2PM ET 04/02/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 2PM ET 04/02/2026 Newscast

Date: April 2, 2026
Host: Lisa Brady (FOX News Podcasts)
Reporters: Peter Doocy, Grinnell Scott, Jonathan Savage

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Episode Overview

This episode covers several breaking news stories: the surprising departure of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, implications for the Trump administration, new developments in U.S. immigration and law enforcement funding, growing tensions and energy agreements involving Russia, Cuba, and Venezuela, and volatility in oil and financial markets. The episode also covers the tragic loss of a Mississippi sheriff’s deputy in the line of duty.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Attorney General Pam Bondi Resigns

• [00:02] Lisa Brady breaks the news: Pam Bondi, U.S. Attorney General, is out after less than a month following the earlier ouster of the Homeland Security chief.
• Deputy AG Todd Blanche named interim Attorney General.
• President Trump's Reaction: Publicly posts, “we love Pam,” calling her “a great American patriot and a loyal friend.”
• Acknowledges that Bondi had overseen a “federal crime crackdown” but also faced scrutiny over the handling of the Epstein files.

2. White House Mood and Future Moves

• [00:22] Peter Doocy reports from the White House.
  • Stresses importance to the administration of showing no "bad blood" with Bondi’s departure.
  • Notes Bondi’s visible support—she occupied the front row at the President’s address the previous night.
  • Quote ([00:25]):

    “She is somebody that he still wants to have around. But he wants Todd Blanch, who has been with the president during some of the hardest times of his political life… fighting on the president's defense, legal defense.”

  • Touts Todd Blanche’s loyalty and legal support for the President.
  • Hints at Bondi moving to a new role “in the private sector” (pending announcement).

3. Legal and Political Fallout

• President Trump credits Bondi with a “tremendous job” but mentions unresolved scrutiny, especially regarding the Epstein investigation.
• House Democrats insist her resignation won't exempt her from testifying before a House panel investigating Jeffrey Epstein.
• Recent legal losses for Trump mentioned, e.g., Supreme Court striking down reciprocal tariffs.

4. Immigration, Congress, and Law Enforcement Funding

• Senate again passes a bill to partially fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
• House Democrats: Claim Republicans are “caving” on enforcement restrictions.
• [01:40] Senate Majority Leader John Thune, via Grinnell Scott:
  • Quote ([01:42]):

    “They wanted all these restrictions on law enforcement agencies on ICE and CBP. They got none of that.”

  • Republicans plan to fund immigration enforcement separately.
  • President vows to ensure more DHS workers are paid in the interim.

5. Russia’s Oil Delivery to Cuba Amid Sanctions

• [02:05] Jonathan Savage reports:
  • Russia sends another oil tanker to Cuba to help with the Cuban energy crisis after Venezuela, previously Cuba’s main supplier, saw regime change with Nicolás Maduro ousted.
  • A Russian tanker delivered 700,000 barrels; shipment allowed after a U.S. waiver for “humanitarian reasons.”
  • Quote ([02:07]):

    “Moscow’s vowed to support its ally [Cuba] through an energy crisis… The Trump administration had imposed a blockade but granted this ship a waiver for humanitarian reasons, the first significant delivery in three months.”

6. Oil Markets and U.S.-Iran Tensions

• [02:42] Lisa Brady:
  • Oil prices jump over $11 a barrel, exceeding $112, after President Trump signals Operation Epic Fury will continue.
  • President delivers stern warning to Iran: “Make a deal.”
  • Iran escalates retaliatory strikes around the Middle East, broadening potential targets.

7. Mississippi Deputy Killed in the Line of Duty

• [03:10] Grinnell Scott:
  • Incident: Deputy Michael Jimmerson, a 16-year Jackson County Sheriff's Office veteran, killed while investigating a disturbance, leading to a foot chase and shootout with a female suspect.
  • Quote ([03:35]), Governor Tate Reeves:

    “[Jimmerson is] a hero who bravely sacrificed his life… The state will never forget him.”

  • The deputy was 12 years into his role as deputy, reinforcing the tragedy’s deep local impact.

8. Market Reaction

• [03:46] Lisa Brady:
  • Oil spike rattles markets, but there’s no panic:
    • Dow Jones down 187 points
    • NASDAQ down 62 points

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on Pam Bondi ([00:04]): “We love Pam. [She’s a] great American patriot and a loyal friend.”
• Peter Doocy ([00:25]): “She is somebody that he still wants to have around. But he wants Todd Blanch who has been with the president during some of the hardest times of his political life…”
• Senate Majority Leader John Thune ([01:42]): “They wanted all these restrictions on law enforcement agencies on ICE and CBP. They got none of that.”
• Jonathan Savage ([02:07]): “Moscow’s vowed to support its ally [Cuba] through an energy crisis…”
• Gov. Tate Reeves ([03:35]), on Deputy Jimmerson: “[He’s] a hero who bravely sacrificed his life… The state will never forget him.”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:02 — Pam Bondi’s Resignation Announced
• 00:22 — Peter Doocy on White House Dynamics and Todd Blanche
• 00:55 — Bondi’s Future Role & Ongoing Epstein Probe
• 01:40 — Senate DHS Funding Bill Explained (Sen. Thune)
• 02:05 — Russia Sends Oil to Cuba (Jonathan Savage)
• 02:42 — Oil Price Surge & Iran-U.S. Tensions
• 03:10 — Mississippi Deputy Killed in Action (Grinnell Scott)
• 03:46 — Market Summary

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Summary

This update delivers fast-moving headlines and in-depth reporting on U.S. leadership changes, legal and congressional drama, evolving international energy politics, and public safety news. The tone is brisk, factual, and urgent, reflecting the “breaking news” ethos of FOX News Radio. From the surprise Attorney General shakeup to growing global energy and security challenges, the newscast keeps listeners at the forefront of political and economic developments.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

This is a FOX News alert. Another cabinet shakeup. I'm Lisa Brady. U.S. attorney General Pam Bondi is out less than a month after the head of Homeland Security was ousted with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to serve as interim AG. But President Trump just posting, we love Pam, calling her a great American patriot and a loyal friend.

[Peter Doocy]

When you talk to people here at the White House, it is very important to them that there's not bad blood right now with Bondi leaving. And we know that she the front row at the president's remarks last night during his address to the nation. So she is somebody that he still wants to have around. But he wants Todd Blanch who has been with the president during some of the hardest times of his political life when he was dealing with all these many, many lawsuits during the four years in between his first term and his second term. Todd Blanche was right there with them fighting on the president's defense, legal defense.

[Lisa Brady]

FOX is Peter Doocy at the White House. As for a possible different role for Bondi in the Trump administration, the president's post says she'll a much needed and important new job in the private sector to be announced in the near future. The president says Bondi did a tremendous job overseeing a federal crime crackdown. She had faced scrutiny over the handling of some other issues, including the Epstein files. And the president has lost some high profile cases lately, including reciprocal tariffs being struck down by the US Supreme Court. One House Democrat just posting Bondi's ouster won't get her out of testifying for a House panel's Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Democrats say Republicans are caving after the Senate again says to the House a bill to partially fund dhs. But Senate Majority Leader John Thune tells

[Grinnell Scott]

Fox they wanted all these restrictions on law enforcement agencies on ICE and cbp. They got none of that.

[Lisa Brady]

Republicans now plan to fund immigration enforcement separately and the president says he'll order that more DHS workers get paid. In the meantime, America is listening to FOX News. Russia says it will send another oil tanker to Cuba.

[Jonathan Savage]

Russian Energy Minister Sergei Civilian says the valuable cargo is already being loaded and a second ship carrying oil from Russia to Cuba will soon embark. Moscow's vowed to support its ally through an energy crisis that followed Nicolas Maduro's removal as president of Venezuela. Venezuela was Cuba's main oil supplier. On Tuesday, a Russian flag tanker brought some 700,000 barrels of crude. The Trump administration had imposed a blockade but granted this ship a waiver for humanitarian reasons, the first significant delivery in three months. Jonathan Savage, FOX News.

[Lisa Brady]

Oil prices surging today after President Trump signaled Operation Epic Fury will continue for now, warning Iran again to make a deal. US crude up more than $11 a barrel, topping 112. Earlier this as Iran ramps up retaliatory strikes around the Middle east, expanding targets and potential targets. A Mississippi sheriff's deputy is shot and killed in the line of duty while responding to a disturbance call.

[Grinnell Scott]

Jackson County Sheriff's Deputy Deputy Michael Jimmerson was killed as he investigated a disturbance call Wednesday night. According to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Jimmerson at one point started chasing a woman on foot, later getting into a shootout with her. The woman was killed. Jimmerson was taken to a hospital where he later died. Jimmerson had been with the Jackson County Sheriff's office for 16 years, the last 12 as a deputy. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves called Jimmerson a hero who bravely sacrificed his life, saying the state will never forget him. Grinnell Scott, FOX News.

[Lisa Brady]

As oil prices spike, stocks are lower. It's not a big sell off right now. The dow is down 187, the NASDAQ down 62, and Lisa Brady. This is FOX News.