Fox News Hourly Update: 2AM ET 03/13/2026 Newscast

Date: March 13, 2026
Host: Chris DiMaio (with reports from Garrett Tenney, Kevin Cork, Tom Brigatti, and Ainsley Earhart)

Overview

This edition of the Fox News Hourly Update provides listeners with critical developments in national security, crime, international affairs, and ongoing litigation regarding school vouchers, as well as a notable diplomatic gesture from Cuba. The episode swiftly covers major breaking news stories and legal updates, focusing on security incidents at both a synagogue in Michigan and a university in Virginia, military operations in Iraq, as well as policy and legal battles in Texas, and an unexpected move by the Cuban government.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Michigan Synagogue Attack

• Incident: A man, Aman Mohammed Ghazali, drove a truck into Temple Israel Synagogue in Michigan while over 100 children were inside for daycare (00:02–00:54).
• Details:
  • Ghazali, a 41-year-old Lebanese-born US citizen, had lost his family in a recent airstrike during the Iran war.
  • Entered the synagogue armed with a rifle and incendiary device, setting the truck on fire.
  • Armed security guards on site shot and killed him before he could cause further harm.
• Notable Quote:
  • Garrett Tenney (00:26): “...he drove a truck right through the doors of the Temple Israel Synagogue while more than 100 kids were inside at a daycare...before he had a chance to do any more damage or take anyone’s life, he was shot by armed security guards who were already on site.”

2. Old Dominion University Shooting in Virginia

• Incident: Active shooting at ODU campus, resulting in one fatality and two injuries (00:54–01:42).
• Details:
  • Shooter: Muhammad Jalo, 36, with previous felony ties to ISIS.
  • Sought out an ROTC classroom, opened fire after confirming location, shouting “Allah Akbar.”
  • The class instructor, Colonel Brandon Shah, was killed before students subdued and killed Jalo themselves.
  • Shooter’s criminal background: pled guilty to supporting ISIS, previously incarcerated between 2017 and 2024.
• Notable Quote:
  • Kevin Cork (01:18): “He began to pull out a gun and start shooting, yelling ‘Allah Akbar.’ And he opened fire on the class, fatally wounding the class’s instructor, Colonel Brandon Shah, before students in that class subdued him and ultimately killed him.”

3. Earthquake in Turkey

• Event: A moderately strong, 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck central Turkey (01:42–01:59).
• Impact: Emergency responders report no significant damage, though residents rushed into the streets for safety.

4. U.S. Military Plane Crash in Iraq

• Incident: American military refueling plane KC135 crashed during operations over Iraq (02:40–03:22).
• Details:
  • Crash not due to hostile or friendly fire.
  • One KC135 landed safely, another was lost.
  • Marks the fourth U.S. aircraft lost in ongoing operations against Iran.
  • Prior week: Friendly fire from Kuwaiti allies brought down three American fighter jets.
• Notable Quote:
  • Tom Brigatti (02:54): “CENTCOM says two aircraft were involved. One landed safely and the other went down in western Iraq. CENTCOM described the latter as a loss.”

5. Lawsuit in Texas over School Vouchers

• Issue: Muslim families and three Islamic schools are suing Texas for exclusion from the state voucher program (03:22–04:13).
• Details:
  • Federal lawsuits contend the exclusion is religious discrimination.
  • Governor Abbott’s law allows public funds for private schooling but Texas Attorney General claims state can block schools “illegally tied to terrorists or foreign adversaries.”
  • Lawsuits emphasize there’s no evidence of unlawful activity by the excluded schools.
• Notable Quote:
  • Ainsley Earhart (03:44): “Those lawsuits argue the Islamic schools blocked from joining the program meet the voucher program’s eligibility requirements and have no actual connection to terrorism or unlawful activity.”

6. Cuban Prisoner Release Gesture

• Action: Cuba announced plans to release 51 prisoners as a goodwill gesture in coordination with the Vatican (04:13–04:37).
• Details:
  • No names released, but all prisoners have served significant portions of their sentences and displayed good conduct.
• Notable Quote:
  • Chris DiMaio (04:22): “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it stems from a spirit of goodwill and close relations with the Vatican.”

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Swift action by security guards and students in both the Michigan and Virginia attacks prevented mass casualties.
• Repeated concerns over ties between terrorism and policy measures—from school vouchers to violent individuals.
• International focus: Both in ramifications of the war with Iran and the rapid response to both natural disasters and accidents abroad.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:02] Synagogue Attack in Michigan (Garrett Tenney)
• [01:02] Old Dominion University Shooting (Kevin Cork)
• [01:42] Earthquake in Turkey (Chris DiMaio)
• [02:45] US Military Plane Crash in Iraq (Tom Brigatti)
• [03:30] Texas Voucher Program Lawsuits (Ainsley Earhart)
• [04:13] Cuba to Release Prisoners (Chris DiMaio)

Overall Tone

• Concise and urgent reporting, focused on national security, public safety, legal battles over religious inclusion, and international developments.
• The language is straightforward, maintaining the serious and immediate tone of breaking news.

This summary covers the major news items and key insights as presented, omitting advertisements and promotional material.