8AM ET 03/15/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 8AM ET 03/15/2026 Newscast

Host: Paul Stevens, FOX News Podcasts
Date: March 15, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode of the Fox News Hourly Update provides a focused briefing on the intensifying U.S.-Israeli joint military operations against Iran, the geopolitical fallout in the Middle East, reactions from global leaders, economic implications—especially regarding the Federal Reserve and oil prices—and the ongoing federal government shutdown. Noteworthy quotes from President Trump, Senator John Fetterman, and updates from FOX correspondents offer firsthand insight into these rapidly developing stories.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Escalation in U.S.-Israeli Military Operations Against Iran

Location Reports: Tel Aviv, Israel & West Palm Beach

• New Strikes in Tehran:

  • President Trump confirmed new U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran as Iran continues to retaliate.
  • Sirens sounded in Eilat, Israel’s southernmost city, after an Iranian attack wounded two people.

    "President Trump continues to launch strikes in the U.S.-Israeli joint operation against Iran."
    (Paul Stevens, 00:03)

• Attacks on U.S. Facilities:

  • The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was targeted with a missile hitting the helipad.
  • Iranian-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah has increased attacks on U.S. entities.

• U.S. Central Command Operations:

  • Naval mine storage facilities and ballistic missile supplies were destroyed on Kharg Island.

• Pressure for a Diplomatic Deal:

  • President Trump told NBC:

    "Iran wants to make a deal, but the terms aren't good enough yet. So the United States is continuing to apply pressure with a new round of airstrikes..."
    (Nate Foy, 00:10)

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2. Protecting Global Oil Supply & The Strait of Hormuz

Correspondent: Dana Marie McNichol (West Palm Beach)

• Major Strike on Kharg Island:

  • U.S. aims to ensure free flow of oil through the critical Strait of Hormuz.
  • U.S. and allied nations (China, France, Japan, South Korea, UK) invited to join naval protection efforts.

• Trump’s Multilateral Call to Action:

  • On Truth Social:

    "The countries of the world that receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage and we will help a lot... This should have always been a team effort and now it will be."
    (Dana Marie McNichol, 01:26)

• Rising Gas and Oil Prices:

  • The ongoing conflict is compounding anxieties about energy prices worldwide.

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3. Warnings for Americans in Iraq

• U.S. Embassy Alert:
  • Americans urged to leave Iraq amid intensifying militia attacks in central Baghdad.

    "A warning coming from the US Embassy in Baghdad for Americans to leave Iraq... America is listening to Fox News."
    (Paul Stevens, 01:41)

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4. Economic Impact: Federal Reserve and Inflation

Correspondent: Ainsley Earhart

• No Immediate Rate Cut Expected:

  • Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates steady as conflict-driven high oil prices fuel inflation concerns.
  • Banking insiders from Goldman Sachs and Barclays indicate several months of moderate inflation would be needed before considering a rate cut.

• Presidential Pressure:

  • President Trump criticized Fed Chairman Jerome "Tulip" Powell and advocated for urgent rate cuts:

    "He should be dropping interest rates immediately, not waiting for the next meeting."
    (Ainsley Earhart, 02:56)

• Fed Leadership Change:

  • Trump has indicated plans to replace Powell with Kevin Warsh at the end of Powell's term.

• Judicial Block on DOJ Probe:

  • A federal judge stopped the DOJ’s criminal probe into Powell's Senate testimony about the Fed's headquarters renovation, calling the investigation a "mere pretext."

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5. Prolonged Government Shutdown & Partisan Gridlock

• Shutdown Effects:

  • TSA, Secret Service, and several agencies affected.
  • Lawmakers fail to reach a bipartisan agreement.

• Senator John Fetterman's Break from Party Lines:

  "Why would you want to punish all of these workers that under DHS only thing that it could do is just make us less safe and that also makes people have to go without getting paid."
  (John Fetterman, 03:54)

• Democratic Demands:

  • Insistence on reforms for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection before agreeing to new DHS funding.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Multinational Action in the Strait of Hormuz:

  "This should have always been a team effort and now it will be."
  (President Trump, via Dana Marie McNichol, 01:33)

• On Government Shutdown Consequences:

  "Why would you want to punish all of these workers... just make us less safe and that also makes people have to go without getting paid."
  (Sen. John Fetterman, 03:54)

• On Federal Reserve Pressure:

  "Where is the Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Tulip Powell today? He should be dropping interest rates immediately, not waiting for the next meeting."
  (President Trump, via Ainsley Earhart, 02:56)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:03 - 01:41: Middle East conflict developments, U.S.-Iran operations, and implications for oil and global security.
• 01:41 - 02:32: Security warnings for Americans in Iraq.
• 02:32 - 03:18: Federal Reserve policy update tied to conflict, oil prices, and inflation; overview of Fed chair controversy.
• 03:18 - 04:07: Government shutdown updates, partisan disputes, and Sen. Fetterman's remarks.

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Tone & Style:
The newscast maintained FOX’s urgent, direct style, with rapid-fire reporting and frequent attribution to administration sources and field correspondents. Quotes from President Trump and policymakers dominated, reflecting the immediacy and partisan edge of breaking news coverage.

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End of Summary – All key content covered.

Transcript

[Paul Stevens]

The attacks continue. I'm Paul Stevens, Fox News. President Trump continues to launch strikes in the U. S Israeli joint operation against Iran.

[Nate Foy]

President Trump reportedly told NBC that Iran wants to make a deal, but the terms aren't good enough yet. So the United States is continuing to apply pressure with a new round of airstrikes in Tehran as the regime continues firing back. Sirens blaring in Israel's southernmost city of Eilat, which was hit by an Iranian attack where two people were injured. The US Embassy in Baghdad came under fire as a missile struck the helipad of the facility. The Iranian backed militia group Kataib Hezbollah has fired on the complex several times during the war. Meanwhile, US Central Command says that it destroyed naval mine storage facilities and ballistic missile supplies on Kharg Island.

[Paul Stevens]

And that's Fox's Nate Foy in Tel Aviv, Israel. The president also telling NBC he's working with other countries on a possible plan to secure the Strait of Hormuz amid surging gas and global oil prices. Fox's Dana Marie McNichol in West Palm

[Dana Marie McNichol]

beach conducted a large scale strike on Kharg Island, a critical export hub for Iran's oil. As President Trump continues to apply pressure on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. Now, he said the US and several countries will send warships there to make sure the ships can flow through. He urged China, France, Japan, South Korea and the UK to do the same. On Truth Social, he said the countries of the world that receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage and we will help a lot. The US Will also coordinate with those countries so that everything goes smoothly, quickly and well. This should have always been a team effort and now it will be.

[Paul Stevens]

Meantime, a warning coming from the US Embassy in Baghdad for Americans to leave Iraq. Now this as militias aligned with Iran repeatedly attack the international zone in central Baghdad, America is listening to Fox News.

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[Paul Stevens]

The Federal Reserve is expected, officials say, to keep interest rates unchanged amid the conflict in the Middle East.

[Ainsley Earhart]

Expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut are dwindling ahead of policymakers meeting this week. Economists citing higher oil prices fueling inflation fears amid the US And Israel's military action against Iran, Goldman Sachs and Barclays, telling Reuters there would need to be several months of moderate core inflation before a cut could happen. President Trump has repeatedly pushed for lower interest rates, including posting on Truth Social last week. Where is the Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Tulip Powell today? He should be dropping interest rates immediately, not waiting for the next meeting. The president has said he plans to replace Powell with Kevin Warsh when Powell's term ends later this year. Kristin Goodwin, Fox News.

[Paul Stevens]

A federal judge meantime on Friday blocking the DOJ's criminal probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's Senate testimony regarding the central bank's headquarters renovation, writing the subpoenas were a, quote, mere pretext, unquote, to pressure the Federal Reserve. One month into the partial government shutdown, lawmakers still have yet to reach beyond party lines and strike a deal with their colleagues across the aisle. Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania on Fox's the Big Weekend show detailing why he's the only Democrats splitting from party lines and voting with Republicans to reopen dhs.

[John Fetterman]

Why would you want to punish all of these workers that under dhs only thing that it could do is just make us less safe and that also makes people have to go without getting paid.

[Paul Stevens]

Now the government shutdown has currently halted funding for several agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration, the CO at the US Secret Service. Before DHS gets all its money, Democrats are demanding reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection as well. I'm Paul Stevens. This is Fox News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

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

[John Fetterman]

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