2AM ET 03/15/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 2AM ET 03/15/2026 Newscast

Host: FOX News Podcasts
Date: March 15, 2026
Main Theme:
A fast-paced roundup of the latest U.S. and international news, focusing on escalating U.S.-Iran tensions (“Operation Epic Fury”), economic fallout via rising gas prices, U.S. energy policy changes, and severe weather threats across the country.

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Operation Epic Fury: U.S. Strikes on Iran & Escalating Tensions

[00:03-00:57]

• U.S. Military Action:

  • President Trump continues launching military strikes against Iranian targets, particularly on Kharg Island.
  • Live from Tel Aviv, Fox's Nate Foy reports that Iran and its proxies retaliated, firing six ballistic missiles at Israel and attacking the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad—a missile struck the embassy helipad.

    "The US Embassy in Baghdad came under fire this morning...the Iranian backed militia group Kataib Hezbollah has fired on this complex several times during the war." — Nate Foy [00:17]

  • U.S. Central Command claims success in destroying naval mine storage facilities and ballistic missile supplies on Kharg Island.

• President Trump’s Warning:

  • Trump threatens to destroy Iran's oil infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz isn’t reopened, potentially crippling Iran’s economy.

    "If Iran doesn't open the Strait of Hormuz, the US will take out the oil infrastructure on the island, which would bring whatever's left of Iran's economy to a halt." — Debra Valentine summarizing Trump [00:48]

• Uncertainty Over Iranian Leadership:

  • President Trump tells NBC he’s “hearing Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Ha, may already be dead,” but no official confirmation is available.

    "The President added he is unsure whether the new Iranian leader is still living." — Debra Valentine [00:57]

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U.S. Gas Price Surge & White House Response

[00:57-01:48]

• Rising Prices:
  • Americans are seeing rising gas prices as a direct aftermath of Operation Epic Fury.
• White House Messaging:
  • Press Secretary Caroline Levitt offers reassurances on “MyView with Lara Trump”, acknowledging public anxiety and offering the administration’s solution.

    "We understand your concerns, we hear you and we are taking them into account...this is a temporary short-term disruption in global oil prices that the President is ultimately going to rectify by wiping out the rogue Iranian terrorist regime." — Caroline Levitt [01:31]

  • Levitt touts “a plethora of solutions” from President Trump to address price spikes.

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U.S. Energy Policy and California Pipeline Debate

[02:32-03:26]

• Pipeline Reopening Order:
  • U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright orders the reopening of a previously shut California oil pipeline (near Santa Ynez), despite objections from Governor Gavin Newsom.
  • The pipeline was originally closed in 2015 after a massive oil spill but was acquired by Sable Offshore in 2024.
• Governor Newsom’s Opposition & Political Context:
  • Newsom fiercely opposes the move, directly linking it to war-driven price hikes:

    "Trump knew his war with Iran would raise gas prices. Now he wants to illegally resurrect a pipeline shut down by courts and facing criminal charges and it won't even cut prices. I refuse to let Trump sacrifice Californians, our environment or our $51 billion coastal economy." — Governor Newsom, quoted by Marianne Rafferty [02:54]

• Presidential Action:
  • Trump signed an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to boost U.S. oil production.

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National Weather Alerts: Major Storm Threats

[03:26-04:28]

• Severe Storm Outlook:
  • Meteorologist Hayley Myers reports, “extending all the way from southern Michigan down to the tip of Florida,” a dangerous storm front is set to bring damaging winds and tornado risks from Sunday into Monday.

    "This cold front is going to be a trigger for damaging winds, especially in the mid Mississippi River Valley." — Hayley Myers [03:42]

• Blizzard Warnings:
  • Warnings in effect from the northern Rockies to Great Lakes: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and South Dakota face potential blizzards, with localized winds up to 60 mph.
  • Specific areas under extensive warnings: Des Moines area and Minnesota’s southern and western counties.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “We have seen six Iranian ballistic missile attacks here at Israel. We've also seen some action from its proxies in Iraq.” — Nate Foy [00:14]
• “President Trump told NBC he is hearing Iran's new Supreme Leader... may already be dead.” — Debra Valentine [00:57]
• “I refuse to let Trump sacrifice Californians, our environment or our $51 billion coastal economy.” — Governor Newsom via Marianne Rafferty [02:58]
• “This is a temporary short term disruption in global oil prices that the President is ultimately going to rectify by wiping out the rogue Iranian terrorist regime.” — Caroline Levitt [01:36]

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Key Takeaways

• The U.S. is engaged in ongoing military action against Iran, causing reverberations across the Middle East and affecting global oil markets.
• Gas prices are sharply rising domestically, prompting heightened political and governmental response.
• A controversial order to reopen a California oil pipeline showcases intense state-federal friction, wrapped in the wider context of national energy production and environmental concerns.
• Severe weather conditions threaten large swaths of the country, adding another layer of urgency to an already tense national moment.

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This episode provided succinct, frontline updates on rapidly developing international crises, domestic economic pains, political disputes over energy, and major weather hazards, all in the brisk, urgent tone characteristic of a news radio roundup.

Transcript

[A]

Operation Epic Fury. I'm Debra Valentine, Fox News. President Trump continues to launch strikes against Iran. Fox's Nate Foy is in Tel Aviv, Israel.

[B]

Iran and its proxies are responding to those U.S. military strikes on Kharg Island. We have seen six Iranian ballistic missile attacks here at Israel. We've also seen some action from its proxies in Iraq. The US Embassy in Baghdad came under fire this morning as the embassy is telling Americans to evacuate the country. That missile struck the helipad of the facility and the Iranian backed militia group Kataib Hezbollah has fired on this complex several times during the war. Meanwhile, US Central Command says it destroyed naval mine storage facilities and ballistic missile supplies on Kharg Island. President Trump says if Iran doesn't open the Strait of Hormuz, the US Will take out the oil infrastructure on the island, which would bring whatever's left of Iran's economy to a halt.

[A]

President Trump told NBC he is hearing Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Ha may already be dead. The President added he is unsure whether the new Iranian leader is still living. There has been no official confirmation as to the status or whereabouts of Khamenei. Americans have been concerned about the recent gas prices that have been increasing since Operation Epic Fury began. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt joined MyView with Lara Trump sending a message to the American people worried about prices at the pumps. Here's Levitt.

[C]

We understand your concerns, we hear you and we are taking them into account and we have a plan to address them. And this is a temporary short term disruption in global oil prices that the President is ultimately going to rectify by wiping out the rogue Iranian terrorist regime.

[A]

Levitt also said that President Trump has addressed the rise of prices by rolling out a plethora of solutions to address the issue. America's listening to Fox News.

[D]

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[A]

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright is ordering a pipeline in the Golden State to reopen despite pushback from California's Governor Gavin Newsom. FOX's Marianne Rafferty.

[E]

This is a state that used to provide 40% of the total U.S. oil production. The pipeline that we're talking about is located near Santa Ynez. It was shut down in 2015 after an oil spill that contaminated the coastline with more than 142,000 gallons of crude. Now that caused 2, $3 million in damage for the state. But a Texas based company, Sable Offshore, bought that pipeline from Exxon Mobil back in 2024. But Governor Gavin Newsom saying no way, he says, quote, trump knew his war with Iran would raise gas prices. Now he wants to illegally resurrect a pipeline shut down by courts and facing criminal charges and it won't even cut prices. I refuse to let Trump sacrifice Californians, our environment or our $51 billion coastal economy.

[A]

President Trump signed an executive order Friday invoking production act to increase production of US Oil. Severe storm threats are building for Sunday across the central US and east with the risk of damaging winds and tornadoes Sunday into Monday. Fox Weather's Hayley Myers reports.

[C]

Extending all the way from southern Michigan down to the tip of Florida. And it's all due to this Arctic front. And this cold front is going to be a trigger for damaging winds, especially in the mid Mississippi River Valley.

[A]

Winter storm watches and warnings are in effect from the northern Rockies to the upper Midwest and northern Great Lakes. Blizzard warnings have already been issued for portions of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and South Dakota. Extensive warnings are in effect for the Des Moines area and central, northern and eastern counties, including Polk, Story, Marshall and Dallas. Minnesota southern and western regions are under warnings as a storm is expected to dump significant snow with winds up to 60 miles per hour. I'm Debra Valentine.

[F]

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