4PM ET 07/09/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 4PM ET 07/09/2026

Host: Lisa Brady
Date: July 9, 2026

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Episode Overview

This Fox News newscast delivers a concise roundup of major national and international stories on July 9, 2026. Key topics include emotional developments at a Utah courtroom in the high-profile Charlie Kirk case, escalating US-Iran tensions, a vandalism case involving a former Olympian, an NCAA lawsuit, and the latest global city livability rankings. Financial market updates round out the report.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

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1. Charlie Kirk Homicide Preliminary Hearing

[00:03–01:01]

• Courtroom Emotions:

  • The day was described as "tearful" and "grueling" for Erica Kirk, widow of the slain Charlie Kirk, as she witnessed graphic evidence at the Utah preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, the accused.
  • Courtroom details (no cameras allowed) included both Erica Kirk and Robinson’s mother visibly emotional, with support from Charlie Kirk's mother, Catherine.
  • Notable emotional response when prosecutors displayed text messages between Lance Twiggs and Robinson, discussing Robinson wanting to acquire (and later recover) a hunting rifle linked to the crime.

• Quote:

  • Claudia Cowan reports:

    "When prosecutors showed text messages between Lance Twiggs and Tyler Robinson discussing Robinson wanting to get a hunting rifle...Erica started audibly crying. She was comforted by Charlie's mom, Catherine, who had her hand on Erica's arm."
    — Claudia Cowan, [00:23]

• Case Developments:

  • Prosecutors played a redacted videotaped interview with Lance Twiggs, former roommate and lover, who said Robinson expressed regret ("wished he had not done it") the day after the September shooting.
  • The hearing is to determine if there is sufficient evidence for a full trial.

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2. US-Iran Conflict Update

[01:01–01:42]

• Current Military Actions:

  • US officials denied any new strikes on Iran in the past several hours, despite reports of explosions after consecutive nights of American strikes on Iranian targets prompted by attacks on commercial shipping and escalation involving Gulf neighbors.

• Presidential Statement:

  • President Trump, returning from the NATO summit in Turkey, expressed skepticism about Iran's trustworthiness in negotiations.

• Quote:

  • President Trump:

    "They want to make a deal so badly. I just don't know if they're worthy of making a deal. I don't know that they're going to honor the deal."
    — Donald Trump, [01:38]

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3. Financial Markets Update

[01:42, 04:21]

• Market Performance:
  • Stock markets posted gains after a previous sell-off:
    • Dow Jones: up 139 points
    • NASDAQ: up 336 points

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4. Olympian David Hearn Vandalism Case

[02:31–03:19]

• Legal Proceedings:

  • David Hearn, 67, former US Olympic canoe racer, pleaded not guilty in federal court to a felony charge of destruction of property for allegedly ripping the liner from the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool (June 19).
  • The case gained political attention, with President Trump blaming vandalism for damaging the $16 million project.
  • Hearn claimed he only touched already peeled coating in the pool. He’s been released pending trial.

• Quote:

  • Jared Halpern reports:

    "Hearn says he reached into the pool to examine coating already peeled and touched a chunk attached to the side of the pool."
    — Jared Halpern, [02:38]

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5. NCAA Age Model Lawsuit

[03:19–03:44]

• Preliminary Injunction:
  • An Ohio judge granted preliminary relief to 24 college basketball players challenging the NCAA’s new age-based eligibility model, which they argue unjustly disqualifies them from competition.
  • Players are now allowed to enter the transfer portal as trial preparations proceed.

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6. Global Livable Cities Index

[03:44–04:21]

• Rankings & Insights:

  • The Economist Intelligence Unit's 2026 Global Livability Index named Copenhagen as #1, followed by Vienna, Melbourne, Sydney, and Zurich.
  • No US city broke into the top 10, although New York showed strong improvement.
  • Factors contributing to top rankings: stability, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and culture.

• Quote:

  • Matt Murphy:

    "Researchers say the highest ranked cities offer a combination of strong public services, reliable infrastructure, low crime, and easy access to health care."
    — Matt Murphy, [04:10]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• "Erica started audibly crying. She was comforted by Charlie's mom, Catherine, who had her hand on Erica's arm." — Claudia Cowan, [00:23]
• "They want to make a deal so badly. I just don't know if they're worthy of making a deal. I don't know that they're going to honor the deal." — Donald Trump, [01:38]
• "Hearn says he reached into the pool to examine coating already peeled and touched a chunk attached to the side of the pool." — Jared Halpern, [02:38]
• "Researchers say the highest ranked cities offer a combination of strong public services, reliable infrastructure, low crime, and easy access to health care." — Matt Murphy, [04:10]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:03] Charlie Kirk homicide hearing details
• [01:01] US-Iran tensions, presidential comments
• [01:42/04:21] Financial markets summary
• [02:31] Olympian vandalism case
• [03:19] NCAA eligibility lawsuit
• [03:44] Livable city world rankings

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Tone:
The reporting remains factual, direct, and urgent, consistent with Fox News’s characteristic style. Discussion is brisk, emotionally resonant when describing courtroom reactions, and efficient when covering geopolitical or financial topics.

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Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

A tearful day in court on Lisa Brady, FOX News as a preliminary hearing continues in Utah for Charlie Kirk's accused killer, Tyler Robinson.

[Claudia Cowan]

It has been a grueling four days for Erica Kirk. And today when that graphic evidence against her husband's accused assassin played out in court, she broke down into tears.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Claudia Cowan at the courthouse in Provo.

[Claudia Cowan]

Now, the courtroom camera is not allowed to show Erica Kirk, but our reporter in the courtroom says that when prosecutors showed text messages between Lance Twiggs and Tyler Robinson discussing Robinson wanting to get a hunting rifle. And later when Robinson talked about trying to retrieve the rifle he had left near campus but feared an officer might still be there, Erica started audibly crying. She was comforted by Charlie's mom, Catherine, who had her hand on Erica's arm. She was also in tears. And Tyler Robinson's mother, Amber, also wiping her eyes today. Keep in mind, she and her husband helped facilitate their son's surrender the day after Charlie Kirk was killed.

[Lisa Brady]

Prosecutors also playing a redacted videotaped interview with Twigs, the former roommate and lover, who says Robinson told him the day after the September shooting he wished he had not done it. This week's hearing is for the judge to decide if there's enough evidence for a trial. Two U.S. officials just confirming to Fox News the U.S. military has not carried out any strikes on Iran in the last few hours. This after reports of explosions. The US has hit Iranian targets for the past two nights in response to attacks on commercial ships and Iran and has responded with attacks on several Gulf neighbors who host U.S. forces. President Trump telling reporters early today they

[Donald Trump]

want to make a deal so badly, I just don't know if they're worthy of making a deal. I don't know that they're going to

[Lisa Brady]

honor the deal that's arriving back at the White House during pre dawn hours from the NATO summit in Turkey. Stocks finish higher. The Dow up 139 points at the bell, a partial rebound from yesterday's sell off. America is listening to FOX news.

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[Lisa Brady (Commercial Sign-off)]

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[Lisa Brady]

A former US Olympian accused of vandalizing the renovated reflecting pool on the National Mall enters a plea.

[Jared Halpern]

67 year old David Hearn entered a not guilty plea in a brief appearance in federal court. The former Olympic canoe racer is charged with a felony count of destruction of property, accused by federal prosecutors of deliberately ripping the liner from the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool on June 19. The case has become a political lightning rod, with President Trump alleging vandalism is responsible for peeling pain and algae marring a $16 million upgrade to the reflecting pool. Hearn says he reached into the pool to examine coating already peeled and touched a chunk attached to the side of the pool. A federal judge released Hearn while he awaits trial in Washington. Jared Halpern, Fox News A judge in

[Lisa Brady]

Ohio just granting a preliminary injunction for 24 men's and women's college basketball players who are suing the NCAA for eligibility. They're claiming the new Age based model unfairly shuts them out of further competition. Today's ruling allows a to enter the transfer portal as preparation for trial continues. A new global ranking of livable cities has some familiar winners and no American cities in the top 10.

[Matt Murphy]

Copenhagen is once again the world's most livable city, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit's annual Global Livability Index. The ranking scores 173 cities on stability, healthcare, education, infrastructure and culture. Vienna finishes second, followed by Melbourne, Sydney and Zurich. No US city cracks the top 10, although New York records one of the biggest improvements in this year's rankings. Researchers say the highest ranked cities offer a combination of strong public services, reliable infrastructure, low crime and easy access to health care.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Matt Murphy recapping stocks the Dow up 139 the NASDAQ up 336.

[Lisa Brady (Commercial Sign-off)]

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