12PM ET 06/23/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – Detailed Summary (12PM ET, June 23, 2025)

Hosted by Fox News Radio, the 12PM ET edition of the "Fox News Hourly Update" delivered a comprehensive overview of the day's most pressing national and international issues. Below is a detailed summary of the key topics discussed, complete with notable quotes and timestamps.

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1. Escalating Tensions Between the U.S., Iran, and Israel

President’s National Security Briefing
The newscast opened with Jack Callaghan reporting on President Trump's meeting with his national security team to assess the aftermath of the recent bombings targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. The administration is closely monitoring potential threats to American interests stemming from these actions.

Potential Iranian Threats
Rich Edson highlighted the possible repercussions of the strikes, stating, "Iran could target the massive US military presence in the Middle East or disrupt shipping and global energy markets" (00:13). He emphasized the importance of maintaining stable oil prices, urging, "Everyone keep oil prices down. I'm watching. You're playing right into the hands of the enemy. Don't do it."

Israeli Response to Iranian Nuclear Threats
The update continued with the confirmation that Israel had conducted additional bombings on the Fordo nuclear site in Iran and issued warnings of continued attacks on military sites around Tehran. Isaac Herzog, the Israeli President, lauded President Trump’s actions, declaring, "Commend President Trump for his heroic and bold decision, which is a game changer for the future of the world, for the better. The Israeli people are absolutely grateful and I'm speaking on behalf of my nation." (00:48)

Iranian Missile Strikes on Israel
Amid these developments, Iran retaliated by launching additional missiles into Israeli territory, escalating the conflict further.

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2. Homeland Security Alerts and Domestic Security Concerns

Warnings to Americans Abroad and At Home
Jack Callaghan reported that the State Department has advised American citizens in Qatar to shelter in place due to heightened tensions. Concurrently, Mark Meredith from Homeland Security detailed briefings to governors across the nation, warning of increased risks of violent extremist activities within the United States. He stated, "The likelihood of violent extremists in the homeland independently mobilizing to violence in response to the conflict would likely increase if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against targets in the homeland." (01:09)

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3. President Trump’s NATO Diplomacy

Upcoming Trip to the Netherlands
President Trump plans to depart for the Netherlands with the objective of urging NATO allies to bolster their defense spending. Caroline Levitt, the White House Press Secretary, affirmed confidence in allies' responsiveness, commenting, "The president has been adamant and our NATO allies, to their credit, heeded the president's strong call in his first term and we expect them to do it this time around as well." (01:39)

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4. Economic Indicators and Market Trends

Oil Markets and Stock Exchange Performance
The administration noted a slight decrease in oil prices following the military actions in Iran. On the stock market front, Caroline Levitt reported positive midday trading figures, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up by approximately 3 points and the Nasdaq rising by 62 points (01:47). This uptick was attributed to investor confidence amidst ongoing geopolitical developments.

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5. Senate's Consideration of the "One Big Beautiful Bill"

Tax Cuts and Reconciliation Process
As the Senate deliberates on what President Trump refers to as the "one big beautiful bill," there is discussion over making certain tax cuts retroactive. Caroline Levitt explained, "We have auto loan interest as well, some of the elements that will benefit from being made retroactive to the beginning of 2025." The intent is to allow businesses and workers to benefit from these changes earlier, potentially spurring economic growth (02:25). However, Republican leadership is encountering resistance from fiscal hawks concerned about the national deficit. Additionally, the Senate parliamentarian will review the bill to ensure compliance with the Byrd rule and reconciliation requirements.

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6. Health Care Updates

Reduction in Prior Authorization Requirements
Kelly Saberry from Fox Business Network reported that several major health insurers are planning to reduce the number of health care claims subject to prior authorization. This change addresses criticisms from medical professionals who argue that prior authorizations can delay necessary care (02:59).

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7. Texas Vetoes Marijuana Regulation Bill

Impact on the THC Industry
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has vetoed a proposed bill that aimed to ban all products infused with marijuana’s active ingredient. Kelly Saberry highlighted that this decision would significantly hinder the growth of Texas's burgeoning THC industry, which has been expanding for over a decade (02:59).

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8. Ongoing Investigation into Madeline McCann’s Disappearance

Suspect Identified and Legal Developments
In a long-standing case, police have identified a suspect in the disappearance of Madeline McCann. Therese Crowley provided details, noting that Christian Brockner, one of 600 persons of interest, may be released early from a German prison after a donor paid his $1,600 fine related to unrelated forgery and bodily harm charges. Brockner, who is serving seven years for a rape committed in Portugal and accused of sexual abuse of children in the same region, is under investigation for Madeline’s disappearance. He denies any involvement (03:26).

Madeline McCann went missing shortly before her fourth birthday from her parents' holiday resort apartment in Portugal, sparking one of the most enduring and widely followed missing persons cases.

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Conclusion
The 12PM ET edition of the "Fox News Hourly Update" provided listeners with in-depth coverage of critical international tensions involving the U.S., Iran, and Israel, alongside significant domestic issues ranging from economic policies to public safety concerns. The broadcast underscored the administration's active role in addressing both global conflicts and internal challenges, reflecting the dynamic nature of current events.

Transcript

[Jack Callaghan]

The president meets with his national security team. I'm Jack Callaghan, Fox News. Assessing the results of the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities and gauging possible threats to American interests.

[Rich Edson]

Iran could target the massive US Military presence in the Middle east or disrupt shipping and global energy markets. The president is watching the oil markets posting this morning. Quote, everyone keep oil prices down. I'm watching. You're playing right into the hands of the enemy. Don't do it.

[Jack Callaghan]

Fox's Rich Edson at the White House. Oil prices are down slightly. The White House says it has a high degree of confidence. The strikes destroyed Iran's stockpiles of enriched uranium. Israel bombing the Fordo nuclear site again today and warning Iran it will continue to attack military sites around Tehran. Israeli President Isaac Herzog telling fox I.

[Isaac Herzog]

Commend President Trump for his heroic and bold decision, which is a game changer for the future of the world, for the better. The Israeli people are absolutely grateful and I'm speaking on behalf of my nation.

[Jack Callaghan]

But Iran has fired more missiles into Israel today. The State Department warning Americans in Qatar to shelter in place. Well, closer to home, Homeland Security officials.

[Mark Meredith]

Have briefed the nation's governors telling them to stay on alert. We also got a bulletin from DHS about what they're worried about. They say the likelihood of violent extremists in the homeland independently mobilizing to violence in response to the conflict would likely increase if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against targets in the homeland.

[Jack Callaghan]

Fox's Mark Meredith Americans are being urged to reconsider international travel. But President Trump leaves tomorrow for the Netherlands where he will tell NATO allies they need to increase their NATO defense spending.

[Caroline Levitt]

The president has been adamant and our NATO allies, to their credit, heeded the president's strong call in his first term and we expect them to do it this time around as well.

[Jack Callaghan]

White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt. Wall street trading higher at midday. The Dow is up about 3 points. Nasdaq trading 62 points higher. America listening to Fox News, it is.

[Caroline Levitt]

Time to take the quiz.

[Rich Edson]

It's five questions in less than five minutes. We ask people on the streets of.

[Mark Meredith]

New York City to play along.

[Rich Edson]

Let's see how you do.

[Therese Crowley]

Take the quiz every day at thequiz, Fox.

[Caroline Levitt]

Then come back here to see how you did.

[Jack Callaghan]

Thank you for taking the quiz. As the Senate considers what the president calls the one big beautiful bill, some senators are suggesting some of its tax cuts be made retroactive overtime tips.

[Caroline Levitt]

We have auto loan interest as well. Some of the elements that will benefit from being made retroactive to the beginning of 2025. Now, the hope in doing this is that by dating it back to the start of the year, businesses and workers will be able to reap the benefits and spur economic growth. It's a move being praised by some groups like the Tax Foundation. Meanwhile, the Senate parliamentarian will scrutinize the bill to determine whether it follows the Byrd rule or if it meets the strict requirements for reconciliation. Republican leadership is facing shar pushback from fiscal hawks who are concerned about the deficit.

[Jack Callaghan]

Kelly Saberry of the Fox Business Network, several of the nation's major health insurers say they plan to reduce health care claims subject to prior authorization, a practice doctors say sometimes delays care. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has vetoed a bill that would have banned all products infused with the active ingredient in marijuana. It would have hampered growth of the booming THC industry in Texas more than a dozen years after it happened. Police say they have a suspect in the disappearance of Madeline McCann.

[Therese Crowley]

Madeleine was shy of her fourth birthday when she went missing from her parents holiday resort apartment in Portugal, sleeping with her twin siblings while her parents slipped out for dinner. Thirteen years ago, one of 600 people of interest to British police identified in media as Christian Brockner could be freed from a German prison early after a donor paid his $1,600 fine on unrelated forgery and bodily harm charges. Bruckner was doing seven years for a rape he committed in Portugal and and also accused of sexual abuse of children believed to be in the Portugal resort area at the time. The German is under investigation on suspicion of Madeline's murder, but denies involvement. THERESE Crowley, FOX news and I'm Jack.

[Trey Gowdy]

Callahan, FOX NEWS Hey, I'm Trey Gowdy, host of the Trey G Podcast. I hope you will join me every Tuesday and Thursday as we navigate life together and hopefully find ourselves a little bit better on the other side.

[Jack Callaghan]

Listen and follow now@fox newspodcast.com.