12AM ET 07/25/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 12AM ET 07/25/2026

Overview

This episode of the Fox News Hourly Update (aired July 25, 2026) delivers a fast-paced summary of pressing world and domestic news. The top stories include escalating military tensions between the U.S. and Iran, newly imposed U.S. tariffs on dozens of nations, an update on former President Joe Biden’s legal maneuverings, controversy over the release of an alleged gang member in Chicago, and a new U.S. investigation into EU trade practices. The tone remains urgent and matter-of-fact, sticking closely to Fox News’ traditional newscast style.

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Key Stories and Insights

1. U.S. Considers Major Military Action Against Iran

• Situation Update: President Trump weighs a major U.S. military attack on Iran after 13 consecutive nights of U.S. attacks on military targets inside the country.

  • [00:03] Debra Valentine reports President Trump is “considering a major US Military attack on Iran” after another incident involving a merchant ship and the ongoing blockade of Iranian ports.
  • [00:19] Steve Harrigan contextualizes the attacks and introduces a direct statement from President Trump.

• President Trump’s Statement:

  • [00:35] Quote: “We're doing extremely well. They would like to do something. But I say they're not ready yet. They need more of the same. They're not ready yet. They got some evil intentions. We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon.” – President Trump
  • The address underscores persistent U.S. concerns about Iranian intentions and nuclear ambitions.

• Israeli Preparations:

  • [00:47] Harrigan notes increased tension in Israel: “A number of mayors of Israeli cities have reopened bomb shelters, bunkers around parts of the city. They usually do this in times of heightened alert.”

2. U.S. Imposes New Global Tariffs

• Tariff Details:

  • [01:02] The U.S. marks 13 straight days of attacks on Tehran as “Canada, India, Mexico and the UK among the dozens of nations facing new US Tariffs.”
  • [01:11] Unnamed FOX correspondent explains: “This is all about forced labor in other countries... these new tariffs started the same moment that those emergency tariffs ended by law this morning.”

• Key Points:

  • The new tariffs (10%–12.5%) are levied on 60 countries, citing evidence of forced labor (referencing a Section 301 report).
  • The administration frames the move as both a continuation of previous policy and a response to specific labor abuses.
  • Economic Concerns: "Some market experts worry that the tariffs themselves will put pressure on inflation." – [01:52] Edward Lawrence.

3. Joe Biden Drops DOJ Lawsuit

• Legal Development:

  • [02:32] Debra Valentine introduces the story: “Former President Joe Biden withdraws a lawsuit against the Justice Department over the release of biographer interview recordings.”
  • [02:41] Kristin Goodwin elaborates:
    • Biden sued to block the DOJ from releasing materials from memoir interview sessions, related to a probe into his handling of classified documents.
    • The lawsuit was dropped after an appeals court stated “there was substantial public interest” in the case.

• Key Quote:

  • [02:41] “Republicans in Congress demanded the material after no criminal charges came from the probe. The former president had argued the release... was a violation of privacy.” – Kristin Goodwin

4. Gang Member Release in Chicago Sparks Controversy

• Case Summary:

  • [03:20] Federal authorities are moving to deport Jose Vasquez Hernandez, an alleged member of the Trende Aragua gang.
  • [03:32] Garrett Tenney reports:
    • “This is a guy who a judge said wasn't safe to have out on the streets and needed to be held in detention during his trial.”
    • Despite warnings, Illinois state policies meant no notification was sent to federal agencies before his release.
    • Hernandez, caught selling high-powered weapons, was released early due to a plea deal, good behavior credits, and time served.

• Quote Highlight:

  • [03:32] “He walked free last month without spending a day in prison after receiving credit for time served while he was awaiting his trial.” – Garrett Tenney

5. U.S. Launches Probe into EU Trade Practices

• [04:15] Debra Valentine closes with: “President Trump says the U.S. will open a formal investigation into the EU's trade practices.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [00:35] President Trump: “They got some evil intentions. We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon.”
• [01:11] FOX correspondent: “This is low hanging fruit for the Trump administration because multiple administrations have long tracked the use of forced labor... It's well documented based on the Section 301 report.”
• [02:41] Kristin Goodwin: “Former President Biden dropping his lawsuit... The decision to drop the suit comes after an appeals court rejected his bid to block the materials release, finding there was substantial public interest.”
• [03:32] Garrett Tenney: “He walked free last month without spending a day in prison after receiving credit for time served while he was awaiting his trial.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• U.S.–Iran Military Tensions: 00:03–00:47
• New Global Tariffs: 01:02–01:52
• Biden DOJ Lawsuit Dropped: 02:32–03:20
• Chicago Gang Member Controversy: 03:20–04:15
• EU Trade Practices Probe: 04:15

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Overall Tone and Language

The episode is brisk, factual, and urgent—a typical Fox News hard-news bulletin. Quotations retain the original, direct phrasing and tone of the sources, conveying political and security concerns with minimal editorializing.

As always, the focus is on quickly informing the audience on developing stories with national and international impact.

Transcript

[A]

No decision. I'm Debra Valentine. FOX News. President Trump is considering a major US Military attack on Iran. The US Military has fired on another merchant ship trying to breach the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. Fox's Steve Harrigan has more from Tel Aviv.

[B]

They come as the US has launched 13 straight nights of attacks against military targets inside Iran. And all this comes as a background when President Trump is speaking about a potential massive attack against Iran that he is considering. Here's the president.

[C]

We're doing extremely well. They would like to do something. But I say they're not ready yet. They need more of the same. They're not ready yet. They got some evil intentions. We cannot let them have a nuclear weapon.

[B]

And finally, one sign of preparations here for potential trouble ahead. A number of mayors of Israeli cities have reopened bomb shelters, bunkers around parts of the city. They usually do this in times of heightened alert.

[A]

Today marks the 13th straight day of attacks on Tehran after the ceasefire crumbled. Canada, India, Mexico and the UK among the dozens of nations facing new US Tariffs.

[D]

This is all about forced labor in other countries. Now, the senior administration officials are telling us that this is not a replacement for the Section 122 tariffs that expired at 12:01 Eastern Time this morning. But the fact is that these new tariffs started the same moment that those emergency tariffs ended by law this morning. Now, this is low hanging fruit for the Trump administration because multiple administrations have long tracked the use of forced labor in countries across the globe. It's well documented based on the Section 301 report. The Trump administration put in place tariffs ranging from 10% to 12 and a half percent on 60 countries. Some market experts worry that the tariffs themselves will put pressure on inflation.

[A]

Fox's Edward Lawrence reporting. America's listening to FOX News.

[E]

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[A]

Former President Joe Biden withdraws a lawsuit against the Justice Department over the release of biographer interview recordings. Fox's Kristen Goodwin has more.

[F]

Former President Biden dropping his lawsuit that aimed to block the DOJ from releasing transcripts and audio recordings from conversations he had with a ghostwriter over 10 years ago. The the interviews were for his 2017 memoir, the DOJ Obtaining the Recordings as part of an investigation into his handling of classified documents during his time as a senator and the vice presidency. Republicans in Congress demanded the material after no criminal charges came from the probe. The former president had argued the release to Congress and the conservative Heritage foundation were a violation of privacy. The decision to drop the suit comes after an appeals court rejected his bid to block the materials release, finding there was substantial public interest. Kristin Goodwin, Fox News.

[A]

Federal authorities are taking steps to deport an alleged member of the gang Trende Aragua, released from custody after being arrested for allegedly selling guns in the sanctuary city of Chicago.

[G]

This is a guy who a judge said wasn't safe to have out on the streets and needed to be held in detention during his trial. But when Jose Vasquez Hernandez was released this past month, the state didn't give the feds any kind of a heads up because of Illinois sanctuary policies. The the 31 year old Venezuelan who was in the country illegally was caught selling high powered weapons to an undercover ATF agent on the city's west side last year during a joint federal operation with Chicago police. But thanks to a plea deal, he was sentenced to just 18 months. And since Illinois has an automatic 50% sentence reduction for good behavior, he walked free last month without spending a day in prison after receiving credit for time served while he was awaiting his trial.

[A]

That's Fox's Garrett Tenney reporting from Chicago. President Trump says the U.S. will open a formal investigation into the EU's trade practices. I'm Debra Valentine. This is FOX News.

[H]

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