12AM ET 07/05/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update — 12AM ET, July 5, 2026

Host: Debra Valentine
Special Reporters: Ryan MacKenzie, Brook Taylor, Paul Stevens
Main Theme:
Coverage of America’s 250th Independence Day celebrations across the nation, including political highlights and significant global news.

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America 250: Nationwide Celebrations and Challenges

Extreme Weather Disrupts Festivities

• [00:03] Debra Valentine reports that extreme heat and thunderstorms affected July 4th "America 250" celebrations across the country.
• In Washington, D.C., attendees at the National Mall were ordered to take cover due to incoming storms; President Trump’s address was rescheduled to 11pm ET.

Notable Celebrations in New York City

• [00:27] Vice President J.D. Vance attended New York’s “Sail Forth 250 Parade of Tall Ships.”

  • Ryan MacKenzie:

    "It is a very American thing to ring in 250 years of America, American history by parading our naval and air force might for the world to see. But I can't help but consider that 250 years ago the waters of New York harbor looked very, very different." (00:27)

• The parade started at the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, passed the Statue of Liberty, and traveled up the Hudson to the George Washington Bridge (00:45).

Military Base Celebration — Fort Campbell, Kentucky

• [01:04] Fox’s Brook Taylor covers the only “America 250” event on an active military base, Fort Campbell, Kentucky (home to the 101st Airborne Division):
  • Carnival atmosphere: rides, games, diverse foods.
  • Unique aspect: military families at the center of festivities.
  • Brook Taylor:

    “What really stands out is who is out here. These are military families, people who know better than anyone what it means to defend this country and the freedoms that we are celebrating now.” (01:13)

  • Notes Fort Campbell’s crucial role in history, specifically the D-Day parachute assault by the “Screaming Eagles.”

Unique Times Square Festivities

• [01:47] New York City marked the semi-quincentennial with “eight ball drops” in Times Square — one at midnight for every American time zone.

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International: Iran’s Days-Long Funeral for Supreme Leader

Supreme Leader's Funeral and Power Shift

• [02:32] As the US celebrates, Iran mourns following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (killed in a US-backed Israeli airstrike amid ongoing conflict).
• Paul Stevens reporting from Tehran:
  • Hundreds of thousands fill the streets, chanting “death to America” and “death to Israel” (02:41–03:13).
  • Moment of political transition:
    • The late Ayatollah’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, assumes leadership.
    • Significant as Iran negotiates for an end to the war and control over the Strait of Hormuz.

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U.S. Politics: GOP Messaging and Democratic Socialists

GOP Responds to “Democratic Socialist” Surge

• [03:13] With midterms four months away, Republicans work to focus messaging due to the rising visibility of candidates who identify as democratic socialists.
• Ryan MacKenzie (PA Republican):

  “We are under threat from the far left who wants to push their socialist ideas. They have failed everywhere around the world but yet they want to push that failed ideology on us now.” (03:39)

• GOP concerns over NYC Mayor Zoran Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, highlighted as part of their narrative.

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Briefs

Paul Pelosi Involved in Minor Crash

• [03:47] Paul Pelosi (86), husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, faces a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge in Napa County, California.
  • Struck a parked car; drove away until his vehicle became disabled.
  • Police report: No alcohol involved; Pelosi claims he “hit something but didn’t know what.”

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Notable Quotes

• Ryan MacKenzie on American military history:

  “…250 years ago the waters of New York harbor looked very, very different.” (00:27)

• Brook Taylor on Fort Campbell:

  "People who know better than anyone what it means to defend this country and the freedoms that we are celebrating now." (01:13)

• Paul Stevens (from Tehran):

  “Crowds marching past his flag draped coffin chanting death to America and death to Israel. Many calling for revenge.” (02:41)

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Key Timings

• 00:03 – Overview of July 4th celebrations and weather disruptions
• 00:27 – Naval parade, Vice President’s attendance, and reflections on history
• 01:04 – Fort Campbell celebration and military family focus
• 01:47 – Times Square’s unique “eight ball drops”
• 02:32 – Iran: Funeral of Supreme Leader and power shift
• 03:13 – U.S. politics: GOP response to democratic socialists
• 03:47 – Paul Pelosi hit-and-run charge

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For further details or direct reporting, listen to the full Fox News Hourly Update 12AM ET newscast for July 5, 2026.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

July 4th celebrations. I'm Debra Valentine. FOX News Extreme heat and thunderstorms affecting America 250 celebrations this July 4th. A crown on hand at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. was ordered to take cover due to thunderstorms ahead of President Trump's address rescheduled to 11pm Eastern Time. Vice President J.D. vance paid a visit to New York City today for the sail forth 250 parade of tall ships.

[Ryan MacKenzie]

It is a very American thing to ring in 250 years of America, American history by parading our naval and air force might for the world to see. But I can't help but consider that 250 years ago the waters of New York harbor looked very, very different.

[Debra Valentine]

The boat parade began at the Verizono Narrows Bridge past the Statue of Liberty to the Hudson river heading north to the George Washington Bridge. Fort Campbell, Kentucky is marking America 250 historic celebration. Fox's Brook Taylor reports from the military base home to the 101st Airborne, the

[Brook Taylor]

only America 250 event happening on an active military base. You have a massive carnival. You have rides, games, any type of food you could imagine. We have a lemonade stand, you name it. But what really stands out is who is out here. These are military families, people who know better than anyone what it means to defend this country and the freedoms that we are celebrating now. This is one of the country's most important military installations. So we can't celebrate America's 250 without talking about the incredible history here. Fort Gamble. It is home to some of the army's most elite units, including the legendary 101st Airborne Division known as the Screaming Eagles. They changed the course of World War II with their parachute assault in Normandy on D Day.

[Debra Valentine]

New York City celebrating the nation's semi quincentennial by holding eight ball drops in Times Square, each taking place at midnight for every American time zone. America's listening to Fox News.

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[Debra Valentine]

as the US celebrates Iran mourns as it holds a days long funeral for its late leader killed at the start of the U. S Israel Iran conflict.

[Paul Stevens]

Hundreds of thousands of people filling the streets of Tehran today as Iran began a days long funeral for the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei killed in a U S backed Israeli airstrike during the Iran war. Crowds marching past his flag draped coffin chanting death to America and death to Israel. Man calling for revenge. That funeral also marking a pivotal moment for Iran's liberty leadership as the Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei takes power and the regime tries to strengthen its position during negotiations over a permanent end of the war and control of the Strait of Hormuz.

[Debra Valentine]

Fox's Paul Stevens reporting. Only four months ahead of the midterm elections, Republicans are looking to nail down their messaging as a wave of candidates describing themselves as democratic socialists continues to capture the attention of voters across the U.S. representative Ryan MacKenzie, a Pennsylvania Republican, joined Fox's America 250 the Will Cayne Show. He comments on what he calls the rising influence of socialism within the Democratic Party.

[Ryan MacKenzie]

We are under threat from the far left who wants to push their socialist ideas. They have failed everywhere around the world but yet they want to push that failed ideology on us now.

[Debra Valentine]

This comes as many members of the GOP continue to raise concerns over New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, a self described Democratic socialist. Paul Pelosi, the 86 year old husband of former House Speaker N. Nancy Pelosi of California is facing a misdemeanor hit and run charge. Authorities say Pelosi allegedly struck a parked vehicle in Napa County, California on Friday and then drove away. The Napa county sheriff said Pelosi continued driving until his vehicle became disabled. Authorities said alcohol was not a factor in the crash. Pelosi told police he hit something but didn't know what. I'm Debra Valentine. This is FOX News.

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