2PM ET 07/31/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update — 2PM ET 07/31/2026 Newscast

Host: Lisa Brady, FOX News
Date: July 31, 2026

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Episode Overview

This Fox News Hourly Update delivers breaking and developing stories from around the world, with a focus on a diplomatic breakthrough in Gaza, cyberattacks on U.S. infrastructure, a fighter jet crash in San Diego, changes within Scouting America, and political drama in Maine. The episode is fast-paced and concise, offering listeners a snapshot of the nation’s most pressing headlines.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Gaza Ceasefire and Prospects for Peace

• Breakthrough with Hamas:
  • Hamas reportedly making new commitments under a recently announced ceasefire agreement. Details on implementation remain uncertain.
  • “New commitments from Hamas as part of a previously announced cease fire agreement, though many questions remain about implementation.” — Lisa Brady [00:02]
• President Trump’s Peace Plan:
  • President Trump claims a deal is in place for Hamas to disarm, which could lead Israel to withdraw from Gaza.
  • Trump attributes possible progress to a "weaker Iran" and admits skepticism remains, particularly among Israeli officials.
  • “President Trump’s Board of Peace says it has a deal for Hamas to disarm as part of a peace plan that would eventually see Israel withdraw from Gaza.” — Lisa Brady [00:14]
  • “Still, Israeli officials have signaled skepticism and President Trump concedes, will it go through its ups and downs? It's a very complex situation over there.” — Jared Halpern [00:38]
• Stabilization Force Proposal:
  • The plan includes an international force to train Palestinian police, suggesting a significant shift in local security arrangements.
  • “A comprehensive peace plan calls for an international stabilization force to train a Palestinian police force to take over security operations in the Strip.” — President Trump [00:43]

2. Tensions with Iran & Cyberattack Allegations

• US-Iran Relations:
  • Trump signals continued hardline against Iran, alluding to potential military escalation but remains non-committal about a "go big option" from CENTCOM.
  • “We’ll be hitting him very hard. You know, at some point they're going to say we just can't take it anymore.” — Jared Halpern, summarizing the administration’s stance [00:56]
  • Trump expresses distrust toward Iran, saying, “Iran lies and he’s losing faith in them.” [01:00]
• Water System Cyberattacks:
  • Presidential statements stop short of blaming Iran for a recent wave of cyberattacks affecting water utilities in Minnesota and at least seven states, though investigators note similarities to prior Iranian tactics.
  • “Investigators haven’t released many details about the suspected cyber attack, but they say the timing, the method, the access and targets are all very similar to what they’ve seen from Iran before.” — Mike Tobin [01:17]
  • FBI and EPA indicate attacks disrupted operations in 30 communities, though impacts were reportedly minimal.

3. Military Update: F-35 Crash Near San Diego

• Breaking News:
  • An F-35 fighter jet has crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego; smoke observed, pilot status unknown.
  • “Just getting word of a fighter jet crash in San Diego near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Smoke rising from the crash site in a field. No word yet on the F35 Pilot.” — Lisa Brady [01:31], [03:43]

4. Scouting America: Diversity Policy Shifts

• Jamboree and Pentagon Intervention:
  • Attendees at Scouting America's National Jamboree in West Virginia note absence of prior diversity and LGBTQ spaces.
  • Spokesperson reiterates inclusion efforts but sidesteps specifics.
  • Pentagon support for Scouting America's events became conditional on reducing focus on diversity, per prior deal; compliance deadline is August.
  • “War Secretary Pete Hegseth had said [the deal] would refocus Scouting away from diversity initiatives.” — Jessica Rosenthal [02:20]
• Background:
  • Without compliance, Pentagon logistical support for Scouting events would be pulled.

5. Maine Senate Race: Family Controversy

• Personal Attacks in the Campaign:
  • Democratic nominee Troy Jackson faces personal scrutiny over his long-term relationship with a second cousin, revealed by local records but deemed legal in Maine and most states.
  • "Second cousin marriage is legal in most states, including Maine." — Chris Foster [03:05]
  • Jackson's campaign labels the focus as a distraction from incumbent Susan Collins' voting record.
  • “Personal attacks on Troy’s family are shameful and desperate.” — Jackson Campaign statement [03:43]
• Campaign Backdrop:
  • Jackson secured nomination after previous Democratic candidate withdrew amid controversies.

6. Financial Markets Update

• Wall Street Rally:
  • Strong gains for major indices: Dow up 287 points, NASDAQ up 198.
  • “On Wall Street, a rally. The Dow is up 287 points. The NASDAQ’s up 198.” — Lisa Brady [03:43]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “A comprehensive peace plan calls for an international stabilization force to train a Palestinian police force to take over security operations in the Strip.”
  — President Trump [00:43]

• “It's a big step for the Middle east and people are really impressed by it and they're surprised by it.”
  — Jared Halpern [00:22]

• “We’ll be hitting him very hard. You know, at some point they're going to say we just can't take it anymore.”
  — Jared Halpern (paraphrasing White House stance) [00:56]

• “Second cousin marriage is legal in most states, including Maine.”
  — Chris Foster [03:05]

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Gaza Ceasefire Agreement & US Response: [00:02] – [00:52]
• US-Iran Tensions & Cyberattacks on Water Systems: [00:53] – [01:31]
• F-35 Fighter Jet Crash Breaking News: [01:31], [03:43]
• Scouting America Jamboree & Pentagon Policy: [02:15] – [03:01]
• Maine Senate Race and Personal Attacks: [03:01] – [03:43]
• Markets Update: [03:43]

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Summary

This newscast edition delivers crisp reporting on emerging global and domestic issues. The major international development centers on a possible breakthrough in Gaza tied to a broader Middle East peace vision that remains fraught with doubt and the role of Iran. Domestic security is shaken by coordinated cyberattacks, with official suspicion yet ambiguity on attribution. Meanwhile, the episode spotlights ongoing culture wars within Scouting America, breaks major campaign news in Maine, and tracks a developing story on an F-35 crash near San Diego. Market updates close out the episode, rounding up an eventful news hour with an optimistic note.

Listeners walk away with a clear sense of the key facts, major controversies, and unfolding developments shaping today's headlines.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

A potential breakthrough for Gaza On Lisa Brady, FOX News, new commitments from Hamas as part of a previously announced cease fire agreement, though many questions remain about implementation.

[President Trump]

President Trump's Board of Peace says it has a deal for Hamas to disarm as part of a peace plan that would eventually see Israel withdraw from Gaza.

[Jared Halpern]

It's a big step for the Middle east and people are really impressed by it and they're surprised by it.

[President Trump]

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, President Trump says a weaker Iran was key to the breakthrough. Still, Israeli officials have signaled skepticism and President Trump concedes, will it go through

[Jared Halpern]

its ups and downs? It's a very complex situation over there. The people are very complex.

[President Trump]

A comprehensive peace plan calls for an international stabilization force to train a Palestinian police force to take over security operations in the Strip.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jared Halpern the White House. As for the fight with Iran, we'll

[Jared Halpern]

be hitting him very hard. You know, at some point they're going to say we just can't take it anymore.

[Lisa Brady]

But the president stops short of confirming a Wall street report about a go big option from the CENTCOM commander. He also still doesn't rule out a deal, but says Iran lies and he's losing faith in them. The president also says he does not think Iran is to blame for attacks on water systems in Minnesota.

[Mike Tobin]

Ultimately, 30 communities were affected, but the disruption to water systems was minimal. Investigators haven't released many details about the suspected cyber attack, but they say the timing, the method, the access and targets are all very similar to what they've seen from Iran before.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Mike Tobin. A public service announcement from the FBI and EPA says water and wastewater utility companies in at least seven states have reported incidents to the FBI since Monday. Some of the attacks disrupting water operations. Just getting word of a fighter jet crash in San Diego near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Smoke rising from the crash site in a field. No word yet on the F35 Pilot. America is listening to FOX News.

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[Lisa Brady]

People attending an annual Scouting event say diversity spaces are gone.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

Those attending Scouting America's National Jamboree in West Virginia say diversity tents like for LGBTQ Scouts were absent from this year's event. A Scouting America spokesperson said they're committed to welcoming and serving all youth, but did not address any changes made to the jamboree. All of this comes, though, after a deal reached between Scouting and the Pentagon in February, as the Pentagon provides certain support to Scouting, including logistics for the jamboree. The deal required some changes, which War Secretary Pete Hegseth had said would refocus Scouting away from diversity initiatives. The Pentagon has said its support of Scouting America would end unless the organization complied by August. Jessica Rosenthal, Fox News A new nominee

[Lisa Brady]

for U.S. senate in Maine is pushing back against attacks on his family.

[Chris Foster]

The Democrat Senate nominee in Maine, Troy Jackson, and his longtime partner, Lana Peltier, are second cousins with the same great grandparents, according to a report on the Maine Wire website. Based on records from Ancestry.com and tips from locals in Jackson's hometown, Allagash, they say the couple's never been legally married, although Jackson has referred to Pelletier as his wife and they have two now adult sons. Second cousin marriage is legal in most states, including Maine. Jackson's trying to win incumbent Republican Susan Collins Senate seat. His campaign tells Fox. Susan Collins will do anything to distract from the fact that she votes with Trump 96% of the time and has sold out working people in Maine. Personal attacks on Troy's family are shameful and desperate.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Chris Foster Jackson became the Democratic nominee after Graham Graham Platner dropped out, facing multiple controversies and a rape allegation. Again, just getting word of a fighter jet crash, an F35 going down in San Diego near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. There is no word yet on the pilot. On Wall Street, a rally. The dow is up 287 points. The NASDAQ's up 198. On Lisa Brady, this is Fox News.