12AM ET 07/23/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update — 12AM ET 07/23/2026 Newscast

Host: Sue Guzman, FOX News Podcasts
Date: July 23, 2026

---

Episode Overview

This hourly newscast delivers a concise briefing on the top national and international headlines, focusing on the upcoming U.S. midterms, the ongoing conflict with Iran, fresh developments in Congressional investigations, government funding measures, a severe weather update, and a diplomatic agreement with Saudi Arabia. The tone is brisk and informative, keeping listeners up to date with fast-moving political and world events.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The 2026 Midterms and the Economy

• Main theme: Voters see the economy as the central issue in the November midterms.
  • Polling consistently shows economic concerns—particularly inflation and Wall Street's performance—on top.
• President Trump Campaigns in Georgia:
  • Emphasizes record highs on Wall Street while also mentioning inflation's impact.
  • Quote:

    "This economy is ready to blow everything away ever of any country. There's never been anything like what's happening in east United States of America right now. So I just want you to remember that if you're paying a little bit more, a lot of it's come down now."
    — Donald Trump (00:20)

[00:02–00:38]

• Election implications: Economic optimism by Trump contrasts with inflation, partially addressed; Democrats attack the administration over Iran and high gas prices.

---

2. Conflict with Iran: U.S. Military Losses

• U.S. Troop Deaths:
  • President Trump attended the return of four soldiers’ remains at Dover AFB.
  • Three soldiers killed were deployed to Jordan.
• Details on the Attack:
  • Military analyst report: On July 17th, dozens of Iranian missiles and drones targeted a U.S. base.
  • Notable escalation: Over 8,500 projectiles launched at U.S. bases in just four months.
  • Quote:

    "The Iranians have fired more than 8,500 drones and missiles at U.S. bases since the war began four months ago."
    — Military Analyst (01:01)

[00:38–01:29]

• Highlights the ongoing severity of the engagement with Iran and the risks to American personnel and regional allies.

---

3. Congressional Investigations: Jack Smith Referral

• Judicial Probe:
  • House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan refers former Special Counsel Jack Smith to the Justice Department.
  • Accusation: Smith allegedly misled Congress regarding his investigation of Donald Trump.
  • Newly released records reportedly contradict Smith’s sworn testimony.
  • Possible Outcomes: Prosecutors will determine if criminal charges are warranted.
  • Quote:

    "House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan has referred former Biden special counsel Jack Smith to the Justice Department, accusing him of misleading Congress about his investigation into President Donald Trump."
    — Sue Guzman (01:29)

[01:29–02:00]

• Signals a noteworthy escalation in political and legal scrutiny related to the Trump investigations.

---

4. Congressional Action: War and Government Funding

• Iran Conflict Funding:
  • The House approved $95 billion in funding for the Iran conflict.
• Budget Maneuvering:
  • Passed a $1.5 trillion deficit measure and a stopgap bill to avoid a government shutdown.
  • Senate Majority Leader John Thune may delay Senate action until September.
  • Legislative Tactic:
    • The House budget package, immune to filibusters, could allow Republicans to bypass Democrats in government funding matters.
  • Quote:

    "We could pull that budget resolution passed by the House and use it to fund government."
    — Robert Reyes (02:55)

[02:23–03:14]

• The House also approved a plan barring members from trading stocks, showing rare bipartisan movement on ethics reform.

---

5. Weather Update: Tropical Storm Bertha

• Landfall:
  • Bertha made landfall in Louisiana, also affecting Alabama’s Gulf coast.
  • On-the-scene details: Despite 40+ mph wind gusts, rainfall was under an inch, and no catastrophic damage was reported.
  • Minimal flooding in low-lying marshes, residents relieved by limited impact.
  • Quote:

    "It was pretty intense here earlier for a system that was so offshore… nothing catastrophic, thank God."
    — Robert Reyes (03:25)

[03:14–04:08]

• Local perspective: Sigh of relief as storm impact is less than feared.

---

6. U.S.–Saudi Arabia Nuclear Agreement

• Diplomatic Development:
  • The Trump administration is moving forward with a new agreement giving Saudi Arabia uranium enrichment capability for civilian nuclear purposes.
  • Implications: Potentially significant for Middle East geopolitics and nuclear proliferation debates.

[04:08–04:20]

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on Economy and Inflation:

  "This economy is ready to blow everything away ever of any country. There's never been anything like what's happening..."
  — Donald Trump (00:20)

• Military Analyst on Escalation with Iran:

  "The Iranians have fired more than 8,500 drones and missiles at U.S. bases since the war began four months ago."
  — Military Analyst (01:01)

• Sue Guzman on Jack Smith Probe:

  "House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan has referred former Biden special counsel Jack Smith to the Justice Department..."
  — Sue Guzman (01:29)

• Robert Reyes on Government Funding Measures:

  "We could pull that budget resolution passed by the House and use it to fund government."
  — Robert Reyes (02:55)

• Robert Reyes on Tropical Storm Bertha:

  "…nothing catastrophic, thank God."
  — Robert Reyes (03:25)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 2026 Midterms, Economic Update: 00:02–00:38
• U.S. Troop Deaths, Iran Conflict: 00:38–01:29
• Jack Smith Judicial Referral: 01:29–02:00
• Funding for Iran War / Government Shutdown Threat: 02:23–03:14
• Tropical Storm Bertha Landfall: 03:14–04:08
• Saudi Arabia Nuclear Agreement: 04:08–04:20

---

Summary prepared for listeners seeking a comprehensive, top-of-the-hour rundown of key national and international events as reported by FOX News on July 23, 2026.

Transcript

[Sue Guzman]

And I towards the midterms. I'm Sue Guzman, FOX News. The November midterms are getting close and polling shows the economy is the biggest issue this year with voters is one of the key themes for President Trump in Georgia today, who pointed to record highs on Wall street while at the same time acknowledging inflation.

[Donald Trump]

This economy is ready to blow everything away ever of any country. There's never been anything like what's happening in east United States of America right now. So I just want you to remember that if you're paying a little bit more, a lot of it's come down now.

[Sue Guzman]

Many Democrat candidates have been critical of the conflict with Iran as well as higher gas prices. Earlier, President Trump was on hand to welcome the remains of four US Soldiers recently killed during the conflict with Iran. He joined their families at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Three of those killed were deployed to Jordan. And as Tehran continues to target U.S. allies in the Middle east, there were

[Military Analyst]

dozens of ballistic missiles and drones that were fired that night on July 17th at the base where these Americans were being housed. And it was at least one possibly more ballistic missile that struck the base and caused the devastation that led to the deaths. It's important to point out that the Iranians have fired more than 8,500 drones and missiles at U.S. bases since the war began four months ago.

[Sue Guzman]

This is Jennifer Griffin, former special counsel could now be the target of a criminal investigation. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan has referred former Biden special counsel Jack Smith to the Justice Department, accusing him of misleading Congress about his investigation into President Donald Trump. Jordan says the newly released records contradict Smith's sworn testimony and he wants federal prosecutors to determine whether criminal charges are warranted. America is listening to FOX News.

[NetSuite AI Advertiser]

They say that every day your business is late to AI, you fall two days behind. NetSuite Next is where your business meets AI because AI is built into everything you do if your revenues are at least in the seven figures. Try NetSuite next for free. Go to NetSuite AI Fox.

[Sue Guzman]

The House has approved $95 billion in funding for the conflict with Iran. And okay to one and a half trillion dollar Def More from fox's Chad Pergrim.

[Chad Pergram]

The House of Representatives trying to cure the legislative summertime blues. The House approved a stopgap bill to avoid a government shutdown this fall. The House sending the Senate a budget framework to pay for the conflict in Iran. Tacking on the Save America Act. But there's GOP skepticism. Senate Majority Leader John Thune may not even tackle the budget blueprint until September,

[Robert Reyes]

we could pull that budget resolution passed by the House and use it to fund government.

[Chad Pergram]

That package is immune to filibusters. Republicans could then cut Democrats out of the funding process. Republicans hope the threat compels Democrats to help avoid a full government shutdown. The House also approving a plan barring members from trading stocks.

[Sue Guzman]

Tropical Storm Bertha is crawling west and targeting several Gulf states. The system made landfall in Louisiana today. Fox's Robert Reyes in the windy Dolphin island in Alabama.

[Robert Reyes]

It was pretty intense here earlier for a system that was so offshore. The effects on this barrier island, well, not bad, right? Far as visuals, nothing catastrophic, thank God. But we did receive 40 plus mile an hour wind gusts, very minimal rain less than an inch across the region as the system trekked to the west and then made landfall at 2pm Central Time in St. Bernard Parish. Bayous, essentially marshes in that area. So even though they had some on push or water rise there, nothing is going to be in a bad scenario. As the governor said, the Trump administration

[Sue Guzman]

forging a new agreement with Saudi Arabia that could potentially provide the kingdom with uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear program. I'm Sue Guzman. This is FOX News.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. Now I was looking for fun ways to tell you that Mint's offer of unlimited Premium Wireless for $15 a month is back. So I thought it would be fun if we made $15 bills, but it turns out that's very illegal. So there goes my big idea for the commercial. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment

[Mint Mobile Advertiser]

of $45 for three months, $90 for six months or $180 for a 12 month plan required $15 per month equivalent taxes and fees. Extra initial plan term Only greater than 50 gigabytes means slow when network is busy. C terms.