8AM ET 07/28/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update

8AM ET Newscast – July 28, 2026

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Episode Overview

This FOX News Hourly Update, hosted by Dave Anthony, covers major national and international news developments as of the morning of July 28, 2026. Topics include the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham and the significant political gatherings set to honor him, legislative actions concerning Russia sanctions, critical diplomatic meetings involving Ukraine, Iran, and Israel, breaking news from Japan after a major earthquake, a mass shooting investigation in Seattle, updates on the University of Idaho murder case, federal charges against James Comey, and a preview of the Federal Reserve’s upcoming economic assessment.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Honoring Senator Lindsey Graham

[00:03]

• The major story is the death and memorial of Senator Lindsey Graham.
  • This morning, Graham’s flag-draped casket will be brought to Capitol Hill for a final visit.
  • A ceremony in the rotunda will honor his contributions.
  • Senators may vote later in the day on the Russia sanctions bill that Graham championed.

Notable Quote:

“They’ll do that this morning and then this afternoon in Washington honoring Lindsey Graham. In about a half hour, a hearse will bring Graham's flag drape casket here. It's one final visit for Graham to Capitol Hill.”
—Dave Anthony [00:03]

• Fox’s Chad Pergrim highlights the significance of the sanctions bill, which Graham hoped could help end the war in Ukraine.
• NATO’s new Secretary General Mark Rutte, interviewed by Fox, expresses optimism about Ukraine’s recent performance:

“Ukraine is exceeding our expectations.”
—Mark Rutte, via Chad Pergrim [00:30]

2. Diplomatic Moves on Ukraine, Russia & Iran

[00:38–01:21]

• Ukraine’s President Zelensky will meet with U.S. senators after attending Graham’s funeral, then meet President Trump and later Israeli PM Netanyahu.
• Diplomatic focus on Russia sanctions and the war’s end:
  • NATO’s Rutte:

  “What we now need to do is what he [Graham] and I agreed upon—[for] Putin to end the bloodbath and to come to the negotiating table. It is really crucial.”
  —Mark Rutte [00:38]

• Israeli PM Netanyahu and President Trump to discuss the ongoing war with Iran:
  • After a 13-day U.S. bombing campaign, Iran has reportedly requested talks.
  • Trump signals readiness for “strong military action” if discussions with Iran collapse.

“President Trump spoke from Air Force One on Monday indicating the Iranians requested to meet following the 13 day US bombing campaign... Trump says he is ready for strong military action if talks fail.”
—Trey Yingst [01:04]

3. Global Events: Japan Earthquake

[01:21–01:55]

• A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s Kumamoto region.
• Prime Minister San Takei reports injuries, infrastructure damage, power outages, and ongoing rescue efforts.
  • “People’s lives are the top priority… strong aftershocks pose an additional risk.” —San Takei [01:36]
  • Multiple people trapped in a shopping mall; 40,000 without power.

4. Seattle Food Festival Shooting

[02:16–03:02]

• Ongoing investigation after Sunday’s shooting at the “Bite of Seattle” festival:
  • Four people shot (including a two-year-old boy, since released from hospital); three fatalities (including one shooter).
  • Two groups exchanged fire; police have arrested a 15-year-old shooter; a third suspect is at large.
  • Victims included Carlos Villaba, a married father of three, and Ashley Whitehead.

“There were two groups firing in the area near the armory during the Bite of Seattle. We believe two of the individuals were associates with each other. This is the 19 year old who passed away and the 15 year old…”
—Assistant Police Chief Nicole Powell [02:33]

5. Legal and Judicial Updates

University of Idaho Murders
[03:02–03:20]

• Brian Kohberger, convicted for murdering four students, seeks to retract his guilty plea, citing “bad counsel” and a false confession.

James Comey Federal Charges
[03:20–04:02]

• Former FBI Director James Comey faces two federal counts related to online threats against the President.
  • Indictment follows an Instagram post showing shells spelling “86, 47, 86”—interpreted as a coded threat.
  • Comey’s defense argues his actions are protected political speech; DOJ has until August 18 to respond; trial set for October.

“James Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury in April on two counts including knowingly and willfully making a threat to harm or take the life of the president and transmitting an interstate threat...”
—Jeff Manaso [03:25]

6. Economy & Markets

[04:02–end]

• The Federal Reserve will review current economic conditions, but no change in interest rates is expected.
• Oil prices down by about 1%; gas prices drop by one cent.
• Stock futures are mixed: Dow up, Nasdaq down.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Ukraine is exceeding our expectations.”
  —Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General [00:30]
• “What we now need to do is… for Putin to end the bloodbath and to come to the negotiating table. It is really crucial.”
  —Mark Rutte [00:38]
• “Trump says he is ready for strong military action if talks fail.”
  —Trey Yingst [01:04]
• “People’s lives are the top priority, warning residents that strong aftershocks pose an additional risk.”
  —Prime Minister San Takei [01:36]
• “There were two groups firing… We believe two of the individuals were associates with each other.”
  —Assistant Police Chief Nicole Powell [02:33]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:03] Lindsey Graham remembrance & proceedings
• [00:30] Ukraine/Russia sanctions & NATO’s perspective
• [01:04] Iran conflict, Netanyahu/Trump/Netanyahu meetings
• [01:21] Japan earthquake and aftermath
• [02:16] Seattle shooting investigation
• [03:02] Idaho murder case: Kohberger’s new legal filing
• [03:20] James Comey federal indictment update
• [04:02] Markets & Federal Reserve outlook

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Overall Tone and Style

The newscast is fast-paced, tightly packed, and somber in places—particularly regarding Senator Graham and the Seattle tragedy. Brief analyst quotes and concise field reports keep the update direct and on-message, with a focus on both breaking and consequential events for the U.S. and world.

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Transcript

[Dave Anthony]

Saying goodbye to a late senator. I'm Dave Anthony. FOX News. They'll do that this morning and then this afternoon in Washington honoring Lindsey Graham. In about a half hour, a hearse will bring Graham's flag drape casket here. It's one final visit for Graham to Capitol Hill. They will honor him with a ceremony in the rotunda. That's Fox's Chad Pergrim of the Capitol where senators may vote later today on a Russia sanctions bill Graham had been pushing. The Republican hoped it could end the war in Ukraine and Graham discussed it with NATO's leader before he died. Mark Rutte just told FOX Ukraine is exceeding our expectations.

[Jeff Manasso]

And what we now need to do is what he and I agreed upon is for Putin to end the bloodbath and to come to the negotiating table. It is really crucial.

[Dave Anthony]

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky will also meet with senators tonight after he attends Graham's funeral this afternoon at Washington's National Cathedral. Next hour, Zelensky will meet with President Trump. And then after that, another leader who will attend Graham's funeral goes to the White House for talks with the president, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

[Trey Youngst]

The pair are slated to discuss the war with Iran and the next steps in this conflict. President Trump spoke from Air Force One on Monday indicating the Iranians requested to meet following the 13 day US bombing campaign. Axios reports that President Trump says he is ready for strong military action if talks fail.

[Dave Anthony]

That's Fox's Trey Youngst in Tel Aviv as the pause in U.S. attacks on Iran continues. Oil prices, they're down about 1% this morning. The price of the gas pumps, down a penny. Japan got rocked with an earthquake and the USGS says it was a magnitude 6.8 in the Kumamot region.

[Todd Pyro]

Prime Minister San Takei says there are early reports of injuries, plus damage to roads, bridges and buildings. She says people's lives are the top priority, warning residents that strong aftershocks pose an additional risk. We're hearing multiple people are trapped inside a shopping mall and 40,000 people have lost power.

[Dave Anthony]

That's Fox's Jonathan Savage. America's listening to FOX News.

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[Dave Anthony]

The search continues for a gunman in Seattle after Sunday night shooting panicked people at a food festival.

[Chris Foster]

A two year old boy shot in the arm is the last of four shooting victims discharged from hospitals the day after being shot at the Bite of Seattle food festival. Three people died, including one of the three shooters. Assistant Police Chief Nicole Powell says there

[Nicole Powell]

were two groups firing in the area near the armory during the Bite of Seattle. We believe two of the individuals were associates with each other. This is the 19 year old who passed away and the 15 year old

[Chris Foster]

who was arrested with the third shooter in the other group getting away. The other two people killed were Carlos Villaba, a married father of three at the festival with friends and Ashley Whitehead there with one of her two adult daughters. Chris Foster, FOX News.

[Dave Anthony]

The man in prison for life for murdering four University of Idaho students. Brian Kohberger is making a new attempt to get out, wanting to take back his guilty pleas.

[Todd Pyro]

This is a way to challenge a conviction outside the appeals process. He plans to argue that he had bad counsel that convinced him to falsely confess.

[Dave Anthony]

That's fox's Todd Pyro. Former FBI Director James Comey trying to get the case against him thrown out.

[Jeff Manasso]

James Comey was indicted by a federal grand jury in April on two counts including knowingly and willfully making a threat to harm or take the life of the president and transmitting an interstate threat stemming from his Instagram post featuring a photo of seashells on a beach spelling out 86, 47, 86, a term for kill 47. The president, his defense team arguing to a federal judge that the case against him should be thrown out, saying the photo is protected political speech. The justice department has until August 18th to respond. The case is set for trial in October. Jeff Manasso, FOX News.

[Dave Anthony]

The Federal Reserve will assess the economy at a meeting today and tomorrow. No interest rate change is expected on Wall Street. Stock futures are mixed up for the Dow down for the Nasda. I'm Dave Anthony. This is FOX News.