2PM ET 08/01/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 2PM ET Newscast (August 1, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode of the Fox News Hourly Update, anchored by Angelo Bavaro, delivers a fast-paced summary of major developing stories as of the early afternoon. Topics covered include new escalations in the Strait of Hormuz, an update on a high-profile Justice Department case, the unfolding Senate race following Lindsey Graham’s death, the ongoing manhunt for a Florida murder suspect, Carly Simon’s health news, and a major lawsuit against social media companies.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. New Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz

• [00:02-00:55]
  • Two more attacks reported on commercial shipping.
  • British maritime experts and Iranian state TV confirm attacks on two oil tankers. At least one was hit, and several tankers turned around to avoid danger.
  • Policy Response: President Trump is considering renewed U.S. military strikes on Iran in response to these escalations, potentially beginning as early as the coming weekend and lasting for several days.
  • Notable frustration voiced over failed diplomatic efforts leading up to this potential action.
  • Quote:
    • President Trump [00:49]: “We’ll be hitting them. We'll be hitting them very hard. You know, at some point they’re going to say we just can't take it anymore.”

2. Justice Department Drops Charges Against David Hearn

• [01:00-01:16]
  • Charges against former Olympian David Hearn, accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, have been dropped.
  • New evidence indicated the damage resulted from a flawed installation rather than intentional action by Hearn.

3. Senate Race Following Lindsey Graham’s Passing

• [01:16-01:54]
  • Memorial services completed for late Senator Lindsey Graham.
  • Focus shifts to the Republican primary scheduled for August 11th to fill his seat.
  • Several candidates are vying for nomination; one highlights the campaign's platform as faith-centered.
    • Quote:
      • Political Candidate [01:36]: “What our campaign's about, putting God first again. That’s how our country was founded. And that’s the only way we will make America great again is with God first again.”
  • Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darlene Graham, has been appointed by South Carolina’s governor to serve the remainder of her brother’s term.

4. Florida Manhunt for Murder Suspect

• [02:17-03:12]
  • Authorities intensify their search for Isabel Johnson, described as a "master of disguise" and wanted for murder.
  • Investigators have released new photos, including images of a distinctive flower tattoo, in hopes the public can help locate her.
  • Johnson is wanted for the murder of Jason Coltheart, with his remains found June 25th. Johnson was last seen at a tattoo shop in Destin, Florida.
  • Law enforcement has also arrested five people in connection with the case.

5. Carly Simon Reveals Parkinson’s Diagnosis

• [03:16-03:54]
  • Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Carly Simon discloses she has Parkinson’s disease, as well as other ongoing health problems such as arthritis and previous cancer treatments.
  • Despite her health struggles, Simon continues to create music.
  • Her career highlights span hit songs in the 1970s, an Oscar for "Let the River Run" from 'Working Girl,' and multiple children’s books and memoirs.

6. Lawsuit Against Social Media Giants Over Teen Suicides

• [03:54-04:09]
  • Families of four teenagers who died by suicide have filed suit against Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube.
  • Google (owner of YouTube) issued a brief statement of sympathy and stated they are reviewing the lawsuit.

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Memorable Quotes

• President Trump [00:49]:
  “We’ll be hitting them. We'll be hitting them very hard. You know, at some point they’re going to say we just can't take it anymore.”

• Political Candidate, on Senate Campaign [01:36]:
  “What our campaign's about, putting God first again. That’s how our country was founded. And that’s the only way we will make America great again is with God first again.”

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• [00:02-00:55] New escalations & potential U.S. military response in Strait of Hormuz
• [01:00-01:16] Exoneration of Olympian David Hearn
• [01:16-01:54] Senate race shapes up after Lindsey Graham’s passing
• [02:17-03:12] Manhunt for murder suspect Isabel Johnson in Florida
• [03:16-03:54] Carly Simon’s health announcement
• [03:54-04:09] Social media companies sued over teen suicides

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Tone & Style

• The tone is direct, urgent, and fact-centered, as is the norm for hourly news summaries. There are moments of emotion, particularly in coverage of the Senate race and Carly Simon’s health—balancing hard news with human interest.

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This summary captures all core news developments covered in the episode, with timestamps for deeper exploration and notable sound bites reflecting the speakers' original language and immediacy.

Transcript

[Angelo Bavaro]

New escalations. I'm Angelo Bavaro, FOX News. Two new attacks have been reported on

[Fox News Reporter]

commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. One tanker was apparently hit while another projectile exploded in the water near a second vessel.

[Steve Harrigan]

Initially, it was Iran. State television claiming that they attacked two oil tankers yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz. Now British maritime experts are confirming that two tankers were attacked. At least one was hit and four of them turned around. So this is a sign of continuing attacks against commercial shipping in the straits, something the U.S. of course, wants to stop. And it's something President Trump has cited in his decision that he's considering about perhaps launching major strikes against Iran once again. Those strikes could begin as early as this weekend. They could last several days. Here's President Trump.

[President Trump]

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

[Steve Harrigan]

That decision comes after a great deal of frustration with time given for diplomacy.

[Angelo Bavaro]

That is fox's Steve Harrigan. The Justice Department is dropping criminal charges

[Fox News Reporter]

against former Olympian David Hearn. He was accused of deliberately damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting pool. Government lawyers say new evidence shows damage to that reflecting pool was caused by a flawed installation, not by Hearn. Memorial services were held this week for the late Senator Lindsey Graham. Attention has now turned to the race for Senate seat with a special Republican

[Angelo Bavaro]

primary set for August 11th. A credit field of candidates is seeking that nomination. Mark lynch joining fox's Saturday in America

[Fox News Reporter]

to discuss that race.

[Political Candidate]

What our campaign's about, putting God first again. That's how our country was founded. And that's the only way we will make America great again is with God first again.

[Angelo Bavaro]

That is one of those candidates. The Late Senator Lindsey Graham's sister, Darlene

[Fox News Reporter]

Graham was appointed by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster to serve the remainder of her brother's Senate term.

[Angelo Bavaro]

America's listening to Fox.

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[Angelo Bavaro]

a Florida Sheriff's office is ramping up its manhunt for a murder

[Fox News Reporter]

suspect they're calling a master of disguise and releasing even more pictures including one of her hand tattoo in hopes somebody will turn her in.

[Chanley Painter]

It's been more than a month since Isabel Johnson vanished and now investigators are releasing new photos in hopes of tracking down the 38 year old murder suspect. One photo shows a distinctive flower tattoo on Johnson's left hand. Investigators have previously released several photos showing Johnson's tattoos that could help members of the public recognize her despite any attempt she may make to disguise herself while on the run. Johnson is wanted in connection with the death of 40 Jason Coltheart, who was reported missing May 24 and whose remains were found in a shallow grave at a at a free point, Florida home on June 25th. Now, since then, Johnson has not been located. They say she was last seen at

[Angelo Bavaro]

a destined tattoo shop that is Fox's Chanley Painter.

[Fox News Reporter]

Five people have been arrested in connection with that case.

[Angelo Bavaro]

Singer songwriter Carly Simon opening up about

[Fox News Reporter]

her Parkinson's diagnosis Grammy Award winning singer

[Lisa Brady]

songwriter Carly Simon has Parkinson's disease. The you're so Vain singer revealing a variety of health issues in a statement about the diagnosis, sharing that she's been living with arthritis and had joint replacement surgeries, but her mobility was still on the decline. She's also received treatment for basal cell carcinoma on her face. But through these challenges, Simon is still making music. Simon rose to fame in the 70s and received an Oscar for her song Let the River Run from the movie Working Girl. She's also written five children's books and two memoirs. Lisa Brady, Fox News Several major social

[Angelo Bavaro]

media companies including Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and

[Fox News Reporter]

YouTube are being sued by the families of four teenagers who died by suicide. Google, which owns YouTube, says it's reviewing that lawsuit and extends its sympathies to those families.

[Angelo Bavaro]

I'm Angelo Bavaro and this is Fox News.

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