2PM ET 07/03/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update

Episode: 2PM ET 07/03/2026 Newscast
Host: Lisa Brady, FOX News Podcasts
Date: July 3, 2026

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Episode Overview

This newscast covers major stories on July 3, 2026, focusing on extreme heat impacting national celebrations and events, political statements linked to America's 250th birthday, ongoing federal investigations into election integrity, a fatal police shooting in South Carolina, holiday logistics, Fourth of July entertainment options, and World Cup updates. The tone is brisk, factual, and direct, offering listeners immediate breaking news and practical information for the holiday.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Extreme Heat Disrupts National Events

[00:03-00:28]

• Great American State Fair Closure:
  • The fair on the National Mall shuts down temporarily due to near-100-degree temperatures and an even higher heat index.
  • Lisa Brady: “A closure on the National Mall... It's a temporary shutdown of the Great American state fair in D.C. because of extreme heat.”
  • Mark Meredith, reporting on-site, highlights the urgency: “We are just shy of 100 degrees right now with the heat index. It feels well over it.”
• High-Profile Presence Noted:
  • Crowd included VIPs, cabinet secretaries, and Donald Trump Jr.
  • “We've seen a number of VIPs, cabinet secretaries, Donald Trump Jr. Was out here earlier today.” (Mark Meredith, 00:28)
  • Reopening scheduled for 5pm ET but subject to change.
• Other Weather Impacts:
  • Philadelphia parade canceled for similar heat concerns.

2. Political Statements and America’s 250th

[00:43-01:19]

• Mount Rushmore Celebration:
  • President Trump to lead a celebration tonight.
  • Context of persistent, oppressive heat in several states.
• NYC Mayor Critiques Inequality:
  • Mayor Zoran Mamdani uses the America250 address to highlight ongoing issues of supremacy and inequality:
    • "An arena of supremacy where the powerful do not see everyone as created equal." (Lisa Brady paraphrasing, 00:52)
    • “Division is the oldest trick in politics, and the cheapest. But time and again, including 250 years ago, those forces of division have been vanquished by the forces of progress.” (Jessica Rosenthal quoting, 01:07–01:17)
  • Mayor’s speech delivered beside newly naturalized citizens and a historic desk from George Washington.

3. Election Integrity Investigation

[01:19-01:47]

• FBI Voter Fraud Probe in Georgia:
  • FBI offices nationwide directed to focus on Trump’s voter fraud claims.
  • 260 investigative analysts and operations staff to be devoted to the effort.
  • “The Associated Press obtained a memo describing the effort as a priority investigation.” (Matt Murphy, 01:37)
  • FBI seized documents from Fulton County, Georgia, in January.

4. Fatal Police Shooting in South Carolina

[02:29-03:15]

• Incident at Somerville Gas Station:
  • Dorchester County sheriff’s deputy shoots and kills Ismail Clark during an alleged burglary.
  • Deputy fired after Clark pointed a black-painted glass bottle at him—misidentified as a possible weapon.
  • “It turned out the object he pointed was a glass bottle that had been painted black.” (Jessica Rosenthal, 02:41)
  • State Law Enforcement Division investigating; Clark had prior history at the same location.
  • Deputy placed on paid leave pending investigation.
  • “Sled said Clark was involved in a burglary and an officer-involved shooting at the exact same location three years ago.” (Jessica Rosenthal, 02:52)

5. Federal Holiday Logistics

[03:15-03:34]

• Mail and Banking:
  • Post offices open today (July 3), closed tomorrow; banks may have reduced hours.
  • Wall Street closed for extended weekend.

6. Fourth of July Entertainment – Movie Picks

[03:34-04:14]

• Celebratory Movie Recommendations:
  • Historical: 1776, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
  • Commemorative/Patriotic: Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers
  • Blockbusters: Top Gun: Maverick, The Patriot, Independence Day
  • “We’re going to live on. We’re going to survive. Today, we celebrate our Independence Day.” (Mark Meredith quoting Independence Day, 03:55)
• Matt Murphy: “Whether you're in the mood for history, heroism or just a little Hollywood spectacle, there's no shortage of red, white and blue entertainment this holiday weekend.” (04:05)

7. World Cup Update

[04:14-04:28]

• Tournament Progress:
  • Three countries to advance today; first match at broadcast time features Australia vs. Egypt.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We are just shy of 100 degrees right now with the heat index. It feels well over it.”—Mark Meredith, on the National Mall situation (00:11)
• “Division is the oldest trick in politics and the cheapest. But time and again, including 250 years ago, those forces of division have been vanquished by the forces of progress.”—Jessica Rosenthal, quoting Mayor Mamdani (01:07–01:17)
• “The Associated Press obtained a memo describing the effort as a priority investigation and calling for a surge of 260 investigative analysts and staff operations specialists.”—Matt Murphy, on the FBI voter fraud probe (01:37)
• “It turned out the object he pointed was a glass bottle that had been painted black.”—Jessica Rosenthal, on the fatal shooting (02:41)
• “We're going to live on. We're going to survive. Today, we celebrate our Independence Day.”—Mark Meredith, quoting the film Independence Day (03:55)
• “Whether you're in the mood for history, heroism or just a little Hollywood spectacle, there's no shortage of red, white and blue entertainment this holiday weekend.”—Matt Murphy (04:05)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:03: Extreme heat closes the National Mall state fair
• 00:43: NYC mayor and America250 remarks
• 01:19: FBI investigation into Georgia voter fraud claims
• 02:29: South Carolina officer-involved shooting
• 03:15: Mail, bank, and Wall Street hours for the holiday
• 03:34: Fourth of July movie recommendation segment
• 04:14: World Cup match updates

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This tightly packed newscast offers national event coverage, pressing political commentary, crime reports, and lifestyle suggestions, maintaining FOX’s signature brisk and news-first delivery. For holiday listeners or news followers, it presents the must-know facts alongside a dose of patriotic entertainment inspiration.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

A closure on the National Mall. Lisa Brady, FOX NEWS. It's a temporary shutdown of the Great American state fair in D.C. because of extreme heat.

[Mark Meredith]

I can confirm the heat is absolutely a major factor here. We are just shy of 100 degrees right now with the heat index. It feels well over it.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox is Mark Meredith on the National Mall where they moved everyone out a short time ago on what's been the busiest day at the state fair so far. For now, signs are posted that they do plan to reopen the event at 5pm Eastern.

[Mark Meredith]

It's always possible that they could extend those closures right here. The heat is going to continue well through sunset. But you can also hear on the loudspeaker right here they pushed everybody to the exit. We've seen a number of VIPs, cabinet secretaries, Donald Trump Jr. Was out here earlier today. A lot of people coming to check it out. As we expected.

[Lisa Brady]

Earlier, a Philadelphia parade was canceled also because of the weather, with multiple states enduring triple digit heat for another day. A celebration planned for tonight at Mount Rushmore led by President Trump as he continues a visit to the Dakotas. New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani using part of an America250 speech to criticize what he calls an arena of supremacy where the powerful do not see everyone as created equal.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

Division is the oldest trick in politics and the cheapest. But time and again, including 250 years

[Mark Meredith]

ago, those forces of division have been

[Jessica Rosenthal]

vanquished by the forces of progress.

[Lisa Brady]

The democratic socialist mayor flanked by newly naturalized U.S. citizens and sitting at a desk used by George Washington when it was located at Federal hall, the first Capitol building for the US FBI Field offices across the country being asked to dedicate employees to investigate Trump claims of voter fraud in Georgia.

[Matt Murphy]

The Associated Press obtained a memo describing the effort as a priority investigation and calling for a surge of 260 investigative analysts and staff operations specialists.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jared Halpern in D.C. fBI agents seized documents from Fulton County, Georgia in a January raid. America is listening to FOX news.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile. Now, I was looking for fun ways to tell you that Mint's offer of unlimited premiums and wireless for $15 a month is back. So I thought it would be fun if we made $15 bills, but it turns out that's very illegal. So there goes my big idea for the commercial. Give it a [e-mail] switch upfront payment

[Jessica Rosenthal]

of $45 for three months, $90 for six months or $180 for a 12 month plan required $15 per month equivalent taxes and fees. Extra initial plan term only greater than 50 gigabytes. Me slow when network is busy.

[Lisa Brady]

See terms Goose A deadly shooting at a gas station in South Carolina as a man tried to break in.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

Dorchester county sheriff's officials responding to a burglary at a gas station in Somerville, South Carolina. When he confronted a man who pointed an object at him, the deputy opened fire, killing the man, 35 year old Ismail Clark. It turned out the object he pointed was a glass bottle that had been painted black. Clark later died at a hospital. Dorchester county asked the state law enforcement division, or sled, to help with the investigation. Sled said Clark was involved in a burglary and an officer involved shooting at the exact same location three years ago. He was charged at that time with burglary. The deputy has been placed on paid administrative leave during an investigation. Jessica Rosenthal, FOX NEWS there's still time

[Lisa Brady]

to mail something today, even though it's a federal holiday. Post offices are open. They'll close tomorrow on the 4th instead. Some banks also closing tomorrow instead of today, but may have shorter hours. And Wall street already closed for a long weekend. If the summer heat sends you inside, picking the right movie could keep the Fourth of July spirit going.

[Matt Murphy]

Classics like 1776, Yankee Doodle D and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington celebrate the nation's founding and civic spirit, while films like Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers honor the sacrifices made to protect those ideals. Then there are the crowd pleasers, including Top Gun, Maverick, the Patriot and, of course, Independence Day.

[Mark Meredith]

We're going to live on. We're going to survive. Today, we celebrate our Independence Day.

[Matt Murphy]

Whether you're in the mood for history, heroism or just a little hum Hollywood spectacle, there's no shortage of red, white and blue entertainment this holiday weekend.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Matt Murphy, of course, there's plenty of World cup action with three more countries to advance today. The first game beginning at this hour on Fox, Australia and Egypt and Lisa Brady. This is Fox News.

[Fox News Announcer]

Cheers to America's 250th birthday. Get 20% off your first purchase at foxnewswineshop.com with code FNRADIO20. 20% discount excludes wine club offers and cannot be combined with any other promotion. Expires July 31, 2026. Must be 21 or older to order. Please drink responsibly.