12AM ET 07/15/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 12AM ET 07/15/2026

Overview
This late-night edition of the Fox News Hourly Update, anchored by Sue Guzman, delivers a fast-paced roundup of major news developments from around the world, with a focus on escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, Supreme Court security, domestic immigration policy changes, the appointment of a new senator in South Carolina, and notable legal news involving Donald Trump and E. Jean Carroll.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Strait of Hormuz: Renewed Blockade and U.S.-Iran Escalation

• [00:02–00:53]

  • The U.S. Navy has reinstated its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil route.
  • President Trump threatens dramatic escalation—including strikes on civilian infrastructure—if Iran does not return to formal negotiations.
    • Quote:
      • President Donald Trump ([00:30]):
        "Next week comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges. We're going to knock out all their power plants. We're going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate."
  • Reporting from Lucas Tomlinson highlights ongoing military strikes and Iranian retaliation.
    • Admiral Cooper reports Iran has struck seven commercial vessels, resulting in multiple casualties.

• Memorable Moment:
  President Trump’s direct warning about targeting Iranian infrastructure if talks don't resume—signaling a dangerous potential for escalation in the region.

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2. Regional Fallout: Jordan and Kuwait Under Fire

• [00:53–01:14]
  • Jordan intercepted three Iranian missiles.
  • Kuwait faced attacks from six missiles and more than 30 drones, underscoring the regional spread of conflict and risk to U.S. allies.

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3. Supreme Court Security & Budget Requests

• [01:14–01:57]
  • Two Supreme Court Justices appeared before Congress, seeking a $14 million budget increase for enhanced security.
  • Justice Elena Kagan recalls when the Court had no personal security, highlighting the evolving threats.
    • Quote:
      • Elena Kagan ([01:25]):
        "We think you're out of your mind. The director of the Office of Personnel Management has more security than the Supreme Court justices."
    • She emphasizes the importance of internal trust after the Dobbs leak in 2022.
      • Quote:
        • Elena Kagan ([01:37]):
          "If the nine of us don't have trust in one another and all the people who work for us, then those kinds of honest conversations that we need to do our business are not going to take place."
  • Report by Jessica Rosenthal outlines the Court's argument: “security really ramped up after the Dobbs decision was leaked.”

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4. Florida Immigration Incident and ICE Policy Pause

• [02:29–03:10]
  • In St. Augustine, Florida, a man fleeing immigration agents was killed by a tractor trailer after running into busy traffic.
  • ICE announced a temporary pause on traffic stops related to arrests, citing a need for internal review after recent officer-involved shootings.
    • Quote:
      • Tom Homan (ICE official) ([02:57]):
        "Look, it's not a policy change. It's a temporary pause ... is there something that could have been done, done better?"

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5. South Carolina Senate: Darlene Graham's Appointment

• [03:10–03:56]
  • Darlene Graham temporarily fills the late Senator Lindsey Graham’s seat, following his sudden death due to an aortic tear.
  • Governor Henry McMaster made the appointment; voters will elect a permanent replacement in November.
    • Kevin Cork ([03:16]):
      "The sister of the late Republican senator from the Palmetto state, Lindsey Graham, sworn in to temporarily fill his Senate seat ... Darlene will fill the remainder of her brother's current term ..."

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6. Legal Update: E. Jean Carroll Receives Payout from Trump Lawsuit

• [03:56–04:28]
  • E. Jean Carroll was paid over $5 million, including $625,000 in interest, after winning a defamation and sex abuse suit against Donald Trump (dating back to 1996).
  • Closure of a high-profile case, confirming Trump's financial liability following a 2023 jury verdict.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Trump’s Warning of Escalation:
  "Next week comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges ... unless they get to the table."
  — President Donald Trump ([00:30])

• Justice Kagan’s Security Reflection:
  "We think you're out of your mind. The director of the Office of Personnel Management has more security than the Supreme Court justices."
  — Elena Kagan ([01:25])

  "If the nine of us don't have trust in one another ... honest conversations ... are not going to take place."
  — Elena Kagan ([01:37])

• ICE on Traffic Stops Pause:
  "Look, it's not a policy change. It's a temporary pause ... is there something that could have been done, done better?"
  — Tom Homan ([02:57])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:02–00:53]: Strait of Hormuz Blockade & U.S.-Iran Tensions (featuring Trump interview)
• [00:53–01:14]: Missile attacks on Jordan and Kuwait
• [01:14–01:57]: Supreme Court Security testimony (Justice Elena Kagan)
• [02:29–03:10]: Immigration incident in Florida & ICE policy review
• [03:10–03:56]: Darlene Graham sworn in to Senate, Lindsey Graham’s death details
• [03:56–04:28]: E. Jean Carroll payout from Trump lawsuit

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Conclusion

This episode primarily delivers urgent coverage of rapidly unfolding foreign policy crises and major domestic developments, capped with a short update on a high-profile legal settlement. The tone is brisk, direct, and prioritizes breaking developments, featuring first-person remarks from figures such as President Trump and Justice Kagan for added immediacy and authority.

Transcript

[Sue Guzman]

Blockade reinstated. I'm Sue Guzman. FOX News. The Navy has restarted its blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. And President Trump is again threatening to strike civilian infrastructure. The latest from Fox's Lucas Tomlinson. And Tel Aviv, Israel.

[Lucas Tomlinson]

President Trump says U.S. jets will keep bombing Iran until it returns for formal talks. And if they don't? President Trump told our own Trey Yings in an exclusive interview this is what he will order next, because next week

[President Donald Trump]

comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges. We're going to knock out all their power plants. We're going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate.

[Lucas Tomlinson]

Despite the return of American air power, Admiral Cooper, commander of U.S. forces in the Middle east, says Iran is striking back, hitting seven commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz with up to a dozen crew members killed, missing or wounded.

[Sue Guzman]

Jordan announcing that it shot down three missiles that were launched by Iran targeting the kingdom and Kuwait is it came under fire from six Iranian missiles and some 33 drones. Two Supreme Court justices making a rare appearance before the House and Senate committees about the high court's security budget. Here's fox's Jessica Rosenthal.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan recalled to senators when she first joined the court, they had no personal security. They do now. She said two Congress members assessing security told the chief justice back in 2016,

[Elena Kagan]

we think you're out of your mind. The director of the Office of Personnel Management has more security than the Supreme Court justices.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

But she said security really ramped up after the Dobbs decision was leaked in 2022.

[Elena Kagan]

If the nine of us don't have trust in one another and don't have trust in one another and all the people who work for us, then those kinds of honest conversations that we need to do our business are not going to take place.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

The justices are asking for a $14 million increase in the next fiscal year budget. Jessica Brosenthal, FOX News.

[Sue Guzman]

America's listening to FOX news.

[Chevron Narrator]

Who helps America go farther, fly higher, dream even bigger?

[President Donald Trump]

People do.

[Chevron Narrator]

Since 1879, our people have been more than a source of energy. They've been a source of progress. Today, that same progress is helping deliver record US Energy production, fueling the workers, the makers, the boundary pushers and risk takers who spark the breakthroughs that move America forward. Learn more about what our people [e-mail]

[Sue Guzman]

USA250aman running from immigration agents in Florida was struck and killed by a tractor trailer. He was part of a group of suspects that fled a traffic stop this morning in St. Augustine police say one darted across a busy road right into the path of the semi. Meanwhile, ICE says it will temporarily pause all traffic stops when making arrests. Porter czar Tom Homan telling fox's the Will Kane show this is just a short pause for the agency to look inward.

[Tom Homan]

Look, it's not a policy change. It's a temporary pause. Look at the last couple of shootings. ICE leadership, along with dhs, believes they want to look at these last couple of incidents. And look, is there something that could have been done, done better?

[Sue Guzman]

Darlene Graham has been sworn in to temporarily take her brother's place in the Senate. Fox's Kevin Cork reports.

[Kevin Cork]

The sister of the late Republican senator from the Palmetto state, Lindsey Graham, sworn in to temporarily fill his Senate seat. The appointment thanks to Henry McMaster, the state's governor, coming just a few days after his sudden death. Now Darlene will fill the remainder of her brother's current term while voters in South Carolina will get a chance to decide who in November will hold that seat for the next six years. Meantime, we're learning more about the senators final hours tonight, Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville revealing today that it was a former member of his staff who actually called for medical assistance to aid Graham after he experienced chest pains.

[Sue Guzman]

The medical examiner's office says Senator Graham died of an aortic tear caused by hardening of the arteries. And New York writer E. Jean Carroll gets her payout more than $5 million three years after a jury found citizen Donald Trump liable for her claims of defamation and sex abuse dating back to 1996. U.S. district Court in lower Manhattan posting a notice on its online docket that the money had been dispersed to Carol's legal team, including some $625,000 worth of interest payments. I'm Sue Gusman. This is FOX News.

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[Jessica Rosenthal]

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