12AM ET 05/16/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update: 12AM ET 05/16/2026 — Detailed Episode Summary

Episode Overview

This episode of the Fox News Hourly Update (aired May 16, 2026) delves into major national and international headlines, with key stories including President Trump’s return from China and talks with President Xi Jinping, new China-US trade agreements, controversy over a US border barrier affecting a religious site, developments in international terror prosecutions, wildfire recovery compensation in California, and political fallout from the commutation of a high-profile election clerk’s sentence. The episode is fast-paced, news-focused, and maintains the straightforward, authoritative tone typical of Fox News newscasts.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump Returns from Beijing Summit

• Trump’s Top Priority with Xi Jinping: Taiwan
  • The episode opens with President Trump's return from meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
  • Trump, interviewed by Bret Baier (Fox’s Special Report), foregrounds Taiwan as President Xi’s primary concern.
    • Quote: "It's always been his most important thing from the day I knew him years ago...Taiwan, now with me. I don't think they'll do anything when I'm here. When I'm not here, I think they might."
      – President Trump (00:15–00:29)
• Trade Deals Announced: Agriculture & Aviation
  • China agrees to increase annual soybean purchases to 25 million tons through 2028.
  • China commits to buying 400–450 General Electric aircraft engines and 200 planes, with a potential for 750 additional aircraft orders.
    • Quote: "So they're buying General Electric. So it's approximately 400, 450 engines, 200 planes and a promise of up to 750 if they do it."
      – Edward Lawrence (00:49–01:00)
• Diplomacy Tactics
  • President Trump indicates the presence of top US executives "threw the Chinese off," facilitating shifts toward potentially opening Chinese markets further to US goods.

2. Controversy Over Southern Border Barrier on Religious Land

• White House Seeks Church Land for Wall Construction
  • The administration pursues eminent domain over 14 acres owned by the Catholic Church, a popular pilgrimage site featuring a 29-foot statue of Jesus at Mount Crystal Ray.
  • Offer of $183,000 is met with resistance; the Diocese of Las Cruces files a legal challenge, citing First Amendment violations regarding religious expression.
    • Quote: "The administration's efforts violate its First Amendment right to religious expression."
      – Tamra Gotti (01:21–01:51)

3. Justice Department Charges Iraqi National with Terror Attacks

• Case Details
  • Mohammed Al Saadi faces six federal counts, including providing material support to foreign terrorist organizations.
  • Accused of coordinating at least 18 attacks in Europe, two in Canada, largely connected to conflict developments in Iran.
  • Targets included US and Israeli groups; motive to disrupt US and Israeli operations in Iran.
    • Quote: "Al Saudi is charged with planning, coordinating, financing and promoting at least 18 attacks in Europe, plus two in Canada. Now, these were all attacks that were being planned since the start of the war in Iran in February."
      – Brian Yenis (03:15–03:40)

4. California’s Wildfire Compensation Fund & the Eaton Fire

• Utilities’ Role in Wildfire Recovery
  • California’s wildfire compensation fund aids communities harmed by utility-related fires.
  • Edison International’s CEO Pedro Pizarro discusses the impact of the fund in relation to the Eaton Fire, potentially linked to Southern California Edison infrastructure.
    • Quote: "Even though we believe that the utilities actions were prudent. And so that fund today has around $21 billion of capacity, much of that may be exhausted by the Eaton fire."
      – Pedro Pizarro via Edward Lawrence (04:13–04:33)
  • Edison International is creating an additional, smaller fund for further compensation.

5. Colorado Election Clerk’s Sentence Commuted

• Political and Legal Reactions
  • Colorado Governor Jared Polis commutes the sentence of Tina Peters, a local election clerk convicted after a 2021 voting equipment breach that became a partisan flashpoint.
  • The decision receives backlash from Colorado Secretary of State Jenna Griswold, but earns praise from President Trump.
    • No direct quote available, but the event is summarized at 04:33–05:05.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on Xi Jinping’s Taiwan concern:
  "Taiwan, now with me. I don't think they'll do anything when I'm here. When I'm not here, I think they might." (Trump, 00:20–00:29)
• Edward Lawrence quantifying aviation deal:
  "So they're buying General Electric. So it's approximately 400, 450 engines, 200 planes and a promise of up to 750 if they do it." (Edward Lawrence, 00:49–01:00)
• Diocese’s legal stand against border barrier:
  "The administration's efforts violate its First Amendment right to religious expression." (Tamra Gotti, 01:49)
• Brian Yenis outlining terror charges:
  "Al Saudi is charged with planning, coordinating, financing and promoting at least 18 attacks in Europe, plus two in Canada." (Brian Yenis, 03:33–03:39)
• Pedro Pizarro on compensation fund usage:
  "That fund today has around $21 billion of capacity, much of that may be exhausted by the Eaton fire." (Edward Lawrence quoting Pedro Pizarro, 04:22–04:33)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:02–01:16: President Trump’s China trip coverage (trade, Taiwan, aviation, diplomacy)
• 01:16–01:51: Border barrier and Mount Crystal Ray church land controversy
• 03:07–03:53: DOJ charges against Mohammed Al Saadi for international terrorism
• 03:53–04:33: California wildfire compensation fund and Edison International’s response
• 04:33–05:05: Colorado commutation: Tina Peters’ sentence and responses

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Tone & Language

The episode is clipped, concise, and strictly informative—suitable for those needing a rapid yet comprehensive news roundup. Voices remain authoritative but neutral, aiming for clarity over commentary.

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For listeners: This update covers major developments in US-China relations, border security controversies with religious liberty implications, a high-profile federal terror indictment, wildfire recovery policies, and a contentious political clemency case. It’s ideal for a snapshot of overnight headlines with authoritative reporting and direct speaker attribution.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

The president returns. I'm Debra Valentine, FOX News President Trump back in the US following meetings with China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing. President Trump on Fox's Special Report told Bret Baier the two leaders discussed Taiwan.

[Edward Lawrence]

It's always been his most important thing from the day I knew him years ago. I've known him now 11 years, 12 years. It's always been the biggest thing for him. Taiwan, now with me. I don't think they'll do anything when I'm here. When I'm not here, I think they might.

[Debra Valentine]

Fox Business Network's Edward Lawrence.

[Job]

The president says China has agreed to buy more US agriculture and live up to the commitments to buy 25 million tons of soybeans from American farmers each year through 2028. The President on Air Force One also sang China went beyond just planes for the airline industry, buying General Electric engines.

[Edward Lawrence]

So they're buying General Electric. So it's approximately 400, 450 engines, 200 planes and a promise of up to 750 if they do it.

[Job]

Job bringing the top executives along on the trip threw the Chinese off, according to the president. It also allowed for movement now, possibly to open Chinese markets to more US Goods as the Chinese president himself said that China would open wider terrorist trade in Iran.

[Debra Valentine]

Also discuss the Trump administration's move to create southern border barriers, sparking controversy.

[Tamra Gotti]

The White House wants to seize 14 acres of land on a mountainside owned by the Catholic Church and that attracts thousands of people for an annual religious pilgrimage. The land is at the bottom of Mount Crystal Ray, which has a 29 foot tall statue of Jesus Christ at its summit. The administration has sued the Diocese of Las Cruces in neighboring New Mexico, which is resisting the government's efforts to take the land with an offer of $183,000. The diocese says in legal papers the administration's efforts violate its First Amendment right to religious expression.

[Debra Valentine]

Tamra Gotti, FOX NEWS America's listening to FOX News.

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[Debra Valentine]

The Justice Department is charging an Iraqi national with carrying out at least 18 terror attacks against US and Israeli groups overseas.

[Brian Yenis]

Mohammed Al Saadi making kisses first court appearance in federal court in Manhattan. He has been charged with coordinating terror attacks that aim to stop the U.S. and Israeli war with Iran. He faces six federal counts, including providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Now, according to this federal complaint, Al Saudi is charged with planning, coordinating, financing and promoting at least 18 attacks in Europe, plus two in Canada. Now, these were all attacks that were being planned since the start of the war in Iran in February. Now, Alsat planned to kill Americans and Jews, prosecutors say.

[Debra Valentine]

Fox's Brian Yenis reporting. In 2019, California passed a wildfire recovery compensation program to help people impacted by fires. Specifically, where utility companies may be to blame. Edison International's CEO Pedro Pizarro tells Fox Business the fund will impact communities still recovering from the Eaton fire.

[Edward Lawrence]

That structure has come to bear in the case of last year's Eaton fire, which unfortunately may be connected to Southern California Edison's infrastructure. Even though we believe that the utilities actions were prudent. And so that fund today has around $21 billion of capacity, much of that may be exhausted by the Eaton fire.

[Debra Valentine]

Edison International and Southern California International are also creating another smaller fund to help provide compensation. Democratic Colorado Governor Jared Polis Frotic commuted the sentence of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters. She's a former election clerk convicted in connection with a 2021 voting equipment bre that became a flashpoint in the election integrity fight. The clemency drew immediate backlash from Colorado Secretary of State Jenna Griswold and praise from President Donald Trump.

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