12AM ET 07/04/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 12AM ET 07/04/2026 Newscast

Host: Carmen Roberts, FOX News Podcasts
Date: July 4, 2026

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Episode Overview

This segment delivers a brisk rundown of major national and world news as Americans prepare to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States. The episode centers on the extreme heatwave affecting holiday celebrations, major event highlights from the National Mall, emerging stories including a newsmaking wedding, a tragic boating incident, breaking World Cup results, an FBI investigation tied to California politics, and a high-stakes NASA rescue mission.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historic Heatwave Threatens July 4th Celebrations

[00:02-00:58]

• Carmen Roberts introduces the primary concern: “An oppressive heat dome is putting more than 250 million people at risk as the country celebrates its 250th birthday, which is officially tomorrow.”
• Bill Malujian reports live from the National Mall in D.C.:
  • Extreme heat prompted early closures, with doors reopening at 5pm. Crowds are returning in force.
  • “It's been brutally hot all day. I put it up there with some of the hottest days I had during coverage of the southern border.” (Bill Malujian, [00:20])
  • Despite the weather, public turnout remains strong.
  • Highlight of the day: Aviation Day at the Great American State Fair; major performances by the US Air Force Thunderbirds and flyovers featuring B1 Lancers, B2 Stealth Bombers, Ospreys, and US Army helicopters.

2. National Events & Presidential Speech

[00:58-01:00]

• President Trump scheduled to give an Independence Day Eve speech at Mount Rushmore.
• In New York City, a midnight Times Square “ball drop” will mark the Fourth of July, emulating New Year’s Eve traditions—no large crowds expected.

3. Tragedy on Lake Geneva

[01:00-01:31]

• Bill Malujian reports a boating tragedy in Wisconsin’s Lake Geneva:
  • “Seven people were rescued from the water. Unfortunately, there was three fatalities of people who were not able to be rescued.” (Bill Malujian, [01:22])
• Carmen Roberts: Walworth County Sheriff attributes the incident to a fast-moving storm that overturned the boat, causing fatalities and widespread damage across the country.

4. World Cup Highlights

[01:31-02:00]

• Carmen Roberts:
  • Argentina defeated Cape Verde 3–2 in an extra-time thriller.
  • Egypt bested Australia in a penalty shootout, 4–2.
  • Matches still to come: Colombia vs. Ghana.

5. Swift-Kelce Wedding: “Wedding of the Century”

[02:24-03:19]

• Carmen Roberts: “It is official. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey are married. Her publicist announced tonight that the couple tied the knot during an elaborate ceremony at New York City's Madison Square Garden.” ([02:24])
• Michelle Paulino expands:
  • Ceremony transformed the arena into an indoor forest with grass-like carpeting, attended by 1,000 guests.
  • A-list attendees: Karlie Kloss, Benson Boone, Selena Gomez, Bradley Cooper, 49ers’ George Kittle.
  • Performances by Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw.
  • Notably, the couple donated $26 million to charities before saying "I do."
  • “The wedding of the century is in the books.... Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have formally held their ceremony at Madison Square Garden and it was a true garden party.” (Michelle Paulino, [02:37])

6. FBI Probe Involving California Political Operative

[03:19-04:01]

• Carmen Roberts: FBI reportedly used a close Newsom ally as a confidential informant in a federal investigation into the California governor.
• Alicia Acuna’s report:
  • Alexis Podesta, a prominent Democratic consultant, allegedly wore a wire for the FBI as part of a sweeping probe into Sacramento politics.
  • The investigation involved phone and text surveillance of lobbyists and consultants at the Capitol.
  • Podesta is an “unindicted co-conspirator” linked to Dana Williamson (ex-Newsom chief of staff), who pleaded guilty in a campaign finance scheme.

7. NASA Rescue Mission & Market Brief

[04:01-04:20]

• Carmen Roberts: A critical rescue mission is underway to save a NASA telescope from plummeting back to Earth.
• U.S. stock markets closed for the holiday; crude oil closed at $68.76 per barrel.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Bill Malujian ([00:20]):
  “It's been brutally hot all day. I put it up there with some of the hottest days I had during coverage of the southern border.”
• Michelle Paulino ([02:37]):
  “The wedding of the century is in the books.... Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have formally held their ceremony at Madison Square Garden and it was a true garden party.”
• Bill Malujian ([01:22]):
  “Seven people were rescued from the water. Unfortunately, there was three fatalities of people who were not able to be rescued.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:02: Heatwave threat to July 4th celebrations – Carmen Roberts
• 00:20: Live from the National Mall – Bill Malujian
• 00:58: Presidential speech preview & Times Square “ball drop” – Carmen Roberts
• 01:22: Lake Geneva boating tragedy – Bill Malujian
• 01:31: World Cup results – Carmen Roberts
• 02:24: Announcement of Swift-Kelce marriage – Carmen Roberts
• 02:37: Wedding details and charity donation – Michelle Paulino
• 03:19: FBI probe into CA politics – Carmen Roberts / Alicia Acuna
• 04:01: NASA rescue mission, market update – Carmen Roberts

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In Summary

This rapid-fire newscast covers the duality of celebration and crisis as America marks its semiquincentennial: millions endure a record-setting heatwave, national festivities and unprecedented events unfold, headline-grabbing celebrity news breaks, and significant developments emerge in politics and science. The episode balances urgent national safety updates with moments of celebration, making it a succinct yet comprehensive snapshot of July 4, 2026’s eve.

Transcript

[Carmen Roberts]

Celebrating in the heat. I'm Carmen Roberts, FOX News. An oppressive heat dome is putting more than 250 million people at risk as the country celebrates its 250th birthday, which is officially tomorrow. Fox's Bill Malujian has more from the National Mall in D.C. it has been

[Bill Malujian]

brutally hot all day. I put it up there with some of the hottest days I had during coverage of the southern border. Now because of that, things were closed up out here earlier in the day. They reopened the doors at 5pm of people have now started streaming in. People here on the National Mall pretty much as far as the eye can see, waiting to go into these exhibits. And despite this heat, people say they're just thrilled to be out here. Today's theme is Aviation Day out here at the Great American State Fair. They put on an incredible show earlier today with the US Air Force Thunderbirds. And it wasn't just the thunderbirds. They had B1 Lancers, B2 stealth bombers. They had Ospreys, they had helicopters from the US Army.

[Carmen Roberts]

And President Trump will give an Independence Day Eve speech tonight at Mount Rushmore. And in a novel twist, there will be a ball drop in New York City's Times Square at midnight to usher in the Fourth of July holiday the same way it has been done for New Year's Eve, except there won't be thousands of people standing out there to watch. But in Wisconsin, a boat outing turned deadly on Lake Geneva.

[Bill Malujian]

Seven people were rescued from the water. Unfortunately, there was three fatalities of people who were not able to be rescued.

[Carmen Roberts]

And Walworth County Sheriff Tom Hausner says the boat overturned when it was hit by a fast moving storm. That storm also caused massive damage across the country and the winners in the World cup so far today, Argentina beat Cape Verde three to two, an extra time thriller. And Egypt downed Australia in a penalty kick shootout 4 to 2. Still to go, Colombia and Ghana. America's listening to Fox News.

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[Carmen Roberts]

It is official. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey are married. Her publicist announced tonight that the couple tied the knot during an elaborate ceremony at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

[Michelle Paulino]

The wedding of the century is in the books. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have formally held their ceremony at Madison Square Garden and it was a true garden party Page Six reporting the arena was transformed into a forest, complete with trees and carpet that look like grass, plus a space reserved for games and activities. Some 1,000 guests pack the garden. Among the A list attendees Carly Kloss, Benson Boone, Selena Gomez, Bradley Cooper and San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, with Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw reportedly performing for the newlyweds. And the couple gave back in a big way before saying I do, donating $26 million to charities. Michelle Paulino, Fox News the FBI reportedly

[Carmen Roberts]

used a newsome ally as a confidential source in a federal investigation into the California governor. Fox's Alicia Acuna reports from L. A.

[Alicia Acuna]

The California Post reports Alexis Podesta, a deeply connected California Democratic operative, wore a wire for the FBI as part of an agreement with the feds in a sweeping investigation that involves tracking phone calls and texts of many Sacramento lobbyists and consultants around the state Capitol. Her attorney tells the Post she is the unindicted co conspirator in the case of Dana Williamson, former chief of staff to Governor Gavin Newsom, who pled guilty earlier this year in a scheme to siphon money from a dormant campaign account for Javier Pizarro.

[Carmen Roberts]

And a high stakes rescue mission is underway as a spacecraft races to save a NASA telescope before it plunges Back to Earth. U.S. stock markets were closed today. U.S. crude closed slightly higher at 6876 a barrel. I'm Carmen Roberts, this Fox News.

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