12AM ET 06/27/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 12AM ET 06/27/2026 Newscast

Date: June 27, 2026
Host: Debra Valentine, FOX News Podcasts

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Episode Theme & Overview

This brief news update delivers the latest breaking stories and political developments in the US and abroad, with an emphasis on US-Iran tensions, an ongoing high-profile abduction case, shifts in Democratic politics, and major remarks by President Trump. The podcast maintains a rapid, factual tone typical of headline newscasts, highlighting significant events and quotes from key political figures and reporters.

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Major Stories & Key Discussion Points

1. U.S. Retaliates Against Iran

Timestamps: 00:02 – 00:57

• Summary:
  The U.S. has conducted airstrikes on four Iranian targets in response to an Iranian drone attack on a cargo ship, despite a recent memorandum of understanding between the two countries.
• Details:
  • Airstrikes involved six U.S. warplanes, targeting locations along Iran’s coast and Qesham Island near the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Iranian state media reportedly makes conflicting claims about the threat level and escalation in the strait.
  • Iran insists on strict adherence to their announced shipping routes, warning that "the security of vessels cannot be guaranteed" otherwise, although some Iranian media downplay the threat.
• Memorable Quote:
  • "Iran has repeatedly stated that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will not return to what it was before the US Attack on Iran. Any transit through the strait must follow the routes announced by Iran. Otherwise the security of vessels cannot be guaranteed."
    — Jennifer Griffin (00:35)
• U.S. Political Response:
  • Vice President J.D. Vance urges Iranian officials to engage in direct communication regarding the memorandum disagreements.
  • “Iranians should pick up the phone if they have disagreements about the memorandum.”
    — Debra Valentine summarizing Vance (00:57)

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2. Nancy Guthrie Abduction Case Developments

Timestamps: 00:57 – 01:55

• Summary:
  Significant updates have emerged in the high-profile disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today Show co-host Savannah Guthrie.
• Investigation Update:
  • TMZ has received a series of emails from an individual claiming possession of video evidence on the abduction.
  • The sender is demanding one bitcoin in exchange for the location and password to a phone containing both the videos and the alleged kidnappers’ identities.
  • The FBI is collaborating with TMZ’s IT team to trace the sender’s identity.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “They're saying they have video and for one bitcoin, they will lead authorities to the safe place where they can find this phone.”
    — Harvey Levin (01:30)
  • "They will get both the videos and the name and address of the two kidnappers."
    — Harvey Levin (01:33)

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3. Rising Influence of Democratic Socialists in Primaries

Timestamps: 02:32 – 03:13

• Summary:
  Coverage of recent primary election gains by Democratic Socialist candidates in major cities, and the political reaction to their growing influence.
• Key Developments:
  • Democratic Socialists have secured primary wins in New York City and are pursuing more ambitious goals, such as running for Governor against Kathy Hochul.
  • In Colorado, the Denver primary features Democratic Socialist candidate Melad Quiros, who advocates ending all US aid to Israel.
  • House Speaker Mike Johnson warns about the proliferation of socialist candidates, describing their rise as a "dangerous thing."
• Notable Quotes:
  • "There are many mamdanis popping up all around the country. It is a dangerous thing. This is not a joke. We are in a fight right now to save the republic."
    — House Speaker Mike Johnson (02:56)
• Contextual Note:
  • The mention comes after three such candidates’ wins in New York City, and several Democratic lawmakers indicate a willingness to welcome them.

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4. President Trump Speaks at Faith and Freedom Coalition Conference

Timestamps: 03:13 – 03:44

• Summary:
  President Trump delivers a keynote urging broad restrictions on mail-in balloting, tying the issue to election security and recent primary delays.
• Highlights:
  • Calls for mail-in voting to be limited to the elderly, ill, disabled, and military personnel abroad.
  • Criticizes the prolonged ballot counting in California, suggesting delays enable fraud.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • "California they're going to go for weeks and weeks and weeks and you know what they do? They cheat. How many votes do we need? How many votes? That's why they take their time. How many votes do we need? Okay, here they are."
    — Donald Trump (03:33)

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5. Voting Rights & Federal Oversight Incident

Timestamps: 03:44 – 04:29

• Summary:
  Incident in Syracuse, NY: A poll worker, Pagelyn Gagne, was confronted by federal officers over a social media post criticizing an ICE officer involved in a Minneapolis shooting.
• Details:
  • Officers delivered a written notice warning of potential federal law violations, highlighting tensions around free speech, federal oversight, and law enforcement.

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Additional Notable Moments

• Iran’s State Media Discrepancy:
  While some Iranian broadcasters warn of heightened danger in the Strait of Hormuz, the official news agency claims escalation threats are exaggerated or "fake." (00:45)
• FBI & Media Coordination:
  Rare glimpse into collaboration between federal law enforcement and media professionals to address digital threats and criminal investigations. (01:49)
• Cross-party Tensions:
  House Speaker Mike Johnson's remarks reflect ongoing division and anxiety within Congress regarding the leftward shift in some Democratic primaries. (02:56)

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Timestamps Quick Reference

• 00:02 – 00:57 U.S. Retaliation, Iran Tensions
• 00:57 – 01:55 Nancy Guthrie Abduction Update (with Harvey Levin and FBI involvement)
• 02:32 – 03:13 Democratic Socialist Primary Wins & Reaction
• 03:13 – 03:44 President Trump's Election Security Remarks
• 03:44 – 04:29 Federal Confrontation with NY Poll Worker

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Tone & Language: The episode maintains a factual, urgent tone, with reporters, politicians, and newsmakers speaking directly and pointedly about events and controversies. Speaker attributions are clear, and memorable quotes reflect each speaker’s chosen words and style.

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Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

The U.S. retaliates. I'm Debra Valentine, Fox News. The U.S. striking Iranian targets after Iranian drones attacked a cargo ship despite a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran. Fox's Jennifer Griffin reports from Washington.

[Jennifer Griffin]

The airstrikes lasted about one hour. Four targets were struck. A senior U.S. official tells me six U.S. warplanes were involved in the strikes. The targets were along the Iranian coast bordering the Strait of Hormuz and Qesham Island. In what was said to be a post from Iranian broadcasting, Iran has repeatedly stated that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will not return to what it was before the US Attack on Iran. Any transit through the strait must follow the routes announced by Iran. Otherwise the security of vessels cannot be guaranteed. But Iran's state run media farce news agency says those threats of escalation are fake.

[Debra Valentine]

Vice President J.D. vance claimed that Iranians should pick up the phone if they have disagreements about the memorandum. A major update in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of today's show co host Savannah Guthrie. TMZ reports receiving an authenticated email from someone claiming to have video evidence of the events surrounding her abduction.

[Harvey Levin]

TMZ's Harvey Levin says that TMZ has received about a dozen emails from this person. He says it's the same person each time and they're claiming to know the kidnappers.

They're saying they have video and for one bitcoin. They will lead authorities to the safe place where they can find this phone. They will give them the password and that they will get both the videos and the name and address of the two kidnappers.

Levin says the FBI has been working with TMZ's IT team to try and track down whoever is sending these emails.

[Debra Valentine]

America's listening to Fox News.

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[Debra Valentine]

Democratic Socialist candidates are gaining traction in some cities in the ongoing primaries. Fox's Lucas Tomlinson Gordillo says he is

[Lucas Tomlinson Gordillo]

not happy with just a few primary wins. He wants to march upstate and unseat New York Governor Kathy Hochul. Here in Washington, some Democratic lawmakers said they welcomed their socialists into their ranks. Here's how House Speaker Mike Johnson described the socialist candidates.

[Mike Johnson]

There are many mamdanis popping up all around the country. It is a dangerous thing. This is not a joke. We are in a fight right now to save the republic.

[Lucas Tomlinson Gordillo]

And in Colorado, Denver's Democratic Socialist Ethiopian born candidate Melad Quiros supports ending all US Aid to Israel and will be running in the state's primary on Tuesday.

[Debra Valentine]

This comes days after three Democratic Socialist candidates won primaries in New York City. President Trump delivered the keynote address at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's Road to Majority conference today. He called for an end to universal mail in balloting, proposing that mail in options be restricted to the elderly, those with illnesses or disabilities, and military personnel serving abroad.

[Donald Trump]

California they're going to go for weeks and weeks and weeks and you know what they do? They cheat. How many votes do we need? How many votes? That's why they take their time. How many votes do we need? Okay, here they are.

[Debra Valentine]

The president's Comments it taking more than a week to call the marquee gubernatorial race in California and to determine the runoff candidates for a Los Angeles mayor following primary elections this month. A poll worker said two federal officers visited her at a voting location during New York's primaries to confront her about a social media post she'd written. It criticized the ICE officer who fatally shot Renee Goode in Minneapolis. Pagelyn Gagne said the confrontation happened Tuesday while she was working at a polling location in Syracuse. Two officers gave Gagne a written notice stating that she might be in violation of federal laws. I'm Debra Valentine. This is Fox News.

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