2AM ET 04/13/2026 Newscast

Summary

---

Fox News Hourly Update – 2AM ET 04/13/2026 Newscast

Podcast: Fox News Hourly Update
Host: FOX News Podcasts (Angelo Bavaro, Ashley Strohmeier, Mike Tobin)
Air Date: April 13, 2026
Episode Overview:
This episode delivers a fast-paced run-through of the hour's biggest stories, including political shakeups in California, escalations in US-Iran relations, a policy announcement from New York City’s Mayor, a key amendment vote in Virginia, and a celebratory look back at the Artemis 2 moon mission.

---

Major Shakeup in California Gubernatorial Race

Key Segment: [00:02]–[00:32]

• Eric Swalwell Suspends Campaign:

  • Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell suspends his campaign for California governor following allegations of sexual assault by a former staffer.
  • He asserts his innocence, stating the accusations are "absolutely false."
  • House Democrats are now urging Swalwell to resign his seat, some even pushing for expulsion if he refuses.

• Notable Quote:

  • Ashley Strohmeier: “Democrats in Congress are calling for him to resign his current seat in the House, with some even saying they will support the rare step of expulsion if he refuses to leave.” [00:21]

• Public Statement by Swalwell:

  • In a social media post, Swalwell apologized for "mistakes and judgment" while denying the allegations.

---

U.S. to Blockade Strait of Hormuz

Key Segment: [00:32]–[01:41]

• President Trump’s Announcement:

  • The U.S. will initiate a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, starting at 10am ET, in response to failed American-Iranian peace talks in Pakistan.
  • The blockade’s purpose is to cut off Iranian oil exports.

• Blockade Details:

  • Only ships departing Iranian ports will be stopped.
  • U.S. Navy begins de-mining operations and plans to announce a safe pathway for neutral commercial shipping.

• Iran’s Response:

  • Iran's Revolutionary Guard declares full control of the strait, threatening force against any warships entering.

• Notable Quotes:

  • President Trump: “We're putting on a complete blockade. We're not going to let Iran make money on selling oil to people that they like and not people that they don't like or whatever it is. It's going to be all or none.” [01:27]
  • Mike Tobin: “The blockade will involve stopping any ships that come out of Iranian ports or Iranian coastal areas. US Ships will not be stopping vessels traveling from non Iranian ports.” [00:57]

• Additional Insight:

  • President Trump claims U.S. forces destroyed Iranian naval assets and criticizes NATO’s lack of involvement in reopening the strait.

---

NYC Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s City-Run Grocery Store Initiative

Key Segment: [02:40]–[03:20]

• Policy Announcement:

  • New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani celebrates his first 100 days with a rally and the rollout plan for city-operated grocery stores in every borough.
  • First location to launch in East Harlem. Estimated opening cost: $30 million.

• Goals:

  • Mamdani vows to make basic groceries—like eggs and bread—affordable for all NYC residents.

• Quote:

  • Angelo Bavaro: “Eggs will be cheaper. Bread will be cheaper. Grocery shopping will no longer be an unsolvable equation.” [02:47]

---

Virginia Redistricting Amendment Debate

Key Segment: [03:20]–[03:44]

• Voters Face Big Decision:

  • Virginia voters will vote on temporarily returning redistricting control to the state legislature (currently Democratic-led).
  • Republican Congressman Rob Whitman warns this could disenfranchise rural voters.

• Notable Quote:

  • Rob Whitman (via Mike Tobin): “It is a complete, complete silencing of the voices of over 2.1 million voters across the Commonwealth of Virginia disenfranchises them.” [03:20]

• Democratic Response:

  • Democrats claim the move responds to GOP-led states redrawing their own congressional maps.

---

Artemis 2 Astronauts’ Historic Lunar Mission

Key Segment: [03:44]–[04:23]

• Crew’s Return and Reflections:

  • Artemis 2 crew—Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—receive a hero's welcome after their record-breaking ten-day lunar flyby.

• Astronaut's Reflections:

  • Wiseman expresses gratitude to families and reflects on the emotional challenges of traveling deep into space.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Reid Wiseman: “This was not easy. Being 200,000 plus miles away from home like before you launch, it feels like it's the greatest dream on Earth. And when you're out there, you just want to get back to your families and your friends. It's a special thing to be a human and it's a special thing to be on planet Earth.” [04:02]

• Mission Milestones:

  • Astronauts traveled farther from Earth than any humans before; flawless splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.
  • Crew included three Americans and one Canadian.

---

Memorable Moments & Tone

• The episode is concise, urgent, and packed with breaking developments and high-stakes international diplomacy.
• Quotes from politicians and astronauts add immediacy and emotional gravity.
• The program maintains FOX’s direct, news-focused style, with frequent attributions and sharp, succinct updates.

---

Transcript

[Angelo Bavaro]

Swalwell steps out. I'm Angelo Bavaro, Fox News. A major shakeup in the race for governor in California.

[Ashley Strohmeier]

Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell says he will suspend his campaign for governor of California. This comes after allegations surface that Swalwell sexually assaulted a former staffer. He has denied the allegations, calling them absolutely false. Democrats in Congress are calling for him to resign his current seat in the House, with some even saying they will support the rare step of expulsion if he refuses to leave.

[Angelo Bavaro]

That is Fox's Ashley Strohmeier. In a post on X, Swalwell said he's deeply sorry for mistakes and judgment he has made in the past while denying the allegations that have been made against him. President Trump says the US Will implement a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz beginning 10am Eastern. This after American and Iranian delegates left Pakistan without an agreement to end the conflict in the Middle East.

[Mike Tobin]

The blockade will involve stopping any ships that come out of Iranian ports or Iranian coastal areas. US Ships will not be stopping vessels traveling from non Iranian ports. The early stages of de mining the strait has begun and information about a safe path through the strait will be communicated to commercial mariners now. Iran's Revolutionary Guard put out a defiant statement that the Strait of Hormuz is now under their control and any warship approaching the strait will be seen as a breach of the ceasefire and will be dealt with strongly. President Trump told Maria Bartiromo details of the naval blockade.

[President Trump]

We're putting on a complete blockade. We're not going to let Iran make money on selling oil to people that they like and not people that they don't like or whatever it is. It's going to be all or none.

[Mike Tobin]

The announcement of the blockade came after talks in Pakistan failed to produce an agreement.

[Angelo Bavaro]

Fox's Mike Tobin President Trump also declaring Iranian naval forces had been destroyed, stepping off Air Force One in Sunday, Maryland. He also expressed disapproval of NATO for what he says has been a lack of support to reopen the strait. America is listening to Fox News.

[NetSuite Commercial]

Every business is asking the same question. How do we make AI work for us? No more waiting with Netsuite by Oracle. You can put AI to work today. NetSuite is the number one AI cloud ERP, trusted by over 43,000 businesses. It's the unified suite that brings your finances, inventory, commerce, HR and CRM into a single source of truth. The connected data is what makes your AI smarter, helping you make fast decisions. If your revenues are at least in the seven figures, get our free business guide demystifying [e-mail] Fox

[Angelo Bavaro]

New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani marking his first 100 days in office with the rally, promising to start rolling out plans for those city run grocery stores in every borough, starting with East Harlem in Manhattan. Eggs will be cheaper. Bread will be cheaper. Grocery shopping will no longer be an unsolvable equation. The city expects the first store will cost about $30 million to open. Virginia voters will decide on an amendment to temporarily hand over redistricting power back to the state legislature, currently run by Democrats. On the FOX Report, Virginia Republican Congressman Rob Whitman says people in rural areas will be isolated.

[Mike Tobin]

It is a complete, complete silencing of the voices of over 2.1 million voters

[Angelo Bavaro]

across the Commonwealth of Virginia disenfranchises them. Democrats say that effort is in response to GOP led states redrawing their congressional maps. The Artemis 2 astronauts are speaking about their 10 day trip around the moon, which ended on Friday. Fox's Madison Scarpino with more.

[Ashley Strohmeier]

The world got to witness a historic mission and the crew got a hero's welcome at Johnson Space center yesterday. Commander Reid Wiseman says he and pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Cook and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen are now bonded forever. And he gave a lot of thanks to his family.

[President Trump]

This was not easy. Being 200,000 plus miles away from home like before you launch, it feels like it's the greatest dream on Earth. And when you're out there, you just want to get back to your families and your friends. It's a special thing to be a human and it's a special thing to be on planet Earth.

[Ashley Strohmeier]

The crew traveling deeper into space than any other humans before. It was a record breaking trip around

[Angelo Bavaro]

the moon and it was a flawless splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. That crew was made up of three US Astronauts and a Canadian. I'm Angelo Bavaro and this is FOX News.