10AM ET 07/15/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 10AM ET, July 15, 2026

Overview

This brisk newscast delivers key updates on U.S. politics, global conflict, economic news, and developing environmental concerns as of mid-morning July 15, 2026. Major stories include contentious confirmation hearings for Trump administration nominees, continued U.S. airstrikes against Iran, promising economic data, President Trump’s Pennsylvania visit, and hazardous wildfire smoke blanketing parts of the country.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Contentious Confirmation Hearing for Acting Attorney General (00:03–01:05)

• Host Dave Anthony frames the confirmation hearing for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as potentially “very testy.”
• Todd Blanche:
  • Expresses gratitude to President Trump.

    “I am exceedingly grateful to President Trump for his trust.” (00:08)

  • Highlights improved law enforcement statistics under his acting tenure:
    • Lowest U.S. murder rate since 1900.
    • Violent crime arrests up 114%.
    • Nearly 5,000 child predators and traffickers arrested.

    “We have the lowest murder rate since 1900. Violent crime arrests are up nearly 114%. We’ve taken almost 5,000 child predators and human traffickers off the streets.” (00:16)

• Sen. Dick Durbin (Democrat):
  • Criticizes Blanche for allegedly politicizing the Justice Department and stonewalling allegations of “anti weaponization fund” misuse.
  • Accuses Blanche of covering up Jeffrey Epstein investigation files and prioritizing protection of President Trump over victims:

    “Last year you declared that the Justice Department was at war with the federal judiciary, demanding more information about whether an anti weaponization fund...has been permanently closed.” (00:35) “You participated in meetings in the White House Situation Room to strategize about how to protect President Trump, not Epstein survivors.” (00:54)

2. National Security: U.S. Airstrikes Against Iran (01:05–01:38)

• Dave Anthony summarizes a fifth consecutive day of American bombing in Iran, now during daylight hours.
• Mike Tobin (reporting from Tel Aviv):
  • U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) strikes target Iranian missile/drone sites and naval/coastal assets.
  • Escalation follows attacks on seven commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Adm. Brad Cooper (CENTCOM) notes nearly a dozen civilian crew killed, missing, or injured in recent Iranian strikes.

    “CENTCOM says the targets are Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities and coastal defense sites…Nearly a dozen civilian crew members killed, missing or injured by the Iranian strikes.” (01:18) “US Forces are holding Iran accountable.” — Adm. Brad Cooper, via Mike Tobin (01:34)

  • Iranian attacks continue following U.S. reimposition of a naval blockade.

3. Economy: Inflation & Market Movement (01:38–02:16)

• Wholesale prices fell by 0.3% month-over-month, annual inflation dropping from 6.5% to 5.5%.
• Dave Anthony notes positive market responses:

  “Stocks are on the rise after that better-than-expected report on declining wholesale inflation. The Dow is up 205 points, the NASDAQ gaining 162. The S&P 500 is adding 32.” (02:16)

• Oil prices remain high, but only slightly up on the day after a prior weekly surge related to the U.S.–Iran conflict. Gasoline prices are up four cents to $3.89 nationally.

4. President Trump in Pennsylvania: Defense & Innovation Summit (02:16–03:22)

• Jared Halpern (reporting):
  • Trump to close the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit at the Army War College in Carlisle.
  • Event gathers Pentagon, defense contractors, technology CEOs.
  • PA Senator Dave McCormick has secured billions in new investment for the state.
  • Trump urges faster munitions delivery and proposes a record Pentagon budget amid the growing Iran conflict.

  “President Trump is urging defense firms to speed up delivery of critically needed munitions and other weapons systems and has submitted a record-setting more than one and a half trillion dollar Pentagon budget amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.” (02:45)

5. Weather: Heat & Wildfire Smoke Crisis (03:22–04:07)

• Record-high temperatures shift from Utah/Montana eastward, with widespread heat advisories across the Dakotas to New England.
• Canadian wildfires create heavy smoke and dangerous air quality in Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, and as far as Maine.
• Tanya J. Powers (reporting):

  “The large wildfires burning in Canada are exposing millions of people to dangerous air pollution, with officials in Michigan and Wisconsin warning that the air quality issues could last for days.” (03:38) “National Weather Service forecasters say the smoke will spread into the east coast and Midwest, including parts of New England.” (04:04)

• Observers in Maine note “yellowish and brownish color in the sky.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Todd Blanche: “We have the lowest murder rate since 1900. Violent crime arrests are up nearly 114%.” (00:16)
• Sen. Dick Durbin: “You participated in meetings in the White House Situation Room to strategize about how to protect President Trump, not Epstein survivors.” (00:54)
• Mike Tobin (on CENTCOM strikes): “Nearly a dozen civilian crew members killed, missing or injured by the Iranian strikes.” (01:30)
• Jared Halpern: “Trump is urging defense firms to speed up delivery of critically needed munitions...” (02:45)
• Tanya J. Powers: “Large wildfires burning in Canada are exposing millions of people to dangerous air pollution...” (03:38)

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Timestamps & Segments

• Confirmation Hearings & DOJ Controversies: 00:03–01:05
• U.S.–Iran Military Escalation: 01:05–01:38
• Inflation Data & Markets: 01:38–02:16
• Trump’s PA Visit & Defense News: 02:16–03:22
• Weather & Air Quality Crisis: 03:22–04:07

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This FOX News Hourly Update efficiently covers the nation’s most pressing political challenges, ongoing overseas conflict, economic trends, and critical climate-related health warnings—all in under five minutes.

Transcript

[Dave Anthony]

It could be a very testy job interview. I'm Dave Anthony, FOX News.

[Todd Blanche]

I am exceedingly grateful to President Trump for his trust.

[Dave Anthony]

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche at the start of the confirmation hearing tells senators America is safer.

[Todd Blanche]

We have the lowest murder rate since 1900. Violent crime arrests are up nearly 114%. We've taken almost 5,000 child predators and human traffickers off the streets.

[Dave Anthony]

Before Blanche spoke, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin was critical.

[Dick Durbin]

Last year you declared that the Justice Department was at war with the federal

[Dave Anthony]

judiciary, demanding more information about whether an anti weaponization fund controversially set up for people who claim to have been targeted by the Biden Justice Department has been permanently closed. And Durbin also accused Blanche of covering up Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking investigation files.

[Dick Durbin]

When scrutiny of the COVID up intensified. You participated in meetings in the White House Situation Room to strategize about how to protect President Trump, not Epstein survivors, the president.

[Dave Anthony]

There are two other confirmation hearings this morning for Trump nominees to be directors of National Intelligence and the cdc. The US Is bombing Iran again, a fifth day in a row, and this time not just at night. Central Command reports the Strikes resumed at 1pm Iran time.

[Mike Tobin]

CENTCOM says the targets are Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities and coastal defense sites. And this follows seven commercial ships that have been struck crossing the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper gave a number we hadn't heard yet. Nearly a dozen civilian crew members killed, missing or injured by the Iranian strikes. And he added, US Forces are holding Iran accountable.

[Dave Anthony]

Foxes Mike Tobin in Tel Aviv. Iran's been firing drones and missiles at Gulf countries targeting American bases the day after a US Naval blockade was reimposed around Iran's ports. We got another inflation update this morning. And like consumer prices, wholesale costs also declined last month from May down 3. 10 of a percent. The annual wholesale inflation rate also dropped from 6.5%. Made a 5.5. America's listening to Fox.

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[Dave Anthony]

Stocks are on the rise after that better than expected report on declining wholesale inflation. The dow is up 205 points, the NASDAQ gaining 162. The S&P 500 is adding 32. The oil up only slightly after a big spike up in the last week since the US Iran fighting flared back up. Gas is up 4 cents this morning. AAA's national average for regular $3.89 per gallon a dime more than a week ago. President Trump will travel to Pennsylvania later today to talk to hundreds of business leaders.

[Jared Halpern]

The president will close out the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit at the Army War College in Carlisle. The two day summit brings together senior military and Pentagon officials, defense contractors and technology CEOs. Penns Republican Senator Dave McCormick leads the summit and has secured billions of dollars in investment commitments to the state. President Trump is urging defense firms to speed up delivery of critically needed munitions and other weapons systems and has submitted a record setting more than one and a half trillion dollar Pentagon budget amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. At the White House, Jared Halpern, FOX News.

[Dave Anthony]

The heat that set record highs this week in Utah and Montana has moved toward the East. There are heat advisories or warnings from the DAK all the way over to New England. And there's also smoke in the air from Canadian wildfires.

[Tanya J. Powers]

An air quality alert is in effect through Friday for people in parts of Minnesota with very heavy smoke expected across the northeastern corner of the state. The large wildfires burning in Canada are exposing millions of people to dangerous air pollution, with officials in Michigan and Wisconsin warning that the air quality issues could last for days. People in Maine have reported seeing a yellowish and brownish color in the sky. National Weather Service forecasters say the smoke will spread into the east coast and Midwest, including parts of New England.

[Dave Anthony]

That's Tanya J. Powers. I'm Dave Anthony and this is FOX News.