8PM ET 06/02/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update | 8PM ET 06/02/2026 Newscast

Host: Lisa Licera (FOX News Podcasts)
Air Date: June 3, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode offers a brisk roundup of the evening’s most pressing political, diplomatic, and economic news, keyed to the ongoing primary elections across several states, updates on US-Iran negotiations, domestic legal challenges around political protest, a notable drop in Baltimore’s homicide rate, and encouraging job market numbers. Key stories include real-time election developments, the latest from the White House on Iran, and a spotlight on local and national trends.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Primary Elections Across the Country

• New Jersey:

  • Polls have just closed; key race to replace Democratic Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman.
  • In the 7th District, Democrats are selecting a nominee to face Republican Tom Kaine Jr., who has been publicly absent due to illness.
  • (Lisa Licera, 00:02)

• California:

  • Polls close in three hours.

  • Democratic frontrunner Javier Becerra has overtaken opponents post-Swalwell campaign collapse.

  • Becerra battles allegations of corporate ties and faces a challenge from billionaire Tom Steyer.

  • Republican, Trump-backed Steve Hilton (former FOX News host) is contending.

  • (Jonathan Hunt, 00:27)

    "Javier Becerra leapfrogged his opponents...fighting off allegations of ties to big oil and corporations, as well as a strong challenge from another Democrat, free spending billionaire Tom Steyer."
    — Jonathan Hunt [00:27]

• Other States Voting:

  • Elections also ongoing in Iowa, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Montana.
  • (Lisa Licera, 00:58)

2. US-Iran Nuclear Talks and Middle East Security

• State of US-Iran Negotiations:

  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio reports Iran is willing to negotiate on formerly off-limits parts of its nuclear program.

  • Progress is slow due to divisions within Iran’s regime.

  • The US emphasizes any deal must include Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

  • (Marco Rubio, 01:08; 01:28)

    "Iran is starting to agree to negotiate aspects of its nuclear program it previously refused to discuss."
    — Marco Rubio [01:08]

    "Talks are complicated by a fractured regime in Iran that takes days to get a response."
    — Marco Rubio [01:28]

    "That is not a guarantee that ultimately it will lead to a deal that's acceptable to the Senate or acceptable to the American people..."
    — Unnamed Political Analyst [01:17]

• Middle East Security:

  • US Central Command intercepted multiple Iranian missiles and drones targeting Middle Eastern countries.
  • (Lisa Licera, 01:40)

3. Domestic Legal Rulings on Protest Against President Trump

• Controversy Around Protest Flag:

  • A progressive group called Accountability Now sought to display a flag reading '8647'.

  • Flag is linked to a social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, resulting in his indictment for threatening the President.

  • Judge Randolph Moss (Obama appointee) ruled the permit should not be revoked, noting historic non-violent usage of '86' as meaning "throw out" or "get rid of."

  • (Jessica Rosenthal, 03:12)

    "Judge Randolph Moss...said the National Park Service should not revoke the group's permit over the flag, noting Merriam Webster defines the phrase 86 to mean throw out, get rid of or refuse service to, mostly in the restaurant industry."
    — Jessica Rosenthal [03:12]

4. Baltimore’s Drop in Violent Crime

• Historic Reduction in Homicides:

  • Baltimore homicides down over 23% through May compared to last year.

  • Non-fatal shootings have declined; carjackings down 45%, burglaries down 16%.

  • Group Violence Reduction Strategy credited with the improvement.

  • Over 850 firearms seized (including 88 ghost guns); 535 gun-related arrests made.

  • (Mayor Brandon Scott, 03:56; Lisa Licera, 03:53)

    "A key part of the decline in crime has been the city's group Violence Reduction Strategy, a partnership between the Police Department, Mayor's office and prosecutors."
    — Lisa Licera (citing City data) [04:35]

5. National Job Market Update

• Labor Department Report:
  • April job openings surged to 7.6 million, up from 6.9 million in March.
  • Numbers exceeded the 6.8 million forecast by economists.
  • This rise comes amidst ongoing uncertainty due to the Iran conflict.
  • (Lisa Licera, 04:35)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On California’s Governor’s Race:

  "They're both hoping they'll advance to the November runoff by beating Republican. And Trump backed former FOX News host Steve Hilton, who says it's time for the blue state to go red."
  — Jonathan Hunt [00:27]

• On Iran Negotiations:

  "Any tentative agreement...would require Iran to reopen the strait of Hormuz."
  — Marco Rubio [01:28]

• Legal Context of Protest Slogan:

  "Any use of [86] to mean violence is more recent."
  — Jessica Rosenthal [03:12]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• NJ & CA Primary Updates: 00:02–00:58
• US-Iran Talks: 01:08–01:40
• Middle East Security Incident: 01:40
• Protest Flag Case Ruling: 03:01–03:53
• Baltimore Crime Stats: 03:53–04:35
• US Job Openings Report: 04:35–04:59

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Episode Tone & Language

The episode maintains a brisk, factual, and occasionally urgent tone, characteristic of Fox News’ hourly updates. Quotations reflect the direct, to-the-point cadence of newscasters and officials, with occasional inserts of legal and political context.

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Transcript

[Lisa Licera]

Primaries tonight in a handful of states. I'm Lisa Licera. FOX News polls just closing in New Jersey, where Democrats are competing to replace retiring Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman. In the 7th District, Democrats are picking their nominee to take on Republican Tom Kaine Jr. Who's been absent for months due to an undisclosed illness. Polls in California close in about three hours, where they're choosing candidates for governor.

[Jonathan Hunt]

Longtime Democratic politician Javier Becerra leapfrogged his opponents recent weeks following the collapse of former Congressman Eric Swalwell's campaign. Becerra is fighting off allegations of ties to big oil and corporations, as well as a strong challenge from another Democrat, free spending billionaire Tom Steyer. They're both hoping they'll advance to the November runoff by beating Republican. And Trump backed former FOX News host Steve Hilton, who says it's time for the blue state to go red.

[Lisa Licera]

Fox's Jonathan Hunt. There are also elections in Iowa, New Mexico, South Dakota and Montana. President Trump's top diplomat says talks with Iran are continuing.

[Marco Rubio]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Iran is starting to agree to negotiate aspects of its nuclear program it previously refused to discuss.

[Unnamed Political Analyst]

That is not a guarantee that ultimately it will lead to a deal that's acceptable to the Senate or acceptable to the American people, but we'll be able to engage them in a process to truly test the proposition of how far they're willing to go.

[Marco Rubio]

Still, Rubio says talks are complicated by a fractured regime in Iran that takes days to get a response. Any tentative agreement the Trump administration says would require Iran to reopen the strait of Hormuz.

[Lisa Licera]

Fox's Jared Halpern the White House this Central Command says U.S. forces intercepted multiple Iranian ballistic missiles and drones targeting several Middle Eastern countries. America is listening to FOX News. Nearly home.

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[Lisa Licera]

says a group that wants to protest President Trump can display a flag containing the same saying the former FBI director featured in a social media post that resulted in his indictment.

[Jessica Rosenthal]

A progressive group called Accountability now wants to display a flag with the numbers 8647 on it, the same numerical formation former FBI Director James Comey featured in a social media post that resulted in his indictment for threatening President Trump. While the Secret Service investigated the group, a volunteer told them they'd never heard of it, meaning anything other than that they think President Trump shouldn't be in office. Judge Randolph Moss, an Obama appointee, said the National Park Service should not revoke the group's permit over the flag, noting Merriam Webster defines the phrase 86 to mean throw out, get rid of or refuse service to, mostly in the restaurant industry, and any use of it to mean violence is more recent. Jessica Rosenthal, FOX Baltimore's mayor is calling

[Lisa Licera]

a drop in violent crime historic Homicides

[Mayor Brandon Scott]

in Baltimore are down more than 23% through May, according to Mayor Brandon Scott. The City has reported 40 homicides and 120 non fatal shootings as of June 1, compared to 52 homicides and 121 non fatal shootings during the same period last year. At the end of May, Baltimore police had seized more than 850 firearms, including 88 ghost guns, and made 535 gun related arrests. Carjackings are down 45% and burglary salaries are down 16% compared to this time in 2025. A key part of the decline in crime has been the city's group Violence Reduction Strategy, a partnership between the Police Department, Mayor's office and prosecutors. Tanya J.

[Lisa Licera]

Powers, Fox News Job openings jumped in April despite economic uncertainty caused by the Iran conflict, the Labor Department reports U.S. employers posted 7.6 million job vacancies in April, up from 6.9 million in March, and much higher than the 6.8 million economists had forecast. I'm Lisa Licera, this is Fox.

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