12PM ET 08/04/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 12PM ET 08/04/2026 Newscast

Date: August 4, 2026
Host: Jack Callaghan, FOX News Podcasts

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Episode Overview

This episode provides a concise rundown of the most pressing national and international news stories as of midday on August 4, 2026. Coverage ranges from political developments in Washington to significant legal actions, international diplomatic movements, economic updates, primary election news, wildfire devastation, and unusual international protest incidents.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Political Developments

• Todd Blanche Nomination Advances
  • The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination in a 12-10 party-line vote.
    • “All Republicans voting yes. And now this will go to the full Senate floor where he is expected to be confirmed later this week.” (B, 00:12)
  • Full confirmation vote expected soon.

2. Justice Department Health Care Fraud Bust

• Major Medicare Fraud Takedown
  • In Philadelphia, 19 people face criminal charges for fraudulent home health care schemes exploiting Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program.
    • “Resulted in over $4 million of fraud.” (C, 00:32)
  • Noteworthy: “One of the defendants had billed Medicaid for providing elder care while he was actually in jail.” (A, 00:46)

3. International Affairs

• Oman-Iran Negotiations Over Strait of Hormuz
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio signals progress on talks regarding the critical oil shipping lane, though no deal has been reached.
    • “Rubio says they hope that'll happen shortly.” (A, 00:46)
  • Oil prices have dropped: WTI crude under $76/barrel.

4. Economy and Labor Market

• Job Openings Dip More Than Expected
  • Labor Department reports 7.35 million openings at the end of June, a larger decline than projected.
    • “Job openings...a larger decline than anticipated. And May's job openings were revised lower.” (D, 01:19)
  • Layoffs are little changed; quits up slightly, hinting at worker confidence in finding better jobs.
    • “Layoffs were little changed and the number of people quitting their jobs, perhaps for something better, rose slightly.” (A, 01:32)
• Stock Market Surge
  • The Dow up over 880 points; Nasdaq higher by 500.
    • “[W]all street is roaring. The Dow is up more than 880 points, Nasdaq 500 points higher.” (A, 01:32, summary at 03:51 as well)

5. Corporate Legal News

• New Jersey Files Antitrust Suit Against Amazon
  • Accusation: Amazon pressures delivery service partners to suppress wages and resist unionization efforts.

6. Primary Elections & Political Transitions

• Five State Primaries Today
  • Voters in Michigan, Kansas, Virginia, Washington, and Missouri head to the polls.
  • Special focus on South Carolina, which is choosing a midterm Senate nominee following Senator Lindsey Graham’s death.
    • “Five GOP US Senate hopefuls from South Carolina debated on stage...for winning primary voters.” (E, 02:13)
  • Democratic nominee Annie Andrews characterizes the GOP field as “extreme” and accuses all of seeking “Donald Trump's approval.”
    • “Annie Andrews called each of those debating Republicans extreme and accused all of them of fighting for Donald Trump's approval.” (E, 02:34)
  • Graham’s sister Darlene is among the hopefuls for his seat.

7. Wildfires in Washington State

• Extent of Damage & Arrest
  • 700 buildings destroyed in recent wildfires; a former convict arrested for alleged arson in the Old Trails fire, found with waterproof matches and a lighter.
    • “A 37 year old ex con has been booked on suspicion of first degree arson.” (A, 02:50)

8. International Protest Incident

• Students Detained at US Military Base, South Korea
  • Eight students (four female, four male) detained after illegally entering Osan Air Base near Seoul, shouting anti-American slogans.
    • “Let’s smash the U.S. 7th Air Force.” (C, 03:15)
  • The protest was apparently related to U.S. opposition to a South Korean semiconductor project.
    • “[Those detained were protesting] the US Military's opposition to a South Korean semiconductor cluster project.” (C, 03:41)
  • U.S. military reiterates commitment to base security.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On DOJ Fraud Bust:

  • “One of the defendants had billed Medicaid for providing elder care while he was actually in jail.”
    —Jack Callaghan (A), 00:46

• On Political Tensions in the South Carolina Senatorial Race:

  • “Annie Andrews called each of those debating Republicans extreme and accused all of them of fighting for Donald Trump's approval.”
    —Eben Brown (E), 02:34

• On Unusual Protest at U.S. Military Base:

  • “Let’s smash the U.S. 7th Air Force.”
    —Reported student slogan (Jonathan Savage, C), 03:17

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Key Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------------|-----------| | Todd Blanche Senate Judiciary Committee Vote | 00:02-00:12 | | DOJ Philadelphia Medicaid Fraud Bust | 00:25-00:46 | | Strait of Hormuz / Oil Update | 00:46-01:19 | | Job Market & Wall Street Update | 01:19-01:32, 03:51 | | NJ Antitrust Suit vs. Amazon | 01:32-01:37 | | Five-State Primaries & SC Senate Debate | 01:37-02:50 | | Washington State Wildfires; Arson Arrest | 02:50-03:15 | | South Korea US Military Base Protest | 03:15-03:51 |

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Tone and Style

The update is brisk, objective, and information-dense—typical of Fox Radio’s hourly newscasts. Reporters maintain a direct style, focused on headlines and essential context.

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This summary provides a thorough overview of the major stories and political landscape, making the episode accessible and actionable even for those who did not catch it live.

Transcript

[A]

On to the full Senate. I'm Jack Callaghan, Fox News, with the confirmation vote for Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. The Senate's Judiciary Committee has just given its approval.

[B]

Todd Blanche gets a favorable nomination out of the Judiciary Committee 12 to 10. All Republicans voting yes. And now this will go to the full Senate floor where he is expected to be confirmed later this week.

[A]

Box is David Spont. The Justice Department's Health Care fraud task force has just announced they've busted up a costly health care ring.

[C]

In Philadelphia, we are announcing criminal charges against 19 defendants for fraudulent home health care schemes that targeted Pennsylvania's Medicaid fraud program and resulted in over $4 million of fraud.

[A]

It's Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald who says one of the defendants had billed Medicaid for providing elder care while he was actually in jail. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says there has been progress made in talks between Oman and Iran on over the Strait of Hormuz. No deal yet, but Rubio says they hope that'll happen shortly. Oil prices falling again. West Texas Intermediate crude now below $76 a barrel. The national average price for a gallon of gas a penny less than it was yesterday. Despite the high gas prices this summer, job openings are holding fairly steady.

[D]

The Labor Department's Job Openings and Labor Turnover survey found 7.35 million openings on the last business day of June, a larger decline than anticipated. And May's job openings were revised lower.

[A]

FO Jenny Casola reports layoffs were little changed and the number of people quitting their jobs, perhaps for something better, rose slightly. State of New Jersey has filed an antitrust suit against Amazon, claiming the company puts pressure on delivery service companies to suppress wages and unionization efforts. Wall street is roaring. The Dow is up more than 880 points, Nasdaq 500 points higher. America is listening to FOX News. Five states are holding primary elections today, Michigan, Kansas, Virginia, Washington and Missouri. South Carolina voters will soon decide who will take the late Senator Lindsey Graham's spot on the midterm election ballot.

[E]

Five GOP US Senate hopefuls from South Carolina debated on stage and on television Monday evening in hopes of winning primary voters. The special primary was called following the death of US Senator Lindsey Graham last month. The primary is next week, but early voting begins tomorrow. Democratic nominee Annie Andrews called each of those debating Republicans extreme and accused all of them of fighting for Donald Trump's approval. Lindsey Graham held that U.S. senate seat since 2003 and was seeking another term. His sister Darlene is one of the candidates hoping to succeed him. Eben Brown FOX News.

[A]

The number of buildings destroyed in Washington state's wildfires has now reached 700. And there's been an arrest. Spokane county sheriff's Office says a 37 year old ex con has been booked on suspicion of first degree arson for the Old Trails fire. The sheriff says the suspect had waterproof matches and a lighter in his possession and they may have a potential witness. A group of students has been detained for breaking into a US Military base in South Korea.

[C]

The four male and four female students are alleged to have illegally accessed Osan Air Base near South Korea's capital Seoul. It's said they shouted anti American slogans like let smash the U.S. 7th Air Force. In a statement, the American military said unauthorized attempts to access a US Military installation are taken extremely seriously. A student activist group posting on Facebook claimed responsibility. It said those detained were protesting the US Military's opposition to a South Korean semiconductor cluster project. Jonathan Savage, Fox News.

[A]

Checking Wall street once again. The Dow is Now up nearly 900 points on Jack Callahan. This is FOX News.