10PM ET 05/16/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 10PM ET Newscast (May 16, 2026)

Overview of Episode Theme

This episode provides a concise roundup of the day’s major national and international news headlines, emphasizing US–Iran tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, developments in US–China trade relations, President Trump’s new initiatives for mothers, and a high-profile lawsuit against Netflix filed by Texas’s attorney general. The tone remains brisk, factual, and focused on providing quick updates for listeners seeking a snapshot of current events.

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1. International Tensions: The Strait of Hormuz

Key Points:

• The stalemate at the Strait of Hormuz between the US and Iran persists, with shipping routes closed and over 1,500 vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf—many carrying oil and fertilizer. Iran has introduced a controversial tollbooth mechanism for any ship attempting the passage, excluding those associated with the so-called Freedom Project. (00:02–00:54)

Notable Quotes:

• Lucas Tomlinson (00:29):
  “A senior Iranian official posted new plans for the tollbooth … ‘the necessary fees will be collected for the specialized services provided under this mechanism. This route will remain closed to the operators of the so called Freedom Project.’”
• Rhett Baer, referencing President Trump’s perspective (00:24):
  “To stop the strait is very easy. All they have to do is say we dropped a mine in the strait someplace.”

Memorable Moment:

• Highlighting the dire impact of the closure: 1,500+ ships stranded, global oil and fertilizer trade at a standstill.

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2. US–China Relations: Trade and Diplomacy

Key Points:

• President Trump has returned from a visit to China, securing new trade commitments: China agrees to purchase US soybeans and a major order of Boeing aircraft (200 units). Both countries announce a new long-term framework that acknowledges differences while emphasizing future cooperation.
• Supporters hail the deals; critics claim the trip failed to yield substantial progress. (01:06–01:49)

Notable Quotes:

• Alex Hogan (01:14):
  “Trump pointed [to] new trade deals that China’s made commitments, like buying US Soybeans and Boeing aircraft. And Boeing now confirming to Fox an initial commitment of 200 aircraft.”
• Alex Hogan on the broader diplomatic breakthrough (01:31):
  “China’s foreign minister saying that they have, they being the two leaders, have agreed to a new framework for the following future years that will not only acknowledge the very real differences that exist between these two countries, but also examine how to cooperate together, how to collaborate, especially as it pertains to trade.”

Memorable Moment:

• Confirmation of the 200 aircraft Boeing deal and upcoming visit of Xi Jinping to the US in September.

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3. Domestic Policy: Support for Mothers

Key Points:

• President Trump launches “moms.gov,” a new website centralizing resources for expecting women and families, covering adoption, pregnancy support, nutrition, and mental health. The administration claims it’s enacting major childcare reforms designed for affordability and flexibility. (02:39–03:18)
• Critics argue that concurrent cuts to Medicaid and Affordable Care have hurt maternity services, especially in rural “maternity deserts,” affecting over 5 million women nationally.

Notable Quotes:

• Jared Halperin (02:47):
  “On Mother’s Day, the administration launched the website moms.gov to help support expecting women and their families. Information on adoption assistance, pregnancy support, nutrition tips and mental health resources are all available on the site.”
• President Trump (as quoted by Rhett Baer, 03:09):
  “These reforms will give states more flexible, lower costs, increase options and empower parents to choose what care works best for them.”

Memorable Moment:

• The stark statistic: over 5 million American women living in rural “maternity deserts.”

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4. Technology & Consumer Protection: Texas Sues Netflix

Key Points:

• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sues Netflix, alleging the platform is both intentionally addictive and surreptitiously collects users’ data. CEO “Serenity” Sarandos denies these allegations, attributing “binge-watching” to consumer preference but not to deliberate design. (03:27–04:25)
• The lawsuit parallels earlier decisions against Facebook and YouTube for consumer protection violations. Federal lawmakers are now suggesting streaming services may fall under FCC regulation.

Notable Quotes:

• Madeline Rivera (03:47):
  “Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Netflix, claiming the company is using its platform to steal data from its users and specifically designed the app to be addictive.”
• Ted ‘Serenity’ Sarandos, Netflix CEO (04:01):
  “Do we make great television? Yes, guilty. Do we make it artificially addictive? Absolutely no.”
• Madeline Rivera (04:06):
  “Sarandos did say Netflix catered to customer desire in its early days by not advertising and releasing all its original programming episodes at the same time, effectively creating the binge watching phenomenon.”

Memorable Moment:

• The CEO’s pithy defense: “Yes, guilty” to making great TV, “Absolutely no” to making it addictive.

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5. Other Highlights

Upcoming US Visit:

• China’s President Xi Jinping plans to visit the US in September, reinforcing the enduring importance of US–China relations. (01:49)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• US–Iran Strait Tensions: 00:02–00:54
• US–China Trade Developments: 01:06–01:49
• Support for Mothers/New Website: 02:39–03:27
• Netflix Lawsuit Segment: 03:27–04:25

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The episode delivers a fast-paced, multi-topic update—ideal for listeners seeking a quick, comprehensive snapshot of leading stories with pithy soundbites and clear, accessible reporting.

Transcript

[Jane Fergus]

Tehran's tollbooth. I'm Jane Fergus, Fox News. No deal. The US And Iran still squaring off of the Strait of Hormuz as it remains closed. Fox's Lucas Tomlinson in Dubai with more

[Lucas Tomlinson]

issues with the Strait of Hormuz. Continue. Here's President Trump's interview with Rhett Baer explaining why opening the Strait of Hormuz remains a challenge.

[Rhett Baer]

To stop the strait is very easy. All they have to do is say we dropped a mine in the strait someplace.

[Lucas Tomlinson]

More than 1,500 ships remain stranded in the Persian Gulf, including those filled with oil and fertilizer. Today a senior Iranian official posted new plans for the tollbooth that ships who want to make the risky transit through the Strait of Hormuz have to do, saying, quote, the necessary fees will be collected for the specialized services provided under this mechanism. This route will remain closed to the operators of the so called Freedom Project.

[Jane Fergus]

Officials claim the ceasefire remains in effect. President Trump returned from his trip to China, where was one of the topics discussed. Fox's Alex Hogan has more from the White House.

[Alex Hogan]

Trump pointed new trade deals that China's made commitments like buying US Soybeans and Boeing aircraft. And Boeing now confirming to Fox an initial commitment of 200 aircraft. And China's commerce ministry said that the US and China have agreed to expand agricultural trade. Supporters are praising President Trump's trip while critics are already blasting this as a failure. China's foreign minister saying that they have, they being the two leaders, have agreed to a new framework for the following future years that will not only acknowledge the very real differences that exist between these two countries, but also examine how to cooperate together, how to collaborate, especially as it pertains to trade. And also this is a framework, they say, that is going to last for at least the next several years.

[Jane Fergus]

China's President Xi Jinping is set to visit the US In September. America's listening to FOX News.

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[Jane Fergus]

President Trump unveiling a new website to help mothers and future mothers across America. Fox's Jared Halperin has more.

[Jared Halperin]

On Mother's Day, the administration launched the website moms.gov to help support expecting women and their families. Information on adoption assistance, pregnancy support, nutrition tips and mental health resources are all available on the site. President Trump also highlighting how his administration is enacting groundbreaking child care reforms to improve federal child care programs.

[Rhett Baer]

These reforms will give states more flexible, lower costs, increase options and empower parents to choose what care works best for them.

[Jared Halperin]

Critics say the president's cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care act forced hospitals and maternity wards to close across the country, especially in rural areas.

[Jane Fergus]

More than 5 million American women live in rural maternity deserts, where there is limited access to birthing centers, hospitals or obstetrics. A lawsuit alleging that Netflix is addictive and actively designed that way, and that it steals data from its customers. Here's Fox's Madeline Rivera.

[Madeline Rivera]

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing Netflix, claiming the company is using its platform to steal data from its users and specifically designed the app to be addictive. Netflix CEO Ted Serenity Sarandos tells Fox those allegations aren't true.

[Rhett Baer]

Do we make great television? Yes, guilty. Do we make it artificially addictive? Absolutely no.

[Madeline Rivera]

Sarandos did say Netflix catered to customer desire in its early days by not advertising and releasing all its original programming episodes at the same time, effectively creating the binge watching phenomenon. The legal action follows rulings against other big tech companies like Facebook and YouTube, which are both found guilty of violating consumer protection laws.

[Jane Fergus]

In separate lawsuits, federal lawmakers are hinting that streaming services could be put under the fcc. I'm James Fergus. This is Fox News.

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