12AM ET 04/12/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 12AM ET, April 12, 2026

Overview

This episode delivers up-to-the-minute coverage on pressing international developments, major U.S. political news, and recent milestones in space exploration. Anchored by Debra Valentine and featuring statements from key figures, the newscast offers concise yet impactful reporting on Operation Epic Fury, fallout surrounding Congressman Eric Swalwell, and the triumphant return of NASA’s Artemis 2 mission.

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Key News Segments & Insights

1. Operation Epic Fury Stalemate: U.S.-Iran Talks Collapse

• Location: Peace talks in Pakistan
• Summary: After 21 hours of negotiation, no agreement was reached between U.S. and Iran over nuclear weapons and ongoing hostilities, signaling continued tensions and uncertainty about the path forward.
• Key Quote:
  • J.D. Vance (U.S. Vice President):

    "We go back to the United States having not come to an agreement. We've made very clear what our red lines are, what things we're willing to accommodate them on and what things we're not willing to accommodate them on." (00:24)

• U.S. delegation returns home; no resolution achieved after extensive diplomatic efforts.

2. Strait of Hormuz: U.S. Navy Actions

• Summary: President Trump announces that U.S. Navy missile destroyers have conducted mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz—the first such transit during the conflict—underscoring the seriousness of the Iran stand-off and its global maritime implications.
• Key Quote:
  • Donald Trump (U.S. President):

    "All we do is we'll open up the strait even though we don't use it because we have a lot of other countries in the world that do use it that are either afraid or weak or cheap. I don't know what it is, but we were not helped by NATO." (00:44)

3. Iran’s Supreme Leader Severely Wounded

• Incident: Airstrikes on February 28th severely injured Mosh Taba Khamenei (new supreme leader), with ongoing reports confirming both the gravity of his injuries and his role in negotiations.
• Details:
  • Injuries: Disfigured leg and face, not seen publicly since hospitalization
  • Status: Mentally sharp, still communicating with peace delegation
  • Sourcing: Reuters corroborates statement by U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Khamenei’s condition
• Notable Moment:

  "Despite those serious injuries, Reuters quotes anonymous sources within his inner circle as saying he remains mentally sharp and is in communication with the Iranian delegation..." (01:14)

4. Eric Swalwell Sexual Assault Allegations Rock Democratic Politics

• Summary: Accusations of sexual assault have led to bipartisan condemnation of Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell, including calls for his resignation and withdrawal from the California governor's race.
• Reactions:
  • Nancy Pelosi & Gavin Newsom: High-profile Democrats withdraw support and stress the seriousness of the allegations.
  • Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna:

    "I will be filing a motion to expel Eric Swalwell. It is unacceptable for him to just index his campaign for governor in California but still sit in the House of Representatives." (03:47)

  • Unions & Endorsements: California Teachers Union and SEIU have pulled endorsements.
• Swalwell Response: Denies all allegations, attributing them to political motivations in a video on X.

5. NASA Artemis 2: Crew Returns & Reflects

• Event: Artemis 2 crew’s splashdown after a 10-day lunar orbit mission; celebration and remarks at Ellington Air Force Base.
• Statements:
  • NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman:

    "After a brief 53 year intermission, the show goes on and NASA is back in the business of sending astronauts to the moon and bringing them home safely." (04:22)

  • Mission Specialist Christina Cook:

    "I know I haven't learned everything that this journey has yet to teach me. But there's one new thing I know and that is planet Earth, you are a crew. Thank you." (04:36)

• Significance: This mission is hailed as paving the way for future lunar landings.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• J.D. Vance on Negotiations:

  "We've made very clear what our red lines are..." (00:24)

• Donald Trump on NATO Support:

  "We were not helped by NATO." (00:44)

• Anna Paulina Luna on Accountability:

  "It is unacceptable for him to just index his campaign for governor... but still sit in the House..." (03:47)

• Jared Isaacman on NASA’s Return:

  "After a brief 53 year intermission, the show goes on..." (04:22)

• Christina Cook's Reflection:

  "Planet Earth, you are a crew. Thank you." (04:36)

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Timeline of Major Segments

• 00:02–01:52: International conflict – U.S.-Iran talks, Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Supreme Leader
• 03:08–04:03: U.S. politics – Eric Swalwell allegations
• 04:03–04:55: Science & Space – Artemis 2 crew returns and reflects

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This episode exemplifies the Fox News Hourly Update’s commitment to rapid, concise reporting—with exclusive quotes from prominent figures and a clear focus on today’s highest impact stories.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

This is a FOX News alert. I'm Debra Valentine. Negotiations in Pakistan have failed to bring about an agreement between the United States and Iran to bring an end to Operation epic fury. Following 21 hours of talks, Vice President J.D. vance announced that the US and Tehran were unable to reach a deal on the issue of nuclear weapons, with a delegation headed back to the U.S. we

[J.D. Vance]

go back to the United States having not come to an agreement. We've made very clear what our red lines are, what things we're willing to accommodate them on and what things we're not willing to accommodate them on.

[Debra Valentine]

Before Vance's announcement, President Donald Trump earlier Saturday said U.S. navy missile destroyers have passed through the Strait of Hormuz to conduct mine clearing operations.

[Donald Trump]

All we do is we'll open up the strait even though we don't use it because we have a lot of other countries in the world that do use it that are either afraid or weak or cheap. I don't know what it is, but we were not helped by NATO.

[Debra Valentine]

The passage of the two destroyers marks the first such transit during the conflict to clear the Strait of Iranian laid explosives. A new report details how seriously Iran's new supreme leader was injured by US And Israeli airstrikes.

[News Correspondent]

Mosh Taba Khamenei is severely disfigured after sustaining leg and face injuries in the February 28th airstrikes that killed his father, according to Reuters. He has not been seen publicly since being hospitalized. However, despite those serious injuries, Reuters quotes anonymous sources within his inner circle as saying he remains mentally sharp and is in communication with the Iranian delegation in Pakistan for peace talks with the U.S. the Reuters report corroborates an earlier statement by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who told reporters in March that Khamenei was likely disfigured.

[Debra Valentine]

Kathleen Maloney, Fox News America's listening to Fox News.

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[Debra Valentine]

Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell faces accusations of sexual assault, leading to calls for him to leave Congress and drop out of the California governor's race. Max Gordon of the Fox Business Network in Los Angeles with more on how fellow lawmakers are reacting.

[Max Gordon]

Prominent Democrats, including Speaker emerita Nancy Pelosi have been pulling their support and calling on Swalwell to exit the California governor's race. California Governor Gavin Newsom releasing a statement saying as we continue to learn more, these allegations from multiple sources are deeply troubling and must be taken seriously. Meanwhile, Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna making it clear that she wants Swalwell out of Congress.

[Anna Paulina Luna]

I will be filing a motion to expel Eric Swalwell. It is unacceptable for him to just index his campaign for governor in California but still sit in the House of Representatives.

[Max Gordon]

Various groups like the California Teachers Union and SEIU are pulling their endorsements.

[Debra Valentine]

Swalwell denied the accusations, claiming in a video on X that the accusations were politically motivated. A day after the Artemis 2 crew splashdown in the Pacific Ocean following their 10 day trip around the moon, the crew took the stage at Ellington Air Force Base in Houston, Texas. Reflecting on their mission, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.

[Jared Isaacman]

After a brief 53 year intermission, the show goes on and NASA is back in the business of sending astronauts to the moon and bringing them home safely.

[Debra Valentine]

Mission Specialist Christina Cook.

[Christina Cook]

I know I haven't learned everything that this journey has yet to teach me. But there's one new thing I know and that is planet Earth. You are a crew. Thank you.

[Debra Valentine]

Their 10 day mission paves the way for future moon landings. I'm Debra Valentine. This is FOX News.

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