12PM ET 03/31/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 12PM ET 03/31/2026

Host: FOX News Podcasts
Date: March 31, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a rapid-fire update on major national and international news developments, from escalating U.S.-Iran tensions and fallout at home, to Supreme Court rulings and medical breakthroughs. Anchored by Peter Doocy and Ainsley Earhardt, key voices from Fox News, the tone is assertive, direct, and often urgent.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S.-Iran Tensions and "Operation Epic Fury"

• Pentagon Briefing:

  • Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized increasing U.S. firepower and warned Iran to seek a deal.
  • Quote: “US Firepower is only increasing and that Iran would be wise to make a deal.” (Peter Doocy, 00:15)

• President Trump’s Message to Allies:

  • Urged allies unable to secure jet fuel due to the Strait of Hormuz, especially the UK, to buy from the U.S. or act independently.
  • Criticized the UK for not supporting the U.S. in recent operations against Iran.
  • Quote:
    • “President Trump just said all of these countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran... build up some delayed courage. Go to the Strait and just take it... The USA won’t be there to help you anymore. Just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been essentially decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil.”
      (Ainsley Earhardt, 00:25)

2. Economic & Political Fallout

• Energy Prices:

  • U.S. crude oil price hits $104/barrel, and average U.S. gas prices top $4/gallon for the first time in years.
  • (Peter Doocy, 00:53)

• Diplomatic Strain:

  • Despite criticism and calls for cancelation, Britain’s King Charles maintains plans for a state visit to the U.S.
  • (Peter Doocy, 00:53)

3. Supreme Court Decision on Conversion Therapy Ban

• Ruling:
  • The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a law banning conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth in Colorado.
  • Sided with a Christian counselor over free speech concerns and remanded case to a lower court.
  • (Peter Doocy, 01:03)

4. Fentanyl Vaccine Human Trials

• Trial Commences:
  • Eight patients in the Netherlands begin trials for a vaccine aimed to prevent fentanyl from reaching the brain.
  • Remarkable 98% blockade success rate in animal studies cited.
  • “And we’re going to test how much of that fentanyl we can actually prevent from reaching the brain, therefore preventing overdose and addiction in animals. We’ve seen a 98% blockade, up to a 98% blockade of fentanyl from reaching the brains.”
    (Colin Cage, Armour Sciences CEO, 01:33)
  • (Peter Doocy, 01:46)

5. Probe into Self-Driving Car Crashes

• NTSB Investigations and Warnings:
  • Public meeting addresses deadly crashes of Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles using partial autonomy.
  • Focus on need for consistent driver engagement. Automakers stress these are not fully autonomous systems.
  • Quote:
    • “Automakers have also emphasized that these systems are not designed to replace the human driver sitting behind the wheel who must be ready to take control at any time. The NTSB saying that driver engagement will be a significant focus.”
      (NTSB Representative, 02:47)

6. Tiger Woods’ DUI Charges

• Sheriff’s Report Details:
  • After his Florida car accident, Woods was found with two pain pills, exhibited impaired behavior, and admitted using pain medication and being distracted by his phone and radio at the time.
  • Charges filed including DUI.
  • (Peter Doocy, 03:26)

7. U.S. Jobs Report and Market Response

• Job Market Analysis:

  • Job creation remains steady, with slight decline in new openings but a significant upward revision for the prior month.
  • Quote:
    • “Job creation appears to be holding up if you look at the big picture... 6.88 million new positions on the last business day of February... January’s job growth was revised much higher.”
      (Labor Department Analyst, 03:49)

• Consumer Confidence Despite Inflation:

  • Confidence edged up in March, even with surging energy prices, but pessimism persists about inflation.
  • The Dow rallied, up 462 points.
  • (Peter Doocy, 04:21)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ainsley Earhardt on Allies’ Need for Action:
  • “Build up some delayed courage. Go to the Strait and just take it... The USA won’t be there to help you anymore...” (00:25)
• Colin Cage on Fentanyl Vaccine Potential:
  • “We’ve seen a 98% blockade, up to a 98% blockade of fentanyl from reaching the brains.” (01:33)
• NTSB on Driver Responsibility:
  • "Driver engagement will be a significant focus..." (02:47)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• U.S.-Iran Update & Trump’s Message: 00:03–00:53
• Supreme Court Conversion Therapy Ruling: 01:03–01:33
• Fentanyl Vaccine Human Trials: 01:33–01:46
• Self-Driving Car Crash Investigation: 02:37–03:26
• Tiger Woods DUI Case: 03:26–03:49
• Jobs Report & Market Reaction: 03:49–04:21

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This summary captures the Fox News Hourly Update’s key news points and provides context, attributed quotes, and timestamps for a comprehensive overview.

Transcript

[Peter Doocy]

Keeping up the pressure. Elisa Brady, Fox News.

[Ainsley Earhardt]

President Trump is doing what no other president had the guts to do. Previous presidents were all talk, he's all action.

[Peter Doocy]

During a Pentagon briefing on Operation Epic Fury, Secretary Pete Hegseth saying US Firepower is only increasing and that Iran would be wise to make a deal. This as the president sends a message to allies.

[Ainsley Earhardt]

President Trump just said all of these countries that can't get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran. I have a suggestion for you. Number one, buy from the U.S. we have plenty. And number two, build up some delayed courage. Go to the Strait and just take it. You have to start learning how to fight for yourself. The USA won't be there to help you anymore. Just like you weren't there for us. Iran has been essentially decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil.

[Peter Doocy]

Fox's Peter Doocy at the White House. U.S. crude topping $104 a barrel today in gas prices topping $4 a gallon in the triple A average. First time in more years. Britain's King Charles sticking with plans for a state visit to the US Next month despite calls in the UK for canceling the trip over repeated Trump criticism of the British government. The US Supreme Court rules against a law that bans so called conversion therapy for LGBTQ kids. In Colorado, the justice is siding with a Christian counselor who raised free speech concerns about the ban, sending it back to a lower court. A fentanyl vaccine enters human trials with eight patients receiving a medical dose of the drug.

[Colin Cage]

And we're going to test how much of that fentanyl we can actually prevent from reaching the brain, therefore preventing overdose and addiction in animals. We've seen a 98% blockade, up to a 98% blockade of fentanyl from reaching the brains.

[Peter Doocy]

Colin Cage, the co founder and CEO of vaccine maker Armour Sciences, says the trial is taking place in the Netherlands with anesthesiologists administering the fentanyl in a controlled setting. America is listening to Fox News.

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[Peter Doocy]

fox Federal safety investigators holding a public meeting on the probable cause of two crashes involving partially self driving vehicles The

[NTSB Representative]

National Transportation Safety Board expected to recommend ways to improve partially automated driving systems as it wraps up its investigation into two deadly crashes in 2024 in Texas and Pennsylvania involving Ford Mustang Maches that slammed into vehicles that were stopped. The agency has investigated a number of other crashes involving similar systems, including Tesla. Automakers have also emphasized that these systems are not designed to replace the human driver sitting behind the wheel who must be ready to take control at any time. The NTSB saying that driver engagement will be a significant focus on the agency's investigation.

[Peter Doocy]

Fox's Jeff Manasso A sheriff's report says Tiger woods had two pain pills in his pocket and had glassy, bloodshot eyes after his rollover crash last week in Florida. He's facing charges, including dui. Deputies say woods told them he had taken pain medication that morning and that he'd been looking at his phone and fiddling with the radio before clipping a truck in front of him. A mixed reading on the US Job

[Labor Department Analyst]

market Job creation appears to be holding up if you look at the big picture. The Labor Department's job openings and labor turnover survey found 6.88 million new positions on the last business day of February. That's a slight decline, though January's job growth was revised much higher to 7.2 million available positions, an upward revision of 294,000 jobs. The government says additional reports were received from businesses and government agencies since the report was initially compiled.

[Peter Doocy]

Fox's Jenny Costola Meantime, consumer confidence inching higher in March despite soaring energy prices, though other measures in the Conference Board's index, including inflation expectations, showed more pessimism. For now, Wall street's rallying, the Dow's up 462 at least.

[Ainsley Earhardt]

The Fox News this is Ainsley Earhart.

[Peter Doocy]

Thank you for joining me for the

[Ainsley Earhardt]

52 episode podcast series the Life of

[Colin Cage]

Jesus, a listening experience that will provide

[NTSB Representative]

hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.