2PM ET 07/20/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 2PM ET 07/20/2026 Newscast: Summary

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Episode Overview

This episode of the Fox News Hourly Update delivers concise reporting on recent escalations between the U.S. and Iran, developments in American and international politics, a notable business merger halted by the courts, emerging Senate races, a quirky mayoral write-in campaign in Florida, and the latest from Wall Street.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. US-Iran Tensions Escalate

• President Trump Responds:

  • President Trump issues a strong warning to Iran, stating:

    “Iran will pay many times over every time they kill an American soldier.”
    (Lisa Brady, 00:07)

  • The White House confirms Trump will attend a dignified transfer following the deaths of U.S. soldiers in recent attacks.

• Identities Released & Ongoing Investigations:

  • The military identifies two fallen soldiers:
    • 1st Lt. James Freehand (25, Hawaii)
    • Isabella Gonzalez (19, Texas)
  • Video evidence shows the Friday strike at a base in Jordan.
  • Another service member is listed as missing, with human remains found.
  • A fourth soldier died defusing an Iranian drone in Iraq.
    (Alex Hogan, 00:21)

2. Diplomacy & Political Statements

• Continued Strikes and Open Dialogue:

  • Despite daily U.S. attacks, Iran persists in targeting Gulf neighbors.
  • Neither side is ruling out a diplomatic solution.
    (Lisa Brady, 00:48)

• Netanyahu and US Legal Threats:

  • President Trump asserts that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested in the U.S., responding to New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s previous push for arrest related to an ICC warrant.

    "Netanyahu will not be arrested in any way, shape or form while in the United States."
    (Lisa Brady, 00:54)

  • Mamdani referenced allegations of war crimes in Gaza, which Israel denies.
    (Alex Hogan, 01:14)
  • Netanyahu responds, urging Mamdani to focus on “running New York City.”
    (Lisa Brady, 01:30)

3. Paramount–Warner Brothers Merger Paused

• Federal Judge Intervenes:
  • The Justice Department had previously approved the merger, but a judge has enforced a two-week pause, allowing for a multi-state court challenge.
    (Lisa Brady, 01:34)

4. South Carolina Senate Race Developments

• Special GOP Primary Announced:
  • Following Senator Lindsey Graham’s death, Rep. Russell Fry enters the special Republican primary.
  • Graham’s sister, Darlene (appointed to the seat), has not announced if she’ll run, but President Trump is encouraging her to seek office.
    (Eben Brown, 02:20)
  • GOP field includes Rep. Ralph Norman and at least three others. The winner will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November.
  • Senator Darlene Graham's interview with Sean Hannity is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.
  • Filing for the race starts tomorrow; the primary is set for August 11.
    (Lisa Brady, 02:51)

5. Tallahassee Mayoral Race Goes Viral

• Unusual Write-In Candidate:
  • “Arnie the basset hound,” a six-year-old dog, is in the spotlight as an unofficial write-in candidate representing the “hound party.”
  • His owner, Lee Meadows, notes the campaign spotlights the public’s desire for candidates who discuss substantive issues.

    “A vote for Arnie the basset hound won’t actually count since dogs can’t.”
    (Lee Meadows, 03:18)

  • Some voters claim Arnie is “the best candidate for the job.”
    (Lee Meadows, 03:50)

6. Wall Street Update

• Mixed Markets:
  • Dow: Down 153 points
  • S&P and Nasdaq: In the green
    (Lisa Brady, 04:00)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump:

  "Iran will pay many times over every time they kill an American soldier."
  (Lisa Brady quoting Trump, 00:07)

• On Netanyahu:

  "Netanyahu will not be arrested in any way, shape or form while in the United States."
  (Lisa Brady, 00:54)

• Lee Meadows on Arnie’s Candidacy:

  "A pet peeve of some voters is candidates talking in generalities... Arnie’s platform is to discuss issues that voters care about and want to hear about."
  (Lee Meadows, 03:36)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• US-Iran Tensions & Soldiers' Deaths: 00:03–01:14
• Netanyahu Legal Threats & Responses: 00:48–01:30
• Paramount–Warner Merger Court Hold: 01:34–02:00
• South Carolina Senate Race: 02:15–02:51
• Tallahassee Mayoral Race & Arnie the Hound: 03:18–04:00
• Stock Market Update: 04:00–end

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This episode comprehensively covers breaking news on U.S. foreign affairs, the evolving electoral landscape, ongoing legal-political drama, and even a slice of local color thanks to Florida's canine mayoral hopeful, tying it all together with fast-paced, to-the-point Fox News reporting.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

A new warning to Iran. Lisa Brady, Fox News President Trump says Iran will pay many times over every time they kill an American soldier. The White House also now confirming he will attend a dignified transfer tomorrow after several U.S. soldiers were killed since Friday with the identities of two released so far.

[Alex Hogan]

The military identifying them today is 25 year old 1st Lt. James Freehand of Hawaii and Isabella Gonzalez of Texas. She was just 19 years old. Video released by the AP appears to show that strike on Friday at the American base in Jordan. The military also listing another service member as missing after that strike, although human remains have been found. And a fourth service member died Saturday in Iraq while detonating a downed Iranian drone.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Alex Hogan the White House Iran keeps attacking Gulf neighbors despite daily US Attacks on Iran, though neither side is ruling out a deal. President Trump also just posting that the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested in any way, shape or form while in the United States. This after the New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani floated the possibility of having Netanyahu arrested if he comes to New York for the UN General assembly last year.

[Alex Hogan]

On the campaign trail, Maidani first vowed to pursue Netanyahu's arrest and when speaking to the Times, Mamdani cited a 2024 International Criminal Court warrant issued for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza, allegations that Israel has denied.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's CB Khad and Mamdani tell telling the New York Times the city is exploring legal issues, Netanyahu posting a defense of his leadership and Israel's actions and writing that Mamdani needs to focus on running New York City. A big business deal already approved by the Justice Department is now on hold. A federal judge just ordering Paramount and Warner Brothers to pause their merger for at least two weeks, allowing a multi state challenge to play out in court. America is listening to Fox News cheers

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[Lisa Brady]

Another Republican is in the running for Lindsey Graham's former Senate seat.

[Eben Brown]

South Carolina Congressman Russell Frye is entering a special Republican primary called following the death of US Senator Lindsey Graham earlier this month. Graham was already nominated to serve another term and was running in this November's elections. Fry is joining a field of at least the seat is currently being held by Graham's sister, Darlene, appointed by Governor Henry McMaster to fill the remainder of the term. While she has not publicly announced a run for the seat herself, President Trump is urging her to seek the office. EBEN brown, FOX News Tomorrow is the

[Lisa Brady]

first day to file for that race ahead of the special GOP election set for Aug. 11. The other announced Republican candidates include another congressman, Ralph Norman, at least three other Republicans announcing their intention to run the GOP winner to face Democrat Annie Andrews in November. Sen. Senator Darlene Graham speaks with Fox's Sean Hannity tonight. That interview airing at 9:00pm Eastern on Hannity. Voters in one Florida race have an unusual choice.

[Lee Meadows]

There are four mayoral hopefuls on the ballot in Tallahassee, Florida, but it's an unofficial write in candidate that's going viral, a heavy boned six year old pooch with long ears who's launching his campaign a month out from the August primary, representing the hound party. A vote for Arnie the basset hound won't actually count since dogs can't. But a pet peeve of some voters is candidates talking in generalities. And Arnie's owner, Lee Meadows says the goal is for Arnie's platform to discuss issues that voters care about and want to hear about and that maybe it'll get Arnie's human opponents to address these concerns. Meadows says he's already had people telling him Arnie is the best candidate for the job.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Lillian Wu Stocks remain mixed. Right now the Dow is down 153 points, but the S and P and the Nasdaq are in the green. I'm Lisa Brady. This is FOX News.