4AM ET 07/17/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 4AM ET, July 17, 2026

Host: Sue Guzman | Network: FOX News Radio

Episode Overview

This episode of the Fox News Hourly Update, hosted by Sue Guzman, delivers focused coverage on major national and global news stories for July 17, 2026. The main subjects are: new claims and reactions regarding election security, continued US military strikes against Iran, devastating flash flooding in Texas, hazardous air quality caused by Canadian wildfires, and an insider information scandal involving a White House aide.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Election Security and Foreign Interference

Timestamps: 00:02–01:01

• President Trump’s Claims & Documents
  • President Trump announces he has "proof of foreign interference" impacting US elections, releasing unspecified documents on the White House website (00:11).
  • He asserts that adversarial states, including Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and even non-state groups, "have the capability to compromise US Election infrastructure" (00:25).

“At a minimum, Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, as well as non state groups have the capability to compromise US Election infrastructure.”
— Fox News Correspondent (00:25)

• Focus on China & the Save America Act
  • Trump specifically accuses China of launching a coordinated attack during the 2020 election, advocating for the Save America Act, which mandates proof of citizenship and a photo ID for voting (00:35).

“It's China, he said, that launched a coordinated attack in 2020. The President again pointed to the Save America act, pushing proof of citizenship and photo ID as his preferred fix...”
— Fox News Reporter (00:35)

• Democratic Response – Chuck Schumer
  • Democratic leader Chuck Schumer accuses Trump’s actions of "laying groundwork to undermine the 2020 before a single vote has been cast" (00:55).

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2. US Military Operations Against Iran

Timestamps: 01:01–01:52

• Expansion of Strikes
  • The US targets roads and bridges in Iran; ongoing airstrikes attributed to a decision by President Trump to escalate military action (01:09).
  • This marks the fifth consecutive night of airstrikes since July 7, with F35 and F18 jets deployed from regional bases and carriers USS George H.W. Bush and USS Abraham Lincoln (01:09–01:40).

“They've been going on for more than a week, going back to July 7, when President Trump made the decision to ramp up this conflict and turn it back into a major military operation.”
— Fox News Correspondent (01:22)

• Notable Moments
  • First use of Hellfire missiles likely from a drone or Apache gunship in support of enforcing a blockade, specifically targeting an oil tanker (01:46).
  • CENTCOM confirms the latest round of strikes have concluded (01:52).

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3. Flash Flooding and Adverse Weather

Timestamps: 02:16–03:29

• Texas Flash Floods

  • Governor Greg Abbott reports more flood-related fatalities: a man swept away in an RV near Comfort, and a woman in Uvalde who drove into floodwaters (02:19).
  • Warning of more flooding expected that day (02:37).

• Canadian Wildfires Causing Air Quality Crisis

  • Smoke from ongoing wildfires in Canada leads to some of the "worst air quality in years" across the Midwest and Northeast, affecting millions (02:45).
  • Cleveland resident Jackie Hayes shares, "Terrible respiration, eye burning, terrible redness in my eyes. Using Visine that doesn't work" (03:07).
  • Rain is forecast later in the week, expected to provide relief by improving air quality (03:13–03:29).

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4. White House Aide Accused of Insider Betting

Timestamps: 03:29–04:09

• Investigation Details
  • Gabriel Perez, President Trump’s longtime teleprompter operator, is accused of winning $100,000 by betting on the content of presidential speeches on a prediction market (03:33).
  • He is now on unpaid administrative leave, per White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt.

“The aide is on unpaid administrative leave as the investigation moves forward.”
— Jared Halpern (03:40)

• Official Reactions
  • Press Secretary and President Trump both acknowledge the incident is “deeply unfortunate” (03:53–03:58).
  • Discovery traced via unusual bets on the “cow sheet” prediction market, flagged by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (03:58).

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Chuck Schumer on Election Integrity:

  “This is about laying groundwork to undermine the 2020 before a single vote has been cast.”
  — Fox News Correspondent relaying Schumer’s comments (00:55)

• Texas Flood Tragedy:

  “A male near Comfort who was swept away in an RV. Another is a female in Uvalde who was swept away while driving on a road.”
  — Governor Greg Abbott (02:19)

• Personal Impact of Wildfires:

  “Terrible respiration, eye burning, terrible redness in my eyes. Using Visine that doesn't work.”
  — Jackie Hayes (03:07)

• White House Aide Gambling Allegations:

  “He believes it's deeply unfortunate and frankly...”
  — Katie Byrne (03:55)

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Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Start | End | |----------------------------------------|---------|---------| | Election Security & Interference | 00:02 | 01:01 | | US Military Strikes in Iran | 01:01 | 01:52 | | Texas Flooding & Air Quality Warning | 02:16 | 03:29 | | White House Insider Betting Scandal | 03:29 | 04:09 |

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For more, listen to the full Fox News Hourly Update feed on FOX News Radio.

Transcript

[Sue Guzman]

Focusing on election security. I'm Sue Guzman. Fox News. And President Trump says he has proof of foreign interference in elections.

[Fox News Reporter]

President Trump used network airtime to discuss his concerns about the fairness of US Elections. He released documents on the White House website he claimed shows a host of adversaries can interfere with the US Vote ahead of the midterms.

[Fox News Correspondent]

At a minimum, Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, as well as non state groups have the capability to compromise US Election infrastructure.

[Fox News Reporter]

It's China, he said, that launched a coordinated attack in 2020. The President again pointed to the Save America act, pushing proof of citizenship and photo ID as his preferred fix for maintaining election integrity.

[Sue Guzman]

Fox's girl Scott Democratic leader Chuck Schumer reacted ahead of the speech.

[Fox News Correspondent]

This is about laying groundwork to undermine the 2020 before a single vote has been cast.

[Sue Guzman]

U.S. expanding its attacks against Iran. The U.S. military Thursday targeting roads and bridges. Fox's Lucas Tomlinson is more the indication

[Fox News Correspondent]

from Central Command it appears that these strikes are ongoing. And this comes on top of the three waves of American airstrikes launched just yesterday. And while CENTCOM says this is the fifth straight night of airstrikes, really, they've been going on for more than a week, going back to July 7, when President Trump made the decision to ramp up this conflict and turn it back into a major military operation. We're seeing F35 stealth fighter jets being launched from bases in the region. We're also seeing fighter jets from the USS George H.W. bush and the USS Abraham Lincoln, F18s. You also have F35s aboard Lincoln. You also saw this blockade being enforced, that oil tanker getting its stag shot off by those Hellfire missiles, likely from a drone, perhaps an Apache gunship.

[Sue Guzman]

CENTCOM says the latest round of strikes has concluded. America's listening to FOX News.

[Pepsi Commercial Announcer]

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[Sue Guzman]

Flash flooding in Texas claims more lives.

[Governor Greg Abbott]

Governor Greg Abbott, a male near comfort who was swept away in an rv. Another is a female in Uvalde who was swept away while driving on a road.

[Sue Guzman]

More flooding is expected today. Millions are under poor air quality alerts today as smoke from Canadian wildfire streams into the US this is some of

[Katie Byrne]

the worst air quality in years for parts of the Midwest and Northeast. Here in Cleveland, there's a smell of burning wood in the air. Health officials are urging people to limit their time outside, especially kids, older adults and anyone with breathing problems with air quality alerts stretching across a dozen states from Minnesota to New England, Jackie Hayes says the conditions make her eyes water.

[Fox News Reporter]

Terrible respiration, eye burning, terrible redness in my eyes. Using Visine that doesn't work.

[Katie Byrne]

Hundreds of wildfires continue to burn across Canada. Forecasters say smoke will keep drifting south with the wind, but relief is on the way with rain expected in the region as soon as Friday. And that'll help clear the air. In Cleveland, Ohio, Katie Byrne, FOX Weather

[Sue Guzman]

in aide to President Trump accused of profiting off insider information on a prediction market.

[Jared Halpern]

President Trump's longtime teleprompter operator Gabriel Perez is suspected of winning more than $100,000 by placing bets on the contents of presidential speeches on the prediction market cow sheet. White House press secretary Caroline Levitt says the aide is on unpaid administrative leave as the investigation moves forward.

[Katie Byrne]

I'm aware of the report.

[Fox News Correspondent]

The president is, too. I spoke with him about it.

[Katie Byrne]

He believes it's deeply unfortunate and frankly,

[Jared Halpern]

a disgr how she alerted unusual bets to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. That agency was able to identify the individual at the White House. Jared Halpern, FOX News.

[Sue Guzman]

I'm Sue Guzman. This is Fox News.

[Governor Greg Abbott]

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