10PM ET 07/08/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update | 10PM ET 07/08/2026 Newscast

Date: July 9, 2026
Host: Lisa Licera (FOX News Podcasts)

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Overview

This episode delivers key political and world news at the close of July 8, 2026, with special focus on a scandal-induced shake-up in Maine’s Senate race, recent U.S. military actions in the Middle East, questions about a possible financial conflict involving the Commerce Secretary, an update on Senator Mitch McConnell’s health, and a historic posthumous pardon in the UK. The episode maintains a fast-paced, factual tone consistent with Fox News’ headline-driven reporting.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Maine Senate Race Shake-Up

[00:03 – 00:42]

• Announcement: Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner has suspended his campaign following allegations of sexual misconduct, including an accusation of rape.
  • Graham Platner Statement:

    “We are suspending campaign operations.” ([00:12])

  • Platner denies suspension is an admission of guilt, instead blaming political forces:

    “This is incredibly difficult because I know that some will think it’s an admission of guilt and it most certainly is not. We're not doing it because of the allegations. We're doing it because of the structures that are being taken away from us by those in power.” ([00:19])

• Response from Maine Democrats:
  The party will convene to select a new candidate.
• National Reactions:
  • Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA):

    “I’d say that the trash took itself out.” ([00:40])

  • National Republican Senatorial Committee Statement:

    “Maine Democrats elected a rapist Nazi to be their nominee for Senate. And regardless of who they anoint next, Susan Collins will be reelected in November.” ([00:42])

    • Notable for incendiary rhetoric and partisan acrimony.

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2. U.S. Response to Iranian Hostilities

[00:43 – 01:19]

• President Trump, returning from the NATO summit in Turkey, comments on the increased military response to Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz:

  • Trump Statement:

    “Every time they hit us, we’re going to hit them 20. And we did it last night. It did a little something today, but it was really retribution for last night. They hit actually three boats, not two.” ([01:06])

  • The president clarifies that U.S. strikes are not expected to escalate to long-term action.

• Regional Impact:

  • Missile alerts sounded in Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain.

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3. Trump’s Legal & Policy Focus

[01:19 – 01:43]

• Birthright Citizenship Case:
  • President Trump to ask the Supreme Court to rehear the case on his executive order ending birthright citizenship. The case was previously rejected on 14th Amendment grounds.
  • Noted as rare:

    “The last time the high court agreed to rehear a case was in 1965.”

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4. Domestic Update: Manhattan Construction Incident

[01:43 – 02:00]

• Incident:
  • Debris fell from a column at a Manhattan building under construction, resulting in street closures.
  • Follow-up:

    “Roads have reopened, people allowed back into nearby buildings...”

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5. Health Update: Senator Mitch McConnell

[02:27 – 03:16]

• Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D):
  • Requested a public update on Senator McConnell’s health, as he remains hospitalized since mid-June.
  • Reporter Excerpt:

    “Beshear said he’s been getting many questions about McConnell’s health and chose to ask for an update rather than add to any speculation. Beshear said in a statement he wished the senator a speedy recovery.” ([02:37])

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6. Commerce Secretary & Financial Inquiry

[03:16 – 04:05]

• Senators’ Letter:
  • Senators Warren, Wyden, Van Hollen, and Rep. Lofgren query Cantor Fitzgerald on possible financial benefits from a $1.5 billion government investment in USA Rare Earth.
    • Cantor Fitzgerald, previously run by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, denies involvement in the government’s deal.
  • Reporter (Jessica Rosenthal):

    "A spokesperson for Kenner [Cantor] Fitzgerald told the Wall Street Journal they had no role in USA Rare Earth discussions with the government and that their relationship with the Rare Earth firm predates Lutnick's appointment as commerce secretary." ([03:50])

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7. Ruth Ellis Posthumous Pardon

[04:05 – 04:29]

• UK Legal Milestone:
  • Ruth Ellis, last woman executed in Britain (1955), posthumously granted a conditional pardon.
  • Deputy PM David Lemmy:
    • Pardon replaces death sentence with life imprisonment, but doesn’t state Ellis’ innocence.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Graham Platner:

  “We are suspending campaign operations.” ([00:12])
  “We’re not doing it because of the allegations. We’re doing it because of the structures that are being taken away from us by those in power.” ([00:19])

• Sen. John Fetterman:

  “I’d say that the trash took itself out.” ([00:40])

• NRSC Statement:

  “Maine Democrats elected a rapist Nazi to be their nominee...” ([00:42])

• Donald Trump:

  “Every time they hit us, we’re going to hit them 20.” ([01:06])
  “They hit actually three boats, not two.” ([01:13])

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Maine Senate Race Coverage: [00:03 – 00:42]
• Iran/Strait of Hormuz Situation: [00:43 – 01:19]
• Trump Birthright Citizenship Case: [01:19 – 01:43]
• Manhattan Construction Incident: [01:43 – 02:00]
• Sen. Mitch McConnell Health Update: [02:27 – 03:16]
• Commerce Secretary/Cantor Fitzgerald Inquiry: [03:16 – 04:05]
• Ruth Ellis Pardon: [04:05 – 04:29]

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Episode Flow & Tone

• The episode is brisk, highly condensed, with a direct delivery style and occasional sharp political language.
• Coverage alternates quickly between US political news, international affairs, financial scrutiny, and notable historic moments.

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This summary provides a comprehensive account of the hour’s developments and can serve as a reliable recap for listeners who missed the broadcast.

Transcript

[Lisa Licera]

He's out of the race. I'm Lisa Licera, FOX News. Maine Democratic Senate hopeful Graham Platner made the announcement on social media about an hour and a half ago.

[Graham Platner]

We are suspending campaign operations.

[Lisa Licera]

Platner faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct with an ex girlfriend accusing him of rape this week.

[Graham Platner]

This is incredibly difficult because I know that some will think it's an admission of guilt and it most certainly is not. We're not doing it because of the allegations. We're doing it because of the structures that are being taken away from us by those in power.

[Lisa Licera]

The Maine Democratic Party says it will hold a convention to choose a new candidate. Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman telling fox

[Reporter/News Correspondent]

I'd say that the trash took itself out.

[Lisa Licera]

In a statement, the National Republican Senatorial Committee said, quote, maine Democrats elected a rapist Nazi to be their nominee for Senate. And regardless of who they anoint next, Susan Collins will be reelected in November. President Trump on his way back to Washington after the NATO summit in Turkey, telling reporters if Iran continues its attacks on civilian ship in the Strait of Hormuz, the US Will take action.

[Donald Trump]

Every time they hit us, we're going to hit them 20. And we did it last night. It did a little something today, but it was really retribution for last night. They hit actually three boats, not two.

[Lisa Licera]

The president said earlier today the strikes would not result in long term military action. Meanwhile, missile alerts have sounded in Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain. And the president posted on Truth Social that he will ask the Supreme Court to rehear the case challenging his executive order ending birthright citizenship after the court last month rejected his attempt to restrict it, ruling that the language in the order violated language in the 14th Amendment. The last time the high court agreed to rehear a case was in 1965. Roads have reopened, people allowed back into nearby buildings after a column of building under construction in Manhattan sending debris to the street. America is listening to FOX News.

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[Lisa Licera]

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[Lisa Licera]

USA250 Kentucky's Democratic Governor Andy Beshear is asking for an update on the health of Republican Senator Mitch McConnell.

[Reporter/News Correspondent]

Governor Beshear said he reached out direct to Senator McConnell, asking him on behalf of the people of Kentucky to share his health status. Since McConnell was admitted to a hospital in mid June after being found unconscious at his home, few specifics have been given by the senator staff on his current condition. A spokesperson confirmed he is still in the hospital and working with his staff on legislation. Beshear said he's been getting many questions about McConnell's health and chose to ask for for an update rather than add to any speculation. Beshear said in a statement he wished the senator a speedy recovery.

[Lisa Licera]

Some Senate and House Democrats want to know if a financial firm once run by the current commerce secretary benefited from a government deal.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

A letter signed by Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden, Chris Van Hollen and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren asks financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald for information about how it may have benefited when the US Government agreed to invest more than one and a half billion dollars in USA Rare Earth. Cantor Fitzgerald was run by current Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, whose children now run the company. Cantor Fitzgerald organized the sale of private USA Rare Earth shares to raise money at the time of the government investment. But a spokesperson for Kenner Fitzgerald told the Wall Street Journal they had no role in USA Rare Earth discussions with the government and that their relationship with the Rare Earth firm predates Lutnick's appointment as commerce secretary. Jessica Rosenthal, Fox News the last woman

[Lisa Licera]

to be executed in Britain for killing your abusive boyfriend outside a London pub more than 70 years ago has been posthumously granted a conditional pardon. Ruth Ellis was hanged in 1955. Deputy Prime Minister David Lemmy said while the pardon doesn't claim Ellis was innocent, it replaces the death penalty with a sentence of life in prison. I'm Lisa Licera. This is Fox News.

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