5PM ET 02/28/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 5PM ET 02/28/2026 Newscast

Overview

This fast-paced Fox News update delivers breaking and developing stories on major international and domestic developments. The top headline is the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, sparking escalating conflict in the Middle East and heated debate in Washington over presidential war powers. Additional coverage includes airport security under Secretary Kristi Noem’s policy changes and a controversial parole decision in California. The episode captures voices from Capitol Hill, military responses abroad, and the latest governmental scrutiny.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei

• Breaking News Announcement
  • U.S.-Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed Ayatollah Khamenei.

    “A big blow to Iran ... US Israeli airstrikes on Iran killed the country's leader.”
    — Carmen Roberts [00:03]

• Significance of Khamenei’s Role
  • Not a mere figurehead, Khamenei was central to Iran’s nuclear and missile ambitions.

    “He was not a figurehead. He was the man in charge of decisions as it relates to Iran's nuclear program, their expanding ballistic missile program, the hard line positions...”
    — Jared Halperin [00:21]

• Ongoing Strikes and Escalation
  • New explosions reported in Iran as Israeli air force continues operations, prompting Iranian retaliatory strikes on Israel and U.S. bases.

    “The attack risks sparking a wider conflict as Iran fights back, targeting Israel and US Bases in the region.”
    — Carmen Roberts [00:39]

• Congressional and Political Response
  • Bipartisan concern over presidential authority; debate on the necessity of congressional approval.
  • Democrats and some Republicans say congressional authorization was required.

    “Absent exigent circumstances, the administration must seek congressional authorization.”
    — Jim Himes, quoting Hakeem Jeffries [01:02]

  • Critique of strategy, cautioning ‘no strategic endgame.’

    “This is a war of choice with no strategic endgame.”
    — Jim Himes [01:20]

  • Not all Democrats opposed:

    “Iran massacred 30,000 of their own people. Right now, this war is not about the Iranian people. It's about this poisonous regime. And that's why I'm proud to stand with our military. I'm proud to stand with Israel, too.”
    — Senator John Fetterman [01:30]

  • Upcoming House vote to restrict further military action.

    “The House is set to vote on war powers this week that would restrict Trump's ability to carry out further attacks in Iran.”
    — Carmen Roberts [01:43]

2. Airport Security Changes Under Kristi Noem

• Security Risks in Airport Screening
  • DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s policy allowing shoes to stay on at checkpoints led to reported security vulnerabilities.

    “Secretary Kristi Noem produced a significant risk by letting that happen. The IG says TSA scanners at many US Airports can't scan shoes, meaning they can't detect any weapons or bombs that may be stashed away in footwear.”
    — Jill Nadeau [02:47]

  • DHS claims decision was based on multiple risk assessments, some done under the previous administration.

3. California Parole Controversy

• Convicted Child Molester Granted Parole Despite Warnings
  • David Allen Funston, eligible due to age and time served, admitted ongoing attraction to children but was deemed rehabilitated by the parole board.

    “Funston told commissioners that he was still attracted to female children. The commissioners found he no longer posed a threat... because of his good behavior in prison, his work in therapy and his plan to avoid repeating his crimes.”
    — Rich Edson [03:33]

  • Governor Newsom critical but lacks authority to reverse the board’s decision.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Jared Halperin on Khamenei’s Death:
  “This is a major blow to the Iranian regime.” [00:21]
• Jim Himes (paraphrasing Hakeem Jeffries):
  “Absent exigent circumstances, the administration must seek congressional authorization.” [01:02]
• Senator John Fetterman’s Unambiguous Backing:
  “I'm proud to stand with our military. I'm proud to stand with Israel, too.” [01:37]
• Jill Nadeau on Airport Security:
  “TSA scanners at many US Airports can't scan shoes, meaning they can't detect any weapons or bombs that may be stashed away in footwear.” [02:51]
• Rich Edson on Funston Parole:
  “Funston told commissioners that he was still attracted to female children.” [03:38]

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:03 — Breaking: Ayatollah Khamenei killed in US-Israeli airstrikes (Carmen Roberts)
• 00:21 — Jared Halperin details Khamenei’s power and policy significance
• 00:39 — Escalation: Explosions, Israeli operations, Iranian retaliation
• 01:02 — Congressional reactions and war powers debate (Jim Himes)
• 01:30 — Senator Fetterman supports strikes
• 01:43 — House to vote on limiting presidential war powers
• 02:47 — Potential airport security risks due to new DHS shoe policy (Jill Nadeau)
• 03:33 — California parole controversy: release of David Funston (Rich Edson)

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Summary

This episode spotlights fast-moving international developments and high-stakes domestic decisions, with Fox News providing rapid updates and direct voices from Capitol Hill and the field. The confirmed death of Ayatollah Khamenei in coordinated US-Israeli strikes signals a dangerous escalation, reverberating through world capitals and Congress. Meanwhile, domestic policy and justice issues—airport security under Kristi Noem and parole for a notorious felon—underscore ongoing debates about public safety and governmental oversight. The episode stands as a snapshot of a turbulent news cycle, rich with immediate reaction and contentious policy debates.

Transcript

[Carmen Roberts]

This is a FOX News alert. A big blow to Iran. I'm Carmen Roberts. Fox News has learned today's US Israeli airstrikes on Iran killed the country's leader.

[Jared Halperin]

Fox News can confirm that Iran's supreme leader, the Ayatollah Khamenei, is dead.

[Carmen Roberts]

Foxes try yanked in Tel Aviv.

[Jared Halperin]

This is a major blow to the Iranian regime. Iran's supreme leader, the Ayatollah Khamenei, was not a figurehead. He was the man in charge of decisions as it relates to Iran's nuclear program, their expanding ballistic missile program, the hard line positions that made it impossible for the Americans to reach a diplomatic solution with the Iranians.

[Carmen Roberts]

New explosions reported across Iran in the past few hours. With Israel saying that its air force continues to operate in Iran. The attack risks sparking a wider conflict as Iran fights back, targeting Israel and US Bases in the region. And while most members of Congress agree Iran is a threat to peace, Democrats and some Republicans say the president needed congressional approval for the military action.

[Jim Himes]

Top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries calls Iran a bad actor that must be confronted for support of terrorism and nuclear ambitions, but adds absent exigent circumstances, the administration must seek congressional authorization. The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Jim Himes, was briefed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and says this is a war of choice with no strategic endgame.

[Carmen Roberts]

Fox's Jared Halperin reporting. And Democratic Senator John Fetterman, however, tells Fox News he supports the strikes.

[John Fetterman]

Iran massacred 30,000 of their own people. Right now, this war is not about the Iranian people. It's about this poisonous regime. And that's why I'm proud to stand with our military. I'm proud to stand with Israel, too.

[Carmen Roberts]

And the House is set to vote on war powers this week that would restrict Trump's ability to carry out further attacks in Iran. America's listening to Fox News.

[Jim Himes]

Keep up to date on the very latest in Iran. Follow and listen to the Fox News hourly update podcast and dive deep with the FOX News Rundown podcast. Get them [e-mail] or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

[Carmen Roberts]

Recapping our top story, a top Israeli official confirms to Fox News that Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei died in U. S. Israeli airstrikes this morning. US And Israel launched a series of strikes against Iran after it failed to reach a nuclear deal with the U.S. tehran's responding with strikes on Israel and U.S. bases in the region. In other news, a report says Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem created security risks by letting people keep their shoes on at America's airports.

[Jill Nadeau]

Remember what a relief it was last year when DHS announced people no longer had to take their shoes off when getting through airport security? Now the Wall Street Journal says the DHS inspector general reported Secretary Kristi Noem produced a significant risk by letting that happen. The IG says TSA scanners at many US Airports can't scan shoes, meaning they can't detect any weapons or bombs that may be stashed away in footwear. But DHS says the no shoes rule was tossed only after numerous risk assessments, some of which were done during the Biden administration. Jill Nadeau, FOX News.

[Carmen Roberts]

Just before a convicted child molester was about to get out of prison, authorities in California arrested David Allen Funston on new molestation charges.

[Rich Edson]

The California Board of Parole decided to release Funston under the state's elderly parole program, where inmates are eligible for a parole hearing if they're older than 50 and been incarcerated for at least 20 years. His parole hearing transcripts say Funston told commissioners that he was still attracted to female children. The commissioners found he no longer posed a threat to the community because of his good behavior in prison, his work in therapy and his plan to avoid repeating his crimes. California Governor Gavin Newsom says the parole board should have reversed their decision, but that he does not have the authority to overrule it.

[Carmen Roberts]

Fox's Rich Edson reporting. And I'm Carmen Robertson. This is FOX News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of

[Podcast Narrator]

Jesus, a listening experience that will provide hope, comfort and understanding of the greatest story ever told. Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you listen to podcasts.