4PM ET 04/12/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 4PM ET, 04/12/2026 Newscast

Host: Roger Stern (FOX News)
Date: April 12, 2026

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Episode Overview

This fast-paced broadcast delivers the hour's major global and national headlines, including breaking geopolitical developments, high-stakes political fallout, and a triumphant NASA milestone. Key topics covered: Hungary's election results, U.S.-Iran tensions and a new blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, the unraveling of Eric Swalwell's California gubernatorial campaign, and the return of the historic Artemis 2 Moon mission crew.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Viktor Orban Concedes Defeat in Hungary (00:02–00:21)

• News: Hungary's long-time Prime Minister Viktor Orban admits electoral defeat following a call from his opposition challenger.
• Relevance: As a noted conservative and Trump ally in Europe, Orban's loss may reshape regional and international alignments.

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2. U.S. Announces Naval Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz (00:21–01:53)

• Backdrop: President Trump declares a full-scale U.S. naval blockade to cut off Iranian oil exports after historic, high-profile negotiations in Pakistan fail.
• Mike Tobin (Tel Aviv): Highlights Israeli security concerns and a lack of official response from Israel following the blockade announcement.

Notable Quotes:

• Donald Trump (00:39):
  “We’re putting on a complete blockade. We’re not going to let Iran make money on selling oil to people that they like and not people that they don’t like or whatever it is. It’s going to be all or none.”
• Mike Tobin (00:50):
  “That came after talks failed with the U.S. and Iran in Pakistan. It was historic that the U.S. and Iran sat down at all — 47 years since the Islamic Revolution. But in the end, President Trump said Iran's negotiators would not abandon their nuclear ambitions.”

Further Context:

• A fragile ceasefire had been in place since Tuesday, but negotiations ultimately collapsed after 21 hours as Iran declined to relinquish its nuclear objectives.

• Alex Hogan (White House, 01:14): Notes the uncertainty about the future of the ceasefire and growing international anxiety.

• Donald Trump with Maria Bartiromo (01:25):
  “We had a very intensive negotiation and toward the end it got very friendly and we got just about every point we needed except for the fact that they refused to give up their nuclear [ambitions].”

• Trump announces broader international participation in the impending U.S.-led operation to "clean out" this critical waterway.

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3. California Governor's Race: Swalwell Campaign in Crisis (02:32–03:21)

• News: Congressman Eric Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign plummets amid sexual assault allegations; key endorsements are rescinded; pressure mounts for him to drop out.
• Max Gordon (Los Angeles):
  Reports on four women alleging misconduct, including an accusation of sexual assault while one woman was too intoxicated to consent.

Notable Quotes:

• Steve Hilton, GOP candidate (02:58):
  “He is going to be dropping out. That’s not confirmed yet, but that’s what’s coming into me from the Democrats who are sick of this guy because he is embarrassing them.”
• Roger Stern (03:21):
  Notes that Swalwell denies the allegations and suggests they may be politically motivated.

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4. Artemis 2 Moon Mission: Astronauts Return (03:21–04:14)

• News: Crew of the historic Artemis 2 mission speaks post-flight following their record-breaking 10-day trip around the Moon and safe Pacific splashdown.
• Madison Scarpino: Covers the hero’s welcome at Johnson Space Center.

Notable Quotes:

• Commander Reed Wiseman (03:51):
  “This was not easy. Being 200,000 plus miles away from home — like, before you launch, it feels like it’s the greatest dream on earth. And when you’re out there, you just want to get back to your families and your friends. It’s a special thing to be a human and it’s a special thing to be on planet Earth.”

• Crew achieved the deepest trip into space by humans yet, furthering space exploration and international collaboration.

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:02 — Viktor Orban concedes Hungary's election
• 00:21 — U.S. announces blockade on Strait of Hormuz (Trump, Tobin)
• 01:04 — Fragile ceasefire, negotiation breakdown (Hogan)
• 02:32 — Eric Swalwell’s campaign collapse (Gordon, Hilton)
• 03:21 — Artemis 2 astronauts return, crew remarks (Scarpino, Wiseman)

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Trump on blockade strategy (00:39):
  “It’s going to be all or none.”
• Trump on Iran negotiations (01:25):
  “We got just about every point we needed except for the fact that they refused to give up their nuclear [ambition].”
• Reed Wiseman on returning home (03:51):
  “When you’re out there, you just want to get back to your families and your friends.”

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Tone and Language

• The broadcast remains brisk, factual, and urgent, echoing the cadence of breaking news with terse direct reporting and focused quotes. The speakers provide succinct, high-stakes overviews without editorializing beyond direct attributions.

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For anyone who missed the episode, this summary provides a thorough account of the biggest political upheaval, international conflict, a campaign scandal, and a triumphant space mission—all precisely timestamped for easy reference.

Transcript

[Roger Stern]

A Trump ally loses power. I'm Roger Stern, Fox News. Hungaria's Prime Minister, Viktor Orban has conceded defeat in his election. That's according to the country's opposition leader who spoke to Orban in a phone call. President Trump says the US Will conduct its own blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Fox's Mike Tobin in Tel Aviv.

[Mike Tobin]

The Israeli cabinet is now meeting. Of course, the security concerns are at the very top of their agenda. But to this point, we haven't heard any official reaction from the Israelis following the president's announce announcement about a naval blockade. But as he spoke with Maria Bartiromo this morning, the president explains some of how this blockade will work.

[Donald Trump]

We're putting on a complete blockade. We're not going to let Iran make money on selling oil to people that they like and not people that they don't like or whatever it is. It's going to be all or none.

[Mike Tobin]

Now of course, that came after talks failed with the US and Iran in Pakistan. It was historic that the US and Iran sat down at all 47 years since the Islamic revolution. But in the end, President Trump said Iran's negotiators were would not abandon their nuclear ambitions.

[Roger Stern]

It comes as the US And Iran have been under a fragile cease fire since Tuesday. And all this comes after cease fire talks with Iran broke down after 21 hours. Is Fox's Alex Hogan at the White House.

[Alex Hogan]

The stalled negotiations creating a lot of questions and concerns over what this will mean for the future of the cease fire. President Donald Trump spoke about the impasse with Maria Bartiromo.

[Donald Trump]

We had a very intensive negotiation and toward the end it got very friendly and we got just about every point we needed except for the fact that they refused to give up their nuclear

[Alex Hogan]

ambition after weeks demanding that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Today President Trump announced the US Will begin its own naval blockade. He added that other countries will be involved in the process and that the US Forces will clean out the critical waterway.

[Roger Stern]

America is listening to Fox News.

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[Roger Stern]

A complete campaign collapse of the California Democratic congressman running for governor now facing sexual assault allegations. Here's fox's Max Gordon in L. A.

[Max Gordon]

Eric Swalwell's campaign for California governor appears to be in free fall with the congressman losing all of his major endorsements within the span of about 24 hours. Swalwell has given no public indication that he'll drop out of the race, but Republican candidate for governor Steve Hilton says he's heard that soon could be happening.

[Steve Hilton]

He is going to be dropping out. That's not confirmed yet, but that's what's coming into me from the Democrats who are sick of this guy because he is embarrassing them.

[Max Gordon]

Meanwhile, this could also become a criminal matter with four women coming forward with accusations of sexual misconduct and at least one of them alleging that Swalwell sexually assaulted her while she was too intoxicated to consent.

[Roger Stern]

Swalwell denying the allegations, claiming they may have been politically motivated. The Artemis 2 astronauts speaking out about their 10 day trip around the moon which ended Friday. Fox's Madison Scarpino with more.

[Madison Scarpino]

The world got to witness a historic mission and the crew got a hero's welcome at Johnson Space center yesterday. Commander Reed Wiseman says he and pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Cook and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen are now bonded forever. And he gave a lot of thanks to his family.

[Reed Wiseman]

This was not easy. Being 200,000 plus miles away from home like before you launch, it feels like it's the greatest dream on earth. And when you're out there, you just want to get back to your families and your friends. It's a special thing to be a human and it's a special thing to be on planet Earth.

[Madison Scarpino]

The crew traveling deeper into space than any other humans before. It was a record breaking trip around the moon.

[Roger Stern]

It was a flawless splashdown in the Pacific Ocean with all four astronauts returning to Earth safely. They are all okay. I'm Roger Stern and this is FOX News.

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