12PM ET 05/18/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update — 12PM ET, May 18, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of the Fox News Hourly Update delivers concise coverage of significant legal, political, and international developments as of midday May 18, 2026. Key stories include a critical ruling in the Luigi Mangione murder trial, a high-profile Trump Organization lawsuit withdrawal, mounting tensions involving Iran and Cuba, a humanitarian update from Iran, an NBA coaching change, and a quick stock market snapshot.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Legal Decision in Luigi Mangione Murder Case

• Details: A New York judge has issued a split decision on what evidence will be admissible in the murder trial of Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024.
  • Evidence allowed: A gun and notebook linking Mangione to the crime ([00:14]).
  • Evidence suppressed: Loaded magazine, cell phone, passport, wallet, computer chip, all seized during an “improper, warrantless initial search” of a backpack at Mangione’s arrest in a Pennsylvania McDonald's.
  • Later police station search evidence will be used, deemed lawful.
• Trial Timeline: State trial tentatively to begin in September, with a subsequent federal trial expected.
• Memorable Quote:
  • “[Judge Gregory Caro] also gave the defense some win a motion to suppress evidence found during what he called an improper, warrantless initial search of a backpack.”
    (Reporter, 00:14)

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2. Trump Organization Lawsuit Settlement with DOJ

• Development: Former President Trump, his two eldest sons, and the Trump Organization have dropped their lawsuit against the IRS regarding leaked tax returns.
• Settlement Terms:
  • Establishment of an “anti-weaponization fund” by the DOJ, with more than $1.7 billion allocated for settling and paying cases of perceived political weaponization.
  • Democrats and watchdogs label the move “unprecedented” and “corrupt,” vowing to challenge the arrangement.
• Memorable Quote:
  • “Democrats and government watchdogs are calling it unprecedented and a corrupt arrangement and say they will fight it.”
    (Lisa Brady, 00:49)

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3. Iran’s Revised Peace Proposal & Blockade Effects

• International Tensions: Iran submits a revised proposal to Pakistani mediators amidst worsening domestic economic strife due to the ongoing US blockade of Iranian ports.
• Blockade Impact:
  • Over 80 commercial vessels redirected.
  • Four vessels disabled by US Central Command (CENTCOM).
• Memorable Quote:
  • “Centcom says more than 80 commercial vessels have been redirected and four were disabled to enforce the blockade.”
    (Trey Yingst, 01:42)

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4. Cuba: Drone Attack Denials & US-Cuba Relations

• Accusations: Reports claim Cuba, having acquired drones from Russia and Iran, is considering attacks on US assets (Guantanamo Bay, Navy vessels, Key West).
  • Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez strongly denies these allegations, labeling the Axios report “slander.”
• Diplomatic Context: CIA Director visited Havana as US seeks fundamental changes in exchange for economic assistance.
• Memorable Quote:
  • “Cuba neither threatens nor wants war.”
    (Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, 02:59, via correspondent)

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5. Human Rights & Nobel Laureate Release in Iran

• Profile: Nargis Mohamedi, 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, released from Iranian prison, reportedly after a heart attack and heavy international pressure.
  • Originally imprisoned for human rights advocacy, specifically for women and anti-death penalty campaigns.
  • Recent temporary suspension of sentence, following medical emergency.
  • Iranian state media refuses comment.
• Memorable Quote:
  • “Her daughter had argued that detention would be the death sentence.”
    (Therese Crowley, 03:41)

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6. Other Updates

NBA Coaching Move

• News: Jamal Mosley, recently fired by the Orlando Magic, set to be hired by the New Orleans Pelicans as head coach.
• Source: Associated Press ([04:10]).

Financial Snapshot

• Markets: Dow Industrials down 42 points at airtime.
  (Lisa Brady, 04:25)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• “A gun and notebook, prosecutors say. Link Luigi Mangione to the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson will be allowed as evidence...”
  — Reporter ([00:14])

• “A loaded magazine, cell phone, passport, wallet and computer chip” from Mangione’s belongings will not be admissible.
  — Reporter ([00:25])

• “Democrats and government watchdogs are calling it unprecedented and a corrupt arrangement and say they will fight it.”
  — Lisa Brady ([00:49])

• “Cuba neither threatens nor wants war.”
  — Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez ([02:59], via correspondent)

• “Her daughter had argued that detention would be the death sentence.”
  — Therese Crowley ([03:41])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Mangione Murder Case Ruling: [00:02] – [00:49]
• Trump IRS Lawsuit Settlement: [00:49] – [01:18]
• Iran Blockade & Mediation: [01:18] – [02:01]
• Cuba Drone Attack Controversy: [02:29] – [03:09]
• Nargis Mohamedi Release: [03:09] – [04:10]
• NBA Coaching Update: [04:10] – [04:28]
• Stock Market Snapshot: [04:25]

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This episode highlights major news across justice, politics, and international relations, capturing rapid developments with national and global impact.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

A split decision for Luigi Mangione on Lisa Brady, Fox News. A judge in that state case over the killing of a health care executive is excluding some of the evidence but allowing key pieces to remain.

[Reporter]

A gun and notebook, prosecutors say. Link Luigi mangione to the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson will be allowed as evidence in his New York state murder trial, according to a ruling by Judge Gregory Caro, who also gave the defense some win a motion to suppress evidence found during what he called an improper, warrantless initial search of a backpack at the Pennsylvania McDonald's where Mangione was arrested. Among the inadmissible evidence, a loaded magazine, cell phone, passport, wallet and computer chip.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Lillian Wu, the judge ruling that a later search at the police station following Mangione's arrest was lawful and that evidence can be used. The state trial is tentatively set to begin in September, followed by a federal trial expected this President Trump, his two oldest sons and the Trump Organization are dropping a lawsuit against the IRS over leaked tax returns in exchange for creation of what the Justice Department is calling an anti weaponization fund, allowing a process for other claims of weaponization to be heard and addressed. DOJ says the fund will receive more than $1.7 billion from a perpetual appropriation for the department to settle and pay cases. Democrats and government watchdogs are calling it unprecedented and a corrupt arrangement and say they will fight it. Iran sending a revised proposal to Pakistani mediators. This comes as the economic situation inside of Iran is getting worse each day due to the ongoing US blockade of Iranian ports. Centcom says more than 80 commercial vessels have been redirected and four were disabled to enforce the blockade. Foxes Trey Yingston, Tel Aviv America is listening to Fox News.

[Bloomberg Announcer]

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[Lisa Brady]

the Cuban regime is denying reports of planning drone attacks against the

[Fox News Correspondent]

U.S. cuba has acquired hundreds of military drones from Russia and Iran. That's according to a that also reports Cuba is discussing plans to use the drones to attack the US Base at Guantanamo Bay, US Military vessels and possibly Key West. The report after CIA Director John Radcliffe traveled to Havana last week as the US Looks to aid the Communist country that's in crisis in return for fundamental changes in Cuba. For now, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, responding to the Axios report, calling it slander and saying that Cuba neither threatens nor wants war.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jeff Manasso this as a sour Morris tells Fox News Digital the US Is preparing to indict former Cuban leader Raul Castro, reportedly over the downing of planes flown by a humanitarian group 30 years ago. Family members and supporters say an Iranian Nobel laureate who had been in prison has been allowed to go home.

[Bloomberg Announcer]

Nargis Mohamedi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 while she was in prison in Iran for her campaign to advance the rights of women and abolish the regime death penalty in the protest leading to the US War. She was sentenced to a new prison term, her family says, for denouncing the execution of a lawyer. But then the 54 year old suffered a heart attack in prison in March this month, given a temporary suspension of her sentence and heavy bail, and transferred to a Tehran hospital CCU and suddenly sent home. Her daughter had argued that detention would be the death sentence. State media made no mention of her case or the Nobel pressure and no comment from Iran's foreign minister. Therese Crowley, Fox News Just getting word

[Lisa Brady]

of a coaching shuffle in the NBA, a source telling the Associated Press the New Orleans Pelicans are hiring Jamal Mosley, who was fired this month by the Orlando Magic after a first round playoff loss. Stocks are lower, the Dow's down 42 points and Lisa Brady, FOX News when

[Bloomberg Announcer]

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[Lisa Brady]

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[Fox News Correspondent]

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