Summary4 min read

Fox News Hourly Update – 2PM ET 06/18/2026 Newscast

Host: Carmen Roberts
Date: June 18, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode delivers swift, high-impact coverage of major U.S. and international news stories as of June 18, 2026. Main topics include the controversial U.S.–Iran peace deal, national economic indicators, fraud prosecutions, severe weather in the Southeast, legal developments on mail-in voting, and a sweeping AI tax proposal from Senator Bernie Sanders.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S.–Iran Peace Deal (00:03 – 01:15)

Theme: The latest U.S.-Iran agreement seeks to wind down the war but delays nuclear negotiations, kicking off political turbulence at home and abroad.
Congressional & Israeli Criticism: Congressional leaders and Israel view the deal as appeasement and a strategic misstep.
Vice President J.D. Vance Responds:
- Emphasizes that Iran gains no benefits unless they comply with conditions, especially destroying their highly enriched uranium stockpile.
- Dismisses concerns that Iran will receive financial windfalls up front.
 
 “They have committed to the destruction of the highly enriched stockpile that they have in their possession. What is the benefit that the Iranians get that they didn’t have before? And the answer is no, nothing. They don’t get anything unless they change their behavior.”
 — Vice President J.D. Vance, (00:20)
- Clarifies that any sanctions relief is conditional:
 
 “The United States isn’t giving up a cent of money to Iran. And even the economic benefits, the sanctions relief and so forth that comes along with this bargain only happens if the Iranians perform.”
 — Vice President J.D. Vance, (00:51)
Process Note: Lucas Tomlinson notes sanctions relief terms and that some actions (like reforms in the Strait) bypass Congressional approval. A new regulatory window will open for 60 days without charge (01:02–01:15).

2. Economic Effects & Crime Update (01:15 – 01:46)

Oil Prices: U.S. crude oil drops near pre-war levels, with national AAA gas prices falling below $4/gallon.
Fraud Crackdown: DOJ arrests 15 individuals for over $1 million in benefits fraud.
- U.S. Attorney Leah Foley sharply criticizes local Massachusetts leadership:
 
 “It appears that you can come to Massachusetts and steal as many benefits as you want without fear and without any accountability.”
 — Leah Foley, U.S. Attorney, (01:39)
Political Tension: Democrats accuse the White House of leveraging the crackdown to justify federal funding cuts to states that didn’t support Trump.

3. Severe Weather in the Southeast (02:31 – 03:16)

Remnants of Arthur: No longer a tropical storm, Arthur causes “life-threatening flash flooding” in southern states.
Haley Meyer, Fox Weather Meteorologist, Outlines Dangers:
- Intense weather including tornado warnings and flash flooding.
- Notably, some regions experienced simultaneous tornado and flash flood emergencies.
 
 “It’s not just flooding. It’s not just severe. It’s that combo which makes it all the more dangerous.”
 — Haley Meyer, (03:09)

4. National Legal and Political Developments (03:16 – 04:18)

Mail-In Voting Lawsuit:
- A federal judge in Boston rules that Democratic states and voting rights groups can only challenge Trump’s executive order tightening mail-in voting before the November election, not after (03:16).
Bernie Sanders’ AI Tax Proposal:
- Darren Botello (Fox Business): Sanders introduces a one-time 50% tax on AI stocks for companies earning $200 million+ annually.
  - Estimated $7 trillion for a new fund, providing hundreds of billions annually for health care, housing, education.
  - Proposed 5% annual dividend for all Americans, “more than $1,000” per person.

5. Market Update (04:18)

Stock Performance:
- Dow up 135 points, NASDAQ surges by 420.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Iran Deal Bleakness:

“Israeli media condemned the deal as a catastrophic capitulation and a betrayal.”
— Carmen Roberts, (00:35)
On Benefits Fraud Atmosphere:

“It appears that you can come to Massachusetts and steal as many benefits as you want without fear and without any accountability.”
— Leah Foley, (01:39)
On Severe Weather Complexity:

“It’s not just flooding. It’s not just severe. It’s that combo which makes it all the more dangerous.”
— Haley Meyer, (03:09)
On Sanders’ AI Tax:

“…this is not just a regular tax. This is stock. Not just companies handing over cash.”
— Darren Botello, (03:47)

Timestamps for Important Segments

U.S.–Iran Peace Deal: 00:03–01:15
Economic Update & Benefits Fraud: 01:15–01:46
Severe Weather Alerts: 02:31–03:16
Mail-In Voting Challenge Ruling: 03:16–03:43
Bernie Sanders AI Tax Proposal: 03:43–04:18
Market Update & Close: 04:18–04:31

This news podcast edition delivers rapid bulletins on international diplomacy, pressing criminal justice issues, extreme weather, proposed economic reforms, and key shifts in U.S. law—all in a direct, matter-of-fact Fox News style.

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Transcript17 lines

[00:04]
Carmen Roberts
Peace deal or political firestorm? I'm Carmen Roberts, Fox News. The U.S. and Iran's agreement intended to end the war while delaying nuclear talks has drawn criticism from congressional leaders as well as Israel. But Vice President J.D. vance is dismissing skeptics.
[00:20]
Vice President J.D. Vance
They have committed to the destruction of the highly enriched stockpile that they have in their possession. What is the benefit that the Iranians get that they didn't have before? And the answer is no, nothing. They don't get anything unless they change their behavior.
[00:36]
Carmen Roberts
Israeli media condemned the deal as a catastrophic capitulation and a betrayal. Fox's Lucas Tomlinson has more from the White House.
[00:43]
Lucas Tomlinson
The vice president also had this message to critics who think Iran is set to receive billions of dollars in sanctions relief just for signing it.
[00:51]
Vice President J.D. Vance
The United States isn't giving up a cent of money to Iran. And even the economic benefits, the sanctions relief and so forth that comes along with this bargain only happens if the Iranians perform.
[01:03]
Lucas Tomlinson
He says the memo in potential lifting of sanctions does not require congressional approval when it comes to the straight reform moves. The memorandum says it will be opened immediately with no charge for 60 days only.
[01:15]
Carmen Roberts
Meantime, the US is seeing an economic benefit as crude oil falls back near pre war levels and gas drops to just less than $4 a gallon, according to AAA's national average. The Justice Department announces the arrest of 15 people for allegedly committing more than $1 million in benefits fraud. U.S. attorney for Massachuset, Massachusetts, Leah Foley blasting local leaders.
[01:39]
Leah Foley
It appears that you can come to Massachusetts and steal as many benefits as you want without fear and without any accountability.
[01:47]
Carmen Roberts
Democrats are pushing back on the administration's fraud crackdown, accusing the White House of using it as cover to slash federal funding to states that did not vote for Trump. America's listening to FOX News.
[02:01]
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[02:32]
Carmen Roberts
It's no longer a tropical storm, but the remnants of Arthur are causing life threatening flash flooding in several southern states.
[02:39]
Haley Meyer
We have seen a lot going on across the Southeast with a tornado watch in place for parts of the Southeast, specifically closer to the Gulf Coast, Hattiesburg at one point. Under that tornado watch as well, we even had a particularly dangerous situation. Tornado warning that was issued around 8 o' clock this morning for Wiggins, Mississippi. So you have not only tornadic concerns, but then on top of it, flash flood emergencies. We've actually seen it where we had a tornado warning with a flash flood emergency on top of each other. That was a little bit further out towards the west. That just goes to show the dynamics that are play with this event. It's not just flooding. It's not just severe. It's that combo which makes it all the more dangerous.
[03:17]
Carmen Roberts
Fox Weather meteorologist Haley Meyer. A federal judge in Boston narrows lawsuits challenging President Trump's executive order that tightens mail in voting rules. The judge ruled that Democratic states and voting rights groups can only sue to block it before November's elections, not after. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders unveils a plan centered around artificial intelligence. Fox businesses. Darren Botello has more from Capitol Hill.
[03:43]
Darren Botello
Would be a one time 50% tax on AI stocks. These are companies that would reach $200 million annually. This is not just a regular tax. This is stock. Not just companies handing over cash. And Senator Bernie Sanders estimates this tax would create about $7 trillion for the fund and then hundreds of billions of dollars every year that would be spent on public programs. We're talking like health care, housing and education. Senator Sanders is looking for a 5% annual divide. Every American would get more than $1,000.
[04:19]
Carmen Roberts
And stocks are moving higher. The Dow up 135 points. The NASDAQ jumping 420. I'm Carmen Roberts. This is FOX News.
[04:32]
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