12PM ET 07/07/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 12PM ET – July 7, 2026

Main Theme & Purpose

This edition of the Fox News Hourly Update covers breaking international news, domestic political developments, severe weather impacts, and major healthcare trends. The podcast aims to inform listeners of the most significant events unfolding in the U.S. and around the world as of midday July 7, 2026.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Strait of Hormuz Attacks Amid U.S.–Turkey Relations and NATO Summit

• [00:03] Lisa Brady: Reports breaking news of attacks on three commercial tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran suspected amid escalating regional tensions.

  Quote:
  “More ships attacked in the Strait of Hormuz... Iran suspected of resuming attacks as President Trump is in Turkey for a NATO summit.” – Lisa Brady [00:03]

• [00:19] Lucas Tomlinson: Reports from Ankara on President Trump's visit to Turkey for the NATO summit. The U.S. is considering lifting the ban on selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, citing the importance of NATO unity and Turkey's status as a U.S. ally.

  Quote:
  “The US Military keeps nuclear weapons here and that is one of the reasons President Trump says it's time to bring Turkey back in from the cold and allow them back into the F35 program and drop longstanding banning sanctions on the NATO ally.” – Lucas Tomlinson [00:19]

• Tension highlighted by Israel’s concerns:

  “Israel's prime minister has warned allowing Turkey to buy those fighter jets would impact the balance of power in the Middle East.” – Lisa Brady [00:33]

2. Charlie Kirk Assassination Case Developments

• [00:59] David Hull: Testifies in the Utah preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk. Video evidence places Robinson at the scene multiple times.

  Quote:
  “He says he saw Robinson on video four times before, during and after the shooting and then against the defense's objection, identified Robinson in court.” – Lisa Brady summarizing David Hull [00:59]

• [01:18] Matt Finn: Reports that Kirk’s widow, Erica, was visibly distraught, leaving the courtroom during video evidence presentation.

3. Maine Senate Race Scandal

• [01:32] Lisa Brady: Growing calls for Democrat Graham Platner to leave the Maine Senate race after rape allegations surface from an ex-girlfriend, adding to prior scandals involving alleged use of Nazi imagery and physical abuse allegations.

  Quote:
  “Platner denies the rape allegation and he has not dropped out of the race, but says he's weighing his options. This is just the latest scandal for Graham Platner...” – Lisa Brady [01:32]

• If Platner withdraws, Maine Democrats have until the following Monday to nominate a new candidate to face Senator Susan Collins (R).

4. Record-Breaking Northeast Heat Wave

• [02:35] Tonya J. Powers: Comprehensive update on deadly record heat in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, citing dozens of fatalities.

  Quote:
  “New Jersey health officials say at least 29 heat related deaths were recorded across 10 different counties in the past week. In New York City... three people died inside their homes over the weekend. Philadelphia recorded four heat related deaths...” – Tonya J. Powers [02:35]

• Historic heat dome sets at least 148 daily high temperature records between June 30 and July 5. Similar deaths reported in the Deep South and Midwest.

5. Weight Loss Drug Use Surge in U.S.

• [03:24] Lillian Wu: Reports striking rise in Americans using GLP-1 weight loss drugs (e.g., Ozempic, Zepbound), with one in nine adults now taking them per Gallup poll. Usage up from 3% to 11% in just two years.

  Quote:
  “68% said they took a name brand drug such as Ozempic or Zepbound, while 19% said they took compounded drugs unapproved by the FDA. The usage reaching a new high as obesity rates decline, falling to 36.4% from a record high of 39.9% in 2022.” – Lillian Wu [03:24]

6. NY City Construction Incident & Markets

• [04:06] Lisa Brady: Briefly covers a construction site emergency in Manhattan—no reported injuries.
• [04:06] The Dow is reported down by 190 points.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On fresh security threats:
  “The British military says three commercial tankers have been hit by projectiles. Iran suspected...” – Lisa Brady [00:03]

• On diplomatic pivots at NATO:
  “President Trump says it's time to bring Turkey back in from the cold and allow them back into the F35 program...” – Lucas Tomlinson [00:19]

• On political scandal intensifying:
  “This is just the latest scandal for Graham Platner following backlash over the chest tattoo as a Nazi symbol and also physical abuse allegations...” – Lisa Brady [01:32]

• On national health trends:
  “The usage reaching a new high as obesity rates decline, falling to 36.4% from a record high of 39.9%...” – Lillian Wu [03:24]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:03] – Strait of Hormuz attacks, Trump at NATO in Turkey
• [00:59] – Tyler Robinson hearing in Charlie Kirk assassination
• [01:32] – Maine Senate scandal: Platner controversy
• [02:35] – Northeast heat wave, deaths, and records
• [03:24] – GLP-1 drug usage and obesity trends
• [04:06] – NYC construction incident, stock market update

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Tone & Language

The episode maintains a newsy, fact-driven tone, with succinct field reports and brief, direct updates, mirroring a classic broadcast style. Direct quotes from correspondents preserve the urgency and seriousness of the events discussed.

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Summary

This episode delivers fast-paced, concise updates on international crises (Strait of Hormuz, NATO summit), major U.S. legal and political events (Charlie Kirk case, Maine Senate race scandal), health emergencies (heat wave fatalities), and notable shifts in national health behavior (weight loss drugs). The style is urgent, clear, and geared toward listeners seeking critical headlines and developing stories.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

More ships attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on Lisa Brady, Fox News. The British military says three commercial tankers have been hit by projectiles. Iran suspected of resuming attacks as President Trump is in Turkey for a NATO summit, arriving earlier today and meeting with President Erdogan.

[Lucas Tomlinson]

Turkey is a long standing ally of the United States. The US Military keeps nuclear weapons here and that is one of the reasons President Trump says it's time to bring Turkey back in from the cold and allow them back into the F35 program and drop longstanding banning sanctions on the NATO ally.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Lucas Tomlinson in Ankara, where President Trump says he'll consider allowing the sale of F35s, which was barred during his first term after Turkey acquired a Russian air defense system. Israel's prime minister has warned allowing Turkey to buy those fighter jets would impact the balance of power in the Middle East. Day two of a preliminary hearing just underway in Utah as prosecutors argue there is enough evidence to send Charlie Kirk's accused assassin Tyler Robinson to trial.

[David Hull]

State investigator David Hull testified that he reviewed up to 20 of video related to Kirk's assassination at Utah Valley University. He says he saw Robinson on video four times before, during and after the shooting and then against the defense's objection, identified Robinson in court.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Matt Finn at the courthouse in Provo, where Kirk's widow Erica left the courtroom at times yesterday during video of the shooting. Calls are growing for Democrat Graham Platner to drop out of the Senate race in Maine as an ex girlfriend, but publicly accuses him of rape.

[Graham Platner]

Platner denies the rape allegation and he has not dropped out of the race, but says he's weighing his options. This is just the latest scandal for Graham Platner following backlash over the chest tattoo as a Nazi symbol and also physical abuse allegations from other ex girlfriends.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Alexis McAdams if he drops out. Party officials in Maine have until next Monday to choose a new candidate to face Republican Senator Susan Collins in November. America is listening to Fox News.

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[Lisa Brady]

extreme heat is being blamed for more deaths in the Northeast

[Tonya J. Powers]

U.S. the record setting heat wave that brought triple digit temperatures to the Northeast and Mid Atlantic resulted in the deaths of dozens of people. New Jersey health officials say at least 29 heat related deaths were recorded across 10 different counties in the past week. In New York City, a spokesperson for Mayor Zoran Mamdani confirmed that three people died inside their homes over the weekend. Philadelphia recorded four heat related deaths with three consecutive days above 101 degrees for the first first time in its history, according to Fox Weather. The historic heat dome that hit the eastern US set at least 148 daily high temperature records between June 30 and July 5. In New York City. Tonya J. Powers, FOX News Multiple deaths also reported

[Lisa Brady]

in the Deep south and Midwest. The use of new weight loss drugs hits a new high in the country

[Lillian Wu]

one out of nine Americans takes GLP1 drugs, according to a new Gallup poll. That 11% of the roughly 5,000 adults surveyed is a single staggering rise from two years ago when 3% said they used the weight loss medication, 68% said they took a name brand drug such as Ozempic or Zepbound, while 19% said they took compounded drugs unapproved by the FDA. The usage reaching a new high as obesity rates decline, falling to 36.4% from a record high of 39.9% in 2022, the year after GLP1 medication, WeGovy was first approved by the FDA to weight loss.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Lillian Wu Fire officials in New York City responding to reports of bricks falling from a building that's under construction on Manhattan's east side. They found two columns buckling the Department of Buildings now also at the scene. No injuries reported. Stocks turning lower. The Dow's down 190 points. I'm Lisa Brady, Fox News.

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