8AM ET 05/23/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 8AM ET Newscast – May 23, 2026

Overview This Fox News Radio hourly update delivers a concise review of the latest pressing stories in U.S. politics, foreign affairs, and world news. Main topics include tensions and diplomatic maneuvers surrounding the war in Iran, President Trump's speech and military decisions, significant government leadership changes, economic updates from the Federal Reserve, and a tragic mining disaster in China.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Strained International Relations & The Iran Conflict

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Diplomacy:

  • Rubio meets with foreign ministers in Malmo, Sweden, at a pivotal moment for the Western alliance due to the escalating war in Iran.
  • Strait of Hormuz Closure:
    • “The alliance we all know facing intense strain over the war in Iran. One thing, though everybody here seemed to really agree on is the need to get the Strait of Hormuz back open again.”
      – Gillian Turner [00:13]
  • Role of Pakistan:
    • Pakistani officials are mediating in U.S.-Iran communications.
    • Rubio credits Pakistan as "the go between in US Iran talks since they started." [00:28]
  • Troop Movements:
    • President Trump redeploys 5,000 U.S. troops to Poland (after pulling the same number from Germany), signaling shifting defense strategies in response to changing threats.

• Unresolved Points in Iran Talks:

  • Iran’s foreign minister stresses major differences remain unresolved. [00:46]

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2. President Trump’s Speech & Political Maneuvers

• Campaign Stop in Rockland County, NY:

  • President Trump highlights his economic and foreign policy achievements to supporters.
  • Introduction by New York Giants quarterback Jackson Dart.
  • “President Donald Trump sold his economic policies in Rockland County, New York, but the Iran war is still top of mind.”
    – Nate Foy [01:00]

• On Iran:

  • “Sorry to do this to you, but we're going to have to journey down to the Middle East. They said, why? I said, because Iran is going to have a nuclear weapon if we don't stop him.”
    – Rep. Mike Lawler channeling discussion with Trump [01:10]

• On Ending the War & Economic Promises:

  • Trump claims the war in Iran will “be over soon,” and teases improvement in prices.
  • Promotes state and local tax (SALT) deduction relief as a major accomplishment.

• Congressional Election Dynamics:

  • Mike Lawler: “I want to thank President Trump for delivering on his promise to lift the cap on salt and deliver the largest tax cut in American history.” [01:31]
  • Mentioned as one of three GOP representatives who won in New York during a predominantly Democratic year. [01:44]

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3. National Intelligence Leadership Change

• Resignation of Director of National Intelligence:
  • Tulsi Gabbard will step down next month to care for her husband, who has a rare bone cancer. [02:43]
  • Notable Legacy:
    • Declassified millions of pages on the JFK and RFK assassinations.
    • Released materials related to politicization of intelligence on Russian election interference by former Obama officials.
    • “Tulsi Gabbard says her last day is expected to be June 30.”
      – Jared Halpern [02:43]
  • Gabbard’s background: former Congresswoman, 2020 Democratic presidential candidate.

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4. Federal Reserve’s New Leadership Amidst Inflation Concerns

• Kevin Warsh Sworn In as Fed Chair:
  • Ceremony held at the White House, sworn in by Justice Clarence Thomas—first such event since 1987. [04:09]
  • Notable attendees: Scott Bessant and former contender Kevin Hassett.
  • Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller’s caution: “It would be, quote, crazy for the Fed to contemplate cuts in the near future,” due to inflation risks. [03:47]
  • Warsh is expected to advocate for a smaller Fed “footprint.”
  • Inflation concerns heightened by Iran conflict.

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5. International Disaster: Chinese Coal Mine Explosion

• Tragedy in Northern China:
  • Gas explosion at a coal mine kills at least 90, with over 240 workers present at the time; many still trapped. [04:09]
  • Investigation is ongoing and expected to continue for some time.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The need to get the Strait of Hormuz back open again.”
  – Gillian Turner on the universal concern among foreign leaders [00:13]

• “Pakistan...has been the go between in US Iran talks since they started.”
  – Gillian Turner highlighting diplomatic intermediaries [00:29]

• “We're going to have to journey down to the Middle East...Iran is going to have a nuclear weapon if we don't stop him.”
  – Mike Lawler (relaying Trump’s stance) [01:10]

• “I want to thank President Trump for delivering on his promise to lift the cap on salt and deliver the largest tax cut in American history.”
  – Mike Lawler [01:31]

• “It would be, quote, crazy for the Fed to contemplate cuts in the near future.”
  – Christopher Waller, Federal Reserve Governor [03:47]

• “Tulsi Gabbard says her last day is expected to be June 30.”
  – Jared Halpern [02:43]

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Timeline of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:02 | Update on Iran war, Secretary Rubio’s diplomatic efforts | | 00:46 | Iran foreign minister: unresolved major differences | | 01:00 | President Trump’s Rockland County rally | | 01:19 | Trump & Lawler: Iran policies and SALT cap | | 02:41 | DNI Tulsi Gabbard resignation announcement | | 03:23 | Swearing in of Fed Chair Kevin Warsh | | 04:09 | Chinese coal mine explosion tragedy |

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Summary Prepared by Fox News Podcast Summarizer
For listeners who missed this episode, the above breakdown captures all major news and notable moments, providing a clear snapshot of events shaping the day.

Transcript

[Daria Albinger]

Progress report on Iran. I'm Daria Albinger, Fox News. The war is top of mind as Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with foreign ministers. Fox's Gillian Turner's in Malmo, Sweden.

[Gillian Turner]

This comes at an incredibly sensitive moment. The alliance we all know facing intense strain over the war in Iran. One thing, though everybody here seemed to really agree on is the need to get the Strait of Hormuz back open again. As Rubio met with NATO, Pakistani leadership arrived in Tehran. Rubio crediting the Pakistanis with being the go between in US Iran talks since they started. Another big topic on the agenda, President Trump's decision to forward deploy 5,000 U.S. troops to Poland. This after pulling that same number back from Germany just a short time ago.

[Daria Albinger]

Iran's foreign minister says there are still major differences between the two sides which remain unresolved. President Trump touted his economic and foreign policies as he spoke to supporters in Rockland County, New York, yesterday. Fox's Nate Foy was there after an

[Nate Foy]

introduction from New York Giants quarterback Jackson Dart. President Donald Trump sold his economic policies in Rockland County, New York, but the Iran war is still top of mind.

[Mike Lawler]

I said, sorry to do this to you, but we're going to have to journey down to the Middle East. They said, why? I said, because Iran is going to have a nuclear weapon if we don't stop him.

[Nate Foy]

As Trump weighs resuming military action, he once again said the war will be over soon and promised better prices are coming. Trump and New York Congressman Mike Lawler praised the state and local tax deductions.

[Mike Lawler]

I want to thank President Trump for delivering on his promise to lift the cap on salt and deliver the largest tax cut in American history.

[Nate Foy]

Lawlor's running for re election in an extremely competitive district.

[Daria Albinger]

Lawlor, by the way, is just one of three Republicans who won in New York in 2024 while the rest of the state voted blue. America's listening to Fox News.

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[Daria Albinger]

the nation's top intelligence official will

[Fox News Announcer]

step down next month.

[Jared Halpern]

The director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is resigning, she says, to be with her husband, who was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. Tulsa Gabbard says her last day is expected to be June 30. Her tenure as DNI has been marked by declassifying millions of pages of government files on the assassinations of President Kennedy and his brother, former Attorney General Robert Kennedy. She also released files she says shows Obama administration officials politicized intelligence about Russian election interference. A former member of Congress, Gabbard ran for president as a Democrat in 2020. At the White House, Jared Halpern, FOX News.

[Daria Albinger]

Kevin Warsh has been sworn in the 17th chair of the Federal Reserve. More from FOX Business.

[Connor Hansen]

Connor Hansen, it was a who's who in that ceremony Wash sworn in by Justice Clarence Thomas. Scott Bessant and Kevin Hassett were both in the room. Hassett, of course, was a frontrunner for the job at one point. Another finalist for the spot, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller, made comments shortly before that ceremony saying it would be, quote, crazy for the Fed to contemplate cuts in the near future. Central Bakers say some policy firming might be appropriate if inflation persistently stays above that 2% target rate. Warsh begins his first term as the conflict in Iran puts upward pressure on prices. In the past, Warsh has argued for reshaping the Fed and shrinking its footprint,

[Daria Albinger]

first time that a federal chair has been sworn in at the White House since 1987. A gas explosion at a coal mine in a northern Chinese province has killed at least 90 people. China's news agency says more than 240 workers were on duty at the time of the blast, and many of them are still trapped. The cause of the explosion is under investigation, and it will remain so, they say, for a while. I'm Darielle Olminger.

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[Jared Halpern]

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