10PM ET 10/16/2025 Newscast

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update - 10PM ET 10/16/2025 Newscast

Host: Lisa Lacera (FOX News Podcasts)
Date: October 17, 2025
Length: ~4:30 minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise update on key national and international headlines, focusing on U.S. military action against drug smuggling, Congressional budget conflicts, New York City's dynamic mayoral debate, prominent political endorsements leading to the Virginia gubernatorial race, new Vatican efforts to address child abuse, and ongoing upheaval within the airline industry.

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Key Discussions & Insights

1. U.S. Drone Strike on Drug Submersible

[00:02 - 00:43]

• A U.S. military drone strike in international Caribbean waters destroyed a large submersible believed to be used for drug smuggling.
• Two to three survivors were reported, but the total crew number remains unclear.
• This incident marks at least the sixth destruction of a drug vessel in the Caribbean since a new, unnamed operation began last month.

Notable quote:

"The submersible was described as big and the type used by drug smugglers to evade detection. ...The official said it was destroyed in the Caribbean in international waters."
— Lisa Lacera, [00:10]

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2. Government Shutdown & Congressional Stalemate

[00:43 - 01:05]

• House Speaker Mike Johnson urged Senate Democrats to support a short-term spending bill to reopen the government.
• The Senate is adjourned until Monday, and no new votes are scheduled, deepening the fiscal impasse.

Notable quote:

"We need five reasonable Democrats in the Senate to do the right thing and vote to keep the lights on... But they've turned the lights off."
— Mike Johnson, [00:43]

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3. New York City Mayoral Debate

[01:05 - 01:45]

• The three main candidates for New York City's mayor faced off in their first general election debate.
• Key issues included:
  • Approaches to crime
  • Tackling high housing costs
  • Opinions on President Trump's recent deployments of National Guard troops to various cities
• All candidates opposed National Guard intervention in NYC, suggesting troops are unnecessary.

Memorable moments & quotes:

• Curtis Sliwa (GOP):

  "There are other cities that could desperately use [the National Guard's] help in dealing with their crime." [01:16]
  "If it was safety that President Trump was so concerned about, he would send them to the 8 out of 10 states that have the highest levels of crime in this country. But he won't because they're all run by by Republicans." [01:24]

• Zoran Mamdani (Democrat) (as paraphrased and echoed via the reporting):

  "He's not sending in the National Guard to do any real function. It's control, it's power." [01:36]

• Andrew Cuomo (Independent): Mentioned as participating, but not directly quoted.

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4. John Bolton Indicted

[01:45 - 02:01]

• Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton has been charged with improperly storing and sharing top secret government records, including with relatives.

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5. Virginia Gubernatorial Race – Obama Endorses Spanberger

[02:31 - 02:55]

• Former President Barack Obama released ads supporting Democrat Abigail Spanberger for Virginia governor, emphasizing her commitment to abortion rights and the economy.

Notable quote:

"We know Republicans will keep attacking abortion rights and the rights of women. That's why having the right governor matters. And I'm proud to endorse Abigail Spanberger."
— Barack Obama (audio), [02:44]

• The report notes controversy over Spanberger’s refusal to withdraw support for attorney general candidate Jay Jones after past violent text messages emerged.

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6. Vatican Report on Child Protection

[03:16 - 04:03]

• The Vatican's child protection board released its second annual report, gathering input from 40 abuse survivors worldwide.
• The report stresses the Church's moral obligation to support victims, especially through financial settlements allowing for therapy and recovery.
• It covers the period before the election of Pope Leo XIV (the first American Pope), who has called the abuse crisis a priority.

Notable quote:

"The board says the Catholic Church has a moral obligation to help victims of clergy sexual abuse heal. It also is pushing for monetary settlements... to help them recover from the trauma."
— CJ Papa, [03:20]

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7. Airline Industry Turmoil

[04:03 - 04:28]

• Beard Airlines announced it will furlough 365 pilots and downgrade up to 170 more in early 2026 due to continued restructuring after its second bankruptcy filing in a year.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Lisa Lacera (on the Caribbean drug sub strike):

  "The submersible was described as big and the type used by drug smugglers to evade detection." ([00:10])

• Mike Johnson (on government funding):

  "We need five reasonable Democrats in the Senate to do the right thing and vote to keep the lights on..." ([00:43])

• Curtis Sliwa (NYC mayoral candidate):

  "There are other cities that could desperately use their help in dealing with their crime." ([01:16])

• Barack Obama (endorsement ad):

  "That's why having the right governor matters. And I'm proud to endorse Abigail Spanberger." ([02:44])

• CJ Papa (on Vatican report):

  "The board says the Catholic Church has a moral obligation to help victims of clergy sexual abuse heal." ([03:20])

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Episode Highlights & Tone

• The episode is brisk, fact-based, and diverse in coverage.
• Political tensions and accountability issues dominate, both in U.S. politics and international religious institutions.
• Noteworthy is the diverse voice representation: lawmakers, candidates, former presidents, and reporters, echoing Fox News’ focus on real-world impact, debate, and official response.

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Final Thoughts

This update gives listeners a snapshot of urgent developments—from heightened anti-drug operations and government shutdown anxieties to major political contestations and institutional reckonings—underscoring the broad range of today's most pressing narratives.

Transcript

[Lisa Lacera]

Another strike on a suspected drug ship. I'm Lisa Lacera, Fox News. A U.S. official tells Fox News U.S. military drone strike in the Caribbean against a submersible drug smuggling vessel left two to three survivors. The submersible was described as big and the type used by drug smugglers to evade detection. The official said it was destroyed in the Caribbean in international waters. It's not clear how many crew members were on board. The incident marks at least six times the US Military has destroyed a drug vessel in the Caribbean since the operation, which is still unnamed, began last month. House Speaker Mike Johnson calling on Senate Democrats to vote in favor of a short term spending bill that would reopen the government.

[Mike Johnson]

We need five reasonable Democrats in the Senate to do the right thing and vote to keep the lights on so that we can continue all the debates and all the outstanding issues. We have a lot of things to do, but they've turned the lights off.

[Lisa Lacera]

And real people are hurting on fox's the Ingram angle. No new votes are scheduled. The Senate is off until Monday. The three candidates in New York City's mayoral race face off in their first general election debate.

[Narrator/Reporter]

The candidates detailed how they would address crime, housing costs and their take on President Trump's deployments of National Guard troops to cities. All three saying troops are not needed in New York City. GOP mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa.

[Curtis Sliwa]

There are other cities that could desperately use their help in dealing with their crime.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Sound Courtesy of WNBC if it was.

[Curtis Sliwa]

Safety that President Trump was so concerned about, he would send them to the 8 out of 10 states that have the highest levels of crime in this country. But he won't because they're all run by by Republicans.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Democratic nominee Zoran Mamdani.

[Curtis Sliwa]

He's not sending in the National Guard to do any real function. It's control, it's power.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Independent candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

[Lisa Lacera]

Fox's Kristin Goodwin Former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton charged with storing top secret records at home and sharing them with relatives. America's listening to FOX News.

[LegalZoom Announcer]

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[Lisa Lacera]

Former President Obama has endorsed Virginia's Democratic candidate for governor, Abigail Spanberger.

[NBC Reporter]

Former President Obama has released two ads backing former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger for Virginia governor. The ads were first shared with NBC.

[Curtis Sliwa]

We know Republicans will keep attacking abortion rights and the rights of women. That's why having the right governor matters. And I'm proud to endorse Abigail Spanberger.

[NBC Reporter]

He also mentions the economy. He does not mention the attorney general candidate in Virginia, Jay Jones, whose text messages from a few years ago revealed a wish of death and violence upon the then Republican state House speaker and his children. Spanberger has refused to withdraw her endorsement of Jones. Democrats have largely refused to call for Jones to withdraw from the race. Jessica rosenthal, FOX News, an official Vatican.

[Lisa Lacera]

Publication issues its second annual report on keeping minors safe.

[CJ Papa]

The Vatican's child protection board used the input of 40 abuse survivors from around the world, listening to their complaints of how badly the church has handled their cases and their demands of what they need to heal. The board says the Catholic Church has a moral obligation to help victims of clergy sexual abuse heal. It also is pushing for monetary settlements, claiming they're necessary to provide victims with the needed therapy and other assistance to help them recover from the trauma of their abuse. Their report covers last year before Pope Leo XIV was elected the first American leader of the Catholic Church, has called the abuse scandal a crisis for the church and has signaled a commitment to the commission that was created by the late Pope Francis CJ Papa.

[Lisa Lacera]

Fox News Beard Airlines says it will furlough 365 pilots and downgrade the status of up to 170 others in the first quarter of 2026 as part of its ongoing restructuring efforts after the airline filed for bankruptcy for the second time in a year in August. I'm Lisa Licera. This is 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.