8PM ET 05/21/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 8PM ET 05/21/2026

Date: May 22, 2026
Host: Mike Tobin (FOX News Podcasts)
Episode Theme: Rapid-fire national and global news coverage, featuring breaking developments in sports, politics, crime, and culture.

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers key headlines from the day, including the unexpected death of legendary NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, updates on tense US-Iran nuclear talks from the White House, new polling on US military action attitudes, continued fallout from high-profile fraud cases, and partisan clashes over the establishment of a women’s history museum on the National Mall.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Tragic Death of NASCAR Legend Kyle Busch

[00:03–00:53]

• Main News: Kyle Busch, one of NASCAR's most successful and polarizing drivers, has died at age 41.
• Background:
  • Busch was hospitalized Thursday with a severe illness and withdrew from the upcoming Coca Cola 600 in Charlotte—marking the first time in over ten years he missed a Cup Series race.
  • Known for his competitive drive (nicknamed "Rowdy"), Busch notched a record 234 wins across NASCAR’s three national series, including 63 Cup Series victories.
• Personal Note: Survived by his wife Samantha and two children (an 11-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter).
• Notable Quote:
  • "One of NASCAR's most polarizing personalities, his fierce competitiveness led to the nickname Rowdy." – Jay Berman [00:23]

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2. US–Iran Nuclear Talks and The President’s Statement

[00:53–01:36]

• Update: President Trump refutes claims that Iran’s supreme leader is insisting on retaining enriched uranium as a precondition for a nuclear deal.
• Implications:
  • Retaining enriched uranium would have significantly complicated negotiations and angered Israel.
• White House Stance:
  • "We don't need it. We don't want it.” – Unnamed Official/Reporter [01:23]
  • "We're not going to let them have it." – Unnamed Official/Reporter [01:26]
• Additional Diplomacy: Pakistan’s interior minister is in Tehran to continue separate talks with Iraq’s president.

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3. Public Opinion and Memorial Day Travel

[01:36–01:59]

• Polling Data: Only 40% of voters support US military action against Iran.
• Travel Trends:
  • Despite anticipated record Memorial Day travel, high fuel prices are causing some Americans to curb plans.
  • The US Travel Association predicts a modest 1% growth in annual travel spending.

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4. Florida Execution and Major Medicaid Fraud Sentencing

[03:07–04:15]

• Execution:
  • Richard Knight, convicted of the 2002 murders of Odessa Stevens and her 4-year-old daughter Hesia Mullings, has been executed (Florida’s 7th execution this year).
• Minnesota Medicaid Fraud:
  • The Justice Department charges 15 people in a $90 million fraud scheme targeting programs for homeless and autistic children.
  • Amy Bach, the “kingpin” behind the Feeding Our Future scandal, received 41.5 years in prison and must pay restitution on $243 million.
  • "It was intended to help kids during the pandemic but ended with taxpayers being billed for meals that did not exist." – Reporter [03:53]
  • Emotional moment:
    • "Shackled in court Bach sobbed and said, 'I understand I failed. I failed the public, my family, everyone.'” – Reporter [04:12]

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5. Failure of the Women’s History Museum Bill

[04:15–05:04]

• Key Event: The House vote to establish the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum fails amid partisan disagreements.
• Sponsor’s Turnaround:
  • Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) originally sponsored the bill but urged colleagues to vote no due to GOP amendments.
  • "Republicans threw all of that away by unilaterally making extremist changes to our once bipartisan bill." – Jessica Rosenthal, quoting Chu [04:31]
  • Concerns included expanded presidential control over museum construction.
• GOP Response:
  • Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL) says some Democrats now oppose the museum because it is dedicated to the “history and achievements of biological women.”
  • "It is disappointing that some Democrats are opposing this museum because it is dedicated to the history and achievements of biological women." – Aisha Hosny, quoting Lee [04:48]
• Ongoing Dispute: Each party accuses the other of undermining a bipartisan initiative.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "One of NASCAR's most polarizing personalities, his fierce competitiveness led to the nickname Rowdy." – Jay Berman [00:23]
• "We don't need it. We don't want it." – White House official [01:23]
• "We're not going to let them have it." – White House official [01:26]
• "I understand I failed. I failed the public, my family, everyone." – Amy Bach, at sentencing [04:13]
• "Republicans threw all of that away by unilaterally making extremist changes to our once bipartisan bill." – Rep. Judy Chu, via Jessica Rosenthal [04:33]
• "It is disappointing that some Democrats are opposing this museum because it is dedicated to the history and achievements of biological women." – Rep. Laurel Lee, via Aisha Hosny [04:48]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:03] Breaking: Death of Kyle Busch
• [00:53] Iranian nuclear talks and White House developments
• [01:36] Memorial Day travel trends & polling on US military action
• [03:07] Florida execution and Medicaid fraud case
• [04:15] Women’s History Museum bill debate and outcome

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This concise yet informative newscast captures urgent headlines and underlying political dynamics of the day, marked by direct source quotes and emotional testimony, offering listeners a factual and fast-paced overview of major US stories.

Transcript

[Mike Tobin]

This is a FOX News alert. A top NASCAR driver has died. Legendary NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, a two time Cup Series champion, is dead at the age of 41. Fox's Jay Berman has more.

[Jay Berman]

It was announced earlier Thursday that Bush was hospitalized as a result of severe illness. He pulled out of this weekend's Coca Cola 600 from Charlotte, which was going to be the first time in more than a decade that Bush missed a Cup Series race. One of NASCAR's most polarizing personalities, his fierce competitiveness led to the nickname Rowdy. He won 234 races across the sport's three national series, more than any driver in history, including 63 in the Cup Series. He's survived by his wife Samantha and his two children, an eleven year old son and a four year old daughter. Jay Berman, FOX News.

[Mike Tobin]

President Trump is announcing a new development regarding a potential deal with Iran. Fox's Aisha Hosny is at the White House.

[Aisha Hosny]

The president knocking down reports out there that Iran's supreme leader is demanding that the enriched uranium in that country stay in that country as part of any sort of a nuclear agreement. That would have complicated these talks by a lot. It would have also ticked off Israel, which does not want to see that happen. But the president today pushing back on those reports and saying it is not true.

[Unnamed White House Official / Reporter]

We don't need it. We don't want it.

[Mike Tobin]

We'll probably destroy it after we get

[Unnamed White House Official / Reporter]

it, but we're not going to let them have it.

[Aisha Hosny]

Meantime, Pakistan's interior minister arrived in Tehran again yesterday to continue talks with the president of Iraq.

[Mike Tobin]

A new FOX News poll shows only 40% of voters approve of US military action against Iran, despite what's expected to be a record number of Americans to travel this Memorial Day weekend. Higher fuel prices have some scaling back their travel plans. U.S. travel association expects annual travel travel spending to grow by a modest 1% this year. America's listening. FOX News.

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[Mike Tobin]

A Florida man convicted of fatally stabbing his cousin's girlfriend and the couple's four year old daughter was put to death today. Richard Knight is the seventh person executed by the state this year. He was declared dead at 6:13pm after receiving a three drug injection at Florida State Prison near Stark. Knight sentenced to die for the June 2002 killings of Odessa Stevens and her daughter Hesia Mullings. The Justice Department charges 15 people in Minnesota for stealing $90 million from state Medicaid programs.

[Unnamed White House Official / Reporter]

Officials cited programs intended to secure housing for homeless people and treat children with autism that collapsed as fraudsters piled on. The woman convicted as the kingpin in the massive Feeding Our Future scandal, Amy Bach, was sentenced to 41 and a half years in prison. Bach was also ordered to pay restitution on $243 million the government says was scammed through that Covid era food. It was intended to help kids during the pandemic but ended with taxpayers being billed for meals that did not exist. Shackled in court box sobbed and said, I understand I failed. I failed the public, my family, everyone.

[Mike Tobin]

It's Fox's Mike Tobin reporting. A vote to establish a women's history museum on the National Mall has failed.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

California Democratic Congresswoman Judy Chu said she initially sponsored the bill to create the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum, but urged her colleagues now to vote no.

[Aisha Hosny]

Republicans threw all of that away by

[Jessica Rosenthal]

unilaterally making extremist changes to our once bipartisan bill. She said GOP amendments would give the president too much control over its construction and location. But Florida Republican Congressman Laurel Lee said Democrats also opposed another amendment.

[Aisha Hosny]

It is disappointing that some Democrats are opposing this museum because it is dedicated to the history and achievements of biological women.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

The Republican author of the bill said Democrats are hiding their opposition behind the issue of presidential control. Jessica rosenthal, FOX News I'm Tom Rigotti.

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