10PM ET 04/02/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update — 10PM ET, April 2, 2026

Host: FOX News Podcasts
Date: April 3, 2026

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Episode Overview

This Fox News Hourly Update delivers the top stories shaping national and international headlines. Major themes include the firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi amid controversy over the Jeffrey Epstein client list, NASA’s Artemis II mission milestone, President Trump's military strike on Iran, significant changes in Army leadership, and a contentious White House construction project.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Attorney General Pam Bondi Fired

• Summary: President Trump terminated Attorney General Pam Bondi’s tenure. The dismissal follows lingering controversy and dissatisfaction stemming from her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

• Background: Bondi appeared on Fox News in February 2025 regarding the Epstein case.

• Key Points:

  • No incriminating Epstein client list was released despite expectations.
  • Document dump from DOJ contained millions of pages, but lacked a definitive client list.
  • President Trump was reportedly infuriated by the lack of closure.
  • Bondi is expected to return to the private sector.

• Notable Quote:

  “The DOJ may be releasing the list of Jeffrey Epstein’s clients. Will that really happen?”
  [A, 00:20]

• Timeline:

  • 00:02 – 00:45

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2. Artemis II Heads Toward the Moon

• Summary: NASA’s Artemis II mission has cleared a significant hurdle and is now en route to orbit the moon, after addressing in-flight plumbing issues.

• Key Moments:

  • Astronauts coordinated with Houston on toilet troubleshooting before continuing.
  • The crucial "translunar injection burn" succeeded, putting the crew on course.
  • The mission will send astronauts farther from Earth than ever before (approx. 250,000 miles).

• Notable Quotes:

  • “Houston on one, whenever you’re ready, we do have some toilet troubleshooting actions for you.”
    [B, 01:00]
  • “They’re heading out into deep space… about 250,000 miles away.”
    — NASA administrator Jared Isaacman [B, 01:24]

• Timeline:

  • 01:00 – 01:36

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3. Markets Recap

• Summary: Markets ended mixed for the day.

  • Dow: Down 61 points
  • Nasdaq: Up 38 points
  • S&P 500: Up 7 points

• Timeline:

  • 01:36 – 02:00

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4. U.S. Military Strike on Iran & Rising Middle East Tensions

• Summary: President Trump took credit for a major military strike on Iranian infrastructure, escalating tensions between the U.S., Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran.

• Key Points:

  • Israel's defense minister issued a direct threat to new Hezbollah leadership in response to rocket attacks during the holy days.
  • President Trump posted a video of Iran's "biggest bridge" collapsing; Iran retaliated by listing other potential targets.
  • Iranian media reports: 8 killed, 95 wounded in the attack.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “You will be deep at the bottom of hell together with Nasrallah, Khomeini, Sinwar and all the eliminated members of the axis of evil.”
    — Israel’s defense minister [A, 02:59]
  • “President Trump posted a video he says shows the biggest bridge in Iran tumbling down with the message: ‘It is time for Iran to make a deal before it is too late.’”
    [C, 03:06]

• Timeline:

  • 02:40 – 03:25

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5. Army Leadership Shake-Up

• Summary: In another significant leadership change, Army Chief of Staff General Randy George has been asked to retire immediately by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

• Key Points:

  • The dismissal is part of a broader trend of senior military firings under President Trump.
  • No specific reason for George's removal was provided.
  • General George held his post since August 2023.

• Notable Quote:

  • “The secretary is grateful for George’s service, but it was time for a leadership change in the Army.”
    — Senior Pentagon official [E, 03:36]

• Timeline:

  • 03:25 – 04:10

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6. White House Ballroom Construction Approved Amid Legal Controversy

• Summary: The National Capital Planning Commission approved President Trump’s contentious White House ballroom project, despite a judge’s order halting construction pending Congressional approval.

• Key Points:

  • Project is described as the biggest structural change to the White House in over 70 years.
  • Legal and political contention remains unresolved.

• Notable Quote:

  • “The agency tasked with approving construction on federal property in the D.C. region went ahead with a vote despite a federal judge recently ordering a halt to construction unless Congress approves.”
    [A, 04:10]

• Timeline:

  • 04:10 – 04:37

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Memorable Moments

• The Artemis II crew’s candid exchange with Houston over toilet repairs before reaching lunar trajectory (01:00–01:12).
• Israel's defense minister’s fiery rhetoric against Hezbollah and Iran (02:59).
• President Trump’s direct engagement on social media regarding the Iran strike (03:06).

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[End of Content Recap]

Transcript

[A]

Bondi goes bye bye. I'm Tom McAti, Fox News. Attorney General Pam Bondi is out at the Justice Department. President Trump fired her today. Fox's David Spunt in Washington with the latest.

[B]

Multiple sources say her problems began just weeks after becoming attorney general. She appeared on this network in February 2025.

[A]

The DOJ may be releasing the list of Jeffrey Epstein's clients. Will that really happen?

[B]

It's sitting on my desk right now to review. Last July, the GOJ put out a memo announcing the Epstein case would essentially be closed, announcing definitively the systematic review revealed no incriminating client list. The department eventually released millions of pages of documents but no definitive so called client list. Sources say it infuriated the president.

[A]

President Trump saying that Bondi will be returning to the private sector for a yet to be named role. The Artemis 2 crew is on their way to the moon. But first, some plumbing repairs needed to be addressed in integrity.

[B]

Houston on one, whenever you're ready, we do have some toilet troubleshooting actions for you.

[C]

Okay, Houston, we copy on toilet.

[A]

Once it was all systems go. For the astronauts to go, Artemis II had to perform something called a translunar injection burn. NASA says it went well and the crew is now on course.

[B]

They're heading out into deep space. They're going to go around the moon, farther away from Earth than any humans have ever gone before, about 250,000 miles away.

[A]

That's NASA administrator Jared Isaacman. Isaacman on Fox's Jesse Waters Primetime stocks ending today mixed on Wall Street. The dow was down 61 points, but the Nasdaq rose by 38s and P 500 gained 7 points. America's listening to FOX News.

[D]

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[A]

President Trump is boasting about a military strike on Iran's infrastructure. Fox's Mike Tobin is in Tel Aviv with the latest.

[C]

With troops already in southern Lebanon, Israel's defense minister is warning Hezbollah's new secretary general Naim Kassam that he will pay a heavy price for firing rockets into Israel during the holy days, you will

[A]

be deep at the bottom of hell together with Nasrallah, Khomeini, Sinwar and all the eliminated members of the axis of evil.

[C]

President Trump posted a video he says shows the biggest bridge in Iran tumbling down with the message it is time for Iran to make a deal before it is too late. Iran responded by posting a list of bridges from Jordan to Abu Dhabi that are now potential targets and insists Israel and the US have not damaged the regime's war machine.

[A]

The attack killed eight people and wounded 95, according to an Iranian state run news agency. The secretary of war is asking the top army officer to immediately step down.

[E]

Secretary Pete Hegsett asked Army Chief of Staff General Randy George to step down and immediately retire. A senior Pentagon official tells Fox the secretary is grateful for Georgia's service, but it was time for a leadership change in the Army. A senior army official says Hegseth did not give a reason to. George, the top ranking army officer, is the latest in a string of several firings of generals and admirals since President Trump took office last year. George served as army chief of staff since August of 2023. At the White House, Jared Halpern, Fox News.

[A]

President Trump's White House ballroom has won final approval from a key agency today. The National Capital Planning Commission, the agency tasked with approving construction on federal property in the D.C. region, went ahead with a vote despite a federal judge recently ordering a halt of construction unless Congress approves what would be the biggest structural change to the American landmark in more than 70 years. I'm Tom Rigotti, this is Fox News.

[F]

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[G]

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