2AM ET 05/23/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 2AM ET 05/23/2026 Newscast

Host: Debra Valentine (FOX News Podcasts)
Air Date: May 23, 2026
Episode Theme: Key overnight headlines across national security, public safety, travel, and economic leadership – coverage of abrupt leadership changes, breaking incidents, and major national developments.

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Main Theme

This newscast delivers concise, up-to-the-minute headlines on major national developments: the resignation of the Director of National Intelligence, a deadly Staten Island shipyard explosion, an assassination threat against Ivanka Trump, the swearing-in of the new Federal Reserve Chair, record-setting Memorial Day travel, and a SpaceX test launch.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tulsi Gabbard Steps Down as Director of National Intelligence

• [00:03] Debra Valentine opens with the breaking news of Tulsi Gabbard’s resignation as Director of National Intelligence following her husband’s cancer diagnosis.
• Reporting Details:
  • [00:14] David Spunt outlines Gabbard’s oversight of 18 agencies and her decision to leave by June 30 to care for her husband.
  • Gabbard shared her resignation letter with President Trump, stating:
    • Quote [00:30]: “He faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months. At this time I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle.” – (Gabbard, via David Spunt)
  • President Trump’s response:
    • Quote [00:40]: “Tulsi has done an incredible job and we will miss her.” – President Trump (reported by David Spunt)
  • Gabbard is the fourth Cabinet departure in Trump’s second term.
  • Aaron Lucas named as acting Director of National Intelligence.

2. Staten Island Shipyard Explosion and Fire

• [00:57] Debra Valentine reports a large explosion and fire at a Staten Island shipyard, with at least 16 injured (mostly first responders) and one civilian dead.
• [01:16] FDNY Chief John Esposito recounts search and rescue efforts:
  • Quote [01:16]: “While we were conducting these searches, a second explosion occurred. We had firefighters inside conducting searches and on top of the barge and adjacent to the barge we had several that were injured. We did recover a deceased civilian.” – Chief John Esposito
• Investigators are still probing the cause of the explosion.

3. Assassination Threat Against Ivanka Trump

• [01:35] Debra Valentine references a New York Post report:
  • Ivanka Trump was allegedly targeted by a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
  • The suspect, an Iraqi national, was recently captured and had posted a picture of her Florida home.

4. Kevin Warsh Sworn in as Federal Reserve Chair

• [02:53] Kevin Warsh was sworn in as the 17th Chair of the Federal Reserve.
• [02:57] Ceremony details: Justice Clarence Thomas officiated; President Trump present.
  • Trump’s instruction to Warsh:
    • Quote [03:09]: “I want Kevin to be totally independent. I want him to be independent and just do a great job. Don't look at me, don't look at anybody. Just do your own thing and do a great job.” – President Trump
• Warsh’s focus as Fed Chair:
  • Quote [03:18]: “I will lead a reform oriented Federal Reserve learning from past successes and mistakes, both escaping static frameworks and models and upholding clear standards of integrity.” – Kevin Warsh, Fed Chair
• Warsh assumes office as inflation concerns mount due to the ongoing Iran conflict.

5. Record Memorial Day Travel Projected

• [03:42] Fox’s Connor Hanson and Grady Trimble report on projected record air travel:
  • [03:52] Grady Trimble:
    • 3.7 million expected fliers this Memorial Day weekend—a slight increase from last year.
    • Average domestic round trip: $441, a 53% year-over-year increase.
    • International airfares (Europe, Asia, Mexico, Central America) also up.
    • Quote [04:08]: “The bottom line is people are making the most of it. They're getting out and traveling. Even as higher jet fuel prices make flying more expensive.” – Grady Trimble
  • [04:22] AAA forecasts 39 million Americans will drive over the weekend.

6. SpaceX Starship Launch

• [04:22] Debra Valentine reports on SpaceX’s launch of its biggest, most powerful Starship from Texas.
  • Upgraded version critical for NASA’s eventual moon landings.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tulsi Gabbard’s reason for stepping down:
  “He faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months. At this time I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle.” – Tulsi Gabbard (read by David Spunt, [00:30])
• President Trump’s acknowledgment:
  “Tulsi has done an incredible job and we will miss her.” – President Trump ([00:40])
• FDNY Chief on the Staten Island Explosions:
  “While we were conducting these searches, a second explosion occurred. … We did recover a deceased civilian.” – Chief John Esposito ([01:16])
• President Trump’s direction to the new Fed Chair:
  “I want Kevin to be totally independent… do your own thing and do a great job.” – President Trump ([03:09])
• Kevin Warsh’s commitment:
  “I will lead a reform oriented Federal Reserve learning from past successes and mistakes, both escaping static frameworks and models and upholding clear standards of integrity.” – Kevin Warsh ([03:18])
• Travel Trends:
  “People are making the most of it. They're getting out and traveling. Even as higher jet fuel prices make flying more expensive.” – Grady Trimble ([04:08])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:03 – Tulsi Gabbard’s resignation (Debra Valentine, David Spunt)
• 00:57 – Staten Island explosion (Debra Valentine, John Esposito)
• 01:35 – Assassination threat against Ivanka Trump
• 02:53 – Kevin Warsh sworn in as Fed Chair (Debra Valentine, President Trump, Kevin Warsh)
• 03:42 – Memorial Day travel forecast (Connor Hanson, Grady Trimble)
• 04:22 – SpaceX Starship launch

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Tone & Language

The episode maintains a factual, direct, and urgent news delivery style throughout, consistent with Fox News Radio’s standard hourly updates. Speaker attributions are clear and moments of gravity (notably the shipyard incident) are given due seriousness.

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This summary captures all key topics, takeaways, and moments from the 2AM ET Fox News Hourly Update for May 23, 2026, ensuring listeners are briefed on the night’s most important national stories.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

Stepping down, I'm Debra Valentine. Fox News Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard steps down amid her husband's cancer diagnosis here's Fox's David Spunt, the Director

[David Spunt]

of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who oversees 18 agencies that keep the most important secrets in government, will leave her post on June 30 to help her husband as he fights an aggressive and rare form of bone cancer. She made the announcement after informing the president, according to reporting from Fox Digital. Gabbard posted a copy of the letter that she wrote to President Trump speaking of her husband. She said he faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months. At this time I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle, Trump responded. Tulsi has done an incredible job and we will miss her. Gabbard is the fourth Trump Cabinet official to leave during the president's second term in office.

[Debra Valentine]

Aaron Lucas will step up to serve as acting Director of National Intelligence. A major explosion, Explosion and fire at a Staten island shipyard Friday afternoon injured at least 16 people, mostly first responders, and left one civilian dead, according to fire and city officials. FDNY Chief of the Department John Esposito

[John Esposito]

telling reporters, while we were conducting these searches, a second explosion occurred. We had firefighters inside conducting searches and on top of the barge and adjacent to the barge we had several that were injured. We did recover a deceased civilian.

[Debra Valentine]

Investigators still working to determine what may have caused the explosion. The New York Post reporting that Ivanka Trump was targeted by an assassination threat allegedly to be carried out by a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The recently captured Iraqi national also posted a picture of her Florida home. America is listening to Fox News.

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[Debra Valentine]

Kevin Warsh sworn in Friday as the 17th chair of

[News Reporter]

the Federal Reserve Kevin Warsh sworn in as Fed Chair by Justice C.L. clarence Thomas in an East Room ceremony. President Trump presiding over the ceremony, insisting Warsh should run the Fed independently.

[President Donald Trump]

I want Kevin to be totally independent. I want him to be independent and just do a great job. Don't look at me, don't look at anybody. Just do your own thing and do

[News Reporter]

a great job coming into the position. Warsh has argued for reshaping the Fed and shrinking its footprint. I will lead a reform oriented Federal Reserve learning from past successes and mistakes, both escaping static frameworks and models and upholding clear standards of integrity. Warsh begins his term as the Iran conflict drives up prices.

[Debra Valentine]

Fox physicist Connor Hanson without report. Look for a record number of airline passengers this holiday weekend. Fox's Grady Trimble reports from Chicago O' Hare Airport.

[Grady Trimble]

3.7 million Americans will fly this Memorial Day weekend. That's a slight increase from last year. It doesn't seem like travel travelers are deterred by higher airfare. The average domestic round trip is $441. That is a 53% increase from last year. Similarly, airfare to Europe, Asia, Mexico and Central America is also more expensive this Memorial Day weekend. The bottom line is people are making the most of it. They're getting out and traveling. Even as higher jet fuel prices make

[Debra Valentine]

flying more expensive, AAA predicts 39 million Americans will travel by car this weekend. SpaceX launching its biggest, most powerful starship yet from southern Texas on a test flight Friday. An upgraded version that NASA is counting on to land astronauts on the moon eventually. I'm Debra Valentine. This is Fox News.

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