2PM ET 03/13/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 2PM ET March 13, 2026 Newscast

Main Theme

This episode delivers swift, high-impact coverage of major global and domestic news stories, including US-Iran conflict updates, legal proceedings involving social media giants, criminal trials with political implications, international relations with Cuba, a fugitive ex-Green Beret, World Sleep Day health advice, and a brief stock market update.

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1. US-Iran Conflict Escalates

Timestamps: [00:03] – [00:34]

• President Trump states: The US is “hitting [Iran] harder than anybody’s been hit since World War II.” (Elisa Brady quoting Trump, [00:06])
• Summary of US Response: According to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Iran’s missile launches are down 90%, drone attacks down 95%. Key Iranian leadership has been targeted:
  • Supreme Leader killed day one
  • Successor (his son, Mojtaba Khamenei) not seen since
• US Offers Reward:
  • Up to $10 million for information on Revolutionary Guard leaders, including Mojtaba Khamenei
  • Reported by Steve Harrigan near Armenia’s border with Iran ([00:34])

“We’re hitting them harder than anybody’s been hit since World War II.”
— President Trump (quoted by Elisa Brady, [00:06])

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2. Social Media Addiction Lawsuit

Timestamps: [00:34] – [01:22]

• Landmark Jury Deliberation in Los Angeles:
  • Meta (Instagram) and Google (YouTube) accused of designing addictive platforms harming children’s mental health
  • Companies deny claims, arguing that the plaintiff was not actually addicted
  • TikTok and Snap settled before trial ([00:40])

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3. Pretrial Hearing: Alleged Assassin of Charlie Kirk

Timestamps: [00:41] – [01:32]

• New Development:
  • President Trump’s comments and statements from Kirk’s widow, Erica, are cited by the defense as prejudicial
  • Prosecution and Utah county attorney argue this is an attempt to delay proceedings
  • Cameras in court allowed with restrictions ([01:32])
  • Defense calls alleged confessions “presidential”

“The defense is trying to drag things out here...the prosecution argued against the idea that the coverage will negatively affect Robinson.”
— Steve Harrigan ([01:22])

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4. Conviction of Former New York State Trooper

Timestamp: [01:32] – [02:00]

• Conviction Details:
  • Trooper found guilty of manslaughter in the high-speed chase resulting in the death of an 11-year-old girl
  • Prosecution: Trooper rammed SUV
  • Defense: SUV cut him off as he pulled alongside ([01:32])

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5. Ex-Green Beret Fugitivity in Venezuela Coup Case

Timestamps: [02:15] – [03:00]

• Update on Jordan Gaudreau:
  • Former Green Beret and security contractor is missing, now a fugitive
  • Facing US charges for sending weapons for a failed coup in Venezuela in 2020 (Operation Gideon)
  • Arrested after prisoner swap in 2023; partner sentenced to 21 years
  • President Maduro was captured by US military two months ago, facing US drug charges
  • Fox’s Chris Foster reports ([02:22])

“Attorney says Jordan Gaudreau is missing and federal prosecutors want his $2 million bail forfeited.”
— Steve Harrigan ([02:22])

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6. Cuba-US Dialogue and Prisoner Release

Timestamp: [03:00] – [03:21]

• Diplomatic Update:
  • Cuba’s president confirms new talks with US
  • Cuba pledges release of 51 political prisoners as goodwill gesture

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7. World Sleep Day Health Tips

Timestamps: [03:21] – [03:53]

• Expert Guidance:
  • Dr. A.J. Schwichtenberg (Purdue University) emphasizes the day’s importance for health awareness
  • Tips for Better Sleep:
    • Morning light exposure
    • Daytime activity
    • Reduce caffeine in afternoon
    • Avoid long naps
  • Quote:

    “A good night’s sleep starts when you wake up in the morning. You want to expose yourself to natural light during the day, if at all possible. You want to be active. And as afternoon rolls in, you want to start to reduce your caffeine intake. And you want to avoid extended naps.”
    — Dr. A.J. Schwichtenberg (quoted by Ainsley Earhart, [03:37])

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8. Market Update

Timestamp: [04:04]

• Financial Snapshot:
  • Dow down 47 points
  • Oil over $98 a barrel

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “We’re hitting them harder than anybody’s been hit since World War II.”
  — President Trump (quoted, [00:06])
• “A good night’s sleep starts when you wake up in the morning...”
  — Dr. A.J. Schwichtenberg (quoted by Ainsley Earhart, [03:37])

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Episode Flow & Tone

• The episode delivers compact, urgent headlines with a brisk and authoritative tone, representative of Fox News’s standard delivery.
• Content is succinct, fact-based, and emphasizes both national security and public health news.

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For Listeners

If you missed this episode, you’re now up to speed on the biggest stories of the hour—from US military escalation and landmark tech trials to international diplomatic moves and tips for your health tonight.

Transcript

[Elisa Brady]

Neither side is backing down. Elisa Brady, FOX NEWS we're hitting them harder than anybody's been hit since World War II. President Trump telling the Fox Brian Kilmeade radio show Iran's missiles and drones are being decimated.

[Pete Hegseth]

Secretary of War Hegseth says since the start of the war, the amount of missiles fired by Iran is down 90%. The amount of drones fired by Iran is down 95%. Also, Iran's leadership has been hit hard. The supreme leader killed on day one and hit his successor. His son has not been seen since.

[Elisa Brady]

Fox's Steve Harrigan near Armenia's border with Iran. The State Department just announcing a reward of up to $10 million for information on key leaders of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, including the country's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. A jury in Los Angeles now deliberating a landmark case accusing Meta and Google of designing Instagram and YouTube to be addictive and knowing that could harm kids mental health. The companies deny it and argue in part that the plaintiff was not addicted. TikTok and Snap settled before the trial. President Trump suddenly part of the focus at a pretrial hearing for accused Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson. As the defense argues statements made by the president and others, including Kirk's widow Erica, have been prejudicial against their client.

[Steve Harrigan]

Utah county attorney's office has argued the defense is trying to drag things out here. And moments ago the prosecution argued against the idea that the coverage will negatively affect Robinson.

[Elisa Brady]

Fox's Matt Finn at the courthouse in Provo where a judge has allowed cameras with restrictions for hearings so far. The defense today also calling alleged confessions presidential. A former New York state trooper just convicted of manslaughter at his second trial for the death of an 11 year old girl during a high speed chase. Prosecutors say the trooper rammed an suv. The defense argued the SUV cut off the trooper as he pulled alongside. America is listening to FOX News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of

[Steve Harrigan]

Jesus, a listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Elisa Brady]

A former Green Beret facing criminal charges related to a failed coup in Venezuela is now a fugitive.

[Steve Harrigan]

Attorney says Jordan Gaudreau is missing and federal Prosecutors want his $2 million bail forfeited. He's a veteran security contractor scheduled to go on trial in Tampa, Florida in June, accused of illegally sending machine guns to Colombia for an armed incursion into Venezuela to remove President Nicolas Maduro from power in 2020. Goudreau claimed responsibility for organizing the unsuccessful raid known as Operation Gideon. He was not in Venezuela when eight members of the group were killed and others were captured, including two Americans brought back in a prisoner swap in 2023. Goudreau was arrested. The next year, a partner in the plot was sentenced to 21 years in prison. The US military captured President Maduro two months ago to face drug trafficking charges. Chris Foster, Fox News.

[Elisa Brady]

Cuba's president, confirming recent talks between his government and the US Aimed, he says, at finding solutions to differences. Cuba's pledging to release 51 prisoners believed to have been jailed for political reasons as a goodwill gesture. Today is World Sleep Day, a reminder that getting a good night's rest often starts hours before your head hits the pillow.

[Dr. A.J. Schwichtenberg]

World Sleep Day is meant to highlight just how important quality sleep is for health and how many people struggle to get enough of it. Experts say building better habits during the day can make a big difference at night. Dr. A.J. schwichtenberg of Purdue University says it actually starts first thing in the morning.

[Ainsley Earhart]

A good night's sleep starts when you wake up in the morning. You want to expose yourself to natural light during the day, if at all possible. You want to be active. And as afternoon rolls in, you want to start to reduce your caffeine intake. And you want to avoid extended naps.

[Dr. A.J. Schwichtenberg]

Health experts say small changes like those can help reset your body clock and make falling asleep much easier. Matt Murphy, FOX News Stocks are lower.

[Elisa Brady]

The Dow is down about 47 points as oil tops $98 a barrel. Alisa Brady, FOX News.