4PM ET 07/04/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update — 4PM ET 07/04/2026 Newscast

Main Theme

This Fourth of July newscast covers America’s 250th birthday celebrations, key political updates, international crises, and major sports events. The episode’s tone is patriotic and urgent, reflecting both the festivity of the national holiday and major breaking news at home and abroad.

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Key Stories and Insights

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1. America’s 250th Birthday: “Semi Sesquicentennial” Celebrations

• Hudson River Parade
  • US and allied ships sail along New York’s Hudson River in a massive fleet review.
  • Vice President Vance greets crowds and visiting vessels.
  • Quote [00:07] Fox News Reporter: “Up New York's Hudson river on the semi sesquicentennial. That is another way of saying the nation's 250th birthday… Vice President Vance was there to greet the ships and the crowds who came to see him.”
• Historical Reflection
  • A historian recalls 1776, connecting George Washington in Manhattan to today’s celebrations.
  • Quote [00:18] Narrator/Historian: “While the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to ratify the Declaration of Independence, General Washington was right here in Manhattan... watching for sails of the most powerful navy.”
• Tall Ships and Navy Salute
  • A large mixed fleet, including “the world’s tall ships and gray hull ships,” passes the Statue of Liberty.
  • Quote [00:38] Fox News Reporter: “A large fleet of the world's tall ships and gray hull ships to sail past the Statue of Liberty now underway.”

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2. Presidential Address and Warnings

• Mount Rushmore Address
  • Former President Trump (present at event) delivers remarks defending American exceptionalism and warning of “a new threat.”
  • Quote [00:55] President Trump:
    “Generation after we fought and won the Cold War against the menace of communism, there is now a resurgence of the communist menace in our land, including from newcomers to our country who embrace ideas totally opposed to our way of life and our great success.”
• Upcoming Speech
  • The President plans a lengthy speech from the National Mall, despite high temperatures, leading into fireworks.
  • Quote [01:16] Fox News Reporter: “The president is expected to deliver an address that he says will be lengthy from the National Mall tonight... before the big celebration begins with fireworks.”

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3. International: Fallout from Iran’s Crisis

• State Funeral in Iran
  • Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in an airstrike as the Iran war escalates.
  • His son now assumes leadership; major crowds mourn and call for revenge.
  • Quote [01:16] Fox News Reporter: “A days long state funeral is underway in Iran for the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who was killed in an airstrike at the start of the Iran war. Crowds beat their chests… and chanted for revenge against Israel and the US.”
• Diplomatic Freeze
  • Negotiations between Iran, the US, and Europe (especially about the Strait of Hormuz) are on hold until the funeral’s conclusion.
  • Note: A “shaky ceasefire” is currently in place.

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4. Great American State Fair and Weather Impact

• DC Celebrations
  • The National Mall hosts the Great American State Fair; all 50 states represented.
  • Event faces delays due to high heat, with measures in place to keep visitors cool: cooling stations, buses, AC tents.
  • Quote [02:27] Rich Edson: “There are a number of different ways that people can stay cool here... cooling stations, cooling buses...really good energy here for the 4th of July and America's 250th birthday.”
  • Recap of ongoing and upcoming military and NASA flyovers.
• Event Timeline
  • The fair continues through July 10th.
  • Quote [03:05] Fox News Reporter: “The Great American State Fair will run through July 10.”

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5. Infrastructure News: Airport Modernization

• Major DOT Investment
  • The Department of Transportation announces over $1 billion in airport upgrades nationwide.
  • Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlights progress on new air traffic control systems.
  • Quote [03:17] Sean Duffy:
    “This is the one year anniversary of one big beautiful bill where I got 12 and a half billion dollars to start the process of rebuilding this brand new air traffic control system… We are well on our way.”

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6. International Tragedy: Congo Boat Accident

• Student Casualties
  • In central Congo, a wooden boat carrying students sank after state exams, killing at least 20.
  • Overcrowding and poor safety standards are cited as recurrent issues.
  • Quote [03:39] Fox News Reporter:
    “Deadly boating tragedies are common in the central African country where late-night travels and overcrowded vessels are often the norm.”

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7. World Cup Updates

• Match Results
  • Morocco defeats Canada 3–0, advancing in the Round of 16.
  • France vs. Paraguay previewed, with France favored.
  • US team to play their match on Monday night.
• Quote [03:53] Daria Albinger:
  “At the World Cup today, Morocco defeated Canada 3 to nothing in their round of 16 match.”

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Patriotic Opening:
  “Happy birthday, America.” — Daria Albinger [00:03]
• Historical Context:
  “General Washington was right here in Manhattan, peering out on this beautiful land and beautiful sea. His attention was fixed on the horizon…” — Narrator/Historian [00:18]
• Political Warning:
  “There is now a resurgence of the communist menace in our land, including from newcomers to our country…” — President Trump [00:55]
• Iran Update:
  “Khamenei’s son has taken over as Iran’s new supreme leader.” — Fox News Reporter [01:55]
• Event Energy:
  “You want to talk about energy, too? Yesterday we had a series of flyovers here… It gets real serious this afternoon.” — Rich Edson [02:27]
• Infrastructure Progress:
  “We are well on our way.” — Sean Duffy [03:17]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:03] — Opening, Hudson River parade, Vice President Vance
• [00:18] — Historical perspective, George Washington
• [00:38] — Fleet passes Statue of Liberty
• [00:46] — Trump’s Mount Rushmore address, warning about communism
• [01:16] — President’s planned speech and Iran war update
• [02:16] — National Mall celebrations, precautions for heat
• [03:05] — Fair runs through July 10
• [03:08] — DOT airport modernization announcement
• [03:37] — Congo boat tragedy
• [03:53] — World Cup scores and previews

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Summary:
This concise but information-rich newscast captures the spirit and the challenges of July 4, 2026, blending festive national celebrations with urgent international updates. Highlights include massive maritime and aerial tributes, pointed political speeches, cautious optimism for infrastructure improvements, and both national and global headlines, all delivered in Fox News’ signature direct, patriotic tone.

Transcript

[Daria Albinger]

Happy birthday, America. I'm Daria Albinger. FOX News Ships from the US and around the world are making their way

[Fox News Reporter]

up New York's Hudson river on the semi sesquicentennial. That is another way of saying the nation's 250th birthday. Vice President Vance was there to greet the ships and the crowds who came to see him.

[Narrator/Historian]

While the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to ratify the Declaration of Independence, General Washington was right here in Manhattan peering out on this beautiful land and beautiful sea. His attention was fixed on the horizon, watching for sails of the most powerful

[Fox News Reporter]

navy, the large fleet of the world's tall ships and gray hull ships to sail past the Statue of Liberty now underway.

[Daria Albinger]

President Trump got a jump start on

[Fox News Reporter]

the celebrations last night at Mount Rushmore. He praised US Exceptionalism and warned of a new threat to the nation.

[President Trump]

Generation after we fought and won the Cold War against the menace of communism, there is now a resurgence of the communist menace in our land, including from newcomers to our country who embrace ideas totally opposed to our way of life and our great success.

[Daria Albinger]

The president is expected to deliver an

[Fox News Reporter]

address that he says will be lengthy from the National Mall tonight. That is despite expected high temperatures and before the big celebration begins with fireworks. A days long state funeral is underway in Iran for the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who was killed in an airstrike at the start of the Iran war. Crowds beat their chests around his flag draped coffin and chanted for revenge against Israel and the US Khamini son has taken over as Iran's new supreme leader. In the meantime, tensions are high in the region and negotiations with the US And Europe, including talks over the Strait of Hormuz, are on hold until at least the end of the funeral. And a shaky ceasefire is in place.

[Daria Albinger]

America is listening to FOX News.

[Commercial Announcer]

Cheers to America's 250th birthday. Get 20% off your first purchase at foxnewswineshop.com with code FNRADIO 2020 discount excludes wine club offers and cannot be combined with any other promotion. Expires July 31, 2026. Must be 21. Order to order. Please drink responsibly.

[Daria Albinger]

All 50 states are being celebrated on this Independence Day at the Great American

[Fox News Reporter]

State Fair on DC's National Mall. The celebration has had a few delays due to the heat. Fox's Rich Edson is there.

[Rich Edson]

There are a number of different ways that people can stay cool here. They can go into the air. They can go at some cooling stations, cooling buses so they're trying to prepare for as much of this as possible. You got a good stream of people who are coming in here downtown, walking around, enjoying the sights. Really good energy here for the 4th of July and America's 250th birthday. You want to talk about energy, too? Yesterday we had a series of flyovers here across the National Mall. And today, if you thought that was pretty cool, it gets real serious. This afternoon we're going to have flyovers continue. It's going to be a near constant stream and fleet reviews showcasing aircraft from NASA, the Coast Guard, the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy.

[Fox News Reporter]

The Great American State Fair will run through July 10.

[Daria Albinger]

The Department of Transportation's announced it's investing

[Fox News Reporter]

over a billion dollars in our nation's airports. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy talked about it on FOX and Friends Weekend.

[Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy]

This is the one year anniversary of one big beautiful bill where I got 12 and a half billion dollars to start the process of rebuilding this brand new air traffic control system. I got the money about three months later. We are well on our way.

[Daria Albinger]

The Department of Transportation is using the

[Fox News Reporter]

money to fund hundreds of projects across the country.

[Daria Albinger]

A wooden boat transporting students back from

[Fox News Reporter]

state exams sank in central Congo, killing at least 20 people, according to authorities. Deadly boating tragedies are common in the central African country where late night travels and overcrowded vessels are often the norm

[Daria Albinger]

at the World Cup. Today, Morocco defeated Canada 3 to nothing

[Fox News Reporter]

in their round of 16 match. And and later on, France, which many

[Daria Albinger]

say is favored to win, this whole

[Fox News Reporter]

thing is going to take on Paraguay. The US Is going to play on Monday night.

[Daria Albinger]

I'm Dario Olmegard. This is FOX News.