8AM ET 06/02/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: 8AM ET 06/02/2026 Newscast

Main Theme:
This episode delivers an overview of major political, international, and legal news as of June 2, 2026, with updates on U.S. primary elections, the ongoing Ukraine conflict, U.S.-China military tensions, a notable legal decision on transgender troops, and several domestic news briefs.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Primary Elections: Iowa and California

• Iowa Primaries:

  • Polls have opened – one of six states holding primaries today (00:03).
  • Focus on the Democratic Senate primary: Zach Walls vs. Josh Turek.
    • Both candidates emphasize economic issues.
    • Zach Walls: “What we're fighting for, first and foremost, a livable wage, affordable housing.” (00:15, Dave Anthony reporting)
    • Winner likely faces GOP Congresswoman Ashley Hinson for the seat of retiring Senator Joni Ernst.

• California Primaries:

  • Highly competitive governor’s race with more than 60 candidates – top two advance to general election regardless of party affiliation.
  • Republican hopefuls: Steve Hilton, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
    • Steve Hilton: “I really know that we can win in November, but this top two primary, it's very tricky.” (00:35, via Fox)
  • Key Democrats: Billionaire Tom Steyer, former Congresswoman Katie Porter, former Health Secretary Javier Becerra.
  • (Reported by Kristin Goodwin, 00:44)

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2. Ukraine Conflict and Mideast Diplomacy

• Ukraine:

  • At least 18 dead and 100+ injured after Russian missile/drone strikes hit Kyiv and other cities overnight (01:02).

• Middle East:

  • President Trump floats a possible deal to de-escalate the Iran conflict but faces stiff demands from Iran: Israel must stop attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon.
  • Reports suggest tense U.S.–Israel communications:
    • Axios claims Trump had a heated call with Netanyahu, allegedly saying:
      “Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.”
      And reportedly yelling: “What the f are you doing?” (01:27, unnamed sources)
  • Israeli and Hezbollah forces continue cross-border strikes in southern Lebanon and northern Israel.

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3. Tragedy in Iowa: Family Murder-Suicide

• Seven people, all from one family, killed in a murder-suicide in Muscatine, Iowa.
  • Muscatine Police Chief Anthony Keys: "I simply do not have the words. This act of evil and what it has done to our community." (01:55, Jared Halpern reporting)

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4. Legal Update: Transgender Troops in the Military

• D.C. appeals court upholds ruling against Trump-era ban on transgender service members, stating the order likely violates constitutional rights.
  • Jared Halpern: “The appeals court did narrow the injunction to apply only to service members still in the military, but not new recruits seeking to join.” (02:49)
• War Secretary Pete Hegseth promises to continue the fight:
  • Hegseth, on X: “We'll see you at the Supreme Court.” (02:39)
• The Trump administration is expected to appeal to the Supreme Court.
• Recap: Supreme Court previously allowed the ban to take effect pending litigation.

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5. U.S.-China Military Tensions & Diplomatic Meetings

• Two-day summit in Hawaii between U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and Chinese defense leaders aimed to reduce risky military encounters.
  • Jonathan Savage: “The discussions focused on reducing the risk of unsafe and unprofessional encounters. The Chinese Navy says the talks were candid and constructive.” (03:27)
• This comes after Trump’s recent trip to China and amid broader concerns about China’s military build-up.
  • War Secretary Hegseth: Urges Asian allies to increase defense spending.

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6. Domestic News: Virginia Bus Crash

• Bus driver Jing Shen Dong charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless driving after a chain-reaction crash on I-95 kills five—including two children and a family of four—en route to a wedding.
  • Dong has prior speeding convictions.
  • Tom Rigotti: “Police say...struck a line of vehicles that had slowed down in a work zone...” (04:06)

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7. Financial Markets

• Wall Street stocks are expected to open lower.
  • Dave Anthony: “Stocks could drop. Futures are down ahead of the opening bell.” (04:30)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Steve Hilton (California GOP Gubernatorial Candidate):
  "I really know that we can win in November, but this top two primary, it's very tricky." (00:35)
• Unnamed source on Trump-Netanyahu call:
  • "Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this." (01:27)
  • "What the f are you doing?" (01:27)
• Muscatine Police Chief Anthony Keys:
  "I simply do not have the words. This act of evil and what it has done to our community." (01:55)
• War Secretary Pete Hegseth (on transgender troops):
  "We'll see you at the Supreme Court." (02:39)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Iowa and California Primaries: 00:03–01:02
• Ukraine/Russia Missile Attack & Mideast Diplomacy: 01:02–01:46
• Iowa Murder-Suicide: 01:46–02:00
• Transgender Troops Court Decision: 02:39–03:23
• U.S.–China Defense Talks: 03:23–04:01
• Virginia Bus Crash: 04:01–04:30
• Market Update: 04:30

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For listeners, this episode provides succinct yet substantive updates on major elections, global conflicts, military policy, and important domestic events, enhanced by direct reporting and candid quotes from key figures.

Transcript

[Dave Anthony]

They can vote now in Iowa. I'm Dave Anthony. FOX News Polls just opening in one of six states holding primaries today. I want a Democratic Party that wants

[Jared Halpern]

people to make more money.

[Tom Rigotti]

I want you to be able to

[Jared Halpern]

buy a new truck.

[Dave Anthony]

Zach Walls is facing Josh Turek in a race for Senate. What we're fighting for, first and foremost, a livable wage, affordable housing. The winner likely faces Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson as Democrats trying to win control of Congress hope to take the seat now held by retiring Iowa GOP Senator Joni Ernst. There are also key contests in California, including for governor. Republican Steve Hilton tells fox, I really know that we can win in November, but this top two primary, it's very tricky.

[Kristin Goodwin]

The top two candidates, regardless of party, will advance to the general election. There are more than 60 hopefuls in the governor's race, including Hilton and fellow Republican Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. And Democrats, including billionaire Tom Steyer, former Congresswoman Katie Porter, and former Health and Human Services secretary Secretary Javier Becerra.

[Dave Anthony]

That's Fox's Kristin Goodwin. It's up to at least 18 people dead in Ukraine, more than 100 injured after a Russian missile and drone attack overnight hitting apartment buildings and other civilian targets in Kyiv and other cities. President Trump is suggesting a possible deal to end the Iran conflict this week, but Iran keeps demanding Israel has to stop attacking Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. The president says after talking to both sides that fighting will stop. But Axios reports the Trump call with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was tense.

[Unnamed Source on Trump-Netanyahu Call]

Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this. A second source briefed on the call said was pissed and at one point yelled at Netanyahu. What the f are you doing at this moment, Israeli troops remain in southern Lebanon. And overnight there were a few sirens in northern Israel from Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks, as well as a small number of Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

[Dave Anthony]

Fox's Trey yanks back to Iowa. Seven people and one family dead in a murder suicide. I simply do not have the words. This act of evil and what it

[Jared Halpern]

has done to our community.

[Dave Anthony]

Muscatine Police Chief Anthony Keys. America's listening to FOX News.

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[Dave Anthony]

we'll see you at the Supreme Court. That's War Secretary Pete Hegseth's reaction on X to a court ruling that'll keep transgender troops serving in the military.

[Jared Halpern]

A divided three judge panel on the D.C. appeals Court upheld a lower judge's ruling that President Trump's executive order preventing transgender troops from serving serving in the military likely violates their constitutional rights. The appeals court did narrow the injunction to apply only to service members still in the military, but not new recruits seeking to join. The Trump administration is likely to appeal to the US Supreme Court. Last year, justices allowed the transgender military ban to take effect as litigation plays out. At the White House, Jared Halpern, FOX News.

[Dave Anthony]

Speaking of the military, we're learning more about a meeting last week with Chinese defense officials.

[Jonathan Savage]

The two day summit took place in why? According to the US Indo Pacific Command, the discussions focused on reducing the risk of unsafe and unprofessional encounters. The Chinese Navy says the talks were candid and constructive. This meeting follows President Trump's recent trip to China where he met leader Xi Jinping and comes amid concerns over a lack of communication from the Chinese military. At the weekend, War Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of China's surge in military buildup and urged Asian countries to boost defense spending. Jonathan Savage, FOX News.

[Dave Anthony]

A bus driver is now charged in Virginia with involuntary manslaughter and reckless driving.

[Tom Rigotti]

The chain reaction crash on i95 on Friday killed five people, including two children and a family of four from Massachusetts on their way to a wedding. Over 40 people were injured. Police say Jing Shen Dong of Staten Island, New York, struck a line of vehicles that had slowed down in a work zone. Records that have been released indicate Dong has at least to prior speeding convictions. Tom Rigotti, FOX News.

[Dave Anthony]

On Wall street, stocks could drop. Futures are down ahead of the opening bell. I'm Dave Anthony. This is FOX News.

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