven years, dating to her time as an NFL reporter for ESPN.
Notably, TMZ reportedly obtained documents showing that Russini and Vrabel rented a private boat together in Tennessee in June 2021. Russini was around seven months pregnant with her first child at the time.
Maybe there is an innocent explanation for all this. It's hard to imagine, but we cannot say for certain. The optics are troubling.
In any event, Russini asks that you, please, focus on her denunciation of the coverage instead.
"When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful. In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts," Russini said in her resignation letter.
"Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry."
The media did not place her at the resort with Vrabel earlier this year or at their other encounters over the years. She did that.
The media also didn't escalate the scandal through a series of strange responses.
The first came just a week after the initial report, when someone leaked to Page Six that Russini had saved a car crash victim.
The headline: "Dianna Russini mounts daring rescue of elderly man, dog trapped in car crash a week after Mike Vrabel scandal."
The unusual story attempted to cast Russini as a heroine to an old man and his dog. Unsurprisingly, it did not improve the public's increasingly contemptuous view of her.
Presumably, the free edition of ChatGPT could have offered better advice than she received from those around her, including her CAA agent, Matt Olson.
She has since hired a high-priced crisis manager, Melissa Nathan, who repped Blake Lively. Based on the People interview, her new approach isn't much better.
In the interview, Russini came across as ignorant, if not delusional.
From the beginning, she has conducted herself as if she could outsmart the rest of us. So far, it hasn't worked. The fact that not a single notable woman in sports media publicly defended Russini during the scandal underscores that.
Whatever unnamed "lies" she speaks of – and maybe there are some out there on Reddit – they are not the reason she had to leave a premier job and resort to working with a gambling company that is not licensed in a single U.S. state.
She is the reason she had to do that.
The photos of her cozying up with Vrabel at the resort while reporting on his team's interest in AJ Brown are not a lie. The photos of her kissing Vrabel six years ago in New York City aren't either. Nor was the boating trip. Neither were the reports she published at The Athletic about Vrabel, without disclosing her relationship with him, romantic or not.
Russini isn't the victim of lies. She's a victim of her own arrogance. Her arrogance is why she thought she could abandon boundaries with a head coach in the first place.
Her latest insistence on portraying herself solely as a victim has compounded the damage. Her refusal to address the obvious has only deepened suspicions.
She now says she plans to become a role model for other women.
"I really hope that I can be someone other women see: you can pick yourself up, get back in there and not be afraid," she told People. "Because if you just do the work — and I hope to continue working at a high level — that’s all that’s going to matter. And I hope that quiets the noise."
In actuality, Russini offered female reporters a cautionary tale about how not to cover the NFL.
Russini opened the promotion for her new project by saying she spent "20 years chasing the stories everyone is talking about."
And yet, the story everyone is still talking about is the one she hopes a plea for sympathy will quiet.
'SNL' writer’s sister vanished — now her boyfriend and rival face charges in deadly love triangle
Months before a "Saturday Night Live" writer's sister disappeared, court records showed a pattern of alleged stalking, threats, and domestic violence involving two suspects now charged with her death and disappearance.
Last month, Los Angeles County prosecutors charged Christina Downer’s boyfriend, Delorean Bijon Brandon, 41, with first-degree murder. Brandon’s former girlfriend, Kaylee Nicole Markowski, 34, is facing two felony counts of being an accessory after the fact.
Investigators believe Brandon killed Downer, 38, on or around Sept. 19, 2025. Her remains have not been located.
Before Downer disappeared, she and Brandon sought separate restraining orders against Markowski, accusing her, in part, of stalking and blackmail, court records showed. Both cases were dismissed after Downer and Brandon failed to appear in court, according to court documents obtained by Los Angeles Magazine.
Authorities learned of Downer’s disappearance in December 2025, when her ex-husband reported her missing, saying he had not heard from her in months.
Downer’s brother, "Saturday Night Live" writer Jimmy Fowlie, began posting public pleas on Instagram that same month, asking for information about his sister’s whereabouts.
Brandon, who shared an apartment with Downer in Koreatown, told police that she had moved out months prior, leaving her belongings behind, including her car and beloved miniature pinscher named Rex.
TEACHER FOUND DEAD WITH THROAT SLIT; DETECTIVES SCRUTINIZE HUSBAND’S SHIFTING STORY
The LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division took over the investigation after Downer’s cellphone washed ashore at Santa Monica Beach.
Investigators believe Brandon and Markowski used Downer’s phone to send messages, fabricating a story that she voluntarily disappeared, according to court documents.
HORSE FARM OWNER GETS LIFE IN PRISON FOR BOYFRIEND'S MURDER AFTER CLAIMING SELF-DEFENSE
"The individual(s) in possession of her phone used it to hide the fact she was gone, to ask for money, and to create a false narrative that she was going ‘off the grid,’" Fowlie wrote on Instagram in April.
"I am sharing this because I believe that whoever is responsible is hoping to erase her in every way possible. I want to amplify her story in the only way I know how. And express that she was a beautiful person who matters in this world, especially to me."
Fowlie did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In a September 2024 restraining order petition obtained by the Los Angeles Times, Downer accused Markowski of terrorizing her since December 2023.
Markowski harassed Downer by threatening to break into her home, beat her up and by calling her racial slurs, court documents stated. She also allegedly stole Downer’s cat and a storage device containing intimate videos, which she allegedly used to blackmail Downer.
"She calls us n-----, threatens to beat me up, stole my spare key and copied it, threatens to break into my home," Downer claimed in her request.
'HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER' ACTOR NICK PASQUAL CONVICTED OF ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR STABBING EX-GIRLFRIEND
In July 2025, Brandon filed a domestic violence restraining order request against Markowski, alleging she harassed him, targeted his vehicle and attempted to interfere with Downer’s job, according to ABC7’s court records review.
Judges dismissed both cases after Downer and Brandon failed to appear in court.
In September 2025, Brandon sought another protective order against Markowski, accusing her of hitting and kicking him when he tried to leave. He said she also threatened to shoot him in the head for having a relationship with Downer.
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge rejected the request and set a Sept. 23, 2025, hearing.
Alyce LaViolette, a licensed marriage and family therapist and domestic violence specialist not affiliated with the case, explained that courts usually examine specific details of each allegation rather than the number of complaints filed before deciding if a case proceeds. Court backlogs and limited domestic violence training can make it more difficult to assess a full abuse history, she said.
On Sept. 18, 2025, however, Brandon withdrew the request. Investigators believe Downer died within a day of Brandon withdrawing the request.
The latest criminal complaint detailed allegations of domestic violence carried out by Brandon against a different woman. Brandon allegedly used scissors during one of the assaults, according to documents obtained by Los Angeles Magazine.
He is now charged with two felony counts of injuring a cohabitant in connection with the alleged 2022 assaults.
In a separate April 2022 court case, a woman filed a civil harassment restraining order petition against Markowski in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The judge dismissed the case in June 2022 for "lack of prosecution."
FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X
Greg Risling, an executive assistant at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, declined to comment on an open case, directing Fox News Digital to a previous release.
Markowski’s attorney, Arvand Naderi, also declined to comment on a pending case.
Risling said Brandon is being represented by the Alternate Public Defender’s Office. The office was not immediately available for comment.
SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS
Both defendants are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, with bail set at $2 million each.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM THE FOX TRUE CRIME HUB
Anyone with information about Downer’s case is urged to contact LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division at 213-486-6850.
Despite the history of accusations between Downer, Brandon and Markowski, LaViolette told Fox News Digital that judges do not always recognize abuse even when warning signs emerge before domestic homicides.
"There are judges that are very well versed in domestic violence and some who are not," LaViolette said.
LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST
"Victims of DV don't usually leave and stay gone forever at the first incident," LaViolette said. "Often it takes victims (particularly female victims) multiple incidents before they leave."
LaViolette cautioned that protective orders alone do not establish levels of danger.
"Precursors like strangling, isolation, threats to kill while holding a weapon, etc., should trigger a high-risk situation," she said. "But remember, the most high-risk perpetrators may not be dissuaded by a protective order."
PAUL MAURO: Sanctuary states have a DMV problem — and Trump can demand answers
The Democrats have captured both houses of Congress and are gleefully announcing, "woke is back." But there’s one inconvenient detail: President Donald Trump still controls the executive branch.
Why does that matter?
Because Ryan O’Shea mattered.
On October 16, 21-year-old Ryan O’Shea, a University of New Haven hockey captain studying criminal justice, was driving home from a game when a pickup truck traveling the wrong way on Connecticut’s Interstate 91 slammed head-on into his car. Ryan was killed instantly.
Police say the other driver was Guillermo Carmona-Lopez, who is a Mexican national who DHS says had already been removed from the United States twice. Somehow, he was back.
The story circulated widely on social media, but received limited mainstream coverage. One needn’t wonder why. Ryan was not a member of any of our media’s preferred victim classes, he wanted to go into law enforcement, and he was allegedly killed by someone who the feds say shouldn’t have been here.
Three strikes.
But his death raises a larger question: How is it possible that so many foreign drivers are permitted — or even assisted — in getting licensed to drive on our roads? Is there more going on here?
Examples similar to Ryan’s are legion. In July, Uzbek national Bekhzod Asrarov, who had entered the U.S. legally, allegedly killed 21-year-old college soccer player Tobias "Toby" Forsythe when his tractor-trailer slammed into the young man’s car. Asrarov, who held an Ohio CDL, reportedly couldn’t communicate with police without Google Translate, failed an English-proficiency test and allegedly attempted to conceal evidence, including his electronic driving logs.
Then, on September 2, Indian national Manjit Singh, whom DHS identified as illegal, was involved in another fatal Ohio crash that killed 50-year-old Brenda Watson. Singh held a California CDL and has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide.
We could go on. Ohio has at least moved to tighten the loopholes that allowed this. Too late for two Americans.
TRUMP PROMOTES FREEDOM HAULERS INITIATIVE TO FAST-TRACK MILITARY VETERANS INTO TRUCKING JOBS
But that’s more than blue states are willing to do. So in September 2025, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced emergency restrictions on CDLs issued to foreign drivers after a nationwide audit uncovered widespread fraud.
In New York alone, Duffy’s audit found that over half of commercial trucking licenses went to illegal drivers — and those drivers hit the roads across the country. In one case, investigators found that a Chinese national accused of causing a fatal highway pileup in Tennessee was illegally issued a New York State driver’s license.
In California, the audit found that 25% of CDLs were unlawfully issued — with a stated policy that California will not enforce federal English proficiency rules.
So this year, Duffy began the process of cracking down on the practice nationwide. He withheld $73 million from New York State, which refuses to comply (and is suing in response).
But more significantly, the feds announced "Joint Task Force Crossroads of America," a nationwide initiative targeting fraud and criminal activity regarding CDLs.
DEADLY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TRUCK CRASH EXPOSED FAILURES ON THE ROAD AND AT THE BORDER: KEY SENATOR
How widespread is the problem? The task force started with more than 1,000 leads and inspected more than 200 driving schools across 23 states. Multiple criminal investigations have already been opened.
It’s a start. But let’s recall: Guillermo Carmona-Lopez, who allegedly killed Ryan O’Shea, did not have a CDL.
DOJ ESCALATES BLUE-STATE ICE STANDOFF AFTER STATES REFUSE KEY FEDERAL REQUEST
So limiting the task force to just CDL enforcement is a mistake. Because somewhere in the DMV systems of our states there are officials issuing licenses to applicants who not only likely couldn’t pass the driver’s tests we’ve all taken — they cannot even read the exam. Or our road signs.
And someone is recruiting these drivers, getting them here, corrupting the DMVs and facilitating their placement onto our roads.
This is activity squarely within the province of the federal executive. Our newly woke Congress can bemoan investigating it… but Congress cannot stop it. And targeting the scheme also has the advantage of opening another front on immigration enforcement that doesn’t involve highly visible ICE sweeps. The Trump administration just got some good news on this front. In a major November 6 federal court ruling, Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered New York City to comply with an ICE subpoena seeking information about migrants with serious criminal histories at a Bronx shelter.
Game-changer.
The administration can now build on that reasoning by pursuing targeted, court-enforced subpoenas for New York DMV records to identify criminal aliens who have obtained driver’s licenses — and then deporting them.
The administration should go all-in on this over the next two years. Because there’s also this: At least 17 states, plus Washington, D.C., both permit illegals to obtain driver’s licenses or driving-privilege cards, while also operating automatic voter-registration systems for license holders.
The administration has received little credit for recognizing the illegal driving problem (arguably, another failure in messaging on good policy that has plagued Trump 2.0). And the standing up of the Crossroads of America task force is a good start. But this initiative could go further. Successfully enforced, it would serve as one of the ways red states demonstrate the superiority of a little common sense. So, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has gleefully announced that "75% of Americans will be governed by DEM Govs." Fair enough — the electorate spoke.
Now the other 25% should demonstrate what makes them different by cooperating with the feds to keep illegals off the roads, penetrate the criminal networks running this trafficking and disincentivize others from accessing this pipeline to enter the country illegally.
While the new task force uses this recent federal judge’s decision to issue subpoenas, identify illegals in our DMV systems and bring sanctuary jurisdictions back in line with the Constitution.
Then maybe at least some of today’s left, so intent on resurrecting our open border madness, will recognize that young men like Ryan O’Shea are not just collateral damage for their Woke 3.0 ambitions.
Aggressive cancer type linked to common chemical exposure in new study
Two "forever chemicals" have been associated with a higher risk of aggressive breast cancer, according to research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Forever chemicals, known as PFAS, are a group of synthetic chemicals that break down extremely slowly and can build up in the environment and the human body.
PFAS have been used in nonstick cookware, upholstery and clothing, as well as some food packaging and personal care items.
CANCER RISK MAY BE HIGHER FOR PEOPLE WITH ONE PARTICULAR TYPE OF JOB
The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, found that women with higher blood levels of two types of PFAS — perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) — were more likely to develop estrogen receptor-negative (ER-negative) breast cancer.
ER-negative breast cancers tend to be "more aggressive" and have worse outcomes compared to breast cancers that respond to estrogen, according to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) press release.
Data was drawn from a large U.S. research project called the Sister Study, which investigated environmental and genetic factors related to breast cancer. All participants had a sister diagnosed with breast cancer at enrollment but did not have breast cancer themselves.
Researchers measured 17 PFAS in blood samples collected before diagnosis from 1,609 women who later developed breast cancer and a comparison sample of 2,269 women, then examined links between PFAS levels and breast cancer risk by tumor type.
EATING LESS OF COMMON INGREDIENT EARLY IN LIFE MAY SLASH CANCER RISK DECADES LATER
The highest PFOA exposure group had a 67% higher rate of ER-negative breast cancer. The rate was 93% higher in the highest PFOS group compared to those in the lowest group. These figures represent relative differences between groups, not an individual woman’s chance of developing breast cancer.
The researchers found no clear association between PFOA or PFOS and breast cancer overall.
"This study, along with the accompanying meta-analysis of previous studies, provides evidence that two PFAS are related to a higher ER-negative breast cancer risk," study leader Alexandra White, Ph.D., a researcher at the National Institutes of Health, told Fox News Digital.
As this study focused mainly on older PFAS chemicals that have been largely phased out, the researcher said experts know "very little" about the PFAS that are replacing them, which could serve as a limitation.
MICROPLASTICS DETECTED IN MOST HEART ATTACK PATIENTS' BLOOD IN STARTLING NEW STUDY
"They tend to be shorter-chain compounds and may be less persistent in our bodies and the environment, but we know little about how they may influence health outcomes, such as breast cancer," she said.
The findings show an association, not proof of causation, between forever chemical exposure and breast cancer risk, as the authors noted that more research is needed.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that "women deserve clear answers about how chemicals in their environment may affect their health," calling for further investigation.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
"Under President Trump’s leadership, we will pursue the evidence, confront environmental health risks and give women the information they need to protect their health," he said.
Medical oncologist Dr. Tiffany Troso-Sandoval, a New York City-based breast and gynecological cancer specialist who worked at Memorial Sloan Kettering for more than 25 years, also acknowledged that forever chemicals can increase cancer risk.
"Oftentimes, once you've been exposed to them, they will accumulate in your body and cause havoc, and can actually increase the risk of carcinogenic transformation of cells," she told Fox News Digital. "What was interesting about this study is that the link was found only in ER-negative breast cancers, which is a known aggressive subtype of cancer."
Few risk factors beyond genetic predispositions are known for ER-negative breast cancer, Troso-Sandoval noted, adding that "the study did not show that it increased the risk of all breast cancers in general."
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
She suggested PFAS might damage DNA or interfere with the body's ability to repair that damage or destroy cancerous cells.
While patients with ER-negative breast cancer had higher levels of these compounds in their bodies, that does not prove the chemicals caused their cancers, according to Troso-Sandoval.
First author Che-Jung Chang, Ph.D., a former research fellow at NIH and a current researcher at DLH, noted that although PFAS are "persistent" in the environment and in the human body, exposure is "potentially modifiable."
"People can take steps to reduce their exposure, and these findings could open new avenues for prevention," she said.
Troso-Sandoval recommends reviewing everyday sources of exposure to PFAS and other potentially harmful chemicals, including the following:
Her concerns about black plastic utensils involve other chemical contaminants, including flame retardants.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
"Try to look at the products that you are using very frequently, and those are the first ones to swap out," she advised.
"Maybe consider cooking with stainless steel pots and pans ... I recommend not heating up any food in plastic containers, because as you heat these plastics, they tend to leach more of the compounds into our foods."
She recommends reviewing cosmetics and personal care products that may contain some of these compounds.
Angel Reese’s WNBA Finals showed how criticism of her play becomes an accusation of racism
People often accuse me of "hating on" Angel Reese. I reject that label because it misrepresents both who I am and what I do.
After spending more than two weeks flying back and forth between San Francisco and Atlanta to cover the 2026 WNBA Finals, I came away more convinced of something I’ve noticed throughout my coverage of Reese: For many of her defenders, criticizing her quickly becomes a referendum on the person doing the criticizing.\
WHY ISN'T ANGEL REESE HELD TO CAITLIN CLARK'S STANDARD WHEN FANS ATTACK HER TEAMMATES?
During the Finals, I repeatedly encountered the same accusation on social media: My criticism of Reese meant I had a problem with Black women. I received hundreds of posts saying that I am a racist for daring to criticize Reese.
One post in particular caught my attention.
On Oct. 17, an account called Apex Jones posted a five-minute, 39-second video promising to "EXPOSE Outkick and Dan Zaksheske for targeting Angel Reese for YEARS." The accompanying post declared, "Outkick is anti-WNBA and anti-Black Women." The account has nearly 10,000 followers on X, and the post drew about 1,100 likes and more than 220 reposts.
The video included questions I asked Reese about her move from Chicago to Atlanta.
"What role did you play in that trade?" I asked on Oct. 16, media day for the WNBA Finals.
Reese said Chicago was trading her and worked with her on the destination. Atlanta wanted her, and she wanted Atlanta. I followed up by asking how she balanced staying somewhere to build a winner with seeking an opportunity to win elsewhere. She discussed her move from Maryland to LSU and wanting a coach who would push her.
I did my job: I asked her questions and she gave answers.
But Apex Jones argued that my coverage was going to make Reese look bad either way. When Chicago traded her, I questioned her value. When she reached the Finals with Atlanta, I questioned what joining an established winner said about her winning mentality. His accusation was that I changed the argument while keeping the same negative conclusion.
His criticism leaves out half of what I wrote. In April, I argued that either Chicago didn’t value Reese the way her biggest cheerleaders did, or she had pushed for a trade. "It’s possible that Reese demanded a trade from Chicago," I wrote at the time. Asking her in October what role she played in the move followed directly from the question I had raised six months earlier.
ANGEL REESE’S LATEST WNBA CONTROVERSY SHOWS HOW VICTIMHOOD BECAME CENTRAL TO HER BRAND
I also gave Reese an opportunity to address a criticism many people had raised: that she had forced her way out of Chicago to chase a ring with Atlanta. I included her explanation in my coverage. Giving her the chance to answer her critics is part of covering her fairly.
People are free to disagree with my assessment of Reese or the questions I ask her. But the claim that I have a problem with Black women requires more than disagreement with my coverage of one basketball player. She is an individual, and holding her accountable for what she says and does isn’t an attack on Black women.
Have I been hard on Angel Reese? Absolutely. My columns contain pointed opinions, and I use sarcasm in my social posts. But disagreement with the tone doesn't answer the underlying questions.
Love her or hate her, Reese draws strong reactions from people. That is a valuable skill in professional sports, especially in 2026. She deserves credit for that.
Another criticism I've heard many times is that I'm "obsessed" with Angel Reese. The truth is that the audience is obsessed with Reese.
My post about Reese arriving for Game 5 wearing a "Protect Black Women" shirt generated more than 1.7 million impressions and 3,400 replies on X. Another criticizing a play in Game 2 drew nearly a million impressions and more than 1,300 replies. People were watching, arguing and responding.
If posts and stories about her didn't draw significant interest, I wouldn’t cover her nearly as much.
Now, as far as how I cover Reese, that depends on what she says and does. If she talks trash and then struggles, I'm going to call her out. If she plays a great game, I'll say that, too.
After Game 2, the headline of my story was, "Angel Reese dominates Game 2 as Atlanta Dream even WNBA Finals against Golden State Valkyries." After Game 3, my headline read: "Angel Reese delivers another double-double as Atlanta Dream take 2–1 lead in WNBA Finals."
Reese played incredibly well in Games 2 and 3 and helped carry Atlanta to those two victories. I had no problem saying it, either.
And I've written about Reese's strong performances in the past. In June 2025, after a strong stretch in Chicago, I wrote: "I feel a duty to point it out when Reese does well" in a story headlined, "Angel Reese Posts Another Strong Performance, Will It Quiet The Haters?"
Interestingly, these stories never seem to come up when people are labeling me as a racist.
As much as people like to call out my reporting and writing as setting the narrative, the truth is that Reese determines the narrative. After Game 3, Reese taunted Golden State with a "too small" gesture, followed by sarcastically waving at them as they left the court.
Ahead of Game 4, she said she could "take their confidence and just try to do whatever to mess them up." I attended the postgame press conferences featuring Reese after nearly every Finals game. After Games 2 and 3, she sounded like a player who had already won a championship.
That's fine. Talk your talk. But if you want the smoke, you better back it up. Reese didn't.
Over the final four games of the WNBA Finals, Reese scored 38 points on 12-for-45 shooting. She shot 26.7 percent from the field and committed 19 turnovers. She had more turnovers than made field goals in each of those four games.
Thus, my tone changed. "Angel Reese struggles badly after bold comments as Valkyries beat Dream to even WNBA Finals," my headline read after Game 4. Was that me inventing a narrative? No. Reese taunted her opponents, explained how she was in their heads, and then proceeded to score 8 points on 2-for-12 shooting.
But, apparently, pointing that out is racist?
In Game 7, Valkyries star Gabby Williams scored 28 points in the second half. Reese scored 3 in the second half, making just one field goal. Reese said during the Finals that players become great when they "win and impact winning." She simply didn't do that when her team needed her most.
If she wants to be a superstar and treated like one of the best players in the WNBA, she can't disappear when a championship is on the line.
For some fans, though, the argument seems to end at identifying a critic as a hater. That saves them the trouble of explaining her poor performance.
There is something else I have learned covering Reese: Her teammates and coaches ride for her.
I was in Albany after LSU lost to Iowa in the 2024 Elite Eight. Flau'jae Johnson and Hailey Van Lith strongly defended Reese.
"Y’all do not get to Angel Reese. So you might want to throw the towel in because you’re wasting your energy," Van Lith said. She also praised Reese’s toughness and described her continuing to show up despite the hostility. Johnson said Reese is a "caring, loving person."
Her coaches have shown that support, too. Kim Mulkey, who coached Reese at LSU, was in Atlanta cheering her on during Game 3 of the Finals. In May, Dream head coach Karl Smesko said, "She wants to be held accountable. I mean, she’s an All-Star player, but she wants to be the best player."
Additionally, Reese deserves credit for making herself available to the media after every Finals game. Toward the end of games, reporters received emails listing the players scheduled for the postgame podium, usually that night’s top performers. More than once, Reese wasn’t listed, but she appeared anyway.
As Atlanta’s most prominent player, she should have been there regardless of performance. Still, I was surprised the Dream made her available every time, especially when she wasn't on the initial list. That was perhaps the most impressive thing I noticed about both Reese and the Dream during the WNBA Finals.
After Game 4, Reese took responsibility for her poor performance and said, "I’ll just be better."
That's what I want to hear more often from Reese. Unfortunately, after Game 5, she changed her tune. Asked about her eight shot attempts and Golden State’s defense, Reese pointed to the officiating.
"A lot of us are getting fouled, and they are not calling it," Reese said. She acknowledged Atlanta’s shooting struggles elsewhere in the press conference, but complaining about referees after a second straight bad game isn't the best look.
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
My own experience covering Reese also raises questions about how she handles criticism. During the Finals, I noticed she had blocked me on X. I’m a reporter covering the WNBA. I have never tweeted at her or tagged her in a post. Yes, I post about Reese because that's part of my job.
And I understand blocking internet trolls who direct offensive language at you. But there is a massive distinction between online trolls and a reporter criticizing your performances and public statements without ever contacting you on the platform.
To me, blocking that reporter suggests a willingness to shut out coverage she doesn’t like.
Here's my advice to Angel Reese: If you want to be treated like a superstar, accept being evaluated like one. When you taunt opponents and then struggle, both belong in the story. Own the performances that fall short as readily as you celebrate the ones that live up to your expectations.
And here’s my advice to Angel Reese fans: Root for her to succeed. And go ahead and defend her when you think criticism is unfair. But explain why it’s unfair. Calling me a hater or a racist isn’t a substitute for a counterargument.
If you believe Reese is one of the best players in the WNBA, hold her to that standard, too. You can support her without defending everything she says and does.
And please, for the love of God, stop claiming that criticism of Angel Reese amounts to criticism of all Black women.