7AM ET 02/28/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 7AM ET – February 28, 2026

Overview

This fast-paced newscast, anchored by Paul Stevens, focuses on breaking developments in Middle East conflict, high-profile political hearings related to the Epstein investigation, and early election news ahead of U.S. midterms. The primary story is the sudden escalation involving coordinated U.S.–Israel strikes on Iran and the global repercussions, followed by updates on significant political testimonies and campaign activity.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Coordinated Attacks on Iran

• Opening Alert (00:03): Newscast begins with a breaking alert—Israel and the United States are carrying out joint strikes at sites across Iran. Paul Stevens anchors coverage as Fox News correspondents provide updates from Tel Aviv.
• President Trump Statement (00:15):
  • Quote: "When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations." — President Trump (00:15)
  • Context: Trump posts on Truth Social, urging Iranians to seize the opportunity for regime change amidst the turmoil.
• On-the-Ground in Tel Aviv (00:27):
  • Sirens sound throughout Tel Aviv as Iran retaliates. Israeli Home Front Command puts the city under a special state of emergency, with alerts urging civilians to seek shelter.
  • Iran’s counterattacks target major Israeli population centers, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa.
  • Quote: "Sirens sounded across the country as alerts went out on phones telling civilians that Israel's home front command had entered into a special state of emergency." — Fox News Correspondent (00:43)
• Regional Airspace Closures (01:08):
  • Iran, Israel, and Iraq close airspace following strikes (delivered by both land and sea).
  • Israeli PM states the operation aims to remove an "existential threat" and describes collaboration with the U.S.
• Operation "Roaring Lion" (01:22):
  • Jonathan Savage explains the operation’s codename. Israel’s PM reiterates that Iran must never possess nuclear weapons and hopes the strikes will embolden Iranians to claim self-determination.
  • Ongoing explosions in northern Israel as air defenses counter incoming retaliatory fire.
  • Quote: "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying in a video statement that Iran must never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons... He promised the operation would allow brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands." — Jonathan Savage (01:31)

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2. Political Fallout: Iran Retaliates & States Respond

• Recap (02:32):
  • Iran is actively retaliating. Explosions reported in Tehran overnight.
  • U.S. and Israeli military operations dominate international headlines, with potential for further escalation.

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3. Congressional Epstein Investigation: Clinton Depositions

• Closed-Door Deposition Highlights (02:52):
  • Former President Bill Clinton completes a six-hour closed-door deposition regarding ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
  • Records show Clinton flew on Epstein’s private plane "roughly two dozen times" for Clinton Foundation philanthropic work.
  • Clinton denies any knowledge or complicity with Epstein’s crimes.
  • Quote: "Not only would I not have flown on his plane, if I had any inkling of what he was doing, I would have turned him in myself and led the call for justice for his crimes." — Bill Clinton, via President Trump quoting Clinton’s statement (03:08)
• Congressional Response (03:17):
  • House Oversight Chair James Comer promises continued investigation:
    • Quote: "We will continue to bring some more people in and try to get answers." — James Comer (03:20)
  • Depositions for both Bill and Hillary Clinton expected to be released publicly within days.
  • Hillary Clinton reportedly will not testify further.

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4. 2026 Midterms: Texas Senate Race Draws Attention

• Campaign Update (03:48):
  • President Trump appears in Corpus Christi, firing up Republicans with warnings about Democratic "crazy" policies and inflation, while urging Republicans to win the midterms.
  • Trump withholds endorsement in the Texas GOP Senate primary; Democrats are optimistic about flipping the seat.
  • Flight to Texas features Senator John Cornyn cautioning that a Paxton primary win could imperil GOP chances.
  • Quote: "Democrats would have a real shot at the seat if Paxton's on the ballot in the general election." — Ainsley Earhart (04:13)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Trump's Call to Iranians (00:15):
  • "When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations."
• Sirens in Tel Aviv (00:43):
  • "Sirens sounded across the country... Israel's home front command had entered into a special state of emergency."
• Netanyahu on Operation Roaring Lion (01:31):
  • "Iran must never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons... [Brave] Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands."
• Clinton on Epstein (03:08):
  • "If I had any inkling of what he was doing, I would have turned him in myself and led the call for justice for his crimes."
• House Chair Comer on Further Probes (03:20):
  • "We will continue to bring some more people in and try to get answers."
• Cornyn on Texas GOP Race (04:13):
  • "Democrats would have a real shot at the seat if Paxton's on the ballot in the general election."

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Israel–US Strike & President Trump Statement — 00:03–00:25
• Live from Tel Aviv — Sirens, Civilian Response — 00:27–01:08
• Regional Response, Operation Details — 01:08–01:58
• Clinton/Epstein Deposition Coverage — 02:52–03:30
• Texas Senate Race & Trump Campaign Update — 03:48–04:24

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This episode delivers urgent global news with a focus on geopolitical escalation, high-profile political accountability, and high-stakes U.S. election maneuvering. The reporting is brisk, direct, and high in tension, reflecting the gravity of concurrent events.

Transcript

[Paul Stevens]

This is a FOX News alert, an attack on Iran. I'm Paul Stevens. Fox News. Israel and the US Launching coordinated attacks across sites in Iran. President Trump in a post on Truth Social.

[President Trump]

When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.

[Paul Stevens]

Fox Astray inks with more.

[Fox News Correspondent in Tel Aviv]

In Tel Aviv, the Iranians have started their response following these initial strikes that targeted a variety of locations in Iran. Alerts have gone out to phones. Sirens have sounded here in Israel's second largest city of Tel Aviv warning civilians to head into bomb shelters. This all started this morning as those strikes were unfolding here in Israel. Sirens sounded across the country as alerts went out on phones telling civilians that Israel's home front command had entered into a special state of emergency. This was bracing for the fact that the Iranians were going to respond. The Iranians are trying to target major population centers including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and the northern city of Haifa.

[Paul Stevens]

Meantime, Iran, Israel and Iraq announcing closure of their airspaces following the attack which was carried out by land and sea. Israel's prime minister saying he's ordered an attack on Iran alongside the US to remove a, quote, existential threat.

[Jonathan Savage]

The Israeli code name for the assault on Iran is Operation Roaring Lion. It began with what were described by Israel's Defense Ministry as preemptive strikes. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying in a video statement that Iran must never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. He promised the operation would allow brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands. Iran promised to respond if attacked. Explosions have been heard in northern Israel with air defense systems trying to bring down incoming fire. Jonathan Savage, Fox News.

[Paul Stevens]

America's listening to Fox.

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[Paul Stevens]

Recapping our top story, Iran retaliating after the US And Israel launching joint strikes on Iran. Explosions taking place in Iran's capital of Tehran overnight. Former President Bill Clinton speaking out after he went through a closed door deposition of more than six hours with members of Congress investigating convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

[Shawn Lynch]

Records show that the former president flew on Jeffrey Epstein's private plane roughly two dozen times to aid in the philanthropic work of the Clinton Foundation. Former President Clinton denied any wrongdoing in that he didn't see Epstein doing anything wrong. But he said in a video posted on X late Friday, if he had,

[President Trump]

not only would I not have flown on his plane, if I had any inkling of what he was doing, I would have turned him in myself and led the call for justice for his

[Shawn Lynch]

crimes, house Oversight Chair James Comer said after the deposition.

[President Trump]

We will continue to bring some more people in and try to get answers.

[Shawn Lynch]

Videos of depositions from both Bill and Hillary Clinton are expected to be released within days. In Washington, Shawn lynch on Fox News

[Paul Stevens]

and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton giving her deposition on Jeffrey Epstein on Thursday, saying again she does not plan to testify further ahead of his visit to Texas on Friday. President Trump hinting at endorsements for a handful of Republican primary candidates in a big race for the U.S. senate.

[Ainsley Earhart]

President Trump told that crowd in Corpus Christi that the Democrats are crazy and Republicans have to win the midterms to continue this work, lifting the country out of the inflation hole that he says the Democrats created. But so far he has withheld his endorsement in the Texas primary as Democrats there eye a growing chance to flip the seat blue on the flight down. Texas Senator John Cornyn trying hard to avoid an ugly 10 week runoff in the three way primary between Attorney General Ken Paxton and Congressman Wesley Hunt. As Cornyn warns, Democrats would have a real shot at the seat if Paxton's on the ballot in the general election.

[Paul Stevens]

Fox's Jackie Heinrich at the White House. I'm Paul Stevens.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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

[Shawn Lynch]

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.