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

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

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.

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]

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]

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.

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.

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.

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]

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.

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])

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.

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.