12PM ET 07/29/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 12PM ET 07/29/2026

Main Theme

This hour’s Fox News update covers several major stories: Dr. Anthony Fauci's Senate testimony and Fifth Amendment invocations, a strong statement by former President Trump in response to Iranian attacks, updated U.S. Navy policies on personnel under investigation for sexual misconduct, Barack Obama’s endorsement in Iowa’s Senate race, and the death of musician Glenn Hansard.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dr. Anthony Fauci's Senate Testimony

• Republican Accusations and Fifth Amendment Pleas
  • Dr. Fauci, former Presidential COVID adviser recently pardoned by President Biden, testified before a Senate panel about the origins and management of the COVID-19 pandemic ([00:04]).
  • Republicans, including Sen. Rand Paul, accused Fauci of withholding the full truth from the public:

    “You did not tell the American people the full story.”
    (Rand Paul, 00:19)

  • Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times and refused to answer any direct questions, including from panel chairs ([00:21]–[00:33]).
  • Sen. Rand Paul emphasized that a pardon does not entitle Fauci to Fifth Amendment protections on pardoned offenses:

    “You do have a Fifth Amendment right, but you don't have a Fifth Amendment right if you have been granted a pardon.”
    (Rand Paul, 00:51)

• Potential for Contempt of Congress
  • The committee, chaired by Rand Paul, plans a vote next week to hold Fauci in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify ([00:33]).
• Follow-up Interviews
  • Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson indicated the panel intends to call former FDI officials and Fauci for transcribed interviews.

    “Will you comply or will I have to subpoena you?”
    (Chris Foster quoting Johnson, 01:08)

  • Fauci again invoked the Fifth:

    “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.”
    (Fauci, 01:12)

• Fauci Denies Wrongdoing
  • Fauci maintains he did nothing wrong and has accused Sen. Paul of being obsessed with calling for his prosecution ([01:19]).

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2. Trump’s Warning to Iran

• Escalating Tensions
  • In response to an Iranian missile attack against U.S. forces in Jordan, former President Trump made an emphatic statement to Fox News ([01:31]):

    "We are going to beat the effing s out of them. We'll be hitting them hard. They're going to get a beating.”
    (Trump, 01:31)

  • Iran reportedly fired at least five missiles, ending a brief lull in hostilities.

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3. U.S. Navy Changes on Sexual Misconduct Investigations

• Policy Shift Following High-Profile Case
  • The U.S. Navy will now relocate sailors under investigation for sexual misconduct, stalking, or assault to shore duty, barring them from deployment until investigations are resolved ([02:32]).
  • Commanders are required to coordinate with NCIS and staff judge advocate for these decisions ([02:38]).
  • The change was motivated by the murder case involving Jeremiah Copeland, a sailor who had pending sexual misconduct allegations but was transferred between ships ([02:38]–[03:15]).
  • Jessica Rosenthal:

    “These policy changes would have prevented that transfer pending the initial misconduct investigation.”
    (Jessica Rosenthal, 03:15)

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4. Barack Obama’s Endorsement in Iowa Senate Race

• Political Endorsement with a Basketball Spin
  • Former President Obama released a video with Senate candidate Josh Turek, a decorated Paralympian and wheelchair basketball player, to support the Democratic bid for Iowa’s open Senate seat ([03:15]–[03:46]).
  • Chris Foster sets the scene:

    “Iowa has one of the Senate seats Democrats are trying to flip with Republican Joni Ernst retiring. Who's got next?”
    (Chris Foster, 03:22)

  • Turek, challenging Republican Ashley Hinson (endorsed by Trump), says:

    “Let’s make sure that we send Josh to the United States Senate.”
    (Josh Turek, 03:50)

  • Turek notes his experience as both an athlete and an Iowan:

    “I know a little something about winning Iowa.”
    (Josh Turek, 03:34)

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5. Passing of Glenn Hansard

• Notable Obituary
  • Oscar-winning Irish singer-songwriter Glenn Hansard died in a motorcycle accident in Ireland at age 56 ([04:03]).
  • Known for starring in the film Once and composing the Oscar-winning song “Falling Slowly.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rand Paul on the hearing:

  “111 times he invoked the Fifth Amendment.” ([00:33])

• Trump on Iran:

  “We are going to beat the effing s out of them... they’re going to get a beating.” ([01:31])

• Josh Turek (to Iowa voters):

  “Let’s make sure that we send Josh to the United States Senate.” ([03:50])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Fauci Senate Testimony – [00:04] to [01:19]
• Trump's Warning to Iran – [01:31] to [01:53]
• U.S. Navy Policy Changes (Sexual Misconduct) – [02:32] to [03:15]
• Obama’s Iowa Endorsement & Senate Race – [03:15] to [04:02]
• Glenn Hansard Obituary – [04:03] to [04:28]

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This newscast delivers a rapid rundown of breaking news with Fox’s signature direct style, focusing on accountability, political maneuvering, and hard-hitting international and domestic developments.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

He pleads the fifth repeatedly on Lisa Brady Fox News. Dr. Anthony Fauci, accused by Republicans on a Senate panel of not telling the public the truth about COVID origins and the pandemic response with contradictions between his public statements and private diary entries.

[Rand Paul]

You did not tell the American people the full story.

[Lisa Brady]

Fauci, the former Covid presidential adviser who was preemptively pardoned by President Biden before he left office, declined to answer any questions, including ones from the panel chairs. Senator Rand Paul.

[Rand Paul]

111 times he invoked the Fifth Amendment. And the thing that I thought was interesting during this hearing is that toward the end you had Rand Paul, the chairman of the committee, announcing that they were going to have a committee vote next week to hold him in contempt of Congress. They're saying, look, you know, you do have a Fifth Amendment right, but you don't have a Fifth Amendment right if you have been granted a pardon.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Chad Pergram on Capitol Hill, Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson telling Fauci the panel plans to call former FDI officials and him to give voluntary transcribed interviews.

[Chris Foster]

Will you comply or will I have to subpoena you on the advice of counsel? I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution subpoena. Thank you.

[Lisa Brady]

Fauci has previously denied wrongdoing and has accused Senator Paul of having an obsession with calls for his prosecution. A new warning from President Trump to Iran after attempted attacks on US Forces.

[Rand Paul]

President Trump reacting to that surprise attack launched by Iran against US Forces in Jordan. The president told FOX News, quote, we are going to beat the effing s out of them. He went on to say, we'll be hitting them hard. And he finished saying they're going to get a beating. We know at least five missiles were fired by Iran, breaking the lull in attacks over the past several days.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Trey Yingston, Tel Aviv, America is listening to FOX News.

[UnitedHealth Group Announcer]

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[Lisa Brady]

changing policy and will now limit transfers of those accused of sexual assault and misconduct.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

Sailors under investigation for sexual assault, stalking or sexual misconduct will now be relocated to shore command, meaning not deployed to other ships during an investigation. Commanders also must now coordinate such decisions with the NCIS and consult the staff judge advocate. The change comes after sailor Jeremiah Copeland was found guilty of murder in the death of Angelina Resendez while both were assigned to the USS James E. Wilson Williams. He'd previously been on the USS Harry Truman and was facing accusations of sexual misconduct from 2024 when he was transferred to the other ship. These policy changes would have prevented that transfer pending the initial misconduct investigation.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jessica Rosenthal Former President Obama makes a midterm endorsement playing basketball with his pick in a video.

[Chris Foster]

Iowa has one of the Senate seats Democrats are trying to flip with Republican Joni Ernst retiring. Who's got next?

[Josh Turek]

I got it.

[Chris Foster]

The Democrats nominee, state Rep. Josh Turek played wheelchair basketball for Team USA in four Paralympics, winning two gold medals.

[Josh Turek]

Let's go. We playing horse or what? We're playing Iowa. I know a little something about winning Iowa.

[Chris Foster]

That early caucus paved the way for Barack Obama to win the White House in 2008.

[Josh Turek]

So you like that three pointer? Hey, you shoot where you want. All right, let's go.

[Chris Foster]

Turek's running against House Republican Ashley Hinson, endorsed by President Trump.

[Josh Turek]

I've seen enough. Not only did I get whooped, but you've got here a man of character, somebody who knows how to win. Now the ball's in your court, Iowa. Let's make sure that we send jobs to the United States Senate.

[Chris Foster]

Chris Foster, Fox News.

[Lisa Brady]

Turek's been in a wheelchair since childhood, born with spina bifida. Just getting word. Oscar winner Glenn Hansard has died. The Irish singer songwriter best known for starring in the film Once Falling Slowly and its Academy Award winning song, falling Slowly, he died in a motorcycle crash in Ireland early today. Glen Hansard was 56. America Lisa Brady, Fox News.

[Chris Foster]

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.