12AM ET 08/04/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 12AM ET 08/04/2026

Host: Sue Guzman (FOX News Podcasts)
Date: August 4, 2026
Episode: Latest news headlines and analysis from FOX News Radio

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a packed news update focusing on escalating US-Iran tensions, legislative struggles in Congress, major defense contracts amidst ongoing conflicts, lawsuits against the Trump administration regarding data privacy, and domestic stories including wildfire destruction and aviation industry developments.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. US-Iran Tensions and Presidential Warnings

[00:02–00:44]

• President Trump's Ultimatum to Iran: He emphasized that Tehran has “one more chance” to reach a deal or face “severe consequences.”
• Aborted Airstrikes: Trump revealed that he called off another round of airstrikes against Iran at the request of Arab leaders, suggesting this might be their final reprieve.
• Severity of Potential US Response:
  • Trump asserted:

    “We were going to hit them very hard yesterday.” (Donald Trump, 00:31)

  • A US General echoed:

    “Very, very hard.” (General, 00:33)

  • Trump continued:

    “Harder than any attack, I think I can say, General, from a point of knowledge, any attack since World War II.” (Donald Trump, 00:34–00:44)

• Blockade Continues: Blockade of Iranian ports to remain, only to be lifted after a deal or “total surrender.”

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2. Gaza Disarmament Talks and US Policy

[00:51–01:18]

• Gaza Postwar Transition: An official overseeing border peace met with Israeli PM Netanyahu to discuss a new disarmament deal with Hamas. Trump announced the agreement as part of a broader ceasefire arrangement.

• Voter ID Push: President Trump called on the Senate to remain in D.C. to pass a voter ID law (Save America Act) ahead of the midterms, emphasizing mandatory voter registration and ID at the polls.

  “I think there's nothing more important than the Save America Act. I think they should stay. They do what they want, but I think they should stay.”
  (Donald Trump, 01:25–01:34)

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3. Congressional Stalemate Over the Save America Act

[01:18–01:56]

• Republican Pressure: Trump and conservatives push for in-session action on the Save America Act.

• Senate Reality: Two attempts have failed; breaking a filibuster would require 60 votes. Senate Majority Leader John Thune resists the idea, preferring senators return to campaign.

  “But that's not the plan. It's about the math. Two earlier efforts to pass the Save America act failed to get a simple majority. Plus, 60 votes are necessary to break a filibuster.”
  (Political Analyst, 01:34)

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4. Defense Industry Surge Amid Conflict

[02:06–02:39]

• Missile Defense Production Ramped Up:

  • Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin signed framework deals with the Pentagon to triple/quadruple production of Patriot and THAAD missile interceptors.
  • Last week, the Army granted Lockheed a nearly $60B contract for more Patriot missiles.

• Congressional Concerns: Lawmakers voice worries about current missile stockpile levels amid conflict with Iran.

  "Some members of Congress have raised concerns about current stockpile of US Missiles and interceptors amid the ongoing conflict with Iran."
  (Jared Halpern, 02:34–02:39)

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5. Lawsuit Over Data Privacy in Welfare Programs

[02:39–03:26]

• States Sue Trump Admin: 20 states + DC are suing to block the administration from accessing Social Security recipients’ private info as part of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

• Plaintiffs’ Arguments: The rule in question would allow sharing of immigration status, Social Security numbers, and other data with government or even private entities.

• Attorney General Critique:

  “...accused the administration of weaponizing people's personal information.”
  (Letitia James, NY Attorney General, 02:45)

• Legal Context: Earlier in the year, a judge prohibited the administration from withholding federal funds from Democratic states over this matter.

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6. Domestic Updates: Wildfires & Aviation

[03:26–03:58]

• Eastern Washington Wildfires:
  • Residents return to find homes leveled; at least 700 buildings destroyed.
• Boeing 737 Max 7 FAA Approval:
  • The smallest Max jet cleared for commercial service, marking Boeing's progress after years of safety issues following two major crashes.

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Notable Quotes

• President Trump, on Iran strikes:

  “We were going to hit them very hard yesterday... Harder than any attack... since World War II.” (00:31–00:44)

• President Trump, on Senate action:

  “I think there's nothing more important than the Save America Act.” (01:25)

• Letitia James, on privacy lawsuit:

  “...accused the administration of weaponizing people’s personal information.” (02:45)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• US-Iran Crisis & Blockade: 00:02–00:44
• Gaza Disarmament & Voter ID: 00:51–01:18
• Congressional Gridlock: 01:18–01:56
• Missile Defense Production: 02:06–02:39
• States Sue Over Data Sharing: 02:39–03:26
• Wildfire & Boeing News: 03:26–03:58

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Memorable Moments

• Trump’s rhetoric on how close the US came to a massive attack on Iran.
• Increasingly public friction between President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Thune.
• $60 billion contract to Lockheed Martin as evidence of ongoing military build-up.

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Summary Tone & Style

The episode carries a tone of urgency and gravitas, with President Trump’s forceful statements highlighted, political stalemates analyzed, and a sense of rapid, consequential developments running throughout the newscast.

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Transcript

[Sue Guzman]

The final deadline. I'm Sue Guzman, Fox News. President Trump talking tough with Iran, saying Tehran has one more chance to reach a deal or face severe consequences.

[Narrator/Reporter]

President Trump says he called off another round of airstrikes against Iran last night after Arab leaders called him and requested he do so. The president says this could be for the last time.

[President Donald Trump]

I want to give him every last chance before decapitation.

[Narrator/Reporter]

President Trump says US Forces were ready to launch another wave of airstrikes on Iran over the weekend.

[President Donald Trump]

We were going to hit them very hard yesterday.

[General]

Very, very hard.

[President Donald Trump]

Harder than any attack, I think I can say, General, from a point of knowledge, any attack since World War II.

[Narrator/Reporter]

President Trump says the blockade of Iranian ports will remain and will not be lifted until there's a deal or, quote, total surrender.

[Sue Guzman]

Fox's Lucas Tomlinson, the border peace official overseeing Gaza's post war transition, has met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussing a new disarmament deal with Hamas. President President Trump announced the agreement as part of a broader ceasefire deal. President Trump calling on the Senate now to remain in D.C. and pass a voter ID law ahead of the November midterms, one that would require people to register to vote in a federal election and show identification at the voting booth.

[Political Analyst]

Conservatives and President Trump are imploring members to stay in session to pass the Save America Act.

[President Donald Trump]

I think there's nothing more important than the Save America Act. I think they should stay. They do what they want, but I think they should stay.

[Political Analyst]

But that's not the plan. It's about the math. Two earlier efforts to pass the Save America act failed to get a simple majority. Plus, 60 votes are necessary to break a filibuster. President Trump upbraided Senate Majority Leader John Thune. The president begged Thune to convince the Senate to take action, but Thune is resisting. He wants members to go home and campaign.

[Sue Guzman]

Fox's chat program America is listening to Fox News. U.S. weapons makers are ramping up production of missile interceptors.

[Jared Halpern]

Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin signed framework agreements with the Pentagon to expand production of Patriot and Thaad missile interceptor components. The agreements are intended to triple and quadruple production for each of the anti missile defense systems and stabilize supply chains. Last week, the army awarded Lockheed Martin a nearly $60 billion contract to produce more Patriot interceptor missiles. Some members of Congress have raised concerns about current stockpile of US Missiles and interceptors amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. At the White House, Jared Halpern, Fox News.

[Sue Guzman]

The Trump administration is being sued by several states to keep it from getting the names of Social Security recipients.

[Letitia James]

The 20 states, along with the District of Columbia, sued to keep the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program from gaining access to personal information. The plaintiffs objected to an agency rule that would allow the program to share details such as immigration status and Social Security numbers, as well as other personal facts with other government agencies or even private groups. New York Attorney General Letitia James, in a statement, accused the administration of weaponizing people's personal information. Earlier this year, a judge said the Trump administration could not withhold the agency's funding from Democratic controlled states. Grinal Scott, FOX News.

[Sue Guzman]

Some residents have returned to devastated neighborhoods in eastern Washington state only to find their homes leveled by wildfires that broke out over the weekend. Least 700 buildings have reportedly been destroyed. And the Federal Aviation Administration has now approved the smallest model of Boeing's Max jetliners for commercial Service. The Boeing 737 Max 7 represents a milestone in the company's work to overcome years of safety and quality issues following two major crashes. I'm Sue Guzman. This is FOX news.

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