12AM ET 07/16/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update: 12AM ET 07/16/2026

Host: Sue Guzman
Date: July 16, 2026

---

Overview

This episode delivers rapid-fire coverage of major national and international stories. Key developments include escalating U.S. military operations against Iran, ongoing rescue/recovery efforts following flooding in Texas and a boating disaster in San Francisco, new military health screenings, and the Senate confirmation hearing for CDC nominee Erica Schwartz. The updates encapsulate military, political, environmental, and public health news affecting Americans at home and abroad.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Escalation in U.S.-Iran Hostilities

• Fifth Day of Heavy Strikes: The U.S. continues extensive military operations against Iran, now on its fifth consecutive day.
• Future Targets: President Trump reportedly plans to target Iranian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges.
• Naval Blockade: U.S. forces have reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports, focusing on the Strait of Hormuz.
• Objective: The strikes aim to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten international shipping.

Notable Quotes:

• (President Trump, via Sue Guzman)
  "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." [00:34]
• (Fox News Correspondent)
  "The president left open the possibility of a ground operation in the future in a limited capacity." [00:27]

Timestamps:

• Iran Strikes Coverage: [00:02] – [00:50]

---

2. Humanitarian Developments: U.S. Hostage in Iran

• Hostage Released: President Trump announced that an American citizen held since December 2024 has been released by Iran and is in good condition.
• Ongoing Detentions: Attorney Fredina Kharari reports her client remains held on alleged false charges of spying.

Timestamps:

• Hostage Release Announcement: [00:50] – [01:07]

---

3. Texas Flooding Emergency

• Severe Flooding: South Texas faces catastrophic flooding, with rainfall expected to exceed 30 inches—significantly surpassing last year’s deadly Camp Mystic floods.
• State Response: Governor Abbott describes the widespread deployment of state assets and ongoing rescues.

Notable Quote:

• (Governor Greg Abbott)
  "The expected rainfall during this rainstorm is expected to be more than 30 inches." [01:37]

Timestamps:

• Texas Flooding Segment: [01:24] – [01:56]

---

4. Military Health: Testosterone Screening Initiative

• New Screening Program: War Secretary Pete Hegseth announces a screening program for testosterone deficiency among troops, emphasizing the need for peak military performance.

Notable Quote:

• (Pete Hegseth)
  "It's necessary to allow military members to, quote, operate at their absolute best." [02:32]

Timestamps:

• Military Health Segment: [02:32] – [02:40]

---

5. San Francisco Bay Boating Tragedy

• Accident Overview: A memorial-service boat carrying 20 people capsized; 16 were rescued, 3 remain missing, and 1 person (and 1 K9) confirmed deceased.
• Ongoing Search: Coast Guard efforts continue but transition to recovery once the search is called off at sunset.

Notable Quotes:

• (Jared Tosco, U.S. Coast Guard Captain)
  "Crews have searched 950 nautical miles for 23 hours straight." [02:52]
  "Despite that extensive effort, we have been unsuccessful in locating any survivors..." [03:00]

Timestamps:

• Boating Disaster Coverage: [02:52] – [03:24]

---

6. CDC Leadership Confirmation Hearing

• Nominee Dr. Erica Schwartz: Presented as a stabilizing figure for the CDC after significant turnover, Schwartz commits to scientific integrity and restoring trust post-COVID.
• Senate Scrutiny: Democrats raise concerns about CDC leadership instability and workforce declines.

Notable Quotes:

• (Dr. Erica Schwartz)
  "You have my assurances that I will do that. I will never betray the science, ever. I will go where the science leads us. I will not have predetermined answers to conclusions." [03:59]

Additional Context:

• The CDC has lost over a quarter of its workforce since President Trump returned to office.

Timestamps:

• CDC Nominee Segment: [03:36] – [04:15]

---

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• President Trump's Aggressive Language on Iran: "We're going to knock out all their power plants. We're going to knock out all their bridges." [00:34]
• Humanizing the Floods: Governor Abbott provides context by recalling previous catastrophic floods, emphasizing this event’s severity. [01:37]
• Public Health Commitment: Dr. Erica Schwartz’s pledge: "I will never betray the science, ever. I will go where the science leads us." [03:59]
• Coast Guard’s Relentless Search: "Crews have searched 950 nautical miles for 23 hours straight." [02:52] – Jared Tosco

---

Summary Table of Major Segments & Timestamps

| Segment | Speaker & Notable Quotes | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------| | U.S. Strikes on Iran | Trump: “Knock out all their power plants...” | 00:02 – 00:50 | | U.S. Hostage Released; Detentions Ongoing| Sue Guzman, Fredina Kharari | 00:50 – 01:07 | | Texas Flooding Emergency | Governor Abbott: "More than 30 inches." | 01:24 – 01:56 | | Testosterone Deficiency Military Program | War Secretary Pete Hegseth: "Operate at their absolute best." | 02:32 – 02:40 | | San Francisco Bay Boating Tragedy | Jared Tosco, US Coast Guard: "950 nautical miles..." | 02:52 – 03:24 | | CDC Nominee Hearing | Dr. Erica Schwartz: "I will never betray the science." | 03:36 – 04:15 |

---

Overall Tone

Direct, urgent, and factual—mirroring the news update format, with brief, high-impact statements from officials and correspondents.

---

This summary covers all critical content segments, isolates impactful commentary, and delivers a comprehensive overview for those who didn’t listen to the episode.

Transcript

[Sue Guzman]

The latest round of strikes complete. I'm Sue Guzman, Fox News. The U.S. has finished a fifth day of heavy strikes against Iran. The latest from Fox's trainings.

[Fox News Correspondent]

President Trump said that the strikes are going to continue and expand against the regime. Well, this morning U.S. central Command announced around 6:00am Eastern Time that they were striking once again during the daytime Iranian territory. The president left open the possibility of a ground operation in the future in a limited capacity and said this about the upcoming targets for US Forces.

[Sue Guzman]

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.

[Fox News Correspondent]

Earlier this week, US Forces reimposed the naval blockade of Iranian ports. So focus does remain on the Strait of Hormuz.

[Sue Guzman]

CENTCOM says the latest round hitting Iran command centers, air defense strikes, missile and drone capabilities and other locations to try to degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump posting online tonight that Iran has released an American citizen being held since December 2024. He says she is now safely outside of Iran and in good condition. An attorney, Fredina Kharari, a US Iranian citizen, says her client is trapped in Iran on bogus charges of spying. Texas continuing to seek higher ground because of devastating flooding.

[Governor Greg Abbott]

Governor Abbott said state assets and responders are spread out across South Texas as the threat of rising rivers persists through the rest of the week. To quantify the potential danger, Governor Abbott made a comparison to what fell on the 4th of July last year during the deadly Camp mystic floods, rainfall of 20.29 inches. The expected rainfall during this rainstorm is expected to be more than 30 inches. Governor Abbott said there is a growing number of rescues that have saved lives.

[Sue Guzman]

America's listening to FOX News.

[Amazon Health AI Advertiser]

Amazon Health AI presents painful thoughts.

[Amazon Health AI User]

Why did I search the Internet for answers to my cold sore problem? Now I'm stuck down a rabbit hole filled with images of alarmingly graphic sores in various stages of ooze. I can clear my search history, but I can never unsee that.

[Amazon Health AI Advertiser]

Don't go down the rabbit hole. Amazon Health AI gets you the right care fast. Healthcare just got less painful.

[Sue Guzman]

War Secretary Pete Hegseth says he's rolling out a screening program for testosterone deficiency among troops. Hegseth says it's necessary to allow military members to, quote, operate at their absolute best. Officials have had no luck finding three missing people after a boat carrying a grieving family sank in the San Francisco Bay.

[Jared Tosco]

Jared Tosco, captain of the port for U.S. coast Guard sector San Francisco says crews have searched 950 nautical miles for 23 hours straight.

[Fox News Correspondent]

Despite that extensive effort, we have been unsuccessful in locating any survivors within the

[Jared Tosco]

search area, noting search efforts would suspend at sunset. Three people are still missing a day after a recreational cruise boat carrying 20 people for memorial service capsized in the San Francisco bay.

[Governor Greg Abbott]

We have one individual who has been declared deceased. We have one K9 who has been declared deceased.

[Jared Tosco]

San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispin. Officials say 16 others were rescued. Three who were hospitalized, including the pilot of the boat, have all been released. Kristin Goodwin, FOX News nominee to run

[Sue Guzman]

the CDC Erica Schwartz facing the Senate for a hearing today. Fox's Alexandria Hoff has more.

[Alexandria Hoff]

Dr. Erica Schwartz is largely seen as a steadying force for a role that has had three names tied to it in two years. Swartz served as deputy surgeon general in the first Trump administration. She's a retired Public Health Service rear admiral telling Senate Help committee members today that she's always stood up for what is true and right. You have my assurances that I will do that. I will never betray the science, ever. I will go where the science leads us. I will not have predetermined answers to conclusions. Schwartz commits to restoring trust post Covid as Democrat. Lawmakers criticize turnover at the CDC and

[Sue Guzman]

have confirmed Schwartz will lead an agency that has lost more than 3,000 employees, more than a quarter of its workforce since President Trump returned to the White House. I'm Sue Guzman. This is FOX News.

[Amazon Health AI Advertiser]

Cheers to America's 250th birthday. Get 20% off your first purchase at foxnewswineshop.com with code FNRADIO20. 20% discount excludes wine club offers and cannot be combined with any other promotion. Expires July 31, 2026. Must be 21. Order to order. Please drink responsibly.