12AM ET 05/31/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 12AM ET, May 31, 2026

Main Theme

This episode delivers a rapid roundup of major national and international news events as of midnight ET on May 31, 2026. The update covers intense ongoing diplomatic negotiations between the US and Iran, domestic protest actions, a tragic bus crash in Virginia, a dramatic cave rescue in Laos, confrontation with narco-terrorists in the Pacific, and a fatal industrial accident in Washington State.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. US-Iran Peace Negotiations and Military Tensions

• No Deal Yet: President Trump has yet to accept a tentative peace agreement with Iran. The world is watching for the US response.
  (00:02–00:13)
• Tentative Agreement Details:
  • Reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Easing of US restrictions on Iranian ports and frozen assets.
  • 60 days for negotiators to work toward a longer-term agreement on Iran’s nuclear program and uranium enrichment.
    (00:13–00:44)
• US Military Posture: Defense Secretary Pete Hegsess emphasizes readiness for further military action if necessary.

Notable Quote

“Wipe out the military, we wipe out their navy, their air force, their antiaircraft. We wipe out everything. We wipe out their leadership and then we wipe out their leadership a second time. And then at two and a half time we're dealing with the other half. And by the way, they're much more reasonable and you could say that's regime change.”
—President Trump on FOX’s My View with Lara Trump (00:51)

• American Casualties: Several US personnel were injured in an Iranian strike on a Kuwaiti air base.
  (01:09)

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2. Domestic Protests and Civil Unrest

• Anti-ICE Protests in Newark:
  • Ongoing protests outside Dulaney Hall detention facility.
  • "Several violent confrontations" reported.
  • Distinction drawn: less agitation than usual, but definitive violence and escalation occurred.
  • Newark police used ballistic shields, horseback units, chemical irritants, tear gas, and flashbang grenades to clear protestors.
  • The standoff lasted 30–45 minutes.
    (01:09–01:52)

Notable Quote

“Police marched first with ballistic shields. They were followed by officers on horseback. They had to release chemical irritants, tear gas and flashbang grenades in order to clear the street. It took about half an hour, 45 minutes of really a back and forth combat.”
—FOX’s Steve Harrigan (01:38)

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3. Tragedies and Human Interest

Virginia Bus Crash

• Incident: A New York bus driver charged with multiple counts of involuntary manslaughter after a fatal crash on I-90 killed five.
• Details:
  • Driver: Jing Dong, 48, Staten Island.
  • Cause: Allegedly did not slow for a construction zone.
  • NTSB investigating potential sleep, distraction, or substance issues.
• Preliminary findings expected in 30 days.
  (02:52–03:23)

Notable Quote

“We're looking for, you know, sleep issues, distraction issues, potential drug and alcohol issues.”
—Tom Chapman, NTSB (03:14)

Laos Cave Rescue

• Event: Ongoing rescue of gold prospectors trapped by flooding for 10 days; 4 out, 2 remain trapped.
• Rescue Operation:
  • Multinational teams from Laos, Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, France, and Australia involved.
  • Teams provided trapped individuals with diving gear, training, and psychological reassurance amidst hazardous, pitch-dark conditions.
    (03:23–04:18)

Notable Quote

“Once they reach them, they quickly had to explain how to properly use diving equipment, breathing techniques and most importantly, reassure them to stay calm and not panic while doing all of it.”
—FOX’s Stephanie Bennett (03:52)

Chemical Plant Tragedy in Washington State

• Longview, WA: Recovery of the final two victims from a chemical tank implosion, bringing the death toll to 11.
  (04:18–04:50)

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4. Other Global & National Events

• US Southern Command: Announced a “lethal kinetic strike” against a suspected narco-terrorist vessel in the eastern Pacific. No further details given.
  (04:18)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|--------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:51 | President Trump | “Wipe out the military...wipe out their leadership...you could say that's regime change.” | | 01:38 | Steve Harrigan | “Police marched first with ballistic shields...combat.” | | 03:14 | Tom Chapman, NTSB | “…sleep issues, distraction issues, potential drug and alcohol issues.” | | 03:52 | Stephanie Bennett | “…reassure them to stay calm and not panic while doing all of it.” |

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• US-Iran Deal & White House Reaction: 00:02–00:51
• Anti-ICE Protests & Response in Newark: 01:09–01:52
• Virginia Bus Crash & Ongoing Investigation: 02:52–03:23
• Laos Cave Rescue Progress: 03:23–04:18
• US Strike on Narco Vessel & Chemical Plant Update: 04:18–04:50

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Overall:
This edition of the Fox News Hourly Update is a brisk, no-frills snapshot of overnight developments, focusing on international diplomacy, domestic unrest, accident aftermaths, and rescue operations—delivered in the network’s trademark urgent tone.

Transcript

[A]

No deal yet. I'm Debra Valentine, FOX News. No acceptance yet from President Trump on a proposal for a peace agreement with Iran. Fox's JACKIE Much of the world still

[B]

waiting to see if President Trump will accept a tentative agreement to end the US war with Iran. Mr. Trump was briefed on the latest proposal in the SITUATION room. Now, the deal would reportedly reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease US Restrictions on Iranian ports and frozen assets. It would also give negotiators 60 days to iron out a longer term agreement on Iran's nuclear program and enriched uranium stockpile. Defense Secretary Pete Hegsess says the US Is ready to resume military action if needed.

[A]

President Trump on fox's My View with Lara Trump discusses US Options if Tehran refuses to abandon its nuclear program.

[C]

Wipe out the military, we wipe out their navy, their air force, their antiaircraft. We wipe out everything. We wipe out their leadership and then we wipe out their leadership a second time. And then at two and a half time we're dealing with the other half. And by the way, they're much more reasonable and you could say that's regime change.

[A]

Several Americans injured in an Iranian strike on a Kuwaiti air base. Anti ICE protests continue outside of Dulaney hall detention facility In Newark, N.J. there have been several violent confrontations.

[D]

The police are being engaged, they're being called to. But there's not the threats or the real serious agitation that happens whenever an ICE agent appears. So a slight shift in tone. It was Newark police out in front last night as well, and there was violence overnight. The police marched first with ballistic shields. They were followed by officers on horseback. They had to release chemical irritants, tear gas and flashbang grenades in order to clear the street. It took about half an hour, 45 minutes of really a back and forth combat.

[A]

Fox's Steve Harrigan, America's listening to Fox News.

[E]

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[A]

A bus driver from New York is charged with multiple counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Friday's crash that killed five people on I90 in Virginia. State Police say more charges are pending against 48 year old Jing Dong of Staten Island. Investigators say the driver allegedly failed to slow down approaching a construction zone. NTSB board member Tom Chapman.

[F]

We're looking for, you know, sleep issues, distraction issues, potential drug and alcohol issues.

[A]

A preliminary report of the accident is expected within 30 days. Rescuers searching for two people still lost in a louse cave trapped for 10 days after the cave flooded. Four men have been rescued so far. Fox's Stephanie Bennett reports.

[G]

Rescue teams say the water level inside of the cave had receded just low enough that those four people could follow divers who were in there to deliver them food and water. They entered the cave 10 days ago to prospect for gold before being trapped by flash flooding. One villager escaped in time and it alerted authorities to the seven left behind. The team had to navigate twisting, narrow, flooded passages with jagged walls and zero visibility. Once they reach them, they quickly had to explain how to properly use diving equipment, breathing techniques and most importantly, reassure them to stay calm and not panic while doing all of it. Rescuers from Laos, Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, France and Australia all came to help.

[A]

Divers say they plan to explore further into the cave to try and find the last two missing persons. U.S. southern Command says there's been another lethal kinetic strike on a suspected narco terrorist vessel transiting along narco traffic routes in the eastern Pacific. No further information has been released. First responders in Longview, Washington have recovered the final two victims who died from a chemical tank implosion earlier this week. The tragedy claiming 11 lives. I'm Debra Valentine. This is FOX News.

[H]

Some follow the noise. Bloomberg follows the money. Whether it's the funds fueling AI or crypto's trillion dollar swings, there's a money side to every story. Get the money side of the story. Subscribe [e-mail].