4AM ET 04/02/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 4AM ET, April 2, 2026

Host: Sue Guzman (FOX News Podcasts)
Date: April 2, 2026

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Episode Overview

This fast-paced news bulletin spotlights the latest world and national events, focusing on developments in the Iran conflict, a historic NASA moon mission, major Supreme Court deliberations, Congressional action on Homeland Security funding, and shifting US-Venezuela relations.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ongoing Iran Conflict and President Trump’s Statements

[00:03–00:52]

• President Trump declared that US and Israeli forces have largely dismantled Iran’s naval and defense infrastructure, but emphasized continued military action for several more weeks.
• Asserted that, “We're going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We're going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong.” (President Trump, [00:31])
• Despite his claims of ongoing ceasefire talks, Iran disputes the progress or extent of these negotiations.

Notable Quote:
“We're going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We're going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong.”
— President Trump ([00:31])

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2. Reopening the Strait of Hormuz

[00:52–01:00]

• 35 nations will meet to discuss reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz, largely closed to shipping since the conflict began, affecting global energy and trade routes.

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3. NASA’s Historic Artemis 2 Moon Mission

[01:00–01:56]

• NASA launched its first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years: Artemis 2.
• Four astronauts are on a ten-day test journey around the moon, launched from Kennedy Space Center at 6:35pm.
• The mission tests systems necessary for more complex future lunar expeditions; the splashdown is anticipated off San Diego in April.

Notable Details:
“NASA said this will help test the systems and hardware needed to continue sending astronauts on increasingly difficult missions to explore more of the moon for scientific discovery.”
— Brandi Campbell ([01:42])

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4. Supreme Court Considers Birthright Citizenship Ban

[02:40–03:27]

• SCOTUS heard oral arguments on President Trump’s executive order to ban automatic citizenship for children born in the US.
• ACLU attorney Cecilia Wong argued the ban would make existing laws “senseless” and could affect millions' citizenship status.
• Government lawyers called for a reconsideration of the 14th Amendment's historic interpretation.
• President Trump was present at the Supreme Court, marking the first such attendance by a sitting president for oral arguments.

Memorable Quote:
“Swathes of American laws would be rendered senseless. Thousands of American babies will immediately lose their citizenship.”
— Cecilia Wong, ACLU ([03:01])

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5. Congressional Agreement on DHS Funding

[03:27–04:16]

• House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune reached an agreement, with Trump’s backing, to fund all of DHS except ICE and CBP.
• Echoes a previously Democratic-supported Senate bill rejected by Johnson hours after passage; he now supports a similar measure.
• Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, claimed victory, stating “House Republicans caved.”
• The DHS shutdown, the longest on record, may end soon with Trump stating he wants the bill signed by June 1.

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6. US Lifts Sanctions on Venezuela’s Acting President

[04:16–04:36]

• The US lifted sanctions against Venezuela’s acting president, Delsey Rodriguez, enabling her to engage more freely with US companies and investors.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “We're going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks...”
  — President Trump ([00:31])
• “Thousands of American babies will immediately lose their citizenship.”
  — Cecilia Wong, ACLU ([03:01])
• President Trump’s attendance at Supreme Court oral arguments — a first for a sitting US president ([03:17])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Iran Conflict, Trump’s Statement: [00:03–00:52]
• Strait of Hormuz/NASA Artemis 2 Launch: [00:52–01:56]
  • Artemis 2 Launch Details: [01:15–01:56]
• Supreme Court – Birthright Citizenship Case: [02:40–03:27]
• Congressional DHS Funding Progress: [03:27–04:16]
• US-Venezuela Sanctions Lift: [04:16–04:36]

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Tone & Style

• Informative, direct, and urgent; mirrors the breaking-news broadcast tone of Fox News with concise reports and brief direct quotes.
• Heavily sourced from official statements and live coverage, focusing on factual reporting and notable political developments.

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This summary delivers a comprehensive briefing for listeners to understand the main stories and their significance, even without hearing the broadcast.

Transcript

[A]

Commission winding down. I'm Sue Guzman. Fox News. President Trump says the conflict in Iran will continue, but he's vowing it won't go on much longer. Here's fox's Grinnell Scott.

[B]

President Trump said because of American and Israeli military power, Iran's navy is gone and airstrikes have been annihilating their defense industrial base. But the president told the nation Wednesday night the job isn't quite complete. So for now the offensive will continue.

[C]

We're going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We're going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong.

[B]

The president said talks toward a ceasefire or even an end to the war continue, but Iran has disputed those discussions have come as far as the president has said. Gernall Scott, fox news.

[A]

Meanwhile, 35 countries are set to meet Thursday to discuss ways of reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The vital shipping route has been shut to most traffic since the US Israeli conflict with Iran began. NASA launching its first mission to the moon in over half a century. The 32 story rocket blasting off from the Kennedy Space center in Florida. Here's Fox's Brandi Campbell.

[D]

It's official NASA has sent four astronauts into space on a 10 day journey with the goal of taking a test ride around the moon, part of the Artemis 2 mission. After some minor weather concerns and a couple of issues that were addressed in the last couple of hours of the countdown, the rocket finally made that rumble, taking off at 6:35pm from Launch Complex 39B. NASA said this will help test the systems and hardware needed to continue sending astronauts on increasingly difficult missions to explore more of the moon for scientific discovery. If everything goes as scheduled, the crew will splash down off the coast of San Diego on April.

[A]

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[E]

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[A]

the Supreme Court is considering the case surrounding President Trump's executive order banning birthright citizenship.

[F]

Justices on the Supreme Court had tough questions for both sides in oral arguments over President Trump's push to ban automatic citizenship for children born on US Soil. Arguing for the plaintiffs, ACLU attorney Cecilia Wong condemned the executive order.

[G]

Swathes of American laws would be rendered senseless. Thousands of American babies will immediately lose their citizenship. And if you credit the government's theory, the citizenship of millions of Americans past, present and future could be called into question.

[F]

The government's lawyer urged the court to correct long enduring misconceptions of the 14th Amendment's meaning. Trump attended the arguments, becoming the first sitting president to do so. Tonya J.

[A]

Powers, Fox News Republicans in the House and Senate reaching an agreement on funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Fox's Bill Malusians the Capitol with the details.

[H]

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are now on the same page announcing a Trump approved plan to pass a bill that would fund all of DHS except ICE and cbp. It's similar to the bill the Senate passed with Democratic support at 2am last Friday. Hours later, Speaker Johnson trashed that Senate bill. But now, with President Trump's approval, Thune and Johnson say that Senate pass bill is the path forward. And Democrats are claiming victory. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer writing on X House Republicans caved. They've agreed to pass the Senate bill to fund dhs. Except for ICE and CBP that unanimously passed a week ago, this is the

[A]

longest DHS shutdown in history. President Trump said in a Truth Social post that he wants the bill on his desk by June 1st. And the United States has lifted sanctions against Venezuela's acting president Delsey Rodriguez Wednesday. This allows her to work more freely with US Companies as well as investors. I'm Sue Gossman.

[F]

This this is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of

[I]

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