6AM ET 04/04/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 6AM ET 04/04/2026 Newscast

Host: Debra Valentine (FOX News Podcasts)
Date: April 4, 2026
Episode Theme:
A fast-paced roundup of major national and international headlines, including military developments in Iran, U.S. defense spending, job growth, election law controversy, and a live update from NASA’s Artemis 2 mission.

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Major Headlines and Discussion Points

1. Search and Rescue in Iran ([00:03]–[00:55])

• Ongoing Operation:
  The episode opens with urgent developments in Iran, where U.S. search and rescue teams are looking for a missing U.S. airman whose plane was shot down during operations over Iran.

  • Status Update:
    • Mike Tobin reporting from Tel Aviv: The F15E pilot has been rescued, but the weapons systems officer remains missing.
    • Both U.S. and Iranian forces are independently searching for the missing crew member.
    • When U.S. teams entered Iranian territory to extract the downed pilot, they faced enemy fire. Two helicopters were hit and crew members injured, but both aircraft managed emergency landings.
    • In a related incident, an A-10 Warthog was downed by enemy fire near the Strait of Hormuz. The sole pilot on that mission was successfully recovered.
  • Israel’s Response:
    • Israel has paused military operations in the area to allow search efforts to proceed safely.
  • Iran Domestic Developments:
    • Reuters is cited: Iran executed two men linked to an opposition group, convicted of attacks on the regime.

  Notable Quote:

  “As US Forces are searching for that weapon systems officer, the Iranians say they are searching for him as well.”
  — Mike Tobin ([00:26])

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2. U.S. Defense Spending and Domestic Budget Cuts ([00:55]–[01:53])

• Presidential Budget Proposal:

  • President Trump proposes a record $1.5 trillion defense budget, accompanied by deep cuts to domestic spending, including health, housing, and education.
  • Fox’s Jared Halpern emphasizes that the administration justifies these cuts by claiming they eliminate “woke, wasteful, and weaponized programs.”
  • Budget Impact:
    • The White House projects higher revenue but the proposal is largely symbolic—ultimately, Congress decides the actual budget.

  Notable Quote:

  “The administration says those [cuts] can [be made] by eliminating woke, wasteful and weaponized programs.”
  — Jared Halpern ([01:28])

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3. U.S. Job Growth and Economy ([02:41]–[03:05])

• Strong Labor Market:

  • March brought an unexpected gain of 178,000 jobs.
  • Kevin Hassett (National Economic Council Director):
    • Attributes growth to new tax incentives on tips, overtime, and Social Security.
    • Notes many retirees are returning to the workforce due to these financial incentives.
  • Unemployment falls to 4.3% (down 0.1 percentage points).

  Notable Quote:

  “There are a lot of people who retired but want to get back into this booming labor force and they have a much higher tax reward for doing it.”
  — Kevin Hassett ([02:57])

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4. Legal and Political Battle Over Mail-In Voting ([03:05]–[03:58])

• Oregon Lawsuit Against Executive Order:

  • President Trump issued an executive order to create a national voter list and restricted USPS from carrying ballots from states not submitting such lists.
  • Oregon, 21 other states, D.C., and Pennsylvania sued, calling the move unconstitutional and a violation of the separation of powers.
  • The lawsuit, filed in Massachusetts, seeks to block federal action enforcing the order.

  Notable Quote:

  “The nearly 50 page lawsuit cites the Constitution’s separation of powers, saying only Congress can direct states on how they can operate local and federal elections.”
  — Spencer Schott ([03:32])

  • Context:
    • President Trump has accused Democratic states of enabling non-citizen voting, though actual cases of voter fraud are rarely documented.

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5. Artemis 2 Lunar Mission – Live Check-In ([03:58]–[04:27])

• Historic Space Flight:

  • On day four of its journey, Artemis 2 continues its lunar orbit mission.
  • Commander Reid Wiseman describes crew camaraderie and high spirits before their upcoming historic lunar flyby.

  Notable Quote:

  “We all agree we would wake up slow and get into the day easy and quiet. And this morning we all got up cheering and rocking and getting everything ready to go. It was the perfect way to start our day.”
  — Reid Wiseman ([04:18])

  • Next Milestone:
    • On Monday, Artemis 2 will pass just 4,000 miles from the moon’s far side.

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Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Military Search and Rescue:
  “As US Forces are searching for that weapon systems officer, the Iranians say they are searching for him as well.” — Mike Tobin ([00:26])
• Budget Priorities:
  “The administration says those [cuts] can [be made] by eliminating woke, wasteful and weaponized programs.” — Jared Halpern ([01:28])
• Economy and the Workforce:
  “There are a lot of people who retired but want to get back into this booming labor force and they have a much higher tax reward for doing it.” — Kevin Hassett ([02:57])
• Election Law Lawsuit:
  “The nearly 50 page lawsuit cites the Constitution’s separation of powers, saying only Congress can direct states on how they can operate local and federal elections.” — Spencer Schott ([03:32])
• Artemis 2 in Space:
  “This morning we all got up cheering and rocking and getting everything ready to go.” — Reid Wiseman ([04:18])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Start | Speaker(s) | |-------------------------------------------|----------|------------------------| | Search & rescue in Iran | 00:03 | Debra Valentine, Mike Tobin | | Iran executions, U.S./Israel response | 00:55 | Debra Valentine | | U.S. Military Budget Proposal | 01:19 | Jared Halpern | | National jobs report, unemployment | 02:41 | Debra Valentine, Kevin Hassett | | Election executive order lawsuit | 03:18 | Spencer Schott | | Artemis 2 moon mission update | 03:58 | Debra Valentine, Reid Wiseman |

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Overall Tone and Takeaways

The episode delivers a brisk, news-driven roundup, alternating between gravely serious reporting on international conflict, political clashes at home, and moments of optimism from NASA’s Artemis 2 crew. The tone remains direct, informative, and aligned with Fox News’ characteristic style, bringing listeners a blend of breaking news, analysis, and brief expert commentary.

Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

Behind enemy lines. I'm Debra Valentine. FOX News. Search and rescue teams continue looking for a missing U.S. airman shot down over Iran. Fox's Mike Tobin has more from Tel Aviv.

[Mike Tobin]

The pilot of that F15E Strike Eagle has been recovered, but there were two personnel on board that aircraft. The other was a weapons systems officer. That is the individual they are looking for. And as US Forces are searching for that weapon systems officer, the Iranians say they are searching for him as well. Now, when search and rescue crews entered Iran to rescue that pilot, they came under enemy fire. Two US Helicopters were shot and crew members on board were injured. Those helicopters were able to land. Safety Also, the Pentagon confirms that an A10 Warthog crashed in the area of the Strait of Hormuz after coming under enemy fire that has one pilot on board. That pilot has been rescued.

[Debra Valentine]

Israel announcing that they've paused fighting in the area that the F15E went down as a search for the missing airmen continues. Reuters reporting Iran has has executed two men linked to an opposition group convicted of carrying out attacks against the Iranian regime. President Trump proposing a big spending increase for the military and cuts to domestic spending in his annual budget. Fox's Jared Halpern has more from the White House.

[Jared Halpern]

The White House is asking Congress to approve one and a half trillion dollars in defense spending for the upcoming fiscal year, the largest total in history for the Pentagon. Part of the spending increase would be offset with cuts to health, housing and education agencies. The administration says those can by eliminating woke wasteful and weaponized programs. The White House budget office also projects higher revenues next year. Still, the budget proposal is more symbolic than anything else, serving as a priority list for lawmakers who ultimately must approve federal spending. At the White House.

[Debra Valentine]

Jared Halpern, FOX NEWS America's listening to FOX News.

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[Debra Valentine]

the US economy adding an unexpected 178,000 jobs in March. National Economic Council Director Kevin has reacts on fox's America's newsroom.

[Kevin Hassett]

There are a lot of people who've been sitting on the sidelines who are coming back to work because they get a no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and especially the no tax on Social Security. There are a lot of people who retired but want to get back into this booming labor force and they have a much higher tax reward for doing it.

[Debra Valentine]

The unemployment rate dropped 1/10 of a point to 4.3%. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield is suing the Trump administration over an executive order that would limit mail in voting. Fox 12 Oregon's Spencer Schott has more.

[Spencer Schott]

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create a national list of eligible voters and directed the United States Postal Service to no longer carry ballots for states that do not submit lists of citizens and registered voters. On Friday, Oregon was one of 22 states plus Washington, D.C. and the governor of Pennsylvania to sue the administration, saying this federalization of elections is unconstitutional. The nearly 50 page lawsuit cites the Constitution's separation of powers, saying only Congress can direct states on how they can operate local and federal elections. This lawsuit was filed in the state of Massachusetts and all plaintiffs are asking a federal judge to block any federal agency from acting on this executive order.

[Debra Valentine]

President Trump has repeatedly accused Democratic states of allowing non citizens to vote, but undocumented cases of voter fraud are rare. Today marks day four of the Artemis 2 mission, launching four astronauts around a historic trip around the moon's orbit. Reid Wiseman is commander of Artemis 2. He tells Fox News, at night we

[Mike Tobin]

all agree we would wake up slow and get into the day easy and quiet. And this morning we all got up cheering and rocking and getting everything ready to go. It was the perfect way to start our day.

[Debra Valentine]

On Monday, the crew will make a historic flyby approximately 4,000 miles from the moon, passing on its far side. I'm Debra Valentine, this is Fox News. This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the 52 episode podcast series the Life of

[Spencer Schott]

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