12AM ET 06/18/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 12AM ET (June 18, 2026)

Host: Sue Guzman (FOX News Podcasts)
Main Theme: A fast-paced roundup of top breaking U.S. and global news stories, with a focus on diplomatic developments, political drama in Washington, severe weather threats, and major crime updates.

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1. Middle East Breakthrough: Trump-Iran Ceasefire Agreement

[00:02 – 00:53]

• Ceasefire Memorandum Signed:
  President Trump has signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran during the G7 summit in Paris, initiating a ceasefire and setting the stage for negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.

• Key Terms of the Agreement:

  • Iran must allow toll-free transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
  • The U.S. lifts its naval blockade on Iran.

• Details from the White House:

  • Jared Halpern reports the signing occurred during a G7 dinner, with a formal ceremony set for Friday.
  • No direct U.S. financial aid to Iran; however, U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil exports will be temporarily waived.
  • Negotiations to begin on the downgrading of Iran’s highly enriched uranium.

• Notable Quote:

  “And it’s a memorandum of understanding. If it doesn’t get done in 60 days, it’s right we go back to bombing. You know, I don’t want to do that because it’s so good.”
  — President Trump ([00:27])

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2. Political Turmoil: Intelligence Hearing and FISA Clash

[00:53 – 01:48]

• Confirmation Hearing Confusion:

  • President Trump abruptly announces a delay in the confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton, nominated to lead U.S. spy agencies.

• Congressional Reaction:

  • Chad Pergrim describes “mass confusion” on Capitol Hill, as only the Senate can control hearings.
  • Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton first insists the hearing will proceed unless “the president directs him not to”—then cancels it following presidential instruction.

• Democrats’ Critique:

  • Accusations that Trump is “playing with fire on national security.”

• FISA Showdown:

  • Trump states he will not renew the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) until Congress passes the Save America Act.
  • Democrats retaliate, declining FISA reauthorization in response to Trump appointing Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence.

• Notable Quotes:

  “The president’s overnight statement sent a shockwave through the Capitol.”
  — Chad Pergrim ([01:05])

  “Democrats accused the president of playing with fire on national security.”
  — Chad Pergrim ([01:24])

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3. Severe Weather Alert: Tornadoes and Tropical Storms

[02:23 – 03:22]

• Millions Under Threat:

  • A path of violent tornadoes and a tropical storm warning stretch from southeast Texas to Louisiana.

• Local Preparation:

  • Cities like Port Arthur open sandbagging stations as residents brace for heavy rain, strong winds, and flood risks.

• Leadership Response:

  • Port Arthur Mayor Charlotte Moses urges preparedness without panic, underlining that a disaster declaration is preemptive and no evacuation is currently ordered.

• Expert Weather Analysis:

  • Forecasters expect several inches of rain and coastal flooding risks from persistent gulf onshore winds.

• Memorable Moment:

  “We’ve issued a disaster declaration. And that just means in preparation of anything that happens, strong winds, gusty winds, flooding, whatever it is, I put those, those things in place so that we can recover. We’re not calling for an evacuation.”
  — Mayor Charlotte Moses ([02:51])

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4. Crime & Justice: Long Island Serial Killer Sentencing

[03:22 – 04:08]

• Killico Beach Murders:

  • Rex Heuermann, age 62, sentenced to life in prison without parole for killing eight women on Long Island between 1993 and 2011.

• Breakthrough in the Case:

  • Heuermann’s arrest followed a DNA match from a discarded pizza crust in 2023.

• Victim Impact:

  • Families deliver emotional statements during sentencing, with one victim’s sister recalling a taunting phone call from Heuermann after her sibling’s disappearance.

• Plea Deal:

  • Heuermann pleads guilty for a life sentence with no parole possibility.

• Notable Quote:

  “I hope you suffer.”
  — Victim’s family member (as recounted by Tanya J. Powers, [03:46])

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5. Central Park Carriage Accident

[04:08 – 04:20]

• Incident Details:
  • A teenager died after being thrown from a horse-drawn carriage in New York City's Central Park; an investigation is ongoing.

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Noteworthy Segments & Timestamps

• Trump on Ceasefire Conditions: [00:27]
• Capitol Hill Scramble Over Intelligence Hearing: [01:05 – 01:24]
• Mayor Moses on Storm Preparation: [02:51]
• Victim Statement at Serial Killer Sentencing: [03:46]

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Tone and Style:
Direct, information-packed, and urgent—matching the FOX News breaking-news delivery, with regular switches between succinct summary and impactful soundbites.

For a concise yet comprehensive take on overnight U.S. news, this edition’s top stories revolved around high-level diplomacy, political intrigue, disaster preparedness, and justice delivered after decades of mystery.

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Transcript

[Sue Guzman]

Memorandum of understanding signed. I'm Sue Guzman. Fox News. President Trump signing a ceasefire agreement with Iran, setting up negotiations over the country's nuclear program.

[Jared Halpern]

President Trump signed the memorandum of understanding during a G7 dinner in Paris ahead of a planned signing ceremony Friday. The agreement requires Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz for toll free transit and lifts the US Naval blockade.

[President Trump]

And it's a memorandum of understanding. If it doesn't get done in 60 days, it's right we go back to bombing. You know, I don't want to do that because it's so good.

[Jared Halpern]

President Trump says the US Is not providing money to Iran, though the agreement does require waiving sanctions on Iran's oil exports. With the MOU signed, negotiations now begin on a process for downgrading Iran's highly enriched uranium. In Washington, Jared Halpern, Fox News.

[Sue Guzman]

Confusion Wednesday on Capitol Hill. President Trump announcing he's delaying a confirmation hearing for his pick to lead the US Spy agencies and that set up a showdown with Congress. Fox's Chad Pergrim reports.

[Chad Pergrim]

The president's overnight statement sent a shockwave through the Capitol. The president said he was, quote, canceling the hearing for Jay Clayton, which he cannot do. There was mass confusion whether the hearing was on or off. Late this morning, Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton said the committee would proceed with Clayton, quote, unless the president directs him not to. Then Cotton canceled the hearing. He said it was, quote, regrettable that the president has directed Jay Clayton not to appear. Democrats accused the president of playing with fire on national security. The president also says he will not sign a renewal of the nation's top anti terrorism program, fisa, until lawmakers pass the Save America Act.

[Sue Guzman]

Democrats have also declined to reauthorize FISA over the president's decision to appoint Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. America is listening to FOX News.

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[Sue Guzman]

Millions of Americans are in the path of violent tornadoes. There's a tropical storm warning that's in effect from southeast Texas to Louisiana. Residents spending the day preparing for what could be a long stretch of heavy rain, strong winds and rising water. Fox Weather's Katie Byrne has more.

[Katie Byrne]

Cities like Port Arthur opened sandbagging sites to help residents protect their homes. And Port Arthur Mayor Charlotte Moses urged people to take the storm seriously, but not to panic, saying now is the time to prepare.

[Charlotte Moses]

We've issued a disaster declaration. And that just means in preparation of anything that happens, strong winds, gusty winds, flooding, whatever it is, I put those, those things in place so that we can recover. We're not calling for an evacuation.

[Katie Byrne]

Forecasters say this system could drop several inches of rain across parts of the region. And at the same time, persistent onshore winds will keep pushing Gulf water toward the coast, raising that threat of coastal flooding. We've already seen just how quickly floodwaters can turn dangerous In Port Arthur, Texas.

[Sue Guzman]

Katie Byrne, FOX WEATHER Sentencing for the Killico Beach, Long island serial killer. We have more from fox's Tanya J.

[Tanya J. Powers]

Powers. Decades after kill killing multiple women on New York's Long Island, 62 year old Rex Heuermann was sentenced to life in prison without parole for his crimes. He admitted to killing eight women, the remains of most of them found between 1993 and 2011. The killings went unsolved until DNA matched from a pizza crust Heuerman discarded in a Manhattan trash can led to his arrest in 2023. During the sentencing hearing, victims family members read impact statements with one saying, quote, I hope you suffer. Recounting getting a taunting phone call from Heuerman days after her sister had disappeared. In he pleaded guilty, working out a plea deal for the sentence he was given. In New York City, Tanya J. Powers, FOX news.

[Sue Guzman]

And a teenager has died after being thrown from a horse drawn carriage in New York City's Central Park. There's an investigation now underway. I'm Sue Guzman. This is FOX news.

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