2AM ET 07/03/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 2AM ET 07/03/2026 Newscast

Date: July 3, 2026
Host: Sue Guzman, FOX News Podcasts

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Main Theme

This edition of the Fox News Hourly Update focuses on key international and domestic stories, including the pause in U.S.-Iran nuclear talks, Fourth of July travel and extreme heat across the U.S., devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, an indictment related to the Lincoln Memorial, and the release of a critical watchdog report on security failures during the attempted assassination of former President Trump.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks Paused

• Progress in Talks:
  • U.S. and Iran concluded discussions in Doha, Qatar with both sides reporting "positive progress".
  • Negotiations involved Qatari and Pakistani mediators.
  • [00:02] Sue Guzman: "A pause in the talks... both sides reporting positive progress, though there are Qatari and Pakistani negotiators."
• Pause Due to Funeral:
  • Talks will pause until after the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with ceremonies starting this weekend and burial set for July 9.
  • [00:19] Jeff Paul: "Qatari officials say that will likely be after the funeral for Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei."
• Discussion Points:
  • Focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and unfreezing Iranian assets.
  • Iran and U.S. agree to establish a communications channel for violations of the Memorandum of Understanding.
  • Iran to allow nuclear inspectors access to "just two sites as of now."
  • [00:35] Jeff Paul: "Iran's parliament speaker and lead negotiator admitted that nuclear inspections will happen, saying they'll have access to just two sites as of now."

2. Iran’s Supreme Leader Funeral and Mourning

• Event Timing:
  • Funeral begins Saturday with a week of mass mourning planned.
  • [00:55] Sue Guzman: "Funeral services for Iran's supreme leader is set for Saturday with a week of mass mourning planned."

3. Fourth of July Travel Surge

• Massive Travel Numbers:
  • Over 72 million Americans are expected to travel: ~61 million by car, ~6 million by air.
  • [01:05] Grady Trimble: "Most people will drive around 61 million, with another roughly 6 million catching a flight."
• Travel Challenges:
  • Delta warns of possible flight disruptions from LaGuardia due to heat.
  • Airfares and gas prices significantly higher than last year (jet fuel +27%, gas +67 cents).
  • [01:17] Grady Trimble: "Airfare is up substantially from a year ago because of higher jet fuel prices up around 27%..."

4. Venezuela Earthquake Rescue

• Ongoing Disaster Response:
  • Eight days after dual earthquakes, a 43-year-old security guard rescued alive after being trapped in a collapsed shopping center basement.
  • Death toll at 2,595, with 50,000 people still unaccounted for.
  • [01:34] Sue Guzman: "Eight days after the earthquakes in Venezuela, rescuers have pulled a 43 year old security guard out alive..."
  • [01:47] Sue Guzman: "Venezuela's interim president Delsey Rodriguez says the death toll in the twin earthquake tragedy stands at 2,595, 50,000 people unaccounted for."

5. Extreme Heat Alerts Across America

• Weather Warnings:
  • Excessive heat expected through the weekend; feels-like temps could reach 115°F.
  • Amtrak enforces speed restrictions to prevent track warping; delays of 15–30 minutes expected.
  • Nearly 200 million Americans facing 90°F+ temperatures.
  • [02:41] Michael Estimate: "We have excessive heat warnings that are in effect not just today, but through tomorrow, meaning that at times it could feel like 115 degrees."
  • Forecast: Hottest Fourth of July in the Northeast and Mid Atlantic in a decade.
  • [03:10] Michael Estimate: "It's shaping up to be the hottest Fourth of July in the Northeast and...Mid Atlantic states in more than a decade."

6. Lincoln Memorial Vandalism Case

• Indictment:
  • Former Olympic canoe racer David Hearn indicted for felony vandalism for allegedly damaging the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool liner.
  • Hearn claims innocence.
  • [03:19] Sue Guzman: "Former Olympic canoe racer David Hearn indicted on felony vandalism charges for allegedly ripping the liner forcibly from the Lincoln Memorial...He says he's innocent."

7. Watchdog Report on Trump Assassination Attempt

• Communication Failures Exposed:
  • Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General finds Secret Service did not hear 102 police radio warnings of a "suspicious person" before the attempted assassination.
  • Failure due to lack of established joint communications with local police.
  • The suspect, Thomas Crooks, shot and killed by police after injuring Trump and killing a bystander.
  • Drone was flown unnoticed due to anti-drone system being unstaffed and malfunctioning.
  • [03:40] Jack Callahan:
    • "There were 102 law enforcement radio transmissions about a suspicious person...but the Secret Service didn't hear them because it failed to establish joint communications with local police."
    • "Crooks had flown a drone at the site undetected because the Secret Service anti drone system...wasn't working."

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Memorable Quotes

• Sue Guzman [00:02]: “A pause in the talks. I'm Sue Guzman, Fox News. U.S. and Iran have concluded their talks in Doha, Qatar, both sides reporting positive progress...”
• Jeff Paul [00:19]: “Qatari officials say that will likely be after the funeral for Iran’s supreme leader...”
• Grady Trimble [01:05]: “Most people will drive around 61 million, with another roughly 6 million catching a flight. In fact, Delta is warning that flights out of LaGuardia could be affected in part because of hot weather.”
• Michael Estimate [02:41]: “At times it could feel like 115 degrees. Amtrak issuing speed restrictions because of the heat...nearly 200 million Americans battling temperatures north of 90 degrees through the holiday weekend.”
• Jack Callahan [03:40]: “The Secret Service didn’t hear them because it failed to establish joint communications with local police. As a result, President Trump’s protective detail was unaware of the threat.”

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Important Timestamps

• [00:02] — U.S.-Iran talks pause for Iran’s Supreme Leader funeral
• [01:05] — Holiday travel update (road and air)
• [01:34] — Venezuela earthquake: survivor rescued, death toll, missing update
• [02:32] — Extreme heat warnings and Amtrak delays, Fourth of July forecast
• [03:19] — Lincoln Memorial vandalism charge
• [03:40] — Watchdog report on security failures during attempted assassination of Trump

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Transcript

[Sue Guzman]

A pause in the talks. I'm Sue Guzman, Fox News. U.S. and Iran have concluded their talks in Doha, Qatar, both sides reporting positive progress, though there are Qatari and Pakistani negotiators. Fox's Jeff Paul tells us the talks, though, will resume after the funeral of Iran's supreme leader.

[Jeff Paul]

Qatari officials say that will likely be after the funeral for Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Those ceremonies are set to start this weekend, with the burial taking place on July 9. The latest technical talks reportedly centered around the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as unfreezing Iranian assets. Iran's foreign minister says Tehran and Washington will work to establish a communication channel to discuss any violations of the MoU. Iran's parliament speaker and lead negotiator admitted that nuclear inspections will happen, saying they'll have access to just two sites as of now.

[Sue Guzman]

Funeral services for Iran's supreme leader is set for Saturday with a week of mass mourning planned. More than 72 million Americans expected to hit the road this Fourth of July weekend.

[Grady Trimble]

Most people will drive around 61 million, with another roughly 6 million catching a flight. In fact, Delta is warning that flights out of LaGuardia could be affected in part because of hot weather. Airfare is up substantially from a year ago because of higher jet fuel prices up around 27% according to the latest inflation report. And gas prices are up 67 cents a gallon compared to 4th of July week last year.

[Sue Guzman]

Fox's Grady Trimble in Chicago. And eight days after the earthquakes in Venezuela, rescuers have pulled a 43 year old security guard out alive from a collapsed basement of a shopping center in the coastal town of Laguida. Venezuela's interim president Delsey Rodriguez says the death toll in the twin earthquake tragedy stands at 2,595, 50,000 people unaccounted for. America is listening to FOX News.

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[Sue Guzman]

extreme heat expected to continue to pummel millions of Americans through the weekend as many people are planning outdoor activities to mark the Fourth of July holiday.

[Fox Weather's Michael Estimate]

We have excessive heat warnings that are in effect not just today, but through tomorrow, meaning that at times it could feel like 115 degrees. Amtrak issuing speed restrictions because of the heat when temperatures pass 95 degrees to prevent the tracks from warping. So expect those restrictions to add at least 15 to 30 minutes to your trip, according to Amtrak. And D.C. isn't alone nearly 200 million Americans battling temperatures north of 90 degrees through the holiday weekend. It's shaping up to be the hottest Fourth of July in the Northeast and of course, across the Mid Atlantic states in more than a decade.

[Sue Guzman]

Fox Weather's Michael Estimate former Olympic canoe racer David Hearn indicted on felony vandalism charges for allegedly ripping the liner forcibly from the Lincoln Memorial reform deflecting pool. He says he's innocent, Governor Mint watchdog agency is issuing a report detailing communications failures leading up to the attempted assassination of President Trump two years ago.

[Jack Callahan]

The Department of Homeland Security's inspector general says there were 102 law enforcement radio transmissions about a suspicious person at the Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, but the Secret Service didn't hear them because it failed to establish joint communications with local police. As a result, President Trump's protective detail was unaware of the threat. Thomas Crooks was shot and killed by a police sniper after firing several shots from a nearby rooftop. One of them wounded then candidate Trump. Another killed a spectator. The agency also reports before the event, Crooks had flown a drone at the site undetected because the Secret Service anti drone system manned by a single under trained operator, wasn't working. Jack Callahan, FOX News I'm Sue Guzman.

[Sue Guzman]

This is FOX News.

[Jack Callahan]

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