8AM ET 04/02/2026 Newscast

Summary

Podcast Summary: Fox News Hourly Update – 8AM ET 04/02/2026 Newscast

Date: April 2, 2026
Length: Approximately 4 minutes
Host: Chris Foster (FOX News Podcasts)
Episode Theme:
This episode delivers timely updates on the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, legislative developments on homeland security funding, NASA's Artemis 2 mission, Supreme Court deliberations on birthright citizenship, and notable domestic news, including a California earthquake and aviation incident.

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Key Topics and Discussion Points

1. U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalation & Presidential Address

• Overview: President Trump delivers his first national address on the military operation in Iran, now entering its 34th day.
• Military Update: U.S. and Israeli forces have decimated Iran’s navy and defense industrial base, but ongoing operations will intensify.
• Notable Quote:
  • "We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We're going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong."
    — President Donald Trump (00:27)
• Diplomatic Tensions: While President Trump claims that ceasefire talks are progressing, Iran disputes any significant developments.
• Economic Impact:
  • Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues, sending oil prices up nearly 9%.
    — Chris Foster (00:49)

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2. Homeland Security Funding and Congressional Moves

• Congress on Break: Lawmakers are out for another week and a half.
• Bipartisan Agreement:
  • Republican leaders (Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune) align on a Trump-backed plan to fund DHS—excluding ICE and CBP.
  • The plan mirrors a Democratic-supported Senate bill previously criticized by Johnson but now endorsed due to Trump’s approval.
• Political Dynamics:
  • Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer claims, "House Republicans caved."
    — Chris Foster (01:37)

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3. NASA Artemis 2: Mission Progress

• Astronaut Update:
  • Artemis 2 crew prepares for Earth-orbit engine firing, set for a lunar flyby.
  • Current Status: 43,500 miles above Earth, traveling over 2,000 mph.
    — Chris Foster (01:54)

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4. Supreme Court: Birthright Citizenship Case

• Judicial Developments:
  • Supreme Court appears skeptical of President Trump's plan to end automatic birthright citizenship.
• Arguments:
  • ACLU attorney Cecilia Wong warns:
    • "Swaths of American laws would be rendered senseless. Thousands of American babies will immediately lose their citizenship. And if you credit the government's theory, the citizenship of millions of Americans past, present and future could be called into question."
      — Cecilia Wong (02:24)
  • Government counters that the 14th Amendment has long been misinterpreted.
• Historic Moment: Trump attends the hearing, the first sitting president to do so.
• Decision Timeline: Verdict expected by June or July.

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5. Domestic News in Brief

• Santa Cruz Earthquake:

  • 4.6 magnitude quake shakes California’s Santa Cruz Mountains.
  • Minimal damage; residents report items falling off shelves.
    — Chris Foster (02:52)

• Philadelphia Small Plane Crash:

  • Instructor and student injured in emergency crash landing (Piper PA28) at Philadelphia Park.
  • Details: Wing clipped a tree, causing the crash; both individuals hospitalized but stable.
  • Fly Legacy Flight School cites "engine power loss" under investigation, stressing their commitment to safety and transparency.
    — Fire Commissioner & Flight School General Manager (03:13–03:46)

• Market Update:

  • Dow futures sink 618 points ahead of the opening bell.
    — Chris Foster (03:46)

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• President Donald Trump:
  • "We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We're going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong." (00:27)
• ACLU Attorney Cecilia Wong:
  • "Swaths of American laws would be rendered senseless. Thousands of American babies will immediately lose their citizenship. And if you credit the government's theory, the citizenship of millions of Americans past, present and future could be called into question." (02:24)
• Speaker Attribution:
  • Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer [message]: "House Republicans caved." (01:37)
• Flight School General Manager:
  • "As a flight school who trains commercial pilots, we take our responsibilities very, very seriously. And the cause of the engine power loss is under intense investigation at this time." (03:19)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:02 – U.S.-Iran conflict and Trump address
• 00:49 – Economic impact (Oil prices)
• 00:58 – Homeland Security funding news
• 01:37 – Political reactions (Schumer’s comment)
• 01:54 – Artemis 2 mission update
• 02:03 – Supreme Court on birthright citizenship
• 02:52 – California earthquake report
• 03:13 – Philadelphia plane crash
• 03:46 – Stock market update

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Tone and Style

The episode uses a factual, urgent news tone, reflecting rapidly evolving global events and political decisions. Direct quotations from political figures, attorneys, and officials highlight the gravity and immediacy of each story, keeping listeners well-informed on major national and international developments.

Transcript

[Fox News Anchor]

This is a FOX News alert. President Trump says it'll be over soon.

[Chris Foster]

In Iran, I'm Chris Foster. The president delivers his first address to the nation about the military operation now in its 34th day.

[Granal Scott]

President Trump said because of American and Israeli military power, Iran's navy is gone and airstrikes have been annihilating their defense industrial base. But the president told the nation Wednesday night the job isn't quite complete. So for now, the offensive will continue.

[President Donald Trump]

We are going to hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks. We're going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong.

[Granal Scott]

The president said talks toward a cease fire or even an end to the war continue, but Iran has disputed those discussions have come as far as the president has said. Granal Scott, FOX NEWS and News that

[Chris Foster]

attacks will intensify and Iran's continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz to oil shipping traffic and have oil prices up nearly 9% today.

[Fox News Anchor]

Members of Congress are scheduled to be

[Chris Foster]

out of town for another week and a half, but there is an agreement among Republican leaders on a plan to end the homeland security shutdown. Fox's Bill Malugian the Capitol, House Speaker

[Bill Malugian]

Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are now on the same page announcing a Trump approved plan to pass a bill that would fund all of DHS except ICE and cbp. It's similar to the bill the Senate passed with Democratic support at 2am last Friday. Hours later, Speaker Johnson trashed that Senate bill. But now with President Trump's approval, Thune and Johnson say that Senate passed bill is the path forward. And Democrats are claiming victory. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, writing on

[Chris Foster]

House Republicans caved astronauts on the Artemis 2 mission. In between naps are getting the capsule ready for the engine firing that'll send them out of Earth's orbit on their trip to the moon. Trip around the moon. They're about 43,500 miles above Earth now, flying more than 2,000 miles an hour.

[Fox News Anchor]

America's listening to FOX News. A decision is not expected till June or July.

[Chris Foster]

But from their questioning, most Supreme Court justices appear skeptical of President Trump's plan to end birthright citizenship.

[Tanya J. Powers]

Justices on the Supreme Court had tough questions for both sides in oral arguments over President Trump's push to ban automatic citizenship for children born on US Soil. Arguing for the plan, plaintiffs ACLU attorney Cecilia Wong condemned the executive order.

[ACLU Attorney Cecilia Wong]

Swaths of American laws would be rendered senseless. Thousands of American babies will immediately lose their citizenship. And if you credit the government's theory, the citizenship of millions of Americans past, present and future could be called into question.

[Tanya J. Powers]

The government's lawyer urged the court to correct long enduring misconceptions of the 14th Amendment's meaning. Trump attended the arguments becoming the first sentence sitting president to do so. Tanya J. Powers, FOX News.

[Chris Foster]

An overnight earthquake in California Santa Cruz Mountains, magnitude 4.6 woke some people up feeling the shaking. But there are no reports of any major damage or injuries, just reports of things falling off shelves. An instructor and a student pilot are hurt in a small plane crash in Philadelphia Park.

[Fire Commissioner]

What was initially an emergency landing for the Piper PA28 turned into something more serious.

[Flight School General Manager]

It appears the wing clipped the tree, which spun around and had to crash.

[Fire Commissioner]

The fire commissioner says the pair are stable, talking and alert. They were sent to Jefferson Torsdale Hospital. Fly Legacy, identifying themselves as a flight school that trains commercial pilots, says it was an engine power loss. And the general manager says some of the following. The information we have is very limited, but as a flight school who trains commercial pilots, we take our responsibilities very, very seriously. And the cause of the engine power loss is under intense investigation at this time.

[Chris Foster]

Fox 29 Philadelphia's Jill Croce, Dow futures are down 618 points ahead of the opening bell.

[Fox News Anchor]

On Wall Street, I'm Chris Foster. This is FOX News.