4AM ET 04/04/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update — 4AM ET, April 4, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode delivers rapid-fire national and international news coverage, focusing on developments in Iran after a U.S. airman was shot down, updates on the U.S. economic outlook, President Trump’s proposed federal budget, major wildfires in California, and progress from the Artemis 2 lunar mission. The tone is urgent and fact-driven, with direct quotes from correspondents and officials.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Airman Missing in Iran & Search and Rescue Efforts

[00:03 - 01:10]

• The episode opens with breaking news: U.S. search and rescue teams are searching for a missing airman over Iran following the shootdown of an F-15E Strike Eagle.
• Mike Tobin from Tel Aviv reports:
  • The pilot has been recovered, but the weapons systems officer remains missing.
  • Both U.S. and Iranian forces are searching for the missing officer, highlighting the high-stakes situation.
  • During the mission to recover the pilot, two U.S. helicopters were hit by enemy fire; there were injuries, but both helicopters landed safely.
  • Separately, a U.S. A-10 Warthog crashed near the Strait of Hormuz after enemy fire; the pilot of the A-10 has been rescued.
• Israel has paused fighting in the area where the F-15E went down to support search efforts.

Notable Quote:

“The other was a weapons systems officer. That is the individual they are looking for. And as US Forces are searching for that weapons systems officer, the Iranians say they are searching for him as well.”
— Mike Tobin ([00:15])

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2. Political Tensions in Iran

[00:55 - 01:10]

• Reuters reports Iran executed two men linked to an opposition group, accused of attacks against the regime.

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3. Trump Administration Budget Proposal

[01:10 - 01:53]

• Jared Halpern from the White House:
  • President Trump is requesting a record $1.5 trillion in defense spending, the largest ever.
  • To pay for the increase, cuts to health, housing, and education are proposed by reducing what the administration labels “woke, wasteful, and weaponized” programs.
  • The budget would raise government revenue but is described as “more symbolic than anything else,” functioning as a wish list for lawmakers.

Notable Quote:

“The administration says those can [be] done by eliminating woke wasteful and weaponized programs.”
— Jared Halpern ([01:28])

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4. U.S. Economy Update

[02:40 - 03:07]

• 178,000 jobs were added in March; unemployment dropped to 4.3%.
• Kevin Hassett, National Economic Council Director (on Fox’s ‘America’s Newsroom’):
  • Returns of retirees and sidelined workers attributed to favorable tax policy: “no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and especially the no tax on Social Security.”
  • Economic optimism tied to incentives for workforce re-entry.

Notable Quote:

“There are a lot of people who've been sitting on the sidelines who are coming back to work because they get a no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and especially the no tax on Social Security.”
— Kevin Hassett ([02:53])

• The Federal Reserve warns that inflation could rise due to increased oil prices from conflict in Iran.

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5. Wildfires in Southern California

[03:07 - 03:53]

• Two major wildfires (“Springs” and “Crown”) have burned over 3,000 acres; evacuations in Moreno Valley and Acton.
• Firefighters face gusty Santa Ana winds; the causes are under investigation.
• Reflects on the deadly fires of January 2025, which killed 30+ people and destroyed over 18,000 homes.

Notable Quote:

“Thousands of residents living in Moreno Valley and Acton receiving evacuation orders...Officials say the cause of both fires is under investigation.”
— Laura Cantor ([03:19])

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6. Artemis 2: Mission Around the Moon

[03:53 - 04:26]

• Artemis 2 is on its fourth day, with four astronauts headed for a lunar flyby — a significant milestone for NASA.
• Reid Wiseman, commander of Artemis 2: Crew feeling positive, described as “the most skilled astronauts we have,” with one member, Jeremy, performing well on his first day in orbit.
• Upcoming milestone: Monday's flyby, 4,000 miles from the moon's far side.

Notable Quote:

“At night, I'm flying in space with two of the most skilled astronauts that we have, most accomplished astronauts...my job here is pretty easy. Definitely sometimes you get a little bit nervous...but it's going great.”
— Reid Wiseman ([04:10])

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Memorable Moments & Timeline

| Timestamp | Segment | Notable Speaker | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------| | 00:03 | Breaking: U.S. airman missing after shootdown over Iran | Debra Valentine, Mike Tobin | | 01:10 | Trump proposes historic defense budget | Jared Halpern | | 02:40 | Jobs report & economic trends | Kevin Hassett | | 03:07 | California wildfires & evacuations | Laura Cantor | | 03:53 | Artemis 2 lunar mission update | Reid Wiseman |

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Conclusion

This quick-fire newscast delivers concise but impactful updates on high-stakes military, economic, and scientific developments, notable for the ongoing Iran crisis, Trump’s record-breaking defense budget proposal, positive labor market data, and a triumphant Artemis 2 mission update. Quotes from reporters and officials emphasize the immediacy and seriousness of these stories, embodying the urgent and direct tone characteristic of the Fox News Hourly Update.

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Transcript

[A]

Still missing. I'm Debra Valentine. Fox News. Search and rescue teams continue looking for a missing U.S. airman shot down over Iran. Fox's Mike Tobin has more from Tel Aviv, Israel.

[B]

Pilot of that F15E Strike Eagle has been recovered, but there were two personnel on board that aircraft. The other was a weapons systems officer. That is the individual they are looking for. And as US Forces are searching for that weapons systems officer, the Iranians say they are searching for him as well. Now, when search and rescue crews entered Iran to rescue that pilot, they came under enemy fire. Two US Helicopters were shot and crew members on board were injured. Those helicopters were able to land. Safety. Also, the Pentagon confirms that an A10 Warthog crashed in the area of the Strait of Hormuz after coming under enemy fire that has one pilot on board. That pilot has been rescued.

[A]

Israel has announced that they have paused fighting in the area that the F15E went down as a search for the missing airmen continues. Reuters reporting Iran hit has executed two men linked to an opposition group and convicted of carrying out attacks against the Iranian regime. President Trump proposing a big spending increase for the military and cuts to domestic spending in his annual budget. Fox's Jared Halpern has more from the White House.

[C]

The White House is asking Congress to approve $1.5 trillion in defense spending for the upcoming fiscal year, the largest total in history for the Pentagon. Part of the spending increase would be offset with cuts to health, housing and education agencies. The administration says those can done by eliminating woke wasteful and weaponized programs. The White House budget office also projects higher revenues next year. Still, the budget proposal is more symbolic than anything else, serving as a priority list for lawmakers who ultimately must approve federal spending. At the White House.

[A]

Jared Halpern, FOX NEWS America's listening to FOX News.

[D]

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[A]

The U.S. economy adding an unexpected 178,000 jobs in March. The unemployment rate dropped 1. 10 of a point to 4.3%. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett reacts on Fox's America's Newsroom.

[E]

There are a lot of people who've been sitting on the sidelines who are coming back to work because they get a no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and especially the no tax on Social Security. There are a lot of people who retired but want to get back into this booming labor force and they have a higher tax reward for doing it.

[A]

The Federal Reserve warning that rising oil prices will drive inflation higher due to the Iran war. Mass evacuations underway in parts of Southern California as two wildfires burn out of control.

[F]

Firefighters contending with gusty Santa Ana winds as they battle the Springs fire and the Crown fire, which have already burned over 3,000 acres. According to Cal Fire, thousands of residents living in Moreno Valley and Acton receiving evacuation orders. Officials say the cause of both fires is under investigation and did not release any information yet regarding property damage. In January 2025, the Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles county resulted in over 30 deaths and destroyed more than 18,000 homes and structures. Laura Cantor, FOX News.

[A]

Today marks day four of the Artemis 2 mission, launching four astronauts out of Earth's orbit for that historic trip around the moon's orbit, including its dark. Reid Wiseman is a commander of Artemis 2, and he tells FOX NEWS at

[G]

night, I'm flying in space with two of the most skilled astronauts that we have, most accomplished astronauts. And Jeremy, on his first day in orbit yesterday, was just getting the job done 100%. So my job here is pretty easy. Definitely sometimes you get a little bit nervous. There's a couple of things that caught our attention so far, but it's going great.

[A]

On Monday, the crew will make a historic flyby approximately 4,000 miles from the moon, passing its far side. I'm Debra Valentine. This is FOX News.

[H]

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