2AM ET 07/25/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update: 2AM ET 07/25/2026 Newscast

Date: July 25, 2026
Host: Debra Valentine
Podcast: FOX News Hourly Update

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Episode Overview

This Fox News hourly newscast provides listeners with a succinct roundup of major overnight news headlines. Key stories include President Trump’s performance at the rescheduled White House Correspondent's Dinner, escalating tensions with Iran, new US tariffs targeting forced labor, former President Biden’s dropped lawsuit about interview recordings, and a tragic murder-suicide in Michigan.

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Major News Stories & Key Discussion Points

1. President Trump at the White House Correspondent's Dinner

(00:03 - 00:55)

• Event context: The White House Correspondent's Dinner was moved to July after an attempted security breach in April. It took place at the Waldorf Astoria, replacing its usual location at the Washington Hilton.

• Trump’s Roast: President Trump opened with light-hearted jabs, notably targeting HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Senator Adam Schiff.

  President Trump: “Delicious beef tenderloins, very special beef. And I want you all to know that Bobby Kennedy is right here. Personally ran over the cow in his car.” (00:21)

  President Trump: “I hate some people. You know, I shouldn't say this. I'm president. I'm not supposed to hate. I'm supposed to love everybody. But he's a terrible person.” (00:38)

• Security Acknowledgment: Trump publicly thanked the Secret Service and law enforcement for their protection following the previous security incident.

  “...gave a big shout out to the US Secret Service and law enforcement and just thanking them for protecting and serving and keeping everybody safe.” — Christina Coleman (00:45)

Notable Segment

• Jokes & Roasts (00:15–00:45)
• Security Remarks (00:45–00:55)

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2. Iran Tensions and Military Posture

(00:55 – 01:46)

• Possible Strike on Iran: President Trump signaled the US military is prepared to strike as negotiations with Iran falter.

  “He says the military is locked and loaded. Even as talks continue, President Trump says Tehran remains far from a deal.” — Chanley Painter (01:08)

• Nuclear Threat Concerns: US Intelligence suspects Iran’s new supreme leader may pursue nuclear weapons, raising alarms about China and Russia's potential involvement.

  “Trump says both leaders have assured him they are not arming Iran.” (01:32) President Trump: “I don’t think they’d want to have me disappointed.” (01:32)

• Naval Conflict Escalation: The US Military disabled a second commercial ship that allegedly tried to breach an Iranian blockade despite multiple warnings.
• Ongoing Warnings: Trump reiterates that Iranian civilian infrastructure could be targeted if attacks on shipping persist.

Notable Segment

• Strike Readiness & Diplomacy (01:08–01:35)
• Maritime Incidents (01:35–01:46)

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3. New US Tariffs Announced

(02:24 – 03:09)

• Targeted Countries: Canada, India, Mexico, and the UK, among others, face new tariffs aimed at combatting forced labor.
• Tariff Context: These tariffs succeeded Section 122 tariffs that expired at midnight; the new measures take effect immediately.

  “...new tariffs started the same moment that those emergency tariffs ended by law this morning.” — Edward Lawrence (02:30)

• Range & Rationale: Tariffs range from 10% to 12.5% across 60 nations. This move follows longstanding bipartisan concerns about forced labor abroad.
• Economic Concerns: Experts note potential inflationary impacts due to the tariffs.

Notable Segment

• Tariff Announcement & Economic Context (02:24–03:09)

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4. Former President Biden Drops DOJ Lawsuit

(03:19 – 03:59)

• Background: Biden had filed suit to prevent the DOJ from releasing transcripts and audio recordings from his memoir interviews, which were scrutinized in a classified documents investigation.
• Reasons for Dropping: An appeals court ruled there was "substantial public interest" in releasing the materials, rejecting Biden’s privacy arguments.

  “The decision to drop the suit comes after an appeals court rejected his bid to block the materials' release...” — Kristin Goodwin (03:47)

• Political Ramifications: Both Congress and conservative groups sought access to these records after no criminal charges resulted from the probe.

Notable Segment

• Lawsuit Details & Resolution (03:19–03:59)

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5. Michigan Mass Murder-Suicide

(03:59 – 04:20)

• Incident Details: Eight people, including six children, were killed in a fire in Grand Haven, Michigan.
• Ongoing Investigation: Police are treating this as a mass murder-suicide involving related victims.

  “The Ottawa County Sheriff's Department says the fatalities are being investigated as a mass murder suicide. The victims, they say, were related.” — Debra Valentine (04:13)

Notable Segment

• Breaking Crime Report (03:59–04:20)

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Memorable Quotes

• President Trump on Adam Schiff:

  “I hate some people. You know, I shouldn't say this. I'm president. I'm not supposed to hate. I'm supposed to love everybody. But he's a terrible person.” (00:38)

• President Trump on Bobby Kennedy and roadkill:

  “Bobby Kennedy is right here. Personally ran over the cow in his car.” (00:21)

• President Trump (on China/Russia & Iran):

  “I don’t think they’d want to have me disappointed.” (01:32)

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• White House Correspondent's Dinner: 00:03 – 00:55
• Iran Strike Readiness and Crisis: 00:55 – 01:46
• New US Tariffs & Trade Implications: 02:24 – 03:09
• Biden DOJ Lawsuit Dropped: 03:19 – 03:59
• Michigan Mass Murder-Suicide: 03:59 – 04:20

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Tone & Delivery

The episode maintains Fox News’s trademark direct, fast-paced delivery. News is presented with a focus on immediacy, clarity, and strong newsmaker quotes. The tone is urgent, with emphasis on major US policy moves and breaking news, interwoven with characteristic commentary and soundbites.

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For listeners seeking the latest political, international, and breaking domestic news in under five minutes, this episode delivers rich content, punchy quotes, and clear context for each headline.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

Jabs at the White House Correspondent's Dinner. I'm Debra Valentine, Fox News. President Trump spoke at the White House Correspondent's Dinner event Friday evening, rescheduled from April after a gunman entered the perimeter of that event. Fox's Christina Coleman.

[Christina Coleman]

First Jokes was about HHS Secretary RFK Jr. Who has been known to make some headlines over roadkill.

[President Trump]

Delicious beef tenderloins, very special beef. And I want you all to know that Bobby Kennedy is right here. Personally ran over the cow in his car.

[Christina Coleman]

And he also roasted California Senator Adam Schiff, who he has mocked many times before. And he certainly didn't hold back.

[President Trump]

I hate some people. You know, I shouldn't say this. I'm president. I'm not supposed to hate. I'm supposed to love everybody. But he's a terrible person.

[Christina Coleman]

He did address the safety and security concerns and gave a big shout out to the US Secret Service and law enforcement and just thanking them for protecting and serving and keeping everybody safe.

[Debra Valentine]

The dinner held at the Waldorf astoria in Washington, D.C. replacing the Washington Hilton. President Trump is signaling on a decision on launching a major strike on Iran. Fox's Chanley Painter has the latest.

[Chanley Painter]

He says the military is locked and loaded. Even as talks continue, President Trump says Tehran remains far from a deal. The New York Times reporting U.S. intelligence believes Iran's new supreme leader may be more open to pursuing a nuclear weapon as concerns grow inside the administration that China and Russia could be in enabling Tehran. Trump says both leaders have assured him they are not arming Iran.

[President Trump]

I don't think they'd want to have me disappointed.

[Chanley Painter]

Meantime, the standoff is spreading at sea. The US Military says it disabled a second commercial ship after it allegedly ignored four warnings and tried to breach Iran's blockade.

[Debra Valentine]

President Trump recently warned that Iranian civilian infrastructure could be targeted if attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz continues. America's listening to Fox News.

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[Debra Valentine]

Canada, India, Mexico and the UK among the dozens of nations facing new US tariffs.

[Edward Lawrence]

This is all about forced labor in other countries. Now, the senior administration officials are telling us that this is not a replacement for the Section 122 tariffs that expired at 12:01 Eastern Time this morning. But the fact is that these new tariffs started the same moment that those emergency tariffs ended by law this morning. Now, this is low hanging fruit for the Trump administration because multiple administrations have long tracked the use of forced labor in countries across the globe. It's well documented. Based on the Section 301 report. The Trump administration put in place tariffs ranging from 10% to 12 and a half percent on 60 countries. Some market experts worry that the tariffs themselves will put pressure on inflation.

[Debra Valentine]

Fox's Edward Lawrence reporting. Former President Biden withdraws a lawsuit against the Justice Department over the release of biographer interview recordings.

[Kristin Goodwin]

Former President Biden dropping his lawsuit that aimed to block the DOJ from releasing transcripts and audio recordings from conversations he had with a ghostwriter over 10 years ago. The interviews were for his 2017 memoir, the DOJ Obtaining the Recordings as part of an investigation into his handling of classified documents during his time as a senator and the vice presidency. Republicans in Congress demanded the material after no criminal charges came from the probe. The former president had argued the release to Congress and the conservative Heritage foundation were a violation of privacy. The decision to drop the suit comes after an appeals court rejected his bid to block the materials release, finding there was substantial public interest. Kristin Goodwin, FOX News.

[Debra Valentine]

Eight people are dead following a fire in Grand Haven, Michigan. Police say two adults and six children were killed. The Ottawa County Sheriff's Department says the fatalities are being investigated as a mass murder suicide. The victims, they say, were related. I'm Debra Valentine. This is FOX news.

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