10AM ET 07/21/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 10AM ET – July 21, 2026

Overview

This episode provides a brisk but thorough roundup of the day’s top political, international, economic, and social news. The primary focus is on the upcoming midterm elections, heightened US-Iran tensions, the political reshuffling following Senator Lindsey Graham’s passing, turbulent US-Canada trade relations, and renewed scrutiny of Social Security payments.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Midterm Elections: 15 Weeks Away

• The 2026 midterm elections are fast approaching, with control of Congress at stake.
• Senate Outlook: FOX News Power Rankings reveal Republicans and Democrats are currently tied in projected Senate seats. Four key states—Alaska (noted for its ranked choice voting and potential for delayed results), Iowa, Ohio, and Maine—are considered toss-ups.
  • "It could go a week out in Alaska if we're really that tight come November."
    — Speaker C [00:21]
• House Outlook: Democrats have a slight projected edge.
• Presidential Approval: FOX polling shows 68% of respondents disapprove of President Trump’s economic management.
  • "68% disapprove of President Trump's handling of the economy."
    — Speaker B [00:36]

2. Primary Updates & Graham Succession

• Arizona is holding primaries for both Congressional and gubernatorial races.
• South Carolina: The filing period is open for Republicans to contest the special primary for the late Senator Lindsey Graham’s seat.
  • Graham’s sister, Darlene (currently serving the remainder of Lindsey’s term), confirms she will run to keep the seat.
    • "He's worked so hard for so long. I just, I can't just let that die."
      — Darlene Graham [00:57]
• Lindsey Graham’s funeral is scheduled at Washington's National Cathedral in a week, followed by another service in South Carolina. [01:05]

3. US-Iran Conflict Intensifies

• War Secretary Hegseth is set to defend a request for $87 billion in military funding amid heightened US-Iran hostilities.
• Escalating Retaliation:
  • Sirens in Bahrain as Iran launches missile attacks; Jordan intercepts Iranian drones.
  • The US conducts a 10th consecutive night of strikes targeting Iranian capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz.
  • An Iranian attack forces the crew to evacuate a tanker off Oman.
    • "The Jordanians say they shot down at least five incoming Iranian drones..."
      — Speaker E [01:24]
• Presidential Response: President Trump vows severe retaliation if Americans continue to be killed in the conflict.
  • "President Trump has warned Iran they'll pay many times over for any American deaths after four US troops were killed last week."
    — Speaker A [01:48]
• The War Department names Sergeant Michael Swinton from North Carolina as the most recently fallen American soldier in Iraq. [01:58]

4. Economic Updates: Markets and Trade

• Stock Market: Major indexes are up—Dow (+237), Nasdaq (+205), S&P 500 (+35).
• Energy: Oil prices rise again (WTI at $85/barrel); average gasoline prices increase to $4.01/gallon, up 16 cents in a week. [02:16–02:29]
• US-Canada Trade Tensions:
  • Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney labels the US’s new 50% tariffs a “direct violation” of the USMCA trade pact and signals an openness to resolution, but suggests a readiness to retaliate.
    • "Canada is ready to engage to resolve longstanding trade disputes... but warns a 50% tariff announced by President Trump this week is a direct violation of the USMCA..."
      — Prime Minister Mark Carney (via Speaker G) [02:44]
  • Ontario Premier Doug Ford: Calls for a “tariff for tariff, and dollar for dollar” response.
  • BC Premier David Ebbe: Criticizes the US approach.
    • "If you're picking fights with Canadians, you don't have any friends in the world."
      — Premier David Ebbe (via Speaker G) [03:13]
  • White House: Tariffs justified by alleged Canadian discrimination against US goods.

5. Social Security Scrutiny & Federal Overpayments

• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant reveals over 4,900 erroneous federal payments ($99 million) went to deceased individuals.
  • "Treasury has identified more than 4,900 federal payments worth approximately $99 million that were associated with dead people."
    — Secretary Scott Bessant (via Speaker H) [03:27]
  • "So far, we've saved about $100 million... We think that there's up to $350 million that we can stop before the end of this year."
    — Speaker I [03:40]
• Reminders: Social Security benefits are not prorated; heirs must return any payments received after a recipient’s death. [03:57]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "It could go a week out in Alaska if we're really that tight come November."
  — Speaker C [00:21]

• "68% disapprove of President Trump's handling of the economy."
  — Speaker B [00:36]

• "He's worked so hard for so long. I just, I can't just let that die."
  — Darlene Graham [00:57]

• "The Jordanians say they shot down at least five incoming Iranian drones..."
  — Speaker E [01:24]

• "If you're picking fights with Canadians, you don't have any friends in the world."
  — Premier David Ebbe (via Speaker G) [03:13]

• "Treasury has identified more than 4,900 federal payments worth approximately $99 million that were associated with dead people."
  — Secretary Scott Bessant (via Speaker H) [03:27]

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• [00:03–00:40] Elections Outlook: Senate/House races, primary updates, Trump’s polling
• [00:41–01:11] Senator Lindsey Graham’s succession and upcoming funerals
• [01:11–01:58] US-Iran conflict, military funding, and casualties
• [02:16–02:29] Markets snapshot; rising oil and gas prices
• [02:41–03:24] US-Canada trade disputes, leader responses, tariff escalation
• [03:24–04:09] Social Security payment scrutiny, Treasury’s response

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Summary prepared for those seeking a concise yet comprehensive view of the July 21, 2026 Fox News Hourly Update.

Transcript

[A]

The midterm Elections are only 15 weeks away.

[B]

I'm Dave Anthony. Fox News. And ahead of the voting with control

[A]

of Congress at stake.

[B]

FOX News power rankings just came out this morning projecting Republicans and Democrats even

[A]

for now in the Senate. With these races deciding the majority, four

[C]

states are all toss ups. One's Alaska, by the way, that's ranked choice voting. It could go a week out in Alaska if we're really that tight come November. Iowa, we have a toss up state of Ohio and the state of Maine.

[B]

Fox's Bill Hammer. The rankings give Democrats a slight edge

[A]

in the House with Fox polling showing

[B]

68% disapprove of President Trump's handling of the economy.

[A]

It's primary day in Arizona with races for Congress and governor. And in South Carolina, the filing period

[B]

opens for Republicans for next month's special primary to replace late Senator Lindsey Graham

[A]

as the GOP nominee. His sister Darlene, now a senator appointed to finish her brother's current term, tells Fox she'll run to keep the seat.

[D]

He's worked so hard for so long. I just, I can't just let that die.

[B]

A funeral is planned a week from today for late Senator Lindsey Graham at Washington's National Cathedral. Then another funeral next Wednesday in South Carolina.

[A]

War Secretary Pete Hegseth could face tough questions from Democrats today at a Senate hearing where he'll push for $87 billion in new military funding as the US keeps attacking Iran, which keeps retaliating.

[E]

Sirens sounded across Bahrain amid incoming Iranian missile fire. The Jordanians say they shot down at least five incoming Iranian drones. This does follow another heavy night of US strikes against IR it was the 10th consecutive night aimed at degrading Iran's ability to threaten vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Early this morning, Iran attacked another tanker off the coast of Oman, forcing the crew to evacuate the vessel.

[B]

Fox's Trey, Kingston, Tel Aviv.

[A]

President Trump has warned Iran they'll pay many times over for any American deaths

[B]

after four US Troops were killed last week. The War Department this morning identified the soldier who died in a rock as Sergeant Michael Swinton from North Carolina.

[F]

America's listening to cheers to America's 250th birthday. Get 20% off your first purchase at foxnewswineshop.com with code FNRADIO20 20% discount excludes wine club offers and cannot be combined with any other promotion. Expires July 31, 2026. Must be 21 or older to order. Please drink responsibly.

[A]

Stocks are on the rise this morning. The Dow up 237 points. The Nasdaq gaining 205. The S&P 500 adding 35 points as oil prices also move back up more

[B]

than 2% as the U.S. and Iran keep fighting again.

[A]

WTI back to 85 bucks a barrel. Gas is up another penny today. AAA's national average for regular 401 per gallon, 16 cents higher than a week ago. Also a rise back up in trade

[B]

tension between the US And Canada.

[G]

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada is ready to engage to resolve long standing trade disputes with the US but warns a 50% tariff announced by President Trump this week is a direct violation of the USMCA trade pact. Ontario's Premier Doug Ford says Canada should retaliate tariff for tariff and dollar for dollar. And the premier of British Columbia, David Ebbe reacted to the tariffs by saying if you're picking fights with Canadians, you don't have in the world. The Trump administration says it will impose higher tariffs on most goods imported from Canada in response to what officials say is Canada's discrimination against U.S. products. At the White House, Jared Halpern, FOX News.

[B]

Social Security is under more scrutiny.

[H]

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant tells Maria Bartiromo of FOX Business. Treasury has identified more than 4,900 federal payments worth approximately $99 million that were associated with dead people.

[I]

So far, we've saved about 100 million DOL payments that didn't go to deceased people and that would have gone out. We think that there's up to 350 million that we can stop before the end of this year.

[H]

If you die in a given month, the Social Security Administration says your heirs cannot keep a payment if it arrives the next month. There are no prorated benefits and Social Security benefits are paid for the previous month.

[B]

That's Jenny Casola. I'm Dave Anthony.

[A]

This is FOX News.