10AM ET 07/17/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update: 10 AM ET, July 17, 2025

Hosted by Fox News Radio, this edition of the Fox News Hourly Update delivers a comprehensive overview of the latest national and international news, economic developments, and significant events shaping the day. Below is a detailed summary of the key topics discussed during the newscast.

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1. Rescissions Bill Passes in the Senate

A Historic Move for President Trump

In a significant legislative development, the Senate approved a rescissions bill at 2 AM, marking a historic victory for President Trump. The bill, approved primarily by Republicans, aims to retract federal funding for the first time in decades. The total amount involved is $9 billion, predominantly targeting foreign aid and public broadcasting.

Key Details:

• Funding Cuts: The bill seeks to reduce funding for organizations like NPR and PBS, which Republicans accuse of having a liberal bias.
• Republican Perspectives: Ayesha Hosny reported, “This was historic and a big win for President Trump” (00:08).
• Moderate Republican Opposition: Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murdock voted against the bill. Collins expressed concerns, stating, “00:28 Nobody really knows what program reductions are actually in it.” Murdock opposed the procedural shift from a reconciliation bill to a rescissions package.

Democratic Response: Senate Minority Leader Dick Durbin criticized the bill, asserting, “The bill tarnishes America's reputation as a global leader” (00:43).

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2. International Affairs: Gaza Conflict Escalates

Pope Leo Calls for Ceasefire Amidst Tragic Attacks

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has seen renewed calls for peace following a devastating Israeli airstrike on the Holy Family Church, the only Catholic church in the Palestinian territory. The attack resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injured several others, including Father Gabriel Romanelli, a close confidant of the late Pope Francis.

Details of the Incident:

• Location: Northern Gaza, Holy Family Church (00:57)
• Casualties: Two killed, multiple injured, including clergy and parishioners.
• Experimental Witness Account: A witness described the event, “01:42 ‘There was no thunder. There was no rain... It just... hit a tree real close by here. The earth exploded. Dirt went flying everywhere.’”

International Reactions: Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgio Maloney, condemned the attack, stating, “Months of attacks on civilians are unacceptable” (00:57). Pope Leo has reiterated his plea for a ceasefire to prevent further loss of life and destruction.

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3. Severe Weather and Accidents

Tropical Storm Threat and Fatal Lightning Strike

A weather system currently affecting the Gulf Coast is not yet classified as a tropical storm but poses significant flooding risks. States including Louisiana and Mississippi are under flood watches and warnings, with some areas potentially experiencing up to a foot of rain.

Accident Report: In Jackson Township, New Jersey, a tragic accident occurred when a lightning bolt struck an archery range, resulting in one fatality and thirteen injuries.

Eyewitness Testimony: An unnamed witness recounted the event: “01:42 ‘It's just the finger of God went and pointed down and hit a tree real close by here. The earth exploded. Dirt went flying everywhere.’”

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4. Economic Updates

Stock Market and Retail Sales Surge

Wall Street showed positive movement this morning, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up by 163 points, the NASDAQ rising by 101 points to add to its previous record high, and the S&P 500 increasing by 18 points.

Retail Sales Growth: Jenny Cosola reported, “Retail sales rose 0.6% after a decline in excluding autos. The increase is 0.5% and is up 0.6% excluding autos and gasoline” (02:31). This indicates a robust consumer spending environment despite challenges in the job market.

Unemployment Insights: Job market data revealed a decline in new unemployment claims by 7,000 to 221,000 last week—the lowest level since April. However, continuing claims rose to 1.95 million, suggesting sustained challenges in the labor market (02:31).

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5. Infrastructure and Federal Funding

Trump Criticizes California High-Speed Rail Project

President Trump has labeled California's high-speed rail initiative as "a train to nowhere that's severely overpriced and overregulated." He has expressed his opposition to further funding of the project.

Government Action: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the termination of $4 billion in unspent federal funds allocated for the California high-speed rail. Duffy described the project as “a boondoggle” (03:12), highlighting issues such as:

• Original Plans: The rail line was intended to connect Los Angeles and San Francisco, with completion initially slated for 2020.
• Challenges: The project has faced significant delays and cost overruns, totaling around $100 billion, with no track laid yet.

State Response: California Governor Gavin Newsom has condemned the federal decision, declaring it “illegal” and vowing to contest the move in court (03:21).

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6. Energy Sector Update

Oil Prices Increase Amidst Stable Gas Prices

Max Gordon from Fox Business Network reported a 25-cent rise in oil prices, bringing the cost above $66 per barrel. Despite the increase in oil prices, gas prices at the pump remained unchanged, with AAA’s national average for regular gasoline holding steady at $3.16 per gallon. This price is consistent with last week and last month but remains 35 cents cheaper than a year ago (03:54).

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7. Additional Highlights

Podcast Promotion: Jason Chaffetz introduced his podcast, "Jason in the House," inviting listeners to delve deeper into political headlines and engage with notable guests. He encouraged audiences to join every Monday for insightful discussions (04:13).

Closing Remarks: Will Kane promoted the availability of live broadcasts and podcasts, urging listeners to stay connected with Fox News’ offerings (04:22).

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights presented during the Fox News Hourly Update. For real-time updates and more detailed coverage, tuning into Fox News Radio or visiting their official platforms is recommended.

Transcript

[Dave Anthony]

They passed it while most of us were asleep. I'm Dave Anthony. FOX news.

[Ayesha Hosny]

This was historic and a big win for President Trump.

[Dave Anthony]

Fox's Ayesha Hosny at the Capitol, where the Senate at 2am approved what's called a rescissions bill, which for the first time in decades claws back federal funding. Already approved, most of it was foreign aid, the rest for public broadcasting, $9 billion in all. As Republicans say NPR and PBS are liberal biased.

[Ayesha Hosny]

Two Republicans voted no moderate Susan Collins and Lisa Merc Murkowski. Collins had problems with the package, saying that nobody really knows what program reductions are actually in it. Murkowski apparently just didn't like the process going from a reconciliation bill to a rescissions package.

[Dave Anthony]

Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, in a statement, says the bill tarnishes America's reputation as a global leader. Pope Leo has renewed his call for a ceasefire in Gaza after an Israeli airstrike targeting Hamas hit the only Catholic church in the Palestinian territory. Two people were killed.

[Jonathan Savage]

Witnesses say the Holy Family Church in northern Gaza was hit by Israeli tank shells. Parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli among several wounded. He was very close to the late Pope Francis, speaking regularly during the war. A nearby hospital reports the church was sheltering both Christians and Muslims at the time it was hit, including children with disabilities. Italy's prime Minister Giorgio Maloney has blamed Israel, saying months of attacks on civilians are unacceptable.

[Dave Anthony]

Fox's Jonathan Savage. It is not a formed tropical storm, but a system raining down on parts of the Gulf coast could put a lot of areas underwater. There are flood watches and warnings in Louisiana, Louisiana and Mississippi. Some areas could get a foot of rain. In Jackson Township, New Jersey, a man was killed when a bolt of lightning hit an archery range.

[Unnamed Witness]

There was no thunder. There was no rain. There was no nothing. It's just the finger of God went and pointed down and hit a tree real close by here. The earth exploded. Dirt went flying everywhere.

[Dave Anthony]

Thirteen other people were injured. America's listening to FOX news.

[Will Kane]

It's Will Kane country. Watch it live at noon Eastern Monday through [e-mail] or on the Fox News YouTube channel. And don't miss the show. Listen and follow the podcast five days a week at foxnewspodcasts.com or wherever you download your favorite podcasts.

[Dave Anthony]

Stocks are rising again this morning on Wall Street. The dow is up 163 points. The NASDAQ skinning 101, adding to yesterday's record high. The S&P 500 is adding 18 points. We get updates to the economy this.

[Jenny Cosola]

Morning shopping picked up in June, much more than expected. Retail sales rose 0.6% after a decline in excluding autos. The increase is 0.5% and is up 0.6% excluding autos in gasoline. While spending increased in June, the job market continues to show signs of holding up. New claims for unemployment benefits declined 7,000 to 221,000 last week. It's the lowest level since April, though it may be harder to find a new job. Continuing claims, those remaining on Benefits rose to 1.95 million. Jenny Cosola, Fox News President Trump calls.

[Dave Anthony]

It a train to nowhere that's severely overpriced and overregulated a California high speed rail project that he doesn't want funded anymore.

[Sean Duffy]

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says he's terminating $4 billion in unspent federal money, calling the project a boondoggle. The decision comes after a months long federal review of the project originally approved by California voters back in 2008. The state's high speed rail line was initially supposed to connect Los Angeles and San Francisco with an original completion d set for 2020. But years of delays and around 100 billion in cost overruns have plagued the proposed bullet train and track is still yet to be laid down. California Governor Gavin Newsom called the move to take away the promised federal funds illegal and said the state would fight it.

[Dave Anthony]

That's Fox Business Network's Max Gordon. The price of oil is up a quarter. It's further above 66 bucks a barrel. No change at the gas pump, though. AAA's national average for regular remains 316 a gallon. That's just about the same price as last week and last month, but it is 35 cents cheaper than a year ago. I'm Dave Anthony, this is fo.

[Jason Chaffetz]

This is Jason Chaffetz from the Jason in the House podcast. Join me every Monday to dive deeper into the latest political headlines and chat with remarkable guests.

[Will Kane]

Listen and follow [e-mail] or wherever you download podcasts.