12PM ET 07/28/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 12PM ET, July 28, 2026

Episode Overview

This newscast covers a wide range of breaking news and significant events on July 28, 2026. The main themes include national mourning for the late Senator Lindsey Graham, high-level geopolitical meetings regarding Iran and Ukraine, breaking updates on a devastating earthquake in Japan, ongoing wildfires in France and Spain, state rankings in the United States, and notable consumer and economic trends.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. National Mourning for Senator Lindsey Graham

• Theme: Lawmakers and dignitaries honor the late Senator Lindsey Graham in Washington, D.C.
• Ceremony: Coverage of the Capitol Rotunda tribute and upcoming funeral at Washington's National Cathedral.
• Attendees: President Trump, Ukrainian President Zelensky, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and all 100 U.S. senators invited.

Notable Quotes:

• [00:13] J.D. Vance: “I choose to remember Lindsey Graham as a man who could disagree with you without being disagreeable.”
• [00:24] J.D. Vance: “He was willing to reason with them, to respect them and ultimately to persuade them.”

Memorable Moment:

• [00:36] Lisa Brady: Announces President Trump, Zelensky, and Netanyahu’s roles in the funeral and subsequent meetings.
  • Zelenksy and Netanyahu to first meet with President Trump privately.
  • Netanyahu’s meeting centered on the ongoing conflict with Iran.
  • Trump makes a strong statement on Iran deal negotiations, hinting at drastic action if talks fail.

Quote:

• [00:59] President Trump, via Lisa Brady: “If they don’t make a deal, then I go back and I finish the job.”
• [01:06] Lisa Brady: Reports that Israeli intelligence suspects Iran has moved nuclear equipment to Pickaxe Mountain, a possible military target.

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2. U.S. Geopolitics & Legislative Updates

• Ukraine:
  • [01:25] Lisa Brady: Zelensky mentions “it’s important for the diplomatic process to be reinvigorated,” referencing discussions with President Trump and ideas for Ukraine's ongoing fight against Russia.
  • Later today, Zelensky will meet with all 100 U.S. senators.
• U.S. Senate:
  • [01:34] Chad Pergram: Notes urgency in moving on the Russia sanctions bill and the confirmation of Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence.
    • Timing is critical; the House is already on summer break.

Quote:

• [01:34] Chad Pergram: “Just the fact that they are moving tonight…that’s just not because of Lindsey Graham…But the idea that that is a timing issue, too, that they need as much time as possible.”

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3. Major Earthquake in Japan

• Event:
  • [02:15] Lisa Brady: Reports on rescue operations after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hits Kumamoto on Kyushu Island.
  • Second floor of local mall collapses; factory chimney down; multiple missing.
  • 300,000 people preparing for evacuation; thousands without power; widespread infrastructure damage.

Field Report:

• [02:19] Jonathan Savage: “Eyewitnesses report seeing the second floor of the Aeon Mall in Kumamoto collapse, describing the cloud of dust as being like volcanic ash flood. Firefighters say dozens are believed trapped inside.”

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4. Wildfires in France and Spain

• Update:
  • [02:54] Lisa Brady: France orders 4,000 additional evacuations due to ongoing wildfires, bringing total displaced to over 300,000 across France and Spain.

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5. U.S. State Rankings

• Report:
  • [03:10] Lillian Wu: Utah leads as America’s best state for the 4th consecutive year, followed by South Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Nebraska. Ranking based on “economy, fiscal stability, and infrastructure”—but Utah scores poorly (48th) on natural environment metrics.

Quote:

• [03:10] Lillian Wu: “Utah’s number one ranking is driven by high scores in the economy, fiscal stability and infrastructure...where it makes a poor showing, though, the natural environment, coming in 48th in that category.”

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6. Economic Trends

• Consumer Confidence & Markets:
  • [03:52] Lisa Brady: Nationwide consumer confidence falls as gas prices rise. However, Dow surges (+629 points) during Federal Reserve meeting; U.S. oil prices drop to under $79/barrel.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “I choose to remember Lindsey Graham as a man who could disagree with you without being disagreeable.”
  — J.D. Vance, [00:13]
• “If they don’t make a deal, then I go back and I finish the job.”
  — President Trump (reported by Lisa Brady), [01:00]
• “Eyewitnesses report seeing the second floor of the Aeon Mall in Kumamoto collapse, describing the cloud of dust as being like volcanic ash flood.”
  — Jonathan Savage, [02:19]
• “Utah’s number one ranking is driven by high scores in the economy, fiscal stability and infrastructure...”
  — Lillian Wu, [03:10]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:02] Mourning for Senator Lindsey Graham begins
• [00:36] Details on Lindsey Graham’s funeral and key global leaders’ involvement
• [01:06] Iran and nuclear threat discussion
• [01:25] President Zelensky’s diplomatic comments
• [01:34] Russian sanctions bill update; Senate timeline pressures
• [02:15] Earthquake in Japan—damage & rescue efforts
• [02:54] Wildfire evacuations in France and Spain
• [03:10] U.S. state ranking analysis
• [03:52] Economic news: consumer confidence and the stock market

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Summary

This episode serves as a rapid-fire briefing on top news stories, ranging from Capitol tributes to Lindsey Graham, pivotal U.S.-led diplomatic developments, natural disasters abroad, and both the lighter and heavier sides of state policy and economic performance. Each story is presented succinctly with firsthand quotations and analysis, providing listeners a broad, timely overview of significant events at home and abroad.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

A day of mourning in Washington. Lisa Brady, FOX NEWS as lawmakers pay tribute to the late Senator Lindsey Graham.

[J.D. Vance]

I choose to remember Lindsey Graham as a man who could disagree with you without being disagreeable.

[Lisa Brady]

Vice President and former Senator J.D. vance, part of a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda.

[J.D. Vance]

I remember Lindsey Graham as a man who loved people. And because he loved people, he was willing to reason with them, to respect them and ultimately to persuade them.

[Lisa Brady]

Graham's flag draped casket next heading to Washington's National Cathedral for a funeral where President Trump will speak and two world leaders will be there to pay respects. Ukraine's President Zelensky and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, both of them meeting first with the president. The Netanyahu meeting focusing on the fight with Iran. President Trump telling FOX and friends they can't break deals anymore. This is actually a good time to

[J.D. Vance]

make a deal for them.

[Lisa Brady]

If they don't make a deal, then I go back and I finish the job.

[J.D. Vance]

But that's going to take them forever to rebuild.

[Lisa Brady]

Also saying he doesn't want to bomb bridges and power plants and that Pickaxe mountain will be taken out if there's no deal. Israeli intelligence reportedly believes Iran moved nuclear equipment there. President Zelensky just posting he had a good meeting with the president, adding it's important for the diplomatic process to be reinvigorated, but also that they discussed ideas that could help Ukraine's fight against Russia. All 100 senators are invited to meet with Zelensky later today, ahead of possible votes on a Russia sanctions bill and a key nomination.

[Chad Pergram]

Just the fact that they are moving tonight, that's just not because of Lindsey Graham with the Russian sanctions bill and also the confirmation of Jay Clayton as the director of national intelligence. But the idea that that is a timing issue, too, that they need as much time as possible.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Chad Pergram on Capitol Hill, the House already on summer break. America is listening to FOX News.

[J.D. Vance]

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. Order to order. Please drink responsibly.

[Lisa Brady]

Rescuers trying to reach people trapped after a strong earthquake in Japan.

[Jonathan Savage]

Eyewitnesses report seeing the second floor of the Aeon Mall in Kumamoto collapse, describing the cloud of dust as being like volcanic ash flood. Firefighters say dozens are believed trapped inside the quake struck southwest Japan on Tuesday afternoon local time. The Japan Meteorological Agency reporting a magnitude of 7.1. A factory chimney collapsed with multiple people at the facility reported missing. Roads have been ruptured across Kyushu Island. Thousands of homes are without power. Evacuation centres are being prepared for some 300,000 people.

[Lisa Brady]

Jonathan Savage, Fox News, France, ordering another 4,000 people to evacuate as a wildfire fight continues, already forcing more than 300,000 out of homes and vacation sites in France and Spain. The Mountain west wins again in a ranking of best US States for the

[Lillian Wu]

fourth year in a row. Utah takes the top spot for the overall best state in the nation on the latest U.S. news and world Report list, where it tops South Dakota, followed by Minnesota, North Dakota and Nebraska rounding out the top 10, New Hampshire, Idaho, Florida, Washington and Vermont, part of a notable regional trend with liberal representation on the top half of the list from the Mountain West, Midwest and Sunbelt states. Utah's number one ranking is driven by high scores in the economy, fiscal stability and infrastructure, where it makes a poor showing, though the natural environment coming in 48th in that category, which focuses on metrics connected to pollution threats and water quality.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Lillian Wu Nationwide consumer confidence falling this month in the Conference board's latest reading as gain gas prices went back to rising but a big rally for the Dow as the Fed kicks off a two day meeting right now up 629 points. US oil prices falling under $79 a barrel and Lisa Brady, FOX NEWS

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[Carvana Customer]

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[Lisa Brady]

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[Carvana Customer]

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