2PM ET 06/26/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update: 2PM ET 06/26/2025

Release Date: June 26, 2025

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Defense Secretary Hegseth Defends Success of Iran Airstrikes

[00:02] Chris Foster opens the broadcast with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressing recent military actions. Hegseth staunchly defends the airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, labeling them a success. He criticizes the media for reporting what he describes as "leaked early intelligence" that undermines the official narrative. "They are trying to make the president look bad," Hegseth asserted at [00:02].

Adding to the defense, General Dan Kane elaborates at [00:27] on the composition of the strike team, revealing that the operation was executed by a "male and female crew, a mostly active duty Air Force and Missouri Air National Guard members." He dismissed initial reports suggesting that the setback to Iran's nuclear capabilities might extend "more like months than years," reinforcing the administration's stance on the effectiveness of the mission.

Supreme Court Backs South Carolina's Medicaid Funding Decision

[00:40] Chris Foster transitions to a significant legal development, highlighting a 6-3 Supreme Court decision that favors South Carolina's choice to withhold Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood. This ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by a Medicaid patient who sought the right to select Planned Parenthood as a medical provider.

Subpoena Issued to Former Biden Adviser Anthony Bernal

The update continues with political intrigue as Chris Foster reports on former Biden adviser Anthony Bernal being subpoenaed to testify before a House Oversight Committee. Bernal is implicated in allegations regarding a "mental decline cover-up at the White House." [01:01] Foster quotes a committee insider: "Calling this a refusal to appear is misleading. It was simply a request to reschedule the interview." However, a House oversight aide clarified that Bernal's attorneys have informed the committee that he "would no longer appear voluntarily and would need a subpoena" ([01:21]).

Economic Downturn Revealed in Revised GDP Estimates

[01:21] Chris Foster introduces economic news with Rich Edson reporting that the U.S. economy "shrunk over the first three months of the year, more than first reported." The latest estimate shows a 0.5% decline in GDP for the first quarter, a revision from the previously estimated 0.2% decrease ([01:27]). Edson explains that this contraction is attributed to "stocking up on imports ahead of anticipated tariffs," marking the first economic shrinkage in three years.

Federal Advisory Panel Recommends RSV Vaccinations for Infants

In health news, Janika Sola reports at [01:46] that a new federal advisory panel has voted to recommend RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccinations for infants. RSV is a significant cause of respiratory illness, claiming hundreds of young children’s lives annually. This initiative aims to bolster public health measures against a virus that has long impacted vulnerable populations.

President Trump's Pentagon Budget Prioritizes Drones and Missiles

[02:30] Chris Foster shifts focus to defense spending, revealing President Trump's directive for the Pentagon to allocate more funds toward drones and missiles while reducing investments in certain fighter jets. Jared Halpern details the White House's budget request, which maintains the defense budget at $892.5 billion, unchanged from the current year ([02:35]). The proposed plan suggests purchasing fewer F-35 fighters and ships, instead emphasizing "high tech missiles and drones" deemed more effective in modern warfare. Additionally, there is a push to bolster investments in "air to surface standoff missiles and long-range anti-ship missiles." The budget also includes a nearly 4% pay raise for service members, reflecting ongoing support for military personnel.

Memphis International Airport to Honor FedEx Founder Fred Smith

In a tribute to entrepreneurial legacy, Chris Foster announces that Memphis International Airport will be renamed in honor of FedEx founder Fred Smith, who passed away the previous weekend ([03:09]). Tonya J. Powers elaborates at [03:16] that the Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority Board of Commissioners has approved the resolution. The renaming process is set to commence immediately, celebrating Smith's pivotal role in transforming FedEx from a modest startup with 14 jets into a global powerhouse employing over half a million people. Under his leadership, FedEx also elevated Memphis airport to one of the world's busiest cargo hubs.

North Korea Opens New Resort for Domestic Tourists

[03:42] Chris Foster covers international developments as Lillian Wu reports on North Korea's latest initiative to boost its economy through tourism. A new resort on the country's east coast is set to open next week, catering exclusively to North Korean tourists. This development is part of Leader Kim Jong Un's strategy to "beef up the coffers of his nation," which remains one of the poorest globally. The resort spans a two-and-a-half-mile beachfront, featuring hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and a water park, with the capacity to host up to 20,000 visitors. Although primarily aimed at domestic elites from areas formerly used as missile testing sites, the resort's appeal may extend to foreign tourists from China and Russia in the future, though no specific timeline has been announced.

Sean "Diddy" Combs Trial Enters Critical Phase

Closing the news segments, [04:19] Chris Foster reports that the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial is progressing, with prosecutors presenting their closing arguments. The defense is scheduled to begin their term the following day, marking a pivotal moment in the high-profile case ([04:19]).

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Transcript

[Chris Foster]

Cheering against Trump. I'm Chris Foster. FOX News. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities were a success and berates the media for reporting leaked early intelligence to the contrary. He says trying to make the president look bad.

[Pete Hegseth]

The secretary pushing back on allegations from a leaked preliminary report that said the setback in Iran's nuclear capabilities is more like months than years.

[Dan Kane]

First reports are almost always wrong. They're almost always incomplete.

[Pete Hegseth]

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Kane revealing new information about the attack on the Iranian nuclear facility, saying it was a male and female crew, a mostly active duty Air Force and Missouri Air National Guard members.

[Chris Foster]

Fox's Ryan Schmelz in D.C. in a 6, 3 opinion, the Supreme Court rules in favor of South Carolina withholding Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood. A Medicaid patient sued for the right to choose Planned Parenthood as a medical provider. Former Biden adviser Anthony Bernal is subpoenaed to testify for a House Oversight committee investigation into allegations of a mental decline cover up at the White House.

[Dan Kane]

A person familiar with Bernal's interactions with the committee says that calling this a refusal to appear is misleading. They say it was simply a request to reschedule the interview. However, a House oversight aide responded that Bernal's attorneys notified the committee yesterday morning he would no longer appear voluntarily and would need a subpoena. So here it is.

[Chris Foster]

Fox's Rich Edson. The economy shrank over the first three months of the year, more than first reported, according to a new estimate out today.

[Rich Edson]

The gross domestic product declined half a percent in the first quarter. The Commerce Department revived, revised the reading from a previous estimate of a 2/10 of a percent decline. The quarter was skewed by stocking up on imports ahead of anticipated tariffs. It was the first time in three years the economy contracted.

[Chris Foster]

That's fox's Janika Sola. A new federal advisory panel votes to recommend RSV vaccinations, new ones for infants. The respiratory virus kills hundreds of young children every year. America's listening to FOX news.

[Lululemon Ad Voice]

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[Chris Foster]

President Trump wants the Pentagon to spend more on drones and missiles and less on some fighter jets.

[Jared Halpern]

A budget request from the White House would put more money into high tech missiles and drones while buying fewer fighter jets and ships, according to a report from Reuters. The defense budget of $892.5 billion is flat compared to this year. The 2026 plan requests fewer F35s with continued investments in air to surface standoff missiles and long range anti ship missiles viewed as more effective in the pa. The budget would also boost spending on small drones. Service members would also see a nearly 4% pay raise at the White House.

[Chris Foster]

Jared Halpern, Fox News Memphis International Airport is being renamed for FedEx founder Fred Smith. He died last weekend.

[Tonya J. Powers]

The Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority Board of Commissioners passed the resolution. Airport officials say there are still some administrative and logistical things to work out, but the renaming process will begin immediately. Smith launched FedEx in 1973, growing it from a small startup with 14 jets to a global corporation that employs more than half a million people. FedEx also turned the Memphis airport into one of the busiest cargo airports in the world.

[Chris Foster]

That's Fox's Tonya J. Powers. A new resort on North Korea's east coast opens for business next week for North Korean tourists.

[Lillian Wu]

Leader Kim Jong Un, who grew up in luxury in the area, is hoping to beef up the coffers of his nation, one of the poorest in the world, and usher in a new era of tourism. Many of of the country's elite have homes in the area, which was once a missile testing site. The resort said to accommodate up to 20,000 visitors. It occupies a two and a half mile stretch of beach with hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and a water park. It's unclear when foreign tourists will be allowed in. The bulk of them come from China and Russia, Fox says.

[Chris Foster]

Lillian Wu, it's the day for closing arguments from prosecutors at Sean Diddy Combs trial. Tomorrow, the defense term. I'm Chris Foster, FOX News.

[Lillian Wu]

I'm Janice Dean. Join me Join me every Sunday as I focus on stories of hope and people who are truly rays of sunshine in their community and across the world.

[Chris Foster]

Listen and follow [e-mail].