2AM ET 07/16/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 2AM ET 07/16/2026

Host: Sue Guzman | Date: July 16, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode provides a concise update on major national and international news stories. Topics include escalating US-Iran tensions and military strikes, domestic flooding emergencies, developments in US immigration policy, President Trump’s upcoming speech on election security, and severe air quality alerts due to Canadian wildfires.

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Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. Escalation of US–Iran Conflict

[00:03–00:44]

• Fifth Day of US Strikes:
  The US continues heavy strikes against Iran for a fifth consecutive day, hoping to pressure Iran back to the negotiating table for peace.

• Naval Blockade and Hellfire Strike:

  • Christina Coleman (Fox Correspondent):
    “CINCOM says US Aircraft fired Hellfire missiles into the ship's smokestack after this commercial vessel ignored multiple warnings as it attempted to violate the US Blockade.” (00:16)
  • US warships may resume passage through the Strait of Hormuz due to the reimposed naval blockade.
  • The situation underscores the intensifying military and diplomatic standoff.

• Uncertainty about Resolution:

  • Granal Scott (Fox Correspondent):
    “We'll find out whether or not we settle with them or we just finish it off.” (00:40)

• Iranian Missile Threat to Jordan:

  • Jordan’s military claims to have intercepted eight Iranian missiles targeting their territory.

• American Detainee Released:

  • President Trump announces Iran has released an American citizen (detained since December 2024), now safe and in good condition.
  • Attorney Faradina Kharari calls the detainment "bogus charges of spying."

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2. Catastrophic Flooding in South Central Texas

[01:24–01:54]

• Massive Rainfall and Evacuations:
  • Over 15 inches of rain in 48 hours, leading to flooding, rescues, and neighborhood evacuations.
  • Resident Don Fonza describes:
    “When I woke up, I didn't believe it was that bad… The car halfway, you know, submerged.” (01:45)

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3. Immigration Enforcement Policy Reversal

[02:16–02:44]

• Vehicle Stops Suspension Reversed:

  • President Trump quickly reverses the suspension on most vehicle stops by immigration agents, urging they continue despite recent incidents.

• Policy Rationale:

  • Tom Homan (White House border czar):
    “We want to do a short term policy just to make sure that the agents out there on these operations have the vehicle stop training and do they have the tools necessary to keep safe.” (02:32)
  • The pause followed two fatal ICE agent-involved shootings in Texas and Maine.

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4. President Trump’s Forthcoming Speech on Election Integrity

[02:44–03:20]

• Security Focus & Voter ID:

  • President Trump’s address to the nation will center on securing national elections and “election integrity.”
  • Following a January election office raid in Georgia and ahead of midterms.
  • The "Save America act," requiring proof of citizenship and photo ID for voting, remains a second-term priority.

• Notable Quote:

  • Granal Scott:
    “Without free and fair elections, you don't have a country… it’s going to be a very big announcement.” (03:10)

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5. Midwest & Northeast Hit by Canadian Wildfire Smoke

[03:35–03:57]

• Major Air Quality Alerts:
  • Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, and parts of New England face severe air quality issues due to Canadian wildfire smoke.
  • Tanya J. Power (Fox Correspondent):
    “The large wildfires burning in Canada are exposing millions of people to dangerous air pollution, with officials in Michigan and Wisconsin warning that the air quality issues could last for days.” (03:40)

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Notable Quotes

• “CINCOM says US Aircraft fired Hellfire missiles into the ship's smokestack after this commercial vessel ignored multiple warnings…”
  – Christina Coleman (00:16)

• “We'll find out whether or not we settle with them or we just finish it off.”
  – Granal Scott (00:40)

• “When I woke up, I didn't believe it was that bad. I didn't … The car halfway, you know, submerged.”
  – Don Fonza, local resident (01:45)

• “We want to do a short term policy just to make sure that the agents out there on these operations have the vehicle stop training and… the tools necessary to keep safe.”
  – Tom Homan (02:32)

• “Without free and fair elections, you don't have a country … but it's going to be a very big announcement.”
  – Granal Scott (03:10)

• “The large wildfires burning in Canada are exposing millions of people to dangerous air pollution…”
  – Tanya J. Power (03:40)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• US-Iran Strikes Recap: 00:03–00:44
• Iranian Missiles Target Jordan; American Released: 00:52–01:24
• Texas Catastrophic Flooding: 01:24–01:54
• Immigration Vehicle Stop Policy: 02:16–02:44
• President Trump’s Planned Election Address: 02:44–03:20
• Canadian Wildfire Smoke Air Alerts: 03:35–03:57

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This update captures the evolving military, political, and environmental stories making headlines overnight in the US and beyond.

Transcript

[Sue Guzman]

Round two complete. I'm Sue Guzman. FOX News. US has finished a fifth day of heavy strikes against Iran. Both sides trying to come up with a new way to reach a peace deal. As we hear from Fox's Christina Coleman,

[Christina Coleman]

CINCOM says US Aircraft fired Hellfire missiles into the ship's smokestack after this commercial vessel ignored multiple warnings as it attempted to violate the US Blockade. The ramp up in US Strikes against Iran and the reimposing of the blockade aid comes as the US Mounts pressure against Iran to try and get them to negotiate a solid deal to finally in this conflict they do want to settle.

[Granal Scott]

We'll find out whether or not we settle with them or we just finish it off.

[Christina Coleman]

Also, US Warships have not sailed through the Strait of Hormuz for several months now. But that could change now that the US has reimposed our naval blockade.

[Sue Guzman]

Jordan's military says it shot down eight missiles that were launched by Iran targeting the kingdom. President Trump posting online that Iran has released an American citizen who had been held since December 2024. He says that she is now safely outside of Iran and in good condition. An attorney, Faradina Kharari, a US Iranian citizen, says the client was trapped in Iran on bogus charges of spying. South Central Texas facing catastrophic flooding in several communities where evacuations are currently underway.

[News Reporter]

The city recorded one of the highest rain totals in the state in the last 48 hours, over 15 inches of rain. The rain sent local creeks and streams raging across roads, stranding drivers and isolating entire neighborhoods. That was followed by rescues and evacuations. We met resident Don Fonza, whose neighborhood was impacted first.

[Don Fonza]

When I woke up, I didn't believe it was that bad. I didn't. And there was tornado warnings and things like that. I've never seen it that flooded before. The car halfway, you know, submerged.

[Sue Guzman]

America's listening to FOX News

[News Anchor]

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[Sue Guzman]

Less than a day after it was put into effect, President Trump reversed a suspension on most vehicle stops by immigration agents, saying they should continue despite recent shootings. White House border czar Tom Homan says DHS Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen did not mean for the to be indefinite.

[Tom Homan]

We want to do a short term policy just to make sure that the agents out there on these operations have the vehicle stop training and do they have the tools necessary to keep safe

[Sue Guzman]

the policy put in place after two fatal shootings by ICE agents in a week, one in Texas, the other in Maine. President Trump's address to the nation Thursday night expected to focus on securing national elections and potential threats to the vote.

[News Anchor]

President Trump said this week his remarks will center on election integrity as well as other matters. Following a January election office raid in Georgia and months before the midterm elections. President Trump said what he'll say is

[Granal Scott]

important it doesn't get bigger because without free and fair elections, you don't have a country. We'll be discussing other things, too, but but it's going to be a very big announcement.

[News Anchor]

The president held back on specifics of the announcement. He referred to the Save America act that calls for proof of citizenship and photo ID to vote has been a priority of the president's second term. Granal Scott, FOX News.

[Sue Guzman]

Smoke from Canadian wildfires is affecting parts of the Midwest and Northeast U.S. an

[Tanya J. Power]

air quality alert is in effect through Friday for people in parts of Minnesota, with very heavy smoke expected across the northeastern corner of the state. The large wildfires burning in Canada are exposing millions of people to dangerous air pollution, with officials in Michigan and Wisconsin warning that the air quality issues could last for days.

[Sue Guzman]

Fox's Tanya J. Power is reporting. The National Weather Service says that the smoke is expected to spread into the east coast and Midwest in the days ahead, and that includes parts of New England. I'm Sue Guzman. This is FOX News.

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