12AM ET 07/22/2026 Newscast

Summary

FOX News Hourly Update: 12AM ET 07/22/2026

Main Theme:
This episode delivers a rapid-fire roundup of major global and U.S. political developments, focusing on ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions, Middle East diplomacy, domestic political races, Pentagon funding challenges, and a major U.S.-Saudi nuclear agreement.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Continued U.S. Airstrikes on Iran

• [00:03–00:55]
  • 11th consecutive night of U.S. airstrikes targeting Iran.
  • Purpose: To degrade Iran’s ability to disrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Incident Highlights:
    • Iran disabled a Kuwaiti tanker in the Strait; crew evacuated off Oman.
    • Iran attacked a desalination plant in Kuwait.
    • Ongoing pattern of harassing U.S. allies.
  • Diplomacy vs. Escalation:
    • Both sides warn the potential for escalation.
    • President Trump at the White House warns the U.S. has “more severe options on the table.”

“Instead of diplomacy, both sides warning that this war could get out of hand, could escalate further.”
— Steve Harrigan, [00:43]

"The US has been nice so far, but there have been much more severe options on the table that could happen."
— President Trump (as reported), [00:50]

2. Diplomatic Overtures and Regional Responses

• [00:55–01:54]
  • Iran’s interior minister visited Pakistan aiming to restart peace talks.
  • U.S. military confirms third casualty in a recent Jordan base attack—Sergeant Angel S. Rammerstad.
  • President Trump pledges support for Lebanon amid ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah.
    • Hosts Lebanon’s leader at the White House.
    • Signals openness to “direct diplomacy,” even with terror group leaders.

"I would speak to Hezbollah. I speak to everybody. I'll speak to people that a lot of people think I shouldn't be speaking to and things work out."
— President Trump (as reported by Peter Doocy), [01:42]

3. Arizona Governor Primary Results

• [03:01–03:12]
  • U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs wins Republican nomination, defeating David Schweikart.
  • Will face incumbent Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs; race expected to be very competitive.

4. Pentagon Funding Crisis

• [03:13–04:01]
  • Reporter: Jennifer Griffin.
  • Pentagon could run out of money by late July/early August due to sustained military operations.
    • Resorting to moving funds from operations/maintenance to keep the war effort going.
    • High munitions use with daily airstrikes.
    • Last open press briefing on the conflict was over two months ago (May 5).

"What we understand right now is that they're basically robbing the operations and maintenance budgets to keep the war going."
— Jennifer Griffin, [03:40]

5. Congressional and Executive Actions

• [04:01–04:27]
  • House passes a government funding extension through the upcoming midterms (until Dec 4).
  • Vote: 220–205, mostly along party lines.
  • Next step: heads to the Senate.

6. U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Agreement

• [04:28–04:58]
  • President Trump approves an agreement potentially allowing Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium for civilian use.
  • Announcement anticipated as soon as Wednesday.
  • Up to 30-year deal; U.S. firms likely to participate in the program's development.
  • First official confirmation sourced from the Associated Press.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On U.S. Diplomacy:
  “I would speak to Hezbollah. I speak to everybody. I'll speak to people that a lot of people think I shouldn't be speaking to and things work out.”
  — President Trump (as reported by Peter Doocy), [01:42]

• On Escalation in Iran:
  “Instead of diplomacy, both sides warning that this war could get out of hand could escalate further.”
  — Steve Harrigan, [00:43]

• On Pentagon Funding:
  “They’re basically robbing the operations and maintenance budgets to keep the war going.”
  — Jennifer Griffin, [03:40]

• On U.S. Military’s Role:
  “The Armed Forces of the United States of America serves as our nation’s ultimate safeguard and our insurance policy to preserve, protect and defend our national interests, security and prosperity.”
  — Dan Kane, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, [04:05]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:03] — Nightly U.S. airstrikes update
• [00:55] — Diplomatic moves, casualties, U.S. support for Lebanon
• [01:42] — President Trump's direct diplomacy statement
• [03:01] — Arizona governor race primary results
• [03:32] — Pentagon funding challenges
• [04:01] — Military and Congressional briefings
• [04:28] — U.S.-Saudi Arabia nuclear agreement announcement

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Summary Tone:
The reporting remains urgent and matter-of-fact, sticking closely to breaking developments, official statements, and swift, high-stakes shifts in both military and political arenas. Analyses are concise, focusing on facts and the immediate implications for U.S. policy and global stability.

Transcript

[A]

An 11th night of attacks. I'm Sue Guzman, FOX News. Another night of US Airstrikes against Iran is complete. Fox's Steve Harrigan has more from Tel Aviv.

[B]

CENTCOM saying that the strikes for tonight lasted at least one hour. The purpose of the strikes once again, to try and degrade Iran's ability to attack shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran was able to disable a Kuwaiti tanker inside the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours. The crew had to evacuate off the coast of Amman. Also, they attacked a desalination plant inside Kuwait. So continuing to harass US Allies in the region. Instead of diplomacy, both sides warning that this war could get out of hand could escalate further. In the White House today, President Trump saying the US has been nice so far, but there have been much more severe options on the table that could happen.

[A]

Meanwhile, Iran's interior minister visited Pakistan in an effort to try and reignite the peace talks. US Military confirming that a third US Service member died in Friday's attack on a base in Jordan. He's been identified as 28 year old Sergeant Angel S. Rammerstad of Ozone Park, New York. The President is pledging support for Lebanon following months of conflict between Israel and the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah. Today he hosted the leader of Lebanon

[C]

at the Oval Office during an Oval Office sit down. The president revealed that he isn't just trying direct diploma by talking to other world leaders. He is willing to try direct diplomacy by talking to terror group leaders. And he revealed this in the context of a meeting designed to try to figure out how to stop the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. I would speak to Hezbollah. I speak to everybody. I'll speak to people that a lot of people think I shouldn't be speaking to and things work out.

[A]

Fox's Peter Doocy. America is listening to FOX News.

[D]

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[E]

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[A]

U.S. representative Andy Biggs, a fierce ally of President Trump and former head of the House Freedom Caucus, has won the Republican nomination for Arizona Governor Biggs, defeating fellow U.S. representative David Schweikart in the primary, and will now face Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs and what is likely to be one of the closest gubernatorial races in November. The Pentagon is running out of money amid the re escalation of conflict with Iran with or Secretary Pete Hegseth asking the Senate Appropriations Committee for more. As we hear from Fox's Jennifer Griffin.

[F]

The Pentagon is slated to run out of money at the end of July, early August. And so they need Congress to intervene if they're going to keep going. What we understand right now is that they're basically robbing the operations and maintenance budgets to keep the war going. They're going through a lot of munitions with the ongoing, ongoing airstrikes that have really ramped up in the last 10 days. The last time that the Pentagon held a press briefing and took questions the Pentagon press corps about the war was May 5th. That's over two months ago.

[A]

HEXATH spoke alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Kane.

[C]

The Armed Forces of the United States of America serves as our nation's ultimate safeguard and our insurance policy to preserve, protect and defend our national interests, security and prosperity.

[A]

The House has passed a government funding bill that would extend funding for all federal operations through the midterm elections. It's a move made months ahead of the Sept. 30 deadline to avoid a shutdown. The 220 to 205 vote was largely along party lines. Legislation to fund the government through December 4 now heads to the Senate. And President Trump has approved an agreement with Saudi Arabia that could potentially provide the kingdom with uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear program. Sources telling the Associated Press that that agreement is expected to be announced as early as Wednesday. This proposed 30 year deal will reportedly give US firms a hand in developing the program. I'm Sue Guzman. This is FOX News.

[E]

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