12AM ET 04/04/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 12AM ET 04/04/2026

Podcast Summary

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Main Theme

This episode provides a concise update on major national and international events for April 4, 2026. Key focuses are the ongoing search for a missing crew member after an American fighter jet was shot down over Iran, a multimillion-dollar fund for Jeffrey Epstein abuse survivors, latest US jobs figures, and a Good Friday commemoration led by Pope Leo XIV.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ongoing Crisis: Downed US Jets Over Iran

• Incident Overview

  • An F15E US fighter jet was shot down over Iran. Search continues for the missing weapons systems officer.
  • Separately, an A10 Warthog was also fired upon and crashed near the Strait of Hormuz; the pilot was successfully rescued.
  • Rescue helicopters faced "enemy fire" and, despite sustaining damage and crew injuries, landed safely.
  • The F15E was downed "late Thursday night before the sun rose on Friday" over Iran.
  • Both pilots from crash incidents were rescued, but the F15E's weapons systems officer remains missing.
    • (Jennifer Griffin, 00:17 – 00:57)

• Military and Political Response

  • President Trump claimed Iran’s air defense systems were destroyed, but Iranian sources assert they shot down the US jet with their defenses.
  • Defensive US strikes into Iran are paused to avoid incidents during search & rescue.
    • "They don't want to create a friendly fire incident or have an accident while US Forces are searching for their counterparts." (Mike Tobin, 01:12)
  • Israel is sharing intelligence with US forces during the urgent search.
    • “The US and Israel have been sharing intelligence since before this war started and there's no reason that they would stop during such a desperate time as this.” (Mike Tobin, 01:28)
  • An Iranian state media anchor offered a bounty for information on or capture of the missing US crew member.
    • "A local news anchor in Iran with the state controlled media...put out a bounty for the missing US Personnel, saying locals should hand them over to local police for an unspecified reward." (Mike Tobin, 01:44)

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2. Jeffrey Epstein Survivors’ Settlement

• Multimillion-Dollar Fund Established
  • A special fund will pay out survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse.
  • This stems from a lawsuit (not against Epstein himself) but targeting the bank he used (Bank of America), alleging they ignored suspicious transactions related to his crimes.
    • "The bank did reach a 72 and a half million dollar settlement on this issue." (John Saucier, 02:46)
  • 60–75 women may be eligible for compensation.
  • Bank of America denies facilitating sex trafficking crimes.
  • Final approval for the settlement is slated for August 27.
    • (John Saucier, 02:46 – 03:21)

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3. US March Jobs Report

• Economic Growth Exceeds Expectations
  • The economy added 178,000 jobs—the highest since December 2024.
  • Unemployment has fallen; average hourly wages are up 3.5% over the past 12 months.
    • “That means that as prices rise, American paychecks rise faster, which equals in general Americans able to afford their lifestyle more than under the last administration.” (Edward Lawrence, 03:28)
  • Manufacturing job numbers: a loss of 91,000 jobs since President Trump took office, but 15,000 manufacturing jobs were created in March alone.
    • “The labor secretary says it’s not by accident.” (Edward Lawrence, 03:53)
  • Unemployment rate stands at 4.3%.
    • (Edward Lawrence, 03:28 – 04:03)

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4. Good Friday in Rome

• Pope Leo XIV’s Commemoration
  • The Pope commemorated Good Friday by personally carrying a wooden cross through all 14 stations at the Colosseum.
  • The tradition re-enacts the journey of Jesus Christ through Jerusalem before the crucifixion.
  • An open-air Easter Mass is planned at St. Peter’s Square.
    • (Debra Valentine, 04:03 – 04:37)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "The pilot of the A10 Warthog was rescued after the crash, we've learned...The US F15E was shot down late Thursday night before the sun rose on Friday. In Iran. The pilot was rescued, but an urgent search continues for the weapons system officer."
  — Jennifer Griffin, 00:17 – 00:57

• "Defensive strikes into Iran have been halted while the search and rescue is underway for the obvious reason they don't want to create a friendly fire incident..."
  — Mike Tobin, 01:12

• “A local news anchor in Iran with the state controlled media out there essentially put out a bounty for the missing US Personnel...”
  — Mike Tobin, 01:44

• "The last time the economy created 178,000 jobs was December of 2024...as prices rise, American paychecks rise faster, which equals in general Americans able to afford their lifestyle more..."
  — Edward Lawrence, 03:28

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:02 – 01:12]: US jets downed in Iran, search & rescue updates
• [01:12 – 01:54]: Suspension of US airstrikes, Israel intelligence sharing, bounty offered by Iranian media
• [02:41 – 03:21]: Epstein survivors fund & Bank of America settlement
• [03:21 – 04:03]: March jobs report, economic and job growth analysis
• [04:03 – 04:37]: Good Friday commemoration led by Pope Leo XIV

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This episode delivers urgent updates on international conflict, accountability for institutional complicity in sexual abuse, positive economic news, and a moment of spiritual significance—all in a concise, fast-paced Fox News style.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

The search continues. I'm Debra Valentine, FOX News. While the search for a missing crew member of a downed F15 US fighter jet continues, new information has emerged on the shoot down of an American 10 Warthog over Iran. Fox's Jennifer Griffin.

[Jennifer Griffin]

We have some details about the F15E which was shot down and the A10 Warthog which was fired on and crashed near the Strait of Hormuz. The pilot of the A10 Warthog was rescued after the crash, we've learned. And two rescue helicopters involved in the search for the missing F15E weapons systems officer were damaged by enemy fire and some of the helicopter crew members were injured, we're told, but they did manage to land safely. The US F15E was shot down late Thursday night before the sun rose on Friday. In Iran. The pilot was rescued, but an urgent search continues for the weapons system officer.

[Debra Valentine]

President Trump claims Iran's air defense was destroyed, but Iran says they used air defense systems to shoot down the US Jet. And the search continuing for that missing crew member of that American F15E fighter jet. We have more from Fox's Mike Tobin.

[Mike Tobin]

Defensive strikes into Iran have been halted while the search and rescue is underway for the obvious reason they don't want to create a friendly fire incident or have an accident while US Forces are searching for their counterparts. Also, that Israel is indeed sharing intelligence with the US Forces while they're searching for this missing crew member. And that stands to reason, of course, the US And Israel have been sharing intelligence since before this war started and there's no reason that they would stop during such a desperate time as this. Now, a local news anchor in Iran with the state controlled media out there essentially put out a bounty for the missing US Personnel, saying that locals should hand them over to local police for an unspecified reward.

[Debra Valentine]

America's listening to Fox News.

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[Debra Valentine]

A multi million dollar fund has been set up to pay out survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse.

[John Saucier]

This particular lawsuit wasn't against the late sex offender Epstein. It was actually against the bank he used. The plaintiffs argue the bank of America ignored suspicious financial transactions involving Epstein while he was abusing girls and women between 2008 and his arrest in 2019, the bank did reach a 72 and a half million dollar settlement on this issue. Lawyers for the victims believe some 60 to 75 women may be eligible for payouts. The bank in a statement says in part that bank of America did not facilitate sex trafficking crimes. A final approval hearing on this settlement is set for August 27th. John Saucier, Fox News.

[Debra Valentine]

The March jobs report released today has exceeded most expectations. Fox Business Network's Edward Lawrence has details from Washington.

[Edward Lawrence]

The last time the economy created 178,000 jobs was December of 2024. You see that it shows the unemployment rate have fall with the average hourly wages rising 3 1/2% over the past 12 months. That means that as prices rise, American paychecks rise faster, which equals in general Americans able to afford their lifestyle more than under the last administration. Looking at jobs, from the month President Trump came into office, manufacturing has lost 91,000 jobs. However, there's a turnaround in the March jobs report where the economy created 15,000 manufacturing jobs that month. The labor secretary says it's not by accident.

[Debra Valentine]

The unemployment rate stands at 4.3%. Pope Leo XIV commemorating Good Friday, taking up the wooden cross himself through all 14 stations of the cross at the Colosseum in Rome. The commemoration reenacting Jesus Christ's journey through Jerusalem before the crucifixion. On Easter Sunday, the Pope will deliver an open air Mass in St Peter's Square in Rome. I'm Debra Valentine, this is Fox.

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