2AM ET 07/15/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 2AM ET 07/15/2026 Newscast

Host: Sue Guzman (with reporting from Anita Vogel, Christina Coleman, Kevin Corr, Jessica Rosenthal)
Date: July 15, 2026

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Episode Overview

This Fox News Hourly Update delivers concise, high-impact coverage of major national and international news stories. Key topics include renewed military action in the Strait of Hormuz, changes to ICE vehicle stop protocols, congressional action on Daylight Saving Time, Supreme Court justice security, succession in the U.S. Senate following Senator Lindsey Graham's death, and the payout to E. Jean Carroll in her case against Donald Trump.

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Key News Highlights & Discussion Points

1. Military Escalation: Strait of Hormuz Blockade

• The U.S. military has reimposed a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and launched fresh strikes targeting Iranian assets.

• President Trump emphasizes a strategy to "degrade" Iran's military capabilities until negotiations resume.

  • Quote (President Trump):

    "They'll continue until I say it's enough. I mean, they'll continue. They've been, you know, the word the military likes to use is degrade. They've been degraded to a very low level."
    [00:19]

• The blockade allows passage for all except Iranian vessels. Plans for a 20% fee for U.S. protection were reconsidered after input from Gulf Cooperation Council allies.

  • Quote (Anita Vogel):

    "President Trump insisting the Strait of Hormuz is once again open for business for everybody but Iran, although he did back off a bit from his plan to impose a 20% fee for that service provided by the US military."
    [00:31]

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2. ICE Restricts Vehicle Stops

• ICE instructed to halt most vehicle stops nationwide, a response to two fatal shootings in Maine and Texas. Exceptions are made for "most egregious targets" with violent criminal histories.

• The policy shift is described as temporary by Border Czar Tom Holman.

  • Quote (Tom Holman):

    "ICE will still conduct vehicle stops for those considered to be the most egregious targets with serious or violent criminal histories."
    [00:55]

• Incident in Maine highlighted: ICE attempted to stop a vehicle associated with a final removal order; the vehicle fled, and an officer fired, citing public safety.

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3. Move Toward Permanent Daylight Saving Time

• The House passes the "Sunshine Protection Act" to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, with a highly favorable vote.

  • Quote (Congressman Scott Desjarlais):

    "The nays are 308, the nays are 117. The bill is passed."
    [01:35]

• The future of the bill in the Senate is uncertain.

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4. Supreme Court Security Requests

• Supreme Court justices make a rare appearance before Congress to request a $14 million budget increase for enhanced court security.

• Justice Elena Kagan recalls a lack of personal security when joining the court and references significant changes following the Dobbs decision leak.

  • Quote (Elena Kagan):

    "When I first joined the court, they had no personal security. They do now... but she said security really ramped up after the Dobbs decision was leaked."
    [02:39, 02:56]

• An anonymous quote points to the challenges in trust and transparency within the court following the leak.

  • Quote:

    "If we don't have trust in one another and all the people who work for us, then those kinds of honest conversations that we need to do our business are not going to take place."
    [03:00]

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5. Temporary Replacement in the Senate: Darlene Graham

• Darlene Graham, sister of late Senator Lindsey Graham, is sworn in to temporarily fill his Senate seat for South Carolina.

  • Quote (Kevin Corr):

    "The sister of the late Republican senator from the Palmetto state, Lindsey Graham, sworn in to temporarily fill his Senate appointment... Darlene will fill the remainder of her brother's current term through January 3, while voters in South Carolina will get a chance to decide who in November will hold that seat for the next six years."
    [03:26]

• New details are shared about Senator Graham's final hours, including a staff member's call for medical help following chest pains.

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6. E. Jean Carroll Receives Her Payout

• Writer E. Jean Carroll has received over $5 million in damages, three years after a jury found Donald Trump (as a private citizen) liable for defamation and sex abuse related to an incident in 1996.

  • Quote (Sue Guzman):

    "U.S. district Court in lower Manhattan posting a money has been dispersed to her on its website."
    [04:07]

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On U.S. military action:

  "They've been degraded to a very low level." – President Trump [00:19]

• On House vote for permanent Daylight Saving Time:

  "The nays are 308, the nays are 117. The bill is passed." – Rep. Scott Desjarlais [01:35]

• On Supreme Court security post-Dobbs leak:

  "Security really ramped up after the Dobbs decision was leaked." – Justice Elena Kagan [02:56]

• On Senate succession:

  "Darlene will fill the remainder of her brother's current term through January 3..." – Kevin Corr [03:26]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:02] Military blockade in Strait of Hormuz
• [00:49] ICE vehicle stops policy change
• [01:30] House votes on permanent Daylight Saving Time
• [02:34] Supreme Court security budget request
• [03:21] Darlene Graham sworn in to Senate
• [04:07] E. Jean Carroll receives payout

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This Fox News Hourly Update provides fast-paced, direct reporting on a range of high-profile issues—from international military maneuvers and major domestic policy changes, to updates on the judiciary and evolving political representation in the Senate. The tone is brisk, with clear attributions and prominent use of officials' direct statements, offering an informative snapshot of national headlines at the hour.

Transcript

[Sue Guzman]

Blockade back on. I'm Sue Guzman. Fox News. The military reimposing a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and launching new strikes.

[Anita Vogel]

The president making clear Iran is in for plenty more pain unless and until it gets back to the negotiating table.

[President Trump]

They'll continue until I say it's enough. I mean, they'll continue. They've been, you know, the word the military likes to use is degrade. They've been degraded to a very low level.

[Anita Vogel]

President Trump insisting the Strait of Hormuz is once again open for business for everybody but Iran, although he did back off a bit from his plan to impose a 20% fee for that service provided by the US military. After hearing from allies on the Gulf Cooperation Council, Fox is Anita Vogel.

[Sue Guzman]

ICE agents are being instructed to end most vehicle stops nationwide. For the time being, Fox's Christina Coleman.

[Tom Holman]

ICE will still conduct vehicle stops for those considered to be the most egregious targets with serious or violent criminal histories. This comes after the two fatal ICE involved shootings in Maine and Texas that happened within a week. Border czar Tom Holman says the change is temporary. In Maine, DHS said ICE agents were surveilling an address for a person for a final removal order from the country when ICE tried to stop the vehicle driven by someone coming from that address. DHS says the vehicle attempted to flee the scene and fearing for public safety, an officer discharged his weapon.

[Sue Guzman]

The House has approved a bill that would have the US go to Daylight Saving Time permanently.

[Scott Desjarlais]

The nays are 308, the nays are 117. The bill is passed.

[Sue Guzman]

Congressman Scott Desjarlais, who presided over the vote, went on to add a musical touch from the Beatles to highlight the passage of the so called Sunshine Protection Act. And the bill now heads to the Senate where its future is uncertain. America is listening to Fox News.

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[President Trump]

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[Sue Guzman]

rare appearance before the House and Senate committees Tuesday about the high court's security budget.

[Elena Kagan]

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan recalled to senators when she first joined the court, they had no personal security. They do now. She said two Congress members assessing security told the chief justice back in 2016.

[President Trump]

We think you're out of your mind. The director of the Office of Personnel Management has more security than the Supreme Court justices.

[Elena Kagan]

But she said security really ramped up after the Dobbs decision was leaked.

[President Trump]

In 2029 of us don't have trust in one another and don't have trust in one another and all the people who work for us. Then those kinds of honest conversations that we need to do our business are not going to take place.

[Elena Kagan]

The justices are asking for a $14 million increase in the next fiscal year budget. Jessica Rosenthal, FOX News.

[Sue Guzman]

Darlene Graham has been sworn in to temporarily take her brother's place in the U.S. senate.

[Kevin Corr]

Fox's Kevin Corr, the sister of the late Republican senator from the Palmetto state, Lindsey Graham, sworn in to temporarily fill his Senate appointment Thanks to Hamy McMaster, the state's governor, coming just a few days after his sudden death. Now Darlene will fill the remainder of her brother's current term through January 3, while voters in South Carolina will get a chance to decide who in November will hold that seat for the next six years. Meantime, we're learning more about the senator's final hours. Tonight, Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville revealing today that it was a former member of his staff who actually called for medical assistance to aid GRAH after he experienced chest pains.

[Sue Guzman]

New York writer E. Jean Carroll gets her payout of over $5 million three years after a jury found citizen Donald Trump liable for her claims of defamation and sex abuse dating back to 1996. U.S. district Court in lower Manhattan posting a money has been dispersed to her on its website. I'm Sue Guzman. This is FOX News.

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