12PM ET 07/17/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 12PM ET, July 17, 2026

Host: Lisa Brady
Contributors: Peter Doocy, Mark Wayne Mullen, Katie Byrne, Jeff Manasso, Chad Kronister, Jessica Rosenthal
Date: July 17, 2026

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Episode Overview

This midday update provides fast-paced coverage of breaking national and international news stories, including escalating conflict in the Middle East, U.S. domestic security measures ahead of midterm elections, a significant earthquake near southern Mexico, North American wildfire impacts, a parasitic outbreak linked to fast food, and a deadly shootout in Florida.

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Key Stories and Discussion Points

1. Escalation in the Middle East

• [00:03] Lisa Brady:
  Iran has expanded its attacks in the Gulf, firing missiles at neighboring countries after six consecutive nights of U.S. airstrikes, which now target infrastructure as well as weapons sites.
• [00:14] Peter Doocy (White House):
  Reporting on the U.S. administration’s response:

  “We are finally seeing in real time what President Trump was briefed about in THE Situation Room a couple days ago... bombing bridges and roads, hoping to isolate the IRGC from resupplying the key to the Strait of Hormuz, Bandar Abbas.”

• Iran threatens to close a different strategic strait with the assistance of Houthi proxy forces in Yemen.

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2. Election Security Measures

• [00:48] Mark Wayne Mullen (Secretary of Homeland Security):
  Announces new, tighter election security steps:

  “States must do their part to secure our election system and we stand by to help.”

• [00:55] Lisa Brady:
  These security measures will be mandatory for states seeking federal election funding. President Trump continues to raise questions regarding election integrity, drawing criticism from Democrats who argue this undermines the midterms.

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3. Southern Mexico Earthquake & Tsunami Warning

• [01:13] Lisa Brady:
  Reports a magnitude 7.3 earthquake near Mexico’s southern coast (bordering Guatemala), triggering a tsunami warning.

  “Reports of buildings shaking in Guatemala, but no immediate reports of injuries.”

• Immediate impacts are unclear; monitoring continues.

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4. Canadian Wildfires Affect U.S. Air Quality

• [01:26] Katie Byrne (Fox Weather):
  More than 500 wildfires in Canada are impacting U.S. air quality from the Midwest to the East Coast.

  “The smoke is still hanging over Cleveland... the smell is different, too. It’s a bit more industrial now, less like a campfire.”

• [01:40] Katie Byrne:
  Notes Detroit and Minneapolis have some of the worst air quality globally.
• [01:48] Lisa Brady:
  Over 100 million Americans in 15 states under air quality alerts; vulnerable groups are especially warned.

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5. Cyclospora Outbreak Linked to Taco Bell Lettuce

• [02:15] Lisa Brady:
  Ongoing investigation of a parasitic outbreak (cyclospora), with one man in Ohio filing a lawsuit after sickness traced to Taco Bell.
• [02:23] Jeff Manasso:
  Lawsuit filed against a Cleveland-area Taco Bell after a customer allegedly fell ill:

  “The cyclospora outbreak caused by a parasite that’s linked to explosive diarrhea.”

• Outbreak apparently linked to shredded lettuce distributed to Taco Bells in OH, IN, KY, MI, and WV; the chain has pulled the lettuce “out of an abundance of caution.”
• Federal regulators investigating whether cases in other states are related.

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6. Florida Sheriff’s Deputies Injured in Shootout

• [03:15] Chad Kronister (Hillsborough County Sheriff):
  After a woman reported being bound and gagged by her boyfriend, Chad Dakowski, deputies responded and attempted to apprehend him.

  “He sees our suspect firing on the second deputy. He opens fire, returns fire, striking the suspect multiple times.” — Mark Wayne Mullen [03:43]

• Two deputies medevacked to the hospital; the suspect was killed.
• [03:55] Chad Kronister:
  Confirms suspect’s death.

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7. Economic Update

• [03:57] Lisa Brady:
  Reports on market declines:

  “Stocks are lower as oil prices rise. U.S. crude getting back over $81 a barrel as fighting with Iran intensifies. The Dow’s down 133, the NASDAQ down 323.”

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Notable Quotes

• Peter Doocy [00:14]:
  “We are finally seeing in real time what President Trump was briefed about... bombing bridges and roads, hoping to isolate the IRGC...”
• Mark Wayne Mullen [00:48]:
  “States must do their part to secure our election system and we stand by to help.”
• Katie Byrne [01:26]:
  “The smoke is still hanging over Cleveland... a bit more industrial now, less like a campfire.”
• Jeff Manasso [02:23]:
  “The cyclospora outbreak caused by a parasite that’s linked to explosive diarrhea.”

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Key Timestamps

• 00:03 – 00:38: Middle East escalation and U.S. response
• 00:48 – 01:05: Update on new federal election security measures
• 01:13 – 01:26: Earthquake in southern Mexico and tsunami warning
• 01:26 – 01:59: Canadian wildfires and U.S. air quality
• 02:15 – 02:58: Taco Bell cyclospora outbreak investigation
• 03:15 – 03:57: Florida deputy shootout incident
• 03:57 – 04:13: Stock market and oil prices update

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Memorable Moments

• Real-time reporting of dramatic escalation between the U.S. and Iran, with high-level White House briefings directly impacting military actions.
• Vivid descriptions of wildfire smoke’s effects on U.S. cities, making the air “more industrial” and even worse than the day before.
• The personal and legal fallout from a mass foodborne illness linked to a major fast food chain.

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This episode’s timely, concise reporting brings listeners up to speed on global crisis, national security, public health, and economic impacts as they unfold.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

Expanded attacks in the Middle east on Lisa Brady, FOX News. Iran firing missiles at Gulf neighbors after a sixth night of US Airstrikes now hitting key infrastructure, not just weapons locations.

[Peter Doocy]

We are finally seeing in real time what President Trump was briefed about in THE Situation Room a couple days ago when he had the national security team there to try to figure out next steps to deal with the Iranians. The next step here is bombing bridges and roads, hoping to isolate the IRGC from resupplying the key to the Strait of Hormuz, Bandar Abbas.

[Lisa Brady]

FOX is Peter Doocy at the White House. Iran threatening to close a different strait with help from a terror proxy, the Houthis in Yemen. An election pledge from the head of Homeland Security.

[Mark Wayne Mullen]

States must do their part to to secure our election system and we stand by to help.

[Lisa Brady]

Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen just announcing some security steps will be mandatory for states to get federal funding. As the president continues to question election integrity. Democrats accuse him of trying to undermine the midterms. Just getting word of a strong earthquake near the coast of southern Mexico, which borders Guatemala. Preliminary magnitude 7.3, prompting a tsunami warning. Reports of buildings shaking in Guatemala, but no immediate reports of injuries. More than 500 wildfires in Canada still impact, impacting U.S. air quality from the Midwest to the East Coast.

[Katie Byrne]

The smoke is still hanging over Cleveland. In fact, many people say it's even worse today compared to yesterday. And the smell is different, too. It's a bit more industrial now, less like a campfire.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox Weather's Katie Byrne on Thursday, Detroit

[Katie Byrne]

and Minneapolis recorded some of the worst air quality levels in the world. As the air quality drops, more people are reaching for masks before they head outside.

[Lisa Brady]

More than 100 million Americans in 15 states under air quality alerts. Older adults, children and people with breathing problems considered most vulnerable. America is listening to FOX News.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Lisa Brady]

The specific source of an ongoing outbreak involving a parasite remains under investigation, but one man is already suing in Ohio.

[Jeff Manasso]

A Columbus law firm has filed a federal lawsuit against the owners Cleveland area Taco Bell Restaurant claiming their client Mohammed ayad, was sickened June 23 from the cyclospora outbreak caused by a parasite that's linked to explosive diarrhea. Federal regulators are looking at shredded lettuce supplied to Taco Bell restaurants in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and West Virginia as the apparent source of the outbreak. The fast food chain has removed the lettuce from restaurants out of an abundance of caution. Iyad's attorney saying he missed two weeks of work and is still recovering. He's seeking damages.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jeff Manasso damages for lost wages, other expenses and emotional distress. Federal health officials say it's not clear yet if the same lettuce is also tied to cases in many other states. A deadly shootout in Florida leaves two sheriff's deputies wounded south of Tampa.

[Chad Kronister]

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Kronister says a woman reported being bound and gagged overnight by her boyfriend, Chad Dakowski. She says she woke up and found she'd been unbounded, told Danikowski she had an appointment to get to and went to the sheriff's department, told them what happened. Deputies responded to the home, conducted surveillance using a drone, and once Dachowski had left and moved to a parking lot, they confronted him. Demikowski shot and wounded two deputies when a third deputy engaged him.

[Mark Wayne Mullen]

He sees our suspect firing on the second deputy. He opens fire, returns fire, striking the suspect multiple times. Our two deputy sheriffs were medevacked the Tampa General Hospital.

[Chad Kronister]

That suspect Mikowski was killed.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jessica Rosenthal Stocks are lower as oil prices rise. U.S. crude getting back over $81 a barrel as fighting with Iran intensifies. The Dow's down 133, the NASDAQ down 323 and Lisa Brady, FOX News.

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