Fox News Hourly Update Episode: 10PM ET 07/17/2025 Newscast
Release Date: July 18, 2025
Host/Author: FOX News Podcasts

1. White House Responds to Epstein Investigation Demands

[00:02] Lisa Licera opens the newscast by highlighting White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt's strong reaction to Democratic calls for the release of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.

Caroline Levitt criticized the Democrats, stating:

“The Democrats had control of this building, the White House for four years and they didn't do a dang thing when it came to transparency in regards to Jeffrey Epstein and his heinous crimes.” [00:15]

Levitt emphasized that President Biden does not support a special counsel investigation but has instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to release any additional credible information pertaining to the case. This stance underscores the administration's commitment to transparency while resisting external pressures for further investigation.

2. Immigration Authorities Access Medicaid Data

Lisa Licera reports on a significant development in immigration enforcement. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials will now have access to personal information of all 79 million Medicaid enrollees, as per an agreement signed on Monday between the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Department of Homeland Security.

This move aims to enhance ICE's ability to track migrants who may be residing in the country illegally by utilizing comprehensive health data for identification and enforcement purposes.

3. Federal Charges Against Yariana Julia Calderon

In a notable legal case, Caroline Levitt details the situation of Yariana Julia Calderon, a Mexican national facing federal charges for orchestrating a bogus kidnapping to manipulate immigration authorities.

Caroline Levitt explains:

“Yuriana Julia Calderon is charged with making false statements to a federal officer and conspiracy. Federal prosecutors say the Mexican national created an elaborate hoax, claiming she was kidnapped by ICE bounty hunters in a Los Angeles parking lot and held against her will for refusing to sign self deportation documents.” [01:01]

Investigation revealed that Calderon fabricated the entire story, including falsifying photos of her supposed rescue to appear as though she was abused while in ICE custody. Her intention was to garner public sympathy and increase donations to a fraudulent GoFundMe page. A Homeland Security official condemned her actions, stating:

“Diverting critical law enforcement resources is not only reckless and irresponsible, but it also endangers the community.” [01:31]

Lisa Licera adds that Calderon faces a maximum of five years in prison for both conspiracy and false statements, emphasizing the severity of her offenses. Additionally, there is an unrelated update regarding the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's "Late Show" by CBS, effective May of the following year.

4. Bryan Kohberger’s Murder Case and Gag Order Lifted

Lisa Licera updates listeners on the high-profile murder case of Bryan Kohberger. Jessica Rosenthal provides a detailed account of recent courtroom developments.

Jessica Rosenthal reports:

“Bryan Coburger agreed to plead guilty to the murders of four University of Idaho college students, removing the death penalty as a possible punishment. But all sides were back in court Thursday with media representatives who asked for the gag order in the case to now be lifted.” [03:05]

Judge Stephen Hippler granted the lifting of the non-disclosure agreement but maintained the sealing of previously confidential documents:

“Lifting the non dissemination order does not convert sealed documents to unsealed documents. Documents previously sealed by the court are still sealed.” [03:31]

Rosenthal notes that media petitions to unseal all documents were denied, and Kohberger's sentencing is scheduled for July 23rd. This decision allows for greater media coverage while maintaining certain restrictions to protect sensitive information.

5. Emergency in North Carolina Following Tropical Storm Chantal

Lisa Licera reports that North Carolina has declared an emergency in the wake of Tropical Storm Chantal, which has caused severe flooding and resulted in at least six fatalities. The state's response includes mobilizing resources and providing assistance to affected communities as they begin recovery efforts.

6. Economic Indicators: Retail Sales and Job Market Update

Jenny Costella provides an economic update, highlighting that consumer spending in June surpassed expectations, signaling a resilient economy.

Jenny Costella states:

“Shopping picked up in June much more than expected. Retail sales rose 0.6% after a decline in May. Excluding autos, the increase is 0.5% and is up 0.6% excluding autos and gasoline.” [04:05]

Despite the uptick in consumer spending, the job market shows mixed signals. While new claims for unemployment benefits declined by 7,000 to 221,000 last week—the lowest since April—continuing claims have risen to 1.95 million, indicating that while fewer people are currently filing for unemployment, those already receiving benefits are maintaining their claims. Costella remarks:

“While spending increased in June, the job market continues to show signs of holding up.” [04:05]

7. Rising Mortgage Rates

Lisa Licera concludes the segment with an update on mortgage rates, noting a slight increase for the second consecutive week. The average rate for a 30-year mortgage has risen to 6.75% from 6.72% the previous week, according to Freddie Mac. Interestingly, this rate is comparable to the average from a year ago, which stood at 6.77%.

This comprehensive update from Fox News covers significant political developments, immigration enforcement actions, high-profile legal cases, natural disasters, and key economic indicators, providing listeners with a detailed overview of the day's most pressing issues.