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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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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.
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.
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.
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.