8AM ET 04/12/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 8AM ET, April 12, 2026

Episode Overview:
This newscast offers a concise roundup of the hour’s breaking national and international stories, from failed nuclear negotiations and mounting Middle Eastern tensions to a scandal shaking up California’s gubernatorial race and a historic milestone for human spaceflight. The episode balances immediate global concerns with significant domestic developments, all delivered in the signature brisk, no-nonsense tone of Fox News Radio.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. US-Iran Peace Talks Collapse

• (00:02–00:24)
  • Report: Host Kathleen Maloney reports that marathon peace talks in Pakistan involving Fox News VP J.D. Vance and Iranian officials have failed to produce a deal.
  • J.D. Vance: “We’ve had a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians. That’s the good news. The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement. And I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America.” (J.D. Vance, 00:13)
  • Insight: Emphasis on U.S. reluctance to compromise, particularly on unfreezing Iranian assets or funding projects that might bolster Iran’s military or nuclear capabilities.

2. Strategic Stakes in the Middle East

• (00:24–01:48)
  • Trey Yingst in Tel Aviv: Provides background on the issues at stake: Iran’s nuclear program, maritime control of the Strait of Hormuz, and the possibility of unfreezing Iranian financial assets.
    • “The Iranians made clear as they have in the past at the negotiating table, that their efforts are not going to reach any sort of solution... President Trump is not going to do what President Obama did, which is give the Iranians billions of dollars...” (Trey Yingst, 00:28)
  • US Navy Operations: Kathleen Maloney announces the US military is actively responding, followed by Matt Finn’s update from Central Command (CENTCOM).
    • Tension in the Strait of Hormuz: Two US Navy destroyers, the USS Michael Murphy and USS Frank E. Peterson, are searching for Iranian mines amid concerns Iran is blocking commercial passage, risking the global fuel supply.
    • Quote: “Centcom writing: Today we begin the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce. Iran's blockage has created multiple global problems, including a shortage of jet fuel.” (Matt Finn, 01:07)
  • Strategic Impact: Iran’s closure of the Strait is labeled its “biggest strategic advantage in the war.” (Kathleen Maloney, 01:48)

3. California Gubernatorial Race Shaken by Scandal

• (02:40–03:31)
  • Scandal Breaks: Kathleen Maloney turns to California where Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell, a gubernatorial candidate, is accused of sexual assault and misconduct.
  • Reporting by Max Gordon (Los Angeles):
    • The San Francisco Chronicle first broke the story, with an anonymous ex-staffer alleging incidents while intoxicated and later.
    • Swalwell’s denial and legal countermeasures are discussed: his attorney threatens to sue the accuser unless a retraction is issued.
    • “Since that initial Chronicle report, three additional women also spoke to CNN with sexual misconduct allegations, including accusations that the congressman sent explicit text messages and nude photos.” (Max Gordon, 02:52)
  • Political Fallout: Pressure mounts from California Democrats, including Senators Adam Schiff, Alex Padilla, and Nancy Pelosi, for Swalwell to withdraw from the race.

4. Historic Space Milestone: Artemis 2 Crew Returns

• (03:31–04:28)
  • Artemis 2 Mission: The US crew returns after a 10-day mission, breaking the record for the farthest humans have traveled from Earth — more than 250,000 miles.
  • Human Perspective:
    • Reid Wiseman (Commander), via McKenna Earnhardt:
      • “It’s such a special thing to be a human and a special thing to be on Earth. He said, before you take off, it’s just a dream, but once you’re in space looking back at what they—tiny Earth—all you want is your family.”
    • Christina (Crew Member):
      • “When she saw tiny Earth, it wasn’t seeing Earth that shocked her, but all the blackness around it, as if Earth was like a lifeboat hanging in the universe. She called planet Earth and all of us on it a crew.” (McKenna Earnhardt, 03:58–04:28)
  • Record: “The crew broke the record for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth, more than 250,000 miles away.” (Kathleen Maloney, 04:28)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• J.D. Vance on Failed Talks:
  “We have not reached an agreement. And I think that's bad news for Iran much more than it's bad news for the United States of America.” (00:13, J.D. Vance)

• On the Stakes of Negotiation:
  “When we look at the issues... these are very critical issues. We're talking about Iran's nuclear program, access in the Strait of Hormuz, and the idea of unfreezing assets.” (00:28, Trey Yingst)

• CENTCOM on Strait of Hormuz:
  “Today we begin the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway... to encourage the free flow of commerce. Iran's blockage has created multiple global problems, including a shortage of jet fuel.” (01:07, Matt Finn)

• Artemis Astronaut's Reflection:
  “It’s such a special thing to be a human and a special thing to be on Earth... all you want is your family.” (03:58, Reed Wiseman via McKenna Earnhardt)
  “...when she saw tiny Earth... all the blackness around it, as if Earth was like a lifeboat hanging in the universe. She called planet Earth and all of us on it a crew.” (04:10, Christina via McKenna Earnhardt)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:02–00:24: Peace talks with Iran collapse, J.D. Vance comments
• 00:28–01:00: Trey Yingst in Tel Aviv on issues at stake in Iran talks
• 01:00–01:48: US Navy mine-sweeping operations in Strait of Hormuz; Matt Finn details CENTCOM’s response
• 02:40–03:31: California Gubernatorial scandal, Eric Swalwell accused
• 03:31–04:28: Artemis 2 mission’s historic return; astronaut reflections

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Tone and Style

The episode maintains a measured, news-first approach—sharp, concise, and calm under rapidly-evolving headlines. Global stakes are weighed with gravity, while moments of human interest (as in the Artemis mission) close the show on a reflective, unifying note.

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This summary captures the main news developments and emotional textures of the April 12, 2026, 8 AM ET Fox News Hourly Update, ensuring you stay informed on the world’s headlines without missing key voices or context.

Transcript

[Kathleen Maloney]

Peace talks fail. I'm Kathleen Maloney. Fox News Vice President J.D. vance heading back to Washington after marathon talks in Pakistan. Do not produce a deal with Iran.

[J.D. Vance]

We've had a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians. That's the good news. The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement. And I think that's bad news for Iran much more than it's bad news for the United States of America.

[Kathleen Maloney]

Fox's Trey Yings is in Tel Aviv with more on what's at stake.

[Trey Yingst]

The Iranians made clear as they have in the past at the negotiating table, that their efforts are not going to reach any sort of solution. And when we look at the issues that we're talking about here, these are very critical issues. We're talking about Iran's nuclear program, access in the Strait of Hormuz and the idea of unfreezing assets. And we can start at the end of the list and work backwards. But when you look at the assets, President Trump is not going to do what President Obama did, which is give the Iranians billions of dollars that would allow them to rebuild their military and nuclear programs.

[Kathleen Maloney]

Meanwhile, the US Military confirms two Navy destroyers are searching for mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

[Matt Finn]

Centcom writing that the USS Michael Murphy and the USS Frank E. Peterson are searching for any Iranian mines while trying to establish a clear and safe path. Underwater drones will also be used in the coming days. Now, the Strait of Hormuz is considered very treacherous right now. As the New York Times reports, Iran may not be able to fully detect where the Iranian regime may have dropped mines. Centcom writing Today we begin the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce. Iran's blockage has created multiple global problems, including a shortage of jet fuel.

[Kathleen Maloney]

Fox's Matt Finn Iran's closure of the strait has proved its biggest strategic advantage in the war. America is listening to FOX News.

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[Kathleen Maloney]

the California Gubernatorial race facing a major scandal as Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell, one of the candidates, is accused of sexual assault. Fox Business Max Gordon in Los Angeles with details.

[Max Gordon]

The congressman continues to deny those accusations. The San Francisco Chronicle first broke the story of an anonymous ex staffer who claims Swanwell sexually assaulted her while she was intoxicated once when she worked for him and again years later, according to the Chronicle. Late Thursday, an attorney for Swalwell sent a cease and desist letter to the woman saying she made false statements accusing Mr. Swalwell of sexual assault and non consensual sexual encounter and threatening to sue her if she did not retract her allegations since that initial Chronicle report. Three additional women also spoke to CNN with sexual misconduct allegations, including accusations that the congressman sent explicit text messages and nude photos.

[Kathleen Maloney]

Swalwell claims the accusations are politically motivated. Among those calling for him to drop out of the GU governor's race, California Democratic Senators Adam Schiff and Alex Padilla and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. History unfolding after the crew of Artemis 2 completed a 10 day mission in space. The astronaut splashing down off the coast of San Francisco Friday night. FOX 26 Houston's McKenna Earnhardt spoke with mission Commander Reid Wiseman.

[McKenna Earnhardt]

Reed started the speech with saying it's such a special thing to be a human and a special thing to be on Earth. He said, before you take off, it's just a dream, but once you're in space looking back at what they tiny Earth, all you want is your family. And Christina said the trip started and ended with human moments here on Earth. She said when she saw tiny Earth, it wasn't seeing Earth that shocked her, but all the blackness around it, as if Earth was like a lifeboat hanging in the universe. She called planet Earth and all of us on it a crew. And that was a really big thing that she pressed on is their crew.

[Kathleen Maloney]

The crew broke the record for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth, more than 250,000 miles away. I'm Kathleen Maloney.

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