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Fox News Hourly Update – 4PM ET 07/18/2026 Newscast

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This Fox News hourly update, anchored by Paul Stevens, delivers a rundown of the day’s most critical news events, spanning U.S. military casualties in the Middle East, fresh threats from Iran, China’s deadly landslides, a politically-tinged assault in New Jersey, the ongoing impact of Canadian wildfires across the U.S., threats of new tariffs by President Trump, shifting weather challenges affecting air quality, and last-minute changes before the World Cup Championship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Military Casualties & Middle East Escalation

(00:03–00:51)

Two U.S. service members killed, 13 wounded (10 soldiers, 3 sailors) this week after Iranian attacks on U.S. bases in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait.
Iran’s Supreme Leader threatens, saying the U.S. risks “unforgettable lessons” if attacks persist.
- Quote (Paul Stevens, 00:13):
  - “Iran's supreme leader issuing a warning telling the US it will suffer, quote, unforgettable lessons, unquote, if the attacks continue.”
Iranian drone and missile strikes also targeted water desalination and power plants in Jordan and Kuwait.
- About 90% of Kuwait’s drinking water depends on reverse osmosis.
- The Strait is described as so dangerous now that U.S. warships haven’t attempted the passage in over two months.
- Lucas Tomlinson (Live from Tel Aviv, 00:22):
  - “Shipping traffic has slowed to a trickle in the strait in recent days. To highlight how dangerous is to sail through the strait, US Warships have not attempted it in more than two months.”
Iran has additionally launched strikes against Qatar in recent days.
Point of escalation and increased risk for U.S. personnel and regional stability.

2. Deadly Landslide in China

(00:51–01:18)

In Chongqing’s Pengushi county, southwestern China, heavy rains triggered a landslide, killing at least 8 and leaving 34 missing.
Over 10 residential buildings were buried beneath rock and soil.
Context: Ongoing severe weather and its destructive consequences in Asia.

3. Incident Involving Canadian Woman and Pro-Trump Teen

(01:18–01:55)

A Canadian woman, Caitlin Tracy, is in ICE custody after allegedly slapping a teen sporting pro-Trump memorabilia at the Jersey Shore over the Fourth of July weekend.
DHS dubbed her a “maple leaf menace” on social media (Christine, 01:18).
Fox News Digital obtained court documents stating Tracy confronted and struck the teen, who was with friends wearing “Trump” and “ICE” sweatpants.
Dispute over the altercation: Tracy’s husband argues she was also shoved and hit.
Quote (Christine, 01:29):
- “DHS has shared video appearing to show Tracy slapping a girl at the Jersey shore…so Tracy's husband told a local outlet that it was Tracy who was shoved and hit.”

4. Canadian Wildfires & U.S. Air Quality

(02:16–03:13)

Persistent wildfires in Canada are blanketing the U.S. upper Midwest and Northeast in smoke, triggering air quality alerts as far south as the Carolinas.
Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford praises emergency responders for rescuing more than 300 people from affected communities.
- Doug Ford (via reporter, 02:36):
  - “I want to thank the OPP for doing an incredible job…Thunder Bay police as well, firefighters and obviously the paramedics. They're always there as well.”
President Trump threatens tariffs on Canada, blaming them for “billions of dollars in damage caused by that smoke.”
- Rain in NYC is expected to improve air quality, though New York and New Jersey now face flash flood threats.

5. Weather Shift & Regional Impact

(03:13–03:40)

FOX Weather’s Adam Klotz explains a cold front is pushing smoke out, but while in front of it, heavy smoke lingers, making breathing difficult and irritating eyes.
- Adam Klotz (03:13):
  - “It's going to be difficult to breathe. Your eyes are going to burn. And then we start to see these frontal boundaries move on through. There are going to be rounds of, at times heavy showers.”

6. Major Sports Update: World Cup Finals Affected

(03:40–End)

Severe weather causes Spain and Argentina to cancel pre-World Cup final practice sessions.
Defending champion Argentina meets Spain in the championship at 3PM ET the next day at New York, New Jersey Stadium.
England and France will play for the bronze medal at 5PM ET later today.
Demonstrates how global weather disruptions even impact major international sporting events.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On U.S.-Iran Tensions (Paul Stevens, 00:13):
- “Iran's supreme leader issuing a warning telling the US it will suffer, quote, unforgettable lessons, unquote, if the attacks continue.”
On the Maritime Threat (Lucas Tomlinson, 00:36):
- “Shipping traffic has slowed to a trickle in the strait in recent days. To highlight how dangerous is to sail through the strait, US Warships have not attempted it in more than two months.”
On U.S. Domestic Fallout from Canadian Wildfires (Paul Stevens, 02:53):
- “President Trump is threatening to impose new tariffs on Canada to pay for what he says is billions of dollars in damage caused by that smoke.”
On Emergency Responders' Efforts (Doug Ford, 02:36):
- “I want to thank the OPP for doing an incredible job. They're absolute champions.”
On Shifting Weather (Adam Klotz, 03:13):
- “It's going to be difficult to breathe. Your eyes are going to burn…there are going to be rounds of, at times heavy showers.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:03 – U.S. casualties & Iran warning
00:22 – Middle East escalation and strategic straits update
00:51 – Chinese landslide disaster
01:18 – Jersey Shore assault, political context
02:16 – Canadian wildfire U.S. air quality update
03:13 – Weather shift, cold front movement
03:40 – World Cup practice cancellations, upcoming matches

Summary:
This newscast highlights ongoing military tensions in the Middle East, a developing humanitarian crisis in China, politically charged incidents inside the U.S., cross-border environmental challenges, governmental responses, and disruptions to global sporting events. The update showcases the interconnectedness of geopolitics, environment, and public safety—delivered with direct reporting and local perspectives.

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Transcript11 lines

[00:03]
A
Casualties reported. I'm Paul Stevens, Fox news. The military U.S. saying two U.S. service members were killed in action yesterday after an Iranian attack on a base in Jordan. Iran's supreme leader issuing a warning telling the US it will suffer, quote, unforgettable lessons, unquote, if the attacks continue. Lucas Tomlinson in Tel Aviv.
[00:23]
B
The Pentagon says 13American service members, 10 soldiers and three sailors have been wounded in action this week after continued Iranian attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait. And Jordan and Kuwait said a water desalination and power plant were hit by Iranian drones and missiles. About 90% of Kuwait's drinking water comes from this reverse osmosis process. Shipping traffic has slowed to a trickle in the strait in recent days. To highlight how dangerous is to sail through the strait, US Warships have not attempted it in more than two months.
[00:52]
A
Meantime, Iran has also launched strikes against Qatar in recent days. In China, at least eight people killed, 34 missing after a landslide in the southwestern part of the country. The collapse in Chongjing's Pengushi county buried more than 10 residential buildings after heavy rain triggered tons of rock and soil to come down the mountainside. A Canadian woman in ICE custody after allegedly slapping a teen who was wearing pro Trump memorabilia.
[01:19]
C
The Department of Homeland Security has labeled Caitlin Tracy a maple leaf menace on social media. DHS has shared video appearing to show Tracy slapping a girl at the Jersey shore during Fourth of July weekend. Fox News Digital obtained court documents explaining that the victim was with a group of friends wearing sweatpants with the words Trump and ICE when Tracy confronted and later hit the teen in the face and body. The court documents say that Tracy refused to identify herself after the violent encounter, so Tracy's husband told a local outlet that it was Tracy who was shoved and hit.
[01:56]
A
America is listening to Fox News.
[02:00]
D
Cheers to America's 250th birthday. Get 20% off your first purchase at foxnewswineshop.com with code FNRADIO20. 20% 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.
[02:16]
A
Those big Canadian wildfires continue to send smoke pouring into the US Shrouding the upper Midwest and the Northeast in a smoky haze, producing air quality alerts as far south as the Carolinas. In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford telling reporters crews have rescued more than 300 people from communities threatened by those flames, campers
[02:37]
B
and so on so forth. These aren't commun so again, I want to thank the OPP for doing an incredible job. They're absolute champions. I want to thank the local Thunder Bay police as well, firefighters and obviously the paramedics. They're always there as well.
[02:54]
A
Meantime, President Trump is threatening to impose new tariffs on Canada to pay for what he says is billions of dollars in damage caused by that smoke. Meantime, pouring rain in New York City is expected to help improve air quality. But the thunderstorms are creating another threat for the New York State area and New Jersey, the poss possibility of flash flooding.
[03:13]
D
It has been really smoggy. That's been the big story here the last several days. And even this morning that smog was the big story. But we've known that there's going to be a shift in the weather. There's a cold front currently moving across the eastern United States that's pushing that smoke. So as long as you're in front of it, you're going to be seeing heavy smoke. It's going to be difficult to breathe. Your eyes are going to burn. And then we start to see these frontal boundaries move on through. There are going to be rounds of, at times heavy showers.
[03:40]
A
And that's FOX Weather's Adam Klotz. As you can tell from a very rainy New York City, we're also learning that severe weather is forced Spain and Argentina to cancel their final practice sessions ahead of the World cup championship match coming up tomorrow. On Sunday, the teams were set to practice before noon today. Defending champion Argentina will take on Spain at 3pm Eastern tomorrow, the New York, New Jersey Stadium later on today, England and France meet for the bronze medal match at 5pm Eastern. I'm Paul Stevens and this is Mark's News.