12PM ET 07/31/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 12PM ET 07/31/2026

Episode Overview

This newscast delivers concise reports on major national and international developments as of midday July 31, 2026. The lead stories focus on political discussions at Camp David, updates on U.S.-Iran conflict, public health incidents, a breakthrough in the Israel-Gaza conflict, ICE policy changes, and economic news with the launch of a new stock exchange in Texas.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump’s Rare Open Cabinet Meeting at Camp David

• Setting:
  The meeting is described as unusually open, taking place on the secluded Maryland campus where discussions are typically private.
• Main Focus:
  • State of the nation: Trump asserts improvements across safety, strength, and success.
  • Addressing criticism: Responds to Democrat claims about affordability issues before the midterm elections.
  • Iran conflict: Describes ongoing military operations, the degraded Iranian navy and air force, and diminished missile capacity.
• Notable Quote:
  • President Trump [00:18]:

    "America is safer and stronger and far more successful than it was two years ago and I think, frankly than it ever was. I don't think it's ever been anything like this."

  • On Iran [00:38]:

    "And we have a war that's going on, as you call it a war, maybe I call it a military operation. They have no navy. It's been obliterated. Their air force has been obliterated. They have no planes. Their missiles have been largely. They have some left. They have some, but they have far fewer than they had four or five months ago."

• Other Insights:
  • Despite ongoing attacks from Iran on commercial and U.S. military assets, Trump says he is weighing intensified responses but not ruling out a deal.
  • Notably, Trump states he does not believe Iran is responsible for a recent water system cyberattack.

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2. Public Health: Legionnaires Disease Outbreak in NYC Ends

• Report:
  New York City Health Department announces the end of an outbreak on the Upper East Side.
• Details:
  • Disease had a 2–14 day incubation.
  • Last known symptoms began two weeks ago; risk now declared over.
  • In total, 90+ sickened, 7 dead; all affected cooling towers disinfected.
• Notable Quote:
  • Health official via FOX [01:24]:

    "New York City's health department says the incubation period for new cases of Legionnaires disease has passed and that there is no longer an elevated risk of exposure."

• Reporter:
  Tanya J. Powers.

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3. (Brief Mention) Hamas to Disarm as Part of New Deal

• Announcement:
  Hamas agrees to disarm in exchange for Israel withdrawing from Gaza, per a deal championed by President Trump.
• Significance:
  • Seen as a breakthrough toward ending the conflict, though implementation still faced with challenges.
  • Noted as a topic expected at the Camp David cabinet session.

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4. ICE Agents to Have Body Cameras after Fatal Shooting in Maine

• Background:
  After ICE killed a 25-year-old Colombian man during a vehicle stop in Maine, policy changes are announced.
• Senator Susan Collins:
  • Confirms ICE agents will be equipped with body-worn cameras by end of August.
  • No more stops unless at least one agent is wearing a body camera.
  • Funding ($20M) secured through her position as head of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
  • Political context: Coming under scrutiny for ICE support ahead of midterms.
• Notable Quote:
  • Senator Collins (via reporter) [02:41]:

    "All ICE agents will have body worn cameras by the end of August... no vehicle stops would take place unless at least one agent was wearing a body camera at the time."

  • Reporting by Jessica Rosenthal.

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5. Texas Stock Exchange Launches in Dallas

• Opening:
  The new electronic exchange, driven by Governor Greg Abbott, aims to compete with the NYSE and Nasdaq.
• Institutional Support:
  Backed by major financial institutions: JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Citadel, Blackrock.
• Regional Competition:
  Both NYSE and Nasdaq have opened regional offices in Texas, highlighting intense competition.
• Outlook:
  • Company listings later this year, IPOs expected in the next.
• Notable Quote:
  • Financial Analyst/Reporter [03:28]:

    "It's a fully electronic exchange. It's backed by the financial powerhouses that surround them, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Citadel, Blackrock, just to name a few. Can Texas really make a land grab for the duopoly that is the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ?"

  • Reporting from Lauren Simonetti, FOX BUSINESS, Dallas.

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6. Quick Financial Market Update

• Wall Street Status:
  • “The Dow is up 191 points at least.”
  • Markets trending positive at midday.

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Memorable Moments and Quotes

• President Trump’s Assessment of Iran:
  “They have no navy. It’s been obliterated. Their air force has been obliterated.” [00:38]
• Hamas/Israel Deal Framing:
  Potentially historic, but hurdles remain – not directly quoted but contextually notable.
• ICE Policy Reforms Publicized:
  "No vehicle stops would take place unless at least one agent was wearing a body camera." [02:41]
• Texas Stock Exchange Launch:
  "Can Texas really make a land grab for the duopoly that is the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ?" [03:28]

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Noteworthy Timestamps

• 00:03–01:18: Cabinet meeting with President Trump, national security, U.S.–Iran conflict
• 01:24–01:59: Legionnaires outbreak in NYC, health update
• 02:16–02:41: Gaza-Israel peace deal, ICE body cam announcement in Maine
• 03:17–03:56: Texas Stock Exchange debut, economic outlook

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This episode provides succinct but significant updates on executive-level politics, Middle East diplomacy, public health, law enforcement oversight, and economic innovation, with on-the-ground insights and direct attribution from key figures.

Transcript

[Narrator/Anchor]

A Cabinet meeting underway at Camp David on Lisa Brady, FOX News.

[President Donald Trump]

This is a talented group of people

[Narrator/Anchor]

and the open session is rare on the Maryland campus, where meetings usually happen behind closed doors. President Trump focusing first on the state of the nation.

[President Donald Trump]

America is safer and stronger and far more successful than it was two years ago and I think, frankly than it ever was. I don't think it's ever been anything like this.

[Narrator/Anchor]

Countering Democrat criticism that he's making things less affordable ahead of the midterms, the conflict with Iran expected to be a top focus of the meeting.

[President Donald Trump]

And we have a war that's going on, as you call it a war, maybe I call it a military operation. They have no navy. It's been obliterated. Their air force has been obliterated. They have no planes. Their missiles have been largely. They have some left. They have some, but they have far fewer than they had four or five months ago.

[Narrator/Anchor]

But Iran keeps firing at commercial ships and U.S. forces in the region, prompting renewed strikes. The president reportedly weighing a plan to hit Iran harder, though he has not ruled out making a deal. The president also just said he does not think Iran is to blame for a cyber attack on a water system that remains under investigation. In Minnesota, a deadly outbreak of Legionnaires disease in New York City is declared over.

[Health Department Official/Reporter]

New York City's health department says the incubation period for new cases of Legionnaires disease has passed and that there is no longer an elevated risk of exposure. On the Upper east side, the disease has an incubation period of 2 to 14 days after exposure. And the last day that anyone who lives, works or visited the area began feeling symptoms was two weeks ago.

[Narrator/Anchor]

Fox's Tanya J. Powers. The outbreak sickened more than 90 people, killing seven. All of the cooling towers that tested positive for the bacteria were disinfected. America is listening to FOX News.

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Narrator/Anchor]

Another big issue expected to come up at the cabinet meeting in Camp David, Hamas confirming that it will disarm as part of a deal announced by President Trump that also requires Israel to end its strikes and withdraw from Gaza. A potential breakthrough in ending that conflict, though implementation faces major challenges. A senator from Maine tough reelection battle confirms all ice agents will soon be wearing body cameras.

[Senator Susan Collins]

Senator Susan Collins says she met with the acting ICE director, David Venturella, who told her all ICE agents will have body worn cameras by the end of August. After Ice killed a 25 year old Colombian man while in his vehicle in Maine, Ventrella confirmed no vehicle stops would take place unless at least one agent was wearing a body camera at the time. Cullen says the money to equip all ICE agents with cameras will come from the $20 million she helped get the agency and as head of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Polling in Maine this year has revealed increasing disapproval of ICE as Collins faces more scrutiny for her support of the agency ahead of midterms. Jessica Rosenthal, FOX News.

[Narrator/Anchor]

The Texas stock exchange opens its doors in Dallas driven by Governor Greg Abbott, who says it's the culmination of a decades long effort to attract business to North Texas.

[Financial Analyst/Reporter]

It's a fully electronic exchange. It's backed by the financial powerhouses that surround them, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Citadel, Blackrock, just to name a few. Can Texas really make a land grab for the duopoly that is the New York Stock Exchange and the nasdaq? Both the Nasdaq and the NICE have opened regional offices right here in Texas. So the proof will be in the movement of companies to this Texas stock exchange.

[Narrator/Anchor]

FOX BUSINESS is Lauren Simonetti in Dallas, where corporate listings are expected to begin later this year and IPOs next year. On Wall street, things in the green for now. The dow is up 191points at least. This is FOX NEWS.