12AM ET 05/13/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update — 12AM ET 05/13/2026 Newscast

Host: FOX News Podcasts
Date: May 13, 2026

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Episode Overview

This Fox News newscast provides a concise but in-depth summary of the latest global and national events, focusing on escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, President Trump's diplomatic trip to China, updates on notable legal and public health cases, and other key headlines as of May 13, 2026.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump's High-Stakes China Visit

• Trip Purpose:
  President Trump is traveling to Beijing for a pivotal summit with President Xi Jinping, primarily to discuss the ongoing Iran war.
  • [00:03] Chris DiMeo: "President Trump is heading to China for a high stakes summit with China's leader."
• Expectations for the Summit:
  Trump highlights his relationship with President Xi and sets a hopeful tone for productive talks.
  • [00:14] President Donald Trump: “He’s been a friend of mine. He’s been somebody that we get along with. And I think you’re going to see that good things are going to happen. This is going to be a very exciting trip.”
• China's Role in Iran Peace Push:
  China, as a major buyer of Iranian oil, is seen as influential, but Trump clarifies the US isn’t relying on China to mediate.
  • [00:24] Jared Halpern: “President Trump said he is not asking for China to intervene in negotiations, adding the US doesn't need any help with Iran.”

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2. US-Iran Ceasefire: “On Life Support”

• US Response to Escalating Tensions:
  Trump determined the current ceasefire is precarious, with concerns about renewed conflict in the Middle East.
  • [00:43] Chris DiMeo: “Tensions are rising between the US and Iran again after President Trump determined the ceasefire is on life support.”
• Military Preparedness:
  Secretary of War Pete Hegseth affirms contingency plans are ready if the situation escalates.
  • [00:51] Pete Hegseth: “The United States has a plan if escalation with Iran is necessary. The Middle East is bracing for the possibility that the region returns to war in the days ahead.”
• Iran’s Threatening Rhetoric:
  Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohamed Kalibaef warns of retaliation, criticizing US strategy.
  • [01:04] Kalibaef (quoted): “Mistaken strategy and mistaken decisions will always lead to mistaken results… We are prepared for all options. They will be surprised.”
• Breakdown in Diplomacy:
  Trump dismisses the latest Iranian peace proposal in harsh terms.
  • [01:16] Trump (paraphrased): Called the Iranian response “a piece of garbage.”

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3. Domestic and International Headlines

Denver Airport Security Incident

• Summary:
  A man breached Denver airport security, scaled the fence, accessed the runway, and was fatally struck by a plane.
  • [01:29] Chris DiMeo: “Denver airport workers initially missed a security breach by a man who scaled an eight foot perimeter fence and crossed a Runway where he was hit and killed by a plane with 231 people on board.”
• Details:
  The victim died by suicide; no injuries reported among passengers.

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Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak

• Update:
  A Spanish passenger evacuated from an outbreak ship tested positive, making 11 cases and three deaths.
  • [02:39] Chris DiMeo: “Another former cruise ship passenger has tested positive for hantavirus.”
• Source of Outbreak:
  Believed linked to a Dutch couple who'd been birdwatching in Argentina.
  • [02:50] Jonathan Savage: "It's thought the disease was brought on board by a Dutch couple who'd been bird watching in Argentina and came into contact with infected rat droppings."
• Containment:
  WHO reports no signs of larger outbreak.

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Congressional Scrutiny on Iran War Costs

• Budget Debate:
  Secretary Hegseth and General Kaine face tough questions from House Appropriations Committee.
  • [03:16] Chris DiMeo: “Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Kaine pressed by House appropriation committee members today on the Iran war, including the costs.”
• Ballooning Costs:
  Estimated war costs have risen to $29 billion, now $4 billion higher than earlier statements.
  • [03:24] Jennifer Griffin: “The new estimated cost of the war is $29 billion, $4 billion more than the comptroller told Congress two weeks ago. Lawmakers wanted to know why the US military hasn't been able to open the Strait of Hormuz.”
• Military Budget Request:
  President is asking for $1.5 trillion—up 44% from last year.

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Texas Legal Settlement: “Yogurt Shop Murders”

• Wrongful Conviction Resolution:
  Austin will pay $35 million to the wrongly accused in a notorious 1991 rape/murder case.
  • [03:57] Chris DiMeo: “Austin, Texas, will pay $35 million to three men and the family of a fourth who were wrongly accused… They were finally declared innocent by a judge in February after investigators determined the crime was committed by a suspect who died in 1999.”
• Breakthrough Evidence:
  Advanced DNA testing in 2025 identified Robert Eugene Brashers as the true perpetrator.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on US-China Relations:
  “He’s been a friend of mine… I think you’re going to see that good things are going to happen. This is going to be a very exciting trip.” — President Donald Trump [00:14]
• Iran Parliament Speaker on US Policy:
  “Mistaken strategy and mistaken decisions will always lead to mistaken results. The whole world has already figured this out. We are prepared for all options. They will be surprised.” — Mohamed Kalibaef, Speaker of Iran’s Parliament [01:04]
• Congressional Testimony on War Costs:
  “Lawmakers wanted to know why the US military hasn't been able to open the Strait of Hormuz.” — Jennifer Griffin [03:43]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:03] – President Trump heads to China for summit
• [00:43] – US-Iran tensions and ceasefire status
• [01:29] – Denver airport security breach and fatality
• [02:39] – Hantavirus cruise ship outbreak update
• [03:16] – Congressional grilling over Iran war costs
• [03:57] – Texas settlement for 1991 wrongful convictions

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Summary

This Fox News Hourly Update focuses on the global implications of President Trump’s trip to China amid the Iran war, the rising cost and complexity of US military involvement in Iran, and public health and legal updates. The tone is direct, urgent, and fact-driven, with frequent attributions to authoritative sources and official statements.

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Transcript

[Unknown Narrator]

Heading to Beijing.

[Chris DiMeo]

I'm Chris DiMeo, Fox News. President Trump is heading to China for a high stakes summit with China's leader.

[Jared Halpern]

President Trump says he expects to have a long conversation with President Xi Jinping about the war in Iran.

[President Donald Trump]

He's been a friend of mine. He's been somebody that we get along with. And I think you're going to see that good things are going to happen. This is going to be a very exciting trip.

[Jared Halpern]

China is a major buyer of Iranian oil and the administration has sought to use Beijing to pressure Iran to make a peace deal. Still, before leaving the White House, President Trump said he is not asking for China to intervene in negotiations, adding the US doesn't need any help with Iran. At the White House, Jared Halpern, FOX News.

[Chris DiMeo]

Tensions are rising between the US And Iran again after President Trump determined the ceasefire is on life support. Fox's Trey Yings is in Tel Aviv.

[Pete Hegseth]

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Capitol Hill today told lawmakers the United States has a plan if escalation with Iran is necessary. The Middle east is bracing for the possibility that the region returns to war in the days ahead. The speaker of Iran's Parliament, Mohamed Kalibaef posted to X saying our armed forces are ready to deliver a well deserved response to any aggression. Mistaken strategy and mistaken decisions will always lead to mistaken results. The whole world has already figured this out. We are prepared for all options. They will be surprised. The threatening language comes after President Trump rejected the Iranian response to the US Peace proposal, calling it a piece of garbage.

[Chris DiMeo]

The tensions come as Pentagon officials say the war with Iran has cost at least $29 billion. Denver airport workers initially missed a security breach by a man who scaled an eight foot perimeter fence and crossed a Runway where he was hit and killed by a plane with 231 people on board. The 41 year old entered the airport and crossed the Runway as a Frontier Airlines plane attempted to take off. The medical examiner says he died by suicide. America's listening to Fox News.

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[Chris DiMeo]

another former cruise ship passenger has tested positive for hantavirus.

[Jonathan Savage]

The Spanish citizen was evacuated from the cruise ship at the center of the outbreak on Sunday. All 13 Spanish nationals on board are now quarantining at a military hospital in Madrid. The number of people infected with the potentially deadly virus is now 11, with three deaths. The world Health Organization says there are no signs of a larger outbreak. It's thought the disease was brought on board by a Dutch couple who'd been bird watching in Argentina and came into contact with infected rat droppings. Jonathan Savage, FOX News Secretary of War

[Chris DiMeo]

Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Kaine pressed by House appropriation committee members today on the Iran war, including the costs.

[Jennifer Griffin]

Well, this was supposed to be an opportunity for Secretary Hegseth and General Kaine to defend the President's request for a whopping $1.5 trillion military budget, which is 44% bigger than last year. Instead, appropriators from both parties expressed frustration that they don't know how much the Iran war has really cost. The new estimated cost of the war is $29 billion, $4 billion more than the comptroller told Congress two weeks ago. Lawmakers wanted to know why the US Milit been able to open the Strait of Hormuz.

[Chris DiMeo]

That's Fox's Jennifer Griffin. Austin, Texas, will pay $35 million to three men in the family of a fourth who were wrongly accused of the 1991 rape and murder of four teenage girls at a yogurt shop. Robert Springsteen, Michael Scott, Forrest Welburn and Maurice Pierce had all insisted they were innocent. They were finally declared innocent by a judge in February after investigators determined the crime was committed by a suspect who died in 1999. New DNA science analyzed in 2025 pointed to another man, Robert Eugene Brashers, as the sole killer. I'm Chris DiMeo. This is Fox News.