2PM ET 05/19/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 2PM ET | May 19, 2026

Main Theme:
This episode covers the escalating US midterm political battles, recent White House moves concerning Iran, updates on domestic crime and policy, international military developments, a major railway labor settlement, and key business news.

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1. Midterm Election Showdown in Texas and Beyond

00:02 – 01:01

• Texas Senate Runoff:

  • President Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton over incumbent Sen. John Cornyn.
    • Ken Paxton on Trump’s Endorsement:

      “I'm so honored to have President Trump's endorsement. His endorsement in my opinion is the most significant endorsement that in my lifetime.” (Ken Paxton, 00:16)

      • Paxton promises to champion the Trump agenda if elected.
  • Trump called Paxton “a master warrior” but acknowledged Cornyn as “a good man” who wasn’t supportive “when times were tough.”
    • Dynamic Between Candidates:
      • Cornyn warns Paxton is a “weak nominee who will jeopardize down-ballot races.”
      • Winner faces Democrat James Talarico in the fall.
  • Election Timeline:
    • Early voting for the runoff underway in Texas.
    • Six other states are holding primaries today.
    • In Kentucky, a Trump-endorsed challenger, Eric Gowrine, is running against GOP Rep. Thomas Massie.

• Other Key Election News:

  • Vice President J.D. Vance is leading a White House briefing on national security.

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2. US-Iran Relations: Nuclear Tensions & Military Calculus

01:01 – 01:27

• Diplomatic Updates:
  • White House analysts suggest Iran may be ready for a new deal and recognize that a nuclear weapon is a US “red line.”
    • Quote:

      “What I think is that the Iranians want to make a deal… a nuclear weapon is a red line for the US.” (Unidentified Analyst, 01:01)

• President Trump's Stance:
  • Trump announced a “temporary” pause on new strikes against Iran, emphasizing the option for further military action:
    • Quote:

      “We may have to give him another big hit. We may have to give him another big hit. I'm not sure yet. You'll know very soon.” (President Trump, 01:20)

• Construction at the White House:
  • President Trump commented on the new East Wing ballroom under construction:
    • Quote:

      “I think it's going to be potentially the most beautiful building in all of Washington.” (President Trump, 01:34)

  • Congress is considering a $1B Secret Service budget request related to East Wing security; the ballroom itself is funded by private donations.

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3. Rising Oil Prices

01:49 – 01:53

• US crude oil prices surpassed $107 a barrel, with markets closely watching events in Iran and the Middle East.

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4. Youth Crime and Parental Accountability

02:10 – 02:41

• Flash Mobs and Teen Takeovers:
  • U.S. Attorney for D.C. warned that parents could face jail time for violent teen-led disturbances.
  • Incidents described as “chaotic and at times destructive” are overwhelming law enforcement, especially in public spaces (malls, parks).
  • Cities like Milwaukee are listening to teens and offering alternatives, such as summer programs and job listings.
  • Potential fines and penalties are proposed for parents of offenders.
    • Quote:

      “There's that select few of you that can't be reached to the point to where it's like, okay, it might be some type of crime.” (Unidentified Analyst, 02:23)

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5. US-Nigeria Military Operations Against ISIS

02:41 – 03:11

• Joint US-Nigerian forces killed 175 ISIS fighters in recent operations, following the deaths of high-ranking terrorist leaders.
• Reports confirm no injuries to US or Nigerian troops in these actions.

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6. Long Island Railroad Strike Resolution

03:11 – 03:48

• End of Disruption:
  • Commuter rail strikes end after nearly three days; unions and management reach a tentative deal.
  • Rob Free (LIRR President) on Negotiations:

    “The unions want to be able to ratify it with their membership. And as the union said last night, they wouldn't have accepted the deal if they couldn't get it ratified.” (Rob Free, 03:28)

  • Ratification process expected to take about a month.

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7. Business & Markets Update

03:48 – End

• It’s a down day for Wall Street: Dow down 97 points, S&P and Nasdaq also trending lower.

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Notable Quotes Recap:

• Ken Paxton: “His endorsement in my opinion is the most significant endorsement that in my lifetime.” (00:16)
• Unidentified Analyst on Iran: “...the Iranians want to make a deal… a nuclear weapon is a red line...” (01:01)
• President Trump: “We may have to give him another big hit. I'm not sure yet. You'll know very soon.” (01:20)
• President Trump on ballroom: “I think it’s going to be potentially the most beautiful building in all of Washington.” (01:34)
• Rob Free (LIRR): “The unions want to be able to ratify it with their membership.” (03:28)

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The Fox News Hourly Update covers top US and global headlines with quick, pointed political analysis and updates on policy, crime, defense, labor, and markets.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

The midterm fight heats up on Lisa Brady, FOX News. President Trump looking ahead to next week's Republican Senate runoff in Texas. Now endorsing state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who's challenging four term incumbent John Cornyn.

[Ken Paxton]

I'm so honored to have President Trump's endorsement. His endorsement in my opinion is the most significant endorsement that in my lifetime. So when he endorses it has a tremendous impact.

[Lisa Brady]

Paxton says he'll be a champion for the Trump agenda. The president calls him a master warrior and says Senator Cornyn is a good man, but that he wasn't supportive when times were tough. Cornyn says Paxton is a weak nominee who will jeopardize down ballot races. One of them will face Democrat James Talarico in the fall. Early voting for the runoff already underway in Texas. Six states have primaries today, including Kentucky where a Trump backed challenger, retired Navy SEAL Eric Gowrine, is trying to oust Republican Congressman Thomas Massie. Vice President J.D. vance is leading a White House briefing.

[Unidentified Analyst]

What I think, what I think is that the Iranians want to make a

[Lisa Brady]

deal, adding he also thinks they recognize a nuclear weapon is a red line for the US this as President Trump says pausing new strikes on Iran is temporary.

[President Trump]

The president says planned strikes on Iran for today were called off. His Arab partners say a nuclear deal could be close.

We may have to give him another big hit. We may have to give him another big hit. I'm not sure yet. You'll know very soon.

President Trump speaking with reporters outside the White House where construction is underway for a new ballroom in East Wing.

I think it's going to be potentially the most beautiful building in all of Washington.

Congress is considering a $1 billion budget request from the Secret Service as part of the East Wing construction. President Trump says funding for the actual ballroom is coming from private donations.

[Lisa Brady]

FOX is Jared Halpern at the White House. For now, oil prices remain elevated. U.S. crude topping $107 a barrel. America is listening to Fox News. The U.S. attorney for D.C. says parents could face jail time over violent teen takeovers which are aggress growing problem in cities across the country.

[Local Official/Reporter]

Chaotic and at times destructive. Flash mobs at public spaces like malls, parks that overwhelm law enforcement. In Milwaukee, city leaders holding a listening session to hear directly from local teens who say most of these kids, they

[Unidentified Analyst]

just want somewhere to go. There is that select few of you that can't be reached to the point to where it's like, okay, it might be some type of crime.

[Local Official/Reporter]

Milwaukee, like other cities are promoting summer programs, job listings and other resources. There's also potential fines for parents whose teens are caught taking part in the takeovers.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jeff Manasso. The Nigerian military just announcing a joint operation with the US military killing 175 ISIS fighters over the past few days. This follows the killing late last week of an ISIS deputy. Nigerian officials today reporting the killing of another senior leader. U S Africa command says no U.S. or Nigerian troops were harmed. Trains are rolling again along the country's busiest commuter rail system after a nearly three day strike.

[Rob Free]

The president of the Long Island Railroad, Rob Free, said two things were essential to a deal, not moving extra costs to riders and making a deal the unions would agree to. Free gave no particulars on the agreement, but said the unions, which represent engineers, machinists and others, were happy with it.

[Ken Paxton]

The unions want to be able to ratify it with their membership. And as the union said last night, they wouldn't have accepted the deal if they couldn't get it ratified.

[Rob Free]

How will the ratification process work? The unions have about a month to understand the deal's details and then vote to accept or reject it. In New York, Granal Scott, FOX News.

[Lisa Brady]

It's a down day on Wall street so far. Right now, the Dow dropping 97 points, the S and P and the Nasdaq also in the red. And Lisa Brady. This is FOX News.