12PM ET 05/19/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 12PM ET, May 19, 2026

Overview

This newscast delivers rapid-fire coverage of major political and international events including President Trump’s evolving stance on Iran, high-stakes U.S. primary elections, new investigations stemming from the Epstein files in the U.K., heated debates around government compensation funds, and recent updates on a fatal UPS cargo jet crash. The episode closes with breaking sports injury news.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

U.S.-Iran Tensions: Possible Further Strikes

• President Trump Signals Uncertainty Over Additional Strikes

  • President Trump says a decision on further military action against Iran will come "very soon," as the United States pauses new strikes in favor of diplomatic negotiations. ([00:03])
  • Quote (Lisa Brady):

    “He’s not ruling out another hit on Iran … President Trump says we’ll know very soon if more bombing is needed after pausing new strikes for more negotiations.” ([00:03])

  • Trump maintains that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons remains a red line, a policy unchanged despite overnight developments.
  • Trey Yingst reports a potential action timeline set for two to three days into next week, but notes ongoing uncertainty as U.S. and Israeli forces stay on high alert in the region. ([00:22])

• Trump’s Late-Night Reversal

  • Trump revealed he intended to attack Iran but held off after requests from Gulf leaders. The timeline for possible escalation remains unclear. ([00:22])

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Domestic Politics: Kentucky GOP Primary & “Big Beautiful Bill”

• Confrontation with Congressman Thomas Massie

  • Trump labels Thomas Massie a "terrible congressman" and expresses hope he is ousted in today’s Kentucky Republican primary, criticizing his opposition to a major legislative package (the 'big beautiful bill'). ([00:48])
  • Massie’s defense:

    “They like to put it all in one giant bill. So if you ever vote against it, they can say that you voted against everything. The reality is I voted for the SAVE act when it comes up individually. I voted for border control, DHS, the wall, all of the things that the president wants.” (Thomas Massie, [01:06])

• Challenger Eric Galrine

  • Retired Navy SEAL Eric Galrine, Trump’s preferred candidate, accuses Massie of being “misrepresentative.”
  • Quote (Trey Yingst):

    “Massie at every turn, he has betrayed us.” ([01:28])

• Wider Primary Landscape

  • Kentucky’s contest is now the most expensive House race in history.
  • Five other states are voting in primaries: Pennsylvania, Georgia, Alabama, Oregon, and Idaho.
  • Trump also plans to endorse in Texas’s impending Senate runoff (John Cornyn vs. Ken Paxton for the GOP, with James Talarico on the Democratic side). ([01:31])

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International News: Epstein Files Trigger UK Investigation

• British Police Probe New Child Sex Abuse Claims
  • Authorities announce renewed investigations into two allegations of child sex abuse connected to the Jeffrey Epstein files, covering incidents from the 1980s and 1990s. No arrests have been made so far. ([01:50])

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Capitol Hill: DOJ Compensation Fund & Political Blowback

• Attorney General Todd Blanch Under Fire

  • Testifies before Congress, facing accusations of politicizing prosecutions.
  • Democrats criticize the new DOJ compensation fund, which plans to resolve complaints of “weaponized prosecutions.”
  • Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) laments taxpayer burden:

    “You write the check. Trump and his cronies cash it. American taxpayers who are already being whacked with high prices are going to foot the bill. That’s what we are seeing today and that is what many of us are really, really angry about.” (Patty Murray, [02:26])

• Blanch’s Rebuttal and DOJ Achievements

  • Blanch clarifies: Fund rules will be created by independent commissioners and won’t mean automatic payments.
  • He touts DOJ action against organized crime:

    “The DOJ has indicted hundreds of members of TDA, crippling their leadership and dismantling operational networks.” (Thomas Massie, [02:50])

  • He is requesting a 13% budget increase for DOJ operations.

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Safety & Accident Investigation: UPS Cargo Jet Crash

• Federal Hearings on Deadly Kentucky Crash
  • NTSB examining last year’s fatal UPS cargo jet explosion in Louisville, which killed 3 crew members and 12 on the ground. ([03:08])
  • Fault lines:
    • Engine separation identified in video evidence.
    • Pre-existing cracks found in the detached engine.
    • Inspector Chihuan Shin states last inspection on October 28, 2021. ([03:32])
  • NTSB will question UPS and Boeing officials in ongoing hearings.

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Sports Update: Carlos Alcaraz Withdraws from Wimbledon

• Star Tennis Player Out with Injury
  • Carlos Alcaraz, two-time Wimbledon champion, officially withdraws from this year’s tournament due to a lingering wrist injury.
  • He also pulled out of the French Open earlier, set to begin this weekend. ([03:46])

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Notable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------| | 00:03 | “He’s not ruling out another hit on Iran. … President Trump says we’ll know very soon if more bombing is needed after pausing new strikes for more negotiations.” | Lisa Brady | | 01:06 | “They like to put it all in one giant bill. So if you ever vote against it, they can say that you voted against everything. The reality is I voted for the SAVE act when it comes up individually. I voted for border control, DHS, the wall, all of the things that the president wants.” | Thomas Massie | | 01:28 | “Massie at every turn, he has betrayed us.” | Trey Yingst (on Galrine’s view) | | 02:26 | “You write the check. Trump and his cronies cash it. American taxpayers who are already being whacked with high prices are going to foot the bill. … Many of us are really, really angry about [it].” | Senator Patty Murray | | 02:50 | “The DOJ has indicted hundreds of members of TDA, crippling their leadership and dismantling operational networks.” | Thomas Massie |

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Important Timestamps

• 00:03 – Update on U.S.-Iran situation, Trump’s response
• 01:06 – Rep. Thomas Massie’s defense in Kentucky primary
• 01:31 – Highlights of multi-state primaries and key Senate runoff in Texas
• 01:50 – U.K. investigation into fresh Epstein-related abuse allegations
• 02:26 – Senate grilling of acting Attorney General Blanch on prosecution fund
• 03:08 – Early findings from UPS cargo jet crash investigation
• 03:46 – Carlos Alcaraz withdraws from Wimbledon, update on injury

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Tone and Style

Consistent with Fox News’s brisk, urgent delivery, the episode blends direct quotes from newsmakers with succinct summary reporting. The tone remains factual yet pointed, with soundbites capturing ongoing controversy and high-stakes developments in both U.S. and global politics.

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For listeners needing a comprehensive yet concise breakdown, this summary pinpoints today's most impactful headlines, context, and political dynamics.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

He's not ruling out another hit on Iran. Lisa Brady, FOX News. President Trump says we'll know very soon if more bombing is needed after pausing new strikes for more negotiations.

[Thomas Massie]

It's all done. The boats, the ships are all loaded. They're loaded to the brim. And we're all set to start telling

[Lisa Brady]

reporters again that Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.

[Trey Yingst]

He laid out a timeline that is anywhere from two to three days into next week. What was interesting though, the president talking about his red line for the regime. That has not changed following that announcement overnight on Truth Social that he had planned to attack Iran today but is holding off due to a request from Gulf leaders. That timeline remains the biggest question as the Israeli military remains on high alert along with an ongoing US Military buildup across the region.

[Lisa Brady]

FOX is Trey Yinxed in Tel Aviv. The president speaking outside the White House giving an update on the ballroom project that remains challenged in court. The president also calling Thomas Massie a terrible congressman, hoping he's ousted in today's Republican primary in Kentucky after voting against the big beautiful bill. But Massie just told Fox they like

[Thomas Massie]

to put it all in one giant bill. So if you ever vote against it, they can say that you voted against everything. The reality is I voted for the SAVE act when it comes up individually. I voted for border control, dhs, the wall, all of the things that the president wants.

[Lisa Brady]

His Trump backed challenger is retired Navy SEAL Eric Galrine, who calls Massie misrepresentative.

[Trey Yingst]

Massie at every turn, he has betrayed us.

[Lisa Brady]

That Kentucky matchup now the most expensive House race ever. Five other states also have primaries, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Alabama, Oregon and Idaho. And the president says he'll make an endorsement today for next week's Senate race in Texas, where incumbent Republican John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton are in a runoff to face the Democratic nominee, State Representative James Talarico. America is listening to FOX News. British police just announcing they're investigating two allegations of child sex abuse stemming from the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The two claims dating back to the 80s and 90s. No arrests so far. The acting U.S. attorney General Todd Blanch is on the Capitol Hill grill accused of pursuing vendettas for the president a day after the Justice Department announced a compensation fund to settle claims of weaponized prosecutions.

[Senator Patty Murray]

You write the check. Trump and his cronies cash it. American taxpayers who are already being whacked with high prices are going to foot the bill. That's what we are seeing today and that is what many of us are

[Lisa Brady]

really, really angry about Washington Democratic Senator Patty Murray. Blanche says commissioners will set rules for the fund as part of a process, not automatic payments. This as he highlights law enforcement successes.

[Thomas Massie]

The DOJ has indicted hundreds of members of tda, crippling their leadership and dismantling operational networks.

[Lisa Brady]

Blanche is asking for a 13% increase in DOJ funding. Federal safety investigators holding hearings on last year's deadly crash of a UPS cargo jet in Kentucky.

[Chihuan Shin]

Three crew members and 12 people on the ground were killed last November when a UPS MD11 cargo jet appeared to blow up while attempting to take off from Louisville. The aircraft would crash into a warehouse, fuel tanks and a semi truck just beyond the Runway. Videos would reveal an engine separating from the wing. National Transportation Safety Board inspector Chihuan Shin said cracks on that engine were found previously.

[Trey Yingst]

These inspections were last accomplished on the accident airplane on October 28, 2021.

[Chihuan Shin]

Speaking at a hearing in Washington, the NTSB will also question personnel from UPS and Boeing. Eben Brown, FOX NEWS Tennis great Carlos

[Lisa Brady]

Alcaraz just confirming he's pulling out of Wimbledon with a lingering wrist injury. The two time Wimbledon champ was injured last month. He'd already pulled out of the French Open, which starts this weekend. And Lisa Brady, FOX News.