12AM ET 05/06/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 12AM ET, 05/06/2026

Episode Overview

This newscast provides a concise snapshot of major U.S. and global news as of midnight May 6, 2026. Anchored by Sue Guzman with contributions from Jared Halpern, Kristin Goodwin, and reporting from multiple correspondents, the episode focuses on key geopolitical developments, political matchups in the Ohio primaries, the continued effects of a prolonged government shutdown on DHS staffing prior to major international events, and U.S. counter-narcotics efforts at sea.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S.-Iran Relations & Project Freedom

[00:06 – 01:36]

• Pausing Project Freedom:
  President Trump announced a temporary pause in Project Freedom—a U.S. operation intended to protect commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian attacks. The pause aims to accommodate ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war with Iran.

  • Trump’s decision came at the request of Pakistan and other unspecified countries, citing recent “tremendous military success” and significant diplomatic progress.
  • Quote – Kristin Goodwin (00:24):
    “Project Freedom will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not an agreement to end the war with Iran can be finalized and signed.”
  • The U.S. blockade of the Strait remains in place during this period.

• Operation Epic Fury Ends, Focus Shifts:
  Secretary of State Marco Rubio (notable as he is now Secretary of State) says Operation Epic Fury—the combat phase—has ended. The current priority is reopening the Strait of Hormuz for international shipping.

  • Rubio strongly asserts Iran’s lack of sovereignty over the Strait:
    • Quote – Marco Rubio (01:03):
      “The Strait of Hormuz does not belong to Iran... You have to coordinate with Iran, you have to pay them a toll in order to go through the Straits of Hormuz. And it cannot be normalized.”
    • Rubio clarifies new rules of military engagement:
      • Quote – Marco Rubio (01:22):
        “There’s no shooting unless we’re shot at first... We’re not attacking them.”
    • Rubin does not rule out the resumption of combat if talks break down.

2. Secretary of State’s Diplomatic Agenda & Trump-Papal Tensions

[01:36 – 01:56]

• Vatican Visit:
  Rubio is scheduled to visit Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican to mend relations after President Trump publicly accused the Pope of supporting Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
  • Report – Jared Halpern (01:40):
    “Viewed by some as a fence mending visit following criticism of the pontiff by President Trump.”
  • The Pope’s defense is that he’s adhering to church teaching, not making political pronouncements.

3. Ohio Primary Results: Political Implications

[02:52 – 03:48]

• High-stakes contests set for November:

  • Senate Race:
    • Former Senator Sherrod Brown (D) wins the Democratic primary and will challenge incumbent Republican Senator John Husted, with control of the Senate possibly in play.
  • Governor’s Race:
    • Vivek Ramaswamy (Republican biotech billionaire) clinches the GOP nomination; he’ll face Democrat Amy Acton, noted for her role as Ohio’s COVID-19 health director.
  • Quote – Jared Halpern (02:54):
    “A Senate race that’ll help determine control of the chamber and a governor’s race facing a former presidential candidate and the state’s COVID-19 era health director.”

• After-effects of DHS Shutdown:
  The recent 76-day partial government shutdown severely impacted the Department of Homeland Security and TSA staffing, coming just as the U.S. prepares for the FIFA World Cup and America 250 celebrations.

  • TSA lost 1,100 employees (roughly 8% of workforce); rehiring and retraining will take months, making full readiness for summer events improbable.
  • Quote – DHS Representative (03:48):
    “TSA lost about 1,100 employees as a result of the shutdown... it can take four to six months to train any new TSA hires before they can be deployed to airports.”
  • Millions of international visitors expected (equivalent to “hosting 78 Super Bowls in 11 different American cities”).

4. U.S. Strikes on Drug Smuggling Vessels

[04:27 – 04:46]

• Latest Strikes:
  U.S. forces attacked a vessel in the eastern Pacific suspected of drug trafficking, killing three men. This follows a similar operation in the Caribbean the previous day that killed two. Since September, at least 191 people have died in similar strikes.

  • Quote – Jared Halpern (04:38):
    “At least 191 people have been killed since the strikes began in September.”

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Notable Moments & Memorable Quotes

• Kristin Goodwin on Project Freedom:
  “Project Freedom will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not an agreement to end the war with Iran can be finalized and signed.”
  — [00:10–00:32]

• Marco Rubio on Normalization:
  “Under no circumstances can we live in a world where we accept, okay, this is normal. You have to coordinate with Iran. You have to pay them a toll in order to go through the Straits of Hormuz.”
  — [01:03–01:13]

• Marco Rubio on Rules of Engagement:
  “There’s no shooting unless we’re shot at first. We’re not attacking them.”
  — [01:22–01:25]

• DHS on TSA Staffing:
  “TSA lost about 1,100 employees as a result of the shutdown. 1,100 people quit. That represents 8% of their overall workforce.”
  — [03:48–04:05]

• On expected World Cup visitors:
  “They’re anticipating between 5 and 7 million global travelers to come to the US for the FIFA World cup alone, which they say is the equivalent of hosting 78 Super Bowls in 11 different American cities.”
  — [04:11–04:22]

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• U.S.-Iran Conflict Update & Project Freedom Pause:
  [00:06–01:36]

• Secretary of State Rubio Heads to Vatican; Trump–Pope Tensions:
  [01:36–01:56]

• Ohio Primaries: Marquee Senate & Governor Races:
  [02:54–03:34]

• DHS/TSA Fallout From Shutdown, Pre-World Cup Staffing Shortage:
  [03:34–04:27]

• U.S. Drug Vessel Strikes – Pacific & Caribbean Updates:
  [04:27–04:46]

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Summary

This newscast captures a moment of geopolitical maneuvering, with the U.S. pausing its assertive military strategy in the Middle East to pursue a possible peace deal, while keeping pressure on Iran and fostering diplomatic overtures abroad. Domestically, it highlights the fallout from governance disruptions against the backdrop of highly competitive political races and security concerns as the U.S. heads into a summer of major international events. The episode offers a clear, urgent tone, emphasizing both political gravity and the logistical stakes for the nation's security and global standing.

Transcript

[Sue Guzman]

A change of plans. I'm Sue Guzman, Fox News.

[Jared Halpern]

President Trump announcing a change up in tactics with Iran.

[Kristin Goodwin]

President Trump recently announced Project Freedom, saying it aimed to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz and defend them from Iranian attacks. But the president taking to Truth Social to say Project Freedom will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not an agreement to end the war with Iran can be finalized and signed. He goes on to explain the move is based on the request of Pakistan and other countries, the tremendous military success that we have had and the fact that great progress has been made toward a complete and final agreement. Adding the US Blockade of the strait would remain in place. Kristin Goodwin, FOX News.

[Sue Guzman]

Meanwhile, the secretary of state says the

[Jared Halpern]

US Is operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is a favorite of the world. Fox's Jared Halpern reports.

[Marco Rubio]

The Strait of Hormuz does not belong to Iran, Secretary of State Marco Rubio says, and the regime does not have the right to shoot at commercial vessels transiting the narrow waterway.

And it cannot be normalized. Under no circumstances can we live in a world where we accept, okay, this is normal. You have to coordinate with Iran. You have to pay them a toll in order to go through the Straits of Hormuz.

Briefing reporters at the White House, Rubio said Operation Epic Fury, the combat mission against Iran is over and the priority now is reopening the strait.

There's no shooting unless we're shot at first.

[Kristin Goodwin]

Okay?

[Marco Rubio]

We're not attacking them.

Still, Rubio did not rule out the possibility combat operations resume if diplomatic negotiations fail. At the White House, Jared Halpern, Fox

[Sue Guzman]

and Secretary of State Rubio headed to the Vatican this week to meet with

[Jared Halpern]

the Pope, Pope Leo xiv, viewed by some as a fence mending visit following criticism of the pontiff by President Trump. Presidents keeping up the heat though on the pope accusing Leo of saying it's okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon. The pontiff says he's just following church teaching.

[Sue Guzman]

America is listening to FOX News.

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[Sue Guzman]

Tonight's Ohio primary

[Jared Halpern]

has set up two marquee matchups in November. A Senate race that'll help determine control of the chamber and a governor's race race facing a former presidential candidate and the state's COVID 19 era health director. Senate campaign is on track to be among the most expensive this year as Republicans trying to hold onto their majority. Former Senator Sherrod Brown easily defeated a challenger in the Democratic primary and will now attempt to unseat Republican Senator John Husted in the governor's race. Biotech billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy clinched the Republican nomination and will face all off this fall against Democrat Amy Acton, the COVID ERA health director and Homeland Security is mostly funded again this after a 76 day partial government shutdown. But the ripple effects are continuing. A lot of TSA workers quit and now the DHS has to hire and train airport security agents ahead of the World cup next month.

[DHS Representative]

DHS tells Fox News that TSA lost about 1100 employees as a result of the shutdown. 1100 people quit. That represents 8% of their overall workforce. And they say it can take four to six months to train any new TSA hires before they can be deployed to airports. So any new TSA agents likely can't even be staffed in time for the FIFA World cup and America 250 events later this summer and the numbers they're expecting are huge. DHS tells Fox News they're anticipating between 5 and 7 million global travelers to come to the US for the FIFA World cup alone, which they say is the equivalent of hosting 78 Super Bowls in 11 different American cities.

[Sue Guzman]

Fox's Bill Melusion in the United States has launched another strike on a vessel

[Jared Halpern]

suspected of transporting drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing three men.

[Sue Guzman]

The attack Tuesday coming a day after

[Jared Halpern]

U.S. forces struck a reputed drug boat in the Caribbean Sea, killing two people. At least 191 people have been killed since the strikes began in September.

[Sue Guzman]

I'm Sue Gusman. This is Fox News.

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