10PM ET 05/17/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update — 10PM ET 05/17/2026 Newscast

Host: Fox News Podcasts
Air Date: May 18, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode provides a concise update on urgent global and domestic news stories. The report covers escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, President Trump’s latest public statements and political maneuvers, developments in the Kentucky congressional primary, a major prayer rally in Washington D.C., a narrowly-averted airshow disaster in Idaho, Ukraine’s broad drone assault on Russia and subsequent Russian retaliation, and a newly declared Ebola emergency in Africa. The program captures fast-moving international events, high-profile political skirmishes, and significant public health and safety updates.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S.–Iran Ceasefire Tensions and White House Activity

• Ceasefire Instability:

  • The fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States is reportedly at risk of collapse.
  • President Trump issued a warning to Iran on Truth Social, stating "the clock is ticking and that they better act fast."
    • [00:11]

• Analyst Concerns:

  • Debate persists over Iran’s demands and expectations in current negotiations.
  • Axios reports suggest a Situation Room meeting with top national security officials is expected on Tuesday.
  • Trump's recent high-stakes visit to China is highlighted as a context for current events.

• U.S.–China Engagements:

  • The White House announced the creation of a Board of Trade and a Board of Investment, aiming to deepen government-to-government ties between the world's two largest economies.
    • [00:11]

• Middle East Diplomacy:

  • President Trump spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the Iran situation.
    • [00:45]

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2. Kentucky Congressional Primary and GOP Infighting

• President vs. Thomas Massie:

  • President Trump urged the ouster of Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, calling him "the worst Republican congressman in history" on Truth Social.
    • [01:01]

• Massie’s Response:

  • On ABC’s "This Week," Massie dismissed concerns about Senate losses in Louisiana and attributed opposition to "well-financed" outside interests.
    • Notable quote:
      • "How did this race become the most expensive race in the history of Congress for a primary? It's because three billionaires from outside of Kentucky have funneled millions of dollars in here. They're trying to buy a seat." — Rep. Thomas Massie, [01:19]

• Endorsement and Voting Record:

  • Trump endorses Ed Gallbrain, Massie’s opponent.
  • Massie’s opposition to Trump is cited as voting against the "one big beautiful bill" and for releasing Epstein files.
    • [01:31]

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3. National Mall Prayer Rally

• Event Overview:
  • Thousands participated in a day-long prayer rally on the National Mall, described as,
    • "a rededication of our country as one nation under God."
    • [01:44]

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4. Idaho Air Show Crash — Tragedy Averted

• Incident Background:

  • At the Gunfighter Skies airshow at Mountain Home Air Force Base, two U.S. Navy jets crashed.

• Outcome:

  • All four crew members successfully ejected; no fatalities reported.
  • The event, headlined by the Air Force Thunderbirds, is the first such show in eight years.

• Historical Context:

  • Eight years earlier, a hang glider pilot died at the same event.
    • [03:08]

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5. Ukraine–Russia Conflict Escalation

• Ukrainian Drone Attack:

  • Ukraine launched one of its largest drone assaults on Moscow, killing at least four.
    • "Russian defenses shot down 81 drones heading towards Moscow." — Stephanie Bennett, [03:41]

• Russian Response:

  • Russia's Defense Ministry claims over 1,000 Ukrainian drones destroyed in 24 hours.
  • Ukrainian President Zelensky wrote,
    • "Our responses to Russia’s prolongation of the war and its attacks on our cities and communities are entirely justified...This is a clear signal that one should not pick a fight with Ukraine."
      — President Zelensky, [03:41]

• Scale of Attacks:

  • Russian forces recently launched over 3,100 drones, 1,300 guided bombs, and 74 missiles at Ukraine.

• Casualties:

  • Recent Russian attacks killed at least 52 people and injured over 340.
    • [04:25]

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6. Ebola Emergency in Central Africa

• WHO Declaration:

  • The World Health Organization declared an Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern.

• Outbreak Status:

  • More than 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths reported.
  • No approved treatments or vaccines are available.

• International Response:

  • The emergency declaration is intended to spur a stronger international reaction, though past responses have been inconsistent.
    • [04:25]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• President Trump’s Ceasefire Warning to Iran:

  • "The clock is ticking and they better act fast." — President Trump, [00:11]

• Rep. Massie on Kentucky Primary Spending:

  • "Three billionaires from outside of Kentucky have funneled millions of dollars in here. They’re trying to buy a seat." — Rep. Thomas Massie, [01:19]

• Zelensky on Drone Strikes:

  • "This is a clear signal that one should not pick a fight with Ukraine." — President Zelensky, [03:41]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• US–Iran Ceasefire and White House Actions: [00:03–00:45]
• GOP Kentucky Primary Feud: [01:01–01:42]
• National Prayer Rally Coverage: [01:44–01:59]
• Idaho Airshow Crash: [03:08–03:41]
• Ukraine–Russia Drone War: [03:41–04:25]
• Ebola Emergency Declaration: [04:25–05:04]

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Tone and Delivery

The newscast maintains a brisk, factual, and urgent tone, typical of high-tempo radio news. Direct quotes from key players anchor the gravity of the stories, while frequent attributions and on-the-ground reporting reinforce the authority and immediacy of the update.

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This episode offers listeners a rapid but dense briefing on critical events shaping U.S. politics, international conflicts, and global public health.

Transcript

[A]

Waiting on the next move. I'm Paul Stevens, Fox News. The tenuous cease fire between Iran and the US could be in danger again.

[B]

President Trump posting on Truth Social a warning to Iran saying the clock is ticking and that they better act fast. It comes amid this delicate cease fire between Washington and Tehran. And some analysts argue that there's questions and concerns over what Iran would want out of a deal. Axios today reporting that the President is expected to hold a Situation Room meeting with top national security team members on Tuesday. And following his high stakes visit to China this past week. The White House today announcing the creation of a board of trade and a board of investment to allow government to government channels between the world's two largest economies.

[A]

And again, fox's Alex Hogan in Washington. The President also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier today on the Iran situation. Kentucky holding its primary this week as the president continues to seek the ouster of a Republican House member Thomas Massie.

[C]

President Trump posted on Truth Social Sunday calling Massie quote, the worst Republican congressman in history. On ABC's this Week, Congressman Massie said he wasn't concerned over GOP Senator Bill Cassidy's loss in Louisiana Saturday and alleged that well financed opposition has gotten involved.

[D]

How did this race become the most expensive race in the history of Congress for a primary? It's because three billionaires from outside of Kentucky have funneled millions of dollars in here. They're trying to buy a seat.

[C]

President Trump endorsed Massie's opponent Ed Gallbrain. Massie has seen president's anger by voting against the one big beautiful bill and voting for the release of the Epstein files.

[A]

G.R.

[C]

scott, Fox News.

[A]

Thousands meeting earlier today on the national mall in Washington D.C. for a day long prayer rally. The event today build quote as a rededication of our country as one nation under God. America is listening to Fox News.

[E]

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[A]

In Idaho, tragedy averted at an air show. Rescue crews responding following the crash of two U.S. navy jets during the Gunfighter Skies air show at the Mountain Home Air Force Base event. Organizers saying four crew members did eject safely. The U.S. air Force Thunderbirds headlined the show. It was the first time the Gunfighter Skies show had been held in eight years back in 20. Eighteen years ago, a hang glider pilot died in an accident at that event. Ukraine, carrying out one of its biggest drone attacks on Russia's capital, killing at least four.

[F]

Russian defenses shot down 81 drones heading towards Moscow. That's according to the city's mayor. Russia's Defense Ministry said by midday more than a thousand Ukrainian drones had been downed in the past 24 hours. President Zelensky confirmed the overnight attacks and he wrote on X that, quote, our responses to Russia's prolongation of the war and its attacks on our cities and communities are in entirely justified, adding that Ukraine was able to strike targets more than 300 miles from the border tonight. He also said, quote, this is a clear signal that one should not pick a fight with Ukraine. Of course, it comes after a heavy week of attacks by Russia, who launched more than 3100 drones and 1300 guided aerial bombs and 74 missiles against Ukraine.

[A]

And that's Fox's Stephanie Bennett. And those Russian attacks Stephanie talked about killed at least 52 people and injured more than 340. The World Health Organization declared, declaring an Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda now a public health emergency of international concern. More than 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths have been reported. The virus has no approved treatments or vaccines. The WHO's emergency declaration aims to prompt more international action, although the response to past declarations of this type has been at best mixed, health officials say. I'm Paul Stevens. This is FOX News.

[G]

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