2AM ET 08/01/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 2AM ET 08/01/2026

Date: August 1, 2026
Host: Debra Valentine
Correspondents: Steve Harrigan, Lisa Lacera, Tom Graham, David Spunt
Main Theme: Coverage of a historic Mideast peace development, global security, legal news, and sports legislation

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Overview

This episode delivers the latest overnight headlines, focusing on a potentially historic peace deal between Israel and Hamas brokered by President Trump, major developments in global security, updates on U.S. political and legal scandals, and shifts in college sports policy.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Middle East Peace Deal Progress

• [00:03-00:48]
  • President Trump announced that Hamas has agreed to disarm, and Israel is reportedly on board with a peace deal.
  • Correspondent Steve Harrigan described the agreement as a breakthrough, noting continued negotiations to determine the handover and enforcement of weapons.
  • Trump acknowledged complexities and skepticism:

    "Most people said that would be a deal that would be undoable. It's a very complex situation over there. The people are very complex and difficult. If you go four months ago, five months ago, a deal like that would have been impossible."
    — President Donald Trump, 00:23

  • Despite optimism, “there will be ups and downs” in the coming weeks, with key challenges remaining over peacekeeping and disarmament logistics.
  • Debra Valentine highlighted that both Israeli and Palestinian critics remain cautious about the deal’s durability.

2. Security Incidents in the Middle East

• [00:48-01:16]
  • A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile northeast of Oman, damaging the engine room but causing no casualties or environmental harm.

3. Arrest Tied to Hamas Financing

• [01:16-01:50]
  • Lisa Lacera reported the arrest of Mohammad Yousef Hasna in the UK on American terrorism-financing charges.
    • Hasna is accused of delivering supplies and money to Hamas, disguised as humanitarian aid, since at least 2023.
    • Each charge carries up to 20 years in prison.

    • “He was arrested in the UK and is being held pending extradition to the US … Hasna worked with Hamas senior leadership since at least 2023 to deliver supplies, food and money to the terror group disguised as humanitarian aid.”
      — Lisa Lacera, 01:16

4. Earthquake in Japan

• [01:50]
  • A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Hokkaido region; no further details on damage or casualties provided.

5. George Santos Settlement

• [02:32-03:14]
  • Tom Graham detailed the case of former congressman George Santos, who will pay $35,000 to end a federal probe over earnings made on prediction market bets, specifically betting against his own attendance at Trump’s State of the Union.
    • Santos was previously expelled from Congress for fabrications and fraud charges.

    • “He obviously won. Calshi reported Santos to regulators. The former lawmaker is no stranger to controversy.”
      — Tom Graham, 02:42

6. Reflecting Pool Vandalism Case Dismissal Motion

• [03:14-04:08]

  • Prosecution against former Olympian David Hearn—accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool—may be dismissed due to withheld evidence and possible improper pool renovations.

    “The DOJ alleges the Interior Department did not give prosecutors documents in a timely manner and withheld important information, arguing they wouldn't have sought an indictment in the first place if the Department of Interior was more forthcoming.”
    — David Spunt, 03:29

    • David Hearn maintains his innocence; a judge's approval of the dismissal is pending.

7. College Sports Legislation

• [04:08-04:28]
  • The Big Ten and Southeastern Conference have agreed to support a Senate bill to regulate college sports—a rare moment of unity among the largest collegiate athletic conferences.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on the peace deal:

  "Most people said that would be a deal that would be undoable. It's a very complex situation over there. The people are very complex and difficult."
  — President Donald Trump, 00:23

• Lisa Lacera on Hasna’s extradition:

  “He was arrested in the UK and is being held pending extradition to the US.”
  — Lisa Lacera, 01:18

• David Spunt on DOJ’s request to dismiss vandalism case:

  “The evidence was not originally known to prosecutors … The DOJ alleges the Interior Department did not give prosecutors documents in a timely manner.”
  — David Spunt, 03:29

• Tom Graham on George Santos:

  “He obviously won. Calshi reported Santos to regulators. The former lawmaker is no stranger to controversy.”
  — Tom Graham, 02:42

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:03 – Introduction; historic Mideast peace deal update
• 00:48 – Regional security and tanker incident near Oman
• 01:16 – Arrest in major Hamas financing case
• 01:50 – Hokkaido, Japan earthquake report
• 02:32 – Former congressman George Santos settlement
• 03:14 – DOJ seeks dismissal of vandalism case against Olympian
• 04:08 – College sports regulation bill gains conference support

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Summary

This episode highlights a potentially transformational peace accord in the Middle East—with guarded optimism on both sides—as well as breaking news on international security, political and legal fallout in the U.S., and the first steps toward new national standards in college athletics. The newscast maintains an urgent, factual tone while punctuating key stories with firsthand commentary and official statements.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

A peace deal. I'm Debra Valentine, Fox News. President Trump reporting Hamas has agreed to drop all arms and he's saying Israel's on board. Fox's Steve Harrigan has the latest from Tel Aviv.

[Steve Harrigan]

President Trump says he's doing something long considered impossible, disarming Hamas, forging a stable peace and beginning a withdrawal of Israeli forces.

[President Donald Trump]

Most people said that would be a deal that would be undoable. It's a very complex situation over there. The people are very complex and difficult. If you go four months ago, five months ago, a deal like that would have been impossible.

[Steve Harrigan]

The president acknowledged there will be ups and downs in what is expected to be weeks of intense negotiations to decide what weapons will be turned over to whom and which nations will be on the ground to enforce the peace.

[Debra Valentine]

Critics from both Palestinian and Israel are worried how their respective countries will move forward and don't know if the peace will last after all the damage done. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reports a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile northeast of Oman. The projectile caused damage to the tanker's engine room. No casualties or environmental impact are reported. A man arrested in the UK On US Charges of aiding a terror group. Fox's Lisa Lacera reports.

[Lisa Lacera]

Mohammad Yousef Hasna of Istanbul, Turkey, is facing charges of conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terror organization, conspiring to finance terrorism and financing terrorism. He was arrested in the UK and is being held pending extradition to the US Manhattan US Attorney Jamie McDonald says Hasna worked with Hamas senior leadership since at least 2023 to deliver supplies, food and money to the terror group disguised as humanitarian aid. Each charge carries a maximum of 20 years in prison in New York City. Lisa Licera, FOX news.

[Debra Valentine]

A magnitude 5.7 quake has struck the Hokkaido region of Japan. America's listening to FOX News.

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[Debra Valentine]

A disgraced former congressman has agreed to pay up following his

[Tom Graham]

latest controversy, ex lawmaker George Santos. Santos of New York will pay $35,000 as part of a deal to end a federal investigation after he made big bucks on the Prediction Marketplace site. Calshi, the Republican made a bet against his own plans to attend President Trump's State of the Union address earlier this year. He obviously won. Kalshee reported Santos to regulators. The former lawmaker is no stranger to controversy. Santos was expelled from Congress after he revealed he made up several aspects of his life story. He was also charged with wire fraud and ident theft. Tom Graham, Fox News.

[Debra Valentine]

The U.S. attorney's office in Washington, D.C. filing a motion to dismiss a case against former Olympian canoeist David Hearn. He's accused of vandalizing the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Fox's David Spunt has details the reason

[David Spunt]

the DOJ says in court papers the evidence was not originally known to prosecutors and it suggests the installation of the new coating was botched and that led to the damage. The DOJ alleges the Interior Department did not give prosecutors documents in a timely manner and withheld important information, arguing they wouldn't have sought an indictment in the first place if the Department of Interior was more forthcoming. Earlier this summer, the reflecting pool, after undergoing a multimillion dollar renovation, began showing signs of peeling paint. David Hearn maintains he's innocent. He was charged with vandalism. President Trump made many comments about the vandalism at the time.

[Debra Valentine]

A judge still has to sign off on the request to dismiss the case. The Department of Justice admits prosecutors do not solid case to move forward. The Big Ten and Southeastern conferences agreed Friday night to support a Senate bill that seeks to regulate college sports. I'm Debra Valentine. This is FOX News.

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