12PM ET 05/12/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 12PM ET 05/12/2026 Newscast

Main Theme:
A concise round-up of major U.S. and world news as of midday, focusing on escalating tensions with Iran, the fallout from the 2024 Baltimore bridge collapse, a new hantavirus outbreak among cruise passengers, a fatal police-involved incident, and rising inflation impacting financial markets.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Congress Questions Pentagon on Iran Conflict and Budget

• Congress holds a hearing on the Pentagon's record budget request, framing questions around the ongoing conflict with Iran and military priorities.
• Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) challenges Secretary Pete Hegseth’s priorities, suggesting more focus is needed on military threats than "culture wars".
  • Quote [00:11]:
    “From your written testimony, Mr. Secretary, it seems at times you’re more passionate about fighting culture wars than winning the real war that we're in.” – Sen. Chris Coons
• Secretary Pete Hegseth (echoing President Trump):
  • Asserts reforms will strengthen the military.
  • Reiterates the main mission is to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
  • Tells lawmakers contingency plans are in place, but details are classified.
  • Quote [00:35]:
    “We have a plan to escalate if necessary. We have a plan to retrograde if necessary. We have a plan to shift assets. Certainly in this setting, we wouldn't reveal what the next step may be.” – Senator Chris Coons paraphrasing the Pentagon’s preparedness

2. Diplomatic Tensions and Presidential Visit to China

• President Trump leaves for China for a two-day summit with President Xi, with Iran expected to be a key topic.
  • Quote [00:46]:
    “A day after saying the cease fire is on life support, President Trump heads to China for a two-day summit with President Xi expected to address many issues, including Iran.” – Lisa Brady

3. Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Indictments & Fallout

• Federal indictment against Synergy Marine, operators of the Dali, whose power failure led to the fatal Key Bridge collapse in March 2024.
  • Quote [01:03]:
    “The indictment charges Synergy Marines, Singapore and India based operations in the crash of the Dali... that lost power and slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge...killing six people.” – Adam Gustafson
• Charges allege the company concealed critical problems with the vessel.
• Environmental and legal aftermath:
  • Massive debris and oil spill into the Patapsco River.
  • Six victims, all construction workers; families have settled in principle over negligence claims.
  • A new bridge is expected to open by 2030.

4. Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak

• New infection confirmed:
  • 1 more Spanish passenger tests positive, bringing known cases to 11 and three deaths.
  • 18 Americans under quarantine at U.S. healthcare facilities.
• Public health updates:
  • Some passengers quarantined in Nebraska and Atlanta for monitoring.
  • Risk to the general public deemed very low, moderate for those who were on the cruise.
  • Quote [02:37]:
    “Public health officials say there’s a moderate risk for people who were on that cruise, but the risk to the general public remains very low.” – Lisa Brady

5. South Carolina Fatal Police Incident

• Line-of-duty death:
  • K9 Officer DJ Keller is killed after suspects in a Jeep, which had been linked to multiple shootings, fled a police stop and struck his vehicle.
  • The getaway driver was 15 years old; other passengers were aged 17 and 18.
  • Quote [03:13]:
    “That officer did nothing wrong. He was just serving our community, doing what I asked.” – Greenwood Police Chief TJ Chadan
  • Keller had military service and leaves behind a wife and young daughter.

6. Inflation and Market Reaction

• Inflation peaks at three-year high:
  • Consumer prices in April rose 0.6%, up 3.8% year over year, exceeding expectations.
• Market impact:
  • Dow down 156 points.
  • Nasdaq drops over 400 points, S&P and Nasdaq both retreat from record highs.
  • U.S. oil prices rise above $101/barrel.

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Notable Quotes

• Sen. Chris Coons (on Pentagon priorities) [00:11]:
  “From your written testimony, Mr. Secretary, it seems at times you’re more passionate about fighting culture wars than winning the real war that we're in.”
• Secretary Pete Hegseth (via Coons) [00:35]:
  “We have a plan to escalate if necessary. We have a plan to retrograde if necessary. We have a plan to shift assets. Certainly in this setting, we wouldn't reveal what the next step may be.”
• Lisa Brady (on President Trump’s China trip) [00:46]:
  “A day after saying the cease fire is on life support, President Trump heads to China for a two-day summit with President Xi expected to address many issues, including Iran.”
• Adam Gustafson (on Dali Bridge collapse indictment) [01:03]:
  “The indictment charges Synergy Marines...in the crash of the Dali...that lost power and slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge...killing six people.”
• Lisa Brady (on cruise hantavirus risk) [02:37]:
  “Public health officials say there’s a moderate risk for people who were on that cruise, but the risk to the general public remains very low.”
• Chief TJ Chadan (on K9 officer death) [03:13]:
  “That officer did nothing wrong. He was just serving our community, doing what I asked.”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Pentagon/Iran hearing & budget dispute: 00:03–00:46
• Baltimore Key Bridge collapse indictment: 01:03–01:42
• Cruise ship hantavirus update: 02:14–02:37
• SC police officer killed in the line of duty: 02:51–03:22
• Inflation & market update: 03:31–03:42

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Tone

The newscast is brisk, fact-driven, and delivers urgent updates with a sense of seriousness and authority. Quotes and testimonies are shared directly and often verbatim, focusing on the voices of public officials and subject-matter experts.

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Summary Usefulness:
This episode outlined pressing U.S. security challenges, legal and environmental fallout from a major disaster, a public health scare impacting Americans, local tragedy in law enforcement, and sharp economic headwinds—all addressed with appropriate voices and context for listeners seeking a comprehensive, up-to-date briefing.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

Congress has a lot of questions on LISA Brady, FOX news, especially about the conflict with Iran during the latest hearing on the Pentagon's record budget request.

[Senator Chris Coons]

From Your written testimony, Mr. Secretary, it seems at times you're more passionate about fighting culture wars than winning the real war that we're in.

[Lisa Brady]

Delaware Democratic Senator Chris Coons as Secretary Pete Hegseth defends changes he says will make the military stronger. Also echoing President Trump's insistence that the current mission is to keep Iran from getting a nuclear weapon weapon and telling lawmakers there's a plan for whatever comes next.

[Senator Chris Coons]

We have a plan to escalate if necessary. We have a plan to retrograde if necessary. We have a plan to shift assets. Certainly in this setting, we wouldn't reveal what the next step may be.

[Lisa Brady]

A day after saying the cease fire is on life support, President Trump heads to China for a two day summit with President Xi expected to address many issues, including Iran. The operator of a ship that hit a Baltimore bridge just over two years ago, causing a deadly collapse now facing

[Adam Gustafson]

federal the indictment charges Synergy Marines, Singapore and India based operations in the crash of the Dali, the container ship that lost power and slammed into the Francis Scott key Bridge in March 2024, killing six people. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson says the company hid problems with the vessel that caused the incident.

[Narrator/Reporter]

When the dolly crashed into the Key Bridge. Massive pieces of the bridge fell into the Patapsco river along with vehicles, cargo containers and other debris. The crash also resulted in the discharge of oil into the water.

[Adam Gustafson]

A Key employee was also charged. A new bridge is expected to open to traffic in 2030.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Tany J. Powers the six people killed were construction workers filling potholes. Their families among those who've sued over the crash, claiming negligence. The companies and the state reaching a settlement in principle last month. America is listening to FOX News. Another former cruise ship passenger test positive for hantavirus, one of 13 Spanish nationals who are quarantined in Madrid. That makes 11 known infections with three deaths. Eighteen Americans are quarantining at two healthcare facilities.

[Jonathan Seri]

One of them who received conflicting test results before returning to the US Is in isolation in the biocontainment unit here at the University of Nebraska Medical center but experiencing no symptoms. One passenger who tested negative but experienced symptoms is being monitored at Emory University in Atlanta along with another traveler who had been in close contact during the cruise.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jonathan Seri. Public health officials say there's a moderate risk for people who were on that cruise, but the risk to the general public remains very low. A traffic stop turns deadly for police in South Carolina after several suspects fled.

[TJ Chadan]

Greenwood Police Chief TJ Chadan says K9 officer DJ Keller was killed while responding to help another officer who was conducting a traffic stop on a Jeep. The Jeep had been spotted at a number of shooting incidents, but the suspects fled and crashed into Keller. The driver of the Jeep was a 15 year old boy. His passengers were 17 and 18. They were all taken to hospitals. Chief Shadan says he's seen video of the crash.

[Lisa Brady]

That officer did nothing wrong. He was just serving our community, doing what I asked.

[TJ Chadan]

Officer Keller had served in the army and was in the state National Guard. He leaves behind a wife and two year old daughter. Jessica Rosenthal, FOX News Inflation hits a

[Lisa Brady]

three year high driven by higher energy prices. Consumer prices up 6/10 of a point in April and 3.8% year over year, more than some economists expected. And stocks are sinking right now. The Dow's down 156 points. The S and P and the Nasdaq retreating from records. The NASDAQ's down more than 400 and US oil prices surging over $101 a barrel. And Lisa Brady, FOX News.