10PM ET 08/24/2025 Newscast

Summary

---

Fox News Hourly Update – 10PM ET 08/24/2025

Date: August 25, 2025
Host: Jane Fergus, FOX News Podcasts

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of major national and international stories from August 24th and 25th, 2025. Key themes include campus safety concerns after a false active shooter alarm, regional security challenges tied to nuclear threats and war developments, and ongoing debates over National Guard deployments in U.S. cities. The episode also touches on humanitarian crises abroad and recent developments in space exploration.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. False Active Shooter Alert at University of South Carolina

• Incident details:
  Police responded Sunday to reports of an active shooter at the University of South Carolina. After a brief lockdown, an "all clear" was given. No shooter or credible threat was found ([00:02]).
• Student experience during the lockdown:
  Students sheltered in place, with one group barricading a door with a fridge.

  "We're all just crouching in the kitchen and for like maybe like five minutes someone barricaded one of the doors with a huge fridge. And then all of a sudden people just start pushing us out and we run and we go to women's squad. We're all in there. There's police in there. People are injured." — Student Witness [00:22]

  • Some students were mildly injured while fleeing.
• Call for better prevention:
  Another student urged for action and policy changes to prevent similar incidents.

  "We need to find a solution to this, whether it be like restricting certain people from being able to acquire firearms or more campus security. But I feel like there is a way, but we just haven't found." — Student Advocate [00:44]

2. Wave of Swatting Incidents in Pennsylvania

• Fakes threats at Villanova:
  Villanova, PA experienced two fake active shooter reports within four days, leading to evacuations of residence halls ([00:57]).

3. Russia-Ukraine Conflict: Nuclear Power Plant Attack

• Russian accusations & international monitoring:
  Russia accused Ukraine of targeting energy infrastructure with drones, causing a fire at a nuclear power plant in the Kursk region.

  "Russian officials posting on social media the fire was extinguished quickly and nobody was hurt." — Jack Callahan [01:18]

• Safety assessment:
  The IAEA confirmed radiation levels remained normal but reiterated the need for constant protection of nuclear sites.
• Context:
  Incident coincided with Ukraine’s Independence Day ([01:18]).

4. National Guard Deployment Controversy

• Governor Wes Moore’s stance:
  Maryland's governor refused to allow the state's National Guard to patrol Washington, D.C., arguing it violates the Constitution and misuses the Guard ([02:26]).

  "I will not authorize the Maryland National Guard to be utilized for this." — Governor Wes Moore [02:42] "That is not this." — Governor Wes Moore, discussing the difference between disaster response and policing roles [02:55]

• Federal direction vs. local need:
  Despite Moore’s rebuff, Defense Secretary Pete Hexseth approved arming the Guard in D.C., which local leaders contest is unnecessary ([03:04]).

5. Middle East: Gaza War Escalation and Famine

• Israeli military movements:
  Israel is ramping up troop and tank presence around Gaza City in preparation for potential expanded operations, despite ceasefire proposals from Hamas ([03:16]).

  "The Israeli forces there continue to build up on the perimeter of Gaza City with both tanks and soldiers preparing for an eventual and gradual operational takeover that could reach the city center." — Jeff Paul [03:26]

• Humanitarian crisis:
  The region’s main food authority declared a famine in Gaza City, highlighting dire scarcity of aid and rising civilian toll.
• Protests:
  Delays in government response to ceasefire proposals are igniting domestic protests in Israel.
• Casualties:
  Al Jazeera reports 51 civilian deaths in a recent strike ([04:00]).

6. Space News: SpaceX Postpones Starship Launch

• Launch delay:
  SpaceX postponed its anticipated 10th Starship launch from Starbase, Texas, which had been planned for that evening ([04:00]).

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Student witness describes panic during USC incident:

  "We're all just crouching in the kitchen ... someone barricaded one of the doors with a huge fridge ... people are injured." [00:22]

• Call for action on gun violence:

  "We need to find a solution to this ... more campus security ... we just haven't found." — Student Advocate [00:44]

• Gov. Wes Moore rejects National Guard deployment:

  "I will not authorize the Maryland National Guard to be utilized for this." [02:42]

• IAEA on nuclear safety:

  "Every nuclear facility must be protected at all times." — Jack Callahan quoting IAEA [01:18]

• Reporting on humanitarian disaster in Gaza:

  "The leading authority of food security declares a famine for Gaza City ... humanitarian aid coming into the territory remains very scarce." — Jeff Paul [03:26]

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• USC Active Shooter Report & Student Reactions: 00:02 – 00:57
• Villanova False Shooter Reports: 00:57 – 01:18
• Kursk Nuclear Power Plant Fire/Drone Attack: 01:18 – 01:54
• Governor Moore/National Guard Debate: 02:26 – 03:16
• Gaza Conflict & Famine: 03:16 – 04:00
• SpaceX Starship Launch Delay: 04:00 – 04:24

---

Summary Tone:
Urgent, fact-driven, and balanced to mirror the FOX News reporting style.
For Listeners:
This episode is a rapid-fire briefing on critical security, political, and humanitarian developments in the US and globally, ending with a nod to evolving science and space milestones. Ads and promotional material omitted as per request.

Transcript

[Jane Fergus]

Here on campus. I'm Jane Fergus, FOX News. Police responded to reports of an active shooter at the University of South Carolina Sunday but have since given the all clear. School officials say there is no evidence of a shooter on campus. One student describes what she saw when the alert went out.

[Student Witness]

We're all just crouching on the kitchen and for like maybe like five minutes someone barricaded one of the doors with a huge fridge. And then all of a sudden people just start pushing us out and we run and we go to women's squad. We're all in there. There's police in there. People are injured.

[Jane Fergus]

Another student calls for action to prevent future shootings.

[Student Advocate]

We need to find a solution to this, whether it be like restricting certain people from being able to acquire firearms or more campus security. But I feel like there is a way, but we just haven't found.

[Jane Fergus]

Some students suffered minor injuries while trying to flee the scene. And this comes as Villan, Pennsylvania, was rattled by two fake reports of active shooters in four days. Radner Township police say a residence hall at the school was evacuated this morning due to the false threat. Fire breaks out in a Russian nuclear.

[Jack Callahan]

Power plant Russia is accusing Ukraine of launching drone attacks at the country's energy infrastructure, which it says sparked a blaze at a nuclear power plant in the Kursk region in western Russia. Russian officials posting on social media the fire was extinguished quickly and nobody was hurt. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear watchdog, said radiation levels near the plant were normal, but said every nuclear facility must be protected at all times. Ukraine has not commented on the drone attacks, which coincide with Sunday's 34th anniversary of the country's independence. Jack Callahan, FOX News.

[Jane Fergus]

America's listening to FOX News.

[JPMorgan Chase Narrator]

How can we help make stronger communities happen? Well, at JPMorgan Chase, we invest in what's working in businesses that create more jobs in hospitals delivering care where it's needed the most, in workers building new buildings, bridges and roads, connecting what we need to where we live.

[Jingle Singer]

Make the green grass grow all around, all around. Make the green grass grow all around.

[JPMorgan Chase Narrator]

Make momentum happen. Learn [e-mail] impact.

[Jane Fergus]

Maryland's Democratic Governor Wes Moore is pushing back on National Guard deployment to patrol U.S. cities. Here's Fox's Grunel Scott.

[Grunel Scott]

Governor Moore was clear on CBS FACE THE Nation, while other state leaders are sending Guard members to walk D.C. streets.

[Governor Wes Moore]

I will not authorize the Maryland National Guard to be utilized for this.

[Grunel Scott]

More an army veteran said having Guard members in Washington, D.C. violates the Constitution and forces members into public safety rules, which he says is not part of.

[Governor Wes Moore]

Their actual training situations where you need, where you need a surge of supports for traumas and disasters that are happening within individual jurisdictions. That is not this.

[Grunel Scott]

Defense Secretary Secretary Pete Hexseth has authorized guard members on D.C. streets to carry guns as part of a surge local leaders say isn't needed. Gernall Scott, FOX News.

[Jane Fergus]

Israel sends more troops towards Gaza as it weighs a takeover despite Hamas reportedly agreeing to a ceasefire proposal. Fox's Jeff Paul is in Tel Aviv.

[Jeff Paul]

The Israeli forces there continue to build up on the perimeter of Gaza City with both tanks and soldiers preparing for an eventual and gradual operational takeover that could reach the city center. All this happening as the leading authority of food security declares a famine for Gaza City. There's fears it could spread as humanitarian aid coming into the territory remains very scarce now. Efforts to end the war remain on hold as Israel has yet to officially respond to the latest ceasefire proposal. The government's delay to end the war is once again sparking protests throughout Israel.

[Jane Fergus]

Al Jazeera reports 51 were killed in the strike. All were civilians. And SpaceX has postponed Starship's 10th launch that had been planned for this evening. The 403 foot Starship was set to lift off from the company's Starbase facility in South Texas. I'm Jane Fergus. This is Fox News.

[NetSuite Narrator]

What does the future hold for business? Ask nine experts and you'll get 10 answers. Bull market, bear market. Inflation's up or down. Can someone please invent a crystal ball? Until then, over 42,000 businesses have future proof their business with NetSuite by Oracle. The number one Cloud ERP bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, HR into one fluid platform with one unified business management suite. There's one source of truth giving you the visibility and control you need to make quick decisions. With real time insights and forecasting, you're peering into the future with actionable data. When you're closing the books in days, not weeks, you're spending less time looking backwards and more time on what's next. Whether your company is earning millions or even hundreds of millions, NetSuite helps you respond to immediate challenges and seize your biggest opportunities. Speaking of opportunity, download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning at netsuite.com fox the guide is free to you at netsuite.com fox netsuite.com fox.