6AM ET 07/12/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 6AM ET 07/12/2026

Podcast: Fox News Hourly Update
Date: July 12, 2026
Host: Debra Valentine (with reporting from Chad Program, Lucas Tomlinson, Carmen Roberts, and Jessica Rosenthal)
Duration: ~4 minutes (excluding ads)

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Overview

This episode centers on major breaking news regarding the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, ongoing international tensions with Iran and Israel, allegations concerning the Trump administration’s renovation of the Kennedy Center, and developments in Florida’s political landscape regarding property taxes and AI data centers.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Passing of Senator Lindsey Graham

• Announcement: Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has died at age 71 after a sudden illness.
• Official Statement: His office requested privacy and thanked the public for their prayers ([00:02]–[00:47]).
• Career Highlights: Serving in the US Senate since 2003; chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2019–2021.
• Governor Tributes:
  • South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster: "Lindsey Graham is irreplaceable and we shall not see his likes again." ([00:21], Chad Program)
• Personal Note: Graham was recently in Ukraine, reflecting his ongoing engagement with international issues and collaboration with President Trump.

2. Escalating Tensions in the Middle East

• Iranian-US Conflict:
  • New US airstrikes on Iran after the Revolutionary Guard declared the Strait of Hormuz closed. ([00:47])
  • Connection to Iran’s attempted retaliation allegedly coinciding with President Trump’s attendance at a NATO summit in Turkey.
• Israel-Hezbollah Conflict:
  • Incident: Israeli forces (Galani Division) monitored and then struck Hezbollah fighters with anti-tank missiles inside the Lebanese buffer zone; secondary explosions observed ([01:09]–[01:44]).
  • Context: Reference to a previous Hezbollah attack on an Israeli tank resulting in four deaths.
• Reporting: Lucas Tomlinson described the sequence and context directly from Tel Aviv.

3. 2026 FIFA World Cup Semifinals Preview

• Upcoming matches:
  • Spain vs. France (Tuesday)
  • Argentina vs. England (Wednesday)
    ([01:44])

4. Kennedy Center Renovation Whistleblower Allegations

• Allegations:
  • Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse highlights a whistleblower report claiming rushed and defective renovations at the Kennedy Center under the Trump administration ([02:23]–[03:13]).
  • Specific Issues: Rusting steel columns, a possibly defective reflecting pool, a bathroom floor replaced over tile color, allegedly to expedite completion before a December event.
  • Demand for Answers: Whitehouse is seeking a detailed explanation by July 23.
  • Board Response: No comment yet from the Trump-appointed board.

5. Florida’s Gubernatorial Race: Property Taxes & Data Centers

• Candidate: Republican Congressman Byron Donalds (leading in polls to replace term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis) ([03:13]–[04:11]).
• Technology Policy:
  • On AI data centers: "What we have to do is make sure that we protect our resources, protect ratepayers when it comes to their utility bills. We're going to do that, but find a way to still build out the meaningful computing power that we're going to need." ([03:36], Jessica Rosenthal quoting Donalds)
• Taxes:
  • Supports a constitutional amendment to lower property taxes; if not passed, will push for a "top to bottom analysis" with the goal to fully repeal homestead property taxes. ([03:53], Donalds)
• Political Positioning: Intends to continue DeSantis's legacy while preparing Florida for future challenges.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Lindsey Graham:
  • "Lindsey Graham is irreplaceable and we shall not see his likes again." – Governor Henry McMaster ([00:21])
• On AI Data Centers in Florida:
  • "What we have to do is make sure that we protect our resources, protect ratepayers ... but find a way to still build out the meaningful computing power that we're going to need." – Rep. Byron Donalds ([03:36], via Jessica Rosenthal)
• On Property Taxes:
  • "If it doesn't pass, we are going to do a top to bottom analysis of all taxes and fees in the state of Florida and come up with recommendations for fully repealing homestead property taxes." – Rep. Byron Donalds ([03:53])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:02] – Breaking: Senator Lindsey Graham’s death
• [00:21] – Governor McMaster’s statement, Graham’s recent activities
• [00:47] – Office privacy request, Graham’s Senate record
• [01:09] – US-Iran and Israel-Hezbollah conflict updates
• [01:44] – World Cup semifinals preview
• [02:23] – Democratic senator’s allegations on Kennedy Center repairs
• [03:13] – Board response on Kennedy Center
• [03:13]–[04:11] – Florida’s gubernatorial race: property taxes and AI data centers

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Conclusion

This tightly packed newscast covers the passing of a prominent senator, critical international flashpoints, whistleblower allegations over federal renovation projects, and key Florida political issues regarding technology and taxation. Notable for its succinct, fact-driven reporting and key direct quotes, the episode provides a snapshot of major overnight developments both in the US and abroad.

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Transcript

[Debra Valentine]

This is a FOX News alert. I'm Debra Valentine. Republican U.S. senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has died. He did so Saturday at the age of 71. His office posting to X that the senator passed away following a brief and sudden illness. Fox's Chad program reports from Washington.

[Chad Program]

Henry McMaster, the governor of South Carolina, has just put out a statement saying that Lindsey Graham is irreplaceable and we shall not see his likes again. And I that kind of encapsulates Lindsey Graham. It doesn't surprise me that he had just been to Ukraine. He was somebody who was always on the move. He had been overseas. He's somebody who had been, you know, working on the Ukraine issue, had been working with President Trump.

[Debra Valentine]

The senator's office said Senator Graham's family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy. Senator Graham served in the US Senate from 2003. He chaired the Senate Committee on Judiciary from 2019 to 2021. New US airstrikes Iran after Tehran's Islamic Republic's Revolutionary Guard declared the Strait of Hormuz closed.

[Lucas Tomlinson]

It appears that act of revenge by Iran was foiled when President Trump attended that NATO summit in Turkey, a country that borders Iran. With the ceasefire over, earlier today, Israeli forces stopped a plot of their own. Troops from the IDF's Galani Division spotted Hezbollah fighters bringing anti tank missiles into a building inside the southern Lebanon buffer zone. The IDF watched the terrorists bring these rounds into the building. They waited until the terrorists were all inside and leveled. The ID said secondary explosions were seen afterwards. Recall last month Hezbollah fired similar anti tank rounds at an Israeli Merkava tank, killing all four soldiers inside.

[Debra Valentine]

Fox's Lucas Tomlinson reporting from Tel Aviv in the World cup semifinals. Spain plays France Tuesday. Argentina takes on England Wednesday. America's listening to Fox News

[Jessica Rosenthal]

News.

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[Debra Valentine]

a Democratic US senator claims whistleblowers have detailed several problems with the Trump administration's renovation of the John F. Kennedy center for the Performing Arts. Fox's Carmen Roberts reports.

[Carmen Roberts]

New trouble at the Kennedy Center. Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode island says a whistleblower report from the Government Accountability Project alleges rushed sloppy renovations at the arts complex now under President Trump's control. White House claims corner cutting led to rusting steel columns. A reflecting pool that may need rebuilding and a bathroom floor ripped out over its tile color. He alleges work was rushed so the president could show it off during a December event, bypassing normal contracting rules. White House is demanding answers from the Kennedy center by July 23. Carmen Roberts, Fox News.

[Debra Valentine]

The Kennedy Center's Trump appointed board has not responded. The apparent frontrunner in the Republican race to replace Florida's soon to be former governor says he has plans when it comes to property taxes, data centers and keeping Florida free. Fox's Jessica Rosenthal has more on AI data centers.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

Florida Republican Congressman Byron Donalds, running to be governor of Florida says there has to be a balance.

What we have to do is make sure that we protect our resources, protect ratepayers when it comes to their utility bills. We're going to do that, but find a way to still build out the meaningful computing power that we're going to

need on the state's constitutional amendment to dramatically reduce property taxes. He told the FOX News Rundown podcast he's for it and if it doesn't

pass, we are going to do a top to bottom analysis of all taxes and fees in the state of Florida and come up with recommendations for fully repealing homestead property taxes.

Donald says as governor he would plan to cement the winds of Governor Ron DeSantis while preparing for the future. Jessica Rosenthal, Fox News DeSantis is term

[Debra Valentine]

limited and cannot run for a third consecutive term. I'm Debra Valentine. This is FOX News.

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