9PM ET 08/11/2026 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update – 9PM ET 08/11/2026

Host: Lisa Licera (with reports from Mark Meredith, Jessica Rosenthal, Karen Arena, and others)
Date: August 12, 2026

Overview

This episode delivers a roundup of major political, weather, and human interest news, focusing on the outcomes and implications of recent primary elections across the US, severe weather in the Midwest, a hate crime incident in Florida, a high-profile prisoner release from Russia, a lawsuit related to food safety, and the announcement of new National Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees.

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1. South Carolina Senate Runoff and Primary Results

(00:01-01:27)

• Darlene Graham Advances to Runoff

  • Senator Darlene Graham, sister of the late Lindsey Graham, has made it to the special Republican primary runoff in South Carolina.
  • She was appointed last month to complete her brother’s term and is endorsed by President Trump.
  • The runoff winner will face Democrat Annie Andrews in the general election.
  • Notable quote:
    "She moves on to the runoff." — Lisa Licera [00:01]
    "Darlene Graham even told reporters today, including us here at Fox, that she thought this was going to run off." — Mark Meredith [00:13]

• Other Key Primary Results

  • Alabama: Shamari Figures wins Democratic nomination in a district Republicans redrew to gain a seat; Terry Sewell wins in her reconfigured district.
  • Connecticut: Incumbent Governor Ned Lamont fends off progressive challenger Josh Elliot.

• Wisconsin Governor’s Race

  • Francesca Hong, a Democratic socialist, is the primary frontrunner.

  • Notable quote:
    "I think our policies are ones that are the solutions to deliver for working class people, permanent affordability so we don't come back to moments like these." — Francesca Hong [01:10]
    "I think the Democratic Party, we are a big tent party and there's always room for better policies and always room for more people." — Francesca Hong [01:19]

  • Current Governor Tony Evers supports Hong’s opponent, David Crowley.

  • Tom Tiffany is the Republican frontrunner.

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2. Midwest Severe Weather

(01:27-02:00)

• Storms and Power Outages
  • Heavy thunderstorms and strong winds (derecho) knock out power in the Chicago area and northwest Indiana—over half a million affected.
  • Derecho explained as a prolonged, straight-line wind event similar in force to tornadoes.

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3. Florida Hate Crime Incident

(02:23-02:48)

• Campaign Sign Vandalized
  • Congressman Randy Fine reports a swastika painted on one of his election signs in Flagler Beach, Florida, ahead of the August 18 primary.
  • Fine expresses shock and personal pain at the incident.
    • Notable quote:
      "I was a lot more upset than I expected to be. I'm sort of grappling with it. It's really, really affected me. And I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty upset about it." — Randy Fine [02:40]
  • Local authorities are investigating.
  • Fine faces several primary challengers, including Dan Bilzerian and an influencer criticized for anti-Semitic statements.

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4. International: US Marine Released from Russian Prison

(03:04-03:28)

• Robert Gilman Freed
  • US Marine veteran Robert Gilman, imprisoned in Russia for over four years on disputed charges, has been released.
  • President Trump posts on social media that Gilman is en route to Andrews Air Force Base.
  • Gilman’s health was reportedly grave in the lead-up to his release.

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5. Human Interest: Food Safety Lawsuit

(03:28-04:04)

• Retired Firefighter’s Family Sues Steakhouse
  • Joe Belgio, retired Cicero firefighter and Marine veteran, suffered catastrophic brain injuries after eating raw oysters at Gibson Steakhouse (Oakbrook, IL) in 2025.
  • Diagnosed with infections from Vibrio cholerae and E. coli; suffered cardiac arrest, coma, resulting in permanent brain damage and 24/7 care needs.
  • Family’s insurance is depleted; lawsuit seeks compensation.
  • Gibson’s disputes claims linking its food to Belgio’s illness.
  • Notable quote:
    "Within three days, he was fighting for his life. The pathogens included vibrio cholerae and E. Coli." — Karen Arena [03:39]

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6. Culture: National Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductees

(04:04-04:20)

• Music Recognition
  • Taylor Swift, Lyle Lovett, and other artists to join the National Songwriters Hall of Fame.
  • Formal induction will occur later this year.

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Noteworthy Moments & Quotes

• "She moves on to the runoff." — Lisa Licera [00:01]
• "I think our policies are ones that are the solutions to deliver for working class people..." — Francesca Hong [01:10]
• "I was a lot more upset than I expected to be... I'm pretty upset about it." — Randy Fine [02:40]
• "Within three days, he was fighting for his life. The pathogens included vibrio cholerae and E. Coli." — Karen Arena [03:39]

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For those who missed the episode:
This fast-paced newscast covers the critical political developments in several states, a major weather event, disturbing hate crime incident, a dramatic international prisoner release, a tragic case of food-borne illness with legal ramifications, and notable music industry honors—all delivered in a concise, informative, and accessible style.

Transcript

[Lisa Licera]

This is a FOX News alert. She moves on to the runoff. I'm Lisa Licera. Senator Darlene Graham, the sister of late Senator Lindsey Graham, has advanced to the special Republican primary runoff in South Carolina.

[Mark Meredith]

Darlene Graham even told reporters today, including us here at Fox, that she thought this was going to run off. That's not necessarily a surprise that they believe that nobody was going to get over that 50% threshold. But the question at this hour, of course, is who will Darlene Graham face again in a runoff two weeks from now?

[Lisa Licera]

Fox's Mark Meredith in Columbia, Darlene Graham was appointed last month to fill the remainder of her brother's term and has been endorsed by President Trump. The winner of the runoff will face Democrat Annie Andrews in the general election. In Alabama, Representative Shamari Figures has won the Democratic nomination in the Alabama congressional district that Republicans redrew in the hopes of gaining an additional seat in the midterms. Democrat Terry Sewell won her Democratic primary in her redrawn district. In Connecticut, incumbent Democrat Ned Lamont has fended off a primary challenge from progressive Josh Elliot. He's a state rep. Polls just closing in Wisconsin, where Democratic socialist Francesca Hong is considered the frontrunner in the primary for governor.

[Francesca Hong]

I think our policies are ones that are the solutions to deliver for working class people, permanent affordability so we don't come back to moments like these. I think the Democratic Party, we are a big tent party and there's always room for better policies and always room for more people.

[Lisa Licera]

Current Governor Tony Evers has supported Hong's opponent, County Executive David Crowley. On the Republican side, Congressman Tom Tiffany is considered the favorite. Heavy thunderstorms and strong wind gusts have knocked down power to more than half a million people in the Chicago area and northwest Indiana. The National Weather Service says preliminary information indicates the system was a derecho, which are prolonged straight lined wind events where there's heavy rainfall and similar in force to tornadoes. America is listening to FOX News.

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[Lisa Licera]

congressman says someone painted a swastika over one of his campaign signs.

[Randy Fine]

Congressman Randy Fine said he put up some campaign signs around central Florida ahead of the Aug. 18 prior primary, but got a call Monday that one had been vandalized with a spray painted swastika in Flagler Beach. Fein told Fox 35, Orlando I was

[Mark Meredith]

a lot more upset than I expected to be. I'm sort of grappling with it. It's really, really affected me. And I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty upset about it.

[Randy Fine]

The Flagler Beach City deputy police chief says they were notified about the incident and were looking into it. Fine is facing four primary challengers, including Dan Bilzerian and an influencer who's been criticized for making a number of anti Semitic statements. Jessica Rosenthal, Fox News Russia has released

[Lisa Licera]

a US Marine veteran who had been in prison for more than four years on disputed charges that he beat a police officer. President Trump posting on social media that Robert Gilman is on his way to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Last week, it was reported Gilman was said to be gravely ill and at risk of dying. A lawsuit filed on behalf of a retired Illinois firefighter who suffered catastrophic brain injuries, which they blame on raw oysters.

[Karen Arena]

The family of 44 year old retired Cicero firefighter and Marine veteran Joe Belgio say he ate raw oysters at Gibson Steakhouse in Oakbrook in suburban Chicago in 2025.

[Randy Fine]

Within three days, he was fighting for his life. The pathogens included vibrio cholerae and E. Coli.

[Karen Arena]

Family attorney Karen arena says Belgio suffered cardiac arrest, a coma and permanent brain damage for which he's bedridden, requiring lifelong around the clock care that his insurance has run out, denying him proper treatment. A spokesman for Gibson's disputing the alle that its food caused Belgium's health condition.

[Lisa Licera]

Fox's Jeff Manasso, Taylor Swift, Lyle Lovett and others had to be inducted into the National Songwriters hall of Fame, the formal induction ceremony set for later this year. I'm Lisa Licera. This is Fox News.

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