Negotiations on Iran Deal Continue as President Remains Patient on Potential New Attacks

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update

Date: May 21, 2026
Host: FOX News Podcasts
Episode Title: Negotiations on Iran Deal Continue as President Remains Patient on Potential New Attacks

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Episode Overview

This episode provides a concise update on top national and international news stories. The main focus is on ongoing negotiations regarding a potential Iran nuclear deal, alongside domestic updates including a controversial halted execution in Tennessee, a legal decision in Virginia, widespread travel plans for Memorial Day, and fraud crackdowns at both the state and federal levels.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Iran Nuclear Deal Negotiations

(00:03–00:48)

• President Trump addresses ongoing talks with Iran.
  • Reports claimed Iran was demanding to keep its enriched uranium, a point the president directly refutes.
  • This issue is significant because allowing Iran to retain enriched uranium would severely complicate negotiations, particularly upsetting Israel.
• Key Diplomacy Movement:
  • Pakistan’s interior minister is in Tehran, indicating broader regional efforts to keep diplomatic channels open.
• Quote (President Trump, 00:35):
  • “We don’t need it. We don’t want it. We’ll probably destroy it after we get it, but we’re not going to let them have it.”

2. U.S. Public Opinion on Military Action

(00:48–00:58)

• FOX News Poll:
  • Only 40% of registered voters support US military strikes against Iran, showing a divided public sentiment regarding intervention.

3. Tennessee Execution Delayed

(00:58–01:32)

• The planned execution of Tony Carruthers is halted after officials fail to find a suitable vein.
  • Governor Bill Lee grants a one-year stay, reversing his previous stance not to intervene, despite significant public appeals and signature petitions.
  • The case garners controversy due to untested DNA evidence and reliance on jailhouse testimony.
• Quote (Jeff Manasso, 01:20):
  • “Prison officials were unable to find [a vein], leading Tennessee to halt the lethal injection, which prompted Governor Bill Lee to grant a one year stay…”

4. Dismissal of Charges in Virginia School Case

(01:32–02:00)

• A Virginia judge drops all child neglect felony charges against a former administrator who had been accused of ignoring warnings about a six-year-old possessing a gun prior to a teacher being shot.
  • Judge Rebecca Robinson’s Ruling: The court finds that failing to act on such warnings does not constitute a crime under current law.

5. Travel and Economic Outlook for Memorial Day

(02:32–03:03)

• Despite high expectations for Memorial Day travel, rising fuel costs temper some Americans’ plans.
• Modest 1% growth in overall travel spending forecasted.
  • The upcoming FIFA World Cup is expected to attract international visitors.

6. Major Autism Fraud Scheme in Minnesota

(03:03–03:35)

• Fifteen individuals face charges for a $90 million fraud involving fabricated autism diagnoses to bill government programs.
  • The fallout includes the suspension of critical autism and housing programs, affecting those in real need.
• Quote (Colin McDonald, MN Asst. A.G., 03:35):
  • “And my message to the fraudsters is eat, drink and be merry today because your days of frolicking and freedom are numbered.”

7. Pandemic Unemployment Fraud

(03:47–04:27)

• $900 billion in COVID-era unemployment benefits were paid out; the Labor Department estimates 15% was stolen fraudulently.
  • Many social security numbers were used across nearly all states.
  • The department is implementing new software for identity verification and urging state-level enforcement.
• Quote (summary from Connor Hanson, 03:52):
  • “He calls this one of the largest frauds against taxpayers in our country's history.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump (regarding Iran’s uranium, 00:35):
  “We don’t need it. We don’t want it. We’ll probably destroy it after we get it, but we’re not going to let them have it.”

• Colin McDonald, MN Assistant Attorney General (on fraudsters, 03:35):
  “Eat, drink and be merry today because your days of frolicking and freedom are numbered.”

• Jeff Manasso (on Tennessee execution delay, 01:20):
  “Prison officials were unable to find [a vein], leading Tennessee to halt the lethal injection, which prompted Governor Bill Lee to grant a one year stay…”

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Iran Deal Negotiations: 00:03 – 00:48
• Public Opinion Poll: 00:48 – 00:58
• Tennessee Execution Delay: 00:58 – 01:32
• Virginia Child Neglect Charges Dismissed: 01:32 – 02:00
• Travel & Economic Outlook: 02:32 – 03:03
• Minnesota Autism Fraud Case: 03:03 – 03:35
• Pandemic Unemployment Fraud: 03:47 – 04:27

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This summary covers all the critical news highlights from the May 21, 2026 Fox News Hourly Update, reflecting the program’s fast-paced, direct reporting style.

Transcript

[A]

More negotiations. I'm Tom Ragati, FOX News. President Trump announcing a new development regarding a potential deal with Iran. Fox's Aisha Hosney's at the White House.

[B]

The president knocking down reports out there that Iran's supreme leader is demanding that the enriched uranium in that country stay in that country as part of any sort of a nuclear agreement. That would have complicated these talks by a lot. It would have also ticked off Israel, which does not want to see that happen. But the president today pushing back on those reports and saying it is not true.

[C]

We don't need it. We don't want it. We'll probably destroy it after we get it, but we're not going to let them have it.

[B]

Meantime, Pakistan's interior minister arrived in Tehran again yesterday to continue talks with the president of Iran.

[A]

A FOX News poll shows only 40% of registered voters approve of US military action against the regime. A strange turn of events today in Tennessee for a death row inmate.

[D]

All appeals were exhausted ahead of Tony Carruthers planned execution Thursday, though it was his vein that prison officials were unable to find, leading Tennessee to halt the lethal injection, which prompted Governor Bill Lee to grant a one year stay after he'd previously announced that he wouldn't intervene despite an 80,000 signature petition that landed on his desk asking that untested DNA evidence be looked at in a case the ACLU argues relied only on jailhouse testimony in which Carruthers represented himself. Jeff Manasso, FOX News.

[A]

A Virginia judge is dismissing all charges against a former school administrator accused of ignoring repeated warnings that a six year old had a gun hours before a teacher was shot. Judge Rebecca Robinson granted the defense's motion to dismiss on the fourth day of the trial of Ebony Parker, who was charged with eight felony counts of child neglect. Robinson says the court is of the legal opinion that this is not a crime. America's listening. For FOX News,

[E]

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[F]

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[A]

despite what's expected to be a record number of Americans to travel this Memorial Day weekend, higher fuel prices have some scaling back their travel plans. The U.S. travel association expects annual travel spending to grow by a modest 1% this year, powered largely by domestic leisure travel, despite the FIFA World cup giving soccer fans from other countries a reason to visit the U.S. federal and state officials in Minnesota announced criminal charges against 15 people accused of involvement in in a $90 million fraud scheme. Fox's Mike Tobin explains the way the

[C]

scam worked is these centers encourage parents to get diagnoses for their kids that were bogus then bill the government and US Taxpayers for treatment of autism for a kid that didn't need it ultimately. Now the people who need this autism treatment can't get it because the program has been canceled. The same thing happened with the housing Stabilization Program to the point that the program was canceled and the people who need this service now cannot get this service now. Colin McDonald, the assistant attorney general for Frau Prevention, had some strong words for the fraudsters who are still at large.

[G]

And my message to the fraudsters is eat, drink and be merry today because your days of frolicking and freedom are numbered.

[A]

The Labor Department's also tackling fraud. Fox Business Network's Connor Hanson has more from the White House.

[G]

$900 billion was paid out in unemployment benefits during the pandemic. Of course, many people needed that money desperately, but the Labor Department says 15% of that was stolen fraudulently. We sat down with acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling. He calls this one of the largest frauds against taxpayers in our country's history. Some individual Social Security numbers were used in almost all 50 states. It's largely up to those states to enforce this. But the Labor Department says it is working to require new software with identity checks and data sharing.

[A]

I'm Tom Raghati.

[F]

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