4PM ET 05/25/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 4PM ET 05/25/2026 Newscast

Host: Lisa Brady, FOX News
Date: May 25, 2026

Overview

This newscast centers around Memorial Day tributes at Arlington National Cemetery, ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions, escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a security incident near the White House, and a high-profile religious freedom lawsuit in Los Angeles County. The episode delivers concise coverage of significant national and international issues with direct news reporting and official statements.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Memorial Day Observance at Arlington National Cemetery

[00:03–00:43]

• Honoring the Fallen:

  • The Arlington ceremony focused on remembering those who died in military service, distinguishing Memorial Day from general veteran recognition.
  • "Today is not for all veterans...Today is for those veterans who put on the uniform, who went overseas and who never came home." (Reporter 2, 00:11–00:19)

• Vice President J.D. Vance’s Speech:

  • Vance highlights the “debt we can never repay” owed to the fallen, emphasizing not just lives lost but also missed family milestones.
  • He singles out the 13 service members killed in the conflict with Iran, particularly Air Force Captain Arianna Savino.
  • “Arianna's selfless gift will not be in vain. Our debt to you is everlasting, and it's always going to end in victory.” (Vice President J.D. Vance, 00:43–00:47)

• Political Messaging:

  • Vance asserts that “Iran will never have a nuclear weapon,” underlining U.S. commitment to national security.

2. U.S.-Iran Negotiations and Regional Tensions

[00:52–01:21]

• Nuclear Talks:

  • The President posts that negotiations with Iran are “proceeding nicely,” with a memorandum of understanding reportedly nearing completion.

• Iranian Defiance:

  • Vance warns that Tehran continues to defy U.S. and international pressure, threatens to expand the conflict if the U.S. resumes attacks.
  • “What Tehran is trying to do is dampen expectations that a peace deal can be achieved within a matter of days.” (Vice President J.D. Vance, 01:17–01:21)

3. Regional Security: Israel, Hezbollah, and U.S. Stance

[01:21–01:34]

• Escalating Conflict:

  • The Israeli military intensifies its strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
  • A U.S. official decries the failure of Hezbollah to cease attacks, emphasizing that Israel "will never be expected to passively absorb attacks" on its people.

• Republican Skepticism:

  • Some fellow Republicans express doubt about delaying resolution on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, questioning current deal prospects.

• Economic Impact:

  • Oil prices drop; U.S. crude falls below $91/barrel on optimism for a successful U.S.-Iran deal.

4. Security Incident Near the White House

[02:16–02:46]

• Shooting Incident:

  • 21-year-old Nasir Best, previously known to the Secret Service, was shot dead by agents after opening fire by a White House security checkpoint.
  • He had three prior “run ins” with the Secret Service over the past year: making threats (June), entering a restricted area (July), and the present shooting (Saturday).

• Bystander Injury:

  • A bystander was also shot and wounded; unclear if it was by the suspect or agents during the exchange.

• Security Response:

  • After this incident, the Justice Department is urging for the lifting of an injunction on White House ballroom construction, arguing enhanced security is needed.

5. Religious Discrimination Lawsuit: LA County Lifeguard

[03:21–03:53]

• Captain Jeffrey Little’s Case:

  • A seasoned LA County Fire Department lifeguard contends he was punished for objecting to raising the Progress Pride flag at work, citing his Christian beliefs.
  • “Argued to win against his Christ beliefs...received [a religious exemption] but was revoked two days later.” (Reporter 1 on Captain Little, 03:21–03:35)
  • He removed several flags and was suspended for 15 days.

• County’s Position:

  • LA County contends he was penalized not for beliefs, but for unauthorized flag removal and policy violations.

• Legal Demands:

  • The lawsuit seeks a permanent religious accommodation, damages, and removal of disciplinary actions from Little's record.

6. Markets

[03:53]

• Stock Exchange:
  • Wall Street closed for Memorial Day.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Arianna's selfless gift will not be in vain. Our debt to you is everlasting, and it's always going to end in victory.”
  — Vice President J.D. Vance ([00:43])

• “Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.”
  — Vice President J.D. Vance ([00:52])

• “What Tehran is trying to do is dampen expectations that a peace deal can be achieved within a matter of days.”
  — Vice President J.D. Vance ([01:17])

• "Israel will never be expected to passively absorb attacks on its forces and civilians."
  — Senior U.S. Official ([01:31], paraphrased by Ashley Webster)

• "[Little] was ultimately suspended for 15 days without pay. The county says Little wasn’t punished for his religious beliefs, but for taking down government issued pride flags without authorization and violating department policy."
  — Lisa Brady ([03:53])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment Description | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------- | ---------- | | Memorial Day tribute at Arlington | 00:03–00:43| | Iran nuclear negotiations & U.S. stance | 00:52–01:21| | Israel–Hezbollah conflict, Republican reactions | 01:21–01:34| | Oil prices drop on Iran deal hopes | 01:34–01:40| | White House shooting: suspect’s history | 02:16–02:46| | Update on LA lifeguard’s religious lawsuit | 03:21–03:53| | Market closure notice | 03:53 |

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Summary

This FOX News hourly update provides a brisk, information-dense rundown of Memorial Day commemorations, Middle East tensions, domestic security events, and a debate over religious rights in the workplace. The episode underscores national gratitude for fallen soldiers, ongoing U.S. diplomatic efforts with Iran, real-time security concerns at the White House, and emerging legal battles at the intersection of faith and public service.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

A debt we can never repay. I'm Lisa Brady, FOX News. That's one of the messages delivered today at Arlington National Cemetery.

[Reporter 1]

And those of us who served know

[Reporter 2]

acutely that today is not for all veterans. As much as we love all of our veterans.

[Reporter 1]

Today is for those veterans who put

[Reporter 2]

on the uniform, who went overseas and who never came home.

[Lisa Brady]

Vice President J.D. vance says he thinks about the debt owed to them in terms of what can't be measured in dollars, like weddings they couldn't attend and children who grew up without. President Trump. Also paying tribute to Gold Star families and singling out the 13 service members killed during the conflict with Iran, including Air Force Captain Arianna Savino, whose family was at the Arlington ceremony.

[Vice President J.D. Vance]

Arianna's selfless gift will not be in vain. Our debt to you is everlasting, and it's always going to end in victory.

[Lisa Brady]

He says Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. The president also posting earlier that negotiations are proceeding nicely with reports that a possible memorandum of understanding is getting closer to being done.

[Vice President J.D. Vance]

But Iran continues to be defiant even during these peace talks and even threatening to expand the war if the United States renews its attacks. And I think what Tehran is trying to do is dampen the expectations that a peace deal can be achieved within a matter of days.

[Lisa Brady]

Stocks, businesses. Ashley Webster in Tel Aviv. President Trump also facing skepticism from some fellow Republicans. If a deal pushing off resolution, if a deal pushes off resolution on Iran's nuclear program. The Israeli military intensifying strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. A senior U.S. official says the Iran backed militant group has ignored repeated requests to stop firing at Israel and that Israel will never be expected to passively absorb attacks on its forces and civilians. Oil prices tumbling on hope for a deal with Iran. US crude falling back under $91 a barrel. America is listening to FOX News.

[Reporter 2]

If you're into tech, you'll love this. TikTok is a live lab where users post instant reviews of the latest trends. Download TikTok and check it out.

[Lisa Brady]

Investigators say the man accused of opening fire near a White House security checkpoint over the weekend had a history of incidents.

[Reporter 1]

Nasir Best, the 21 year old who's now dead after being shot by Secret Service after authorities say he opened fire. Authorities say he's had several run ins with the Secret Service specifically, in fact, three run ins over the past year alone. Once in June of last year for making threats to agents and once in July for entering a restricted area. And of course, Saturday evening that totals three.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's David spun at the White House a bystander was shot and wounded in the Saturday shooting. Not clear yet if that was from the suspect's weapon or during the exchange of gunfire with agents. After this latest incident, the Justice Department urging a judge to lift an injunction on White House ballroom construction, citing security needs. But last month's incident during a DC Dinner event with the president was not enough to stop that injunction. A Christian lifeguard for the Los Angeles County Fire Department is headed toward trial after claiming he was punished for his religious beliefs. Following his objection to pride flag duties

[Captain Jeffrey Little]

in 2023, Los Angeles county adopted a policy requiring the Progress Pride flag be flown at county facilities throughout June. Captain Jeffrey Little, a veteran of more than 20 years in the LA County Fire Department's lifeguard division, argued to win against his Christ beliefs and wanted a religious exemption, which he received but was revoked two days later. He took down several flags and was ultimately suspended for 15 days without pay. The county says Little wasn't punished for his religious beliefs, but for taking down government issued pride flags without authorization and violating department policy.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Gianna Jalousi the lawsuit seeks a permanent religious accommodation, exempting Little from personally raising the pride flag or directing others to do so. It also seeks damages and removal of disciplinary findings from his personnel file. Wall street closed for Memorial Day and Lisa Brady, Fox News.