More Reaction to Federal Indictment of Former Cuban Leader Raul Castro - Fox News Hourly Update

Summary4 min read

Fox News Hourly Update – May 20, 2026

Episode Theme:

Major Reaction to the Indictment of Raul Castro & Key Updates on U.S. Foreign Policy and Political Controversies
This episode delivers breaking coverage of the federal indictment against former Cuban leader Raul Castro, explores ongoing tensions with Iran, discusses shifts in U.S. political sentiment, and highlights domestic controversies with impactful quotes and timely updates.

1. Indictment of Raul Castro – Main Focus

Timestamps: 00:03 – 00:48

Federal Indictment Details:
- (00:03) Tom Rigotti introduces the segment: Raul Castro, former Cuban leader and brother of Fidel Castro, is under U.S. indictment.
- (00:11) Fox’s Evan Brown reports: Miami federal grand jury indicts the 94-year-old former dictator for allegedly ordering the 1996 shootdown of four Miami-based civilian pilots (Brothers to the Rescue) in international airspace.
- U.S. Legal Stance:
  - (00:28) Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche in Miami:
    
    “Nations and their leaders cannot be permitted to target Americans, kill them and not face accountability.”
- Cuban Response:
  - Cuba’s U.S. embassy posts on social media that the flights were “phony humanitarian,” claiming pilots invaded Cuban airspace.

2. Update on U.S.–Iran Ceasefire Negotiations and Oil Transit

Timestamps: 00:48 – 01:34

President Trump on Iran Ceasefire:
- (00:52) President Trump is asked about a permanent ceasefire with Iran. He underscores a cautious approach:
  
  “We're going to give this one shot. I'm in no hurry. You never think, oh the midterms, I'm in a hurry, I'm in no hurry. I just ideally I'd like to see few people killed as opposed to a lot.”
  — President Trump (00:52)
Strait of Hormuz Shipping:
- (01:10) Ashley Webster (Fox Business, reporting from Tel Aviv) updates:
  - Iran allowed 26 vessels passage in the past 24 hours, including three oil tankers (two Chinese, one South Korean, total 8 million barrels of oil).
  - Iran favors “favored nations” for transit; meanwhile, a U.S. naval blockade blocks entry/exit to Iranian ports.
Oil Market Update:
- (01:34) Oil prices remain volatile, surging with U.S. strikes on Iran but tapering as Trump signals possible diplomatic progress.

3. Domestic Politics: Fall in GOP Approval & Maine Senate Race Scandal

Timestamps: 01:34 – 02:46

Trump’s Republican Support Drops:
- (01:34) New AP Newark poll:
  - Republican approval for Trump’s economic handling falls from 8 in 10 (pre-Iran war) to 6 in 10.
Maine Senate Race Controversy:
- (02:10) Molly Line covers candidate Graham Platner’s old Reddit remarks:
  - Platner, a Democratic Senate candidate and veteran, is facing backlash for allegedly mocking a wounded U.S. soldier on Reddit, even suggesting the soldier “didn’t deserve to live.”
  - Platner’s remarks were archived before being deleted.
  - The Collins campaign (Sen. Susan Collins, Republican incumbent) calls the comments “disturbing.”
  - (02:46) Platner apologizes but states he is “not ashamed of who he was in the past.”

4. President Trump’s Foreign and Domestic Security Focus

Timestamps: 02:46 – 03:38

Coast Guard Commencement Highlights (Jessica Rosenthal reporting):
- (03:03) Trump praises the Coast Guard:
  - Their role in “capturing Venezuela’s leader Nicolás Maduro.”
  - Participation in “Operation Epic Fury” in Iran.
  - Efforts disrupting maritime drug trafficking:
    
    “We had a majority of drugs were coming in by the sea, by the ocean, and we have virtually stopped that on Iran.” — President Trump (03:14)
Iran Update:
- (03:23) Trump considers tougher action:
  
  “The only question is do we go and finish it up or are they going to be signing a document? Let’s see.”
China-U.S. Military Diplomacy:
- (03:33) Trump relays China’s President Xi “has a great respect for the U.S. military.”

5. January 6 Riot Legal Battle Over Funding

Timestamps: 03:38 – 03:55

Legal Challenge:
- Two Capitol Police officers sue to bar January 6 rioters from receiving payouts from a $1.7 billion settlement fund, responding to a Trump administration program said to aid those “over-prosecuted” by the Biden Justice Department.

Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

Accountability for Foreign Leaders:

“Nations and their leaders cannot be permitted to target Americans, kill them and not face accountability.”
— Todd Blanche, Acting U.S. Attorney General (00:28)
On Iran Ceasefire:

“I'm in no hurry. I just ideally I'd like to see few people killed as opposed to a lot.”
— President Trump (00:52)
On Drug Interdiction:

“We had a majority of drugs were coming in by the sea, by the ocean, and we have virtually stopped that on Iran.”
— President Trump (03:14)

Key Takeaways

Historic Indictment: Raul Castro is the latest foreign leader to face U.S. prosecution for past actions targeting Americans.
Escalating Iran Tensions: Oil markets and global shipping feel the strain; Trump indicates no rush for a ceasefire, aiming to minimize casualties.
U.S. Politics: Trump sees reduced approval among Republicans tied to the Iran conflict; rhetoric intensifies on the campaign trail.
Domestic Controversy: Maine’s Democratic Senate candidate faces fallout from inflammatory past comments.
Ongoing January 6th Legal Fallout: The debate over restitution funds for those involved in the Capitol riot continues legally and politically.

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Transcript15 lines

[00:03]
A
A Castro in Cuba gets indicted. I'm Tom Rigotti, Fox News. A former Cuban leader is under U.S. indictment. Fox's Evan Brown with details.
[00:11]
B
A federal grand jury in Miami indicts 94 year old former Cuban dictator Raul Castro for allegedly ordering the shooting down of four Miami based civilian pilots participating in the 1996 Brothers to the Rescue humanitarian flights in international airspace. Nations and their leaders cannot be permitted to target Americans, kill them and not face accountability. Acting U.S. attorney General Todd Blanche, speaking in Miami. Cuba's embassy in the US In a series of social media posts, claims the humanitarian nature of the flights were phony and the pilots invaded Cuban airspace.
[00:49]
A
President Trump says he's not rushing a permanent ceasefire with Iran.
[00:52]
C
We're going to give this one shot. I'm in no hurry. You never think, oh the midterms, I'm in a hurry, I'm in no hurry. I just ideally I'd like to see few people killed as opposed to a lot.
[01:03]
A
Traffic is still more or less stalled in the Strait of Hormuz as both the U.S. and Iran continue to halt activity. Fox Business Network's Ashley Webster reports from Tel Aviv.
[01:11]
D
Iran says in the last 24 hours, 26 vessels have passed through the strait, including three tankers, two from China, one from South Korea, carrying an estimated 8 million barrels of crude oil. Analysts say that Tehran is allowing vessels from favored nations to pass through. The US Naval blockade also continues to prevent any ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports.
[01:35]
A
Oil prices have spiked since the start of the US Strikes on Iran, though they fell a bit today after Trump suggested talks were in their final stages. President Trump appears to be losing some support among Republicans. A new AP Newark poll finds about 6 in 10 Republicans approve of how the president is handling the economy. That's down from about 8 and 10 in February before the Iran war began. America is listening to Fox News. A newly surfaced online comment reportedly made by Maine's Senate Democratic candidate is sparking backlash. Fox's Molly line has more.
[02:10]
E
Graham Platner, oysterman Marine and army veteran and self proclaimed foe of the oligarchy, has acknowledged making a slew of Reddit remarks under the account P Hustle, archived by the Main Monitor in a database prior to being deleted. These remarks during new outrage, a post reportedly from June 2019, which Platner appears to mock a US soldier who was nearly killed, calling him dumb, saying he didn't deserve to live, going on to harshly criticize the soldier's actions. Under fire, Platner is aiming to unseat longtime Maine senator Republican Susan Collins in November. A Collins campaign spokesperson called the comments disturbing.
[02:47]
A
Platner has previously apologized for his Reddit comments while also saying he's not ashamed of who he was in the past. President Trump says China's president complimented the US Military and that he may have to hit Iran even harder. Fox's Jessica Rosenthal is more in his commencement address at the Coast Guard Academy
[03:04]
F
today, the president praised the Coast Guard's role in the operation to capture Venezuela's leader Nicolas Maduro, and the branch's role in Operation Epic Fury in Iran. But he also thanked the Coast Guard for their work interdicting drug trafficking.
[03:15]
C
We had a majority of drugs were coming in by the sea, by the ocean, and we have virtually stopped that on Iran.
[03:23]
F
The president said he may have to hit them harder, but said maybe he won't have to.
[03:27]
C
The only question is do we go and finish it up or are they going to be signing a document? Let's see what he said he learned
[03:33]
F
at his recent meeting with China's President Xi Jinping, that Xi has a great respect for the US military.
[03:38]
A
Two police officers at the US Capitol during the infamous January 6 riot are suing to block anyone who rioted that day from receiving payouts from a $1.7 billion settlement fund. The Trump administration claims it's for those who are over prosecuted by the Biden era Justice Department. I'm Tom Rigotti. This is box.