2AM ET 03/31/2026 Newscast

Summary

---

Fox News Hourly Update: 2AM ET 03/31/2026 — Episode Summary

Episode Theme:
This hourly Fox News newscast delivers rapid updates on key national and international events from late March 2026, with a focus on escalating conflict in the Middle East, U.S. domestic policy fallout, nationwide protests, and a major milestone for NASA’s Artemis 2 moon mission.

---

Major News: Oil Tanker Attack Near Dubai

[00:03–00:57]

• Incident Overview:

  • Sue Guzman: Reports an oil tanker from Kuwait was struck near Dubai by Iran; the vessel caught fire.
  • Mike Tobin: Provides details—"It's a Kuwaiti oil tanker. It's been hit by a drone on the starboard side about 31 nautical miles northwest of Dubai. 24 crew members on board are safe. Dubai media office says there is a fire and fire crews are battling it." (00:15)

• Security and Environmental Concerns:

  • Kuwait warns of a significant oil spill risk.
  • U.S. military response: The USS Tripoli (3,500 Marines, amphibious & tactical assets, Ospreys) has arrived; USS Boxer en route from San Diego.
  • “About 1,500 paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne have arrived in the region as well.” (00:49)

---

Middle East Update: Explosion in Iran & Trump’s Response

[00:57–01:19]

• Sue Guzman: Reports President Trump sharing a video on Truth Social of a "massive explosion in Iran," reportedly from a U.S. airstrike in Isfahan.

---

U.S. Government Shutdown Fallout: TSA Paid, ICE Left Out

[00:57–01:58]

• Federal Workers’ Pay Disparity:

  • Sue Guzman: TSA agents are paid thanks to Trump’s executive order, but some ICE and CBP support staff are not.
  • Bill Melugin (01:19): “ICE and CBP civilian support employees are not getting paid right now. Yes, the frontline ICE and CBP agents are getting their paychecks via the one big beautiful bill. But the thousands of crucial non law enforcement support personnel that these agencies have are not getting paid. Think of the people who work the computers, put gas in the cars, work in the public affairs offices, et cetera.”

• Democratic Response:

  • Some Democrats claim the president’s move is illegal; Tom Homan (border czar) blames Democrats for blocking agency funding—and as a result, their own reforms.

• Quote:

  • One CBP civilian employee told me he hasn't been paid since February 13th. (Bill Melugin, 01:34)

---

Protests Sweep the Nation: “No Kings” Actions

[02:32–03:30]

• Protest Overview:

  • Sue Guzman: Nationwide anti-Trump “No Kings” protests, with most described as “not peaceful” and allegedly funded by Democratic Party affiliates.

• Field Reporting:

  • David Spunt (02:45): "In Los Angeles, scores of agitators clashed with police outside a federal building. There, witnesses saw someone spray quote 'kill your local ICE agent' on the wall. At least 74 people arrested after failing to disperse. In St. Paul, Minnesota, another large crowd."

  • Notable Quote: “A digital reporter at Fox News Digital named Azra Nomani attended the protest in St. Paul, Minnesota. She claims that she obtained a permit for the march…I should say, in St. Paul. And the lead coordinator was a group called Indivisible, a Democratic political advocacy group funded by networks connected to George Soares Foundations…connection to a wealthy American in China named Neville Roy Singham connected to some of those protests.”

• Fox News Digital Investigation:

  • “A network of about 500 groups with an estimated $3 billion in combined annual revenues were behind the No Kings protests.” (Sue Guzman, 03:30)

---

NASA Artemis 2: Countdown to Lunar Orbit

[03:30–04:26]

• Mission Preparations:

  • “Preparations have begun for NASA to launch its Artemis 2 mission to orbit the moon.” (Sue Guzman, 03:30)
  • Grinnell Scott (03:45): Cites launch director Charlie Blackwell Thompson on ongoing vehicle checks before astronaut boarding:
    • Quote: “Configurations of the vehicle, the checkouts that we do prior to getting deeper into our countdown. And all of this will take us over the next day or so.” (Charlie Blackwell Thompson, 04:00)

• Crew and Schedule:

  • Four astronauts (three Americans, one Canadian) at Cape Canaveral since Friday.
  • Emily Nelson (Chief Flight Director, 04:17): “Getting an opportunity for some rest before we work them very hard.”
  • The mission: Nearly 10 days around the moon and back.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Oil Tanker Attack:

  • Mike Tobin, 00:15: “It's a Kuwaiti oil tanker. It's been hit by a drone on the starboard side about 31 nautical miles northwest of Dubai. 24 crew members on board are safe.”

• Federal Employee Plight:

  • Bill Melugin, 01:34: “One CBP civilian employee told me he hasn't been paid since February 13th.”

• Protest Funding and Violence:

  • David Spunt, 02:45: “Witnesses saw someone spray quote 'kill your local ICE agent' on the wall. At least 74 people arrested after failing to disperse.”

• NASA Artemis 2 Launch Prep:

  • Charlie Blackwell Thompson, 04:00: “Configurations of the vehicle, the checkouts that we do prior to getting deeper into our countdown. And all of this will take us over the next day or so.”

---

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [00:03] — Oil tanker attack, U.S. military response
• [00:57] — Isfahan explosion and Trump’s social media post
• [01:19] — Pay gap for ICE/CBP support personnel
• [02:32] — Nationwide "No Kings" protests
• [03:30] — Investigation of protest group funding
• [03:45] — NASA Artemis 2 countdown and crew prep

---

Episode Tone & Delivery

• The update maintains a brisk, urgent news tone, directly reporting on conflict, policy, and protest with notable Fox News emphasis on security, political divides, and institutional actors.
• Includes firsthand perspectives and official statements, framed within Fox’s news style.

---

This summary captures the essential content and context for listeners seeking a quick yet comprehensive overview of this Fox News newscast episode.

Transcript

[A]

A giant oil tanker near Dubai struck by Iran. I'm Sue Guzman, FOX News. This loaded oil tanker from Kuwait set ablaze near Dubai following the attack by Iran. Fox's Mike Tobin.

[B]

It's a Kuwaiti oil tanker. It's been hit by a drone on the starboard side about 31 nautical miles northwest of Dubai. 24 crew members on board are safe. Dubai media office says there is a fire and fire crews are battling it. Kuwait has warned that an oil spill is possible big time. More U.S. forces arrive in the region. The USS Tripoli has made it to the region with 3,500 Marines on board. They have amphibious assault and tactical ready assets and they have multiple transport aircraft like Ospreys that could put Marines on shore if that option is taken. And the USS Boxer left out of San Diego, it's going to take a bit longer to get to the region. Supplementing the number of Marines, about 1500 paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne have arrived in the region as well.

[A]

Meanwhile, President Trump posted a video of a massive explosion in Iran. Untrue social that was reportedly caused by a U.S. airstrike on an ammunition depot in Isfahan, Iran. TSA agents receiving their pay thanks to an executive order from President Trump. But some ICE personnel are not getting the same treatment. Fox's Bill Melusion explains some Democrats are

[C]

now saying what the president did is illegal. ICE and CBP civilian support employees are not getting paid right now. Yes, the frontline ICE and CBP agents are getting their paychecks via the one big beautiful bill. But the thousands of crucial non law enforcement support personnel that these agencies have are not getting paid. Think of the people who work the computers, put gas in the cars, work in the public affairs offices, et cetera. One CBP civilian employee told me he hasn't been paid since February 13th. And border czar Tom Homan says by repeatedly blocking funding for ICE and cbp, Democrats are actually blocking funding for some of the very reforms they've been demanding.

[A]

America's listening to FOX News.

[D]

Building a business is hard, but protecting it doesn't have to be with LegalZoom. For more than 20 years, LegalZoom's online tools and network of attorneys have helped over 4 million businesses start strong and stay compliant. Rest easy knowing your business formation is done right from day one with LegalZoom. When you need a legal hand trust LegalZoom. Get started at legalzoom.com LegalZoom provides access to independent attorneys and self service tools. LegalZoom is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.

[A]

Protests across the country coming together for a no Kings protest this weekend taking aim at the Trump administration. Fox's David Spun tells us most of the protests were not peaceful and were funded by the Democratic Party.

[E]

In Los Angeles, scores of agitators clashed with police outside a federal building. There, witnesses saw someone spray quote kill your local ICE agent on the wall. At least 74 people arrested after failing to disperse. In St. Paul, Minnesota, another large crowd. Remember, it was nearby Minneapolis that was a hub for ICE activity. Earlier this year, a digital reporter at Fox News Digital named Azra Nomani attended the protest in St. Pa, Minnesota. She claims that she obtained a permit of the for the march, I should say, in St. Paul. And the lead coordinator was a group called Indivisible, a Democratic political advocacy group funded by networks connected to George Soares Foundations. Now, her reporting also found a connection to a wealthy American in China named Neville Roy Singham connected to some of those protests.

[A]

According to a Fox Digital investigation, a network of about 500 groups with an estimated $3 billion in combined annual revenues were behind the no Kings protests. Preparations have begun for NASA to launch its Artemis 2 mission to orbit the moon.

[F]

Fox's Grinnell Scott the countdown to liftoff has officially begun as preparations continue. Launch director Charlie Blackwell Thompson said there is much work happening well before astronauts get to the controls, configurations of the

[G]

vehicle, the checkouts that we do prior to getting deeper into our countdown. And all of this will take us over the next day or so.

[F]

As for the three Americans and one Canadian that will fly Wednesday, Chief Flight Director Emily Nelson said they've been at Cape Canaveral since Friday with their families.

[G]

Getting an opportunity for some rest before we work them very hard.

[F]

The mission is almost 10 days around the moon and back to Earth.

[A]

I'm Sue Gossman. This is FOX News.

[H]

Join Fox in supporting our troops. From daily needs to global emergencies, help us be there for those who serve. Visit Go FOX Redcross to donate to service to the armed forces today.