8AM ET 05/05/2026 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – 8AM ET, May 5, 2026

Episode Overview

This Fox News newscast, hosted by Dave Anthony, delivers a rapid roundup of the latest national and world news events for the hour. The episode details breaking developments in U.S.-Iran military operations, domestic incidents in Washington, D.C., updates on state and national politics, fallout from California wildfires, and the ongoing debate over transgender student policies at Smith College. The tone is urgent and authoritative, focused on key facts and direct reporting.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S.-Iran Tensions and 'Project Freedom' Operation

[00:00–00:50]

• Update from the Pentagon:
  • Project Freedom, ordered by President Trump, aims to increase the number of ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz while maintaining blockades on Iranian ports.
  • Over 15,000 U.S. military personnel are assisting vessel movements in the region, providing overwatch rather than direct escorts (Trey Youngster reporting from Tel Aviv).
  • U.S. forces have shot down incoming Iranian fire, as Iran expands its attacks with ballistic missiles and drones targeting Gulf countries, including the UAE.
• Escalations:
  • The U.S. military recently destroyed six small Iranian boats following attacks on ships.
  • Iran issues warnings against a deeper U.S. military involvement, cautioning against escalation into a "quagmire."

Quote:
President Trump [00:15]: "Can't let them have a nuclear weapon or you're going to have—you'd have problems like nobody would believe. And it's going very well."

2. Washington Monument Shooting Incident

[00:50–01:20]

• Incident recap:
  • A man opened fire near the Washington Monument after appearing suspicious to Secret Service. He was confronted, fled, and then fired on officers.
  • Both the suspect and a nearby child were shot and remain hospitalized.
• Law enforcement response captured:
  • Officers quickly engaged the shooter after noticing a possible weapon.

Quote:
Host summarizing Secret Service statement [01:04]: "He appeared to have the imprint of a weapon on him...then he started firing on them. They of course, returned fire."

3. Political Primaries and Party Maneuvering in Indiana & Ohio

[01:20–01:57]

• Indiana:
  • President Trump is backing Republicans in seven contested primaries as part of an effort to unseat GOP state senators who have joined Democrats in blocking congressional redistricting.
• Ohio:
  • Republican John Husted (former Lt. Governor) runs unopposed in the Senate primary, appointed to the seat following J.D. Vance’s move to the Vice Presidency.
  • Democratic side: Former Senator Sherrod Brown is running again, significantly out-raising his primary opponent.

Quote:
Jessica Rosenthal [01:41]: "On the Democratic side, former Senator Sherrod Brown is back and has far outraised his Democratic primary challenge."

4. California Wildfire Arson and State Farm Investigation

[02:22–03:37]

• Arson Update:
  • Suspected arsonist Jonathan Renderneck allegedly started the deadly Palisades wildfire out of anger and isolation on New Year's Eve 2025.
• State Farm Sanctions:
  • California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara accuses State Farm of nearly 400 violations related to wildfire claims, including delayed and underpaid settlements.
  • This is the beginning of a formal process for a public hearing to hold State Farm accountable for their response during a crisis.

Quote:
Ricardo Lara [02:54]: "Laura alleges State Farm delayed, underpaid, and buried policyholders in red tape at the worst moment of their lives..."

5. Smith College and Title IX Transgender Policy Investigation

[03:37–04:20]

• Federal investigation:
  • The Education Department is investigating whether Smith College violates Title IX by admitting self-identified transgender women, given the law’s exemptions for private women’s colleges.
  • Civil rights officials argue that the concept of a women’s college is undermined by admitting biological males.
• Smith’s position:
  • The college remains committed to its mission and legal compliance pending investigation.

Quote:
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Kimberly Ritchie [03:42]: "An all women's college loses all meaning if it's admitting biological males."

6. Wall Street and Gas Prices

[04:20–end]

• Economic snapshot:
  • Stock futures are rising as oil prices fall by 2%, but gas prices continue to increase—up another 3 cents at the pump today.

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Notable Quotes

• President Trump [00:15]: "Can't let them have a nuclear weapon or you're going to have—you'd have problems like nobody would believe. And it's going very well."
• Trey Youngster [00:25]: "They are not actively riding alongside the vessels, but they are overwatching them...they have the ability to shoot down the incoming Iranian fire."
• Jessica Rosenthal [01:41]: "...former Senator Sherrod Brown is back and has far outraised his Democratic primary challenge."
• Ricardo Lara [02:54]: "Laura alleges State Farm delayed, underpaid, and buried policyholders in red tape at the worst moment of their lives..."
• Kimberly Ritchie [03:42]: "An all women's college loses all meaning if it's admitting biological males."

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–00:50 – U.S.-Iran tensions and Project Freedom explained
• 00:50–01:20 – Washington Monument shooting details
• 01:20–01:57 – Indiana & Ohio political primaries update
• 02:22–03:37 – California wildfire arson and State Farm investigation
• 03:37–04:20 – Smith College Title IX/transgender policy probe
• 04:20–end – Wall Street and gas price update

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This newscast delivers a fast-moving, issue-packed briefing suitable for staying up-to-date on the most critical national and international developments heading into the day.

Transcript

[President Trump]

FOREIGN

[Dave Anthony]

we're about to get an update from the Pentagon. I'm Dave Anthony, FOX NEWS for more Secretary Pete Hegseth in a few minutes on the operation, President Trump calls Project Freedom to get more ships moving in the Strait of Hormuz while continuing to block Iran's ports.

[President Trump]

Can't let them have a nuclear weapon or you're going to have you'd have problems like nobody would believe. And it's going very well.

[Dave Anthony]

Fox's Trey Youngster reports from Tel Aviv.

[Trey Youngster]

There are more than 15,000 US soldiers, sailors and Marines in this area that are helping to escort these vessels. They are not actively riding alongside the vessels, but they are overwatching them. And so they have the ability to shoot down the incoming Iranian fire. But again, Iran is not only targeting vessels in the Persian Gulf, but they've now turned to start attacking with ballistic missiles and drones these countries in the Gulf, including the United Arab Emirates.

[Dave Anthony]

Iran warns the US not to drag this back into a quagmire after the American military destroyed six small Iranian boats for attacking ships. There are reports a man opened fire near the Washington Monument yesterday, is facing charges today. Fox's Kevin Cork report. Secret Service spotted a him first.

[President Trump]

He appeared to have the imprint of a weapon on him. So when officers approached the guy, he took off and then he started firing on them. They of course, returned fire. The suspect was hit, but then again, so was a child near the scene. Both the child and the gunman remain hospitalized. They are recovering.

[Dave Anthony]

Cole Allen remains jailed today after a judge apologized to the suspect in the White House correspondent's dinner attack for facing restrictive conditions in jail on suicide watch there are going to the polls today in two states. Indiana, President Trump reass backing Republicans there in seven primaries that they're trying to he's trying to unseat GOP state senators to join Democrats blocking a congressional redistricting.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

In Ohio, Republican John Husted is running in his Senate primary unopposed. The former lieutenant governor was appointed to the seat by outgoing Governor Mike DeWine when then Senator J.D. vance moved on to become vice president. On the Democratic side, former Senator Sherrod Brown is back and has far outraised his Democratic primary challenge.

[Dave Anthony]

That's fox's Jessica Rosenthal.

[President Trump]

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[Dave Anthony]

for 20% off our plans. Visit ahs.com listen see ahs.com contracts for coverage details, including limit amounts, fees, limitations and exclusions. We're learning more about the suspected arsonist in California, accused of setting a fire that grew later into the massive and deadly Palisades wildfire in January of last year that burned out thousands of homes in the Los Angeles area. Prosecutors have revealed in court documents Jonathan Render neck was angry at the world and upset he didn't have any New Year's Eve plans. Meanwhile, California is taking action against State Farm.

[Ricardo Lara]

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara revealing the state has filed an accusation and order to show cause against state. State Farm noting out of more than 11,000 claims from state Farm customers related to last year's deadly Palisades and Eaton fires, state investigators reviewed 220, finding nearly 400 violations, including of the Unfair Insurance Claims Practices Act. Laura alleges State Farm delayed underpaid and buried policyholders in red tape at the worst moment of their lives, adding in a statement, that is unacceptable and we are taking decisive action to hold them accountable. He goes on to say the filing is the first step toward a public hearing before an administrative judge. Kristin Goodwin, FOX News.

[Dave Anthony]

A college is caught up in the controversy of a Trump crackdown on transgender policies.

[Chris Foster]

Smith College in Massachusetts has admitted self identified transgender women since 2015. Many women's colleges do. The Education Department is investigating whether Smith is in violation of Title 9, Banning Sex Discrimination in schools that receive federal money. There's an exception for private undergraduate colleges like Smith allowing single sex admissions without violating the law. The Education Department's assistant secretary for civil rights, Kimberly Ritchie, says in a statement, and all women's college loses all meaning if it's admitting biological males. A Smith spokesperson says the school is aware of the investigation and that the college is fully committed to its institutional mission and values, including compliance with civil rights laws. Chris Foster, FOX News.

[Dave Anthony]

On Wall street, stock futures are rising as oil prices dropped 2%. Though with the gas pump another 3 cent increase today. I'm Dave Anth Anthony. This is FOX News.