8PM ET 05/15/2026 Newscast

Summary

---

Fox News Hourly Update – 8PM ET 05/15/2026 Newscast

Date: May 16, 2026
Host: FOX News Podcasts

---

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise, breaking-news-style update on major political, international, and economic events. The top stories include President Trump's high-profile summit with President Xi in Beijing, escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf, legal battles around redistricting in Virginia, and a court ruling blocking Texas’ immigration law. The newscast blends direct news reporting with key quotes from prominent figures, offering listeners clear insight into the current state of U.S. domestic and foreign affairs.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump Returns from Beijing Summit

[00:03–00:37]

• President Trump has returned from a "high stakes meeting" with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

• The two leaders discussed "trade, Taiwan and artificial intelligence."

• Trump, in an interview with Brett Baier, emphasizes his effective working relationship with President Xi.

  Notable Quote:

  "I have a very good relationship with President Xi and with China. And it sounds like something that doesn't mean anything, but it's everything in deal making and problems we've solved. The two of us have solved a lot of problems between that somebody else would have maybe done very badly with."
  — President Trump ([00:19])

• Trump reports mutual agreement with Xi that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon and that the Strait of Hormuz needs to be reopened.

---

2. Strait of Hormuz Crisis and Persian Gulf Tensions

[00:37–01:43]

• The U.S. Navy is continuing its blockade of Iranian ports after the Trump-Xi meeting, in an attempt to pressure Iran.
• Iran’s Kharg island oil facilities are at “85% capacity,” signaling mounting pressure on Tehran’s oil-dependent economy.
• Ashley Webster (Fox Business, reporting from Tel Aviv) notes Iran is “running out of options” except for reducing oil production—something “Tehran does not want to do.”
• Amidst ongoing clashes, a vessel functioning as a "floating armory" in the Gulf of Oman has been seized by Iran. This ship stored weapons for maritime security firms.
• An Indian-flagged ship was sunk off Oman; "the crew survived," but Iran maintains the strait is only closed to "those at war with Iran."

---

3. Supreme Court & Virginia Redistricting

[02:52–03:49]

• The Supreme Court has rejected Virginia Democrats' attempt to restore a congressional map that could have given them four additional House seats.

• The Virginia Supreme Court previously struck down the signature measure, citing that the Democratic legislature started the amendment process “after early voting had begun.”

• The redistricting battle is ongoing as other states prepare for the 2026 midterms; some Democrats call for Supreme Court expansion (“packing the court”).

• Republican Congresswoman Kat Kamek criticizes Democratic approaches:

  Notable Quote:

  "In the eyes of the Democrats, the Constitution, it's a little bit a la carte. They pick and choose what they want to uphold from one day to the next. And when they don't like what they get, then they decide, well, we're just going to throw the whole thing out and we're going to do what we want."
  — Rep. Kat Kamek ([03:35])

• Recap: The Supreme Court has also recently ruled against racially gerrymandering districts.

---

4. Texas Immigration Law Blocked

[04:00–04:40]

• A federal judge issues a preliminary injunction blocking key parts of Texas Senate Bill 4, just before its planned start date.
• The law would have allowed local police to arrest suspected illegal border crossers and created mechanisms for local officials to deport convicts.
• Civil liberties groups, led by the ACLU of Texas, argued that immigration policy is a federal, not state, matter.
• The judge’s statement:

  "It is implausible to imagine each of the 50 United States having their own state immigration policy, superseding the powers inherent in the United States as a nation."

---

5. Financial Update

[04:40–04:49]

• U.S. stocks ended deeply in the red:
  • Dow: -537 points
  • Nasdaq: -410 points
  • S&P 500: -93 points

---

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• President Trump on diplomacy:
  “It sounds like something that doesn't mean anything, but it's everything in deal making...” ([00:19])

• Rep. Kat Kamek on constitutional adherence:
  “The Constitution, it's a little bit a la carte. They pick and choose what they want to uphold...” ([03:35])

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• Trump Discusses Xi Relationship & Iran — [00:19]
• Persian Gulf Update (Ashley Webster) — [01:00]
• Virginia Supreme Court & Congressional Mapping — [02:52]
• Rep. Kamek on Democrats & the Constitution — [03:35]
• Texas Immigration Law Ruling — [04:00]
• Stock Market Wrap-Up — [04:40]

---

Tone and Language

The reporting is brisk, authoritative, and matter-of-fact, relying heavily on direct speech from newsmakers. The episode maintains FOX’s hallmark focus on U.S. political and foreign policy developments, complemented by commentary and critical perspectives from Republican voices.

---

This summary captures the primary news developments, notable reactions, and direct quotes from key figures as aired on FOX News Radio’s May 15, 2026, 8pm ET newscast.

Transcript

[A]

The president is back. I'm Tom Ragati, Fox News. President Trump has returned to the US following his high stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The leaders talk trade, Taiwan and artificial intelligence. Trump comments on his relationship with Xi in an interview with Fox's Brett Baier on Special Report.

[B]

I have a very good relationship with President Xi and with China. And it sounds like something that doesn't mean anything, but it's everything in deal making and problems we've solved. The two of us have solved a lot of problems between that somebody else would have maybe done very badly with.

[A]

Trump also explained that she agrees with that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon and the Strait of Hormuz needs to be reopened. The standstill in the Strait of Hormuz continues after President Trump's return from China. Fox has confirmed iron Iran's Kharg island, responsible for the majority of the country's oil, is at 85% capacity. Fox Business Network's Ashley Webster is in Tel Aviv with more.

[C]

There's no doubt that Iran is running out of options other than cutting production. And that's something that Tehran does not want to do. Oil is their economic lifeblood. At the same time, the U.S. navy continuing its blockade of any shipping coming in or out of Iranian ports. President Trump was asked by reporters, is China committed to putting pressure on on Iran to open up that very vital waterway? Here's his response. In the meantime, the clashes in this waterway continue. Reports say a vessel operating as a floating armory in the Gulf of Oman has been seized by Iran. The ship is used, by the way, to store weapons for security firms who protect ships at sea.

[A]

This comes as an Indian flagged ship was sunk off the coast of Oman. Though the crew survived, Iran's foreign minister claims the strait is open to ships except those at war with Iran. America is listening to Fox News.

[D]

For over two decades, the Tunnel to Towers foundation has been there for our fallen and catastrophically injured first responders, military and Gold Star families born from the tragedy of 9 11. Tunnel to towers provides mortgage free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and builds specific adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. The foundation also offers scholarships for college and trade school programs for the children of Gold Star families, fallen first responders and catastrophically injured veterans. And Tunnels to Tower is committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and helping America Never forget September 11th. To learn more about the foundation's mission, impact and how you can support our Nation's heroes, visit t2t.org

[A]

the Supreme Court has rejected Virginia's bid to restore a congressional map that would have given Democrats a chance to pick up four seats in the closely divided House. The commonwealth's Democrats have petitioned the high court after a 43 ruling by the Virginia Supreme Court that struck down a measure that voters narrowly passed just last month. The state court found that the Democratic controlled legislature improperly began the process of placing the amendment on the ballot after early voting had begun in Virginia's general election last fall. The redistricting fight continues as several states attempt to redistrict ahead of the 2026 midterms. Some Democrats have also called for packing the Supreme Court. Republican Congresswoman Kat Kamek tells Fox Business her colleagues across the aisle aren't following the Constitution.

[E]

In the eyes of the Democrats, the Constitution, it's a little bit a la carte. They pick and choose what they want to uphold from one day to the next. And when they don't like what they get, then they decide, well, we're just going to throw the whole thing out and we're going to do what we want.

[A]

This comes after a Supreme Court ruling that states cannot racially gerrymander districts. A Texas immigration law that's been tied up in court gets blocked by a judge a day before was set to take effect.

[F]

A federal judge granting a preliminary injunction against sections of Texas Senate Bill 4, passed by Texas lawmakers in 2023. The measure would allow police in the state to arrest people suspected of illegally crossing the U.S. mexico border, creating pathways for local officials to remove those who are convicted from the country. Groups including the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas sued, claiming it's unconstitutional for several reasons, including arguing the federal government should oversee immigration law, not state agencies. The judge writing Indeed, it is implausible to imagine each of the 50 United States having their own state immigration policy, superseding the powers inherent in the United States as a nation.

[A]

Kristin Goodwin, FOX News Stocks finishing deep in the red. The dow gave up 537 points. Nasdaq falling 410s and P500 dip 93. I'm Tom McDonald.

[D]

Every business business is asking the same question. How do we make AI work for us? No more waiting with NetSuite by Oracle. You can put AI to work today. NetSuite is the number one AI Cloud ERP, trusted by over 43,000 businesses across almost every industry. It's the unified suite that brings your financials, inventory, commerce, HR and CRM into a single source of truth. That connected data is what makes your AI smarter, helping you make decisions that count. Get our free business guide demystifying [e-mail] fox.