2AM ET 05/06/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 2AM ET 05/06/2026 – Episode Summary

Main Theme:
This newscast covers major overnight developments on U.S.-Iran relations, a major pause in U.S. military operations in the Strait of Hormuz, diplomatic moves involving the White House and the Vatican, a wrap-up of primary election results in Ohio, fallout from the partial U.S. government shutdown on airport security, and fresh U.S. anti-drug operations.

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1. Shift in U.S. Strategy Toward Iran

[00:02–00:47]

• Pause in “Project Freedom”
  • President Trump has announced a temporary suspension of “Project Freedom,” the mission aimed at protecting commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian attacks.
  • Quote: “Project Freedom will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not an agreement to end the war with Iran can be finalized and signed.”
    — President Trump on Truth Social, recapped by Kristin Goodwin [00:15]
  • The move comes at the request of Pakistan and other countries, due to “tremendous military success” and “great progress” in negotiation.
  • Important Note: Despite the pause, the U.S. blockade of the strait will remain in force.

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2. Secretary of State Rubio on Hormuz Strategy

[00:47–01:36]

• Operation Epic Fury Over, Focus on Reopening Strait
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio stresses the open status of the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. defense of commercial shipping.
  • Quote: “The Strait of Hormuz does not belong to Iran... the regime does not have the right to shoot at commercial vessels transiting the narrow waterway.”
    — Marco Rubio, Secretary of State [00:54]
  • Rubio rejects idea of “normalizing” Iran’s interference, strongly opposing any notion of paying Iran a toll or coordinating for Strait transit.
    • Quote: “It cannot be normalized under no circumstances... okay, this is normal. You have to coordinate with Iran. You have to pay them a toll...”
      — Marco Rubio [01:04]
  • Operation Epic Fury, the combat mission, is declared “over.” U.S. policy is: “No shooting unless we’re shot at first. Okay? We’re not attacking them.”
    — Marco Rubio [01:22]
  • Rubio does not rule out future combat if talks fail.
    • “Rubio did not rule out the possibility combat operations resume if diplomatic negotiations fail.”
      — Jared Halpern, FOX News [01:26]

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3. Diplomatic Tensions and Presidential Criticism of the Pope

[01:36–02:00]

• Secretary Rubio is heading to the Vatican for a “fence mending” visit with Pope Leo XIV, following Trump’s recent criticism of the pontiff.
• President Trump accuses the Pope of “saying it’s okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon”; the pontiff responds he’s simply following Church teaching.

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4. Ohio Primary Election Outcomes

[03:07–04:03]

• Senate Race:
  • Former Senator Sherrod Brown won the Democratic primary, setting up a key race against Republican Senator John Husted. This contest is projected to be among the most expensive races.
• Governor’s Race:
  • Biotech billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy secured the GOP nomination and will face Democrat Amy Acton (COVID-era health director).
• The races will play a significant role in shaping state and national politics.

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5. TSA Staffing Crisis Following Government Shutdown

[04:03–04:42]

• The 76-day partial government shutdown has led to major staffing shortfalls in the TSA:
  • DHS confirms the TSA lost 1,100 employees (8% of workforce).
  • It takes four to six months to train new TSA hires, so replacements likely won’t be ready before the FIFA World Cup or other major summer events.
  • DHS expects 5–7 million international travelers for the World Cup, “the equivalent of hosting 78 Super Bowls in 11 different American cities.” — FOX’s Bill Melugin [04:30]

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6. U.S. Anti-Drug Strike Operations

[04:42–05:05]

• The United States launched another strike on a vessel suspected of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific, killing three.
• This follows similar operations, with at least 191 people killed since September as part of the crackdown.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Trump’s Strategic Pause:
  “Project Freedom will be paused... to see whether or not an agreement to end the war with Iran can be finalized.”
  — Kristin Goodwin reporting President Trump [00:15]

• Rubio on Security Principles:
  “The Strait of Hormuz does not belong to Iran... the regime does not have the right to shoot at commercial vessels...”
  — Marco Rubio [00:54] “No shooting unless we’re shot at first. Okay? We’re not attacking them.”
  — Marco Rubio [01:22]

• DHS on Traveler Surge:
  “They’re anticipating between 5 and 7 million global travelers to come to the US for the FIFA World Cup alone, which they say is the equivalent of hosting 78 Super Bowls in 11 different American cities.”
  — Bill Melugin [04:30]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• U.S.-Iran: Project Freedom Paused: [00:02–00:47]
• Rubio: Security & Diplomatic Position: [00:47–01:36]
• Diplomatic Tensions with Vatican: [01:36–02:00]
• Ohio Primaries Results: [03:07–04:03]
• TSA Shutdown Fallout & World Cup Concerns: [04:03–04:42]
• U.S. Drug Strike Operations: [04:42–05:05]

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Summary prepared for those who missed the episode, covering all key developments, quotes, and updates.

Transcript

[A]

A change of plans. I'm Sue Guzman. Fox News. And President Trump announcing a change up in tactics with Iran.

[B]

President Trump recently announced Project Freedom, saying it aimed to guide commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz and defend them from Iranian attacks. But the president taking to Truth Social to say Project Freedom will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not an agreement to end the war with Iran can be finalized and signed. He goes on to explain the move is based on the request of Pakistan and other countries, the tremendous military success that we have had and the fact that great progress has been made toward a complete and final agreement. Adding the US Blockade of the strait would remain in place. Kristin Goodwin, FOX News.

[A]

Meanwhile, the secretary of state says the US Is operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is a favorite of the world. Fox's Jarrett Halpern reports.

[C]

The Strait of Hormuz does not belong to Iran, Secretary of State Marco Rubio says, and the regime does not have the right to shoot at commercial vessels transiting the narrow waterway.

[D]

And it cannot be normalized under no circumstances till we live in a world where we accept, okay, this is normal. You have to coordinate with Iran. You have to pay them a toll in order to go through the Straits of Hormuz.

[C]

Briefing reporters at the White House, Rubio said Operation Epic Fury, the combat mission against Iran, is over and the priority now is reopening the strait.

[D]

There's no shooting unless we're shot at first. Okay? We're not attacking them.

[C]

Still, Rubio did not rule out the possibility combat operations resume if diplomatic negotiations fail. At the White House, Jared Halpern fo

[A]

and Secretary of State Rubio headed to the Vatican this week to meet with the pope, Pope Leo xiv, viewed by some as a fence mending visit following criticism of the pontiff by President Trump. Presidents keeping up the heat though, on the pope accusing Leo of saying it's okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, the pontiff says he's just following church teaching. America is listening to FOX News.

[E]

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[A]

Tonight's Ohio primary has set up two marquee matchups in November. A Senate race that'll help determine control of the chamber and a governor's race facing a former presidential candidate and the state's COVID 19 era health director. Senate campaign is on track to be among the most expensive this year as Republicans try to hold onto their majority. Former Senator Sherrod Brown easily defeated a challenger in the Democratic primary and will now attempt to unseat Republican Senator John Husted in the governor's race. Biotech billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy clinched the Republican nomination and will face all off this fall against Democrat Amy Acton, The COVID era health director and Homeland Security is mostly funded. Again this after a 76 day partial government shutdown. But the ripple effects are continuing. A lot of TSA workers quit and now the DHS has to hire and train airport security agents ahead of the World cup next month.

[F]

DHS tells Fox News that TSA lost about 1100 employees as a result of the shutdown. 1100 people quit. That represents 8% of their overall workforce and they say it can take four to six months to train any new TSA hires before they can be deployed to airports. So any new TSA agents likely can't even be staffed in time for the FIFA World cup and America 250 events later this summer. And the numbers there expecting are huge. DHS tells Fox News they're anticipating between 5 and 7 million global travelers to come to the US for the FIFA World cup alone, which they say is the equivalent of hosting 78 Super Bowls in 11 different American cities.

[A]

Fox's Bill Malusian in the United States has launched another strike on a vessel suspected of transporting drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing three men. The attack Tuesday coming a day after U.S. forces struck a reputed drug boat in the Caribbean Sea, killing two people. The at least 191 people have been killed since the strikes began in September. I'm Sue Gusman. This is Fox News.

[G]

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