A Potential Catastrophe is Averted in California

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update – May 25, 2026

Episode: "A Potential Catastrophe is Averted in California"

Host: Lisa Brady (FOX News Podcasts)
Date: May 25, 2026

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Main Theme

This episode centers on urgent national news, including the successful aversion of a chemical disaster in California, Memorial Day events across the US, breaking developments in US-Iran peace negotiations, a security incident near the White House, ongoing legal battles over White House renovations, and a crowd stampede at a South Carolina motorcycle rally.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Chemical Explosion Threat Averted in Garden Grove, California

• [00:02] Lisa Brady:
  Fire officials announce "the threat of a chemical explosion has been eliminated" at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, south of LA, after a tank used in acrylic plastics production began venting dangerous fumes due to a crack and overheating.

  • Over 50,000 people remain evacuated as a precaution.

• [00:20] Max Gordon:
  The crisis began Thursday, with first responders working "to lower the temperature of the [tank] by pouring water on it." A potential catastrophe was averted, but authorities are proceeding with caution.

• Notable Quote:

  "The threat of explosion is now eliminated, they're saying, but more than 50,000 people remain evacuated until further notice."
  — Lisa Brady [00:33]

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2. Memorial Day Observances and Presidential Remarks

• [00:33] Lisa Brady:
  President Trump will honor fallen servicemembers by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, speaking at Arlington National Cemetery. Parades and tributes are happening nationwide, highlighted by "the largest parade in the nation's capital."

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3. US–Iran Negotiations: Pushback and Progress

• [01:07] Jared Halpern:
  The US and Iran are nearing a "memorandum of understanding" that could end the US Naval blockade and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, paving the way for sanctions relief as the two sides begin broader nuclear negotiations.

  • Some Republicans, notably Mike Pompeo, compare the potential deal to the Obama-era nuclear agreement, expressing skepticism.

• Notable Quote:

  "The deal with Iran, President Trump says, will either be a great and meaningful one or there will be no deal."
  — Jared Halpern [01:07]

• [01:42] Lisa Brady:
  President Trump criticizes the Obama nuclear deal as "a direct and open path to a nuclear weapon for Iran" and insists "he doesn't do deals like that."

  • Hope for a new deal is "helping to lower oil prices," with US crude dropping below $91 a barrel.

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4. White House Security Incident and Shooting

• [02:13] Lisa Brady introduces David Spunt’s report:
  Details emerge about a shooting near a White House security checkpoint:

  • [02:23] David Spunt:
    The suspect, a 21-year-old male, was "shot by Secret Service after authorities say he opened fire” and had a history of three prior run-ins with Secret Service in the past year, including "making threats to agents" and "entering a restricted area."

• A bystander was wounded in the exchange; it's "not clear yet if that was from the suspect's weapon or during the exchange of gunfire with agents."

• Notable Quote:

  "Authorities say he's had several run-ins with the Secret Service specifically. In fact, three run ins over the past year alone..."
  — David Spunt [02:23]

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5. Legal Fight Over White House Ballroom Construction

• [03:03] Max Gordon:
  A D.C. federal judge blocked the White House ballroom project due to lack of congressional authorization, rejecting the administration’s arguments that the space is needed for national security.
  • The Trump administration insists an indoor event space is necessary due to "increased threats."

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6. Stampede at South Carolina Motorcycle Rally

• [03:24] Lisa Brady introduces Evan Brown’s report:

  • [03:29] Evan Brown:
    A mass casualty event is declared during a stampede at the Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival in Atlantic Beach, South Carolina:
    • 19 people injured after "one person started running, triggering a chain reaction within the crowd."
    • First responders were already onsite, and those injured received treatment before festivities resumed.

• Notable Quote:

  "The incident...began when one person started running, triggering a chain reaction within the crowd that lasted seconds."
  — Evan Brown [03:29]

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Chemical crisis averted:
  "The threat of explosion is now eliminated, they're saying, but more than 50,000 people remain evacuated until further notice."
  — Lisa Brady [00:33]

• On US-Iran negotiations:
  "The deal with Iran, President Trump says, will either be a great and meaningful one or there will be no deal."
  — Jared Halpern [01:07]

• Secret Service shooting background:
  "Authorities say he's had several run-ins with the Secret Service specifically. In fact, three run ins over the past year alone..."
  — David Spunt [02:23]

• Stampede at Memorial weekend rally:
  "The incident...began when one person started running, triggering a chain reaction within the crowd that lasted seconds."
  — Evan Brown [03:29]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• California Chemical Crisis: 00:02 – 00:33
• Memorial Day/National Events: 00:33 – 01:07
• Iran Nuclear Deal & Oil Prices: 01:07 – 01:42
• White House Shooting Incident: 02:13 – 02:47
• White House Ballroom Lawsuit: 03:03 – 03:24
• South Carolina Stampede: 03:24 – 04:06

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Summary

This fast-moving FOX News update delivers urgent coverage of emergencies and major developments in California, DC, and beyond, ranging from the successful prevention of an industrial disaster to evolving geopolitics, national security incidents, and major Memorial Day events. Prominent voices provide insight, with an emphasis on the factual and urgent tone characteristic of hourly news bulletins.

Transcript

[Lisa Brady]

A potential catastrophe is avoided on Lisa Brady, FOX News. Fire officials in California just announcing that the threat of a chemical explosion has been eliminated in Garden Grove, south of LA where a tank full of a chemical used to make acrylic plastics has a crack and has been overheating.

[Max Gordon]

The crisis started on Thursday afternoon when first responders arrived at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove to find the large tank venting chemical vapors as it overheated. Firefighters have been trying to lower the temperature of the T by pouring water on it.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Max Gordon in LA again, the threat of explosion is now eliminated, they're saying, but more than 50,000 people remain evacuated until further notice. President Trump at this hour will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before a speech at Arlington National Cemetery to pay tribute to all who've made the ultimate sacrifice. As Memorial Day parades and other events are also held around the country. The largest parade in the nation's capital. This as negotiators keep working on ending the conflict with Iran as President Trump pushes his back on Republican skepticism of an emerging peace deal.

[Jared Halpern]

The deal with Iran, President Trump says, will either be a great and meaningful one or there will be no deal. Reports suggest the US And Iran are closing in on a memorandum of understanding that would end a US Naval blockade and reopen the Strait of Hormuz while laying the groundwork for sanctions relief for Iran as part of a nuclear agreement to be negotiated in the weeks ahead. The reported plan has raised concerns from some Republicans, including President Trump's first term secretary, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who equates the proposal with the nuclear deal reached during President Obama's term.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Jared Halpern at the White House. President Trump posting the Obama deal was a direct and open path to a nuclear weapon for Iran in that he doesn't do deals like that. Hope for a deal helping to lower oil prices. US crude falling back under $91 a barrel. America is listening to FOX News

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[Jared Halpern]

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[Lisa Brady]

Investigators say the man accused of opening fire near a White House security checkpoint over the weekend had a history of

[David Spunt]

incidents to see her best. The 21 year old who's now dead after being shot by Secret Service after authorities say he opened fire. Authorities say he's had several run ins with the Secret Service specifically. In fact, three run ins over the past year alone, once in June of last year for making threats to agents and once in July for entering a restricted area. And of course, Saturday evening, that totals three.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's David Spunt at the White House. A bystander was shot and wounded in the Saturday shooting. Not clear yet if that was from the suspect's weapon or during the exchange of gunfire with agents. After this latest shooting, the Justice Department wants a federal court to lift an injunction on White House ballroom construction.

[Max Gordon]

A D.C. federal judge ruled the new White House ballroom construction project couldn't be justified by citing national security concerns and needed congressional authorization. Lawyers for the administration argue that President Trump and future presidents face increased threats and need such a large event space inside the White House's secure perimeter.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Evan Brown A stampede at a longtime festival in South Carolina, the Horry

[Evan Brown]

County Fire Rescue declaring a mass casualty incident early Sunday during an apparent stampede at a motorcycle rally in Atlantic Beach, S.C. where 19 people were injured. The town of Atlantic beach telling Fox News Digital the incident at the Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival began when one person started running, triggering a chain reaction within the crowd that lasted seconds. Multiple law enforcement and emergency agencies were already stationed throughout the annual Memorial Day weekend event, and the injured were treated at the scene before the festival resumed normal operations.

[Lisa Brady]

Fox's Lillian Wu that event typically draws several thousand people. Lisa Brady talks news.