4AM ET 07/12/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 4AM ET 07/12/2026 Newscast

Main Theme:
This episode covers breaking national and international news, including the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, heightened tensions and military actions in the Middle East, fatal plane crashes in Illinois and the Bahamas, developments in Florida’s gubernatorial race and tech policy, and World Cup semifinals updates.

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Key News Headlines & Discussion Points

1. Passing of Senator Lindsey Graham

• [00:03] Debra Valentine announces the death of Senator Lindsey Graham at age 71 after a brief and sudden illness, with the news confirmed by his office.
• [00:20] Chad Pergrim: Provides context on Graham’s impact and legacy:
  • South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster describes Graham as "irreplaceable."
  • Graham was active on international issues, notably Ukraine, and had recently traveled overseas.
  • "He had just been to Ukraine. He was somebody who was always on the move… working with President Trump."
• [00:45] Debra Valentine: Notes Graham’s Senate tenure from 2003, his role as Senate Judiciary Committee Chair (2019-2021), and the family's request for privacy.

Notable Quote:

• Chad Pergrim: "It doesn't surprise me that he had just been to Ukraine. He was somebody who was always on the move." [00:29]

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2. Middle East Tensions & Military Actions

• [00:45] Debra Valentine: Reports on new U.S. airstrikes on Iran after the Revolutionary Guard declared the Strait of Hormuz closed.
• [01:07] Lucas Tomlinson:
  • Details Iran's attempted "revenge" act, reportedly foiled during President Trump's NATO summit attendance in Turkey.
  • Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted Hezbollah fighters bringing anti-tank missiles into southern Lebanon, leveling the building and witnessing secondary explosions.
  • References a previous deadly attack on an Israeli tank by Hezbollah.

Notable Quotes:

• Lucas Tomlinson: "It appears that act of revenge by Iran was foiled when President Trump attended that NATO summit in Turkey, a country that borders Iran." [01:07]
• "They waited until the terrorists were all inside and leveled the building." [01:27]

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3. World Cup Semifinals Update

• [01:43] Debra Valentine: Announces matchups:
  • Argentina vs. England on Wednesday.
  • Spain vs. France on Tuesday.
  • Winners advance to the July 19th final.

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4. Tragic Domestic & International Plane Crashes

• [02:29] Debra Valentine: Two high-fatality aviation incidents:
  • Illinois: Jimmy Don Lewis and son Brayden die in a small plane crash due to poor visibility after leaving a baseball game. The wreckage was found after five hours. [02:40] Chris DiMeo
  • Bahamas: Ten dead, including musicians from the Pond Band and a DJ. The crash leads to temporary suspension of Flamingo Air as authorities investigate. [03:02] Debra Valentine

Notable Quote:

• Chris DiMeo: "Both were on their way home to Siloam, Arkansas but they encountered storms in Waterloo, Illinois. Their plane crashed into a field due to the rain and poor visibility." [02:45]

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5. Florida Gubernatorial Race & Policy Proposals

• [03:45] Jessica Rosenthal: Profiles Byron Donalds’ campaign as Republican frontrunner:
  • Focus on balancing AI data center expansion with resource protection and utility costs.
  • Pledges to support a constitutional amendment for reduced property taxes. If not passed, promises comprehensive tax and fee reform with the aim to repeal homestead property taxes.
  • Emphasizes intent to "cement the wins" from Ron DeSantis' governorship while looking forward.

Notable Quotes:

• Byron Donalds: “What we have to do is make sure that we protect our resources, protect ratepayers when it comes to their utility bills… but find a way to still build out the meaningful computing power that we're going to need.” [03:51]
• “If it doesn’t pass, we are going to do a top to bottom analysis of all taxes and fees in the state of Florida and come up with recommendations for fully repealing homestead property taxes.” [04:08]

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Memorable Moments & Tone

• The sudden death of Senator Lindsey Graham is treated with respect and gravity, framing his passing as nationally significant.
• Reporting on the Middle East is urgent and detailed, particularly the precision with which the IDF operation is recounted.
• Personal tragedy and community loss are highlighted in the Illinois and Bahamas plane crashes, with an emphasis on human stories.
• The coverage of Florida politics is forward-looking, noting both technology policy and tax reform as central campaign themes.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Breaking: Senator Lindsey Graham Dies – [00:03–00:45]
• Middle East Military & Political Developments – [00:45–01:43]
• World Cup Updates – [01:43–02:00]
• Plane Crash in Illinois – [02:29–03:02]
• Plane Crash in the Bahamas – [03:02–03:29]
• Florida Gubernatorial Race & Tech Policy – [03:45–04:25]

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This Fox News update encapsulates breaking national news, volatile international events, and regional politics in a rapid-fire, high-impact format, offering key facts, speaker insights, and memorable quotes.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

This is a FOX News alert. I'm Debra Valentine. Republican U.S. senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina died Saturday at the age of 71. His office posted to X that the senator passed away following a brief and sudden illness. Fox's Chad Pergrim reports from Washington.

[Chad Pergrim]

Henry McMaster, the governor of South Carolina, has just put out a statement saying that Lindsey Graham is irreplaceable and we shall not see his likes again. And I think that kind of encapsulates Lindsey Graham. It doesn't surprise me that he had just been to Ukraine. He was somebody who was always on the move. He had been overseas. He's somebody who had been, you know, working on the Ukraine issue, had been working with President Trump.

[Debra Valentine]

The late senator's office said Senator Graham's family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy. Senator Graham served in the US Senate from 2003. He chaired the Senate Committee on Judiciary from 2019 to 2021. New US airstrikes on Iran after Tehran's Islamic Refor republic's Revolutionary Guard declared the Strait of Hormuz closed.

[Lucas Tomlinson]

It appears that act of revenge by Iran was foiled when President Trump attended that NATO summit in Turkey, a country that borders Iran. With the ceasefire over, earlier today, Israeli forces stopped the plot of their own. Troops from the IDF's Galani Division spotted Hezbollah fighters bringing anti tank missiles into a building inside the southern Lebanon buffer zone. The IDF watched the terrorists bring these rounds into the building. They waited until the terrorists were all inside and leveled the building. The IDF said secondary explosions seen afterwards recall last month Hezbollah fired similar anti tank rounds at an Israeli Merkava tank, killing all four soldiers inside.

[Debra Valentine]

Fox's Lucas Tomlinson reporting from Tel Aviv in the World cup semifinals, Argentina takes on England Wednesday. Spain plays France Tuesday. The winners head to the final on Sunday, July 19th. America's listening to FOX News.

[Chevron Narrator]

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[Debra Valentine]

USA250A father and son are dead after their small plane crashes in Illinois. Fox's Chris Di Mao has the details.

[Chris DiMeo]

Jimmy Don Lewis and his son Brayden had attended Thursday night St. Louis Cardinals Milwaukee brewers game in St. Louis. Both were on their way home to Siloam, Arkansas but they encountered storms in Waterloo, Illinois. Their plane crashed into a field due to the rain and poor visibility. Rescue teams didn't find the wreckage till about five hours after the plane went down. Chris DiMeo, Fox News.

[Debra Valentine]

Ten people are dead after a plane crashed in the Bahamas. It claimed the lives of several members of the country's entertainment community. The Bahamas Musicians and Entertainers Union says musicians from the Pond Band and a DJ were among those killed. The plane went down right near North Andros after departing Nassau. Authorities have temporarily suspended Flamingo Air flights as they investigate the crash in a separate safety incident. The apparent frontrunner in the Republican race to replace Florida's soon to be former governor says he has plans when it comes to property taxes, data centers and keeping Florida free. Fox's Jessica Rosenthal has details on AI data centers.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

Florida Republican Congressman Byron Donalds, running to be governor of Florida, says there has to be a balance.

[Chevron Representative]

What we have to do is make sure that we protect our resources, protect ratepayers when it comes to their utility bills. We're going to do that, but find a way to still build out the meaningful computing power that we're going to

[Jessica Rosenthal]

need on the state's constitutional amendment to dramatically reduce property taxes, he told the FOX News rundown podcast. He's for it and if it doesn't

[Chevron Representative]

pass, we are going to do a top to bottom analysis of all taxes and fees in the state of Florida and come up with recommendations for fully repealing homestead property taxes.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

Donald says as governor he would plan to cement the winds of Governor Ron DeSantis while preparing for the state's future. Jessica Rosenthal, Fox News I'm Debra Valentine.

[Debra Valentine]

This is Fox News.

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