12PM ET 07/20/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 12PM ET, July 20, 2026

Host: Lisa Brady, FOX News
Date: July 20, 2026
Duration: ~4:30
Theme: The episode provides a concise summary of the day’s top national and international news, including escalating conflict in the Middle East, domestic security incidents, major legal news, notable political developments in the UK and US, economic updates, and new legislation impacting American consumers.

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Key News Highlights

1. U.S. Troops Killed in Middle East Escalation

• U.S. Military Casualties Identified
  • The Pentagon has identified two of the American soldiers killed last week in Jordan: First Lieutenant Tyler Feehan (25, Hawaii) and Private Isabella Gonzalez (19, Texas).

    "The president calls them great patriots." — Lisa Brady [00:02]

• Ongoing Middle Eastern Conflict
  • Continuing Iranian missile and drone attacks in Kuwait and Bahrain have triggered repeated sirens.
  • U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirms the ninth consecutive night of retaliatory strikes against targets in Iran, including command centers, missile locations, and maritime capabilities.
  • A fourth U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an Iranian drone.

    "A variety of targets were hit, including military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities and missile and drone launch positions." — Military Correspondent [00:29]

• Diplomatic Tensions
  • Both the U.S. and Iran accuse each other of ceasefire violations but claim diplomatic efforts are ongoing.

    "The US And Iran accuse each other of violating a ceasefire agreement, but both sides also suggest diplomatic efforts remain active." — Lisa Brady [01:04]

2. Explosion Outside Federal Building in NYC

• Incident Details
  • A man detonated an explosive outside 26 Federal Plaza, housing several federal agencies, then set a fire and ignited fireworks while brandishing a gun.
  • Law enforcement hasn't yet named the suspect or provided a motive.
  • Three people suffered minor injuries; one was hospitalized.

    "New York City police say he set a fire, ignited fireworks and waved a gun but did not release the man's name or give a motive." — New York City Police Reporter [01:20]

• Current Status
  • The man is in FBI custody; the weapon was determined to be a pellet gun.

    "The FBI says that man had a pellet gun." — Lisa Brady [01:44]

3. Legal News: Sinaloa Cartel Co-Founder Sentenced

• El Mayo Sentenced
  • The infamous Mexican drug lord, "El Mayo," co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel, received a life sentence following last year's guilty plea.

    "A Mexican drug kingpin just sentenced to life in prison. Known as El Mayo, the co founder of the Sinaloa cartel pleaded guilty last year." — Lisa Brady [01:44]

4. UK Political Shakeup: Andy Burnham Becomes Prime Minister

• Leadership Change
  • The UK names its seventh prime minister in a decade: Andy Burnham, replacing Keir Starmer.
  • Burnham pledges to focus on social care and inject hope into British politics.

    "I will put the care of people at the heart of everything I do. I will give this my all." — Prime Minister Andy Burnham [02:44, 02:51]

• Public Reception
  • Despite his high office, 40% of Brits reportedly do not recognize him.

    "Burnham remains an unknown quantity, even to Brits. 40% in a recent poll couldn't recognize the UK's new Prime Minister." — UK Political Correspondent [02:53]

• International Diplomacy
  • Burnham’s first international call was to President Trump.

    "His first international call, though, was to President Trump." — Lisa Brady [03:06]

5. Air Force One Upgrades

• Aircraft Security Enhancements
  • President Trump announces plans for further upgrades to the new temporary Air Force One, originally a Boeing 747 from Qatar.
  • Details of the added security features are not disclosed amid reports of existing shortcomings.

    "President Trump says the Boeing 747 gifted by the government of Qatar... will undergo additional security upgrades." — Fox News Announcer [03:14]

6. U.S. Penny Production Ended, New Law Proposed

• Legislative Update
  • The House has passed the bipartisan "Common Sense Act" to streamline transactions after the end of penny minting.

    "The legislation formally ends the production of the penny, which the US Already stopped minting some eight months ago, and addresses how retailers should give cash customers change when they don't have any pennies." — Fox News Announcer [03:45]

  • Businesses may round transactions to the nearest nickel.
    • E.g., a $0.32 transaction becomes $0.30; $0.30 would be rounded up to $0.35.

    "The act would give businesses the option to round cash transactions to the nearest nickel..." — Fox News Announcer [03:45]

  • Senate vote is pending.

7. Economic Snapshot

• Stock Market
  • Mixed results; the Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 111 points.

    "A mixed day on Wall Street. The Dow's down one eleven." — Lisa Brady [04:21]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Fallen Soldiers:

  "The president calls them great patriots." — Lisa Brady [00:02]

• On UK Prime Minister’s Promise:

  "I will put the care of people at the heart of everything I do." — PM Andy Burnham [02:44]
  "I will give this my all." — PM Andy Burnham [02:51]

• On Penny Policy:

  "The act would give businesses the option to round cash transactions to the nearest nickel..." — Fox News Announcer [03:45]

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:02] — Deaths of US soldiers in Jordan and Iraq, Iran-US escalations
• [00:29] — Details on US retaliatory strikes in Iran
• [01:04] — US-Iran ceasefire accusations and ongoing diplomacy
• [01:20] — NYC Federal Plaza explosion, ongoing FBI investigation
• [01:44] — Sinaloa cartel co-founder "El Mayo" sentenced
• [02:34] — Introduction of UK’s new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham
• [03:06] — Burnham’s first call to President Trump
• [03:14] — Upgrades to the new Air Force One
• [03:45] — Legislation to end penny production, implications for retailers
• [04:21] — Wall Street update

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Tone

This newscast maintains FOX News’ rapid, authoritative delivery, pairing urgent international updates with key domestic headlines. The tone is direct and factual, occasionally punctuated by brief statements of official sentiment or politicians’ own words.

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For listeners who missed it:
This episode offered a comprehensive, fast-paced review of global conflict, domestic security, shifting political leadership abroad, and everyday economic policy — all framed in FOX News’ signature style, with brief but impactful attributions and a focus on clarity.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

The president calls them great patriots. On Lisa Brady, FOX News, two of the American soldiers killed in action last week now identified as a 25 year old from Hawaii, First Lieutenant Tyler Feehan and 19 year old Private Isabella Gonzalez from Texas killed in Jordan. As Iran keeps attacking US Gulf allies in response to US Attacks over Iran attacking commercial ships. Sirens sounding again this morning in Kuwait and Bahrain with more incoming Iranian missiles and drones.

[Military Correspondent]

This does follow the ninth consecutive night of US Strikes against the Iranian regime. According to centcom, a variety of targets were hit, including military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities and missile and drone launch positions. These strikes do come after three US Service members were killed by an Iranian ballistic missile attack in Jordan on Friday. The U.S. military is working to identify the remains believed to be the third soldier. Now a fourth soldier was killed in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone over the weekend.

[Lisa Brady]

Foxes Trey Yinxed in Tel Aviv. The US And Iran accuse each other of violating a ceasefire agreement, but both sides also suggest diplomatic efforts remain active. The FBI says a man is in custody after setting an explosive device off outside a federal building in New York City.

[New York City Police Reporter]

New York City police say he set a fire, ignited fireworks and waved a gun but did not release the man's name or give a motive. 26 Federal Plaza houses ICE, the FBI's New York Field Office and U.S. citizenship and Immigration Services. Fire Department officials say three suffered minor injuries with one person taken to a hospital. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes the NYPD, is investigating the incident.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Tanya J. Powers. The FBI says that man had a pellet gun. A Mexican drug kingpin just sentenced to life in prison. Known as El Mayo, the co founder of the Sinaloa cartel pleaded guilty last year. America is listening to FOX News.

[Ryan Reynolds]

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[Lisa Brady]

of $45 for three months, $90 for six months or $180 for a 12 month plan. Required $15 per month equivalent to taxes and fees. Extra initial plan term only greater than 50gb. Me slow when network is busy. See terms. Britain's new prime minister is in place, the seventh in ten years.

[UK Political Correspondent]

The United Kingdom has its seventh leader in ten years, Andy Burnham replacing the beleaguered Keir Starmer. Prime Minister Burnham says he wants to bring back hope.

[UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham]

I will put the care of people

[Fox News Announcer]

at the heart of everything I do.

[UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham]

I will give this my all.

[UK Political Correspondent]

Burnham remains an unknown quantity, even to Brits. 40% in a recent poll couldn't recognize the UK's new Prime Minister. He'll spend the summer unveiling a series of policies, likely moving the UK to the left.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jonathan Savage. His first international call, though, was to President Trump. The new temporary Air Force One will get more upgrades.

[Fox News Announcer]

President Trump says the Boeing 747 gifted by the government of Qatar and retrofitted the service Air Force One will undergo additional security upgrades.

[UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham]

Has a lot of capability, but as I understand it, in about a month or so they're going to send it to have it be maxed out.

[Fox News Announcer]

The president did not detail what additional features will be added to the aircraft, but there has been reporting the plane lacks some security features of the older model. Air Force One.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jared Halpern the White House. Retailers may soon get some help navigating a penny shortage.

[UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham]

It passed the House. Now the bipartisan Common Sense act needs to pass the Senate and be signed into law before it can take effect. The legislation formally ends the production of the penny, which the US Already stopped minting some eight months ago, and addresses how retailers should give cash customers change when they don't have any pennies. The act would give businesses the option to round cash transactions to the nearest nickel, with a 32 cent transaction, for instance, becoming 30 cents, while a 30 gets bumped to 35 cents. There's currently no Senate vote scheduled.

[Lisa Brady]

Lillian Wu, FOX News A mixed day on Wall Street. The Dow's down one eleven.

[Fox News Announcer]

Elisa Brady, Fox News Cheers to America's 250th birthday. Get 20% off your first purchase at foxnewswineshop.com with code FNRADIO20. 20% discount excludes wine club offers and cannot be combined with any other promotion. Expires July 31, 2026. Must be 21 or older to order. Please drink responsibly.