4AM ET 07/13/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 4AM ET, July 13, 2026

Main Theme:
The episode centers on the breaking news of Senator Lindsey Graham’s sudden death, reactions across the political spectrum, and updates on major legislative and geopolitical developments.

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1. The Sudden Passing of Senator Lindsey Graham

Autopsy Report & Cause of Death

• Sue Guzman reports the preliminary autopsy finding: Senator Lindsey Graham likely died of an aortic tear attributed to hardening of the arteries.
  (00:03)

Notable Quotes & Reactions

President Trump Remembers Graham's Bipartisanship

• President Trump offers a personal reflection:

  "He was a great—like a gauge, a temperature gauge of the Senate. He was somebody that most Democrats liked, some didn't, but most Democrats liked. And just about all of the Republicans liked Lindsey. He got along with everybody."
  (00:22–00:41)

Senator Cory Booker on Shared Legislative Achievements

• Senator Booker highlights Graham’s role in criminal justice reform:

  "True to his word, he rolled up his sleeves and we went to work. And thanks to him and Dick Durbin and some other Senate heroes, our bill became the first step act after years, two presidents, two Congresses and became law."
  (00:47–01:01)

Booker Reflects on Graham's Vibrance

• Booker, expressing shock at Graham’s passing:

  "As President Trump said, Lindsey was so vibrant, he was so full of life. He was so full of energy and dedication that it's hard to accept the fact that he is no more."
  (01:12–01:27)

Upcoming Tributes

• President Trump is scheduled to join Fox & Friends by phone at 8 a.m. ET to further commemorate Graham.
  (01:01)

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2. Political and Legislative Implications

Filling Graham’s Senate Seat

• Sue Guzman outlines the process for succession:
  • Governor Henry McMaster of South Carolina to appoint an immediate replacement. (01:27)
  • Potential for a temporary ‘caretaker’ Senator.
  • South Carolina Republicans face a primary in 4–5 weeks.

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3. Senator Mitch McConnell's Health Update

• Mitch McConnell addresses the public after hospitalization:
  • Confirms suffering a fall that led to loss of consciousness.
  • Clarifies he did not have a stroke.
    (01:27–02:00)

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4. Congressional Debate: Iran Conflict & War Powers

Senator Adam Schiff on Iran and Presidential War Powers

• Schiff announces a new War Powers Resolution, citing Trump’s bypassing Congress on Iran:

  "President Trump bypassed Congress and the Constitution to declare war on Iran. That's why I will put forth another war powers resolution this week."
  (02:38–02:54)

Strategic Concerns in the Strait of Hormuz

• James Comer (as cited by the newscast) notes:

  "[Iran] has a kind of a nuclear weapon already, and that is the ability with minimal force to close the strait of Hormuz."
  (02:54–03:04)

• U.S. Central Command confirms the Strait remains open, despite recent attacks. (03:04)

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5. Domestic Policy: Birth Tourism Ban

Trump & Congressional Republicans Target Birth Tourism

• President Trump urges passing of a bill banning foreign pregnant women from coming to the U.S. to secure citizenship for their children.

• GOP Rep. James Comer links birth tourism to rising health care costs:

  "When people from other countries come in illegally and utilize the benefits of free health care, which is what Medicaid is, then that makes health care more expensive for the rest of us."
  (03:36–03:50)

• Move follows the Supreme Court’s rejection of the Trump administration executive order against birthright citizenship. (03:50)

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6. In Memoriam: Sam Neill

• Actor Sam Neill, famed for Jurassic Park and The Piano, has died at 78.
  • His family's statement: death was sudden and unexpected.
  • Neill was in remission from rare non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
• Sue Guzman closes the newscast on this somber note.
  (03:50–04:28)

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Notable Quotes Recap

• President Trump (00:22): "He was a great—like a gauge, a temperature gauge of the Senate."
• Senator Booker (00:47): "True to his word, he rolled up his sleeves and we went to work."
• Senator Schiff (02:38): "President Trump bypassed Congress and the Constitution to declare war on Iran."
• James Comer (03:36): "When people from other countries come in illegally and utilize the benefits of free health care... that makes health care more expensive for the rest of us."

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Key Timestamps

• 00:03 – Sue Guzman confirms cause of Senator Graham's death
• 00:22 – 00:41 – President Trump’s tribute
• 00:47 – 01:01 – Senator Booker on First Step Act
• 01:27 – Succession process for Graham’s seat
• 02:38 – 02:54 – Schiff announces War Powers Resolution
• 03:36 – 03:50 – James Comer condemns birth tourism
• 03:50 – 04:28 – Announcement of Sam Neill’s passing

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This update delivers a blend of political tributes, breaking legislative initiatives, and notable passings, reflecting the fast-paced, information-driven style of FOX News radio.

Transcript

[Sue Guzman]

Possible cause of death revealed. I'm Sue Guzman. FOX News preliminary findings released in the sudden death of US Senator Lindsey Graham. The autopsy report concluding that Graham likely died from an aortic tear due to hardening of the arteries. On NBC's Meet the Press, President Trump praised Graham for his bipartisanship.

[President Trump]

He was a great like a gauge, a temperature gauge of the Senate. He was somebody that most Democrats liked, some didn't, but most Democrats liked. And just about all of the Republicans liked Lindsey. He got along with everybody.

[Sue Guzman]

Democratic New Jersey Senator Cory Booker recalled how he and Graham were able to work together on the issue of criminal justice reform.

[Senator Cory Booker]

True to his word, he rolled up his sleeves and we went to work. And thanks to him and Dick Durbin and some other Senate heroes, our bill became the first step act after years two presidents, two Congresses and became law.

[Sue Guzman]

President Trump will join FOX and friends by phone this morning, 8 Eastern, to remember Senator Graham. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joining NBC's Meet the Press as he reflected on the life of the late senator in a

[Senator Cory Booker]

state of shock because as President Trump said, Lindsey was so vibrant, he was so full of life. He was so full of energy and dedication that it's hard to accept the fact that he is no more.

[Sue Guzman]

So what happens to the senator's seat? It is up to South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster to appoint an immediate successor. It's unclear if McMaster will tap a caretaker senator, someone who will serve till the end of the term January of next year. South Carolina Republicans will then need to hold another primary in the next four to five weeks. And Senator Mitch McConnell speaking out about his health status after nearly a month in the hospital. He says he he suffered a fall and lost consciousness but did not have a stroke. America is listening to Fox News, who

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[Sue Guzman]

another attempt to put an end to the conflict in Iran is coming to Congress. More from fox's Gronauska.

[Senator Adam Schiff]

California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff stands by his belief that President Trump bypassed Congress and the Constitution to declare war on Iran. That's why Senator Schiff said on NBC's Meet the Press he will put forth another war powers resolution this week to

[James Comer]

try to bring that conflict, conflict to an end. But sadly, Iran has realized that it has a kind of a nuclear weapon already, and that is the ability with minimal force to close the strait of Hormuz.

[Senator Adam Schiff]

U.S. central Command said the Strait of Hormuz remains open despite recent attacks. The shipping lane sits between Iran and Oman, which has condemned Iran's attacks on vessels transiting the waterway. Granal Scott, FOX News.

[Sue Guzman]

Republicans are heeding President Trump's demand to pass a bill banning birth tourism, pregnant women from other countries traveling to the US to give their child American citizenship. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer telling fox's Sunday Night in America that birth tourism makes it harder for Americans to acquire health care.

[James Comer]

When people from other countries come in illegally and utilize the benefits of free health care, which is what Medicaid is, then that makes health care more expensive for the rest of us.

[Sue Guzman]

The move comes after the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's executive order banning birthright citizenship. Actor Sam Neill has died. The versatile actor, known for his role in Jurassic park and the piano, was 78 years old. His family announcing his death was sudden and unexpected. Neil had been treated for a rare non Hodgkin's lymphoma in the last few years, but was reportedly in remission, according to his family, when he died again. Actor Sam Neill dead at the age of 78. I'm Sue Guzman. This is FOX News.

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