4PM ET 05/20/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 4PM ET 05/20/2026

Episode Overview

This episode of the Fox News Hourly Update delivers a concise rundown of major domestic and international news stories as of May 20, 2026, at 4PM ET. Anchored by Lisa Brady, the broadcast covers significant developments including the historic indictment of Cuba’s former president Raul Castro, tensions in the Gulf of Oman involving an Iranian oil tanker, updates on wildfires in California, legal actions stemming from the January 6 Capitol riot, and a First Amendment lawsuit settlement in Tennessee. The episode also touches on markets and economic news.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Indictment of Raul Castro in Miami

[00:02 – 01:07]

• Historic Indictment: Former Cuban dictator Raul Castro (age 94) indicted by a federal grand jury in Miami for allegedly ordering the 1996 shootdown of four Miami-based civilian pilots participating in the Brothers to the Rescue humanitarian flights in international airspace.
  • Lisa Brady: “President Trump calls it a big moment…The indictment of Cuba's former president Raul Castro on federal charges in Miami.” [00:02]
  • Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche: “They’ve been looking for this moment for 65 years. So we'll see what happens.” [00:11]
  • Blanche further asserts: “Nations and their leaders cannot be permitted to target Americans, kill them and not face accountability.” [00:46]
• Political Tensions: Raul Castro calls the indictment political, possibly a pretext for US military aggression.
• Cuban Response: Cuba’s embassy claims the humanitarian missions “were phony and the pilots invaded Cuban airspace.” [00:55]
• President Trump’s Comment: “They're freeing up Cuba, but also tells reporters there's no need for escalation.” [00:19]

---

2. Iranian Oil Tanker & Middle East Tensions

[01:07 – 01:33]

• US Military Action: US Military searching and redirecting an Iranian-flagged oil tanker suspected of violating a US blockade in the Gulf of Oman.
  • Lisa Brady: “The US Military searching and redirecting an Iranian flagged oil tanker suspected of trying to violate a U.S. blockade…” [01:07]
• Pause in Strikes: President Trump maintains a pause on military strikes; negotiations ongoing with “no word of any breakthrough.” [01:07]
• Blanche on Diplomacy: “We have to get the right answers...it would have to be a complete, 100% good answers…and if we do, we save a lot of time, energy and lives.” [01:23]
• Iranian Response: “Iran's parliament speaker and top negotiator...reassuring the Iranian people...the ceasefire has been used as an opportunity to rebuild Iran’s military strength as best as possible.” [01:33]
• Economic Impact: Oil prices fall; US crude drops below $99/barrel.

---

3. California Wildfires

[02:05 – 02:38]

• Sandy Fire in Simi Valley, Ventura County:
  • Fire Captain Trevor Johnson: “900 firefighters are battling the Sandy fire in Simi Valley.” [02:05]
  • “Wind-driven blaze...nearly 1700 acres...15% contained. At least one home has been destroyed and tens of thousands are under evacuation orders.”
  • Resident Ron Wechler: “I actually thought I was probably going to die...There was no air to breathe and it was so intensely hot.” [02:27, 02:33]
• Santa Rosa Island Fire:
  • Crews fighting another wildfire, this one on Santa Rosa Island off Santa Barbara, burning nearly 17,000 acres, 25% contained. [02:40]

---

4. January 6th Capitol Riot Fallout

[02:40 – 03:21]

• Lawsuit Over DOJ Settlement Fund:
  • Two former Capitol police officers (defensive during Jan 6th) are suing to prevent payouts from a new Justice Department fund designed for those claiming to be victims of politically motivated prosecutions. [02:40]
  • The lawsuit calls the fund an “illegal slush fund.”
  • This comes after the acting Attorney General defended the fund as part of a fair review process.

---

5. First Amendment Lawsuit Settlement in Tennessee

[03:21 – 03:44]

• Summary of the Case:
  • Perry County, Tennessee, settles with Larry Bouchardt, a 61-year-old ex-police officer, who spent 37,000 days in jail over Facebook posts joking about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
  • County to pay $835,000; charges were dropped.
  • Bouchardt’s statement: “My First Amendment rights have been vindicated.” [03:21]

---

6. Market & Economic News

[03:44 – 03:54]

• Stock Market Rally:
  • Dow soars 645 points, returning above 50,000.
  • S&P up 79, NASDAQ up 399.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Todd Blanche [00:11]: “They’ve been looking for this moment for 65 years. So we'll see what happens.”
• President Trump [00:19]: “They're freeing up Cuba, but also tells reporters there's no need for escalation.”
• Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche [00:46]: “Nations and their leaders cannot be permitted to target Americans, kill them and not face accountability.”
• Fire survivor Ron Wechler [02:27]: “I actually thought I was probably going to die.”
• Ron Wechler [02:33]: “There was no air to breathe and it was so intensely hot.”
• Larry Bouchardt (via statement) [03:21]: “My First Amendment rights have been vindicated.”

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Raul Castro Indictment: 00:02 – 01:07
• Iran Oil Tanker Incident: 01:07 – 01:33
• California Wildfires: 02:05 – 02:38
• Capitol Attack Lawsuit: 02:40 – 03:21
• First Amendment Settlement: 03:21 – 03:44
• Stock Market Update: 03:44 – 03:54

---

Conclusion

This broadcast delivers a rapid-fire, fact-based update on major national and international developments, combining direct reporting with short, impactful quotes from key figures. It highlights geopolitical tension, domestic emergencies, legal battles over political protests and free speech, and economic optimism reflected in a robust market rally. The tone remains brisk, urgent, and focused on fast-paced news delivery.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

President Trump calls it a big moment on Lisa Brady, FOX News. The indictment of Cuba's former president Raul Castro on federal charges in Miami.

[Todd Blanche]

They've been looking for this moment for 65 years. So we'll see what happens. But we're going to in the meantime, we're going to have to help them out.

[Lisa Brady]

President Trump says they're freeing up Cuba, but also tells reporters there's no need for escalation. Cuba's current leader calls the indictment political and and a possible pretext for US military aggression.

[Narrator/Reporter]

A federal grand jury in Miami indicts 94 year old former Cuban dictator Raul Castro for allegedly ordering the shooting down of four Miami based civilian pilots participating in the 1996 Brothers to the Rescue humanitarian flights in international airspace.

[Lisa Brady]

Nations and their leaders cannot be permitted to target Americans, kill them and not face accountability.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Acting U.S. attorney General Todd Blanche speaking in Miami. Cuba's embassy in the US In a series of social media posts claims the humanitarian nature of the flights were phony and the pilots invaded Cuban airspace.

[Lisa Brady]

Foxes have been brown in Miami. The US Military searching and redirecting an Iranian flagged oil tanker suspected of trying to violate a U.S. blockade in the Gulf of Oman as President Trump continues a pause on resuming military strikes with no word of any breakthrough in negotiations.

[Todd Blanche]

We have to get the right answers. It would have to be a complet complete, 100% good answers. And if we do, we save a lot of time, energy and lives.

[Lisa Brady]

Most importantly Iran's parliament speaker and top negotiator. Meantime, reassuring the Iranian people in a statement today that the ceasefire has been used as an opportunity to rebuild Iran's military strength as best as possible. Oil prices retreating though with US crude falling back under $99 a barrel and Wall street rallies the Dow up 645 points at the bell. America is to Fox News progress in California against a wildfire threatening homes northwest

[Trevor Johnson]

of L A. Ventura County Fire Captain Trevor Johnson says 900 firefighters are battling the Sandy fire in Simi Valley.

[Todd Blanche]

We have bulldozers, hand crews, aircraft already

[Trevor Johnson]

out working this the wind driven blaze which ignited Monday ripping through nearly 1700 acres. Officials say it's 15% contained. At least one home has been destroyed and tens of thousands are under evacuation orders.

[Todd Blanche]

I actually thought I was probably going to die.

[Trevor Johnson]

Simi Valley resident Ron Wechler speaking to Los Angeles Fox 11 News.

[Todd Blanche]

There was no air to breathe and it was so intensely hot.

[Trevor Johnson]

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Kristen Goodwin crews also battling a wildfire on Santa Rosa island off the coast of Santa Barbara, that one tearing through nearly 17,000 acres. It's more than 25% contained. Two of the officers who helped defend the U.S. capitol from January 6th. Rioters are now suing, trying to block anyone, including rioters, from getting payouts from a new Justice Department settlement fund for people who claim to be victims of politically motivated prosecutions. This a day after the acting US Attorney general defended the fund as part of a process for case by case review. The lawsuit argues it amounts to an illegal slush fund, a settlement in Tennessee for a man who was jailed over a Charlie Kirk post.

[Jeff Manasso]

Perry County, Tennessee will pay $835,000 to settle Larry Bouchardt's lawsuit after the 61 year old former police officer spent 37,000 dol days in jail over Facebook posts that joked about Charlie Kirk's assassination. Prosecutors in Perry county later dropped the felony charge against Bouchard, who says in a statement that his First Amendment rights have been vindicated.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jeff Manasso recapping stocks the Dow soaring 645 points back over 50,000. The S&P up 79. The NASDAQ up 399. Elisa Brady, Fox NEWS.