12AM ET 07/08/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 12AM ET 07/08/2026 Newscast

Host: Sue Guzman, Fox News Team
Date: July 8, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a rapid summary of urgent national and international developments as of midnight. The main themes covered include escalating U.S.-Iran tensions following Iranian attacks on shipping, a political scandal surrounding a Maine Democratic Senate candidate, a sharp rebuke of the Smithsonian by the Trump administration, and a safety crisis in New York City amid fears of a high-rise collapse.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Retaliatory Strikes on Iran

(00:02 – 00:56)

• Summary:
  The U.S. launched approximately 80 retaliatory airstrikes against Iran in response to Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
• Details:
  • Attack Triggers: Iranian aggression targeted three ships crewed by civilians, breaching last month’s interim deal pledging safe passage.
  • Political Repercussions: The Trump administration revoked temporary oil waivers for Iran, tightening economic pressure.
• Official Statements:
  • Kristin Goodwin:

    “Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous and a clear violation of the ceasefire.” (00:25)

  • U.S. Central Command affirmed the strikes were concluded but issued a stern warning to Tehran, vowing future accountability for further aggression.

2. Maine Senate Candidate Scandal

(00:56 – 01:49)

• Summary:
  Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner faces declining support after accusations of rape from a former girlfriend.
• Political Fallout:
  • Party Response: The Democratic Party is “scrambling” for replacements; four Democratic senators have yet to issue formal statements.
  • Key Supporters Withdraw:
    • Senator Bernie Sanders, previously a major backer, has called for Platner to “bow out” of the race.
    • Senator Chuck Schumer and Rep. Ro Khanna have also rescinded support.
• Succession Moves:
  • At least two Democrats, including Troy Jackson (a Sanders-backed progressive), have filed federal paperwork to run.
  • Alexis McAdams:

    “The Democratic Party is just scrambling to find a potential replacement for Graham Platner.” (01:16)

• Platner’s Stand: He denies the accusations and continues his campaign.

3. Trump Administration Accuses Smithsonian of Bias

(02:32 – 03:22)

• Summary:
  Accusations emerge from the Trump administration that the Smithsonian Institution is exhibiting a left-wing bias in its historical presentations.
• Audit Report:
  • Report Title: “Saving America’s Story,” stemming from a March executive order to audit federally funded cultural organizations.
  • Key Allegations: Promoting open borders, transgender advocacy, downplaying founding fathers’ legacy except in context of slavery.
• Institutional Response:
  • Smithsonian spokesperson insists on maintaining “nonpartisan and independent scholarship.”
  • Alexander Ahoff:

    “For more than 180 years, the Smithsonian has served the American public with nonpartisan and independent scholarship, and we remain committed to doing so.” (03:07)

4. New York City Skyscraper Crisis

(03:22 – 04:11)

• Summary:
  A major evacuation and safety operation is underway around a 30+ story skyscraper in NYC showing signs of imminent collapse.
• Incident Details:
  • The building, a conversion from office to luxury apartments, saw support columns start to buckle on the 21st floor, prompting an immediate response.
  • CP Cotton:

    “Construction workers on the 21st floor noticed support columns starting to buckle. Crews immediately evacuated the building.” (03:41)

  • Previous history includes about two dozen violations since 2020, mainly related to elevator inspection lapses.
• Current Status:
  • The Department of Buildings reports the structure has been stabilized, but a wide exclusion zone remains.
  • Sue Guzman:

    “There is a zone around it trying to keep everyone and everything, including traffic, away from it.” (04:22)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Iran:
  • “Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous and a clear violation of the ceasefire.”
    — Kristin Goodwin (00:25)
  • “The US military says the strikes are over, but warning Tehran it will hold it accountable in the future if there are further attacks.”
    — Sue Guzman (00:56)
• Political Scandal:
  • “The Democratic Party is just scrambling to find a potential replacement for Graham Platner.”
    — Alexis McAdams (01:16)
  • “Senator Bernie Sanders has now told Platner, you have to bow out…”
    — Alexis McAdams (01:36)
• On Smithsonian Accusations:
  • “Smithsonian leadership is charged with promoting ideas like open borders and transgender advocacy.… America’s founding fathers are hardly featured and introduced chiefly through their connection to slavery.”
    — Alexander Ahoff (02:48–02:58)
  • “For more than 180 years, the Smithsonian has served the American public with non partisan and independent scholarship, and we remain committed to doing so.”
    — Smithsonian spokesperson, via Alexander Ahoff (03:07)
• NYC Skyscraper:
  • “Bricks crashing to the sidewalk with the active shifting detected throughout the day in the framework.”
    — Sue Guzman (04:11)
  • “The high rise has been stabilized. There is a zone around it trying to keep everyone and everything, including traffic, away from it.”
    — Sue Guzman (04:22)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:02 — Strikes in Iran: U.S. response summary
• 00:15 — Details on attacks and U.S. Central Command statement
• 00:56 — U.S. military warning to Iran; shift to political news
• 01:16 — Fallout over Maine Senate candidate scandal
• 02:32 — Trump administration’s new accusations against Smithsonian
• 03:22 — NYC skyscraper evacuation and safety efforts

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This episode delivers concise yet thorough updates on conflict hotspots, political scandals, cultural debates, and urban safety crises — capturing the urgency and drama of current news with the authoritative tone signature to Fox News Radio.

Transcript

[Sue Guzman]

New strikes in Iran. I'm Sue Guzman, Fox News. The strikes are over now, but the US launched some 80 retaliatory strikes against Iran Tuesday after Tehran's latest attacks on commercial shipping vessels.

[Kristin Goodwin]

U.S. central Command revealing forces have started launching a series of powerful strikes against Iran in response to its attacks on three commercial vessels that were transitioning the Strait of Hormuz, crewed by innocent civilians, adding Iran's demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous and a clear violation of the ceasefire. While Iran agreed to allow the safe passage of commercial vessels through the strait under the terms of an interim deal it signed with the US Last month, it has launched a series of attacks on ships. The Trump administration also revoking temporary waivers it issued as part of the interim deal that allowed Iran to sell oil. Kristin Goodwin, Fox News.

[Sue Guzman]

U.S. military says the strikes are over, but warning Tehran it will hold it accountable in the future if there are further attacks. Support continuing to wane for the Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner. After a former girlfriend accused him of rape on Tuesday, a big supporter joined the list of people calling on him to abandon his campaign. As we hear from Fox's Alexis McAdams,

[Alexis McAdams]

the Democratic Party is just scrambling to find a potential replacement for Graham Platner. But as of now, he's still in this race even though he's losing support with only four Democratic senators who have not yet weighed in here. But one of his biggest supporters, Senator Bernie Sanders, has now told Platner, you have to bow out as Democrats search for another option. At least two Maine Democrats have filed federal paperwork to run for the U.S. senate in Maine. That includes former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson. He is a Sanders backed progressive who campaigned with Platner during the primary.

[Sue Guzman]

Other Democrats, including Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Ro Khanna, have also withdrawn their support, Platner denying the accusations. America's listening to FOX News.

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[Sue Guzman]

the Trump administration is accusing the Smithsonian of taking a left wing political stance and how it represents America's history.

[Alexander Ahoff]

Titled Saving America's Story, the report is the first product of President Trump's March executive order calling for an audit of all cultural institutions that receive federal funding. In it, the Smithsonian leadership is charged with promoting ideas like open borders and transgender advocacy. Despite the American History Museum commemorating the country's 250th anniversary, the report claims that America's founding fathers are hardly featured and introduced chiefly through their connection to slavery. Responding to the report, a Smithsonian spokesperson tells Fox, for more than 180 years, the Smithsonian has served the American public with non partisan and independent scholarship, and we remain committed to doing so. At the National Museum of American History. Alexander Ahoff, FOX News.

[Sue Guzman]

There's a massive frozen zone around a buckling New York City skyscraper. After it showed signs of collapsing Tuesday, it forced the evacuation of the building and several surrounding it. More from Fox's CP Cotton this high

[CP Cotton]

rise building is more than 30 stories. It's being converted from a former office space into luxury apartments. But all that work is on pause as city officials say this building could face what they're calling a localized collapse. Construction workers on the 21st floor noticed support columns starting to buckle. Crews immediately evacuated the building. The FDNY chief of department said that the steel beams have started to bend from the weight. So the New York Times reports the building has had nearly two dozen violations dating back to 2020, mostly for failing to file elevator inspection and testing reports.

[Sue Guzman]

Bricks crashing to the sidewalk with the active shifting detected throughout the day in the framework. Now, the city Department of Buildings commissioner says that the high rise has been stabilized. There is a zone around it trying to keep everyone and everything, including traffic, away from it. I'm Sue Guzman. This is fox.

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