Fox News Latest Headlines
EXCLUSIVE: State Department accuses politicians of endangering Afrikaner lives after gruesome farm attacks
FIRST ON FOX: The State Department has hit out strongly against South Africa and some of its politicians, accusing them of putting their people’s lives at risk following two attacks on White farmers believed to be Afrikaners — people of European descent — near Johannesburg.
A 50-year-old man was reportedly tortured, and a 55-year-old woman allegedly beaten to death.
In exclusive comments to Fox News Digital, a State Department spokesperson said "the lives and property of Afrikaners have been endangered by politicians who incite race-based violence against them."
BIDEN-ERA DIRECTIVE FOR DIPLOMATS TO PEDDLE DEI ON FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS SCRAPPED BY STATE DEPARTMENT
This is the latest volley from the administration in an increasingly bitter row, which first burst out of the Oval Office last year in a heated exchange between President Donald Trump and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, on a range of the country’s policies and issues — including safety concerns for the Afrikaner community.
"This month’s attacks were ‘appalling,’ said Ian Cameron, chair of South Africa’s Portfolio Committee on Police and a member of Parliament with the main opposition Democratic Alliance.
He detailed the attacks, starting with one involving Donovan Marx, a 50-year-old who was on his farm about 80 miles from Johannesburg.
Cameron told Fox News Digital there were reports Marx was shot, stabbed and had his ears cut off, describing the attack as "extraordinary cruelty."
He added that in a separate attack in the same North West Province earlier this month, a female farmer, Hannetjie van Zyl, 55, was beaten to death while opening a gate.
Eyewitness reports claim she was approached from behind and hit repeatedly over the head with an iron bar.
In both attacks, the victims’ vehicles and belongings were reportedly stolen. But the alleged torture of Marx goes beyond straightforward crimes such as burglary, Corné Mulder, leader of the opposition party Freedom Front Plus, told Fox News Digital.
"Safety and farm attacks in South Africa remains a huge problem," Mulder said. "Donovan Marx was attacked this week. He's fighting for his life in hospital at the moment. The perpetrators not only attacked him, they tried to castrate him."
While both victims were White, there have been no accusations from public figures that the attacks were racially motivated.
Cameron claimed the attacks were not isolated, noting he had "personally attended farm-attack scenes where people were tortured with boiling water, burnt with clothing irons and subjected to other horrific abuse."
"SAPS [South African Police Service] must put experienced investigators, forensic support and crime intelligence behind these cases," Cameron said. "Nobody should have to accept this level of violence as a normal part of life."
The reported torture of farmers is "unthinkable," Mulder said, adding "not one word from the President of South Africa to sympathize, not even acknowledging that this has happened, which is absolutely unbelievable."
"We have been pleading with [the] government to prioritize rural crime and farm attacks as a priority crime, they are not prepared to do so," he continued.
Fox News Digital reached out to the South African government for comment, but was referred to police, who did not immediately respond.
SOUTH AFRICAN EX-POLICE CHIEF GETS TISSUE STUCK ON FOREHEAD WHILE SWEATING DURING CORRUPTION INQUIRY
Mulder claims the recent farm attacks were fueled by the South African president’s refusal to heed Trump’s demand last year to stop performances of the song "Kill the Boer, Kill the Farmer." The term "Boer" refers to a South African of Dutch or Huguenot descent, according to Merriam-Webster.
Ramaphosa said he could not stop the song being chanted in stadiums by crowds of up to 90,000 because the country’s highest court has said the lyrics are not hate speech.
"As long as [President Ramaphosa] does not stop the incitement to attack farmers with the singing of the song "Kill the Boer," the attacks will continue," Mulder wrote in a statement. "We see the practical reality when these things play out as happened with the last two farm attacks that we've seen."
Last month, U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Brent Bozell III told Fox News Digital that Ramaphosa could ban the song despite a court ruling that it did not constitute hate speech.
"So, to say, well, you can’t do it because the court said it’s not, you know, that’s poppycock," Bozell said. "If President Ramaphosa, if he wants to, he can do it. It’s just as simple as that."
The State Department doubled down on the administration’s demand that the singing of the song be banned, with a spokesperson telling Fox News Digital on Friday, "The United States asked senior government officials to condemn incitement to race-based violence, particularly the singing of "Kill the Farmer! Kill the Boer!"
The spokesperson added that Trump has demanded South Africa formally designate rural crime as a priority crime, and "expand alternatives to the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment ownership requirements, such as equity equivalent investment programs."
Regarding farmers, the State Department spokesperson said South African politicians "threaten to confiscate their farms without compensation and support a corrupt, race-based scoring system that discriminates against Afrikaners and other minorities in employment."
"The lack of a meaningful response to these requests made clear that the South African government does not want a constructive relationship with the United States and is willing to continue pursuing oppressive policies that disadvantage all South Africans," the spokesperson continued.
Nearly 13,000 South African refugees, most of them Afrikaners, have been flown to the U.S. during fiscal year 2026. That number is expected to increase by another 17,500 refugees in fiscal year 2027.
"As directed by President Trump, we are prioritizing the resettlement of Afrikaners in South Africa escaping government-sponsored race-based discrimination," the State Department spokesperson said.
How to follow 2026 Election Day coverage on Fox News platforms
Fox News will deliver live results, race calls and around-the-clock coverage as voters decide control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections.
Here's how to watch the biggest House, Senate and governor's races unfold across Fox News Channel, Fox News Digital and streaming platforms.
Election Day 2026 is just days away, and Fox News Media will deliver live, multiplatform coverage Tuesday, Nov. 3, as Americans head to the polls to decide control of Congress and key governor's offices across the country.
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW THE LATEST ELECTION NEWS
From closely watched Senate showdowns to competitive House races that could determine the balance of power in Washington, Fox News Channel and Fox News Digital will provide live results, breaking developments and analysis throughout Election Night.
Viewers can watch live coverage on Fox News Go with a participating television provider or stream Fox News Channel through FOX One.
Fox News Channel's special "FOX News Democracy 26" coverage begins at 6 p.m. ET Tuesday, co-anchored by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum.
Dana Perino, Brit Hume, Harold Ford Jr., Bill Hemmer, Sandra Smith, Laura Ingraham, Jesse Watters, Sean Hannity and other Fox News personalities will contribute throughout the evening.
The Fox News Decision Desk will provide race calls for House, Senate and gubernatorial contests, along with projections of which party will control each chamber of Congress.
For this year’s election coverage, FNC will expand its use of augmented reality and data-driven graphics to provide viewers with a deeper understanding of election results as they unfold. Enhanced visualizations will illustrate county-level voting shifts compared to previous elections, track the balance of power in Congress and provide additional context around key races.
SENATE CONTROL IS A COIN FLIP — AND DEMOCRATS’ PATH RUNS THROUGH TRUMP COUNTRY
The network will also showcase versatile graphics packages, templates and automated production processes, allowing teams to respond quickly to breaking developments while building technology that can be used across future election cycles.
FOX Business will simulcast Fox News Channel's Election Night coverage from 6 p.m. Tuesday until 6 a.m. Wednesday. Trace Gallagher will lead overnight coverage until a special early edition of "FOX & Friends First" begins at 4 a.m.
On Fox News Digital, readers can follow a live Election Night blog featuring breaking developments, Fox News Power Rankings and Fox News Voter Analysis as polls close across the country.
The Fox News Elections Center will provide a central destination for tracking key races, election results and the battle for control of Congress.
Signed-in users can participate in "The Room," an interactive Election Night discussion experience featuring real-time commentary.
SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER
For additional Election Night analysis, "Ruthless Live! Midterm Election Show" will stream from 8 to 11 p.m. ET on Fox News Digital and FOX Nation.
Listeners can tune in to Fox News Radio or use the Fox News app's "Listen" feature beginning at 7 p.m. ET, when Jared Halpern and Jessica Rosenthal kick off live radio coverage.
More than 20 Fox News Channel and FOX Business correspondents will report from battleground states nationwide, while chief congressional correspondent Chad Pergram will provide updates from Capitol Hill.
With control of the House and Senate on the line, make Fox News Channel and Fox News Digital your destination for Election Night 2026 results, live coverage and the latest developments from across the country.
Marvel star Paul Bettany blew out 10 blood vessels in his eye during wild ‘VisionQuest’ scene
Paul Bettany's return to the Marvel universe came with an unexpected injury.
An over-the-top performance on the set of Marvel's "VisionQuest" left him with a gruesome eye injury that lasted two weeks.
"So, I was pretending to have a device on my head that is doing something to my brain, and I was just wildly overacting. And I blew out about 10 blood vessels in my eye," he explained during an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live."
JAMES MCAVOY SAYS HE ‘NEARLY DIED’ AFTER HIS LUNGS COLLAPSED FOLLOWING BOTCHED BIOPSY
"I mean, I was it was a lesson in less is more," Bettany added, before Kimmel showed a photo of his bloody injury to the audience.
Bettany admitted he was stuck with his injured eye for two weeks, but said that the show must go on.
"I think ... it must have cost production so much to take it out because we shot the whole [thing]."
GET ENTERTAINMENT SCOOP DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR EMAIL BY CLICKING HERE
And despite playing a character known for his superhuman vision, Bettany admitted his own eyesight was far from perfect.
"I mean the irony is the actor playing Vision is kind of myopic, you know. I can't see a thing when I take my glasses off, which is great depending on the actor," he joked.
Bettany reprised his role as Vision for the Disney+ series – the final chapter of a television trilogy that began with "WandaVision" in 2021 and continued with "Agatha All Along" in 2024.
In "VisionQuest," Bettany portrays a rebuilt version of Vision who is struggling to understand his identity and recover a sense of purpose.
LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
"So when we find vision, he has had his memories restored, but he is unable or perhaps unwilling to attach any feelings to them," Bettany told Kimmel. "And he is living a very quiet life in a pub in Scotland where he works."
"At night he goes and lives in the fridge freezer, and he goes inside his own head and in that head is a kind of what we call the mind space, and it's a mansion," he explained, comparing the concept to the movie "Inside Out."
"In that head, in that mansion are a bunch of different AIs who have differing personalities that help him sort of sift through the data of the day and understand humanity," he added.
PUT YOUR ENTERTAINMENT KNOWLEDGE TO THE TEST AND SEE HOW YOU SCORE
Bettany got his start in the Marvel universe as J.A.R.V.I.S, Tony Stark's artificial intelligence assistant. His new character, Vision, was created when the Avengers uploaded J.A.R.V.I.S.'s AI into a synthetic body originally designed by Ultron, using the Mind Stone to bring him to life.
"Do AI companies try to get you to do J.A.R.V.I.S. for them?" Kimmel asked.
"Gosh, I wish," he said. "I would be hanging up my acting."
"Maybe that is a seed that has now been planted," Kimmel joked.
Get $20K 'trophy arms' at home without spending a dime, says NYC fitness trainer
As some women are reportedly spending up to $20,000 to achieve sculpted "trophy arms," a New York City fitness trainer says a targeted at-home routine and proper nutrition can offer a more affordable alternative.
Marfred Suazo, better known as Fonz the Trainer, said he often has clients aiming to get what he calls the "holy grail" of arms.
Building trophy arms doesn’t require daily workouts — but exercise selection, controlled movements and nutrition matter, according to Suazo, who runs a program called the Decade Strong Blueprint.
BIGGEST WASTE OF MONEY IN YOUR HOME GYM MAY SURPRISE YOU, FITNESS EXPERT SAYS
"A lot of people talk about tone and things like that, but I think the best thing — the epitome of an arm — is having it well-balanced and well-framed into the body, and having the right proportion from the shoulders to the triceps and biceps," he told Fox News Digital.
The goal should be proper proportion to a person’s frame rather than size, Suazo emphasized.
A structured approach can help people make the most of their workout time, according to the trainer.
10-MINUTE FITNESS HABIT CAN HELP ADULTS OVER 40 MAINTAIN MUSCLE AND STAY STRONG
"Most of us don’t have so much available time to do it, so we want to do it as smartly and as effectively as possible," he said. "A more planned-out training protocol will get you to that point where you really start seeing the arms develop and change in shape."
Suazo shared the following tips for building stronger, more defined arms.
Suazo recommends combining exercises that work multiple muscle groups — such as pull-ups, rows and chest presses — with movements that target specific areas, including lateral raises and triceps extensions.
"We’re building muscle with these bigger movements, these compound movements, and then just fine-detailing everything else with lateral raises, triceps extensions and overhead triceps extensions," he said.
Suazo recommends training the arms twice a week, noting that chest and back workouts also work those muscles.
"Two to three times a week, I think, is more than enough."
JUST 10 MINUTES OF DAILY FLOOR EXERCISES MAY IMPROVE BALANCE AND AGILITY, STUDY FINDS
Adults should do muscle-strengthening activities that work all major muscle groups at least two days a week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Muscle-strengthening activities can include lifting weights, using resistance bands or performing body-weight exercises such as pushups.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
It’s also important to allow muscles time to recover. The National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases advises against working the same muscles on consecutive days.
Some common mistakes include rushing through exercises and failing to use a "full range of motion," Suazo said.
"Full range of motion" refers to a comfortable range performed with good technique, without forcing a painful movement.
Suazo emphasized deliberate, controlled movements rather than simply rushing to reach a target number of repetitions.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
"Moving with intention is the biggest thing, where you’re really fatiguing the muscles and you’re getting growth and stimulus out of them," he advised.
Lighter weights can also challenge the muscles when the exercises are sufficiently demanding, Suazo added.
Nutrition also plays a role in getting the desired results, Suazo said.
"You use the gym and all your training programs to really shape the arm as best as possible and build the areas that you want – to reveal these things, you can only do that with proper nutrition."
Protein helps the body build, maintain and repair muscle, according to the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Suazo recommends three to four meals a day, with protein included throughout the day.
"You want to have protein-conscious meals a few times per day," he said. "This will help reveal all the hard labor that you’re doing in the gym to develop a tremendous physique aesthetically."
Harry Houdini returns for one final stunt this Halloween in Fox Nation special marking 100th death anniversary
Thanks to the latest technology, Harry Houdini is making his return from the grave — just in time for the 100th anniversary of his death.
The new three-part Fox Nation series, "Houdini: Back from the Dead," uses artificial intelligence to revive the 20th-century entertainer and show audiences his life story and the death-defying stunts that defined a generation.
"Ladies and gentlemen, one minute and 20 seconds, that's all they can find of my real voice," an AI-generated version of the acclaimed escape artist said in the show's introduction. "A scratchy recording, barely audible — but it is enough."
OZZY OSBOURNE'S LATEST REINVENTION IS AN AI-POWERED INTERACTIVE HOLOGRAM EXPERIENCE
The series conducted a mock interview with Houdini using advanced technology, asking him about his fears and the risk of accidents during his awe-inspiring tricks.
"Showmanship is the largest factor in any act," the AI conjuring of Houdini said. "But the truth is, I've faced death hundreds, even thousands of times. For example, take the upside down. I'll never be able to make anything as dangerous or difficult. For its debut performance, I had to burl in — the danger is very real. I'm loaded into stirrups by my ankles and lowered in. The cover is made to fit tightly onto the steel frame, and then padlocked."
CNN, NBC, CBS INTERVIEWING VIRAL AI 'ACTRESS' TILLY NORWOOD RAISES EYEBROWS AMONG CRITICS
The series brings not just the legendary illusionist back to life, but also those closest to him — including his wife, mother, brother and friends — allowing them to recount his career, personal relationships and most daring feats.
Red Rock Films, the production company behind the series, made Fox Nation history at the show's release as "Houdini: Back from the Dead" became the platform's first full-length, multi-episode production that relied entirely on AI-generated imagery.
NEW FOX NATION DOCUMENTARY CHRONICLES 20-YEAR JOURNEY BEHIND ‘REAGAN’ FILM
To create historically accurate visuals, filmmakers drew on more than 400 historic photographs and archival footage. Actors provided the movements, mannerisms, and performances of the historical figures, while technology transformed their appearances.
"Fox Nation is breaking new creative ground by using emerging technology to bring one of history's most fascinating figures to life for a modern audience," Lauren Petterson, president of the platform, said in a press release.
Houdini died exactly 100 years ago on October 31, 1926. One century later, fans can now gain new access to the passionate performer's life and legacy by subscribing to Fox Nation.
Fox News' Taylor Penley contributed to this story.
No Jacksonville, no problem? Georgia, Florida fans wanted a home-and-home, but money wins in college football
ATLANTA - There is obviously a different feel to the annual "World’s Largest Cocktail Party" this year thanks to the showdown between Florida and Georgia being played inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, compared to its usual home in Jacksonville.
Between the normal tailgate experiences that take place over the 24 hours to kickoff and the overwhelming feel of tradition for this showdown that happens on a yearly basis, it's actually the fans who are feeling a bit underwhelmed by the game being played in Atlanta this season.
Thanks to ongoing renovations at EverBank Stadium, which is home to the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, this highly-contested game is calling Atlanta and Tampa home for the next two years.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE
Sure, there isn’t much either team can do about its usual venue, with the game scheduled to return in three years along the Florida coast.
But fans of both teams were hoping that the opportunity to play this rivalry game in both Athens and Gainesville over these two years would have been on the table for the first time since the 1994 and 1995 seasons, which was also due to renovations in Jacksonville.
"I don't really understand it, though I know it comes down to money," Andrew, from Ocala, told OutKick. "It would have been pretty cool to make the trip to Athens and experience what it's like to play this game in a home stadium.
"Honestly, I think they fumbled an opportunity to do something different. Where the heck are we supposed to tailgate here in Atlanta? Don't get me wrong, I'm excited for the actual game, but I think we're going to be missing out on the normal tailgate fun that we usually host in Jacksonville."
Money, you say? Yes, it comes down to the almighty dollar.
If you were under the impression that these neutral site games were going away in favor of more home-and-home series in college football, I think you're forgetting about how much each team is paid for these types of games.
When both universities put this showdown up for sale, the offers started pouring in. Sure, it helped that Atlanta is the home of the SEC Championship game (that could be ending this season), but it also came down to how much Falcons owner Arthur Blank was willing to pay each team to play this game inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Arthur M. Blank Sports and Entertainment, which runs multiple venues and events for the city of Atlanta, is paying each school $7.5 million to host the, while the city of Jacksonville is paying $1.5 million each over the next two years for their promised return to Florida.
Each team also received 29,071 tickets for this game, so it should still look like the annual showdown in Jacksonville. But, obviously that would not have been the case if this was played in Gainesville, with SEC guidelines noting that each visiting school receives around 4500-6000 tickets.
Starting to see why this game was never going on-campus? It should be noted that only the home team would see the revenue generated by this game if it were to have been played in either Gainesville or Athens.
When you factor in the cost of staging a game like this, it makes more financial sense to keep it at a neutral site.
But, that doesn’t take away the frustration from some fans who made the trip to Atlanta.
"I just don't care for another game inside this darn stadium," Thomas, a Georgia fan, told OutKick. "Hell, we should just turn this into our second-home with the SEC Championship game. I guess that's actually a compliment to Kirby Smart and my Dawgs, but it would've been interesting to make a trip to Gainesville, even if I hate the Gators.
"I just hope it has the same feel as Jacksonville does every year. But yeah, I am excited to see us whoop Florida's ass, but it would’ve been nice to do it in their home stadium at least once in my lifetime under these circumstances."
And, there will be more neutral site games to come in the future in college football.
A city like Nashville is the perfect example; it already hosted Ole Miss and Louisville to start the season. After agreeing to cancel their home-and-home series, both Georgia and Florida State agreed to play inside the Tennessee Titans' new stadium in 2029, with them preparing to take home a nice payday in the process.
There will be others as well, as Dallas and even Las Vegas are still in the market for a neutral-site game, and both have already hosted such games in the past.
So, with the CFP on the brink of expanding to 24 teams, there could be openings across what is known as "bowl season."
"It might not be in the next two or three years, but we're already looking at potential options to potentially host games at the beginning of each season," one bowl game executive told OutKick.
"Playing more home games in an expanded playoff means lesser big-brand teams being available for our postseason matchups. We already know that adjustments are going to have to be made in some form, and I don't expect us to just disappear like some want to report. It's all about adjusting with the times, so maybe it could benefit us to open the season with our game, compared to ending it."
Today, Georgia and Florida fans gather for what should be dubbed the "World's Largest Indoor Cocktail Party' in a city well-versed in hosting big games.
JACKSON THOMPSON: Angel Reese trash talk timeline, from mocking Caitlin Clark to beefing with Bidens
Angel Reese has taken a crafty, scrappy and mouthy road to her first ever Game 7 in WNBA history.
She has already made her presence heard in the series, taunting Golden State with a "too small" gesture. But Reese’s history of making statements stretches back well before her first Finals appearance.
From her championship-game taunts directed at Caitlin Clark in college to public criticism of her own team in Chicago, Reese has repeatedly made headlines with her words and gestures. Those moments have sparked debates over sportsmanship, player treatment and the scrutiny that comes with stardom.
ANGEL REESE WENT FROM TAUNTING GOLDEN STATE TO COMPLAINING ABOUT OFFICIATING AS WNBA FINALS SHIFTED
Reese has, at times, explicitly embraced the attention.
"I’ll take the bad guy role," she said in June 2024, while arguing that she also deserved credit for women’s basketball’s growing popularity.
As she prepares for Saturday’s championship showdown, here is a look back at the trash talk, pointed comments and public clashes that have accompanied her rise.
Much of the world was introduced to Angel Reese at the end of the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship.
After her LSU Tigers knocked off Caitlin Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes, Reese made a gesture that changed the sport forever.
As LSU closed out its 102-85 national championship victory over Iowa, Reese waved her hand in front of her face in Clark’s direction, then pointed toward her ring finger. The "you can’t see me" gesture, popularized by wrestler John Cena, was one Clark had used during Iowa’s Elite Eight win over Louisville.
The celebration became a debate of its own. Critics accused Reese of poor sportsmanship, while defenders questioned why her gesture drew backlash when Clark’s had been celebrated. Reese, named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player, stood by it.
"I don’t fit in a box that y’all want me to be in," Reese told reporters afterward. "But when other people do it, y’all say nothing."
Clark herself declined to join the criticism.
"I don’t think Angel should be criticized at all," she told ESPN two days later, defending trash talk as part of competition.
Reese’s next public clash reached the White House.
A day after LSU won the national championship, then-first lady Jill Biden suggested that runner-up Iowa should also visit the White House, an honor traditionally reserved for the champions.
Reese’s response was short: "A JOKE." She posted it on Twitter with three laughing emojis.
Biden’s office subsequently clarified that her suggestion was meant to celebrate the historic game and women athletes, and that she looked forward to hosting LSU. Reese remained unimpressed, referring to that response as an apology during an appearance on the "Paper Route" podcast.
"I don’t accept the apology," Reese said.
She argued that LSU would not have received an invitation had it lost, then offered an alternative destination.
ANGEL REESE MOCKS CAITLIN CLARK AFTER CLEAR PUSH AS WNBA'S BEST RIVALRY HITS NEW GEAR
"They can have that spotlight. We’ll go to the Obamas. We’ll see Michelle. We’ll see Barack."
President Joe Biden ultimately invited LSU and men’s champion Connecticut, without including Iowa. By April 7, Reese said she would attend with her teammates, explaining that she wanted to do what was best for the team.
The episode ended with a warmer exchange: Reese attended the May 26 celebration, hugged Jill Biden and presented her with a jersey.
Reese left her final SEC championship game with a loss and a message for the winners.
LSU, the defending national champion, had been trying to hand undefeated South Carolina its first loss of the season. The Gamecocks held on for a 79-72 victory in Greenville, South Carolina, after a physical game that boiled over into a late confrontation.
Reese and South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso had spent much of the afternoon battling inside. During the second quarter, Reese pulled Cardoso’s hair as she headed upcourt. On another possession, Cardoso pushed Reese in the back, and Reese responded with an elbow to Cardoso’s face that drew an intentional foul.
The scuffle near the end of the game began with other players.
With South Carolina ahead 73-66 and 2:08 remaining, LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson committed an intentional foul on MiLaysia Fulwiley after a turnover. Johnson then bumped South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins while heading toward her bench. Cardoso rushed in and shoved Johnson to the floor.
Cardoso was ejected for fighting, and five other players were ejected for leaving their benches.
Reese walked away from the confrontation and was not ejected. But her postgame comments threw a jab in a different way.
"We’re not scared of South Carolina," she told reporters, repeating the declaration before offering a warning to LSU’s upcoming NCAA Tournament opponents.
"Anybody seeing us moving forward should be scared."
Reese was three games into her WNBA career when she weighed in on who deserved credit for the league’s growing spotlight.
After Chicago’s 90-81 victory over the New York Liberty, she celebrated the win with a pointed post on X.
"and that’s on getting a WIN in a packed area not just cause of one player on our charter flight," Reese wrote, adding a kissing emoji. She subsequently deleted the post.
The comment followed Charles Barkley’s criticism of WNBA players he accused of being petty toward Clark. Barkley said they should thank the Indiana Fever rookie for the attention and money she was bringing to the league, including its newly introduced charter flights.
The WNBA had announced its full charter program earlier that month, citing years of work to strengthen its business.
Although many interpreted Reese’s post as a swipe at Clark, Reese later told the Chicago Sun-Times that Barkley was her target.
"He knows it was directed towards him and whoever is not actually educated on what’s going on in the league," she said.
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
Reese argued that numerous players, including herself, had contributed to the WNBA’s growth.
Reese’s first WNBA meeting with Clark brought a controversial foul, a fine and another declaration about her place in the spotlight.
During Indiana’s 71-70 victory over Chicago, Sky guard Chennedy Carter knocked Clark to the floor with an away-from-the-ball shoulder check. The WNBA subsequently upgraded the foul to a flagrant 1.
Broadcast footage showed Reese standing and clapping from Chicago’s bench after the contact, drawing further scrutiny. The league also fined Reese $1,000 for failing to make herself available for postgame interviews.
Speaking to reporters June 3, Reese said she was willing to embrace an unpopular role as women’s basketball continued attracting new audiences.
"I’ll take the ‘bad guy’ role," she said.
She pointed back to LSU’s 2023 championship game against Iowa and the attention that had followed, arguing that the sport’s growth extended beyond one player.
"It’s because of me, too, and I want y’all to realize that," Reese said.
Reese’s next complaint came after her own foul on Clark went to review.
During the third quarter of Indiana’s 91-83 victory over Chicago, Reese attempted to block a Clark layup and struck her across the head, sending her to the floor. Officials initially called a common foul, then upgraded it to a flagrant 1 after reviewing the play.
Reese defended her attempt to contest the shot.
"It was a basketball play. I can’t control the refs," she said afterward.
She also argued that Chicago had not received enough calls when attacking the basket, saying a review of the film showed missed fouls.
"I guess some people got a special whistle," Reese said, without naming a player.
Reese and fellow Sky rookie Kamilla Cardoso each finished with five fouls. Chicago coach Teresa Weatherspoon also expressed frustration with calls she believed her post players should have received.
Clark offered a more restrained assessment of the contact.
"It’s just part of basketball," she said, adding that Reese "was trying to make a play on the ball."
Reese turned criticism of her rebounding into a challenge for her opponents.
During an episode of "Unapologetically Angel" featuring Dwyane Wade, she defended the skill that had become her calling card during her rookie season.
"Why don’t y’all box me out? How come y’all don’t box me out?" Reese asked.
Her rebounding had become a recurring point of debate, with critics highlighting possessions in which she collected her own missed shots. Reese argued that her success on the glass was being turned into a reason to criticize her.
She finished the season leading the WNBA with 13.1 rebounds per game, including a league-best 5.1 offensive rebounds. She also shot 39.1% from the field.
Reese acknowledged during the conversation that her offense needed work and said improving it would be an offseason priority. Her message about rebounding was more defiant: opponents had their chance to stop her.
Reese took her trash talk to the Unrivaled League — and a television microphone picked it up.
During a timeout in the first season of Unrivaled, the offseason 3-on-3 league, Reese delivered a blunt assessment of New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu’s defense.
"Sabrina can’t f---ing guard!" Reese said while her Rose BC coach, Nola Henry, was wearing a microphone. Ionescu was playing for the opposing Phantom BC.
Phantom won 75-63 behind Ionescu’s 32 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. She also blocked a Reese layup in the fourth quarter. Reese finished with 13 points and seven rebounds.
Asked about the remark during a Ringer NBA Show interview released Feb. 18, Ionescu defended trash talk as an ordinary part of basketball. She also had a reminder about the result.
"I don’t pay too much mind to that one because we won and I had 32 points," Ionescu said.
Reese’s next Unrivaled milestone came with an early exit.
During Rose BC’s game against Laces BC, Reese received two technical fouls late in the second quarter after being called for a foul while guarding Tiffany Hayes.
Reese waved her hand after the call, drawing the first technical. She appeared to argue that her gesture was directed at Hayes rather than the referee, but received a second technical and was ejected — a first for the new league.
"While I understood her frustration completely, she’ll grow from that in terms of keeping her composure," Rose coach Nola Henry said.
Reese finished with six points and 15 rebounds, and Rose won 83-69.
Her response continued on X.
"Happy BHM. yall know i had to be the first," Reese posted, referring to Black History Month.
She also called Sports Illustrated’s coverage of the ejection "clickbait," adding, "everything i do keep going viral."
Reese borrowed the Lunar Owls’ celebration after helping spoil their perfect start in Unrivaled.
She delivered 22 points and 21 rebounds — the league’s first 20-point, 20-rebound performance — as Rose BC beat the previously unbeaten Owls 72-63 on Feb. 21. The Owls entered the game 8-0.
As Reese left the court, she flapped her arms and shouted "Hootie Hoo," mimicking her opponents’ signature chant.
Reese’s second WNBA season opened with another confrontation with Clark.
With 4:38 left in the third quarter of Chicago’s opener against Indiana, Clark committed a hard foul after Reese grabbed an offensive rebound, knocking Reese to the floor. Reese jumped up and moved toward Clark before Fever center Aliyah Boston stepped between them.
Officials upgraded Clark’s foul to a flagrant 1 after reviewing the play and assessed offsetting technical fouls to Reese and Boston.
Crew chief Roy Gulbeyan explained afterward that Clark’s foul involved unnecessary contact. He described Reese’s penalty as a "verbal technical" and Boston’s as a "physical taunt technical."
Reese kept her postgame assessment brief.
"Basketball play. Refs got it right. Move on," she said.
Clark said during an in-game interview that there was "nothing malicious" about the foul.
Indiana won 93-58. Clark finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, while Reese recorded 12 points and 17 rebounds.
Reese decided the risk of a fine was worth airing her complaints about WNBA officiating.
After Chicago’s 80-75 loss to Minnesota, she said she had questioned an official about the Sky’s lack of free throws entering the fourth quarter. According to Reese, the official responded that it was "not her job."
Chicago finished with eight free-throw attempts to Minnesota’s 17. Four of the Lynx’s attempts came after Chicago fouled in the final 15 seconds.
Reese called for the officiating to improve and dismissed the potential financial penalty as cheap.
"I don’t give a damn if I get fined," she said. "I am tired of this s---."
She carried that frustration onto X, describing a photo showing contact around her waist during a rebound as "diabolical."
In another post, she shared her press conference comments and tagged the WNBA with a message: "idgaf. DO BETTER."
Reese appeared to push back against former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III’s claimed inside scoop on her relationship with Clark.
In a July 10 post condemning a racist image of Reese, Griffin also claimed people in her circle had contacted him and claimed she had grown to hate Clark.
Hours later, Reese posted a pointed response without naming Griffin.
"lying on this app when everybody know the first and last name of everybody in my circle for clout is nastyyyy work," she wrote.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE
Reese’s assessment of Chicago’s roster brought consequences from her own organization.
In a Chicago Tribune interview published Sept. 3, Reese called for roster upgrades and raised the possibility of eventually leaving if the Sky didn’t improve.
"I’m not settling for the same s--- we did this year," she said.
She specifically questioned relying on point guard Courtney Vandersloot, then 36 and recovering from a season-ending ACL injury.
"We can’t rely on Courtney to come back at the age that she’s at," Reese said. She also said Vandersloot could remain an asset, while advocating for a younger, experienced guard.
In a televised interview, Vandersloot said: "My age is absolutely not a factor. I am coming back."
Rachel Banham told the Sun-Times she felt "blindsided" by Reese’s comments. Players held a meeting after their Sept. 3 game, and Reese apologized.
"I didn’t intentionally mean to put down my teammates," Reese said, arguing that her language had been taken out of context.
On Sept. 5, the Sky announced Reese was suspended for the first-half of a Sept. 7 game against Las Vegas, citing "statements detrimental to the team."
Reese ultimately missed the second half, too, with a back injury.
It marked the beginning of the end of Reese in Chicago, as she was traded to the Atlanta Dream ahead of the 2026 season, in April.
Eleven days after Chicago traded her to Atlanta for two first-round draft picks, Reese used her introductory news conference to explain what she wanted from her new basketball home.
"I enjoyed being able to grow within my first two years, but I wanted more. I love to win, I love to compete and I wanted to be surrounded by people that can make me better," she said. "I don’t care about anything else that comes with it. I want to win and being able to come to an organization that really cared about their players."
Reese’s back-and-forth with a former teammate ended with that teammate getting tossed.
Reese and Toronto Tempo forward Isabelle Harrison, who played together in Chicago during Reese’s 2024 rookie season, had been jawing throughout their matchup in Toronto. Their encounter escalated in the third quarter.
With 6:05 remaining in the period, Harrison pulled Reese to the floor as the Atlanta forward worked inside. Players from both teams converged, and Reese’s teammates pulled her away. Officials initially called a common foul, then upgraded it to a flagrant 2 after reviewing the play, ejecting Harrison. No additional penalties were assessed during the confrontation.
Harrison had scored 17 points before her early exit. Reese remained in the game and finished with 15 points and 17 rebounds, including a career-high 11 offensive boards, as Atlanta won 102-77.
Reese took aim at All-Star voting after Atlanta failed to land a single starter.
Speaking before the Dream’s July 2 game against Washington, Reese called the results "disrespectful," particularly toward teammates Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. She credited the guards with driving Atlanta’s success and said she would speak up for them.
"For us not to have anyone was just a slap in the face, but they’re not going to say anything. I am."
Reese also congratulated the selected starters and said they deserved their spots. She expected Atlanta’s players to make the roster when reserves were announced.
The starting lineup came from a weighted vote: Fans accounted for 50%, with players and media contributing 25% each. Howard and Gray finished fifth and sixth among guards, with four starting spots available. Reese finished seventh among frontcourt players, one place outside the six-player cutoff.
Five days later, all three were announced as All-Star reserves, selected by the league’s head coaches.
Reese gave Jonquel Jones the "too small" treatment. Jones returned the favor.
During Atlanta’s September matchup with New York, Reese backed down the Liberty center and scored a short shot in the second quarter. She followed the basket with the familiar gesture, pinching her fingers together to suggest Jones couldn’t handle her inside.
Jones answered in the third quarter. She backed Reese toward the basket, scored as Reese fell to the floor and delivered her own "too small" celebration.
Both finished with double-doubles: Reese had 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Jones recorded 18 points and 12 boards. Atlanta won 95-84, moving closer to securing home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs.
Reese picked up a technical for taunting Washington, then waved the Mystics out of the playoffs.
With 4:08 remaining in Game 2 of their first-round series, Reese blocked Michaela Onyenwere’s layup and grabbed the rebound. She turned to exchange words with Onyenwere, who swatted the ball from her hand. Officials assessed Reese a technical foul for taunting.
After Atlanta completed its 93-75 victory and two-game sweep, Reese and teammate Allisha Gray raised their hands and waved goodbye toward Washington’s players.
Veteran teammate DeWanna Bonner stepped between them and pulled both players’ hands down.
Reese finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and three blocks as Atlanta advanced to the semifinals.
Speaking afterward, she praised Washington’s young roster and predicted future success for the Mystics. But she also offered her assessment of the series: "the best team came out on top."
Reese had words for two Liberty stars as Atlanta closed out New York.
The first exchange followed a second-quarter basket by Dream rookie Isobel Borlase, who appeared to push off against Sabrina Ionescu without drawing an offensive foul. On the next possession, Ionescu pushed Borlase while setting a screen and was called for an offensive foul.
Reese ran over and repeatedly spoke to Ionescu. Rhyne Howard stepped between them and pushed Ionescu, while Reese continued talking before DeWanna Bonner led her away. Officials reviewed the confrontation and assessed no technical fouls, ruling that no hostile act had occurred.
Minutes later, Jonquel Jones blocked Reese’s shot and bumped her with her chest. The two stood chest-to-chest and exchanged words before teammates separated them. This time, both received technical fouls.
Reese finished with 22 points and nine rebounds in Atlanta’s 85-83 victory, completing a three-game sweep and sending the Dream to their first Finals since 2013.
Afterward, Reese described competing against respected peers as "literally war," adding that "the respect is given."
Reese brought her "too small" taunt to the Finals, along with her running commentary.
During Game 2, Reese and Valkyries center Aminata Gueye exchanged words while Reese stood at the free-throw line following a foul by Gueye. Reese made both shots, then blocked Gueye’s layup on Golden State’s next possession. She finished with 30 points and 16 rebounds in Atlanta’s 79-65 victory, evening the series.
In Game 3, Reese pinched her fingers together toward Golden State players in the familiar taunting gesture. Photographers also captured her making it after the victory, with teammates laughing beside her.
Reese contributed 21 points and 12 rebounds as Atlanta won 97-71 and took a 2-1 series lead.
Speaking to reporters on Oct. 23, she explained her effort to unsettle Golden State.
"They’re playing into my mental game where I can take their confidence and just try to do whatever to mess them up," she said.
She also said Golden State’s home atmosphere at Chase Center, nicknamed Ballhalla, did not intimidate her and suggested Atlanta presented a tougher environment for visiting players.
The Valkyries responded. Kaila Charles emphasized the need to match Atlanta’s energy and answer its trash talk. During Game 4, broadcast cameras caught Charles pushing Reese’s arm as Atlanta gathered for a huddle. Reese pushed back, and the two exchanged words. Golden State won 67-62 to tie the series.
Golden State also won Game 5, putting Atlanta one loss from elimination. The Dream answered Thursday with an 80-69 Game 6 victory. Reese recorded 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, while Allisha Gray scored 23 points and Rhyne Howard added 21.
That sends the series back to Ballhalla for the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history. Tipoff is Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at Chase Center, with both franchises seeking their first championship.
SCHOEN, COOPERMAN: A red retreat for Republicans is not the same as a blue wave in 2026
With less than one week until the midterms, many have projected that Democrats could win in a 2018-style "blue wave," when they won 41 House seats, due to their almost 9-point lead in the generic congressional ballot and a national environment that has tilted drastically in their favor.
That is the wrong term for what is occurring.
Indeed, what we are looking at now is a red retreat, a red collapse, and a potential red defeat, not an overwhelming victory for Democrats or their policies.
FOX NEWS POLL: SQUEEZED BY COSTS, FRUSTRATED VOTERS TURN TO THE DEMOCRATS
Make no mistake, to the extent that we can determine the eventual outcome, Democrats are almost certain to take the House and have nearly a two-thirds chance to take the Senate.
Democratic candidates are ahead or tied in virtually all of the battleground Senate races – North Carolina, Michigan, and Maine among them – while there are signs of a red retreat in typically safe states like Kansas, Texas, and even possibly Alaska.
LIZ PEEK: FIVE REASONS REPUBLICANS COULD DEFY THE POLLS AND SHOCK DEMOCRATS ON ELECTION DAY
At the same time, early voting numbers favor Democrats, as does the enthusiasm gap, which shows Democrats are more motivated to vote than Republicans.
This has shown up in primaries as well. In the twenty-two states that held competitive primaries this year, seventeen saw increases in Democratic voter turnout. In Texas alone, whereas in 2022, Republicans cast 900,000 more votes than Democrats, this year, Democrats cast 150,000 more – a 1.5 million vote swing.
LEE CARTER: AMERICA IS ANGRY AT EVERYONE — BUT WHO WILL ACTUALLY VOTE?
Likewise, President Trump’s approval, averaging just 38%, is contributing to growing pessimism. When asked whether the country is on the right track or headed in the wrong direction, 32% now say the country is headed in the right direction, versus 63% who say it is on the wrong track, a net-negative 31 points.
In March 2025, that was just under a net-negative 9 points, underscoring the decline that has occurred and just how much Americans have soured on this administration.
SCHOEN, COOPERMAN: DEMOCRATS COULD BE RIDING A MIDTERM WAVE. THESE NUMBERS SHOULD TERRIFY THE GOP
To be sure, if a red retreat turns into a red collapse, Democrats will win the Senate.
However, the data also make clear that the shift in national sentiment can, in no way, be read as an endorsement of Democrats’ policies, to the extent that they have offered an agenda.
DEMOCRATS SAY THEY'LL MAKE LIFE AFFORDABLE. YOUR WALLET MAY DISAGREE
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries came closest in the New York Times last weekend, outlining priorities on costs, health care, and checking the administration. But that was more a case against Republican rule than a governing blueprint with broad public support.
Indeed, if Democrats win the Senate, it will primarily be a product of frustration with the administration, inflation, and the war in Iran – not because voters endorse a sweeping Democratic agenda.
MAINE, KANSAS SENATE RACES NECK AND NECK AS DEMOCRATS LEAD IN TEXAS, MICHIGAN, POLL SHOWS
Currently, just under 40% of Americans have a favorable view of the Democratic Party. That is statistically tied with President Trump as well as the Republican Party.
Democrats should therefore resist treating victory as a license to move sharply left. Troy Jackson (Maine), Abdul El-Sayed (Michigan), and James Talarico (Texas) are running in different states and may win for different reasons, but no faction can claim ownership of the national result.
INDEPENDENT VOTERS AREN’T PICKING A POLITICAL TEAM, THEY JUST FEEL PICKED ON
The test will be whether Democrats turn public anger into a disciplined agenda: lowering costs, restoring stability, checking executive overreach, and attracting support beyond their base. If, instead, they spend two years relitigating ideological fights, their majority will be short-lived.
In fact, in a recent ABC survey, democratic socialism was deeply unpopular, with ratings bordering on Trump’s. Less than 4 in 10 (37%) of Americans had a favorable view, while 59% did not.
LEE CARTER: 2026 ELECTION COULD ALL COME DOWN TO JUST ONE TYPE OF VOTER
In that same vein, even Democratic voters are not sold. When asked whether they prefer the Democratic Party to move further to the political center or the political left, 48% of Democrats preferred the center, versus 27% who preferred moving to the left, according to New York Times polling.
Among independents, arguably the most critical bloc, the findings are even more stark. More than 7 in 10 (72 percent) of independents want Democrats to move to the center, whereas just 11% want the party to go further left.
Even if Democrats do sweep both chambers of Congress, they will have won on a rejection of Trump and Republican governance – not a blank check to govern from the left. Victory would create an opportunity to provide competent, practical leadership, not a mandate.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION
All of this will matter for Democrats because the 2028 elections will unofficially start next Wednesday.
Democrats still lack a single recognized leader and remain divided between the far left and establishment wings, and the midterms will not resolve that fight. Their immediate task is proving they can govern competently, appeal to independents, and improve Americans' daily lives.
Ultimately, these midterms will be a referendum on President Trump and Republicans. Voters will cast their ballots with gas prices, mortgage rates, and other costs foremost in their minds, not with what it means for 2028.
A red retreat may deliver Democrats power. But if they mistake backlash for ideological conversion, they will squander the opening. Governing from the pragmatic center-left – focused on affordability, stability, and results – is how they rebuild trust.
Carly Cooperman is CEO of Schoen Cooperman Research.
Tinder killer who believed he was a warlock said he 'picked the wrong person' after murdering woman
Sydney Loofe thought she was heading out for a second date with a woman she met on Tinder. Instead, the 24-year-old vanished — and the man convicted of her murder would later make a disturbing admission about why she proved to be the "wrong person" to kill.
"I don't regret killing Sydney," Aubrey Trail said, according to filmmaker Christopher St. John. "I don't regret killing somebody, but I regret killing ... I picked the wrong person."
Trail, then a 52-year-old con man, was convicted of strangling the Nebraska store clerk with an electrical cord in 2017, cutting her body into 14 pieces, placing the remains in garbage bags and dumping them in roadside ditches. At the trial, witnesses testified that Trail and his girlfriend, Bailey Boswell, then 25, had solicited them for group sex and talked about the occult and gaining "powers" through killing.
ARIZONA MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING WOMAN AFTER SOCIAL MEDIA FIRST DATE ENDS IN DESERT GRAVE
"One of the FBI agents said that the culprits were in a frenzy," St. John told Fox News Digital. "They were looking to do this, and Sydney was the available target. She was trusting and innocent and fit the profile. You then later hear Aubrey Trail, the murderer, says, 'I picked the wrong person.'"
"I think that's incredibly chilling for me because he has no remorse, but he wishes that he hadn't chosen someone with such strong family and friends because it led to his capture."
Loofe's murder at the hands of Trail, who described himself as a "powerful warlock" and the leader of a sex cult, is explored in the new Hulu true crime docuseries "Swipe Right on the Devil." The three-part series features interviews with Loofe's loved ones and investigators, as well as recordings of Trail from death row.
Loofe, a cashier at Menards, a home improvement store, lived alone in an apartment with her cat, Mimsy. According to friends, she was yearning for a relationship. On Tinder, she came across a profile for a woman named Audrey, an alias used by Boswell. After matching and exchanging messages, the two women went on their first date. They planned a second date for the next day. Loofe was smitten.
"Sydney was like any one of us," said St. John. "She was feeling lonely and searching for belonging. She had gone on a date with this woman, and she was so excited that she immediately wrote to her friends. They were like, 'Great, nothing to worry about.' And she was never heard from again. Something awful came out of the darkness."
When Loofe didn't show up for her morning shift the following day, her family requested a welfare check. Police found her car in the driveway. Her work clothes and purse were laid out for work. Her cat hadn't been fed.
FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X
Loofe's friend, Brooklyn McCrystal, knew that she had been on a date the night before she disappeared. McCrystal created a Tinder profile to find Audrey in hopes of getting her contact information. When McCrystal matched with Audrey on the dating app, they exchanged phone numbers. McCrystal gave Boswell's information to police. Loofe's friends also showed investigators her final social media post, a selfie shared on Snapchat captioned "Ready for my date."
"Brooklyn provided the first big break in the case," said St. John. "She catfished the bad guys. There's digital tracking. It's got all the hallmarks of an amazing investigation. But ultimately, what led to Aubrey and Bailey's capture was the people who were devoted to Sydney searching for answers."
Boswell refused to cooperate with investigators. When police tracked her phone, they learned it was a burner phone registered under a fake name. They traced the phone to hotels in the area, where surveillance video and a state-issued ID presented at check-in helped investigators identify Boswell as "Audrey." The video also showed that she was traveling with an older man, Trail. The Lincoln Journal Star reported that Loofe's phone last pinged at Boswell and Trail's apartment that night.
Investigators obtained a search warrant for the apartment, which smelled strongly of bleach. Boswell and Trail had paid their rent early and left.
Police named Boswell and Trail as persons of interest. On Nov. 29, 2017, the couple released a video on social media denying any involvement in Loofe's disappearance. Boswell said she had gone on two dates with Loofe, but after their second date, she had dropped Loofe off at a friend’s house. Despite maintaining their innocence, they went on the run.
Boswell and Trail were arrested on Nov. 30, 2017, near Branson, Missouri, on unrelated federal fraud charges.
SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS
Nearly three weeks after Loofe disappeared, investigators used cellphone data to trace Boswell and Trail's movements and identify rural areas where they appeared to have slowed down or stopped.
On Dec. 4, 2017, investigators searched a roadside ditch near Edgar, Nebraska. They found car keys, a phone, a label with Loofe's name and her dismembered upper arm, which bore a tattoo that read "Everything will be wonderful someday." The Lincoln Journal Star reported that some garbage bags contained her clothing.
According to court documents, Trail and Boswell were captured on surveillance video at a Home Depot in Lincoln on Nov. 15, 2017, buying tools investigators believed were used to dismember Loofe, hours before her death. Investigators believed Boswell and Trail had lured Loofe through Tinder before killing her and dismembering her body.
"During the trial, the prosecutor said that Aubrey and Bailey had four arms, four legs and one mind," director Brian Biegel told Fox News Digital. "That speaks to how intertwined they were, how they fed off of each other's darkness and desire for evil."
After his arrest, investigators questioned Trail about accounts that he portrayed himself as a powerful warlock and surrounded himself with women he called witches. Trail initially dismissed the occult talk as role-playing, but later told investigators, "Witches kill ... the more they kill, their power increases."
"I spoke to Aubrey Trail for over two years on the telephone and on video conferences," said Biegel. "I do believe that he believes, based on his history growing up in rural Tennessee and the people that he was groomed by, which, according to him, were witches and they believe in dark magic."
SIGN UP TO GET THE TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER
"I believe, that he believes, that he has special powers and he can use them mostly to manipulate vulnerable people into bending to his will," Biegel continued. "And I think that's an important distinction because yes, in his words, he was trying to form a coven of witches and groom them to do awful, terrible things. It's his belief that if they had done that, they would have superpowers."
St. John said the filmmakers were aware during production that Trail was "a liar and a serial one."
GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB
"There's truth in and among the lies, so we were constantly trying to check ourselves and be like, 'Are we being manipulated by him just like he manipulated these young women?' And honestly, we didn't want to give him more of a platform for his, frankly, out-there views."
The docuseries also examines how Boswell used multiple identities on Tinder to meet women, including Loofe.
Ana Golyakova said Trail required her and Boswell to be intimate in front of him, while Ashley Hills said Trail beat her if she disobeyed his demands. Hills said Trail's rules included remaining naked, asking permission to do virtually anything — even to use the bathroom — and not speaking to other men.
Several women described similar patterns of control. Hills also said Trail told her he practiced witchcraft and could control people's minds.
LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE
The filmmakers said the women's accounts were crucial to understanding how Trail and Boswell operated — and how investigators ultimately brought them to justice.
"At the heart of this story is Sydney Loofe and the women who were pulled into the orbit of Aubrey and Bailey," said St. John.
"These were young women who, in a very universal way, were searching for belonging in a place that was hard for them to find that. It made them vulnerable and, as a result, they fell into this awful situation. But they were incredibly brave. Other than Sydney, who unfortunately was killed, these young women have told their story in court, and they're responsible for putting these people away."
Trail was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in 2019. He also pleaded no contest to improper disposal of human skeletal remains. He was sentenced to death in 2021.
Boswell was convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and improper disposal of human skeletal remains in 2020. She was sentenced to life in prison the following year.
"There was a thirst for doing something really awful to someone that had built up in Bailey and Aubrey's orbit," said Biegel. "And so, Sydney was at the wrong place at the wrong time. She came into their world at a time when they were ready to perform some of their supposed beliefs in witchcraft and dark magic."
"This is obviously a cautionary tale about not knowing who's on the other side of the screen," Biegel said. "But had it not been for the brilliant work of the Lincoln Police Department and the FBI, there would probably still be two killers on the streets. Who knows how many other people they would have killed?"
LISTEN TO THE NEW 'CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO' PODCAST
Fox News Digital’s Michael Ruiz and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Miranda Lambert's friend kidnapped by her own father at age 7 recalls daring rescue that brought her home
Lauren Burns was dressed in a cheerleader costume for Halloween weekend in 1987 when she climbed into her father's car. But instead of taking her trick-or-treating, he drove the 7-year-old to the airport and flew her thousands of miles from her Dallas home.
Ali Bayan assured the little girl that the trip to his home country of Jordan was a "surprise" — and that her mother, Cathy Mahone, knew all about it. But as days turned into weeks and her father refused to let her speak to her mother, Burns began to realize she might never return home.
"I didn't think I would ever see my mother again," Burns recalled to Fox News Digital.
Burns recounts the abduction and the international rescue mission it sparked in her memoir, "Stolen." Her childhood friend, country music superstar Miranda Lambert — whose family played a crucial role in bringing Burns home — wrote the foreword.
Fox News Digital reached out to Lambert for comment.
"By the time I was six weeks old, my parents got divorced," Burns said.
WATCH: MIRANDA LAMBERT'S FRIEND RECALLS BEING KIDNAPPED BY FATHER AT AGE 7
"All I ever knew was that kind of upbringing. I went between two homes. My mother had full custody of me when I was six weeks old, but she did not want to keep me from my father. He was a good dad. He was loving and kind. I saw him almost every other weekend or maybe extra if she needed help. They had a good relationship despite the reasons that they had gotten divorced."
During the drive to the airport, Burns wondered why her stepmother and siblings weren't coming along.
"He'd never done anything to make me feel like I couldn't trust him," Burns said. "He was my dad, my provider. He was the one that loved me dearly. So, if he tells me something, I'm going to trust him. But it didn't quite add up."
Burns' parents met while Mahone, a Christian, was working as a waitress and Bayan, a Muslim, was studying engineering in Texas. Mahone had full custody, but Bayan, who owned a restaurant in Dallas, saw his daughter regularly. There were "no red flags," Burns said, until that Halloween weekend.
The Monday after Halloween weekend, Mahone went to Burns' elementary school to have lunch with her, as she typically did. She expected to hear about her daughter's weekend of trick-or-treating with her father. Instead, she discovered that Burns had never arrived at school. She soon learned that her ex-husband had abducted their daughter and taken her to Jordan.
A desperate Mahone rushed to a pay phone. She called the one man she believed could help her: Miranda Lambert's father, Rick Lambert. The former Dallas police officer ran a private detective agency with his wife, Beverly.
GET ENTERTAINMENT SCOOP DELIVERED RIGHT TO YOUR EMAIL BY CLICKING HERE
"Rick and Beverly were home," Burns said. "They got Miranda, they moved out of their house, and they were with my mom day and night trying to figure out a way to help my mom get me back. They were calling everyone they knew. Rick pulled some strings and got an appointment at the Dallas County Courthouse, so my mom could try to get a warrant out for my father's arrest."
The Lamberts had known Mahone for years, long before Burns and Miranda were born. Their friendship began when Mahone worked for Miranda's grandmother, Wanda, at an apartment complex.
Until then, Burns had traveled only to Florida to visit her grandmother. Now, the 7-year-old was in the Middle East, unable to speak Arabic and struggling to adjust to unfamiliar customs and a different way of life.
"I had to cover my hair," Burns said. "I could not wear shorts. We had to take our shoes off and wash our feet. There were no toilets. It was a hole in the ground with a chain above. I had never seen anything like that. Even the way we ate, it was a communal type of eating. You would sit on the floor with a big rug that was underneath and big plates of food, fresh food. You could smell all the different spices and the fresh hummus. We would all sit together, and you would eat with your hands."
But for Burns, the most painful change was in the father she had always trusted. Once in Jordan, the man she viewed as her protector became "distant."
Fox News may be compensated for or earn a commission if you buy through our referral links.
"I quickly realized that my father was not going to take care of me in Jordan, like he did in Texas," she said. "It was different roles that I didn't quite understand. I quickly got the sense that it was my grandmother and aunt's job to take care of me because it wasn't the man's job to take care of the child. But at a time in my life when there was so much confusion, I really needed my father. I really needed my mother, and I didn't have that either."
LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Back in Texas, Mahone learned that the lack of an extradition treaty with Jordan severely limited the U.S. government's ability to help her.
Determined to get her daughter back, Mahone turned to a North Carolina-based security firm staffed by former special operations personnel. She paid the team $80,000 and sold her jewelry to cover living expenses. There was no guarantee she would see her daughter again.
The team spent weeks searching for Burns before tracking her to Jerash, Jordan, where Bayan had enrolled her in school. Mahone accompanied the team to Jordan, disguising herself as they prepared to rescue her daughter.
Burns was sitting on a school bus when she spotted her mother.
"My mom had her hair covered," Burns said. "She came over and tapped the window. I looked straight into my mother's eyes and all I could think of was that it looks just like my mom, but how can it be? I thought I was dreaming. My mom started motioning me to come and get off the bus, but I froze. So, she had to push her way onto the bus."
As Mahone boarded the bus and grabbed her daughter, a school chaperone jumped on Mahone's back and tried to stop her. Mahone fought back, punching the woman in the nose before rushing Burns off the bus and into a waiting car.
PUT YOUR ENTERTAINMENT KNOWLEDGE TO THE TEST AND SEE HOW YOU SCORE
The rescue team then drove Burns and Mahone toward the Israeli border, crossing the Allenby Bridge into Israel before making their way back to the United States.
"They put me on the floorboard of a car, they covered me up with blankets, and we sped off," Burns said.
Three months after her abduction, Burns finally returned to the United States, where family and friends — including a young Lambert — were waiting to welcome her home.
"The first person I saw when I was coming down that runway was Miranda," Burns said, fighting back tears.
"She was probably four or five years old, a little thing with this blonde hair. She was running and pushing past all the other people … And when we got home, my aunt had left every single Christmas tree up. She refused to take down the decorations because she said, 'Lauren will come home and we will celebrate Christmas.' So we celebrated Christmas and opened presents that year in January when I returned."
But returning home did not mean the ordeal was over. Fearing Bayan might abduct Burns again, Mahone kept her daughter in hiding, repeatedly moving to protect her. Burns said she had moved 14 times by the time she reached high school, leaving her struggling to find a sense of stability.
As a teenager, Burns grew increasingly angry. Beverly urged Mahone to let Burns stay at the Lamberts' farmhouse in Lindale, Texas — the same home Miranda Lambert later sang about in "The House That Built Me" — to help her through a difficult period.
Beverly quickly welcomed Burns into her church community and even "handpicked my friends," as Burns recalled, determined to surround the struggling teenager with positive influences. With the Lamberts by her side, Burns grew stronger in her Christian faith. She "hated Father's Day" for years, but always wrote a card to Rick Lambert, who became a father figure in her life.
The bond endured as Burns grew up alongside Lambert, whom she described as "like a little sister to me." Long before Lambert became a country music superstar, Burns knew her as the little girl whose family had welcomed her into their home.
Bayan was indicted while abroad and arrested in 1990 after returning to the United States, People magazine reported. He was sentenced to eight years' probation.
Burns was in high school when she finally confronted him, asking why he had abducted her.
"He wanted to raise me in his country, with his family," Burns said. "The only way he could do that was to take me. He wanted me to be raised in his beliefs and his culture. He said, 'I felt like I was doing the best thing for you.'"
While Burns forgave Bayan, they have not spoken since 2019, People magazine reported. Fox News Digital could not reach Bayan for comment.
"If my seven-year-old self could look at my life today," Burns said, "she would say, 'There is hope.' There is healing on the other side of forgiveness. There is freedom when you can let go. There is life, abundant life. And there is a way out."