8AM ET 06/20/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update — 8AM ET 06/20/2026

Host: FOX News Podcasts
Date: June 20, 2026

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Episode Overview

This newscast delivers a rapid roundup of major global and U.S. news headlines. Highlights include diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, updates on military activities involving Israel and Lebanon, new developments surrounding Dr. Anthony Fauci and the COVID-19 origins debate, a major train collision in the UK, and sports news concerning Team USA’s World Cup progress. The tone remains fast-paced and focused on breaking developments.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Middle East Diplomacy & Military Escalations

(00:02 – 01:02)

• Peace Talks:

  • U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s foreign minister are “heading to Switzerland to advance more potential peace talks,” showing ongoing U.S. diplomatic engagement in the Middle East. (A, 00:02)
  • Alex Hogan reports from Tel Aviv on intensified fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

• Attacks and Casualties:

  • Israeli Defense Force (IDF) “hit dozens of Hezbollah targets after attacks from the Iranian backed group killed four Israeli soldiers earlier.” (B, 00:21)
  • At least 47 people reported killed in Lebanon following new Israeli airstrikes.
  • Despite an announced ceasefire, Israel maintains it “will respond if it is attacked.”

• U.S. Political Involvement:

  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a phone conversation with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, highlighting the U.S. diplomatic push for de-escalation.
  • President Trump, in an Axios interview, advocates for Israeli restraint (B, 00:21):

    “If it weren’t for Donald Trump, Israel would have been eviscerated.” (A quoting President Trump, 00:46)

• Strait of Hormuz Trade:

  • Traffic through the Strait is at its highest since June 2, signaling some stabilization in a vital shipping corridor.

    “Kepler, which is monitoring the strait, showing recovery, saying this was the most traffic in the critical waterway since June 2.” (B, 00:52)

• Air Force One Update:

  • President Trump introduces a new Air Force One fitted with SpaceX Starlink high-speed internet, underscoring U.S. tech advancements and a diplomatic gift from Qatar.
  • “This plane gifted to the president last year by Qatari officials in a push to strengthen relations between the two nations.” (A, 01:02)

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2. COVID-19 Cover-up Allegations and Dr. Fauci

(02:20 – 03:19)

• Release of Documents:

  • Outgoing DNI Tulsi Gabbard releases documents implicating Dr. Anthony Fauci for allegedly misleading the public regarding U.S. funding for the Wuhan lab and the origins of COVID-19.

    “Tulsi Gabbard releasing documents that point toward Dr. Anthony Fauci being misleading… with his vaccine research and the COVID 19 originating in the Wuhan lab…” (A, 02:20)

• Cover-Up Claims:

  • Gabbard asserts, “These documents further prove that and show what she calls a massive COVID 19 cover up. Listen.” (D, 02:41)
  • Gabbard accuses Fauci of “publicly pushing lies, disinformation and censorship using every platform available.” (B, 02:48)
  • She claims U.S. funds were used for “dangerous gain of function research at the Wuhan lab.” (D, 02:59)

• Dr. Fauci’s Response:

  • “Dr. Fauci continues to deny any wrongdoing.” (A, 03:19)

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3. International News: UK Train Collision

(03:19 – 03:49)

• Incident Summary:

  • Two trains collided north of London near Bedford, with reports of a driver killed and dozens more seriously injured.
  • “One passenger talked about being thrown forward by the impact, then seeing fellow travelers with broken bones and bloody injuries.”

• Details:

  • Both trains were headed to London’s St. Pancras station and collided around 5:15 PM local time.

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4. Sports Update: FIFA World Cup

(03:49 – 04:20)

• Team USA Eliminated:

  • Team USA is “out of the next round... after downing Australia in Seattle two nil.”
  • Match highlights:
    • First goal: an own goal by an Australian defender at the 11th minute.
    • Second goal: scored at the end of the first half after a referee review confirmed it was onside.

    “Alex Freeman... after further review, the goal scorer was not in an offside position…” (A, 03:49)

• Looking Ahead:

  • USA’s next match: Thursday against Turkey.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump’s Assertion of Influence:

  “If it weren’t for Donald Trump, Israel would have been eviscerated.”
  — (A, 00:46)

• Gabbard’s Accusation of Cover-Up:

  “Dr. Fauci became the nation’s pandemic pundit and he publicly pushed lies, disinformation and censorship using every platform available.”
  — (B, 02:48)

• Human Story from Train Collision:

  “One passenger talked about being thrown forward by the impact, then seeing fellow travelers with broken bones and bloody injuries.”
  — (A, 03:19)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Middle East Talks & Violence: 00:02 – 01:02
• Strait of Hormuz & Air Force One: 00:52 – 01:20
• COVID-19 Documents Release & Criticism: 02:20 – 03:19
• UK Train Crash Report: 03:19 – 03:49
• FIFA World Cup Recap: 03:49 – 04:20

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This newscast encapsulates rapid global developments, political controversy, and major events, condensing the news of the morning into a succinct, high-impact broadcast.

Transcript

[A]

More talks, hopefully. I'm Paul Stevens, Fox news. Axios reporting. U.S. special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Iran's foreign minister heading to Switzerland to advance more potential peace talks. Fox's Alex Hogan in Tel Aviv discussing the attacks involving Lebanon and the Israeli Defense Force.

[B]

The IEF hit dozens of Hezbollah targets after attacks from the Iranian backed group killed four Israeli soldiers earlier. And Lebanon says that at least 47 people were killed in new Israeli airstrike. While Israel says a ceasefire is in effect, it says it will respond if it is attacked. The State Department says U.S. secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the phone. And President Trump in an interview with Axios called for Israeli restraint.

[A]

If it weren't for Donald Trump, Israel would have been eviscerated.

[B]

Meantime, new progress in the Strait of Hormuz. Kepler, which is monitoring the strait showing recovery, saying this was the most traffic in the critical waterway since June 2.

[A]

And President Trump claiming the memorandum of understanding is already producing results. The president at Joint Base Andrews unveiling a new Air Force One alongside members of the Air Force, talked about the previous two identical planes that had been used interchangeably for presidential travel authorized by former President Ronald Reagan. And they've been used by every president since George H.W. bush. Over its lifetime, that aircraft traveled to 96 countries on 223 international trips and flew over 6 million miles. And the president also saying the Boeing 727 is equipped with Starlink, a satellite high speed Internet service developed by SpaceX. This plane gifted to the president last year by Qatari officials in a push to strengthen relations between the two nations. America is listening to FOX News.

[C]

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[A]

Fox News outgoing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard releasing documents that point toward Dr. Anthony Fauci being misleading, some say with his vaccine research and the COVID 19 originating in the Wuhan lab in China being funded by US Tax dollars.

[D]

Tulsi Gabbard is saying these documents further prove that and show what she calls a massive COVID 19 cover up. Listen.

[B]

Dr. Fauci became the nation's pandemic pundit and he publicly pushed lies, disinformation and censorship using every platform available, she argued

[D]

the records show intelligence officials were discussing a possible lab leak much earlier than many Americans realized and that some analysts who supported that theory later faced career consequences. Gabbard claims Dr. Fauci, quote, provided millions of dollars in U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund dangerous gain of function research at the Wuhan lab.

[A]

And that's Fox's Brook Taylor. Dr. Fauci continues to deny any wrongdoing. Two trains colliding north of London on Friday, killing a driver and seriously injuring dozens more on board. One Passeng talked about being thrown forward by the impact, then seeing fellow travelers with broken bones and bloody injuries. Both trains traveling south to London's Saint Pancras station when they collided outside the town of Bedford around 5:15pm local time. Team USA out of the next round of the FIFA World cup after downing Australia in Seattle to nil. The first goal, an own goal from an Australian defender in the 11th minute. The second goal coming at the end of the first half after a review from the referees in and if Alex Freeman would on after fetcher review the goal scar was not in offside position and that sound Courtesy Fox Sports USA's Next Game Thursday against Turkey. I'm Paul Stevens. This is FOX News.

[E]

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[B]

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