12AM ET 06/06/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 12AM ET 06/06/2026 Newscast

Host: Debra Valentine
Date: June 6, 2026
Podcast: FOX News Radio

---

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of major U.S. political, economic, and policy news as of June 6, 2026. Key topics include California’s gubernatorial primary results, controversy surrounding a Maine Senate race, a federal ruling on food stamp policy, significant labor market updates, stock market fluctuations, and planned changes in the intelligence community leadership.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. California Governor’s Race: Becerra Advances

[00:02 – 00:52]

• Javier Becerra, a Democrat and former Health and Human Services Secretary, secures a place on the November gubernatorial ballot.
• President Trump–backed Steve Hilton (conservative commentator) and billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer are locked in competition for the other spot.
• Becerra highlights his 30+ years in public office, credibility as former Attorney General and HHS Secretary.
• Ongoing criticism from Hilton and Trump regarding California’s vote-counting process.
• Becerra responds by accusing Trump of undermining confidence in elections.

Notable Quote
“Becerra accusing the president of trying to undermine confidence in the state's elections.”
— Kristen Goodwin ([00:51])

---

2. Maine Senate Race: Platner Controversy

[00:52 – 01:36]

• Democratic candidate Graham Platner faces backlash for a Nazi tattoo and a sexting scandal.
• Critique of Democrats' response: alleged double standard in handling Platner versus previous responses to other public figures, specifically Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
• Some Democrats, like Rep. Ro Khanna, campaign for Platner while acknowledging the wrongness of his behavior and his claimed “redemption.”
• High stakes: Democrats need to defeat incumbent Republican Susan Collins to flip the Senate.

Notable Quotes
“Democrats are in a pickle…they proclaim to believe all women targeted by predatory men, but they ignore Graham Platner.”
— Political Analyst ([01:01])

“Khanna called Platner's behavior wrong and toxic, but…Platner, quote, sought redemption.”
— Political Analyst ([01:19])

---

3. Federal Judge Blocks Food Stamp Rule Changes

[01:36 – 02:00]

• 20 Democratic-led states successfully secure a preliminary injunction halting Trump administration efforts to impose new conditions on food stamps, particularly around gender, ideology, and immigration.
• The implications: the rules are paused pending further legal proceedings.

---

4. U.S. Labor Market: Strong Jobs Report

[02:32 – 03:32]

• May jobs report: 172,000 new jobs added, surpassing expectations.
• Unemployment rate is unchanged; March and April numbers revised up by 93,000.
• Treasury Secretary highlights surprise over positive results, with implications that AI-driven job loss fears may be overstated for now.
• However, inflation has outpaced wage growth for the first time; inflation at 3.8% (year-over-year), wages up 3.4%.

Notable Quotes
“The job numbers just came out and they were fantastic, far better than even anticipated.”
— President Trump ([02:38])

“The number of jobs for the past three months shows that the fear of artificial intelligence replacing jobs maybe just hasn't materialized yet.”
— Treasury Secretary ([03:20])

---

5. Markets Drop Despite Strong Jobs Report

[03:32 – 03:45]

• NASDAQ drops over 1,100 points; Dow sheds 695, despite robust jobs numbers.
• President Trump expresses intent to shrink intelligence agencies’ workforces.

---

6. Intelligence Community Shakeup

[03:45 – 04:25]

• Trump wants Bill Pulte, acting Director of National Intelligence and head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to temporarily lead the DNI.
• Trump signals he wants staff reductions in intelligence agencies and expresses confidence in Pulte’s ability.

Notable Quotes
“I've heard that's way too high for way too long. Yeah, I wouldn't mind if he could.”
— President Trump ([03:52])

“Bill Pulte is very good. He's very talented, done a great job.”
— President Trump ([04:04])

---

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Election Night Tension
  "Hilton and President Trump have slammed the length of time it takes for California to process votes as elections officials continue to count ballots."
  — Kristen Goodwin ([00:25])

• Partisan Tensions in Maine
  “It was a different story when Democrats tried to block the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.”
  — Political Analyst ([01:29])

• AI and the Job Market
  “The number of jobs for the past three months shows that the fear of artificial intelligence replacing jobs maybe just hasn't materialized yet.”
  — Treasury Secretary ([03:20])

---

Important Timestamps

• 00:02: Debra Valentine introduces Becerra’s advancement in California’s governor’s race
• 00:52: Graham Platner Senate race controversy detailed
• 01:36: Federal court blocks food stamp policy changes
• 02:32: US job numbers and economic analysis
• 03:32: Stock market declines despite positive economic data
• 03:45: President Trump discusses shrinking the intelligence workforce and Bill Pulte’s new role

---

This succinct but information-rich newscast covers key national issues, from high-stakes political races to critical economic trends and government agency leadership changes, providing listeners with updates and perspectives that set the stage for major national debates heading into the November elections.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

Becerra advances. I'm Debra Valentine, FOX News. A Democrat has advanced to the November general election out in California's contest for governor. Fox's Kristen Goodwin reports from Los Angeles.

[Kristen Goodwin]

Democrat Javier Becerra claiming one of two spots on the November ballot in the race to succeed California Governor Gavin Newsom, who is term limited. While President Trump backed conservative commentator Steve Hilton and billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer continue to battle for the other spot. Becerra touted his over three decades in public office, including as former Health and Human Services secretary and California Attorney general, Hilton and President Trump have slammed the length of time it takes for California to process votes as elections officials continue to count ballots. Becerra accusing the president of trying to undermine confidence in the state's elections. Kristin Goodwin, FOX News.

[Debra Valentine]

Controversy continues to swirl around Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner. The Democrat has faced criticism for a Nazi tattoo and a sexting scandal.

[Political Analyst]

Democrats are in a pickle. On one hand, they proclaim to believe all women targeted by predatory men, but they ignore Graham Platner. Many progressives duck questions about Platner's alleged conduct. California Democrat Roe Khanna campaigns with Platner tonight. Khanna called Platner's behavior wrong and toxic, but Khanna said Platner, quote, sought redemption. However, it was a different story when Democrats tried to block the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Democrats must defeat Maine Republican Susan Collins to have a chance of flipping the senate this fall.

[Debra Valentine]

Fox's Chad Pergram reporting. A federal judge has sided with 20 Democratic states and issued a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration's effort to impose conditions on food stamp benefits. Some of those rules related to gender, ideology and immigration. America's listening to FOX News.

[Chevron Advertiser]

Who helps America go farther, fly higher, dream even bigger? People do. Since 1879, our people have been more than a source of energy. They've been a source of progress. Today, that same progress is helping deliver record US Energy production, fueling the workers, the makers, the boundary pushers and risk takers who spark the breakthroughs that move America forward. Learn more about what our people do at chevron.com USA250

[Debra Valentine]

the US economy adding 172,000 jobs in May. That's according to a new Labor Department report.

[Ryan Reynolds]

The job numbers just came out and they were fantastic, far better than even anticipated. They anticipated pretty good, but had no idea it was going to be that.

[Debra Valentine]

President Trump speaking aboard Air Force One. He's not the only one weighing in.

[Treasury Secretary]

Treasury secretary saying yesterday they expecting a good report on this and it was a surprise beat. The unemployment rate remaining the same here. But this huge jobs numbers will mean the federal the Federal Reserve will look at this and possibly pause interest rates for the foreseeable future because you have strong job growth now. If you look back at the revisions on this, both March and April revised up a huge number, 93,000 jobs now. The number of jobs for the past three months shows that the fear of artificial intelligence replacing jobs maybe just hasn't materialized yet. For May, inflation has now outpaced the wages for the first time. Inflation in April at 3.8% over the past 12 months. Wages are up 3.4% over that time.

[Debra Valentine]

Fox's Edward Lawrence reporting. Despite that the NASDAQ lost over 1,100 points today. The Dow shed 695. President Trump wants his incoming acting intelligence director to make cuts to his office.

[Jared Halpern]

President Trump says he'd like to see the workforce shrink in some US Intelligence agencies, telling reporters aboard Air Force One,

[Ryan Reynolds]

I've heard that's way too high for way too long. Yeah, I wouldn't mind if he could.

[Jared Halpern]

I wouldn't mind that the president signaling incoming acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte could shake up the agency.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Bill Pulte is very good. He's very talented, done a great job. And Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac polt currently

[Jared Halpern]

leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The president says Pulte will serve at DNI for a short term, saying interviews are already underway for a permanent director at the White House. Jared Halpern, FOX NEWS I'm Debra Valentine.

[Debra Valentine]

This is FOX News.

[Mint Mobile Announcer]

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone paying big wireless way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying, no judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment anyway. Give it a try. @mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment of $45 for

[Kristen Goodwin]

3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month Required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail].