8PM ET 06/24/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 8PM ET 06/24/2026

Host: Lisa Lucera (FOX News)
Date: June 25, 2026
Theme: Leading political, military, and legal news updates from the US and abroad.

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Episode Overview

This hour’s update covers significant developments involving US foreign policy with NATO, new tensions among Republican lawmakers over the Iran conflict, presidential and legislative maneuvering on major bills, key updates in the US legal system, military leadership changes, and sports headlines with Olympic funding news. The tone is fast-paced and direct, with on-the-ground quotes from key leaders.

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NATO’s Role in the Iran Conflict and President Trump’s Demands

[00:02] – [01:11]

• NATO Involvement:

  • NATO Secretary General Mark Ruta revealed the scope of US involvement during the Iran conflict:
    • “Four to five thousand American planes took off from European airports during the course of the conflict.” (Mark Ruta)
  • Ruta acknowledged criticism:
    • “I do agree there's reasons for disappointment, absolutely. But my argument is this, these are isolated cases.” (Mark Ruta)

• President Trump’s Stance:

  • Trump criticized NATO allies for not paying their “fair share,” but emphasized:
    • “He doesn’t need their money, but wants their loyalty.” (Host summarizing Trump)

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Tensions Among Senate Republicans Over Iran War Powers

[00:35] – [01:11]

• Capitol Hill Outburst:

  • A closed luncheon between President Trump and Senate Republicans became combative.
  • Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy confronted Trump about the Iran War Powers resolution:
    • “He did not particularly care for my comments, raised his voice. I lost my temper.” ([00:48], Bill Cassidy)
    • “If someone tries to bully me to say, wait a second, because I am whatever I am, I'm going to bully you, I ain't going to put up with that.” ([00:59], Bill Cassidy)

• Political Fallout:

  • Cassidy, who lost his primary to a Trump-endorsed challenger, remained defiant:
    • “Cassidy says he was sticking up for Americans who have questions about the Iran war.” (Reporter [00:54])

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Legislative Maneuvering: Affordable Housing and the ‘Save America Act’

[01:11] – [01:38]

• Affordable Housing Bill Canceled:
  • President Trump canceled the bill’s signing to pressure the Senate GOP on the 'Save America Act'.
• Presidential Rationale:
  • Trump downplayed housing concerns in favor of homeowners:
    • “Lower the interest rates. You can have all the housing you want... I don't want to hurt people that own houses, too. These people, for the first time in their lives, they have valuable houses. They become rich. I don't want to hurt them either.” ([01:23], President Trump)
• Senate Opposition:
  • Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer declared the 'Save America Act' requiring citizenship proof for voting would not pass.

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Major Earthquake in Venezuela

[01:38] – [02:00]

• A second 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Venezuela.
• No extended discussion, but headlined as major breaking news.

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Legal News: Death Row Exonerees Sue Alameda County

[02:31] – [03:03]

• Lawsuits Filed:
  • Two men, Ernest Dykes and Curtis Ervin—freed last year due to prosecutorial misconduct—sued Alameda County.
  • The lawsuits allege:
    • Prosecutors manipulated juries to reinforce the DA’s “tough on crime” image.
    • Leadership failed to properly train and supervise murder case prosecutors between the 1980s–2000s.

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US Military Leadership Turmoil

[03:03] – [03:40]

• Retirement Announcement:

  • Gen. Christopher Donahue (Commander, US Army Europe & Africa) announced retirement effective July 2.
  • This follows a wave of leadership changes, attributed to conflicts with War Secretary Pete Hegseth over Afghanistan, promotions, and US presence in Europe.

• Donahue’s Legacy:

  • Last soldier to leave Afghanistan in 2021
  • Led anti-terror operations in Iraq/Syria
  • Delivered US military support to Ukraine post-2022 invasion

• Transition:

  • Donahue’s deputy, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, to become acting commander.
    • “The latest of nearly two dozen top commanders who left or been pushed out under War Secretary Pete Hegseth.” (Chris Foster [03:03])

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NCAA Lawsuit and Olympic Financial Support

[03:40] – [04:25]

• College Basketball Lawsuit:

  • 15 players in Ohio are suing the NCAA’s new age-based model, arguing it unfairly bars them from a fifth year of competition.

• Olympic Athlete Grants:

  • International Olympic Committee committed $100 million for nearly 3,000 athletes at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
    • Each athlete eligible for a $10,000 grant by application post-competition.
    • “Great news for nearly 3,000 athletes who competed in the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics... the IOC committed more than $100 million to this fund.” (Reporter [03:58])

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Notable Quotes

• "He did not particularly care for my comments, raised his voice. I lost my temper."
  — Sen. Bill Cassidy ([00:48])
• "If someone tries to bully me... I ain't going to put up with that."
  — Sen. Bill Cassidy ([00:59])
• "Lower the interest rates. You can have all the housing you want... I don't want to hurt people that own houses, too."
  — President Donald Trump ([01:23])
• "The latest of nearly two dozen top commanders who left or been pushed out under War Secretary Pete Hegseth."
  — Chris Foster ([03:03])

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Key Timestamps for Major Segments

• NATO/Iran commentary: 00:02 – 01:11
• GOP infighting (Cassidy/Trump): 00:35 – 01:11
• Legislation (Housing, Save America Act): 01:11 – 01:38
• Venezuela earthquake: 01:38 – 02:00
• Death Row lawsuits: 02:31 – 03:03
• Military leadership: 03:03 – 03:40
• NCAA lawsuit/Olympic funding: 03:40 – 04:25

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For full legal, military, and legislative updates with frontline reactions, this episode provides a brisk yet detailed look at late June’s key headlines.

Transcript

[Lisa Lucera]

The alliance helps during the Iran conflict. I'm Lisa Lucera, Fox News. NATO Secretary General Mark Ruta says four to five thousand American planes took off from European airports during the course of the conflict. But he admitted, I do agree there's reasons for disappointment, absolutely. But my argument is this, these are isolated cases. President Trump has criticized NATO leaders for not paying what he says is their fair share into the alliance. Today, he said he doesn't need their money, but wants their loyalty. A closed door at lunch with President Trump and Senate Republicans grew heated.

[Narrator/Reporter]

A shouting match broke out between President Trump and Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy on Capitol Hill. Cassidy says the argument erupted after the president asked about Republicans voting in favor of an Iran War Powers resolution.

[Senator Bill Cassidy]

He did not particularly care for my comments, raised his voice. I lost my temper.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Cassidy says he was sticking up for Americans who have questions about the Iran war.

[Senator Bill Cassidy]

And if someone tries to bully me to say, wait a second, because I am whatever I am, I'm going to bully you, I ain't going to put up with that.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Cassidy lost the primary election last month to a Republican challenger endorsed by President

[Lisa Lucera]

Trump, Fox's Jared Halpern of the White House. Earlier today, the president canceled a planned signing of the affordable housing bill to pressure Senate Republicans to pass the Save America Act. The president downplayed the importance of that measure.

[President Donald Trump]

Lower the interest rates. You can have all the housing you want. But you have to understand, I don't want to have, I don't want to hurt people that own houses, too. These people, for the first time in their lives, they have valuable houses. They become rich. I don't want to hurt them either.

[Lisa Lucera]

But Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer says the Save America act, which requires proof of citizenship and identification to vote, will not pass in the Senate. A second powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 has struck Venezuela. America is listening to FOX News.

[Jimmy Failah]

Hey, hey, hey. Jimmy Failah here with a quick listening tip for you, Ms. Fox Across America or any of your other Fox News favorites. Do not worry, I got you covered. You could stream previously aired shows with rewind available exclusively on the free Audysee app. So if you're busy work days, it doesn't mean you have to miss out on the news. Listen to your Fox shows on your time with Audysee. To get started, just download the free Audysee app and search for Fox News Radio. That's Audysee A U, D A C Y. I'm spelling it out in case you're a little slow like me.

[Lisa Lucera]

Two men who were freed from California's death row last year over prosecutorial misconduct have now filed suit against Alameda county, claiming prosecutors sought to rig juries to boost the district attorney's tough on crime. Image Ernest Dykes filed suit today after a judge vacated his conviction. Curtis Ervin filed suit last month. Both lawsuits accused the leadership of the DA's office from the 1980s through the 2000s of failing to adequately train and supervise the prosecutors who handled murder cases. Another top general is leaving the military.

[Chris Foster]

General Christopher Donahue, the Army's commander of forces in Europe and Africa and commander of NATO Allied Land Command, has put in his retirement papers effective July 2, the latest of nearly two dozen top commanders who left or been pushed out under War Secretary Pete Hegseth. They're reported to have clashed over how the Afghan withdrawal was handled, block promotions and US Military presence in Europe. General Donahue was the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan in 2021, led anti terrorist missions there in Iraq and Syria, and coordinated U.S. military support for Ukraine after the Russian invasion in 2022. The army says Donahue's deputy, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, will take over as acting commander. Chris Foster, Fox News 15 college basketball

[Lisa Lucera]

players have filed a suit in Ohio claiming the NCAA's new age based model unfairly shuts them out of further competition. The suit seeks a temporary and permanent injunction that would allow those athletes a fifth year of competition. The International Olympic Committee setting up a grant program to support Olympic athletes.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Great news for nearly 3,000 athletes who competed in the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. They stand to be the first recipients of a new fund created by the International Olympic Committee that aims to pay athletes who compete at the Olympics $10,000 a piece Wednesday in Lausanne, Switzerland. The IOC committed more than $100 million to this fund, which Olympic athletes can access by applying for one of the $10,000 grants after competition.

[Lisa Lucera]

Fox's Jared Max, I'm Lisa Licera. This is Fox News.

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