10AM ET 07/18/2025 Newscast

Summary

Fox News Hourly Update Episode: 10AM ET 07/18/2025 Newscast Release Date: July 18, 2025

---

1. Stephen Colbert’s Show Cancellation Sparks Controversy

The day began with significant news in the entertainment sector as Stephen Colbert announced the cancellation of his late-night show. In a heartfelt message, Colbert revealed, “Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending the late show in May and CBS is calling” (00:17). This revelation was met with approval from President Trump, who took to Truth Social to express his delight over the decision, citing financial reasons. Dave Anthony reported, “The president wrote Colbert's talent was even less than his ratings” (00:30).

Fox News' Ted Lindner delved deeper into the potential motives behind the cancellation, especially in light of Colbert's recent criticisms of CBS's parent company, Paramount. Colbert had labeled Paramount’s settlement with President Trump as a “big fat bribe” (00:34). Lindner questioned whether the decision to cancel the show was politically motivated, highlighting that “The public deserves to know” (00:46).

2. President Trump Advances Legislative Agenda

Shifting focus to legislative updates, President Trump is set to hold a signing ceremony celebrating Republican victories in the House and Senate. Two significant bills are on the table:

• Stablecoin Cryptocurrency Regulation: Introducing frameworks for digital currencies.
• Federal Spending Rescissions: Aiming to claw back previously approved federal expenditures deemed wasteful.

Ryan Schmelz provided insights into the rescissions package, noting, “The rescissions package cuts $9 billion in spending on foreign aid and public broadcasting and has been seen as a test run for future spending cuts” (01:06). Schmelz also highlighted the Democrats' opposition, emphasizing that the cuts “were already approved by Congress through a bipartisan agreement and that agreement has now been broken” (01:26).

3. Jeffrey Epstein Case Reignites Political Debate

The controversial Jeffrey Epstein case resurfaced as President Trump dismissed the allegations as a “hoax”, asserting that Democrats are “conning” his supporters to demand the release of Epstein's grand jury files. Dave Anthony reported, “Epstein did not leave behind a client's list when he committed suicide” (01:26).

Peter Ducey added that the President is urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to release the grand jury materials. “The first step going to be for the Justice Department possibly today to get a judge in New York assigned to this effort,” Ducey explained (01:58).

4. Market and Economic Overview

In economic news, the stock markets showed mixed performance. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped by 55 points, while the Nasdaq surged by 52 points, continuing its trend from the previous day’s record high. The S&P 500 also rose by 12 points, maintaining its upward trajectory.

Oil prices climbed to over $68 a barrel, a nearly dollar increase, yet gas prices experienced a slight decline. AAA reported the national average for regular gasoline dropped to $3.15 per gallon, marking a “$0.03 less than a month ago, $0.35 cheaper than a year ago” (02:16).

5. Treasury Secretary at the 2025 World Expo in Japan

Jonathan Savage reported on Treasury Secretary Besant's presence at the 2025 World Expo in Japan. The expo, held every five years and lasting six months, serves as a platform for showcasing technological advancements and fostering international business relationships. Secretary Besant is concurrently engaging in bilateral meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to discuss ongoing trade talks. “All the while, the minds of many will be on the ongoing trade talks between Japan and the US and the prospect of steep tariffs if no deal is agreed,” Savage noted (02:52).

6. Alert on AI Voice-Generated Scams

A concerning trend of AI-generated voice scams was highlighted by Dave Anthony, who warned listeners about a recent incident targeting a mother in Florida. Ted Lindner detailed the case of Sharon Brightwell, who received a distressing call purportedly from her daughter alleging she was in trouble for texting and driving. Brightwell believed the call was genuine and proceeded to assist by transferring money when a man posing as her daughter's attorney demanded funds for bond release. Lindner emphasized the sophistication of such scams, “Convinced the call was authentic, paid attention when a man took over the call” (03:32).

7. Sports Update: Open Championship in Northern Ireland

Turning to sports, the Open Championship's second round is in full swing in Northern Ireland. American golfer Brian Harmon, the Open champion from two years prior, currently leads with a one-shot advantage at eight under par. Dave Anthony provided the latest update, stating, “American Brian Harmon, who won the Open two years ago, has a one shot lead at eight under par” (04:00).

---

Note: The episode also featured promotions for other Fox News segments, including Jason Chaffetz’s "Unsolved with James Patterson". These segments delve into unsolved crimes and deeper political analyses. For more information, visit foxnewspodcast.com or your preferred podcast platform.

Transcript

[Dave Anthony]

A big Trump critic is going off the air and the president couldn't be happier. I'm Dave Anthony, FOX News. He just posted on Truth Social. He absolutely loves that Stephen Colbert got fired. Reacting to the news Colbert himself broke.

[Stephen Colbert]

Before we start the show, I want to let you know something that I found out just last night. Next year will be our last season. The network will be ending the late show in May and CBS is calling.

[Dave Anthony]

It a financial decision. But the president wrote Colbert's talent was even less than his ratings.

[Ted Lindner]

The cancellation comes just days after Colbert criticized CBS's parent company Paramount for settling a lawsuit with President Trump, calling it a big fat bribe. Now Democrat Senators Adam Schiff and Elizabeth.

[Stephen Colbert]

Warren want to know if the decision.

[Ted Lindner]

Was politically motivated, saying the public deserves to know.

[Dave Anthony]

Fox's Ted Lindner. A short time ago in another post, the president announced he'll hold a signing ceremony this afternoon congratulating Republicans after the House joined the Senate approving two bills. One involves new stablecoin cryptocurrency. The other claws back federal spending already approved but Doge called wasteful.

[Ryan Schmelz]

The rescissions package cuts $9 billion in spending on foreign aid and public broadcasting and has been seen as a test run for future spending cuts the Trump administration believes will be key in reducing the deficit. Democrats railed against the cuts, arguing the money was already approved by Congress through a bipartisan agreement and and that agreement has now been broken.

[Dave Anthony]

That's fox's Ryan Schmelz. The president also posted this morning about the Jeffrey Epstein controversy he calls a hoax as Trump supporters he claims are being conned by Democrats demand a release of the files from Epstein's sex trafficking of underage girls case, not believing a Justice Department conclusion. Epstein did not leave behind a client's list when he committed suicide.

[Peter Ducey]

President is also making a public call for the attorney general Pam Bondi to move to release Epstein grand jury material. And that is moving along. The first step going to be for the Justice Department possibly today to get a judge in New York assigned to this effort.

[Dave Anthony]

Fox's Peter Ducey.

[Stephen Colbert]

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.

[Jason Chaffetz]

Listen and follow now@fox newspodcast.com or wherever you download podcasts.

[Dave Anthony]

Stocks are mixed this morning. The dow is down 55 points, but the Nasdaq is up 52, adding to yesterday's record high close. The S&P 500 also up 12 points on top of yesterday's record high. The price of oil rising nearly a dollar. It's back over 68 bucks a barrel. But gas is down a fraction, bringing AAA's national average for regular down to $3.15 per gallon. That's $0.03 less than a month ago, $0.35 cheaper than a year ago. The treasury secretary is on the other side of the world.

[Jonathan Savage]

Secretary Besant is representing the United states at the 2025 World Expo, where he is also holding a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The World Expo lasts six months and takes place every five years. It's a showcase for technological advancement and a forum for business relationships to grow. Saturday is the expo's U.S. national Day, focusing on American culture and traditions. All the while, the minds of many will be on the ongoing trade talks between Japan and the US and the prospect of steep tariffs if no deal is agreed. Jonathan Savage, FOX News.

[Dave Anthony]

Now, yet another AI voice generated scam. We're being warned more and more about victimizing a mother in Florida.

[Ted Lindner]

This time, Sharon Brightwell jumped into action after receiving the tearful call from someone who she was certain was her daughter, saying she was in big trouble for hitting a pregnant woman while texting and driving. Rightwell, convinced the call was authentic, paid attention when a man took over the call claiming to be her daughter's attorney, saying he needed the money to post the daughter's bond. Gary Baumgarten, FOX news.

[Dave Anthony]

Now to Royal Port Rush in Northern Ireland, where round two is underway and golf's last major tournament of the year, the Open Championship. American Brian Harmon, who won the Open two years ago, has a one shot lead at eight under par. I'm Dave Anthony. This is FOX News.

[Jason Chaffetz]

FOX News Audio presents Unsolved with James Patterson. Every crime tells the story, but some stories are left unfinished. Somebody knows real cases, real people listen and follow [e-mail].